Chapter 146: Traitors, Death
Shanghai, 625 Daxi Road.
Chen Yang pushed open the carved copper door of the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee Shanghai Office, his fine leather shoes stitched from calfskin tapping a rapid rhythm on the floor.
“Director Chen, good morning!” Xiao Lin, the on-duty guard at the door of the Director’s Office on the second floor, hurriedly stood up, his steel pen rolling off in the panic.
Chen Yang lightly flicked it with the tip of his shoe, the steel pen tracing an arc in the air and landing steadily back on the desktop.
“Where is Director Zuo?”
Xiao Lin respectfully said, “Report to Director, Director Zuo is inside in a meeting with Team Leader Ling from the Action Team, Captain Zhang from the Intelligence Group, and Captain Gao.”
Chen Yang slowly nodded, “Alright, carry on with your work.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Yang pushed open the office door.
At this moment, the four people in the office were gathered around the table studying the security issues at Tang Mansion.
Zuo Mingquan saw Chen Yang push the door in and jolted, immediately bowing slightly, “Good day, Officer Chen.”
The others turned their heads and also bowed in salute to Chen Yang.
Chen Yang waved his hand and walked straight to the front of the table, on which was laid a floor plan of the area near Tang Mansion on Fukaisen Road.
Zuo Mingquan quickly said, “Officer, upon receiving your telephone call, the Special Affairs Office has placed great importance on this action.”
“We’ve pretty much finished studying it now. Captain Zhang, go summon the people from the Intelligence Department. Team Leader Ling, you summon the people from the Action Department. Assemble in the meeting room in ten minutes.”
“Officer Chen, I will personally report to you on the security arrangements.”
As Zuo Mingquan finished speaking, his several subordinates slightly bowed and went off separately to convey the message.
Immediately after, Zuo Mingquan pointed to the floor plan of Tang Mansion and marked out the locations of several covert sentries they had set up.
Chen Yang listened carefully to Zuo Mingquan’s report and slowly said, “Director Zuo, I have a general idea of your arrangements. This morning, a message came from the consulate side that people from Chongqing are contacting Tang Shaoyi, trying to blackmail him with his life to prevent him from cooperating with the Empire.”
Zuo Mingquan respectfully said, “Tang Shaoyi still has influence in both military and political circles in the South. If we can win him over, it will greatly benefit the Peace Movement.”
Chen Yang nodded, “Correct. The higher-ups have ordered us to ensure Mr. Tang’s safety at all costs and facilitate his cooperation with the Empire.”
“But recently Military Statistics Bureau personnel have been active frequently, and suspicious individuals have already appeared near Tang Mansion.”
Zuo Mingquan narrowed his eyes, “The Military Statistics Bureau won’t sit idly by while Mr. Tang turns to us; they may resort to extreme measures.”
Chen Yang sneered, “That’s why your Special Affairs Office must take action in advance. At the very least, Tang Shaoyi absolutely cannot meet with any accident right now.”
Zuo Mingquan, “I understand. I will send capable personnel to infiltrate Tang Mansion, monitoring and protecting him under the guise of servants or visitors. At the same time, I will arrange for people to set up control on the periphery, and eliminate any Military Statistics Bureau agents immediately upon discovery.”
Chen Yang nodded in satisfaction, “Very good, but remember, the action must be covert. Tang Shaoyi must not notice we are surveilling him, or it will affect his attitude.”
Zuo Mingquan said seriously, “Yes, I will have my subordinates disguise themselves as ordinary bodyguards or servants; it won’t arouse his suspicion.”
Chen Yang nodded, “Director Zuo, I greatly appreciate your attitude toward work. You must handle the security issue at Tang Mansion with utmost caution.”
“Mr. Kagesa is very concerned about Elder Tang’s safety issue. Entrusting the security task to us is a trust in the Special Affairs Committee’s capabilities.”
“We must treat it with utmost seriousness and must not disappoint Mr. Kagesa.”
Zuo Mingquan took a step forward, slightly bowed, and said, “This subordinate understands. I will now go to the meeting room to arrange the action deployment. Officer Chen, if there are any oversights, please point them out in time. Please proceed this way.”
The meeting room was filled with the smell of stale smoke. Chen Yang sat in the head position, Zuo Mingquan sat beside him. Just as Zhang Zixian nailed the floor plan of Tang Mansion to the blackboard, the last secret agent slipped in on tiptoe.
“Gentlemen.” Zhang Zixian picked up the command stick, the tip pointing to the southeast corner of the diagram,
“Tang Shaoyi received the third threatening letter this morning.”
“The superiors are taking this matter very seriously and hope we can protect Elder Tang’s safety and prevent some scoundrels from harming him.”
Zhang Dalei from the Action Team grinned, revealing his gold tooth, “If you ask me, it’s cleaner if this old thing dies.”
“Nonsense.” Zuo Mingquan’s gaze sharpened, his voice like a scalpel slicing through ice, “If Tang dies in the French Concession, tomorrow《North-China Daily News》 will run the headline ‘Japanese puppets force death of Republic of China elder statesman’.”
“How will we explain that to Your Excellency Kagesa then? Zhang Dalei, if you can’t speak properly, then shut your mouth.”
“Yes, yes, sorry.” Zhang Dalei jolted, cold sweat sliding from his temple onto his gold tooth.
Zuo Mingquan stood up and slowly walked behind each person, the sound of his leather shoe heels striking the tiles like a countdown.
“Now listen up.” He tossed out several kraft paper bags, “Each group’s responsible area and contact code.”
“The first group is led by Team Leader Ling from the Action Department, the second group by Captain Zhang from the Intelligence Department, the third group by Captain Gao from the Intelligence Department.”
“Everyone must work together wholeheartedly; there must be no mistakes whatsoever.”
