Chapter 8, The Longest Night (5)

Hearing this guy threaten himself in return, Yu Chen remained unfazed, but Lu Fengqiao's expression changed dramatically. He swung his gun and struck it against the man's head. Song Hanzhang let out a painful cry, fell to the ground, and the teacup in his hand shattered with a crisp sound. Blood immediately began to flow from his head, and Song Hanzhang let out a wail. He collapsed on the ground, crying out in agony.

He stood at a high place, waving his hand, while Chen Shanhe vigilantly positioned himself in front of him, pressing his hands against the two German Mauser pistols at his waist. Yu Chen shouted loudly: "Esteemed elders! I am Yu Chen, the new governor of Shanghai! This title of governor is merely nominal; in reality, I am the servant of the two million compatriots in Shanghai! The Qing Dynasty's rule in Shanghai has, up to this point, come to an end!"

Chen Qimei was truly at a loss for words. He really had no way to think of a solution. He could only emit heavy gasping sounds. Jiang Zhiqing, a younger brother whom Chen Qimei had brought back from Japan, though not very old, behaved with remarkable composure. He spoke with a strong Zhejiang accent and asked in confusion: "Since the two Lis can contact Yuchen, why can't we? This is a matter of being quick or being left behind."

Fu Mozheng also hailed from the Qing Gang and was a prominent figure in the core group of Chen Qimei's Huzhou faction. He looked coldly at Yang Hu and said, "Forget it, Li Pingshu and Li Xiehe are rushing to visit that Rain Governor. If they cooperate with him, the Rain Governor has troops and guns, and the two Lis represent the prominent figures in Shanghai, with connections to the foreigners. How much storm can our Qing Gang stir up? They say there are one hundred thousand disciples, but those who can resolutely follow us are only a few thousand, with a few dozen handguns. What use is that?" He flipped through the notices in his hand, which were all torn from the streets. "There are public announcements for maintaining peace, recruitment notices, and proclamations calling for the abdication of the Qing Emperor... all sorts of things. With such a definite name, we find ourselves in a difficult position.

Yuchen smiled and said, "Mr. Song, have you not made up your mind yet? The demands of this governor are not excessive."

Chen Qimei's bedroom was already crowded with people. Servants were bustling back and forth, continuously bringing in tea and snacks. Chen Qimei sat cross-legged on the bed, looking haggard, while two maids brought back from Japan were massaging his shoulders. He frowned, listening to his subordinates discussing among themselves.

At this moment, Song Hanzhang truly surrendered. He had been unknowingly bound here. Now, during this chaotic time, the second-rate governor killing himself was no different from killing a chicken. He did not even dare to wipe the blood from his head, sitting up to genuinely discuss substantive issues with Yuchen. This was because the Qing government was deploying troops in Wuchang, and the urgency for funds was as pressing as a blazing fire. The Bank of Great Qing was almost operating on a pay-as-you-go basis, and at this time, there were only two million in available funds. Yuchen and he agreed to allocate one million nine hundred thousand taels of silver from Guanping. In the morning, someone was sent to take Song's hand slip to collect the check, which was then brought back for Song to sign, stamp, and endorse. This amount would be transferred to the account that Chen Sanye and others had opened at the HSBC in the British concession, and upon receipt of the funds, he would be released. The old man could take his much more than three hundred thousand in accumulated wealth and enjoy a life of comfort as a guest.

He stepped out of the bedroom, stood at the steps, and watched the officers and soldiers who had been busy all night yet remained full of energy coming and going. In their eyes, there was only the purest joy and the most fervent longing for the future. Chen Shanhe was in the ranks, singing the Huang Clan song loudly, directing the soldiers as they transported weapons

He looked at Chen Qimei and said sincerely: "You and I have been friends for over ten years. I came here specifically to urge you. Whether the Rain Chen is a true or false member of the Tongmenghui, we need not concern ourselves with that! Managing this great Shanghai still requires our efforts. You should put aside your pride and make some connections! I have matters to attend to at the Consultative Council and must return soon"

