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

Chapter 226 You can only represent yourself

"Section Chief Chen, you're the one who's lawless," Nan Tian sneered. "Who in the entire Shanghai doesn't know your methods, Section Chief Chen? Do I have to tell you about your collusion with the Communist Party?"

Chen Yang pointed at Nantian Yangzi, looking exasperated: "I'm warning you, don't talk nonsense!"

"I'm going to sue you for defamation!"

"Colonel Fujita, you must testify for me, she's slandering me! She's slandering me!"

"Alright, alright." Fujita waved his hand helplessly.

"Section Chief Nantian, do you have any evidence to prove that Section Chief Chen is related to what you said? You can't just make things up without evidence."

Yoko Minami handed the report to Fujita and said, "The person is already in the interrogation room; we'll have results soon."

"Soon? How long is that?" Fujita Tsuyoshi suddenly asked, contrary to his usual behavior.

Yoko Nanada was slightly taken aback. Fujita's reaction seemed a bit off. He didn't seem to like Chen Yang either, but this attitude seemed to indicate that he was going to protect him.
Moreover, Fujita rarely interfered with the affairs of Special Section 1, and he followed Chen Yang as soon as he arrived.

Could it be that Fujita was also bribed by the other party? Or is he involved with this batch of ore?
"Colonel Fujita, I hope you can give me some time." Yoko Minamida's tone seemed to soften slightly.

"If there is no clear evidence that the transaction was problematic, release the person," Fujita said calmly.

"Release him? Impossible! We caught him red-handed at the scene. Why should we release him?" Nan Tian's voice instantly rose eight octaves.

"Then let me ask you, do you have any evidence of their deal?" Fujita became somewhat impatient.

“I told you, the first trial will suffice,” Nan Tian insisted.

"So that means there isn't one..." Chen Yang chimed in, stirring things up. "Section Chief Nantian, what are you trying to do now? To force a confession? Are you only satisfied when you've brought me down? What did I do to deserve this?"

It has to be said that Chen Yang's ability to stir things up is truly remarkable. With just a few words, he immediately changed the nature of the matter from smuggling goods to a conflict between him and Nan Tian.

He is now accusing Nantian of settling personal scores and attacking the person instead of the issue.
Fujita raised his hand and said, "Section Chief Chen, don't be anxious. I believe Section Chief Nantian didn't mean that either..."

"Section Chief Nantian, release the man. If you have any questions, go to Mr. Doi-Yuan, and he will explain it to you."

"go quickly"

Seeing that Fujita had brought out Doi-Yuan, Minami had no choice but to reluctantly agree.
Special Higher Police, interrogation room...
The interrogation room reeked of a pungent, bloody stench.

Under the stark white light, Shen Qingyao's face was as pale as paper, and the dried blood at the corner of her mouth had formed a brown scab.

She was handcuffed to a cold iron chair, her arms numb and in excruciating pain from being suspended and twisted for so long.

The thin cheongsam was already soaked through from the water torture, clinging tightly to her battered body and outlining its uneven contours.

The interrogating agent, Minamino Jiro, grinned maliciously, holding a small leather whip with barbs in his hand, and was about to approach again.

“Miss Shen, why resist any longer? Tell me who your supplier is, where those tungsten ore are ultimately going to be sent, and who else is behind you…? Is it Chen Yang?” Nan Ye’s voice was hoarse and irritable.

Shen Qingyao gritted her teeth and didn't even lift her eyelids.

The only sounds in the interrogation room were her heavy but controlled breathing and the dripping of the remaining water droplets in the bucket.

A night of torture had drained her of her strength, but it still couldn't pry open her mouth.

Her consciousness fluctuated between clarity and confusion; her only thought was that she couldn't say anything...

Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the iron door of the interrogation room was violently pushed open! The loud noise made Nan Ye and the agent next to him instinctively jump back a step, their hands on their holsters.

Yoko Minamida was standing at the door.

Her face was terribly gloomy, her gaze sharp as a knife, but it no longer carried the arrogance of her past self-assurance; instead, it was filled with a hint of suppressed anxiety and anger.

Her gaze swept past Nan Ye and fixed coldly on Shen Qingyao.

"Enough! Stop!" Nantian's voice was like an icicle.

