On August 7, 1951, Du Yuesheng called Hu Xuwu to his side, intending to dictate his will. At the time, family members and close friends were all in the room, wiping away tears and nodding solemnly. By then, Du Yuesheng’s cheeks had sunken, his complexion pale with a grayish tint, and he had to catch his breath after just a few words. He spoke slowly: “I am critically ill and about to pass away. Now, I will distribute my remaining assets (including cash, bonds, real estate, etc.) according to a specific allocation plan among my wives and children... All heirs must strive to preserve what has been built and work hard to create anew, and so on.” After dictating, Du asked Hu Xuwu to read it back to him, then struggled to sign his name “Du Yong.”
During Du’s heyday, every large-scale industrial and commercial organization in Shanghai sought him as a director or chairman. He served as director or chairman of seventy or eighty such bodies. How did an initially illiterate man command such prestige? It was all because of his unique approach to handling personnel matters—often resolving major organizational issues with just a single sentence. Many companies even moved their board meetings to his home to seek his counsel. Generally, he stayed out of minor affairs but would speak up when it came to major decisions. Given the immense influence of various factions in society at the time, any institution with him as chairman could see problems vanish. Thus, he became the universally respected leader of Shanghai’s myriad industries. Chen Cunren’s perspective is undoubtedly more objective and truthful.
Four Secretaries by His Side
In editing the book *Shanghai Tycoon Du Yuesheng*, I divided the content into two main parts. The first involved reorganizing, segmenting, and proofreading *The Unauthorized Biography of Du Yuesheng* written by his secretary Hu Xuwu, correcting typographical errors. The second part compiled articles written by individuals who had deep ties with Du Yuesheng or were seasoned journalists with firsthand knowledge. These articles are far more historically valuable than the Du Yuesheng books commonly found in stores, with many events substantiated and credible.
Due to his lack of formal education, Du Yuesheng later placed great trust in those who wielded the pen. To handle written work effectively, he hired four secretaries: Weng Zuqing (Zuo Qing), Qiu Fangmo, Wang Youyang, and Hu Xuwu. Among them, Weng Zuqing was a disciple of Zhang Xiaolin and was introduced to Du by Zhang; Qiu Fangmo was recommended by Chen Qun; Wang Youyang (formerly the secretary of the Shanghai-Nanjing Police Department) was introduced by Liu Chunpu; and Hu Xuwu was recommended by Huang Yanpei (having previously served as secretary of the Shanghai Local Association). Of these, Hu Xuwu served the longest, even accompanying Du Yuesheng to Hong Kong. I also confirmed this with Du Yuesheng’s daughter, Du Meixia.
Jin Xiongbai remarked: “I have always believed that writing about someone like Du Yuesheng is naturally an excellent subject, but everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and he was no exception. Therefore, writing his biography requires a delicate balance in praise and criticism, which is quite challenging. Yet Xuwu, with his years of close master-servant relationship with Du, knew the details intimately and wrote vividly and incisively. The elegance of his writing was secondary.” Several years ago, in Shanghai, I met Yang Lin, the son of Du Yuesheng’s close friend Yang Guanbei. On his bookshelf, I spotted a copy of *The Unauthorized Biography of Du Yuesheng*. When I asked for his opinion, he said it was authentic, especially the section about his father—it felt like firsthand experience.
Having followed Du Yuesheng for a long time, Hu Xuwu’s account carries exceptional authenticity. For instance, regarding the “Gao-Tao Incident,” the book states: “After reading the note, Yuesheng, well aware of Elder Ji (i.e., Xu Jiyu)’s cautious nature, understood that unless the information was absolutely certain, he wouldn’t have written with such conviction. He deemed it imperative to act swiftly and arranged for a prompt discussion. That very night, he flew to Chongqing, instructing Cai Cheng to wait in Hong Kong. At the time, Chiang Kai-shek happened to be in Guilin, planning a brief stay, but upon hearing this confidential report, he returned to Chongqing overnight. He summoned Yuesheng for a private meeting, focusing solely on the matter. Yuesheng was then instructed to return to Hong Kong and proceed covertly. Back in Hong Kong, Yuesheng sent Cai Cheng back to Shanghai without delay. Just over ten days later, Su Lao (i.e., Huang Suli) arrived in Hong Kong. He detailed Gao Zongwu’s journey to Japan and the key points of the secret agreement to Yuesheng, documenting everything to ensure Yuesheng wouldn’t forget and could report accurately to the authorities. Thus, within the same month, Yuesheng made his second trip to Chongqing.” According to Xu Jiyu’s *Postscript to ‘Poems from the Jingxiang Tower’*: “At the time, Du Yuesheng was in Hong Kong and had no prior relationship with Suli. I introduced them, and they hit it off immediately, proceeding together to the wartime capital to discuss the matter with the relevant authorities.” Furthermore, Chiang Kai-shek’s diary entry from December 18, 1939, reads: “In the afternoon, discussed foreign affairs with the Russian ambassador and talked about the Wang Jingwei issue with Yuesheng.” This confirms the accuracy of Hu Xuwu’s account.
