Yu Manli

Night, Hong Kong, a small garden villa on the island.

Du Yong, lean and gaunt, with a long, sharp face and slightly graying hair, was already in his fifties. Dressed in a light silk traditional jacket, he sat in the study drinking tea. His eyes were somewhat vacant, and the motion of drinking was mechanical. He was deep in thought.

He did not know whether his choice had been right. The year before, he had followed the Nationalist Party's lead and worked closely with Dai Yunong to establish the Loyalty and Righteousness National Salvation Army. He served as a standing committee member and held a measure of authority. The course of the war had not been unexpected. The Japanese had long harbored wolfish ambitions and come prepared; their grasp of the mountains, rivers, terrain, and waterways was more detailed than that of the Central Army, the native force defending the nation. With powerful warships and heavy artillery, as well as advanced weapons and equipment, the Central Army had been driven step by step toward defeat. Japan occupied Shanghai and surrounded the concessions.

Naturally, he could no longer remain on the Shanghai Bund. Protected by his disciples, he had gone alone to Hong Kong to take refuge. Later, he traveled to Wuhan to meet Bald Head and secured himself a post as a standing committee member of the Central Relief Committee. He set up shop in Hong Kong and began soliciting donations.

His life here was not bad. After all, he had never lacked money, and dozens of disciples protected him. He wanted for neither food nor clothing, and his safety was assured. But he was not in a good state of mind, because he had withdrawn from the center of power. Without that immense power in his grasp, his influence