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

Chapter 239 The dripping eaves symbolize the passing of the torch; the new official doesn't settle scores with the old.

Jinjiafang, Japanese Residents' District, Shanghai
This is a Western-style building located in the Japanese-occupied area of ​​Hongkou. It is inconspicuous on the outside, but heavily guarded inside.

This is the headquarters of the South Manchuria Railway Bureau's core intelligence agency in Shanghai.

The full name of the South Manchuria Railway Company is: South Manchuria Railway Company.
This organization, known as the National Policy Society, was a colonial aggression agency established by the Japanese government in Northeast China in 1906. Its headquarters were initially located in Tokyo, but later moved to Dalian.
This organization nominally operated railways, but in reality, it was a core tool for Japan to implement its "New Policy," and was referred to by academics as an "aggressor army without uniforms" and a "Japanese version of the East India Company."
Its strength, comparable to that of a high-level intelligence agency, stems from two main factors: first, its backing comes from within the government; and second, its financial supporters are mostly from the Mitsui zaibatsu (conglomerate).

The South Manchuria Railway Bureau, ostensibly conducting economic and geographical research, was in reality one of Japan's most important intelligence-gathering and strategic planning agencies in China. Its reach extended to all sectors, and its investigations covered the entire territory of China, the Soviet Union, Southeast Asia, and other regions.
It is considered one of the "world's three major intelligence centers," along with the US Central Intelligence Agency and the Soviet KGB.

The intelligence it collected directly served Japan's decision-making regarding aggression, such as the military deployments before the September 18 Incident.

Nobuo Yasuda's car quietly stopped behind the building. He got out of the car with a gloomy expression and, guided by the staff, went straight to the office of Director Tomohiro Aoki.

"Yasuda-kun, you've come in such a hurry. It seems things aren't going well at the Southern Transport Department?" Aoki's voice was gentle, but his eyes held a sharp edge.

He got up and led Nobuo Yasuda to a sofa, gesturing for him to sit down. Then he called his secretary at the door to bring in two cups of tea.

Yasuda didn't touch his teacup. He took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration and anger: "Lord Aoki, our plan has encountered an unexpected obstacle."

“Oh?” Aoki raised an eyebrow and slowly sat down. “Is it Minister Oshima who refuses to compromise? He should know very well that without the full cooperation of the South Manchuria Railway, the Southern Transport Department simply cannot complete its mission.”

“It’s not Oshima.” Yasuda shook his head, his tone tinged with resentment. “It’s a Chinese man, the head of the land transport section, Chen Yang.”

“Chen Yang?” Aoki quickly searched his mind for the name. “I’ve heard of him. He’s an official who knows how to scheme.”

"The locals have a very good impression of him. What happened to him?"

"It was him who ruined our chance to take advantage of this material crisis and make us miss the opportunity to seize control of the transportation in the south!" Yasuda gritted his teeth and recounted everything that happened at the meeting, especially how Chen Yang proposed "tapping the potential within the south," how he listed the detailed sources, and how he finally persuaded Oshima.

“…Now, Oshima has authorized him to take full responsibility for procuring supplies. If he can accomplish this within five days, it will not only solve the urgent problem of heading north, but also greatly enhance his prestige within the Southern Expeditionary Army. It will be even more difficult for us at the South Manchuria Railway to intervene!” Yasuda’s tone was full of resentment.

If Chen Yang and Oshima were here at this moment, they would suddenly realize the truth.

This Nobuo Yasuda is definitely up to no good.

His purpose was not merely to assist the Southern Transportation Department in its northward transport missions.

Instead, they intended to use the material crisis to put pressure on the Ministry of Transport. If the transport mission could not be completed, then the South Manchuria Railway Company would take over the entire transportation plan for China.

This was Chen Yang's guess: the crabs were all cooked and the meat had been peeled, and the Manchurian Iron Company was thinking of coming to eat them.

It's a pity, he's from Shanghai, and his surname is Chen.

There's nothing here that Chen Yang can't solve.
Aoki Yuki listened quietly, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the sofa. The scholarly gentleness on his face gradually faded, replaced by a cold calculation.

