Chapter 258: I’ll Take You To Rob Them
In Shanghai’s French Concession, on Rue Albert, a corner of a coffee shop playing languid jazz music…
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting vibrant patterns of light and shadow on the desktop.
Shen Qingyao, dressed in an elegant moon-white qipao and a delicate veil hat, looked like a wealthy lady enjoying her afternoon leisure.
She slowly stirred her coffee, her gaze occasionally flicking towards the entrance, her pale fingertips growing cold from inner tension.
As per Special Commissioner Zhang Jianliang’s instructions, Shen Qingyao had used a secret contact signal to discreetly signal Chen Yang, the Vice Minister of Transportation, seeking “special commercial cooperation.”
This wasn’t their first dealing; Lin Xueli’s resources acquired from Hong Kong Island had been delivered to Shen Qingyao through Chen Yang’s transportation network.
And it was Shen Qingyao who handled the Red Faction’s tungsten sand ore transactions, signing the contracts with Chen Yang.
Shen Qingyao knew Chen Yang was a man driven by money and not by principle; doing business with him meant being prepared to pay a hefty price.
Currently, the base was facing a severe shortage of supplies, and conventional channels were fraught with increasing risks and limited quantities. Chen Yang’s transportation authority was the only way to rapidly acquire a large volume of materials.
It was a bit expensive, but safe, and when doing business with Chen Yang, any loss of goods was Chen Yang’s responsibility.
Before her thoughts could settle, a chime sounded, the bell on the door tinkled softly, and a figure in plain clothes, wearing a gray hat, appeared at the entrance.
The newcomer’s eyes scanned the surroundings, quickly spotting the target, Shen Qingyao…
“Miss Shen, long time no see. I hope you are well?” Chen Yang smoothly sat down opposite Shen Qingyao, his voice calm and devoid of any discernible emotion.
Shen Qingyao pushed the black coffee in front of her towards him, then asked the waiter for another serving. After the waiter left, the small booth was left with just the two of them.
“It is my honor, Minister Chen, that you could spare time from your busy schedule to meet me.” Shen Qingyao smiled faintly, her tone gentle. “I presume you have already guessed the purpose of my invitation.”
“Minister Chen, you have extensive connections. Could you possibly accommodate me?”
Chen Yang stirred his black coffee, the swirling steam blurring the gaze behind his lenses. “Miss Shen, we’re not strangers. You don’t need to be so indirect.”
“Scarce goods naturally command a high price. Miss Shen, how large is the quantity of ‘goods’ you require, and what are the categories?”
Shen Qingyao knew he was probing for information. She carefully chose her words, stating a quantity far exceeding the needs of an ordinary businessman, covering food, medicine, and cloth, even vaguely mentioning “hardware parts,” which referred to weapons components.
Chen Yang listened without any surprise on his face. He gently put down his coffee spoon and quietly watched Shen Qingyao.
“Miss Shen, your appetite is quite substantial.” After a pause, Chen Yang’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “These supplies, especially the last few items, cannot be obtained with just money. Even for me, it would involve a considerable risk.”
“Regarding the price, Minister Chen, please name it. As long as the goods are satisfactory, the price is negotiable!” Shen Qingyao steadied herself, preparing for an astronomical figure.
However, what Chen Yang said next completely surprised her.
“Money is, of course, important, but sometimes it can be less important!”
“I can help you acquire these things, free of charge. However, I have a small request.”
“Please state it.”
“I know Miss Shen is capable of doing some unusual things, so I would like you to rob…”
“The target is a special train heading north from Shanghai!”
“What?!” Even Shen Qingyao, with her firm resolve, almost lost her composure. “Minister Chen… are you joking? Robbing an Imperial Army supply train? This…”
“Don’t be afraid. It’s not the Imperial Army’s; it’s the South Manchuria Railway’s.” Chen Yang interrupted her, stating clearly, “It’s a special shipment of supplies mobilized by the South Manchuria Railway, enough for two divisions for a month’s supply. The train number is K-739, five days from now, late at night, via the northern section of the Jinpura Line. I can provide you with the exact time and coordinates.”
Shen Qingyao’s mind raced. Was Chen Yang planning a double-cross? A diversion?
Why would he do this? Was it to pocket the supplies himself, or to strike at a rival within the Kwantung Army? Or was this a meticulously designed trap?
