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

Chapter 168 I really didn't do it
In late September, the 106th Division, which had been waiting for supplies for a long time, decided to abandon a large amount of baggage and move lightly to the rear of the Lushan defense line from Wanjialing.

The expeditionary force headquarters did not support the operation, but Junroku Matsuura insisted on doing it.

Therefore, he also specially sent the low-altitude reconnaissance report of the Third Flight Squadron along with the action plan to Shanghai.

Although venturing deep into enemy territory is a major taboo in military strategy, the Japanese have repeatedly tasted success in surprise attacks, coupled with the disparity in weaponry between the two sides.

Junroku Matsuura believed that with their strength, they could definitely achieve unexpected results.

Chief of Staff Kenichi Kitahara even assured General Junroku Tian, ​​commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army, that the 106th Division could definitely capture De'an before October and cut off the Blue Army's connection between Nanxun Road and Wuning Road.

It will absolutely not affect Tian Junliu's "October Plan".

To demonstrate their resolve, the 106th Division even assembled all its forces before supplies arrived and forcibly penetrated Wanjialing.

However, what they didn't expect was that just as the troops set off, a detailed document on the 106th Division's firepower configuration had already been quietly sent from Shanghai to Chongqing...

Shanghai, Southern Transportation Department.

As soon as Chen Yang stepped into the Transportation Department office, the telephone rang.

Chen Yang put down his briefcase and quickly answered the phone. The voice on the other end was that of Shinichi Ando from the Special Higher Police's Action Group.

"Section Chief Chen, there's something I'd like to inform you about."

Shinichi Ando slowly said, "The Special Higher Police investigation team found the missing Zhang Zixian on Qihe Road in the International Settlement."

"We have now taken him back to the Special Higher Police for questioning."

"Personally, I think his testimony is very problematic."

Chen Yang frowned and asked, "Ando-kun, is there a problem?"

Shinichi Ando said, "He told us that he was coerced to the International Settlement by the Kuomintang."

"After they captured him, they locked him in a civilian house and brought him food every day."

"I fed him for three or four days, and then suddenly let him go in the morning."

"Moreover, he couldn't describe the other person's appearance at all, saying that the house was surrounded by black cloth and the light inside was dim, so he couldn't see the face clearly."

"The problem is, we searched all the houses near Qihe Road and didn't find the house he mentioned."

"I suspect he's lying."

Chen Yang slowly said, "Ando-kun, Zhang Zixian is a member of the Jinling Special Service Committee. If he is suspected of betrayal, it seems we should avoid suspicion."

"However, I still hope that Ando-kun can find out the truth of the matter and not wrong an innocent person."

Is the word "good person" appropriate to describe Zhang Zixian?

Shinichi Ando said softly, "Don't worry, Section Chief Chen, we will carefully verify everything."

Special Higher Police, interrogation room...

Zhang Zixian was slammed onto the cold iron chair in the center of the interrogation room. The iron rings on his wrists and ankles were icy cold, digging deep into his flesh and leaving bluish-purple bruises.

His clothes were torn in several places, revealing the faded lining underneath.

A fresh bloodstain meandered down her forehead, congealing into a dark red scab on her cheekbone, while the semi-dried blood stained her temples.

His disheveled hair obscured his eyes, and only his tightly pursed lips and slightly trembling left index finger revealed a hint of his will to survive.

The interrogation room door slid open silently with a creak.

Shinichi Ando strolled in slowly, his steps light and silent. His dark gray pinstripe suit, pressed without a single wrinkle, seemed out of place in this bloody and filthy environment… “Mr. Zhang,” Shinichi Ando looked up, his voice low, clear and gentle, with an unsettlingly polite tone.

"Mr. Tang's residence is heavily guarded and impregnable. Even a fly that flies in would have to leave its name. But, coincidentally, it happened during your shift..."

"Is there anything you want to say? I can give you a chance to explain now."

Zhang Zixian's lips curled slightly in a bitter smile; this time, he had truly been tricked by those Kuomintang agents.

There are no eyewitnesses, the room where he is being held cannot be found, and every word he says now is unsupported by evidence.

Driven by a strong will to survive, Zhang Zixian repeated his previous testimony.

Shinichi Ando shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this.

“Zhang Sang, I want to hear the truth, but it seems like you’ve been making a fool of me.”

“Your group of four was ordered to guard the front gate of the Tang residence, and now, three of you are dead.”

"And you, by sheer coincidence, disappeared at the crucial moment."

“You told me you were coerced, but we didn’t find any injuries on you when we found you.”

"Are you trying to tell me that the Military Intelligence Bureau arrested you just to take you to a deserted place and lock you up for three or four days?"

"And they're fed the best food and wine every day. Are they just bored and have nothing better to do?"

"What I find most puzzling is that you said you were detained in a civilian house, which was covered with black cloth all around, so you couldn't see day or night."

“But we searched the entire Qihe Road and didn’t find the house you mentioned at all.”

"I think you're wasting my time."

"So I think you need a little pain to stimulate you, maybe it will remind you of some truths you've forgotten."

"Do it," Shinichi Ando said in Japanese to the executioner beside him.

"Hai." The soldier pulled a wet leather whip from a bucket by the wall. The whip was rough and black, soaked with cold water.

The other picked up a half-meter-long wooden stick wrapped in thick, rough burlap.

With a sharp crack, the soldier expertly flicked his whip, striking Zhang Zixian hard below his right shoulder blade. Instantly, Zhang Zixian's skin bulged at a visible speed, and the immense impact caused his body to arch forward violently, the iron chains on his body rattling loudly.

Then, the second lash, the third lash... the whip mercilessly struck his bare back, ribs, and waist.

Each fall was accompanied by a dull thud of flesh being torn apart and splattered blood.

The damage caused by a wet whip is deeper, and the pain is more excruciating.

The soldier holding the stick stepped forward, expressionless, and pressed the rough, salt-soaked end of the stick hard against a fresh, open whip mark on Zhang Zixian's back, twisting it forcefully...

The wound was irritated by the saline solution, causing a agonizing, bone-deep pain that felt like being slowly sliced ​​apart.

"Ugh!" A shrill scream pierced his throat as Ando Shinichi watched with great interest as Zhang Zixian's face twisted in agony.

“Zhang Sang, I advise you to cooperate with us and tell us honestly everything you know.”

"Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't have the chance to see tomorrow's sun."

Zhang Zixian's throat was completely hoarse from the screams, but he still stubbornly shook his head: "Ando-kun, I, I didn't do it."

"I really didn't do it..."

(End of this chapter)