Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 463 Retracting Confession on the Spot
The dim lighting in the security bureau's corridor cast long, thin shadows.

As soon as Zhou Yi stepped out of the interrogation room, Chen Jingyu's voice came from behind him.

"Captain Zhou, let me see you off."

Chen Jingyu quickly caught up and walked alongside him, his leather shoes making a crisp sound on the floor.

He glanced at Zhou Yi and said, "I don't quite understand Section Chief Hong's move."

"At this rate, we'll probably only see the sun rise tomorrow morning."

Zhou Yi remained calm, his steps unwavering: "Then you'll have to ask him."

"To be honest, I don't know him well."

He was telling the truth; even Gao Bin probably didn't know what cards Hong Zhiyou held or what his true identity was.

Chen Jingyu smiled meaningfully:
"Captain Zhou and Section Chief Hong are like brothers, which is no secret in Harbin."

"Don't mind me, I didn't mean anything by it. I just didn't want to see Section Chief Hong fall into trouble and let some clowns take advantage of him."

Zhou Yi stopped and turned to look at him: "I thank you on behalf of Zhiyou for what happened today."

"We'll talk about tomorrow's affairs tomorrow."

He raised his hand to indicate to Chen Jingyu that he didn't need to see him off anymore.

Chen Jingyu sensed an unusual certainty on Zhou Yi's calm face.

His curiosity was rekindled, but seeing that the other party was unwilling to talk more, he wisely refrained from asking further questions.

……

Investigation Department Office.

When Zhang Chunyuan pushed the door open, Zhang Feng was pacing anxiously.

Upon seeing his father return, Zhang Feng immediately went to greet him, his face full of confusion. "Dad, why are you back? Did you finish the interrogation so quickly?"

"Don't even mention it." Zhang Chunyuan plopped down in a chair, tugged at his tie in frustration, "This time we've really met a master."

"That kid, he admitted to everything all at once!"
"With Zhou Yi and Chen Jingyu watching over him, there's no way to torture him."

The expectation on Zhang Feng's face instantly vanished, replaced by extreme disappointment and resentment.

He was still waiting to hear about Hong Zhi's miserable state of being beaten until he cried for his parents.

He even secretly bribed the interrogator, Lao Hu, telling him to ignore everything else and target the vital points, preferably crippling Hong Zhiyou's manhood to vent his anger.

The results of it?
Damn it, all that money was wasted, not even a hair was shaved off!
"And what about Tanaka's assistant? He just watched without saying a word?" Zhang Feng asked, unwilling to give up.

“Him?” Zhang Chunyuan sneered, his face full of disdain. “Just a good-for-nothing who’s good for nothing and good for making things worse!”

"Besides shouting 'Baka' a couple of times, what else can he do?"
"A stupid pig that only stirs up trouble!"

After finishing his tirade, Zhang Chunyuan frowned, sensing something amiss.

“What I’m worried about now is that Hong Zhiyou will overturn the verdict on the spot tomorrow, saying that we tortured him into confessing and used intimidation to force him to plead guilty,” he said in a deep voice.

Zhang Feng was taken aback, then waved his hand dismissively: "That can't be, right? Dad, you're overthinking it."

"Chief Shibuya will be presiding over the trial tomorrow!"

"The evidence is now irrefutable."

“Once this case is in his hands, the verdict will be handed down in just a few minutes. He won’t give Hong Zhi a chance to plead guilty.”

Zhang Chunyuan rubbed his temples.

This is the truth.

But the ominous premonition in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

I always felt that Hong Zhiyou wasn't the kind of person who would easily die.

That composure, that calmness, cannot be faked.

This kid won't die?

The thought suddenly popped into his mind, causing him to feel a pang of anxiety.

Seeing his father's worried expression, Zhang Feng's eyes darted around, and he lowered his voice, making a throat-slitting gesture:
"Dad, how about... we go all the way and I take some men tonight to take him down!"

"Just say he committed suicide out of guilt, and that'll end it all!"

"Idiot!" Zhang Chunyuan glared at his son with exasperation.

"What you can think of, others can't?"
"Gao Bin has already been taken in, and he's sleeping in the same room with Hong Zhi tonight! You think you can kill them both?"
"Don't forget, Gao Bin is not only the head of the Special Affairs Section, but also a nominal second-level inspector of our Security Bureau."

"Touch him? Do you want our whole family to be buried with Hong Zhiyou?"

