Chapter 225: You’re Simply Lawless
“What?” Wu Gengshu’s brows suddenly furrowed. Chen Gongshu, nicknamed the Ruthless Scholar, was one of Boss Dai’s Four Great Vajras.
He had once served as the station chief of the Beiping Station of the Military Statistics Bureau, assassinated the puppet North China regime chairman Wang Kemin, and last year Wang Mou’s group flew directly from Chongqing to Yunnan under the pretext of a speech, transferring in Kunming to Vietnam’s Hanoi.
After Wang Mou arrived in Hanoi, he issued the Yan Telegram, in which his attitude toward the Japanese was ambiguous, full of flattery and sycophancy…
The article was published in newspapers, instantly shocking the entire nation. Various restless big and small traitors seemed to have found their backbone.
They all rallied in support of Wang Mou’s actions.
The Military Statistics Bureau received instructions from Boss Dai to select assassins to go to Vietnam to pursue and kill Wang Mou.
As the action team captain, Chen Gongshu lurked in Vietnam for over a month and finally found an opportunity to place a bomb on the car Wang Mou was traveling in.
Unexpectedly, he failed to kill this big traitor but instead killed the secretary Zeng Zhongming.
After Wang Mou luckily escaped with his life, he immediately requested key protection from Japanese foreign affairs officer Imai Takeo.
After Imai Takeo reported to the General Staff Office, he dispatched a guard team: half the manpower to protect Wang’s safety, the other half a special killer squad to pursue Chen Gongshu.
After the news that Chen Gongshu’s assassination had failed and his actions were blocked everywhere reached Chongqing, Boss Dai considered it repeatedly and ordered them to withdraw.
But due to the Shanghai Military Statistics Bureau Station station chief being captured, headquarters suspected there were problems within Shanghai Station.
This rendezvous telegram was not sent to Shanghai but was rerouted to Nanjing, with Nanjing sending people to Shanghai for the rendezvous.
Wu Gengshu was silent for a moment, then slowly said: “Have Hummingbird take people to Shanghai. Remember, do not have any lateral contact with anyone from Shanghai Station.”
“Until Wan Tianmu’s matter is clarified, everyone at Shanghai Station is a suspect.”
Nanjing, outside Pukou Wharf, a quiet corner of an abandoned warehouse.
Wan Tianmu yanked off the tattered felt hat blocking his view, gasping for air. The biting cold wind of early spring filled his lungs but could not dispel the near-frozen chill in his heart.
The moment he left Tiger Bridge that afternoon, the jailer’s “kind” reminder in his eyes to “be careful outside,” and Kagesa Shinzhao’s final words days ago that “free air is deadly,” coiled around his heart like venomous snakes.
He had changed into a stolen, ragged and stiff wharf coolie outfit, deliberately smearing dirt on his face.
Kagesa had indeed “kept his promise” and released him, but provided no identity cover or travel funds.
This itself was part of the scheme, letting him swagger out of prison to face the suspicious gazes of Nanjing Station.
Wan Tianmu was very cautious; after leaving prison, he immediately changed clothes.
He now had to find an opportunity to prove his innocence before Nanjing Station found him!
But this was as hard as reaching the sky.
It could be said that all of Nanjing Station’s contact points became potential death traps the moment he stepped out of prison.
He dared not go to any strongholds and could only rely on his fragmented memories of the city from his time as Nanjing Station chief, hiding and wandering in abandoned factories, demolished shantytowns, and chaotic slums.
When hungry, he stole dried grains or salted fish drying on stalls; when thirsty, he cupped handfuls of water from the icy riverbank. Physical fatigue was bearable, but the mental torment and omnipresent sense of crisis were like maggots in the bones.
At dusk, an icy rain swept through Nanjing city. Wan Tianmu huddled deep in the rebar skeleton of an unfinished foreign-style building’s foundation, soaked through, trembling.
Just as his consciousness blurred, an unusual motor sound approached from afar, sounding especially muffled in the rain curtain!
