Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 458 Peng Hu was arrested

Rensuke Isogai shifted his gaze from the gleaming box of gold bars, picked up his teacup, but his tone remained stiff, typical of a soldier.

"Shibuya Saburo's plot to assassinate Stalin was beyond his authority."

"Now that the plan has failed, the entire empire will face enormous diplomatic pressure."

He took a sip of tea and said calmly.

"Moreover, neither the General Staff nor the Army has admitted to planning this, so we have no reason to punish a man of high standing who is loyal to the Empire."

"Unless the Soviet Union captures the four escaped assassins, obtains conclusive confessions, issues a formal diplomatic condemnation to the Reich, or makes some substantial military moves on the border."

"At that time, I may be able to take action against him under the pressure of public opinion."

"Moreover, I don't think Stalin would have made a big deal out of this."

"They are facing enormous military pressure from the Germans on the Western Front, and it would do them no good to initiate an attack on us at this time."

He put down his teacup and added a sentence, as if he were trying to persuade Hong Zhiyou, or perhaps he was trying to persuade himself.

"General, I think Stalin will definitely use this incident to test your attitude."

“If you deny it outright or give it the cold shoulder, he will think that you are not sincere and have been planning this for a long time, and he will immediately increase the military defense forces in the Far East.”

"On the contrary, if you take the initiative to deal with Shibuya Saburo, he will think that you still have the necessary fear and respect for the Soviet Union. In that case, the matter will at most remain at the level of diplomatic condemnation, and will not be carried out in any actual military action."

Hong Zhiyou's voice carried a certain confidence that understood people's hearts.

"If I were Stalin, I would definitely use this as an excuse to make a big deal out of it."

"And I believe he will do it too."

"Don't forget, he is a suspicious lion."

"In fact, whether or not those four people have been caught, and whether or not you did the thing, is no longer important."

He will hold you accountable for this.

"Moreover, I believe that given the capabilities of Soviet agents and the weakness of the Turkish government, it is only a matter of time before they capture those desperados."

He leaned forward, his gaze fixed intently on Isogai Rensuke.

"The only thing the general needs to do now is to make up his mind and plan ahead, so that he can succeed in one strike."

"For example, you'd better deal with Shibuya Saburo's stupid deputy, Tanaka, right now."

"Otherwise, once things are exposed, Shibuya Saburo will not hesitate to pin everything on him, making a brilliant sacrifice to save the king."

he continued.

Rensuke Isogai nodded, but the worry between his brows did not disappear: "Your idea is good."

"From the perspective of an imperial soldier, I should try my best to conceal and deny this matter, rather than take the initiative to admit it and put the empire in danger."

Hong Zhiyou suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with undisguised sarcasm.

Rensuke Isogai's face instantly darkened.

"Hong Sang, you are so rude!"

Hong Zhiyou suppressed his laughter, replacing it with a disdainful coldness. He slowly stood up and looked down at the other person.

"General, when Shibuya Saburo did these things, did he consider your feelings as his chief of staff?"
"Did he consider the safety of the empire?"
No, he didn't!

"He only thought about assassinating Stalin so that he could become an imperial hero and cheer for his master, Kanji Ishihara!"
"If he truly respected you and the Kwantung Army Headquarters, why didn't he come to Xinjing to report such a momentous matter to you?"

Hong Zhiyou's voice grew increasingly sharp.

"Furthermore, if I may be so bold, General, you may not be as important as you think, right?"

"The Army can replace you in a single meeting."

"The sky has fallen, and standing in front of it are His Majesty the Emperor and the Ministers of the Army and Navy."

"To put it bluntly, isn't your role just to take the blame?"
"The problem now is that what's done is done, and you simply can't stop Stalin's raging fury."

“I am very worried that the Ministry of the Army will use this as an excuse to directly dismiss you from your post and investigate you.”

"After all, Shibuya Saburo, a mere police chief, was not even an ant in Stalin's eyes."

"And you, as the Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army and the de facto ruler of Manchukuo, are barely qualified to quell his anger!"

"I even suspect that Ishihara Kanji's tacit approval of Shibuya Saburo's actions was itself a conspiracy against you!"
"Replacing you, the 'King of Manchuria,' with a major department head is a very worthwhile deal!"

