Chapter 113: We’ve Been Tricked
Say that again? Asano Omiya didn’t know why Matsui Koji suddenly became so agitated.
But he still patiently said: “Section Chief Matsui, what I mean is, if I were this Communist Party team leader Qing Hu, I wouldn’t choose Jiangnan Wharf as an escape route.”
“Let’s put ourselves in their shoes. If I were Qing Hu now, I would have at least three reasons not to choose here.”
“First, I don’t have the ability to control the environment here. If I leave from here and someone ambushes me, I won’t have a way to get support.”
“Second, I’m bringing with me a New Army special commissioner Ye Xiao. Her identity and the medicine she’s taking out are very important to the New Army. I have no reason to make her take risks with me.”
“Third, the Empire’s control over the French Concession is clearly weaker than over Chinese Territory. I have even less reason to choose here.”
As soon as Asano Omiya finished speaking, Matsui Koji’s expression changed, and the problem that had puzzled him suddenly became clear.
“Baka Yalu, that idiot Zhao Peng. We’ve been fooled.”
“The person who killed Zhao Peng wasn’t a robber who killed for money, but someone who intentionally killed to silence him and prevent us from reacting in advance.”
“Because the transaction Zhao Peng mentioned would never allow him to get involved.”
“As long as Zhao Peng shows up at the transaction location given by the chauffeur at the agreed time, he would immediately realize that this transaction is a scam.”
“In that case, we would also react in advance.”
Asano Omiya was stunned: “Section Chief, are you saying there was no transaction tonight at all? We’ve all been tricked by them.”
Matsui Koji gnashed his teeth: “Wrong. There will definitely be a transaction tonight, and they will definitely choose to leave Shanghai tonight.”
“Cunning Chinese. This is using Zhao Peng to play a trick of luring the tiger away from the mountain, feint to the east, attack to the west.”
“They tricked us into Chinese Territory, but they actually want to leave from the French Concession.”
“Baka, it’s too late to know if we can call people from Gendarmerie Headquarters now.”
“Asano-kun, notify Ando immediately and have him take people to Xinkaihe Wharf.”
“We’ll go to Sixteen Rows Wharf.”
“Hai.” Asano Omiya stood at attention, about to leave, when suddenly he seemed to think of something: “Section Chief, the French Concession has three wharves.”
“Besides Xinkaihe and Sixteen Rows, there’s also International Wharf.”
“What if they choose to leave from there…”
“Unlikely,” Matsui Koji pondered: “Cargo ships at International Wharf don’t take inner river shipping routes.”
“They have no reason to leave from there.”
“However, for safety’s sake, Asano-kun, notify the people at Nanjing Special Affairs Committee Shanghai Office.”
“Have them assist us in tracking down the anti-Japanese elements.”
“Hai,” Asano Omiya bowed slightly and quickly walked toward the edge of the wharf…
Shanghai, International Wharf.
The sticky Huangpu River wind carried a heavy fishy smell mixed with the complex odor from moldy goods, weighing heavily on people.
Dark ink-like clouds rolled in the sky, as if brewing a belated storm.
Around International Wharf, huge cargo ships lay like exhausted steel behemoths on the murky water surface, gantry cranes emitting dull, piercing howls as they unloaded goods in boxes and bundles.
The coolie chants at the wharf, the foremen’s shouts, the clanking of iron chains dragging on the ground, mixed with faint music drifting from the distant Bund, all fermenting together in a noisy clamor.
Lin Xueli wore a light gray long gown made of silk, a half-worn black briefcase under his arm, walking calmly through the busy unloading area.
His gaze casually swept the surroundings, passing over wooden boxes stacked like mountains, fish baskets emitting a salty fishy smell, and rusty machine casings.
Along the way, everyone was unusually respectful to him because he had a small, polished copper badge pinned to his chest.
Though this badge looked unremarkable and very old, it was the mark of a French Concession Municipal Council clerk.
Lin Xueli worked for the French people precisely for this small badge.
This thing could bring him a lot of convenience.
Of course, while getting the badge, he also lost a lot—his family’s misunderstanding; his father always thought he was working for the French to join outsiders in seizing his property.
His sister thought he was servile and had lost the dignity of Chinese people.
Even the servants at home said this elder brother was ruthless and would do anything for money.
But only he knew the truth.
“Mr. Lin, coming to the wharf so late? Does your company have goods to ship today?” A man in customs inspection uniform slowly walked over.
Lin Xueli nodded slightly, a professional, slightly distant smile tugging at the corner of his mouth: “Mr. Fimas, are you on duty today?”
“The company arranged a batch of goods that need to be loaded and leave tonight.”
“Where are the goods?” Fimas pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, looking curiously at Lin Xueli.
Lin Xueli raised his hand to check his watch. “Almost there. When I came, I saw the warehouse loading the truck.”
“The boss was afraid of running out of time, so he asked me to come ahead and arrange.”
“See, all the goods paperwork is complete.”
As he spoke, Lin Xueli opened his briefcase and handed a freight bill and various reports to Fimas.
“Mm, paperwork is fine. I’ll just check the goods. Sorry, it’s the rules.”
Lin Xueli discreetly palmed a small yellow croaker, then deliberately shook hands with Fimas: “Mr. Fimas, actually our company always follows the rules.”
“If you open and inspect, I’m afraid we won’t have time. Could you make an exception?”
Fimas weighed the small yellow croaker in his hand, a smile immediately appearing on his face: “Mr. Lin makes a good point.”
“Mr. Pi Shaona is one of the Municipal Council directors, so reputation is no issue.”
“It’s so late, I should get some sleep. Please carry on, Mr. Lin…”
“Mr. Fimas, sweet dreams…”
After waving goodbye to Fimas, Lin Xueli walked all the way to the front of the Vistdy cargo ship.
He lifted his wristwatch and saw the hour hand pointing exactly to ten o’clock, his expression unavoidably anxious.
However, a few minutes later, a large truck with flashing lights appeared before him.
Seeing the truck arrive, Lin Xueli finally relaxed.
The truck stopped in front of him, the driver’s door opened, and a figure jumped down.
“Manager Lin, the things are here.”
Lin Xueli nodded slightly. “Get to work.”
The driver nodded and called to his companions in the truck bed to unload the dozen-plus over-one-meter-high boxes from the truck one by one to the edge of the wharf.
Once all the boxes were unloaded, the men got back in the truck and left first.
Lin Xueli quietly walked to a wooden box marked with a symbol and said lowly through the pre-made vent: “Comrade Ye Xiao, someone will help you onto the ship later.”
“When this ship stops at Hong Kong Island tomorrow, someone will take you and the medicine away. Comrades on the Hong Kong Island side will arrange for you to return from Guangzhou.”
“Safe travels.”
