Chapter Four, The Longest Night (I)
Li Xie and Kan looked at his ashen face, hurriedly descending the steps two at a time, and asked curiously: "Ping Shu, what on earth has happened?"
He rarely stayed home today, conserving his energy and preparing for significant days ahead, receiving guests throughout the day. He only fell into a vague sleep around ten o'clock. However, after about an hour, he was awakened by several people. His brothers, such as Yang Hu, Fu Mozheng, and Jiang Zhiqing, all looked extremely anxious: "Ying Shi, the sky is falling! We don't know where the troublemakers have started their uprising! We saw them heading towards the South Market, and now we fear the police headquarters has been attacked!" His brothers, like Yang Hu, Fu Mozheng, and Jiang Zhiqing, all looked extremely anxious: "Ying Shi, the sky is falling! We don't know where the troublemakers have started their uprising! We saw them heading towards the South Market, and now we fear the police headquarters has been attacked!"
10:00 PM on October 27, 1911
Yang Hu, be a bit more composed: "They are not from here, they look unfamiliar, their uniforms are neat, as if they are regular troops. They are not from Shanghai." Chen Qimei immediately cursed a few times and started pacing around. Suddenly, he commanded: "Quickly contact Li Pingshu and tell him to gather the business group! Mo Zheng, you go to the Zhabei Police Headquarters and bring out Chen Wenqin's security team! Shanghai is my territory, I must give those red bastards a good show! Mo Zheng, you go to the Zhabei Police Headquarters and bring out Chen Wenqin's security team! Shanghai is my territory, I must give those red bastards a good show!" Seeing these people rushing off, he jumped to the table, rang the bell for the servant, and after just two rings, he angrily overturned the table.
Xu Hanzhang was standing by the window, observing everything below, and glancing at the dragon flag being pulled down. The Qing Dynasty had finally reached this day. He had been waiting for such a day, yet deep down, he always feared its arrival. As he watched the dragon flag being taken down, a wave of cheers and applause erupted from the courtyard. At that moment, the door was also burst open, and two riflemen along with a valiant young officer entered.
Xu Hanzhang chuckled self-deprecatingly: "I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly. Where is Brother Ying Shi?"
Li Ping jumped into the carriage, and as soon as he got in, he eagerly instructed the driver: "It's not him! Chen Yingshi was so anxious that he was jumping up and down, truly at a loss as to where this mysterious figure had come from!"
Upon reaching the entrance of the police headquarters, the several stationed officers appeared to breathe a sigh of relief as they surrendered their firearms. Wu Cai commanded the troops to immediately take positions on the roof, aiming their rifles into the courtyard. He himself led a company, striding purposefully towards the library.
At that moment, Li Pingshu was in a foreigner's residence on Beliria Road in the French Concession, engaging in light-hearted conversation with several directors of the Municipal Council. Li Xie and others were sitting beside him, smiling in agreement. Li Pingshu was proficient in French and was gradually steering the conversation towards the main topic, which was when the consuls of various countries would officially recognize the Nationalist Party as a legitimate belligerent group. Suddenly, the foreign butler entered with a young man dressed in a long gown. The young man, not having time to greet them, hurriedly whispered something in Li Pingshu's ear. The foreign butler entered with a young man dressed in a long gown. The young man, not having time to greet them, hurriedly whispered something in Li Pingshu's ear.
Li Ping was taken aback, causing the half cup of coffee in his hand to spill onto the floor. Ignoring the curious gazes of the foreigners, he quickly apologized and pulled Li Xie away as they left.
As they progressed, the Second Division had grown bizarrely large. Wu Cai was sweating profusely, desperately directing the troops forward. Before his departure, Yu Chen had only told him one word: "Fast!" He believed that only speed could catch the enemy off guard, but he did not realize that Yu Chen's intention had another layer: to be so fast that local power brokers like Chen Qimei and Li Pingshu would be unable to react, thus allowing him to seize Shanghai.
Chen Qimei was also stamping his feet in his own residence: "Where exactly is that red-haired fellow from the library?"
Nanshi is the oldest district in Shanghai and also the center of the Chinese community in the city. Therefore, the Shanghai Police Headquarters is established here to maintain public order (in addition, there is a North Zhabei Police Headquarters). Besides the more than 2,000 police officers stationed in various patrols and police stations throughout Nanshi, there are also 200 mounted police directly under the department, all equipped with German-made Mauser rifles. It is said that Chen Yingshi and his associates have already done a lot of liaison work, and these grassroots officers are eagerly awaiting action. The chief administrator of the bureau, Xu Hanzhang, is from the north and has long been in communication with Chen Qimei and others, promising to remain neutral and maintain public order when the time comes. Chen Qimei also readily agreed to continue serving after the restoration. However, being quite cautious in his heart, he only issued five bullets to each officer, fearing that something might go wrong.
Yuchen closed the pocket watch in his hand; he had already changed into the new military uniform. The officer's cap was worn perfectly, and his riding boots shone brightly. This time, he was truly going to fight for his life. He had taken the supplies from several of his subordinate officers and donned them, determined to die with some dignity.
He silently screamed in his heart, yet he still steadily waved his hand and the book. Over 400 officers and soldiers, their arms wrapped in white towels, quickly surged out from the cabins of several large ships. They first occupied the warehouse, gathering several small committee members and dock workers in one place, leaving a detachment of two squads to guard the rear at the dock. They then split into two groups, one detachment heading to the southern market and the other to the Gaochang Temple
Chen Qimei immediately fell out of bed and jumped up barefoot: "Is it Li Pingshu and the others?"
Xu Hanzhang was momentarily stunned, murmuring and unsure of what to say. He watched as several people rummaged through his official seals and large stamp. He touched his scalp and muttered, "That red-haired Chen Yingshi!"
Wu Caipai patted him on the shoulder: "What are you all doing?" The officer waved his hand: "Please follow me"
Since fate has played tricks on him to bring him here, he has become somewhat indifferent to his own life. Yet, within his heart, a fire burns ever more fiercely. Let me see what I can accomplish in this era! Let me see what impact I can have on history! Let me see if I am still that man who is irresponsible about everything! Now, my actions are even a responsibility towards history!
Under the cover of night, the Second Division, familiar with the terrain, swiftly approached the southern city, guided by officers from the Army Academy. Along the way, they encountered several patrol officers, who either disarmed themselves or voluntarily joined their ranks. Some bold citizens who came across them even followed behind. Others offered directions and advice. The people of Shanghai were well aware that the liberation of Shanghai was only a matter of time, eagerly awaiting this day as if it were a festival.
Li Pingshu angrily said: "The world has turned upside down! A group of people has already started a rebellion against us! I heard they have occupied the Shanghai Police Headquarters! We must hurry back to the manufacturing bureau and quickly gather the business group!"
Li Xie and He also changed their expressions and started running together: "Isn't this the good deed of Chen Yingshi?"
Wu Caiban wore a stern expression as he looked at the head of the chief officer, whose forehead was pale and whose hair was slick with oil. A wave of disgust washed over him: "I do not know who this 'Brother Yingshi' is. We are the Chinese Soviet Shanghai Revolutionary Army! (This name was changed by Yu Chen.) Please expedite the process, as I have many matters to attend to"
Dozens of mounted police officers, armed and in formation, approached and first saluted Wu Cai, saying: "The sixty remaining mounted patrol officers and soldiers are all here, awaiting the handover from the officer in charge"