20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 722: Embers of the Disaster
That afternoon, Saito Rokuro handed in his gun and handcuffs as required, then changed into plain clothes and went to the Fengtian branch building of the Southern Railway Company to meet with Takeda Nobuyuki.

Yuta Yamazaki insisted on accompanying them, saying that he could come forward to testify and help his senior out of the situation if necessary.

The young man is very loyal, which is quite gratifying.

When we arrived at the branch building, it was time to get off work. The sky suddenly turned gloomy and dark, and it was about to rain. The pedestrians on the street unconsciously quickened their pace.

Not long after, Takeda Nobuyuki came out of the building carrying a briefcase, and his every move was quite impressive.

Yuta Yamazaki secretly sweated, fearing that his senior would lose control of his temper and impulsively quarrel with the other party.

However, although there was dissatisfaction in Saito Rokuro's eyes, he had to bow his head under the eaves. Now he had no choice but to patiently walk to the steps and greeted him in a stiff tone.

"Mr. Takeda, Director Ishihara asked me to come see you."

"Well, Brother Saito, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Takeda Nobuyuki shook hands with him, then turned around and looked him up and down, "Who is this?"

"Yuta Yamazaki! Mr. Takeda, nice to meet you!"

The young man gave his name and planned to take the opportunity to say a few good words for his senior, but when he looked up again, he saw that the other party had already walked around them and slowly walked down the stone steps in front of the door.

"Hey, it's still early, how about I invite you guys to have a drink?"

Takeda Nobuo waved to the two of them, then walked towards the tram station on his own.

Saito Rokuro frowned and couldn't help but look at Yamazaki Yuta. He was inexplicably confused and didn't know what the other party was planning.

But the current situation was that as an investigator, Takeda Nobuyuki had to follow the host's wishes, whether they were willing or not, so he had no choice but to follow.

……

The three of them came to an izakaya on Naniwa Street. It was located in a remote area and there were not many customers, but Takeda Nobuyuki still booked a private room and ordered two pots of sake and some side dishes.

By the time the wine and food were served and the sliding door closed for the last time, a drizzle had begun to fall outside the window, and the house seemed even more quiet.

Yuta Yamazaki poured wine and offered cigarettes to the two seniors in order of seniority. When he was free, he just knelt beside them, not asking any questions or answering any questions.

During the meal, Takeda Nobuyuki showed no intention of investigating or interrogating anyone. Apart from introducing the restaurant's food and drinks, all he said was nonsense.

Saito Rokuro became increasingly confused and could not help interrupting, "Mr. Takeda, what does this mean? You want to investigate me, right? Does this count as an investigation?"

"If you want to be investigated in the interrogation room of the Military Police Battalion, I can arrange it for you," Takeda Nobuyuki drank a cup of wine and said with a smile, "but I don't think it's necessary, and that's definitely not what Director Ishihara wants to see. What do you think?"

"But can this type of investigation convince the higher-ups?"

"Brother Saito, you are just too rigid."

Takeda Nobuyuki shook his head and suddenly asked, "Stepping back, do you think it's worthy of me, a staff member of the Investigation Department of the Nantetsu Company, to interrogate a detective captain of the police station who is suspected of treason?"

Upon hearing this, Saito Rokuro was stunned. This was also the point that confused him just now.

Logically speaking, in Manchuria, if a police officer is suspected of dereliction of duty, the police chief should first conduct an internal investigation and then hand the case over to the gendarmerie for further interrogation and accountability.

Because this case involves the "Gireutan", Saito Rokuro might even be taken to Kanto Province for strict interrogation.

Although the Nantetsu Corporation was known as the Manchurian version of the "East India Company" and had immense power, it was still just a company on the surface.

It doesn't make sense that a director of the Southern Railway Investigation Department is investigating a police officer from the Toyo Police Department. Even if Takeda Nobuyuki is a member of the Black Dragon Society, he should not be interrogating a police officer in his capacity as a director of the Investigation Department.

Saito Rokuro pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his head: "Could it be that Mr. Takeda helped me out?"

Takeda Nobuyuki did not comment, but said calmly: "The military police battalion commander stationed in Fengtian is my old classmate, and I also have several friends in the Kwantung Bureau, so don't worry, you will be fine. Strictly speaking, you only need to write a performance report."

Yamazaki Yuta's eyebrows lit up with joy, and he hurriedly said, "Senior, congratulations!"

"Hey, don't be too quick to congratulate," Takeda Nobu said, "Although it's not a big deal, Brother Saito will have to be suspended for at least a month, or even longer. This is a fixed procedure, right?"

