Chapter 45: Hand The Stage To Him
Shanghai, Gendarmerie Headquarters dormitory area, Courtyard No. 1.
The entire Gendarmerie Headquarters accommodation area has only two small courtyards that are independent.
These two small courtyards belong to the two highest-ranking people in the Gendarmerie Headquarters respectively.
One is Gendarmerie Headquarters Commander Ootani Unshichi.
The other is Gendarmerie Headquarters Chief of Staff Miura Saburo.
The air in Jiangnan in March is humid, with light rain falling from time to time.
In Commander Ootani Unshichi’s small courtyard, a small tea table is placed next to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Next to the tea table are several pots of plain unknown flowers, now blooming luxuriantly in clusters.
Next to the tea table is a red small stove, currently warming a pot of sake.
On the tea table, besides two wine cups, there are also various snacks scattered around, such as green beans, black plums, shredded squid, small dried fish, dried meat, and so on.
Such an arrangement is indeed somewhat meager for a Gendarmerie Headquarters commander.
The sake on the stove began to steam, Ootani Unshichi picked up the small wine pot wrapped in cloth from the edge of the table and poured a cup for Suzuhara Shingo sitting opposite.
Immediately after, he poured himself a cup, raised the wine cup in his hand, and Ootani Unshichi said in a harmonious voice: “Suzuhara, please.”
Suzuhara Shingo held the cup with both hands, slightly lower than the other, carefully clinked it with the other, then drank it all in one go.
“Ha” Suzuhara Shingo downed a mouthful of sake, a lingering expression appearing on his face.
“Lord Otani, this sake is not ordinary.”
Ootani Unshichi nodded slightly and said: “This is the masterpiece of Kyoto’s sake brewing master Nishisankisai.”
“I also pulled a lot of strings to get two bottles. If it weren’t for you, Suzuhara, I wouldn’t bear to bring it out to drink.”
Suzuhara Shingo glanced at the bottle next to it with no label, a “those in the know understand” expression appearing on his face.
This is just like serving 53-degree Feitian Moutai in a mineral water bottle at banquets in later generations—unassuming on the outside, but good stuff inside.
“Back to business.” Suzuhara Shingo took out a stack of information from his briefcase and handed it to Ootani Unshichi.
“Lord Otani, I have to say your vigilance is too high. We’ve already done a background check on Chen Yang once.”
“You had us do it again, but the result is still the same.”
“This includes not only Chen Yang’s, but also a detailed investigation of the entire Lin Zonghan family where he currently lives.”
“From the current view, there are no problems, and I can believe that the Lin family also maintains goodwill toward the Empire.”
“Only the eldest sister in his family seems somewhat dissatisfied with the Empire, but a woman who doesn’t step out the front gate or the second gate poses no threat to us.”
Ootani Unshichi quickly flipped through the information, was silent for a moment, then lit each page with the charcoal fire in the stove and threw them into the iron basin beside.
A pungent smell rose in the air, but the two paid it no mind.
Ootani Unshichi raised his wine cup and clinked it with Suzuhara Shingo, took a small sip and said: “Suzuhara, that Chen Yang has been back for about a month, right.”
“To be honest, I find it hard to imagine that a young man in his twenties with no background could make you step in to help him take control of Shanghai’s shipping wharves just based on two transactions.”
“I think his plan shouldn’t be that simple.”
Suzuhara Shingo frowned and said: “Lord Otani means Chen Yang has an expert behind him guiding him.”
“Using freight to make a move, this person should be very familiar with Shanghai freight, but I don’t see such a person existing behind him.”
“Could it be that Lord Otani thinks the Osaka Chamber of Commerce is behind it, controlling materials transportation through Chen Yang?”
Ootani Unshichi sighed, and said very seriously: “Suzuhara, what I’m worried about is not the Osaka Chamber of Commerce.”
“The Osaka Chamber of Commerce has cooperated with us for so long without any accidents; they are still safe for us.”
“I’m worried whether behind Chen Yang is the South Manchuria Railway.”
Suzuhara Shingo was startled: “Lord Otani, aren’t you overthinking it? The South Manchuria Railway’s sales network and material warehouse are all in the North.”
“Even materials transportation is through Lüshun’s port, not on the same transportation line as our South.”
“Why would you think Chen Yang is related to the South Manchuria Railway.”
Ootani Unshichi said calmly: “Suzuhara, haven’t you seen the internal notice? Ministry of Foreign Affairs restructuring, Matsuoka Yosuke appointed Foreign Minister, Fujiwara Tomoo as Deputy Minister.”
Suzuhara Shingo nodded and said: “I’ve seen that news long ago. Wait, Lord Otani doesn’t think Chen Yang’s actions are instructed by Deputy Minister Fujiwara behind the scenes, does he?”
“What would he do that for? Does the South Manchuria Railway want to swallow the Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s sales network in the South?”
“Not necessarily swallow; it might also be related to railway transportation and shipping.” Ootani Unshichi said slowly: “The Empire is now confronting the Blue Army in Xuzhou.”
“As long as Xuzhou is captured, it can connect north and south, forming a complete transportation line.”
“Suzuhara, don’t forget Lord Matsuoka’s《Manchukuo lifeline》 theory.”
“He is a person who places great emphasis on railway transportation; the South Manchuria Railway expanded more than double under his hand.”
“I think they plan to make a move using the transportation line.”
Suzuhara Shingo shook his head repeatedly and said: “Impossible, impossible. Lord Otani, when I was posted in the Kwantung Army, I also dealt with Omura Takuichi.”
“If President Omura really wanted to scheme on the transportation line, he wouldn’t entrust such an important mission to a Chinese person.”
“Moreover, with Chen Yang’s seniority, he couldn’t possibly manage such a major plan as the transportation line.”
“I still stick to my view; controlling all Shanghai wharves is his own idea.”
Ootani Unshichi took a sip of sake and said: “So, Suzuhara, you plan to follow his wishes and help him take the four wharves in Chinese Territory as well.”
Suzuhara Shingo nodded and said: “Lord Otani, since we’ve chosen cooperation, I think enhancing his strength is also enhancing our own strength.”
Ootani Unshichi placed the wine cup on the tea table and said slowly: “I still think we should be careful.”
“Suzuhara, in cooperation with him, besides sufficient interests, I think we also need to have some leverage in hand.”
“Leverage?” Suzuhara Shingo frowned and said: “What does Lord Otani mean?”
Ootani Unshichi lightly tapped the desktop with his fingers: “The way to confirm he has no relation to the South Manchuria Railway is also very simple.”
“Hirata Jizaburo of the South Manchuria Railway Affairs Investigation Section has been collecting Shanghai materials movements.”
“Have Chen Yang make a move, give Director Aoki a warning. If Chen Yang is willing to do it, I think he is still trustworthy.”
Suzuhara Shingo hesitated and said: “Lord Otani, if we move someone from the South Manchuria Railway, won’t it cause the other’s dissatisfaction?”
“Moreover, I’m afraid the target is too big; Chen Yang may not dare to act.”
Ootani Unshichi smiled slightly: “Suzuhara, didn’t you say he has a lot of guts?”
“Tell him directly that you can help him settle the Chinese Territory wharves matter, in exchange, within three days, he must see Hirata Jizaburo’s death notice. How it ends afterward, he doesn’t need to worry.”
“Tell him, we can hand him the Shanghai stage; as long as he performs well, naturally someone will help him.”
“Hai”
