usatvline Chapter 1767 The Fall of Paris
Chapter 1767 The Fall of Paris
Chapter 1767 The Fall of Paris
Everything happened just as Cheng Qianfan had expected. The secret service headquarters would not attack him because of the massacre of Hu Sishui's men. On the contrary, even Li Cuiqun had to help cover it up. It would not be an exaggeration to say that they had to swallow their anger. At least at this stage, they were not in a position to fall out with him.
There is no other reason. Once the "truth is publicly acknowledged", it will not only be a feud between the Central Police Station or Cheng Qianfan personally and the Special Agent Headquarters, but it may even escalate into a confrontation between the French Concession and Jessfield Road.
What's more, Cheng Qianfan did find photos of his family and a map of his personal whereabouts in the warehouse. This fact itself was enough to "accuse" Jessfield of intending to commit misconduct against senior police officers in the French Concession.
Of course, on the surface, his meeting with Li Cuiqun was relatively harmonious. Both sides believed that this was a misunderstanding and would not pursue the matter. However, privately, the grudge must have been formed. As for when this contradiction was revealed and intensified, it is unknown.
In addition, during this meeting with Li Cuiqun, Cheng Qianfan keenly realized that Li Cuiqun should still maintain a certain degree of trust in Hu Sishui, which shows that his previous plan with his "second cousin" was effective.
……
As the days passed, both the "Alpe Road Warehouse Incident" and the "Qingcheng Garment Store Incident" seemed to have died down and there was no further disturbance.
In the early summer of the 29th year of the Republic of China, the warm air seemed to come earlier than usual.
On the fifth day of the month, French newspapers in the French Concession excitedly reported the news that 340,000 British and French troops had successfully withdrawn to the British mainland from Dunkirk.
Pete excitedly raised his glass to celebrate, saying that this would be a turning point in the European war and that the French counterattack was about to officially begin.
However, just one day later, Pete's mood turned bad again.
On that day, the German army broke through the "Weygand Line" hastily built by the French army along the Somme and Aisne rivers and approached Paris.
Five days later, Pitt cursed the Italians in his office and said that they deserved to die because that day Italy declared war on France and Britain and crossed the Alps to invade France.
At this time, the situation on the European battlefield had become very clear. France, known as the strongest military power in Europe, not only failed to regroup and fight back against the Germans, but was defeated instead.
A few days later, the worst news came for the French Concession authorities and the French in Shanghai.
The Germans officially occupied Paris, and the capital of powerful France fell.
That day, Pete was drunk.
In the Shanghai Concession, there was an incident where angry French expatriates attacked German expatriates. However, just as the French army was beaten and fled by the Germans, twenty or thirty French expatriates attacked the Germans, but were beaten and fled by a dozen German expatriates. The police station was dispatched to temporarily capture and detain the Germans.
This incident caused strong protests from the German Consulate General in Shanghai, which demanded that the French Concession authorities immediately release their expatriates.
In the words of a German newspaper in Shanghai, if German expatriates were harmed, the whole of Paris would be buried with them. Such strong threats aroused the dissatisfaction of the French Concession authorities, but they seemed even more helpless. In order to calm the situation, they secretly released the detained German expatriates and promised to protect the legitimate rights and interests and personal property of the Germans in the French Concession.
……
"The French are scared." Araki Harima said with a chuckle.
"How can I not be afraid?" Cheng Qianfan flicked the ash off his cigarette and smiled contemptuously, "Paris has fallen. Now the entire French Concession is in a state of panic. The French Concession authorities are also in a state of panic, fearing that they will anger the Germans."
As he said that, he looked at Araki Harima and said, "Araki-kun, Section Chief Arao has never summoned me, but he suddenly wants to see me this time. What do you think it is about?"
He came to the Special Higher Police to receive orders and meet with Arao Tomohiro, but Arao Tomohiro was busy at the moment, so he came to Araki Harima first to inquire about the news.
"I don't know." Araki Harima shook his head. "Our new section chief is quite mysterious. Even I don't see him often. Even if I do see him, he will ask me about the progress of the 'Snake Hunting Operation'."
"So mysterious?" Cheng Qianfan asked in surprise.
Araki Harima nodded seriously. He had a very bad impression of the new section chief, Arao Tomohiro.
At the same time, he also found it difficult to see through Arao Chihiro.
