Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 221 Have the Japanese devils gone mad?!
"Just now, a shipment of our supplies was robbed in the area between Datongqiao Wharf and Qingfengzha Wharf in Beiping. Inside... there were fifty tons of gold!"

"What?!!"

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Miyamoto Ichiro's forehead.
What did he hear?!

Fifty tons of gold stolen?!

He knew that three trucks were going to the Shishahai ferry terminal tonight. After all, if they had to drive goods after the curfew, they would definitely need the cooperation of the military police headquarters.

However, he only knew that he was transporting supplies, but he did not know that what he was transporting was gold!

It's a full fifty tons!!

He roared angrily, "Eight, are you lying to me?!"

Even if he was unaware of the loss of fifty tons of gold, he still bears some responsibility for such a huge loss, even if that responsibility is not much!

Because this batch of gold was lost in Beiping!

Controlling and suppressing anti-Japanese elements in Beiping was his duty!

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Miyamoto Ichiro, it's true! So, please cooperate with our instructions!"

"Okay, I got it!!" Miyamoto Ichiro gritted his teeth and agreed, slamming the phone down and cursing breathlessly:
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn bastard!!"

"These incompetent bastards!!"

"A secret transport of fifty tons of gold, and they didn't even make thorough preparations! What idiots!!"

He was trembling with anger; this news was an utter disaster for him!

The gold shipment was successful, but he didn't deserve any credit.

But since the gold was stolen, he was held responsible.
This is really the worst thing ever!

That damned Kwantung Army command!
Even if you're furious inside, you still have to do what you have to do, at least outwardly you have to cooperate actively.

He immediately picked up the phone and dialed, "Moshi moshi, this is Miyamoto Ichiro."

"I now order all departments to cooperate with the infantry regiment stationed in Beiping and the defense command to immediately seal off the entire Beiping!"

As the various organizations of the Japanese and puppet troops began to take action, the entire city of Beiping was immediately filled with a tense atmosphere.

The entire street was heavily guarded, with sentries every three or five steps, and even some infantry regiments directly under the North China Area Army were involved.

Every street was fenced off, and the entire city of Beiping was searched house by house, with screams echoing everywhere.

Police and puppet troops came out in droves, and motorcycles, trucks, cars and even armored vehicles appeared, not to mention bicycles.

In their quest to find gold, the Japanese have clearly disregarded all public opinion.

"Have those Japanese devils gone mad?"

"What on earth are they looking for?!"

"Good heavens! My kang (heated brick bed)! How could they have torn it down!"

The common people were crying and screaming, completely unaware of what they were being searched for.

In fact, it wasn't just the ordinary people who didn't know; most of the lower-ranking soldiers and patrol officers also had no idea what they were searching for.

All they knew was that the Great Japanese Empire had lost something very important, and they were completely baffled by the search, having no idea what all this fuss was for.

The search lasted for ten days, turning the entire city of Beiping into chaos, but they still found nothing.

Provisional headquarters of the Kwantung Army.

"Major Yoshiko Kawashima, given the sheer magnitude of the losses this time—a full fifty tons of gold!"

"Four months' worth of military funds have simply vanished without a trace."

"This responsibility is too great, and I can't help you with it."

The head of the agency, Nishida Osamu, said with a stern face that immediately after the incident, Kawashima Yoshiko had already used her connections to find him and gave him a large sum of money in an attempt to clear her name.

Unfortunately, this matter was far too big. It involved four months' worth of military pay for the entire empire, far too much for a mere lieutenant general like him to interfere with.

"Commander Nishida, please help me! This matter has absolutely nothing to do with me, and I have never leaked a single piece of information," Kawashima Yoshiko pleaded desperately. She didn't want to die; she hadn't lived enough. She wanted to regain the favor of the Japanese army; she wanted to be someone important.
Looking at Yoshiko Kawashima's pleading face, Nishida remained expressionless.

If the gold is found, then everything will be fine, and there will still be room for maneuver.

Now, ten days have passed, and the entire city of Beiping has been practically turned upside down, but not a single clue has been found.
Everyone knows that this gold may have already been transported out, and finding it again would be as difficult as climbing to the sky.

With such a major incident, not only would Yoshiko Kawashima, a Chinese woman, be implicated, but all the Japanese officers involved would also be implicated, including himself!

He said curtly, "I already said, there's nothing I can do to help!"

"Don't even mention you, I was implicated too!!"

"I'm about to resign from my post in the Kwantung Army Command and head to the Henan front. You're in for a world of trouble." He was equally frustrated. He was strategizing and planning at the Kwantung Army Command when, in the next second, a huge pit 'splattered' into him. Anyone in that situation would be trembling with anger.

