Chapter 191: If You Don’t Take It, How Can I?
Shanghai, Southern Transportation Department.
The public opinion war led by Chen Yang finally came to an end.
On the night of the riot, Mr. Wang flew to Yunnan under the pretext of giving a speech, transferred in Kunming, and headed to Hanoi.
After seeing the message sent to him by Kagesa, Chen Yang could only sigh inwardly.
He had already done everything he could, and Kagesa was watching the public opinion war very closely, so he didn’t dare to play tricks.
However, he immediately leaked the whereabouts of Nakamura Saki, the Special Higher Police Affairs envoy sent to Chongqing, to Song Yilin.
Song Yilin reported Nakamura Saki’s whereabouts to Chongqing Headquarters.
Only then could Lin Zhao capture him when Nakamura Saki got off the vehicle, and he used a method of shifting blame to have Sun Chao from the Military Statistics Bureau’s International Affairs Office impersonate Nakamura Saki to get close to Nantian Yangzi.
Sun Chao was an agent who had returned from studying in Japan, with fluent Kansai dialect and an appearance very similar to Nakamura Saki.
Lin Zhao originally wanted to catch Nantian and others all at once and obtain solid evidence of that person’s collusion with the Japanese.
But unexpectedly, the higher-ups didn’t care about these things at all and instead wanted to drive them away.
At this point, the development of events was no longer something an intelligence officer could control.
However, fortunately, after the plan was completed, Chen Yang’s suspicions were successfully cleared.
But Kagesa was not happy.
Nantian’s final move was truly vicious, not only exposing the location of the North China Information Section radio, but also revealing their last hidden line.
The Military Statistics Bureau followed this line and not only dug up a whole string of North China Information Section chess pieces, but also took down the channels they used to control public opinion.
This led to the public opinion war, originally expected to last three months, hastily ending in less than seven days.
Chongqing’s public opinion was controlled by the Military Statistics Bureau, and they quickly began a major attack on the Japanese with the theme of Wang’s defection.
Public opinion quickly shifted from the previous corruption case to traitors.
Amidst a wave of denunciations, hot-blooded university students once again became chess pieces exploited by certain people.
Knock knock knock, a knock at the door sounded, Chen Yang came back to his senses and said mildly, “Come in.”
The office door was pushed open, and the person standing at the door was wearing a crisp Navy uniform, with a joyful smile on his face.
“Minister Saito, how did you come to my place? For any matter, I should go up to see you.”
Chen Yang kept a very humble posture; the person before him was Saito Koichi.
He was the person in charge of maritime transport. Originally, Chen Yang thought he was the section chief of the Maritime Transport Section, but Chen Yang seemed to have underestimated Saito’s power.
After the Navy Department joined the Southern Transportation Section, Saito’s position turned out to be one of the two deputy ministers of the Southern Transportation Department.
He was also the second most powerful figure in the Transportation Department.
Of course, there was also Minister Ino sent by the South Manchuria Railway, who was just a figurehead.
He basically couldn’t get involved in Southern Transportation Department matters; he only coordinated when transporting things from the North.
Saito pulled out a chair and sat across from Chen Yang: “Section Chief Chen, you mentioned before about inviting Your Excellency Yamaki, and Your Excellency Yamaki has agreed.”
“However, I advise you to be cautious. Your Excellency Yamaki is a very traditional Navy officer; he likes practical things and not irrelevant ones.”
“So, you’d better tell him the truth.”
Chen Yang nodded slowly, pulled open the drawer, and took out a check that had been prepared long ago.
He gently pushed the check in front of Saito, and Chen Yang smiled: “Saito-kun, this is your dividend from last month.”
Saito picked up the check and was instantly startled by the number on it: “Section Chief Chen, this number…”
Chen Yang frowned slightly: “Is Saito-kun not satisfied with this number?”
Saito quickly waved his hand: “No, I mean, isn’t it too much?”
The corner of Chen Yang’s mouth curved up slightly: “Of course not. We always follow the rules in our dealings; this is what you deserve, and it’s not just for you alone—you still need to share some with your subordinates.”
“As for how to divide it, I won’t interfere.”
A trace of hesitation flashed across Saito’s face—not because the money was too little, but too much; he was a bit unsure whether to accept it.
Chen Yang stood up and said in a sincere tone: “Saito-kun, rest assured, the money has been laundered through the foundation; no matter how it’s checked, it’s clean.”
“Uh…”: Saito looked at the number and couldn’t help licking his lips. “Section Chief Chen, I, I… How about I distribute the money to my subordinates first? So much money makes me feel a bit uneasy…”
Bang, Chen Yang slammed the table and said gravely: “Saito-kun, feeling uneasy is right. I felt uneasy the first time I took money too…”
“But you can’t always feel uneasy. Search your conscience: since joining the Southern Transportation Department, have there been any mistakes in transportation matters?”
“Have the brothers in the Maritime Transport Section not labored day and night for the Empire’s cause?”
“Have they ever slacked off in their duties even a little?”
Saito’s face immediately turned serious: “Of course not. We have no slack in our work; all supplies arrive on time.”
