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

Chapter 222 Fellow villager, open the door! The colonel has come to bring warmth.

March 6th, 1939 (the 15th day of the first lunar month), was the Lantern Festival.

The Chen Mansion at Lane 668, Yuyuan Road, in the French Concession, a mansion that blends French elegance with Chinese melancholy, is permeated with an indescribable sense of oppression during festive occasions.

Chen Lu, the newly appointed foreign minister of the Nanjing puppet regime, seemed more preoccupied than ever before.

During the Lantern Festival, the Chen Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.
Inside the Buddhist hall, the fragrant sandalwood scent almost solidified.

Chen Lu knelt before the enormous gilded incense burner, where the smoke from the three sticks of calming incense slowly rose, licking the solemn Buddha statue above.

He closed his eyes and chanted scriptures, trying to dispel the inexplicable fear in his heart.

Three days ago, the police received a tip that unidentified individuals were scouting the area near the mansion. Although there was no concrete evidence, this unease haunted him like a ghost.

On the altar, the priceless jade Guanyin statue shimmered with an eerie light under the flickering candlelight.

Chen Lu's right hand brushed across the lotus pedestal of the jade statue, his fingertips trembling slightly, and he kept murmuring something, as if he was praying for the protection of the Bodhisattva.

"Master," a voice rang out, "the eldest young master is asking when the banquet can begin?"

Chen Lu frowned and opened the door to the Buddhist hall.

The newly arrived head bodyguard, Liu Haishan, stood guard outside the door.

He was wearing the uniform black woolen suit issued by the government, with the brim of his hat pulled low, covering most of his face. But the scar that ran diagonally from his left forehead to his right cheekbone, resembling a living centipede, was still shocking even in the dim light.

He was recruited just before the Lunar New Year based on a flawless resume: "He had served in the Northeast Army, suppressed bandits, fought against the Japanese, and later drifted to Jiangnan."

"Haishan, what's the matter?" Chen Lu still admired this man from the Northeast.

He is straightforward and taciturn, unlike most people from the South who are talkative.

Liu Haishan respectfully said, "Young Master sent me to convey a message: Shouldn't the banquet begin?"

Chen Lu sighed: "Let him handle it himself. I don't have much of an appetite, so I'll just stay here and not bother me unless it's absolutely necessary."

A strange look flashed in Liu Haishan's eyes, and he bowed slightly, saying, "Understood, sir."

The main hall of Chen Mansion.

The mansion was bustling with activity on the night of the Lantern Festival, with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments masking the undercurrents.

Liu Haishan stood in the shadows of the corridor, his gaze sweeping over the guests clinking glasses.

He remained silent, like a cold, observing ghost.

At this moment, in the small attic opposite Chen's mansion on Yuyuan Road, Liu Geqing was checking his weapon for the last time: a modified Browning 1935 pistol with a silencer covered by a thick cloth cover.

Next to it was a hand-drawn map, a detailed structural diagram of the Chen Mansion brought out by Liu Haishan with his amazing memory, especially the top view of the short 21-meter passage from the columns to the secret door of the Buddhist hall, accurate to every step.

Originally, Wan Tianmu's order was for Liu Geqing to cooperate with intelligence team leader Wu Ming and team member Fang Ze.

However, this action led to an extremely awkward situation.

No weapons.
Yes. You read that right. The prestigious Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai Station was unarmed during the operation.

The only Browning pistol left in the entire group was bought by Wu Ming from the black market.

Therefore, Liu Geqing simply took on the task himself, leaving Wu Ming and Fang Ze as backup.

At eight o'clock in the evening, as the Western clock struck, colorful fireworks burst in the sky above the mansion, illuminating half the sky as if it were daytime.

Chen Youtao, the eldest son of the Chen family mansion, led everyone to look at the dazzling lights under the night sky, his face beaming with satisfaction.

Right now, Liu Geqing rushed downstairs, ran across the road in a few steps, and arrived at the Chen Mansion guard post.

