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

Chapter 230 What kind of situation is this?
The cigarette between Chen Yang's fingers had burned to the end, and the gray embers fell silently onto the copper sealed tube left behind by Abe Mitsuhiro before he left.

The cold, metallic texture of the barrel resembled the scales of a venomous snake, concealing a miniature wakizashi short sword within, its gleaming blade representing the will of the Army.
Suzuki Kawataro must die!

"Boom boom boom——"

The knocking wasn't urgent, yet it sent a shiver down Chen Yang's spine for no apparent reason.

"Please come in," Chen Yang said casually, stubbing out his cigarette.

The door was pushed open, and the person who entered was wearing a dark blue naval uniform with the rank of lieutenant commander on his shoulder insignia.

"Mr. Chen, what are you busy with?" The person bowed slightly, his manners impeccable, and his smile was so humble it was almost insincere.

He casually removed his military cap, revealing a lean and shrewd face. The man was none other than Saito Koichi, the deputy minister of the Southern Transport Department in charge of naval transport.

Chen Yang quickly stood up and said, "Saito-kun, please sit down."

“It seems that Mr. Chen has encountered some difficulties,” Saito said, sitting down opposite Chen Yang. His gaze swept over the glaring copper tube on the table, and a faint sneer appeared on his lips. “The Army’s ‘local specialties’ are always so… menacing.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Saito took out a silver cigarette case and handed it to Chen Yang: "A friend from the Navy asked me to bring this to you. It's a genuine Havana cigar. Mr. Chen is a man of taste."

Chen Yang didn't answer, but stared at Saito and slowly said, "Saito-kun, when did your navy get involved in the Mei Agency's case?"

"This concerns His Majesty the Emperor's decree; how can the Navy stand idly by?" Saito put away his cigarette case, his smile turning cold. "Those brutes in the Army only know how to be fierce and violent, completely disregarding the dignity of the Imperial Family! Prince Suzuki is someone His Majesty personally cares about; how can we allow the Army to act recklessly?"

“Mr. Chen, this isn’t the first time we’ve dealt with each other, so I won’t beat around the bush.”

"His Excellency Toyota means that he hopes Mr. Chen can save face for the royal family and not associate with the brutes of the Ministry of War."

“Chen Sang, you have served the empire for so long, you should be clear about the current situation.”

"The army, these brutes, put all their energy into the Chinese battlefield, but they were unable to gain the corresponding advantage."

"Now they're disregarding the royal family's reputation and trying to erase the experience of failure."

"We need Suzuki to return to the mainland and report his experiences to His Majesty."

"We need to make it clear to His Majesty that the army's offensive has reached its limit, and continuing will only waste more resources."

"We hope that Your Majesty can understand the situation clearly and support our navy's action plan."

I knock on the door.

What exactly do you people mean?
Are you guys trying to treat me like I'm Japanese?
The army wants dead men, but the navy wants living men!
The royal family wants him to save people, but the intelligence agency doesn't want to get involved. The struggle between these giant beasts has pinned him to the edge of a cliff.

Chen Yang frowned but did not immediately express his opinion.

He knew very well that Saito represented the Navy Ministry.

The Navy didn't just want him to rescue people; they wanted to use Suzuki Kawataro to launch an attack on the Army.

Ultimately, it all comes down to the two sides' philosophies.
North or South
The army's plan has always been to move north and compete with the Russians for the vast Far East region.

They wanted to use Northeast China as a base to gradually encroach on the Far East, using the Trans-Siberian Railway as a link.

The population gradually migrated to Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, Korea and other regions to develop the Far East.

The proposal was immediately rejected by the Navy Department as soon as it was put forward.

It wasn't because the proposal was bad, but because the Navy was afraid that, as the Army had suggested, they might actually commit all their forces to the Far East theater.

Then, the navy will once again become the army's transport fleet.

This is absolutely intolerable for the proud navy.

