Chapter 53: Captured by Accident (Pleading for Bookmarks)

  Sato came over, bowed his head to take a look at the signature, and it was actually a landscape painting by Dong Qichang. He hurriedly praised: "Dong Qichang, a very famous Chinese painter, is, is from the Ming Dynasty?"

  "Not bad." Kawasaki said with a proud smile: "The 'Essence of Painting' once commented that 'Dong Qichang's landscape paintings have trees, rocks, and clouds flowing smoothly, with a full sense of spirit, and are written in a refined and elegant brush. However, I think his brushwork is too soft, too delicate, lacking in vigor and grandeur!"

  "Mr. Kawasaki is indeed a man of discerning taste, I admire him." Sato hurriedly flattered Mr. Kawasaki with one sentence, then said: "I observed that person surnamed Huang, he doesn't seem like a simple character."

  Kawasaki did not answer immediately, but carefully put the painting away in a safe and slowly said: "Unfortunately, we are in Beiping, and there are many things to consider. If we report to our superiors, we are afraid that it will delay and let this person notice and take advantage of the opportunity to escape."

  "That's right!" Sato nodded in agreement. "I heard he had several rare artifacts with him, and to let him get away is truly a shame."

  Kawasaki's eyes gleamed with greed, but he sternly rebuked, "Artifacts are secondary, the Empire's cause is supreme. If he succeeds in collecting funds and materials and returns to Manchuria, those obstinate Chinese anti-Japanese armed forces will be like fish in water, causing great losses to the Empire."

  "Yes, you are right." Sato bowed his head in agreement.

  Kawasaki paced back and forth in the study, his wooden sandals making a rhythmic sound on the floor. After a while, Kawasaki stood with his arms crossed in a uniquely Japanese pose and said in a low tone, "Sato-kun, relying on your and Ono's strength, can you subdue this person and secretly bring him here?"

  Sato hesitated, then raised his head and said: "If it's a hard fight, I'm not confident, but we can think of a clever way. For example, sneak attack, poison... I have confidence in doing well."

  Kawasaki pursed his lips and nodded slightly, saying: "Then you go ahead and do it, be sure to be careful and cautious, don't expose yourselves."

  "Ah, yes!" Sato bowed deeply and turned away.

  ……

  Japanese intelligence agencies have been infiltrating and spying on North China since the September 18th Incident, their tentacles stretching into every corner of Chinese society, from high-ranking officials to ordinary merchants and travelers, as long as they have any utility value.

  Under the premise that the Japanese invested a lot of manpower and material resources, and also due to various reasons within the country itself, it is somewhat exaggerated to say that there are traitors everywhere. However, under various means such as money temptation, private gain, and military threats, many people became pawns in the hands of the Japanese for the sake of wealth, personal desires, or resentment, betraying their country for personal glory, and Zhao Si was one of them.

  But this time, Kawasaki Takeo shifted his target to Huang Li, but it wasn't that simple. This was all thanks to Zeng Cheng's doing. Zhao Si was just bribed and used by others to reveal false information to Kawasaki. However, Huang Li didn't know that his identity had been changed to a secret agent sent out by the Northeast Anti-Japanese Armed Forces, responsible for fundraising, procurement, recruitment, etc. in Beiping, Tianjin, Shanghai, making him a heavyweight figure.

  Danger is quietly approaching, but Huang Li has not detected it. Firstly, he did not think that anyone would be hostile towards him; secondly, to be honest, his mundane life was eroding the vigilance that originally belonged to him.

  When the tea house's servant was intercepted by Sato and Ono on his way home, trembling with a dagger, pistol and money, he took over the medicine package. Huang Li was sleeping sweetly; when the servant brought him the tea water with added ingredients, Huang Li still smiled and thanked him.

  Historically, heroes are often not defeated in face-to-face battles, but rather fall at the hands of minor characters. Zhang Fei, who was known for his bravery, was beheaded by Fan Jiang while he was asleep; Dian Wei, a fierce warrior, lost his life at the Yanmen Gate because his halberd was stolen by Hu Che Er... The names of Fan Jiang and Hu Che Er are hardly remembered by most people, yet these relatively unknown individuals were able to bring down heroes like Zhang Fei and Dian Wei. Therefore, it's not surprising that Huang Lue fell at the hands of a tea house owner and died under a pot of tea.

  "Whoa!" A basin of cold water was poured over Huang Li's head, and he groaned as he slowly came to. But the anesthetic used by the Japanese was very potent, his mind was foggy, his body weak and powerless, and the sounds from outside seemed to be coming from a distant sky.

  A sharp pain came from his waist, Huang Li cried out in pain and curled up. His hands and feet were locked in shackles, he could only lie on the cold ground sideways. Immediately after, there were several more blows, his face was also kicked, blood gushed out of his nose and mouth.

  Sato beat Huang Li violently and then smiled lightly: "Damn Chinese, like a stray dog."

  The sound of wooden sandals echoed, and Kawasaki walked over, holding his arms and looking at the dazed Huang Li lying on the ground. A smile floated on his face as he turned to Sato and said, "Sato-kun, you did a great job! Has his personal belongings been checked?"

  "They've searched his body already, but that trunk hasn't been opened yet." Sato pointed to the metal trunk beside him and said, "I think we should wake him up first, then..."

  "How many hours has it been?" Kawasaki narrowed his eyes and stepped heavily on Huang Li's head, sneering as he increased the pressure.

  "It's almost three hours," Sato replied.

  "This is a special anesthetic made by the Imperial Intelligence Agency, which can even make lions and tigers sleep for more than four hours." Kawasaki slowly withdrew his foot and kicked Huang Li's stomach fiercely. Looking at Huang Li curled up like a shrimp, he sneered and raised the corner of his mouth, saying: "As for this pig head, it won't be fully awake in less than five hours to answer our questions."

  Sato opened the iron trunk of the calendar, rummaged through the contents, and threw several clothes on the ground. He then lifted his head, somewhat disappointed, and said to Kawasaki: "Sir, no valuable items were found. It seems that he didn't carry important things with him."

  Kawasaki nodded and said with an expression that wasn't particularly disappointed, "It seems he's quite clever, but it depends on whether his mouth is tight enough."

  Sato sneered and said viciously, "Ono has gone to fetch the instruments of torture. Let's go and attend to him soon. Even if he has a tongue of copper and iron, we'll make him speak."

  Kawasaki also burst out laughing and said, "I'll come to appreciate this rare performance. Think about it, we haven't heard the screams and wails of a Chinese person for a long time, that's really a good dish to go with wine!"

  The sound gradually faded away, and the surroundings quieted down. Huang Li, who Kawasaki thought would need at least two more hours to wake up, slowly opened his eyes a crack.

  Limited time free? Exclusive interview with a great god? A new book by a famous author is released for the first time? There are also lottery activities every week, Apple Watch, Q coins, starting points and more! Don't hesitate, open WeChat, scan the QR code on the left, follow easily, and don't miss out on the excitement~