Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

Chapter 149 Private Meeting with the Bald Head

Just as Chen Jiehua and Zhao Yiyue were about to run out of things to say, Xu Enzeng jogged back.

Xu En first gestured for his secretary to leave, then ran to Chen Jiehua's side. He glanced at Zhao Yiyue across from him, intending to send him away as well, but couldn't find an excuse. Besides, the two were engrossed in their conversation, and he didn't want to anger Major General Aoki. So he decided to say, "General Aoki, well, our Chairman would like to meet with you for a private meeting, not to discuss official business. What do you think..."

"Your Chairman? It's already quite late."

Luckily, I had anticipated this. Why was the bald guy so eager to see me so late? What was his purpose? It wouldn't hurt to go and test his attitude.

Xu Enzeng thought Chen Jiehua didn't want to meet, and he was so anxious! The Chairman is still online waiting for my reply! What should I do?

"If you're worried about Captain Zhao, there's no need to worry. Or would you like to take Captain Zhao with you?"

"No problem, we're good neighbors, let's meet then."

Xu Enzeng jumped up high, "Please wait a moment, I'll go arrange a car!"

"Reporting to the Chairman! After my persuasion, General Aoki has agreed to meet! Do you think I should send a car to take Major General Aoki to his residence now?"

"Use your best car, and you will personally escort them!"

"I accept my order from my humble position!"

The Party Affairs Investigation Office compound was in chaos for a while. Xu Enzeng arranged for five cars to escort Chen Jiehua and Zhao Yiyue to the National Government official residence (Meiling Palace).

In the car, none of the three spoke; Chen Jiehua was feeling a bit sleepy. Taking a short nap on the way, Zhao Yiyue was reflecting on how one second he was a prisoner, almost finished, and now he was going to see the bald head of the Kuomintang!
The identity of Aoki Seigen remains a mystery, still unclear to this day. It's truly perplexing.

After the motorcade arrived at Meiling Palace, the bald man, along with a group of attendants and Chen Lifu, greeted them at the entrance. After a few meaningless pleasantries, they entered the inner reception room and engaged in another round of tentative small talk. After all, it was an impromptu, unannounced, informal meeting, so they couldn't discuss current affairs.

Xu Enzeng was in a state of excitement all day. Major General Aoki said that he had met an old friend, and the Chairman addressed him by his courtesy name. He was so excited that his bones almost melted. Normally, he would not have been able to enter such an occasion with his official rank, but he did enter today and even found an opportunity to speak, a chance to switch topics.

"General Aoki, I heard from Watanabe that you graduated from the Army War College?"

"Oh, Watanabe, it seems everyone knows that Aoki is an outstanding graduate of the Imperial Army Officer Academy. That's why I, Aoki, like to hire classmates and have a preference for alumni of the Army Officer Academy."

Xu Enzeng started the conversation, but didn't get a chance to continue because the bald man stole it! The bald man loved this topic! He gave Xu Enzeng an approving look and took over the conversation, "General Aoki, which class did you graduate from the Imperial Army Officer School?"

"Does Chairman know any graduates of the Imperial Army Officer School? Zhao Jun and I were both from the 17th class."

"General Aoki should call me senior. I am from the 6th class of the Army Officer Candidate School."

"Oh! Aoki greets senior!" Chen Jiehua gave him face by standing up and giving a military salute unique to the school!
This provides ample emotional value! Chen Jiehua is adept at reading people and offering emotional value. He can give favors and emotional value with just a few words and actions, without losing anything in return. Why not do it?
The bald man was overjoyed. It seemed that the problem of his academic qualifications, which had troubled him for more than ten years, might finally fall to Major General Aoki!
"Zhao Yiyue greets senior!" Zhao Yiyue wasn't stupid; he was instantly excited and happy to see the bald man, and quickly added to the occasion.

Ultimately, this strange private nighttime meeting ended with a conversation about the Army Academy, and everyone was happy. During the conversation, Aoki Qiao also mentioned that there was another classmate from the 17th class of the Army Academy in the Kuomintang army during the Republic of China era. He said that since his senior would be busy with work in the future, he could contact him through his classmate Chen Lanfeng.

After the meeting, Major General Aoki contacted the Yangtze River patrol warship via the Kuomintang radio and took Zhao Yiyue away from Jinling from Xiaguan Wharf.
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Dividing line —
"So, Zhao Yiyue, I risked my life alone to save you. Isn't that enough of a show of sincerity?"

At the bow of the warship, Chen Jiehua looked at the river water parting and flowing to both sides, and whispered to Zhao Yiyue beside him.

"What do you want from me?"

"Go to North China, establish a presence there, open a large pharmacy, and use it as a cover to gather intelligence." "What kind of intelligence do you want to gather?"

"Intelligence from all sides in North China, including your organization."

"I can not do it."

"You can do it."

"You know perfectly well that I am a member of the Communist Party, yet you still try to save me and use me. Why?"

"That time in Shanghai, you knew I was a Japanese officer, and you didn't kill me even though it was such a good opportunity. Why?"

"I think you know Zhao Shiyu's identity better than I do. Why is he willing to follow me?"

"Old classmate, you're too persistent. In these chaotic times, you must act and live according to your conscience. There's no need for too many 'whys.' Just find a direction, find a path that you believe is right, and move forward bravely."

"Go ahead, resupply at Jiangyin Port. Disembark quietly, don't go home, go straight to North China. I suspect Chen Lifu's spies have already reached his hometown."

"The contact information for the Daihoku Corporation, our one-way communication channel, the codebook, and the emergency contact person are all in the suitcase."
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Dividing line —
Nanjing Xiaguan Wharf during the Republic of China era.

As the Japanese warships sailed away, the bald man in the middle remained motionless, while the people around him watched him respectfully, not daring to disturb the chairman's thoughts.

"Lifu, investigate Zhao Yiyue's background and his relationship with Major General Aoki. Also, find all the information about Major General Aoki and send it to my office as soon as possible."

"And what about that Chen guy that Major General Aoki mentioned at the end?"

"Chen Lanfeng!"

"Yes, Chen Lanfeng, investigate that too. Why does this Major General Aoki like to use classmates so much? What's the reason behind it?"

"Chairman, I believe that everyone has quirks and weaknesses, and it is the presence of weaknesses that makes one a true human being."

“Like Major General Aoki, he was already a major general at a young age, but he had two quirks. One was that he liked to hire people who were alumni of the Army Academy, especially his classmates.

"Aoki's other quirk is said to be lust. His wife is the eldest daughter of the Fujiwara family, one of the top noble families in Japan. He even openly brought back nine beautiful maids from Tokyo. This has spread throughout Shanghai."

"In addition, some time ago, he took a fancy to the owner of a Hunan-style cotton cloth shop in Shanghai. He specially arranged for two classmates to sabotage the business. Through intimidation, coercion, and enticement, they brought her directly back to the villa. This is no secret in Shanghai."

"Oh? Is there anything else?"

"Absolutely true!"

"Yes, Kejun, you did a great job. You need to maintain a good relationship with Major General Aoki, just in case. You're right, it's good for people to have weaknesses!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Chairman! I will certainly do my best to maintain this relationship!"

(End of this chapter)