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

Chapter 244 Yasuda's Forbearance

As the sun sets, the night bathes Maigen Road in western Shanghai in a profound silence.

The daytime roar of trucks, the shouts of warehouse laborers working hard, and the occasional grinding of crane gears in the supply warehouse...

All that has faded away now, leaving only the warm breeze of early summer whistling through the empty concrete ground and the cluster of tin roofs.

Yasuda's dormitory wasn't the best kind.

On the contrary, thanks to the careful consideration of some people, his room was located at the very back of a group of high-class dormitories.

The room faces north and is located inside a group of buildings, so it never sees sunlight.
The entire space was small and cramped, with peeling plaster on the walls revealing the dark bricks underneath.

The room had very little furniture: a hard bed, a wooden table, two wobbly chairs, a worn-out wardrobe, and a desk worn smooth and uneven. That was all the family's possessions.

Because it was not exposed to sunlight, the air in the room was filled with a stale smell that was a mixture of musty and cheap tobacco.

"Yasuda-kun is really diligent. I've been here for over an hour, and you're just getting off work now," Yoko Minamida said with a light laugh.
Today she was wearing a dark blue casual outfit, the style was ordinary, but the material looked to be of decent quality. She had a silk scarf tied around her neck, and a light layer of makeup made her face look exquisite.

She truly deserves to be called the flower of the empire.

Yasuda quickly slipped into the house, shut the door tightly, and bolted it shut with clean, efficient movements.

“This place is really hard to find.” Yoko Nanada poured a glass of water and handed it to Nobuo Yasuda: “I’m sorry to have troubled you, Mr. Yasuda.”

Nobuo Yasuda twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a bitter and cold smile: "Feeling wronged? Compared to the prison cells of the Mei Agency, this is already paradise."

"At least the air here is free, even if it smells of rust and mildew. Section Chief Nantian, the place is simple, there's nothing to offer."

Yoko Nanada stood up straight and said slowly, "As long as we are alive, there is hope, especially for people like us who still have a flame burning in their hearts."

“Hope?” Yasuda murmured, repeating the word, then his eyes sharpened. “If it weren’t for those two words, I wouldn’t have been willing to become a supplies coordinator.”

"My only hope now is to make those who pushed me into hell taste even one ten-thousandth of what it's like!"

He suddenly pulled open the drawer of the table, took out several sheets of paper covered with writing, and pushed them forcefully in front of Nantian Yangzi.

The paper was rough, but the handwriting on it was neat and clear.

"Please take a look, Section Chief Nantian. This is the information I've pieced together and deduced little by little during my time at the supplies warehouse."

Yoko Minami picked up the papers and began to read them carefully.

At first, her expression was scrutinizing, but as she read on, her gaze gradually became serious, and even a hint of surprise flashed across her face.

The paper listed a large number of names, dates, material numbers, transport vehicle numbers, and some seemingly scattered but cleverly connected "clues".

“Yamamoto Ryuichi, head of the third section of the logistics department,” Yasuda’s voice rang out in a low tone, as if stating a fact, yet also as cursing, “From March to May of Showa 14, a total of seventeen batches of ‘non-standard emergency medical supplies’ were specially approved and released by him, more than half of which bypassed the regular quality inspection process more than three times.”

"At the same time, the quantity of high-grade sulfonamide powder, injection solution, and high-quality surgical sutures circulating on the black market in Zhabei has surged, and their sources are unknown."

"Jin Dayou, Qiao Zhenhuai, and the Zhang family, the biggest black market dealers in Shanghai, all dumped large quantities of medical supplies at the same time."

"The largest purchases came from Zhang Fakui's Fourth War Zone of the Kuomintang."

"Secondly, there is the Kuomintang's Ninth War Zone, Xue Boling."

"Now, Commander Gangcun's 11th Army is facing off against Xue Boling's troops in Changsha. They are openly transporting supplies to their opponent, including extremely important medical supplies. It's simply outrageous."

As Yoko Minami looked at the text on the document, her knuckles involuntarily turned white from gripping it so tightly.

