Chapter 232: 231, Personal Grudge, Aerial Samurai Challenge, Tianjin Reconnaissance
Tianjin City, French Concession.
Five Special Action Team members were mingling among them.
They were Jianghu disciples who relied on the skills and experience learned from their fathers to sneak into the concession and scout the situation.
The five explored the area around where the gunfight occurred that night, acting very low-key and cautious.
This was not only following Fang Wen’s request, but also because there was a group of plainclothes investigators in the concession.
Although these people were in plainclothes, they were arrogant, and the French Concession patrol officers turned a blind eye to them, clearly from an extraordinary background.
It could be said that they were probably spies sent from the neighboring Japanese Concession.
When the five returned to report, they discussed the matter and felt there was something fishy about it.
Didn’t the Japanese say they had captured everyone? Then why send undercover agents to investigate.
After a discussion, the action group members reached a conclusion: during that night’s attack, someone must have escaped, and the Japanese believed the person hadn’t left the French Concession, so they arranged for people to continue the secret investigation.
Where did the escaped person go?
The action group’s temporary squad leader sent a telegram about this to Shanghai.
Then they began quietly probing in the French Concession.
Shanghai, Fang Wen was painting the Shrike Hao.
The originally beautiful colorful paint was completely covered with black paint.
He planned to use the black bird “Shrike” to hijack the plane from the air.
Of course, this was the last resort, and using it would have serious consequences.
Even if painted, the Japanese would still point their sharpest spears at him; a businessman could not confront a country.
Fang Wen was considering a plan to turn this into a personal grudge.
To turn the rescue of Yue Jinping into his personal matter.
Therefore, after the painting was done, Fang Wen disguised himself and went to the salon of Mr. Liang and Mr. Lin in the SH urban area.
This time, Fang Wen had changed to another face with disguise and knocked on the door, waiting quietly.
Moments later, Mr. Liang and Mr. Lin came to open the door.
Mr. Liang looked him over: “At this time, and someone I don’t recognize—could it be that pilot again? Or someone he sent?”
Fang Wen was stunned; it seemed that mere disguise couldn’t fool acquaintances. He nodded: “Urgent matter. Are there any newspaper agency people at the salon today?”
Hearing it was urgent, the two immediately let Fang Wen in. Mr. Liang replied: “Go to the guest room to change. Reporters from several newspaper agencies are here today.”
Fang Wen nodded and quickly went into the guest room to remove the disguise.
After he came out, Mr. Liang took the initiative: “Everyone stop. Taishan Airlines General Manager Fang has something to say.”
For the mysterious and unpredictable Fang Wen, everyone in the salon knew him and turned to look.
Fang Wen walked to the center of the living room and spoke: “I have a close friend captured by the Japanese and trapped in Tianjin. I want to ask friends from cultural circles to help write an article about the rescue, publish it in the newspaper to build momentum.”
The matter involved the Japanese and the salon’s mysterious guest Fang Wen, so everyone was very interested.
The next day, various Shanghai newspapers published the same article.
【Taishan Airlines General Manager Fang Wen’s Grudge Gamble】
Taishan Airlines General Manager Fang Wen appeals to the public.
In Year 21 of the Republic of China, Fang participated in anti-Japanese air combat and formed an unresolved enmity with the Japanese.
This enmity is not a private grudge but a clash over national righteousness. It was originally a matter of national war righteousness, yet the Japanese retaliated with private grudges and repeatedly assassinated him.
Fang could handle such matters.
Unexpectedly, the Japanese went too far, extending their evil claws to the innocent and implicating my close friend Mr. Yue.
They used Mr. Yue as bait to lure Fang into a trap, but fortunately, it was detected in time to escape.
Fang swears to rescue his friend from dire straits. However, the Japanese pirates are powerful, and with one man’s strength alone, it may not succeed.
Therefore, Fang is willing to stake the foundation of Taishan Airlines, offering a reward of 50,000 silver dollars in Jianghu, sincerely inviting heroes and good men from all over the world to rescue Mr. Yue.
Furthermore, Fang is willing to make a life-and-death pact with the Japanese, setting up a earth-shattering gamble—in the blue sky over Beiping, using airplanes as weapons for an aerial combat.
If Fang is fortunate enough to win, he hopes the Japanese will release my friend and restore justice; if unfortunately defeated, and if Fang survives the air combat, he will accept any disposal without complaint.
Fang Wen’s challenge letter and reward are issued; may all under heaven know.
This impassioned reward and challenge letter spread through newspapers and radio stations, as well as word of mouth, quickly throughout Shanghai.
This kind of challenge straight out of a novel plot became the best topic for people.
Not only Chinese people were discussing it; all concessions were buzzing.
Subsequently, through radio waves, the matter spread across China, to various countries in Asia, and even to Europe and the United States.
