Spy game? Stop guessing, I really am an undercover agent!

Chapter 224 Shadow's Open Scheme

"What is this?" Chen Yang took the document, looked at it, and then paused, momentarily stunned.

The words "Donghe" were prominently displayed at the top of the document.

Towa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ...

This pharmaceutical company was founded in 1843 and has been around for nearly a century.

This pharmaceutical company may not be well-known in China, but its backers are certainly well-known.

That is the Yasuda Zaibatsu, one of the four major zaibatsu in Japan.

The founder of the Yasuda Zaibatsu was Zenjiro Yasuda, and this Zaibatsu was the first in Japan to be based on finance.

It has 210 banks throughout Japan.

Of course, that was in the past. Things are different now. After Yasuda Zenjiro was assassinated in 1921, the Yasuda zaibatsu hired Yuki Toyotaro as a director.

Their focus has also shifted from finance to venture capital, after Donghe Pharmaceutical Company was on the verge of bankruptcy a few years ago.

It was Yukito Toyotaro who injected funds and introduced Towa director Matsuura Tomohiro to Japanese biology PhD Koyama Hirojiro.

Hirojiro Koyama served as an advisor to Towa's R&D department.

Koyama Hirojiro's greatest asset was not his academic achievements, but his students.

Colonel Shiro Ishii, commander of the Kwantung Army's Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Unit.

That is, the infamous commander of Unit 731.

Donghe Pharmaceutical developed targeted drugs using various human data provided by Shiro Ishii.

But what they researched most was not medicine.

Instead, bacteria
Shingo Suzuhara put down his teacup, his smile unchanged.

“Mr. Chen,” he said gently, but his tone carried an undeniable weight, “the world economy is turbulent and unpredictable, and the pharmaceutical industry is a matter of life and death for countless people.”

"I've heard that 'Huafu Fund' possesses a key technology that could change the course of war and the humanitarian situation—the patent rights to penicillin?"

When Chen Yang saw the name Dong He, he already guessed why Ling Yuan was looking for him.

His expression was calm as he picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip: "The minister is very well-informed."

"Huafu Fund has indeed been deeply involved in the portfolio investment management of Her Highness Princess Elsa's related pharmaceutical patents."

"Princess Elsa has a very high assessment of the long-term value of this project."

“I agree with Princess Elsa’s opinion,” Shingo Suzuhara leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: “Chen, let’s be business. The problem we need to solve now is whether Donghe can obtain the license for this patent.”

"Being in the Land Transport Division, you must know better than me the Empire's need for medicine on the East Asian battlefield, and how shocking the number of soldiers and civilians suffering from infection or even losing their lives on the battlefield is."

"Penicillin is a lifeline."

"The document you are seeing now is a cooperation proposal drafted by Donghe Investment Department and several of its strategic partners."

"We can promise to provide extremely generous exclusive patent purchase or licensing fees, as well as exclusive sales channel resources in East Asia and even the global market."

"This will bring Her Highness Princess Elsa and the Huafu Fund unimaginable, stable and huge returns."

He gently patted the file bag, his tone full of sincerity: "This pharmaceutical company represents the pinnacle of biopharmaceutical technology in Japan, possessing massive production facilities, a first-class R&D team, and a comprehensive sales network covering the entire 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere'."

"They have the ability to deliver penicillin to those who need it most quickly and on the largest scale. This is not just a business partnership, but also a great act of charity."

“Minister Suzuhara,” Chen Yang began, his voice gentle but firm, “I appreciate the sincerity shown by you and the ‘Donghe Pharmaceutical’ that you represent.”

"Huafu Fund, including Her Highness Princess Elsa, is committed to making valuable medical resources accessible to the public."

He then changed the subject, "However, regarding the 'cooperation' you mentioned, I'm afraid that Donghe's current conditions are somewhat different from the strategic expectations of Her Highness the Princess and the foundation's board of directors."

“Oh? What does Mr. Chen mean…” Shingo Suzuhara’s eyes sharpened instantly, but he still maintained a businessman’s probing smile. “Is it about the price, or the cooperation model that needs further discussion? We are open to the greatest flexibility.”