“That’s not all,” Yasuda said, pointing to another name.
"While organizing the inventory data of the material warehouse for the past six months, I discovered a very important person."

"The second-in-command of the Logistics Department, Deputy Minister Ken Onodera,"

"He has the authority to directly dispatch 'Special Class A' classified freight cars."

"Based on my reconstructed partial records of the material warehouse's inbound and outbound operations, during the operational preparation period, at least five trains marked 'Special Grade A' had unexplained discrepancies between their final destinations and loaded cargo and the official list submitted by the logistics department."

“These railcars had all made unplanned long stops at the Maigen Road train station.”

"At the same time, the cash flow of Sunshine Trading Company in the French Concession of Shanghai had periodic and suspicious exchange records with the trading company established by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce in Yokohama."

“I have confirmed the timing. The time when Sunshine Commerce sold off large quantities of goods coincided with the period before and after several large-scale shipments of ‘specially approved goods’.”

Yoko Nanada's expression turned extremely serious: "Yasuda-kun, can you prove that all of these things you've done are supported by complete evidence?"

Yasuda fell silent upon hearing this. After a long while, he slowly shook his head and said, "No, they're not stupid. If you look at the accounts, you won't find any loopholes."

"Some of these materials are my guesses, some are my deductions based on the documents, and some are fragments that I obtained indirectly through past relationships."

"But that's enough, enough for us to put them together like this, and string them together with a storyline of 'systematic collusion between senior officials in the Logistics Department and the Transportation Department to embezzle and resell military supplies,'"

"What do you think those who are unaware of the truth, those who are already dissatisfied with the imperial bureaucracy, would think?"

Yoko Minami put down the paper, took a deep breath, and the stale air in the room seemed to move slightly as a result.

She looked at Yasuda as if she were seeing him for the first time.

The former Nobuo Yasuda was a meticulous, even somewhat rigid, head of the South Manchuria Railway's transportation department. But the man before him, after experiencing betrayal, framing, and near-death despair, has transformed into a dangerous schemer.
An avenger who is adept at exploiting human weaknesses and loopholes in the bureaucratic system.
“Truth and falsehood, reality and illusion,” Yoko Nanada said slowly. “What Yasuda-kun said makes a lot of sense. Taken individually, each clue could be interpreted as a work oversight or a procedural exception.”

"But such a dense presentation, pointing to such a clear conclusion... Yasuda-kun, are you accusing them of weaving a web large enough to cause panic?"

"In particular, these 'coincidences' that cannot be verified or disproven are most likely to stimulate people's imagination and skepticism."

"That's exactly the effect I wanted!" Yasuda's voice suddenly rose. "They ruined me with the charge of 'inferior materials,' so I'll retaliate with the rumor of 'systemic corruption'!"

"I, Nobuo Yasuda, may be a nobody, a pawn they casually discard, but I, this pawn, will break a few of their teeth!"

“Section Chief Nantian, I can confirm that the massive network of corruption in the Logistics Department and the Transportation Department is far larger than we imagined.”

"The Chen Yang you care about might just be one node in this network."

"If we confront them openly and militarily, we will only face certain death."

"So, I 'withdrew,' I admitted defeat, and I was thrown into this neglected warehouse like a dead dog."

“They thought I was finished and no longer posed any threat. They would shift their attention away from me and focus on more ‘important’ things, and that was my best cover.”

Yoko Nanada seemed to understand something: "So, the recent rumors in Shanghai were orchestrated by you and Director Aoki."

"I really don't understand. You and Director Aoki are both loyal subordinates of the South Manchuria Railway Company. How could you do such a thing?"

"If this evidence is indeed proven to be true, and it turns out that many departments colluded with each other, and even the South Manchuria Railway Company was involved, how will you handle it then?"

"Does President Ōmura have to submit his resignation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs himself?"

Yasuda stood in front of Minami Yoko, leaning forward, his gaze intense: "But we can't just stand by and watch countless supplies flow into the pockets of those corrupt officials so easily, can we?"

