Chapter 185: Poisonous Scheme
Shanghai, Special Higher Police Affairs Headquarters.
The Special Higher Police Affairs Headquarters, once surging with undercurrents due to the Maple Plan, is now shrouded in a repressive atmosphere of frustration and dormancy.
The death of Xiong Ye Liangping and the explosion of the K-5471 train not only resulted in the loss of an important officer but also caused the Maple Plan, personally approved by General Dohihara, to completely fail and disappear without a trace.
Amid the chaos, assigning responsibility is no longer the primary concern; salvaging the situation is the urgent priority.
General Dohihara stands by the window, his back appearing somewhat gloomy.
He has just returned from a meeting convened by a higher level.
At the meeting, Colonel Takeda from the Operations Command Section actually mocked him extensively in front of Tada Shunroku.
When has the head of the largest intelligence agency in China ever suffered such humiliation?
But he could not refute it; the Maple Plan may have leaked. If they still followed Nantian Yangzi’s design, in case the action personnel were captured, it would be extremely unfavorable to the Empire in terms of public opinion.
After all, during wartime, various countries tacitly agree not to carry out decapitation strikes against heads; doing so would already cross the line.
Dohihara turns around, his gaze falling on Kagesa Shinzhao, who stands with hands at his sides in front of the desk.
“Mr. Kagesa, I don’t understand what you mean by coming to see me now? The matter with Xiong Ye-kun has already concluded, and moreover, he did not overstep his authority.”
“I can tell you frankly, the Maple Plan has been terminated.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Xiong Ye perished, the plan’s core may have leaked, and the risks of continuing execution are uncontrollable.”
He lightly glossed over the intense power struggles in the higher-level decision-making, then changed his tone: “However, the offensive against Chongqing will absolutely not stop! If direct destruction is temporarily blocked, then disintegrate their will from within! I need you to immediately execute the Watanabe Plan”
“The failure of the Maple Plan is your matter; I don’t want to know too much.” Kagesa said in a dissatisfied tone: “But Section Chief Chen is a member of the Eighth Section of the China Affairs Section.”
“I want to know what reason Your Excellency Dohihara has to doubt Section Chief Chen’s loyalty?”
“So Mr. Kagesa has come to remonstrate.” General Dohihara chuckled lightly: “No suspicion, just a routine inquiry. Your Excellency Kagesa seems too sensitive.”
“Does a routine inquiry require detention for forty-eight hours? General Dohihara, you and I are both on the intelligence front; I know exactly what this means.” Kagesa’s voice rose a few degrees.
“You want to shift the responsibility for the Maple Plan’s failure onto us?”
“General Dohihara, isn’t this a bit unethical, damaging to your reputation for benevolence?”
In others’ impressions, Dohihara has always been known for his benevolence.
Anti-Japanese famous general Ma Zhanshan said he was notoriously benevolent and kept his word.
“So, are you planning to complain about me to the Military Department?” Dohihara’s expression remained calm.
Kagesa shook his head and said: “Kids fight and think of telling their parents; Your Excellency Dohihara, we are adults, and adults have adult ways of resolving things.”
“If you suspect Chen Yang has a problem, then we solve the problem.”
Dohihara was slightly stunned: “What does Mr. Kagesa plan to do?”
“The Watanabe Plan.” Kagesa took a breath: “I plan to have Section Chief Chen responsible for executing the Watanabe Plan. If he can complete it, that proves he has no issue.”
“If intelligence leaks again this time, then no matter the reason, he will have inescapable responsibility.”
“You should be clear what the Watanabe Plan represents. If Section Chief Chen is willing to take it on, his suspicion will naturally be dispelled.”
Dohihara pondered for a moment and nodded heavily: “Mr. Kagesa, I’ll give you one chance. I hope we both get the result we want.”
“By the way, there’s another mission you need to start preparing for: Mr. Wang has agreed to accept the negotiation invitation.”
“Mm, I’ll arrange that matter, so I’ll take my leave first.” Kagesa said no more, because everything that needed to be said had been said.
Shanghai, Consulate.
After receiving Kagesa’s phone call, Chen Yang hurried back from the Southern Transportation Department to the consulate, covered in dust.
“Knock knock knock.” The door to Kagesa’s office was knocked on. Kagesa Shinzhao seemed to have been waiting for Chen Yang’s arrival: “Come in.”
“Senior Kagesa.” Chen Yang slightly bowed in salute.
“Mr. Chen, you’ve come.” Kagesa walked to the desk, picked up a document stamped with “Watanabe Plan” on the cover, and handed it to Chen Yang.
“This is the ‘Watanabe Plan’. From now on, you will take charge and be responsible for it.”
Chen Yang’s heart jolted; he received the document with both hands but did not open it immediately: “Your Excellency Kagesa, this subordinate is shallow in learning and experience, and has just… just undergone review, fearing I cannot handle such an important…”
“Your ability, I know well.” Kagesa’s gaze sharply fixed on him: “Your work in the Transportation Section proved your control over processes and details.”
“Moreover, this plan requires a… ‘low-key’ yet effective approach. The review from Colonel Fujita’s side, I will handle. Now, I need someone who can get things done.”
He paused, emphasizing: “The core of the ‘Watanabe Plan’ is public opinion warfare and psychological warfare.”
