A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

Chapter 239: Escape

Chen Guangliang brought Yan Renmei, Yang Hui and Chen Guangcong to a villa on Xiafei Road.

"We'll be staying here temporarily for the time being!"

The three of them were stunned, wondering why they suddenly had to move?

Yan Renmei asked, "Why are you moving so suddenly without any preparation?"

Chen Guangliang said, "I'm not moving, I'm just staying here temporarily. Judging from the situation over the past few days, I'm afraid the Japanese are going to attack Shanghai. Given my previous attitude towards Japan, I'm worried that the Japanese will launch a surprise attack on Weihai Road."

Even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, Chen Guangliang would not gamble with his life. When dealing with ordinary spies, Chen Guangliang believed that he had enough means to protect himself, but when it came to bombs falling from the sky, he was still very vulnerable.

Upon hearing this, Yan Renmei immediately supported it, saying, "It's better to be safe than sorry. It's a good idea for us to stay here for a while."

Yang Hui also quickly said: "I'll clean it up right away!"

Chen Guangliang smiled and said, "There's no need to worry, we can just move in quietly. The house on Weihai Road has normal security, so we can just stay here quietly for a while."

"it is good"

Without further ado, everyone took a look at the new home.

Why did Chen Guangliang choose the house on Xiafei Road instead of the one on Yuyuan Road? Because Yuyuan Road was on the outskirts of the concession and was still not considered safe.

It is a fact that the relationship between France and Japan was better and the French Concession was safer.

After making some arrangements, Chen Guangliang left and left the rest of the matters to his family. He still had many plans.

At the security company base on Yuyuan Road, Chen Guangliang called Zhou Xinggao and Lin Feng, the two people he trusted most.

"Here are fifty-seven envelopes. Please deliver them to the heads of the companies and organizations listed on the envelopes. However, please try not to reveal your identities. Also, please be aware that these are very important letters and that you cannot claim it was my arrangement!"

The two took the envelope and said in unison without asking any extra questions, "Okay, we'll do it right away!"

Chen Guangliang nodded and said, "Everything is predetermined by heaven. Just do as I say. There's no need to be nervous!"

"Ok"

Afterwards, the two of them went out to do their business.

The content in the envelope was very simple. It was nothing more than: analyzing the Japanese conspiracy starting from the "Japanese Monk Incident" and the current situation in Shanghai, asserting that Japan might bomb Zhabei and Hunan in the near future, and asking the above companies to consider transferring equipment and important assets, and to do so in a low-key and confidential manner to avoid being sabotaged by Japanese spies.

Chen Guangliang was not worried about exposing himself. After all, his suggestions were based on an analysis of events that had already occurred, and were not fabricated out of thin air.

Originally, he wanted to analyze it in the newspaper, but thinking about the attitude of the Southern Whale side - he felt that Japan was just intimidating and strictly ordered the 19th Army not to clash; considering the attitude of the Southern Whale side, Chen Guangliang decided not to confront it and could only do it privately.

In this era, Chen Guangliang's character certainly still has a "selfish" side, but he has already integrated into this era, so how could he not make his own contribution?

Having lost so much property, we should try to recover as much as possible. This nation has suffered enough already.

Although the capitalists’ wealth is recovered, if the capitalists’ factories are gone, how will they feed the workers?
Moreover, some of the above units are Shanghai Radio Factory, schools, etc.

Wusong Yong'an Second Cotton Mill.

Guo Linshuang hurried over and the factory director Zheng Ruhong handed him a letter.

"Boss, I really can't make the decision on this matter, so I'm urgently inviting you to come and discuss it."

Guo Linshuang rushed over because Zheng Ruhong said on the phone that there was something extremely urgent, so he naturally did not dare to delay.

Then he began to read the letter.

"Who delivered the letter?"

"According to the people below, the messenger deliberately lowered his hat, so his identity is unknown. Furthermore, the content was printed before it was published, so there's no way of knowing it."

Guo Linshuang paced back and forth in the office, becoming hesitant.

"Is the financial list ready?"

"Oh, I'll get ready right away!"

"hurry up"

"it is good"

After a while, Zheng Ruhong came back in a hurry and took out a stack of information.

Guo Linshuang took the trouble to read it.

"The cotton and spinning machines in their original boxes are worth nearly 200 million."

Zheng Ruhong asked, "Boss, do you mean to move the goods stored in the warehouse just in case?"

Guo Linshuang glanced at the letter again and said, "This person has a printer, which means he's quite prominent. His analysis is also very accurate (Japan's aircraft carriers in the north are already parked off Shanghai). The risk is extremely high. However, moving the factory would be too disruptive, and we might not be able to do it in time, so we can only consider moving the inventory to the concession first."

Zheng Ruhong said, "But where in the concession is there a warehouse for us?"