Not a military truck! Two black sedans with headlights off, deliberately slowed, ghosted slowly along the muddy road outside the construction site! Windows tightly closed, curtains drawn, but Wan Tianmu’s battle-hardened instincts screamed in alarm!
He could feel the gazes behind those closed windows sweeping the abandoned site like searchlights!
Pursuers! Elimination team!
They had already tracked here?! Coincidence? Or… precise targeting?
Wan Tianmu instantly held his breath, pressing his body tightly into the cold rebar and concrete crevices, not daring to let a single extra water drop fall. Icy rainwater streamed down his cheeks, mixing with sweat, blurring his vision.
His heart pounded like a drum in his chest, nearly breaking his ribs. The efficiency of those hunting him was terrifying! This was no mere coincidence; behind them was surely a net more familiar with his habits and intent on his death!
“Search carefully! Footprints! Tracks! He’s definitely hiding in this area!” A low and deep, muffled command voice penetrated the rain curtain.
Footsteps splashed mud; several flashlight beams like pale venomous snakes swept back and forth through the ruins, passing over Wan Tianmu’s hiding crevice multiple times, the closest one nearly grazing his scalp!
Cold sweat instantly soaked the last dry layer of clothing inside. Wan Tianmu’s right hand slowly reached to his waist, where a nicked bayonet picked from an alley fight corpse was tucked, its cold touch bringing a negligible sense of safety.
Just as the searchlight beams were about to lock onto his hiding spot—
“BOOM!!!”
A earth-shattering roar erupted from the nearby riverside warehouse district! Flames shot skyward, instantly tearing through the thick rain curtain! The ground trembled!
An explosion! Far larger than a typical sabotage action!
“What’s the situation?!”
The voices searching for him instantly filled with shock and a hint of panic! Flashlight beams immediately shifted from the ruins toward the explosion direction! Footsteps converged there!
Wan Tianmu didn’t know who caused the explosion—perhaps other anti-Japanese forces active nearby? Or an accident? But this sudden blast became his only escape window!
Amid the chaos, he mustered all his strength, like an injured but cunning wolf, darting through the rainy, muddy construction site at top speed under the cover of explosion lights and noise, hunched over!
Rain soaked his body, but he paid it no mind, only wanting to flee this locked death zone.
Nanjing Special Affairs Committee office
Kagesa Shinzhao listened to his subordinate’s report, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly in a smug smile.
After the subordinate finished reporting, he bowed slightly and left the office.
At this time, Lieutenant Colonel Sonoda Kumakichi, the New Government military advisor sitting beside the office, slowly stood and said: “Your Excellency Kagesa, continue. The pressure is still not enough; Wan Tianmu still harbors illusions about the Military Statistics Bureau.”
“Don’t worry, he won’t hold out much longer.” Kagesa said indifferently: “Our people have been shadowing him in secret. No matter where he runs, he can’t escape my palm.”
“Too slow,” Sonoda Kumakichi said slowly: “Just received a telegram from Imai-kun.”
“That one who nearly got bombed to death by the Military Statistics Bureau in Hanoi trusts no one now.”
“Imai-kun’s meaning is to arrange for him to return.”
“The Military Statistics Bureau hates this man to the bone. Before he returns, Shanghai Station must be uprooted.”
Kagesa nodded slightly: “Then we need to force him a bit.”
“Let the Military Statistics Bureau ‘accidentally’ capture him. What do you think, Sonoda-kun?”
“Isn’t that a bit risky? What if the Military Statistics Bureau side doesn’t listen to his explanation and directly executes house law?” Sonoda’s expression showed some concern.
“Kagesa-kun, you should know that to deal with Wan Tianmu, we’ve already mobilized everyone from Nanjing Special Higher Police Affairs and the Special Affairs Committee, centering on Wan Tianmu’s whereabouts, with layered deployments.”
“For this action, we’ve mobilized over two hundred men,”
“consuming such massive manpower and resources. If we end up with nothing, neither of us can explain to the homeland.”
