March 21st is the Spring Equinox of the lunar calendar.
It was raining lightly in Nanjing. People kept rushing to Jinling University in the rain, and teachers and students in the school also rushed to the playground.
For more than half a month, Zhou Hexuan has been traveling down the river and has been giving anti-Japanese patriotic speeches in many cities such as Yichang, Wuhan, Ezhou, Jiujiang, Anqing, Wuhu, etc. He predicted that a war would inevitably break out within this year, and was criticized by various countries.
It was widely reprinted in major newspapers and quickly aroused heated discussions from all walks of life, even leading to a protest from the Japanese Embassy.
Zhou Hexuan had just arrived in Nanjing the day before yesterday and immediately received an invitation from Jinling University to give a public lecture on campus this morning.
The spring rain fell harder and harder, but the audience was unaware of it and listened eagerly to Zhou Hexuan's speech.
When Chen Yuguang, the president of Jinling University, saw that the rain was getting heavier, he immediately asked someone to fetch an umbrella and went up to the stage to hold an umbrella for Zhou Hexuan himself.
"No need, Principal Chen, everyone is getting wet in the rain, I should get a shower too," Zhou Hexuan declined Chen Yuguang's kindness and continued his speech, "Japan's ambitions in North China are already well known to Sima Zhao. 1
On March 1, Japanese military planes distributed five-color flags and leaflets in Qingdao in an attempt to provoke confrontation between Shandong and the central government. Just one day later, Japanese military planes distributed leaflets in Jinan. Another day after that, Japanese military planes distributed leaflets in Tianjin.
Coming down, Japan’s targets of aggression must be Pingjin, Hebei and Shandong. We can see..."
Among the people listening to the speech attentively, there were two men in suits staring intently at Zhou Hexuan, who was giving the speech.
Zhou Hexuan's anti-Japanese speeches in major cities along the Yangtze River Basin have aroused great attention from Japanese secret agents. However, in view of the assassination scandal that broke out in London, those secret agents did not dare to act rashly. After reporting at all levels, the Japanese military department conveyed instructions to let the Black Dragon Society
The Shanghai and Nanjing branches are waiting for action.
Kenji Doihara and the Black Dragon Society have always had a close relationship. Although the "December 28th Incident" was instigated by Yoshiko Kawashima of Kenji Doihara's faction, it was the people from the Shanghai Black Dragon Society who were really responsible.
Originally, Doihara Kenji planned to let Zhou Hexuan die slowly, but after waiting for a full year, Zhou Hexuan was still alive and kicking. Under such circumstances, Doihara Kenji had to suspect that Liao Yaquan had rebelled, so this time he simply let the Black Dragon Society take action.
There are very few intellectuals who can make Japanese spies determined to assassinate them. Only our Mr. Zhou can enjoy this honor.
Especially after the publication of "Collected Works of Mingcheng", more than half of the articles in it analyzed Japan. These articles were published sporadically before and did not cause much sensation. Now they are published together and have attracted attention. Privately, they are even called "Anthology of Anti-Japanese Works".
》.
A large amount of data in some articles is more accurate than the statistics of the Japanese government. This makes the Japanese extremely surprised and nervous, and they once again doubt whether there are spies in the top brass of the Japanese government.
"Pah, pah, pah!"
The speech was over, and the playground roared with applause.
Many teachers, students and citizens came with "Collected Works of Mingcheng" to ask for signatures. Zhou Hexuan had already sent the manuscript to the Commercial Press on the Lantern Festival, and it was finally officially published three days ago.
All the words "anti-Japanese" in the book have been changed to "anti-x", and there is no mention of anything related to the emperor. The Japanese can't find an excuse to protest.
The central government in Nanjing did a good job this time and did not order a ban on Zhou Hexuan's collected works, which shows that the central government's attitude towards Japan has become tougher. Even half a month ago, the Central Executive Yuan officially commended Suiyuan Anti-Japanese War generals Fu Zuoyi and Zhao Chengshou for their success.
Defeat the Japanese puppet (Mongolian) army and prevent the Japanese invasion and expansion in the Suiyuan area.
As if there is a tacit understanding, both China and Japan have become tougher. The Japanese army's expansion in North China has become more unscrupulous, and the national army's counterattack has become more active. Even Yan Xishan has rolled up his sleeves to fight against the Japanese army's expansion in Suiyuan, which poses a serious threat.
Take Yan Xishan's territory.
Chen Yuguang saw that Zhou Hexuan's whole body was soaked, and he quickly stood aside to help hold the umbrella. Instead, half of his own body was exposed to the rain.
After the crowd had dispersed, Chen Yuguang said: "Mr. Zhou, you gave a great lecture. You analyzed Japan thoroughly and gave us all a lesson in international politics."