Therefore, they proposed the opposite suggestion: to move south and compete with established empires such as Britain, the United States, and France for Southeast Asia.

Of course, this proposal was quickly rejected by the Army Department.

The two sides argued fiercely before the emperor, but in reality, their dispute boiled down to just two words: interests.

The empire has only so many resources; the navy needs them, and so does the army.

However, it cannot be perfect in every aspect, which creates a very awkward situation.

Whoever takes the lead gets a larger share of the resources.

This is precisely why the Navy and the Army are at odds with each other.

When the army's offensive falters, the navy can stand by and watch with impunity, even applauding and cheering.

The navy lacks oil, while the army, which already controls 80% of the empire's oil reserves, prefers to dump it into the Pacific rather than support the navy.
Seeing his silence, Saito chuckled and took out a black velvet bag from his pocket, pushing it in front of Chen Yang.

Upon opening the bag, inside was a gold ronin ring inlaid with gemstones.
"Mr. Chen, this is the token of the highest-ranking secret envoy from the Yokosuka Naval Intelligence Station!"

"Three days later, the patrol boat of the second detachment of the Kure Port will be on standby in the waters of buoy No. 3 outside the Yangtze River estuary."

Saito spoke quickly and clearly, “As long as you get Suzuki-kun onto our ship, this ring… will be your proof of becoming a meritorious member of the Navy.”

He stared into the turbulent emotions churning in Chen Yang's eyes, his words carrying a double meaning: "The Army wants you to uphold the empty name of 'Bushido,' but the Navy is willing to give a truly intelligent person... a way out."

"Mr. Chen, you should understand that in the grand scheme of China, the army's fate may not be long..."

After saying this, Saito stood up and put on his hat: "I have delivered my message. Mr. Chen, I hope you... will take good care of yourself."

As he opened the office door, Saito's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Chen Yang sat stiffly in his office chair, his fingertips gripping the naval ring so tightly that the sharp edges of the gemstone were almost embedded in his palm.

On the left is an army dagger, and on the right is a navy life-saving gemstone ring.

Outside the door, the intelligence agency's blade awaits; lurking in the shadows are Shadow's secret agents and the secretary who has always been by his side.

Chen Yang now felt that his head was not just twice as big, but countless times bigger.

His Majesty the Emperor needs to save people, but the intelligence agencies are passing the buck and no one dares to step forward.

If the Army wants to keep its personnel in China, the best way to resolve the issue is in a dignified manner.

The Navy, however, wanted to use Suzuki as a pawn, sending him back to the mainland to say what they wanted to hear before the Emperor.

Everyone has their own plans, but Chen Yang is like a helpless child, with everyone forcing him to make a choice.

Tragically, no matter which option he chooses, he will offend one of the factions.

At this moment, Chen Yang felt like a fly stuck on a windowpane.

They seem to have a bright future, but they can't find a way out.

"What the hell is this?"

Chen Yang pulled at his hair in frustration, "Damn it, do they really think I'm omnipotent?"

“If they all come up and stomp on me, they’ll piss me off. I’ll just put the Suzuki in front of the headquarters.”

"Whoever gets it first keeps it."

"It'll save me the trouble of racking my brains here."

"I bought a hiking backpack last year, it's super durable."

Standing outside the door, Li Ningyu watched Chen Yang's embarrassed and anxious expression inside the office, and silently closed the office door.
Shanghai Stock Exchange, Huangpu Beach Road, Huafu Fund Office.

Elsa sat upright behind a large oak desk, the afternoon sun streaming through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a long and majestic shadow of her.

She wore a well-tailored champagne-colored suit, with a subtle yet historically significant sapphire brooch pinned to her collar, silently proclaiming her Dutch royal lineage.

Elsa picked up her coffee, took a sip, and then lightly tapped a "Letter of Intent for Exclusive Authorization of Far East Penicillin Patent and Distribution Channels" on the table. Sitting opposite her was Fujiwara Keika, a special director of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce.