Dictating the Will to Distribute Assets
On August 7, 1951, Du Yuesheng called Hu Xuwu to his side, intending to dictate his will. At the time, family members and close friends were all in the room, wiping away tears and nodding solemnly. By then, Du Yuesheng’s cheeks had sunken, his complexion pale with a grayish tint, and he had to catch his breath after just a few words. He spoke slowly: “I am critically ill and about to pass away. Now, I will distribute my remaining assets (including cash, bonds, real estate, etc.) according to a specific allocation plan among my wives and children... All heirs must strive to preserve what has been built and work hard to create anew, and so on.” After dictating, Du asked Hu Xuwu to read it back to him, then struggled to sign his name “Du Yong.” Five old friends—Qian Xinzhi, Lu Jingshu, Gu Jiatang, Wu Kaixian, and Xu Caicheng—were invited by Du to countersign the will, overseeing its future execution. On August 16, Du Yuesheng passed away in Hong Kong, marking the end of an era for a legendary figure.
Hu Xuwu was left alone in Hong Kong, making a living solely by writing. According to Jin Xiongbai: “Xuwu’s appearance resembled that of a village scholar, and he was as taciturn as a humble gentleman. He held deep respect for anyone with even a slight talent among his peers, spoke with a thick Anhui accent, and though reserved in speech, he was fiercely righteous and full of a sense of justice. Having once assisted Du Yuesheng in literary matters, he had associated with figures from the martial world but remarkably avoided adopting their habits. Xuwu’s writing was fluid, rich in meaning, and if judged solely by appearance, one wouldn’t believe it came from him.” In 1970, Hu Xuwu passed away in Hong Kong, with no family or relatives by his side. A handful of close friends hastily arranged his funeral at the mortuary before sending him to the crematorium. *The Unauthorized Biography of Du Yuesheng*, with its historical insight, literary quality, and firsthand experience, stands as a credible historical account—not to be dismissed as mere gossip or insider tales. It far surpasses the exaggerated “Du Yuesheng legends” found in popular literature, especially since many events were witnessed by the author himself.
After completing the book, I also discovered a series of serialized articles titled *Du Yuesheng Anecdotes* written under the pen name “Curtain Outside the Wind.” The author, using a pseudonym, described themselves as “a gust of wind outside the curtain.” In reality, they might have been a secretary close to Du Yuesheng, a strategist for him, or someone extremely close to him. Only someone with such connections would know the inner workings of Du’s residence. However, their identity remains unverified to this day.
The author, drawing from personal observations, depicts Du Yuesheng during his time in Hong Kong and provides detailed accounts of the key figures around him—strategists, military aides, and other contemporaries. Through these personalities and events, readers can glimpse the ups and downs of Du Yuesheng’s life. The author captures an abundance of details, allowing readers to feel the pulse of the era and reconstruct the true image of Du Yuesheng. These writings focus on the final chapter of Du Yuesheng’s life—his last days. Though never published as a collection, they existed only in old magazines. Now, newly compiled and edited, they form a sequel to *Shanghai Tycoon Du Yuesheng*. Additionally, I’ve tracked down writings by Gu Jiatang, Yang Guanbei, and Hu Xuwu, all mentioned in the book by “Curtain Outside the Wind,” and included them for cross-reference. Only with such verifiable historical materials can we restore the true image of Du Yuesheng. (To be continued)