Under One Person: One Person Goes

Chapter 508: Many Rules in Mainland Hotels

Beijing-Shanghai Railway, 1940.

That night, a train was chugging along the tracks towards its final destination, Shanghai, and had to pass through numerous Japanese checkpoints along the way.

A journey that should have taken 5-6 hours has now been delayed to 8-10 hours.

But for people who take the train, this is also a reality they have to accept.

Although the full-scale war of resistance had been going on for four years and half of the country had been occupied, the will to resist had not diminished. But for the Chinese people in the occupied areas, they had to live their lives no matter who was riding on their heads.

Poor families naturally could not travel far. Those who could take the Beijing-Shanghai Railway in the core area controlled by the Japanese army were those who had elderly parents and young children, had some assets, and were not directly persecuted by the Japanese and puppet troops.

Being bullied from both sides, these petty bourgeoisie people had no choice but to live a mediocre life and accept exploitation from the Japanese puppet government and army.

Wang Yi and Zhang Zhiwei disguised themselves, passed the checkpoint with the documents and gifts they had prepared in advance, and then sat down.

Today, the Beijing-Shanghai Railway has been controlled by the Japanese army. Although there are civilian trains, they are very few. Those who can ride are either Japanese and puppet staff, businessmen and black market practitioners, and there are very few ordinary people. Wang Yi and Zhang Zhiwei prepared to be two businessmen going to Shanghai to do business.

It’s not that Wang Yi didn’t want to use the escape method to travel directly, but he had just woken up and hadn’t recovered yet, and he had to go to solve the crisis that Quan Xing was facing because of the encirclement and suppression of them by the Japanese puppet government and the division of the loose alliance of the alien world. He had too much information to digest and understand.

This is a good opportunity for me to get to know Zhang Zhiwei better.

The only advantage of taking this Beijing-Shanghai railway is that, because the railway is now controlled by the Japanese, there are fewer civilian trains and only so many people can take them, so it is rarely full.

The two of them sat down directly in the box, eating, drinking and chatting, without worrying about being disturbed or eavesdropped.

"In fact, I have been teaching in a primary school in the border area for the past few years, and I have rarely taken action. The alliance formed in our circle now is more inclined to the war zone divided by the government. The various factions also help each other in the war zone, or cooperate with the spies of the government to carry out assassinations and sabotage operations.

The people on my side are more likely to cooperate with the troops to fight guerrilla warfare against the Japanese, carry out targeted assassinations, and relocate civilians. It's not that I look down on people in our circle to do intelligence work, but it's really that everyone has their own expertise. It's okay to let the Tang Sect or Jianghu Xiaozhan do it, otherwise, apart from having some tricks, their other abilities are really not as good as those comrades doing underground work in the city. They are more about providing protection and relocation after their identities are exposed."

"That means you do know something. Let's go back to Shanghai to meet Lao Liu this time. I guess he has been in contact with you a lot in the past few years. Tell me about Lao Liu's situation. He should be regarded as the biggest protector of our comrades in Shanghai."

"That's true. The situation with Lao Liu is really complicated, but it's not that complicated. I'd like to take this opportunity to talk to you about it."

Shanghai is known as the largest city in Far East Asia.

Economically, before the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, it was the largest financial and trade center in Asia. In the 30s, its port throughput ranked first in Asia, leaving Hong Kong Island, Tokyo, and Singapore aside.

Because of the concessions of many countries, under the influence of the trickle-down effect, the city has complete urbanization facilities and numerous skyscrapers, and is also known as the Paris of the East.

Culturally, as a center where Eastern and Western cultures meet, international media from many countries are stationed here, Hollywood movies are released simultaneously, and there is a large expatriate population. In this intersection and conflict of Eastern and Western cultural ideas, this is both the place where revolutionary consciousness first emerged and the last bastion of the bourgeoisie.

The International Settlement and the French Concession under the international framework became a "country within a country" in Shanghai.

After the Battle of Shanghai and the outbreak of the full-scale war of resistance against Japan, although Shanghai fell, the Japanese only occupied the Chinese area. As for the concessions, they did not harm them at all, but they also maintained a minimum level of tolerance and restraint. They could only disgust the other side by blockading the outside, but did not dare to do so completely.

There was no way. The Pacific War had not yet broken out. Without openly declaring war on Britain and the United States, the Japanese did not dare to go too far.

But because of this, many refugees who were suffering in the occupied areas, progressive people who were exploited and persecuted by the Japanese puppet government, businessmen, and black market personnel also saw a glimmer of opportunity. As long as they could enter the concession, their lives would definitely be better than being controlled by the Japanese outside.

Therefore, a large amount of capital, enterprises and refugees poured into the concession, creating an abnormal prosperity of industry and commerce within the concession.

