Chapter 196: My Rules Are The Rules
Nighttime, Moonlight Sand.
“Chief of Staff Kawabe, Staff Officer Abe, please take care.” Lin Su respectfully escorted the two Army Department staff officers into the sedan.
She also instructed the accompanying girl to take good care of them.
Sato Buntai was a man of his word. To help Chen Yang deal with the troublesome organization of the Special Higher Police Affairs, he quickly introduced Abe Mitsuhiro.
Abe Mitsuhiro’s status was not simple either; he was the nephew of Abe Nobuyuki, the cabinet minister most valued by the current Japanese Army Department.
Because of his special status, Chen Yang ordered Lin Su to take good “care” of Abe Mitsuhiro.
Sure enough, in less than three days, Abe Mitsuhiro brought over his immediate superior, Central China Expeditionary Army Chief of Staff Kawabé Saburo.
Now, in the Southern Army Department, Chen Yang’s network reached the heavens. As for Tada Shunroku.
Chen Yang could only say to find an opportunity, after all, Abe Mitsuhiro had already become his good friend, and moreover, Abe Mitsuhiro told him a very secret piece of intelligence.
The homeland Army Department was now very dissatisfied with Your Excellency Konoe’s administration; they thought Your Excellency Konoe was too weak, and moreover, the Empire’s materials repeatedly failed to meet frontline consumption—this responsibility could not be pushed away by Your Excellency Konoe.
Therefore, they now intended to elevate Abe Mitsuhiro’s uncle Abe Nobuyuki to the cabinet.
Led by him, the Army Department people would reorganize the cabinet.
Of course, this matter was still only in the planning stage, with no clear information possible, but it still shocked Chen Yang immensely.
In his impression, Abe Nobuyuki did indeed serve as Japan’s prime minister in Year 28 of the Republic of China, but this guy, once in power, messed up Japan’s politics and economics into a total mess.
In the end, he forced His Majesty the Emperor to reluctantly employ Mi Nei Guangzheng to clean up the mess for him.
Third Floor, Private Room.
Mizukawa Mei, dressed in a kimono, placed Chen Yang’s head on her lap, feeding him sobering soup while massaging his temples.
Lin Su pushed open the door, nodded slightly to Mizukawa, who gently helped Chen Yang up, then bowed to the two of them and exited the private room.
Lin Su walked over, picked up the hot towel on the table, and handed it to Chen Yang: “Boss, they’ve all been sent off.”
Chen Yang applied the hot towel to his face: “Well done. You’ve been working hard these past few days too.”
“By the way, how many houses do we have left in hand now?”
The houses Chen Yang mentioned were prepared for these generals and colonel-level officers.
Generally, colonels got standalone villas, while generals got garden houses.
Ordinary lieutenant colonels and majors were far inferior, only getting fully furnished apartments, and without prepared girls either.
At least villa level would come with corresponding girls.
Lin Su said softly: “Boss, Moonlight Sand membership has grown very quickly during this time, so these things have been consumed quickly too. I’ve calculated: we now have four garden houses and eight villas left in hand.”
“There are still some apartments, but as you reminded, these apartments are to be reserved for people from the Navy side.”
Chen Yang nodded and smiled: “This is good news. The more houses we give away, the faster we’re making money.”
“By my calculations, once all the houses are given away, the entire South China, East China, and Central China regions will be under our control.”
“Alright, it’s getting late. I should head back too.”
Lin Su stood up: “Miss Mizukawa is still waiting outside. Don’t you want her to accompany you?”
Chen Yang waved his hand: “We’re a work relationship. Her accompanying me is also for work. Better not get too involved.”
“Right, in a few days, the new chief of staff of the Fourth Division, Your Excellency Miyahara Shintaro, will be coming. Their division has been holding back supplies for nearly three months. I think we’ll have a big business deal.”
Lin Su smiled faintly: “Got it, Boss. I’ll make good arrangements.”
Shanghai, Daxi Road 625, Jinling Secret Agent Shanghai Office.
At the entrance of the Jinling Secret Agent Office stood armed guards with fierce eyes; the atmosphere was gloomy and oppressive, out of place with the surroundings.
A black sedan with a special Japanese Army Headquarters license plate, escorted by a team of armed military police, aggressively drove straight to the mansion gate and braked to a halt without slowing down.
The car door opened, and two elite Japanese Army Military Police jumped out first, their cold gazes and submachine guns immediately intimidating the office’s own guards at the entrance.
Chen Yang got out of the car. He was dressed in a crisp Transportation Department Land Transport Section military uniform, with shining shoulder insignia, a stern expression, exuding an undeniable sense of authority.
He completely ignored the somewhat panicked office guards at the entrance and nodded slightly to the military police captain behind him.
“Greetings, Officer.” The guard was startled by the display; Chen Yang rarely came to the office with such fanfare—usually alone by car. Why was he bringing a group of military police today? Who had offended him this time?
Everyone here knew this officer’s temper well; after all, Liu Chang was the best example.
Chen Yang glanced at the guard, who instinctively shuddered and quickly opened the gate while hurriedly notifying via internal telephone.
