Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

Chapter 152 Chen Jiehua's First Meeting with the Young Marshal (Part 2)
"Yesterday was the third anniversary of my father's death. Is there any special significance to Brother Ye Fei's visit at this time?"

"There's nothing particularly particular about it, but given Ye Fei's current public identity, every step he takes is being watched by those with ulterior motives, making it inconvenient for him to go anywhere. This trip to Beiping was by chance, but the purpose of visiting Hanqing is indeed somewhat related to what happened three years ago."

"Hanqing also conducted a lot of investigations into the incident three years ago. There were many relationships involved, but a key figure disappeared quickly after the incident. Therefore, Hanqing's investigation has come to a dead end. I wonder if Brother Ye Fei can give a definite answer?"

Chen Jiehua picked up his teacup and took a sip. “I regret what happened to your father, but at that time, Ye Fei was just a nobody who had only recently arrived in the Northeast. No matter how much I thought about it, I was powerless to stop it from happening. The only thing that could save the Northeast Army’s organization and the situation in the Northeast was to save you first.”

"Liu Junze has already confessed this to Hanqing. I know his character, so I believe him. Helping him back then was also to repay a karmic debt."

"Fei is not very clear about the cause of the incident, and there may be many connections behind it, but the whole incident was planned and promoted by Kawamoto Daisaku, the section chief of the 1st Section of the Kwantung Army at the time."

"On the night of June 21, 1928, Fei killed Kawamoto with his own hands."

"June 21st? The day the announcement was released?"

"Yes, because the plan was leaked, the General Headquarters held them accountable, and the Kwantung Army Headquarters was shaken. They began an internal investigation that noon. The flight was not kept secret, and Kawamoto discovered the clues, so he was killed to silence him. His body was sunk into Lushun Bay."

Chen Jiehua's answer perfectly completed the last piece of the puzzle in Zhang Xiaoliu's investigation record.

After Chen Jiehua finished speaking, he did not continue. He picked up the teacup on the table again, took a sip of tea, and waited for Zhang Xiaoliu to finish thinking.

At this moment, once the complete puzzle was finished in Zhang Xiaoliu's mind, the truth of the matter came out: the Japanese and Soviets were already very dissatisfied with his father's actions, and while he was still inside the Great Wall, they planned that bomb assassination.

The other side's intention was to create a leaderless situation in the Northeast Army, trigger internal strife and division, and even try to control the Northeast Army. At that time, Mr. Ye, who was infiltrating the headquarters of the Kwantung Army, saw this plan. After analysis, he determined that his father could not be saved, but he could not let the Japanese succeed. So he finally sent Liu Junze back to his side to protect him all the way back home in secret, thus thwarting the conspiracy of the Japanese and the Soviets!
The crucial point is that they had to clean up the mess themselves afterwards. Killing Kawamoto sounds simple, but killing a colonel, cleaning up the bloodstains, and transporting the body are not so easy tasks. They didn't ask for any help or benefits; it was all for the greater good of the nation!

This is an immense favor.

"Brother Ye Fei just said that this visit is somewhat related to the last incident?" Zhang Xiaoliu, having figured it out, spoke up. Was it time to repay the favor?

"Brother Hanqing was able to investigate the whole truth of the matter and also find out Fei's public identity. It seems that the Northeast Army's intelligence network is also very capable."

"So, has Brother Hanqing's intelligence network reported any unusual movements by the Japanese outside the Great Wall?"

"The Japanese have wolfish ambitions and have been conducting so-called staff trips and scientific surveys, which are actually just reconnaissance and mapping. The Northeast Army and the Kwantung Army will eventually have a war."

"Alright, Hanqing, based on the current intelligence, when do you predict this battle will take place?"

"Hanqing believes it will take at least two years, and at most five years. Currently, the Kwantung Army only has a little over 10,000 regular troops in Northeast China, and there are no signs of them being moved. There are also no signs of troops from the Japanese mainland being moved to Northeast China." "How many troops does the Northeast Army currently have in the interior? Can Hanqing tell us the truth?"

"I can't tell others, but there's no need to hide it from Brother Ye Fei. The Northeast Army still has 45 regular troops outside the Great Wall."

So that's how it is. These numbers are basically consistent with my intelligence. No wonder he made the wrong choice. Even if the September 18 Incident had just begun, I probably would have thought it was just a local conflict, and that the Japanese wouldn't dare to launch a major offensive, right? After all, they had hundreds of thousands of troops!
Who would have thought that Kanji Ishihara and Seishiro Itagaki would be so audacious?
"Is this one of the reasons why Hanqing is preparing to transfer 12 troops from outside the pass into the pass? Transferring 12 troops into the pass is to guard against and deal with Shi Yousan, while there are still 33 troops outside the pass."

"Brother Ye Fei, in his capacity as Commander Aoki, went to Jinling to meet with the Chairman at night. Was it to lobby for Guangdong?" Zhang Xiaoliu did not answer the question, but instead asked this question in return.

"Fei knew that the secret meeting at night could not be kept secret at all, nor did he intend to hide it as a secret. The intelligence network of the Nanjing National Government was like a sieve."

"Brother Hanqing, would you believe me if I said that your chairman's meeting at night was just a coincidence and had nothing to do with Guangdong and Guangxi?"

"Hanqing believes it. Brother Ye Fei's actions have always been unconventional and unpredictable, like a deer's horns hanging in the air, leaving no trace."

"Haha, Brother Hanqing, you jest. I have come to Jinling to find an assistant."

"Liu Junze and Zhou Yongsu were classmates of Aoki Seigen at the Army Officer School, and Zhao Yiyue was also a classmate. Most of the rumors circulating outside are probably just Ye Fei's deliberate fabrication, right?"

"It wasn't entirely a deliberate setup. There will inevitably be a war between China and Japan. Given my current status, it's not a big problem to use Chinese people now. But once the war starts, it will be very inconvenient to use them. Suspicion is inevitable, especially with Kenji Doihara in the Northeast, who is not easy to deal with. So Fei can only make arrangements in advance to give them a reasonable status and also to give himself a reasonable reason to use them."

"People are not stupid. Hanqing believes that if everyone can see the problem, the Japanese can naturally see it too. Brother Ye Fei, is there some other deeper meaning behind your deliberate actions?"

"Hahaha~, this must be kept a secret from Brother Hanqing. We'll reveal it after the war starts."

"Hahaha~, Hanqing, we'll wait and see. I said back then that with my benefactor's strategic abilities, it was impossible for him to have devised such a simplistic scheme."

"Brother Ye Fei has mentioned many times that a war between China and Japan is inevitable. Do you have any inside information?"

"Insider information, I suppose."

"Currently, the Republic of China is in turmoil. The opposition between the Guangdong National Government and the Nanjing National Government has been formed. The southwestern forces and the northern faction are frequently in contact. Shi Yousan is making moves. Yan Xishan's intentions are also very clear. Han Fuqu's stance is unclear. Brother Hanqing, you have a heavy burden on your shoulders."

"This situation presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Kwantung Army in the Northeast. When the southwestern forces formally declare war on the Nanjing National Government and send troops north, while you are engaged in a chaotic battle with the Shanxi and Shandong forces, it will be the best time for the Kwantung Army to take action."

(End of this chapter)