Chapter 248: Peace Talks
Ume Agency underground interrogation room, this was truly a human purgatory.
A pale incandescent lamp hung from the low ceiling, illuminating the huddled figure on the iron chair in the center of the room without escape.
Aoki Tomoshige had been stripped of his suit and tie that symbolized decency and dignity, wearing only a thin white shirt.
His hands were handcuffed behind the icy iron chair, wrists chafed raw from struggling, seeping blood.
His gold-rimmed glasses had long been flung to some corner, his vision blurred, adding to his helplessness.
The condescending gaze and composed demeanor of the past were completely gone, leaving only the terror and trembling of a lamb awaiting slaughter.
Chen Yang sat behind the interrogation desk, not personally taking action; like a cold director, he leaned indifferently against the chair back, hands crossed over his abdomen, expressionlessly watching everything under the light.
No need to act personally; his presence alone was an invisible and immense pressure.
The one conducting the interrogation was Ume Agency’s deputy head of agency, Haruki Keiin.
He skillfully rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing muscular forearms, his eyes devoid of emotion, only focused as if executing a mission.
Standing before the torture instruments rack, Haruki Keiin lightly ran his right hand over the various instruments hanging on the wall; with the smile at the corner of his mouth, he seemed more like selecting an intimate partner than choosing a suitable tool!
His fingers slowly slid over metal instruments of various shapes: vise grips, barbed leather whip, electrified wire, and at his feet a basin with a branding iron inserted, charcoal fire billowing steam.
“Director Aoki,” Haruki’s voice was flat as if discussing the weather, but in this oppressive space, it sounded particularly chilling,
“Minister Chen’s time is precious.”
“Tell us everything you know about Yasuda Nobuo, about those rumors.”
“Who instigated it? Who else are the accomplices? Through what channels were they spread? Save time for everyone.”
“Yasuda told me to use Shanghai South Manchuria Railway intelligence section to spread some rumors… I don’t know anything else! I really don’t know anything!”
Aoki Tomoshige’s voice carried a sobbing tone, distorted by fear, “My cooperation with Yasuda was only to expand South Manchuria Railway Investigation Bureau’s influence, to cooperate with Yasuda in controlling the transportation department,”
“This was my work, and my goal was only that! The rumors spread later had nothing to do with me, Mr. Haruki, please inform General Kagesa, you, you must investigate clearly!”
Haruki Keiin sighed, as if regretting the other’s lack of insight.
He said no more, taking a cowhide whip soaked in saltwater from the torture instruments rack.
“Pa!”
One whip lashed across Aoki’s back, the shirt tearing open, a bloody welt instantly swelling.
Aoki let out a shrill scream, his body convulsing violently.
“Spa-Spare me! I, I really don’t know!”
“Pa! Pa! Pa!”
Haruki Keein’s movements were steady and rhythmic, the whip biting like a venomous snake, each lash bringing searing agony; old wounds not yet scabbed, new traumas already layering on.
Aoki’s screams started high-pitched, gradually becoming hoarse, finally only pained groans and uncontrollable sobs.
His whole body was soaked in cold sweat and blood, as if just fished out of water.
Chen Yang frowned slightly in the shadows, seemingly dissatisfied with the whip torture’s efficiency.
He lightly raised his hand.
Haruki understood, tossing aside the leather whip. He walked to the charcoal fire basin, using tongs to pick up a glowing red branding iron.
The dark red tip of the branding iron emitted terrifying heat waves in the air, making faint “sizzle” sounds.
“No… don’t! Don’t!” Seeing the approaching branding iron, Aoki Tomoshige’s pupils contracted sharply, emitting a despairing wail…
His body desperately curled backward, trying to flee the horrific heat source, but fixed to the iron chair, no matter how he struggled, he remained motionless.
Haruki Keiin expressionless, steadily pressed the branding iron onto Aoki Tomoshige’s bare left chest and shoulder blade.
“Sizzle—!”
The stench of burning flesh instantly filled the air.
Aoki’s body arched upward violently, like a fish thrown ashore, spasming intensely, eyeballs nearly bulging from their sockets, then his head lolled, passing out.
A bucket of ice-cold saltwater was splashed on his head. The intense pain woke him again.
He felt he was no longer a person, but a piece of meat being lingchi-ed.
“Speak.” Haruki Keein’s voice remained emotionless.
Aoki Tomoshige tearfully begged incoherently, even starting to babble irrelevant names, trying to satisfy Haruki’s demands for a moment’s respite.