“It’s not a matter of pricing, Minister Suzuhara.” Chen Yang shook his head slightly, looking directly into Suzuhara Shingo’s eyes with a frank yet professional distance. “Frankly speaking, Huafu Fund has extremely strict and forward-looking standards for selecting partners.”

"What Her Highness values ​​is not just current financial strength and sales channels."

"Penicillin represents the future direction of pharmaceutical development."

"The value of its patents lies in its long-term sustainable development capabilities, its potential to lead technological innovation, and most importantly, its absolute transparency and independence in operating within a global compliance framework."

"Frankly speaking, while Towa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and its associated... strategic partners possess readily available facilities and networks, their operating model, the challenges of transparency in a geopolitical context, and the potential lack of flexibility subject to specific policy orientations are all factors that need to be considered,"

"This is clearly not what the foundation needs—a level of global leadership that can truly shape the future market landscape."

He picked up the document bag, glanced at it symbolically, and gently pushed it back towards Suzuhara Shingo, his movements polite but carrying an undeniable sense of rejection: "Minister, to put it simply, I believe that the financial strength of the consortium represented by 'Towa Pharmaceutical' and the comprehensive strength and 'potential expectations' required by the Huafu Fund for a future global leading pharmaceutical company are insufficient."

"I'm sorry, but it's probably difficult to move forward with this stage of cooperation."

The air in the private room seemed to freeze instantly. The aroma of tea lingered, but it couldn't dispel the chilling tension.

For the first time, the smile on Suzuhara Shingo's face completely disappeared.

He stared at Chen Yang as if examining a strategic map, his gaze filled with assessment and a hint of offensive coldness.

He hadn't expected Chen Yang to refuse so decisively, with such a "high-minded" and unassailable reason.

In his eyes, a top Japanese pharmaceutical company was "an unqualified small company".

"Not... strong enough?" Suzuhara Shingo's voice deepened. "Chen-san, are you sure this assessment is... accurate?"

“In the ‘Asia’ region, the resources we can mobilize are far beyond your imagination.”

Chen Yang gave a professional yet slightly aloof apologetic smile: "Minister Suzuhara, I fully understand the power of the side you represent."

"But this concerns Huafu Fund's 'strategic decision' regarding its global layout."

"As Her Highness's personal advisor, my responsibility is to convey the foundation's evaluation criteria truthfully!"

"Her Highness Princess Elsa and the foundation's board of directors have always had very high and cautious requirements for their partners."

“Minister, I believe that perhaps at some point in the future, when conditions are more favorable, we will re-examine this matter.”

Shingo Suzuhara's hand, resting on his knee, twitched slightly. His usual, slightly stiff smile returned to his face.

"Hehe," he chuckled, trying to ease the tension, "Mr. Chen's vision is indeed far-sighted."

"It seems Donghe... didn't think things through. No matter, even if the business doesn't go through, friendship remains."

"My responsibility was to act as a liaison and facilitate the cooperation between Huafu Fund and Donghe. If the negotiations failed, they can't blame me."

Chen Yang smiled and said, "Minister Suzuhara is indeed a man of great principle."

“However, Mr. Chen, I want to hear the truth.” Suzuhara’s tone changed. “I need a legitimate reason, not some empty rhetoric like ‘partner’ or ‘global foresight’.”

"Mr. Chen, Donghe is backed by the Yasuda Zaibatsu; we own the empire's largest financial institution."
"Our pharmaceutical technology and capabilities are on par with any of the world's top pharmaceutical companies."

"You're just using lack of ability as an excuse; that's unlikely to convince me,"

Chen Yang frowned and sighed, "Minister, actually, the biggest problem with your plan is not Donghe."

“When I was studying at Kyushu University, I also did research on pharmaceutical companies like Toho. To be honest, they can upgrade their technology and equipment at any time, so there is no problem with that.”

"The biggest problem is still the sales network and its political stance in the empire."

