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

Chapter 194 I'm sorry, you're a woman
December of the 27th year of the Republic of China.
Wang, former vice president of the Kuomintang and chairman of the National Political Council, and his main followers Chen and Zhou fled the mountain city under the pretext of "giving a speech in Kunming." They flew to Hanoi, then French Indochina, via Kunming Airport.

This defection was the ultimate result of the Wang Jingwei regime's long-standing advocacy of "peaceful national salvation," opposition to the war of resistance, and secret negotiations with Japan.

In Hanoi, Wang made further contact with the Japanese negotiating team led by Takeo Imai, and ultimately decided to issue a public statement in response to Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe's third statement on China, namely the Konoe Three Principles.

On December 29, 1938, Wang Jingwei, through his adopted son Lin Bosheng, the special envoy of the Kuomintang Central Propaganda Department and the president of the Hong Kong-based South China Daily, published a telegram to the Kuomintang Central Executive Committee in the South China Daily.

According to the rhyme scheme used in Chinese telegrams at the time, "the 29th" was referred to as "Yan," hence the historical name "Yan Telegram."

The publication of this report immediately caused a huge uproar in China.

In Shanghai, Hujiang University and the Labor Union are actively preparing for a strike, a class boycott, and a large-scale demonstration.

Japan’s major intelligence agencies simultaneously received orders to closely monitor the situation and be prepared to arrest the ringleader at any time.

Shanghai, Special Higher Police
The atmosphere here was even more oppressive and heavy than that of Kagesa Yoshiaki's office. There were no windows, and the walls seemed to be specially made with excellent sound absorption, as if even the passage of time had been slowed down.

The air was filled with the smells of old books, paper, ink, and aged tea.

Doi-Yuan, dressed in a traditional kimono, sat behind a large rosewood desk, like an old dragon coiled deep in its lair, seemingly calm, yet exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

"Knock, knock, knock." A knock sounded at the door. The chubby-faced man seemed to know who it was, and looked up calmly, saying, "Come in."

Yoko Minamida pushed open the office door and walked to her desk.

At this moment, she had changed into a smart Special Higher Police uniform, trying to cover up her weakness from not being fully recovered and the inner trauma left by her experience in the mountain city.

She deliberately straightened her back, slightly raised her chin, and her eyes burned with a mixture of relief at surviving the ordeal, resentment, and an even more intense flame of ambition.

She saw her ability to survive the devastating bombing and citywide manhunt and return to Shanghai as proof of her competence and luck, and as capital to pursue a higher position.

"Teacher." Yoko Minami bowed deeply, her voice slightly hoarse with excitement, but full of strength.

"I'm back." She didn't describe in detail the near-death experience, that would sound like a plea for mercy; what she needed to show was the result and resilience.

Tu Feiyuan slowly raised his head, his deep-set but still sharp eyes scrutinizing her through his reading glasses. His face was expressionless, he simply nodded slightly: "Yes, you've worked hard. It's good to be back."

His tone was flat, making it impossible to tell whether he was praising someone or simply stating a fact. He clearly already knew more about everything that had happened in the mountain city than Nantian himself, through other channels.

Yoko Nanada took a deep breath. She knew that any roundabout approach would be futile when facing Doi-Yuan.

"Teacher, although the operation in the mountain city was not entirely successful in the end, I managed to penetrate deep into the lion's den, briefly control a key figure in the Chinese military, and divert a great deal of his attention. Moreover, I proved my absolute loyalty to the Empire and my ability to adapt in the face of adversity!"

Doi-Yuan frowned: "Yoko, what are you trying to say?"

Yoko Nanta said in a deep voice, "News has come from the mainland that Kagesa wants to reorganize the China Affairs Team under the name of the head of the Military Affairs Section."

"Lord Minamijiro sent me a telegram stating that the General Staff intends for Shibayama Kenshiro to lead the Hankou Bamboo Agency, Chiyoji to lead the North China Blue Agency, and Kagesa to lead the Shanghai Plum Agency. The Kiku Agency in Fujian and Zhejiang regions still has no confirmed candidates."

"I hope to get a recommendation from my teacher and take charge of the Chrysanthemum Agency."

After she finished speaking, she bowed deeply again, her heart pounding with anticipation and nervousness. She believed that, given her "loyalty" to the empire and the recommendation of the powerful figure known as "Fat Man Doyle," it wasn't impossible.

A long silence fell over the room. The only sound was the barely audible "tap...tap" of Doihara's fingers lightly tapping the table.

Finally, Doihara spoke slowly, his voice still steady, but like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing all of Minamida Yoko's illusions: "Yoko, I have always known about your abilities, especially your determination and... courage."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming as hard and realistic as steel: "However, the position of Director of the Chrysanthemum Agency is not something you can aspire to. This has nothing to do with your ability or loyalty."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes, which had seen through the wickedness of the world, staring directly at Yoko Minamida, and uttered, word by word, the obstacle that was almost insurmountable under the Japanese imperial system at the time: "Because you are a woman."