“We must ignite a fire in Chongqing, especially among those easily incited university students full of so-called ‘patriotic fervor’.”
Chen Yang opened the document and quickly browsed it.
It detailed how to use secret radios, anonymous publications, and secret agents disguised as progressives to spread a large number of carefully fabricated rumors and inflammatory rhetoric in Chongqing: exaggerating frontline defeats, portraying government corruption and incompetence, promoting “peaceful save the nation” arguments, inciting relations between different factions and even between students and the government…
Just a simple public opinion war? Chen Yang had just relaxed when Kagesa’s next words shocked him again.
“Your task is this.” Kagesa pointed to a small box in the corner: “It is to utilize all information channels you can access, especially your experience dealing with all sorts of people on previous transportation lines, to assist in planning the dissemination paths and cover methods for the information.”
“We must create at least three large-scale waves of student demonstrations against the war, against government corruption and malfeasance at Chongqing Central University within three months! Make the Chongqing government frantic and tear apart their War of Resistance consensus from within!”
“This is the gift I have prepared for them. From Republic of China year 21 to now six years, their officials have embezzled materials, suppressed progressives, assassinated Communist Party members, the Minister of Finance has led in misappropriating public funds, Mr. Song, president of the four major banks, colluded with subordinates to speculate on foreign exchange, forcibly acquiring pig bristles in the Guangdong-Guangxi and Yunnan-Guizhou regions.”
“And previously hoarding cotton yarn, as well as recently speculating up cotton stocks, reaping the property of Shanghai’s lower-class people.”
“So many harmful acts are sure to make those hot-blooded university students erupt in fury.”
Chen Yang felt a chill down his spine. This plan was equally insidious; it did not directly shed blood but aimed to destroy morale, smear the government image, demolish the most precious public support and fighting spirit of the War of Resistance, and incite internal strife.
Yet on his face, he showed a solemn determination befitting the heavy responsibility: “Hai! This subordinate understands! I will do my utmost to execute the ‘Watanabe Plan’ and disintegrate the enemy from within!”
Kagesa said earnestly: “Mr. Chen, complete this mission well and prove to me that you have no issue.”
Chen Yang’s heart sank; it seemed this mission was not just a simple task but also carried the nature of screening.
It appeared that the Special Higher Police Affairs’ routine inquiry had more or less affected Kagesa’s impression of him.
“Senior Kagesa, rest assured, I know what to do.”
Republic of China November 7, Chongqing, Yangjiaping, Lu Family Teahouse.
In the deepening dusk, a figure in a long gown, speaking fluent Sichuan dialect, stepped into the Lu Family Teahouse.
“Major Nantian.” The visitor quickly arrived at Nantian Yangzi’s east wing room after entering the Lu Family Teahouse.
Nantian Yangzi was still wearing a fitted qipao, but her eyes held an extra trace of barely suppressed ferocity compared to before.
Xiong Ye’s death and the failure of the “Maple Plan” seemed to have stimulated her.
The visitor said slowly: “Major Nantian, my purpose is to convey General Dohihara’s order from the Special Higher Police Affairs Headquarters to you.”
“The public opinion preparation part of the plan will be executed by Mr. Chen, Deputy Director of the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee and a member of the Strategy Department of the China Affairs Section. What you need to do is…”
“Mr. Nakamura,” Nantian Yangzi suddenly interrupted him, her voice not loud but carrying an unsettling excitement: “Forgive my impertinence, but I believe mere demonstrations do not exert enough direct pressure on the Chongqing government.”
Nantian Yangzi’s eyes flashed with a nearly maniacal light: “Public opinion is a soft knife; it takes time to take effect.”
“Why not add a… stronger ‘catalyst’ to these demonstrations?”
“When those university students are incited, take to the streets, at the height of their excitement and chaos, what a perfect shooting gallery it will be!”
“We can arrange snipers or create ‘accidental’ explosions.”
“This time the target is not that person, but the demonstration crowd itself: kill and injure a few, even dozens of students.”
“At that time, public opinion will explode instantly! The government will be universally condemned, either accused of suppressing students or of incompetence in protecting youth!”
“Either outcome will thoroughly intensify contradictions, plunging Chongqing into greater turmoil and hatred! This is more effective than ten mild demonstrations! It will be the best offering to the Empire!”
Nakamura Saki was so shocked by Nantian Yangzi’s plan that he was speechless for a long time, then hesitated: “Major Nantian, your plan… may have immediate effects, but isn’t it… too radical?”
“Once it happens, an investigation would easily backfire, even exposing the public opinion incitement channels we painstakingly inserted before. You’re essentially selling out Section Chief Chen of the China Affairs Section.”
“Moreover, large-scale student casualties could also arouse stronger nationalist sentiments, potentially… making the situation spiral out of control, unfavorable to our long-term disintegration strategy.”
“Long-term, Mr. Nakamura, do you have some misunderstanding of ‘long-term’?” Nantian Yangzi said with a slight sarcasm: “Don’t forget our ultimate goal.”
“Covering Mr. Wang’s retreat is the plan’s ultimate goal.”
“As for how many people must be sacrificed or who gets exposed, that doesn’t seem to be our concern.”
“Every plan carries the risk of exposure, let alone when the person responsible for the exposed plan is just a Chinese person.
