War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1781 Traitor? Hero? Spy?

"Marta, ask him what he knows about his great grandfather."

Wei Ran, who was sitting by the window in the cafe, spoke casually in Russian, while picking up the stack of manuscripts and flipping through them casually and quickly.

"Have you learned Japanese too?" Xia Shushi asked curiously while Marta was communicating with the Japanese soldiers he brought with him.

"Why would I learn that crap?"

Wei Ran answered nonchalantly, "There aren't that many Chinese characters on it, so I can probably guess it pretty close."

"How about I help you translate it?" Xia Shushi suggested.

"Need not"

Wei Ran replied as he flipped through the pages, "You already said there are no clues here. Translating is a sheer waste of time."

"Okay." Xia Shushi nodded and said no more. At the same time, he was secretly wondering how big the gap was between him and the other party.

Although he didn't look at it in detail, Wei Ran could roughly tell from the catalog and flipping through it that the manuscripts were basically divided into four parts. The first part was about the experience of the Japanese soldier named Hirano Daisho before he joined the army.

The second part is the experience of "doing business" on the Chinese battlefield, and the third part is the combat experience of leaving China and being sent to the Philippines.

The last part is naturally the rest of my life after the war, which I flipped through specifically, and this part is also the unfinished part.

After putting the manuscripts into a folder, Wei Ran picked up his coffee and fell into deep thought while Marta was communicating with the Japanese soldiers opposite.

He was a historian, and Xia Shushi sitting opposite him was also a historian.

Because of this, their views on the Osaka Division were much clearer and more objective.

It can even be said that the two of them may have a more objective and fair view of this army than quite a number of Japanese devils.

No matter how people joke about it online, "The Osaka Division that only knows how to do business" is just a nickname after all. Or, in other words, too many people have misinterpreted this nickname.

What is doing business?

The best example is Sui Sui. She is a sufficiently professional businessman who weighs the costs, risks and profits of each transaction, and then objectively and calmly chooses to trade or cancel a transaction, or thinks about how to avoid excessive risks in order to make a deal.

By the same token, during World War II, compared to the Japanese divisions whose average men were ready to shatter into pieces or even die, the Osaka Division was much calmer.

They treat every battle from the perspective of a businessman, considering the cost, profit and risk. If they can fight, they will fight. If they can't win, they will run away. Die with honor? Go for it! Only a fool would die in vain!

This is the business of the Osaka Division. In other words, this is a strong enemy, a strong enemy with a cool head and a real fight. The danger level of this thing is actually much higher than those mad dog divisions.

So what is the business of this Hirano Daisho? Wei Ran picked up the broken-blade samurai sword while thinking.

Although only the handle is left of this samurai sword, one can tell from the workmanship and materials used that this is definitely not the common iron bars distributed by the Japanese in the later period.

This alone is enough to confirm that this devil has a wealthy family.

On the other hand, the remaining blue "knife thread" at the end of the handle also suggests that the owner of this knife should be a "lieutenant officer."

Putting aside the knife handle which provided some speculation, he picked up the horn comb again.

The workmanship of this comb was exceptionally exquisite, and the mother-of-pearl inlaid on it even formed a pattern of ocean waves. Unfortunately, this thing obviously had no clue value.

Putting down the comb and finally picking up the photo album and opening it, Wei Ran couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. The photos in this album were taken in Shencheng!

He continued to flip through the photos and the frequent appearance of a Japanese soldier with the rank of second lieutenant in the photos also confirmed his guess.

It’s a pity that most of these photos are single-person photos with various backgrounds. In the few group photos, the Japanese soldier standing next to the same Japanese woman is wearing a kimono and is quite good-looking.

After flipping through the photo album page by page, Wei Ran couldn't help but shake his head. There wasn't much clue value in this album either.

"All the clues come from that memoir manuscript"

It was only at this time that Xia Shushi spoke up, "According to the description in the manuscript, Hirano Daxiang was a quartermaster when he was in Shanghai."

"So what's the business about?"

"This Hirano Daisho has two friends, one is a second lieutenant in the medical department of the supply unit, and the other is a second lieutenant in charge of supply management in the supply department."