Yuta Yamazaki doesn't care about all that. As long as his senior can be reinstated smoothly, it's only a matter of time, sooner or later.

However, Saito Rokuro was still a little bit unbelievable and couldn't help asking: "I appreciate Mr. Takeda's kindness, but isn't this a bit too hasty?"

"Is it sloppy?"

Takeda Nobuyuki suddenly put down his bowl and chopsticks, sat up straight, and demonstrated his professional qualities as an intelligence officer to the two men.

It only took him three or five minutes to briefly review Saito Rokuro's background, hometown, education, experience, and interpersonal relationships in Manchuria.

It turned out that Takeda Nobuyuki did not fail to investigate, but the other party had no secrets at all in front of him.

Saito Rokuro was speechless, his eyes full of surprise. After a long silence, he finally asked, "Does the Investigation Department want to investigate even our own people?"

"Of course." Takeda Nobuyuki said without hesitation, "While we are infiltrating Manchuria, we must also prevent others from infiltrating. Don't forget that the reason why we can gain a foothold in Manchuria now is because the Empire defeated the Russians back then, and 100,000 young people fought bloody battles to achieve the current situation."

Saito Rokuro pondered for a moment, and gradually understood: "Mr. Takeda means... to prevent communism?"

"Yes, please forgive me for being frank. People like Brother Saito, who are born in the common people, are easily deceived by those heretics. In order to safeguard the interests of the empire in Manchuria, we have to take corresponding preventive measures."

"How is that possible!"

Takeda Shin shrugged: "Please don't mind, I'm just doing my duty."

"Well, anyway, thank you Mr. Takeda for your help!" Saito Rokuro untied the knot in his heart and took the initiative to toast a glass of sake. The atmosphere gradually relaxed. "However, if that's the case, I don't think Mr. Takeda would believe that Qingqiu Society is the contact point of the 'Yiretsudan', right?"

"I just think it's too much of a coincidence, but I can't rule it out."

"Don't you suspect that it was Jiang Lianheng who did this?"

Saito Rokuro raised his eyes, and his words were obviously filled with personal grudges.

Takeda Nobuyuki did not refute immediately, but just asked as a matter of routine: "Do you have any evidence?" "Evidence?" Saito Rokuro frowned, scratched his head and said, "I don't have any evidence, but this matter can't be so coincidental. I know Song Lvcheng, he is definitely not a member of the "Yi Lie Tuan". Jiang Lianheng burned Qingqiu Society and Qingqiu Society became the contact station of the "Yi Lie Tuan"? I don't believe it!"

Takeda Nobuyuki shook his head in disappointment and reminded him, "Brother Saito, I need solid evidence, not your subjective conjecture. Empty words will not do."

"What evidence do you need? He's just a Chinese. If you want to arrest him, all you need is suspicion. Lock him up and torture him, and you'll eventually get something out of him!"

"No, Brother Saito, you underestimate Mr. Jiang's influence."

Takeda Nobuyuki flatly refused, "He is not an ordinary Chinese. There are many things to consider when arresting him, including public opinion, gang power, and anti-Japanese sentiment. Don't say that you don't have solid evidence now. Even if you have evidence, you can't just arrest a well-known figure like him, especially now."

“Is it any different now?”

"Of course, the current situation is that the cooperation between the Empire and the Feng Zhang Group is very harmonious, and the anti-Japanese sentiment among the people is also very mild. We must work hard to maintain this status quo, otherwise, those Russians will probably take advantage of the situation. The transfer of the investigation rights of the arson case this time is also based on this consideration."

"Hey, I really don't understand those weak politicians. We are obviously much stronger than the Fengtian Army. Why don't we just destroy them? Why do we have to appease them everywhere?"

Saito Rokuro was, after all, just a police officer who maintained public order, so his vision was inevitably somewhat short-sighted. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but complain like many other young Japanese.

However, this was one of the reasons why Takeda Nobuyuki invited him for a drink and a chat.

"Brother Saito, the Empire has invested a lot of effort in Manchuria. We don't want this place to be caught in the flames of war unless it is absolutely necessary. One day, when the Empire seizes Manchuria, we hope to get a prosperous and powerful land, not a ruin. Only in this way can Manchuria become the base of the Empire."

As the topic became more and more extensive, Saito Rokuro felt it was a bit empty and boring.

In other words, he is more concerned about his personal grudges now.

"Mr. Takeda, what's the point of what you said?" Saito Rokuro said, "I just want to catch a Chinese. What does this have to do with the current situation?"

