Chapter 37: Yoshiko Kawashima Arrives In Shanghai
When the “man-dressed beauty” Yoshiko Kawashima took the train from the Northeast and arrived in Shanghai,
it was already nighttime,
but Shanghai’s night was still brilliantly lit, bustling and lively, with cars streaming like flowing water and horses.
“This is Shanghai? Indeed prosperous! The Northeast and Manchuria simply cannot compare or be mentioned in the same breath!”
After exiting the train station, Yoshiko Kawashima looked at the prosperous and lively night scene outside and couldn’t help but think to herself inwardly.
This was her first time coming to this international metropolis with a mission to carry it out,
so this time she did not apply powder to her face, lipstick to her lips, or dress in a gaudy manner.
Ever since being forced by her Japanese foster father Naniwa Kawashima, this royal princess, who should have been bright-eyed and fair-skinned with some beauty but not exceptionally outstanding, had become temperamentally perverse and emotionally unpredictable,
As Yoshiko Kawashima marveled at the beauty of Shanghai’s night scene,
Major Ryūkichi Tanaka also personally drove a car to pick her up,
Of course, there were also several Japanese agents driving cars following behind for escort.
Tanaka began serving as the Army’s military attaché in Shanghai in 1930.
At the same time, in January of next year, 1932, that is, one of the Japanese spy chiefs, Major Ryūkichi Tanaka, and the “man-dressed beauty” Yoshiko Kawashima, under the instructions of Seishiro Itagaki, planned the world-shocking “First Shanghai Incident,” also known as the January 28 Incident,
Their goal was to use the First Battle of Shanghai to shift the attention of all foreign powers from the Northeast, which they had occupied, to the battlefield in Shanghai, that is, the combat deployment to divert the international line of sight of the foreign powers.
“Miss Yoshiko!”
“I’m Tanaka! The one connecting with you this time!”
Just after Yoshiko Kawashima finished marveling,
Tanaka, who had already gotten out of the car, also quickly walked up to Yoshiko Kawashima and said softly.
Hearing this, Yoshiko Kawashima also looked up and sized up the newcomer.
When she saw two cars parked behind Ryūkichi Tanaka, and several Japanese agents sitting inside the cars, she then nodded lightly.
As for Ryūkichi Tanaka’s appearance, before coming, the Kwantung Army’s spy agency and Major General Seishiro Itagaki had shown it to her, so after carefully observing Ryūkichi Tanaka’s appearance,
she was already 100% certain of the other’s identity as a Japanese spy chief, so she followed him without much hesitation, got into the car, and headed toward the city center of Shanghai.
And at this time,
Traitor Zhang Yiliang was irritably at his three-and-a-half-story Western-style house, listening to a report from his thugs.
Traitor Zhang Yiliang, like the number one big traitor in the Northeast region who donated 40 fighter jets to the Japanese Empire for free, was loyal to the Japanese Army and willing to give all his finances for the Japanese Army.
“Boss! Our shipping company has added three more steamboats with tonnage around 20,000 tons today, and now the number of steamboats we own has exceeded 33!”
“Additionally, after Zhou Jiawei of the Zhou Family was severely injured and bedridden by our people, the one now taking over the Zhou Family’s business and financial power is Zhou Jiawei’s fourth son, that high school student!”
“These past few days, he has invested in research and development of domestic cars, and it’s already causing heated discussion in the newspapers, but many foreign car companies are watching coldly from the sidelines, even ridiculing him for overreaching himself in researching domestic cars!”
Thug Ma Youcai respectfully reported to traitor Zhang Yiliang.
“Hahaha! Wanting to manufacture domestic cars? This kid is utterly foolish!”
“Nowadays, domestically, whether steamboats, cars, airplanes, or any new heavy industry technology products, all require relying on technology imports from foreigners, and equipment, parts, etc., provided by foreigners, to be manufactured!”
“A kid who still smells of milk, what makes him think he can manufacture domestic cars?”
“I think he’s just having people assemble foreigners’ parts to assemble cars, then labeling them as domestic cars!”
“But for someone this foolish to control the Zhou Family’s business and finances, it’s actually a good thing for us!”
“Saves me from sending people to take him out!”
“However, that steel factory and those two coal mines in the Zhou Family’s hands, I do want to get hold of, because the Japanese people are urging me to get them quickly and resell to them!”
“Now I’m tightly hugging these Japanese people’s thighs, so I cannot disobey their orders and instructions!”
“So you figure out a way for me to quickly get the transfer contracts for the Zhou Family’s steel factory and coal mines!”
After hearing thug Ma Youcai’s report, traitor Zhang Yiliang couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
His face was full of mocking expressions, completely regarding Zhou Wenhua’s actions as a joke.
“Yes! Boss!”
“By the way, just now when I came to you, I ran into Major Ryūkichi Tanaka’s Japanese agents outside, and they asked me to pass on that tomorrow morning Major Ryūkichi Tanaka wants to meet you at Shanghai’s most expensive restaurant, and properly taste some of our domestic famous dishes!”
Thug Ma Youcai quickly agreed,
and at the same time, supplemented the report.
“Hmm! Why didn’t you say this earlier?”
“Good thing you remembered to tell me, otherwise if it delayed my meeting with Major Ryūkichi Tanaka and he got angry, I absolutely wouldn’t forgive you!”
Upon hearing that Major Ryūkichi Tanaka wanted to see him, traitor Zhang Yiliang immediately scolded thug Ma Youcai discontentedly.
“Sorry! Boss!”
“Next time I will definitely prioritize reporting Major Ryūkichi Tanaka’s instructions!”
Thug Ma Youcai inwardly thought it bad and quickly apologized.
“Forget it, just remember to prioritize reporting next time!”
“Now go out and figure out a way to resolve the ownership of the Zhou Family’s steel factory and coal mines for me!”
“It must be settled within a week, otherwise I won’t be able to account to Major Ryūkichi Tanaka and the Japanese Empire behind him!”
Looking at thug Ma Youcai who was scared by his scolding, traitor Zhang Yiliang waved his hand, quite satisfied with the other’s attitude, and issued instructions again.
“Yes! I’ll go right away and strengthen the personnel below to obtain the Zhou Family’s steel mill and coal mine!”
“Guaranteed to complete the task!”
Thug Ma Youcai quickly nodded and promised.
Then he hurriedly turned and left to act on orders.
And at this time,
Yoshiko Kawashima and Major Ryūkichi Tanaka had already entered a restaurant operated by Japanese Army agents, and in an elegant private room, sat down for conversation.
