Chapter 386

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

"It's outright robbery!" Wang Baiwan said indignantly, "My grain shop had a squad of Youth Army military police come by not long ago, accusing me of hoarding and disrupting the market, demanding I lower prices and open my granaries to sell grain!

When I refused, they pulled out big hats like 'wartime ordinances' and 'obstructing resistance against Japan,' nearly shutting down my several shops on Xixi Street!

Tell me, in these chaotic times, what's wrong with people storing some grain, and is raising prices such a crime? How can business be done like this!"

Maodetang glanced at Wang Baiwan: "I'm not saying this to you, Boss Wang, but you call that raising prices a bit? You've clearly raised them several times over!"

I sell you grain, you turn around and sell it at high prices—if my landlord family didn't have surplus grain at home, I'd curse you too!"

Wang Baiwan bared a big tooth and said cheerfully: "We're both the same—those tenant farmers and long-term laborers under you, which one doesn't curse you?"

Maodetang waved his hand: "Enough said. What we need to do now is figure out how to deal with Chen Minren's Military Police Corps. Once the summer grain is harvested, they'll start grain collection!"

Wang Baiwan said resentfully: "I have connections in the Central Government. Chen Minren has Lv Muzhi behind him, commanding three hundred thousand troops. His 'First Army Policy' puts everything at the service of war."

"Make way? Get real—what war is there to fight? The Japanese have been driven out of Henan, and they still want us to hand over grain as tax. Where's the logic in that!"

Wang Baiwan pointed at the aircraft descending in the sky: "No rush, Chairman Chiang is here, and our clear sky has arrived!

Brothers, I won't hide it from you—I've been pulling strings everywhere in the Central Government and finally latched onto Chairman Chiang's line. He'll stand up for us!"

Hearing this, the surrounding merchants and landlords gathered around, afraid of missing any insider news.

Wang Baiwan said: "This Chairman Chiang is General Jiang Dingwen, a big shot close to the Old Man, and also Lv Muzhi's instructor. He isn't subject to Lv Muzhi's restraint—he's a high-ranking official directly under the Central Government!

He's coming to Xinyang to take command. This wind direction means the world is about to change!"

"Certainly!" Maodetang said excitedly, rubbing his hands. "Chairman Chiang is the Committee Chairman's trusted direct-line general—steady, mature, and most observant of rules, not like Lv Muzhi running amok."

Lv Muzhi will have to restrain himself in front of him, right?

At least, our neck of the woods should be able to run by the old rules."

"Right, still by the old rules: the common people's taxes and grain split seventy-thirty, and the gentry and great households' money and grain returned in full!"

"Hahahahahaha! ~"

The aircraft's roar was deafening as a transport plane landed on the runway, taxied, and finally came to a stop.

The cabin door opened, and a general officer in a crisp yellow wool uniform stepped down.

Some anxious landlords and gentry thought it was Jiang Dingwen arriving, and one by one stepped forward to welcome him:

"Welcome Chairman Chiang to Xinyang!"

"Chairman Chiang, you've worked hard! The elders of Xinyang have long awaited you!"

Wang Baiwan took out his glasses from his pocket, placed them before his eyes to observe, always feeling the person before him didn't look much like Chairman Jiang Dingwen.

Actually, the visitor was just Tang Enbo. These gentry mistook themselves for thinking he was Jiang Dingwen, leaving Tang Enbo quite embarrassed.

"Chairman Chiang's plane hasn't arrived yet. I am Tang Enbo, Commander-in-Chief of the Thirty-First Group Army!"

The landlords and gentry were confused: what position is this Group Army Commander—is Jiang Dingwen higher or is this Tang Enbo higher?

Wang Baiwan, who was knowledgeable and well-connected, stepped forward to answer: "General Jiang Dingwen, besides serving as Chairman of the Henan Provincial Government, also concurrently holds the position of Commander of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Border Area Command. The Thirty-First Group Army is a troop under the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Border Area Command.

This Commander Tang can be considered Chairman Chiang's subordinate, likewise a National Pillar. Everyone, applaud and welcome him!"

