Chapter 56: The Real Mission
Kagesa Shinzhao was very satisfied with Chen Yang’s humble attitude, and without any pretense, he took out a proposal he had prepared long ago from his briefcase and handed it to Chen Yang, saying: “Mr. Chen, this is my initial conception of the structure for the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee.”
“Take a look and offer some opinions while you’re at it.”
Chen Yang respectfully accepted the documents with both hands, opened them in front of the two men, and carefully read through them once.
Then, he cleared his throat and shared his opinions on the structural issues above with the two men.
As a small boss struggling to survive in society in the 21st century.
Chen Yang had long ago learned the two skills that a small boss relies on for survival: one was reading people’s expressions.
The other was drawing a big picture.
Of these two skills, drawing a big picture was the one he was best at.
Moreover, people in the future world all knew that Chinese students performed extremely oddly in all exams worldwide.
Even for some questions they had never seen before, Chinese students could rely on their own knowledge to analyze the examiner’s intention and thereby derive the correct answer to the question.
There’s a saying: clearly don’t know it, but still get it right.
Based on these foundations, after Chen Yang figured out Kagesa Shinzhao’s intention, he quickly followed the other’s line of thinking and gave pertinent opinions.
Kagesa Shinzhao was also very surprised; he felt that every point and suggestion Chen Yang made seemed to coincide perfectly with his own initial conception.
After more than an hour of detailed discussion, the look in Kagesa Shinzhao’s eyes when gazing at Chen Yang changed from initial indifference to fervor.
If Iwai Koichi hadn’t been there, Kagesa Shinzhao would have been so excited that he wanted to swear brotherhood with Chen Yang.
In the vast sea of people, where could one find such a person who understands him?
A thousand pieces of gold are easy to come by, but a soulmate is hard to find.
It wasn’t until the discussion of the last item of work was finished that Chen Yang realized he had talked for so long that he had even forgotten to feel thirsty.
Just as he picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, Kagesa Shinzhao couldn’t help but applaud him.
“Mr. Chen, I think the opinions you just proposed are excellent.”
“See when you have time to organize those suggestions into a report and hand it to me.”
“After I refine it, the detailed process for establishing the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee will be carried out according to this plan.”
“Rest assured, Mr. Chen, I won’t let you work for nothing. You’re so familiar with the process of preparatory work; once the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee is established, I will definitely reserve a position for you.”
Elder Brother, no way, I was bullshitting the whole time, and you believed it?
Chen Yang swallowed the tea and said to Kagesa Shinzhao: “Being able to help Senior Kagesa is my honor.”
“If Senior really needs it, I will write a report based on the ideas we discussed earlier and hand it to you after I get back.”
“Well, it’s getting late, and I still have some matters on hand. Senior Kagesa, Senior Iwai, I’ll head back first.”
Iwai Koichi quickly stood up and said: “Mr. Chen, let me see you out.”
Chen Yang waved his hand and said: “No need, Senior, please stay.”
After seeing off Chen Yang, Iwai Koichi smiled slightly at Kagesa Shinzhao: “Mr. Kagesa, my junior disciple performed quite well, didn’t he? Was he able to help you?”
Kagesa Shinzhao nodded and said: “Absolutely, I’m short on someone like him by my side who is familiar with both the process and China affairs.”
“It’s a pity he’s Chinese and holds an important position, so he can’t fully devote himself to the establishment work.”
“Well, though, serving as an advisor should be no problem.”
Iwai Koichi seemed unable to imagine that Kagesa held Chen Yang in such high regard.
However, judging from Chen Yang’s performance just now, his insights on these matters were indeed quite brilliant.
Picking up the teacup on the table, Kagesa Shinzhao walked to the window, looked outside, and said: “It’s been a long time since I returned to this place. When I was in the homeland, I often thought of this place; I miss the days when I worked together with Mr. Iwai.”
Ten years ago, Kagesa Shinzhao, as the military attaché of the Shanghai consulate, had long carried out espionage activities in China such as instigating defection, infiltration, and intelligence gathering.
Before the Mukden Incident, he was a firm supporter of the invasion of China.
Due to his outstanding performance, he was appointed by the homeland as the head of the highest intelligence analysis agency against China, that is, the section chief of the China Affairs Section within the consulate.
In Year 23 of the Republic of China, he was ordered to return to the homeland, participated in crafting the operation plan for the invasion of China, and provided the General Staff Office with a large amount of information on the Chinese side.
It was precisely because of this merit that he was promoted to colonel and served as section chief of the Military Affairs Section and section chief of the 8th Section (Strategy Section) of the General Staff Office.
Iwai Koichi walked to Kagesa Shinzhao’s side, clinked his teacup against the other’s, took a small sip, and said: “China is a good place.”
“To be honest, when I received the telegram saying Mr. Kagesa was coming to Shanghai, I didn’t quite believe it.”
“Mr. Kagesa is so highly regarded in the General Staff Office; just to prepare an intelligence agency, and General Headquarters sends you out—it seems like overkill.”
Kagesa Shinzhao was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: “Mr. Iwai truly has sharp eyes.”
“Merely preparing a special affairs agency naturally doesn’t require me. This time I’m coming to China under instructions from Your Excellency Suzuki of the General Staff Office to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in executing Secret Order No. 7. For this matter, I still need Mr. Iwai’s help.”
Iwai Koichi was slightly startled and looked at Kagesa Shinzhao: “Teacher wrote to me earlier saying there were changes in the plan originally handled by Imai-kun.”
“Teacher said headquarters has new arrangements. It seems the one taking over Imai-kun’s work is you, Mr. Kagesa.”
Kagesa Shinzhao nodded, turned and walked to the sofa, set down his teacup, and took out a notebook from his briefcase.
He handed the notebook to Iwai Koichi with both hands: “This is something His Excellency Fujiwara asked me to pass on to you.”
Iwai Koichi took the notebook, opened the cover page, and there were prominently four large characters written on it.
“Watanabe Plan.”
Kagesa Shinzhao said gravely: “This is the original draft of Secret Order No. 7, that is, the Watanabe Plan designed by His Excellency Watanabe Kenjiro.”
“Both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believe that if this plan can be completed, it can accelerate our resolution of the warfare issue on the China side.”
“Therefore, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken the lead and already sent Major Nantian to go undercover in Chongqing to make contact with the target figure.”
“Imai-kun has already contacted Gao Zhongwu and Tao Xisheng through the North China Information Section, hoping to apply pressure from multiple sides to make the target figure quickly make up his mind.”
“So, you’re still set on targeting that gentleman?” Iwai Koichi said flatly: “That one is not as easy to control as Mr. Liang in our hands.”
“Moreover, do you have confidence in persuading him to leave Chongqing?”
Kagesa Shinzhao smiled: “Mr. Iwai, you seem not to understand the target figure’s personality very well.”
“His role in Chongqing isn’t that great; if not for the halo of being the drafter of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s will, not many people would bother with him.”
“I believe as long as we’re willing to extend an olive branch, he will certainly accept our good intentions.”