Upon hearing Chen Yang's words, Suzuhara's gaze suddenly sharpened: "What does Mr. Chen mean? The relationship between the Army and the Navy?"

Chen Yang nodded without hesitation: "Minister, Huafu Fund has no intention of interfering in the power struggle between empires."

"But as His Highness's personal advisor, I must also consider this aspect when serving him."

"Donghe is backed by the Army. If we choose to cooperate with Donghe, then the medicines produced by Donghe will inevitably be given priority to supply the Army."

"Such an outcome is likely to cause dissatisfaction among the Navy regarding our decision."

"Huafu Fund's future pharmaceutical sales plans in China will largely rely on maritime transport."

"If we offend the Imperial Navy because of this, it will be extremely detrimental to our development and strategic plans in China."

"Moreover, Donghe currently only possesses strong manufacturing capabilities. As for sales, Minister, although you described it very well in the plan."

"But no one knows the Empire's sales network in China better than me."

"Donghe's plan doesn't include the Osaka Chamber of Commerce or the Mitsui zaibatsu, so their sales network is destined to be unable to reach the level you described."

"That's the crux of the problem."

Suzuhara's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly; Chen Yang's meaning had been made very clear.

Donghe's technology and equipment upgrades rely on the Mitsubishi conglomerate, the largest machinery manufacturing company in the empire.

Sales would require the networks of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and the Mitsui zaibatsu. Furthermore, they would need a neutral company that wouldn't favor either the army or navy.

As a result, almost no Japanese companies could meet their expectations.

But with such high profit margins in pharmaceuticals, is it really that easy to give up?
Suzuhara silently took a sip of tea, glancing at Chen Yang's expression out of the corner of her eye.

Although Chen Yang appeared calm, Suzuhara could vaguely sense that Chen Yang had not completely ruled out the possibility of cooperation.

Unwilling to cooperate but also unwilling to refuse, Suzuhara suddenly thought of a possibility.

"Mr. Chen, if there were a new pharmaceutical company that could meet all your requirements, would the Huafu Foundation consider cooperating with us?"

Not entirely stupid, he finally figured it out. Chen Yang feigned surprise and asked, "What does the minister mean?"

Shingo Suzuhara slowly said, "I can follow Mr. Chen's request and establish a new pharmaceutical company with Donghe as the main entity, in conjunction with the South Manchuria Railway and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce."

"The Yasuda Zaibatsu provides financial support, and Huafu Fund provides drug patents. Together, we will make the pie bigger."

What do you think of this proposal?

"Let's get going!" Chen Yang had been rambling on all night, talking about geopolitics and sales networks, but in the end, he was just waiting for Suzuhara's suggestion.

Japan now has the most developed industrial system in Asia, so how could Chen Yang easily give up the Japanese market?

However, he did not want anyone to use penicillin as political capital.

He was well aware of the terrifying profits from this drug, and if the Navy learned that the Army had priority in supplying penicillin, he, as a participant, would likely incur their displeasure.

Therefore, Suzuhara's proposal was the optimal solution he had been waiting for.

“If that’s the case, I think we can give it a try, but I don’t know if the board of directors will consider it.” Chen Yang didn’t make any grand promises, but this gave Suzuhara a lot of confidence.

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'll report your suggestion to Lord Abe and try to get their support."

Chen Yang's heart skipped a beat; now he finally knew who was behind Suzuhara.

Army General, Nobuyuki Abe..
No wonder it took the logistics director of the Shanghai-based military police headquarters to be mobilized to discuss a pharmaceutical cooperation.

I thought Donghe had some powerful background, but it turns out they also serve the Ministry of the Army.
Suzuhara put the documents into his briefcase and bowed slightly to Chen Yang. Chen Yang quickly stood up and said, "Minister Suzuhara, would you like me to arrange for Ms. Michiko to come and have a drink with you?"

Suzuhara waved her hand slightly: "No need, let's talk about it later."

After saying that, Suzuhara Shingo hurriedly left the private room with his briefcase.
Jinling, Tiger Bridge Central Prison...
A sense of despair permeated the gloomy prison area, with screams and the clanging of chains tearing through the deathly silence from time to time.

