Chapter 63 The Moon of Yesteryear
There was no response.
Zhang Mingyuan unconsciously curled his index finger, a sign of his nervousness.
He had been in contact with Fujian just two days ago, but after the gunfight today, although the contact was still established, there was no response, which made him wonder.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes. Cai Huai checked the time, still holding onto hope, "Let's wait a little longer, perhaps something has delayed us."
At that moment, in the Fujian Regional Headquarters, Secretary Li, who was in the mailroom, slightly curled the corners of his lips, lit the telegram that had come from Shanghai, and then picked up the other documents and headed to the conference room.
Before even getting close, one could hear the constant cursing coming from the conference room. Everyone inside had their heads down and dared not speak, as the bigwigs above them cursed each other more and more fiercely—or rather, it was Chen unilaterally cursing Cai.
Clang—
Even the most good-tempered person couldn't stand this humiliation, let alone someone with a bad temper. Commander Cai kicked over a chair and left the meeting room. Chen Zhenru was even angrier and said to the two people next to her, "Ren Chao, Jingran, did I say something wrong? He still has the nerve to say that my military deployment is wrong. He served under me thirteen years ago, and I personally introduced him to the Party. I think he's become more famous and doesn't want to be managed!"
When the topic of joining the Party came up, Li Renchao's expression turned sour. At the Central Standing Committee meeting a few days ago, he was expelled from the Party "forever." This was the second time. Although he opposed Chiang Kai-shek, he was not against the Party, so it was understandable that he felt depressed.
"Alright, Zhenru, stop talking. You know what Xianchu is like. It's normal for people to have disagreements. Let's talk things out. Why are you so angry, especially in front of so many people?"
Jiang Jingran was having a headache from all the commotion, but he couldn't persuade anyone. Before the meeting, he had told Cai not to offer any opinions on the military deployment, but well, he was scolded in front of so many people, and he lost all face.
Zhenru is the same; she doesn't give people any face at all.
Li Renchao timely changed the subject, "How did Director Xu's trip to the front lines in western Fujian to discuss cooperation with the Red Army in opposing Chiang Kai-shek and resisting Japan go?"
They originally planned to join forces with Guangdong and Guangxi to overthrow Chiang Kai-shek's regime, elect Hu Jintao to organize an independent government, or unite with Li Keqiang and Bai Juyi in Guangxi to deal with Chen Bonan in Guangdong, seize Guangdong, and then oppose Chiang Kai-shek. However, these plans all failed, or rather, they did not receive any response.
But just two months ago, the 19th Army suffered a heavy blow from the Fujian Red Army. Now they are facing a situation where if they do not "suppress the Communists," they will be eliminated by Chiang Kai-shek, and if they do "suppress the Communists," they will be annihilated by the Red Army. The situation is dire, and they have no choice but to take the last resort and join forces with the Red Army.
This topic eased the atmosphere at the meeting, and someone immediately stood up to report, "Director Xu will sign an agreement in Ruijin with the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic and the plenipotentiary representatives of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. The agreement will include an immediate cessation of military operations, the resumption of commodity trade, the release of political prisoners in Fujian, and military preparations for anti-Japanese and anti-Chiang Kai-shek campaigns."
If the two sides cooperate, they will surely achieve the goal of opposing Chiang Kai-shek and resisting Japan!
But no one has ever said that signing an agreement guarantees cooperation and the achievement of the final goal.
At this time, conflicts also broke out in the Central Soviet Area. "Li Renchao is just a warlord! The Fujian Provincial People's Government is just an opportunist! How could they possibly cooperate with us sincerely?"
Yes, the upper echelons of the 19th Army opposed Chiang Kai-shek's exclusion of dissidents, but didn't they also oppose the Soviet revolutionary movement led by the CCP? They advocated resisting Japan and saving the nation, yet they suppressed the people's anti-Japanese patriotic movement! They forcefully suppressed our underground workers and the people's anti-Japanese patriotic movement in various parts of Fujian and within the 19th Route Army!
Don't forget, just last August, they massacred sixty-nine of our comrades!
Some people objected, saying, "This year we issued the 'Declaration of Joint Resistance Against Japan,' expressing our willingness to cooperate with any armed force in the fight against Japan. If we refuse to join forces with the 19th Army, wouldn't that be a blatant violation of the declaration? Moreover, the 19th Army has already made its stance clear."
Chiang Kai-shek signed a traitorous agreement. The 19th Army has abandoned any illusions about Chiang changing course and leading the resistance against Japan. They are determined to overthrow the Nanjing government, unite all anti-Japanese forces, and promote a nationwide war of resistance—this aligns with our goals!