Watching Lü Fengqiao drag Song Hanzhang up like a dead pig, Yu Chen disdainfully said: "It's surprising that you still know you are Han! The summer taxes collected from various provinces, aren't they all funneled through your Shanghai Da Qing Bank from the fertile lands of the southeast? I dare not say more at this moment, but there are certainly six to seven million; can't you even scrape together two million? Are you hoping to keep it for the Manchu Qing to prolong their life? Fengqiao, no need to say more, just take him out and execute him, so I don't have to look at him and feel annoyed"

Chen Qimei, upon hearing his words, slammed the bed in anger: "I won't go! This guy is using our Alliance's name to issue proclamations; I am the one in charge of the Alliance in Shanghai! I want to see how he meets his end!" The people below were in heated discussion, and quite a few agreed with Jiang Zhiqing's opinion, believing they should participate in this newly formed military government. Everyone was eager, not caring who would be the governor; securing a position in the new government was what mattered. They were risking their lives for the revolution, wasn't this what they had been waiting for? Chen Qimei was so furious that he rolled his eyes in exasperation on the bed.

Only after finishing this matter did Yuchen finally breathe a sigh of relief, as fatigue suddenly washed over him. He called for someone to bring cold water to wash his face and to refresh his spirits. The night was nearly over. The tasks he had anticipated were mostly completed smoothly, but what should he do next? Or to put it more broadly, what were his aspirations moving forward? Should he enjoy a few days of luxury as the Governor of Shanghai, make a substantial profit, and then flee overseas to live in comfort? Or should he do his utmost to change the intertwined history of blood, fire, and tears that China would face in the coming decades? This might be too heavy a burden.

This is the weather of early autumn, in Shanghai at four thirty in the morning on October 28, 1911, the night remains dark and heavy. Under the cover of this night, countless individuals are still unaware of the changes unfolding in this Far Eastern city, as they continue to rush about. This night has yet to pass.

Shen Enfu, drenched in sweat, exclaimed: "Gentlemen, how can you be so foolish! It is now clear that this military government has been established. We can discuss future matters slowly. After all, Shanghai is our territory. That Governor Yu merely has a few troops; can he really dominate us in the long run? By joining now, we gain legitimacy, and what can't we do in the future? Ping Shu is clever; he has secured the finances. Old Ji also wishes to retain the Advisory Council. By joining now, we gain legitimacy, and what can't we do in the future? Ping Shu is clever; he has secured the finances. Old Ji also wishes to retain the Advisory Council. Yet you are still here acting as if nothing is happening!"

But... is the direction one believes to be correct necessarily the right one

Yang Hu was still shouting there: "Our Qing Gang has one hundred thousand disciples, united through thick and thin. Let's simply turn Shanghai upside down! That Yu Chen, who knows where he came from, is just a river dragon; no matter how powerful he is, he cannot surpass us local snakes!"

This fellow is surprisingly defiant, Yu Chen sneered: "Back in the day, when Tie Liang wanted to organize the Imperial Guard for the Manchus, you ran around tirelessly, securing 800,000 from the manufacturing bureau, 400,000 from the Shanghai customs, and 500,000 from the Nanjing autumn tax remittance. Additionally, you also diverted 370,000 from the salt tax guarantee. With just this, I, as the governor, could take your life! This is nothing but the hard-earned money of our Han people! Now, if you simply return this amount to us Han people, it would already be exceedingly gracious of you. If you continue to stall and resist, as a governor of the Shanghai military government, do you think I cannot execute a high official and lackey of the Qing dynasty?"

Yuchen coldly said: "As for the woodcutter, there is no need to go to such lengths. After all, he is a person of some standing. Since he has no intention of redeeming himself, it is fine to execute him. I want to see which foreigner dares to come to this governor to settle accounts. Here in Shanghai, this governor is the one in charge!"