“Yes.”
Chongqing, Hunan Guild Hall, Military Statistics Bureau Office.
At eleven o’clock at night, only the footsteps of the night duty personnel echoed in the corridors of the Military Statistics Bureau headquarters.
The curtains in Boss Dai’s office were tightly drawn, the desk lamp stretching his shadow long across the room.
He was reviewing a top secret document from the Shanghai Station, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.
“Knock knock knock” three cautious knocks sounded.
“Come in.”
Deputy Director of the Secretariat Mao Qi Wu pushed the door open, holding an encrypted document bag in his hands.
This Deputy Director of the Military Statistics Bureau Secretariat looked grave, fine beads of sweat from the hurried journey still on his forehead. “Director, urgent cipher telegram from Shanghai Station, just delivered through special channels.”
Boss Dai extended his hand without looking up, “Hand it over.”
Mao Qi Wu quickly stepped forward and took out three photographs and a decrypted telegram from the document bag.
The photographs clearly showed: Tang Shaoyi in the study of his French Concession residence, in secret talks with Wen Zongyao and Kagesa Shinzhao.
One of the photos even clearly showed the documents spread open on the table.
“When did this happen?” Boss Dai’s voice suddenly became very soft.
“Yesterday afternoon from three to five. Captured at great risk by our inside contact.” Mao Qi Wu lowered his voice, “More troubling is that, according to the eavesdropping records, they have agreed to meet again next week.”
Boss Dai fell silent upon hearing this. After a long moment, he slowly stood up and walked to the window.
Outside the window was the pitch-black night of Chongqing, with searchlight beams occasionally sweeping across the sky.
“Tang Shaoyi, the Republic of China’s first cabinet premier, and now even he wants to become a traitor?”
Mao Qi Wu cautiously added, “The inside contact reports that during the talks, Kagesa Shinzhao promised that as long as Mr. Tang is willing to step forward as leader of the ‘New Government’ and help the Japanese stabilize the southern situation, the Japanese side can meet all his conditions.”
“Bang!” Boss Dai’s fist slammed heavily on the windowsill. “Wen Zongyao, that old fox! It must be him who made the connection.”
He spun around sharply, “What is Tang Shaoyi’s attitude?”
“According to the inside contact’s observation, Mr. Tang did not agree on the spot, but neither did he clearly reject.”
“He inquired in detail about the Japanese side’s specific conditions. Before that, he also accepted the gift brought by Kagesa Shinzhao.”
“Director, I’m afraid this Tang Shaoyi truly has intentions of defecting to the enemy.”
“He’s not some jumping clown like Liang Hongzhi. If he turns to the Japanese, it will definitely have a tremendous impact on the anti-Japanese resistance situation in the South.”
“There might even be a group of originally wavering figures who follow his lead and turn to the Japanese, becoming traitors.”
“You have to consider this matter carefully.”
“Indeed,” Boss Dai was well aware of Tang Shaoyi’s importance, “Right now the Blue Army is in mutual standoff with the Japanese centered on Wuhan.”
“If the Chairman hears that Tang Shaoyi wants to become a traitor, he will surely put him to death.”
“But I’m in a bit of a dilemma now. Tang Shaoyi’s seniority is there; without solid evidence, moving against him will give people something to talk about.”
“Director,” Mao Qi Wu said in a low voice, “But if it really comes to the point where he openly states his position, the impact will be too great.”
“This subordinate’s suggestion is still better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one go.”
Boss Dai’s gaze sharpened, coldly staring at Mao Qi Wu, and the office fell into dead silence. The ticking of the second hand on the wall clock was exceptionally clear.
After a long while, Boss Dai suddenly sneered, “What a ‘Republic of China elder statesman’, truly a pillar of the nation.”
“Qi Wu, immediately do three things. First, order the Hunan Special Affairs Training Office to dispatch capable personnel to the Shanghai Station for 24-hour surveillance of Tang Mansion.”
“Second, prepare a detailed report on Tang Shaoyi’s treason, which I will personally present to the Chairman.”
“Third,” his voice suddenly lowered, “Command Zhao Lijun to have the ‘Traitor Elimination Team’ prepare to take action.”
Mao Qi Wu’s pupils contracted slightly, “Boss’s meaning is—”
“Tang Shaoyi’s status is sensitive; we cannot act unless absolutely necessary.” Boss Dai walked back to his desk, his fingers lightly tapping the desktop, “First have the Shanghai Station continue collecting evidence.”
“If Tang Shaoyi is just playing along superficially, we can observe a bit more, but if he really—”
Boss Dai said word by word, “With the nation fallen to this state, no matter who, no matter what status, traitors must die.”
Mao Qi Wu nodded, “What about the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee side? Zuo Mingquan has surely already sent people to protect him.”
“They’re just a bunch of clowns, not worth mentioning.” Boss Dai said indifferently, “However, we need to make Tang Shaoyi understand that some roads, once taken, cannot be turned back from.”
Mao Qi Wu nodded slightly, “I’ll go arrange it now. Should we first give Tang Shaoyi a warning?”
Boss Dai pondered for a moment, “Have the Shanghai Station people find a way to pass a message in, saying an old friend asks if he still remembers the oath before Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s portrait back then?”
“Yes,” Mao Qi Wu slightly bowed, saluted Boss Dai, and hurried out.
After Mao Qi Wu left, Boss Dai seemed to lose all strength.
With the nation fallen to this state, these people who once swore to strive for China’s rise were actually having such thoughts one after another.
Defecting to the enemy—that makes them traitors, and traitors have only one path: death.
Standing alone by the window, Boss Dai gazed at the faintly visible lights on the distant river surface and murmured to himself, “Elder Tang, ah Elder Tang, your lifetime of good reputation—don’t let it be tarnished at the end.”
