Chapter 63: Zaibatsu Fight Among Themselves
Dealing with this kind of person, Matsui Koji could be said to be very experienced.
This kind of fair-skinned, tender pretty boy clearly hasn’t been through any bloody stuff at first glance.
Drag him into the Interrogation Room, bluff him a few times in a few quick moves, and he’s guaranteed to come out knowing what grandpa’s surname is only as they dictate.
But how did such an unremarkable thing alert Commander Your Excellency?
Exactly which line went wrong?
“Economic Department matters end here. I called you in because there’s one more thing for you to handle.”
Fujita Go pulled a document from the pile of files on the Desk.
Matsui Koji hurriedly nodded and bowed as he stepped forward to take the document.
“The person in the information is Yu Zuobai, code name Candle Shadow.”
“Hata Team Undercover in Chongqing obtained the message that this person, under Boss Dai’s Instruction, came to Shanghai to meet with several leaders of the Loyal Salvation Army.”
“Hata Team can’t confirm yet what the purpose of this group of moles’ meeting is this time.”
“However, based on various information we’ve obtained so far, their target is very likely the one ton of Gold that the Osaka Chamber of Commerce raised for the Nanjing New Government.”
The Loyal Salvation Army that Fujita Go mentioned is an anti-Japanese team belonging to the Blue Army.
The Person in Charge of this team is Boss Dai.
The Loyal Salvation Army’s full name is Loyal Salvation Army Training Regiment First, reorganized from the special Action Team of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Regions.
The total number of this team is around eight hundred people, all Weapons configured to regiment level, with combat power far superior to the Red Party Guerrillas.
Matsui Koji cautiously stepped forward and said, “Fujita Your Excellency, after finding the person, should we kill on site or?”
Fujita Go’s fingers lightly tapped the Desktop.
After a while, he looked up and said, “Try to capture. If the opponent resists too fiercely, killing is permitted.”
“Hai”
Shanghai, Consulate.
“Mr. Chen, today’s events didn’t scare you, did they?” Iwai Koichi handed the brewed Tea to Chen Yang and asked with concern.
Iwai Koichi knew well what was in the Special Higher Police Affairs Interrogation Room, after all, the Iwai Agency also had such Interrogation stuff.
Chen Yang was just a fresh graduate, a hot-headed young man, and he was afraid these Torture Instruments would scare Chen Yang.
After all, he hadn’t seen such bloody things.
Chen Yang took the Tea, drank a sip, and said, “Nothing much, it’s fine. Senior Kagesa came just in time; they just asked a few casual questions.”
“By the way,” Chen Yang seemed to remember something, put down the Tea Cup in his hand, took out that blue little notebook, and handed it to Kagesa beside him, saying, “Senior Kagesa, here you go back.”
“This thing is fine used once, but using it too much might give it away.”
Hmm? Kagesa Shinzhao seemed a bit slow to react, but Iwai Koichi understood Chen Yang’s meaning first: “Mr. Chen, you don’t think this is fake, do you?”
Kagesa reacted at this point too, and the two burst into laughter looking at Chen Yang.
After a while, Kagesa stopped laughing and said, “Mr. Chen, you’re overthinking it. This document is indeed real, and I have indeed submitted an application to the Homeland to induct you as a member of the China Affairs Section Eighth Section.”
Chen Yang scratched his head and said, “But, Senior Kagesa, I’m not a professional Intelligence personnel. If you have me do Intelligence work, won’t it cause you any trouble?”
Kagesa said mildly, “Of course not. Besides needing professional personnel for normal Intelligence work, other areas also need professionals to join.”
“Mr. Chen, you may not be professional in Intelligence, but your talents can be applied to administrative affairs.”
“Shanghai is now full of people hostile to the Empire, and the Special Higher Police Affairs is too conspicuous.”
“They are all Agents trained in the Homeland; it’s easy to be recognized when contacting local organizations.”
“Therefore, we now urgently need some native Chinese Intelligence Agencies to serve the Empire.”
Chen Yang nodded slightly and said, “If it’s just that, I’m very willing to serve Senior Kagesa.”
“Knock knock knock.” Suddenly, a knock on the door sounded.
Iwai Koichi said in a deep voice, “Come in.”
Iwai Agency Deputy Head of Agency Inukai Ken pushed the door open holding a Report. When he saw Chen Yang’s figure, the expression on his face clearly showed some hesitation.
It seemed the thing in his hand shouldn’t be seen or known by Chen Yang.
Seeing the other’s expression, Chen Yang quickly stood up and said, “Senior Iwai, Senior Kagesa, I should head back to the Economic Department. For anything else you need help with next, please Command me, Senior Kagesa.”
Iwai Koichi nodded and said, “Then I won’t keep you. Take care, Mr. Chen.”
Chen Yang nodded and said, “Senior Brother, Senior Kagesa, please stay.”
Watching Chen Yang leave, Iwai Koichi looked at Inukai Ken and said, “What is it?”
Inukai Ken handed the Report to Iwai Koichi with both hands: “Notice from the Homeland; the personnel selection for South China Investigation Committee Director has been confirmed.”
“Oh,” Iwai Koichi took the Report, read it once, and casually handed it to Kagesa Shinzhao.
Kagesa Shinzhao looked at that name on the Report and involuntarily frowned.
Iwai Koichi took a sip of Tea and said, “Mr. Kagesa, have you had contact with this person?”
“Mr. Iwai, you’re talking about this Mr. Nakamura who is about to become the South China Investigation Committee Director?”
Kagesa said slowly, “Not very familiar, but I do know a bit.”
“Seems to be from the South Manchuria Railway.”
Iwai Koichi frowned and said, “Mr. Kagesa means that behind Nakamura Isao is the South Manchuria Railway?”
Kagesa Shinzhao nodded and said, “The Empire’s operational goal is to open up the north-south line in China, forming a fast Materials channel.”
“The South Manchuria Railway is the largest Transportation Organization. At this time, sending Nakamura Isao to the South clearly aims to seize control of the Transportation Network one step ahead.”
“In my view, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s days ahead will definitely not be easy.”
“Once the South Manchuria Railway establishes a foothold in the South, the first thing will be to swallow up the Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s Materials Sales Network.”
Iwai Koichi frowned and let out a long sigh.
In the end, it’s internal strife, but this time it’s not between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but between the Navy and the Army.
The Osaka Chamber of Commerce provides the Empire with large amounts of Military Expenses each year, two-thirds of which are prioritized for Supply to the Navy Department.
The remainder is allocated to the Army.
But Japan is a resource-poor country; the Empire’s cake is only so big. The Navy and Army both need Supplies; if the Navy takes one more bite, it means the Army takes one less.
And currently, the main force on the China battlefield is still the Army. The Osaka Chamber of Commerce making such a choice will inevitably cause dissatisfaction in the Army Department.
Of course, there’s also competition among the Empire’s Zaibatsu.
The Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s Cooperation Partner is the Yasuda Zaibatsu, while behind the South Manchuria Railway is the Mitsui Zaibatsu.
The two sides already have a competitive relationship; they won’t let an Opportunity like this go without striking hard.