He's already feeling suffocated himself, so he doesn't care about Yoshiko Kawashima's life or death!

"What?! Commander Nishida, you're being transferred too?! To the front lines?!" Yoshiko Kawashima was dumbfounded. Anyone with connections usually commands remotely from the rear.

The kind of thing that involves risking one's life is usually done by people who don't have a strong background but want to make a name for themselves.

Although only 85 major generals or above have sacrificed their lives since the start of the invasion of China, who can guarantee that the next one won't be the 86th?

Especially now that the Japanese army is in decline, the old soldiers have been replaced, and supplies are extremely scarce. In addition, the Japanese army is eager to open up the situation, so the death rate of officers of major general rank and above is rising.

In such circumstances, anyone with a powerful background would naturally avoid them like the plague.

But now.
Nishida's face darkened, and he said coldly, "It's all because of your incompetence!! That's why I've been implicated!!"

"Headquarters is very dissatisfied with my work, and someone will be taking over my position soon!!"

The Japanese military was not a monolithic entity either; the power struggles and infighting among them were no less intense than those on the Chinese side.

This incident is indeed very serious, but it doesn't actually have much to do with him.

He was just one of the planners. He certainly can't shirk responsibility, but it's not entirely fair to say he was involved in the whole thing.

Now, he has been dismissed from his post and transferred to the front lines. This would certainly not be possible without the machinations of his political enemies.

But there's nothing you can do; someone's caught you red-handed, and it would be strange if they didn't take the opportunity to destroy you.

Ultimately, all of this is due to the incompetence of his damned subordinates, which has led him to his current predicament!
Do you think he wouldn't hate Yoshiko Kawashima and her gang of bastards?!

"You can leave now!" Nishida said coldly, his eyes as cold as if he were looking at a dead man.

Yoshiko Kawashima shuddered as she was stared at; a chill ran from the soles of her feet to her brain, making her involuntarily shiver.

That's it! Even Nishida Otoko got involved. How can I possibly survive?!
Just when she was in despair, the image of Cao Weida suddenly popped into her mind.

"No, I can't die!"

She didn't know if there was any hope of finding Cao Weida, but Cao Weida was her only lifeline at this moment!

However, just as she was about to go to Cao Weida, she was stopped and locked in a secret room without hesitation.

Want to go out?
None of the doors!
"Baka! I need to make a phone call, I need to make a phone call!"

Yoshiko Kawashima, unwilling to accept the appointment, yelled at the door.

"Miss Kawashima Yoshiko, is there something you want to say?" A man's slightly mocking voice rang out from outside the door.

Upon hearing the voice, Yoshiko Kawashima immediately recognized who it was; this was the man who had subjected her to a torturous interrogation over the past few days.

Even just the day before yesterday, this damned woman had twenty men take turns having sex with her.
This experience made her recall what her godfather had done to her.
"Ah!!! You bastard! Bastard!! You deserve to go to hell! You damned thing."

Despite Yoshiko Kawashima's desperate cries, the Japanese soldier in military uniform outside the door remained unfazed, maintaining a faint smile throughout.

Go ahead and curse, curse as much as you want. He's experienced this kind of verbal insult countless times; it doesn't bother him at all.

He actually knew that Yoshiko Kawashima didn't bear much responsibility in this matter; if she did, it was only for suggesting the choice of the ferry crossing.

But if it weren't on that embankment, wouldn't that batch of gold have been protected from being robbed?
Obviously not. This is an intelligence leak. No matter which ferry crossing you choose, the final result won't be much different.

However, after ten days of investigation, we still haven't found out who leaked the information, so someone has to be held accountable!

In fact, everyone involved in this operation should be held accountable!

"Go ahead and curse, keep cursing, but I'd better save your energy."

"I need to make a phone call! I need to see someone!" Yoshiko Kawashima vented her frustration inside the secret room, punching and kicking the iron door, but to no avail.

After calming down, her first reaction was to find a way to save herself.

Who do you want to see?

"Police Officer Cao Weida of the Fifth Outer District Police Station!"

"Oh?" The officer outside was clearly surprised that this matter involved a Chinese person, especially since he had heard of this person before!

"You mean he was involved in this as well?"

"I want to see him now! I won't say anything until I see him!"

Yoshiko Kawashima isn't stupid; she wouldn't rashly drag someone down with her at this point.

It's not that she has a particularly good conscience, but rather that Cao Weida is currently her only lifeline!

Even if this straw might not be as strong as you think!
(End of this chapter)