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

Chapter 260 Chen Sang, Please
Before the smoke had even cleared, Hong Feng was the first to rush in.

The carriage was filled with wooden crates of the same size, each sealed with a seal that read "Special Supply" by the Kwantung Army.

He swung the crowbar and pried open a box lid with great force!
In the dim light, there were neatly stacked pharmaceutical injections inside, and another box, when opened, was full of high-grade sulfonamide powder!
Medicine, the medicine that comrades need most right now, is right in front of them.

Hong Feng didn't have time to count the exact numbers, but seeing the mountain of supplies, he knew that the harvest had far exceeded his expectations.

"Found them! These are them! Quick! Move them down!" Hong Feng's voice was a little hoarse with excitement.

Like ants carrying food, the team members quickly passed the heavy boxes down through the blown-open car doors. The team members below then carried the boxes and disappeared into the dense sorghum field.

The fighting continued, but the number of Japanese escort troops was limited, mainly because the railway was operating beyond its capacity and the transport department did not have enough soldiers available.

Of course, it depends on the person. If Minister Chen wants someone, then we can have them. But you, Minister Yoshida, I'm sorry, you have to submit a report and apply...

You're a high-ranking transport officer with the South Manchuria Railway Company, but we're not...

Another reason was that the supply of looted materials was of great importance, and the organization gave almost all of its resources to the guerrillas, which greatly increased their firepower.

The escort team was pinned down in several carriages by the Flying Tigers' overwhelming firepower, making it difficult to organize an effective counterattack.

The entire robbery was incredibly efficient, taking only about forty minutes from when the train was forced to stop to when the main target supplies were moved away by a team of hundreds of people.

"Old Liu! That's enough! Let's go!" Hong Feng shouted in Liu Yiqiang's direction when he saw that the number of boxes had been moved.

Liu Yiqiang understood and ordered, "Cover fire! Take turns retreating!"

The Flying Tigers' machine guns fired a final burst of fire, and the grenadiers threw the remaining grenades into the Japanese-occupied carriages, creating even greater chaos.

Taking advantage of this precious opportunity, the team members, carrying their spoils and supporting their lightly wounded comrades, quickly disappeared into the sea of ​​green crops and dispersed to several pre-arranged evacuation points.

When the first rays of dawn struggled to pierce through the clouds and illuminate Hejialing, all that remained at the scene was a paralyzed train, billowing smoke, scattered dying groans, numerous empty boxes that had been pried open, and carriages filled with valuable supplies that had been looted.

When the Japanese reinforcements arrived, in addition to collecting the bodies and facing incalculable material losses, they couldn't even figure out the attackers' exact whereabouts.

Early morning, at the core dispatch center of the "Wartime Special Transportation Coordination Headquarters" of the Southern Transportation Department of Shanghai.

On the huge railway network map, the indicator light representing the operating status of the K-739 special train turned into a flashing red in the "Hejialing" area, next to which was a short message code: "Attacked, major losses".

This splash of red, amidst a sea of ​​yellow and red indicator lights signaling a tight transportation situation, still stands out starkly and menacingly.

The entire dispatch center was like a pressure cooker, filled with the sounds of telephones ringing, telegraph machines clicking, and dispatchers shouting hoarsely.

When the urgent telegram from the Shandong garrison was translated and delivered to the central dispatch console by a pale-faced communications officer trembling, the entire hall seemed to be instantly emptied of air, falling into a deathly silence.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked incredulously toward the central control panel.

Colonel Yoshida Hirohiro, the deputy minister of the Southern Transport Department in charge of all material dispatch, was struggling to keep his head from about to explode as he coordinated the rerouting of a special arms train that had been stalled due to congestion on the line ahead.

When he took the thin yet incredibly heavy telegram, his hands trembled uncontrollably.

"...K-739...Jinpu Railway, Lunan Hejialing section...ambushed by armed militants..."

"According to the current survey, it has been confirmed that most of the escort team perished... The carriages carrying valuable supplies were completely looted... The losses... The losses are still being verified, and preliminary estimates are as follows..."

Yoshida Hirohiro murmured the words on the telegram, each word like a red-hot dagger piercing his heart.

His face went from a tired, sallow color to a deathly ashen color in an instant, his lips trembled, and he could no longer read.

K-739! That train was loaded with military supplies transferred from the South Manchuria Railway Company; it was a special supply train for the 7th and 9th Divisions stationed inside the Great Wall.

But now, this special train carrying a massive amount of supplies, which should have been kept absolutely secret, has been hijacked within his jurisdiction, on the Tianjin-Pukou Railway controlled by the Empire! And it has been "completely looted"!
The rapid clatter of leather boots sounded behind them, and a calm yet icy, penetrating voice broke the deathly silence: "Vice-Minister Yoshida."

Yoshida Hirohiro turned around abruptly and saw that Chen Yang had been standing behind him at some point.

