Chapter 167: Command
The ships began taking on water, and their hulls slowly sank.
The crew watched the river as one unfamiliar or familiar vessel after another disappeared beneath the surface, tears welling in their eyes. Only when a small boat came to pick them up and take them aboard the warship did they finally shift their gaze from the churning waters.
As dawn approached, the ship-sinking operation was finally complete.
Shanghai, a temporary conference room.
The atmosphere was tense, almost like a drawn sword.
He Dongting frowned, sitting on the right side, his face somber, silent.
At the head of the conference table, three men in military uniform presided. Across from them, several men—some standing, some sitting—showed anger in every expression. A bearded man slammed his hand on the table, shaking the water cup. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice rough with repeated accusations:
“Yesterday, He Dongting acted with courage and righteousness; I respect you, sir. But today’s matter is far too biased. Who here had their shipyard spared? Why did our ships sink, but Fiquan Manor’s did not?!”
Others, exhausted from the sleepless night, nodded in agreement: “Yes, we all sacrifice for the country. There’s no reason to spare only one company. Please give us an explanation…”
“Boss He, our Wang family received orders and without hesitation sank three of our ships!”
Discussion and complaints erupted. Everyone’s sense of injustice, already sharp in their hearts, was magnified. Some even questioned the relationship between He Dongting and the Xie family of Sichuan, turning the gathering into a near formal rebuke.
He Dongting remained resolute, shaking his head: “Fiquan Manor’s ships cannot sink.”
The bearded man glared: “Why not?! Their Sichuan ships are worth more than ours. Receiving military orders, could they disobey?!”
He Dongting replied: “Precisely because they are Sichuan ships, they cannot sink.”
Someone sneered: “Ah, so it’s nepotism—protecting family and relatives!”
Some of the men had business rivalries with He Dongting; others respected him deeply. But now, even those who admired him were disappointed, anxiously hoping he would explain.
He Dongting’s voice was firm: “In times of crisis, the Military and Civil Affairs Bureau demands rapid relocation. Not only are tens of thousands of tons of military supplies at stake, but also equipment from factories, mines, and sandworks—all requiring ships. Our ships can navigate the Xiang River, but once entering the Sichuan River, only Fiquan Manor’s ships suffice! The Sichuan River is rapid and narrow. Xie family ships, accustomed to this route, are long and narrow—completely different from ours. Not only your Su family’s few riverboats, even my Jiang’an boats cannot enter lightly. After September, water conditions worsen. Even experienced pilots must operate cautiously. The river is narrow, rapids cannot be bypassed…” He scanned the room and continued, “To preserve the sparks of industry, Xie family ships cannot sink!”
“But military orders are absolute… this river-blocking mission—”
He Dongting replied calmly: “The ships will come from the He family.”
A few days later, the ships blocking the Tianjiang Town waterways were indeed supplied by the He family—or rather, through the joint efforts of the Bai and He families.
Lord Bai Jiu oversaw the construction of four large steel-reinforced concrete vessels to replace the merchant ships. This action saved sixteen large ships and ensured the continued operation of the southern river route, achieving the most critical contribution.
Time was tight, and there weren’t enough steel-reinforced ships. He Dongting sank older ships from the He family shipping company to create a third defensive line on the river. In this operation, the Customs Bureau sank seven ships, the navy sank eight, and private merchant ships totaled eighteen sunk.
The riverfront defensive line was initially complete.
In the sinking operation, the He family provided the most ships.
By the end of the month, He Dongting retired, leaving wartime water transport coordination in the hands of the younger Bai Jiu.
Lord Bai Jiu, wearing simple white clothes, looked thinner and leaner, assuming command in a critical moment.
When he received the appointment certificate, his expression remained calm, saying only: “I will not fail this trust.”
Speed was essential in wartime; the evacuation of factories followed the same principle. Once the war broke out, factories in Shanghai became prime bombing targets. While river traffic could intercept for a short time, airplanes overhead paid no heed, dropping bombs on densely packed buildings and factories. The explosions claimed countless innocent lives.
Amid the constant bombardment, ships laden with ammunition and machinery silently plied the river.
—
August.
The weather was hot and humid. Outside the office, a man waiting nervously couldn’t even wipe his sweat. He kept looking toward the door. Whenever someone entered or exited, he would immediately stand, but before the secretary could summon him, he had to sit back repeatedly.
Finally, his turn came. He jumped up. His long robe sleeves had burned edges, but he paid no attention, hastily straightened them, and strode inside. He had come specifically to meet this Mr. Bai. With ships in high demand, he was here to request a vessel.
“Mr. Bai, I know your time is valuable, so I’ll be brief. I’m here to request a ship… even a wooden one would suffice. During this war, many children at schools have lost their parents. If you go out into the streets, you’ll see beggars everywhere. I was once a school principal. Now I don’t know if it’s proper to call it a school or an orphanage.” The man hesitated, forcing a bitter smile. “Mr. Huang Mingyou once said, young people are the spark, the hope. I’ve finally secured some donations, but there’s nowhere to buy tickets. I’ve run out of options, so I’ve come to you.”
Lord Bai Jiu, seated behind the desk, surrounded by books and documents, did not raise his head. After finishing a few tasks, he called someone over and instructed: “You go with this—” He glanced at the man standing in front. The man quickly said: “I’m Mr. Chen!”
Lord Bai Jiu continued: “You accompany Mr. Chen to assess how many children are at the school and organize cabin assignments. There should still be available spaces on ships bound for Hankou in the next couple of days. Get them on board. From today onward, all river passenger fares for children are half-price. Infants held in arms ride free. Go.”
Principal Chen was overjoyed, thanking him repeatedly, his voice choked with emotion. After inquiring across shipping companies, only here were tickets not raised. Calculating half-price for children, he still had funds left to take in another batch of children. Deeply bowing to Mr. Bai, he hurried off.
When Xie Jing entered, he brushed past Principal Chen. He stepped aside slightly and, once Principle Chen left, knocked twice and went in.
Lord Bai Jiu glanced up, his expression relaxing slightly, and beckoned him over.
The secretary, from the East Courtyard, recognized Xie Jing and served two cups of tea before leaving.
Lord Bai Jiu asked: “Weren’t you heading to Hankou by ship? Why are you back so soon?”
Xie Jing stood behind him, gently massaging his temples, and whispered: “I was worried, so I didn’t go ashore. I returned overnight on my uncle’s boat.”
Lord Bai Jiu held his hand, eyes lowered: “No need to rush. There are southbound ships in a couple of days. Go with them. Once there, stay. Don’t return.”
Xie Jing shook his head: “Sir, let me stay with you. There’s my uncle and Mr. Huang there, but they…”
“They are not you. Only you can do this,” Lord Bai Jiu said calmly. “I’ll leave the few overseas-trained people with you. Hankou isn’t the last stop; soon, you’ll have to enter Sichuan.”
Xie Jing opened his mouth, then closed it.
The mountains and rivers lay in ruin, retreating further and further.
He said nothing, and after a moment, hoarsely: “Alright.”
They remained silent. Xie Jing knew he could not persuade Lord Bai Jiu; all he could say was “alright.”
Lord Bai Jiu said to him: “The Xie family controls many docks in Sichuan and has developed rapidly in recent years. Fiquan Manor’s ships are well-known. The route through the Three Gorges is one you know best. Bai, He, and Xie families—none alone could accomplish this. Only you can command all three families’ ships.” He smiled faintly and patted Xie Jing’s hand: “Jing’er, you truly are my lucky star.”
Xie Jing touched his hair and lowered his head to kiss him.
As long as this person was here, that was his true fortune.
