Shanghai in the Republican Era

Chapter 148: A Love Song of the Republic of China - Shanghai's Tumultuous Times, Cave Secrets,

At that moment, time seemed to freeze. I watched helplessly as the bullet hurtled toward me, my mind going completely blank.

"Fangfei!" Gu Zixuan's desperate cry exploded in my ears.

Just when I thought I was going to die, a figure suddenly pounced on me and shielded me tightly with his body.

"Bang!" The bullet struck the man, and a muffled groan rang in my ears.

"Ms. Shen!" I exclaimed in horror to find that the one protecting me was Shen Wanqing. Blood was gushing from her back, staining her exquisite kimono red.

“Ms. Shen, why were you so foolish…” My eyes reddened, my voice trembled, and my heart was filled with self-reproach and gratitude.

Shen Wanqing smiled weakly: "Don't...don't worry about me, hurry...hurry inside..."

Gu Zixuan rushed over, picked up Shen Wanqing, and we hurriedly rushed into the basement.

"Quickly find something to block the entrance!" Gu Zixuan shouted.

Everyone hurriedly moved some odds and ends to block the entrance to the basement. The Japanese soldiers fired wildly from outside, bullets hitting the debris and sending up a spray of dust.

"Ms. Shen, hang in there, we will definitely save you." I held Shen Wanqing's hand, tears streaming down my face.

Shen Wanqing shook her head slightly: "I...I'm afraid I won't make it...You must...you must survive and continue to fight the Japanese army..."

Her breath grew weaker and weaker, but her eyes remained resolute.

"No, Ms. Shen, you'll be alright." Gu Zixuan's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with grief.

However, Shen Wanqing gradually closed her eyes, and her hands fell limply to her sides.

"Ms. Shen!" I cried out in anguish, my heart filled with guilt and anger. If it weren't for saving me, she wouldn't have...

"We cannot let Ms. Shen's sacrifice go to waste." Gu Zixuan gritted his teeth, suppressing his grief. "First, we need to find a passage and move the supplies."

We groped our way forward in the basement, surrounded by a stench of decay and dampness.

"This passage is so long, I don't even know where it leads," Su Yao said with some concern.

"No matter where it leads, there's no turning back," Gu Zixuan said, his eyes filled with determination.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a fork in the road appeared ahead.

"Which way should I go?" I looked at the two dark passages and felt a little lost.

Gu Zixuan observed carefully: "There are some fresh footprints in the passage on the left. Let's go to the left."

We continued along the passage on the left, when suddenly we heard a strange sound coming from ahead.

"What's that sound?" I grabbed Gu Zixuan's arm nervously.

"Everyone be careful," Gu Zixuan said softly, gripping his gun tightly as he cautiously moved forward.

As we approached, we discovered a group of rats gnawing on some scraps of food. Upon seeing us, the rats scattered in all directions.

"That scared me to death." Su Yao patted her chest.

Just then, we heard a loud noise behind us.

"Oh no! The Japanese have blown open the entrance!" A-Qiang shouted.

"Hurry up!" Gu Zixuan shouted, and we quickened our pace and ran forward.

The passage became narrower and more rugged, and we struggled forward.

"This passage doesn't seem to have any end, does it?" one of the workers couldn't help but ask.

"Don't talk nonsense, we'll definitely get out," I said, encouraging myself and everyone else.

Finally, a glimmer of light appeared ahead.

"It's the exit!" I shouted excitedly.

We ran toward the light, and when we came out of the passage, we found ourselves in a desolate wilderness.

"We did it!" Su Yao exclaimed excitedly.

"Don't be too happy yet, the Japanese are definitely still chasing us," Gu Zixuan said, observing the surrounding environment.

“What should we do now?” I asked.

Gu Zixuan pondered for a moment: "Let's find a place to hide the supplies first, and then figure out a way to meet up with other companies."

We found a secluded cave nearby and hid the supplies inside.

“Next, I’ll contact other companies. You guys wait for me here,” Gu Zixuan said.

“I’ll go with you,” I said.

Gu Zixuan hesitated for a moment: "Okay, but you must be careful."

After disguising ourselves, we entered Shanghai.

"I wonder how the relocation of other companies is going," I said as I walked.

"I hope they all do well," Gu Zixuan said.

We first went to a company that we cooperated with, only to find that it had been sealed off by the Japanese army.

"It seems the situation isn't looking too good," I said worriedly.

“Let’s go check out other places,” Gu Zixuan said.

We encountered many difficulties in our search for other businesses. Japanese soldiers patrolled the streets, checking passersby.

"Sir, Madam, where are you going?" A Japanese soldier stopped us.

Gu Zixuan calmly replied, "Sir, we are ordinary people who want to visit our relatives."

The Japanese soldiers looked us up and down: "Show us your identification."

Gu Zixuan took out the fake documents he had prepared in advance. The Japanese soldiers looked at them, found nothing unusual, and let us pass.

"That was close," I said softly.

After some searching, we finally found several companies that had successfully relocated.

"Young Master Gu, Miss Lin, you've finally arrived!" a business owner said excitedly upon seeing us.