Wu Ming and Fang Ze followed closely behind, carrying small axes and hemp ropes.

"Bang bang bang"

In the sky, colorful fireworks exploded with a crackling sound, and the three guards on duty in the gatehouse were already flushed from drinking.

Even his personal pistol was placed on the table to the side.

"Don't move!" A loud shout startled the guards in the gatehouse, instantly sobering them up.

Just as one of them was about to make a move, Liu Geqing reacted quickly and fired a shot at the man's feet, startling him so much that he stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Brothers, every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. I'm not here today to start a bloodbath."

"Gentlemen, just pretend you've never seen me before, or don't blame me for leaving no survivors."

"Cooperation, we definitely will cooperate." The men kowtowed repeatedly, while Wu Ming and Fang Ze behind them took out the prepared ropes and quickly tied the three of them up.

"Team Leader Liu, what do we do now?" Wu Ming asked Liu Geqing, looking at the group of people tied up like dumplings.

"No rush, wait..." Liu Geqing glanced at his watch; there were still a few minutes until the time he had agreed to meet Liu Haishan.

"Start the operation in nine minutes. You guys keep an eye on these guys and don't let them make a sound."

"You will retreat three minutes after the operation begins. I will find a way to leave."

"Understood," Wu Ming and Fang Ze replied simultaneously.

After the last firework exploded, the sky was slowly swallowed by a huge black curtain, and the earth was plunged into an ominous deep gray.

The Buddhist hall was brightly lit. Chen Lu knelt alone on the prayer mat, beginning his daily evening prayers without fail.

The copper bell occasionally emitted a monotonous and jarring clanging sound in the breeze at the corner of the corridor.

Tonight, his anxiety reached its peak, and he even seemed somewhat distracted while doing his evening classes.

Liu Haishan stood in the shadows near the entrance of the Buddhist hall, listening to the rhythm of the wooden fish drum inside, his eyes repeatedly scanning the layout of the entire space.
The main power switch of the Chen Mansion is within easy reach of the Buddhist hall, opposite it. There are twelve wall lamps in the corridor, their light and shadows intertwining and falling on the floor. There are twelve pillars in total...

His mind raced, analyzing every detail of his actions.

The fireworks display finally ended, and Chen Youtao led his family and guests back to the living room to continue the dinner.

Just then, Liu Haishan, who was guarding the corridor, looked around and rushed to the opposite side. His right hand shot out like lightning, not to draw a gun, but to grab the inconspicuous wooden box by the door with precision and force. That was the main power switch for the backyard!
He pulled down sharply!
A soft, crisp sound rang out, like a violin string snapping.

In an instant! All twelve wall lamps went out at the same time! The blinding white light vanished abruptly like the receding tide! Darkness completely engulfed the world.

The Buddhist hall was instantly plunged into a thick, absolute darkness, so dark that one could not see their own hand in front of their face!

"What's going on?!" Inside the Buddhist hall, Chen Lu's scream, filled with panic, suddenly rang out, and he instinctively shrank back.

This series of actions was so precise, as if they had been practiced hundreds of times: pulling the switch and turning off the lights.
Liu Haishan's figure moved rapidly toward the carved door frame in the darkness.

Chen Lu inside the door was immediately panicked. The night guards at the end of the corridor outside the door were startled by the sudden darkness and began to run around in a panic. The chaotic footsteps grew louder as they approached!

At the same moment, Liu Geqing, who was waiting at the guard post, was like a spring that had been compressed to its limit, suddenly released!
That was an instinctive burst of power honed through long-term rigorous training and countless brushes with death!

He touched the ground with his toes, kept his body extremely low, and pounced silently like a cheetah, moving forward at high speed in the darkness.

Inside the Buddhist hall, the incense sticks inserted in the shrine flickered on and off.

Chen Lu groped around, trembling, trying to find a match to light the candle.

"Click!"

