"This is also expected." Xu Shijiu sighed, "In the Battle of Shanghai, nearly 100 divisions were defeated, and personnel and equipment losses were seven or eight out of ten. More than a dozen divisions were damaged in the Nanjing Defense Battle, and personnel and equipment losses were even heavier. How easy is it for so many troops to replenish their troops in a short period of time?"

He Lingxiao said: "The troops have been replenished, but the equipment has not yet been settled. Now the recruits from each regiment can only practice with wooden guns first. What do you think this is called?"

Yang Shaoren said: "What's more important is the funding. The Military Control Commission has already planned to be an empty city plan."

Feng Shengfa said: "The National Government is also in trouble now, and people are asking for money everywhere."

"I don't think so," Xu Shijiu said with a sneer, "Stand, when I was in Wuhan, I went to Xinsheng Road in Hankou and found that the senior officials in various departments in Wuhan were not affected by the war situation at all, and they were almost singing every night. It can be seen that the National Government is not without money, but those senior officials are not willing to spend it on the troops."

He Lingxiao also sneered: "The front line is tight and the rear is tight. This is an open secret."

Yang Shaoren also said angrily: "I really don't know what these bastards think. If you have money to go to the dance hall to curse, if you have money to drink thousands of oceans a bottle of man-head horses in the bar, if you have money to hold a dance party that will stay overnight, if you have money to sell gold caves, you can't afford to buy ammunition and military supplies for the national army. These sworms."

"Okay, stop talking." Feng Shengfa was upset and interrupted, "Is it useless to say these things?"

Xu Shijiu pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "Master, I can't get guns and ammunition, but I'm sure I can pay hundreds of thousands of donations from the pockets of celebrities from all walks of life in Wuhan."

He Lingxiao and Yang Shaoren couldn't help but look at each other with sympathy, and Feng Shengfa said with hope: "Ajiu, are you really sure?"

The 58th Division is really poor now. If Xu Shijiu can really get hundreds of thousands of donations from Hankou, it would be a big deal.

Xu Shijiu said: "Everyone from all walks of life in politics and business is a rooster. Under normal circumstances, it is harder to ask them to pay for money than to climb the sky. However, they also have weaknesses, that is, they are desperate for face, especially unwilling to give their own face in front of the socialites. I dare not say that I am very sure, but I still have six or seven points of confidence."

In fact, Xu Shijiu is still conservative. This matter is basically a sure thing, because he used to be like this in Shanghai back then. Of course, this time he can no longer be in the name of the Security General Group. He said: "But the Master, you may have to sacrifice your reputation and go to the Golden Cave in Hankou."

"This is no problem." Feng Shengfa said, "A small matter."

He paused and said, "Ajiu, this matter should not be too late. When will you leave?"

Xu Shijiu smiled bitterly and said, "Master, this matter is unhurried. If you want those political and business celebrities to pay the money by obediently, you have to invite a heavyweight to Wuhan. I have to send a telegram to Shanghai first."

Shanghai, Paramount Hotel dance hall.

The hour hand is just pointing at 10 o'clock at night, and the luxurious nightlife in Shanghai is about to begin.

Although Shanghai has become an isolated island, the ten-mile foreign market is still luxurious, and celebrities from all walks of life are still singing every night.

The welcome band had already sounded the melodious saxophone music. The gentlemen, who were wearing suits and laces, polished leather shoes, and unable to stand even with flies, were either single, or carried their female companions, came in through the gate one after another. The dancers who were smoking in the hall would occasionally fly to them.

These dancers are specially recruited by Paramount Hotel. They are young and beautiful, and have a slim figure. They can not only dance with guests, but also spend a good night with guests. In fact, they are high-end prostitutes.

However, if you think these dancers are socialites in Shanghai, you're wrong.

In Shanghai at that time, socialites were just imported. Only those who came from aristocratic families who received good education and etiquette training since childhood, and were beautiful and graceful, were called socialites. Those who sat in the hall to attract guests could only be called dancers, not socialites.

The real socialites will not appear in the hall at this time, they are all resting in the VIP room.

But even a real socialite is divided into different levels. The most popular socialite in Shanghai is undoubtedly Tang Ying. Tang Ying's father is a famous doctor in Shanghai. He has been from a wealthy family since childhood. He graduated from the Chinese and Western girls' school, which is St. Mary girls' school. He can speak fluent English and even sing Kunqu opera in English.

Looking at Shanghai, I don’t know how many of them claim to be young and rich, elegant and talented Junyan are fascinated by Tang Ying. In front of them, there were Ziwen, the eldest son of the Song family, and recently, the rich merchant Li Gongzi Zufa, and Yu Dafu, Hu Shi and other literary masters who fell in love with him. Recently, there were even more Xiong Qi’s pursuit, which is truly a famous Shanghai.

However, the scenery is as beautiful as Tang Ying, and she also has her worries.