"Chen Yang...it seems we all underestimated this person."

Aoki slowly began, “He is not only familiar with the supply network in the south, but also knows how to seize opportunities at critical moments and demonstrate his value.”

“If such people cannot be used by us, we must get rid of them as soon as possible, otherwise they will become a major threat.”

A hint of displeasure flashed across Nobuo Yasuda's face: "Director Aoki, you want to bribe him?"

“I don’t think this is appropriate. He’s our biggest obstacle right now. Even if he can be used by us, if he resolves this matter, the higher-ups in the Army will still have high hopes for the Southern Transportation Department.”

"Our plan to have complete control of the route became nothing but empty talk."

"Moreover, he is the main person in charge of the material procurement plan. If something goes wrong or the response is inadequate, the military will hold him accountable, which will also affect his future."

"What price are you willing to pay to make him give up his future or even his life?"

Aoki frowned.
"Lord Aoki," Yasuda emphasized, "now that things have come to this, we have no other choice. In short, we absolutely cannot stand by and watch him succeed and consolidate his position."

“Of course.” Aoki Tomohiro revealed a sinister smile. “Since he has made a pledge, this is our opportunity. Five days may seem tight, but there is still a lot of room for maneuver.”

He stood up, walked to the huge map of East China hanging on the wall, and asked sharply, "Yasuda-kun, what do you think would happen if Chen Yang encountered some... 'accidents' during the process of procuring supplies?"

"An accident?" Yasuda's eyes sharpened.

“For example,” Aoki’s finger traced across the map, “the gasoline he transported from Wuhu suffered heavy losses en route due to a ‘guerrilla attack’…”

"The supplies he purchased from Mitsui could not be delivered on time due to 'procedural issues' or 'sudden price increases'; even his channels for purchasing medicines on the black market were suddenly 'accidentally' shut down by the Special Higher Police or our people..."

Yasuda immediately understood Aoki's meaning: "To thwart his plans at every turn, preventing them from being completed on time!"

"In that case, the pledge he made will become his death warrant! Even Minister Oshima can't save him!"

“That’s right.” Aoki Tomochiro nodded, his tone turning cold. “At that time, Oshima Kenjiro will have no choice but to turn around and humbly beg us, the South Manchuria Railway Company, to step in and resolve the issue.”

"And the Imperial Army's high command will clearly see that the Southern Expeditionary Army is unable to move an inch without our South Manchuria Railway Company! Control over the entire China transport line will naturally fall into our hands."

“However,” Yasuda hesitated at this point, “wouldn’t doing this affect the supply of materials for the northward march? After all, what about the Kwantung Army…”

Clearly, he wanted to deal with Chen Yang, but he didn't want the supplies to malfunction.
Aoki Tomochiro interrupted him, his tone carrying a hint of cold decisiveness: "Yasuda-kun, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles."

"Temporary setbacks are for the purpose of gaining long-term, absolute control."

"Moreover, as soon as Chen Yang falls, our South Manchuria Railway can immediately utilize our network and resources to replenish supplies more efficiently. At that time, the credit will still be ours, and the predicament will only prove the incompetence of Chen Yang and the Southern Transportation Department."

He walked back to Yasuda's side and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't worry, I'll arrange for people to handle it cleanly and efficiently, leaving no evidence."

"What you need to do is closely monitor Chen Yang's movements within the Southern Transportation Department, and create some internal obstacles for him when appropriate, such as stalling the approval process or spreading some rumors that are detrimental to him... Use both methods to put him in a difficult situation both inside and outside!"

"I'll show him what happens to those who obstruct our South Manchuria Railway project!"

A hint of excitement flashed in Yasuda's eyes: "Understood, I'll go back now."

“Wait a minute,” Aoki suddenly said, “Before that, Yasuda-kun, I need to ask you for a favor.”

"Chen Yang is not just a transportation officer; he also has the 76th Division and the Mei Agency as his backers."

"Therefore, we also need to find other help."

