Chapter 129: Then Let’s Take Him Out
Kagesa Shinzhao stood up and slightly bowed to Nakamura Isao, then quickly glanced at him.
This was an extremely ordinary Japanese man, with a lean build and a slightly gaunt face.
He had a broad forehead and a pair of not large but exceptionally bright eyes.
His gaze was piercing, as if it could penetrate the mist and discern worldly affairs.
Thick eyebrows framed a pair of round-rimmed glasses, adding a touch of scholarly demeanor.
The expression on his face was mild and reserved, with lips habitually pursed, revealing a restrained strength.
Overall, this man had an elegant and steady temperament, the typical appearance of a scholar, unremarkable in a crowd.
It had to be said that this was the perfect disguise for Nakamura Isao as a top intelligence operative.
However, upon closer inspection, the firm, calm, wisdom-filled eyes behind the lenses, and the determination and decisiveness revealed between his brows, silently spoke of the extraordinary will hidden beneath his ordinary appearance.
“Mr. Kagesa, I’ve long admired your name.” Nakamura Isao slightly bowed in return.
Iwai Koichi slightly stepped aside, inviting the two to sit down.
“Mr. Nakamura, you’ve come all the way from the north, so you must have good news to bring.”
Nakamura Isao smiled faintly: “Mr. Iwai knows me well. I’ve come this time with two matters to discuss with you.”
Kagesa Shinzhao quickly said: “Mr. Nakamura, do you need me to step out?”
Nakamura Isao adjusted his glasses and said: “No need. In fact, it concerns you as well.”
“Manchurian Railway High Command received instructions from Your Excellency Matsuoka to collect intelligence on material sales by the Chongqing side.”
“We spent over three months deploying more than a dozen investigation teams, and now we have gathered some strong evidence.”
“This includes Minister of Finance Kong Yongzhi and Mr. Song, the person in charge of Chongqing’s four major firms.”
“If this information is exposed, it will surely achieve unexpected results.”
“The only question now is who to find to take charge of this matter.”
Kagesa Shinzhao and Iwai Koichi exchanged a glance, a hint of excitement in both their eyes.
They had just been worrying about how to create public opinion information, and unexpectedly Nakamura Isao had brought the evidence so quickly.
Nakamura Isao paid no attention to their expressions and continued: “The other matter is Your Excellency Nishio, the Imperial Education Director, coming to Shanghai next month to comfort the troops.”
“This was originally under the Military Department, but Your Excellency Matsuoka suggested using this opportunity to coordinate relations between China and Japan.”
“Moreover, Mr. Iwai, you should have received the news that Your Excellency Nishio is likely to replace Commander Tada Shunroku as the supreme commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army.”
“His image in Shanghai is very important. I hope Mr. Iwai can make arrangements quickly.”
Hearing this news, Iwai Koichi and Kagesa Shinzhao were both stunned.
Matsuoka Yosuke was originally the former president of the Manchurian Railway, and after taking over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he had been supporting the railway’s influence.
It was no surprise to them that Nakamura Isao knew these messages ahead of time.
What was strange was how Nakamura Isao knew the Military Department’s news before them.
Could it be that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already joined forces with the Army Department?
Nakamura Isao seemed to see through their thoughts and smiled: “You two don’t need to overthink it. The news of Your Excellency Nishio coming to comfort the troops was suggested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“The Imperial situation in the Battle of Wuhan is going very well. In the early stages of the war, the Madang Fortress was captured in just a few days.”
“The Homeland General Staff Office was greatly encouraged upon hearing the news and hopes that Imperial soldiers can replicate the miracle of the Songhu Battlefield under Your Excellency Nishio’s encouragement.”
“Decisively crushing the Blue Army’s main force and forcing the Blue Camp leadership to the negotiation table.”
Kagesa Shinzhao slowly shook his head: “Mr. Nakamura, I’m not trying to dampen your spirits, but I think the probability of this happening is very low.”
Nakamura Isao looked at Kagesa Shinzhao and suddenly smiled: “Mr. Kagesa, to be honest, I’ve known about you for a long time.”
“To be precise, when I joined the Manchurian Railway, a departmental senior, Mr. Yoshiyama, mentioned you.”
“He said you’ve been in China for many years and know the country very well.”
“When the Empire decided to use force against China, you, like Senior Sugiyama, believed the war could be ended quickly.”
“But now, looking at your attitude, it seems to have changed greatly from before.”
“Do you think that even if the Imperial Army can smoothly crush the Blue Army, it still cannot fully occupy China?”
Kagesa Shinzhao thought for a moment, nodded, and said: “Yes, at least based on the current performance, even if we crush their main force in this battle, it may not force the Blue Camp leadership to submit.”
“Now that the war has progressed this far, I am more inclined toward internal subversion.”
“Supporting Chinese to fight Chinese.”
Nakamura Isao laughed heartily: “Mr. Kagesa’s idea is very naive, but I still hope you have the ability to convince the Homeland General Staff Office to support your views.”
“After all, in my view, war is not the best way to solve problems.”
“Mr. Iwai, the Southern China Association has matters waiting for me to handle. I’ll take my leave first.”
Iwai Koichi stood up: “Goodbye, Mr. Nakamura.”
Nakamura Isao walked a few steps, then seemed to remember something and turned back: “By the way, regarding that information, do you think we should send someone suitable to take charge?”
“The Manchurian Railway has completed the investigation, but we don’t seem obligated to help you execute the surrender plan.”
“Mr. Iwai still needs to quickly find someone suitable to take charge of this.”