But Chen Yang remained unmoved, because what he wanted was not this.
What he wanted was a “confession” that could implicate more people, to solidify Aoki’s crimes, and to use this to intimidate South Manchuria Railway.
Seeing Aoki still not spitting out the core content they wanted, more brutal punishments followed one after another.
……
Time lost meaning in this interrogation room. But pain was eternal.
Seven hours.
When Aoki Tomoshige was last awakened from unconsciousness by cold water, he was no longer human.
His body covered in whip marks, burns, and bruises, fingers twisted deformed, eyes vacant, saliva uncontrollably drooling from the corner of his mouth.
Haruki Keiin walked to Chen Yang, bowing slightly, somewhat worried: “Mr. Chen, he probably won’t last much longer. If we continue, he might…”
Chen Yang rose from the shadows, walking to the rag-doll-like Aoki Tomoshige, looking down at him, a trace of barely perceptible disgust in his eyes.
He took out the pre-prepared “confession of guilt,” grabbed Aoki’s barely movable right hand, dipped it in ink, and pressed a bloody handprint at the end.
“Haruki-kun, that’s it then, remember to clean up properly.” Chen Yang casually commanded, as if ordering the disposal of trash.
He wiped his hands with a handkerchief, turned, and left the interrogation room without looking back.
Haruki Keiin glanced at the dying Aoki Tomoshige, waving to the nearby military police.
Soon after, Ume Agency issued a brief announcement: South Manchuria Railway Investigation Bureau Director Aoki Tomoshige, suspected of participating in spreading rumors and sabotaging empire logistics stability, during investigation, suddenly repented and “committed suicide out of guilt.”
Immediately after, a disfigured, wound-covered corpse was secretly transported out and hastily cremated.
Aoki Tomoshige’s name, along with the seven hours of purgatory he endured in the interrogation room, was thus completely erased, as if it had never existed.
Xinjing, the news of Aoki Tomoshige’s “suicide out of guilt” was like a boulder thrown into Xinjing’s already undercurrent-filled pond, ripples rapidly spreading.
South Manchuria Railway internally was furious, though not daring open resistance to Ume Agency’s brutality, passive work and duplicity began spreading, already tense materials transportation efficiency further declined.
Kwantung Army Logistics Department was also panicked, collaboration with South Manchuria Railway nearly stalled, mutual shirking and accusations became the norm.
This internal friction severely impacted “holy war” materials allocation, frontline pressure eventually feedbacking to Tokyo General Headquarters.
A harshly worded order was issued to Military Affairs Section Chief Kagesa Shinzhao’s office: requiring Ume Agency and South Manchuria Railway to coordinate, must quickly resolve the current dispute, ensure logistics channels smooth.
At this delicate moment, a figure quietly arrived in Shanghai from Dalian.
This person was South Manchuria Railway Investigation Department’s senior investigator Izumi Kotaro…
This Izumi Kotaro was neither a radical militarist nor a mere bureaucrat, more like an observer and pragmatic problem-solver.
More importantly, he maintained relatively good relations with both military and South Manchuria Railway internal factions.
This time, he was jointly commissioned by South Manchuria Railway High Command and some military department figures to coordinate this mess.
Of course, to negotiate equally with an opponent like Kagesa, Izumi Kotaro lacked the qualifications, so South Manchuria Railway found him backing.
Southern China Association Director, His Excellency Nakamura Isao.
Representing Ume Agency and Shanghai Logistics Department for coordination were Land Transport Section Chief Chen Yang and Ume Agency Head of Agency, Kagesa Shinzhao…
Dusk, Kagesa Shinzhao and Chen Yang’s vehicle arrived punctually at the meeting hotel!
Kagesa wore military uniform, face calm, brows showing less overt ferocity than before, more deep scheming.
South Manchuria Railway’s purpose in sending Nakamura Isao was clear: under current circumstances, pure high pressure was not the best strategy.
Nominally Izumi Kotaro hosting the negotiation, actually Nakamura Isao was the true decision-maker…
On the second floor in a secluded room, Nakamura Isao was already waiting in the tatami room.
He wore a well-fitted dark kimono, eyes mild and wise, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
Izumi Kotaro knelt at the tea table on the other side, skillfully brewing matcha, movements slow and zen-like.
The door opened, Kagesa and Chen Yang entered the private room one after the other.
