1928: The Rise of Giants

The hot sales of "World" newspaper also led to a strange phenomenon. Many school-run publications began to reprint various articles from "World". Some people living in remote areas who could not buy the current issue of the newspaper ran to the school to borrow it, causing universities to be overcrowded.

This phenomenon immediately attracted the attention of the principal and other senior Kuomintang officials.

It’s not that there were no magazines and newspapers in the Republic of China that had stable sales of over ten thousand per issue, and there were even some that sold over a hundred thousand (Shenbao, Xinwen Bao, and Liangyou Pictorial), but they had never seen a newspaper like this that was so popular that it was sold out so quickly no matter how many copies were printed!

The "World" newspaper has a page dedicated to introducing the situation in Japan. Nowadays, most Chinese people, and even local warlords, are completely in the dark about Japan and have no idea about the situation of these invaders. The country is in urgent need of someone to fill this gap.

Previously, there was a newspaper called "Journal of Chinese Students in Japan" founded by Chinese students studying in Japan. It was dedicated to introducing the current situation in Japan. They founded it in Tokyo and it was an illegal underground newspaper. It was able to sell tens of thousands of copies in the Republic of China even after crossing the ocean. This shows how much Chinese people want to know about Japan.

However, soon, seeing that the situation was not good, the Japanese protested to the Nanjing National Government through the embassy. They believed that the Japanese section of the "World" newspaper was suspected of smearing the image of Japan and the Kwantung Army, and demanded that the Nanjing National Government immediately ban the newspaper.

The principal, who was preparing to "pacify the country before fighting the enemy", readily accepted such a shameless request. He sent Dai Li and other secret agents to find Lin Yuan, the owner of Ye's Newspaper Company, and expressed the chairman's intention in a tactful way.

The Nanjing National Government had just signed the Tanggu Agreement not long ago.

If Zhang Hanqing's loss of the North was disappointing, then the principal's performance in the Battle of Rehe was devastating.

The war on the front line was a mess. Under pressure from public opinion, the principal sent three divisions to the Great Wall to fight against the Japanese.

The result is predictable. The three divisions accomplished nothing and instead completely messed up the battle.

To summarize, the content of the Tanggu Agreement was a disguised recognition of the Japanese occupation of the North, allowing the Japanese army to freely enter and exit those places, and was willing to open the entire North China to the Japanese invaders.

Even some people within the Kuomintang could not stand it and pointed out at the National Defense Conference that the Tangku Agreement was illegal and did not recognize the legitimacy of the agreement.

At this time, Mr. Wang jumped out and said that he was willing to bear the consequences and strive to promote the implementation of the agreement.

Jiangcheng, Jinling, Shanghai and other places were suppressing the people's anti-Japanese sentiment and banning various anti-Japanese marches. At this point in time, the popularity of the "World" newspaper was indeed a bit embarrassing.

Shanghai, Ye’s Newspaper Headquarters, General Manager’s Office.

Dai Li walked over with a smile, clasped his fists towards Lin Yuan and said, "Boss Lin, long time no see. I apologize for my intrusive visit."

"What brings Director Dai here?" Lin Yuan stood up to greet him, pretending to know nothing.

This newspaper was sold at the instruction of Ye Luo. Now all the staff have been recruited, the cost has been invested, and many journalists have sent it out in batches. It is impossible to stop publishing.

"Boss Lin, let's be frank. The party leader has ordered that the sale of The World be temporarily suspended." Dai Li had the door closed and whispered, "I know you started this newspaper to fight the Japanese, but you should be aware of the current situation of the Kuomintang."

Dai Li somewhat agreed with the idea of ​​fighting against the Japanese invaders, but he was most loyal to the principal. He would fight wherever the principal instructed. Now the goal was to "suppress the bandits," so he would not let go of the underground organization.

Later, the principal agreed to unite against foreign enemies, and he immediately pounced on the Japanese invaders like a mad dog.

This man has a very complicated character. Despite his great evil deeds, he still has a trace of patriotism.

Lin Yuan nodded solemnly and said, "I firmly support the Party Chairman's proposition."

"I admire Mr. Lin's patriotism, but the content of this newspaper is too sensitive right now. Please give me some face." Dai Li added, "Or delete the Japan section."

"I'm willing to give you face, but I'm not the editor-in-chief and person in charge of this newspaper." Lin Yuan had already prepared a statement against the Kuomintang, and replied with a smile, "Whether it's closing down or deleting a section, it must be approved by the editor-in-chief and the person in charge." "Then please ask Boss Lin to pass on the message." Dai Li's eyes turned cold, and he felt like he had been cheated.

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "I can't spread this message. The editor-in-chief is my wife Ye Qingqing, who is currently in the United States. As for the person in charge..."

"I'm the person in charge. Dai Li, if you have anything to say, just tell me directly."

The office door was suddenly pushed open.

Ye Luo came back with Shi Jianqiao and others.

After watching Franklin's oath, Ye Luo and Xiao Aqiao arrived in the United States, and then they hurriedly flew back to Shanghai.

He knows the nature of the Kuomintang better than anyone else.

If the "World" newspaper had not become popular, the Kuomintang would not have reacted. But if it had become popular, they would have come to the party in minutes to demand rectification.

So he came back immediately to solve the problem.

"Second Young Master? You're back from the United States?" Dai Li dared to come this time just to take advantage of the time when Ye Luo was not around.

The news was clearly saying that Ye Luo was living a life of debauchery in Hollywood, but in the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of him!
Ye Luo smiled and said, "Yeah, you're surprised, aren't you? That's right, after the Secret Service was upgraded, its intelligence network spread all over the south. Not to mention me, even the movements of a cockroach in my Ye Mansion might be monitored by you."

"Unfortunately, your spies in the United States are so careless that they always reveal their true colors. I have to teach them a lesson. Dai Li, I advise you not to try to send people to monitor me. The intelligence system invested by Ye's is not as fragile as you think."

Ye Luo stopped pretending.

Dai Li had failed to get accurate information for several times, so he must have suspected that there was something wrong with the intelligence network. At this point, if Ye Investment did not show him the tip of the iceberg, Dai Li, who thought he was in power, would really be able to take advantage of it.

"You" Dai Li's face suddenly turned red.

"Oh, don't worry. After all, they are all Chinese. I will send them back to the Republic of China safely. I just don't know if they can continue to be spies in the future."

Ye Luo said lightly,
"I founded the World and I proposed the Japan section. It is impossible to stop or revamp it. I have a suggestion for you."

"Second Young Master, please speak!" Dai Li gnashed with hatred.

Ye Luo said leisurely: "The principal's dissatisfaction still comes from the pressure from the Japanese invaders. In fact, the so-called protest of the Japanese invaders is nothing more than that. Compared with my sweeping out of the Japanese merchants from the south, this newspaper is nothing. If you want to take this opportunity to make the principal look up to you, it's better not to cause trouble for my Ye Investment."

"As for me, I suggest you go and find trouble with Mr. Wang. He is dancing happily in Jiangcheng now, and the principal regards him as a thorn in his side. If you can deal with him, the principal will naturally trust you more."

"Second Young Master, you are joking. Mr. Wang is a senior executive. What right do I have to monitor him?" Dai Li still knew the priorities. Mr. Wang and the principal were now on the same front. To target him at this time would be to target the principal.

"Oh, then I can't do anything about it." Ye Luo spread his hands, "Goodbye."

"Goodbye!" Dai Li knew that if he continued to stay, he would lose all face in front of his subordinates, so he could only suppress his anger and leave Ye's Press.

After he left, Ye Luo put away his smile and sat down at the table. (End of this chapter)