A faint sound, almost imperceptible, suddenly rang out like thunder in the silent darkness!
"Who goes there?" Chen Lu shouted nervously. Although he couldn't see anyone, he instinctively felt that someone had broken in.
"Haishan, Haishan." Chen Lu called out several times, but there was no response. Just then, with a whoosh, a beam of light shone, and the Buddhist hall was illuminated again.
The light illuminated the center of the Buddhist hall, and Chen Lu, who was still in shock, suddenly saw half a pale face!

"Who?" Chen Lu's surprise turned into a sharp question! He instinctively reached for the offerings under the altar as a weapon.

With a "plop!" sound.
The Browning, equipped with a high-efficiency silencer, emitted a deep, muffled sound!

The brass bullet spun and precisely blasted a small, crimson hole in Chen Lu's horrified brow!

A faint cracking sound came from the frontal bone!
A stream of red and white liquid mixed with brain matter suddenly gushed out from the back of his head, splashing onto the golden shrine canopy.
The light in Chen Lu's eyes vanished instantly, and he collapsed forward as if his bones had been removed, his forehead slamming heavily against the cold incense table!

The jade Guanyin statue slipped from my hand and rolled away...

"Thump, thump, thump," a series of rapid footsteps sounded, the noise from inside the Buddhist hall clearly alerting the patrolling bodyguards outside.

Liu Geqing quickly glanced at the scene inside the Buddhist hall, and following Liu Haishan's instructions, opened the window at the back, got up, and jumped out.

They ran wildly along the planned route until they reached the base of the wall, where Liu Haishan had prepared a rope ladder.

Without hesitation, Liu Geqing climbed the rope ladder and scaled the wall.

"Ah!" In a daze, Liu Geqing heard a man's scream coming from inside the Buddhist hall.

At the gate, Wu Ming and Fang Ze kept an eye on the time: one minute, two minutes, three minutes.

The appointed time arrived quickly, and Fang Ze whispered, "Team leader, let's leave."

Wu Ming glanced at the people whose mouths were stuffed with cloth, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"Gentlemen, we are all serving our own masters, please forgive us."

Hurrah, hurrah...
The incessant sirens, the cacophony of voices, the frantic shouts of bodyguards, and the Japanese commands of the military police echoed in my ears.

Within five minutes, police stations and police offices on both sides were dispatched simultaneously.
Liu Geqing didn't linger; his body instantly released a surge of adrenaline, propelling his figure to disappear rapidly into the darkness.

The next day, news of Chen Lu's assassination at home was quickly reprinted by major newspapers.

Living in this era, newspapers are the fastest and largest platform for public opinion.

Almost everyone gets their information from newspapers.
"Breaking News! Breaking News! Foreign Minister Chen Lu assassinated on the night of the Lantern Festival! Shocking news in the French Concession!"

"Breaking News! Breaking News! Military Intelligence Bureau assassins break into Chen's residence at night; diplomat dies in the Huangpu River! The scene is horrific! The new government's foreign policy suffers a heavy blow!"

The newsboys' desperate shouts pierced the pre-dawn silence.

Overnight, almost all the major newspapers in Shanghai, whether they were run by foreigners in the concessions or local publications that insisted on making their voices heard on the isolated island, reported on the assassination with horrifying headlines.

The North-China Daily News described the horrific scene and the families' tearful accusations against the mountain town;
The Shanghai-based newspaper *Shen Bao* subtly pointed out the "shameful end of traitors," expressing silent respect for the unsung heroes behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, newspapers under the control of the new government, such as the Huayang Daily, were furious and denounced the "Japanese rioters as insane" and "deliberately sabotaging the peaceful nation-building," vowing to severely punish the perpetrators and their accomplices.

But the real undercurrents surged beneath the smell of newspaper ink.

Shanghai, the location of the Japanese Military Police Headquarters in Shanghai.

Major General Otani Yunqi, the commander, had a grim face, and a thick investigation report was spread out on his desk.