At this time, Tang Ying was in sorrow with a telegram. Even Zhou Shuping and Chen Manli didn't know when they would enter the VIP room. Zhou Shuping and Chen Manli were also famous socialites in Shanghai, but the two girls were a little young after all, and they were still somewhat less mature than Tang Ying.

Zhou Shuping took the telegram over and said in surprise: "Ah, where did Hongyan send a letter?"

Chen Manli also came over to see it, but found that there were only six simple words written on the papermaking of the Telegram Bureau. In Han, come quickly. If something happens, the signature is 19. The two women were confused. The content of the telegram is easy to understand. Someone asked Tang Ying to Wuhan, but who is this person? Is this person among Tang Ying's admirers?

And this person is also very upbeat. Do you think Tang Ying is a dancer who comes to the spot?

Zhou Shuping and Chen Manli originally thought that Tang Ying would tear off the telegram, or knead it into a ball and throw it into the trash can, but what surprised them was that Tang Ying actually took the telegram back and folded it carefully, then put it in Louis Vuitton's handbag, and finally got up and said sadly: "Two sisters, I feel a little uncomfortable, so I'll go back first."

Uncle Zhou said anxiously: "Sister Ying, Young Master Xiong Qi is still waiting for you to go on stage to sing the young grandma's fan?"

When Tang Ying heard this, she frowned and turned around and left without hesitation. This was in line with Tang Ying's usual style. Tang Ying had never cared much about those admirers who had already fallen under the pomegranate skirt, but today's situation is a bit special. Who is that person?

Zhou Shuping and Chen Manli couldn't help but feel strong curiosity.

Although Zhou Shuping debuted late, she grew up in Shanghai. She had heard of some romantic affairs of Tang Ying back then and said to Chen Manli: "Sister Manli, I heard that Sister Tang Ying had a crazy love affair with a small officer of the Shanghai Security Corps shortly after she got married. Later, the two broke up because of the incident in the east window."

Chen Manli said: "Sister, is it a telegram sent by that little officer?"

"It's very likely." Zhou Shuping bit his finger and said thoughtfully, "Sister Tang Ying must have been touched and sad about the past, otherwise why would he leave Xiong Qi Shao and go back first?" Xiong Qi Shao is the favorite nephew of Xiong Xiling, a wealthy businessman in Shanghai. In Shanghai, Xiong Qi Shao is also a model of young, rich and elegant style.

Chen Manli pursed her red lips and said softly: "I really want to see what this person looks like, but she actually compared Mr. Xiong Qi."

"Sister Manli, you are not trying to take away love, right? Hehe, but that's right. If you can take over Sister Tang Ying's lover, the top socialite in Shanghai should be replaced." Uncle Zhou rolled his beautiful eyes and suddenly said, "Sister Manli, why don't we go to Wuhan and secretly follow Sister Tang Ying."

Chen Manli said: "How did you know that Tang Ying will definitely go?"

Uncle Zhou said, "I feel that she will probably go in all the time."

Zhou Shuping's intuition is very accurate, and Tang Ying has indeed decided to go to Wuhan.

Tang Ying debuted at the age of 16 and has seen countless men in the Shanghai social scene, but there is only one man who has left a deep impression in her heart, which is Xu Shijiu. Few people know that in Tang Ying's inner world, even her first love Song Ziwen is far from comparable to Xu Shijiu.

Tang Ying can't forget the scene when she first met Xu Shijiu.

It was one day in the year of the Republic of China (1934). Tang Ying returned to Shanghai from Peking. As soon as she got off the train, she saw Xu Shijiu standing on the platform smoking. He was wearing a thin windbreaker, a wide-brimmed top hat, and a head lowered. His face was filled with deep worries and loneliness. At that moment, Tang Ying felt heart-wrenching pain.

Looking back now, Tang Ying's heart still felt aching.

There is a saying that even if some people stay together for a lifetime, they will never be able to create the spark of love, but some people can fall in love with each other for a lifetime with just a look in the crowd. Tang Ying thought his fate had come, but unfortunately, luck made people so that they still couldn't get together in the end.

Thinking back on the little things he had when he was with Xu Shijiu, Tang Ying was already crying like rain before he knew it. This sarcastic man must take a bite on him when he met.

The next day, the Hankou edition of Ta Kung Pao and the Hankou edition of Shenbao reported a news on the second page that the Shanghai celebrity Tang Ying and her sister Zhou Shuping and Chen Manli came to Hankou on the British Royal Navy's "Newfoundland" light cruiser. Although the news was posted on the second page, which was not conspicuous, it soon spread in the three towns of Wuhan.

Celebrities from all walks of life gathered in Wuhan rushed to tell each other, looking forward to the arrival of celebrities in Shanghai.

With Xu Zhimo's accidental death, Lu Xiaoman fell into a trough in his life. Tang Ying had become the only socialite in China at that time. It is probably difficult for future generations to imagine her influence in China at that time. If we had to make a comparison, her influence in China at that time was similar to Marilyn Monroe's influence in the United States more than a decade later.
Chapter completed!