Everyone focused not on the reward, but on that aerial challenge.
It was precisely this declaration full of extreme personal heroism that stimulated the Japanese Army.
The prevalent bushido spirit in the Japanese Army could not tolerate this duel-style challenge.
Whether the Navy or the Kwantung Army, there were mad bushido officers clamoring to accept the challenge.
In their view, not accepting would be a disgrace.
This argument formed a voice that also influenced the upper levels.
Subsequently, the Kwantung Army sent a team of pilots to fly planes to Tianjin.
After the plane landed at Tianjin Airport, several pilots strutted arrogantly to the Japanese Concession, led by the concession’s intelligence chief to the underground secret prison.
In the underground secret prison, more than twenty Revival Society action personnel were held separately, some undergoing corporal interrogation.
Screams and curses continued nonstop.
A short-haired woman in a black suit sat in a long-legged chair, coldly watching the torture process.
The ruthless her felt victory in her grasp.
At this time, the chief in charge of North China intelligence brought several pilots in.
The horrific scene in the prison made the pilots very uncomfortable, and the intelligence chief immediately ordered, “Stop the interrogation.”
“Why? Ono, you can’t control me.” The short-haired woman said coldly.
“Kawashima, you’re out of line. I have the authority to manage all intelligence work in North China.”
“No, I report directly to Kwantung Army Section Two.”
Kawashima Yoshiko stood up and looked smugly at Ono.
The Kwantung Army was divided into four sections: Section One handled operations and communications, Section Two intelligence, Section Three military training and indoctrination, Section Four managed so-called Manchukuo internal affairs.
Kawashima believed her authority superseded Ono’s.
Unexpectedly, an officer beside Ono took out an order document.
“By order of the House of Peers and the Military Department, we will take over this operation.”
Kawashima took the order document, her face full of surprise.
“You’re canceling my operation because of Fang Wen’s challenge?”
“Yes, we must accept the challenge. This is the consensus of bushido spirit and the nobility.”
The pilots looked down arrogantly at Kawashima, overturning the plan she had meticulously arranged.
At this moment, Kawashima regretted in her heart; she had calculated everything but not that a businessman would ruin her plan.
Her targeting of Fang Wen was originally just a minor episode in the plan; luring him to Tianjin for capture would be a bonus if successful, no big deal if it failed.
But she never expected it to turn out like this.
Shanghai Airport, a car stopped outside the Taishan Airlines Headquarters office area.
After some negotiation from the people in the car, the security team immediately ran upstairs to notify the general manager’s office.
“General Manager, someone from Shen Bao is here to see you.”
“Let them come.”
Fang Wen nodded in agreement and activated the office’s protective devices.
If anything seemed off, pressing the button would drop a bulletproof iron wall, dividing the office in two, trapping the assassin while giving him time to escape.
The door opened, and in came an old acquaintance, the bearded reporter from Shen Bao. Fang Wen moved his hand away from the button.
The bearded man smiled: “The Japanese Concession consul requests to publish a declaration of acceptance and demands it be conducted according to Japanese bushido duel rules.”
Fang Wen shook his head: “They have their rules, we have ours. Each path its way, victory or defeat decided in the sky.”
The bearded man nodded and added: “They also say your opponent is Kwantung Army noble pilot Ishikawa Gentaro, some Taiga Kishi, challenge over the Bohai Sea airspace, one week from now. If you agree, publish the announcement in the newspaper.”
Fang Wen nodded: “I agree. Go tell them.”
The bearded man nodded solemnly: “Fang Wen, I don’t understand flying, but I just hope you come back alive and win this.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely win.” Fang Wen smiled and saw the bearded man out.
As soon as the bearded man went downstairs, Kuang Mingzhu came over.
Her expression was complex, and finally, a thousand words boiled down to one sentence: “Husband, you can definitely do it. I’m waiting for you.”
These words were what countless couples said parting during wartime.
Fang Wen was moved and embraced his wife.
The week’s preparation was mainly to let the matter ferment and spread to more people.
Clearly, the Japanese Army was very confident and wanted to use this to promote their military power.
Another reason was to erase past humiliations; only if Fang Wen, who airdropped bombs to sink the Izumo, died would that shame be erased.
And these seven days were also very useful for Fang Wen.
On the first night, he piloted a seaplane to land at a water transfer airport in the Haihe River Basin, then quietly disguised himself to arrive in Tianjin.
Six action group members met him.
Squad Leader Liu Yu Bao quietly briefed Fang Wen on the situation.
“General Manager, we’re now outside the moat wall. The city gate guards here are laxly managed; after dawn, we can enter and exit freely. Inside the moat wall is Tianjin Garrison City. Our place is in the Old City Garrison, where there are fewer Japanese and it’s safer. As for the various concessions, they’re outside the moat wall but guarded by their own patrol officers; sneaking in at night risks bumping into patrols, but daytime is easier.”
