20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 820 Overt and covert fighting
"What's going on?"

Old Dou was displeased upon hearing this and quickly said, "Hou Er, does Master Qin not know much about Lai Zi?"

Hou Chuanyan frowned and asked, "What? Isn't he just someone who collects protection money along the riverbank?"

"That's called setting up a stall!"

"No matter what he's called, this is the person Master Qin is talking about. Just do what he tells you to do."

Although Lai Zi wasn't a big shot in the underworld, he had indeed been acting arrogantly for a few years in that backwater area along the riverbank, thanks to Li Zhengxi's protection.

Qin Huaimeng started his business by running a rickshaw shop, so it's not surprising that he knew about Lai Zi based on rumors.

Old Dou was very unwilling, but said, "Even if you know Lai Zi, do you know him better than I do? Do you think I don't know what he's capable of? He's just a half-witted loophole, he's not even in the Jiang family! If you're saying the head of the Jiang family is coming and you want me to back down and admit defeat, then I'll put up with it! What is he? I can't afford to lose face like that!"

Hou Chuanyan's face fell, and he immediately reminded him, "Master Qin said this is a notification, not a discussion. If you want to continue working for the maintenance committee, then you should obey and not make so many excuses."

Old Dou was speechless for a moment—it's easy to get on the pirate ship, but hard to get off!
According to his initial plan, if he could successfully assassinate Jiang Lianheng on the night of the turmoil in Guanxiang, he would no longer need to be instructed by the Qin family. With the Jianghu in turmoil and gangs emerging everywhere, he could, with his own abilities, at least control the southern part of the city, if not become the leader of the gang.

But Jiang Lianheng miraculously survived, and fearing retaliation from the Jiang family, Lao Dou had no choice but to seek refuge with Xiao Dongyang.

Ultimately, the reason he was able to join the Japanese was because Qin Huaimeng acted as a go-between.

In other words, these few minor leaders had actually become Qin's henchmen. Since they were eating his food, they naturally dared not say anything more.

Whistle Li lit a cigarette in silence, then suddenly asked, "Why do you value leper so much?"

Hou Chuanyan softened his tone and sighed, "Although we failed to eliminate Jiang Lianheng last time, thanks to the efforts of the two of you, the Jiang family lost many core members. According to Master Qin, we should give the Jiang family a fresh start."

"A blood transfusion?" Whistle Li's eyes darted around. "Does Master Qin mean... he wants Lai Zi to gain merit so he can infiltrate the Jiang family's inner circle?"

Skyhawk chimed in, then quickly asked, "What's wrong? Is that kid one of Master Qin's informants?"

Hou Chuanyan shook his head: "No, that's not it."

Old Dou also said, "Impossible! You have no idea how close those young punks and Li Laosan are. It's not just a life-or-death bond, it's practically like brothers. As long as Li Laosan is still around, no one can mess with them. I saw this a long time ago!"

"Hey! Old Dou, don't speak too confidently!" Hou Chuanyan said with a sinister smile. "People always change. If they don't change now, they might change in the future!"

Old Dou scoffed, saying, "Come on, I know what you mean. You want Lai Zi to make a name for himself, but the problem is Jiang Lianheng isn't stupid. He's been in the underworld for years; does he think he can't tell whether someone is good or not? You want the three of us to back down to Lai Zi? Not only will we be laughed at, but do you think the Jiang family can't see the signs? Unless Jiang Lianheng is blind, would he believe that Lai Zi scared the three of us away?"

"Whether others believe it or not is not important at all. As long as Lai Zi and his group believe it, that is enough."

"You think this will allow Lai Zi and his gang to become members of the Jiang family?"

"I don't care!" Hou Chuanyan said with a smile. "It would be better if they could get in, but it doesn't matter if they can't. What I want is for them to be resentful!"

Whistle Li nodded in agreement, saying, "Unfair rewards and punishments will only throw us into disarray."

"Not bad!"

What are the specific plans?

Just as Hou Chuanyan was about to speak, he suddenly sat up straight, looked around the private room, got up and walked to the window, and unexpectedly pushed open the window. Only after he was sure that no one was around did he return to his seat, lower his voice, and truthfully recount Master Qin's instructions.

Just as the group was whispering amongst themselves...

Nantong Railway Company, Fengtian Branch Building.

The Japanese were having a lively discussion in the conference room. Nearly twenty people were attending, all sitting around a large long table, exchanging information and formulating strategies. They seemed to be talking about the "Battle of Fengtian," but there were no Chinese people present.