“General Kagesa, honored to have you here, forgive my lack of a distant welcome.” Seeing Kagesa, Nakamura Isao did not rise, only nodding slightly, tone calm, neither servile nor discourteous.
“Mr. Nakamura, kept you waiting.” With that, Kagesa and Chen Yang sat opposite Nakamura Isao.
Nakamura Isao nodded slightly to Izumi Kotaro, who hurriedly poured two cups of tea.
Nakamura Isao gently pushed a cup of green tea soup to Kagesa: “General, busy with duties, yet you came, still because of some misunderstandings between South Manchuria Railway and Ume Agency currently.”
Kagesa did not touch the tea, cutting straight to the point, voice low and deep: “Mr. Nakamura is a sensible man.”
“Section Chief Chen and Haruki-kun have solid evidence on Director Aoki Tomoshige spreading rumors and sabotaging empire harmony; Ume Agency acted according to law.”
“But this causing empire logistics system disruption, affecting frontline soldiers, is something no one wishes to see.”
“I wonder what South Manchuria Railway thinks of this? And how they plan to resolve it?”
Nakamura Isao smiled faintly, lifting his own tea cup, sipping lightly, unhurriedly saying: “General Kagesa, on Aoki Tomoshige matter, South Manchuria Railway internally has its own consensus.”
“If he truly had improper behavior, it was his personal issue; South Manchuria Railway’s loyalty to the empire is beyond doubt.”
Kagesa’s gaze sharpened slightly, looking at Nakamura Isao: “As I know, because of Aoki’s matter, now South Manchuria Railway internally has many disharmonious voices; their attitude greatly dissatisfies the homeland.”
“As transportation department representative, Section Chief Chen also wants to know Mr. Nakamura’s explanation for this.”
Nakamura Isao slowly said: “Reasons are multifaceted. Both recent rumors causing unrest, and technical issues in process connections, of course, possibly some… misunderstandings in communication.”
“Misunderstandings?” Kagesa Shinzhao raised an eyebrow, “Mr. Nakamura thinks the current situation is merely a misunderstanding?”
“At least an important reason.” Nakamura Isao’s tone remained calm, “Trust is like this tea cup; once cracked, hard to hold living water.”
“General’s thunderous methods to deter the petty are naturally necessary, but afterward, some gentle breeze and drizzle are needed to mend cracks, clear channels.”
“Mr. Izumi and I came to meet the general with sincerity.”
“South Manchuria Railway is willing to fully cooperate with Expeditionary Army Logistics Department, optimize transportation processes, improve efficiency, ensure frontline materials supply.”
“But at the same time hopes Ume Agency and Southern Transportation Department can give sufficient trust and collaboration space, reduce unnecessary… interventions and inspections. After all, South Manchuria Railway’s expertise is the foundation ensuring transportation efficiency.”
“Trust requires action to prove.” Kagesa was silent for a moment, slowly saying, “I can temporarily halt internal investigations targeting South Manchuria Railway; Section Chief Chen is also willing to cooperate with South Manchuria Railway work.”
“However, Mr. Nakamura, I must see results! Within a month, key materials transportation efficiency to the north must rise over thirty percent! Otherwise…”
“South Manchuria Railway must hand over China transportation dominance authority to Southern Transportation Department.”
“Mr. Nakamura, can you make this decision.”
Nakamura Isao’s smile unchanged, “Efficiency improvement is South Manchuria Railway’s duty, will naturally do our utmost.”
“As for rebuilding trust, it also needs time. I believe, under common goals, any misunderstandings and obstacles can be overcome.”
He made no commitment to Kagesa’s question, speaking generally, focusing on “common goals” and “overcoming obstacles.”
“Mr. Nakamura, what I want to hear is not this.” Kagesa’s tone became somewhat aggressive.
“Use transportation dominance authority as cooperation foundation condition!”
“If north and south unite, it will greatly help improve transportation efficiency.”
“What I want to hear is an answer, not excuses.”
“I need time to report to headquarters,” Nakamura Isao slowly said: “My authority can’t make such a big decision.”
“Hope Mr. Nakamura won’t disappoint me.” Kagesa Shinzhao silent for half a moment, finally picked up the already lukewarm matcha, downing it in one go, action crisp like a soldier’s.
“Will do our utmost.” Nakamura Isao bowed slightly.
【End thanks to alliance leader “Naming is really troublesome” for strong support, author will extra update to repay after recovery, can walk tomorrow.】
