Spy game? Stop guessing, I really am an undercover agent!

Chapter 142 What's going on? Are you causing trouble?

"Section Chief Chen? Are you confident?" Matsushima Jun said in a deep voice, "I must remind you, even at full capacity, the 106th Division's supplies will require two to three trips to be transported, given the current transportation capacity."

"To transport so many supplies within three days, you'd have to stop the transport trains on the Hangzhou-Nanjing line and make way for them first."

"As a result, all the transportation plans for the first and third lessons will be in trouble for at least half a month."

“Your Third Division is only responsible for short-distance transportation, except that the South Shanghai line is a little longer. Our First Division has an extremely heavy transportation task.”

"If you're looking to die, don't drag me down with you."

Matsushima Jun's words immediately displeased Oshima Kenjiro.

Damn it, I asked you to move some things and you told me you couldn't do it. Someone else was willing to take on your mess, and you actually threatened them.

This is disrespecting me, the minister!
"Section Chief Matsushima, please watch your words. Section Chief Chen is wholeheartedly dedicated to contributing to the Empire's cause, unlike you, who only knows how to shirk responsibility."

“Since he said such a thing, even if there are problems, I will report it to my superiors. He is indeed under too much pressure.”

"And you, you've already made a mistake once. If there's a next time, it won't be just a simple reprimand."

"I will suggest to my superiors that you be reassessed to see if you are still suitable for the position of head of the First Section's Transportation Division."

Matsushima Jun was momentarily stunned, then bowed slightly to Oshima Kenjiro and said, "Minister, I didn't mean anything by it. I just hope that Section Chief Chen can recognize reality and not take on too much responsibility and do some impossible tasks."

Chen Yang chuckled and said, "Section Chief Matsushima, thank you for your kind reminder, but just because you think it's impossible doesn't mean it's impossible for me."

"Lieutenant Commander Saito, I wonder if your Navy Department has a medium-sized transport ship available. This is an urgent matter, and I hope you can assist us in completing the transport plan."

Saito Koichi pondered for a moment: "We can mobilize one more ship for now, but one transport ship can't carry that many supplies."

"I estimate it will only reach about 20% of the previous batch of supplies."

"Chief of Staff Kitahara wants 70 percent."

Chen Yang nodded slightly and said, "That's enough. I'll figure out the rest myself."

Saito Takumi nodded: "Alright, I'll go back and coordinate now. I'll get back to you by 3 p.m. I'll be going now."

After saying that, Saito Koichi turned and left the office.

Matsushima Jun sneered, "Even if the Navy can transport 20% of the supplies, the remaining supplies will still need to be transported twice."

"With the current transportation efficiency, it would take at least four days for Shanghai to travel to and from Jiujiang. I'd like to know how Section Chief Chen can deliver the remaining supplies to Jiujiang within three days."

"Section Chief Matsushima, you talk too much. If there's nothing else, you can leave now." Kenjiro Oshima suddenly felt a strong dislike for Jun Matsushima.

I'm asking you to solve problems, not create them...

This guy's here to cause trouble, isn't he?
Matsushima Jun snorted coldly and turned to leave the office.

Kenjiro Oshima forced a smile: "Section Chief Chen, there's no need to pay attention to Section Chief Matsushima's words."

"However, I am also worried that with the current transportation efficiency, even if I can coordinate these supplies immediately, you may not be able to transport them all at once."

"What's your plan?"

“Minister, we don’t necessarily have to focus on just one transport line in Shanghai,” Chen Yang said slowly. “You can apply for supplies from the Ministry of the Army, and I will request emergency coordination from the Nanjing government.”

"Part of the supplies were shipped from Shanghai and arrived in Jiujiang by rail."

"The other part was transported from Nanjing to Jiujiang Port via waterway from Anqing, Anhui Province."

"According to my calculations, the supplies from Nanjing should arrive in Jiujiang at the same time as our supplies, ensuring timely delivery within three days."

