Chapter 38 chapter eight

Only now did Zhao Minquan understand his difficult situation and the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.The Japanese army was under pressure, Hoffman was weak and incompetent, and Zhang Da was far away in Hankou. The life and death of the Chinese company depended entirely on his every move. sinner. The radio station has contacted Hankou, and Zhao Minquan reported the daily changes in the mining area to Zhang Daren through radio waves, and asked Zhang Daren to give action instructions.On the night of May 4th, a few hours before the fall of the mining area, Zhang Daren telegraphed Zhao Minquan, asking him to keep a close watch and never put any idlers into the mine to give the Japanese army an excuse to occupy the mine, let alone lead the flames of war to the mine. inside, destroying the company's property.Zhao Minquan replied and agreed.However, as soon as the telegram was sent out, Mr. Sun brought more than 30 brothers, and Committee Member Sun led more than a dozen soldiers of the national army and local officials who were recuperating in the mining area to the suspension bridge at the gate of the company, requesting to enter the mine for refuge.Gong Yi, the captain of the mining police, did not dare to make a decision, so he hung up the phone on the gun tower to ask for instructions. Zhao Minquan was so cruel that he ordered Gong Yi to put down the suspension bridge...

On the next day and night, Zhao Minquan told Zhang Daren of this established fact without hesitation, thinking that Zhang Daren would make a big fuss.Unexpectedly, Zhang Daren replied and praised Zhao Minquan, saying that he understands righteousness, is decisive in dealing with things, and has national integrity, and so on.After Zhao Minquan thought about it, he realized Zhang Daren's cleverness and sophistication. Zhang Daren was far away from the company and was not in his position. On May 7th, Zhang Daren sent a telegram to Zhao Minquan: 1. The matter has already happened, and we must not hand over our armed personnel to the Japanese military, so as not to give others a handle and be plotted against by the government; 2. Immediately send people secretly out of the mining area .

late.Xiyan and Tiantun became two isolated islands, their own connections were cut off, and the entire land was dominated by the Japanese occupying forces.There is an inclined shaft and an air shaft underground that can go out, but the mouth of the inclined shaft and the air shaft have been guarded by the Japanese army.Right now, Taro Yamamoto issued an ultimatum, and Zhao Minquan faced two choices: one, let the Japanese army enter the mine to search; two, hand over the refugees. He is unwilling to do either of these two, and his conscience will be severely condemned if he agrees to either one.He is a Chinese, and he cannot hand over his compatriots to the alien invaders to slaughter.Although these compatriots have blackmailed and harassed the company, they are all Chinese, and handing them over is tantamount to killing them with their own hands.If you don't, the threat of the Japanese army capturing the company will become a reality.These Japanese bandits have long been salivating over Xiyan Coal. How could they easily let go of such a grandiose excuse?What is even more frightening is that now, the mine has been filled with explosives everywhere, ready to explode the mine at any time. If the Japanese army breaks in suddenly, not only the refugees will not be able to survive, but also the explosion will not be completed. A large mine with an annual output of one million tons will be completely destroyed. If he gave it to the Japanese intact, he, Zhao Minquan, would commit a serious crime of belonging to the enemy!

It was only after reaching this desperate situation that Zhao Minquan once again deeply realized the brilliance of Zhang Daren. If these people had not been allowed to enter the mine five days ago, they might still have escaped, and he would not be in such an imminent danger. . He wanted to discuss with Hoffman again, and make final negotiations with the Japanese. If he had no choice but to ask for instructions to explode the mine, he must not hand over this large modern mine easily. He was about to cheer up and find Hoffman, but Hoffman broke into his office.Hoffman was in a cold sweat and was out of breath. When he met him, he called: "Mr. Zhao, it's broken! It's broken! Mr. Taro Yamamoto just hung up the phone and asked us to hand over the asylum seekers within an hour. Otherwise, we will take immediate action." Military action!"

Zhao Minquan tried his best to calm himself down, pulled up a chair, asked Hoffman to sit down, and said with a slight smile: "Mr. Hoffman, don't panic, Yamamoto is just bluffing, and he would never dare to take action before he has figured out the company's property rights. What military action! We should have one last talk with them." Hoffman rolled his eyes, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Mr. Zhao, we are old acquaintances. You know, I am a businessman, and I aim to make a profit in business. I am absolutely unwilling to participate in any action that risks my life. Today, for your , For Mr. Zhang Daren, for the Chinese company, I am desperately trying to maintain it. With all due respect, I think you will agree to sign a new contract on behalf of the company and pay a certain amount of danger fee every day, right?!"

