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

Chapter 186 Beware, Bombs

Nakamura was silent for a moment, then finally waved his hand: "Major Minamida's idea is indeed very valuable."

"But Section Chief Chen is Lord Kagesa's man, and doing this could very well cause a rift in our cooperation..."

He took a breath and looked at Yoko Nanada. “I think your proposal can be considered as an alternative upgrade to the ‘Watanabe Plan’. We will not implement it proactively for the time being, but we should start making the necessary preparations immediately, select reliable personnel, and survey potential locations.”

"However, whether and when to launch it depends on the effect of the previous public opinion campaign and the reaction of Chongqing."

"If it gets out of control, it could very well lead to..."

Yoko Minami interrupted Nakamura Saki nonchalantly: "Out of control? That's exactly what we want! Nakamura-kun, you're too conservative! Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! Only bloodshed can tear everything apart the fastest!"

this.
Nakamura frowned, clearly displeased with Yoko Minamida's attitude.

Since he arrived, Yoko Minamida has rejected his proposals more than once and has questioned his decisions.

The army's tradition of subjugating superiors was perfectly inherited even by a woman.

"Major Nantian, it's not that I disagree, but we need to assess the risks of the operation."

"You should know that your plan could very well implicate all the undercover agents in the mountain city."

Yoko Minamida insisted, "Lord Nakamura, your duty is to convey orders, and your orders have now been conveyed."

"General Doiyuu gave me the highest authority for the operation in the mountain city."

"What you need to do now is not to worry about how I act, but to carry out your mission."

“Take Mei Siping back to Shanghai.”

Nakamura was taken aback. That's right, in addition to conveying the decision to terminate the Maple Project to Minamida Yoko, his mission on this trip also included a special task: to take Mr. Wang's subordinates with him.

Legislative Council member and Chongqing Garrison Commander Mei Siping went to Shanghai to participate in the negotiations between the Empire and Mr. Wang.

The negotiations were scheduled for November 20th, 1938.

The representatives attending the meeting were Mr. Wang's entourage, Mei Siping, and Gao Zhongwu, Director of the Asian Affairs Department.

The Japanese side was represented by Takeo Imai, with Sukenami Itō as his assistant.

A consultation meeting was held in Shanghai, coordinated by Kageyama Masaaki.

The contents of this meeting were later revealed by Tao Xisheng and Gao Zhongwu as the "Chongguangtang Agreement".

"Major Minamida, you seem to be talking too much." Nakamura's face darkened. "The secrets between the Empires do not need a woman interfering."

"You're willing to gamble with the twenty-odd Imperial soldiers of the mountain city. What if you fail..."

"I will report your actions to General Doi-Yuan in detail."

“Mr. Nakamura, that’s your freedom.” Yoko Minamida didn’t care about Nakamura’s threat at all.

"However, the word 'failure' does not exist in my dictionary."
-
November, 1938. Chongqing, a mountain city.

Thick fog, like a miasma, lingered and refused to dissipate, tightly enveloping the wartime capital.

The Yangtze River and the Jialing River, their turbid currents surging through steep canyons, create a heavy, oppressive atmosphere as water vapor mixes with coal smoke.

Air raid sirens are the most familiar background sound in the city, each shrill whistle tearing at people's taut nerves.

Since the "Maple Plan" operation failed to achieve its full goal last month, the covert struggle in the mountain city has intensified.

On November 20th, the negotiation team composed of Mei Siping, Gao Zhongwu, and Japanese envoys including Takeo Imai and Yoshinori Shirakawa, members of the "Low-Key Club" established by Mr. Wang, reached a consensus.

On behalf of Mr. Wang, Mei Siping signed the humiliating "Chongguangtang Agreement" at the residence of General Doiyu, which is located at No. 7 Tiyu East Road, Shanghai.

The following day, Chen Yang received orders from Yingzuo Zhenzhao to launch a propaganda offensive to cover the Wang Group's withdrawal from the mountain city.