Minamino was taken aback: "Section Chief Minamida, she hasn't said anything yet..."

"I said stop!" Nan Tian's tone suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable command. "Give her wounds basic first aid and change her into clean clothes. Now!"

This unusual order left everyone in the interrogation room bewildered. Nanye and the agents exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of its meaning.

Shen Qingyao struggled to lift her head. Amidst her disheveled hair, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in her tired yet clear eyes—not fear, but wariness.

Nantian's sudden halt to the torture was not out of pity; something even more bizarre was about to happen!

"Section Chief, give us a little more time, we can definitely do it." Nan Ye's tone was somewhat unwilling.

“Nanye-kun, don’t you understand what I’m saying? Stop the interrogation, change her into clean clothes, now, immediately.” Nantian didn’t explain any reason. She turned and left, her steps hurried, her military boots making a heavy, disordered echo on the cement ground.

Shanghai, Japanese Quarter, Shigemitsu-do
This is the residence of Doi-man, the Supreme Commander of the Special Higher Police, in Shanghai.

The heavy rosewood door was pushed open silently, and Yoko Nanada walked stiffly into the study on the second floor.

The air was filled with the suffocating aroma of fine sandalwood and sake.

Doihara, dressed in a dark kimono, stood with his back to her, hands clasped behind his back, in front of the huge French windows, gazing at the dark area outside the concession that belonged to "China".

His immovable profile was reflected in the windowpane; he resembled an obsidian statue representing the will of the empire.

"Teacher, why?" Nantian stood with his heels together, his body taut, but there was a hint of hoarseness and resentment in his voice that he could not completely hide.

Doihara did not turn around immediately. Instead, he stretched out his thin but unusually steady hand, picked up the warm sake from the low mahogany table next to him, and took a small sip.

The crisp liquor slid down my throat, but brought no warmth whatsoever.

"Yoko," he finally spoke, his voice low and calm, like a frozen river in winter, revealing neither joy nor anger, "those people have been released?"

Yoko Minami's nails dug deeply into her palms: "Yes, sir, the order has been given, and the Special Higher Police are proceeding with the necessary procedures! But..."

"I'd like to know what reasons would lead you to make such a concession."

"Does that mean you've sided with them too?"

“Teacher, you are not that kind of person.”

"What do you want to say?" Doihara finally turned around slowly, his sharp gaze like two cold probes piercing into Nanda's eyes.

His face was expressionless, like a mask that had been worn for too long and had become solidified.

"Teacher, you don't need to hide it. Don't forget, I am the most professional intelligence officer."

"I know very well what Chen Yang has in his possession; frankly, it's no secret in Shanghai."

"So, that's your reason for targeting him," the chubby guy said mercilessly. "Foolish."

"Chen Yang was able to take up the position of head of the land transportation section after going through many screenings."

"You, a newly established Special Section 1, are trying to use the pretext of smuggling goods to forcibly link him with the Red Party and even the mountain city."

Do you think such a reason is acceptable locally?

"Even if he really did have a deal with the other party, so what?"

"The fact that he was able to rise in the ranks means that most people approve of his methods. If you say he has problems now, does that mean that everyone who reviewed his information has problems?"

Do you understand what this accusation means?

"Colonel Yamagishi of the Southern Branch, Director Aoki of the South Manchuria Railway Bureau, Major General Mizukawa of the Special Service, Hiroichi Iwai of the Iwai Agency, Kagesa of the Ume Agency, and members of the Eighth and Fourth Sections of the Mainland General Staff Headquarters."

"His background check information was verified by these agencies before it was filed."

"By doing this, you're implying that all these major generals and colonels are in trouble."

"What right does a mere honorary major like you have to question the judgment of your superiors?"

“Yoko, I’m very disappointed in you. Your understanding of ‘value’ is to fight on a delicate but narrow chessboard.”

"You are qualified as a secret agent, but as a leader, I would rate you as unqualified."

Nan Tian's expression changed slightly: "Teacher, don't you think it's unfair of you to say that?"

Tu Feiyuan's lips curled up slightly: "Fairness? Are you kidding me?"

"Yoko, if you want to become a leader, you must learn to compromise."

"Fairness, what an absurd word. I'm telling you, not everything is just a matter of yes or no."

