Chapter Thirteen: Nan Zao Yun Zi

  Zheng Jiemin ordered the Military Affairs Commission to investigate Jing Wunong's death.

  After Qin Wei knew about this matter later, he laughed for several years. However, for him, it was a joke, but for Zheng Jieming or the Military Bureau, it couldn't be counted as such.

  That's right, as a political agency, facing a large amount of intelligence, it must have the ability to judge true and false. Otherwise, no matter how many human and material resources are not enough. However, if there is no clue when investigating something or someone, then we can only investigate whatever we can get our hands on, regardless of whether it's true or false.

  Although Qin Wei has already said that Jing Wuming is a character, the Military Commission, which knows nothing about his background, can only follow this clue to continue searching... Even if it's true that he's a character, who wrote such a thing is also a clue? Although this may not be very famous, the people of the Military Commission are not without ideas. Looking at Qin Wei's educational level, a person who can consider population growth from a national perspective and from a future perspective, he must have come into contact with some people who are not ordinary people, plus one who loves to write, and may also have some unclear relationship with foreigners... This clue is getting more and more.

  So, when Qin Wei took Zheng Jieming to the people he found for him to run experiments in the suburbs of Chongqing, the Military Bureau followed the already existing "clues" to search for Jing Wunming and his apprentice Lu Xiaoqia... Even the female classmate from Chongqing University was not spared, only that Lu Xiaoqia's background was clear and she was quickly ruled out.

  And this is just the beginning.

  Zheng Jieming submitted the report to Dai Li and also informed him of his own judgment and arrangements. Dai Li also recognized the actions of his deputy, and soon after, he personally sent a telegram to each station, repeating this order. However, Dai Li was different from Zheng Jieming. Zheng Jieming emphasized general confidentiality, while Dai Li directly raised the confidentiality level of this order to the highest level, and also added a mysterious piece of information about artillery transactions.

  Then, Japan's Mei Kikan in Shanghai intercepted this message from some channels.

  At that moment, Japan's intelligence system became tense because they made some investigations based on this information and came to a not-so-good judgment: it was possible that there were international forces intending to contact the Chiang Kai-shek group, and these forces might be arms dealers from certain countries.

  ……

  "We can't let the Chinese get support from abroad!" Mei Kikan, the chief of the secret service, said to his subordinates at a meeting, "So, I want you to investigate this person named Jing Wumeng and also Lu Xiao Jia with all your might. It's possible that these two names are just code names or even a smokescreen set up by the enemy, but we have to consider every possibility. You know, the Imperial Army is not making progress on the Wuhan front line, if Chiang Kai-shek really gets support from abroad, he will definitely regain his confidence in resistance... This is absolutely not what the General Headquarters wants to see."

  "Director-General, what about Qin Wei who has already made contact with the Military-Uniform... should we take him out?" asked Seiichi Kiyomizu, Shosuke's trusted assistant.

  "It's unnecessary." Kageyoshi shook his head, "If this intelligence is true, that guy should just be a small pawn, a scout at best, not worth much."

  "If it's really some foreign munitions group, why would they use a Chinese person to scout ahead?" asked Shin'ichi Nakajima, who was sitting across from Akira. Compared to Akira's cautious attitude towards Shigeo Kageyama, this minor character with only the rank of captain spoke very rudely, completely lacking the usual Japanese sense of respect for superiors and inferiors. And yet, despite his seemingly interrogative tone, which was more like an accusatory affront, all the Japanese present felt it was perfectly natural, including even Shigeo Kageyama, a major general four ranks higher than Shin'ichi Nakajima, who merely nodded slightly in response:

  "This is also what I find strange. So I suspect that this arms group is very likely not representing the well-known arms dealers of various European and American countries, but rather another party, or even possibly those overseas Chinese groups."

  "Chinese group? Director, aren't you mistaken? Those people are bullied in every country and can only yearn for the support of the National Government. Now that Chiang Kai-shek is on the verge of defeat, they are worried and cannot last long, what can they support Chiang Kai-shek with?" Nakajima Shinichi retorted.

  "Senpai," said Eizou Shima, looking at him, "don't forget that those Chinese people overseas had a huge supporting role in the revolution in their home country. It can be said that if it weren't for the support of these overseas Chinese, Sun Yat-sen wouldn't have been able to carry out the revolution in China, and if there was no Sun Yat-sen, the Kuomintang would probably have disappeared long ago, and there wouldn't be a Chiang Kai-shek today... Although the Chinese are timid and weak, their country is also equally weak, but it must be acknowledged that they are extremely good at accumulating wealth! And with money, what can't you buy from those white people?"

  "This can also explain why there is an unsuitable explorer... The Chinese, whether in China or abroad, have a hard life and cannot afford to train special agents. Now that Chiang Kai-shek is about to lose the war, they are anxious and can only send out this kind of person."

  "Nonsense." Nakajima Shin'ichi snorted, "If you're so anxious, why not just send the arms directly to Chiang Kai-shek, instead of probing like this?"

  "Doesn't this just fit the Chinese style?" Captain Tsumoto, who had been listening to the conversation on the side, burst out laughing: "Looking around in fear, afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, wanting to achieve something but always worried about paying the price... Those Chinese overseas may have really gathered a batch of military supplies, but they probably wouldn't dare to use them, or maybe they're worried that Chiang Kai-shek can't exert his power with these military supplies, and don't want to send their own blood directly. You know, the Chinese army has been defeated by us from Shanghai, Beijing, all the way to Wuhan. Such an incompetent army is not worthy of trust, let alone being entrusted."

