Chapter 3: Patriotism
Mountains high, mountains low;
Over the white beach jump carps.
           ——A folk song of Ningbo

Ningbo, a place noted for the study of Confucianism, has always taken loyalty, credibility, benevolence, and friendship as its principle. Grown up in this atmosphere, Ningbo merchants display an increasingly stronger patriotic sentiment. “A thousand peach flowers find their origin in one tree”, and “a tree may grow a hundred meters high, but its leaves fall back to the roots” are vivid depictions of their affection for their nation and hometown. In fact, in the past 200 years, Ningbo merchants have displayed their patriotism to the fullest, linking their own destiny with that of the motherland and endeavoring to promote its development.

Part I Adhering to National Righteousness

Ningbo merchants have drawn clear distinctions on cardinal issues of right and wrong. From the Ningbo Pagoda Riots, which started the history of Chinese urban citizens voluntarily fighting against foreign colonists, to Ningshao Shipping Company, which broke the foreign monopoly over China’s shipping business, from their sacrifice of life in support of the anti-Japanese war to their sinking of ships and close-down of businesses in defense of the Ningbo city, Ningbo merchants have often stood out bravely at the crucial moments of national rise and fall, showing a strong national spirit of self-esteem.

1. Ningbo Pagoda Riots
Ningbo Pagoda, founded in 1797, was where Ningbo natives met in Shanghai. It was incorporated into the administration of the French concession in 1849. However, in 1874 and 1898, the Counsel Municipal of the concession, having coveted this piece of land for long, used forces to grab it twice, killing and injuring quite a lot of citizens there. Ningbo natives in Shanghai rose in rebellion and triggered off large-scale strikes. Their efforts won support from all walks of life in Shanghai, forcing the French authorities to give up the plan of grabbing Ningbo Pagoda.

2. “5 Jiao Forever” by Ningshao Shipping Company
   The Shanghai-Ningbo sea route had been monopolized by the British “Swire Shipping” and the French “Eastern Steamship”. Despite the short distance, the charge was extremely high. In 1908, Yu Ya Ching founded Ningshao Shipping Company, with two ships, Ningshao and Yongxing, to compete with the foreign companies. Hung on the bows of the ships were signs of “5 Jiao forever”. Infuriated, the competitors reduced their price from 1 yuan to 3 jiao to have a showdown with Ningshao. At this, Ningbo Association of Shanghai instantly swung into action, donating to subsidize the company. Ningbo natives choose its ships even though they had to spend more. Besides, they also entrusted it with shipping of their goods. Consequently, the foreign companies had to raise prices and improve service.

3. Sinking Ships in Defense of the Country
In the nation-wide anti-Japanese war, Ningbo businessmen sacrificed themselves in defense of the country. They boycotted Japanese goods, prevented the expansion of Japanese merchants, mobilized armies and provided logistic services in support of the front, all of which showed their determination to serve the motherland and protect the national industry.

Xiang Songmao, a native of Yinxian, was general manager of the International Industrial Group. At the breakout of September 18th Incident, he, then a member of Shanghai Committee of Saving the Country by Resisting Japanese Aggression, declared the resistance of Japanese goods on newspapers and organized a volunteer army in his own factory, himself being the commander. When the Songhu Campaign was launched in 1932, Xiang undertook the task to produce medicines against time to meet the needs of the front. He was killed by Japanese on January 31st, 1932, when rescuing the arrested shop assistants. New Life Weekly published an editorial to mourn for this great patriotic entrepreneur and the national government cited him as “hero unyielding to Japanese aggressors”.

Fang Yexian, a native of Zhenhai, was the founder of the China Chemical Works. He developed the “Three Star” mosquito incense, which replaced the Japanese “Boar” incense that had dominated the Chinese market for long. At the outbreak of the war against Japan in 1932, he started hospitals for wounded soldiers at home and in his works and lent active support to Yiyou Association, a CPC underground organization in Shanghai, and served as its honorary councilor. Seeing his influence in Shanghai business circle, the puppet army offered him a high position in the government, but was met with a resolute refusal. Out of hatred, the Japanese had him killed on July 25th, 1940. He was then only 47 years old. An outstanding descendant of the Fangs in Zhenhai, Fang Yexian scarified his life for the country and will be forever remembered.

Chen Shuntong, a native of Yinxian, founded Shanghai Chung Wei Steamship Co., Ltd in 1930 in Shanghai, owning such ships as Tai Ping, Yuen Chang, Shun Foong, and Hsin Tai Ping. In August 1937, he sunk his Yuen Chang with ten other ships at a fort in Jiangyin as a defense; in June 1939, to protect Ningbo harbor, he sunk his Tai Ping at the foot of the Zhaobao Mountain in Zhenhai. With all his ships sunken for national interest, Chen went into bankruptcy. What he did fully exhibits the spirit of a patriotic Chinese businessman.

4. Competing with the Powers for National Dignity
Wang Zhengting from Fenghua once served in the customs. When Wuchang Uprising broke out in 1911, he served in the Governorate of Li Yuanhong (1864-1928). He acted as the plenipotentiary of the revolutionary government in South China at the Paris Peace Conference, where he refused to sign on the treaty with Germany, winning national acclaim. He was chairman of China National Amateur Athletic Federation in 1924, taking back sports sovereignty from western powers. After the September 18 Incident in 1931, he resolutely refused the puppet Manchurian regime but supported Liu Changchun to enter for the 10th Olympic Games, making the Republic of China known in the world. As the first Chinese member of the IOC, he is hailed as “Father of Olympics in China”.