“In a few days, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ishihara Kanji made a comeback and took your place.”

"What might disappoint you even more is that by then, no one in the entire Army Ministry will say a word for you, including your old superior who has always promoted you, Hideki Tojo!"

"He went to great lengths to help you get promoted, but in the past six months, you have not only accomplished nothing, but you have also been so easily outmaneuvered."

"Why would such an mediocre person, who is currently at a low point, try to help you out?"

"At that time, General, you will probably become the biggest and most foolish joke in the history of the Imperial Army!"

Hong Zhi spoke with a sharp insight.

"Baga! Shibuya Saburo!"

Rensuke Isogai slammed his hand on the table, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Hong Zhiyou's words were like a bucket of ice water, poured over him from head to toe.

He then realized that he was being completely outmaneuvered by a political enemy far away in Tokyo, and that there seemed to be no way to break through his defenses.

He stood up abruptly, his face deathly pale, and bowed deeply to Hong Zhiyou, saying solemnly:
"Teach me, sir!"

Having thoroughly studied "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," Isoya Rensuke knew that only humility might be the key to breaking through the enigma at this moment.

Hong Zhi smiled slightly, then sat down again and began to speak slowly and deliberately:
"It's not actually that difficult to break this deadlock."

"The key lies in four words: strike first and you'll have the upper hand."

"While Stalin is still hesitating and has not yet issued a formal foreign proclamation, you should immediately convene an emergency meeting within the Kwantung Army General Staff to publicly discuss this matter."

"Then, the results of the meeting were immediately reported to the Army Ministry in Tokyo, and at the same time, the Soviet Embassy was summoned to clarify the matter."

"Of course, you can't directly say that it was Shibuya Saburo who ordered it, as that would make the Emperor and the Army lose face."

"Just say that Russian assassins took advantage of Shibuya Saburo's eagerness to make a name for himself and deceived him."

"Then, the Soviet embassy was instructed to lodge a strong protest with Saburo Shibuya himself and demand that he issue a public clarification and apology in the newspapers."

"In this way, you have transformed from a pawn about to be eliminated into the player who controls the whole game."

"Hong Sang is truly a genius!"

After hearing this, Isoya Rensuke felt as if he had suddenly understood something, as if he had drunk sweet dew.

He stood up again and gave Hong Zhiyou a standard 90-degree bow.

"General, you're too kind."

Hong Zhiyou quickly returned the bow:
"You are my support. Only when you are in a stable position can I have the opportunity to build a gold mine."

"This is what they call, 'one prospers, all prosper.'"

"it is good!"

Rensuke Isogai's eyes hardened again, even taking on a hint of ruthlessness.

"I immediately arranged a meeting to discuss the assassination of Stalin and immediately met with the Soviet ambassador."

"However, if it's just about 'using' him, I'm afraid that won't be enough to put that bastard Shibuya Saburo to the ground!"

He now hates Shibuya Saburo to the core.

Hong Zhi hesitated for a moment, then a cold smile curved his lips:

"Shibuya Saburo will definitely make his deputy Tanaka take the blame."

"You just need to go with the flow, dismiss him, and order him to return to Japan."

"Then, find another opportunity to send someone to escort him on the way."

At this point, Hong Zhi made a gesture as if he were cutting his own throat.

"Will this... work?" Isogai Rensuke hesitated.

"can."

Hong Zhiyou's answer was resolute.

"Because at this time, everyone wanted Shibuya Saburo dead, including his master in Tokyo, Ishihara Kanji."

"For a loser who has lost all value, death is the perfect ending."

"This way, it's a tacit explanation to Stalin's side as well."

"After all, he doesn't really want to start a war with you right now."

Hongzhi has the Way.

Isogai Rensuke nodded in deep agreement, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Hong Zhiyou.

"Sometimes, I have to admire the wisdom of you Chinese people."

"I'm so glad that you are a friend of the Empire, and a friend of mine."

Hong Zhi picked up his teacup and said with a smile, "I don't have any other skills, but I am willing to help the general solve his problems."

"As long as we can get rid of Shibuya Saburo, this stumbling block, I will provide the general with a steady stream of military supplies."

Rensuke Isogai also picked up his teacup, a long-lost smile appearing on his face, and lightly clinked teacups with Hong Zhiyou, using tea instead of wine.

