The Poor in Spirit, pgs. 252-281 Summary and Analysis

In April 1949, Joseph often sleeps in his office. One night he awakens in the middle of the night. He notices that it is very quiet and decides to walk along the Bund. Joseph is prevented from entering the area by Nationalist soldiers who tell him to leave the area. He sees a group of coolies loading packages on a freighter and wonders if Chiang Kai-shek is moving gold from the vaults. His journalist friend confirms the act.

Civil war is taking place in China between China's Nationalists troops and Mao's Peoples Liberation Army. Shanghai is more dangerous than it was under the Japanese. There is guerrilla activity in Hungjao so Joseph buys several guns. By the winter of 1948, foreigners begin to leave the city. Joseph again remains, thinking the Communists would...