Chapter 105: Might Still Be Useful
Zhong Yuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said: “Secretary Pan, I think we don’t need to be so extreme.”
“The most important thing now is the medicine for the special commissioner and the support for the New Army.”
“I think we can use this traitor to make a story.”
Secretary Pan quickly understood Zhong Yuan’s meaning: “Old Zhong, you mean to give this traitor false information, use him to lure away the Japanese, feint to the east, attack to the west.”
Zhong Yuan slowly nodded and said: “That’s right, that’s the idea.”
“If this works, then we won’t even need to do anything; the Japanese won’t spare him.”
Secretary Pan’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly, but soon worried: “This method is good, but it also has risks.”
“I’m just afraid this traitor will notice something, and then it will all be for nothing.”
Zhong Yuan thought for a moment, but still insisted: “I think this plan has very high feasibility. If you think there’s a problem, we can also design a contingency plan.”
“If there’s really any accident, we can react in time.”
Secretary Pan’s fingers lightly tapped the desktop. After a moment, he nodded and said: “That’s decided then. The top priority is to catch this rat first.”
Shanghai, HK District, No. 1258 North Sichuan Road.
The day after returning from a meeting at the Expeditionary Army Headquarters, Chen Yang received a transfer order from Nanjing.
The transfer order stated that he was relieved of his position as Director of the Economic Department and reassigned as Economic Advisor to the Economic Department, while also being given the position of Commissioner of the Customs Inspectorate.
This position was mainly for the Shanghai wharves.
The Japanese wanted him to be in charge of short-haul transportation in the Shanghai vicinity.
This included the Nanhu Line, from Nanchang to Shanghai, the Shanghai-Nanjing Line, from Shanghai to Nanjing, the Nanjing-Hangcheng Line, from Nanjing to Hangcheng, and the Xuzhou-Shanghai Line, from Xuzhou to Shanghai.
If there was a map, it wouldn’t be hard to see that these routes already spanned the four provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Anhui.
Therefore, the real power Chen Yang now held was on par with that of the Minister of the Transportation Department of the Nanjing New Government.
But his position was only Third Section Chief of the Southern Transportation Department.
The black sedan, flying the Japanese devils’ sun flag, drove all the way into the Japanese-occupied area on North Sichuan Road.
It drove along North Sichuan Road for a long time before stopping in front of a Western-style building.
Chen Yang got out of the car and looked up at the building in front of him, inexplicably feeling a bit familiar.
When he saw the house number hanging above the Western-style building, Chen Yang suddenly reacted.
This place was none other than the future Chongguang Building; no wonder it felt so familiar.
Most people might not know what the name Chongguang Building meant, but if it were changed to another name, it would be much more famous.
Shanghai, Plum Blossom House.
That’s right, this Western-style building was the future location of the Ume Agency founded by Kagesa Shinzhao, the Plum Blossom House.
Many people were misled into thinking this Plum Blossom House was in some Plum Blossom Lane.
In fact, Plum Blossom House was a Western-style building because the pronunciation of the founder’s surname “Sazo” was the same as “Plum.”
So that’s why it’s called the Ume Agency.
Actually, it’s the same meaning as the Iwai Agency founded by Consul Iwai Koichi.
Of course, the Southern Transportation Department was just coincidentally across from the Ume Agency, not in the same location.
“Eh, aren’t you Mr. Chen?” Chen Yang stood there looking around for a while when a voice suddenly sounded beside him.
Chen Yang turned to look; a figure had just gotten out of a sedan. The man was wearing a proper Western-style suit. Chen Yang frowned, seeming to have some impression.
“You are Mr. Kobayashi.”
The man smiled and said: “Mr. Chen has a good memory. I am Kobayashi Shuzo, formerly of the Railway Construction Department.”
“Mr. Chen, why aren’t you going in now that you’re here?”
Chen Yang smiled and said: “Nothing, first time here, just standing to take a look.”
Kobayashi Shuzo looked at his watch and said: “It’s not early, Mr. Chen. If you don’t go in, you’ll be late.”
“I hear Minister Oshima is a very strict person and hates subordinates who aren’t punctual the most.”
“Come on, let’s go in together.”
“After you, Mr. Kobayashi.”
The two talked as they walked into the building with the Southern Transportation Department sign.
This building, like the Plum Blossom House, was a Western-style building.
The beige water-struck stone exterior walls were weathered by time and humid air into patches of varying shades,
with some brownish vines tightly wrapping around the two simplified Corinthian pilasters beside the porch.
Above the porch, a small semi-circular cast-iron balcony protruded, with intricate openwork vine and flower patterns on the cast-iron railings, swaying slightly in the morning breeze.
The entire small building had four floors: the ground floor was ordinary offices, the second floor was for mid-level leaders’ offices, and Chen Yang’s office was on the second floor.
The two walked through the lobby and up the stairs together. The stairs were of teak, with handrails polished smooth as jade. At the corner was a narrow colored glass window with a pattern of abstract iris flowers.
This also proved that the previous owner must have been British.
“Mr. Chen, my office is here. Come over for tea when you have time.” Kobayashi Shuzo belonged to the General Affairs Section, the first office on the right side of the second floor.
“Okay, Mr. Kobayashi. I’ll go find my office too.” Chen Yang responded politely, slightly bowing to Kobayashi Shuzo, and walked further in.
Soon, he saw the office with the Southern Transportation Department Third Section sign.
Pushing open the office door, a familiar figure appeared inside.
Gray work clothes, permed curly hair, slender figure, delicate face—it was the former Economic Department secretary, Li Ningyu.
“Officer,” Li Ningyu turned at the sound, saw Chen Yang at the office door, and immediately saluted.
Seeing the surprised look in Chen Yang’s eyes, Li Ningyu quickly explained: “Consul Iwai was afraid you wouldn’t know the situation when you first arrived, so he sent me to assist you.”
Chen Yang slowly nodded: “I see, then I’ll have to trouble Secretary Li.”
Li Ningyu repeatedly said it was no trouble, then slightly bowed and said: “Officer, the cleaning here is all done. Please sit for a moment; I’ll go get the information for you.”
Chen Yang nodded, and Li Ningyu bowed and left.
Seeing the figure disappear, Chen Yang’s expression gradually became serious. Now, he could be sure that Li Ningyu was backed by Iwai Koichi.
Combined with Li Ningyu’s performance over the past few months, Chen Yang was even certain that her real job was far from just being a secretary.
This person was likely one of the agents trained by the Iwai Agency.
But why did Iwai Koichi send an agent to stay by his side? Could it be that he suspected his identity?
It didn’t seem like it. Chen Yang was more inclined to believe that Li Ningyu was planted by his side as a recorder.
The purpose was still to record his usual work performance.
Iwai Koichi shouldn’t be this interested in him. Chen Yang’s heart stirred slightly.
The only Japanese interested in him was that teacher Fujiwara Tomoo. Could it be that all this was his arrangement?
Planting an agent by his side to record his performance—what was he planning to do?
