Chapter 186: Careful, Bomb
Nakamura Saki was silent for a moment, then finally waved his hand: “Major Nanta’s idea is indeed very valuable.”
“But Section Chief Chen is Your Excellency Kagesa’s man. If we do this, it is very likely to cause a rift in cooperation between both sides..”
Taking a breath, he looked at Nantian Yangzi. “I think your plan can serve as an alternative upgrade plan for the Watanabe Plan. Do not execute it proactively for now, but immediately begin necessary preparations: select reliable action personnel and survey potential locations.”
“However, whether to activate it specifically and when to activate it will depend on the effect of the preliminary public opinion incitement and Chongqing’s reaction.”
“If it gets out of control, it is very likely to lead to.”
Nantian Yangzi interrupted Nakamura Saki indifferently: “Out of control? That’s exactly what we want! Mr. Nakamura, you are too conservative! In extraordinary times, we must use extraordinary means! Only blood can tear everything apart the fastest!”
This.
Nakamura Saki frowned tightly. He was very dissatisfied with Nantian Yangzi’s attitude.
From the moment she entered until now, Nantian Yangzi had rejected his proposals more than once and was also questioning his decisions.
The Army’s tradition of subordinates overriding superiors had been perfectly inherited, even by a woman.
“Major Nanta, it is not that I do not agree, but that we need to assess the risks of the action.”
“You should know that your plan is very likely to implicate all undercover personnel in Chongqing.”
Nantian Yangzi insisted: “Your Excellency Nakamura, your duty is to convey orders. Your orders have now been delivered.”
“For actions in Chongqing, General Dohihara has given me the highest authority.”
“What you should do now is not worry about how I act, but execute your mission.”
“Take Mei Siping back to Shanghai.”
Nakamura Saki was immediately stunned. Correct, his mission this time, besides conveying to Nantian Yangzi the decision to terminate the Maple Plan, also included a special task: to take Mr. Wang’s subordinate.
Legislative Council member and Chongqing Garrison Commander Mei Siping to Shanghai to participate in the negotiations between the Empire and Mr. Wang.
The negotiation time was set for November 20, Year 27 of the Republic.
The representatives attending the meeting were Mr. Wang’s attendant Mei Siping and Director of Asian Affairs Gao Zhongwu.
The Japanese side would be represented by Imai Takeo, with Ito Suke Nanta as assistant.
Coordinated by Kagesa Shinzhao, consultation meetings would be held in Shanghai.
The content of this meeting was the 《Chongguangtang Agreement》 that was later publicly revealed by Tao Xisheng and Gao Zhongwu.
“Major Nanta, you seem to be talking too much.” Nakamura Saki’s face darkened: “Secrets between the Empire do not need a woman to meddle.”
“You are preparing to gamble with the lives of more than twenty imperial soldiers in Chongqing. Once it fails…”
“I will report everything you have done to General Dohihara word for word.”
“Your Excellency Nakamura, that is your freedom.” Nantian Yangzi did not care at all about Nakamura Saki’s threat.
“However, in my dictionary, the word failure has never existed.”
——
Year 27 of the Republic, November. Chongqing, Chongqing.
Thick fog like miasma lingered and would not dissipate, tightly wrapping the wartime capital.
Yangtze River, Jialing River, the muddy flows of the two rivers surged between steep gorges, with water vapor mixed with coal smoke condensing into a heavy and oppressive haze.
Air raid alarms were the most familiar background sound of this city. Every shrill wail tore at people’s taut nerves.
Since the “Maple Plan” action last month failed to achieve complete success, the undercover war in Chongqing had intensified.
On November 20, members of the “Low-key Club” formed by Mr. Wang—Mei Siping, Gao Zhongwu—and the Japanese delegation including envoy Imai Takeo and Shirakawa Yoshinori achieved consensus goals.