"I also agree. The people's call for resistance against Japan is growing stronger every day, and foreign enemies are eyeing us covetously. We should put aside our past grievances, work together, and cooperate to resist Japan!"
"I agree... This is a favorable opportunity for the Red Army to break through the fifth 'encirclement and suppression' campaign."
"No, I object... The centrists are the most dangerous enemies."
......
Even though there were dissenting voices at the meeting, the voices in favor ultimately prevailed, and the anti-Chiang Kai-shek and anti-Japanese agreement was successfully signed. At the same time, the Central Soviet Area also sent an official letter to the Fuzhou Central Municipal Committee, instructing them to adopt a policy of active cooperation with the People's Revolutionary Government and the 19th Route Army.
Zhang Mingyuan and Cai Huai, who were far away by the sea in Shanghai, had not received any news and immediately decided to return to Fujian.
Because the future was uncertain, the two left Xie Ning and the seriously wounded behind and left with their men, planning to come back for Xie Ning once things became clearer.
This decision was exactly what Xie Ning wanted. She didn't want to go to Fujian and get caught up in the conflict, so after Zhang Mingyuan and Cai Huai left with their men, Xiao Yang also drove out of Shanghai. The destination was provided by Aunt Liu, who said it was safe there.
It is a small coastal town with convenient water transportation. Merchants from the north and south would choose to stay here, so there are many outsiders and a mixed crowd. Even if they blend in, they are not easily noticed.
Xie Ning bought a courtyard house directly. The courtyard house was not big. The house in front of the courtyard house had two floors. The first floor housed a main room and a partitioned room. Outside the main room was a small kitchen. The second floor was accessible by a wooden staircase. The house on the right side of the courtyard house had two rooms. Xiao Yang and Xu Ping'an shared one room, while Yun Ai'ai and Hanwazi, the siblings, shared the other.
Aunt Liu lived in a partitioned room in the main room, while Xie Ning and the seriously injured patient lived on the second floor.
Perhaps because no one had lived there for a long time, the house was covered in dust. Fortunately, the wooden planks were still sturdy, but some holes still needed to be repaired.
Xiao Yang helped Xu Ping'an with repairs, while Yun Yuanyuan led the simple-minded boy to clean up the house.
The group fled in haste, taking very little with them. Therefore, Xie Ning had to take Aunt Liu to buy daily necessities, such as quilts, blankets, changes of clothes, pots and pans, etc.
Aunt Liu told the shop assistant to load the things onto the cart, and Xie Ning quickly turned into the bookstore next door. The shop was very small, less than 9 square meters in area, with only two rows of bookshelves, and the books on them were all very common ones.
"Young lady, what book would you like to buy? I'll find it for you." The bookstore owner stepped forward with a smile.
Xie Ning didn't buy books, but instead picked out some paper and ink, as well as binding thread and tools.
There were no blank notebooks for him to use, and the things in the space were not easy to take out and use, so Xie Ning had to bind the tools himself.
The bookstore owner was packing items at the counter when Xie Ning caught sight of a newspaper hanging in the corner. Her eyes lit up, and she asked, "Do you sell newspapers here, shopkeeper?"
Upon opening it, Xie Ning was even happier to find it was still yesterday's message. She had initially thought that in such a remote place, it would be difficult to receive news from the outside world. After all, communication was not advanced at that time, and there were only one or two ways to know what was happening in the world.
Newspapers are one of them.
"Miss, do you want to buy a newspaper? My servant goes to the city every morning to get a batch of newspapers. If you'd like to read them, you can order them and I'll have them delivered to your home." Of course, there will be a delivery fee.
Xie Ning smiled and bought another newspaper, but she didn't choose to have it delivered every day. Anyway, it wasn't far from here, and she could just come out or ask someone to buy it for her when the time came.
When Xie Ning returned with all the shopping, she saw Xiao Yang talking to a man in a police uniform. Xie Ning glanced at the man's bulging pockets and silently lowered her eyes. Of course, she had to cultivate good relationships to ensure a comfortable stay.
Last year, Chiang Kai-shek promulgated the "Regulations on the Compilation and Investigation of Household Registration in Counties within the Bandit Suppression Areas." However, it was mainly implemented in the areas surrounding the Red Army revolutionary base areas in Henan, Hubei, and Anhui provinces. Some places would also consciously implement it in order to please their superiors. Therefore, Xie Ning gave Xiao Yang money before leaving home and asked him to find some time to go and take a look.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
