Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 441 The Secret Taken Away
“After the fight, Zhou Fohai will step in to protect me, and of course, he'll pay a lot of money—fifty taels of gold right off the bat,” Hong Zhiyou said.

"These days, even if you have some connections, you still have to find someone through intermediaries to negotiate prices."

"The closer the person is to you, the harder it is to get things done."

Not everyone is like you and me, able to open their mouths and put in their pockets.

"Most people are like General Guan. When they need someone, they call them their ancestors. But when they don't need someone, if you want to get some benefits, even the Emperor himself has to pretend to be a beggar."

Hong Zhi took a sip of tea and glanced towards the door.

There were two furtive figures outside; without a doubt, they were sent by Saburo Shibuya to follow him.

But it doesn't matter, Shibuya Saburo can easily find out about this amount of connections.

"So General Guan died."

"This world is just a makeshift operation."

"If you don't understand social etiquette, you won't get by in our circle," Wu Jingzhong nodded with a smile.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

“I don’t think Zhou Fohai can help you. The Kwantung Army and Manchukuo are very different from those in China. Land grabbing here has long been a big thing, and it would be difficult for even internal Japanese factions to interfere,” he cautioned.

"Adding flowers to brocade, Zhou Fohai is the flower, not the brocade."

"I'm not going to say anything more, I'm going back now."

Hong Zhiyou stood up and said.

……

Got in the car.

Hong Zhi drove past the Romantic Restaurant.

I wanted to go in and chat with Liu Yawen for a bit.

Thinking about it, now that Director Liu is "hiding" outside, it's clear that he's been included in the list of those who are doomed to die.

I'd better not go looking for trouble.

In the short time it took to park the car, Liu Yawen had already seen him.

"Liar, why don't you go in?"

She walked over, knocked on the car window, and asked in an icy tone.

"How did I become a liar?" Hong Zhiyou's gaze lingered on her.

Liu Yawen wore a long white brocade trench coat, a plain scarf, and her slightly wavy long hair was tied up high. Paired with light makeup, she looked like the warm winter sun, exceptionally dazzling.

"You said you'd come to the shop to play the piano at noon, but you haven't come even once. What else could you be but a liar?" Liu Yawen sneered.

“Sorry, you didn’t give me a good look when I played the piano last time. I figured you must have thought my piano skills were too rough, so…” Hong Zhiyou shrugged.

"Who said I dislike you..."

Liu Yawen felt that this was not quite right, and then she pouted and said, "Come or don't come, it's up to you."

"Hey!"

She sighed softly and turned to leave.

"Wait, why are you sighing?" Hong Zhi called out to her.

"I originally thought you were a Chinese man with backbone, but I never expected you would write a song specifically for a Japanese woman just to please her."

"I just feel sorry for your talent."

Liu Yawen said.

“Who said I wrote it for her?” Hong Zhiyou frowned.

"Who doesn't know?"
"That widow named Huizi at the club always brags to everyone she meets, saying that you... you're top-notch in that area, you're a celebrity in the wives' circle now, you're popular with both Chinese and Japanese women."

"Traitor dog!"

Liu Yawen rolled her eyes at him.

"If you asked the people who attended the party that day, you would know that the piece was written for a girl I admired, not for Keiko."

"Think about it, how could a man compose such a piece if he didn't think about a woman day and night and love her to the extreme?"

"I did not know Mrs. Keiko before."

"Am I crazy to fantasize about marrying a widow in a church?"

Hong Zhiyou liked her way of being jealous without realizing it.

"Then, who did you make it for?" Liu Yawen didn't want to ask, but she couldn't help but ask anyway.

"Naturally, she is the girl I love."

"I haven't dated anyone since I came to Harbin. I think my beloved girl must be on the same wavelength. That song, 'The Promise,' was written for her when I passed by St. Sophia Cathedral."

Hong Zhi looked at her with tender, gentle eyes.

"Go sleep with your widow." Liu Yawen's heart raced, and her face flushed uncontrollably.

"Wenwen."

"Rumors are more deadly than a knife; you are intelligent enough to understand that."

"Mrs. Keiko's brother is Hideo Sakata. If I want to open up the market in North China, I must befriend her."

"We drink tea and chat about flower arranging; that's all there is to our interactions."

Hong Zhi raised his eyebrows and smiled.

You don't need to explain to me.

"Don't think I don't know what you've been up to. I overheard my father mentioning it to me the other day at home."

"Traitor!"

Liu Yawen snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Grass!