The report, jointly submitted by the Special Higher Police and the newly established intelligence agency, the Ume Agency, was only a few pages long, but Commander Otani was extremely angry because it was full of signs of mutual blame and downplaying the important issues.

"Baka!" Otani slammed the report on the table, making the teacup clatter. "The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the 'Nanjing Reformed Government' was easily assassinated by Kuomintang assassins in his heavily guarded private residence!"

"Such a shocking murder occurred without even the Mei Agency and the Special Higher Police being aware of it beforehand!"

"Haruki-kun, Fujita-kun, can you please explain why the 'net of heaven and earth' you're talking about is full of sieves?!"

Colonel Fujita Tsuyoshi, the Special Higher Police chief in charge of the case, had a throbbing vein on his forehead.

Lieutenant Colonel Haruki Yoshitaka, the deputy head of the Mei Agency, looked even more grim.

The accusations from the commander of the military police headquarters were like whips lashing their faces.

"Chen Lu's death not only tarnished the prestige of the reformed government supported by the empire, but also caused significant damage to our painstakingly built intelligence network in Shanghai!"

"Do you know that his death has almost paralyzed half of the new government's planned operations!"

“Lord Otani, I can explain,” Fujita Tsuyoshi argued, forcing a smile. “The murderer chose to act on the night of the Lantern Festival, clearly taking advantage of the holiday’s laxity.”

"Moreover, I can guarantee that there must have been insiders assisting in this assassination."

"We suspect that there is a seasoned agent in disguise within the Chen family..."

"Suspicion? You only start to suspect when the person is dead!" Haruki Yoshitane couldn't help but retort, turning his attention to the Special Higher Police. "There were no warning signs before the incident, not even a single gunshot! What does that mean?"

"This shows that the other side's plan was meticulous and their actions ruthless! This is definitely not the work of an ordinary resistance organization; it was done by the top action team of the Military Intelligence Bureau! Did the Special Higher Police not give any warning about the infiltration of the Military Intelligence Bureau?"

A sinister glint flashed in Fujita's eyes as he coldly stated, "The Special Higher Police's focus is on core intelligence and macro-level control!"

"However, isn't the very condition for the existence of your Mei Agency to help the new government maintain stability in the South?"

"It seems like your mission is to investigate the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, and the underground liaison stations of the Red Party."

"I remember it very clearly. It was under this pretext that Lord Kagesa merged the China Affairs Division into four major intelligence agencies: Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum."

"What? You're planning to shift the blame onto the Special Higher Police just because you can't meet expectations?"

“Fujita-kun, please watch your words,” Haruki Yoshitane said in a deep voice. “We have already made ample arrangements for the Military Intelligence Station in Shanghai.”

"Moreover, the twenty bodyguards around Chen Lu were all selected by your Special Higher Police."

"If there really is a Kuomintang spy among them, wouldn't that just mean your Special Higher Police are incompetent?"

Fujita Tsuyoshi instantly flew into a rage: "You are the incompetent ones! What have you accomplished since the establishment of the Mei Agency?"

"What decent people have you ever arrested that you're pointing fingers at me now?"

"Enough..." Otani Yunqi slammed his hand on the table, a chilling smile on his face. "Incompetent? Who dares to say you're incompetent? In my opinion, you're all 'capable'!"

"The Special Higher Police, the Mei Agency, and the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee all bear responsibility for their negligence in investigating the Chen Lu case!"

"If this news reaches the mainland and incurs the Emperor's wrath, you will bear the consequences yourselves!"

"Furthermore, I don't care what methods you use, find the core members of this assassination team immediately!"

"I am certain that they will continue their actions after Chen Lu! His Excellency Fu Xiao'an, the mayor of Shanghai, has already clearly expressed extreme concern for his own safety!"

"Mayor Fu is a key figure in maintaining stability in Shanghai and ensuring the interests of the empire! If anything happens to him, you'll all be out of a job. You're all set for life."