Shanghai during this period is also known as the Isolated Island Period because of the existence of concessions.

Many underground workers of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party were stationed in the concessions, and relying on the status of the concessions, they were able to carry out a series of operations.

Faced with these agents who were causing trouble right under their noses, the Japanese naturally had no good temper. They demanded that the concession authorities must ban anti-Japanese activities within the concession, and also demanded that the concession relax restrictions and allow Japanese military police to enter the concession to arrest people.

However, the historical situation underwent a slight change here.

That is, the concession authorities, who should have chosen to compromise due to the Japanese's strong power, became tough in the face of Japanese threats and demands.

The reason given is very simple. Since they are operating within the concession and abide by the laws and regulations within the concession, you Japanese have no right to ask us to ban their anti-Japanese activities. The concession is a national border. Do you think it is your Japanese back garden, allowing your military police to enter and leave as they please?
If you have the guts, bombard our concession now and declare open war on Britain, the United States and France. Otherwise, just stay here and be a watchdog!

Although it sounds encouraging, it is ultimately just a counterattack by the European and American powers who look down on the arrogant face of Japan, a small and poor country in East Asia that has developed. In essence, it is just about protecting and seizing food.

"So tough? Is this still the British and American powers I know?"

Listening to Zhang Zhiwei's story, Wang Yi was stunned. It didn't match what he remembered.

But looking at Zhang Zhiwei's mischievous eyes, Wang Yi also understood.

"It seems that my move to go overseas was not a mistake."

"Yes, it is indeed correct. I have also asked you about your opinion on the tough stance of the Concession authorities."

"Have you confessed to your husband?"

When Wang Yi heard Zhang Zhiwei mention the person in his heart, his expression also became nervous.

"Should I not confess?"

"No, I'm just afraid that the timing is wrong."

"Don't worry, I know what to say and what not to say. For some things, it is more appropriate for you to go and see Mr. Roosevelt in person and tell him after everything is settled. I will not interfere." Mr. Roosevelt said that Roosevelt was a capable guy. He would not sit idly by and watch the Japanese grow in power in Asia, and he also understood that the Japanese were now dependent on American products.

Having grasped the weakness of the Japanese, he only needed to send a spokesperson to convey his intentions to the Republic of China. With him as the backer, the Japanese would have to submit. If the Japanese really wanted to jump off the wall and declare war on Britain and the United States, Roosevelt would have an excuse to leave. Internally, he could integrate the voices of opposition within the country, and externally, he could also seize more resources and international status for the United States. He used a blunt knife to cut the meat, and forced the Japanese to shoot first. You made a very good move and chose a very good spokesperson. I am repeating these words, but I have not exaggerated them at all. "

"Hey, don't praise me like that. I don't have that kind of brain. It was Mr. Li who gave me the advice before he was executed. The bigger the tiger skin, the easier it is to get things done."

Wang Yi was also very happy when listening to Zhang Zhiwei's retelling of the original text. But after that, Wang Yi quickly adjusted his state.

"So because of the toughness of the concession authorities, the underground work there, whether it's on our side or the government's side, has also become tougher?"

"The word tough is not appropriate. It should be called crazy. Kill traitors, kill traitors, kill Japanese, ordinary people kill aliens, aliens kill ordinary people, ordinary people kill ordinary people, aliens fight each other, but how crazy it is, we can only know it when we get there."

"Yes, I am also looking forward to what expression Old Liu will have when he sees me. After all, the news of my reappearance is only known to Chief Zuo, Old Master Lu and a few others. In less than two days, I will run to Shanghai with you. I can't send a telegram, and not everyone has the means in the circle. I want to see what kind of crazy situation there is."

As they were talking, the train whistle sounded, and it was getting closer and closer to its final stop, Shanghai Beach.

At the same time, in Shanghai, the Concession.

Although Shanghai, as the largest city in the Far East and known as the Paris of the East, is a city that never sleeps, this is especially true in the concessions where industry and commerce are abnormally prosperous.

The term "Magic City" is not groundless.

But now it is the second half of the night. After the bright lights and wine and partying in the first half, everyone who needed to rest has rested in the second half.

Whether in the concession or in the Chinese area controlled by the Japanese, those who were still strolling on the streets at this time, except for the drunkards who had just finished drinking and left with singing girls and dancers, preparing to do some activities, the rest, whether in the open or in secret, were people with ulterior motives.

At this time, in the Nanshi area of ​​the Chinese territories controlled by the Japanese, it was a traditional Chinese settlement and also a concentration of Japanese puppet government agencies.

The building where the agency is located is brightly lit. There are security sentries at the door, standing guard every ten steps and every five steps, staring at the surroundings, not daring to let down their guard.

The staff who were off work also came in groups of three or five, coming and leaving in groups.

