On the Bund in Shanghai, the most common building is a western-style building. Since the end of the Qing Dynasty, it has gradually become prosperous, and in a short period of time, this port city has developed rapidly, becoming the largest city in the Far East.

Behind the prosperity of a city, there must be a widening gap between the rich and the poor, those western-style buildings in the public concession are inhabited by some people who are either rich or noble, ordinary people can only leave a house in the downtown area, and more people are huddled in the slums.

Ouyang Hui's salary in the party department was only thirty yuan per month, and this money was only enough for her own expenses at that time, plus through some other legitimate income, her income did not exceed eighty yuan per month, and it was impossible to live in such a house with her own financial resources alone, not to mention that in this two-story small western-style building, there were several nannies and servants who served her.

However, everyone knows that Ouyang Hui is a famous courtesan in Shanghai, and there is nothing she wants that she can't take, and this house is no exception.

Early in the morning, the streets of Shanghai begin to be lively; The jingling of trams on the streets, steaming xiaolongbao accompanied by the sound of Shanghainese hawking, imported cars and rickshaws coming and going, and billboards printed with various modern girls show that the commodity economy here is relatively developed.

Fu Guoqiang got off the train from Shanghai at this time in the morning, and his figure has changed greatly after several years of military career and age, a straight suit tucked into his body looks straight and stylish, the parka pen exposed in the pocket of his jacket shows his intellectual identity, and the calluses on his index finger inadvertently show that he was born in the army.

After Fu Guoqiang got off the car, he did not go to the destination immediately, but walked to a breakfast stall and ordered a basket of xiaolongbao and a bowl of egg soup; His military career made him eat a lot of food, and soon a basket of hot buns was in his stomach, and after eating, he was still unsatisfied, so he ordered another cage.

After eating, Fu Guoqiang took a calfskin briefcase and boarded a tram and drove forward with a clanging sound.

The person Fu Guoqiang is looking for this time is called Fang Pingxiang, this person is an economic tycoon in Shanghai, because he has close business contacts with Fu Guoqiang's father Fu Wangshan, so Fu Guoqiang met him very early and called him "Uncle Fang".

After more than an hour, Fu Guoqiang stepped down from the tram, and after calling a rickshaw, he sat down with one foot on his feet, but said casually: "Go to Fang Mansion." ”

After arriving at the Fang Mansion, Fu Guoqiang walked to the door, shook the bell hanging at the door, and after a while, a servant in a short coat walked over.

"Hello, I'm looking for Uncle Fang, I'm from Guangzhou, my surname is Fu" After Fu Guoqiang said politely, the servant went in to say goodbye, and after a while, a man in a robe walked in, and after a few words of greeting, he led Fu Guoqiang in.

This is a typical European and American style villa, the front and back of the courtyard are chic decorations, the marble in the living room is shining, and a white three-legged piano next to it shows the owner's completely Western style.

As soon as he arrived in the living room, Fang Pingxiang walked downstairs in a formal suit, and he said with a smile as he walked: "Guoqiang, I haven't come to see your Uncle Fang for a long time, heh, look at the adults now, how about it?" Is your father okay lately? ”

Fu Guoqiang also said with a smile: "Everything is fine, Uncle Lao Fang is worried." ”

After both of them took their seats, the next person brought the best soaked Longjing, and Fang Pingxiang personally poured a cup for Fu Guoqiang. Fu Guoqiang held the corner of the cup with both hands to show respect.

"I heard your father say earlier that you went to apply for the military academy of the southern government and joined the army to fight?" Fang Pingxiang picked up the teacup and took a sip slowly.

Fu Guoqiang smiled: "Yes, I just came back from the front line. ”

"Young people are hot-blooded, young people should also have something to pursue, you are from a famous family and can fight in the army, it is really rare." After saying this, Fang Pingxiang turned his head and said, "Presumably your father must be against this, I know his temperament too well." ”

"......" Fu Guoqiang didn't speak, he was silent.

Fang Pingxiang's face became calmer: "I have a relationship with Mr. Zhongshan of the Southern Government, but I have never seen Huang Ke in your Northern Expeditionary Army. I have read several articles he has written in the "Declaration" before, and I can see that this person has some talents. ”

Fu Guoqiang didn't like Fang Pingxiang's condescending tone very much, but he had to smile reluctantly at this meeting: "Commander Huang was the principal of the military academy when I joined the army, and he was also the military commander of our Northern Expeditionary Army. It's not good for me to make too many comments about my superiors. ”

"You're still like your father, you put everything in order." At the mention of Fu Wangshan, Fu Guoqiang felt a little unhappy in his heart, before this, he and his father Fu Wangshan had quarreled many times because of various issues, and his sister Fu Jin and his mother were dissuaded and even beaten by his father.

His arbitrariness and dictatorship made Fu Guoqiang, a rebellious young man, unbearable.