Haruki Yoshihisa suddenly straightened his posture and said, "Please rest assured, Mr. Otani, our Mei Agency has already made arrangements regarding Mayor Fu's safety."

Otani Yunqi frowned slightly, seemingly somewhat doubtful of Haruki Yoshitane's words.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Otani Yunqi said in a low voice.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Otani, I've been very busy with the transportation department, so I'm a little late." Chen Yang pushed open the door to the headquarters office and said apologetically to Otani.

“Section Chief Chen, the Transportation Department is responsible for the Empire's logistical supply delivery, so it's understandable that you're a little late.” Otani's tone softened somewhat for some reason. This made Fujita, who was standing to the side, frown.

You weren't like this when you were scolding us. Why did you suddenly change your attitude when it was someone else?
Chen Yang quickly replied, "It is my duty to contribute to the empire."

Otani nodded and looked at Haruki Yoshitane beside him, asking, "Haruki-kun, what are the plans for the Ume Agency?"

"This..." Qingqi Qingyin suddenly hesitated.

Fujita said sarcastically, "What? Is Lieutenant Colonel Haruki afraid I'll reveal your plans?"

Qingqi Qingyin gave a soft hum, neither admitting nor denying it.

Otani Yunqi was also having a terrible headache.

Both the Mei Agency and the Special Higher Police are intelligence agencies, but they belong to different factions.

The Special Higher Police (THT) is the intelligence agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the Ume Agency is under the command of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Although the Mei Agency was nominally assisting the new government of Jinling in governing the south, in reality they controlled the intelligence agencies in Jinling, and even the Jinling Special Service Committee had to obey them.
"Colonel Fujita, since Lieutenant Colonel Haruki is unwilling to reveal the details, then don't press him further," Chen Yang said gently.

“Chief Chen is right. Then please keep a close eye on Mayor Fu, and make sure nothing happens to him.” Fujita Tsuyoshi bowed slightly to Otani Yunqi and said, “Lord Otani, I will gather my men to track down the whereabouts of the Military Intelligence Bureau assassin as soon as possible.”

"Farewell."

"How can the commander of the Special Higher Police be so rude?" Haruki Yoshitane muttered to himself as he watched Fujita's departing figure.

Otani Yunqi frowned: "Haruki-kun, please watch your words."

"I know you have the backing of the Inspectorate, but I hope you can show at least some respect to your colleagues."

Haruki Yoshitane bowed slightly and said, "I'm sorry, Lord Otani."

Otani Yunqi's expression softened slightly: "Mayor Fu's safety will be the responsibility of your Mei Agency and the Special Affairs Committee."

"I hope nothing else goes wrong, otherwise, even Kagesa won't be able to save you."

“Yes,” Haruki Yoshitane said solemnly, “Please rest assured, Mr. Otani, we have a complete plan and can guarantee Mayor Fu’s safety.”

“Very good,” Otani Yunqi raised his hand slightly and said, “Haruki-kun, you go and make the arrangements first. I have something to discuss with Section Chief Chen.”

"Lord Otani, I shall take my leave now." Haruki Yoshitane bowed slightly, turned and left the office.

"Please sit down." Otani's expression remained solemn even after Haruki Yoshitane left.

Chen Yang sat down opposite Otani as instructed.

Otani looked at Chen Yang and said calmly, "A couple of days ago, Yamada-kun reported to me that someone seems to be investigating the supply warehouse. Are you aware of this?"

Chen Yang nodded slightly: "Some anomalies have indeed been found at the Maigen Road supply warehouse."

"However, please rest assured, Mr. Otani, everything in the supplies warehouse has been cataloged."

"We won't make a fuss about this."

Otani Yunqi nodded: "That's good, but you should be careful too."

"The fact that the local side sent Qingqi Jun over clearly indicates that they have doubts about the excessive consumption of resources by the Chinese side."

