Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

The official residence of Kong Xiangxi in the mountain city.

Inside the "Kong Garden", the lights were on.

Inside the study, Kong Xiangxi, dressed in an exquisitely crafted silk gown, paced back and forth with a worried expression.

As the Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nationalist Government, he had a series of top-secret documents on his desk concerning the upcoming "Quebec Conference".

This is a major conference concerning the global landscape.

Roosevelt and Churchill will lead a large corps of staff to Canada.

The Republic of China, emboldened by its recent brilliant victories in the North China, Central China, and South China Sea battlefields, was formally invited to participate in the conference for the first time as one of the "Four Powers".

This meeting is also known as the "Quarterboard" meeting or the Quebec meeting.

Logically speaking, this should have been the most glorious moment for H.H. Kung, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the moment when he should have devoted himself to the most meticulous preparations.

But at this moment, this "God of Wealth" had no mind at all about those proposals concerning great power rivalry.

His gaze kept drifting towards the closed door of the suite inside the study, his eyes filled with exasperated frustration and deep worry.

Hiding there was his most beloved eldest son, Kong Lingkan.

Just three hours ago, the usually arrogant and domineering young master Kong suddenly appeared at the gate of the official residence looking disheveled.

He barely brought any luggage, saying he "missed his parents and came back to visit them."

But how could an old fox like Kong Xiangxi possibly believe such nonsense?
What is North China like now?
Although it is a place with unlimited business opportunities, it is also a front line of war.

Previously, Kong Lingkan ignored all advice and tried his best to get into that area, setting up trading companies and dealing in goods, making a fortune. How could he suddenly miss home?
"master"

The trusted steward tiptoed in, carrying an urgent, sealed envelope, his face pale: "A letter has been sent from North China."

North China?

Kong Xiangxi's heart skipped a beat; that ominous premonition instantly came true.

He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and took the envelope: "Is it from the Joint Command, or which theater of operations?"

"neither."

The butler swallowed hard and said in a very low voice, "It was sent by the North China Inspectorate."

Upon hearing the words "Inspectorate," Kong Xiangxi's hand trembled violently.

Who doesn't know what kind of person Cao Potian, the director of the North China Inspectorate, is?
This man was extremely violent, cold-faced and ruthless. He came from a military background and was notorious for being "unrecognizable to even his own family."

Let alone someone like Kong Lingkan, who was "one of their own" and separated by two layers of relationship.

Even if Chu Yunfei's own trusted subordinates committed crimes, they would generally be dealt with accordingly.

Kong Xiangxi tore open the envelope with trembling hands and looked at the official letter in his hand.

Without the slightest euphemism, it was a cold and rigid "Case Investigation Notice".

This official letter lacked any formality, greetings, or even the most basic bureaucratic courtesy.

[It is hereby investigated that Kong Lingkan (the nominal head of Yangzi Company) is suspected of abusing his privileges to resell strategically controlled materials (high-grade aviation fuel and penicillin, etc.) during the fourth phase of the counter-offensive in North China, seriously interfering with frontline military deployments, and illegally obtaining huge amounts of legal tender, thus disrupting the financial order of the war zone.]

[Our department has now obtained a conclusive chain of evidence. Given that the person has fled back to Chongqing, we hereby send a letter to Minister Kong of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting his assistance in the investigation and ordering him to return to North China within three days to be questioned by a military court.]

Otherwise, our department will have no choice but to issue a nationwide arrest warrant for him and freeze all his assets in North China, in accordance with the Wartime Military Law and the Regulations for Punishing Corruption.

[Signature: Cao Potian, Director of the Inspection Department, North China Joint Command]

"This is too much! This is simply too much!"

After reading it, Kong Xiangxi was so angry that he trembled all over. He slammed the official letter on the table and said, "Who does Cao Potian think he is? How dare he talk to me like that?"

"They're going to issue an arrest warrant? They're going to freeze assets?"

"Does he even respect the Nationalist government? Does he even respect me, the Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan?!"

Kong Xiangxi roared in the hall, his chest heaving violently.

As a top nobleman in the Republic of China, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Chu Yunfei had to respectfully address him as "Master Yong" in front of him.

This Cao Potian, how dare he do this!

Kong Xiangxi's hand instinctively reached for the phone, but then he dejectedly put it down.

To file a complaint? To whom?
Should we sue Chu Yunfei?
The Chu Yunfei of today is no longer the junior regimental commander of the Jin-Sui Army he once was.

Americans idolized him, the Soviets did business with him, and even Chang Ruiyuan relied on him to maintain his international standing.

