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

Chapter 192 Suzhou Creek and Huangpu River

Yamaki's gaze was fixed on Chen Yang's expression.

At this moment, a professional scrutinizing gaze, belonging to a seasoned logistics officer, appeared on his smiling face.

It seemed they wanted to analyze Chen Yang's subtle expressions to discern his true thoughts.

Chen Yang picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

Before they could speak, a knock sounded at the door, and several waitresses entered carrying numerous delicacies. They bowed politely to the two of them and said, "Excuse me."

Then, several waitresses placed the dishes in front of the two of them one by one.

After finishing their tasks, the group bowed slightly and then withdrew.

Chen Yang raised his glass and said, "Colonel Yamaki, I have thought carefully about the current transportation predicament. The army... sigh, they are really too arrogant, they are too rigid in their priority of resources, and they do not care at all about the actual difficulties of friendly forces."

"If this continues, it may be detrimental to the empire's overall strategy."

Colonel Yamaki squinted, picked up a slice of tuna belly, and mumbled as he chewed, "Who says otherwise? But what can we do? They're 'army idiots,' all they know is to want, want, want."

Chen Yang leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice even further: "Colonel, rules are rules, but people are flexible. Since the coordination mechanism above has failed, shouldn't we, the people working below, also think of ways to leave ourselves and our respective departments some way out?"

Yamaki slowed his chewing, put down his chopsticks, picked up a towel to wipe his mouth, and the shrewd glint in his narrowed eyes dimmed slightly: "Chen Sang, what do you mean by that? 'Think of a way'? 'Leave a way out'? That's not something an imperial official should say."

Chen Yang met his gaze and said frankly, "Colonel, what I mean is, how can we use resources more 'efficiently' within the existing framework to solve the practical problems on both sides?"

"For example... I heard that the naval fleet and transport ships are currently under considerable pressure due to fuel quotas being squeezed by the army? It has even affected the transport schedule of certain... 'special oversized cargo'?"

Colonel Yamaki's expression shifted slightly, but he didn't immediately deny it. Fuel was indeed one of the Navy's biggest weaknesses, severely limiting its operational capabilities.

Chen Yang keenly noticed the change in Yamaki's expression, took a sip of wine, and slowly said, "To be honest, Colonel, when our Army Transportation Section coordinates land transportation along the Shanghai-Hangzhou, Shanghai-Nanjing, and even the Yangtze River, we occasionally... really just occasionally, discover some unplanned 'redundant' transport capacity, or some... less conspicuous civilian transport channels."

“If used properly, these channels may be able to bypass some cumbersome approvals and competition, and solve some urgent problems for friends in need.”

"Mr. Yamaki, if—and I mean if—I wish to cooperate with you?"

Yamaki frowned: "Chen Sang, you're in charge of transportation, and I'm in charge of logistics. We're not on the same page."

"Besides, our navy doesn't have anything we can cooperate with you on."

Chen Yang put down his wine glass and said calmly, "Of course."

Yamaki didn't pay any attention, just smiled, and picked up a piece of sashimi, chewing it slowly.

Chen Yang said seriously, "Mr. Shanmu, I never joke with anyone, let alone someone like you. If I can help you get what you want most, do you think we can cooperate?"

He spoke subtly, but his meaning was crystal clear: he possessed a channel that allowed him to bypass army control and secretly transport scarce supplies.

"You mean..." Colonel Yamaki's heart was visibly racing, and even the hand holding the wine glass began to tremble.
Oil! That's the lifeblood of the navy! If there really was a relatively safe secret transport route that could get extra fuel... His eyes flickered, but the old fox's caution prevented him from taking the bait immediately.

“Chen Sang, your idea is… bold,” Shanmu said slowly, his fingers tracing the rim of his wine glass. “But you should be more aware of the risks involved than I am. There are countless eyes watching this thing from top to bottom.”

"Moreover, are these 'unofficial channels' you mentioned reliable? Oil is not an ordinary commodity."

Chen Yang knew the other party was interested; now he needed to dispel their doubts and demonstrate his strength: "Risk and reward always go hand in hand, as for the channels..."

He gave a mysterious smile. “Since you dared to speak up, you must have some confidence. We can try a small-scale approach initially, such as solving the urgent need for fuel for a batch of naval dock loading and unloading machinery. After seeing results, we can discuss deeper cooperation later.”

He put forward a seemingly trivial but actually urgent need of the Navy as a test, thus lowering the psychological threshold for the other party.

Colonel Yamaki fell silent, clearly weighing his options intensely. Joining such a secret network meant that if exposed, smuggling goods was a serious crime, punishable by death.

But the allure of oil was too great, and the fact that the navy had long been at a disadvantage in its struggle with the army also made him extremely resentful.

If he can secure a stable supply of additional fuel through this route, his standing within the Navy will be greatly enhanced…

Everyone knows that although there is a rank difference between a colonel and a general, the two are worlds apart.