"I don't need to ask who you want to do what kind of deal, and we can even provide certain conveniences. I only have one request: you absolutely mustn't give anyone any leverage over you..."

"You need to understand that this isn't just about one or two people. If we really get solid evidence, I think you should know what's best for everyone."

"Of course, if they find any flaws, you can give them an explanation if necessary, so that everyone can save face."

Otani's words made Chen Yang's heart tighten. Although the network was already taking shape, it had not yet reached the point where it was indispensable to him.

If the local authorities truly suspect him of having problems, they will not hesitate to throw him out.

Therefore, the road ahead is long and arduous.
Chen Yang stood up, bowed slightly, and said, "Lord Otani, I know what to do."

March 11th, 1939 (the 28th year of the Republic of China)
The biting wind made the Japanese army's logistics warehouse on the outskirts of Xuzhou appear particularly somber.

Lieutenant Colonel Hiroshi Yamaguchi, the logistics officer of the 122nd Mixed Brigade, was frowning as he inventoried a batch of weapons awaiting repair and expired medicines that had just been transferred from the front lines.

These are all "waste products" that need to be disposed of. They will be recorded and destroyed or secretly resold by some people for a little money. This is an unspoken rule in the military.

At that moment, a communications soldier ran up quickly and handed him an encrypted telegram sent directly from the Shanghai Land Transport Section. Lieutenant Colonel Yamaguchi took it with suspicion, and after reading it, his brows furrowed even more.

The telegram came from Chen Yang, the head of the land transport section in Shanghai. The wording was polite, but the content left no room for doubt: he was ordered to immediately load a batch of "pending processing" supplies in the warehouse onto a military train that was about to depart for a designated location west of Xuzhou.

That wasn't all. The telegram concluded by emphasizing that, to ensure the safe transport of the "special supplies" and to avoid harassment by guerrillas along the way or any "mishaps" within the supply chain, he, as the head of logistics, was required to personally accompany the shipment until the handover was completed at the destination.

"What? You want me to go myself?" Lieutenant Colonel Yamaguchi found it unbelievable and somewhat annoyed.

He, a lieutenant colonel in the Imperial Army, was actually ordered to escort a pile of junk.
And to deliver to a specific, suspicious-sounding address? That's an insult to his identity!
But he quickly suppressed his anger.

Such orders often have a deeper purpose behind them, perhaps a private deal between important figures, or the need for a secret operation.

Disobeying his orders could get you into unnecessary trouble.

Yamaguchi pondered for a moment, sighed, took out the "scrap list," and ordered, "Go, pick out the items on the list, pack them up, and load them onto tonight's train heading west. I'll go myself."

Office of the head of the Land Transportation Division, Shanghai.

Chen Yang put down the phone, a barely perceptible cold smile appearing on his lips.

He had just reconfirmed the military train schedule and the response from the Yamaguchi area.

Yusuke Ino, the deputy head of the land transport section, said with some concern, "Chief, isn't it too much of a commotion to have a Japanese lieutenant colonel personally escorting them? What if he gets suspicious..."

“Making a big fuss is safer.” Chen Yang interrupted him, his eyes sharpening the next moment. “Although we’ve mixed this batch of goods with those ‘waiting-to-be-processed’ scraps, trying to pass them off as genuine.”

"However, the railway line is not safe now. Guerrillas, bandits, and even some of our own people who are greedy for money may have their eyes on the supplies."

"Only by having a high-ranking Japanese officer personally escort the train can we ensure that no one dares to check or touch it! If the checkpoints and garrisons along the way see an Imperial Lieutenant Colonel in charge, they will only assume it is an important military matter. Who would dare to stop or question us?"

“Yamaguchi Hiroshi is definitely unwilling, but he doesn’t dare to disobey my orders, at least not openly. He will only think that this is a private deal by some big shot above him, or some kind of secret mission.”

"When he arrives at the destination, he won't think much of it if he sees that the people coming to pick up the goods might be 'collaborators' or some 'local forces.' Once he completes the handover and gets the receipt, his mission is done."

