Chapter 100 first quarter

Du Yuesheng, the big boss of the old Shanghai underworld, was born in Chuansha, Jiangsu (now part of Pudong New Area, Shanghai) in 1888, and died of illness in Hong Kong in 1951.Both of his parents died when he was young, and he came to Shanghai from his hometown to make a living at the age of 14. He first worked as an apprentice in a fruit shop, and later worshiped Chen Shichang, the youth gang, as an "old man". Because of Chen's relationship, he was able to work in the mansion of Huang Jinrong, the leader of the Shanghai underworld at that time, because of his flexible mind. He was appreciated and supported by Huang Jinrong for his capable work, and was promoted from a commissioner to an opium transporter, and was in charge of operating the Gongxing Club, one of the three major casinos in the French Concession.He is good at organization and planning, good at communication and win over, and his power is equal to that of Huang Jinrong day by day. In July 1925, under the protection of the concession and warlord authorities, Du Yuesheng established the "Sanxin Company" to monopolize the transportation of opium in the French Concession, and his influence grew day by day. He became one of the "Shanghai Three Tycoons" together with Huang Jinrong and Zhang Xiaolin.After the "April 12" Massacre he directly deployed and implemented and the establishment of the Nanjing National Government, he wore the laurels of "Advisor of the National Government's Land, Sea and Air Command, Major General of the Military Committee, and Executive Yuan". In the industry, both black and white methods were used to accumulate a larger capital, recruit a large number of disciples, and establish an unprecedented power network in both black and white.As the leader of Shanghai's underworld organization with 100,000 members and a "renowned person" who is in all walks of life, he is known as "the first member of the gang in three hundred years" and "the emperor of Shanghai".

For such a character, the first thing people think of is not "cultural deeds", although Du Yuesheng asked his subordinates to call him "Mr. Du" after his fortune, instead of "Boss Huang" like Huang Jinrong and "Dashuai Zhang" by Zhang Xiaolin.The most prominent character of the gang leader must be ruthless, cruel and cruel.As a complex historical figure, Du Yuesheng is not necessarily the legendary "killer like hemp", but his despicable and vicious behavior must be indispensable, let me give a few examples. ——On April 11, 1927, the shadow of Chiang Kai-shek's "Qing Communist Party" was approaching Shanghai. Du asked the housekeeper Wan Molin to send an invitation to Wang Shouhua, chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Trade Unions and his "uncle" who had close contacts with him. When discussing matters, Wang Shouhua disregarded Luo Yinong and Gu Shunzhang's dissuasion, and firmly believed that Du Yuesheng, who was "showing affection", would not do things that betrayed his faith and ruined his reputation. He only took the driver to Du's mansion that night as scheduled. "King Kong" was beaten into a coma, then stuffed into a car, transported to Longhua and buried alive in the wilderness of Fenglin Bridge. The "April 12" massacre kicked off.

——Du Yuesheng heard that the wife of the big house, Shen Yueying, had an affair with her cousin. After finding out the situation secretly, Du sent someone to rob his cousin to the wilderness of Jiangwan, where he brutally cut off his limbs; His son was only allowed to come out to meet his new wife when he got married, and died of loneliness at the age of 48. ——Song Ziliang, Song Ziwen's younger brother, has a good relationship with Du Yuesheng.Song Ziliang met a dancer in Shanghai and she became pregnant. Song Ziliang gave her 2,000 silver dollars and asked her to have an abortion. Unexpectedly, the dancer asked for 200,000 yuan and asked Song to bear the rest of her and her mother's life.Song Ziliang would not pay such a price for playing with a dancer, but he was afraid that the dancer would spoil his face, so he confided in Du Yuesheng, and Du smiled faintly.Two days later, the dancer was hijacked into a car at night, put into a sack, and thrown into the center of the Huangpu River—the triad term is called "planting lotus".

... However, after Du Yuesheng made his fortune, he did have a close relationship with the cultural circles, and he was the only one among the "Three Tycoons" who could deal with ease in the intellectual and cultural circles.His contacts with cultural people and his sponsorship of cultural undertakings have left many anecdotes and even good stories, such as giving preferential treatment to journalists and editors among his disciples, funding scholars, poets and celebrities, setting up schools and libraries, and cultivating children to learn and be good. They all give people a deep impression.Analyzing Du Yuesheng's cultural deeds can give us a better understanding of China's social conditions in the first half of the 20th century and Du Yuesheng himself.

Du Yuesheng's closeness to the cultural world must first be out of practical interests, and it can only be wishful thinking to regard him as an extraordinary and immortal "strange person".Du is the most willing to spend money on people in the press, and instead of collecting tribute money from reporters and editors who work under him, he gives generous monthly allowances.It is said that if the subsidy recipients deposit the money in the bank, they can buy a car in one year.Du spends as much as 2 million silver dollars in this area every year.This money is not used to support the "sacred journalism". With this relationship, it is very difficult for Shanghai newspapers to see articles that speak ill of Du. Tang Shichang, a senior editor of "News", saw a headline news release one day exposing Du's criminal behavior, and he immediately took it away.In addition, if other social celebrities have disgraceful things to report in the newspapers, they know Du's ability in the press, so they ask Du to cover them up.Du Yuesheng's acquaintance with and investment in the press is to control the media, manipulate public opinion, and expand his reputation and influence.

His dealings with the legal profession were similar.Qin Liankui, a well-known barrister at that time, once "consumed" in the casino run by Du, and lost 4,000 oceans in a row. Du saw Qin Xingxuan when he left. The message was sent and thoughtfully said: "A lawyer makes a living by shaking his pen, working hard, and talking. There is not much money to make, and I can't win his money." Qin Liankui was naturally very grateful. From then on, he often went to Du's office to ask if he needed anything. "Help", and later became Du's loyal legal adviser. It's fun to watch these things today.Du Yuesheng, as "the most powerful person in Shanghai" (Western dialect), not only needs to personally make friends with reporters, editors, and lawyers, but also enshrines them a lot of money. If each newspaper office is managed by a "relevant department" in the city No matter how famous a newspaper is, it is just a "unit" within the system, and no matter how good a reporter or editor is, it is just an "employee" who does things according to instructions. Why bother so much?How difficult is it for Du to deal with the leaders of their "administrative departments" and even higher officials?As for lawyers, lawyers are not the ones who hold the power of trial, so how can enticing lawyers compare to going straight to the court?It can be seen that things at that time were a little different from today.

In addition to maintaining and expanding actual interests, we naturally think that another purpose of Du Yuesheng's association with the cultural circle is arty.Du is rich and powerful, but he was born in a poor family, read very little, and lacks elegance, and if a person does not have "cultural taste", he will not be "upper" after all.To really become a person of status, one must be respected by cultural people.Du took great pains in this regard. The most famous thing is his acquaintance with the great scholar Zhang Taiyan.