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

Chapter 145 Useful Whether Dead or Alive

Office on the third floor of the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai.
The afternoon sun shone through the half-open blinds, casting long, thin shadows on the dark brown floor.

Kageyama Shinji stood with his back to the door, his hands behind his back, gazing out the window at the bustling Shanghai Bund.

There was a gentle knock on the door, which was then pushed open.

"Senior Yingzuo." Chen Yang bowed slightly, his voice respectful and restrained.

Yingzuo turned around, a faint smile appearing on his face: "Chen Sang, please sit down."

Chen Yang sat down, his gaze subtly sweeping over the documents on the table—a report on Tang Shaoyi's recent situation.

"How's the Special Committee's work going lately?" Kagesa picked up his teacup, his tone casual yet carrying an undeniable scrutiny.

"Everything is going smoothly," Chen Yang said respectfully. "Director Zuo is very responsible. The Special Service Department has strengthened its surveillance of suspicious persons in the concession and has successfully turned several informants from the mountain city to their side."

“Very good.” Yingzu nodded in satisfaction. “However, there is an even more important task that you need to handle personally right now.”

Chen Yang's eyes flickered slightly: "Please enlighten me, Senior Yingzuo."

Yingzuo Zhenzhao put down his teacup and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips: "Tang Shaoyi, the former prime minister of the Republic of China, is now living in seclusion in the French Concession, and his attitude is ambiguous. The Empire hopes that he can publicly support the new government in order to stabilize the situation."

Chen Yang pretended to ponder: "Tang Shaoyi still has influence in the political arena. If we can win him over, it will indeed be twice as effective. However, he is cautious by nature and I'm afraid he won't be easy to persuade."

"That's right, I've already met with him, but his attitude is ambiguous and he won't give a clear answer, which puts us in a very passive position."

“Mr. Chen, the Nanjing Reformed Government has been established for less than half a year, but its various drawbacks have already become apparent.”

Kageyama sighed and said, "Pushing Liang up was indeed a terrible move."

"It now appears that the new government has failed to achieve the expected results in terms of both efficiency and stability maintenance."

"That's why I suggested that Mr. Tang take over."

“I’ve already spoken with Mr. Tang before. He didn’t give a direct answer, but I think we can still try to win him over.”

"Therefore, this time we plan to have Elder Wen Zongyao personally extend the invitation, and your Special Service Department will be responsible for the outer perimeter protection."

"If the people of Shancheng find out that Elder Tang has a good impression of the Empire, I'm afraid they might take some action."

"Please rest assured, Senior Yingzuo, the Special Service Department is capable of protecting Elder Tang's safety," Chen Yang replied confidently.

“However,” Chen Yang changed the subject, “Old Tang is always cautious and has great prestige in the south. It’s not an easy task to persuade him to join.”

Kageyama nodded slightly and said, "We'll discuss everything after Wen Zongyao meets with him. Mr. Wen will arrive in Shanghai by special car tomorrow afternoon, and the Special Service Department will need to send someone to follow up on his journey."

Chen Yang stood up and said, "No problem, I'll call the Special Service Department right now and discuss security with Director Zuo."

Study room in Tang Mansion on Ferguson Road, French Concession, Shanghai.
As night fell, the mansion was dimly lit.

Tang Shaoyi leaned back in his rosewood armchair, holding a collector's edition of the *Zizhi Tongjian* in his hand, but barely turning a few pages. The occasional sound of a tram passing by outside the window only amplified the silence inside.

Butler Tang De gently knocked on the door: "Master, Mr. Wen Zongyao has arrived."

Tang Shaoyi raised his eyelids slightly and said calmly, "Please invite him in."

Wen Zongyao, dressed in a dark long gown, entered the study with a smile, cupped his hands, and said, "Old Tang, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

Tang Shaoyi gestured for him to sit down, his tone calm: "Brother Shaochuan, you've come so late, you must have something important to discuss?"

Wen Zongyao took the tea offered by the servant, gently blew away the foam, and smiled, "Old Tang is still as straightforward as ever. Indeed, I came today to talk to you about the current situation."

Tang Shaoyi's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't rush to reply. He simply closed the book in his hands.

Seeing this, Wen Zongyao lowered his voice and said, "The Japanese intend to use the new government in Nanjing to end the war and stabilize the order in the south. They hope that you can take charge of the overall situation."

Tang Shaoyi chuckled lightly, his gaze deep: "The Japanese are certainly giving me too much credit."

"Isn't the new government headed by Mr. Liang? If I were to go in, how would Mr. Liang face the consequences?"

"Besides, I have been out of touch with worldly affairs for a long time. Now I am just a hermit living a carefree life. How could I have such abilities?"

"Uncle Tang, please don't underestimate yourself." Wen Zongyao leaned forward slightly and said sincerely, "Uncle Tang, now that the National Government has moved west, Shanghai, Anhui, Ningxia, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Jiangxi are all under the control of the Japanese army. If someone can mediate and reduce the fighting, it would be a good deed."

Tang Shaoyi picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and then said gently, "Brother Shaochuan, we've known each other for many years. Do you really think the Japanese would let our people have autonomy?"

Wen Zongyao hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's all up to us. As long as we hold real power in the new government, we may be able to bring some benefits to our compatriots."

Tang Shaoyi put down his teacup, his gaze suddenly sharpening: "I'm afraid that in the end, you and I will be nothing more than puppets, manipulated by others."

Wen Zongyao's expression changed slightly, but he still forced a smile and said, "Mr. Tang is overthinking it. Mr. Yingzuo has made it clear that the new government will use Chinese to control Chinese, and Japan will never interfere in its internal affairs."