On November 27th, several newspapers in the mountain city, such as the Central Daily News, the Saodang Daily, and other publications with ambiguous backgrounds, suddenly launched a "scandal" storm.

The front-page headline was horrifying: "Food and Medicine Become Private Property! A Top Official in the Ministry of Finance Exposed for Embezzling International Aid, Disheartening Frontline Soldiers."

Another prominently featured article reads: "Exchange Rate Scandals Abound! Song, Who Controls Finances, Suspected of Abusing His Authority and Information to Obtain Huge Amounts of Foreign Exchange, Profiting from National Crisis."

The report, accompanied by blurry photocopies of "evidence" and vivid "insider information," is a mix of truth and falsehood, and is highly inflammatory.

These poisons, meticulously prepared by Japanese intelligence agencies and distributed through clandestine channels, were precisely injected into the nerves of the soldiers and civilians in the mountain city, who were already extremely sensitive and anxious due to their long-term siege.

"Look at the newspaper! High-ranking officials are profiting from the national crisis!" "Look at the newspaper! The front lines are in dire straits, while those at home are feasting!"

The newspaper vendors' cries pierced through the fog, each word like a poisonous thorn.

The first place scorched by this toxic flame was the campus of National Central University in Shapingba.

In classrooms, libraries, and simple dormitories, students eagerly passed newspapers around, their young faces initially showing shock, which quickly turned into raging anger.

With the nation in peril, the school was relocated here, and the students, filled with the ambition to save the country, were now thoroughly enraged by this "backstabbing" scandal.

"This is outrageous! Soldiers shed their blood, while corrupt officials leech it!"

"We must stand up! We demand the truth! We demand accountability!"

"Severely punish corrupt officials! Down with those who profit from the national crisis!"

Anger and indignation quickly escalated, and banners and slogans were plastered all over the campus overnight. Students gathered to debate, and their impassioned speeches echoed through the Shapingba area.

Three days later, at dawn, the thick fog in the mountain city dissipated slightly, but the sky remained overcast and gloomy.

Students from National Central University were the first to raise their flags, followed by students from other universities and a large number of citizens who joined the surge.

The parade marched along the steep streets toward Guofu Road in the city center, with the destination being the residence of the Premier of the Executive Yuan, the Kong family mansion.

"Severely punish corruption!"

"Make the accounts public!"

"Unite to resist Japan and eliminate the parasites!"

The slogans, songs of salvation, and angry shouts of the marching students shook the humid air, and countless citizens stopped to watch, their expressions solemn and complex.

In a private room of a teahouse along the street in the mountain town, the curtains were drawn.

Yoko Nanta, dressed in a plain cheongsam with a sweater over it, listened quietly to the increasingly boisterous protest outside the window.

On the table, several newspapers that had been stirring up trouble were spread out.

A secret agent disguised as a waiter stood respectfully with his head bowed and reported in a low voice: "Major Nantian, the procession has passed Guanyin Rock and is heading towards Shangqing Temple. The number of people has exceeded four thousand, and the crowd is in high spirits. More and more citizens are joining along the way."

Yoko Nanada's lips curled into a smug smile: "Very good. The flames of anger have been ignited; now, it's time to pour a bucket of oil on them, to make them burn even brighter and more thoroughly."

"These so-called elites always have such a fascinating internal power struggle. Perfect for my use."

She paused, then her tone suddenly turned sharp and cruel, "How about the bomb site arrangements?"

The agent tensed up. "As per your instructions, high explosives have been secretly placed in the attic of Dexin Grocery Store and behind the adjacent fire sand pile in the middle section of Minsheng Road, a route the team will inevitably take."

"The detonation was carried out using both timed detonation and remote radio detonation, ensuring absolute safety. The timing was set at the moment when the core of the parade was most densely packed."