“Minister Chen, this matter… the risk is too great.” Shen Qingyao attempted to decline. “We are merely businessmen seeking profit. Such a life-or-death endeavor…”
“The risk is high, but so is the reward.” Chen Yang’s tone was irrefutable. “Upon successful completion, all the supplies on the train will be yours, three parts, mine, seven.”
A three-seven split! Shen Qingyao’s heart pounded again.
Even just thirty percent would be enough to sustain the base for a considerable period!
Furthermore, combined with the supplies from this transaction, the total value was immeasurable.
The temptation was immense, so much so that it was frightening.
“Why us?” Shen Qingyao asked the crucial question. “Minister Chen, you hold authority. You could completely…”
“I have my own inconveniences.” Chen Yang interrupted her, his tone indifferent. “There are too many people watching my position. Some things are not suitable to be done by my own hand.”
“But I don’t want to miss this opportunity, so…”
“You… have the motive, the ability, and most importantly, you are ‘clean’ enough that it cannot be traced back to me.”
“This is a cooperation, Miss Shen. You get the urgently needed supplies and wealth, and I get the ‘cleansing’ effect I desire. Each takes what they need.”
“These are my terms. Agree, and I will arrange the ‘goods’ you need as quickly as possible, and guarantee the relative safety of this route. If you disagree… then, Miss Shen, let us pretend we never met.”
The booth fell into a deathly silence. The jazz music continued to play languidly, but Shen Qingyao felt as though she were in an ice cellar.
She looked into Chen Yang’s inscrutable eyes, trying to find traces of a conspiracy, but saw only cold calm.
Robbing a special train controlled by the Japanese was undoubtedly like pulling teeth from a tiger. If they failed, both the participants and the organization behind them would face annihilation.
However, the potential gains from success, and the possibility of securing a stable supply channel through Chen Yang, were irresistible to the base, which was in extreme difficulty.
Should she refuse, maintaining temporary safety, but potentially missing an opportunity to turn the tide?
Or should she agree, risk everything, and gamble on a future full of unknown dangers?
Shen Qingyao’s hands clenched tightly under the table, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms.
After a few seconds of silence, she took a deep breath, raised her head, and met Chen Yang’s gaze. “Minister Chen, this is a matter of great importance, and I cannot make the decision alone. Give me one day. Tomorrow at noon, I will give you a definitive answer.”
“Of course, no problem. However, I must remind you, your time is running out!” A smile appeared on Chen Yang’s face as he picked up his coffee and gestured to Shen Qingyao.
“I hope your answer does not disappoint me.”
The night deepened, as if ink had been spilled across the Shanghai Bund. Only scattered neon lights stubbornly pierced the darkness, illuminating the distorted prosperity of the ten-mile radius.
In an inconspicuous old Shikumen building in the French Concession, a narrow wooden staircase led to a hidden attic.
This was one of Shen Qingyao’s backup safe houses for urgent contact with her superiors.
The attic was low, with only a transom window letting in a sliver of faint light. The air was filled with the scent of dust and old wood.
A small desk lamp, covered with a thick cloth, was placed in the center of the floor, its dim, hazy glow barely illuminating the two people sitting around it.
“Comrade Special Commissioner, this is the situation.” Shen Qingyao lowered her voice, reporting to Zhang Jianliang everything that had happened during her meeting with Chen Yang at the coffee shop.
Though her voice was calm, the knuckles of her clasped hands were slightly white, revealing the turmoil within.
“Chen Yang has proposed an extremely dangerous condition: for us to intercept and plunder a special train numbered K-739 carrying supplies, with a three-seven split upon success.”
“He promised that if we agreed, he could help us ‘resolve’ all the supplies on our previous list through his channels, free of charge.”
Zhang Jianliang listened quietly, his brow furrowing deeper. “Robbing a military train… and one carrying Kwantung Army supplies…”
“Comrade Qingyao, this is too risky! It’s tantamount to poking a hornet’s nest! If we fail, not only will our underground organization in Shanghai be devastated, but it could even endanger the safety of the bases in Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions!”
His concerns were reasonable. Any attack on the Japanese transport lines would invite furious retaliation and unprecedentedly strict investigations.