Chen Yang did not raise his voice, but every word he spoke was clearly audible in the unusually quiet dispatch hall: "If I remember correctly, the route and schedule of the K-739 special train were ultimately reviewed and approved by the South Manchuria Railway Company, that is, by you, Vice Minister Yoshida."

"Regarding its security level and confidentiality measures, you once assured the Kwantung Army Headquarters that it was 'absolutely foolproof,' so how do you explain this 'looting'?"

He held a copy of the telegram sent back from Shandong Province, and his tone was devoid of anger, only displaying a cold, businesslike indifference.

"This...the route is top secret! The security is sufficient!" Yoshida Hirohiro hissed, as if a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "It must be...it must be an inside man! Or it was premeditated..."

"A mole? A premeditated plot?" Chen Yang took a step forward, closing in on Yoshida, his voice still steady. "Whether it was a mole or a premeditated plot, it all happened within the transportation system under your leadership, Vice Minister Yoshida!"

"At the Nomonhan front, there are already complaints about the South Manchuria Railway Company due to problems with transport capacity allocation! Now, one of the most important special trains in the rear, under your 'professional' dispatch, has actually been successfully hijacked by militants in the core area controlled by the Imperial Army!"

"If this matter reaches the Kwantung Army Headquarters or the Tokyo General Headquarters, have you considered the consequences? The reputation of the South Manchuria Railway will be ruined! The Empire's trust in the South Manchuria Railway will be completely destroyed!"

"Of course, the reputation of the South Manchuria Railway is worthless in front of the Imperial Army."

"But have you studied the location of the accident on this special train? This is an efficient transportation line that you have painstakingly developed."

"But it's been destroyed now, and you know what that means?"

"Clean up the special train, connect it to the railway, and replan the transport route. This will take at least two days."

"Minister Yoshida, can you squeeze out two more days for your transport line?"

"I can tell you with absolute certainty that you've lost this round!"

"Pfft, wow..." Chen Yang's words, which sounded like a final judgment, completely shattered Yoshida Hirohiro's nerves, which were already stretched to the limit due to days of overwork.

He felt a metallic sweetness surge into his throat, his vision went black, and he could no longer suppress it. He spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the control panel covered with circuit diagrams in front of him, a shocking sight!
"Minister Yoshida!"

"Quick! Doctor!"

The dispatch center was thrown into chaos! Several nearby staff members rushed forward in alarm and supported Yoshida Hirohiro, who was swaying precariously and whose face was ashen.

The entire dispatch center was thrown into brief chaos by the sudden collapse of the person in charge. Phones went unanswered, instructions were interrupted, and various alarms sounded one after another. The situation was on the verge of getting completely out of control!

"What's the panic!" A stern shout rang out, silencing the chaotic scene like a thunderclap.

Then, Major General Fumita Sato, the head of the logistics department, arrived at the dispatch center after hearing the news.

His face was ashen. He glanced at Yoshida, who had been helped to a chair and was barely breathing, then swept his gaze over the messy control panel and the panicked staff. Finally, his gaze settled on Chen Yang, the only one who remained calm.

"Chen Yang! Vice Minister Yoshida has suddenly fallen ill and is unable to perform his duties! I hereby order you to immediately replace Vice Minister Yoshida and take full responsibility for coordinating all transportation and dispatch affairs within the headquarters! Resume command immediately! Stabilize the situation! If any further mishaps occur, I will hold you accountable!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! I understand!" Chen Yang did not hesitate at all, immediately stood at attention and bowed, his voice steady and powerful.

He turned swiftly, facing the chaotic command hall, his eyes instantly sharpening and exuding authority: "Communications Group! Immediately send a telegram to the Kwantung Army Headquarters and Beiping, informing them of the preliminary situation of the K-739 incident, emphasizing that I am personally handling it, and stabilizing morale!"

"Dispatch Team One! Prioritize restoring traffic on the northbound main line. Reorganize the blocked military trains according to the emergency sequence I will issue later!"

"Dispatch Team Two! Immediately check all similar special trains en route, assess the risks, and adjust routes or strengthen security if necessary!"

"Technical team! Check all communication lines to ensure commands are flowing smoothly!"

His instructions were clear and his response was decisive, instantly bringing the almost out-of-control situation back under control.

Just as everyone was preparing to act according to Chen Yang's instructions, a voice suddenly rang out.

"stop,"

"Mr. Sato, the South Manchuria Railway Company (SMR) controls the transportation sector. You have no right to appoint Vice Minister Chen to take over Yoshida's work."

Sato Fumiyasu's gaze sharpened slightly. The newcomer was none other than Nakamura Isao, a senior investigator with the South Manchuria Railway and director of the Shanghai South Branch...

Chen Yang slowly said, "Nakamura-kun, now is not the time to question this. I am also very saddened by Colonel Yoshida's accident, but the transportation matter is urgent. Do you really want us to stop and wait for the special train and railway to be repaired before taking action? I don't think you have that much authority."