The attendees were a diverse group, including advisors from the South Railway Headquarters, officers from the Independent Garrison, staff officers from the Kwantung Government, spies from the Fengtian Special Service Agency, the head of the Oriental Police Department, representatives of Oriental financial groups, and mainland ronin who had lived in the Kwantung region for many years.

Moreover, this was just a small meeting held before the main conference.

The real high-ranking officials had not yet arrived in Fengtian, so the staff representatives of the Kwantung Government held a small meeting first to gain a deeper understanding of the situation in Fengtian.

"General Shirakawa is expected to arrive in Fengtian within three days," the staff representative said. "Until then, I hope everyone can ensure intelligence sharing and provide our army with all military intelligence about Fengtian. Manchuria is a matter of national destiny, so everyone must do their utmost!"

Everyone nodded in agreement; Takeda Shin and Kawada Shinpei were also present.

The director of the South China Railway Transportation Department spoke first: "We have completed negotiations with Kuanchengzi Station. The troops from Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces who are assisting Fengtian will arrive in Xinmin tomorrow night. They will have enough time to complete the deployment of the defense line before Guo's army approaches."

Immediately afterward, the Fengtian Special Service Agency also reported: "The supply problem of Guo's army is quite serious. According to reliable intelligence, there are serious divisions within Guo's army. In this war, even if our army refuses to send troops, as long as we help Zhang Yuting hold Fengtian, Guo's army will probably have a hard time winning."

The staff representative shook his head, but said, "The plan to send troops to participate in the war will not change. While assisting Fengtian and Zhang, our army should do its best to deplete the main force of the Fengtian army, and prepare for possible future military conflicts."

Then, he turned his gaze to Takeda Shin and asked in a low voice, "Are you a director of the investigation department?"

"Yes!" Takeda Shin replied.

"How is the investigation into the weapons and equipment of the police and militia in the Fengtian area progressing?"

"Gun is rampant in the Guandong region. According to the information we have so far, the militia and local security forces in the suburbs of the provincial capital alone have an average of two to three thousand rifles per county. In some areas, they are even equipped with homemade cannons. I have a list of local gentry and local security forces here..."

As he spoke, Takeda Shin took out a file book, seemingly having done his homework.

However, before he could finish speaking, the staff representative's face showed a hint of displeasure: "Average? What do you mean by average? Two thousand rifles and three thousand rifles, the difference is too great, enough to equip half a regiment of the Fengtian Army. This is not intelligence, this is speculation!"

A little embarrassed, Takeda Shin quickly said, "Yes! I'll check it as soon as possible!"

What is the status of the weapons and equipment of the Fengtian police force?

"Well... the Fengtian Police Department is on high alert for this, but progress is not going very smoothly so far."

Logically speaking, Takeda Shin was not under the command of the military, so the military naturally had no right to hold him accountable.

The staff representative then turned to the advisor sent by the South Railway Headquarters and said meaningfully, "It seems that the work of the Investigation Department needs to be strengthened!"

The advisor, his face flushed with embarrassment, glared fiercely at Takeda Shin. Just then, the police chief suddenly stood up, strode to the hanging map of Fengtian, pointed and marked the armories of the militia and local militias around the provincial capital, briefly explained the ammunition reserves of each armory, and finally emphasized Xinmin County.

"This armory contains 2,320 rifles and a large amount of ammunition. They are all standard equipment that the Fengtian Army has phased out. Although they do not meet the military's standards, they are high-level weapons and equipment for the local militia. If the Empire uses force against Fengtian in the future, it can be considered to destroy them first to quickly disintegrate the resistance forces among the people."

The staff representative was somewhat surprised, but then praised, "Very good. Although the Fengtian-Zhang group is friendly with our army, anti-Japanese sentiment among the people in the Far East is still very strong. If the empire wants to control Manchuria, it must not ignore the anti-Japanese elements among the people."

They were clearly discussing the "Battle to Defend Fengtian," but in the mouths of the Japanese, it turned into the "Siege of Fengtian."

That's right, none of the members at this meeting took Guo the devil seriously at all.

They were using the guise of "aiding Fengtian" to conduct live-fire exercises, with the ultimate goal of eventually annexing Manchuria.

The staff representative continued, "Fengtian is a major city in Manchuria. To stabilize public sentiment, we must win over influential merchants, gentry, and officials, and severely crack down on anti-Japanese elements, especially those militias and secret societies. They have guns and are a potential security threat. Mr. Takeda, you have worked in Fengtian for many years. You should know who is the most influential among the local militias and secret societies, right?"

Takeda Shin replied, "Jiang Lianheng."

"I don't care who he is, I only care about one thing—is he a pro-Japanese element or an anti-Japanese element?"

"Is this..."