I just saved over a hundred men from the Fourth Battalion of the Anti-Japanese United Army. I almost broke my leg while escaping in the snowy forest, and you're calling me a traitor?
Damn it, I'll get you sooner or later!

Hongzhi closed the car window and stepped on the gas, heading straight for Huizi's residence.

The desire for what you can't have always stirs your heart, and the fearlessness of being favored is something that simply doesn't exist in Hong Zhiyou's world.

If you're not going to put it in the bowl, then forget it.

Ms. Keiko has a great figure, is fair-skinned and fragrant, and has the unique charm of Japanese women. Isn't she good value for money?

……

Liu Yawen returned to the restaurant.

The musician was playing "The Promise," a beautiful and romantic melody tinged with a touch of sadness. A strange restlessness stirred within her, and an emotion she had never felt before welled up in her heart.

Did that villain really write this song for himself?

It's so beautiful and heartwarming.

It's such a pity... why would such a handsome genius be a traitor?

Also, did he have sex with that Japanese woman...?

Liu Yawen became increasingly agitated the more she thought about it.

Then, she frowned slightly, her expression showing a hint of surprise.

Oh my god.

What am I thinking about?
Why should I care about him?
This broken tune, whoever you want to write it for, write it for whoever you want.

Who cares!
……

Hong Zhiyou arrived at Huizi's villa.

Huizi had already arrived at the door after receiving the call, her neckline lower than before, and she seemed happier than ever.

She bowed like a virtuous wife, changed his shoes, and no longer covered her chest with her hands.

That's so damn realistic!
Hong Zhi walked in with an air of superiority, pinched her cheek, and asked with a smile:
"Madam, is the money I gave you last time enough for your needs?"

Enough to spend.

“I have everything I can buy in Harbin, but without you by my side, I always feel like I’m wasting my days,” Huizi said gently.

"Once you arrive in Tianjin, you'll know what paradise on earth is all about."

That's North China.

"Okamura Yasuji and your brother laid a solid foundation of political resources over there."

"Once you get there, you can be like a queen, enjoying endless praise, and every inch of land you step on will be covered with flowers and gold."

That's your paradise, your home turf.

"The snow over there is no longer bleak and cold, the prosperity over there will make you forget all your troubles, and you will never wake up in the loneliness of midnight again."

"Believe me."

Hong Zhiyou's kisses were like fine wine, intoxicating Huizi and leaving her in a daze.

"You're just good at saying nice things to people. You just want to get rid of me in Jinhai, afraid that I'll bother you and interfere with your date with Miss Liu." Huizi said coquettishly in his arms.

"I just saw her, but only for less than ten seconds, before rushing to see you."

"I enjoy dealing with intelligent women."

"In the adult world, interests are always the most important thing. We are not only friends, but also partners."

"As long as there are interests involved, we will never ignore or forget each other."

"And this one, maybe one day he'll get tired of it and never come back again."

"After all, women will eventually grow old, become ugly, and get sick."

"Do you agree?"

Hong Zhi cupped her face in his hands and said gently.

"In order to be forever bound to you, even when my face is covered with wrinkles at eighty, you still have to think of me all the time, and visit me more often than your own son or grandson when I am on my deathbed."

"I promise you, I will go to Beijing, Tianjin, or Shanghai."

"And I will make lots and lots of money, so that you, you bad guy, will have to remember me for the rest of your life."

Huizi's eyes were filled with anticipation for the future.

Hong Zhiyou coveted her beauty, but he didn't jeopardize her future, unlike other men who would rather imprison her as a plaything.

He is a truly trustworthy "friend".

"You're so smart."

"However, I've heard you've been praising my abilities everywhere?"

Hong Zhi lifted her chin and asked in a domineering manner.

"I haven't had anything to talk about for a long time."

"Is this all you have to brag about? Can't I even say it?"

Huizi blushed and delicately unbuttoned her clothes.

As expected, kimonos are... convenient.

"Bitch!"

Hong Zhi slapped her buttocks, and amidst Huizi's soft moans, he picked her up and carried her to the tatami mat.

……

a few days later.

Guanyin Cave at Laotuo Mountain.

A Japanese military policeman shouted, "Found it!"

"Be on guard. Don't go in. Kobayashi-kun, thank you for your hard work," Tanaka ordered sternly.

"Hi." Dr. Kobayashi and two other doctors changed into protective suits and sprayed themselves with antiviral aerosol before entering as if facing a formidable enemy.

The military police immediately sealed off the hilltop.

Dr. Kobayashi entered the cave and saw the corpses, their bodies ravaged by viral infection, and was both horrified and overjoyed.