"No, no, Principal Chen is the one who is admired." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.
Jinling University used to be a missionary school, but it was changed to a state-run school during the Northern Expedition. Chen Yuguang has been the president for ten years.
After the "September 18th Incident" broke out, Chen Yuguang immediately began to organize teachers and students to conduct military training, and also led the teachers and students of the school to swear an oath to never use Japanese products. Next door to the school is the Japanese Consulate General, and the Japanese erected a flag to symbolize Jinling University
The height-high flagpole of the North Building was provocative, and teachers and students could see the Japanese plaster flag when they raised their eyes. Chen Yuguang immediately supported the students in fundraising activities, and eventually a new flagpole was built on campus. The Chinese national flag was 10 feet higher than the Japanese plaster flag.
While chatting and laughing, Chen Yuguang invited Zhou Hexuan to eat in the cafeteria. The two Black Dragon Club members did not follow him, but went to the bookstore outside the school to stay.
In the afternoon, Zhou Hexuan finally came out of school, and the two Japanese quickly got a rickshaw to follow him.
The Black Dragon Society initially only operated in the Northeast, but by the late 1920s, it gradually developed to South China, East China, Central China and Northwest China, with branches in Shanghai, Nanjing, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Wuhan and other cities. Their duty is to cooperate with the Japanese secret service
, carried out surveillance on Chinese people, suppressed anti-Japanese behavior, collected intelligence on the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and persecuted democratic progressives.
Many times, when Chiang Kai-shek's agents arrested underground party members, the information was indirectly provided by the Black Dragon Society.
Seeing Zhou Hexuan take a rickshaw into the Yangtze Hotel, one of them followed him in and lived next to Zhou Hexuan's room. The other person left the hotel and quickly returned to the home of the Nanjing Black Dragon Club and reported the situation: "We have been following Zhou Hexuan for a day and a half.
He usually stays at the Yangtze Hotel and only leaves the room when eating. His schedule is very simple and he hardly interacts with outsiders and does not go to theaters, bars and other entertainment venues."
The leader of the Nanjing branch of the Black Dragon Society is called Yamamoto Ryo. He has a mustache, wears a kimono, wears wooden clogs, and holds a katana in his hand. He is in a kendo posture, holding the sword in both hands and keeps slashing nonchalantly.
The ground asked: "Is it possible to poison the hotel?"
"It is difficult to bribe the waiters in the hotel," the follower replied. "Zhou Hexuan is a celebrity in China. Ordinary waiters would not dare to poison him. If we bribe him rashly, we are likely to alert the snake."
Yamamoto Ryona raised his samurai sword and slashed it down with a reverse cassock slashing gesture, admonishing: "The Yangtze Hotel is very important. Many celebrities in China will stay there. In the future, we must strengthen our penetration into the hotel."
"Hai!" the stalker lowered his head and responded.
The members of the Black Dragon Society in China, mainly Japanese ronin, will also bribe some traitors to be lackeys. It is okay to let them stir up troubles and provide intelligence, but they are beyond their capabilities to engage in infiltration. This is a technical job and should be done by regular secret services.
.
Yamamoto Ryona sheathed his sword and gave instructions: "Go in two steps, bribe the waiter in the hotel, and wait for an opportunity to strike on the road. Zhou Hexuan is not an ordinary person, and this is Nanjing. Explosives and firearms must not be used."
The stalker said: "How about we kidnap the hotel waiter, say the waiter is sick, and then send someone pretending to be a relative to take his place?"
"It's not feasible," Yamamoto Ryona shook his head. "The Yangtze Hotel is a high-end hotel run by the British. All waiters have undergone strict training. If someone gets sick, the hotel will have to find someone else to work, and they will not easily accept our people."
The stalker thought for a while and said: "Then I can only bribe him. I need enough money and a promise to let him become a Japanese citizen."
Yamamoto Ryona smiled and said: "I'll give you 10,000 yuan in activity funds. Zhou Hexuan is worth so much. If any waiters are willing to poison, their whole family can become Japanese citizens."
Just as the two were discussing the plan, Sun Yongzhen and Zhu Guozhen walked into Zhou Hexuan's room at the Yangtze Hotel: "Sir, we seem to be being followed!"
Zhou Hexuan smiled bitterly and said: "It seems that my speeches along the way have challenged the nerves of the Japanese."
Sun Yongzhen asked: "One of the stalkers lives next door. Do you want to take him down?"
Zhou Hexuan shook his head and said: "There is no evidence, so what if you are caught? Be more vigilant, be careful when going out in the future, buy food outside, and beware of Japanese poisoning food."