The scene is quite different in a "special cell" in the highest security zone.

Wan Tianmu sat on a wooden bed covered with clean bedding. His cotton robe was neat and even carried a faint scent of soap.

On the small wooden table in front of me were a plate of steaming white steamed buns, a plate of braised meat, a bowl of clear egg drop soup, and a cup of fragrant Longjing tea.

There were no bloodstained instruments of torture, no menacing interrogators, only two silent but sharp-eyed Japanese guards standing straight outside the door.

This place, the heart of "purgatory," has become like a temporary "sanatorium."

The door was pushed open, and Kageyama Masaki, the head of the Mei Agency, walked in with a smile that seemed gentle but was actually chilling.

"Mr. Wan, have you been resting well these past few days?" Ying Zuo pulled up the only stool and sat down, his tone as relaxed as if he were exchanging pleasantries with an old friend...

Wan Tianmu didn't even lift his eyelids, his gaze calmly sweeping over the food on the table before finally settling on the moldy spots seeping water in the corner of the wall.

From the moment he was arrested, he understood that death was a relatively easy option.

The Japanese went to such great lengths to capture him alive, not just to provide him with good food and drink.

Yingzuo didn't mind his silence and continued speaking to himself: "These past few days, the newspapers in Shanghai have been quite lively. It's about you, Mr. Wan. The Huayang Daily has published 'Military Intelligence Bureau bandit Wan Tianmu arrested' on its front page for two consecutive days, and it especially emphasizes your 'deeds' of 'resisting to the bitter end and wounding several brave soldiers of our Imperial Army'."

"Yesterday, another sensational article came along, 'revealing' that you 'endured torture' in Tiger Bridge Prison, 'remained steadfast and kept your mouth shut,' and 'shouted anti-Japanese slogans'... Tsk tsk, it's quite a moving description."

Wan Tianmu's heart sank suddenly.

Using the enemy's newspaper to promote one's own "loyalty"? This is by no means a compliment, but rather the sharpest knife plunged into his back!

"Chief Yingzuo, you've got some tricks up your sleeve." Wan Tianmu finally spoke, his voice hoarse from days of silence. "By dressing me up as a 'martyr,' are you trying to make Mr. Dai think I couldn't withstand the torture and had already revealed the secrets, or... that I've become one of your people?"

"No, no, no, Mr. Wan, you're overthinking it..." Yingzu clapped his hands and chuckled, but his gaze behind his glasses was sharp as a cone. "Mr. Wan, I never intended to do these things to you. On the contrary, your image of loyalty here, your so-called 'unyielding to the death,' will soon appear on Director Dai's desk!"

Yingzuo leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, "Although Chen Lu's assassination was a great achievement, you were captured immediately afterward, and the intelligence network is at risk of being exposed at any time."

"The arrest of the head of the Shanghai Military Intelligence Station is, in a sense, tantamount to handing the entire Shanghai station over to his enemy!"

“He will be afraid, afraid that you, Wan Tianmu, this ‘tough guy’ who has access to the core secrets of Shanghai’s urban area and is familiar with all the operational methods and all the infiltration points, will choose a smarter way of life.”

Wan Tianmu's face turned extremely ugly. "What does Section Chief Yingzuo want from me?"

Yingzu shook his head and said calmly, "What we want to get is not important. What's important is what Mr. Wan wants to say?"

Yingzu looked down at Wan Tianmu with a condescending gaze. "Mr. Wan, you have two days left. We will release you at noon two days from now."

"If you are willing to cooperate, then you will receive the best protection."

"If you insist on not telling me, that's fine too. I know you studied at the Imperial University of Law and Politics and have some understanding of the Empire."

"You are a great talent, and I hope to make good use of you."

Wan Tianmu's mind jolted; he had completely understood Yingzuo's scheme.

This was a scheme tailor-made to sow discord for Boss Dai.

Wan Tianmu and Boss Dai are sworn brothers, and also in-laws.

