Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

Chapter 15 The novice protection period ends

公元1927年（民国16年、日本昭和2年）12月17日，中国东北旅顺港。

On the deck of a Kwantung Army supply freighter sailing from Tokyo, Japan to Port Arthur, an extremely young and extremely handsome young man wearing a Japanese Army uniform and holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was alone, holding the side of the ship, excitedly watching the city in the distance gradually approaching and solidifying from a shadow.

It's been three years since I traveled here! I finally saw the land of my motherland for the first time!
When the freighter docked, the young officer, carrying a military bag, couldn't suppress his excitement. Before the ship stopped, he was the first to jump off the ship and officially set foot on the land of Northeast China!
As the young man's feet landed on the ground, the voice of the system rang in his mind!
"Congratulations to the host for setting foot on the homeland. The novice protection period ends! A new chapter begins!"

Chen Jiehua stood there, a little confused!
"System, what are you saying? Does setting foot on the national territory mean leaving the Novice Village?"

"Host, you understand correctly! The system is about to return to the singularity. The two extra cubic meters of space that the system previously opened for you are your gift!"

"Host, please cheer up!"

Chen Jiehua was no longer confused at this time, but his head was buzzing!

"The novice protection period is over! The system is leaving!"

"Why? Why! Why didn't you tell me earlier!"

Chen Jiehua finally understood why the system had been so vague the last time he asked it! Are you afraid I won't set foot on the mainland? You underestimate me! But at least give me some mental preparation!

"Master System, do you have a name? I don't even know your name!"

Suddenly, Chen Jiehua thought of something and asked the system's name! Chen Jiehua was very clear-headed and knew that the system's departure was irreversible, but the relationship that had accompanied it for more than three years was not something he could give up in a short time!
"Hongluan!"

"Hongluan, Hongluan!" Chen Jiehua slowly knelt down, tears streaming down his face!
At this time, the soldiers who were unloading the cargo after the ship stopped did not notice the unusual behavior of the young officer, but Chen Jiehua's classmate Okuda Chisato (there really is such a person, book friends, don't read the name wrong, hehe) who got off the ship behind him saw it and was very confused!
The system "Hongluan" that had accompanied Chen Jiehua for more than three years left Chen Jiehua.

Agents behind enemy lines are destined to walk alone in the darkness!

Chen Jiehua, who had been "specially trained" by the system for more than three years, quickly came out of his sadness, stood up quickly, turned around and saw Chisato Okuda's expression, and realized that he had not controlled his emotions and actions just now, which aroused the other party's suspicion.

"Let's go, Okuda-kun! Report to headquarters!"

"Aoki-kun, why did you make such strange movements just now?"

"Oh, Okuda-kun, are you talking about my actions just now? China is where my grandfather lived for decades, and I've always longed to come here! Now I'm finally here! I can show off my skills! I'm a little excited! Excuse me!"

After quick thinking, Chen Jiehua found a seemingly good excuse. As for whether he could fool Chisato Okuda, it depended on fate, but it depended on Chisato Okuda's fate.

The two men walked forward to the dock, got on the car sent by the Kwantung Army to pick them up, and drove towards the Kwantung Army headquarters.

In the car, Chen Jiehua looked at the scenery of Northeast China outside. Everything was so beautiful!
"Aoki-kun! Aoki-kun?"

"Nani?"

"We've arrived at headquarters, Aoki-kun!"

"Oh! Yoshi!"

"Mr. Aoki, the Commander is already waiting for you in his office on the fourth floor!" the driving lieutenant reminded him. "Thank you!"

"Lieutenant Okuda, please follow me. I will take you to report."

The lieutenant who was driving took Chisato Okuda directly to report. It seemed that because of Aoki Qiao's special status, the commander wanted to meet him in person.

Chen Jiehua went to the fourth floor alone, found the commander's office, and knocked on the door. The clerk (secretary) inside opened the door and saw a handsome but unfamiliar face. After politely asking who it was, he said, "Mr. Aoki, the commander has been waiting for a long time. Please come in!"

"Master System, why is there no mark in the upper left corner of the field of view now?"

When Qing Mu Qiao saw the clerk, he found that he didn't recognize him. The system didn't mark him, so he habitually asked the system in his mind! But then he realized that the system master had already left!
When I entered the door, I saw a middle-aged general who was only 1.6 meters tall at most.

"Commander! Imperial Army University graduate Aoki Qiao reports for duty!"

"Yoshi! The Emperor gave you the name Aoki Qiao, and the Empress herself named you the God of War Shimazu! I know you!"

"Hayi! Commander, thank you for your praise!"

"Don't be shy! The old guys at headquarters called to take care of you personally! Come and look at the vacancies. Which one do you want to choose? Take a look for yourself!"

"It is a soldier's duty to obey orders! I will follow your orders, Commander!"

"You're just like what that old man Miyaji said, you're so boring! Go ahead, go to Senior Staff Section 1 and study with Kawamoto Daisaku."

"Hayi!"

After leaving the commander's office, Chen Jiehua followed the instructions and came to the Senior Staff Section 1 on the third floor. He knocked on the door and found no one inside!
Chen Jiehua thought in his mind that with his identity, it seemed that he could basically walk around Lushun, the headquarters of the Kwantung Army. Since the commander of Section 1 was not there, he could go to Lushun first to take a look at the layout and explore the way, and rent a house by the way. Well, he needed three, as a cunning rabbit has three burrows, so he should leave two safe houses!

As he walked out of the headquarters compound, Qing Mu Qiao could feel the gazes from the fourth floor of the building! But he didn't look back, pretending not to know. Since you guys are paying attention to me when I go out, I'll rent a house closer to the headquarters as a public residence.

Walking on the street, Chen Jiehua paid more attention to bookstores, pharmacies, clinics and tailor shops. Why?

Because Chen Jiehua watched a lot of spy dramas, he knew that the early underground members of the Chinese Communist Party preferred these three types of stores. Bookstores usually had fewer people and were more convenient for storing code books.
Pharmacies and clinics are even better, as they provide convenient access to medicine and timely treatment.
The tailor shop is convenient for changing clothes, etc.

Moreover, generally speaking, neither the Special High Section, No. 76, nor the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Central Intelligence Bureau, nor their predecessor organizations, paid much attention to this type of store. Of course, in later periods, this type of store was the easiest target to be investigated, but that is another story.

It was now the end of 1927. Theoretically, the Party's underground organizations should have already entered major cities in Northeast China, such as Lushun and Fengtian. If we followed this clue, it would be easy to find them! Early underground members were largely driven by passion for revolution, having received no systematic training. Their latent consciousness and common sense were weak.

Perhaps because Aoki Qiao was wearing a Japanese military uniform and held the rank of lieutenant colonel, no Chinese dared to approach him as he walked along. But also because he was wearing a military uniform and was a new face, a Japanese expatriate came up to him and asked if he wanted to rent a house.

"I want to rent a house and a storefront. It would be even better if the house and storefront were combined!" (Japanese) "Also, if there's a good house, I'd buy it!"

The Japanese expatriate's face lit up with joy! Big business is coming!
　Happy new year, fellow book lovers!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)