Chapter 164: Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You
Director Zuo steadied his mind, took a breath, and pushed open the office door.
Chen Yang was sitting behind the desk with a grim face, flipping through the investigation report on the Tang Shaoyi assassination case.
Actually, most of this report was similar to the Special Higher Police Affairs on-site investigation report, except it was missing the testimony of the driver Wu Feng.
It was these testimonies that proved Zhang Zixian had major suspicions, as he suddenly left his post just before the murder occurred and has had no news since.
The location where the driver was keeping watch was not the same position as theirs, which was why the driver also didn’t hear Zhang Zixian’s words.
And now the three people who could prove Zhang Zixian was innocent have all been dealt with by the Military Statistics Bureau.
Zhang Zixian thus became a crucial figure in this assassination incident.
The Japanese have already determined he is suspected of betrayal, which for an intelligence agency is like a bolt from the blue.
“O-Officer.” Director Zuo called out tremblingly.
After several months of interaction, Director Zuo already understood Chen Yang’s personality; if he erupted in thunderous rage upon arrival and smashed things, it proved there was room for discussion on the matter.
But if he said nothing, or even had a face full of mocking smiles, then it meant someone was in for big trouble.
Last time, Wu Chang from the Action Team was the best proof.
“Do you know there’s a ghost in the house?” Chen Yang grabbed the Special Higher Police Affairs report and smashed it onto Director Zuo.
“You didn’t even know there’s a ghost, how are you running the Special Affairs Office as director?”
Director Zuo shakily picked up the report and asked softly, “Who’s the ghost? Officer, is there some misunderstanding?”
Chen Yang sneered, “Misunderstanding? The Japanese said it themselves: this time Elder Tang was assassinated because someone deliberately let the Military Statistics Bureau killer in.”
“Now three surveillance personnel are dead, and eyewitnesses say Zhang Zixian is the problem.”
“Whether the problem is really on him, how do you explain that to me…”
Director Zuo’s face changed drastically, and he quickly said, “Officer, Zhang Zixian is my nephew; I brought him in personally, he absolutely cannot be a Military Statistics Bureau person.”
Chen Yang angrily shouted, “Being your nephew means he can’t be a ghost? Being your nephew means he can’t betray you?”
“Do you know how many people throughout history have died at the hands of their own brothers?”
“Even your own father isn’t necessarily reliable, and that’s just a nephew.”
“What? You think I’m wronging him?”
“If not him, then is it you?”
Director Zuo hurriedly shook his head like a rattle drum: “No no no, Officer, I am absolutely loyal.”
Chen Yang’s face hardened, and he sneered, “Very good, you’re all great loyal ministers. So do you want to say I’m the internal spy?”
Director Zuo’s face immediately turned deathly pale, his voice carrying a hint of a sob: “Officer, please don’t scare me.”
“How could you possibly be the internal spy? You weren’t involved in these actions at all; no one would suspect you…”
Chen Yang said with a stern face, “You say no suspicion means no suspicion?”
“The most important task now is to withdraw the people from Tang Mansion first, and find Zhang Zixian.”
Director Zuo said aggrievedly, “We’ve already been looking for a day, but we can’t find him.”
I bought a hiking backpack last year; it’s super durable.
Chen Yang slammed his palm on the table with a bang: “Can’t find him so no need to look? Director Zuo, are you an idiot?”
“I’m telling you, it’s not just me waiting for your explanation; the Japanese are also waiting for you to give an account.”
“I’ll give you two days. Whether you sniff him out with a dog’s nose or dig him up with your dog paws, if you can’t find the live Zhang Zixian, then even the dead one I want.”
“Otherwise, I can’t protect you either.” Chen Yang snorted coldly, got up and walked out, but when passing Director Zuo, he suddenly stopped, reached out and patted his face with a sinister smile: “Director Zuo, don’t say I didn’t warn you…”
Japan, Tokyo, Army Ministry.
“Baka! Useless! All of you are useless!” General Dohihara’s roar nearly flipped the roof of the tatami room.
He had just received an urgent telegram from Colonel Fujita Tsuyoshi of the Shanghai Special Higher Police Affairs: the core pillar of the “Raccoon” plan, Tang Shaoyi, had been beheaded by a Military Statistics Bureau agent in the French Concession under the Empire’s tight “protection”!
The exquisite tea set was smashed to the ground by him, with shards of ceramic scattering everywhere.
The usual mild mask on Dohihara’s round face was completely torn away, leaving only ferocious rage and frustration.
“South Tang North Wu! The ‘using China to control China’ grand plan brewed for nearly a year.”
“Tang Shaoyi was just about to nod, and the Empire could immediately raise a flag in Central China to echo the Manchuria regime in the north, plus North China and Inner Mongolia; most of China would already be in our hands, but now…”
“Now it’s all ruined, ruined by a bunch of Chinese rats!” His eyes were bloodshot, like a trapped beast emitting powerless roars.
The carefully woven puppet network, at the critical moment of closing the net, had one of its most important threads severed by the Military Statistics Bureau’s blade.
“General,” the adjutant reported bravely, “Colonel Fujita requests instructions: how to guide public opinion?”
Dohihara took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, his eyes flashing with venomous light: “Immediately! Have the purple New Declaration go full throttle, shape Tang Shaoyi into a ‘peace pioneer’ ruthlessly strangled by ‘tyranny’.”
“The newspapers must denounce the Chongqing government as incompetent and brutal, let all China—no, the whole world—know what happens to ‘peace’ figures who refuse cooperation with the Empire! At the same time…”
He paused, his voice growing even colder, “Send an emergency telegram to the Akainu Squad in Chongqing, tell Yangzi not to delay any longer, quickly contact the Wang group,”
“Now that Tang Shaoyi is dead, the gap must be filled immediately by someone!”
“Issue maximum authorization to Yangzi, tell her, as long as Mr. Wang agrees to cooperate, the Empire will give Mr. Wang even greater support than Tang Shaoyi!”
“Hai, I’ll go arrange it now.” The adjutant bowed slightly, about to leave.
Dohihara suddenly raised his hand: “Wait, Asada-kun, I need you to handle one more thing.”
“Send a telegram to Kagesa Shinzhao in Shanghai, remind him that the Secret Order No. 7 plan is almost ready.”
“Tell him not to delay any longer, quickly find suitable personnel to carry out the plan, assist Yangzi in completing the persuasion of Mr. Wang.”
“A knife in hand doesn’t scare people; only when truly swung does it inspire fear.”
“Hai, I understand…”
Chongqing, in a heavily guarded official residence at Zengjiayan, the atmosphere was completely opposite to the solemnity on the newspapers.
Kong Yongzhi’s obese body sank into the wide sofa, holding the freshly published purple Central Daily in his hand, his face grim enough to drip water.
In front of him, the radio from Japan Tokyo Broadcast Station had a malicious female announcer clearly reporting in Chinese: “Former Republic of China Premier Tang Shaoyi, dedicated to Sino-Japanese peace, unfortunately assassinated by extremists…”
