Spy Wars: Return of the Red Luan

Chapter 228 News from Japan

"Well, how about this, I'll open pharmacies in North Korea and Taiwan. You two can find someone to manage the one in North Korea, and Watanabe and Higuchi will manage the one in Taiwan. Higuchi is all alone in Taiwan, which is quite pitiful. I just had drinks with him a few days ago, and he had a lot of complaints, just like you guys."

"Haha, I knew it! Aoki-kun coming to find us must be a sign that our savior has arrived."

"Now you can talk, right?"

"The person that Aoki-kun is concerned about, Doi-Yuan, is the biggest culprit in this incident. He should have been transferred back to the General Staff Headquarters and placed in the reserve. However, it is said that a high-ranking official pleaded for him to make amends and return to his post as the head of the Fengtian Special Service Agency. His main task is to provoke conflict in North China and prepare for the war plan in January."

"This is top secret, how could Miyazaki-kun have revealed it!"

Watanabe Watanabe quickly got up, opened the sliding door, and checked the outside. "Luckily, no one's outside."

“It’s alright. Aoki-kun is not an outsider. You’ve all forgotten that Aoki-kun is also a councilor in the General Staff Headquarters and has the right to know.”

"I have no interest in your lousy plan. Stop talking. I'm only concerned about that fat, smelly bug. How did he manage to escape again? Who helped him? Was it Lord Nanjiro again?"

"It is said to be the new commander of the Kwantung Army, General Muto."

"Old Muto is almost seventy years old, it's a miracle that he can still go to a front-line unit like the Kwantung Army."

"Who can argue with that? It is said that he was neither a member of the Imperial Way faction nor the Control faction. The two sides were arguing fiercely, but the Prince made the final decision and chose General Muto."

Damn, I see.

The old man isn't content to retire at home; he insists on going to the Northeast to cause trouble. Most importantly, he's actually the backer of that fat, ugly, and lazy guy. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind.

January, war? It seems the Kwantung Army can't resist expanding southward.

Moving south in January means the troops should be mobilized, but the fox Okamura Yasuji has just left the rear, and Guan Wuhen's Independent Regiment cannot be moved too much. It would be troublesome if it came into his sights. We need to find a way to make him turn his attention elsewhere.

They drank until very late, then went home to sleep.

Chen Jiehua went around in circles and returned to his secret home in Senso-ji Temple, which was right next to the izakaya.

Ozaki had been waiting for a long time.

"Ozaki-kun, help me figure out how to go to Manchuria for public events in a normal way."

"Aoki-kun, aren't you the commander of the Manchukuo fleet? It's perfectly normal for the commander of the Manchukuo fleet to return to Manchuria."

"It's not as simple as you think. My position as commander of the puppet Manchukuo fleet is just a figurehead. I don't obey orders or proclamations. There's no reason for the navy to go ashore. It's very abnormal. If something big happens over there and they can't find the source, they'll think it's me."

“Even if you go there with a legitimate reason, if something happens there, as long as the cause cannot be found, people will still suspect you.”

"You're right, fat, round bedbugs aren't easy to fool."

"What do you want to do in Manchuria? Can you tell me?"

"Does wanting to annoy this fat, ugly bug and prevent him from making contributions count as a reason?"

"No, that's too naive. The Navy has a lot going on right now, and you're not paying attention to or participating in any of it. Instead, you're constantly focusing on the Kwantung Army and Doi-man. That's not normal. So, Ozaki suggests that Aoki-kun not act impulsively and pay more attention to the Navy's affairs in the near future."

"What could possibly happen to the navy? When there are important matters that need to be analyzed and discussed, His Highness will have the naval command notify me."

"There has been some intense infighting within the navy recently, and some fleets are getting restless. As for the reasons for the infighting and where the fleets are headed, my position is too low to find out."

"Where are your people at the South Manchuria Railway now, and what is their position?"

"The comrade from the South Manchuria Railway has been promoted to deputy director manager of the investigation department."

"Have your comrades at the South Manchuria Railway keep an eye on the guerrilla situation there. Also, pay close attention to the whereabouts of Su Binwen's and Ma Zhanshan's troops." "Pay close attention? What exactly do you mean?"

"Pay attention to their movements and goals. If there are any signs that the two sides are converging, contact me immediately."

"Who is your contact at the Naval Headquarters? What is his position? I'll help him out."

Upon hearing this, Ozaki was startled. "You unreliable person, given your status and habits, it's strange for you to suddenly pay attention to and promote a low-level employee. Don't do it!"

"It's okay, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Just tell me your name."

"No, I can't tell you. I don't trust you."

"Believe it or not, I can find it myself."

Ozaki has a fairly good understanding of Aoki Seigen's abilities and personality: willful, silly, intermittently neurotic, and unpredictable. If you let him find it, he can definitely find it, but it's easy for things to go wrong.

“Anzai Koji, accountant.”

"Haha, you could have just said so earlier, why did I have to threaten you? It's okay, don't worry, when have I ever been unreliable?"

Ozaki rolled his eyes. "It seems like you're unreliable every time you do something. I'm always on edge."

"That's because you don't know me well enough and you don't have confidence in me. That's all a strategy, you know? This is called establishing a persona. If you act abnormally often, it will become normal after a while. Learn from that."

Ozaki rolled his eyes again.

After Ozaki left, Chen Jiehua sent a telegram to Lao Guan, instructing the troops to rest and recuperate in the border region of the three countries, not to cause trouble, and not to show their faces. The cunning Okamura Yasuji had gone.
-
Following Ozaki's advice, Chen Jiehua went to the Naval Headquarters the next morning to see what the big shots were fighting over.

Because he arrived too early, only junior staff members were entering the building one after another to organize documents. Chen Jiehua started from the first floor and walked around floor by floor. The junior staff members of the Naval Headquarters were very curious about this legendary figure. As he walked by, people behind him whispered among themselves.

"Who is this? So young, and wearing a general's uniform?"

"You don't recognize him? General Aoki Seigen, the brains of our navy, a legendary figure who took on three opponents at once."

"Oh, it's him! He's so handsome, I love him! I wish I could marry him!"

"Stop being a fangirl and get back to work."

……

"Good morning, Mr. Anze~"

"Good morning, Ito-kun~"

Chen Jiehua finally met Anzai Kuji. He glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. He had a decent appearance, ordinary, the kind you wouldn't notice in a crowd. He met the basic requirements for a secret agent. Not bad.

"Qingxuan! It really is you! You've returned from Yilan? Why didn't you go to visit your grandfather?"

"Grandpa Kato, I just got back yesterday. I went to report to Konoe-san first, and then some classmates dragged me out for drinks. I came to our Naval Headquarters early this morning to report."

"Besides, Grandfather Kato, you're in great health, do you need me to visit you? Look, I can't even lift you up!"

As Chen Jiehua spoke, he pinched and punched old Kato from the left and right. Old Kato enjoyed the warmth. "You brat, you have no manners. Get lost. We're about to have a meeting. Don't cause trouble today."

"The way you're saying that makes it sound like I'm here specifically to cause trouble."

I think so.

(End of this chapter)