Takeda Nobuo confessed: "Brother Saito, I came to you today just to tell you, please don't provoke those powerful and prestigious Chinese in the future."

"why?"

"Because they are the ones I am trying my best to win over. Even if you are pretending, please create a situation of Sino-Japanese friendship and East Asian co-prosperity in the South Railway Concession."

"But are you sure Jiang Lianheng will cooperate with you?"

"It's not certain yet."

"That means he won't cooperate!" Saito Rokuro snorted coldly, "I think you think too highly of him. He's just a gangster, why do you favor him so much?"

Takeda Nobu shook his head and said, "I am not partial to him, but the gentry and dignitaries in the entire Fengtian City are all targets I want to win over. We will need their reputation to consolidate the empire's rule over Manchuria in the future."

"So how are you progressing now?"

"Not ideal."

Takeda Nobuyuki had no choice but to tell the truth.

At present, it seems that although there are many Chinese in Fengtian who are trying to show goodwill to Japan, most of them are just doing business. After all, the two countries are not at war yet, and not so many people are in a hurry to act as traitors.

Occasionally there are a few people who are willing to do the hard work, but a closer look reveals that they are all good-for-nothing villains who hope to rise up by relying on the little Japan. In fact, they are all useless scum. And those who are really well-known and powerful often act in a coy manner due to the sake of their reputation and face. They want to be whores and also want to be virtuous. They are really not worth the job.

Upon hearing this, Saito Rokuro could not help but snort coldly: "We are still too kind to them. We must let them have a taste of power so that they know who is in charge in Fengtian."

"You're right." Takeda Nobuyuki did not refute, "Perhaps when they really need me for something, they will be willing to do it."

At this point, Saito Rokuro suddenly grinned and said, "Mr. Takeda, I do have a list of names. They may need your help."

"Oh?" Takeda Nobuo was caught off guard and asked quickly, "What list?"

"Half a month ago, I interrogated a Chinese man named Sheng at Xita Qingqiu Society..."

"Fill the warehouse." Yuta Yamazaki reminded from the side.

"Yes, yes, that's Sheng Mancang." Saito Rokuro continued, "He once told me that there are actually many gangsters in Fengtian City who are dissatisfied with Jiang Lianheng, but because the Jiang family is too powerful, they dare not speak out. I have already compiled a list of names. I wonder if Mr. Takeda needs it?"

When Takeda Nobuyuki heard this, his eyes lit up.

Of course he knew that the merchants in Fengtian City had complaints about the Jiang family, but those people were just small traders and were not worth the effort to win over.

And those gang members, hindered by the tyranny of the Jiang family, often kept their mouths shut and were unwilling to risk being in the spotlight. When the Jiang family was mentioned, they were full of flattery. What's more, some even said that Fengtian City could do without Marshal Zhang, but not Jiang Lianheng. Without Jiang Lianheng, Fengtian City would be in chaos!
It's just talk, who knows what they really think?

Saito Rokuro smiled and said, "Mr. Takeda, I think if you can win over those people, Jiang Lianheng might not be that important, right?"

"That's not necessarily true. I've done some research, and the Jiang family's status was not gained by flattery."

Takeda Nobuo was conservative. After all, most gang members were just a mob. But he still couldn't help but ask, "Where's the list? Did you bring it with you?"

"Not now. If Mr. Takeda wants it, I can give it to you tomorrow, but—" Saito Rokuro paused, suddenly a little embarrassed, "I want to make a deal with you."

"Deal?" Takeda Nobuyuki laughed. "Brother Saito, I helped you get rid of the investigation by the Military Police, and you still want to negotiate terms with me?"

"Well, that's certainly not what I meant, but I need help with something right now. It's a serious matter, and I'm afraid ordinary people can't help. I guess it can only be done with Mr. Takeda's connections in the Black Dragon Society."

"Oh? It seems that this matter is quite tricky?"

"If it wasn't difficult, I wouldn't be asking you for help." Saito Rokuro lowered his head in response, "Anyway, I hope Mr. Takeda can help me with this."

Takeda Nobuo narrowed his eyes and couldn't help asking, "Isn't it still related to Jiang Lianheng?"

“It does matter, but you can also say it doesn’t matter.”

"Is everything I just said to you in vain?"

"No, no, no, I can promise that I will never cause trouble to the Jiang family again." Saito Rokuro said, "But if the Chinese fight among themselves, it won't destroy the friendship between the two countries, right?"

(End of this chapter)