Listening to the sounds of the crowd cheering, shouting, and applauding. Rain and Tu Shuchen felt a slight sense of satisfaction: "Shanghai has just been restored, and there are still many matters for my brothers to attend to, so I cannot chat with you elders for long. This afternoon at Zhang Garden, we will hold a celebration conference for the success of the restoration, and we can have a good talk then. The streets are not very quiet at the moment, so I suggest you elders return home for now! There will be many opportunities for collaboration in the future!" This afternoon at Zhang Garden, we will hold a celebration conference for the success of the restoration, and we can have a good talk then. The streets are not very quiet at the moment, so I suggest you elders return home for now! There will be many opportunities for collaboration in the future!

Chen Qimei jumped down from the bed and grabbed Shen Enfu's hand: "What? Is Elder Ji also going to pay a visit to that fellow? Didn't he agree with our Alliance?"

This is precisely the darkest hour before dawn. Rain Chen sighed silently; since he had already been deeply entangled in history, he had also made a small change to its course. For the sake of his identity as a Chinese, for the bloodline of the Yan and Huang ancestors that had been passed down for thousands of years, and for the lovely youth before him, he could only continue to persevere, attempting to steer history in what he believed to be a better direction

Nodding hurriedly, he stuffed the notice into Chen Qimei's hand and quickly turned to run out. Chen Qimei glanced at the notice, which indeed bore the bright red seal of Minister of Civil Affairs Li Xiehe, calling for the reassurance of merchants and gentry, urging against the closure of the market, while simultaneously warning the unscrupulous not to take advantage of the chaos. He crumpled the notice into a ball: "Damn the Restoration Society! We can no longer wait. Let’s head to the Arsenal immediately to see that Governor Yu!"

Song Hanzhang raised his head to glance at Yuchen, then lowered it again. In a faint voice, he said: "You are all members of the Nationalist Party; how can you act like bandits? If revolution is truly conducted in this manner, it would be better to become bandits instead."

This portly gentleman, adorned with a second-rank official cap, is none other than Mr. Song Hanzhang, the chief officer of the Great Qing Bank in Shanghai and a candidate for the provincial post in Jiangsu. He was forcibly taken from the concession by Chen San and others, as assigned by Yu Chen. In such chaos tonight, who knows where he has gone

This new governor indeed speaks in a very polite and humble manner, although the soldiers under mhetushucomcom are somewhat fierce. The flow of people on the street shows no sign of dispersing; in fact, the firecrackers are becoming more and more numerous and dense. Rain Chen performed a circular bow to everyone and then walked back towards the manufacturing bureau

At this moment, Yu Chen was engaged in extortion. He sat in his bedroom, holding a bowl of tea, completely indifferent to the uproar outside. He observed a stout gentleman sitting there with his head bowed, sipping tea. The gentleman was dressed in extravagant attire, with a fine melon-shaped hat adorned with a precious jade. However, his clothes were wrinkled and disheveled, his complexion pale, and his hair unkempt. Although he tried to appear calm, his hands trembled slightly, causing the teacup he held to clink incessantly. Lu Fengqiao stood behind him with two guards, coldly scrutinizing him, his automatic pistol held at the ready, gesturing menacingly behind his back.

Song Hanzhang immediately softened: "I was kidnapped in the concession! You are violating the laws of the concession. If you harm me, the foreigners will not let you go!"

Lü Fengqiao responded with a sound, reaching out to pull Song Hanzhang. He let out a scream akin to that of a slaughtered pig, having lost all semblance of spirit long ago: "I will! I will! But two million is too large a sum. The bank cannot disburse it all at once. Personally, I have around three hundred thousand, all accumulated over my half a lifetime in officialdom, which I will give entirely to the governor, as a show of support for the revolution. I am also a Han Chinese!"

While speaking, Mr. Zhang Jizhi was followed closely by Shen Enfu, a member of the Shanghai Advisory Council, who rushed in, drenched in sweat. Even before he fully entered the room, his loud voice could be heard throughout: "Ying Shi, what are you still doing sitting here? A new announcement has come out, and Ping Shu and Xie He have both been appointed to the Shanghai Military Government, one as the Minister of Civil Affairs and the other as the Minister of Finance. Are you still sitting here in comfort? Mr. Ji has already arranged to meet with the Rain Governor tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock with the gentlemen of the Advisory Council! What are you waiting for sitting here?"