Chapter 160: Think Of A Method
“Director, it’s so late. Did you suddenly call me here because there’s some important matter to command?”
Boss Dai looked up at the visitor. It was exactly the Secretariat Director Zheng Yaoquan of the Military Statistics Bureau.
“Yaoquan, you’re here. Sit down.”
Zheng Yaoquan sat down as instructed. Before he could speak, Boss Dai pushed Zhao Lijun’s telegram in front of him.
After glancing at it, Zheng Yaoquan couldn’t help but sigh, “Brother Wenbai is wholeheartedly devoted to Party and Country. Though he has minor faults, they do not obscure his virtues. He is truly loyal and courageous.”
“Director, what do you mean by calling me here?”
Zhao Lijun was nicknamed the Pursuit Devil in the Military Statistics Bureau. Wenbai was his courtesy name, said to have been bestowed upon him by the Old Man after he previously killed Yang Xinfo and Shi Liangcai.
Boss Dai pondered for a moment: “Wenbai generously went to his death. He is indeed a model for our generation.”
“The Shanghai matter can’t be entirely blamed on him. However, this time news came from Nanjing that Tang Shaoyi has decided to move his entire family to Nanjing in October.”
“The higher-ups heard this news and were extremely angry. He has already issued an order that Tang Shaoyi must not be allowed to reach Nanjing alive.”
“Therefore, the assassination of Tang Shaoyi is imperative.”
“There aren’t many usable people in Shanghai right now. I want to ask you, if possible, to have Fuji Mountain provide some intelligence.”
“To help Shanghai Station eliminate this traitor.”
Zheng Yaoquan nodded. “Yes, I’ll communicate with Sakura to see what can be helped with.”
“Director, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first.”
Upon hearing this, Boss Dai revealed a meaningful expression and nodded slightly.
Calling Zheng Yaoquan out so late, if he didn’t go back, his wife would cause a scene again.
Zheng Yaoquan’s wife was Ke Sufang, a notoriously fierce woman.
Zheng Yaoquan himself was extremely concerned with face and considered himself aloof, disdainful of begging for money. But in a place like Chongqing, one couldn’t get by without money.
So he took a different approach and set his sights on his wife.
Simply put, he had Ke Sufang go to the Logistics Department to demand money, grain, and things. He himself was the Secretariat Director, and whenever the Military Statistics Bureau received any good supplies, Zheng Yaoquan would have his wife come pick them out.
The people in the Logistics Department saw her like mice seeing a cat, and not only did she have a sharp eye, but her face was thick as well. She was the typical type to take both bribes and goods.
Speaking of which, only a personality like Ke Sufang’s allowed Zheng Yaoquan to have no worries on the home front.
Shanghai, Huangpu Beach Road, Pearl Park…
Song Yilin sat on a bench shaded by the sycamore tree, focused on depicting the sunset scenery on her drawing board.
The sunlight danced on the red pen in her hand.
But her heart was not as calm as her surface appearance.
Previously, the intelligence she had risked passing on—had it safely reached its destination?
Had the frontline soldiers thereby reduced their sacrifices?
More importantly, yesterday at three in the afternoon, she had just received instructions from Headquarters, requiring their small team to provide some important intelligence.
Exactly five in the afternoon…
A familiar figure appeared at the end of the path.
Chen Yang walked leisurely, his briefcase swaying gently with his steps. The gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses sharply and quickly scanned the surroundings.
Soon, he spotted Song Yilin on the bench, and the familiar Shanghai University textbooks in her arm—this was the safe signal.
Chen Yang did not approach immediately. Instead, he went to a newsstand not far away, bought a copy of that day’s《Declaration》, and only then strolled over, as if merely seeking a quiet corner to read the newspaper.
Holding the newspaper, Chen Yang sat on another bench next to Song Yilin, with a cluster of lush hollies in between.
He unfolded the newspaper, his gaze seemingly drawn to the front-page war report.
Song Yilin did not look up, continuing to sketch on her drawing board, as a exquisite painting was about to be completed.