“I know very well.” Kagesa said indifferently: “But at this point, we can only gamble.”
“Wan Tianmu is now a stray dog. The last straw to crush him is the Military Statistics Bureau’s final judgment.”
“He must completely lose faith in the Military Statistics Bureau before he’ll willingly work for us.”
“If the plan really goes wrong, I’ll take the responsibility.”
Sonoda frowned slightly, fingers lightly tapping the desk in front of him.
Thud. Thud. The muffled sound made the office atmosphere oppressively heavy.
“Alright, Kagesa-kun is a professional intelligence officer. I believe your judgment won’t be wrong.”
Sonoda stood and said: “Resolve Wan Tianmu’s matter quickly. I’ll hold off headquarters for you for now.”
Shanghai, French Concession, Sixteen Rows warehouse
River wind wailed, carrying salty, fishy moisture and the smell of rotting wood, battering the rusted barge frames along the shore.
Moonlight was shattered by thick clouds, stingily casting a few pale spots that barely outlined twisted pipes, collapsed brick walls, and mounds of goods half-covered by oilcloth like small hills.
“Splash—” A faint water sound rang out.
A medium-tonnage barge with reinforced hull silently docked at a makeshift simple pier.
Several lean, agile boatmen quickly jumped off.
The boatmen lifted a corner of the oilcloth; by the dim light of their handheld lanterns, they could see rough-surfaced stones below, dull iron-gray with hints of dark red—this was tungsten ore.
“Beep…” A barely audible car horn sounded from afar, like a rendezvous signal.
Immediately after, two dim yellow car headlights flashed briefly like ghostly eyes, then extinguished.
An unremarkable black Chevrolet sedan ghosted into the shadows beside the collapsed wall of the abandoned pump station.
The car door opened; first to step out was a slightly thin but sharp-eyed man, vigilantly clutching the hard object in his coat.
Then, a foot in delicate suede short boots with slender yet steady heels stepped onto the gravel-strewn mud.
Moonlight finally poured through a cloud gap for an instant, illuminating the arrival’s profile.
Shen Qingyao wore a plain qipao, overlaid with a thick dark wool overcoat; her fair face appeared exceptionally cold under the pale light.
She walked calmly toward the ore pile, her needle-sharp gaze quickly scanning every corner of the scene, finally locking on business firm boss Lin Yongren.
“Boss Lin, time is precious,” Shen Qingyao’s voice was not loud but clearly cut through the wind, “Last batch. Inspect it; the quality matches the contract basics.”
“I trust Miss Shen’s way of doing things.” Lin Yongren stepped closer, fine sweat on his forehead—not from labor, but bone-deep tension.
“Of course, the most important thing in business is reputation. Exactly eleven tons five hundred kilograms here, absolutely full weight!” Shen Qingyao confidently showed Lin Yongren the quality and weight of the tungsten ore.
Lin Yongren examined a few pieces; the ore quality was nearly uniform.
“Miss Shen, no issue with the ore. The materials you need will ship on time in three days. Just notify your people to receive then.”
Lin Yongren extended his hand: “Happy cooperation.”
“Happy cooperation, Boss Lin.” Shen Qingyao shook hands with him.
“Whoosh—!”
A shrill whistle like a demon’s shriek suddenly tore through the wharf’s dead silence!
Immediately, “Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!” Blindingly intense beams erupted without warning from all directions!
From behind abandoned crane towers, collapsed oil drum piles, pump station broken doorways… countless snow-white piercing searchlight beams bit precisely at the transaction’s key figures like venomous snakes!
Instantly exposing Shen Qingyao, Lin Yongren, and that pile of deadly ore in the bright-as-day light center!
“Don’t move! Hands up!”
“Special Higher Police Affairs! Surrender weapons and live!”
Harsh, curt commands mixed with Japanese and distorted Chinese pounced from all sides.