Guo Linshuang said decisively, "Move to my villa. It will take at most half a month to confirm the truth of the matter. Oh, and the letter suggests that it's best to move at night to avoid Japanese spies. So, let's do it tonight."

"Ok"

Like the Yong'an Second Cotton Mill, factories such as the Rong family were also warned.

Everyone basically held the idea that it was better to believe it than not to believe it, and started to transfer a batch of equipment and raw materials that were easy to transfer.

For a while, things began to be moved out of the storage warehouse at Zhabei Railway Station frequently at night.

The Japanese would not understand what this meant. First, it was night time. Second, there were truck movements during normal times. Finally, they themselves might not have received any orders.

Of course, there are also a small number of factories and units that believe in Nanjing’s predictions, so they ignore it; or, they just tentatively transfer some.

Although some factories were not notified, they were also notified by related factories and some assets were escaped.

On January 1932, 1, Murai issued an ultimatum to the Shanghai authorities of China. The Nanjing National Government and all walks of life in Shanghai demanded that SH Chief Executive Wu Tiecheng fully agree to Japan's unreasonable demands.

At this moment, many people from all walks of life in Shanghai panicked, because at this time, the shadow of "Japan's invincibility" was more serious.

Unity is unity, but when it comes to whether Shanghai will be involved in the war, the rich and powerful are more inclined to "calm the anger of the Japanese."

But sometimes, your enemies won’t pity you unless you show weakness.

At the Times Cinema, Chen Guangliang, accompanied by Zhang Yuanji and others, was visiting the transferred precious books.

Zhang Yuanji said gratefully, "If it weren't for the truck fleet and cinema provided by Mr. Chen, we really wouldn't have been able to move this batch of precious books so quickly."

Chen Guangliang deliberately said, "I'm afraid that if Mayor Wu agrees to the Japanese's request, everyone will make a wasted trip."

Zhang Yuanji immediately said, "Mr. Chen, regardless of whether this incident will happen or not, we regard you as our benefactor. After all, as you said, Chinese culture should not be put at risk." Chen Guangliang then said with satisfaction, "I'm relieved to hear Mr. Xiaozhai's words. In fact, even if Mayor Wu agreed to Japan's request, this war is inevitable, because Japan will not give up until its goal is achieved!"

Zhang Yuanji and others were immediately worried. Zhang Yuanji even asked, "Is Japan really going to occupy Shanghai?"

Chen Guangliang then added, "I've had people ask around, and they think it's impossible for Japan to capture the city with its current troop deployment. This assumes the 19th Route Army actually fights the war."

Everyone is worried about this situation, but there is nothing they can do.

Zhang Yuanji nodded and said, "That's the truth. We can only wait and see. By the way, thank you Mr. Chen for sending another security team to protect this place. It gives us peace of mind."

They were also well aware of the name of this security team. When six fierce bandits tried to assassinate Chen Guangliang, they refused to kill any of them.

Chen Guangliang said: "Just pay me some money later."

Zhang Yuanji smiled and said, "It should be."

Chen Guangliang said: "The reward I want is not money, but the opportunity to learn and visit."

Zhang Yuanji immediately said: "You are welcome anytime."

In the cinema, Zhang Yuanji and others sent people to guard it 24 hours a day, not because they were worried about Chen Guangliang's safety, but because these books were too precious.

If buildings, equipment, etc. are gone, you can still buy them with money;
But these ancient books are gone, so how can money buy them?

At 1:28 on January 13, Wu Tiecheng replied to Wencunjing, accepting all the unreasonable demands put forward by the Japanese side.

When the news first came out, many people breathed a sigh of relief.

Some factory owners who have already moved their belongings even blamed the "informer" for being nosy and worrying too much, causing them so much trouble.

But, fortunately, they were not stupid enough to send the goods back on the same day.

At 11:5 that night, the SH Municipal Public Security Bureau received a reply letter from Murai of the Japanese side to Wu Tiecheng and the director of the SH Municipal Public Security Bureau, expressing "satisfaction" with Shanghai's acceptance of Japan's four demands, but demanding that the Chinese army withdraw from Zhabei on the grounds of protecting overseas Chinese.

It was already 11:25 when Wu Tiecheng received the reply letter.

At 11:30, without waiting for a reply from China, the Japanese army launched an attack on the Chinese garrison in Zhabei. Weng Zhaoyuan's troops of the 78th Brigade of the 156th Division of the 6th Route Army immediately rose up to resist (part of the th Regiment of the Military Police that came to relieve the defense also fought together).

The Battle of Shanghai broke out.

After dawn on January 1, the Japanese army launched a series of fierce attacks under the cover of armored vehicles. Japanese planes also took off from the aircraft carrier "Notoro" and bombarded the Zhabei and Nanshi areas. The war spread rapidly.