Kenjiro Oshima's eyes lit up, but he immediately frowned again: "Section Chief Chen, if our supplies are transported to Nanjing before being shipped out, I'm afraid it will still be too late."

Chen Yang respectfully said, "Please rest assured, Minister Oshima, I can apply to Lieutenant Colonel Sonoda Kumakichi, the military advisor to the Nanjing government, for an emergency transfer of a batch of supplies. If that's not enough, we can also borrow some from Colonel Takeda of the Nanjing Military Police Headquarters."

"We can return them after we send our supplies over."

“Alright, alright,” Kenjiro Oshima finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Section Chief Chen, I’m giving you authorization now to fully coordinate the transportation of supplies.”

"I will communicate with the Navy Department. All supplies must be delivered to Jiujiang within three days. I'm counting on you for everything."

"Yes, sir." Chen Yang bowed slightly and said, "Please rest assured, Minister, all colleagues in the Third Division will definitely complete the transportation mission."

********
Shanghai, the French Concession, Rue Albert...

As dusk settles, neon lights begin to twinkle.

The area in front of the Fengming Pavilion in the French Concession was bustling with traffic, with gentlemen in suits and socialites adorned with jewels constantly entering through its gilded gates.

The three gilded characters "Fengming Pavilion" on the lintel gleamed in the night, and on both sides stood hostesses in cheongsams, their smiles perfectly timed.

Inside a private room on the third floor, Xiao Aqiao was fixing her sideburns in front of the mirror.

The woman in the mirror was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows were a pair of almond-shaped eyes that seemed to hold autumn water, a high nose bridge, and lips as red as cinnabar.

She wore a dark green cheongsam embroidered with gold phoenixes, which made her skin appear as white as snow. The jade hairpin in her hair swayed slightly with her movements.

"Elder sister, a Mr. Chen sent a flower basket, saying he's there to congratulate us on the opening of our new stage." The maid, Xiao Cui, hurried in, holding a gold-embossed business card. Xiao A Qiao took the card, her brow furrowing slightly: "Mr. Chen?"

"After waiting for so long, we finally have some news."

"Elder sister, is this Mr. Chen the mysterious boss that Boss Song mentioned last time?" the maid asked curiously.

Xiao Aqiao frowned: "When did you become so talkative? It's so empty down there!"

"I'm sorry, elder sister, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have said that," Xiao Cui said softly, bowing her head.
Looking at her pretty face in the mirror, Xiao Aqiao confirmed her makeup was perfect before getting up and walking to the window. Looking down at the bustling crowd below, she suddenly frowned. "Why are there so many unfamiliar faces tonight?"

Xiao Cui walked to her side and followed her gaze: "A new casino has opened in Zhabei, and a lot of customers from the north have come here."

"I heard it was Old Fire Crow, one of Boss Du's men, who came up with the idea."

"After Boss Zhang died, they also wanted to take the opportunity to expand their territory."

"Hmph, he's greedy and wants to take over Fengming Pavilion. Tell A-Qiang to send a few more brothers to keep watch at the door; things haven't been peaceful lately." Xiao A-Qiao took out an exquisite Browning pistol from the dressing table drawer, skillfully checked the magazine, and then stuffed it into the hidden pocket of her cheongsam.

Downstairs in the lobby, a jazz band's saxophone was playing a melodious tune, and men and women were dancing together on the dance floor.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open, and a group of men in black short jackets filed in. The man in the lead was about forty years old, with a square face and a broad forehead, and a particularly noticeable scar on his left eyebrow.

"Master Rui has arrived! All bystanders, get out of the way!"

The music stopped abruptly, and the crowd in the dance floor retreated to both sides like a tide.

Rui Qingrong swaggered to the center and kicked over the champagne tower next to him. The sound of shattering glass was particularly jarring in the silent hall.

"I heard the proprietress of Fengming Pavilion is a stunning beauty. Why don't you come out and greet your guests?" Rui Qingrong shouted at the top of his lungs, spittle flying everywhere.