He knew very well Boss Dai's weaknesses: he was suspicious, mean-spirited, and rarely trusted anyone completely, not even his sworn brother.

If the people at Jinling Station saw the newspaper article about Wan Tianmu, who had suffered countless tortures, appearing unharmed in the public eye...

Boss Dai must suspect that Wan Tianmu has reached a cooperation agreement with the Japanese.

No matter how he explains it, the other party won't easily believe him. Letting him return to the mountain city to retire would be a great favor.

The most likely scenario is that family rules will be enforced.
"How about it, Mr. Wan? This deal is fair." Yingzuo smiled again, as if a butcher skinning a cat was admiring his knife skills: "You give us what we want, and I will guarantee your safety."

"Of course, if you are willing to cooperate, you will get more than you would as a station chief in the Military Intelligence Bureau."

“We have already begun preparing for a new intelligence agency, and I have specially prepared a senior advisor position for you.”

"As long as you nod your head, you can easily get gold and silver jewelry, luxury cars and beautiful women, wealth and glory."

"...I have nothing to say." Wan Tianmu opened his eyes, his gaze returning to its stagnant calm. "This plan was proposed by Xiong Jiandong, wasn't it?"

"This traitor really knows Boss Dai's weaknesses. I really underestimated him."

Yingzuo was not surprised by Wan Tianmu's choice, and even nodded with some appreciation: "Admirable. Even in a deadly situation, he still maintains the last loyalty and... persistence of a soldier? Good, very good."

He stood up and straightened his impeccably tailored military uniform. "It's alright if you won't tell me. Soon, you'll be able to leave Tiger Bridge Prison and regain your 'freedom.' Remember, the air outside is fresh, but it can also be... deadly."

In another corner of Nanjing, there was a secret outpost of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Nanjing Station.

The room was filled with smoke, and the oppressive atmosphere was almost suffocating.

The newly appointed station chief, Wu Gengshu, held a encrypted telegram sent from the mountain city, his fingers trembling slightly. The telegram's contents were concise and to the point:
"It is reported that Wan Tianmu, the station chief of Shanghai Railway Station, was arrested and recently detained in Nanjing Tiger Bridge Prison. According to reports, he refused to surrender and was subjected to torture for several days."

"Upon investigation, it was secretly verified through internal prison channels that Wan had indeed received preferential treatment recently, and there are doubts about the traces of torture. Tiger Bridge was a key Japanese military location, and such 'preferential treatment' is illogical."

"Wan's situation and loyalty are in grave doubt. He must immediately conduct a self-examination and evacuate. If necessary, all means may be employed to ascertain the truth. Secretariat, Qi Wuzi"

The telegram was sent by Mao Qiwu, deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau Secretariat. Although it did not explicitly state that it was Dai's doing, it was very clear.

The people at Jinling Station need to investigate whether Wan Tianmu betrayed the Party and the country.
The telegram was like a bucket of ice water poured over someone's head, instantly freezing the air in the room. Everyone understood its meaning: headquarters suspected that Wan Tianmu had most likely defected!
Tiger Bridge Prison is a place that is truly a den of dragons and tigers.

A Kuomintang (KMT) station chief in Shanghai not only escaped any punishment under such circumstances, but was also treated well by the Japanese.

This behavior is highly illogical, and the only reasonable explanation for the Japanese doing this is that it is a transaction.

It is highly likely that Wan Tianmu has already reached some kind of deal with the Japanese in private.

Wu Gengshu couldn't help but feel a headache as he looked at the contents of the telegram.

Wu Gengshu was a senior member of the Military Intelligence Bureau. Before coming to the Nanjing Station, he was a major general and director of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Secretariat. He also had a relationship with Wan Tianmu.

Headquarters suspected Wan Tianmu of betrayal, but subconsciously he still thought it was unlikely.

A sudden knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and a figure slipped inside.

"Station chief, a telegram has arrived from Vietnam reporting that Chen Gongshu's assassination attempt on Wang Jixin has failed. Headquarters has requested that the Jinling station send someone to Shanghai to provide backup."

(End of this chapter)