It is understandable. The current situation in Shanghai is like this. The French Concession is better. The attitude there is relatively soft. The Municipal Council in charge of the French Concession condoned the Japanese army's infiltration and causing trouble in its own concession.

But the British and American representatives on the International Settlement were very tough. They said, "You Japanese can come in to do business, but you want to cause trouble? No."

Similarly, those people in our concession can do business, carry out anti-Japanese propaganda and other non-violent activities, but if they want to cause trouble, they have to go to the Chinese area, and the same goes for you Japanese.

Regardless of whether you Japanese or the people in our concession are willing to cooperate, at least our attitude is clear: you Japanese have no right to teach us Europeans and Americans how to do things.

In such an environment, the Chinese area became the biggest stage for fighting between the Chinese and Japanese forces as well as for European and American spectators.

For these grassroots personnel who worked for the Japanese puppet government but were just trying to make a living, this was an unexpected disaster. As the saying goes, when gods fight, mortals suffer.

However, they overestimated their own status. At least for the three people who were hiding outside the Japanese puppet government building in the southern part of Huajie City, these grassroots staff of the Japanese puppet government were not their desired targets.

"Tsk, damn, these guys are really alert. It looks like they will stay in the building until daytime. The three of us have been squatting here all night. It turns out that we are being spied on by the guys during the day."

"There's nothing we can do about it. Among the three of us, only the Lu family's inherited Ruyi Jin has some penetration ability. Both of us are very skilled at hard-core fighting. If we really rush in, we'll be the ones to die."

Among the three, two of them were talking to each other, and their eyes were looking at the other young man who had been staring at the Japanese puppet government building.

Although he is not very old, compared to the two of them, this Lu Ji brother comes from the Lu family, one of the four famous families, and can be regarded as one of the seven most outstanding children of their Lu family of this generation.

During this period of cooperation, the three-person team also witnessed the power of the other party's Ruyi Power. They relied on the other party's Ruyi Power to help them in dangerous situations several times.

"Brother Lu, although our job now has become surveillance and the risk is not great, this great opportunity to make a contribution slipped away from us, and you didn't say a word?"

“Little by little, a lot can be achieved.”

"Brother Lu, you come from a famous family, so it's natural for you to talk without any worries. We both come from small sects. If the Japanese weren't so arrogant this time, and if I hadn't been beheaded and given a merit, I would have made a name for myself. Why would I do such a thing as hanging my head on my belt?"

"What Brother Lu said is true. In the past two years of fighting, many good fighters have died on both our side and the Japanese side. Surviving is a real skill these days. It's almost four o'clock now. Stop complaining. Why don't you take a nap? Brother Lu and I will keep an eye on the wheel for you?"

"Forget it. I don't even have the time to stay up late. All these skills will go to waste. Huh?"

As he was speaking, the man who was complaining also stuck his head out, stared at the Japanese puppet government building, and let out a surprised cry.

Because in the sight of the three of them, a student wearing a black stand-up collar uniform, which looked similar to the Japanese military uniform, paired with black straight trousers, and a hat with a chrysanthemum badge on his head walked out of the building and walked on the quiet street as if no one was around.

Not to mention whether it was strange for a Japanese student to appear in the Japanese puppet government building, the fact that he was holding a samurai sword was enough to attract the attention of Lu Ji and the other two people who were following him.

Because they could feel the murderous aura and the fluctuation of being an alien from this young-looking Japanese student.

"This kid doesn't look simple."

"Nonsense, anyone who dares to walk around alone at this time is either stupid or crazy. It just so happens that I was thinking about when I could make a great contribution, and now it's delivered to my doorstep."

"Brother, calm down. Do you think he is a fool?"

"Of course I know the other party is not stupid, but there are three of us and he is only one, and he is holding a knife. I have practiced the Golden Bell Cover, and I can withstand more than a dozen bullets. Why should I be afraid of his knife? We really can't win. I will cover the rear, and Brother Lu, you use Ruyi Jin to disturb the enemy, and we can retreat. How about it, Brother Lu, what do you think?"

"Done."

Lu Ji was a man of few words, and he also understood that his companion was right. In an attack of three against one, as long as they were sure that the other party was not lying in ambush or fishing, they could use the combination of the three skills, the Golden Bell Cover, the Head Shake, and the Ruyi Force, and there was no reason why they could not defeat the opponent and escape.

"Then, shall we follow?"

"Let's go and see what this Japanese guy is up to."

As they spoke, it seemed as if the Japanese student walking on the quiet street with a knife in his hand had become their defeated enemy. After finalizing the plan, Lu Ji and the other two stretched their muscles and used their skills to quietly follow.

Little did he know that this Higashiyama ninja named Eita had already noticed the three people from Ryuji who were following him.

(End of this chapter)