The issue of refugees in the upper concession was originally a very thorny problem.

Because in the second half of 1938, the number of refugees pouring into the French Concession and the Public Concession had even exceeded 3 million!

The influx of so many refugees has had a serious impact on the social security and economic order of the concession!

Most of these refugees fled their homes because of the war, and because they were in a hurry, they had nothing with them, and they could only beg for a living after fleeing into the concession!

But the original population of the concession was only more than one million, and now there is a sudden influx of more than three million beggars, where can there be so much food for you to beg?

If you can't get it, you can only grab it.

This has caused serious security problems in the concession.

But many more refugees are left lying down and waiting to die.

In fact, a large number of refugees starve to death every day.

In the streets and alleys of the French Concession and the Public Concession, sanitation workers sweeping the streets would use garbage trucks to pull away truckloads of starvation every day.

Most of these starvations were elderly, women and children.

Although the Nationalist Government tried its best, with the pitiful financial revenue at that time, it was already very reluctant to even ensure the supply of military supplies for the frontal battlefield, and where could it still come up with funds to relieve the refugees? Therefore, it can only call for civil relief, and a relief committee headed by Pan Gongzhan was established.

Pan Gongzhan also tried his best, lobbying the concession authorities and lobbying patriotic businessmen headed by Yu Fangqing, but for the more than 3 million refugees in the concession, whether it was the small amount of housing provided by the concession authorities or the several phases of flat rice prepared by Yu Fangqing and other patriotic businessmen, all of them were just a drop in the bucket.

In Shanghai, thousands of refugees still starve to death every day.

It is no exaggeration to say that the refugee problem in Shanghai is a huge powder keg.

And now, what Mei Ji did was throw a spark into this powder keg!

As a result, this powder keg was detonated in an instant, and all the public opinion forces in Shanghai went like crazy, and went forward to launch round after round of appeals and even pressure on Zhong Yi, Yinjiang, and even the Chongqing authorities, demanding that the Yinjiang city government and even the Chongqing authorities earnestly solve the problem of resettlement of more than 3 million refugees in the concession area.

……

Such a big storm of public opinion finally alarmed Principal Chang.

That morning, Principal Chang had breakfast and took the briefing prepared by the attendant's room.

As a result, I saw more than a dozen articles on refugee resettlement.

At this time, Principal Chang couldn't wait to ignore it, and immediately called Lin Wei over and asked, "Weiran, why did the refugee problem in Shanghai suddenly explode?" ”

Lin Wei coughed lightly and said, "Principal, how do you say this?" ”

Principal Chang frowned, and said angrily: "It's hard to say, just tell the truth." ”

"Then the lowly position will dare to speak bluntly." Lin Wei said, "This matter, if you want to blame it, you can blame Ziren for being too capable, after taking office in Yinjiang, he made a drastic law and order purge, and then he launched a series of grand development plans, which made Yinjiang's economy prosperous, and after having money, he ordered 200,000 tons of corn from rice!" ”

"Two hundred thousand tons of corn?!" When Principal Chang heard this, he couldn't help but be moved.

That's 200,000 tons, so much grain, enough to feed an army of 400,000!

"That's right, but the problem is with these 200,000 tons of corn." Lin Wei smiled bitterly, "I don't know who stabbed the news to Shanghai, but it was exposed by the media, and then it exploded, and the concession authorities and the Shanghai Refugee Relief Committee asked Zhong Yi and the Yinjiang Municipal Government to take responsibility and accept some refugees." ”

Principal Chang said: "Since the Yinjiang Municipal Government has this ability, it is also appropriate to accept some refugees. ”

"This is natural, Ziren did not delay in the slightest, and agreed to accept 100,000 refugees in one bite." Lin Wei said, "But the problem now is that the appetite of the concession authorities is too great, and they want to push all the three million refugees who poured into the Shanghai Concession to Yinjiang, and Ziren naturally does not do it, so there is now a crusade against public opinion." ”

Principal Chang was silent for a long time, and finally said: "Those who can work harder, since Zhong Yi and the Yinjiang Municipal Government have this ability, then they might as well accept more refugees, after all, these are all valuable manpower, if they are resettled, these refugees can still contribute some strength to the country and the nation." ”

"Yes." Lin Wei said respectfully, "In the name of the chamberlain, I sent a telegram to Ziren, asking him to accept the refugees transferred from Shanghai as much as possible. ”

"Hmm." Principal Chang hummed lightly and said, "What's the latest trend in Nanchang?" ”

"Not yet." Lin Wei said, "Although the Japanese army has been deployed in place, it has not launched an attack, so it is estimated that it is not ready." ”

Principal Chang nodded, and asked again, "Where has the 41st Army arrived?" ”

Lin Wei replied without hesitation: "When I contacted them yesterday evening, the Honorary First Division, the vanguard of the 41st Group Army, had already passed Shanggao County, and it was less than a hundred kilometers away from Nanchang. ”

Principal Chang said again: "This time, Xue Yue should not go to Nanchang, because compared with Nanchang, Changsha's strategic position is more important, and there is no room for loss, and I must have Xue Yue personally in charge to rest assured." ”

After a slight pause, he continued: "As for the Nanchang side, the Ninth Theater of Northern Jiangxi Former Enemy Command will be formed immediately, with Luo Zhengying, commander-in-chief of the 41st Group Army, as the commander-in-chief of the former enemy, with full authority to command the troops near Nanchang!" Tell Luo Zhengying again that this battle is the first major battle after the Sino-Japanese war has entered the stalemate stage, and there is no room for loss. ”

"Yes!" Lin Wei stood upright, but did not leave immediately.

Principal Chang noticed that something was wrong, looked back, and found that Lin Wei had a look of wanting to speak and stopping on his face.

"What's wrong?" Principal Chang was surprised, "Weiran, do you have anything to say to me?" ”

"Yes." Lin Wei responded and said, "Headmaster, since the Battle of Nanchang is the first big battle after the Sino-Japanese War enters the stalemate stage, and there is no room for loss, then why don't you transfer Ziren to the Nanchang battlefield?" ”

After a pause in this, he continued: "After all, the nine divisions of the 41st Group Army are all veteran units that have participated in the defense of Wuhan, and Ziren must be handy in commanding. ”

Principal Chang frowned and asked, "Is this what Luo Zhengying meant, or what do you mean?" ”

Lin Wei stubbornly said: "This is not only the meaning of humble duties, but also the request of Commander-in-Chief Luo. ”

"Then I'm telling you now that this is not possible!" Principal Chang said categorically, "The Battle of Nanchang is important, but Yinjiang is just as important, and it is also inseparable from Ziren!" ”