Xia Shushi said, "This Hirano Daisho had a translator, whose Japanese name was Kawaguchi Kinyoshi. It was described that he used to be a comprador. Some of the medicines that Hirano Daisho got from his friends and some weapons and ammunition that were discarded because of poor condition were sold through Kawaguchi Kinyoshi."

"So the person we are looking for is also this Kawaguchi Qinshan?" Wei Ran asked.

"That's right"

Xia Shushi nodded, "But in Hirano Daisho's memoirs, the descriptions of Kawaguchi Qingyan mostly focus on descriptions such as 'close ties with local gangs', 'a loyal business partner' and 'madly in love with his sister'."

"go on"

Wei Ran closed the photo album and asked with interest.

"Later, the Osaka Division was sent to fly the green funeral, and Hirano Daisho confidently entrusted his sister Hirano Aoi to his good friend Kawaguchi Yoshiyoshi."

Xia Shushi said, "In later accounts, Hirano Daisho, who returned home after the defeat, completely lost contact with his sister until 1950, when he unexpectedly ran into Kawaguchi Yoshiyoshi in Osaka.

At that time, Kawaguchi told him that his sister had married him and they lived a happy life.

Of course, he also confessed that the drugs and weapons from those business transactions were actually sold to anti-Japanese organizations. "

"Gone?"

"Gone"

Xia Shushi spread his hands, "At that time, Hirano Daisho was running a small restaurant in Osaka. Although he kept saying that he would bring his sister to visit him in the near future, he never met Kawaguchi Kinsyo again until he wrote that memoir."

"Does the memoir mention what the identity of this Kawaguchi Yoshiyoshi was in 1950?" Wei Ran asked.

“Never said that”

Xia Shushi shook his head and said, "I only mentioned Kawaguchi's kindness. He died as a traitor back then. Now he just wants to live an ordinary life with Hirano Aoi.

Oh, and according to the memoirs, Kawaguchi Yoshiyoshi said that he and Hirano Aoi had settled in Ink after the war.

He also promised to bring his wife Hirano Aoi and his and Hirano Aoi's children with him the next time he comes to recruit nuclear weapons."

"Didn't you leave an address or anything?" Wei Ran asked, following the topic.

"Leave your address"

Xia Shushi replied, "Later, Hirano Daisho went to that address on purpose, but he only found the handle of the wakizashi and the comb."

"Are these two things special?" Wei Ran asked as he picked up the knife handle.

"The wakizashi was given to Kawaguchi Kinsei as a gift by Hirano Daisho when he left Shinjo. This wakizashi is considered a sword passed down in the Hirano family."

Xia Shushi said, "When I gave it to him, the wakizashi was still intact, but when I found it, only the handle was left.

That comb was given to his sister Hirano Aoi by their mother when she left Zhaohe. It is also a family heirloom. "

"That's all? Is there anything else?" Wei Ran asked.

"Gone"

Xia Shushi shook his head, "Hirano Daisho suspected that Kawaguchi Yoshiyoshi and his sister went to Shencheng."

"What's the reason for suspicion?"

"I don't know," Xia Shushi shook his head again, "I have only written this far in the manuscript."

Hearing this, Wei Ran nodded and looked at Marta, who had ended the communication.

“I just asked briefly.”

Marta said in Russian, "This Hirano Yoto doesn't know much about his great-grandfather, except that he died in a fire at the small restaurant he ran in 1953."

"Fire?"

Wei Ran suddenly realized something and said, "Wait a moment."

Then he switched back to his native language and asked, "When did this Hirano Daisho in the memoir go to meet his sister and Kawaguchi to make peace?"

"The end of 1952"

Xia Shushi replied, "In the spring of 1953, shortly after Hirano Daisho returned, he was burned to death in a fire in his small restaurant."

"Tsk tsk tsk"

"You also think it's wrong, right?" Xia Shushi asked.

"No, I think it's normal."

Wei Ran spread his hands, "Life is unpredictable, what's wrong with the big intestine covering the small intestine?"

Before Xia Shushi could speak, Wei Ran narrowed his eyes and asked, "Also, are you sure you want to find it?"

"We have to confirm it," Xia Shushi said, "I will tell you the reason later."

"also"

Wei Ran nodded, then looked at Marta.

"Shall I continue?" Marta asked.