Zhang Chunyuan knew the terror of Gao Bin's former reputation as a "butcher," and immediately told his son to give up this foolish idea.

Zhang Feng shrank back as he was scolded, his heart filled with resentment and anger, which could only turn into a helpless sigh in the end.

……

Shibuya Official Residence.

The room was dimly lit.

Tanaka stood bowing before Shibuya Saburo, giving a detailed report on the interrogation.

Of course, he cleverly omitted the part about being tricked by Hong Zhiyou and saying, "You have to confess whether you want to or not."

On his way back, he kept thinking about it and felt something was wrong, breaking out in a cold sweat.

That cassette tape was a ticking time bomb!

He even considered turning back to the security bureau and destroying that damn tape.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yi, that bastard, acted too quickly, immediately saying he wanted to make a copy and a backup. Chen Jingyu, that old fox, also chimed in from the side, so he didn't have a chance to make a move.

Shibuya Saburo listened quietly without saying a word, simply wiping his beloved samurai sword with a white cloth.

He couldn't quite understand Hong Zhiyou's tactics.

It's so abnormal.

"Sir, no matter what tricks he's playing, we have witnesses and physical evidence, and he's signed and fingerprinted his confession."

Tanaka saw Shibuya Saburo remain silent, then quickly added, "Tomorrow morning, we'll take him to the Police Headquarters, go through a simple procedure, and execute him on the spot under the strict wartime disciplinary regulations!"

Shibuya Saburo paused for a moment while wiping the blade.

"Go and confirm the testimonies of those two witnesses, Peng Hu and Jia Chong, with them again," he cautiously instructed. "Make sure there are no mistakes. Tomorrow in court, they must insist that Hong Zhiyou is the one to confess."

"Please rest assured, sir!" Tanaka suddenly bowed his head.

Hong Zhi's unconventional and illogical approach intensified Shibuya Saburo's unease.

He absolutely would not allow this duck, which was already in his mouth, to fly away.

Where exactly are the vulnerabilities?

Could it be that Rensuke Isogai's side is going to turn against them?

Or is it that old man Gao Bin can get Commander Kato, whom he knows well, to help him?

But they were all in Xinjing...

Xinjing?

Shibuya Saburo's movements suddenly froze, as if he had realized something.

He quickly got up, walked to the phone, picked up the receiver, and dialed directly to the Kwantung Army General Staff Headquarters, to the office of Isogai Rensuke.

The call was connected quickly.

"Chief of Staff Isogai, this is Shibuya."

“Hong Zhiyou’s case has been resolved; he has confessed to everything.”

"Hai, I understand. Sorry to disturb your rest."

After hanging up the phone, Saburo Shibuya's brows relaxed a little.

Rensuke Isogai was still in Xinjing, and his attitude on the phone was still one of tacit approval, ignoring everything.

It seems I was just overthinking things.

He thought for a moment, then picked up the phone again and dialed the Kwantung Army Headquarters to find Commander Kato.

The message from the other end of the phone was that Commander Kato had caught a cold and was currently hospitalized and recuperating at the Xinjing Army Hospital.

Shibuya Saburo was still worried, so he personally called the Xinjing Army Hospital and received an affirmative reply from the hospital.

As for Deputy Chief Yano Otosaburo of the Military Police Headquarters, he went to the Chahar region for inspection a few days ago, and now no one knows where he is wandering on some grassland.

In other words, none of the people who can check and balance him in Manchukuo are currently in Harbin.

Saburo Shibuya let out a long breath.

It seems I was overthinking things.

……

The next day, at seven o'clock in the morning.

As dawn broke, Tanaka, accompanied by a squad of menacing military police, waited early downstairs at the Security Bureau to meet with Zhang Junyuan, who was also looking on with anticipation.

The two looked at each other and saw eagerness in each other's eyes.

They entered the reception room one after the other.

Inside the room, Gao Bin and Hong Zhiyou were already dressed.

Both men were dressed in sharp suits, their hair was slicked back and shiny, and their shoes were polished so bright they reflected a person's image.

Hong Zhiyou, in particular, was in high spirits and radiant, a stark contrast to the tired-looking, bloodshot-eyed "prisoner" he was yesterday.

Hong Zhi saw Tanaka and took the initiative to ask, "Is Chief of Staff Shibuya still here?"

Tanaka was somewhat surprised by his abrupt question, but he still maintained the arrogance of a victor: "The Chief of Police is naturally waiting for you at the police headquarters."