Listening to Liu Yu Bao, Fang Wen gained a general understanding of Tianjin City.
Tianjin was actually similar to Shanghai; the Old City area wasn’t large, mostly concession zones.
Moreover, to reach the French Concession, one had to pass through the Japanese Concession or detour via South Gate Main Street.
After dawn, the city gate opened, and Fang Wen’s group followed farmers buying vegetables into the Old City Garrison.
In the newly rented courtyard, Fang Wen learned more about the French Concession situation.
The action group members chattered.
Chen Suoxin: “Japanese spies are probing everywhere in the concession, but we found nothing. We think the person might not be above ground, but underground.”
Zhou Pomen interjected: “Underground matters, the Liu family is the best at them.”
Liu Yin Feng immediately bristled: “Who says our Liu family is best? We dig grave robbing tunnels, not shit pits.”
Everyone chuckled softly; clearly, this was a running joke they used for fun.
Fang Wen spoke: “Alright, jokes over. Business time.”
“Yes, yes, let me explain.” Liu Yu Bao described the situation. “The French Concession may have underground drainage pipes; we suspect the person escaped below. For this, we went outside the city and found fertilizer merchants who collect swill and night soil.”
Fertilizer merchants were fertilizer businessmen; though a dirty, smelly business, it was an age-old lower-class trade.
Taishan Special Operations Team members were also from the lower classes, and the other side gave face, actually providing a map of the French Concession’s underground sewers.
Fang Wen unfolded the underground sewer map marked in French to examine it.
It was an extensive drainage system that could discharge surface floodwater and domestic sewage.
Its outlets were at the concession edge along the Wall River and the Hai River channel in the city.
Looking at the complex underground pipe network map, Fang Wen noticed a marked area in the middle.
That was the site of the incident.
He asked: “You mean on the day of the incident, someone fled into the underground passage and followed the pipes into the Hai River?”
Liu Yu Bao shook his head: “We checked the outlets; iron fences seal them shut, no one came out. We suspect the person is still inside and plan to go down tonight to probe.”
“I’ll go with you.” Fang Wen said.
“No.” The action team members responded in unison.
“Why? Afraid I can’t handle the stench?” Fang Wen asked puzzled.
Liu Yu Bao replied: “The French drainage has no septic tanks; filthy water accumulates in the pipes. Whenever the Hai River rises, they open the gates below, backflushing the pipes with river water to clean and discharge sewage. General Manager can’t risk it; we’ll handle it.”
So that’s how it was; Fang Wen indeed couldn’t accept that—it wasn’t ordinary filth.
But he couldn’t let his men take reckless risks either; he needed to prevent the underground pipe network gates from opening during their operation.
Immediately, the action group divided into two routes: one went to the underground pipe network outlet to enter and search, the other went with Fang Wen to the French Concession.
Fang Wen took Liu Yu Bao to the French Concession, targeting the person managing the gate opening.
This person was in the French Concession municipal office, in a standalone tiled hut.
Inside the hut was a turnwheel; his job was to open it during flood season, close it after Hai River water backflowed, and open it again when the river level dropped to release water.
But this time, as he placed his hand on the turnwheel, a gun was pressed against him.
It scared him badly. “Big brother, why rob me? I don’t get three meals, not a penny on me. You must have the wrong person.”
Liu Yu Bao dangled a money bag in front of him on the pistol barrel: “Ten silver dollars inside, compensation for you.”
The man beamed with joy, took the money bag, counted the silver dollars, and said: “Big brother, I’ll do anything you want.”
“Nothing to do.” Liu Yu Bao knocked him on the back of the head with the gun stock, knocking him out instantly.
With the gate operator unconscious, there would be no backflow below, and the action team members wouldn’t face danger.
It went on until the afternoon when an action team member came: “General Manager, success.”
Only then did Fang Wen and Liu Yu Bao leave.
They returned to the rented courtyard, where a weak man was soaking in a large vat washing.
Even so, there was still a stench.
Fang Wen recognized him; last year, Yue Jinping sent someone to deliver a letter urging him to leave the country temporarily—this was the messenger.
He walked over: “Can you speak?”
The man hung his head low and said weakly: “Who are you people?”
“See who I am.”
The man looked up at Fang Wen and was stunned: “You saved me?”
Fang Wen nodded: “Where’s Yue Jinping?”
“She should have been captured. Last I saw, she was shot and grabbed by the Japanese.” The man replied.
“Can you tell me what happened that day?” Fang Wen asked.
“I can tell you everything, but no contact with the Revival Society; I don’t trust them now.” The man weakly recounted what happened that day.
