Chapter 237: 236, Kidnapping Naval Admiral, Bomb House, Admiral Exchange For Anti-japanese Elements
Regarding Nagano Shuu’s plan, it was set up to mimic future police and gangster movies.
Regardless of whether anyone truly did this in reality in the future, Fang Wen did it in 1935.
After everything was arranged, Fang Wen, in disguise, and seven Special Action Team members officially moved into this small Western-style building.
His current identity was that of an antique dealer from out of town, with the goal of selling ancient paintings to the Japanese.
But this objective needed to be made known to the Japanese.
The original plan was to implement it through Yoshida, Admiral Nagano’s adjutant, but now, considering Yoshida’s importance, Fang Wen changed the plan.
（ Republic of China three-story small Western-style building ）
The day after officially moving in.
The door of the small Western-style building was knocked on with a bang, bang, bang.
Fang Wen instructed, “Everyone pay attention, the Japanese are here. Remain calm and don’t reveal any flaws.”
The seven action team members nodded and followed Fang Wen downstairs.
Zhang Yunfei, disguised as the butler, opened the door.
Seeing more than a dozen Japanese Marines soldiers outside, he showed a look of panic.
“Soldiers, what’s going on?”
The translator accompanying the team spoke up, “Routine inspection. Who are you people and why are you living here?”
“Soldiers, we’re just doing a little business,” butler Zhang Yunfei replied.
“Baka, if you don’t tell the truth, you’ll die, die, die,” the leading Japanese military officer said ferociously.
This demeanor ‘frightened’ Zhang Yunfei, and he looked back at Fang Wen, “Master.”
“I’ll handle it,” Fang Wen said, smiling as he walked over and placed some silver dollars into the hands of the Japanese soldiers. “Officer, we are indeed here for business, and we’re doing business with you.”
After listening to the translator and looking at the silver dollars in his hand, the officer smiled.
“What business?”
The translator immediately translated for Fang Wen, “The officer is asking what business you’re doing.”
“It’s like this, haven’t you been sending people to collect calligraphy and paintings recently? I happen to have a genuine piece here, it’s Wang Wei’s 《 Wangchuan Painting 》 Song Dynasty rubbing.”
The translator showed a surprised expression and immediately translated it into Japanese for the officer.
Because of Admiral Nagano, the Japanese naval officers in Shanghai were all looking for calligraphy and paintings to try and please the Admiral.
And Wang Wei’s paintings were Admiral Nagano’s favorite.
However, paintings from a thousand years ago are rarely preserved, and it’s difficult to find them, yet today one has come to their door.
After hearing the translator’s words, the officer was surprised, but also grew greedy.
He wanted to snatch the 《 Wangchuan Painting 》 to give to Admiral Nagano.
Immediately, more than a dozen Japanese soldiers rushed in and began searching the small Western-style building.
Watching their reckless behavior, the action team members couldn’t help but feel nervous, afraid they would expose a flaw.
Fortunately, the bomb device was deeply buried in the wall, and the Japanese soldiers paid it no attention at all.
When they couldn’t find the 《 Wangchuan Painting 》 rubbing, they questioned Fang Wen.
“Where is the 《 Wangchuan Painting 》? Hand it over.”
Fang Wen sneered, “When traveling in the Jianghu, one naturally has precautions. How could I carry it on me? Let’s just say, I want to see the buyer, and transact face-to-face. If you continue to act recklessly, my people will spread this matter, and your superior will lose face. I wonder if he will blame you?”
After hearing the translator, the officer’s expression became unpredictable, and he finally compromised.
“Alright, wait for me.”
He left soldiers to guard and went back to report.
After a while, another group of officers arrived and personally searched the small Western-style building.
They meticulously searched the cabinets, tables, kitchen, and other places where things might be hidden in the house. They also searched Fang Wen and his companions, and even touched the walls, but found nothing unusual.
The second search completely made the Japanese lower their guard.
Subsequently, Yoshida was sent to negotiate with Fang Wen regarding the matter of the 《 Wangchuan Painting 》.
During a moment when no one was paying attention, Yoshida whispered, “Admiral Nagano will only appear when he sees the actual item, and a large number of soldiers will surround this place. Be careful.”
Yoshida, who had now genuinely defected, was instead afraid that Fang Wen and his group would get into trouble, thus exposing his defection.
Fang Wen smiled and nodded, then said, “Admiral Nagano wants to see the genuine article, no problem. But I’ll say this upfront, without money, this thing would rather be destroyed than given to you for free.”
Yoshida seized the opportunity and asked, “How much?”
“I bought it for 2,000 silver dollars. I won’t sell it for less than 3,000. This price is honest and fair; you can ask around,” Fang Wen replied.
After their discussion reached this point, Yoshida left voluntarily.
He returned to report the matter, and then the Japanese investigated.
The results revealed that it was indeed real.
Someone had acquired 《 Guo Zhongshu’s copy of Wang Wei’s Wangchuan Painting 》 earlier, and wanted to resell it for a profit.
Looking at it this way, other than being a bit greedy, there was nothing else.