Civilization Bandit! Zhao Minquan's heart was hardened, and he immediately agreed: "Can!" Hoffman took out a "hazardous fee payment contract" written in Chinese and German from the pocket of his suit jacket as if by magic, and asked Zhao Minquan to sign it. Zhao Minquan only glanced at the amount column, then pulled out a pen and brushed to sign his name. As for what was specifically written in the contract, how to word it, and whether the grammar was standard, it was unnecessary for him to know!It doesn't matter if it's human talk or nonsense, the purpose is to take the opportunity to ask for money, give it!Now is the time to use foreign masters, no matter how harsh the conditions are, we have to admit that we Chinese are so incompetent!

After signing, Minquan solemnly said: "We Chinese are creditworthy, and I hope Mr. Hoffman will be creditable, and the Japanese army must not be allowed to enter the mine!" Hoffman nodded his head and said: "Of course! Of course! However, the refugees must hand it over! If you don't hand it over, Taro Yamamoto will not agree!" Civil rights were silent. Hoffman made a sad face: "Mr. Zhao, I can understand your feelings, and I also sympathize with these Chinese people who have taken refuge, but there is nothing I can do to protect mines and people!" Minquan raised his head, gritted his teeth and said, "So, what if I want to explode mines?"

Hoffman said angrily: "No! If we want to blow up, we have to wait for us to withdraw!" Minquan shook his head and let out a long sigh: "Okay, that's all we have to do! However, you have to make it clear to the Japanese side that you must not kill them!" "Let's negotiate and see!" Fifteen minutes later, Zhao Minquan and Hoffman met in the courtyard of the Xiyan Township Mining District Office with the Japanese General Taro Yamamoto and the new mine manager Takahashi of the Liujiawa Coal Mine in Japan.Zhao Minquan's identity is Hoffman's assistant and translator.Also present was Liu Renjie, who was an interpreter for the Japanese occupation army.

The meeting lasted for forty-five minutes, and the minutes are as follows: Taro Yamamoto: "In view of the National Government's reactionary policy of opposing Manchuria and resisting Japan, the Great Japanese Empire was forced to carry out the Great East Asian Jihad. , will never kill innocent people indiscriminately, please don’t be afraid.” Takahashi: "The empire's consistent policy is to protect private industries and encourage the development of mineral resources in order to revitalize East Asia, make it increasingly prosperous, and promote the birth of a new China."

Hoffman: "China and Japan are at war, and have nothing to do with Germany. China Coal Mine Co., Ltd. is now the property of our company and foreign companies. I hope that your army will strictly follow your government's policy on handling China's incidents and the principles of repeated diplomatic statements. Protect the rights and interests of German overseas Chinese." Takahashi: "There is no doubt about it. If the property rights of the Xiyan industry are indeed owned by German Lihe foreign companies, the imperial army will never send a single soldier. However, the property rights are not clear at present..."