"Oh, it's still there." Hong Zhiyou nodded with a cold smile.

"Let's go."

A group of people came downstairs.

Zhou Yi used a metal detector to thoroughly inspect the car that was transporting Hong Zhiyou, inside and out.

He waved his hand only after confirming that there were no problems.

Liu Kui and Ren Changchun immediately led a team of police officers, riding sidecar motorcycles, to the left and right of the car, in case anyone attempted to assassinate Hong Zhi on the way.

Hong Zhiyou sat calmly in the back seat of the car, raising his wrist to glance at his watch. 7:40.

The morning paper won't be delivered for another twenty minutes.

Zhang Chunyuan, who was in charge of guarding him, sat next to him and, seeing his calm and fearless demeanor, couldn't help but sneer:
"Is Section Chief Hong calculating the time?"

"What, so eager to be on the news?"

Hong Zhi smiled and said, "Yes, how many times in a lifetime can one have the opportunity to be in the news?"

Zhang Chunyuan sneered: "That depends on what kind of news it is."

"I think it's better not to publish news about petty theft or other shameful acts."

“Section Chief Zhang is a sensible man.” Hong Zhi nodded in agreement.

Indeed, some news is better left unreported.

"But some self-righteous idiots insist on rushing in, and you can't stop them."

"And once it's up, it's a big one."

Zhang Chunyuan was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding the meaning behind his words, and simply assumed that he was just being stubborn in the end.

"Oh? Well, I'm actually quite interested in today's news."

"However, I hope that Section Chief Hong will still have the chance to hear and see this," he sneered.

Hong Zhiyou turned his head, looked at him, and smiled brightly.

"Thank you for your kind words, it will definitely happen."

……

Conference room of the Binjiang Provincial Police Department.

The atmosphere was somber, the air so heavy it felt like you could wring water out of it.

Saburo Shibuya, dressed in a high-ranking police uniform, sat at the head of the table, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, producing a dull sound.

Hong Zhiyou's file was spread out in front of him. He examined each page with utmost care to ensure that nothing went wrong.

On the jury bench, Bai Qiming, the director of the Harbin Police Department, and Miao Futian, the director of the Security Bureau, sat upright, their expressions different, but both remained silent.

Shibuya Saburo turned his head and asked Tanaka behind him in a low voice, "How's the situation with Murakami?"

Tanaka bowed and whispered, "Don't worry, sir. With our men keeping a close watch on him the whole time, he won't be able to cause any trouble."

"Ah."

Shibuya Saburo nodded in satisfaction, raised his chin, and indicated that they could begin.

"Bring it in."

The heavy iron gate was pushed open, and Hong Zhiyou walked in under the "escort" of two police officers.

Gao Bin, Zhou Yi, and Chen Jingyu took their seats in the audience.

The moment Shibuya Saburo saw Hong Zhiyou, his eyelids twitched involuntarily.

Today's Hong Zhiyou is completely different from the exhausted prisoner he was yesterday.

He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he looked more like he was attending a high-class banquet than a criminal being interrogated.

This composure intensified the lingering unease in Shibuya Saburo's heart.

The interrogation officially began.

Shibuya Saburo picked up the file and read it aloud in a loud voice: "Hong Zhiyou, the head of the Economic Division of the Police Department, has been found to be a senior leader of an underground organization in Harbin, codenamed 'God of Wealth'."

"These are witness testimonies and your own signed statement."

He slammed the document heavily on the table.

"The evidence is conclusive and irrefutable!"

Shibuya Saburo stood up, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, staring intently at Hong Zhiyou.

"According to the strict wartime disciplinary regulations of Manchukuo, I have the right to punish you directly without reporting it."

"Now, I, the director, ask you, do you have any objections?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were on Hong Zhiyou.

Hong Zhi smiled faintly:
"Chief Shibuya, I have no objection to the power you hold or to the disciplinary regulations of Manchukuo."

His voice was clear and steady.

"but……"

He changed the subject.

“I refuse to acknowledge any of the charges against me.”

"Given the personal grudges between me and Chief of Staff Shibuya, in order to ensure the impartiality of the trial, I request that a higher-ranking and more impartial judge be involved in this case."

Shibuya Saburo felt as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"A higher level? That would only be Wei Huanzhang, a high-ranking official in Binjiang Province."

"It's a pity, he went to a meeting in Xinjing, so your wish is probably unlikely to be fulfilled."