  "That makes sense." Nakajima nodded.

  "Well... it's settled then. I leave it to you all." Seeing no objections, Kageyoshi Eisuke stood up and bowed slightly to the crowd.

  "Hi!"

  ……

  "Director-General, this Nakajima Shinichi always looks down on others with his seniority, it's really too much. He doesn't have that many abilities either." Following Kageyoshi Akira back to the Director-General's office, Haruaki Sei suddenly said with hatred.

  "What? Has he made you angry again?" Kageyoshi's narrow eyes narrowed, staring at his trusted assistant.

  "He's just making me angry. In the whole organization, who hasn't been annoyed by him?" Jing Qixing said discontentedly.

  "He's a veteran, he was classmates with General Sakai Seizaburō, the leader of the young army faction. If it wasn't for his involvement in the assassination of Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi, he would probably be around the same level as General Sakai by now... or even higher in rank than me. So, it's inevitable that he's got a lot of pent-up frustration inside him. You have to understand the kind of pressure a military man feels when he can't achieve his ambitions on the battlefield, especially when his former comrades are already famous for their war exploits and admired by countless people... so let's be nice to him."

  "But we are an intelligence agency, and we can't let emotions cloud our judgment. Lieutenant Commander Nakajima clearly can't do that." However, Seigi Kei did not accept Kageshō's advice, apparently still upset by Shin'ichi Nakajima.

  "Shut up." Yūsuke Kageyama suddenly shouted: "I told you to be polite to him, and from now on, you must be polite to him. Did you hear that?"

  "Hi!"

  "Go and call Yunzi over!"

  "Yunzi?" Her eyes widened in surprise, but she immediately lowered her head and said "Hi!"

  ……

  "Director!"

  Before long, a woman walked into Seiichiro Kageyama's office. She was a tall and slender military officer who still looked charming even in her uniform.

  "Yunzi, how's your recent rest?" Looking at the beautiful military officer in front of him who could brighten up one's eyes, Kageyoshi Akira's face, which was like a zombie's, couldn't help but reveal a smile, and his tone also became much warmer.

  "Director, there's a lot of work in the first department of special operations, I haven't had much rest." The beautiful military officer replied.

  "Hehe, you're the section chief, so why not just leave the trivial work to your subordinates? Besides, compared to the intense life of a spy, these desk jobs should be no challenge for you at all." Kageyama Yoshiaki said with a smile.

  "Director Zhang, what is it that you've called me here for?" The beautiful military officer asked somewhat impatiently.

  "How is it that you didn't hear anything from what I said?" asked Kageyoshi Saya.

  "It seems... you want me to go out and carry out a mission." The beautiful military officer said calmly.

  "That's right, as the 'Flower of the Empire'. Your beauty shouldn't just bloom in Mei Kyokai, but should bloom wherever the empire needs you." Kageyoshi said seriously.

  "What is my task?"

  "Go to Chongqing!"

  "...Chongqing?"

  "What? Are you scared?"

  Seeing the other's surprised expression, Kageyama Shoyo slightly raised the corner of his mouth and asked.

  "Director, you should know that I've already been exposed. My appearance has long been in the files of the Military Commission. From Chiang Kai-shek to Dai Li, no one doesn't want my life... If I appear in Chongqing, I'm afraid it won't take a few hours before I'll be beaten into a honeycomb by the Military Commission's people." Yunzi's tone was calm, but his anger was not concealed: "I am willing to devote myself to the Empire and the Emperor at any time. But don't you think that such a worthless devotion is first and foremost an insult to me?"

  "Nanzou Kumokiri," Kage no Sazanami said coldly, reciting the other's true name. "Do you think I would let 'Teikoku no Hana', who was personally trained by General Tofu and has achieved great merits for the Empire, be sacrificed in vain?"

  "What do you want me to go to Chongqing for?" Nan Zao Yunzi asked back.

  "Of course there is an important task... Do you know Takamori Saigō?" Kageyasu Shigenaga asked in a low voice.

  "I've heard of that name. He's the youngest high-ranking diplomat in China, now in Hong Kong, responsible for collecting all sorts of intelligence for the Chinese government." said Nanzou Yunzi.

  "He has recently been in secret contact with us, intending to help us negotiate a reduction of Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese government. However, due to the stalemate of the Battle of Wuhan, Chiang Kai-shek believed that he could resist the advance of the Imperial Army, so his attitude never softened... Therefore, he suggested that we choose another person."

  "Wang Zuo Ming?"

  "It's indeed the imperial flower, no mistake about it, it's Wang Zhongyin!"

  "What can I do?"

  "Kao Tzung Wu will soon return to Chungking. Your mission is to serve as a decoy, helping him attract the attention of the Szechuan provincial government so that they won't notice his and Wang Chao-ming's movements. In other words, you are responsible for attracting the attention of both the Military Bureau and the Central Bureau."

  "What?"

  At that moment, Nan Zao Yun's whole body was icy cold, attracting the attention of the two major intelligence systems of the National Government. Was this not a death sentence?

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