son inherits father's business
Zhang Chenglin nodded in response, waiting for Sheng Dongsheng to continue.
“The situation is urgent, so I’ll get straight to the point.” Sheng Dongsheng looked at the people present and said his purpose: “Zhuang Yanbin and Jiang Rusu went to Sichuan and Chongqing a week ago and secretly arranged an armed squad there.”
Sheng Dongsheng then turned his gaze to Tan Yuanbo and said meaningfully, "Your lair."
"Where are the people in charge in Sichuan and Chongqing?" Tan Yuanbo's expression darkened as he spoke of his former base: "At a time like this, they're home with their wives, kids, and warm beds?"
The Sichuan-Chongqing region is to Tan Yuanbo what Shandong is to Zhang Chenglin. However, Shandong had a long gap in Zhang Chenglin's growth, while Sichuan-Chongqing carried Tan Yuanbo's entire youth and all his passion.
That was his home, the way he came from.
“This is what I’m going to say next,” Sheng Dongsheng continued, without trying to calm Tan Yuanbo down. “Zhuang Yanbin and Jiang Rusu had long planned to move their base to the south, but they hadn’t been able to do so because of Zhang Deyue’s opposition and the pressure from Jiang Yuanxing’s influence in Sichuan and Chongqing.”
"Now that the Kuomintang has lost Chang Te-yueh, Chuang Yen-pin and Chiang Ju-su have the power to speak on all matters of the Kuomintang. Unlike Chang Te-yueh, they do not consider their own interests and economic balance, and naturally they are no longer afraid of Chiang Yuan-hsing."
Sheng Dongsheng paused here and glanced at Zhang Chenglin.
Zhang Chenglin's expression remained unchanged, just as it had been when he first came in. Sheng Dongsheng felt that he probably already knew about these things, or rather, he had already guessed them.
“There’s one more thing,” Zhang Chenglin said suddenly, noticing Sheng Dongsheng’s hesitant look. “The Kuomintang’s political power is now in the hands of Zhuang Yanbin and Jiang Rusu. One day, Jiang Yuanxing’s assets will also be in Jiang Rusu’s hands.”
“The balance between political power and economic support,” Zhang Chenglin said, his face remaining expressionless, as if he were talking about something that didn’t concern him: “that’s why they are so fearless.”
After a brief silence in the room, Sheng Dongsheng spoke again: "That's something I hadn't thought of."
"The son follows in his father's footsteps."
Zhou Zhu, who had been relatively unknown until now, suddenly spoke up, attracting the attention of several people present.
Zhang Chenglin's eyes darkened, and his gaze toward Zhou Zhu carried an emotion that Ji Yuxing could not understand.
This minor incident was quickly skipped over by Sheng Dongsheng, who then went on to explain in detail the subsequent arrangements made by the Party organization for the Sichuan-Chongqing region, as well as the countermeasures to deal with the actions of the Kuomintang.
For more than two hours, Sheng Dongsheng and Zhang Chenglin did most of the talking.
Sheng Dongsheng was responsible for conveying the latest news and arrangements from higher authorities, and for making arrangements and deployments for the few people in Shandong.
If the first shot is suddenly fired in the northern region, and Shanghai is unable to provide support in time, then the troops from Shandong will have to go first.
If no external threats arise, but internal troubles erupt in the Sichuan-Chongqing region, and higher authorities provide support to Sichuan and Chongqing, Shandong will also have to defend the north without clear instructions.
Zhang Chenglin was different from Sheng Dongsheng. He was responsible for supplementing the events mentioned by Sheng Dongsheng, in order to remind Sheng Dongsheng, the person in charge, and his superiors of issues that had not been considered.
After all, no one knows Shanghai's economic situation and the development of the Kuomintang's influence better than Zhang Chenglin.
Shanghai now controls the economic lifeline that radiates throughout China, directly determining the life and death of China's economic development.
The Kuomintang's power was always terrifying, and during Zhang Deyue's lifetime, its development was so great that it shocked some developed countries.
The core of Shanghai's economy was the Chiang family, represented by Jiang Yuanxing, while the direct leader of the Kuomintang was Zhang Deyue.
Sheng Dongsheng had thought more than once while looking at Zhang Chenglin: if Zhang Chenglin had the ambition of Zhang Deyue, would he already be a leader of the Kuomintang? Would he have already gained the support of Jiang Yuanxing? Would Jiang Yuanxing have handed over all his property to him on his deathbed?
By then, the Kuomintang's position in China will be unshakeable.
After all, even Sheng Dongsheng sometimes couldn't see Zhang Chenglin's true strength.
—He knows everything.
This is the most objective and truthful assessment of Zhang Chenglin that Sheng Dongsheng has known for many years.
He knew everything about Shanghai's economic development, the Kuomintang's movements over the past few years and its potential actions in the next few years, as well as the economic plans of Chiang Yuan-hsing and Ho Chi-tung in Shanghai and the distribution of power within the Kuomintang.
But Zhang Chenglin never talks about these things openly, and he always remains silent or acts strictly in a businesslike manner when meeting with his superiors.
He would only offer reminders when he was alone with Sheng Dongsheng, or when Sheng Dongsheng was confused about a certain event or situation.
He said this when he first met Sheng Dongsheng: "There are some things I can tell you, and you can pass them on to your superiors, but you can't let anyone know that they came from my mouth."
At first, Sheng Dongsheng didn't take these words seriously. Like countless outsiders, he had some prejudice against Zhang Chenglin, thinking that this good-for-nothing young master must not have much knowledge.
