usatvline Chapter 1930 The Mysterious Little Box
Chapter 1930 The Mysterious Little Box
Chapter 1930 The Mysterious Little Box
“I understand what you mean,” Cheng Qianfan said to Lu Dazhang. “You mean that the enemy not only did not record the whereabouts of these people, but may even have erased the records of their arrest and existence.”
“I’m very worried about this possibility,” Lu Dazhang said, nodding.
Old Huang's expression was also extremely serious. "What are the Japanese doing?"
A shadow fell over all three of them. If their guesses were correct, then, upon closer examination, the problem was quite serious.
These arrested comrades of our Party, military intelligence personnel, and patriots were destined to be killed by the enemy. So what could be more terrible than being killed by the enemy?
Otherwise, why would the enemy go to such lengths to erase the traces of their existence?
The more they thought about it, the more chilling it became, and the more serious their expressions grew.
……
"Leave this to me, I will investigate it secretly," Cheng Qianfan said in a deep voice. "I still have ways to secretly find out the situation from the Special Higher Police."
“If it is indeed as we suspect, it means that the enemy may have a huge and insidious conspiracy,” Cheng Qianfan said.
"Be very careful," Old Huang cautioned. "The enemy's actions show that they are keeping this from most of their own people, which is enough to illustrate the seriousness of the matter and the danger of touching it."
"I'll be careful," Cheng Qianfan nodded.
……
“There’s something,” Cheng Qianfan said with a serious and somber expression, looking at the two of them. “'Mr. Miao' has sacrificed his life.”
"what?"
Old Huang and Lu Dazhang were both greatly surprised.
"How could this be?" Old Huang asked. "Given 'Mr. Miao's' identity, how could the enemy..."
After the second cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party and the formal establishment of the New Fourth Army, according to the information they had, or rather, the information they heard from the enemy's newspapers, "Mr. Miao" was a "red bandit leader" for whom the Japanese and puppet troops had offered a large reward, and the brigade commander of a certain brigade of the New Fourth Army.
"Recently, the Japanese and puppet troops gathered more than 3,000 men and surrounded the brigade headquarters and the headquarters of the Southern Jiangsu Party organization," Cheng Qianfan said. "'Mr. Miao' led the brigade soldiers to cover the retreat of the headquarters and the Southern Jiangsu Party Committee."
“More than two hundred New Fourth Army soldiers, including Brigade Commander ‘Mr. Miao’ and Chief of Staff Gu, sacrificed their lives,” Cheng Qianfan said. “The enemy is already publicizing their so-called victory, and General Meiling has also issued a public document to the entire army, deeply mourning the deaths of Generals Miao and Gu.”
Cheng Qianfan, Lao Huang, and Lu Dazhang stood up, bowed their heads, and observed a moment of silence to mourn the sacrifices of Comrades Miao and Gu, as well as the more than two hundred other New Fourth Army soldiers who bravely sacrificed their lives.
……
"I heard from Lao Huang that you're going to Nanjing soon?" Lu Dazhang asked.
“Yes.” Cheng Qianfan nodded. “After all, I am Chu Mingyu’s secretary, and I still have to work at the Wang Jingwei regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
He said to the two of them, "There's another reason."
“Although the Japanese haven’t occupied the French Concession yet, in my judgment, the Vichy regime in France will find it difficult to withstand the pressure from the Japanese indefinitely,” Cheng Qianfan said, offering cigarettes to Lao Huang and Lu Dazhang.
"At most two years, at least half a year or a year, I reckon the Japanese will officially occupy the French Concession," he said. "That would mean my position and role as the deputy chief inspector of the French Concession's central police station would be greatly weakened."
"So, Chu Mingyu means that I should gradually shift my work focus to Nanjing," Cheng Qianfan said.
"It seems that Minister Chu truly values and takes good care of you," Lu Dazhang said with a smile.
"The son of an old friend, a descendant of a founding father of the Party and the State, and a graduate of the Jiangwan Officer Training Corps," Old Huang said with a smile. "I am Chu Mingyu, and I will also mentor such a junior."
……
"Let's get down to business," Cheng Qianfan said. "What I just said is that the Japanese will eventually occupy the French Concession. If that day really comes, it will mean that the entire city of Shanghai will fall completely into Japanese hands, and our struggle environment will deteriorate to an unprecedented degree. Therefore..."
Cheng Qianfan said with a serious expression, "We must be prepared for the worst-case scenario."
"Medicines, weapons and ammunition, food and supplies," Old Huang said. "From large items to small items like a barrel of gasoline or a dry cell battery, we need to stockpile them now."
He flicked his cigarette ash and said, "I have a feeling that the struggle in the next year or two will be extremely difficult."