Tang Shaoyi snorted coldly: "Back when Puyi was in Northeast China, the Japanese said the same thing."

Wen Zongyao was speechless for a moment, and the study fell into a brief silence.

After a moment, Tang Shaoyi sighed, his tone softening: "Brother Shaochuan, I'm old and don't want to get involved in these troubles anymore. If you're willing, you might as well find someone more capable." A hint of disappointment flashed in Wen Zongyao's eyes, but he still refused to give up: "Old Tang, given the circumstances, it's probably too late to simply remain aloof..."

Tang Shaoyi raised his hand to interrupt him: "My mind is made up, there's no need to persuade me anymore."

Seeing this, Wen Zongyao knew that further discussion would be pointless, so he had no choice but to get up and take his leave: "In that case, Zongyao will not disturb you any longer."

"Uncle Tang, please rest first. We have plenty of time for another day..."

Tang Shaoyi nodded slightly, tapped the table, and said, "Tang De, see Elder Wen off."

Wen Zongyao waved his hand repeatedly and said, "No need for formalities, Steward Tang, please wait."

After saying that, he winked at Tang De, pushed open the study door, and left.
Since Wen Zongyao had his back to Tang Shaoyi at the time, Tang Shaoyi did not notice anything unusual.
After Wen Zongyao left, Tang Shaoyi stood alone by the window, gazing at the dark night, and murmured to himself, "In this chaotic world, how easy is it to remain pure and untainted..."

The butler, Tang Dejing, stood respectfully to the side and said, "Master, Mr. Yingzuo came once, and Elder Wen came again."

“Your repeated refusal will likely cause dissatisfaction among the Japanese.”

Tang Shaoyi frowned: "You, a mere lackey, are you qualified to criticize people and discuss current affairs?"

Tang De's expression changed drastically, and he quickly said, "That's not what I meant. Whether it's the Japanese or Mr. Wen, their starting point is to stabilize the situation in the south and prevent further bloodshed."

"Sir, with your prestige, a single call to action will naturally garner support from all sides."

"Even if we are subject to Japanese rule, at least we can save the lives of the masses, which can be considered a meritorious deed."

"If the South is unstable and the Japanese are so bloodthirsty, and another incident like the one in Nanjing happens, you, sir, wouldn't be able to bear seeing the blood of your compatriots stain the land red, would you?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Shaoyi let out a long sigh, remained silent for a while, and then said softly, "Let's see."

In the underground conference room of the consulate headquarters in Shanghai, Wen Zongyao's forehead was pressed against the cold tatami mat, and sweat dripped down his nose.

"Baka!" Yingzuo's military knife suddenly slammed into the low table in front of Wen Zongyao, shattering the tea set. "Mr. Wen, is this what you meant by 'absolutely foolproof'?"

Wen Zongyao trembled: "Lord Yingzuo, please calm down! Tang Shaoyi is getting on in years, and it's inevitable that he has some concerns in his actions. Perhaps we should..."

"Foolish!" Yingzu kicked over the low table, a shard of porcelain grazing Wen Zongyao's cheek. "What do you think we're looking for Tang Shaoyi for..."

"Let me tell you plainly, Tang Shaoyi's influence in European and American diplomatic circles is equivalent to that of three divisions!" As he spoke, Yingzuo unbuttoned his uniform collar, then suddenly turned to the shadows: "Iwai-kun, what do you think?"

Hiroichi Iwai emerged from the shadows, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a cold light: "Kagesa-kun, I think you seem a little impatient."

"Hmm, what does Iwai-kun mean?" Kagesa Masaki frowned.

Hiroichi Iwai said slowly, "People like Tang Weng cannot be defeated by force; they can only be outsmarted."

"He is a scholar, and scholars believe that wealth and honor cannot corrupt, power and force cannot subdue, and poverty and hardship cannot sway them."

"If you keep using your power to suppress him, it will only arouse his dissatisfaction and make him more and more alienated from the empire."

“But this old stubborn man doesn’t appreciate our kindness at all.” Kagesa placed his katana on the sword rack and said in a deep voice, “We have already shown him the utmost sincerity.”

"He showed no respect whatsoever. It was common for him to decline three times, but he stubbornly dragged his feet and refused to give a response."

"I don't think he ever intended to serve the empire."

Hiroichi Iwai said in a gentle voice, "Kagesa-kun, I believe this is our opportunity."

"These Chinese people love to play this kind of ambiguous game, neither taking initiative nor refusing, and taking no responsibility."

"If he won't say it, then let someone else say it for him..."

Kagesa Masaki frowned, then suddenly his eyes lit up: "Iwai-kun means to use public opinion to force him to make a statement."

Hiroki Iwai nodded: "Starting tomorrow, arrange for people from the Nanjing Special Service Committee to provide close protection."

"Mr. Wen, I'll trouble you to make a few more trips to the Tang residence these next few days."

"It would be best to bring a few reporters along so they can film you discussing current affairs."

"I will then arrange for the newspapers to publish the news that Tang Shaoyi is about to join the Nanjing government."

“If we use a two-pronged approach, I don’t believe he won’t give in.”

Wen Zongyao frowned: "What if Elder Tang refuses to cooperate?"

Hiroichi Iwai said calmly, "Then let the Military Intelligence Bureau know that Tang Shaoyi has joined the Nanjing government."

"Given the old man's personality, he would never sit idly by..."

"Even a dead Tang Shaoyi can be of use if he's not alive..."

(End of this chapter)