"I now officially announce!"

"The criminal suspect Hong Zhiyou shall be executed immediately by firing squad, in accordance with the severe wartime punishment!"

Tanaka's facial muscles twitched with excitement.

Zhang Chunyuan and his son were so excited that they trembled all over, as if they could already see Hong Zhiyou's brains splattering.

At this critical moment.

A cold and authoritative voice came from behind.

"Who said there isn't one?"

The interrogation room door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

Yano Otosaburo, dressed in a crisp general's uniform, walked in with Commander Kato, his gaze sharp.

Behind them was none other than the Murakami Captain, who was supposed to be secretly imprisoned!

The imposing expression on Shibuya Saburo's face froze instantly, and his pupils contracted sharply in extreme shock.

This...how is this possible!

Didn't Yano Otosaburo go to the Chahar region for research?
Isn't Commander Kato recuperating at the Xinjing Army Hospital?
How did they suddenly appear here?!

He even brought Murakami along!

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Gao Bin's face. Zhiyou had indeed planned this all along.

Zhou Yi and Chen Jingyu exchanged a glance, both seeing barely suppressed elation in each other's eyes.

Finished!

Zhang Chunyuan and his son looked at each other, both with expressions of disbelief.

"Deputy Commander Yano! Lord Kato!"

Shibuya Saburo quickly composed himself, forced a stiff smile, and stepped forward to bow respectfully.

Miao Futian and Bai Qiming also hurriedly got up and gave up their seats in a flurry.

"Why did you two suddenly come to Harbin?" Shibuya Saburo asked, trying to remain calm.

Yano Otosaburo gave him a cold glance, did not answer, and walked straight to the presiding judge's seat.

Commander Kato coughed twice and said calmly, "We have come to Harbin to handle a very urgent case on the orders of Chief of Staff Isogai."

"I just heard that Chief of Staff Shibuya was handling a case, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect it to be so lively."

Rensuke Isogai!

Shibuya Saburo's heart sank.

He knew that the worst had happened.

Although we can't figure out what they're up to yet, their sudden appearance here is definitely not a good thing.

His face remained calm as he bowed and said, "You two have worked hard."

"Since we've come this far, let's listen to it together."

He tried to take the initiative, pointing at Hong Zhiyou, and said quickly, "Perfect timing, this case has already been concluded."

"The suspect, Hong Zhiyou, is suspected of using a pass. There is both witness testimony and physical evidence, and he has already signed and affixed his fingerprint to the document."

"In accordance with the strict wartime disciplinary regulations, I have already given the order for immediate execution!"

"Oh? The evidence is conclusive?"

Yano Otosaburo slowly took out his glasses from his pocket and put them on. He picked up the file on the table, glanced at it twice, and then threw it back on the table.

His sharp gaze passed over Shibuya Saburo and stared directly at Hong Zhiyou:
"Section Chief Hong, are you a red ticket?"

The focus of the entire event returned once again to Hong Zhiyou.

Hong Zhiyou straightened his back, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on Yano Otosaburo and Commander Kato, and said loudly:

"Sir, of course I am not!"
"My uncle, Gao Bin, is the head of the Special Affairs Section of the Manchukuo Police Department. He has made outstanding contributions to the empire's intelligence work over the years."

"All of you colleagues here can attest to this!"

"I am an outstanding student of the Imperial Army Officer Academy, a student of Mr. Ichiro Sakanishi, and I have been fortunate enough to be appreciated by His Highness the Prince and His Excellency the Chief of the Guard!"

His voice grew louder and louder, filled with powerful penetrating force.

"To say that I am a red vote is not only an insult to me personally, but also an insult to the Empire, and an insult to His Highness the Prince and Mr. Sakanishi Ichiro's judgment!"

"I, Hong Zhiyou, for the sake of the Empire's cause and to cooperate with Chief of Staff Shibuya's plan, did not hesitate to risk my life and personally went up the mountain to deal with the Anti-Japanese Alliance."

"In the end, Chief of Police Shibuya repeatedly tried to kill me and my colleagues who had risked their lives for him because of a so-called 'secrecy regulation'!"

He pointed sharply at the files on the table, his eyes blazing with fury.

"These so-called conclusive pieces of evidence are precisely the sinister things that Shibuya Saburo carefully concocted to cover up his unspeakable secrets and to kill him to silence him!"

"I, Hong Zhiyou, deny all of the above charges!"

……

(End of this chapter)