“From today onwards, Mr. Hong will be my personal advisor, Rensuke Isogai.”

"My office, my residence, the phone is always connected to you, the door is always open for you."

"Thank you for your kind words, General."

Hong Zhi expressed his gratitude, then changed the subject:
"However, in order to lull Shibuya Saburo and his men into a false sense of security, we would like the general to put on a show."

"Later, please kick me out properly." Isogai Rensuke was taken aback for a moment, then understood and burst into laughter.

A moment later, the door to the Japanese-style room was suddenly pulled open.

Rensuke Isogai's roar echoed throughout the entire clubhouse.

"Get out! Get out of here!"

Two guards rushed in, grabbed Hong Zhiyou by the arms on either side, and dragged him out.

Hong Zhi was being dragged along, looking disheveled, and one of his leather shoes even fell off during the tug-of-war.

As he struggled, he shouted hoarsely into the room:
"Chief of Staff! Saburo Shibuya is a traitor! He's trying to harm you! You have to believe me!"

……

Saburo Shibuya's official residence.

Lunch was simple, as always.

White rice, a dish of boiled vegetables, a small portion of Korean kimchi, and a cup of coarse tea.

As a devout follower of the Nichiren sect, he was ruthless to others and even more ruthless to himself, his desires compressed to the extreme.

He picked up his rice bowl with meticulous movements, as if performing some kind of sacred ritual.

The wooden door to the Japanese-style room was violently pulled open with a "whoosh".

Tanaka, beaming with joy and smugness, hurried in, breaking the tranquility of the room.

"Mr. Shibuya, good news!"
“That bastard Hong Zhiyou went to the General Staff Headquarters in Xinjing to complain about you, but he was kicked out by Chief of Staff Isogai Rensuke like a stray dog!”

Shibuya Saburo didn't even lift his eyelids, picked up a piece of kimchi with his chopsticks, and slowly chewed it with rice.

All of this was exactly what he expected.

"Isoya Rensuke was cautious by nature and timid as a mouse."

“Hong Zhiyou is simply trying to use Vasilyev’s assassination attempt on Stalin to put me in a difficult position.”

He swallowed his food and drank a sip of coarse tea:
"Unfortunately, he overestimated Isogai Rensuke's courage and underestimated the seriousness of the matter."

Tanaka bowed deeply, his face full of admiration and agreement:

“Hong Zhiyou is such a despicable person. He just wants to make a big fuss so that he can use someone else to kill you!”
"But he didn't expect that Isogai Rensuke had already been roasted on the stove."

"If this gets out, the first person to lose his job will be him, the chief of staff of the Kwantung Army!"

A cunning, cold smile curled at the corner of Shibuya Saburo's lips.
"Yes.

"So even if Hong Zhi reported it, even if Stalin himself came to Harbin, Isogai Rensuke would deny it to the death and do everything in his power to cover it up for me."

"Sir, your calculations are truly flawless!" Tanaka bowed again, his flattery resounding loudly.

Shibuya Saburo put down his rice bowl and said in a lecturing tone, "Tanaka-kun, when you have time, read more of Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind."

"Unity of knowledge and action, and the attainment of true knowledge."

"When you understand these things, you will find that there is no situation in this world that cannot be resolved."

"Hail! Your subordinate will remember your teachings!"

Tanaka flattered her verbally, but inwardly he despised her.

The philosophy of mind?

If the Chinese philosophy of mind is truly so powerful, why were they so utterly defeated and routed by the Japanese Empire?

They're just a bunch of useless idiots who only know how to talk big.

Shibuya Saburo was incredibly astute; he saw right through Tanaka's reckless mind and didn't bother to point it out.

He changed the subject, his eyes suddenly sharpening: "How's the matter I asked you to handle?"

Tanaka immediately composed himself: "I've already identified a suitable target!"
"This man is named Peng Hu, the nominal owner of Yongshengkui Teahouse, and Lao Hei's nephew."

"We discovered that he was very likely involved in the recent murder case of 'King Erganzi' in Nangang."

"Most importantly, this person's position in Yong Sheng Kui is neither high nor low, which is perfect for making trouble!"
"Killing him will make Hong Zhi feel the pinch, but it won't make him immediately turn on the wall in desperation."