"Alright, I'll take care of these preparations," Cheng Qianfan said, looking at Lu Dazhang. "Are the Japanese still trying to win you over?"
“Yes.” Lu Dazhang nodded. “In accordance with the resolution of the branch meeting, I have always maintained a friendly attitude towards the Japanese.”
“However, I’ve thought it over carefully,” Lu Dazhang said. “What I mean is, it’s enough to just show some affinity to the Japanese; I’d better not completely side with them.”
"Old Huang, what's your opinion?" Cheng Qianfan asked Old Huang.
“I agree with Lao Lu’s opinion.” Lao Huang pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, “Your identity is Japanese, and Comrade ‘Cicada Chrysanthemum’ has also ‘defected’ to the Japanese. Under these circumstances, ‘Flying Fish’ does not need to completely defect to the Japanese, as that would be detrimental to our work.”
“Alright, it’s decided then.” Cheng Qianfan said thoughtfully. “Also, if the French Concession is occupied by the Japanese, my suggestion is that I recommend Lao Lu to Chu Mingyu so that he can take a position in the Wang Jingwei regime.”
“That’s fine.” Lu Dazhang nodded in agreement.
……
When Cheng Qianfan returned to the Lafayette Lu residence, it was already 8:45 PM.
He entered the living room and saw Zhou Ru bringing out a plate of snacks. Xiao Bao was holding Xiao Zhima's hand and pushing Li Ben in the cradle.
Cheng Qianfan knew from Zhou Ru's expression that a telegram had arrived, so Zhou Ru and her husband stayed overnight at the Cheng residence.
"Where's Haozi?" Cheng Qianfan asked. "Have him come to the study."
"I'll go call him." Zhou Ru instructed Xiao Bao to take the children out for snacks, and then went to the guest room to call her husband.
……
study.
Cheng Qianfan was fiddling with a cigarette in his hand, carefully reading the telegram.
He fell into thought.
My grandson Shinta did indeed go to Nanjing in person, which was in line with his previous prediction.
If we could take this opportunity to get rid of my grandson Shinta, that would be the best outcome.
My grandson Shinta is an extremely intelligent man; he can be described as cunning and treacherous.
After this person took office from the Nanjing Special Higher Police Section to the Shanghai Special Higher Police Section, the threat he posed to the anti-Japanese forces was obvious.
Taking the Shanghai Red Party as an example, after my grandson Shen Tai took office, the various organizations suffered considerable losses. Among them, the Nanshi Party Working Committee made a mistake two months ago, and my grandson Shen Tai's intelligence room seized the clues. In the end, following the clues, they almost wiped out the Nanshi Party Working Committee, which can be described as a heavy loss.
The small box that Qiao Chuntao reported in the telegram, which Mizutani Shogo valued highly and even kept close at hand, attracted Cheng Qianfan's attention.
He objectively agreed with the assessment of Qiao, Mao, and Shen that the possibility of the small box containing important documents or confidential information was relatively small.
Well, the problem is coming.
What's inside the small box?
Why does Mizutani value Shogo so much?
……
In his call, Qiao Chuntao asked for instructions, saying that he planned to take action before Mizutani Shogo left Nanjing, according to the pre-arranged plan.
This was also one of the options, or rather, the preferred option, that Cheng Qianfan gave Qiao Chuntao in his telegram:
According to his discussion with Araki Harima, they planned to wait until Mizutani Shogo arrived in Shanghai before taking action, at the earliest at the Shanghai docks. The target of their action was the personnel in the intelligence room, starting with his grandson Shinta.
Cheng Qianfan readily agreed, and he did indeed secretly hire a gunman to carry out the plan.
Based on this 'plan,' Cheng Qianfan's first consideration was to arrange for people to take action in Nanjing. This is also why he arranged for Mao Xuanyi and Shen Xi to lead people to Nanjing to support Qiao Chuntao's Nanjing station.
In this way, after the operation, he can minimize the chances of being suspected.
Cheng Qianfan lit the cigarette he was playing with and fell into deep thought.
He was inclined to agree with Qiao Chuntao's plan to proceed as scheduled and take action in Nanjing.
However, the small box that Mizutani Shogo mentioned in the telegram from Nanjing was of great importance to Cheng Qianfan aroused his keen interest.
Regardless of whether the small box contains important classified documents, intelligence, or some other mysterious item, the fact that it attracted such attention from Mizutani Shogo demonstrates its importance and extraordinary nature.
It should be noted that the mission Araki Harima was given to protect Mizutani Shogo was to provide limited security and protection in extremely dangerous situations. The Japanese would rather execute Mizutani Shogo themselves than let him fall into the hands of the enemy. This is enough to show how important and mysterious Mizutani Shogo was. How could Cheng Qianfan not be interested in such a mysterious little box that Mizutani Shogo valued so much?