Family! In the family, Fu Guoqiang did not feel the slightest warmth of the family, but was cold and hierarchical. This kind of family environment also makes Fu Guoqiang like to challenge order, and when he is in the army, if his superiors' orders are not right, he will refuse to carry them out.

Several times, he was almost killed because of this.

When Huang Ke looked at him like this, he knew that this kind of person with a flamboyant personality was not suitable for staying in the army all the time, and it was better to find a position that suited him.

So, he was transferred to the reserve cadre department. When he got here, the first object he wanted to conquer was Fang Pingxiang.

In Fang Pingxiang's living room, Fu Guoqiang continued to talk to him, and during the conversation, Fu Guoqiang sometimes showed his flamboyant personality, which in Fang Pingxiang's view, was a sign of immaturity; He didn't understand, why would Huang Ke let such a person persuade him? Is it simply because they knew each other before?

The emotional card may be one of the most effective tricks in the world, Fang Pingxiang thought.

"Are you coming to Shanghai on business?" Fang Pingxiang broke the embarrassment of silence and took the lead in getting to the point, he knew that a person from the Reserve Cadre Department of the Military Commission of the Southern Government would not go to Shanghai Beach to catch up with himself, so it was better to get straight to the point.

"Yes, I came here for business this time to find you, Uncle Fang," he said, Fu Guoqiang took out a handwritten letter from his bag and handed it to Fang Pingxiang.

"This is a handwritten letter by Mr. Huang Ke, commander-in-chief of our Northern Expeditionary Army, and he instructed me to hand it over to you personally."

Fang Pingxiang took the letter, the sand-yellow envelope was written with the words "Mr. Fang Pingxiang personally opened", Fang Pingxiang immediately asked the housekeeper to take his reading glasses, and he opened the letter and read it in front of Fu Guoqiang.

"Mr. Pingxiang, I have admired the name for a long time, and it is a pity that I have not been able to see it; Today, I am telling you this letter, which is not only an invitation to a friend, but also a letter for a friend. Our revolutionary army marched north, with the intention of unifying the whole country and rejuvenating China, and now the first army arrived in Shanghai, in order to maintain the economic stability of Shanghai and the stability of the people; At that time, I hope that Mr. will come forward to preside over the overall economic situation of Shanghai and the local government, and subsidize the continuation of the revolutionary ......"

After reading it roughly, Fang Pingxiang finally understood, a good commander-in-chief of the Northern Expeditionary Army found him, did he have anything else to do besides asking for money? He appointed himself chairman of the Shanghai Economic Committee, and then raised funds for the revolution in Shanghai, and used his prestige to maintain Shanghai's economic stability.

In this process, what benefits can he Fang Pingxiang reap? Fang Pingxiang quickly calculated in his heart that Shanghai is different from Guangzhou, a large part of the place here is managed by outsiders, even if he gets himself a half-official position, in the end there is still not much oil and water.

But what if you don't take this errand? Fang Pingxiang thought that if he didn't take this errand, when the Northern Expeditionary Army captured Shanghai, the new government would inevitably get angry with him; Didn't Huang Ke say that he had already divided the landlord's land? Will you divide your property at that time?

These are all unknowns.

Fang Pingxiang's face was still calm, as if nothing happened. The landslide should not be in front of him, Fu Guoqiang can be regarded as a teacher, he only knew that Fang Pingxiang was not smiling before, but he didn't expect to be able to maintain such a flat expression on any major issue.

Fu Guoqiang stood up: "Uncle Fang, this time I came here to be secretly sent by Commander Huang, I don't know the content of this letter, but Commander Huang also said to me before leaving, 'Mr. Fang is a figure in Shanghai who can hold up half the sky, and he is also a patriotic businessman, such a person is needed by the country, and he must be won into the revolutionary camp. ’”

"Lifted! Commander Huang raised it," Fang Pingxiang's originally calm facial expression slowly revealed a hint of a smile, but this was a fake smile, only the corners of his mouth were raised, but his eyes did not change at all.

Even more effective than the emotional card is the interest card; Whether the two sides cooperate or not, interests occupy a large part of it.

Speaking of which, Fang Pingxiang has nothing to shirk, who doesn't understand the obvious truth?

After thinking for a moment, Fang Pingxiang finally expressed his position: "Guoqiang, you also go back and tell Mr. Huang, just say Uncle Fang, I am willing to make my own modest contribution to the progress of this country and the nation, and it is incumbent on someone on our side who needs me to do anything!" ”

Fang Pingxiang's words were loud, Fu Guoqiang was happy to hear it in his heart, and he took out a list from the inner pocket of his clothes according to Yang Yibing's previous instructions.

"Commander Huang said that he wanted Uncle Fang to check the details of these people in Shanghai first, as well as the economic transactions of these people."

Fang Pingxiang took the list, he put on his reading glasses and looked at it, and the names on the list shocked his heart.