But after spending time with him, Sheng Dongsheng realized what it meant to be "a pearl hidden in the dust," and that Zhang Chenglin was far more capable than he had thought.
Given Zhang Chenglin's abilities and understanding, he would be sitting in the front row at party meetings, regardless of his rank.
But he just wouldn't have it.
*
That evening, Zhang Chenglin, Ji Yuxing, and Sheng Dongsheng had dinner together at Tan Yuanbo's house, and afterwards they played cards with Tan Yuanbo.
"I heard Jiang Xiaoxiao came to Shandong?" Sheng Dongsheng threw out a pair of threes and suddenly asked Zhang Chenglin.
Zhang Chenglin played a pair of sixes and casually replied, "Hmm."
"Living at your house?" Sheng Dongsheng asked again, seeing Ji Yuxing hesitating to play his card.
"Hmm," Zhang Chenglin replied, his attitude remaining the same as during the meeting that afternoon—neither warm nor cold.
If Sheng Dongsheng hadn't already gotten used to his appearance, he would have treated him like a Kuomintang spy on a high level of suspicion.
Will she take your mother back to Shanghai?
When Sheng Dongsheng asked this question, Ji Yuxing and Tan Yuanbo, who were still hesitating about their next move, both looked up at Zhang Chenglin.
"have no idea."
This was the first time Sheng Dongsheng had heard those three words from Zhang Chenglin.
In Zhang Chenglin's eyes, many major national events unfolded as if they were part of a predetermined path he had planned, and he could talk about anything.
Ironically, even an upright official finds it difficult to judge family matters, something Sheng Dongsheng could understand.
"Then do you want your mother to return to Shanghai?" Sheng Dongsheng pressed, wanting an answer, just like countless others.
Jiang Xuyin, this lady, is a huge variable for everyone. Everyone is afraid of her death, but everyone is also afraid of her living.
Like Zhang Chenglin, he is an unpredictable and elusive variable.
The question of Sheng Dongsheng is one that Communists want to ask, Kuomintangs want to ask, and also one that political leaders abroad want to ask.
Zhang Deyue's influence is in Shandong, and Jiang Xuyin has been living in seclusion there. Everyone is afraid that one day she will suddenly wake up and want to take back the power that originally belonged to Zhang Deyue. With Jiang Yuanxing behind her and Zhang Chenglin by her side, this matter is still too easy for her.
But if she returns to Shanghai, to her home, under the protection of Jiang Yuanxing and the Jiang family, she will basically no longer pose any threat to the outside world, at least there is no need to worry about her vying for political power.
Therefore, Sheng Dongsheng's question, and Zhang Chenglin's answer, are questions that countless people are eager to know.
This time, Zhang Chenglin did not hesitate or waver, and said, "She is just herself."
She is simply herself. In a sense, she is not anyone's daughter, wife, or mother. No one can bind her to this position with her identity, and no one can make decisions for her, not even Zhang Chenglin.
She is simply herself.
She is free to go wherever she wants.
Zhang Chenglin didn't say the last sentence, but everyone present understood.
When Zhang Chenglin finally left, Sheng Dongsheng escorted him to the porch and said meaningfully, "In the midst of a battle, no one has a say."
On the way home, Zhang Chenglin closed his eyes to rest, recalling Sheng Dongsheng's words before he left, while Ji Yuxing sat beside him, rambling on and on.
As they approached Zhang Chenglin's house, Ji Yuxing suddenly said, "I think Mr. Sheng's words make a lot of sense."
Zhang Chenglin turned to look at him, his eyes filled with an emotion that Ji Yuxing couldn't understand.
"What's wrong?" Ji Yuxing frowned slightly and couldn't help but ask.
“If I could make her decision,” Zhang Chenglin turned to look out the window, his voice low and filled with helplessness, “I wouldn’t be here now.”
Ji Yuxing fell silent for a moment, regretting that he had said the wrong thing.
Too many people wanted Jiang and Xu to return to Shanghai, and Zhang Chenglin was among those many people.
However, Zhang Chenglin was different from those "too many people." For them, Jiang Xuyin's return to Shanghai would no longer pose a threat to their ambitions, but for Zhang Chenglin, letting Jiang Xuyin return to Shanghai was the best protection for Jiang Xuyin.
In the past, Zhang Deyue was a protector of Jiang Xuyin, not only in Shandong but also in the north.
But without Zhang Deyue, Jiang Xuyin would be a trigger anywhere.
Therefore, with Zhang Deyue gone from Shandong, the only option was to send her back to Shanghai, where Jiang Yuanxing could protect her.
Shortly after Zhang Deyue's death, Zhang Chenglin, who was still at the Party headquarters in Shanghai, rushed back from Shanghai to meet Jiang Xuyin. He wanted to take her to Shanghai, but Jiang Xuyin earnestly persuaded him to stay in Shandong and carry on Zhang Deyue's legacy.
After their conversation, neither of them compromised, and they parted on bad terms.
However, because Jiang and Xu were in Shandong, when the Party headquarters wanted to transfer people to be stationed in Shandong, Zhang Chenglin only hesitated slightly and did not struggle any further.
Even Ji Yuxing has wondered countless times if Zhang Chenglin would have had a better future if he hadn't come to Shandong.
After all, Sheng Dongsheng had the highest hopes for him. Even though everyone discriminated against him because of his background, he would eventually rise to prominence if he stayed by Sheng Dongsheng's side.
Tan Yuanbo is also very good, but his influence within the Party is certainly not as great as Sheng Dongsheng's.
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