Moreover, the small Western-style building was on the next street, and they had searched it several times without finding any weapons or traps. Thus, there was no need to worry about safety.
Immediately, a large contingent of Japanese soldiers emerged from the military building and completely surrounded the small building.
Afterwards, Admiral Nagano arrived at the small Western-style building.
He only brought five military officers, including Yoshida.
Surrounded by the officers, Admiral Nagano went to the second floor and saw Fang Wen and his group being guarded by soldiers.
Yoshida spoke, “The Admiral himself has come. Where is the painting?”
Fang Wen stood up, tore open the back of the sofa’s covering, and placed the painting on the table.
“This is 《 Guo Zhongshu’s copy of Wang Wei’s Wangchuan Painting 》. Please take a look.”
Admiral Nagano immediately walked over with great interest, put on his glasses, and examined it closely.
The other officers also gathered around, feigning appreciation for art.
Even the soldiers guarding inside were curious what this genuine article looked like.
Just as everyone’s attention was focused on the painting, Fang Wen gave a signal.
Action.
Liu Ying Shou suddenly lunged out, hidden blades in his hands slicing towards the throats of the Japanese soldiers.
With a complete circumvention of the throat, he instantly finished off two of them.
At the same time, the others attacked. They used concealed weapons that couldn’t be found during searches, striking decisively and targeting vital points.
This was the killing technique passed down from their fathers; in the Jianghu, there was only the path of life and death.
In a single exchange, the Japanese soldiers guarding the room were dealt with.
The officers who had been looking at the painting reacted, attempting to draw their guns and retaliate, but were all struck down. Even Yoshida was no exception.
The only one still conscious, Admiral Nagano, said in Japanese, “The painting is fake. Your objective is to deal with me.”
Fang Wen coldly replied in Japanese, “I have the real painting too, but I don’t want to show it to you. The objective is indeed to target you.”
“You can’t possibly succeed. The outside is full of soldiers; they won’t let you take me away,” Admiral Nagano said calmly.
“I don’t plan to take you out,” Fang Wen said, then ordered in Chinese, “Proceed to the second step.”
Immediately, the action team members dismantled a hidden compartment in the wall and took out a remote-controlled bomb device the size of a suitcase.
Ropes and bombs were also taken out.
Ropes were used to tie up the five officers and the conscious Admiral Nagano, with a bomb strapped to each person.
“Boss, everything is ready,” Zhang Yunfei called out.
“Begin the third step,” Fang Wen calmly ordered.
Liu Yu Bao picked up a military officer who had just regained consciousness.
“You have a bomb strapped to you. It will explode if you leave this room. Do you believe it?”
“Baka,” the officer was still defiant.
Liu Yu Bao smiled, “I’ll take that as you don’t believe me.”
He then shoved the officer towards the door.
Everyone’s eyes turned towards the door. The Japanese military officer, suddenly gaining freedom, excitedly rushed towards the outside.
Zhou Pomen quietly activated the remote-controlled bomb.
The running Japanese military officer suddenly exploded, a flash of fire erupted, and flesh and blood flew everywhere.
The entire corridor was stained red; only two legs remained of the officer, lying in the blood.
This scene terrified the other officers, and Admiral Nagano also lost his composure.
Liu Yu Bao picked up another officer. That officer struggled desperately, “No, I don’t want to.”
Fang Wen then spoke, “Now you know your predicament. Each of you has a bomb on you; you’ll die if you go out, and only I can save you. Now, go tell the soldiers outside not to act rashly.”
The officer was then pushed to the door.
He clung tightly to the door threshold, not daring to move an inch, and then shouted loudly, “No one come in! Admiral Nagano and we all have bombs on us, and they will explode if we go out.”
“Make them leave this house,” Liu Yu Bao said softly.
The officer quickly shouted, “Get out! Don’t come near this building!”
The soldiers stealthily climbing the stairs on the second floor stopped. They dared not disobey the officer’s orders.
They then left the small Western-style building and stood guard outside.
Thus, the situation finally eased.
Admiral Nagano spoke, “What do you want?”
“We want you to release the Resist Japan Volunteer Army members arrested in the Northeast, and the Revival Society action personnel arrested in Tianjin,” Fang Wen stated his demands. This demand implied his true objective and served to confuse everything.
“That’s impossible,” Admiral Nagano shook his head.
“I think it’s possible. As long as they release the people, I will release you.”
“What, you’re going to release me?” Admiral Nagano couldn’t understand the person in front of him. Why was he so confident that he could escape the encirclement after releasing him?
Fang Wen did not explain, but instead ordered the action team members to blindfold and gag Admiral Nagano and the officers and keep them under guard.
Just one street away from the Japanese Naval Marines Headquarters building, they had managed to kidnap the Naval Admiral!
As soon as the news was relayed back, over a thousand soldiers were dispatched, heavily surrounding the scene of the incident.
This change alerted all factions in Shanghai, and everyone was trying to investigate what had happened.
However, this humiliating incident would certainly not be leaked by the Japanese side, and the outside world was still unaware.