"You need to know how to weigh the two words. Chen Yang has connections with the Red Party, which is not a bad thing for us right now."

Yoko Minamida was even more puzzled upon hearing this.
Tu Feiyuan sighed slightly, walked to the huge desk, opened the drawer, and took out a document stamped with "Top Secret" and placed it on the table.
Nantian's gaze sharpened slightly as he noticed the golden chrysanthemum emblem, a symbol of royalty, prominently printed on the sealed bag. The golden chrysanthemum radiated a cold yet noble luster under the dim light.

"What is this?" Nan Tian had a vague feeling that the key was Chen Yang's concession.

"The document delivered from the mainland yesterday, His Majesty's edict." There was an indescribable bitterness in the fat man's expression.

Nantian picked up the document, unsealed it, and took out a piece of manuscript paper.
"What? Suzuki Kawataro has been arrested?" Nantian looked at the information and felt incredulous.

Suzuki Kawataro is an oddity within the Japanese Imperial Family.

Speaking of which, he should be Emperor Showa's cousin. He came to China with the army in 1944 and it took him seven years to barely rise to the rank of colonel, all because of his connection with the imperial family...

His current position is the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 124th Mixed Brigade, stationed in the border area between Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.

This person does have some intellectual deficiencies. After all, the Japanese Imperial Family is known for having many mentally challenged members, so it's not surprising that there's one more idiot like him.

On March 6, 1945, the garrison troops and local security forces in the Jiangsu and Anhui regions, in accordance with the instructions of the Southern Branch Association and the War Command Section of the Army Ministry, launched a "Joint Sweep Plan for the Five Southern Provinces, Cleanup Operation in the Jiangsu and Anhui Regions" to carry out a cleanup operation on the Red Party base areas in the Jiangsu and Anhui regions.

Suzuki Kawataro was ordered to cooperate with the Itai Regiment at the Teramon Bridge to intercept Bao Xingguo's Second Detachment of the New Army. As a result, this little idiot not only failed to complete the interception mission, but also suffered heavy losses in the enemy's night attack.

What's even more hilarious is that Colonel Suzuki actually ran in the wrong direction when the troops were retreating.

Originally, the order was to retreat eastward, but in the dark and windy night, he lost his bearings and ran westward, where he ran into the pursuing troops of the new army.

The new army soldiers who captured him were startled when they saw his colonel's uniform and shoulder insignia. At first, they thought it was a trick by the other side to deliberately make him wear a colonel's uniform to confuse them.

After their identities were verified, they realized it was true; they had indeed caught a big fish.

At first, Suzuki even boasted that he would "die, die, die!"

After being "warmly comforted" and "enthusiastically received" by the new army soldiers, he finally realized his mistake and wrote a letter to the mainland.

Emperor Showa turned green upon receiving the letter and immediately convened an Imperial Conference.

Army General Nobuyuki Abe and Education Minister Toshizo Nishio, among others, unanimously suggested that Suzuki commit seppuku in order to preserve the dignity of the Imperial Family.

But His Majesty couldn't bear it; after all, they were members of the royal family, and being arrested was already a great disgrace.

If he had died in China, there would definitely have been voices of doubt within the royal family, who would have believed that His Majesty was compromising with the Ministry of the Army.

Therefore, His Majesty the Emperor immediately issued an edict ordering all efforts to rescue Taro Suzuki, but the Army Ministry immediately rejected the request.

Left with no other option, the Emperor sent a special envoy from Yokohama to Shanghai to deliver a divine decree to the intelligence agencies, demanding that they do everything in their power to rescue Suzuki Kawataro.

"He is His Majesty the Emperor's cousin! His bloodline, his clan, are inextricably linked to the depths of the Imperial Palace!"

"He was captured alive by a group of 'peasant guerrillas' in that kind of place... This is no longer a military defeat, nor is it a gain or loss on the Special Higher Police's intelligence line!"

"This is a blatant insult and trampling on the dignity of the royal family and the empire! If this matter is not handled properly, it could trigger a terrible storm in the entire aristocratic class and even in domestic and foreign public opinion!"