At this critical juncture, if Chang Ruiyuan were to provoke Chu Yunfei for his son's "dirty business" of reselling supplies, he might actually sacrifice Kong Lingkan to appease the anger of the soldiers on the front lines and to give the Americans an explanation!

Chang Ruiyuan is capable of such a thing; there will be absolutely no turning back then.

"Master, the eldest young master..."

The butler cautiously asked, "Should we let him hide for a while, or send him to study in the United States?"

"Hide? Where can you hide?"

Kong Xiangxi slumped on the sofa, staring at the bright red official seal on the letter, feeling an intense irritation: "Since North China dared to send this letter, it means they are prepared to make a huge scene."

“I know Cao Potian well. He also has a subordinate named Wu Jingzhong, who is the head of the investigation department. This man is a good member of the Military Intelligence Bureau and has a keen sense of smell. He was the one who came up with the Japanese army’s Divine Punishment Operation plan.”

"If we don't give the Inspectorate an explanation this time, and if the North China Daily exposes this, saying that my son, Kong Xiangxi, is profiting from the national crisis on the front lines, or even causing the defeat in a certain battle."

Kong Xiangxi shuddered. At that time, not only would he be unable to attend the Quebec Conference, but he might also lose his position as Foreign Minister.
Kong Xiangxi sighed deeply, his heart filled with an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

He waved his hand wearily, as if he had aged ten years in an instant: "Go, bring that unfilial son out here!"

"Make him vomit up everything he ate! And fill the hole in North China for me!"

"besides."

Kong Xiangxi gritted his teeth and squeezed out a sentence: "Prepare a generous gift and send it to the North China side, saying that I have failed to discipline my son properly, and asking Director Cao to be lenient and give my son a chance to reform."

"Sir, this is too much of an injustice for you."

"Wronged?"

Kong Xiangxi gave a bitter laugh and glanced at the dark, rainy night outside the window: "Now the entire Republic of China is acting according to the whims of North China, what am I supposed to complain about!"

Faced with that domineering official letter, this once all-powerful God of Wealth ultimately chose silence and compromise.

After the butler left, Kong Xiangxi did not rest, but slumped in a large leather chair, staring unfocusedly at the chandelier on the ceiling.

Before long, the study was filled with smoke.

Kong Xiangxi was afraid.

This fear wasn't just because his son had gotten into trouble, nor was it because of the threat posed by that wicked Cao Potian.

"Official-merchant relationship." Kong Xiangxi chewed on these two words, giving a bitter smile.

Once upon a time, being both an official and a merchant was the hallmark of the Kong family and the foundation upon which the four great families stood firm.

They are adept at using their power to obtain business intelligence and then using the profits to enhance their political standing; this is a trick they have mastered and are even considered to be a matter of course.

But now, this approach doesn't work anymore!

As a seasoned veteran who had navigated the political landscape of the Republic of China for decades, he keenly sensed an unprecedented sense of danger.

The wind direction has changed.

First, there was Chang Ruiyuan's son, Chang Jingguo, who implemented new policies in southern Jiangxi.

This high-achieving student, who returned from studying in the Soviet Union, not only received excellent instruction from his teachers, but also excelled in his studies.

With Chang Ruiyuan keeping things under control, things are manageable.

But once power is in hand, one can issue orders at will.

Chang Jingguo was not one to tolerate this kind of behavior. When the time came to crack down on corruption, the Kong family would be the first to be targeted.

After so many years, how much of the affection from our elders remains?

Moreover, Kong Yongzhi was already very familiar with Chinese culture, and he was extremely familiar with the saying "when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked."
Just as Kong Yongzhi was pondering, the door to the study opened gently.

Soong Ai-ling dismissed the servants and personally brought in a bowl of ginseng soup.

The matriarch of the Kong family, the eldest of the three Song sisters, no longer had her usual composure and calmness on her face; instead, a deep sorrow was etched between her brows.

"Yongzhi, have some soup."

Soong Ai-ling placed the ginseng soup on the table and casually massaged her husband's tense temples: "I already know about Ling Kan's matter."

"This kid is a bit of a rascal, but there's no need to ruin your health over him."

Kong Xiangxi closed his eyes and sighed, "This brat is just a prelude."

"What truly terrified me was the large flag that those people in North China were holding up!"

He suddenly opened his eyes, sat up straight, grabbed Soong Ai-ling's hand, and said in a very low voice, "In the last two years, the domestic situation has completely changed. Things are different now."