Today, Fujiwara Keika was dressed entirely in a professional manner, wearing a dark iron-gray blazer, a white silk shirt underneath, a pencil skirt, and black tights.
Her hair appeared meticulously styled, and her lips were a deep plum red, giving her an unusually cold and hard look, as well as a very professional air.
This time, when she appeared in the president's office of Huafu Fund, she did not carry any document bag; instead, she simply had a folded newspaper resting on her lap.
The newspaper's front page prominently featured the headline, "Japanese Army Strengthens Security in Shanghai to Protect 'Special Interests'," accompanied by a blurry but highly intimidating black-and-white photograph of military aircraft flying low overhead.

The air was so heavy it felt like you could wring water out of it.

Elsa remained silent for a long time before elegantly picking up her bone china cup again, taking a small sip of her beverage made from specially selected Kenyan coffee beans, her gaze calmly settling on Fujiwara Megumi's tense face:

“Ms. Fujiwara, I’ll say it again: Huafu does not entertain those who engage in empty talk without any real benefit.”

"I have read your letter of intent."

"Based on Mr. Chen Yang's preliminary assessment and feedback on you, Huafu Fund has reservations about your proposed cooperation plan."

"I think now is not the right time."

Fujiwara Keika took a deep breath. "Your Highness, Mr. Chen's reservations are merely the caution of a businessman. What I bring today is not a request for 'cooperation,' but a reality that cannot be refused."

As she spoke, she slowly unfolded the newspaper and pushed it in front of Elsa, her finger precisely pointing to an inconspicuous short message at the bottom of the front page.
"Recently, several European merchant ships transporting wartime sensitive materials have encountered 'abnormal technical delays' outside the Wusongkou. The Shanghai authorities are actively negotiating and coordinating with relevant parties."

"Your Highness, the glory of the Dutch royal family needs a bright beacon to shine upon it in the Far East, doesn't it?"

"Huafu Fund's foothold and rapid expansion in Shanghai, especially in the International Settlement, were all thanks to your special status and influence."

"However, in my opinion, this foundation, though seemingly solid, is not without its flaws."

A cold glint flashed deep in Elsa's azure eyes, but her expression remained unchanged.

She set down her coffee cup with a crisp sound: "Ms. Fujiwara, what are you implying?" "The diplomatic relations between the various countries in the Netherlands are not as simple as you think."

"Moreover, you are now threatening a member of the royal family and his property, which is an extremely serious international incident! The Japanese troops stationed in Shanghai should understand the gravity of this matter!"

“Weight? Your Highness, you’re right!” Fujiwara Keika’s tone suddenly turned sharp. “It is precisely because the ‘weight’ is heavy enough that my companions are able to accurately find those levers that can move your foundation!”

"According to my investigation, Huafu is responsible for the transshipment or transit of various goods through Shanghai, as well as key strategic materials that account for 38% of your total quarterly freight volume, including but not limited to Southeast Asian rubber, iron ore, tin ingots, and some crude oil transported to Shanghai by sea. These are Huafu Fund's most profitable businesses."

"If the foundation's customs clearance timeliness and security cannot be fully guaranteed, hehe."

“I can say this clearly: your shipping efficiency will directly depend on the level of ‘attention’ from our partner, the Imperial Maritime Coordination Division.”

“I believe that just one or a few ‘abnormal technical delays’ can paralyze your supply chain and cause your credit rating to plummet.”

"Your Highness, you must be well aware that in Shanghai today, all commercial communications, customs declarations, and even some less-than-transparent financial transaction information..."

"To try to bypass the wireless listening stations set up by the Empire and the intelligence section specially set up by the embassy... that's practically a pipe dream."

"What would happen if certain sensitive 'deal details' involving the core interests of China Fortune were accidentally leaked to business rivals in London, or worse, to the Dutch parliamentary committee that is investigating your 'clever tax arrangements'...?"

