Chapter 4 A Broken Melody
Two months ago, I moved from Chongqing to Shanghai. Compared to the solemnity of Chongqing, the fallen Shanghai was a scene of singing and dancing, with a dazzling display of wealth and luxury, even more prosperous than before the fall. My aunt Dong Ruo's family had already moved into the French Concession. On the first day after my arrival in Shanghai, my cousin and I locked ourselves indoors and talked for half a day about our personal affairs. It was only then that I confirmed that my aunt, uncle, and cousin Zeng Jiali were all involved in this covert plan orchestrated by the Military Bureau, but they only knew one small part of it - introducing me to Tang Shengming in a way that seemed natural and reasonable. They had no concept of the entire plan. The Military Bureau was extremely cautious, with each step carefully planned and executed, so how could my aunt's family have known about it?
The next two months were spent with her cousin, as a famous Shanghai socialite, gradually getting in touch with Tang Shengming through her uncle, and then getting in touch with Li Shiqun, Ding Mocun and other 76th traitors of the Wang puppet regime, as well as their wives. According to plan, her cousin Zeng Jiali showed a desire to catch a golden turtle son among young talents in politics and business, while she Dong Zhiyu was trying to get a salaried job in the government with the attitude of a modern woman, not wasting the education she had received over the years.
It's hard to find a good son-in-law, but getting an office job is easy. The Nanjing government had just been established, and at that time, the high-ranking officials who defected to Wang were roughly divided into two types: one type was those who followed Wang Jingwei's reputation and believed that resisting Japan would lead to defeat, thinking that Wang Jingwei was also a heroic figure who wrote "with a knife in hand, I am not ashamed of my youth" after failing to assassinate the regent king. In his early years, he followed Sun Yat-sen's "Revive China Society" and was one of the more capable figures among the old guard of the Nationalist Party. Chiang Kai-shek also respected him as a superior. Wang Jingwei said that China could not defeat Japan and would have to use a roundabout way to save the country, and there would always be people who believed in him and rallied around him; the other type was simply opportunistic politicians who didn't care about ideology, only knowing how to seek power and wealth, and getting by one day at a time. Dong Zhiyu talked to men about his ideals of saving the country through roundabout means, denouncing Chiang Kai-shek's scorched earth policy for bringing disaster to the motherland, as well as the Communist Party's hit-and-run tactics. With women, she would play up her daughter's innocence and naivety to the extreme, turning her passion into a fantasy about ship-shaped hats and dashing military uniforms. With Tang Mingzhen cleverly manipulating things in the background, she managed to get a translation job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the puppet Nationalist government. As soon as she got this job, someone was secretly sent from Chongqing to have a long talk with Dong Zhiyu. At this moment, in the first-class carriage of the "Blue Steel Express", Dong Zhiyu was carefully pondering the content of that conversation.
She went to Nanjing undercover, codenamed "Song Que Action", her codename was "Song". She would work in the Foreign Ministry of the Puppet National Government and find a way to transmit all meaningful international situation intelligence to the Military Bureau. The meeting point between her and the Military Bureau's contact was at "Ye Jinling" nightclub north of Xinjiekou Central Mall, where there were people from the Military Bureau waiting for her. There was a telegraph station inside, which appeared to be commercial on the surface but actually responsible for sending intelligence to Chongqing.
Apart from this, there was a military agent codenamed "Quē" embedded in the Nanjing government. This person had been lurking since Wang Jingwei began to form the government and had direct contact with the Japanese military department, providing first-hand materials from Japan to the Military Intelligence Bureau. In addition, "Quē" was also responsible for turning against and absorbing the puppet troops of Wang, expanding the power of the Enemy Rear Loyalty and National Salvation Army. Dong Zhiyu's mission this time required her to cooperate with "Quē"'s actions at the necessary moment, but the Military Intelligence Bureau did not tell her who "Quē" was or how to cooperate specifically.
"This second task, how am I supposed to complete it?" Dong Zhiyu asked in confusion.
"This is just an emergency plan, which will only be activated when necessary." The military uniformed person replied.
"So for this second task, all I have to do is wait?"
"Not bad. We've already informed 'Qin' of your situation, but for the safety of each of you, it's not necessary for you to know Qin's true identity for now. When needed, we require you to fully assist Qin's undercover work, sparing no effort, including sacrificing your own life if necessary, do you understand?"
"I understand."
Dong Zhiyu finally figured it out. This time in Nanjing, since the code name is "Ge Que Action", providing intelligence is probably secondary, and the key moment to respond and cover up "Que" is the real purpose. She will play the role of a "horse front soldier". This is not surprising in the espionage war. Some things, if "Que" does them personally, the risk cost is too high, and she is that pawn that transfers risk. Moreover, if "Que" is suspected, she can betray herself to gain trust and merit. At the critical moment, the Military Bureau will abandon the pawn to protect the horse. This is not a problem, but what makes Dong Zhiyu feel pressured is that even now, the Military Bureau still does not reveal the full plan to her. From now on in Nanjing, she not only has to survive among the various Japanese and puppet forces, but also has to guard against the invisible eyes and ears of the Military Bureau behind her back. The so-called enemy is in the dark, and I am in the light. This next step by step, if it's said that it's like walking on thin ice, it's not an exaggeration at all. Whether she can successfully infiltrate and complete the revolutionary task depends on her own caution and cleverness.
As for the revolutionary mission, Lao Chen's sacrifice has undoubtedly turned her into a dead pawn on this red route. In the past, all contacts with the organization were through Lao Chen's single thread. She had no radio, no information from other comrades, and the only thing that could prove her identity was the classmate who introduced her to join the party at Fudan University. However, it is now clearly impossible to contact this classmate. Firstly, she does not know where this person is now, and secondly, all her correspondence will inevitably be monitored. The only way to find the organization now seems to be through the Military Bureau or even the Japanese puppet Nanjing intelligence agency.
The train's whistle brought her back to the present from her complicated thoughts. She looked at her watch and soon they would arrive at the station. Outside the window, the green mountains were like a dark eyebrow, and the setting sun was like blood. The ancients sighed that "the country is broken but the mountains and rivers remain". I think of our great China, with 40 million compatriots, now being ravaged by foreign invaders to such an extent. Our generation has no choice, we can only raise a gun in everyone's heart, pointing it at the head of the aggressor, even if it means sacrificing this entire generation, we must let future generations live with dignity on their own land!
At this moment, in the first-class carriage of "Blue Steel Express", a young woman gazed out of the window with sparkling eyes, ready to offer her young life in exchange for the magnificent rivers and mountains outside.