Takeda Shin glanced at the police chief, then at Kawada Shinpei sitting directly opposite him, and felt a sense of resentment. He said, "I'm afraid a conclusion can only be reached after this war is over."

This is not surprising; many people's stances change over time.

Undoubtedly, once Fengtian completes its power restructuring, more wealthy gentry and officials will flock to Japan.

The staff representative did not object, but solemnly reminded him: "If you can't win them over, remember to eliminate them as soon as possible!"

After the meeting, the advisor appointed by the South China Railway Headquarters kept Takeda Nobu behind.

The two stood in the corridor, feeling deeply ashamed of their earlier negligence.

The advisor was filled with shame and indignation, and immediately berated him: "The theory of civilian defense and military preparedness—this is the primary purpose of the establishment of Nanchong Railway Company! What's wrong with you? As a senior intelligence officer in the investigation department, how could you let those patrolmen steal your thunder at a meeting of this level? You are disgracing Nanchong Railway!"

"Hi! I'm so sorry!" Takeda Shin knew he was in the wrong and didn't have the face to argue.

The consultant glanced around the empty corridor and then said, "Mr. Takeda, I know your background and who is supporting you. I can't do anything to you, but you must at least do your job well. Otherwise, I will have to report to the president truthfully. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" Takeda Shin bowed his head and admitted his mistake.

Do you know any sources within the police department?

"I know, I only heard about it a few days ago."

"Then go in and contact their sources. Don't embarrass the company any further!" the consultant snapped, then strode away.

As Takeda Shin watched the other person walk away, he couldn't help but loosen his tie, mutter a few curses under his breath, and mutter to himself, "I guess I'll have to find someone else..."

…………

It was late at night at the Jiang family mansion.

Chuang Hu had just returned to report, his ears red from the cold. He was sitting by the living room window, warming himself by the radiator while blowing his nose.

"So you still didn't see Qin Huaimeng in the end?" Jiang Lianheng asked, frowning.

Chuang Hu shook his head and hurriedly said, "No, it was just a few minor leaders of the puppet regime and two old Japanese men who had a meal on Chiyoda Street. I haven't eaten yet... Oh, right, the translator also went there."

"So you didn't follow up with that translator?"

“I followed him! He lives in an apartment near Tongwen Commercial School. I ‘escorted’ him downstairs and waited for him there for half an hour, but no one came up or down, and I didn’t see Qin Huaimeng anywhere!”

Jiang Lianheng couldn't help but click his tongue: "They haven't shown themselves yet, they've been hiding really well!"

Hu Xiaoyan asked, "How long did they stay in the restaurant?"

Chuang Hu thought for a moment and said, "It'll probably be three hours. I'm so cold I'm almost disoriented."

"Is that place being cleared out?"

"Clearance?"

After a moment's thought, Chuang Hu immediately understood and hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, that's an old tavern, run by Chinese people. There are no geisha or anything like that serving drinks. To be honest, the Japanese aesthetics are really incomprehensible. Pale faces, small lips, it gives me the creeps. I heard they even have men dressed as women..."

Hu Xiaoyan waved her hand to interrupt, "Were they drunk when they came out?"

"Well, I think I'm alright. I'm not swaying as I walk, so I should be fairly lucid!"

"That means we need to discuss countermeasures! The city is teeming with Japanese soldiers right now; they're in a position of power, and they'll probably attack us tomorrow!"

Although Hu Xiaoyan's judgment was accurate, she was not a shaman and could not speculate on the other party's intentions out of thin air. There were two teams of old men patrolling near the Jiang family mansion, and the Jiang family was already on guard, so the other party probably wouldn't forcibly smash the kiln.

Therefore, the other party's intention is very likely to target the various businesses listed on Jiang's counter.

"Nanfeng, immediately notify all the managers and tell them to gather the men in advance, so that there won't be enough time to call people tomorrow," Hu Xiaoyan immediately ordered. "Also, tell everyone that if a conflict breaks out, do not fire your guns indiscriminately, so as not to give the Japanese an excuse to cause trouble."

By this time, the Fengtian Telephone Bureau had already resumed operations, and Wang Zhengnan quickly picked up the receiver and dialed the phone one by one.

Jiang Lianheng seemed somewhat nonchalant. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Xifeng, when we need support tomorrow, remember to call Zeng Shouyi along and let him show his face outside."

"Understood." Li Zhengxi nodded.

"Chuang Hu—"

Jiang Lianheng continued, "You stay with that translator for another day tomorrow. If Qin Huaimeng still doesn't show up—Guoyan—then you take some men over and kidnap him."

(End of this chapter)