After a while, another rumbling roar came from the sky.

Tang Enbo looked toward the sound and saw a transport plane escorted by four BF109 fighters arriving over the airfield.

Seeing this, Tang Enbo couldn't help but shake his head, feeling that the days ahead probably wouldn't be easy.

The transport plane landed, the cabin door opened, and Jiang Dingwen and Lv Muzhi appeared together at the doorway.

It turned out Tang Enbo and Jiang Dingwen hadn't set out together.

After staying in Chongqing for a few days, Tang Enbo flew directly to Xinyang.

Jiang Dingwen, after confirming he would take office in Henan, returned to Xi'an to hand over his work, then flew east, choosing to first "visit" Lv Muzhi in Zhengzhou, say hello, and then go to Xinyang to take office.

Lv Muzhi naturally welcomed his old instructor Jiang Dingwen taking office, even bringing people to accompany Jiang Dingwen to Xinyang Airport.

As an old-timer, Jiang Dingwen was the first to disembark, while Lv Muzhi followed slightly behind.

"Wei Yue, with fighter escorts, your travels are quite grand!"

Lv Muzhi smiled: "If you like it, every time you fly, I'll have the Youth Corps fighters take off to escort you."

Jiang Dingwen thought for a moment, felt it was strange, and politely declined: "Then there's no need. The Youth Army is for fighting the Japanese—how could it serve me exclusively?"

In the distance, Tang Enbo said to the landlords and gentry: "The one walking first is Chairman Jiang Dingwen. Don't mistake him.

The second one..."

Before he finished speaking, Wang Baiwan walked forward a few steps.

The other gentry followed Wang Baiwan forward.

"Welcome Chairman Chiang to take up residence in Xinyang!"

"We elders and fellow townspeople of Xinyang have long awaited you!"

Jiang Dingwen waved to them and exchanged a few polite words.

Leading them, Wang Baiwan stepped forward to introduce himself: "Chairman Chiang, I am Wang Baiwan. I've already set up a welcome banquet in the city to wash away your travel dust."

Hearing this, Jiang Dingwen recalled that during the Wuhan Campaign, Hu Gongnan had been stationed in Xinyang, and it was this Wang Baiwan who hosted the troops.

Wang Baiwan's name had thus reached Jiang Dingwen's ears through Hu Gongnan.

"I know you. You're the richest man here, with dozens of grain shops in the counties and townships around Xinyang. Hu Gongnan originally bought military rations from you, and you helped the army greatly.

Tang Enbo and I are stationed in Xinyang, and we've also relied on the help of all of you here!"

Hearing that his reputation had long reached Jiang Dingwen's ears, Wang Baiwan grew even prouder, nodding and bowing:

"Chairman Jiang is here with me; if you have any orders, I, your humble servant, will absolutely not shirk any hardship."

"Enough idle talk; please, all commanders, follow me into the city."

Jiang Dingwen turned to look at Lv Muzhi and said, "Weiyue, the local gentry's enthusiasm is truly hard to refuse; we have no choice but to attend the banquet."

Hearing Jiang Dingwen greeting the even younger Lv Muzhi, Wang Baiwan was very curious and asked, "This general is so young, yet he already wears three stars?! Truly a young achiever!"

Regarding Wang Baiwan's misdeeds of hoarding and driving up prices, Lv Muzhi had long received Chen Minren's report; unexpectedly, upon arriving he saw this great grain merchant.

Chen Minren stepped forward a few paces and introduced, "This is Lv Muzhi, Lu Commander of the Youth Corps."

Once the name rang out, the gentry present all grew anxious; after all that fuss, the Lv Muzhi they hated had already arrived before them.

Chen Minren immediately gave his own name: "I am Chen Minren of the Military Police Corps, Boss Wang; has your grain shop been rectified?"

The gentry looked at one another, finally gazing at the thunderstruck Wang Baiwan.

Wasn't Jiang Dingwen said to be backing Wang Baiwan? How come he even brought the Military Police Corps?!