"Section Chief Nantian, I need your help. I'll continue gathering information behind the scenes."

"The network and channels you have are a tremendous force that cannot be ignored."

"I need you to spread these 'stories' through the most appropriate channels."

Yoko Minamida did not answer immediately. She remained silent, her fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, "Spreading rumors, especially in Shanghai, a city where various forces are intertwined, is extremely risky."

"The agents of No. 76 are everywhere, and the spies of the Mei Agency are also secretly monitoring us. Once they catch the source..."

"Then let them investigate!" Nobuo Yasuda interrupted her, a resolute look of desperation on his face. "I have nothing left but this life I was given! What do I have to fear?"

"Moreover, what makes rumors so terrible is their pervasiveness and difficulty in tracing their origins."

"We can use the concessions, foreign journalists who are dissatisfied with the Japanese, underground tabloids, and even... channels of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Zhongtong) or the communists! The more muddy the waters, the better!"

"We must let this rumor spread like a plague from Shanghai. Let the Kwantung Army headquarters hear it, let the Tokyo headquarters hear it, and let the high command of the South Manchuria Railway Company be uneasy!"

"At that time, under pressure, they will have to conduct an investigation, and the investigation itself is a form of reckoning!"

"Let Yamamoto, Onodera, Kenjiro Oshima, and that Chen Yang... also taste what it's like to be suspected, investigated, and isolated and ostracized by their colleagues!"

"Even if it's an unbreakable net, I'll try to burn it to ashes with my tiny spark."

Looking at the flames of revenge burning in Yasuda's eyes, Yoko knew she couldn't refuse, nor did she want to.

Yasuda's hatred, her resentment at being marginalized, and her dissatisfaction with the existing power structure all converged perfectly at this moment.

This is not only helping Yasuda, but also finding a breakthrough for herself, an opportunity to prove her worth to those who ostracized her, and even to take revenge.

"I have the distribution channels."

"There was a reporter in the North China Daily News who was always 'very interested' in the Empire's affairs in Manchuria."
"There are a few Vietnamese people in the French Concession who run underground printing businesses. They'll print anything for a fee." "Besides, I know about the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics' strongholds in Shanghai. They won't miss this opportunity to attack the Empire."

Yasuda's eyes lit up with excitement: "Great! Let's use multiple approaches! We'll release different versions of the 'story' through different channels."

"King Aoki has already done some basic work, keeping the authorities busy and unable to block it."

"Right now, there are rumors circulating in both the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Beijing News. Next, it's our turn to step in. We can start by releasing part of the list specially approved by Yamamoto to generate initial attention."

"Then they used the 'coincidence' of Onodera's unusual train car to deepen their suspicions. Finally, they used the financial dealings between the Osaka Chamber of Commerce's shell company and Sunshine Trading as 'conclusive' evidence to push public opinion to a climax!"

Yoko Nanada listened quietly, occasionally adding a few technical details about channel security and information spoofing.

She looked at this almost insane man, and felt a chill run down her spine.
Hatred is indeed the most powerful catalyst.

“Yasuda-kun,” Yoko Minamida said as she stood up to leave, “remember, we’re all in this together now.”

"Don't leave here until you're absolutely sure, and don't contact any unreliable people. Pass all information through the old methods."

“I understand.” Nobuo Yasuda nodded emphatically. “I will lurk like a spider in the center of this web.”

"Section Chief Nantian, I'm entrusting the outside world to you."

Yoko Minami glanced at the humble room, quietly opened the door, and disappeared into the night outside like a shadow.

The door was closed again and locked.

Nobuo Yasuda stood alone in the center of the room, a cold smile slowly creeping onto his lips.

Shanghai, French Concession, Rue Foch, Jishetang Pharmacy
The early summer sun peeked through thin clouds and lazily shone on Rue Foch in the French Concession, a street that was not particularly bustling.

The air was filled with the faint aroma of burnt food wafting from nearby cafes, as well as the bitter smell of medicine from the "Jishetang" Chinese medicine shop.