Mei Siping, representing Mr. Wang, signed the traitorous and humiliating 《Chongguangtang Agreement》 in General Dohihara’s residence, that is, No. 7 Sports East Road, Shanghai, inside Chongguangtang…
The next day, Chen Yang received orders from Kagesa Shinzhao to launch a public opinion offensive to cover the withdrawal of the Wang Group from Chongqing.
On November 27, several newspapers in Chongqing, such as the 《Central Daily》, 《Saodang Daily》, and other publications with ambiguous backgrounds, suddenly unleashed a “scandal” storm.
Front-page shocking headline: 《Grain, Fodder, and Medicine Actually Become Private Property! Finance Ministry Bigwig Exposed for Embezzling International Aid, Frontline Soldiers Heartbroken》
Another prominent position: 《Exchange Rate Black Curtains Everywhere! Finance Controller Song Suspected of Using Position Information to Extract Huge Foreign Exchange, Profiting from National Crisis》
The reports were supplemented with blurry photocopied “evidence” and vivid “insider stories,” mixing truth and falsehood, extremely inflammatory.
These poisons, carefully fabricated by Japanese secret agencies and disseminated through secret channels, were precisely injected into the abnormally sensitive and anxious nerves of Chongqing’s military and civilians due to long-term siege.
“Read the paper! Big officials profiting from national crisis!” “Read the paper! Frontline tight, rear feasting tight!”
The newsboys’ shouts pierced the fog, every word like a poison sting.
This poisonous flame first scorched the campus of National Central University in Shapingba.
In classrooms, libraries, and simple dormitories, students passed newspapers around, their young faces first shocked, then turning into raging fury.
With the national crisis at hand and the school relocated here, the students harbored the aspiration of saving the nation, but now they were thoroughly enraged by this “backstabbing” scandal.
“Outrageous! Soldiers bathed in blood, corrupt officials sucking blood!”
“We must stand up! We want the truth! We want reckoning!”
“Severely punish corrupt officials! Down with the parasites profiting from national crisis!”
Indignant emotions fermented rapidly, with slogans and banners plastered across the campus overnight.
Students gathered to debate, passionate speeches echoing over Shapingba.
Three days later, at dawn, the thick fog in Chongqing slightly lifted, but the sky remained overcast as dusk.
Students from National Central University took the lead in raising banners, followed by students from other schools and a large number of citizens joining the flood.
The parade marched majestically along steep streets toward the city center’s Guofu Road, targeting the residence of the President of the Executive Yuan, Kong Mansion.
“Severely punish corruption!”
“Disclose accounts!”
“Unite to resist Japan, eliminate parasites!”
The parade students’ slogans, patriotic songs, and angry shouts shook the humid air. Countless citizens stopped to watch, their expressions grave and complex.
In Chongqing, inside a private room of a street-side teahouse, curtains hung low.
Nantian Yangzi wore a plain qipao with a sweater over it, quietly listening to the increasingly boisterous parade waves outside the window.
On the desktop, those inflammatory newspapers were spread out.
A secret agent disguised as a shop assistant stood bowed respectfully, reporting in a low voice: “Major Nanta, the parade has passed Guanyin Rock and is heading toward Shangqing Temple. The number has exceeded four thousand, emotions are high, and citizens are continuously joining along the way.”
A smug arc hooked at the corner of Nantian Yangzi’s lips: “Very good. The flame of anger has ignited. Now, we need to pour a bucket of oil on it to make it burn brighter and more thoroughly.”
“These so-called elites always put on such splendid infighting shows. Perfect for my use.”
Pausing, her tone suddenly turned sharp and cruel: “How is the explosion point arrangement?”
The secret agent’s body tensed. “Per your instructions, in the must-pass area on the middle section of ‘Minsheng Road,’ the attic of ‘Dexin Grocery Store’ and behind the adjacent fire sand pile, high explosives have been secretly placed.”
“Using both timed and remote radio detonation, foolproof. Timed for when the core of the parade is densest.”