Yoko Minami's face turned deathly pale instantly. She realized the special nature of Suzuki's identity, but she never expected that the face of the royal family involved would reach such a high level!
That name, which was somewhat symbolic in the Special Higher Police's files, now became as heavy as a mountain because of the words "relative of the Emperor".

All her painstaking efforts seemed insignificant and pathetic in the face of this "royal dignity" that transcended military and political boundaries.

Nantian opened his mouth to argue, but Doihara raised his hand to stop him: "Your 'achievements,' the so-called 'secrets' that Shen Qingyao possesses, are far less valuable than the Empire's dignity on the current scales, and cannot compare to Suzuki's needs!"

"Besides," Doihara's lips seemed to twitch slightly upwards, "as long as Suzuki returns safely, as long as Shen Qingyao's gear is still turning, can't your severed intelligence network be rebuilt, or even further unearthed?"

"Frankly speaking, the communication value that Chen Yang demonstrated in this deal, and the potential for deep penetration into the 'red team,' is far greater and more far-reaching than the value you currently have in exploiting her!"

"Teacher, I understand." A deep sense of frustration appeared on Nantian Yangzi's face, as if all the efforts she had made during this period had become a joke.

Tu Feiyuan stood up and patted Nantian on the shoulder: "Just do your job. That Chen Yang is too troublesome, don't get involved."

Nantian did not answer, but simply bowed silently and then walked out of the study.

Seeing this, Tu Feiyuan couldn't help but feel a headache. This student was still so stubborn. She didn't say anything and just kept staring at Chen Yang.

This is such a hassle.
Shanghai, Southern Transportation Department.

After seeing Lin Yongren and Shen Qingyao off, Chen Yang immediately returned to the transportation department.

As soon as I stepped through the gate, I saw Li Ningyu standing at the door with an anxious look on her face.

"Section Chief, you're finally back." Li Ningyu stepped forward and said, "Lord Yingzuo and Lord Qingqing have been waiting for you in the office for a long time."

"Wait for me?" Chen Yang found it a little strange.

In order to get Wan Tianmu to talk, Yingzuo went to Jinling half a month ago.

Qingqi Qingyin has always been in charge of the operations in Shanghai.

Why would someone suddenly rush back from Jinling at this time? Could it be that something terrible has happened?

Inside the office, Chen Yang looked at the documents Yingzuo handed him, his expression growing increasingly serious.

"Senior Kagesa, your arrangement is putting me in a difficult position."

Chen Yang put down the documents and frowned, saying, "I just came back from the Special Higher Police. Section Chief Nantian has already seized my goods and my people on the pretext that I aided the enemy."

“If I openly contact people from the Red Party again, I’m afraid the next thing I’ll be facing is the whip from the Special Higher Police.”

“The Special Higher Police have already sent people back,” Kagesa said, frowning. “As for Minami and Chen, you don’t need to worry. I believe Lord Doi-mamura has also received the message from the mainland.”

"You should understand that the Empire cannot openly compromise with the enemy, as this would affect the morale of the frontline fighters."

"If they knew that the Imperial High Command was willing to lower themselves to make a deal with the other side for a mere idiot colonel..."

"They would think that their bloody battles on the front lines were a joke."

"Therefore, only you can accept this task."

"Of course, you can't represent the Empire in negotiations; you can only represent yourself."

Damn, what a hypocrite!
Chen Yang immediately understood what Yingzuo meant: the royal family wanted to help, but the military couldn't bring themselves to do it.

They hoped Suzuki would commit suicide to wash away the shame of defeat.

After all, in a country like Japan, seppuku is the best way to wash away shame.

However, His Majesty the Emperor still couldn't bear it, which is why he specially sent someone to deliver the imperial edict.

Moreover, the orders were given directly to intelligence agencies in China, bypassing the military.

Kagesa and Tobima didn't want to openly confront the military.

Therefore, at this time, Chen Yang, as a Chinese, was the best choice.

His intervention to ransom the person, whether successful or not, will not affect the relationship between the intelligence agency and the Ministry of War.

Yingzuo stood up and said, "Chen Sang, please make arrangements for this matter as soon as possible. As long as the conditions proposed by the other party are not too outrageous, we can agree to them."

"This includes releasing the other side's intelligence personnel or providing certain supplies as a condition for exchange."

