cicada

Chapter 1528 Victory
On the morning of August 15, 1945, the Northwest garrison was filled with joy, because at around 7:00 a.m., China, the United States, Britain, and Soviet Russia officially announced Japan's unconditional surrender.

In fact, as early as August 10, news circulated that the Japanese high command was trying to surrender, but most people did not believe that the Japanese would surrender so easily, and it turned out to be a false alarm.

Japanese Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, without the military's permission, made an unauthorized international broadcast in English from Tokyo, stating that Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration.

Therefore, although the four countries announced Japan's surrender, most people in the Republic of China remained cautious despite their joy, and the troops in various regions were on high alert to prevent the Japanese army from launching a surprise attack.

A certain location in the Northwest.

Inside a heavily guarded courtyard, a flurry of activity took place. High walls kept all the noise out. This was the New Hua Society's listening department, responsible for monitoring plaintext telegrams and broadcasts from various countries.

Around 11 a.m., a wiretapper was receiving a Reuters news report when several "urgent" signals suddenly appeared in the report, something that had never happened before.

The eavesdropper sat up straight instantly, holding the headset with his left hand and quickly copying down notes on a piece of paper with his right. As he copied down more and more content, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

As the last word was written, the person listening in took off his headphones, jumped up, and rushed out of the cave, shouting as he ran.

"The Japanese locust has announced its unconditional surrender! The Japanese locust has announced its unconditional surrender!"

As he ran, tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice became hoarse. The Eighth Route Army staff along the way stopped and stood there, stunned.

Inside the cave dwelling, Tianhuang's voice came from another radio, his tone filled with sorrow. This was the "Jade Voice" record that the rebels had been desperately searching for...

"We are keenly aware of the current situation in our country and have resolutely decided to take extraordinary measures... We have ordered the government to notify the United States, Britain, China, and Red Russia to accept the terms of the joint declaration."

"I am well aware that continuing the war is detrimental to the nation... If the fighting continues, not only will the empire perish, but it will also endanger all of human civilization."

Even at this point, Tianhuang remained stubborn, refusing to mention surrender and only talking about ending the war, trying to leave a glimmer of hope for a comeback.

The high-ranking leader, who was listening to the translator's retelling, keenly noticed this. He turned his gaze eastward, but his thoughts were quickly interrupted by the increasingly noisy shouts. By this time, the outside had long since turned into a sea of ​​joy.

Countless soldiers and civilians stationed in the area began to cheer, weep, dance, and bang pots and pans. Then, the sound of gongs and drums rang out, and people spontaneously took to the streets to celebrate.

That evening, the hills on both sides of the Yan River were covered with torches, and the local people poured into the camp like a tide. Nearly 20,000 soldiers and civilians danced with torches and performed the Yangko dance, shouting and jumping until they were exhausted.

Bonfires were lit in front of various government offices, schools, and cave dwellings. Some people slaughtered pigs and sheep, while others brought in homemade liquor from somewhere. The usually serious political cadres got completely drunk.

Not only in the Northwest, but also in the occupied areas, people were in a frenzy of celebration. Cheers could be heard everywhere in the streets of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Nanjing.

The citizens dropped what they were doing and came out of their homes, only to find that the streets were filled with people who seemed to have gone mad, shouting that the Japanese had surrendered!
Those who heard the cheers seemed to suddenly lose control, running around with the crowd. The distance between people seemed to disappear all at once, and some even set off firecrackers.

In the most fashionable city of Shanghai, people learned from Westerners how to express joy, embracing each other, regardless of age or gender.

The owners of roadside grocery stalls and fruit vendors shouted towards the street, gesturing for citizens to take whatever they wanted and eat as much as they wanted!
Such a commotion naturally alerted the Japanese and puppet troops and police, but the Japanese were hiding in their military camps waiting to surrender, while the traitors and spies were living in constant fear. No one dared to stop the people from celebrating their victory at this time.

The same scene unfolded in the mountain city, where the Jialing River and the sunset were dyed blood red by the setting sun, just like the dusk of June 5, 1941, when Japanese bombers arrogantly departed, leaving behind a city devastated.

On this day, thousands of people in the mountain town suffocated to death in air-raid shelters. Among the dead were children under one year old and elderly people with gray hair.

But today was different. Instead of the roar of the invaders' planes, the air was filled with cheers of victory from every corner of the city.

The news of the Japanese locusts' surrender spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys, from Chaotianmen Wharf to the "spiritual fortress" (Liberation Monument), from Lianglukou to Shapingba, the entire mountain city was in an uproar.

Inside a house, the family of four was beaming with joy. The father held the child high in the air, while the wife and another child wore smiles on their faces, and a kitten stood obediently by their side.

On this night of victory, people expressed their joy to the fullest, and the lights of the mountain city, which had been extinguished for several years, were lit up again.

(The picture shows Feng Zikai's "Victory Night")
At No. 29 Luojiawan, the Kuomintang agents, hearing the celebrations outside, sat speechless in their seats, their expressions a mixture of excitement, joy, and lingering weariness and confusion.

