Zhang Xueliang was the Rear Marshal of Northeast China and the Commander in Chief of the Northeast Security Army. Du Yuesheng was a leader of the Shanghai Youth Gang and had tens of thousands of disciples. What intersection can these two people have, one south and one north? In fact, there are many intersections and connections between the two people, the most famous of which was Du Yuesheng’s responsibility to protect Zhang Xueliang’s personal safety in Shanghai after the September 18th Incident.
On September 18, 1931, the September 18 Incident broke out, and Zhang Xueliang was ordered to “not resist”, leading to the overall fall of the three provinces in the East, causing anger among the entire nation. Under the pressure of the current situation, Zhang Xueliang took the blame and resigned. He brought his wife and close friend Miss Zhao Si to Shanghai Beach. Du Yuesheng, due to his previous connections with warlords in the north in selling tobacco, took the initiative to take responsibility for protecting Zhang Xueliang’s safety.
At that time in Shanghai, there were indeed many people who dared to take Zhang Xueliang’s life, and Wang Yaqiao, the “assassination king”, was one of them. The Axe Gang led by him had already established a reputation at that time, specializing in activities such as assassinating traitors and traitors. When it comes to Wang Yaqiao and his Axe Gang, even the leaders of the Shanghai Tan Qing Hong Gang feel a headache.
No, Zhang Xueliang just checked into a hotel with his wife and received a “big gift” from Wang Yaqiao’s axe helper! Da Li “is a bomb without a fuse, accompanied by three opinions put forward by Wang Yaqiao to Zhang Xueliang:
1. Returning to the north, they reorganized their troops and engaged in a decisive battle against the Japanese. If they wanted to die, they would die on the battlefield.
2. Returning to the north, self punishment has already been blamed on the people of the three eastern provinces.
3. If you really dare not fight, sell all your property and use it to purchase weapons to support the volunteers outside the pass.
Upon learning the news, Zhang Xueliang approached Du Yuesheng to discuss countermeasures. Du Yuesheng was very angry when he heard this news, because Zhang Xueliang was the person he had spoken to protect. So he approached Wang Yaqiao and said to him, “Whoever moves the young commander, I will eliminate him
Du Yuesheng was in command of the Shanghai Qinghong Gang at that time, with tens of thousands of disciples. Even fugitives such as the assassination of King Wang Yaqiao had to consider. So after some negotiation, it was changed to ask Major Marshal Zhang Xueliang to leave Shanghai as soon as possible.
In this way, under the protection of Du Yuesheng, Zhang Xueliang not only did not receive Shanghai, but also could commute to the entertainment venues on the beach day and night, and with the help of Du Yuesheng, he also gave up his heavy smoking habit.
Du Yuesheng and Zhang Xueliang, two influential figures in the history of the Republic of China, one south and one north, one Qing Gang leader and one Northeast warlord, unexpectedly had such an intersection in Shanghai. However, their fate did not just begin in Shanghai.
As is well known, Du Yuesheng was mainly responsible for selling tobacco in the early days of the Qing Gang. So since it’s selling tobacco, we must often establish good relationships and manage the work with local landlords. Du Yuesheng has a famous saying of “Three Bowls of Noodles”, “He said that in life, one must eat” Three Bowls of Noodles “well, which are respectability, appearance, and affection.
Therefore, as early as Du Yuesheng was selling tobacco to Northeast China, he paid great attention to maintaining the relationship with local warlords. The gifts for the Chinese New Year were definitely very heavy, but at that time, Northeast China was led by Zhang Xueliang’s father, Zhang Zuolin, and Zhang Xueliang himself was not very familiar with this person. Later, in the Huanggutun incident planned by the Japanese, Zhang Zuolin was killed by a bomb buried by the Japanese, and his family became Zhang Xueliang.
The seemingly transformed Northeast did not seem to have any impact on Du Yuesheng’s business. Du Yuesheng, who is already a “smoker”, often adopts a low-key and tacitly approving attitude towards the tobacco business in Northeast China. So, it is estimated that Du Yuesheng and Zhang Xueliang have already had a “close relationship” for a long time.