Yasuda paused slightly, then asked, "What does Aoki-kun mean?"

Aoki said slowly, "Go find Minamida of Special Division One, and I'll contact Chief Nakamura of the South Branch."

"I refuse to believe that we can't take him down if we join forces."

In a high-end apartment building in the Japanese resident district of Shanghai.
This is Yoko Minamida's residence.

In stark contrast to her cold and ruthless demeanor in the Special Higher Police interrogation room, this apartment was decorated with extreme luxury and elegance.
Soft lighting, an expensive gramophone playing the Japanese folk song "Kitaguni no Haru" (Northern Country Spring), and the air filled with the scent of fine perfumes.

Yoko Nanada, dressed in a silk bathrobe, leaned lazily against the sofa, holding a glass of red wine in her hand, gazing dreamily at the twinkling lights of Shanghai outside the window.

Since being reprimanded by Tu Feiyuan last time, Nantian has kept a much lower profile.

After repatriating Suzuki Taro from the Red Party, she stayed in Special Section One and rarely bothered Chen Yang, whom she disliked.
In fact, she didn't have much personal grudge against Chen Yang; she was simply jealous that a Chinese person could achieve such a high position in such a short time.

As the legendary "Flower of the Empire," an honorary major personally conferred by His Majesty the Emperor, she sacrificed her body for years of merit, only to be constantly suppressed by a Chinese man.

Moreover, Tu Feiyuan's words were full of praise for Chen Yang, which made her very uncomfortable.

Simply put, while one's own failure is certainly terrible, the success of others is even more heartbreaking, especially when it's someone who's inferior to oneself in every way...

Ding-dong, the doorbell rang softly.

Yoko Minami slowly got up, walked to the door, glanced through the peephole with a surprised expression, and then opened the door with a kind smile.

Standing outside the door was Nobuo Yasuda, who had taken off his military uniform and put on a suit.

“Miss Nantian, I apologize for disturbing you so late at night.” Yasuda bowed slightly, her tone polite, but her eyes sharp. “It is an honor to have you grace my humble abode with your presence, Lord Yasuda.” Nantian Yoko stepped aside to let him in, her voice gentle yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible wariness.

She knew very well that high-ranking officials like Yasuda within the South Manchuria Railway system would only come to her office when there was something important to discuss.

Yasuda walked into the living room, his gaze quickly sweeping over the room's furnishings before finally settling on Minamida Yoko. "Ms. Minamida, this place truly is a haven of peace amidst the chaos of the world."

"You flatter me, Mr. Yasuda." Yoko Nanada poured him a glass of wine, sat down on the sofa opposite him, and crossed her long legs.
"Yasuda-kun, it's been three or four years since we last met. What brings you here so late at night?"

Yasuda shook his head, gently swirling his wine glass, and looked directly at Minamida Yoko: "Miss Minamida is right. Time flies like an arrow, and more than three years have passed in the blink of an eye. I've gotten old, but Miss Minamida has become more and more radiant and beautiful."

"Yasuda-kun, you don't need to be so polite with me." Nanda's lips curled up slightly, but he didn't lower his guard.
Yasuda's smile faded as he said, "Alright, let's get down to business. I'm here on behalf of myself, and... some of my friends in Xinjing (Changchun), to discuss a deal with Miss Nantian."

"A deal?" Yoko Nanada raised an eyebrow, her expression showing interest. "What kind of deal could I, a mere woman, possibly make with you?"

“Miss Nantian is too modest.” Yasuda leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice. “Everyone knows that you are Lord Doi-maru’s right-hand woman and his most valued student. You hold the lives and secrets of countless people in your hands.”

"What we need is your ability and... position."

He paused, observing Nantian Yangzi's reaction. Seeing that she was just slowly sipping her wine, he continued, "The target is Chen Yang from the Land Transportation Division."

Yoko Minamida paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding her wine glass, then resumed her normal motion. She chuckled lightly, "Chen Yang? That rising section chief? He's a favorite of Lord Kagesa and Department Head Oshima. It might not be so easy to mess with him, would it?"