From the second-floor railing, Xiao Aqiao had already taken in everything.

She took a deep breath and whispered to Xiao Cui, "Tonight's events are not simple. Go and ask Detective Ma from the police station for help. Remember to use the back door."

After saying that, she straightened her clothes and gracefully walked down the stairs.

"Oh, this gentleman looks unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting Phoenix Cry Pavilion?" Xiao Aqiao said with a bright smile and a voice as clear as a spring striking a rock. "May I ask your name?"

Rui Qingrong squinted at the woman before him, his Adam's apple bobbing. "This little wench is certainly beautiful. I, Rui Qingrong, am here today to support you!"

Several regular customers nearby changed color upon hearing this and quietly moved towards the door.

A flicker of wariness flashed in Xiao Aqiao's eyes, but she showed no sign of it on her face: "So it's Master Rui, esteemed presence! I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner. Someone, bring Master Rui the finest wine!"

"Don't give me that crap!" Rui Qingrong suddenly sprang to his feet, overturning the wine tray brought by the waiter. "I'm here today for only one thing: from now on, the protection money for Fengming Pavilion will be mine, Rui's!"

The hall was completely silent; even breathing could be heard clearly.

Xiao Aqiao's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes gradually turned icy: "Master Rui is joking. Our Fengming Pavilion has always been protected by the French Concession Police Station and has never needed any protection fees."

Rui Qingrong approached with a sinister grin, the heavy stench of tobacco and sweat emanating from him: "You filthy bitch, don't push your luck! Do you know where the last person who dared to talk to me like that is now? Feeding the fish at the bottom of the Huangpu River!"

He suddenly reached out to grab Xiao Aqiao's wrist, but she nimbly dodged it. Rui Qingrong was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage: "Brothers, smash it!"

At his command, a dozen thugs pounced on the surroundings like wolves and tigers.

The crystal chandelier was shattered by a bamboo pole, and glass shards fell like raindrops. The velvet sofa was slashed open by a sharp blade, and feathers flew everywhere. Expensive red wine was recklessly poured out, leaving large dark red stains on the carpet, resembling bloodstains.

Xiao Aqiao retreated to the top of the stairs, her fingers gripping the handrail tightly, her nails almost digging into the wood.

She watched as everything she had painstakingly built was brutally destroyed, yet she forced herself to remain calm.

“Mr. Rui,” her voice was surprisingly calm, “we can sit down and discuss our terms. How much money do you want?”

Rui Qingrong kicked over the piano and walked towards her, laughing loudly: "Now you know to beg for mercy? Too late! Unless..."

"Everyone says Xiao Aqiao is incredibly skilled," he said, his lewd gaze sweeping over her. "Unless you personally accompany me for a few drinks tonight."

The "kung fu" he was talking about was certainly not ordinary kung fu...

Xiao Aqiao's face hardened, but before she could speak, a voice rang out from the doorway: "Old Fire Crow, have you lost your mind?"

"You actually dare to come to Fengming Pavilion and cause trouble? What? You want to cause trouble?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of men dressed in Western-style clothes appeared at the entrance of Fengming Pavilion.

The leader was a young man in his early twenties, followed by four or five burly men. The one speaking was the man behind him.

Rui Qingrong frowned slightly. He was familiar with this person; he was Song Zushan, one of Zhang Xiaolin's eight henchmen.

When Zhang Xiaolin was alive, Xiao Aqiao was his collaborator. Xiao Aqiao managed the training of the artisans under Zhang Xiaolin's command and some procedures.

However, that former Shanghai stock market tycoon has already been shot thirteen times and died.

This Song Zushan is nothing but a hairless tiger; the only person Rui Qingrong couldn't see through was that young man.

He looked refined and gentle, with red lips and white teeth, like a male concubine, but Song Zushan was looking at him with a fawning expression.

Who exactly is this person?
(End of this chapter)