Liu Renjie: "Mr. Takahashi, as far as I know, the company did borrow huge sums of money from Lihe Matheson in the past to mortgage the property rights." Hoffman: "I have a contract certificate here." Takahashi: "It's hard to tell whether it's true or not. The empire will check it as soon as possible before making a conclusion." Zhao Minquan: "I am the person in charge of the company's economy and finance. I have borrowed money on behalf of the company. This matter is not complicated and can be investigated through Hankou." Takahashi: "If it's just a debt, the empire can pay it back. If it's a lie to the empire, ask a third country to protect it. After verification, it has to be confiscated as enemy property. Please tell Mr. Zhang Daren about this." Hoffman: "I protest! Mortgage property and property rights documents have legal effect, and the Japanese side repays the debt on behalf of them, which in fact violates the rights and interests of the German Overseas Chinese Office of Mining." Yamamoto Taro: "I'll talk about this later, first solve the problem of anti-Japanese armed personnel." Takahashi: "I agree." Taro Yamamoto: "Mr. Hoffman still thinks that there are no anti-Japanese armed personnel in the mine?" Hoffman: "The mine police have been ordered to search and arrest more than ten people, all of whom are not armed, but agreed to send them out of the mine." Zhao Minquan: "I hope Da Zuo will not harm them." Yamamoto Taro: "Not more than ten people, but more than fifty people, including thirteen wounded soldiers, five county and district officials, and more than thirty bandits from the Sun Department. We know all about it. We report." Hoffman: "This is a misrepresentation, I hope you will find out!" Liu Renjie: "There's no need to cover it up. The imperial army has already found out that if you don't hand it over, you're asking for trouble!" Taro Yamamoto: "There is still half an hour left. If you don't hand over people, the imperial army will regard courtesy and the neutrality of foreign companies as empty talk, and Mr. Hoffman will bear all the consequences!" Hoffman: "I agree to hand them over. I ask your army to understand: accepting them as asylum is entirely out of humanitarian considerations, and I have no intention of being an enemy of your army. I also hope that your army will not harm them in line with humanitarian principles." .” Yamamoto Taro: "I repeat: the imperial army is a division of benevolence and righteousness. It will never kill innocent people indiscriminately, nor abuse Chinese soldiers who have lost their resistance and repented." Hoffman: "Thank you! I take my leave!" A short meeting decided the fate of more than 50 refugees.After Zhao Minquan and Hoffman returned to the mine, the handover began immediately, and all the more than 50 people were disarmed by the mine police. There is a murderous atmosphere outside the gate of the company. On both sides of the street leading to the gate, there are more than a hundred Japanese soldiers with guns standing shoulder to shoulder. .Fifty meters away, a machine gun was mounted on the roof of a pawn shop. The black muzzle looked down, staring closely at the suspension bridge over the moat.Taro Yamamoto went out in person, armed with a command knife, and accompanied by many officers and traitors, he stood at the door of a teahouse 30 meters away from the suspension bridge, mumbling something. Zhao Minquan and Hoffman hid in the gun tower at the gate, looking out through the large shooting holes. The well-built mine policemen also loaded their guns and drew their knives out of their sheaths, ready to deal with unexpected events.The two machine guns in the turrets on both sides are secretly mounted beside the firing holes, and can be attached to the firing holes to shoot outwards at any time. Everything was ready, Hoffman ordered the mine police to put down the two-foot-wide single-person suspension bridge, and then the first batch of five unarmed county officials were sent out.When going out, a mine policeman was leading with a white flag, and five people followed behind him one by one.Among these five people, one is Comrade Commissar Sun, a great statesman.Comrade Sun stayed at the end tremblingly. Just after crossing the suspension bridge, his once full of political mind could not direct his legs and feet. When his knees gave way, he collapsed to the ground.He was terrified by the situation. Two Japanese soldiers rushed over, grabbed him by one shoulder, and lifted him up by force. Commissar Sun did not dare to look at the faces of the Japanese soldiers. He saw two blurred yellow clouds swirling in front of his eyes, and a terrible idea rushed into his mind—to be shot. In short, Comrade Comrade Sun peed a lot of pants, but fortunately no one noticed, no one noticed, Comrade Comrade Sun had the right to pretend that he didn't pee.The two Japanese soldiers didn't turn their bayonets across. Comrade Sun had a little luck: Maybe, maybe they didn't shoot!Perhaps the Japanese also need his politics!In a hurry, Commissar Sun broke free from the pull of the Japanese soldiers, raised his slender arms, clenched his hands like chicken feet into fists, and shouted in a trembling voice: "Long live the Imperial Army of Japan!" "Support Greater East Asia Jihad!" The other four party and state officials also woke up from a dream in an instant. They followed the example of Comrade Comrade Sun, raised their arms and fists, and shouted in unison with their own distinctive tones and