Chen Yang’s expression softened: “That’s right. When you’ve done everything perfectly, taking this bit of money is no big deal.”
“Besides, if your subordinates don’t take it, how can you take it? If you don’t take it, how can I take it? If I don’t take it, how can the people above take it? If no one takes it, how do we progress? How do we continue to play our role for the Empire’s cause?”
Saito was stunned for a moment, and Chen Yang continued: “Saito-kun, when working in the agency, doing your job diligently is your duty, but you also need to learn to see the overall situation.”
“In doing things, you need to know how to build relationships, and you need to quickly join this network of relationships.”
“From the grassroots to the middle level, from the middle to the upper level, it’s like a net.”
“Every net is connected by countless nodes; you are a node, and so am I.”
“But when all nodes connect, they can build an absolutely efficient high-speed network.”
“Saito-kun, remember: weaving the net is not the goal; improving efficiency for the Empire is the goal.”
“Yes, yes, everything is for the Empire’s future.” Saito finally found a high-sounding excuse.
Chen Yang nodded in satisfaction: “Saito-kun, then I won’t keep you. Go ahead with your business, but don’t forget: seven o’clock tonight, Moonlight Sand.”
“Tonight, I will introduce big shots to Your Excellency Yamaki.”
Night, Moonlight Sand.
The third floor of Moonlight Sand, which had never been open to the public, suddenly lit up with soft lights tonight.
The guests on the ground floor were very curious.
Since opening, Moonlight Sand had recruited quite a few members. It was a membership system club where only officers were eligible to apply for membership, and it was by internal recommendation—only members could recommend new members.
Ordinary people had only two recommendation slots, meaning one person could recommend at most two members.
And the strictest rule was that ordinary members could only stay on the first floor; if your level was insufficient, you couldn’t go up to the second floor.
Above the second floor was the most mysterious third floor. Many people were curious about what was on the third floor. Yangzi had once tried to force her way in, but was quickly taken away by Inspection Department people, had her membership canceled, and was permanently banned.
This way, no one dared to break the rules. Everyone was still curious about who the boss behind Moonlight Sand was and how they could mobilize Inspection Department people.
At exactly seven o’clock at night, Chen Yang, wearing a well-ironed dark suit, sat in a relatively secluded private room with a good view.
On the table in front of him was a glass of whiskey that was almost untouched, and his fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the desktop.
He was waiting, waiting for important people to come for the meeting!
The one meeting him was Colonel Yamaki from the Japanese Navy Logistics Department.
The Navy and Army had long been at odds, even operating separately in intelligence work and engaging in infighting.
Maintaining good relations between the two camps had become his most important job now.
Knock knock knock, a knock at the door sounded. The female waiter pushed open the private room door, bowed slightly, and said: “Boss, Your Excellency Yamaki has arrived.”
Chen Yang stood up, straightened his clothes, and said: “Please let him in.”
The female waiter bowed again and retreated.
Soon, footsteps sounded. A slightly plump middle-aged man in Navy officer casual clothes, with a warm smile on his face, walked in led by the female waiter—it was Colonel Yamaki.
He didn’t look like a soldier but more like a wealthy businessman, but the occasional sharp glint in his narrowed eyes revealed he was far from as simple as he appeared.
“Mr. Chen, sorry to keep you waiting!” Colonel Yamaki enthusiastically extended his hand, his Chinese quite fluent. “I’ve long heard that Section Chief Chen of the Transportation Section is young and promising. Seeing you today, the reputation is well-deserved.”
“Colonel Yamaki flatters me. For you to make time amid your busy schedule to meet is my honor.” Chen Yang immediately stood up, put on a perfectly measured smile with a touch of being flattered and bureaucratic humility, and shook hands firmly with Yamaki. The two tacitly played their roles.
“Your Excellency Yamaki, please.” Chen Yang bowed slightly, inviting the other to sit.
After Yamaki sat down, he smiled and looked around: “Moonlight Sand… great place, much more interesting than our Navy club!”
“Not at all, I just think the atmosphere here is more relaxed, convenient for talking.” Chen Yang bowed slightly and poured wine for Yamaki. “I heard the Colonel has been busy lately, even worrying about scheduling Yangtze River shipping?”
Yamaki was from the Navy Logistics Department, responsible for coordinating water transport of military supplies.
In a way, he was the direct superior of the Maritime Transport Section.
“Yes,” Yamaki sighed, took a sip of sake, and said what seemed like a complaint but was actually a probe: “Your Army’s appetite is getting bigger and bigger, always demanding priority use of all available ships. Our Navy’s supply lines are almost squeezed out of space.”
“Especially recently, some special ‘large cargo’ needs to be transported toward Hankou, with tight timelines and high demands—really headache-inducing.”
“Special ‘large cargo’?” Chen Yang’s heart stirred, but his face showed understanding and sympathy. “The Army side sometimes doesn’t consider allied forces’ difficulties.”
“However, since it’s an important mission, perhaps our Transportation Section can think of ways to schedule from land routes to share some pressure?”
Yamaki frowned and changed the topic: “Mr. Chen, let’s not talk about work now.”
“I want to know, what exactly is the matter that made you have Saito invite me here?”