“Very good.” Shibuya Saburo nodded in satisfaction.

Tanaka grinned menacingly and continued, "Tonight, I will lead my men to make my move."

"On the one hand, they sent people to sneak into Peng Hu's home and put in the prepared gold bars and a radio, to confirm his guilt of using the general ticket."

"On the other hand, I will personally lead my trusted confidants from the police department and military police to the Yong Sheng Kui Tea House to arrest people!"

"We must get Peng Hu arrested before Hong Zhiyou returns from Xinjing, and obtain a confession that will leave him no chance to overturn the verdict!"

He paused, then added, "Also, isn't Hong Zhiyou currently involved in the leather goods business? I will send people to shut down his company's Futai Leather Goods Shop as well!"
"Only by taking a multi-pronged approach can we truly cripple him and weaken his vital energy!"

"Yoshi."

Saburo Shibuya picked up his teacup and gently blew on it.

"Just do as you say."

……

Dark as ink.

Harbin, Wenxuan Street.

Several military trucks and motorcycles screeched to a halt in front of Yong Sheng Kui Tea House.

The car door opened, and Tanaka, leading a dozen plainclothes police officers and a squad of heavily armed military police, stormed in.

"boom!"

"Bang!"

In the teahouse, before the gamblers and staff could react, this group of people rushed into the sheepfold like hungry wolves, overturning tables and kicking chairs in sight.

In an instant, sawdust flew everywhere, cups and plates shattered, and screams and cries filled the air.

"What are you doing!"

Just as one of Peng Hu's men was about to step forward to question him, Tanaka grabbed him by the collar.

The dark muzzle of a gun was pressed firmly against his forehead.

The icy touch made the waiter stiffen and instantly fall silent.

Tanaka looked around and demanded sharply in Japanese, "Who is Peng Hu?"

Peng Hu pushed through the crowd and walked out without fear.

He looked Tanaka up and down, his voice steady: "That's me."

"Who are you people? Do you know whose territory this is?"

Tanaka didn't bother to answer at all, curling his lip and coldly waving his hand:
"take away!"

Two military policemen immediately stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, to grab Peng Hu's arms.

"Fuck your mother!" Peng Huye was used to it and didn't recognize anyone except his uncle and Little Hongye. He was about to lose his temper and start a fight.

"Stop! Tiger, don't be impulsive."

An old but powerful voice came from the stairs.

Old Hei, dressed in a long gown and carrying his old pipe, strode down from the second-floor office with a gloomy expression.

He first bowed to Tanaka, forced a smile, and said kindly, "Sir, let's talk this out."

"I'm in charge here. I'm friends with Chief Hong from the Police Department and Chief Gao from the Special Affairs Section."

Tanaka, instead of being angry, laughed, his laughter extremely arrogant.

"friend?
"The men I'm arresting today are Hong Zhiyou's men!"

He pulled out an arrest warrant stamped with the official seal of the Binjiang Provincial Police Department from his pocket and waved it in front of Lao Hei.

"Look carefully!"
"Peng Hu is suspected of using illegal tickets and is a suspect in the red ticket scandal!"

"what?"

Old Hei was terrified.

"This...this is impossible! Sir, there must be some misunderstanding!"

"Snapped!"

A loud slap landed hard on Lao Hei's face.

Old Hei was knocked so hard he staggered, half his face instantly swelled up, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Tanaka withdrew his hand, his eyes arrogant, his tone full of mockery: "Misunderstanding?"
"Go back and tell Hong Zhiyou to come to the Binjiang Police Headquarters in person to pick up the person!"

After saying that, he ignored everyone and waved his hand dismissively.

"take away!"

Several military police officers roughly dragged Peng Hu out and shoved him into a truck.

The group arrived quickly and left just as fast, leaving behind a mess and a room full of people still in shock.

Old Hei covered his burning face, looking at the teahouse that had been smashed to pieces, his eyes filled with anger and worry.

He knew that Hong Zhiyou and Shibuya Saburo were mortal enemies.

Since the other party is arresting people on charges of issuing red tickets, given Shibuya Saburo's cunning and composure, he must have already prepared a backup plan.

Moreover, even if Master Hong takes the train back from Xinjing, it will be a day later.

At that time, it was questionable whether Tiger could even be saved.

……

(End of this chapter)