"Kobayashi-kun, look."

Another doctor pointed to the armbands and some scattered guns and cap badges on the ground.

“They’re from the Anti-Japanese United Army,” someone nearby said.

"The test results are consistent with the characteristics of toxin-induced disease, which is highly contagious and prone to outbreaks in large numbers."

"Our plan was a success."

"After leaving Shandong," said Dr. Lin.

"Let's seal off the cave first to prevent the infection from spreading to the hunters and the soldiers searching the mountain. We'll take further action after Chief of Staff Shibuya consults with the General Staff," Tanaka said.

Back in the main hall.

Tanaka hurried into the office: "Chief of Staff Shibuya, we found a group of soldiers infected with the virus in Guanyin Cave. They all have gunshot wounds on their foreheads."

"It's probably because the virus spread too quickly, making life unbearable, that it was physically eliminated."

"At the same time, through our reconnaissance, we can confirm that the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces have abandoned their original camp and are currently missing."

"During the pursuit, we also discovered two infected bodies."

"They may have been abandoned during a forced march."

"Facts have proven that in the face of the Japanese Empire's bacteriological warfare, their so-called collective honor and unity were utterly vulnerable."

Tanaka's face was filled with immense confidence and pride.

"Have the bodies been disposed of?" Shibuya Saburo stroked his mustache and asked calmly.

“No, Kobayashi said the matter is urgent and he needs to consult with Shiro Ishii before proceeding with further action,” Tanaka said.

That's right.

"Any matter involving the Dongxiang Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Department shall be reported and left to them to make the final decision."

"In addition, you should write a report immediately, detailing the search, and submit it to the General Staff."

Shibuya Saburo said.

“The problem now is that Hong Zhiyou, Lu Ming, Liu Kui, and Ren Changchun are all insiders. We’ll either have to reward them internally or silence them…” Tanaka said.

"What do you mean?" Shibuya Saburo asked with a light smile.

"I'm inclined to silence them. If this gets out, it will greatly damage the reputation of our Great Japanese Empire," Tanaka said coldly.

"But have you considered that Hong Zhiyou is Gao Bin's nephew, and the people involved in this mission are the main elites of the Special Service Section?"

“If we eliminate them, the Special Service Section will be rendered useless.”

"No one will be willing to do the dirty work for us anymore."

"Shibuya Saburo said calmly."

“The Special Operations Division can be reorganized; there are plenty of police academy graduates now. But once the Empire’s reputation is damaged, it will be difficult to make up for it,” Tanaka said.

"I see.

"Let's bring them to the hall first."

"Let's hear what the General Staff has to say."

“These people are for them to handle.”

Shibuya Saburo also favored eliminating Hong Zhiyou and others, but he couldn't bring it up himself. Tanaka, with the youthful spirit of a young man, was passionate and unafraid of authority, so he was the one to bring it up.

"Listen to them?"
"Chief of Staff Isogai has always been hesitant and timid in his work..." Tanaka complained.

Shibuya Saburo glared at him coldly:
“You’re getting bolder and bolder. Remember, never criticize your superiors; that’s extremely foolish.”

"Yes, sir," Tanaka replied, bowing his head.

"First, bring them to the headquarters—no, first, invite them to my residence. I will request a regular meeting to discuss and decide their fate."

"Keep it discreet, don't make a big fuss, invite them under the pretext of attending a regular meeting."

"Shibuya Saburo said in a deep voice."

"Yes!" Tanaka accepted the order.

……

The next day.

Hong Zhi arrived at the police station looking very energetic.

Some things are tough jobs at times.

Sometimes, it can bring joy and relaxation.

As soon as he arrived at the office, Murakami walked in with a squad of military police.

"Chief Hong, Officer Ren, please come with me," said the village captain.

"What's going on?" Hong Zhi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know either. Chief of Police Shibuya sent me to invite you to a meeting at the police headquarters. We're friends, but my authority is limited, so please understand." Murakami bowed and apologized to him with a hint of helplessness.

"All right.

"Changchun, let's go," Hong Zhiyou called out.

Upon reaching the entrance, Lu Ming and Liu Kui were also led out by the military police.

"Captain Murakami, where are you taking them? Why didn't you even tell us?" Gao Bin asked, standing on the steps of the hall.

"Section Chief Gao, Chief Shibuya has ordered them to attend the meeting," Murakami explained.

"That's it.

"Zhiyou, go ahead. Uncle will take care of it." Gao Bin's eyes sharpened, and he waved his hand.

"Understood, Uncle."

Hong Zhi nodded and got into the car.