Princess Elsa's face immediately darkened: "Lady Fujiwara, are you threatening me?"

Fujiwara Keika smiled as if she had everything under control: "No, no, no, these are not threats, but costs and risks that you must face."

"Of course, the choice is yours. Do you want to continue trusting that overly cautious Mr. Chen and watch your painstakingly built business empire silently crumble?"

"Or, if you sign this exclusive licensing agreement immediately, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce will appoint a 'security company' to take over all operations of penicillin in China and Southeast Asia."

"In this way, all your shipping routes will be unimpeded, and your business empire will be secure and worry-free."

"This is the real benefit I brought today..."

Princess Elsa slowly stood up, the sunlight outlining her tall and proud figure.

She didn't look at the letter of intent that Huixiang had crushed, but instead raised her chin, responding to Huixiang's coercion with an absolutely condescending attitude.

"Miss Fujiwara, you seem to have overestimated your abilities and underestimated the true meaning of 'royal background' in the quagmire of war."

"Do you think you can easily 'eavesdrop' and 'analyze' the Royal Bank of the Netherlands' centuries-old tradition of secrecy and its nested trusts spanning 37 tax havens around the world?"

"Even if you do manage to intercept some fragments, would you dare to disclose them publicly?"

"I'll reveal some more classified information for free. Do you know the complete chain of evidence and the flow of funds for the '5th Regiment of the Kwantung Army secretly transferring military funds and laundering money through neutral banks in the concessions'? Do you know whose safe it's currently sleeping in?"

Do you know who ends up getting all that crude oil?

"Should I notify my political enemies in Tokyo to 'share' this great gift for free?"

"Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg..."

Elsa didn't continue. This was just a regiment. If she went on, she'd find out how many officers in the logistics department had opened profit-sharing accounts with the Huafu Fund.

If these documents were placed on His Majesty the Emperor's desk, the entire logistical supply line of the expeditionary force would be immediately paralyzed.
At that time, let alone launching a holy war, even cracking down on corruption will cause the local population a great deal of trouble.

Unless His Majesty the Emperor can emulate his benevolent father and launch a great purge.

otherwise
Fujiwara Keika's face turned from red to white, and her pupils contracted sharply. Her meticulously constructed deterrent network was instantly riddled with holes by Elsa's precise and deadly counterattack!

Elsa walked around the desk, her high heels clicking crisply on the marble floor, each step seeming to tread on Fujiwara Keika's taut nerves.

She stopped in front of Huixiang, whose face was deathly pale, so close that she could see the fine beads of cold sweat on Huixiang's forehead.

"Lady Fujiwara, are you trying to use underhanded threats to coerce a princess who has mastered the art of manipulating power?"

"This play is far too naive. From the very beginning, you chose the wrong stage and bet on the wrong opponent."

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can leave now. As for the cooperation, if you can convince Consultant Chen, I think we still have a chance to cooperate."

"Take care, and don't bother seeing me off."

Fujiwara Keika slowly stood up and began to seriously examine this high and mighty princess.

At that moment, Fujiwara Keika suddenly felt like attacking the head of the intelligence department of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce's Shanghai office from both sides.

Chen Yang was absolutely right; the head of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce's intelligence department should indeed be replaced.

They described the Dutch princess as an innocent and naive little girl who only managed to establish the Huafu Foundation in the concession by virtue of her royal status and position.

They haven't discovered at all how clever the princess's methods are.
She has never revealed even one percent of her strength to outsiders.
“Excellent, Your Highness. It seems that the outside intelligence reports about you are full of errors.”

"I must sincerely apologize to you for my rudeness and ignorance."

"However, I will not give up on the penicillin patent licensing issue."

"Perhaps, once I have prepared the necessary 'sincerity,' I will come to see you again."

"Goodbye."