“In the past, people competed based on seniority, but now, people in North China are taking the lead in promoting ‘integrity and public service’ and ‘iron-blooded resistance’.”

"The way those so-called 'progressive forces,' whether it's the Eighth Route Army or Chu Yunfei's arrogant and fierce soldiers, look at us..."

Thinking of this, Kong Xiangxi couldn't help but shudder: "That look in his eyes was strange, like he wanted to devour us alive."

"In their eyes, our practice of 'grabbing power in one hand and money in the other' is sucking the blood of the country and making us traitors!"

"Once the war ends, or if North China becomes too powerful to control, our family will be the first to be punished when the reckoning begins!"

Soong Ai-ling paused slightly, then sighed softly, walked around the table, and sat down opposite Kong Xiangxi: "Yongzhi, how could I not know your worries?"

"During this time, I also heard some rumors at the ladies' gatherings."

"People outside are saying that while soldiers are bleeding and sacrificing their lives at the front, wealthy families are indulging in a life of luxury and extravagance at home."

"We could ignore this kind of public resentment in the past, because of personal relationships and the fact that the Chairman was keeping things in check, so it didn't cause any problems..."

She glanced at the north: "But now, the War Marshal's prestige is at its zenith, so high that even the Chairman has to give him some leeway."

"If he really wields the sword of 'anti-corruption,' the Chairman might not be willing to protect us. He might even use us as scapegoats to quell public anger. After all, wasn't it because of this that you stepped down as Minister of Finance?"

Yes.

The reason they switched from the finance department to the diplomacy department was because of the Shanxi Agricultural Bank incident.

If it weren't for the government debt issue, he would probably still be raising money for Chang Ruiyuan right now!
Nowadays, as a foreign minister with little "real power," he still relies heavily on T.V. Soong for much of his work.

The two had been rivals for years, and now they were even more unable to hold their heads high in front of Soong Tse-ven.

Kong Xiangxi's face was ashen: "Yes, this incident involving Ling Kan is a signal."

"Cao Potian dared to send that letter because he doesn't take us seriously, or rather, Cao Potian isn't afraid of offending us at all!"

"Being an official is no longer easy, and this money is even more of a hot potato."

Soong Ai-ling was silent for a moment, then a resolute glint flashed in her eyes: "Since this pool is already so murky that we can't see the bottom, we can't be foolish enough to jump in again."

"Yes, since ancient times, no one who serves as a henchman for the emperor has ever had a good ending."

Soong Ai-ling leaned forward slightly, staring into her husband's eyes: "Yongzhi, we need to think of a way out."

Kong Xiangxi was taken aback: "An escape route?"

"Yes, a way out."

Soong Ai-ling's fingers lightly traced across the table: "Domestic industries, especially those that are too ostentatious and bear the name of the Kong family, should be sold off slowly and converted into gold and US dollars."

"Take advantage of your trip to Quebec, Canada for the conference."

Soong Ai-ling lowered her voice even further, almost whispering: "Take a few more trusted confidants with you, it'll pave the way for your trip to America."

"Transfer your family's assets to the United States in batches and secretly, following the same path you took before the war. Whether it's buying bonds, real estate, or depositing them in Citibank, you can't leave them all in this place that's about to become a powder keg."

Kong Xiangxi was terrified; this was tantamount to a disguised "escape."

"What if the Chairman finds out?"

"So what if you know?"

Soong Ai-ling sneered: "His chairman still needs our sister to borrow money from the Americans for him, and our family to keep his crumbling finances afloat!"

"As long as we don't openly turn against him, he'll have to put up with it."

"Besides, we're doing this for the children, for the continuation of the Confucius family line!"

Soong Ai-ling looked at H.H. Kung, her tone softening yet firm: "Ling Kan has caused trouble this time. You must not only punish him, but punish him severely, to set an example for Chu Yunfei and for the whole world."

"Give the money to North China and send people to the United States to 'study' and avoid trouble."

“As long as people and money are out of the country, no matter how the situation changes in China, our Kong family will never fall.”

Kong Xiangxi stared blankly at his wife for a long time before letting out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Madam, you have a far-sighted view."

Kong Xiangxi stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the dark night outside: "The path of collusion between officials and businessmen has finally come to an end."

"I'm afraid the domestic stage will no longer have room for people like us in the future."

"Then let's do it your way, and we need to hurry, otherwise we'll have time to deal with internal problems after the war in North China is over."

Kong Xiangxi turned around, his eyes no longer hesitant. "This trip to Quebec isn't just about attending meetings; it's also about finding a way out for our family." (End of Chapter)