“I understand the risks, Comrade Jianliang.” Shen Qingyao met his gaze, her eyes clear and resolute…
“However, do we have any better options? I’ve already made inquiries. With the German businessman Hermann, he can only provide one hundred and fifty pounds of German-produced sulfanilamide powder at the moment, and it must be transported in three separate batches via different routes. It’s a drop in the bucket!”
“‘Old Uncle’ is a vampire, inflating prices, and demanding all transactions in gold. Our funds are nearly depleted!”
“Chang Sanye’s weapons are inconsistent in quantity and variable in quality, and the Green Gang’s internal relations are complex, making trouble possible at any moment.”
“Jin Dayou and Qiao Zhenhuai’s goods are double the market price. Our available funds are insufficient.”
“If that batch of oil could appear in Shanghai now, we would have a chance, but that’s impossible. We have to face reality.”
“Comrade Special Commissioner, we have no choice. Comrades in Taihang Mountains and Yimeng Mountains are bleeding and starving every day!”
“The devils’ ‘scorched earth’ policy is meant to starve us! Without sufficient medicine, the wounded can only die in pain; without bullets, how can our soldiers fight the heavily armed devils with empty guns? We can’t wait any longer!”
Zhang Jianliang remained silent, each word from Shen Qingyao striking him like a hammer.
Did he not know the hardships of the base? He had just returned from there, having witnessed firsthand the dire lack of medical supplies and the anxiety of the soldiers over ammunition shortages.
“Chen Yang’s offer…” Zhang Jianliang mused, tapping a spot on the map in the northern section of the Jinpura Line. “Alas, what can I say? We can never truly understand this man. Why would he do this? Simply to embezzle those supplies and attack rivals?”
“Or… does he have a deeper purpose? Could this be a trap, using us to do his dirty work, and then…”
“I have also considered this repeatedly.” Shen Qingyao analyzed calmly. “The possibility of it being a trap exists, but it’s not a certainty.”
“First, if he truly intended to harm us, he could have chosen simpler methods without going through such a convoluted process and promising us supplies.”
“Second, his target is supplies mobilized by the South Manchuria Railway. I’ve heard some inside information; there seems to be a dispute between the Southern Transportation Department and the South Manchuria Railway within the Japanese hierarchy over transportation dominance. Having us cause disruption would be much more discreet than him acting directly.”
“Third, and most importantly, he indeed controls a channel for us to obtain desperately needed supplies. This is something no other route can compare to at present.”
“My idea is, perhaps, we can turn the tables.”
“By using this opportunity, not only can we get our rightful thirty percent of the supplies, but we can also use it to learn some of Chen Yang’s background and operating methods.”
“If he keeps his word, we’ll have a relatively stable lifeline. If it’s a trap… we may still have countermeasures, and at the very least, we’ll get a batch of tangible supplies for emergency use!”
Zhang Jianliang stood up and paced in the cramped attic. The dim light cast his shadow long and short.
Finally, he stopped, sat back down on the floor, and looked intently at Shen Qingyao. “Comrade Qingyao, your analysis is sound. Currently, Chen Yang’s proposal, though dangerous, is indeed the most likely way to acquire a large quantity of supplies in a short period.”
“We cannot stand idly by and watch the base’s plight due to fear of risk.”
“However, the operation must be meticulously planned! First, the location for the train robbery must be carefully chosen, in an area where enemy defenses are relatively weak and where we can quickly transfer and conceal ourselves.”
“Second, the action personnel must be elite and absolutely reliable comrades. They must undergo repeated drills before the operation. Upon success, the transportation and concealment of the supplies must be immediately followed up, and they must not linger at the scene.”
“And finally, the most important point: maintain the highest vigilance towards Chen Yang! When exchanging supplies, safety must be confirmed to prevent him from double-crossing us.”
“I agree!” Shen Qingyao nodded heavily. “Regarding the operational details, I will find a way to extract more accurate intelligence from Chen Yang.”
“At the same time, I would like to request permission from the organization to activate our most hidden transportation lines and prepare for support in advance.”
“Good!” Zhang Jianliang said earnestly. “Comrade Qingyao, this mission concerns the lives of countless comrades and the survival of the base! We can only succeed, we cannot fail!”
“We guarantee mission completion!” Shen Qingyao’s voice was low and resolute.