Chen Yang strode into the mansion interior. The military police squad swiftly and professionally secured the entrance and key positions in the courtyard.
Director Zuo Mingquan, having received the emergency report, hurried down from upstairs with a face full of uncertain smiles, but his eyes deep down were filled with vigilance.
“Oh dear, Officer Chen’s sudden visit— this subordinate failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me. What important instructions do you have today?” Zuo Mingquan’s tone was extremely flattering.
Chen Yang stopped, his icy gaze sweeping over Zuo Mingquan: “Director Zuo, your recent arrest operations have stirred up the whole city. Is this how you maintain ‘peace’ and order?”
Zuo Mingquan tensed up, a bead of sweat seeping from his fat face, carefully replying: “To answer the officer, we are following instructions from the Jinling side to crack down harshly on those stubborn elements destroying Sino-Japanese relations and slandering Mr. Wang, to set an example…”
“To set an example? Hmph.” Chen Yang’s voice suddenly sharpened. “But the report I received says you’ve been indiscriminately arresting innocent students with brutal methods, causing great resentment and unrest in all sectors of society!”
“The Empire and the Jinling Government need stability and public allegiance, not your brute force creating new hatred! Your Excellency Kagesa and the Army Department are very disappointed with your work methods!”
Sweat beaded on Zuo Mingquan’s forehead; he forced a smile uglier than crying and defended: “Officer, please see clearly—we arrested only those with solid evidence, dangerous ringleaders. No innocents… This was reported per procedure and approved…”
“Evidence? Procedure?” Chen Yang interrupted again, looking coldly at Zuo Mingquan: “Director Zuo, do you know someone has already reported to the Jinling side, accusing you of killing innocents under the guise of arrests, treating human life like grass.”
“How many people did you kill in this arrest operation? How many did you capture?”
“Director Zuo, can’t you use your brain when doing things? Don’t make me take the blame for you every time.”
“I only have two shoulders; I can’t carry that big a black pot.”
“No, no, no, this subordinate absolutely has no such intention.” Chen Yang’s one sentence scared Zuo Mingquan into trembling all over, denying repeatedly.
Chen Yang said indifferently: “Now, take me to your detention area! I want to personally review! See your so-called ‘solid evidence’!”
“If I find any overstepping of authority, abuse of punishment, or sabotage of the overall situation, Director Zuo, I think your directorship is at its end.”
“Yes, yes, yes, this way please, Officer.” Zuo Mingquan dared not argue anymore and hurriedly led the way ahead, taking Chen Yang to the temporary detention dungeon.
The group arrived at the temporary detention rooms converted from the mansion basement.
Chen Yang’s gaze was sharp as lightning; he soon spotted Shen Qingyao in one room—pale-faced, scarred, but with stubborn eyes.
“Director Zuo, this woman—is she the ‘dangerous element’ you thought? What specific harmful actions does she have?”
“This…” Zuo Mingquan was at a loss for words. He had mainly relied on on-site agents’ reports saying this Shen Qingyao had “ringleader” behavior, but more detailed evidence needed time to fabricate.
“She… she incited…”
“Incited? Incited what? Where’s the evidence? Just because she participated?” Chen Yang’s tone grew colder. “I see your case-handling procedures are full of holes now! Completely arresting based on feelings!”
“Immediately bring me the list of all detained students and preliminary case reports! I’ll wait right here—go quickly.”
Zuo Mingquan wiped the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly called someone nearby to fetch the action report from the office.
That agent very shrewdly ran out and soon brought the action report as Zuo Mingquan instructed.
“Officer, please review.” Zuo Mingquan anxiously handed the action report to Chen Yang with both hands.
Chen Yang flipped through the report in hand; Zuo Mingquan said softly: “Officer, this arrest operation captured a total of twenty-six students.”
“Two of them accused her—Shen Qingyao was the ringleader organizer.”
Chen Yang looked up at Zuo Mingquan: “Those two people? Where are they?”
Zuo Mingquan said lowly: “This subordinate has already released them.”
“Released? Casually accusing others without evidence support—that’s how you handle cases?” Chen Yang stared at Zuo Mingquan with a half-smile: “Do you know who she is? She’s Shen Xing Shan’s daughter.”
“Shen Xing Shan is not only a good friend of the Empire, but also an elder of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, and a firm supporter of all Jinling Government resolutions. And now you say his daughter resists the Empire?”
“Utterly ridiculous.”
“I’m taking this person away now.”
Zuo Mingquan was shocked: “Officer! This… this, this breaks the rules!”
“Rules?” Chen Yang turned sharply, staring at him with knife-sharp eyes: “I hold the highest rank in the entire Special Affairs Office. You’re talking rules with me? I’m telling you now, my rules are the rules.”
Zuo Mingquan showed a troubled expression and muttered: “But these confessions…”
The corner of Chen Yang’s mouth curved up slightly; he took out the confessions Zuo Mingquan mentioned from the report and casually tossed them into the nearby brazier with the branding iron.
“Director Zuo, do you have any problems now?”
