dhibooks Chapter 220: The Xiamen Concession - Chapter Concluding
Chapter 220: The Xiamen Concession - Chapter Concluding
Is it a concession?
The person next to him shook his head. "No, didn't you hear Governor Yang say that this is a search? They say our child went missing on Japanese territory and they're looking for him."
"So this is how you handle a case?"
The old shopkeeper was stunned, then his eyes reddened.
When a case is handled, there are rules. With rules, it's not like a chaotic army entering the city.
This is exactly what Yang Yanzhao wanted.
The Fujian New Army was divided into three routes.
They seized the gate tower along the way.
They proceeded into the police station.
The telephone exchange was blocked along the way.
Each team had a military policeman holding a sign in front of them.
Inspect the weapons.
Protect overseas Chinese.
Search the radio station.
The brand isn't very big.
But everyone on the street can see it.
Inside the Japanese police station, two guards tried to climb out through the back window.
As soon as I jumped onto the top of the wall, the security team's gun barrels were right below me.
"Get down!"
"We are the company's security guards! You have no right to..."
boom!
The warning shot hit the brick wall.
Brick dust landed all over the man's face.
The security captain said coldly, "Those who climb over the wall with a gun are considered fugitives. The next shot will be to the leg."
The man's lips twitched.
He obediently threw the gun down.
The street behind the consulate.
Zhou Heting sat in a chair in the underground radio room.
His military uniform was impeccably clean, and he wore a confident smile with a touch of cynicism.
But his eyes were shining.
boom!
The wooden door to the basement was blown open.
Smoke and dust poured in.
Two Fujian New Army soldiers rushed in.
"Don't move!"
But after they shouted, they froze, because there was only one of their own people sitting there perfectly fine.
Li Mingyuan followed in.
He glanced at Zhou Heting.
"Alright, alright, get up!"
"I told you to disappear, and you really did disappear into someone's basement!"
Zhou Heting grinned.
"Isn't that like putting on an act, you have to go all the way?"
"Alright, then you can lie down..."
Li Mingyuan raised his hand.
"Men, carry Staff Officer Zhou out. Also, pack all the radios, codebooks, and drafts here into boxes."
The soldier lifted the tablecloth.
Below is an encrypted radio station.
There was also a half-stack of unburned telegram drafts next to it.
A young clerk read the words on the paper, his voice changing.
"Third Fleet listening frequency bands."
"Sketch of reconnaissance route outside the Minjiang River estuary"
"Record of potential underwater activities in the direction of Mawei".
Li Mingyuan's face darkened.
"it is good."
He looked at the chamber of commerce representatives and the newspaper reporters who had followed him.
"Look carefully."
"The Xiamen Concession was not a place for doing business; it was the ears of the Japanese Third Fleet."
The reporter's pen immediately trembled.
This is big news.
It's much easier to write than any protests in foreign concessions.
Shinsuke Yoshikawa, the Japanese consul in Xiamen, was about to walk out of the consulate's backyard.
He was still clutching a small leather suitcase in his hand.
The box contained a seal, a secret telegram book, and several contact maps for the Taiwan Strait.
He had just reached the back door when he saw Yang Yanzhao standing at the alley entrance.
Yang Yanzhao did not bring many people with him.
He only brought two adjutants with him.
But at both ends of the alley, there were Fujian New Army soldiers.
Shinsuke Yoshikawa's face stiffened.
"Governor Yang, I am the Consul of the Japanese Empire, and I enjoy diplomatic privileges..."
"I know."
Yang Yanzhao interrupted him.
"That's why I won't hit you."
Shinsuke Yoshikawa breathed a sigh of relief.
The next moment, Yang Yanzhao raised his hand.
"Take the box down."
Two soldiers stepped forward.
Shinsuke Yoshikawa clung tightly to the box.
"These are personal belongings of the consulate!"
Yang Yanzhao looked at him.
"Then please, Your Excellency, open the box in front of the Chamber of Commerce, Customs, and the newspaper. If it contains personal items, the Fujian Provincial Government will seal it back for you."
Shinsuke Yoshikawa's forehead was covered in sweat.
He can't drive.
If you open it, what's inside will be deadly.
Yang Yanzhao did not urge him.
He simply waved to the reporters.
"Gentlemen, please come closer."
"The Japanese consul said it was personal property."
"The Fujian Provincial Government respects consular dignity."
He paused.
"But a decent appearance must withstand scrutiny."
Shinsuke Yoshikawa's lips turned blue.
What does it mean to kill someone by destroying their spirit?
This is what you call killing someone by destroying their spirit!
He was just talking about how respectable the concession was.
Now the other party has stuffed the word "decency" back into his mouth exactly as it was.
And they even brought reporters with them.
Once you open the box, that's it.
It's over even without opening the box.
Li Mingyuan strode out from the direction of the basement.
