Chapter 166: Riverfront Defense
The minor friction between Master He and Lord Bai Jiu was only visible at home; outside, both reverted to their usual polite and courteous demeanor. He Dongting would praise Lord Bai Jiu as a rising talent in the business world when speaking to old friends, showing genuine admiration. Meanwhile, Bai Jiu, when meeting newspaper reporters, also expressed respect for He Dongting and said he had admired him for a long time.
Both men had Xie Jing in mind and did not want the young Xie to be troubled because of them.
With both sides paying attention, business negotiations progressed more quickly. Company matters advanced smoothly, and one of the financial cooperation projects even made the newspaper, causing quite a stir. The gossip tabloids outside spun all sorts of stories, including one invention that He’s family had adopted a foster daughter—almost suggesting that the Bai and He families had been betrothed from childhood and were already one family.
While having breakfast, Xie Jing picked up a tabloid to read. Before he finished, He Dongting snatched it from behind him. He glanced at it and frowned: “What nonsense is written here? Bringing such absurd words into the house—has the steward forgotten our family rules these days?!”
The steward stood beside them, apologizing repeatedly, his face tense as he glanced at Xie Jing.
Xie Jing said: “Father, I asked the steward to bring it for me to look at.”
He Dongting replied: “Jing’er, don’t worry about this. I’ll have that newspaper shut down tomorrow.”
Just then, Lord Bai Jiu returned from outside, carrying a new set of clothes and an oiled-paper package with a few steaming hot sesame balls fresh from the fryer. He came over, saw everyone in the dining room, and asked a few questions: “Oh, that newspaper, I’ve already arranged to deal with it.” He placed the sesame balls on a plate in front of Xie Jing to coax him to eat, then turned to quietly discuss something with He Dongting.
Both men were protective of Xie Jing. At the slightest stir, they immediately became alert, ready to act.
Xie Jing tried to speak a few times but found no opportunity and decided to focus on his breakfast instead.
Lord Bai Jiu had worked late at the trading firm last night and just returned this morning. His fingers were slightly cold from the dew of the night. When Xie Jing ladled porridge for him, their fingers brushed, and Xie Jing held his hand briefly to warm it. Without stopping his conversation, Lord Bai Jiu instinctively grasped Xie Jing’s hand in return and continued discussing the tabloid with He Dongting: “Within two or three days, I’ve already spoken to them. They won’t write nonsense anymore.”
He Dongting: “…”
He Dongting glanced at their intertwined hands, lightly admonishing: “You should think ahead. Handling it this way is fine. You’ve been busy all night; sit down and eat. Don’t return so late in the future; overworking is bad. There’s so much to do—it can’t all be finished at once.”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded in agreement.
He Dongting ate only a small portion of porridge before leaving.
Lord Bai Jiu, now firmly established in the He family, ate breakfast calmly. While eating, he lowered his head and asked Xie Jing if he liked sesame balls. When Xie Jing said they were delicious, he whispered: “Give me a bite too.”
Xie Jing fed him, and they shared the sesame balls together.
Xie Jing loved soft, glutinous foods like this. The last time he praised them, Lord Bai Jiu remembered. No matter how late he returned from work, he never forgot to buy Xie Jing his favorite breakfast.
At the end of the month, He Dongting acquired a batch of machinery.
Having been in Shanghai for many years, He Dongting’s connections were extensive. The printing machines that had given Lord Bai Jiu some headaches were secured within a month by He Dongting.
Without much ceremony, Lord Bai Jiu thanked him, then quickly shipped the machines to Cao Yunzhou by boat.
Not long after, Cao Yunzhou wrote back repeatedly thanking him. The machines had truly solved an urgent problem.
Because of the underground palace matter, Cao Yunzhou had unexpectedly received a promotion. His current direct superior was from the machinery manufacturing bureau, a very open-minded person who highly valued scholars returning from abroad, especially favoring Cao Yunzhou. Taking advantage of this, Cao Yunzhou pushed many projects forward, hiring numerous teachers in Sichuan and organizing scholars to translate Western books. There were dozens of scientific and engineering texts, including books on radio and X-rays, with everything provided as-is.