Foch Road is not far from Ferguson Road, where the Lin Mansion is located.

Chen Yang, dressed in an inconspicuous plaid suit and wearing a top hat, carrying several packets of tea he had just bought, strolled into "Jishetang" unhurriedly, like an ordinary comprador in the foreign concession.

His attire was commonplace in places like Rue Foch in the French Concession, so it naturally wouldn't attract anyone's attention.

Chen Yang walked into the pharmacy and looked around.

The pharmacy was dimly lit. Behind the tall wooden counter stood a young woman in a clean blue cheongsam, carefully weighing the medicinal herbs with a steelyard.

Hearing the wind chimes tinkle, she looked up and saw Chen Yang. A barely perceptible glint flashed in her eyes, followed by a professional, gentle smile: "Sir, would you like to get medicine or have a consultation?"

Chen Yang walked to the counter, put the tea aside, glanced at the dazzling array of medicinal herbs in the cabinet, and said in a calm voice, "Shopkeeper, please prepare a prescription for 'clearing the mind and reducing internal heat'. I've been having a lot of worries lately, and I haven't been able to sleep well at night."

Song Yilin's hands moved swiftly, wrapping up a packet of angelica root and handing it over casually: "Sir, you have excessive heart fire and stagnant liver qi. You can use Coptis chinensis and lotus seed heart to clear the heart fire, and Bupleurum chinense and white peony root to soothe the liver and relieve stagnation."

"But... Coptis chinensis is extremely bitter, can you bear it, sir?"

"I can handle it." Chen Yang said with a wry smile, "No matter how bad it is, it's still better than waking up in the middle of the night and hearing wild dogs barking outside."

"Oh, right, let's add another ingredient, 'Yuanzhi' (polygala tenuifolia). Hopefully, it will help me sleep more soundly, and even if there's a huge commotion outside, it won't disturb me."

“Yuanzhi (Radix Polygalae) is indeed effective in calming the mind and is suitable for the symptoms.” Song Yilin nodded slightly and turned around to skillfully grab the medicinal herbs from the medicine cabinet behind her.

Her movements were fluid and natural, but as she took out the "Yuanzhi" (a traditional Chinese medicine), her fingers tapped the edge of the small drawer labeled with the name of the medicinal herb three times very quickly and rhythmically. This was a signal to confirm that it was safe.

Chen Yang casually observed the inside and outside of the pharmacy, his ears picking up every sound on the street.

He leaned forward slightly against the counter, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface.

Song Yilin's hands didn't pause as she grabbed the medicine, and her expression remained calm, only her eyes were more focused as she carefully watched the information Chen Yang was transmitting to her.
“Wang’s secretary, Qian Shizhao, arrived in Shanghai three days later on the evening of the 'Yeshan Maru'. He docked at Pier No. 3 and stayed at Chongguang Hall in Hongkou.”

Song Yilin paused almost imperceptibly while wrapping the medicine, then resumed her work.

After Chen Yang finished transmitting the message, he did not stop but continued transmitting:

"The 76th Division intended to set a trap, investigate internally, and lure out our people."

"They have laid a trap and are monitoring all possible channels for leaks."

A look of confusion immediately appeared in Song Yilin's eyes. She glanced at Chen Yang, her eyes seeming to ask, "If that's the case, why bother passing it on?"

Chen Yang met her gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips. He tapped his finger lightly, the message clear: "Play along!"

Song Yilin poured the weighed Bupleurum into the steelyard, nodded slightly, and signaled him to continue.

Chen Yang continued to tap lightly with his finger. This time, the message contained eight characters: "Feint to the east while attacking in the west, ambush halfway."

Song Yilin nodded thoughtfully, her hands moving swiftly as she finished wrapping the Bupleurum root and began processing the White Peony root.
After a moment's hesitation, she replied in a very low voice: "Sir, if I may be frank, your problem of being startled at night is caused by overthinking during the day. Sleeping too much makes you more prone to nightmares."

"It seems you must be very busy with work. Things are not peaceful now, and it's not easy to do anything. If you don't do it well, you might implicate others."