……

The car drove into Saburo Shibuya's residence.

The four were placed in a small courtyard, guarded by military police at the entrance.

Inside, a clerk in a suit greeted them, saying, "Gentlemen, Chief Shibuya is in a meeting. Please wait a moment."

There is tea inside.

He led them to the small living room, bowed slightly, and then stepped back.

"Oh no, this doesn't look like they're here to attend a conference, but rather like they're being detained and awaiting trial?" Lu Ming asked nervously.

"It's not just that it doesn't look like it, I think it is."

"I knew it, getting into this kind of job was bound to end badly sooner or later."

"Even if there were a pie in the sky, it wouldn't fall into our laps."

Liu Kui grumbled and cursed.

"Section Chief Hong, will we be secretly dealt with by the Japanese?" Ren Changchun swallowed and looked at Hong Zhiyou.

"Just leave it to fate."

Hong Zhiyou calmly sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

"Aren't you afraid that the tea is poisoned?" Lu Ming asked.

You're overthinking it.

"Shibuya Saburo wanted to kill us. He knocked on our door last night and secretly took us away to be executed."

He must be hesitating.

"He's a cautious guy."

Hong Zhiyou's eyes gleamed with wisdom.

“Zhiyou, do you think he will kill us?” Lu Ming asked.

"What are the Japanese incapable of? They can kill us, and they can kill members of the royal family, the Aisin Gioro clan, whenever they want," Liu Kui said coldly.

"Phew." Ren Changchun gasped.

"Wait, then."

……

Secret meeting room in the official residence.

Yano Otosaburo, the deputy chief of staff of the Kwantung Army, sat at the head of the table.

Shibuya Saburo, Ishii Shiro, and the head of the Special Higher Police Section, along with many other high-ranking Japanese military officers, were lined up on either side.

"Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, we would like to congratulate Chief Shibuya and Dr. Ishii on the complete success of this bacteriological experiment. This will be a historic achievement," Yano Otosaburo said with a hearty laugh.

"Serving the Empire is my duty," Shibuya Saburo said humbly.

“I know you are all very busy people. The reason I invited the deputy chief here today is to discuss something: how to deal with the Special Service officers, including Hong Zhiyou, who participated in this mission,” said Shibuya Saburo.

"Some time ago, someone escaped from Zhongma City."

"There is now international opinion, no, even among the general public, that our troops are conducting live experiments and researching biological weapons."

"This is simply a disgrace to the Great Japanese Empire."

"In my opinion, these people have absolutely no reason to stay. From now on, I hope these voices will disappear forever."

Shiro Ishii, wearing glasses, spoke with a resolute tone, subtly revealing a hint of anger.

"Dr. Ishii, there is an old Chinese saying: 'It is easier to prevent a river from overflowing than to prevent people from speaking out.'"

"You can't silence the people with airplanes and cannons."

"On the contrary, I know Gao Binjun. He is a loyal soldier of the Empire who has been dedicated to capturing red tickets and military intelligence agents. He has made outstanding contributions to the Empire's intelligence front."

"Even when Chief of Staff Hideki Tojo was alive, he praised this man highly and once regarded him as a kindred spirit."

"Now that you're eliminating his most trusted subordinates, who will be loyal to the empire after that?"

"I believe that we should not only not kill them, but also reward and encourage them."

"Only in this way can they create such great achievements time and time again."

Section Chief Yamaaki of the Special Higher Police immediately objected.

"Commander Kato, what do you think?" Shibuya asked.

“I will obey the vice-commander’s orders,” Kato said.

“Then let the vice-commander decide,” said Saburo Shibuya.

“Since this is a matter for the Togo Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Department, let’s do it as Dr. Ishii suggested.” Yano Otosaburo knew how much the Army Headquarters valued this unit.

Shiro Ishii was not a high-ranking officer, but he was highly valued in the military.

Meanwhile, the Dongxiang epidemic prevention force is about to be upgraded.

Yano Otosaburo had just taken over the position of vice commander from Ishihara Kanji. At present, most of the generals of the Kwantung Army were still under Ishihara Kanji's remote control. Since his own foundation was not stable, there was no need to offend Ishii Shiro.

“Alright, then let’s do as the doctor says and deal with them secretly,” said Saburo Shibuya.

The group was just about to get up.

Tanaka walked in: "Vice Commander, there's a phone call from the Army Headquarters. It's from Army Minister Seishiro Itagaki."

"Please wait a moment, I'll be right back."

Yano Otosaburo dared not delay and quickly got up.

……

(End of this chapter)