voices of varying thickness. "Long live the Imperial Army of Japan!" "Support Greater East Asia Jihad!" "Support the Great Japanese Imperial Army!" ... Taro Yamamoto was very moved, and with a gesture, the soldiers escorting him were led to him, and he spoke enthusiastically and friendlyly. Liu Renjie translated: "Master Yamamoto said, the Imperial Army does not blame you, you were deceived by the Nationalist Government and the Communist Party, the Imperial Army forgives you. You are both local administrators, and the Imperial Army still relies on your cooperation to maintain Local order. I hope that you will support the imperial army sincerely, and don’t say what you mean. Immediately, the imperial army will form a local maintenance committee and register good people. The imperial army can regard you as second-class good people..." Committee member Sun's eyes were moist, his throat was choked, and the corners of his mouth twitched for a long time, but he couldn't say a word of gratitude with weight and emotion, so he lowered his head, bent his waist, and bowed solemnly and sincerely to Taro Yamamoto's belly. bowed. Zhao Minquan saw and heard all this clearly in the blockhouse. He seemed to be stabbed suddenly, and his heart ached.Is this my compatriots?Is this the government officials who insisted on fighting the war and saving the country?It has completely disgraced the Chinese people!Just ten minutes ago, this Commissar Sun had threatened Zhao Minquan hoarsely, calling Zhao Minquan a traitor for handing over a party official like him to the Japanese. Now, in a blink of an eye, he became a traitor. The second and third batches sent out were Sun Sanwai and his brothers, fifteen or six at a time.In view of the good feelings of the Chinese people like Commissioner Sun towards the Imperial Japanese Army, and in view of the benevolence of the Imperial Japanese Army, Taro Yamamoto generously decided to let go of the past for the bandits who had a bad conscience, as long as they waved their fists and shouted "Daddy!" Long live the Japanese Imperial Army", they were all released as fifth-class good people and returned home, allowing them to live and work in peace and contentment. In a word, if you change your life, the imperial army of Japan is really benevolent to the Chinese.What are slogans?Isn't it just a puff of breath squeezed out of the belly?One breath for one life, what a bargain!do it!If you sell this breath, you will never be considered a traitor!Back then, Guan Yu, the second master of public relations, was in Cao Ying and his heart was in Han, so he was greatly praised by the world!This is called curve saving the country!Besides, committee members Sun have sold it, so if we don't sell it, aren't we fucking idiots? ! sold! "Long live the Imperial Army of Japan!" A few more clever and cunning Chinese deceived the stupid little devils and were searched and released. Sun Sanye also wanted to sell, and he also wanted to blow his fist and open his mouth, so as to scare the little devil down.However, for some reason, at the moment when the decision was made, the arms became so heavy that they could not be lifted; the belly was so dry that they could not press enough breath to form a slogan; the throat was also dry, as if it was smoking and burning , no sound is produced.Why does the Imperial Japanese Army want to live long?Fuck, don't shout!Uncle is Chinese and the owner of this piece of land. Uncle didn't invite you, so naturally there is no need to shout long live for you! Third Master Sun walked forward slowly, his eyes gradually shone with fearlessness. In his eyes, the bayonets looked like wolf teeth, and the holes in the guns looked like the mouths of poisonous snakes.For no reason, he thought of the winter of the twelfth year of the Republic of China. On such a cloudy and murderous morning, Sun Meiyao, the head of the brigade who had just become the brigade commander, was plotted to assassinate, and Guo Erji, the independent brigade station, was surrounded by tens of thousands of soldiers. There are so many swords and guns, is his third grandson timid?Seeing Sun Meiyao's bloody head sent by the officers and soldiers, he swung his gun to break out of the encirclement.Later, the leaders wavered and ordered the guns to be handed over.When he walked out of the area surrounded by the officers and soldiers with bare hands, he raised his eyebrows coldly. He never yelled a dick slogan or said a soft word!Sun Sanye, who is not afraid of the sky and the earth, should bow his head in front of the little devil?What words!There is no diaoyinger either! Hold up your chest, raise your head, and let the little Japanese devils see that the Chinese are good-looking, and not all soft bones!Sun Sanye's bones are not soft! Sun Sanye, who was always smart, turned out to be a little stupid. However, just for a moment, stupidity was replaced by cleverness. Why bother to get angry?There is an old saying: keep the green hills, and don’t worry about no firewood.Take it easy, admit defeat, in exchange for a life, maybe you can do something good for the folks on this land in the future.I have committed too many sins in the past, even if I die, I have to do something good before I die. When people mention Sun San and Sun Sanye, they can smack their lips and say: "Okay! This kid is okay! When we hit Japan..." Shout out, don't suffer, Mr. Sun knows strategy! Pharynx spit, moist throat.You have to shout upright, your voice can't be hoarse, you can't tremble, you