"It is precisely because it is not easy that we need Miss Nantian's help." Yasuda's tone became serious. "If this person is not eliminated, he will become the biggest obstacle to our South Manchuria Railway Company, and even the Empire's integration of southern resources!"

"This time, they are even hindering our efforts to control the transportation lines during the material crisis. We must make them disappear."

"Oh?" Yoko Nanda put down her wine glass, picked up a slender cigarette, and Yasuda immediately lit it for her. She took a drag and exhaled a faint smoke ring. "Yasuda-kun, what good would it do for your South Manchuria Railway Company to get rid of Chen Yang? As far as I know, he's quite capable."

"Benefits?" Yasuda sneered. "The benefit is that it lets these self-important guys in the south know that without the support of our South Manchuria Railway Company, they can't move an inch!"

"Eliminating him will thwart the Southern Expeditionary Army's attempt to break free from our control!"

"At that time, the transportation lifeline of the entire China will truly be controlled by our South Manchuria Railway Company! Miss Nantian should be able to imagine the benefits involved."

"Once this is done, the people of Xinjing will certainly not treat Miss Nantian unfairly."

"In addition to the generous gold bars, we can also leverage our connections with the Kwantung Army and the Cabinet to pave a brighter path for you."

"Special Section One is ultimately too small a scope for you. With your talent and abilities, you deserve a broader world, such as... the head of the Mei Agency, or even a more important position in Manchukuo."

Yoko Minami silently smoked, her face appearing somewhat blurred in the swirling smoke.

Yasuda's offer was indeed tempting: the head of the Ume Agency—could she, a woman, really do that?

Nantian pondered this in her mind. What was completely impossible for others was still a chance for her.

Because she has honors, being awarded the title of Honorary Major by the Emperor, connections, her teacher being General Doi-mai, and the ability to lead a department on her own.

If one could also establish connections with the South Manchuria Railway and the Kwantung Army, it would undoubtedly provide a more secure path for advancement.

"Chen Yang is no ordinary person. He has a complicated background, and logistics officials at all levels in the south have unclear connections with him."

Yoko Nanada spoke slowly, as if analyzing or bargaining, "Going against him is extremely risky. If I fail or leave any trace, he will be the first to come after me."

Yasuda smiled slightly, knowing that Nantian was already interested, and pressed his advantage, saying, "We don't need you to do it yourself. You just need to use your position as the head of Special Section One to do two things."

"First, we will use the Special Higher Police's intelligence network to closely monitor Chen Yang's every move, especially the detailed progress of his fundraising efforts and the channels he is using, and provide us with timely intelligence."

"Second, spread some unfavorable rumors about Chen Yang at the right time and unintentionally, such as that he embezzled public funds, had too close contact with suspicious persons, or that there might be problems with the channels through which he raised supplies, so as to lead the Army to suspect him."

"We will arrange the specific actions based on the intelligence you provide, ensuring a clean and efficient operation that will not implicate you."

Yoko Minami stubbed out her cigarette in the crystal ashtray, stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to Yasuda.

She needed to weigh whether to stay in Special Section 1 or take a gamble and join the more powerful South Manchuria Railway.

"Yoko, you are a woman." Doi-Yuan's words were like a needle, constantly piercing Nan-Tian's heart.

"Teacher, don't underestimate women. Women can do things that men can't."

A moment later, she turned around, her face now displaying that charming yet composed smile. She extended her slender hand to Yasuda: "Mr. Yasuda, it's been a pleasure doing business with you. I hope you and your friends in Xinjing will remember the promises we made today."

Nobuo Yasuda extended his hand to shake hers: "Of course! Miss Nanda is a smart woman. Cooperating with us is your wisest choice."

Shanghai, Southern Transportation Department. Office of Minister Kenjiro Oshima.
"How much funding will this require? And how can we guarantee its reliability?" Colonel Onodera, the deputy head of the logistics department of the dispatched army in charge of finance, couldn't help but ask, "Chen-san, the material collection plan you provided is quite different from what we expected."