"Governor, the radio, codebook, Third Fleet liaison documents, and a rough map of the Minjiang River estuary have all been recovered. Zhou Heting has been rescued, but he is seriously injured and has been sent to the hospital."
Yang Yanzhao nodded.
"Bring the evidence box over."
"Please register His Excellency's luggage as well."
Shinsuke Yoshikawa's voice trembled.
"Governor Yang, you're going to start a war!"
"war?"
Yang Yanzhao looked up.
"It was your warships that crossed the line outside the mouth of the Minjiang River."
"You set up a military radio station in the Xiamen Concession."
"You fired the first shot on the boundary line."
His voice was very soft.
"Your Excellency, the Fujian Provincial Government is simply putting your own past actions into boxes."
East China Sea, bridge of the Zhen Dong ship.
Shen Li received two telegrams at the same time.
"Young Marshal."
"The remaining ships in the East China Sea have lost their ability to fight back and are being towed away towards the Taiwan Strait."
He turned to the second letter.
"The gatehouse, police station, telephone exchange, and dock warehouses of the Japanese concession in Xiamen have all been taken over. The communication records between the underground radio station and the Third Fleet have been seized. Zhou Heting has been rescued."
Lin Chengzhang's chest heaved as he listened.
"good!"
This time, he didn't keep his voice down.
Several veteran sailors on the bridge also had tears in their eyes.
Damage enemy ships at sea.
The concessions were reclaimed on land.
These two events, when combined, were like a heavy hammer blow, striking down on decades of pent-up frustration.
Chen Zijun looked at the nautical chart.
East China Sea, Minjiang Estuary, Mawei, Xiamen.
The lines finally came together.
"Shen Li."
"exist."
"Powering on is planned."
Shen Li spread out the paper.
Chen Zijun slowly said, "Japanese naval destroyers crossed the line and approached the mouth of the Minjiang River. The Japanese concession in Xiamen privately set up military radio stations, smuggled arms, and contacted the fleet, launching a joint sea and land provocation against the Chinese coast."
Shen Li's pen flew across the paper.
"After repeated warnings from Chen Jiajun and the Fujian Provincial Government proved ineffective, they were forced to take over the security of the Japanese concession in Xiamen in accordance with the law, in order to protect the safety of ordinary overseas Chinese, business travelers and local residents."
Shen Li looked up.
"Young Marshal, should we write 'enemy ship destroyed'?"
Chen Zijun shook his head.
"I won't write it."
Why?
"Let the journalists write it, let the sailors spread it, let the Japanese cry it out."
Chen Zijun looked at the wrecked ship smoking in the distance.
"We only write down the evidence."
Gate tower of the Xiamen International Settlement.
When the Japanese flag was torn down, the street corner fell silent.
No one dared to shout first.
Until the Fujian provincial flag was raised.
Until the Chen family's army flag was also raised.
A gust of wind blows, and the flag unfurls.
The old man selling porridge on the street suddenly knelt down.
It's not about kowtowing to anyone.
My legs are weak.
He muttered to himself, "It's back...it's really back..."
The dockworker, his eyes red, suddenly punched himself in the chest.
"The land of the Fujianese has returned!"
The street corner erupted in chaos.
"I'm back!"
"The Xiamen concession has been recovered!"
"Long live the Chen family army!"
Yang Yanzhao didn't smile too obviously.
He stood under the gate tower, watching the soldiers post the notice correctly.
Ordinary overseas Chinese were registered, shops continued to operate as usual, armed personnel were disarmed, munitions warehouses were sealed, and radio evidence was handed over to the Fujian Provincial Government.
Every single one is clearly stated.
Li Mingyuan walked to his side.
"Governor, key locations in the concession have been taken over. Order at the docks is temporarily stable. The Chamber of Commerce is willing to send personnel to assist in inventorying the warehouses."
Yang Yanzhao nodded.
"Tell the Chamber of Commerce that anyone who dares to take advantage of the chaos to raise rice prices will be dealt with as disturbing public order."
Li Mingyuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.
"Yes."
Yang Yanzhao looked at the sea in the distance.
"Reclaiming the concessions is only the first step."
"The real skill lies in protecting the people, streamlining the system, and ensuring that they dare to open their shops again tomorrow."
On the sea.
An urgent report suddenly came from the radio room of the Zhen Dong ship.
"Young Marshal!"
"Large fleet communications detected in the Taiwan Strait!"
"A larger Japanese formation appears to be turning north!"
The air in the bridge, which had just relaxed, instantly tightened again.
Shen Li handed over the telegram.
Chen Zijun glanced down.
Taiwan Strait.
Heading north.
The ship's silhouette is even larger.
He laughed softly.
"I've taken the first bite of meat."
He looked up at the gray-blue sea.
"It's time for the main dish to be served."