During the Beiyang warlord period, He Long served as the brigade commander of the Mixed Brigade of the Sichuan Army, stationed in Fuling in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
One day, a Japanese steamship passed by his garrison, loaded with arms and other prohibited items. He Long unceremoniously ordered his subordinates to detain it, confiscate the smuggled arms, and release the Japanese steamship.
However, he detained two Japanese ronin on board.
Along with the two Japanese ronin, there was also a military justice chief of Wu Peifu, named Zhang Jieyi.
These two Japanese ronin were just ordinary arms smugglers, but after He Long detained them, many big figures in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and other places sent telegrams to intercede for the two Japanese ronin.
As for the judge advocate general, no one even wrote a letter.
This incident was very exciting for the young He Long.
"This is too much to be a bad person!" He Long looked at these telegrams and said indignantly, "Zhang Jieyi is still an official of the state!" ”
In this way, he hated Japanese imperialism even more, and he also hated the Beiyang government. Therefore, he treated the military court chief very favorably, and only then was he escorted to HuangJiaohuan and released. When he left, he was given some Panchuan. He Long said: "I only hope that you will have one thing, you will go back to Cao Kun and Wu Peifu and say that if you want to unify China by force,—— you are a cloth maker, a showman, it is best to unite with Guangdong (led by Sun Yat-sen). ”
After that, He Long detained the two Japanese ronin for two years.
When He Long decided to release the two Japanese Ronin, they asked to see General He Long. He Long's subordinates disapproved.
"What's so bad about that?" He Long said, "Call them!"
Therefore, the Japanese consul in Chongqing who came to rescue two Japanese ronin came with two Japanese ronin.
As soon as they met, the two Japanese ronin opened their mouths and asked He Long, "What crime are we committing?"
He Long said, "What sin?" The sin of beheading! You smuggle arms and fuel civil unrest! ”
When the consul heard this, his neck turned red.
Later, He Long talked about this matter to people, and smiled triumphantly:
"You don't say, the Japanese are very polite." When I left, I only sent a little Pan Chuan, that grateful look, laughing and bowing. The consul also asked me to go to Tokyo. I said, your place is too small to hold me! ”