Heavy military boots crunching gravel sounded densely like hail! Dozens of shadows like demons from hell, holding pistols and ropes, with chilling killing intent, surged from all pre-ambushed corners!
“Damn.” Lin Yongren’s face drained of color, instinctively reaching for his gun.
But before he could draw his pistol, a stocky Japanese secret agent charged like a cannonball, knee slamming his lumbar spine, while iron-clamp hands “crack” twisted his half-drawn boxer pistol wrist out of joint!
Lin Yongren let out a agonized howl, slammed down like a broken sack into the cold mud, face scraped by rough gravel. His men moved slightly and were immediately bashed down with gun butts and bound.
Shen Qingyao’s reaction was lightning-fast! The instant the lights blazed, her pupils contracted sharply, but her body instinctively made the best response.
Her left hand flashed into her overcoat pocket, stuffing the transaction list into her mouth.
“Trying to destroy evidence?!” A sinister female voice rang behind her.
A gloved hand with terrifying force precisely seized Shen Qingyao’s wrist, yanking it back viciously! Bones creaked teeth-grindingly!
The intense pain made Shen Qingyao grunt, fingers instantly losing strength.
Immediately, her left shoulder was brutally kicked by a heavy military boot! The force enough to snap bones! Shen Qingyao staggered toward the ore pile, her neatly pinned hair roughly yanked loose.
“Hold her down!” Nantian barked.
Two burly secret agents pounced from left and right, twisting Shen Qingyao’s arms like vise grips, knees slamming her knee pits, forcing her to kneel toward the filthy ground.
Shen Qingyao desperately swallowed the list.
“Truly courting death…” Nantian Yangzi’s shadow stretched in the glare; seeing Shen Qingyao’s empty mouth, her expression grew more sinister and oppressive.
Her meticulously made-up elegant face was expressionless now, only a twitch at the eye corner betraying displeasure.
Her gaze swept the wretched Lin Yongren and boatmen on the ground, then like two ice picks, nailed onto the kneeling Shen Qingyao’s face.
Nantian Yangzi looked down at Shen Qingyao; several secret agents advanced, roughly fully uncovering the oilcloth on the goods piles.
Hefty tungsten ore was exposed inescapably in the glare, dull surface gleaming dark red.
A secret agent with a camera quickly advanced, snapping photos of the pinned Shen Qingyao and Lin Yongren, the mountain of ore, the meticulously staged capture scene—”click click”—magnesium flash freezing it all.
Shanghai, Special Higher Police Affairs headquarters.
Chen Yang’s sedan braked abruptly and aggressively at the Special Higher Police Affairs headquarters entrance.
Guarding Japanese military police immediately raised guns tensely to block; Chen Yang shoved the door open, ignored the muzzles, and strode inside.
“Halt! Papers!” The guard barked in stiff Chinese-Japanese mix, muzzle nearly at Chen Yang’s chest.
Chen Yang snapped his head up; those usually mild, deep eyes now shot icy flames, staring down the lead guard.
The pressure and fury in that gaze were so tangible that the battle-hardened military policeman instinctively stepped back half a pace.
“Where is Nantian Yangzi? Have her come see me now!” Chen Yang’s voice was not loud but pierced like ice picks into the guards’ ears, with unquestionable command tone.
“Who are you? Section Chief Nantian is working; no visitors for idlers.” That secret agent clearly didn’t recognize Chen Yang.
Of course, perhaps if Chen Yang wore Land Transport Section uniform, it might give pause, but he rushed over right after the call, no time to change clothes.
“She won’t see me? Then I’ll go see her. Get out of the way.” Chen Yang swung his hand sharply, charging straight in.
Seizing the guards’ hesitation, Chen Yang strode through the front hall.
Several plainclothes agents rushing over tried to block from the sides; Chen Yang swung his arm to parry, the force staggering one back several steps.
He didn’t strike anyone, but this direct shoving of secret agents, in the rigidly hierarchical Special Higher Police Affairs headquarters, was a shocking provocation in itself.
