cicada

Chapter 1404 Action Exposed
The female nurse who called herself Oda Hanako stood beside He Yijun, chattering non-stop: "Ms. Yizi, I heard that you and Mr. Shimizu are from Osaka. You two are from the same hometown as me."

He Yijun kept smiling but was alert in her heart. She had disguised herself as a nurse before, so she was very familiar with this profession.

Nowadays, most nurses have scabs or calluses on their knuckles, which is a professional characteristic formed by long-term opening of ampoules, but Oda Hanako's fingers are very smooth, and she said that she has been a nurse for many years.

The identity features don't match, and the approach was deliberate, so this Oda Hanako is most likely an operative for the Japanese intelligence agency.

Realizing that she might be targeted, He Yijun did not panic. Instead, she took the initiative to talk to Oda Hanako about Osaka's cuisine.

"Ms. Hanako, do you know the Iris House in Sennichimae?"

Oda Hanako nodded quickly, clasped her hands together and said in surprise: "Of course, Miss Itsuko also knew that place. I really miss the Imagawa yaki of Ayame-ya. It is the most famous dim sum in Osaka."

He Yijun looked puzzled: "Isn't the best snack at Ayame-ya Taiyaki? There's brown sugar in the dough, right? There's always a long line of customers before the battle."

Hearing this, Oda Hanako smiled and said that she might have remembered it wrong, and then asked how much it cost to take the tram from Jusan Station to Nihonbashi, and whether the price had increased compared to before.

"It was 15 cents before the war, but two years ago, due to gasoline control, the city electricity was stopped. If you take the black market bus, it will cost 50 cents." He Yijun replied casually.

The Military Intelligence Bureau's agents in Japan would submit the latest price information from all over Japan every month for operatives to use while undercover. Details not only determined success or failure, but also life and death.

Seeing that He Yijun was flawless, Oda Hanako became a little anxious. If they missed this opportunity, it would be difficult for them to make direct contact with the target again.

The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became, so she simply stopped pretending and took out a paper bag, took out half a rice cake from it, and asked He Yijun if she knew which store the rice cake came from.

He Yijun smelled the aroma and said confidently, "The senbei from the second shop on the left in Dotonbori. If Miss Hanako misses the taste of her hometown, I can bring some for you next time I return to Osaka."

Oda Hanako thanked him verbally and no longer doubted He Yijun's identity. She then asked a few routine questions about Kamazaki and ended the test.

The banquet was already halfway through, and Zuo Zhong's speculation that the U.S. military would use island-hopping tactics attracted the attention of the Japanese officers present. However, since it involved military deployment, the Japanese did not say much in this regard.

Only Yamamoto was in high spirits and made another bet with Zuo Zhong: "Shimizu-kun, how about we have another bet? I bet that the American island-hopping tactics will be in vain. How about 20,000 yen?"

The reason he said this was that no matter what the Americans did, the Japanese Navy's strategy was to lure US aircraft carriers into a decisive battle at sea and not waste manpower and resources on fighting for islands.

Moreover, the materials required for long-distance island hopping are astronomical figures, and even a powerful country like the United States cannot supply them. The so-called island hopping tactics can only harass the supply lines at best and cannot play a decisive role.

Furthermore, Yamamoto believed that MacArthur had a strong attachment to the Philippines and would be determined to recapture Manila. The outcome of the battle between the United States and Japan would ultimately be decided by ships.

Zuo Zhong was a little helpless. He originally wanted the Japanese to bleed the Australian and New Zealand troops, but he didn't expect Yamamoto didn't believe his inference at all.

Forget it, if the Japs want to die, let them die. At worst, after Yamamoto dies, he can provide some information to the Japanese through Hase.

After confirming that he could not cheat the United States and Australia, Zuo Zhong bowed in disappointment and replied: "Hai, Mr. Yamamoto, then Shimizu will gamble with you again. If I win by chance, I will donate all the 20,000 yen to the navy."