Even if you do a good job, it could be dangerous if someone with malicious intent targets you.

Chen Yang was slightly taken aback, but instantly understood what Song Yilin meant: "The operation is very risky. How can we ensure that the 'operators' are under control? How can we ensure that the attack will not get out of control and harm innocent people?"

"And how can we ensure that the operation can be completed under the close surveillance of No. 76 without being tracked back?"

"You see things very clearly," Chen Yang said, giving her an approving look. "However, there are some things we don't have a choice about."

"I can't be sure if it will implicate others. I'm just doing my job. But I can guarantee that even if others want to take advantage of me, they won't dare to act rashly."

He picked up the packet of lotus seeds, sniffed them, and said, "Even the bitterest herb is bitter, but how can it compare to the bitterness of being human?"

Song Yilin said slowly, "Sir, you are indeed a great man. Since you can't endure hardship, how about this, I'll have the shopkeeper take your pulse when he returns."

"Let's see if we can prescribe you a better prescription so you can be more comfortable."

"After all, it's only truly good when everyone is doing well."

This means that the plan requires approval from higher authorities, and you also need to coordinate reliable 'messengers' and 'firewalls' on your side.

Chen Yang nodded slightly: "That's great! My only redeeming quality is that I listen to advice..."

"However, I've been quite busy lately. When would be a convenient time for you, manager? I only have these two days available."

"Have the shopkeeper take some time to take a look at this for me."

This means: "Time is of the essence; the arrangements must be completed before Qian Shizhao arrives."

"Could you convey the plan and my suggestions to 'the family' as soon as possible?"

Song Yilin handed the wrapped medicine to Chen Yang, her face still bearing that gentle smile: "Sir, your medicine is ready. Decoction and take it according to the prescription, once in the morning and once in the evening. It will surely calm your mind and prevent you from being disturbed by external evils."

At the same time, under the guise of handing over the medicine, she swiftly drew a Morse code dot for the word "okay" in Chen Yang's palm with her fingertip.

"Thank you for your trouble." Chen Yang took the medicine packet, nodded slightly, picked up the tea leaves beside him, and turned to walk out of "Jishetang" at a leisurely pace. The wind chimes rang crisply once again.

As Song Yilin watched his figure disappear into the sunlight at the doorway, the smile on her face slowly faded, and her eyes became serious and sharp.

She lowered her head and continued arranging the medicinal herbs on the counter, her mind already racing as she calculated how to safely and quickly transmit this important intelligence and that audacious "counter-strategy" plan.

Office of the Head of the Land Transportation Section, Southern Transportation Department, Shanghai
Following Chen Yang's instructions, secretary Li Ningyu decocted the medicine Song Yilin had prescribed for Chen Yang into one bowl of water and brought it to his office.

The medicine is real, and the illness is real.

This type of calming and sleep-aiding medicine is quite common on the market, and its effects are indeed quite good.

Recently, Chen Yang has been dealing with so many trivial matters that he described his symptoms in great detail.

Even if he were accompanied by Special Higher Police agents who witnessed him entering the pharmacy to get medicine and conducted an on-site inspection, they would not be able to find any problems.

It's not surprising, really. He's been busy with the northward transport of supplies lately, and Chen Yang's been relying on coffee to keep him awake all day. How could he not have insomnia?
Chen Yang downed the Chinese medicine in one gulp with some rock sugar, then handed the bowl back to Li Ningyu, saying, "Secretary Li, go make me a cup of coffee."

Li Ningyu was slightly taken aback: "Section Chief, you're already taking medicine, why are you still drinking coffee?"

Chen Yang waved his hand impatiently: "Just go when I tell you to, stop talking so much nonsense."

Li Ningyu's heart skipped a beat, and she bowed slightly.

Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks sounded on the door.

Before Chen Yang could speak, the door was pushed open.

Mei, the deputy director of the agency, rushed in in a great hurry.

"Mr. Chen, something's happened. Look at today's newspaper."

(End of this chapter)