Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

Chapter 226 Earthquake in the High Command of the Kwantung Army

July 26, 1932, America.

Zhou Yongsu of Tian Shu sent a telegram to Chen Jiehua of Hong Luan, informing him of the recent "veterans' bonus" incident that occurred in the U.S. Congress.

Nearly 20,000 World War I veterans, unable to survive due to the Great Depression, gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to petition the government to release the promised veterans' benefits ahead of schedule.

What Lao Zhou meant was that with encouragement or guidance, perhaps there might be some pleasant surprises among so many impoverished World War I veterans?

Chen Jiehua was startled when he saw this. "Old Zhou, you're really getting a bit cocky! You dare to mess with America's home turf?"
"Don't think anything! Don't move! Pay close attention! Report back immediately!"

The sixteen-character policy arrived in a timely manner.

Chen Jiehua carefully searched his memory and confirmed that there was nothing related to this incident in America. Still feeling uneasy, he sent another telegram: "Do not participate in any way, just be an observer, find out the cause and effect, and carefully record the details."

The third telegram read, "Nanfeng has established a foothold in Taiwan Province, China, and needs weapons. Arrange for them as soon as possible."

On the evening of July 28, Lao Zhou sent another telegram, saying that President Hu had taken action after all. Army Chief of Staff Michael Arthur and his assistant Eisenhower deployed tanks to disperse the veterans. Then the authorities' military and police joined in, opening fire, using bayonets, and throwing tear gas, resulting in hundreds of veterans and their families, including children, being injured or killed.

Old Zhou couldn't resist and sent his trusted men to keep an eye on some special veterans, secretly protecting them and their families as they left the scene.

It's better to offer help in times of need than to add flowers to brocade. Indeed, it would be a bit unreasonable not to take advantage of such a good opportunity.

Since it's already done, it's not right to send a telegram to scold Lao Zhou. We only gave him that little bit, and he's really not having an easy time working hard all by himself in America.

"Old Zhou, I support you in establishing your own special forces team, or even a mercenary group, but please be very careful. It's best to locate the base in Canada or South America. Remember, during this time, do not interfere with the US government's decision-making, and do not carry out assassinations."

Six months later, Lao Zhou secretly investigated and learned that this was orchestrated by the Army Chief of Staff. Beforehand, Michael Arthur had submitted a report to President Hu Fu stating that "the significance and danger of this movement actually far exceeds the attempt to extract money from the nearly depleted national treasury... Red organizers infiltrated the veterans' organization and immediately took over command from those leaders who were unaware of the situation."

Zhou Yongsu was covered in a cold sweat. Fortunately, he listened to Qingxuan's advice and did not participate in the scene.

MacArthur was stubborn, ambitious, and prone to disregarding orders from his troops in the field.

If Zhou Enlai were to block such a talented individual's path, it could potentially affect the course of the Korean War. That would be unacceptable, as the United States could not find a general worse than him.

This incident reflected the already fragile state of the American public in that year's election, leading to Ross's overwhelming victory with 57.4% to 39.7% as the 32nd president. The press commented that the "crackdown on veterans' benefits" was a "fatal blow" to Hu Jintao, completely sealing his fate for re-election.

In the end, Lao Zhou rescued and gathered several hundred veterans and their families, and secretly transported them to a small island in Latin America.
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In August, part of the content of a meeting of the Japanese Army General Staff regarding plans and programs for Red Russia was leaked and made known to the high command of Red Russia.

At this time, Red Russia was beset by internal and external troubles, facing a complex international situation, particularly the escalating tensions with Japan in the Far East. GRU Director Berzin believed that Zoro was a well-trained political analyst with solid historical knowledge and military experience, capable of conducting intelligence work with ease in China and throughout the Far East.

Berzin secretly recalled Zuo Liuge from Shanghai, China, and arranged for him to enter Japan as a reporter for the German newspaper Frankfurter Zeitung.

The objective was singular: to gather intelligence and analyze whether Japan would launch an attack on the Soviet Union, and if so, to pinpoint the exact timing.

In late 1932, Zuo Liuge returned to Germany. To evade scrutiny, he applied for a new German passport, and his resume indicated that he had returned to Germany from China.
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In August 1932, Zhu Huiwu received a secret telegram from Qing Tengqi, informing him that Doiyuu had once again assumed the post of head of the Fengtian Special Service Agency and was preparing to go to Tianjin. His main task was to manipulate bandits and ronin to create trouble in the "demilitarized zone" in northern Hebei Province south of the Great Wall, provoking conflict with the Chinese army. Qing Tengqi accompanied him.

Doiyuu has been having a run of bad luck lately. First, he was thwarted by Aoki Takashi, which blocked his path to becoming a general. Then, he made a misjudgment in the "Shulan-Beiyinhe Incident" in Harbin, which led to the destruction of the Imperial secret force "Gamao Force". The key point is that he didn't even find out who the enemy was.

As a result of the "Shulan-Beiyinhe Incident", General Honjo Shigeru, commander of the Kwantung Army, was transferred back to the General Staff Headquarters as a military advisor at the end of July, and was succeeded by Nobuyoshi Muto.

Then, just four months after taking office, Kwantung Army Chief of Staff Toranosuke Hashimoto was transferred back to Tokyo on August 8 for his poor handling of the "Shulan-Beiyin River Incident," and was succeeded by Kuniaki Koiso.

8月8日同时调入关东军的还有副参谋长岗村宁次少将、高级参谋第1课课长斎藤弥平太、作战主任参谋远藤三郎、情报主任参谋第2课课长喜多诚一、后方主任参谋第3课课长原田熊吉。

Major General Yasuji Okamura, the deputy chief of staff, is in charge of investigating the "Shulan-Beiyinhe Incident".

Against this backdrop, Doi-Yuan needs to make amends, so he works exceptionally hard.

At this time, Chen Jiehua was still in Yilan.

The above army mobilization was public knowledge. Chen Jiehua learned of it during his daily contact with Ozaki. Chen Jiehua did not expect that the raid on the Shulan arsenal and the elimination of the Jiamao troops would cause an earthquake in the high command of the Kwantung Army. The Army General Staff took the opportunity to complete a complete reshuffle of the Kwantung Army.

After a moment's thought, Chen Jiehua sent a telegram to Zhu Huiwu: Take this opportunity to gradually purify the team, hand over the Japanese members with unclear stances and who are difficult to manage to Yang Dengying, and gradually replace them with organization members with firm stances.

Next, a telegram was sent to Yang Dengying: Take over the personnel from Zhu Huiwu's side, reorganize the team, and move to the demilitarized zone to sabotage all operations of the Kwantung Army's Fengtian Special Service Agency.

Another telegram was sent to Yoshihiro Tomoyuki: ordering the Ijuin Battalion to accelerate its infiltration into the South Manchuria Railway and the Kwantung Army, and to sabotage the Kwantung Army's communication system.

After sending all the telegrams, Chen Jiehua reviewed his personnel arrangements and follow-up plans in his mind. He concluded that the deployment on the Taiwan side was complete, and the rest depended on his brother-in-law Chen Lanfeng and the 19th Route Army.

There was no point in him staying in Taiwan any longer. Being away from the core of power in Tokyo for too long would be detrimental to his future plans. Therefore, after communicating with Mio, Chen Jiehua bid farewell to Fujiwara and returned to Tokyo on the flagship.

Mio stayed behind to accompany her father, but in reality, she was secretly cooperating with her brother's work, mobilizing the Japanese garrison and military police.

(End of this chapter)