“Our people at the scene will ‘accidentally’ discover and identify the Blue Shirts Society or the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics as the perpetrators,”

"Public opinion guidance is ready. This will be a brutal crackdown on the student movement, or a bloody conspiracy to silence inside the mountain city government."

Nantian Yangzi nodded slightly, her tone suddenly turning sinister and terrifying: "Well done. I will make the blood of these future elites of China stain the steps of the mountain city red, completely destroy their will to resist, and let the international community see the true face of the Chinese regime."

Walking to the window, Yoko Minamida slightly parted the curtain and looked out at the surging crowd in the mist: "What a... wonderful stage."

"This game is getting more and more interesting. I'm starting to look forward to seeing how the mountain town will react after the explosion."

At the same time, at the headquarters of the Military Intelligence Bureau, in Luojiawan.

The atmosphere in Deputy Director Dai's office was as heavy as iron.

A newspaper was slammed onto the large desk with a dull thud.

"A vicious scheme, utterly wicked!" Boss Dai's voice was icy cold, his face ashen.

Based on his experience, he instantly discerned the mastermind behind this storm of public opinion.

Even if there are occasional scattered facts, their scale, timing, and direction are all permeated with the strong atmosphere of Japanese intelligence agencies.

Mao Qiwu, deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau Secretariat, rushed in, his expression grim and sweat beading on his forehead: "Director! The situation is critical! The demonstration is led by students from National Central University, with a large number of ordinary citizens involved, and it's spiraling out of control! Our people report that the crowd's sentiments have been completely incited and are difficult to guide!"

Boss Dai's expression changed drastically, and he asked urgently, "Is there no way to dissuade or mediate?"

"The slogan is 'anti-corruption,' politically correct, and our personnel are completely unable to change it; instead, they are being swept up by the tide!" Mao Qiwu spoke rapidly, his voice filled with anxiety. "What's even more serious is that we just received 'Number Three' top-secret intelligence."

"Intelligence claims that the Nantian Yangzi Special Agent Team has pre-positioned explosive points along the march route! Most likely on Minsheng Road! They intend to create a major tragedy and frame our bureau or the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics!"

"What?" Boss Dai's pupils suddenly contracted, and a cold shiver ran down his spine.

He fully understood the Japanese conspiracy: to incite public opinion, then destroy it with a bloody explosion and frame them, thus severely damaging public morale and the government's prestige!

"We must stop this! Immediately notify the march leaders that there is a trap ahead and they must evacuate immediately!"

"Director, it's too late!" Mao Qiwu said with a bitter face, "The troops are huge and their emotions are boiling. If we force a warning now, it will cause huge panic and trampling, which will play right into the hands of the Japanese invaders. Their explosive devices can also be remotely triggered in the chaos!"

"Then there's only one way!" A resolute glint flashed in Boss Dai's eyes. "Qi Wu, I'm giving you the order. You will immediately lead a team, select the most elite members of the Special Operations Brigade, and have them all disguise themselves as students or citizens, blending into the parade and the crowds on the roadside!"

"Have Tan Rongzhang and his cronies get there first. Target area: the middle section of Minsheng Road, around Dexin Grocery Store! Search high and low! Find the bomb at all costs and defuse it..."

"If...if the situation becomes critical and demolition is no longer possible..."

"Then fire shots to create chaos and disperse the crowd. Even if there are some casualties, it's understandable. In short, we must not let it be detonated in the densest part of the crowd!"

Firing a gun in a crowd could cause a stampede.
"Director! This..."

"Execute the order!" Boss Dai said decisively: "When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one."

"This is the only way to minimize casualties! At the same time, immediately notify the Garrison Command and the City Police Department that suspicious persons have been spotted on Minsheng Road, and order them to increase patrols, even if it only slows down the troops for a moment! Hurry! Do it immediately!"

"By the way, inform Director Zheng of the Secretariat to communicate with the Military Command and ask General Sun to send people to assist in the search."

"They are the true elite..."

(End of this chapter)