During Du Yuesheng’s heyday, every large-scale industrial or commercial organization in Shanghai sought him as a director or chairman. He served in seventy to eighty such roles. How did an initially illiterate man command such prestige? It was all due to his unique approach to handling personnel matters — often resolving major organizational challenges with just a single remark. Many companies even moved their board meetings to his home to seek his counsel. Generally, he avoided minor issues but would speak up on significant matters. Given the immense influence of various factions in society at the time, any institution with him as chairman could see troubles dissolve instantly. Thus, he became the universally respected leader across Shanghai’s myriad industries. Chen Cunren’s perspective is undoubtedly more objective and truthful.
Four Secretaries by His Side
While compiling and proofreading the book *The Shanghai Tycoon Du Yuesheng*, I divided it into two major sections. The first involved reorganizing, segmenting, and correcting the text of *Du Yuesheng: An Unauthorized Biography* written by his secretary Hu Xuwu. The second part gathered articles from individuals who had close ties with Du Yuesheng or were seasoned journalists with firsthand knowledge. These writings hold far greater historical value than most books on Du Yuesheng available in the market, with many accounts backed by solid evidence.
Du Yuesheng, being illiterate, came to highly trust those who wielded the pen. To handle his written communications, he hired four secretaries: Weng Zuqing (also known as Zuo Qing), Qiu Fangmo, Wang Youyang, and Hu Xuwu. Weng Zuqing was a disciple of Zhang Xiaolin, who introduced him to Du; Qiu Fangmo was recommended by Chen Qun; Wang Youyang (formerly the secretary of the Songhu Police Department) was introduced by Liu Chunpu; and Hu Xuwu was brought in by Huang Yanpei (having previously served as secretary at the Shanghai Local Association). Among them, Hu Xuwu served the longest, even accompanying Du Yuesheng to Hong Kong. I confirmed this with Du Yuesheng’s daughter, Du Meixia.
Jin Xiongba once said: “I’ve always believed that writing about someone like Du Yuesheng is an excellent subject, but everyone has strengths and weaknesses, especially someone like him. Writing his biography requires a delicate balance in praise and criticism, which is hard to achieve. However, Hu Xuwu, having been his close associate for years, knew him intimately and provided detailed, vivid, and incisive commentary. The elegance of his writing was secondary.” 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 *Du Yuesheng: An Unauthorized Biography*. When I asked for his opinion, he said it was truthful, especially the parts about his father, which felt firsthand.
Because Hu Xuwu had long accompanied Du Yuesheng, the book holds 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 so firmly. Deeming it urgent, Yuesheng decided speed was key. That very night, he flew to Chongqing while instructing Cai Cheng to wait in Hong Kong. At the time, Chiang Kai-shek happened to be visiting Guilin and planned to stay briefly. 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 promptly return to Hong Kong and proceed covertly. Back in Hong Kong, Yuesheng dispatched Cai Cheng back to Shanghai. Just over ten days later, Huang Suyu arrived in Hong Kong. He detailed Gao Zongwu’s journey to Japan and the key points of the secret pact to Yuesheng, documenting everything to ensure Yuesheng wouldn’t forget and could report accurately to the authorities. Within the same month, Yuesheng made his second trip to Chongqing.” According to Xu Jiyu’s *Postscript to ‘Poems of the Jingxiang Tower’*: “At the time, Du Yuesheng was in Hong Kong and had no prior relationship with Suyu. I introduced them, and they hit it off immediately, eventually traveling together to the wartime capital to discuss the matter with the relevant authorities.” Additionally, Chiang Kai-shek’s diary entry from December 18, 1939, reads: “In the afternoon, I discussed diplomacy with the Russian ambassador and spoke with Yuesheng about the Wang issue.” This confirms the accuracy of Hu Xuwu’s account.
Dictating His Will to Distribute His Estate
On August 7, 1951, Du Yuesheng called Hu Xuwu to dictate his will. Family members and close friends were present in the room, wiping away tears and nodding solemnly. By then, Du Yuesheng’s cheeks were sunken, his face pale with a grayish tint, and he needed to catch his breath after every few words. He slowly said: “I am gravely ill and nearing the end. Now, I will distribute my estate (including cash, bonds, real estate, etc.) according to a specific plan among my wives and children… All heirs must strive to preserve and build upon this legacy through hardship.” After dictating, he asked Hu Xuwu to read it back, then struggled to sign his name, “Du Yong.” Five old friends — Qian Xinzhi, Lu Jingshu, Gu Jiatai, Wu Kaixian, and Xu Caidi — were invited by Du to co-sign the will as witnesses to oversee its future execution. On August 16, Du Yuesheng passed away in Hong Kong, marking the end of an era.
Hu Xuwu was left alone in Hong Kong, making a living solely by writing. According to Jin Xiongba: “Xuwu looked like a village scholar, reserved and humble like a gentleman. He held deep respect for anyone with even a slight talent among his peers, spoke with a thick Anhui accent, and though soft-spoken, he was fiercely righteous and full of a sense of justice. Having assisted Du Yuesheng in his literary endeavors, he had associated with figures from the martial world but remarkably remained untainted by their ways. Xuwu’s writing was fluid, rich in meaning, and far surpassed what one might expect from his appearance.” In 1970, Hu Xuwu passed away in Hong Kong, with no family or relatives by his side. A handful of friends arranged a simple funeral at the mortuary before sending him to the crematorium. *Du Yuesheng: An Unauthorized Biography*, with its historical insight, writing, and the author’s experience, stands as a credible historical account, far superior to the sensationalized “Du Yuesheng legends” circulating in the market — after all, many events were witnessed firsthand by the author.
After completing the book, I also discovered a series of serialized articles titled *Du Yuesheng Anecdotes* written under the pen name “Curtain-Side Wind.” The author, using a pseudonym, described himself as “a breeze outside the curtain.” In reality, he might have been a secretary close to Du Yuesheng, a strategist, or someone extremely close to him — only such individuals would know the inner workings of Du’s residence. However, this remains unverified.
The author wrote about Du Yuesheng’s time in Hong Kong based on personal observations, detailing the key figures around him — strategists, enforcers, and other contemporaries. Through these characters and events, readers can glimpse the ups and downs of Du Yuesheng’s life. The author captured countless details, allowing readers to feel the pulse of the era and reconstruct the true image of Du Yuesheng. These articles focus on the final chapter of Du Yuesheng’s life — his last “epilogue.” Though never published as a collection, they existed only in old magazines. Now, newly compiled and edited, they form a sequel to *The Shanghai Tycoon Du Yuesheng*. Additionally, I’ve located and included writings by Gu Jiatai, Yang Guanbei, and Hu Xuwu, all mentioned in the book, allowing for cross-referencing. Only with such verifiable historical material can we restore the true Du Yuesheng. (To be continued)