Seeing Wei Ran nod, Marta immediately continued the previous topic, "After the fire, Hirano Daisho's son rebuilt the restaurant and transformed it into an izakaya. After the economic bubble, that izakaya with many years of history also closed down.

This gentleman’s grandfather died in the early 80s, and his parents were at his grandmother’s house in Miyagi Prefecture when the 2011 earthquake struck, and neither of them survived.”

"This luck"

Wei Ran smacked his lips but didn't say anything. Seeing this, Marta continued. "Since his parents died in the earthquake, Mr. Hirano Yoto has been living in that bankrupt izakaya, making a living by drawing comics and doing odd jobs.

About two years ago in the summer, when the Osaka earthquake hit, the attic of the old house where he lived collapsed, and he accidentally found the box containing these things when he was sorting out the fallen debris.

“The house.”

“He sold it that winter.”

Marta said, "He used the money to move to the countryside where the cost of living was lower. Before he met Mr. Zhong, his life was very difficult."

"Are these the only relics?" Wei Ran finally asked in his native language.

“Originally there was also a Japanese folding fan.”

Xia Shushi replied, "But he sold the fan after the earthquake. He was living in extreme poverty during that period."

“I don’t have anything else to ask.”

Wei Ran took a sip of coffee and said, "Want to go out for a cigarette?" "Of course"

Xia Shushi nodded, switched to Japanese to greet Hirano Haruto who was sitting next to him, then walked out of the cafe with Wei Ran and each lit a cigarette.

"That little devil is going to write a work based on his great-grandfather's memoirs"

"Zhong Zhen's place is in chaos enough, it's normal for a few people to die."

Wei Ran reminded him before he could finish, "You should be able to tell the difference between what is more important and what is less important."

"I need you to remind me?"

Xia Shushi lowered his voice and said, "The person has actually been found."

"What?" Wei Ran was stunned.

“People have actually found it”

Xia Shushi whispered, "Kawaguchi Kinsei, his real name is Zhang Taichuan."

"Where did you find it?" Wei Ran asked with narrowed eyes.

"Malaysia"

"How did you find it?" Wei Ran breathed a sigh of relief and continued to ask.

"comics"

Xia Shushi gave an unexpected answer.

"comics?"

"Hirano Haruto drew the opening of the comic book series for the comic book competition some time ago based on his great-grandfather's memoirs of the Battle of Bataan."

Xia Shushi said, "He used his great-grandfather's real name in it, and also posted a photo of his great-grandfather and his great-grandfather's sister."

"Then what?" Wei Ran asked.

"Then shortly after it was posted, an account contacted the publisher there and claimed that she had seen the same photo at home."

At this point, Xia Shushi said meaningfully, "You may not know that the second generation's crazy aunt has obtained the distribution rights there."

"Go on," Wei Ran said without comment. How could he not know? Of course he knew.

"The person has been temporarily calmed down by the second generation's crazy aunt."

Xia Shushi said, "The person who contacted the publisher was a young man who was a university student. His family was all Chinese and he was studying abroad in Guangdong Province.

But they don’t know the experiences of their ancestors before them. The one who is still alive and has the highest generational level is Zhang Taichuan’s son.”

"What did he find out?" Wei Ran asked.

This time, Xia Shushi shook his head and said, "That crazy aunt sent someone to visit. Zhang Taichuan's son is called Zhang Mingxiang, who was born in 1955.

He said his mother was also Chinese, with her ancestral home in Fujian Province. Neither he nor his mother knew what happened to his father.

But his father did leave behind a number of photos, including the one on the web page.

In addition, there is a photo of him with Hirano Daito and Hirano Daito's sister Hirano Aoi. "

At this point, Xia Shushi added, "There are also several photos of him and Hirano Aoi alone, as well as photos of Hirano Aoi alone."

"Is there something wrong with these photos?" Wei Ran keenly realized the crux of the problem.

'There are big problems'

It was not until this time that Xia Shushi took out his mobile phone, pulled out a set of photos and handed them to Wei Ran, "These are reproduced photos."

Wei Ran took the phone and flipped through it, frowning. The first photo was a picture of a gentleman-looking man and a woman in a kimono.

Continuing to flip forward, in the photo of the two people, the woman's belly is becoming more and more obvious, and her clothes have fewer and fewer Japanese elements.