Nakamura Isao's expression remained unchanged, but his tone was somewhat firm: "Please forgive my bluntness, but although Minister Chen is highly capable, he has not yet had in-depth contact with the core operations of the South Manchuria Railway transportation system."

"The current routes are too complex, the transport capacity is too tight, and the conflicts between the parties are too sharp to be managed by ordinary means."

"Even Vice Minister Yoshida's painstaking efforts are struggling to keep things afloat. If Minister Chen were to take over hastily, I'm afraid... not only will he be unable to salvage the crisis, but he might also cause even greater chaos due to his unfamiliarity with the situation."

"For the sake of the stability of the Empire's transportation lifeline, I believe this matter needs to be considered in the long term. We should recommend more senior experts from within the South Manchuria Railway Company to jointly assume this responsibility."

"Mr. Nakamura's concerns are not unfounded. Indeed, following the established procedures and adhering to precedents may be the safest approach. However..."

Chen Yang abruptly changed the subject, "Mr. Nakamura, can following the established procedures solve the problem of the 10,000 tons of supplies consumed daily at the Nomonhan front? Can it fill the ever-widening supply gap caused by line congestion? Can it handle 'accidents' like the K-739, which occurred on an 'absolutely safe' line?"

“I warned Yoshida long ago that his transportation plan needed to be reformed because his capacity had reached its limit.”

"The current transportation line is like a blocked blood vessel. No matter how we try to clear it internally, the flow has reached its limit!"

"Vice Minister Yoshida's previous efforts are respectable, but he was merely trying to unclog a pipe that was already saturated!"

"You, you are truly shameless!" Nakamura Isao's brows furrowed suddenly: "Are you saying that the transportation plan designed by our South Manchuria Railway is completely useless?"

“It’s not that it’s useless, it’s a complete pile of shit,” Chen Yang said without holding back, angrily rebuking, “The South Manchuria Railway has no innovative concepts and is still using the old way of thinking.”

“Nakamura-kun, what we need is to move forward, not to rest on our laurels.”

“Fine, fine,” Nakamura laughed angrily, “Then I’ll give you, Minister Chen, a day to see how you clear the transportation routes and how you can transport the goods piled up in Shanghai to the north out of thin air.”

“One day, it won’t take that long. Just because your South Manchuria Railway can’t do it doesn’t mean our Southern Transport Department can’t.”

"Within six hours, I will get the supplies piled up in Shanghai's warehouses on a transport vehicle heading north!"

Nakamura frowned: "Minister Chen, are you planning to use heavy transport planes? The cost of that is much higher than that of rail transport."

“Heavy transport aircraft? There’s no need to waste them like that.” Chen Yang said slowly, “Doesn’t Mr. Nakamura know that our Great Japanese Empire has a navy in addition to the army?”

Nakamura was startled. Yes, transportation included not only the army's railways but also the navy's transport ships.

However, the navy and the army have never gotten along, and no matter how powerful the South Manchuria Railway Company is, it cannot command the navy's transport fleet.

Not only Yoshida was no good, but Nakamura was no good either, and not only them, but even the president of the South Manchuria Railway Company, Ōmura Takuichi, was no good...

But Chen Yang can...

Click, click, a series of neat footsteps sounded, and Lieutenant Colonel Koichi Saito, another deputy naval transport minister in the transport department, appeared in the dispatch room.

"Minister Chen, the supplies from the Maigen Road warehouse have been delivered to Huishan Wharf. I have conveyed your request to the Marine Corps Command, and Chief of Staff Hirata, after careful consideration, has agreed to help you execute the transportation plan."

"These supplies will arrive at Lushun Port on the 9th. Please don't forget to pick them up."

"Thank you for your hard work, Saito-kun."

Chen Yang glanced sideways at Nakamura Isao, "Nakamura-kun, do you still have any questions?"

“This, I…” Nakamura Ko couldn’t find an excuse to make a move.

“If you’re speechless, then it’s my turn to speak!” Chen Yang turned around and stood in front of the central control console. His gaze swept over the still-dry dark red bloodstain belonging to Yoshida Hirohiro on the control panel, and then looked at the red signal on the huge map that marked the location where K-739 was hijacked.

"Issue my order: the General Affairs Department must immediately dispatch personnel to repair the affected section of the road and restore transportation as soon as possible."

"The remaining units shall proceed according to my orders..."

Nakamura Isao's face paled slightly. He looked at the busy dispatch center, sighed, and prepared to leave.

Just then, Chen Yang suddenly called out to him: "Nakamura-kun, please send a telegram to the South Manchuria Railway headquarters and tell President Ōmura that all of this was orchestrated by Yoshida."

"Therefore, we hope that the South Manchuria Railway Company will provide a reasonable amount of compensation for the losses incurred by the navy in transporting supplies and the looted materials."

"As for the money I paid for cleaning up the mess for the South Manchuria Railway, I'm the kind of person who likes to do good deeds, so I won't take your money this time..."

(End of this chapter)