Cheng Qianfan fell into deep thought, momentarily undecided.
……
Nanjing.
Zhuqiao Bridge.
"What does the Chief mean by this?" Mao Xuanyi took the telegram from Qiao Chuntao, glanced at it, and asked in surprise.
The telegram contained only four words: "Reconnoiter and report again."
“It means exactly what it says,” Qiao Chuntao said. “The Chief instructed us to continue gathering intelligence, to obtain more details, and to send a telegram to Shanghai.”
"So, the Director didn't approve our action plan?" Mao Xuanyi asked.
“It’s neither approved nor rejected,” Qiao Chuntao said. “This means the director is still considering it.”
“My feeling is that the Director has some doubts,” Shen Xi said thoughtfully.
He noticed that Qiao Chuntao and Mao Xuanyi were looking at him. After thinking for a moment, he continued, "Let me share my thoughts. My feeling is that the Chief may have been influenced by that mysterious little box we mentioned."
"I think it's possible," Mao Xuanyi nodded and said.
"The three of us were all drawn to that mysterious little box and discussed it quite a bit," Qiao Chuntao said. "How could the Chief not notice it?"
"Then let's try to find out what's in that mysterious little box," Shen Xi said thoughtfully.
"It's easier said than done." Mao Xuanyi shook his head. "We can only monitor from the outside; we can't get close to the target at all."
He lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, "Even if we arrange for people to get close to the target, such as by disguising themselves as waiters or rickshaw pullers, it would be almost impossible for them to access the mysterious box, let alone obtain any relevant information."
Shen Xi nodded solemnly; Mao Xuanyi was right.
"We should give it a try," Qiao Chuntao said after a moment's thought. "What if we find something useful?"
Mao Xuanyi and Shen Xi exchanged a glance and both nodded.
"Then try it."
"It's worth a try." Shen Xi thought for a moment, then reminded him, "Be extremely careful and don't alert them."
Qiao Chuntao nodded solemnly.
……
The light drizzle stopped in the early morning.
The chill in Shanghai after the rain was biting.
76 Jesfield Road.
Inside Li Cuiqun's fortress office.
"Brother Yunmin, was your journey smooth?" Li Cuiqun asked Meng Tianyou with a smile.
"Everything went smoothly," Meng Tianyou said.
"I'm so sorry to have suddenly been summoned back to Shanghai," Li Cuiqun said.
"The director issues a telegram, and I obey. This is my duty, and I dare not complain of hardship," Meng Tianyou hurriedly replied.
"I'm sure you understand why I called you back to Shanghai," Li Cuiqun said, glancing at Meng Tianyou.
"I understand," Meng Tianyou said.
He was secretly grumbling to himself. He had just arrived in Shanghai when Zhang Lu greeted him at the dock and then held a secret meeting with him, where they talked for quite a while. Under such circumstances, what could he not understand?
“I’m in a dilemma too,” Li Cuiqun sighed. “On one hand, there’s brotherhood, and on the other hand, there’s Party discipline, national law, and fairness and justice.”
“Now that things have come to this, Sishui will probably blame me.” He shook his head vigorously as he spoke.
“I understand the director’s predicament from the bottom of my heart,” Meng Tianyou said. “Captain Hu has no one to blame but himself for getting to this point. I heard that the director had advised him long ago and had been lenient with him many times. Therefore, Captain Hu really has no one to blame but himself.
“That may be true, but…” Li Cuiqun waved her hand, then sighed, “Never mind, never mind.”
……
“A merciful officer cannot command an army; this is a last resort.” He glanced at Meng Tianyou. “Tomorrow, you will issue a formal letter in the name of ‘Zheng Zhi’s Guard Headquarters’ to seal off Hu Sishui’s home and related properties.”
"Understood," Meng Tianyou replied.
“Everything must be strictly registered,” Li Cuiqun said in a deep voice. “This is also for the purpose of subsequent verification. Illegal assets will naturally be seized, but we must also resolutely protect legitimate personal property.”
“The director has shown compassion for Captain Hu and is fair in his dealings. I believe Captain Hu will appreciate it,” Meng Tianyou said. “I will certainly follow the director’s instructions and do a good job in the sealing and registration work.”
"Warrant Lieutenant Shibuya will accompany you with military police," Li Cuiqun said in a low voice. "Be mindful of the impact; don't let our allies laugh at us."
"Understood," Meng Tianyou replied.
Li Cuiqun gave Meng Tianyou a deep look, as if to confirm whether Meng Tianyou truly understood, before slowly nodding.
P.S.: Please subscribe, give a reward, vote for me with monthly tickets, and recommend me with your votes. Thank you!
Please subscribe, please tip, please vote with monthly tickets, please recommend. Thank you.
(End of this chapter)