“Our people on site will ‘accidentally’ discover and identify it as the work of the Blue Shirts Society or Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.”
“Public opinion guidance is ready. This will be a brutal suppression of the student movement, or a bloody internal purge conspiracy by the Chongqing government.”
Nantian Yangzi nodded slightly, her tone suddenly becoming eerie and terrifying: “Well done. I want the blood of these future elites of China to dye Chongqing’s staircases red, completely destroying their resistance will, and also let the international community see the true face of the Chinese regime.”
Pacing to the window, Nantian Yangzi slightly parted a slit in the curtain, gazing at the surging crowd in the fog outside: “What a… wonderful stage.”
“This game is getting more and more interesting. I am starting to look forward to what reaction the Chongqing side will have after the explosion.”
At the same time, Military Statistics Bureau headquarters, Luojiawan station.
Inside Deputy Director Boss Dai’s office, the atmosphere was heavy as iron.
A newspaper was slammed hard onto the wide desk, making a dull thud.
“Vicious plot, extremely malicious!” Boss Dai’s voice was icy cold, his face as dark as water.
With his experience, he instantly saw through the black hand behind this wave of public opinion storm.
Even if there were occasional shadows of scattered facts, the scale, timing, and direction all reeked of Japanese spy agencies.
Deputy Director of the Secretariat Mao Qi Wu pushed the door open hurriedly, his expression grave, sweat on his forehead: “Director! The situation is critical! The parade is led by Central University students, with extremely many citizens involved. It has spiraled out of control! Our people report that the crowd has been thoroughly incited and is hard to guide!”
Boss Dai’s face changed drastically, asking urgently: “Cannot dissuade or divert them?”
“The slogans are ‘anti-corruption,’ politically correct. Our personnel cannot reverse it at all and are instead swept up in the tide!” Mao Qi Wu spoke rapidly, anxious. “More seriously, we just received ‘Number Three’ top secret intelligence.”
“Intelligence claims that Nantian Yangzi’s agent team has preset explosion points along the parade route! Very likely in the Minsheng Road section! Intent to create a major disaster and frame our bureau or Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics!”
“What?” Boss Dai’s pupils contracted sharply, a cold shiver running down his spine.
He fully understood the Japanese complete conspiracy: incite public opinion, then destroy it with bloody explosions and frame others, striking a heavy blow to morale, public sentiment, and government prestige in one go!
“Must stop it! Immediately find a way to notify the parade leaders: trap ahead, evacuate quickly!”
“Director, too late!” Mao Qi Wu looked pained: “The crowd is huge, emotions boiling. If we forcefully warn now, it will cause massive panic and trampling, playing right into the Japanese hands, and their explosives can be remotely triggered in the chaos!”
“Then there is only one way!” A decisive glint flashed in Boss Dai’s eyes. “Qi Wu, I will give you the order. Immediately lead the team yourself, select the most elite action team members from the Secret Agent Brigade, all disguised as students or citizens, and infiltrate the parade and roadside crowds!”
“Have Tan Rongzhang take his men—those dogs—and get there first. Target area: middle section of Minsheng Road, around Dexin Grocery Store! Search every inch of ground for me! Find the bomb at all costs and defuse it…”
“If… if the situation is dire and defusal is impossible…”
“Then fire shots to create chaos and disperse the crowd. Even if there is some damage, it is excusable. In short, absolutely do not let it detonate in the densest part of the crowd!”
Firing into the crowd would cause trampling.
“Director! This…”
“Execute the order!” Boss Dai was resolute: “Of two evils, choose the lesser.”
“This is the only way to minimize casualties! At the same time, immediately notify the Garrison Headquarters and city police bureau, saying suspicious activity spotted on Minsheng Road, have them increase patrols—even delaying the crowd a moment is good! Quick! Go do it now!”
“Right, notify Secretariat Director Zheng to communicate with the Military Command Office, have General Sun send people to assist in the search.”
“They are the real elites…”