Logically speaking, after taking office, Tomohiro Arao should have seized power and made personnel adjustments.
However, apart from the time when he just took office, Tomohiro Arao convened a meeting to question the Shanghai Special Intelligence Department and Xiao Mian, and at the same time formulated the so-called "Snake Catching Operation", ordering the Special High Section's primary task to deal with the Shanghai Special Intelligence Department and Xiao Mian, and asking about the progress from time to time, Tomohiro Arao did not make any other major moves.
Cheng Qianfan also fell into deep thought. Such a person named Arao Chihiro did not make him feel relaxed. On the contrary, he had an unknown and inexplicable intuition of danger.
……
This was the first time Cheng Qianfan met Arao Chihiro.
Arao Chihiro, who is in his thirties, looks younger than his age. He has a delicate face and wears gold-rimmed glasses. He can even be described as having a scholarly air.
"Section Chief." Cheng Qianfan bowed to Arao Chihiro.
"Kentaro Miyazaki." Tomohiro Arao sat on the chair and looked up.
"Hai."
"I've heard for a long time that you, Miyazaki, are a handsome man. After seeing you today, I find that the rumors are true." Arao Chihiro said with a smile.
"It's just a stinking skin. Fortunately, under this stinking skin lies my full loyalty to the empire and His Majesty the Emperor Tian." Cheng Qianfan said seriously.
"Well said." Arao Chihiro nodded slightly, "I have heard about your deeds a long time ago. Your file..."
As he spoke, Arao Chihiro raised the file in his hand and said, "I have read it several times."
"Miyazaki, you did a good job." Arao Chihiro looked at Miyazaki Kentaro and continued, "Kagesuke arranged for you to take the place of Cheng Qianfan and infiltrate the police station. It was really a stroke of genius."
"I was just doing my job. All this is thanks to Major Yingzuo's ingenious planning. It's a pity that Major Yingzuo died young..." Cheng Qianfan said, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Yes, the death of Kagesa-kun is a loss to the empire." Arao Chihiro nodded, and he glanced at Miyazaki Kentaro, "I said you did a good job, not only in the police station, but your work in Wang Tianhai's regime is even more amazing to me."
As he spoke, Arao Chihiro shook his head and smiled, “Chu Mingyu’s trusted assistant also received praise from Wang Tianhai, which is great.”
"This idea was made possible thanks to the planning and arrangement of Major Ying Zuo, who successfully utilized Cheng Qianfan's background." Cheng Qianfan said solemnly, "Cheng Qianfan's grandfather was a member of the Tongmenghui, and his father and mother were both martyrs of the Kuomintang. This identity was quite attractive to Wang Tianhai, who was eager to gain support from within the Kuomintang."
"Identity and background are dead, but people are alive." Arao Chihiro shook his head, "I believe that even if it is the real Cheng Qianfan, he can't do better than you."
"Thank you for the compliment, Section Chief." Cheng Qianfan said modestly.
In his heart, he was secretly guessing the purpose of Arao Chihiro calling him here. Of course, he was not naive enough to think that Arao Chihiro called him here just to praise him.
On the contrary, Arao Chihiro's praise made him even more wary.
……
"Regarding the Albert Road warehouse incident, have you reached a tacit understanding with Li Cuiqun?" asked Arao Chihiro.
"Yes, Chief." Cheng Qianfan nodded. "Both my subordinates and Li Cuiqun think this is a misunderstanding and that they are being used. In order to prevent Jessfield Road and the police station from being caught in a dilemma and causing further confrontation, the police station will only insist on identifying those people as bandits, and the secret service headquarters will deny that those people are their subordinates."
Regarding the "Alpe Road Warehouse Incident", he had previously met with Araki Harima and filed and reported the matter to the Special Higher Section.
"Li Cuiqun suffered a loss this time. Do you think he will really let it go?" Arao Tomohiro asked Miyazaki Kentaro.
"As the section chief said, Li Cuiqun is like a dumb person eating coptis, he can only bear this loss silently without being able to express his suffering." Cheng Qianfan said, "I have discussed this matter with Li Cuiqun, and we both agree that the mysterious shopkeeper Tong who called is the key figure. Unfortunately, we have not been able to find any clues about this person."
"This mysterious person deliberately designed and instigated the conflict between your group and Jesifirlu. His intentions are sinister." Arao Chihiro said, "What side do you think this person belongs to?"