In his letter to Lord Bai Jiu, Cao Yunzhou wrote: “Now with frequent wars, many universities in the Beiping and Tianjin area have been bombed by Japanese aircraft. Many scholars have fled to Sichuan, which is heartbreaking. Yet the determination of teachers and students remains. We must do everything possible to support them, enlighten the people, and keep the spark alive…”
Cao Yunzhou held multiple roles, working tirelessly, and he genuinely followed through on his words. He used all his resources to help the students most in need.
Xie Jing gradually sold some antiques and collectibles, converting them into food and boats, preparing for the worst-case scenario.
—
Two years later.
War broke out in the North.
General Bai and Young Marshal Bai Junrui led troops to fight the enemy. The old general died on the battlefield. Bai Junrui was gravely injured but refused to leave the front. He held the city for more than three months, never letting go of his gun until the end.
Within just a few months, the North fell.
The Japanese established the puppet Manchukuo government, co-opting some traitorous officials, attempting to pacify society. At the same time, they launched large-scale attacks, and the flames of war threatened to spread nationwide.
Even Shanghai was no longer safe.
He Dongting was once again entrusted with the position of President of the National Chamber of Commerce. His first action was to issue a telegram to provincial and local chambers, declaring a resolute stance against Manchukuo with one clear message: the citizens would never recognize it.
In response to Japanese attempts to entice collaboration, He Dongting’s reply was firm. Orders were issued in the name of the Chamber of Commerce to hang the national flag for three days.
This angered the Japanese, who attempted several assassinations on He Dongting but failed each time.
He Dongting remained steadfast in his patriotism. He occasionally hid in the concessions for safety, unable to return home. Once, shrapnel wounded his ankle. When the assassin tried to finish the attack, guards and police intervened, saving his life.
Not only in business, but patriotic citizens and students also took to the streets. National anti-Japanese sentiment surged, and millions marched toward Beijing and Shanghai.
By August, war had erupted.
Shanghai, Jiangkou.
Several merchant ships were making a night run. Lanterns on board glowed brightly. Crew members, rotated in shifts, had been urgently dispatched. Their clothes were smeared with oil and grease, and they looked tired. They huddled under a lamp post, urging one young man to read the newspaper: “Xiao Liu, read it! How’s the war going?”
“Yes, have they won any battles?”
“They said the Japanese would reach Shanghai in a few months. Damn it! With so many of us, we’re not afraid to fight hand-to-hand!”
The young man read the war reports aloud. Everyone listened, their hearts lifted at times, and at other times, their anger surged.
While they were talking, the ship suddenly shook violently and stopped in the river.
They looked forward and saw a warship ahead, shining lights to direct them to cluster together. Besides their ship, a dozen others joined. The warship led, merchant ships followed. After sailing in a long line for about an hour, they reached the narrowest point of the river, and the warship ordered them to stop.
The dozen merchant ships didn’t understand at first. They were urgently dispatched to assist, and now in a national crisis, everyone wanted to contribute. They obeyed the warship’s orders without question.
The night was quiet; even the sea breeze seemed calm. Seasoned sailors sensed something was off. Turning to look, they saw a nearby merchant ship slowly sinking. Some shouted in alarm. Having spent their lives on the water, they instinctively wanted to help their familiar ships, calling each by name.
But experienced sailors quickly realized: the ships weren’t in danger—they were deliberately flooding themselves.
The second mate came out from the wheelhouse and announced the “sinking ship in the river” mission for that night:
“In this national crisis, we hope everyone understands the gravity, unites in resolve, and completes the sinking of ships to block Japanese passage…”
As the ships gradually sank, older sailors choked back tears. They had spent their lives on ships, caring for them as their own children. Now, watching them sink into the river, they bit their lips in silence, eyes red with emotion.