From the Special Service Department to the Military Intelligence Bureau, over a decade of tension had been building among the members of the Military Intelligence Bureau, and now that tension had snapped.

Zuo Zhong, along with He Yijun, Gu Qi, Wu Chunyang, Song Minghao, Gui Youguang, Ling Sanping, Wu Jingzhong, and other former subordinates, gathered in the dining hall, where dishes and drinks were laid out in front of them.

Watching the fireworks fall outside the window, Zuo Chong got up and poured a few glasses of wine on the ground, saying a sentence with each glass he poured.

"Respectfully dedicated to the brothers who sacrificed their lives in Northeast China."

"A tribute to the brothers who sacrificed their lives at Lugou Bridge!"

"A tribute to the brothers who sacrificed their lives in Shanghai!"

"A tribute to the brothers who sacrificed their lives outside Nanjing!"

"Respect to those who sacrificed their lives."

He named several places in a row, then tilted his head back and gulped down the last glass of wine. Gu Qi and the others stood up, raised their glasses, and drank them down in one go, their eyes instantly turning red.

Yes, it's fortunate that these people can see the victory; those brothers who sacrificed their lives are the true heroes of this country.

The group clinked glasses in silence, and after a few drinks, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. Gui Youguang, emboldened by the alcohol, suggested going for a walk outside.

Zuo Zhong thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "Alright, this can be considered as us sharing the joy with the people."

However, when they left the Military Intelligence Bureau compound, a few more people joined the group. Shen Dongxin, Vice Minister Yang, and Bai Wenzhi arrived uninvited, and the group, dressed in civilian clothes, mingled into the celebrating crowd.

With so many high-ranking military intelligence officers traveling together, there were naturally junior agents accompanying them, with dozens of strong young men subtly separating the crowd from the victory parade.

He Yijun walked at the front, arm in arm with Zuo Zhong, while the crowd behind them suppressed their laughter and whispered among themselves. Only Ling Sanping remained stern-faced.

Suddenly, Ling Sanping stopped and looked at the sugar shop by the roadside. Several notices were posted outside the shop, showing that the price of sugar was dropping from 1700 yuan per catty, and the last one was only 300 yuan per catty.

Within hours, prices dropped fivefold. Although it was just sugar, it showed that the economy in the Kuomintang-controlled areas was improving.

Upon seeing this, Vice Minister Yang revealed a piece of inside information: "Dean Ling, several speculators jumped into the river and committed suicide this afternoon. My Ministry of the Interior even sent people to investigate."

Bai Wenzhi nodded in agreement, cursing, "Damn it, these unscrupulous merchants hoarded goods and speculated on prices; they deserve to die!"

Shen Dongxin, who was walking to the side, glanced at the two men. Others might not know the situation, but as the deputy director of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, he knew very well that these two guys were members of the largest speculative gang in Chongqing.

That is to say, they were well-informed and knew about Japan's impending surrender earlier than the outside world, so they sold their goods in advance; otherwise, they would have had to jump into the river as well.

Not only sugar shops, but other shops are also lowering their prices, and citizens are flocking to buy items they wouldn't normally buy, such as imported candies and firecrackers.

The doors of several cigarette shops were smashed by the revelers. The military police responsible for maintaining order laughed and chased the people away, showing no intention of pursuing the matter. Even the shop owners waved them off indifferently. Gu Qi was secretly worried when he saw this scene. He called over a junior agent to give him some instructions, but Zuo Zhong stopped him, telling him not to do anything to spoil the fun.

"Alright, Lao Gu, let the people vent their anger and sorrow. If we don't let them express their anger and grief, things will get really bad."

As they spoke, the group walked to the riverbank. The fireworks in the sky were reflected on the river, creating a dreamlike scene with the slowly rising white mist.

Zuo Zhong stood on the shore for a long time, thinking about many things, and scenes flashed through his mind.

Graduated from Zhejiang Provincial Police Academy, joined the Military Intelligence Bureau, stopped a British man harassing a flower girl on the banks of the Huangpu River, participated in the Tangshan Hot Spring Case, carried out anti-traitor operations in Beiping, and investigated Japanese spies on Putuo Island...

Countless covert operations transformed him from a police academy cadet into a qualified intelligence officer, allowing him to fully integrate into this great era.

But the old struggle has ended, and a new one is brewing. War clouds are gathering in the north, the northeast, and the Huaihai region. He doesn't know if his involvement will make things go more smoothly, but things are up to people!
Zuo Zhong quickly recovered from the disappointment of victory; he had an even more important mission to complete, a mission bestowed upon him by history.

A gentle breeze from the river carried the faint strains of singing from afar. Zuo Chong asked He Yijun, "Yijun, what song is that?"

He Yijun listened carefully, biting her lip as she replied, "The sacrifice has reached its final moment."

The singing grew closer and closer, gradually reaching everyone's ears. Zuo Zhong hummed along softly to the rhythm, and the others joined him in singing this famous anti-Japanese war song.

"Keep moving forward, never backward."

"Life or death is at its final moment."