"please"

Chen Yang quickly stood up and said, "Senior Yingzuo, please rest assured, I know what to do."

Temporary command post of the Third Detachment of the New Army in the suburbs of northern Anhui.
Under the flickering oil lamp at night, a solemnly worded "instruction" relayed from higher levels of the organization lay spread out on a rough wooden table.

As the detachment commander Bao Xingguo looked at the order, his brows furrowed, his resolute face bearing the marks of a long military career.

He lit a cigarette rolled with local tobacco, took a deep drag, and the pungent smoke temporarily dispelled his fatigue.

Bao Xingguo looked at the core cadres around him and said, "It's strange that the Japanese are so eager to spend money to ransom people."

Yang Shuming, the political commissar of the Third Detachment beside him, pushed up his glasses and said in a low voice, "Old Bao, the higher-ups' analysis is very insightful. This is not just about redeeming one person."

"I'm considering whether the Japanese side intends to use this as a special channel to make contact, in an attempt to divide, probe, or even conduct some kind of secret transaction negotiation."

Bao Xingguo slowly pushed the telegram he had received in front of Yang Shuming and said, “The higher command has instructed that this negotiation can be done, but the principles cannot be changed. The highest principle must be the struggle against the enemy and the overall interests of the base area! Supplies, medicines, and the exchange of our imprisoned comrades... can all be discussed! At the same time, we must be vigilant against the enemy’s conspiracies and infiltration.”

"Negotiations?" Yang Shuming narrowed his eyes. "Negotiations with the Japanese? How? Who would we negotiate with?"

Just then, a young soldier in charge of the detachment's secret communications rushed in, whispered a few words in Yang Shuming's ear, and handed him a tiny folded note. The note was clearly urgent intelligence from the enemy-occupied area.

Yang Shuming quickly read the note, a look of surprise and deep thought flashing in his eyes. He turned to Bao Xingguo and said in a deep voice, "Old Bao, the other party's contact information has been confirmed. The location... is in Shanghai."

He lowered his voice even further, "The negotiator sent by the other side is named Chen Yang."

“Chen Yang? That head of the land transport section?” Bao Xingguo raised an eyebrow, clearly familiar with the name.

This person is said to be involved in the procurement of some important medicines and industrial equipment for Hong Kong Island in the past!

This person... is actually the negotiation channel designated by the Japanese side? Or rather, he has become the "middleman" we need to contact?
He looked up at the deep night outside the door, where the cold wind of early spring in northern Anhui howled through the mountains and forests.

"Old Bao, do you think there might be something wrong with this Chen Yang?" Yang Shuming pushed up his glasses.

“The last delivery to northern Jiangsu was done by this man; he must have some goodwill towards us.” Bao Xingguo exhaled a smoke ring: “If it weren’t for the batch of weapons he supported, we wouldn’t have been able to launch an anti-mopping-up campaign against the enemy so easily.”

"But now he's the Japanese negotiator, and I don't quite understand his position."

“It is indeed difficult to determine his location,” Yang Shuming nodded. “I still maintain that we can talk, but we must be careful.”

"One should not have the heart to harm others, but one must not be without the heart to guard against others."

“Shanghai…Chen Yang…Old Yang, you’re absolutely right…” Bao Xingguo stubbed out his cigarette, his eyes gradually sharpening like an eagle’s. “Order the troops to strengthen their vigilance and keep a close eye on that Japanese colonel!”

"Notify the enemy work department to prepare a bottom-line plan. We're definitely going to the negotiating table! But remember, you can't deal with the devil without a gun!"

Meanwhile, in Jinling, on Yihe Road.
Wan Tianmu, like a stray dog, has been hiding in this city for more than ten days.

From initially trying to prove his innocence to now just wanting to survive, Wan Tianmu feels like he's struggling on the brink of death every day.

The Japanese were looking for him, and so was the Military Intelligence Bureau.

He haphazardly stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth, wrapped his clothes tighter around himself, and quickly walked into a small alley on Yihe Road.

However, as soon as he stepped into the alley, Wan Tianmu's heart suddenly tightened, for he saw several figures dressed in long robes appear in front of him.

Just as he was about to leave, several more figures surrounded him.

"Station Master Wan, it's been a long time."

(End of this chapter)