Historical Connections

People

Kong Yongzhi

Mentioned in passing in Episode 1.

In episode 2, Gao Feng while being arrested says he is "working for Mr Kong."

In episode 3, Mr Song tells STN they can't punish Tao Feng too harshly bc they have to "show some consideration to Kong Yongzhi."

Kong Yongzhi also known as Kong Xiangxi, was the the Minister of Industry and Commerce in Chiang Kaishek's Nanjing based Nationalist government from March 1928. Between Apr 1933 and Jul 1945, he was the President of the Central Bank of China. He was also husband of Song Ailing, and hence Chairman Chiang's brother-in-law.

Liang Qichao

Quoted by WRL during his job interview in episode 2.

Mr Liang Qichao once said, "Today's responsibility is resting on no one but our nation's youths. The future of the nation depends on young people's intelligence and strength."

Liang Qichao was a reformist activist, journalist and political thinker during the dying days of the Qing Empire, and a politician in the early years of the Republic of China, holding the position of Finance Minister in 1917.

Song Ailing ("Big Sister")

Mentioned by Yu Shiqing in Episode 2 : "The big sister is behind us. What are you afraid of?"

Song Ailing was Dr. Sun Yatsen's sometime secretary, and the eldest daughter of wealthy businessman "Charlie" Song Yaoru, wife to Kong Yongzhi, sister to Song Ziwen ("Mr Song") and sister-in-law to Sun Yatsen and Chiang Kaishek.

Song Ziwen ("Mr Song")

Song Ziwen also known as T.V. Soong, was the Minister of Finance in the Nationalist government from 1925. Between Jul 1928 and May 1930, he negotiated tariff rates with the United States, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In Oct 1928, he was named the president of the reformed Central Bank of China, now headquartered in Shanghai; he would hold this position until 1931. In Jan 1930, he took on a concurrent role as the deputy chief of the Executive Yuan; in this role he was credited with currency reforms and the establishment of a police force to enforce taxation.

He was brother to the three Song sisters, and through them brother-in-law to Kong Yongzhi, Sun Yatsen and Chiang Kaishek.

Institutions etc.

The Chartered Stock and Produce Exchange, Shanghai

Dahua Bank?

Dongsheng Bank?

The Green Gang

Huaxin Bank?

Huangpu Military Academy

The Republic of China Military Academy was established as Whampoa Military Academy (Whampoa is an alternative romanisation to Huangpu) in 1924. It was later relocated to Nanjing, then to Chengdu, and finally to Taiwan.

Lixin Accounting Institute

Pan Xulun, who held an MBA from Harvard and a PhD in Economics from Columbia, founded the Lixin College of Accounting in Shanghai in 1928. (Noted in this thesis on Chinese Accounting History, 1927-1937.)

"Nanjing", i.e. the seat of the Nationalist Government from 1927 to 1937

Xingxia Bank?

Yintong Bank?

Events

Shanghai massacre

A number of incidents happened during 1927 "The 16th year since the Republic was established" that Chief Deng might have been referring to in episode 2 when Wei Ruolai is being interviewed, but a notable one that involved a purge of communists from the Kuomintang was the April 12 incident, or Shanghai massacre.