Yamaki rose through the ranks from naval preparatory school to ship captain, and was then transferred to the logistics department.

Without military merit, his rank as colonel would be over, but if he could secure oil, he could get naval ships moving. That would be a significant achievement.
After a long silence, he raised his head and stared intently at Chen Yang: "Mr. Chen, I need a more specific plan. How will it operate? How will safety be ensured? How will the profits be distributed?"

Chen Yang breathed a slight sigh of relief, knowing that the bait had been taken and now it was time to negotiate. He calmly took out a thin, unmarked envelope from his suit pocket and gently pushed it in front of Yamaki.

"Colonel, here is a preliminary concept and a few absolutely reliable contact points. Please take a look. We can finalize the details later."

"As for safety, rest assured. This line has been operating for many years and has its own way of surviving. As for profits... that's easy to say. The main thing is to make you a friend and solve everyone's practical difficulties."

Colonel Yamaki picked up the envelope, but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he weighed it in his hand and then gave Chen Yang a deep look: "Chen-san, you're a smart man, and you're also very ambitious. I hope... your connections match your courage."

"I will never let the Colonel down." Chen Yang smiled confidently and raised his glass. "For more efficient transportation, for the common cause of the Empire, and for our...friendship."

Colonel Yamaki pondered for a moment, then finally raised his glass and lightly clinked it against Chen Yang's.

"In order to... solve the difficulties." He said meaningfully, not completely repeating Chen Yang's toast, but the act of clinking glasses itself already meant the beginning of a tacit agreement and cooperation.

Chen Yang tactfully drank the wine in his cup, then smiled and said, "Mr. Shanmu, we have a few distinguished guests coming today. Would you like to meet them?"

"Mr. Chen, our cooperation has just begun, there's no rush." ​​To Chen Yang's surprise, Shanmu seemed to have anticipated who Chen Yang would introduce to him, and immediately rejected Chen Yang's suggestion.

"Does Your Excellency Yamaki still have any concerns?" Chen Yang chuckled. "It's alright. If you haven't made up your mind yet, we can wait a while."

Yamaki said softly, "It's not a concern, but rather that I don't want to be too conspicuous."

"You know, my relationship with them is like that of the Suzhou River and the Huangpu River."

"One side is clear, the other is muddy; if there's no need for it, it's best if we don't meet."

After a pause, Yamaki took a sip of sake, put down his cup, and slowly said, "Chen-san, do you know what you're planning to do today? So why did you come?"

Chen Yang was taken aback for a moment, then said respectfully, "Please enlighten me, Lord Shanmu."

“Because you are Chinese,” Yamaki said slowly, “if you were Japanese, I would have to judge your stance, whether you are biased towards them or towards us.”

“But you are Chinese, so you can maintain a neutral stance, and we can cooperate.”

"Therefore, clarity is clarity and turbidity is turbidity, and we must not confuse them."

"It's best if everyone has their own bottom line, so that everyone can save face."

Sure enough, they were all old foxes; the Navy Logistics Minister in front of him was no ordinary person either, and he saw through things very clearly in an instant.

Being able to bypass army control means that they have already cultivated relationships with the army.
At this moment, Chen Yang was about to introduce the distinguished guests to him. Without a doubt, they were high-ranking officials from the Ministry of the Army.

“What you say is true, Mr. Yamaki.” Chen Yang raised his glass and took a sip, then suddenly said, “I heard from Saito-kun that Mr. Yamaki has been in China from Yokohama for several years now. I suppose he must miss his hometown.”

“Perfect timing. I have a young lady here who just came from Yokohama. Why don’t you let her tell you about her hometown?”

Yamaki didn't refuse; after all, everyone understood what that meant.

Chen Yang gently pressed the bell on the table. Knock knock knock. A knock came from outside. The door slowly opened, and a girl in a school uniform walked timidly to Shanmu.

With her youthful smile and short, ear-length hair, she looked like she was only seventeen or eighteen years old, but upon closer inspection, she seemed to be in her early twenties. Her body language could be deliberately trained, but the worldly wisdom in her eyes could not be concealed.

When Yamaki first saw the girl, his hands trembled even more than when he heard about oil, as if he had developed Parkinson's disease.

Whether it was his imagination or not, Chen Yang actually saw tears welling up in the eyes of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
"This is Ms. Kyoko, Mr. Yamaki. Let her keep you company for a chat."

"Kyoko, you're also called Kyoko?" Yamaki's voice trembled slightly.

"Yes, my name is Chiyama Kyoko." The girl's smile was innocent and charming, even with a hint of playfulness.

"Miss Kyoko, I'm leaving this to you. Have a good chat with Mr. Yamaki," Chen Yang said with a smile, then stood up and bowed.

Staying here as a third wheel at this point would be incredibly tactless.

Yamaki paid no attention to anything else; his gaze was completely captivated by Chiyama Kyoko.

It was as if this girl was the only person in the entire world.
(End of this chapter)