Chapter 168: I Really Didn’t Do It
In late September, the 106th Division, which had been waiting in vain for material supplies, under the leadership of Division Commander Matsuura Junroku, resolved to abandon a large amount of supplies, travel light, and thrust diagonally from Wanjia Ridge to the rear of the Mount Lu defense line.
The Expeditionary Army Headquarters did not support this action, but Matsuura Junroku insisted on doing it.
For this reason, he specially sent the 3rd Air Group’s low-altitude reconnaissance report along with the action plan to Shanghai.
Although advancing deep into enemy territory alone was a great taboo in military strategy, the Japanese had tasted the benefits multiple times in surprise attacks, plus the gap in weapons and equipment between the two sides.
Matsuura Junroku believed that with their strength, they could absolutely achieve unexpected results.
Chief of Staff Kitahara Kenichi even patted his chest in a meeting with Commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army Tada Shunroku, guaranteeing that the 106th Division could absolutely capture Dean before October and cut off the Blue Army’s connection between the South-Nanzhun Road and the Wuning Road.
It would absolutely not affect Tada Shunroku’s “October Plan.”
To demonstrate their determination, the 106th Division assembled all its forces without waiting for supplies to arrive and forcibly thrust through Wanjia Ridge.
However, what they did not expect was that just as the troops set out, detailed information on the 106th Division’s firepower configuration had already quietly been sent from Shanghai to Chongqing…
Shanghai, Southern Transportation Department.
As soon as Chen Yang walked into the Transportation Department office, the telephone in the office rang.
Chen Yang set down his briefcase and hurriedly picked up the phone. The voice of Ando Shinichi from the Special Higher Police Affairs Action Group came from the other end.
“Section Chief Chen, there’s something I want to inform you about.”
Ando Shinichi said slowly: “The Special Higher Police Affairs Investigation Team discovered the missing Zhang Zixian on Qihe Road in the International Settlement.”
“Now, we have brought him back to the Special Higher Police Affairs for interrogation.”
“Personally, I think his confession has problems.”
Chen Yang frowned and asked: “Ando, what’s the problem?”
Ando Shinichi said: “He explained to us that he was coerced into the International Settlement by people from the Military Statistics Bureau.”
“After capturing him, they locked him in a civilian house and delivered food to him on time every day.”
“They kept feeding him for three or four days, then suddenly released him in the morning.”
“Moreover, he couldn’t describe the other party’s appearance at all, saying only that the civilian house was surrounded by black cloth on all sides, with dim light inside, so he couldn’t see clearly.”
“The problem is, we searched all civilian houses near Qihe Road and didn’t find the house he mentioned.”
“I suspect he’s lying.”
Chen Yang said slowly: “Ando, Zhang Zixian is from the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee. If he is suspected of betrayal, it seems we should avoid suspicion.”
“However, I still hope Ando can investigate the truth of the matter and not wrongly accuse a good person casually.”
Good person? Is this term appropriate for Zhang Zixian?
Ando Shinichi said softly: “Don’t worry, Section Chief Chen. We will screen carefully.”
Special Higher Police Affairs, Interrogation Room…
Zhang Zixian was slammed onto the cold iron chair in the center of the interrogation room. The iron rings at his wrists and ankles were ice-cold and piercing, deeply embedded in his flesh, leaving bruised purple marks.
His clothes were torn in multiple places, revealing the faded white inner lining underneath.
A fresh bloodstain snaked down from his temple, congealing into a dark red scab at his cheekbone, with half-dried blood staining his sideburns.
Disheveled bangs covered his eyes. Only his tightly pursed lips and slightly trembling left index finger revealed a trace of desire for survival.
Creak, the door of the interrogation room slid open silently.
Ando Shinichi slowly strolled in. His steps were light and soundless. His deep gray pinstripe suit, perfectly pressed without a single wrinkle, was completely out of place in this bloody and filthy environment…
“Zhang Sang,” Ando Shinichi raised his head. His voice was not loud, clear and gentle, carrying an uncomfortably polite tone.
“Mr. Tang’s residence is heavily guarded, impregnable as a fortress. Even a fly flying in would have to leave its name. But it just happened during your duty shift…”
“Do you have anything to say? I can give you an opportunity now to explain.”
A bitter twitch came to the corner of Zhang Zixian’s mouth. This time, he had truly been badly screwed over by those Military Statistics Bureau people.
With no eyewitnesses and no sign of the room where he was held, every word he said now lacked evidence to support it.
Under the strong desire for survival, Zhang Zixian still repeated his previous testimony once again.
Ando Shinichi shook his head repeatedly as he listened.
“Zhang Sang, I want to hear the truth, but you seem to have been treating me like a fool.”
“Your group of four was ordered to guard the front gate of Tang’s residence. Now, three are dead.”
“And you, so coincidentally, disappeared at the critical time.”
“You told me you were coerced, but when we found you, there were no injuries on your body.”
“Are you trying to tell me that the Military Statistics Bureau captured you just to take you to an uninhabited place and lock you up for three or four days?”
“And they even provided good food and wine every day? What, were they full and had nothing better to do?”
“What puzzles me most is that you said the place where you were held was a civilian house, surrounded by black cloth, so you couldn’t tell day from night.”
“But we searched the entire Qihe Road and didn’t find the civilian house you mentioned at all.”
“I think you’re wasting my time.”
“So, I think you need some pain to stimulate you. Maybe it will help you recall some truths you’ve forgotten.”
“Do it,” Ando Shinichi said in Japanese to the executioner soldier beside him.
“Hai.” The soldier picked up a dripping wet leather whip from the water bucket against the wall. The whip body was rough and black, soaked full of cold water.
Another picked up a half-meter-long wooden stick wrapped in thick, rough burlap.
“Crack.” The soldier skillfully shook out the whip, landing it viciously below Zhang Zixian’s right shoulder blade. Instantly, his skin bulged visibly, the huge impact force making his body lurch forward, the iron chains on him rattling loudly.
Immediately after, the second whip, the third whip… The whip shadows mercilessly lashed his bare back, ribs, and waist and abdomen.
Each strike was accompanied by the dull sound of flesh splitting open and splattering blood droplets.
The wet whip caused deeper damage, with heart-piercing, bone-drilling pain.
The soldier with the stick stepped forward, expressionless, and pressed the saltwater-soaked rough burlap end of the stick viciously onto a fresh whip wound on Zhang Zixian’s back, twisting it forcefully…
The wound stimulated by the saltwater produced a lingering, bone-deep agony like being cut by a thousand knives.
“Urgh!” A shrill scream tore from his throat. Ando Shinichi watched with interest as Zhang Zixian’s face contorted and deformed in extreme pain.
“Zhang Sang, I advise you to cooperate with us and honestly tell everything you know.”
“Otherwise, I’m afraid you won’t have a chance to see tomorrow’s sun.”
Zhang Zixian’s throat was already hoarse from screaming, but he still shook his head stubbornly: “Taijun Ando, I, I didn’t do it.”
“I really didn’t do it…”