Iwai Koichi said gravely: “Rest assured, I will make arrangements soon.”
“That’s perfect.”
****
Shanghai, Southern Transportation Department.
Time entered July, Shanghai welcomed the hottest season of the year, and Chen Yang hid in his office enjoying the ice-cold drinks that only the Logistics Department was entitled to.
Compared to other departments, the welfare and treatment in this Southern Transportation Department were truly unmatched.
After downing a bowl of ice-cold sour plum soup, Chen Yang gulped a large mouthful of ice-cold mint water, finally easing the sweltering heat in his body.
“Knock knock knock.” A knock sounded, and Li Ningyu pushed open the office door: “Officer, there’s a Mr. Lin Xueyi at the entrance looking for you.”
Chen Yang said amiably: “Go bring him in.”
Li Ningyu frowned: “Officer, I’m afraid that’s not possible. Minister Ino has ordered that non-essential personnel are not allowed inside.”
“This is a critical time for transporting materials. Letting outsiders in casually could risk leaking secrets.”
Chen Yang furrowed his brows but did not argue.
The Transportation Department’s Deputy Minister Ino Kyuji had indeed issued such an order, but in the entire Transportation Department, Chen Yang was the only Chinese, and no one else took the order seriously except him.
“Forget it, I’ll go down.” Chen Yang was too lazy to file an application report for such a small matter, so he rolled up his sleeves and left the office.
The outdoor temperature was already over thirty degrees, and the asphalt on the road felt slightly soft and sticky.
Lin Xueyi stood in the shadows across from the Southern Transportation Department, using his hat as a fan to fan himself while anxiously watching the department’s gate.
Soon, a familiar figure appeared before him.
Lin Xueyi hurried forward and complained: “Chen Yang, you finally came out. It’s too hot here.”
“Second Brother, what do you need me for?” Chen Yang had no time for chit-chat, as the sun outside was hot enough to melt a normal person.
Lin Xueyi said: “I have progress on finding a storefront for you in the Japanese residential area.”
“I called several agents and scoured the Japanese residential area. In terms of scale and concealment, there seem to be only two suitable ones.”
“One is Hezi Art Gallery, owned by a Matsumura Zoza from Yokohama.”
“This art gallery has three floors up and down, plus the adjacent Omura business firm next door, and the area meets your requirements.”
“The other is Murakami Cuisine Shop. The location is good, but the area isn’t as large.”
“I talked to several agents, and Hezi Art Gallery is still the most suitable. The area is sufficient, and the price, based on current Japanese residential area rates, is about five thousand silver dollars.”
Chen Yang slightly furrowed his brows: “Since you think it’s suitable, buy it first.”
“The problem is right here.” Lin Xueyi said with a bitter face: “That boss Matsumura refuses to sell.”
“Refuses to sell? Is it because the price is too low?” Chen Yang pondered: “No problem. What I need now is a suitable location. If it really fits, we don’t need to haggle too much over money.”
“Three thousand won’t do? Then five thousand. Five thousand won’t do? Then ten thousand.”
“Second Brother, I’m leaving this to you. Don’t delay progress over a bit of small profit.”
Lin Xueyi shook his head: “It’s not about money. His attitude is very firm; this shop is not for sale.”
Chen Yang stroked his chin: “If he won’t sell, then find a few people to scare him. You know how to handle this, right?”
Lin Xueyi said: “We’ve already tried that. It’s no use. The Japanese residential area is Japanese territory after all; we don’t dare go too far.”
“Otherwise, we might get grabbed by the Gendarmerie.”
“So now I only have one method left: tie up that boss. If he won’t agree, dump him into the Huangpu River.”
“Second Brother, it’s just buying a shop. No need to make it so serious with murder.”
“Killing at the drop of a hat—you think you’re some killing maniac like Tada? Can’t you think of another way?”
“Chen Yang, I know you’re afraid that us touching a Japanese will bring you trouble.” Lin Xueyi patted his chest and guaranteed: “Don’t worry, I’ll find some new faces to do it, guaranteed no traces.”
“The Huangpu River has plenty more than just Chinese in it. We can just pin it on the Military Statistics Bureau or the Communist Party, and we’re in the clear.”
Chen Yang slightly furrowed his brows: “Second Brother, go talk to him again. This time, raise the price to fifteen thousand silver dollars.”
Lin Xueyi hesitated: “Fifteen thousand silver dollars—isn’t that a bit high? What if he still refuses?”
Chen Yang said slowly: “If he won’t sell even at three times the price, then it’s not about money.”
“If money can’t solve it, then we use the simplest method.”
Chen Yang patted Lin Xueyi’s shoulder: “Do him.”
Heh, just waiting for those words. Lin Xueyi nodded: “No problem, I’ll make it very clean.”
“I’m off first.”
Before Chen Yang could speak, suddenly, the Southern Transportation Department gate was pushed open in unison, and several black sedans rushed out one after another at high speed.
Chen Yang had been working here for a while and was somewhat familiar with the Transportation Department officials’ vehicles. The lead car was Minister Oshima’s from the Transportation Department, followed by Deputy Minister Ino Kyuji, First Section Matsushima Jun, and Second Section Chief Nagashima No-hiro.
So many people going out together suggested something big had happened.
Seeing this, Chen Yang hurried back, but after a few steps, he saw Li Ningyu running over, drenched in sweat: “Officer, come with me quickly. Something’s happened.”
“Mai Gen Road Train Station—the Navy and Army are fighting.”