Now Yamamoto had both face and substance, and his depressed mood due to the unsatisfactory war situation was much better, so he talked more, and he mentioned one place many times in his conversation.

"Gentlemen, the Imperial Army discovered an island inhabited by matriarchal tribes. After the Locust Army arrived there, some tribes cooperated with us, while others retreated into the jungle."

"Not long ago, the Empire's explorers discovered a large copper mine on the island. Once the Americans are defeated, it will become an important industrial center for the Empire to rule the South Pacific."

"These natives were very clever. They baked sweet potatoes and mixed them with coconut milk to make a paste, or dried bananas and stored them for use in wartime emergencies."

"Kumura-kun, the locust army can also learn this method to make military rations. Shimizu-kun's distant water cannot quench the immediate thirst. We must be prepared to fight independently on each island for a long time."

Yamamoto shared these things with everyone as strange stories, and reminded Imamura Hitoshi. Imamura Hitoshi seemed to be thinking about it and decided to dig a few more grain storage holes.

Although Yamamoto did not reveal the name of the island for confidentiality reasons, a lot of useful information can be analyzed from his story.

The island, the social structure and eating habits of the indigenous people, and the presence of copper mines. With the above clues, we should be able to analyze the location of the island.

Zuo Zhong rolled his eyes and silently memorized the information. Suddenly, he heard Yamamoto reveal that he would visit the local area in the near future.

"Mr. Yamamoto." The major of the military police interrupted Yamamoto and then reminded him quietly: "You should rest. You have an important meeting tomorrow. Your special plane is waiting at the airport."

Yamamoto didn't take it as an offense, patted his head and apologized: "Okay, okay, let's stop here today, otherwise our major will be subject to military law."

Regardless of whether Yamamoto's joke was funny or not, everyone, including Zuo Zhong, burst into laughter.

The guests looked over here in surprise, secretly wondering what had happened to make so many important people laugh so happily.

The laughter faded and the banquet came to an end. Yamamoto was the first to say goodbye and leave. Before leaving, he made an appointment with Zuo Chong to play bridge in a few days.

Zuo Zhong knew that the old Japanese was probably itching to do something, so he nodded with a smile, and together with the others, he sent Yamamoto to the entrance of the venue, and watched the other party's car gradually go away. The night sea breeze was a bit cold, and Zuo Zhong stood outside the door and tightened his clothes. He did not return to the banquet immediately, but took out a cigarette case and lit a cigarette while smoking and pacing.

When he was almost finishing his cigarette, he glanced in the direction the car was leaving. As expected, the location of the taillights was near the mysterious hill, and that was where Yamamoto's lair was.

After extinguishing the cigarette and putting it into the cigarette box, Zuo Zhong strode into the venue. Waltz music played through the speakers. He Yijun rolled up her skirt and walked in front of him. The two smiled at each other and walked into the dance floor.

"What a guy who loves to show off."

The military police lieutenant looked at the two figures on the dance floor and talked to himself, then asked Oda Hanako: "How is it? Is that woman suspicious?"

"Major, everything is fine." Oda Hanako lowered her voice and spoke respectfully.

After hearing the report from his subordinates, the major frowned suddenly and then quickly relaxed. It was good news that there was no suspicion.

Not long ago, the Eastern Agency, which is responsible for overseas intelligence work, warned the Naval General Staff that the Americans might send intelligence personnel to approach Yamamoto and assassinate him.

This incident made the Tokyo headquarters very angry, and they ordered the army and navy intelligence agencies to conduct a thorough investigation. Shimizu Mato happened to show up at this time, and the major naturally became suspicious.

Now that the suspicions of the Shimizu Mamito couple have been cleared, this may not be a bad thing. At least they don't have to waste time on this matter anymore.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, the Major gave an order: "Alright, remove the surveillance personnel. Mr. Shimizu is a friend of Lord Imamura and Lord Yamamoto. We need to be careful about the impact."