In the last photo, the woman was holding a baby in her arms.

"Did that Hirano Aoi really give birth to a child for him?" Wei Ran said with a frown.

“Uncertainty is not important”

Xia Shushi lowered his voice a little, "The next step is the key. In 1966, Zhang Taichuan disappeared."

"Missing?" Wei Ran was stunned and asked subconsciously, "How old was he at that time?"

"He was almost fifty years old," Xia Shushi said. "His family only knew that he had gone to Feilu funeral and there was no trace of him since then."

"Completely broken?"

"It's completely broken," Xia Shushi said. "I only have one hypothesis."

"Ink pad?" Wei Ran asked with a frown.

"Do you know what happened that year?" Xia Shushi asked.

"I know," Wei Ran sighed.

"if"

Xia Shushi said, "I mean if."

Xia Shushi stopped talking halfway.

"What do you want to say?" Wei Ran, who had already guessed something, asked with a frown.

"What if he was already a spy at that time?" Xia Shushi continued, "That might be the best opportunity for him to return to the mainland."

"Tell me your reasons," Wei Ran sighed. He had just thought of this subconsciously.

"Because the first thing that doesn't make sense is why he told Hirano Daisho the truth of that year."

Xia Shushi said, "He could have kept it to himself, but he did. Not only did he say it, but he also suspected that he killed Hirano Daisho not long after."

"Go on," Wei Ran said, but he was not in a hurry to express his opinion.

"The beast asked the professionals," Xia Shushi said, "Zhang Taichuan is not one of ours."

Hearing this, Wei Ran almost subconsciously thought of Brother Liu. The other party knew everything about Tao Canhua. If Zhang Taichuan was also the "same kind", then he must know something.

In this case, the sentence "Zhang Taichuan is not one of us" contains too much information.

"Are there any other clues?" Wei Ran still did not comment.

"And that's all"

Xia Shushi responded, "That's what I just said. We have to be sure of the reason we are looking for. Traitor, hero or spy, the difference behind these is too big."

"Can you use us?" Wei Ran continued to ask.

"You saw the police catching a thief on the road, why didn't you help?"

Xia Shushi asked back, "Besides, now that this matter has been exposed, Zhong Zhen can kill the Japanese inside, and can he also kill the Chinese family over there for no reason? Even if they need to be killed, they must be investigated first."

"Is it urgent?" Wei Ran asked.

"No hurry, you celebrate the New Year first."

Xia Shushi said, "The devil inside will leave China in a few days. I was thinking that if you are willing to help, you can ask anything you want to ask first."

"Is he very popular now?" Wei Ran asked an irrelevant question.

"More popular than when he was drawing pornographic comics"

Xia Shushi explained with great joy, "The Second Emperor hired two foreign students from the Japanese to serve him in turns. Now this kid is like a chicken with blood injected every day."

"Can you leave your things here with me?" Wei Ran asked.

"Yes," Xia Shushi nodded, "I'll leave them all to you."

"Are there any other clues?" Wei Ran asked habitually.

"That's all." Xia Shushi thought for a moment and added, "Let's keep what I just said secret for now."

"become"

Wei Ran nodded in response, "Where are you going next?"

"Send that devil on the plane"

Xia Shushi said, "He went to Feilu Funeral to avoid the limelight, and Qin Qi and I are also preparing to go home for the New Year."

"Happy New Year!" Wei Ran sent his blessings as he walked back.

"I thought you would try to keep me here," Xia Shushi said helplessly, "Can you at least give me breakfast?"

“No food today”

Wei Ran said, "Next time when you come without the devils, you'll have everything to eat."

"You are too extreme," Xia Shushi said with a smile.

"no way"

Wei Ran said in a joking manner, "When you are young, you are more extreme."

After that, he didn't care what Xia Shushi was going to say, and greeted him in Russian, "Marta, take your things and go."

"it is good"

Marta responded immediately and swiftly put the things on the table into the Japanese soldier's backpack. Without even saying hello, she caught up with Wei Ran who was turning around and walking back.

"This person is so rude," Hirano Haruto said with dissatisfaction until this time.

"Just be content if he didn't strip you naked, tie you to a tree and beat you up."

Xia Shushi muttered something in Chinese, then switched to Japanese, asking the other party to follow him out of the cafe.