“You quoted 1.6 million yen for this batch of supplies. Do you know how much our total budget is for the northward expansion plan?”

"Colonel Onodera, let me explain first." Chen Yang had already prepared his explanation: "That's right, the amount of money used to procure the supplies this time is indeed huge, possibly even several times higher than the market price."

"But consider this: if Nomonhan is defeated due to insufficient supplies, who among you can bear the responsibility? As for reliability and revenue..."

He glanced at Oshima and Onodera, and said meaningfully, "We can set up a 'special procurement fund,' which will be directly controlled by Mr. Sato, with Minister Oshima in charge of the specific liaison and operation."

"All expenses were listed under categories such as 'special channel procurement commission,' 'emergency expedited fee,' and 'information confidentiality fee.' As for receipts... naturally, the 'cooperative' chambers of commerce could provide the necessary vouchers."

"As long as the three of us... tell the same story, the whereabouts of this money will be known only to heaven, earth, you, and me."

This couldn't be clearer.

Kenjiro Oshima hesitated: on the one hand, he did need supplies to cope with the pressure from the Kwantung Army.
On the other hand, Chen Yang's proposed plan means that a huge sum of "security deposit" can be embezzled under the guise of procurement, with most of it going into his own pocket.
They only need to use a small portion to actually purchase some supplies, or even resort to methods such as selling inferior goods or exaggerating quantities to get by.

Faced with enormous personal interests and seemingly viable solutions, professional ethics and loyalty to the empire become incredibly fragile.

Onodera Kenji said slowly, "Minister, what Section Chief Chen said, though risky, may be the only way out at the moment. For the sake of the soldiers on the front lines, for the Holy War of the Empire, it is worthwhile for us to take some risks personally!"

Oshima remained silent for a long time before finally nodding heavily: "Alright... we'll do it as Chen-san said. We must be... we must be very careful. The supplies must be sufficient to pass inspections, and the accounts must be... neat."

"Yes, sir! Please rest assured, Minister!" Chen Yang bowed and accepted the order, a barely perceptible sneer flashing across his lips.

Shanghai, Japanese Residents' District, Yuelongsha Guild Hall
Tonight, the breeze outside the "Listening to the Rain Pavilion" is still gentle, but the atmosphere inside the private room is completely different from when they usually discuss "official business".

The air was no longer filled with tension and scheming, but with a strange atmosphere that mixed greed, excitement, and a hint of unease.

On the mahogany table, the exquisite Suzhou-style dishes remained almost untouched; instead, several seemingly ordinary hard-shell briefcases were placed there.

The box had been opened, and inside were not documents, but neatly stacked gold bars and large denominations of Japanese yen banknotes that smelled of fresh ink.

The flickering lights illuminated the banknotes, making them gleam with gold and bringing the designs to life.

This was part of the huge sum of guarantee funds that was embezzled from the imperial treasury under the guise of "emergency procurement in the north".

Major General Sato had removed his military uniform, a symbol of his rank, and was now wearing a dark kimono.
Beside him stood Kenjiro Oshima, the Minister of Transport of the South. Although his expression remained serious, his stiff posture and the nervous glances he kept glancing towards the door betrayed his inner turmoil.

Looking at the yellow and white object before him, Oshima's breathing became heavy, a mixture of elation at having a huge sum of money in hand and lingering fear of being stuck in a quagmire.

Oshima trembled as he picked up the small porcelain cup and drank the warm sake in one gulp, trying to suppress his turbulent emotions.

“Chen…Chen-san,” Oshima’s voice was slightly hoarse from excitement and alcohol, “These…these are all ours?”

A smug smile appeared on Chen Yang's face, as if this was the only place where he truly belonged.

"Of course, this is only part of it. After all the supplies are procured, we still have a large sum to spend."

Kenjiro Oshima swallowed hard; that much money was enough to buy his life.
"What if Yasuda-kun finds out?"

Chen Yang waved his hand and said, "Minister Oshima, dripping water from the eaves is a sign of succession; a new official doesn't settle old scores. You too will have to hand over your post in the future."

(End of this chapter)