His leather shoes struck the cold terrazzo floor with heavy, clear echoes, the entire corridor seeming to vibrate with his steps.
Special Higher Police Affairs headquarters, Section Chief of Special Affairs Section One office
Nantian Yangzi sat behind the desk, holding a just-written preliminary report on “successful capture of rebels Shen Qingyao and Lin Yongren,” a smug, cruel smile on her face.
The door-crashing bang made her snap her head up, eyes instantly filling with vigilance and irritation at the interruption.
Seeing it was Chen Yang, Nantian Yangzi’s mouth curved in a mocking arc.
She slowly set down the report, leaned back in her chair, leisurely watching the furious Chen Yang like a caged beast.
“Director Chen?” Nantian Yangzi deliberately opened in a mocking tone, “What a rare guest. But Special Higher Police Affairs isn’t your Daxi Road coffee shop; it won’t tolerate such rudeness bursting in.”
She lifted her tea cup, sipping lightly, posture arrogantly supreme.
Chen Yang stood in the office center, chest heaving with intense emotion.
Ignoring Nantian’s mockery, he asked word by word: “Section Chief Nantian, I want to know where Shen Qingyao and Lin Yongren are?”
“Oh?” Nantian Yangzi set down her tea cup, feigning surprise with raised brows, “Mr. Chen cares about these two rebels too?”
“They colluded with lawbreakers, smuggling key strategic material tungsten ore, attempting to disrupt Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere order, and have been lawfully arrested by my Special Affairs Section One.”
“I believe soon they’ll pay for their crimes.”
“Rebels? Smuggling?” Chen Yang’s voice suddenly rose sharply; he stepped forward, hands slamming on Nantian Yangzi’s desk, looming over her, immense pressure instantly enveloping the small office, “You say they smuggled for rebels? Evidence? Does your Special Affairs Section One handle cases on ‘hearsay’ alone?”
The smile faded from Nantian’s face; she “slap” smacked the desk and stood, confronting Chen Yang across it, voice turning sharp and biting: “Insolent! Chen Yang! Are you questioning the credibility of the Empire of Japan’s Special Higher Police Affairs?”
“They were caught red-handed at the transaction site, with evidence and spoils! Ironclad proof!”
“As for the charges, I say they’re rebels, they are rebels! This is Special Higher Police Affairs! Not your place to meddle!”
“Who do you think you are, daring to question me?”
“Was Lin Xueli’s last escape also you tipping them off? Don’t think I don’t know! You dare burst in raging today—believe I won’t have you taste the interrogation room with them?”
The air froze; their gazes clashed in midair, sparking like flint.
The entire office brimmed with tense, on-the-brink-of-loss-of-control gunpowder scent.
“Nantian, playing games with me? I’m afraid you can’t afford to play.” Chen Yang’s tone instantly cooled.
“Director Chen, whether in your Land Transport Section chief identity or Nanjing Special Affairs Committee director identity.”
“Neither seems to interfere with our Special Affairs Section One’s work.”
“Of course, if you could now replace Your Excellency Kagesa’s position as Ume Agency head, perhaps I’d give you some face.” Nantian’s tone dripped sarcasm.
Knock knock knock. At that moment, a knock sounded; Special Higher Police Affairs commander Fujita Go pushed the door in.
“Section Chief Nantian, what’s happened? Why is Section Chief Chen so angry?”
“Colonel Fujita,” Nantian Yangzi said coldly: “Yesterday Special Affairs Section One caught Section Chief Chen’s subordinates doing materials business with the Communist Party during an action.”
“I now have reason to suspect Section Chief Chen used the Empire’s transportation network to support Communist Party materials.”
“Section Chief Chen comes demanding accountability—perhaps a guilty conscience?”
“Section Chief Nantian, I advise you to watch your words.” Chen Yang suppressed his rage, arms crossed, looking at Nantian Yangzi and saying gravely: “How can you accuse me of treason without evidence in front of a senior officer like Colonel Fujita?”
“You’re simply lawless…”
