Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

Chapter 120 Taking Over the Marine Corps

By the time everything at the academy was arranged, it was already evening when the four cars left the East Asia Tongwen Academy. The group first went to the Japanese Club for a welcome banquet. Yang Dengying had learned that Aoki Qiao had made a great impact in Tokyo this time, so he specially arranged this banquet.

The purpose of this banquet was to listen to Colonel Aoki tell stories. The stories were accompanied by drinks, and compliments were endless. The group of drinkers got drunk again.

By the time Meixu drove Chen Jiehua, Qing Tengyi, and Qing Tengjiu home, it was already late at night.

Two maids lived in two single rooms on the first floor. Fujiwara Mio had already arranged the rooms in advance. In fact, the guest rooms on the first floor of the house were always available.

This time, during this blissful reunion night, Old Zhou won't be causing any trouble!

The two didn't fall asleep until after 3 a.m.

On the morning of the 26th, Chen Jiehua slept until almost noon before getting up and taking his Marine Corps appointment letter to the headquarters at 2121 North Sichuan Road to assume his post.

The former commander and chief of staff were dragged back to headquarters and placed in solitary confinement for humiliating this prominent figure at the naval club, and subsequently dismissed. The new commander, Masao Shibayama, hasn't even arrived yet, but this guy has already arrived!
"Fellow naval brothers, we're brothers now. The uniforms from the Naval General Staff haven't been issued yet, but you should have received the notification. Your appointment letters are here too. Any questions?"

"no!"

"Yosh! Morale is up to par. How much of the gossip coming from headquarters have you all heard? As for things that are unrelated to me, Aoki Joe, you don't need to talk about them."

"Sir, we know what we should know! And even if we know what we shouldn't know, we can't say it!"

"Hahaha~~"

Aoki Joe shifted into a more comfortable position, looking down at the Marines below. Of course, most of these men were actually spies and agents, plotting how to use them.

I started thinking about this on the ship before we arrived. I originally thought I'd have to compete with Masao Shibayama to recruit him, but he didn't even show up, so my strategy was useless. But isn't this better?

You, Shiba Inu, might as well not come at all. Just take your men from headquarters to the Northeast and expand the market in Manchuria. The desserts and cream I prepared for him probably haven't even been eaten yet; he's got plenty to do.

The people here are perfect for me!
"Since you all know, Aoki won't waste any more words. As you all know, Aoki comes from the army, but I'm actually a navy officer. However, the work I do now doesn't have much to do with the army!"

"Someone has already guessed it, right? Come on, tell us."

"Qingmu Pharmacy, making money!"

"See, smart people are different! If you want to make money, that's easy. I have no interest in who did what happened before, but I hope that you will all work together with me to complete every task assigned by the Chief of the Military Command!"

Chen Jiehua completed the initial brainwashing of all personnel at the Marine Corps Headquarters, and then assigned tasks, dividing everyone into three groups. One group consisted of selected individuals who had business experience before enlisting or whose families were in business. They went to the East Asia Tongwen Academy for training to prepare to take over part of the pharmacy business.

The second group consists of civilian personnel and those with mobility issues, who remain at the headquarters to ensure basic operations.

The three groups consisted entirely of field agents, who were further divided into several smaller groups to conduct a manhunt exercise. All personnel were deployed, employing a segmented tracking method to closely monitor Obata Kazuki, as well as various train stations, docks, and important intersections. The objective was to locate the individuals sent by the Special Higher Police Section.

If any member of any group is discovered by Obata Kazuki, or by the target, the entire group will be punished with a month of training at the beach. Those who complete the mission will be rewarded with double their pay.

I want to see who it is that's coming.

By the time the arrangements were completed, it was already afternoon. Chen Jiehua drove away from the Marine Corps headquarters compound and slowly drove south along North Sichuan Road. Suddenly, on the left side of the road ahead, a foreigner hurriedly walked forward, followed by two Kuomintang policemen at a distance.

Haha, so even you, Sorge, have your embarrassing moments! Chen Jiehua's car passed the two policemen and slowly pulled up next to Sorge. Sorge glanced at the driver on the right, smoothly opened the door and got in. Chen Jiehua accelerated, and the car sped away, leaving the two policemen behind.

"How could the wise and mighty Mr. Alexander Johnson have ended up in such a sorry state?"

Sorge didn't respond to Chen Jiehua's teasing. Instead, he directed Chen Jiehua to turn right into the alley, then turn right again onto another road. This series of right turns essentially brought them back to North Sichuan Road, where they picked up a woman on the side of the road before turning around and heading north.

"Hey, why didn't you just say you were going to pick up the lady? Why did you have to tell me to go around in circles? I'm a colonel now, why should I be your driver for your secret rendezvous with a beautiful lady?"

Chen Jiehua couldn't help but bicker with Sorge whenever he met him, but at this moment, he was still very excited. The standard beauty in the back seat, a European and American woman dressed as a reporter, was Sorge's most important partner in Shanghai, Ms. Agnes Smedley!

Although Agnes Smedley got into the car, she did not let her guard down. She kept a close eye on the driver who was driving and making sarcastic remarks about Sorge. She was seeing this driver for the first time, and more importantly, he was dressed in a Japanese army uniform and had the rank of colonel! Where did Sorge find someone who could impersonate a Japanese army colonel?
"Where to? Your cabin? Or somewhere else?"

"70 Grossi Road, Luban Apartments".

After Sorge gave the address, Smedley in the back seat was shocked and turned to stare at Sorge. He was acting very strangely today!
“This is one of our own, our closest comrades,” Sorge explained to Smedley in English.

“I am very grateful for Mr. Alexander Johnson’s recognition. I am honored,” Chen Jiehua replied in English.

Well, it seems your relationship is indeed quite special.

After turning the corner, Chen Jiehua drove to Luban Road and parked the car in the French Park opposite the Luban Apartments. The three of them then walked to No. 70.

Upon entering, the three of them tacitly conducted a counter-espionage check.

"Let me introduce myself, Colonel Aoki Takashi of the Japanese Army. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Smedley." Smedley didn't take Chen Jiehua's outstretched hand, but instead stared at Chen Jiehua with wide eyes.

Chen Jiehua thought to himself, "Oh, I haven't introduced Sorge yet. I shouldn't just say her name directly; that would be too scary."

"Oh, it's okay, don't be afraid. It's normal for them to know your name. In Shanghai, I have thousands upon thousands of eyes." Chen Jiehua shrugged and pulled up a chair to sit down.

“You won’t die if you don’t brag, right, Mr. Aoki?” Sorge couldn’t stand this guy’s continued pretentiousness any longer and prepared to start his confrontation.

"Dear Mr. Johnson and Mr. Sorge, and the beautiful Ms. Smedley, have you seen those people in blue vests running fast through the streets and alleys of Shanghai?"

"Qingmu Chain Pharmacy!"

(End of this chapter)