It is still unclear whether the Eastern Agency's intelligence is accurate, and the gendarmerie is not in a position to conduct a high-profile investigation of the two commanders' guests.

Oda Hanako leaned over and replied yes. When she looked up again, she saw Shimizu Itsuko whispering with Shimizu Mato. Their heads were close to each other and their faces were full of smiles.

In the middle of the dance floor, He Yijun took advantage of the sound of music to tell Zuo Chong about Oda Hanako's attempt to test her.

Zuo Chong had a smile on his face but was actually very puzzled. The Japs were obviously suspicious of them. When did the Japanese intelligence agencies become so sensitive?
Suddenly, he thought of a possibility - there was a Japanese mole among the Americans, and the news of the assassination of Yamamoto had leaked.

The moment this thought came to his mind, Zuo Zhong wanted to slap himself. If Americans were reliable, even sows could climb trees. He should not have agreed to Melos' request.

Maybe the Japanese got wind of it as soon as the operation started and knew that there was an Allied mole around Yamamoto, so the Japanese intelligence agency was so nervous. No wonder that military police major kept keeping an eye on him.

Zuo Zhong took a deep breath, suppressed his inner uneasiness, and his brain worked rapidly, and his thoughts gradually became clear.

Things had not yet reached the worst point. He did not inform Melrose of the specific action steps. The Japanese only suspected that there was a spy around Yamamoto, but they did not know the identity of the spy, and could not even be sure whether the information was accurate.

After thinking for a while, Zuo Zhong leaned close to He Yijun's ear and whispered, "Go to Temasek in a few days, and when you get there, you can let..."

His voice became smaller and smaller, and He Yijun's heart tightened, but she didn't say much and silently accepted Zuo Zhong's arrangement.

Intelligence operations are not a game. Indecision will only hurt others and yourself. Moreover, Temasek’s work is also very important and is related to whether the next mission will be successful.

He Yijun held Zuo Zhong's hand tightly, her pretty face tilted upward with a smile as beautiful as a flower. When the trumpet stopped in the finale, she leaned back, revealing her white neck.

Zuo Zhong put one arm around her waist and held her hand with the other, lifting it slightly. The two looked at each other quietly for a few seconds, and suddenly warm applause broke out around them.

[Action name: Check]

Imamura Jun clapped his hands and came in front of the two people, and said with emotion: "Shimizu-kun, if I didn't know that you were born a commoner, I would have thought you were a descendant of a big family."

This sounded a bit dangerous, but Zuo Zhong didn't care at all. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his head and played the victim to Imamura Jun.

"Mr. Imamura, in the white world, if you can't dance, it's hard to get into their circle. I spent a lot of money to learn waltz."

"Hahahaha, European and American devils, the Empire will sooner or later deal a heavy lesson to them!" Imamura Jun slammed his palm hard, and his triangular eyes shot out a creepy cold light.

Ah, yes, yes, yes. Zuo Dian nodded his head like pounding garlic. When it comes to speaking nice words, it is you Japanese who are the ones. I don’t know who was the Australian who led hundreds of thousands of devils to surrender.

They even built their own prisoner-of-war camps, repaired the military barracks, wiped the weapons before handing them in, and had everyone shower and change clothes before surrendering, making the Australians who came to accept the surrender question their lives.

The banquet ended with Imamura Hitoshi's boasting. On the next morning, Zuo Zhong climbed to the commanding heights of Rabaul under the pretext of training.

At the foot of the mountain, two Mitsubishi G4M Type land attack aircraft and six Zero-type carrier-based fighters were waiting on the runway for takeoff, and the roar of their engines was deafening.

[The picture shows the G4M Type land attack aircraft]

①The origin of senbei can be traced back to ancient China. The earliest record appeared in the "Jingchu Sui Shi Ji" in the Southern Dynasty, which mentioned the method of making "pancakes". In Japan, the method of making senbei can be traced back to the Jomon Yayoi period, when people used chestnuts, taro and grain flour to bake similar foods.