Her lips moved slightly, her voice light as a whisper, yet clearly transmitted to Chen Yang’s ear: “The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it is near dusk.”
Chen Yang turned a page of the newspaper. After hearing the voice, he slightly raised his gaze, looked at Song Yilin’s painting, and responded in a low voice: “Do not say the mulberry elm is late; the western sky is full of rosy clouds.”
“Miss’s painting has quite a bit of charm.”
This was him hinting that the intelligence transmission was about to begin.
Song Yilin’s heartbeat quickened slightly.
She drew out a《Brief History of British Literature》from the textbooks in her arm, as if to look up some information.
This action was the signal to prepare for receiving.
Chen Yang began transmitting the core intelligence in a steady and clear tempo, his voice extremely low:
“Report to Headquarters: ‘Sakura’ has received the following latest assessment intelligence on 106 ‘Matsui’ Division!” He paused for half a second, confirmed no one was approaching, and continued: “1. Material shortages of 106 Division confirmed to be worsening.”
“Recently learned from their Logistics Department’s urgent telegram: Field hospitals’ quinine and sulfonamide nearly exhausted, heavy casualty mortality rate surging, rifle and machine gun ammunition reserves only sufficient for three days of high-intensity combat, gasoline reserves bottomed out, mobility restricted.”
Song Yilin’s fingers unconsciously traced the book pages, as if noting key points.
“2. Firepower configuration supplement: Confirmed that their division-attached artillery regiment（Wild Artillery Regiment 102）, due to continuous shelling and transport losses from previous days, actual usable mountain guns less than 30% of establishment. Heavy machine gun company has extremely poor sustained firepower due to ammunition shortage, and no direct air support promised, relying on Hankou base with slow reaction.”
“3. Personnel status update.” Chen Yang’s voice sank further. “Division Commander Matsuura Junroku shows obvious anxious emotions, repeatedly urging supplies beyond channels.”
“Its Infantry 111 Brigade（Mountain Brigade）, due to prior losses and malaria outbreak, combat effectiveness assessed downgraded to less than 60%, replacement troops mostly Taiwanese and Korean, weak combat will, frequent desertions.”
“Recently, 106 Division again requested large supplies, but was rejected by Logistics Minister Sato Buntai. I estimate that to ensure combat strength, they will risk taking the Wanjia Ridge path, straight into Blue Army rear.”
“Need to remind Officer Xue to fully monitor 106 Division’s movements, lest they surprise attack the rear and cause defense line collapse.”
The intelligence was concise yet weighty in every word, clearly outlining the weak essence of 106 Division, this trapped beast.
What astonished Song Yilin even more was that despite material supplies and personnel equipment issues, 106 Division was still thinking of cutting through Wanjia Ridge to the rear of the Mount Lu defense line for a major surprise attack.
The Japanese really weren’t afraid of death.
She quickly memorized every key point in her mind, confirmed the intelligence recorded correctly, and slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Intelligence source reliable, level top secret. You must immediately send this message with utmost speed.”
“Wanjia Ridge frontline, awaiting eagerly!” Chen Yang’s tone carried an undeniable urgency.
“Understood.” Song Yilin closed the book and nodded slightly.
After transmitting the intelligence, Chen Yang folded the newspaper into a square, just preparing to leave when Song Yilin’s voice sounded again.
“Wait a moment. A few days ago, rats got into the house, chewed up some things, but fortunately the matter has been resolved.”
“Now Boss wants to ask you, for the business they were responsible for last time, whether you have any method to provide some assistance.”
Chen Yang was slightly stunned. Song Yilin’s meaning was that there was an internal spy in the Military Statistics Bureau, but it had already been dealt with.
They now wanted to continue the plan to assassinate Tang Shaoyi, hoping he could provide some help.
Chen Yang thought for a moment and said in a lowered voice: “Boss’s business can be done. The key is to deal with those two gatekeepers.”
“Mm, detailed plan tomorrow at two in the afternoon, receive at Yong’an Department Store. I’m leaving first…”