Yoko Minami's body swayed almost imperceptibly, and the color drained from her face instantly.

Doihara seemed oblivious to her reaction, continuing in his assertive, unquestionable tone: "Within the Imperial Army, and indeed within the entire Imperial decision-making body, there has never been, and absolutely never will be, allowed a woman to head such an important field intelligence agency."

"This is not a matter of ability, but of rules, tradition, and... an insurmountable barrier."

He even shook his head slightly, as if lamenting her "naivety": "Your value lies in your sharpness and recklessness, like a useful dagger."

"But to lead an organization, you need strategic planning, the ability to balance all sides, and the capacity and...status to deal with those rigid male officers who would never accept a woman leading them. You are not born with that."

“Teacher, I…” Yoko Nanada tried to argue, her voice trembling with immense disappointment and anger, “I can do better than any man! I’m in Yamashiro…”

"Your experience in the mountain city precisely proves your uncontrollability and risk." Doihara coldly interrupted her, his tone even carrying a hint of warning. "Sending messages in plain text, taking hostages, and ultimately forcing the Empire to use its air force for 'cleaning up'... These are, in your eyes, proof of merit and ability, but in the eyes of those who hold the power of appointment, they are recklessness, loss of control, and huge trouble. The fact that you haven't been held accountable for causing the loss of important targets and forcing the Empire to use extreme measures is already out of consideration for your past merits."

His words were like cold knives, precisely dissecting all of Nantian Yangzi's self-proclaimed achievements, turning them into charges and stains.

Yoko Minami froze completely, feeling an unprecedented sense of humiliation and coldness.

Everything she fought so hard for was utterly insignificant in the face of deep-seated gender bias and bureaucratic systems, and even became a stumbling block to her advancement.

All her ambition and pride were shattered in that moment by Doihara's nonchalant words.

"Teacher, please don't forget that it was you who gave me the highest authority to make my own decisions."

"Moreover, I have already completed the task."

“Mr. Wang has successfully left the mountain city, and his contribution should be undeniable.” Nantian still wanted to argue for himself.

"No, no, no, you have no credit whatsoever." The fat man said in a deep voice, "All the credit belongs to the Akainu team that has already sacrificed themselves."

"Even you were saved by them sacrificing their own lives."

"Yoko, you should know that your efforts have been rewarded. The position of honorary major and the title of Flower of the Empire are both affirmations of your achievements."

"However, I must warn you that you are a woman and can only be in a subordinate position in war."

"If you show even the slightest intention, or even ambition, to control the intelligence agencies."

"Then all your previous achievements will be erased like chalk writing."

"The Empire will not allow someone like you to sit in that position."

Kenji Doihara leaned back in his chair, waved his hand as if dismissing a tool that was no longer of use: "Go back and rest well. I'll explain the situation to Chief Kagesa."

"There will be times when your 'dagger' will be needed again. As for the Chrysanthemum Agency... don't even think about it anymore. This is not the path you should be on."

"Why not?" Yoko Nanada raised her head. "What if I had the leverage to negotiate with the people in the Army?"

"Teacher, will you help me?"

"Negotiation?" Tu Feiyuan sat up straight in surprise: "Yangzi, what else do you have to offer? I've already said that your achievements have been rewarded, and the mainland is unlikely to give you any more recognition."

Yoko Nanta said in a deep voice, "Of course I have it. Is the military deployment map of the mountain city enough?"

Doi-Yuan's expression changed, and he looked Minamida Yoko up and down before slowly saying, "Yoko, you seem to have changed."

"You didn't value power so much before?"

Yoko Nanta said in a deep voice, "Teacher, everyone changes, especially after you've been through some things. I need to have the power to choose, and I don't want to have a knife stabbed into my chest from behind by one of my own people."

Tufeiyuan suddenly realized, "So, you're blaming Kagesa."

"Yoko, I hope you can be more rational. To be honest, Kagesa's decision was not wrong."

"In that situation, his solution was the best option."

"Besides, didn't you already escape?"

"I was able to escape because I'm lucky." Yoko Nanada raised her hand angrily, and the injury on her right arm made her gasp.

"Teacher, I don't want to be a victim again, please."

Doi-Yuan sighed deeply: "Yoko, you're the one I picked out from 1,300 girls."

Do you think I haven't hoped you could take another step forward after all this effort?

"But do you know what price you'll have to pay after taking this step?"

"Let me tell you, once you reach that position, even the smallest mistake you make will be magnified infinitely, and then, that's when your fate will be sealed."

Tu Feiyuan said, word by word, "You will become one of countless women's volunteer teams. Have you ever thought about this outcome?"

(End of this chapter)