Everyone near the small Western-style building was driven away. Soldiers were stationed in nearby buildings, with all their gun muzzles aimed at the small Western-style building.
Downstairs, an officer held a loudspeaker and shouted, “People upstairs, listen. You can ask for whatever you need, and we can talk it over.”
On the third floor of the small Western-style building, black curtains covered the windows, making it impossible to see inside.
A loudspeaker extended from behind the curtain.
“We are the Resist Japan Volunteer Army. We have only one demand: release the Resist Japan Volunteer Army brothers arrested in the Northeast, and the Revival Society action personnel arrested in Tianjin. Only if they are released will your Naval Admiral have a chance to live.”
Hearing the words from upstairs, the group of Japanese naval officers below began to discuss.
They absolutely could not let the Admiral be harmed, yet they couldn’t make decisions regarding the Kwantung Army’s affairs.
For this reason, they could only report the matter via telegram to the homeland’s Military Department.
The Military Department was also extremely shaken by this.
If an Admiral were to meet his end in Shanghai, it would greatly impact the prestige of the army, let alone be humiliatingly killed after being kidnapped.
Relatively speaking, releasing some detained anti-Japanese action personnel was a small matter.
They immediately sent this decision via telegram to the Kwantung Army and the Navy.
The requirement for the Kwantung Army was to cooperate with the Navy’s actions and ensure Admiral Nagano’s rescue.
The requirement for the Navy was to guarantee the Admiral’s safety and leave no stone unturned in apprehending the kidnappers.
Upon receiving this reply, the officer raised the loudspeaker and shouted, “We agree to your demands, but how will it be done?”
A voice came from the microphone extended from a gap in the black curtains, “Don’t rush. You’ll know in another hour.”
The Japanese did not understand, but could only wait.
An hour later, all the newspapers and radio stations in the city received an anonymous letter.
The letter contained information about the kidnapping of Admiral Nagano and the demand for the release of detained anti-Japanese elements.
The anonymous letter caused a huge uproar.
Unable to print newspapers in time, all the newspapers instructed the newspaper vendors on the streets to spread the news.
Suddenly, the streets were filled with the shouts of newspaper boys.
“Extra, extra, major news! The Japanese Naval Admiral has been captured. They are also using this to demand the release of anti-Japanese personnel detained by the Japanese.”
In addition to the news spread by the newspaper boys, radio stations also interspersed this major news.
The Japanese Naval Admiral!
Suddenly, all of Shanghai was abuzz with the news.
Subsequently, the loudspeaker extending from the black curtain on the third floor of the small Western-style building spoke again, “Have the consuls from the French and British concessions come over. I have something to say to them.”
The Japanese, who did not want their family shame to be exposed, now found it known throughout the city. At this point, to ensure the Admiral’s survival, they could only comply.
After more than half an hour, two concession consuls arrived.
These two were full of smiles, their uncontrollable laughter indicating their enjoyment of the unfolding spectacle.
The military officer shouted loudly, “They are here. Speak.”
“I demand that the two consuls contact the diplomatic personnel in the Northeast and Tianjin to supervise the execution of the hostage exchange.”
The two consuls were willing; watching the whole show was more interesting.
The Japanese military officer, however, was unwilling, “No. We will absolutely release the personnel you mentioned, but there can be no external interference.”
Hearing the Japanese reply, Fang Wen was indifferent and issued an order.
“Let one person out.”
The brothers Liu Yu Bao and Liu Yin Feng pulled out a military officer, removed his blindfold, and took the gag from his mouth.
The officer’s face was full of panic, and he struggled desperately.
“I don’t want to go out, I don’t want to die.”
But his strength alone could not match that of the two Liu brothers.
After struggling in vain, he was forcibly pushed out of the room.
It didn’t explode.
The military officer, his face beaming with joy, fled downstairs desperately.
He ran to the outside of the small Western-style building at an astonishing speed and shouted happily, “I’m not dead.”
“Bah, if Grandfather wants you dead, you will die.” Zhou Pomen disdainfully pressed the remote detonator switch.
Boom.
The military officer exploded on the spot in the open area outside the small Western-style building.
That patch of red splattered across an area of more than ten square meters, instantly dyeing some military officers and soldiers red.
The two consuls looked relieved, fortunate they hadn’t gotten close.
A loudspeaker emerged from a gap in the black curtains and spoke again.
“You can test our patience. We still have 3 military officers, and we will send one out every two hours. The last one will be Nagano.”
This stimulating way of death greatly shocked the Japanese Army.
They watched their former colleagues blown to pieces, and if they didn’t agree, the Admiral would also die this way in Shanghai.
At that time, they would only have ritual suicide to atone for their actions.
After a period of discussion, they made a decision: the lives of the Admiral and his colleagues were more precious than those prisoners.
Even with Britain and France watching, it was worth it.
Immediately, they agreed to the demand.
The Japanese agreeing to release the anti-Japanese elements meant that once the identified personnel were released, Fang Wen and the others would have no way back.
After letting Nagano go, how would Fang Wen and the others escape?
Were the bombs hidden within the walls still useful?