"It is possible that they are from Chongqing," Cheng Qianfan said thoughtfully. "A few days ago, the Zhengyan Newspaper controlled by Chongqing reported it extensively. I highly suspect that the other group of people that night were from the Shanghai Division of the Military Control Commission. Therefore, based on this information, Chongqing is the biggest suspect."
"Have you ever suspected that the mysterious man was not from the Shanghai branch of the Military Control Commission, but from Xiao Mian's Shanghai Special Intelligence Department?" Arao Chihiro suddenly asked.
"Xiao Mian's Special Affairs Department?" Cheng Qianfan looked thoughtful. He thought for a moment before answering, "We can't rule it out. Xiao Mian and his troops are always very mysterious. This sneaky behavior is indeed somewhat in their style."
"Well, I believe that Jessfield Road will not let this matter go and will conduct an in-depth investigation. You should also continue the investigation in secret." Arao Chihiro said, "Report to me in a timely manner if there is any progress."
"Hai."
……
"On the European battlefield, the Germans have occupied Paris." Arao Chihiro leaned back on his chair and said, "There will be big changes in the French Concession. What do you think about this?"
Cheng Qianfan's heart moved. Arao Chihiro's words "there will be great changes in the French Concession" made him alert.
At the same time, although it was the first time they met, he seemed to have a little understanding of Arao Chihiro's temper from these few sentences.
Chihiro Arao said that "the French Concession will undergo great changes", and then asked him what he thought about the German occupation of Paris and the impact on the French Concession. This was equivalent to drawing a circle first and then asking him to answer.
He vaguely felt that Arao Chihiro's temperament should be quite strong, and definitely not as gentle as his appearance and conversation showed.
"On the European battlefield, the French are losing ground, and even the capital has fallen. The people in the French Concession are also in a panic. According to my subordinates, the top leaders of the French Concession can be described as being at a loss. They are also deeply worried about the future situation and the future of the French Concession." Cheng Qianfan said.
He glanced at Arao Chihiro and continued, "To be precise, what the French Concession authorities are most worried about now is that once France is defeated and the Germans occupy France, the French Concession will be isolated and helpless. They are worried that the Empire will make sovereignty claims over the French Concession."
Arao Chihiro did not speak immediately, but pondered for a while before speaking, "So, do you think now is a good time for the Empire to enter the French Concession?"
"From my personal point of view, I have been looking forward to the Empire's entry into the French Concession for a long time. I can even say that I can't wait." Cheng Qianfan said.
"Since you have your personal opinion, then you must have other considerations?" Arao Tomohiro looked at Miyazaki Kentaro with interest and said.
"It's just my humble opinion." Cheng Qianfan said modestly.
"Tell me about it." Arao Chihiro nodded slightly.
……
"France will most likely lose the war and perish," Cheng Qianfan said. "However, the French and the British are allies. Whether the Empire will enter and occupy the French Concession now, the French attitude is no longer important. What is important is what the British will think? Will the British strongly oppose the Empire's entry into the French Concession?"
Arao Chihiro looked at Miyazaki Kentaro deeply, then smiled, "Miyazaki, I didn't expect that you know a lot about the international situation and the relationship between countries, and you don't just look at things from a superficial perspective. I'm surprised by that."
"I am a good friend of Professor Sakamoto Nagayuki's son, Sakamoto Yosano. Sakamoto Yosano is the nephew of Imamura, the counselor of the Imperial Consulate General in Shanghai. Because of this relationship, I have a lot of contacts with His Excellency Imamura." Cheng Qianfan smiled, with a hint of complacency in his words that he wanted to hide but couldn't completely hide, and said, "Counselor Imamura likes to teach others. I have asked him for advice many times, so I have some understanding of the international situation and my horizons have broadened a bit."
Tomohiro Arao looked at Kentaro Miyazaki. He naturally knew that his subordinate was familiar with Heitaro Imamura. He naturally noticed the complacency and ostentation in Kentaro Miyazaki's words and found it interesting.
Of course, Tomohiro Arao was quite satisfied with the frankness and honesty that Kentaro Miyazaki showed towards him.
"If the Empire decides to take this opportunity to enter the French Concession," Arao Chihiro said solemnly, "Based on your understanding of the French Concession authorities and the International Settlement, how do you think the British and French will react?"
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