Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

Chapter 148 Xu Enzeng reported his whereabouts

Xu Enzeng felt relieved and stopped thinking about it. He was just a person; if he wanted to follow the Japanese, he couldn't stop him even if he wanted to. He might as well do a favor and give him to General Aoki directly.

Xu Enzeng personally led Aoki Qiao and Zhao Yiyue upstairs to his office and asked his secretary to make tea.

"General Aoki, you and Captain Zhao catch up first, I'll be right back."

"Oh, Brother Xu, you go ahead with your work. I'll chat with Zhao Jun for a bit."

No matter how excited Xu Enzeng was, he was clear-headed. Regardless of why the Japanese major general and the commander-in-chief of the First Overseas Fleet would secretly come to Nanjing incognito, he knew that he could not receive such a high-ranking Japanese military official!

We used to hang out together in Shanghai, all under Yang Dengying's wing, and back then Yang was just an army colonel. Speaking of Yang Dengying, oh right, he even got it from him!
Never mind that for now, let me report to my cousin first.

Unfortunately, the maid answered the phone at Chen Lifu's home, and Chen Lifu hadn't returned since he went out in the morning.

Where is my cousin usually? He's unlikely to be working overtime at this hour, right? Wait, he really might be! News just came from Jiangxi; it seems the campaign against the Communists has failed again!

Xu En tentatively called the adjutant's office, and sure enough, "Director Chen is inside, discussing military affairs with the Chairman."

"Sir, could you please inform them that Xu Enzeng of the Party Affairs Investigation Department has an urgent report to make? Rear Admiral Aoki, Commander-in-Chief of the First Overseas Fleet of the Japanese Navy, is in my office in our Party Affairs Investigation Department building. Please give me some instructions on what to do next."

The adjutant who answered the phone, upon hearing that it was a Japanese naval rear admiral, judged that it was indeed no small matter. He ran to knock on the door, only to find the situation at a standstill. The bald man was throwing a tantrum, and the adjutant was unlucky enough to be berated. Fortunately, he still mustered up the courage to tell the story, otherwise he would have been in even worse trouble.

"What nonsense! Tell him to wait. Can't you see the Chairman is getting anxious and upset?"

"Wait! Say it again, who's there?"

"Reporting to the Chairman, Xu Enzeng from the Party Affairs Investigation Department called Director Chen, saying that Rear Admiral Aoki, the commander-in-chief of the First Overseas Fleet of the Japanese Navy, is there and asking for instructions on the next steps."

The bald man thought he had misheard, so he listened again. It was the same thing: Rear Admiral Aoki, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Navy Fleet, had come to Nanjing? And instead of coming to the Nationalist government, he went to see Xu Enzeng? What kind of crazy move was this?

"Put the phone in!" The bald man wanted to ask him personally; that was a bit strange!
"Hello, this is the Chairman!"

"Greetings, Chairman! This humble servant is Xu Enzeng. Please give your instructions!" Xu Enzeng had been waiting by the phone for a long time. When he heard the bald man answer the phone himself, he instinctively stood at attention.

“Say it again, what’s going on over there! How did Major General Aoki end up in your Party Affairs Investigation Department! Why didn’t you report in advance that you were meeting with such an important foreign military officer!”

"Chairman, please let me explain!"

"..." Xu Enzeng dared not hide anything and quickly described the process from the report by the junior agent to his running to the interrogation room to confirm the other party's identity, but he ignored the part about Zhao Yiyue in the middle.

After listening to Xu Enzeng's report, the bald man remained silent for half a minute, wondering, what kind of entrance was this? A Japanese rear admiral, fleet commander-in-chief, a powerful figure in the navy, secretly infiltrating Nanjing? How unreliable!
"Analyze this and see what his possible purpose is in secretly infiltrating Jinling?"

“Chairman, if it’s Major General Aoki, you should have heard of him. Do you remember the incident with the Japanese in Shanghai involving the clear telegram?” “Him? Wasn’t that an army colonel? The one who invented the clear telegram to stand up to his own marines after being humiliated? This can’t be the same person. This is a rear admiral. It’s completely impossible.”

"Chairman, could I have your phone number? Kejun and I need to confirm."

"Xu Kejun!"

"Cousin, I'm here!"

"Is the Major General Aoki you're talking about the Colonel Aoki who drank with us in Shanghai?"

"Yes, cousin, it's him."

"The Chairman asked, 'He's an army colonel, so how can he also be a navy rear admiral? Didn't he have conflicts with the navy back then?'"

“Cousin, you don’t know as much about this as I do. According to his classmates, after the open-text telegram incident, he was recalled to Tokyo, where he had another adventure and gained the appreciation of the naval powerhouses. He was awarded the rank of Rear Admiral and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the First Overseas Fleet. He returned to Shanghai with the rank of Rear Admiral more than half a year ago.”

“Chairman…”

"I heard that. If it's him, I'd like to meet him, but I don't know if he'd be willing to meet, since he entered Nanjing in a private capacity, right?"

This whole thing is strange, but I can't figure out what's wrong with it right now. The most troublesome issues right now are Jiangxi and Guangzhou, but I don't think I've heard of any contact between the Japanese Navy and either of them.

"Kejun! Go and quietly ask Major General Aoki if he'd like to meet and talk. Keep it a private conversation, and don't reveal it! None of you are allowed to leak this information!"

Holy crap! The Chairman called me by my courtesy name! This is all thanks to Major General Aoki! I gambled right! General Aoki is truly my lucky star!

"Chairman, please wait a moment! Ke Jun should go and talk to him!" The Chairman wants to meet! If I facilitate this, wouldn't that be another plus? Damn, I have to coax him into agreeing!
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Dividing line —
From the moment Xu Enzeng left the office after having his secretary make tea, Chen Jiehua and Zhao Yiyue had been acting together, chatting in Japanese about their learning experiences at Lu Shi, laughing happily from time to time. Xu Enzeng's new secretary, who couldn't understand Japanese, could only keep pouring tea, awkwardly laughing along, unable to join the conversation.

Zhao Yiyue is a smart man. He was betrayed by a traitor. Although he hasn't been investigated yet, he is likely to be implicated. His own people know his secrets, and although the traitor has never seen his face, he has seen his handwriting. When it's his turn to be investigated, the truth will come out.

Fortunately, there's always a way out. When Aoki Seigen first peeked out the small window, he saw it, but it was just a flash, and the light was dim, so he couldn't see it clearly.

I heard Aoki Seigen's deliberate muttering to himself the second time he passed by! He said it on purpose; he wanted to save me!

This level of teamwork is so seamless, there's no need for rehearsal. I know who he is, and he knows who I am; it would be foolish not to seize such a great opportunity.

The two chatted awkwardly while drinking tea. Wait, he's not here yet! Damn it, if Xu Enzeng doesn't come soon, we can't keep up this awkward conversation!

Chen Jiehua knew with a grain of salt that Xu Enzeng had most likely gone to report to Chen Lifu. It was just so late, so Chen Lifu was probably either out partying or having a meeting with Baldy. It was difficult to find him now, otherwise Xu Enzeng wouldn't have taken so long to return.

(End of this chapter)