"Brilliant!" Ino exclaimed sincerely, "The section chief's plan is truly flawless!"

Chen Yang simply said, "There's no such thing as a flawless plan; every step is like walking on thin ice."

Yusuke Ino nodded, as if remembering something: "Section Chief, Department Head Suzuhara called to ask if you have time to have dinner together."

Is Suzuhara, that old fox, finally willing to show his face?
Chen Yang smiled and said, "Since Minister Suzuhara personally invited me, of course I have time."

"Tomorrow night at seven o'clock, third floor of Moonlit Sand, I'll have someone book a private room."

Yusuke Ino bowed slightly: "That's good, I'll go out now."

Seeing Ino leave the office, Chen Yang picked up the phone and dialed the number of Lin Yongren's office in the French Concession.

Although Shen Qingyao was discussing business with him, the official orders still had to go through Lin Yongren.

This is why Chen Yang wasn't afraid of others checking the warehouse; their supplies weren't stored in a warehouse, but rather stored and transported through warehouses in the French Concession.

All transactions were recorded through the trading company's accounts. Lin Yongren's trading company not only engaged in domestic and international trade, but also handled customs declarations and shipping.

The call was answered quickly: "Hello, Ah Ren."

"Notify Boss Shen that the goods are on their way and will be delivered soon. Tell them that the owner is Japanese and that his men should be careful not to make a fuss and give themselves away."

"Understood, Young Master!" Lin Yongren replied and hung up the phone.

At four o'clock in the morning, a freight train flying Japanese flags, billowing thick smoke, departed from Xuzhou Station, bound for a city in northern Jiangsu.

Inside the train carriages, a large amount of cargo was piled up in a jumble, including discarded weapons, expired medicines, and brand-new munitions and precious medicines that the Red Party urgently needed.

In the last passenger car of the train sat Lieutenant Colonel Hiroshi Yamaguchi, his face full of reluctance but forced to carry out orders.

Around noon, in Dongtai County, northern Jiangsu Province.

This is a relatively large county town in northern Jiangsu, with a population of nearly 180,000.

In a general store on the east side of the county town, the shop owner sat absentmindedly at the counter.

The organization sent word that a batch of supplies would be delivered to his contact point today, and the deliveryman was Japanese.

I've been waiting until now and still haven't seen any sign of the goods. Damn it, those Japanese devils are so unreliable.
Suddenly, the shop assistant stumbled in.

"Boss, something terrible has happened! There are over a dozen Japanese trucks outside!"

"What?!" The boss jumped up instantly.

The garrison in this county consisted of only two small Japanese squads plus a local security regiment.

Northern Jiangsu is a relatively underdeveloped area in Jiangsu Province, and there is indeed not much to gain from it, so it has always been peaceful.

Suddenly, more than a dozen trucks appeared. What happened?

"Boss, we still have about ten men left. Let's fight them."

The boss raised his hand and said, "Fight? What are we going to fight with? We only have two pistols. How are we supposed to fight them?"

"Xiao Wu, go out the back door and notify the guerrillas that the Japanese may be planning something, and tell them to be careful."

Xiao Wu asked urgently, "Boss, what do we do?"

The boss took a breath: "If they really come to arrest us, we can't escape either. We can outrun a car on foot."

"You go quickly, I'll stay here and hold them off."

Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment, then stomped his foot angrily, lifted the curtain of the back room, and ran out.

"Is anyone here?" Just as Xiao Wu left, the truck stopped in front of the shop, and a Japanese man with a broken Chinese accent asked loudly, "Is this Mr. Li's house?"

The investigation was indeed thorough. The boss, Li Laoshi, hunched over and stepped forward with a fawning smile, saying, "Sir, I am Li Laoshi. I am a law-abiding citizen with a perfectly good conscience."

Hiroshi Yamaguchi said in broken Chinese, "Mr. Li, someone in Shanghai has delivered a batch of goods to you."