can't show fear, fuck, who is the third master afraid of? !You have to give the Japanese little devils a feeling: the third master voluntarily shouted and shouted for fun. When the third master is happy, he dares to shout "Down with the Japanese little devils" if he is not sure! Looking up and seeing countless sharp bayonets, he felt the absurdity of "voluntary", and the third master's self-esteem was strongly hurt.He seemed to see blood dripping from the bayonet. There was the blood of the brothers of the second teacher Da Daohui, the blood of Zhang Xiuqing's brothers, and the blood of his own brothers.He couldn't help thinking about Zhang Xiuqing's fate, and felt the importance of the Communist Party. If he had known this, he should have retreated to the mountains with Mr. Zhang.It's fucking confused!The box cannon should not be handed over to the mining police. If you have a box cannon in your hand, the third master may not be able to break out of the encirclement!A Chinese company that can be hacked into pieces! Shout!Regardless of voluntary or not! He raised his fist and opened his mouth—yelled.However, at this very moment, Nao Gua actually betrayed. With an unapproved slogan, he pushed aside "Long Live the Imperial Japanese Army" and rushed out confidently by himself: "Down with the little Japanese devils!" As soon as the voice fell, a white light flashed in front of his eyes, and a Japanese soldier beside him had stabbed the bayonet into the chest of Mr. Sun.The bayonet was pulled out, and there was a lot of blood on Sun Sanye's exposed belly. Third Master Sun's eyes were wide open, his teeth were clenched, and he staggered, but he didn't fall.He stood firmly on the ancient land that raised him, let the hot blood flow down his belly, down his thighs, onto his feet, onto the chest of the land, screaming again with all his might: "The Great Chinese Nation...long live!" Another two cuts.Third Master Sun fell to the ground and never got up again!Like a naughty child embracing his mother, he embraced the earth, as if silently begging for forgiveness and understanding... "Down with Little Japan!" "Long live the Republic of China!" ... Seven or eight raised their fists and roared with seven or eight rough voices. This group of stupid Chinese people used their stupidity to defend the dignity of an ancient nation and proved an invincible spirit. gunshots.bayonet.blood.corpse. Hoffman came forward to protest, accusing the Japanese army of killing innocent people indiscriminately. Taro Yamamoto said coldly: "These people are bandits, they are anti-Manchurian anti-Japanese elements, they don't want to be good citizens, they should be executed!" Zhao Minquan didn't want to send the wounded soldiers out again, and after Hoffman came back, he ordered the mine police to pull up the suspension bridge. Yamamoto Taro proposed to negotiate again.After negotiating with Hoffman, he agreed not to force the wounded soldiers to shout slogans detrimental to the dignity and dignity of the country, and the suspension bridge was lowered again. The wounded were bound as soon as they stepped off the drawbridge.A seriously wounded man lying on a stretcher with a broken leg was also ordered to walk on his own.He couldn't stand, and two Japanese soldiers stepped forward to grab his arms. At this moment, he suddenly blew three grenades tied to his body... With the explosion of the grenade, the repatriation ended. Two Japanese soldiers died, fourteen were injured, and all surviving wounded soldiers were shot dead. On May 16, the Japanese army completed the siege of Xuzhou. The railways in Longhai, Jinpu, east, west, north, and south were all cut off. Nearly 500,000 national troops participating in the battle were besieged in the suburbs of Xuzhou.Xuzhou fell into unprecedented chaos. Mountains of ammunition, food fodder, and equipment were set on fire. On May 17th, the 500,000 troops fled for their lives one after another, trampling on each other and being defeated... On May 18, the war zone commander's department withdrew from Xuzhou. On May 19, the Japanese army fell into Xiao County again, and artillery fire approached the western suburbs of Xuzhou. On May 20th, the Japanese army captured Xuzhou, and Xiguan was engulfed in flames. The wounded soldiers and civilians who had not been able to evacuate in time were shot dead, and their corpses were scattered everywhere... During this period of time, the Japanese army in the Xiyan mining area repeatedly challenged the Chinese company, robbed the coal yard of the coal mine, attacked the company's mine police team, shot and killed the company's employees, and openly proposed that Hoffman hand over the minerals, and Japan and Germany would cooperate. On May 22, the relevant Japanese authorities, with the assistance of Germany, found out the total assets of Lihe Matheson in China, and the false contract signed by China Coal Mining Co., Ltd. and Lihe Matheson revealed flaws. On May 24, Takahashi met with Zhao Minquan again, claiming that if the Chinese company reined in and drove Hoffman away, the Japanese side would let the past go, and they could consider setting the Chinese company's property as private property, and jointly run it with Japan and China. On May 25th, under the pretext of going to Hankou foreign company to ask for instructions, Hoffman led his entourage and quietly fled the company. On the same day, Taro Yamamoto ordered the Japanese army to prepare for the capture of Xiyan and Tiantun coal mines.