After speaking, Fujiwara Keika gave the Dutch princess a meaningful look, then strode away.
Princess Elsa was slightly startled when she saw that look.

She was familiar with that look; Chen Yang often looked at her with that kind of gaze.

However, it was a woman.
Could she have some serious illness?

Huh.
好恶
A garden villa on Feilin West Road, Shanghai.
At nine o'clock at night, after a heavy breathing sound, Chen Yang sat up, leaned against the headboard, and lit a cigarette.

Elsa, who was standing next to her, put on her coat and lit a slender cigarette as well.

"What's wrong? You seem preoccupied today?" Chen Yang asked, noticing Elsa's actions.

Elsa stubbed out her cigarette and recounted the whole story of Fujiwara Keika's visit to the Huafu Foundation that day.

"Chen, I find it difficult to determine whether this Miss Fujiwara represents the Osaka Trading Company, or the Fujiwara family behind her and the imperial forces in Shanghai that are tied to them,"

"We've temporarily put these negotiations on hold."

"But this is like suppressing a beast that lunges at you because it smells blood, not driving away a pack of wolves. Their greed will not disappear."

Chen Yang slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, which formed an irregular circle in the air.

“Elsa, their actions are no longer about trying to negotiate cooperation; they're resorting to extortion and kidnapping by any means necessary. This shows that she and the forces she represents are under immense pressure that we can't see,”

"Or rather, they smelled an even stronger stench of blood on the battlefield. For them, penicillin had transformed from an 'important commodity' into a 'war resource,' or even a form of capital that could be used to blackmail others."

"However, you handled it very well. It's time to let them know some of our trump cards. Only in this way can we deter them from making any rash moves."

Elsa's azure eyes narrowed slightly. "Some cards, once revealed, can never be hidden again. That's one of the reasons why I feel like I'm walking on thin ice right now."

Her fingers unconsciously traced the contours of Chen Yang's firm chest. "The Dutch crown is not omnipotent in the Far East. How much real deterrent power do naval deterrence and international law have against a truly insane national machine?"

"Moreover, those warmongers in Tokyo are now like gamblers who have lost everything. Anything that might shake their frontline supply lines could trigger retaliation without regard for the consequences."

"Yes," Chen Yang nodded slowly, saying with some worry, "These people become unreasonable when their own interests are involved. In that case..."

Chen Yang's eyes suddenly lit up. "Then we must use another similar force to contain the other side."

"I'm so stupid, how could I not have thought of that?"

"Why do you always have to take the blame upon yourself?"

"Chen, what are you saying?" Elsa looked confused as she listened to Chen Yang's nonsensical remarks.

"Elsa, I'm facing the same problem as you,"

"However, what happened to you today has given me an idea of ​​a solution that would be good for both of us."

"If Fujiwara wants penicillin, then let her compete with the Army for it. There's a Chinese military strategy called 'Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors'."

“We’ll give them the choice; whoever wins will decide.”

Elsa instantly understood what Chen Yang meant: "Chen, do you mean to shift the blame?"

"Let them fall into chaos from within first?"

"But what does this have to do with your affairs?"

Chen Yang smiled slightly: "Of course there is a connection. The army, navy, intelligence agencies, and the royal family all want a perfect explanation, but it is obviously impossible to satisfy everyone with only Suzuki Kawataro."

"If someone were to bring these under-the-table deals into the open, tear off the veil of secrecy, and force these people to make a decision."

"Then, I'm not the one who should be held responsible..."

"I'm just like you, except I've given the choice to someone else."

Elsa frowned: "But who would be so bold as to disclose this?"

“Of course there is,” Chen Yang smiled mysteriously, “someone who has always wanted me dead.”

"If she knew I was supplying radios and supplies to the Communist Party, guess what she would do?"

"That guy was really unlucky," Elsa sighed. "How about it? You should have had enough rest by now, right?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Elsa skillfully tied her hair up.
(End of this chapter)