"You'll have to deal with the people over there about the specifics; we're only responsible for delivery."

Li Laoshi's mind went blank for a moment. The organization said that a Japanese man was coming to deliver goods, but they didn't say that he was a Japanese officer.

Li Laoshi had never seen any Japanese officers. The highest-ranking Japanese officer in Dongtai County was a squad leader named Suzuki Ken, who was only a second lieutenant.

The Japanese soldier's uniform looked significantly higher than that of the second lieutenant; he was at least of a higher rank than the captain.

Of course, this is not surprising, as Li Laoshi had never left Dongtai County and did not know the Japanese military ranks.

He just instinctively felt that this person should be a little higher than a second lieutenant.

In reality, the difference between a lieutenant colonel and a second lieutenant is far greater than that.
Looking at Li Laoshi's humble smile, Yamaguchi Hiroshi said impatiently, "The goods are left at the door. You can decide what to do with them yourselves."

"Yes, yes, yes, thank you so much, sir." Li Laoshi forced a smile, nodding and bowing repeatedly.
It must be said that the Japanese are very efficient; a dozen truckloads of goods were piled up like a small mountain at the door in the blink of an eye.

Upon seeing this, Li Laoshi's neighbors were all in an uproar.

They had no idea that Li Laoshi, who ran a grocery store and was always a coward, actually had connections with the Japanese.

“The goods have all been unloaded,” Yamaguchi Hiroshi said, taking out the telegram receipt. “Please have Mr. Li sign it.”

Please? He actually said please? Li Laoshi's hands trembled like chicken claws as he shakily signed his name on the receipt.

"Thank you for your cooperation." Hiroshi Yamaguchi bowed slightly politely, then gestured for his men to get into the car, stepped on the gas, and drove back.

Dongtai doesn't have a direct train station. These trucks were provided by the puppet troops stationed in northern Jiangsu, and they have to return them.

Only after the convoy disappeared did Li Laoshi recover from his shock.

He quickly ordered his men to carry the things into the backyard, and even the neighbors, who were not on good terms with him, put aside their pride and came to help.

The mountain of supplies quickly filled the backyard completely.

Li Laoshi smiled and invited everyone out of the backyard, then quickly checked the quantity of supplies.

A series of footsteps sounded, and Xiao Wu, who had gone to inform the guerrillas, quickly walked into the backyard of the grocery store with a middle-aged man.

The man's face lit up with joy when he saw the boxes full of supplies.

"Captain Qian, what brings you here?" Li Laoshi hurriedly stepped forward.

Qian Bingwen didn't say anything. He picked up a crowbar from the yard, walked to a box labeled "scrapped," and forcefully pried open the box's seal.

With a click, the box opened.

Inside, rows of gleaming Type 38 rifles lay neatly arranged.

Qian Bingwen picked up the rifle, pulled back the bolt, and checked the rifling.

The box marked "scrapped" clearly contained brand-new rifles, and they had never been used.

Li Laoshi was so shocked that he covered his chin. Had the Japanese seen a ghost or gone mad?

They actually gave weapons to the guerrillas?
What shocked Li Laoshi was not only this,
Qian Bingwen pried open another box containing neatly arranged battlefield medical first aid kits, which included a painkiller, bandages, cotton cloth, and other first aid supplies.

Open another box, and inside are neatly arranged military canned goods.

Food, medicine, ammunition, firearms, and cotton cloth—these are all supplies urgently needed by the troops.

These supplies were enough for the New Army troops stationed in the northern Jiangsu base area to use for a long time.

Damn, did they come all this way to bring us warmth?
After inspecting all the supplies, Qian Bingwen finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Li Laoshi, saying, "Laoshi, I'll send someone to transport the things away."

"If the security team asks, just say it was sent by a relative in Shanghai. If there's a problem, tell them to check with the land transport department."

"From now on, no one in the entire Dongtai County will dare to touch you."

(End of this chapter)