"Our compatriots were massacred"

"Land was forcibly seized"

"We can't take it anymore."

……

"Let's use our blood and flesh to fight off the enemy's heads!"

"The sacrifice has reached its final moment."

……

(Bonus: a song video)

In 1936, overseas Chinese in Europe sang this song at the International Anti-French Conference.

In 1938, the Zhongshan warship was bombed by the Japanese army, and all the officers and soldiers on board sang this song before their execution.

During the Battle of Taierzhuang, Chinese men from all over the country fought the Japanese army to the tune of this song.

"Let's use our blood and flesh to fight off the enemy's head."

Zuo Chong hummed this line repeatedly, his resolve growing stronger. Yes, we cannot allow the beautiful land that the martyrs won with their blood and flesh to fall into ruin again! Absolutely not!

Seeing that the deputy director remained silent, the rest of the group quietly admired the night view of Shengli. They enjoyed the evening breeze for several hours before finally dispersing.

Back in the Military Intelligence Bureau's dormitory area, Gu Qi and the others tactfully left. Zuo Zhong and He Yijun, whose face was flushed, held hands, smiled at each other, and walked into the house side by side.

On the morning of September 3, 1945, an unprecedented celebration officially began at Xiaochangkou.

The Shancheng Power Company sounded a long siren to lift air raid restrictions, and factories and ships also sounded their horns at the same time. The sharp whistles continued to sound over the city for ten minutes, symbolizing the end of the 14-year War of Resistance against Japan.

Immediately afterwards, the warships on the Jialing River fired a salute, and the 14 years since the September 18 Incident in 1931, with their cannon fire, turned into the past.

At the end of the celebration, more than 10 people participated in a grand parade, led by US military personnel in Chongqing in jeeps and motorcycles, which passed through the mountain city in a grand procession.

On September 2, the day before, Japan signed the instrument of unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri, an American battleship anchored in Tokyo Bay.

Among the spectators, Zuo Zhong, representing the Guo Army, stood in the front row. In the Japanese contingent opposite him were Hayashi Fuichiro, Japan's youngest Minister of Finance, Ozawa, the newly promoted Vice Admiral, and Hase Ryosuke, the head of the Hase Agency.

With a large number of high-ranking Japanese officials dying, these three individuals, as the first to extend goodwill to the United States, will naturally have a brighter future.

Besides them, there was another familiar face among the Allied forces present: Ji Dawei, the former director of the First Bureau of the Puppet Political Security Bureau and now the OSS Asia Commissioner.

After Wan Lilang's death, Tong Suo took over Wan's position by leveraging his good connections and seniority. Unfortunately, the puppet government surrendered after only two days.

The Americans' open recruitment of Tong Suo and their dispatch of him to this location may well have been a test of the Military Intelligence Bureau's intentions.

But Zuo Zhong showed no sign of displeasure and even greeted Tong Suo warmly, which greatly disappointed the OSS agents who were monitoring him.

Over a thousand kilometers southwest of Tokyo, Xiao Qingmin, who had safely retreated to Korea, met a fake lieutenant named Takagi, who was quite infatuated with her. The two spent their days drinking and dancing and having a great time.

Zuo Jun also made many influential British friends in London. He was just waiting to graduate so he could return to Temasek to engage in politics and support the Chinese community in Southeast Asia.

At this point, Zuo Zhong's layout in Asia has been largely successful.

After more than a decade of groundwork, the groundwork has finally come to fruition, and an intelligence network spanning the Northern and Southern Hemispheres has firmly entangled the United States' reach into Asia.

The next step for the Military Intelligence Bureau/FIRC is to fully infiltrate Europe and America. There is a saying that goes, "If the enemy can go there, so can we." Zuo Chong looked at the Japanese and American representatives signing the agreement, raised his hand, smiled, and applauded.

After the signing ceremony, Zuo Zhong took a transport boat back to land, and halfway there he threw a can marked with the number 3 into the sea.

[Tanaka Kenji, whose original name was Gu Hanqing, was from Chahar. His parents died in the Japanese massacre. He joined the first phase of the canned food plan in 23 and died in the suburbs of Tokyo in 34]

Faced with victory within reach, Gu Hanqing abandoned the retreat and took the initiative to stand in the front to attract attention, thus buying time for the Military Intelligence Bureau's cleanup operation.

Finally, the other side cut off all leads at the cost of their own lives, leaving no evidence for the Americans and making the truth of the mutiny a secret forever.

Silently reciting the files and deeds of Canned Food No. 3, Zuo Zhong stepped onto the dock. Wu Chunyang quickly walked over and whispered a message in his ear.

"Vice-Sir, the Chairman and the Director have ordered you to return to Shancheng immediately; negotiations are about to begin."

(To be continued)
I've been writing this since 21, and the anti-Japanese war period is finally over. I feel a lot of reluctance. During the time I was writing this book, I experienced a lot, both pain and joy, but I finally got to this point. As for the part after 45, I will try my best to write it. If I can't write it, I will write it as a side story. The update schedule will remain the same.