Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

Chapter 153 Chen Jiehua's First Meeting with the Young Marshal (Part 2)
If others said this, Zhang Xiaoliu might scoff. "I have 300,000 regular troops outside the Great Wall, while the Kwantung Army has less than 20,000. They want to make a move? Are they courting death?"

But these words came from Ye Fei. He was a major general in the Japanese army, a rear admiral in the navy, and a fleet commander. He must have had inside information that Ye Fei didn't know, otherwise he wouldn't have said that.

This requires careful consideration.

"Then, based on Brother Ye Fei's judgment, what should Hanqing do?"

"Is Hanqing really willing to listen to me?"

"Please teach Hanqing, brother."

"Alright, let me analyze it for you. Currently, among the northern forces, Shi Yousan is the most vocal, but in reality, he is brave but reckless and not worth worrying about; Yan Xishan is the strongest, but he is a fence-sitter, always switching sides. As long as your Chairman has enough leverage, it won't be difficult to keep him inactive; Han Fuqu is shrewd and cunning but timid. In an unclear situation, he certainly won't switch sides easily, so you don't need to worry about him at all. Alternatively, you can ask your Chairman to pave the way with money, and it will be easy to keep him in check."

"Therefore, you only need the troops currently inside the pass to deal with Shi Yousan. The 12 troops you have already ordered to enter the pass do not need to return. They can serve as a deterrent. The key to stabilizing the situation in the north still lies in political maneuvering."

"Your Northeast Army's main focus should still be on guarding against the Kwantung Army."

"However, your Chairman's attitude towards the Japanese is ambiguous. He certainly wouldn't be willing to confront the Kwantung Army head-on at this time, even if it's your Northeast Army. Even if he looks down on it and wants to use it as cannon fodder, he wouldn't be willing to use it to clash with the Kwantung Army."

"Brother Ye Fei, do you mean that if the Kwantung Army launches an attack, the Chairman will order my Northeast Army to withdraw back to the interior?"

"Yes, Hanqing's Northeast Army has over 500,000 troops, which your Chairman both likes and fears. But once the Northeast Army leaves the Northeast, it is at best an ordinary force, and I think Hanqing himself knows this."

"For your Chairman, the Northeast Army's withdrawal to the interior of China, avoiding the Japanese Kwantung Army, and then transferring you to fight the Red Army when the time is right, is a win-win situation. Why not do it?"

"Therefore, Fei has a backup plan, and he needs two people from Hanqing to give me."

"Brother Ye Fei, which member of my Northeast Army have you taken a fancy to?"

"Your bodyguard is Gao Shuguang."

"Gao Shuguang? Was it Liu Junze who suggested him? Chief Guard Gao was injured in an assassination attempt two years ago and could not recover. I kept him at the Fengtian Police Station, where he is currently the director."

“If the injuries are minor and the police are even better, then it will be even more advantageous. As long as Hanqing separates the police and military police system from the regular army, we will not move unless the Kwantung Army mobilizes.”

“If the Kwantung Army launches an attack and your Chairman orders the Northeast Army to withdraw to the interior of China, you should separate the police system and hand it over to Gao Shuguang. I will arrange the rest.”

"That suggestion is acceptable. Hanqing can inform Lao Tan and put in a good word with them. As for the other person, Brother Ye Fei, who has taken a liking to?"

"Brother Hanqing's classmate at the military academy, Guan Yuheng, I need you to communicate with him personally. If things become unavoidable, devise a plan to make him betray us, take a unit away from the Northeast Army, and stay in the Northeast to follow my arrangements."

"Let Lao Guan betray me? Lao Guan's thinking is rather traditional; perhaps he's unwilling to bear that infamy. You could consider finding someone else." "Brother Hanqing, many times, one is not in control of one's own destiny in the martial world. But when national righteousness is at stake, personal honor and disgrace should be set aside. As for posthumous reputation, let future generations judge, wouldn't you agree?"