The sound of the explosion could be heard throughout Shanghai, and for a moment the Shanghai market was like hell.

At around 10 a.m., Japanese planes dropped bombs, and the Commercial Press headquarters and the Oriental Library were burned down by fire.

It is obvious that the targets of Japan's bombing this time are: cultural institutions, communication institutions, educational institutions, and large factories. Its purpose is to fundamentally undermine the Chinese people's resistance and cultivate more traitors and running dogs in the future.

same moment.

Chen Guangliang inspected the work at the Yangtze River Taxi Head Office on Fuzhou Road.

"Have all taxis in Zhabei and Hunan been withdrawn?"

Liang Mengqi immediately said, "We completely withdrew from these two areas at 5:00 AM yesterday. We lied to our customers and said that Japan had blocked the sea and Shanghai was temporarily short of gasoline. We apologized."

This reason is full of loopholes, but it is still a reason.

Chen Guangliang didn't know when Japan launched the bombing on January 1, but he knew that in that era, the bombing must have taken place during the day, so he asked taxis in Zhabei and Shanghai South areas to return to the concession at dawn.

Little did they know that the "January 1 Incident" occurred late at night, and Japanese planes did not officially bomb until the morning of January 29.

But it doesn’t matter, there’s no problem arriving a day in advance.

He is responsible for the lives of his subordinates, and at the same time he must protect his property as much as possible.

If he wants to "save the country and the people", he is not suitable to shout slogans, but to donate money and materials.

Chen Guangliang immediately said, "I will immediately arrange for fifteen trucks. I will be donating a batch of supplies to the 19th Route Army and will also donate these trucks. Therefore, the drivers must select those who are willing to do the job."

It is definitely not possible to donate now. After all, there is no channel. If we are busy with the operation, it may be intercepted by the Japanese, which would be aiding the enemy.

Liang Mengqi didn't dare to delay and said, "Okay, I'll get ready right away."

He had purchased a batch of supplies from warehouses, bases, and stores in the concession, loading them onto fifteen trucks, ready to donate to the 19th Route Army.

Of course, we still have to wait for the organization's arrangements and then send it out through safe channels, otherwise we will be like a headless fly.

Chen Guangliang then came to the Times Cinema, the exterior of which was still disguised as a construction site, after all, because they were worried about sabotage by Japanese spies. In addition, Chen Guangliang sent 12 armed security guards to guard here, and also made arrangements for the detectives of the police station.

When Zhang Yuanji saw Chen Guangliang coming, he lowered his head and was about to salute. Fortunately, Chen Guangliang was quick to support Zhang Yuanji.

"Mr. Xiaozhai, what are you doing?"

Zhang Yuanji lamented, "If it weren't for Mr. Chen, the Commercial Press and the Oriental Library would have been destroyed. Buildings and machinery can be purchased, but if these books and ancient volumes were destroyed, it would be a disaster for the Chinese nation."

Can we avoid this kind of disaster in the future?
Chen Guangliang couldn't help but think, if I can save him once, can I save him twice?

If it's one of our own who takes action, how can we prevent it?

Of course, the collection of ancient books should not be taken by our own people.

Chen Guangliang said, "Mr. Xiaozhai, you must immediately announce to the public that the books have been destroyed. Do not disclose the secrets here. The enemy has targeted the Commercial Press and the Oriental Library, which shows that their goal is clear. This place is not 100% safe."

Zhang Yuanji nodded and said, "I understand. I will announce it immediately. Please be cautious."

At this time, he did not feel sad about the bombing of the Commercial Press and the Oriental Library, but instead thought that he had escaped a disaster.

With these precious ancient books and rare books, the Commercial Press and the Oriental Library were able to be rebuilt quickly after the war.

Then, Chen Guangliang couldn't help but say, "Mr. Xiaozhai, these are war-torn times. Even if China and Japan stop fighting now, there will surely be a full-scale war in the future. It's not necessarily a good thing for you to gather such a treasured collection of Chinese treasures together. Of course, this is just my personal opinion!"

Zhang Yuanji and others were stunned, and then they understood what Chen Guangliang meant.

These treasures were originally scattered across China, but now they are concentrated in one place. If the next war comes, won’t they all be wiped out?

Zhang Yuanji said sincerely: "This suggestion is a lesson learned through blood and tears. We will definitely consider this issue seriously afterwards."

Chen Guangliang nodded and said nothing more!
In fact, the subsequent processing is also very simple, which is to store some treasures in safes across the country.

It’s the same as doing business: don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Afterwards, Chen Guangliang quickly left the place and instructed his subordinates to protect the place with all their strength.

His security company's team members' combat proficiency and loyalty are all cultivated rigorously and scientifically; especially their loyalty, the 'retirement system' alone is enough to make people work hard, because they don't have to worry about anything, their families are supported by the company.

(End of this chapter)