"Did your transfer go smoothly?" Gu Zixuan asked.

"It went relatively smoothly, but there were still some twists and turns. I heard you also encountered quite a few problems over there," the business owner said.

"Yes, but thankfully it was a close call," I said.

"What should we do now? The Japanese army's suppression of national enterprises is getting more and more severe," another business owner asked worriedly.

Gu Zixuan looked at everyone and said, "I think we should unite and help each other. Although the Japanese army is very powerful now, as long as we work together, we will definitely find a way to deal with it."

"But how can we unite? The Japanese army is keeping a close eye on us."

“We can form a secret chamber of commerce, where everyone can contact each other discreetly and support one another. We can also share any information and resources we have,” I said.

After hearing this, everyone thought it was a good suggestion.

“Okay, let’s do it that way. Our top priority now is to safely move the remaining supplies out,” Gu Zixuan said.

Just as we were discussing the relocation plan, we suddenly heard a commotion outside.

"Oh no, it looks like the Japanese are coming!" someone shouted.

We immediately became alert, and Gu Zixuan signaled everyone to hide first.

"How did the Japanese army find this place so quickly this time?" I was filled with doubt and worry.

"I don't know, let's not say anything and see what happens," Gu Zixuan said softly.

Japanese soldiers stormed into the room and searched everywhere.

"Where have all the people gone?" a Japanese officer shouted.

We hid in a secluded corner, not daring to breathe.

"Sir, there's no one here," a Japanese soldier reported.

The Japanese officer looked around reluctantly: "Search carefully, someone must be hiding here."

Will we be able to escape the Japanese search? Will the secret trading company's plan still be able to proceed smoothly?

In the cramped hiding space, everyone breathed cautiously, as if the slightest sound would attract the attention of the Japanese soldiers. I clung tightly to Gu Zixuan, able to clearly feel his strong heartbeat, one beat after another, as if it were transmitting strength to me.

The sound of Japanese soldiers pacing back and forth in the room felt like each step was pounding on my heart. "Sir, there's really no one left," a soldier's voice came, tinged with weariness and helplessness.

"Hmph, keep searching, don't let a single one escape!" The Japanese officer's voice was full of suspicion and ferocity.

My palms were sweaty, and I was so nervous I could hardly breathe. Gu Zixuan gently took my hand and gestured for me to calm down with his eyes.

Suddenly, a Japanese soldier approached the corner where we were hiding. His footsteps grew closer, and my heart pounded. At that critical moment, an even bigger commotion broke out outside.

"Oh no! Anti-Japanese elements are attacking!" shouted the Japanese soldiers outside.

"Everyone assemble, go out and take a look!" The Japanese officer hurriedly ordered, and the Japanese soldiers in the room rushed out.

"Phew..." I let out a long sigh of relief, and my tense nerves finally relaxed a bit.

"It seems someone deliberately created chaos to lure the Japanese troops away," Gu Zixuan said, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Whoever it was, they really helped us a lot this time," I said.

We emerged from our hiding place and met up with the other business owners.

“The Japanese army is searching everywhere now, we can’t stay here any longer,” Gu Zixuan said.

"Where shall we go?" a business owner asked.

“I know a safe place, let’s go there first,” Gu Zixuan said.

We followed Gu Zixuan to an abandoned warehouse. It was very well hidden, surrounded by overgrown weeds, making it difficult to spot.

“We’ll stay here for now and then continue to discuss the relocation plan,” Gu Zixuan said.

"Young Master Gu, the Japanese army is tightening its blockade against us, making it increasingly difficult to move supplies. What should we do?" a business owner asked anxiously.

Gu Zixuan pondered for a moment: "We can use water transport. The Japanese army is very strict in checking land routes, but the water routes are relatively weak."

“But we don’t have enough boats,” another business owner said.

“I’ll figure that out. I have some connections in the shipping industry; I’ll see if I can charter a boat,” Gu Zixuan said.

“That’s wonderful, Mr. Gu. We’ll have to rely on you then,” the business owners said one after another.

After Gu Zixuan left, I and the other business owners sorted out the supplies and prepared for the relocation.

“Ms. Lin, we really don’t know what we would have done if it weren’t for you this time,” a business owner said to me gratefully.

"We're all working for the survival of national enterprises, so helping each other is only right," I said.

“Yes, in times like these, only by uniting can we have hope,” another business owner chimed in.

Just then, Su Yao rushed in: "Fangfei, something terrible has happened! Gu Zixuan has been captured by the Japanese army!"

"What?!" I was struck dumb, my mind went completely blank. "How could this happen? Didn't he go to contact the ships?"

Su Yao said anxiously, "I don't know either. I only heard that he was arrested by the Japanese army near the shipping guild."

"I have to go save him!" I was extremely anxious and turned to leave.

"Fangfei, calm down, it's too dangerous to go now." Su Yao stopped me. "Let's try to find out what's going on first."

I suppressed my grief and anxiety and tried to calm myself down: "Okay, let's find out where he's being held first."

After making some inquiries, we learned that Gu Zixuan was being held at the Japanese military police headquarters.