"Hahaha~, what a fine saying, let future generations judge! Brother Ye Fei, I, Zhang Hanqing, agree to your request!"

"Brother Hanqing, you agreed so readily? Aren't you afraid I'll lead the police force and Guan Yuheng's troops to defect to the Japanese?"

"A gentleman is always at ease, while a petty person is always anxious. Hanqing trusts his eyes and intuition; Brother Ye Fei is a man destined for great things."

"Good! As expected of Young Marshal Zhang, who can take things in stride! It's settled then."

"Brother Hanqing, since you've already spread the word that you're feigning illness and staying home, I might as well do you a favor and spread the word when I get back that Zhang Xiaoliu is seriously ill and may not be able to get better. This will help you assess your subordinates."

"So Brother Ye Fei saw it all along."

After finishing their business, the two felt a mutual respect and appreciation. Only after leaving the secret room did they realize that they had been talking for a whole day. Zhang Xiaoliu asked the head guard Tan Hai to find Miss Zhao Si and Zhu Huiwu, and the four of them had dinner together.
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Dividing line —
After completing the last arrangement before the September 18 Incident, Chen Jiehua finally felt half relieved. The rest was up to fate.

After dinner, the two quietly left the Shuncheng Prince's Mansion and returned to the Six Nations Hotel. In the hotel lobby, Chen Jiehua saw the tabloid news in the newspaper as he had hoped: Aoki Takashi, the young Japanese Navy Rear Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the First Overseas Fleet, took advantage of the opportunity to assist in the defense of Shandong to openly go shopping in Beiping with his new lover.

That night, Zhu Huiwu felt "a little unwell" and went to sleep first. Chen Jiehua went alone to the ballroom on the top floor of the hotel to attend the social dance party hosted by the hotel.

If you're going to be a little more promiscuous, you might as well solidify your reputation as a "womanizer" and a promiscuous person. Maybe that will have a surprising effect?
Chen Jiehua began to think from the moment he left his room until he finished thinking at the entrance of the rooftop dance hall, but no matter what, he never expected the effect to come so quickly and so intensely!
The dance floor was filled with the currently popular Western tango. It was already a bit hot in Beijing in June. The ambiguous atmosphere, coupled with the dancers' clothing that looked like pieces of cloth, made Chen Jiehua feel a little uncomfortable when he first entered. He chose an empty seat, ordered a drink.

On the other hand, after seeing the news, Jin Bihui, who had only come to try his luck, did not expect to be so lucky. On the first day, he saw the person he was here to meet, Major General Aoki Qiao.

After waiting for three minutes, Yoshiko Kawashima, disguised as a man, composed herself and approached Chen Jiehua's small table as if it were a chance encounter. "Sir, don't you have a dance partner? May we dance together?"

“I think you, handsome sir, would make a wonderful dance partner if you were to dress as a woman again. Please have a seat, Mr. Jin Bihui, or rather, Ms. Kawashima Yoshiko.”

Chen Jiehua doesn't play by the rules. He recognized Kawashima Yoshiko and directly revealed her identity, saying, "I've made my move, let's see how you play it."
Yoshiko Kawashima wasn't too surprised; she just paused for a couple of seconds before naturally sitting down.

Major General Aoki has always acted unpredictably, with his ideas running wild and leaving no trace. It's normal that he recognized me. Pointing things out directly is his usual style. It's more interesting to deal with someone like him, isn't it?

At this point, Chen Jiehua was actually a little surprised, but he concealed it very well. No wonder the Marine Corps had been searching for her for months without success; it turned out she had already disguised herself and left Shanghai. No wonder she was Yoshiko Kawashima, the number one female Japanese spy during the Republic of China era.

Only by sparring with such a master can you examine your own weaknesses.

However, Chen Jiehua wouldn't speak first unless Yoshiko Kawashima did. I'm a major general, after all; if I speak first, I'll lose.

(End of this chapter)