novelAbuy Chapter 1947 Chongqing Intelligence
Chapter 1947 Chongqing Intelligence
Chapter 1947 Chongqing Intelligence
French Concession.
Li Meilu.
"Manager, be careful." Zhou Hongda stepped forward to help Kikuchi Monojiro up. "You've had too much to drink."
"Bag-ya-luo." Kikuchi Monojiro slapped Zhou Hongda hard across the face.
He whipped it with such force that he staggered and nearly fell to the ground.
Not satisfied with slapping Zhou Hongda, Kikuchi Monojiro kicked him to the ground and staggered toward the outhouse in the alley.
Zhou Hongda got up from the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood, and muttered curses under his breath, wishing that Kikuchi Monojiro would fall into the latrine.
Kikuchi Monojiro was urinating, humming a Hokkaido folk song.
……
Just then, a rope slowly fell from the sky and looped around Kikuchi Monojiro's neck.
By the time Kikuchi Monojiro realized what was happening and tried to pull off the rope around his neck, it was too late.
He was hoisted up, his legs kicking frantically, and soon he stopped moving.
Then, a figure landed, searched Kikuchi Monojiro's body, and threw the corpse into the latrine.
……
"Brother Fan, how did I do today?" On the way back, Li Hao couldn't help but ask Cheng Qianfan while driving.
During this operation, Brother Fan secretly observed and supervised, but did not participate in the operation himself; he carried out everything on his own.
“Kikuchi Monojiro had two gold teeth, and you forgot to knock them out,” Cheng Qianfan said to Li Hao. “Since you’re planning to stage a robbery and murder, you shouldn’t forget about those two gold teeth.”
"It was my oversight." Li Hao nodded, expressing his heartfelt admiration for Brother Fan. "I've thought about it, and the difference between me and you, Brother Fan, lies in these details."
He asked Cheng Qianfan, "Brother Fan, what should we do?"
"Ignore it," Cheng Qianfan said, shaking his head. "This kind of oversight, while a mistake, isn't one that poses a direct threat..."
"Or rather," Cheng Qianfan said to Li Hao, "the threat posed by this kind of negligence is much smaller than the threat posed by you returning to the crime scene to try and remedy the negligence."
……
“I understand.” Li Hao thought carefully and said, “There are some explanations for why the gold tooth wasn’t knocked out, such as it was dark and he didn’t notice it. In short, it’s not a directly fatal oversight. However, if I go back to the scene, it will actually be more dangerous.”
“That makes sense.” Cheng Qianfan stretched his neck and shoulders, then lay down and covered his face with his hat. “Haozi, I’m going to sleep for a while, don’t disturb me.”
"Yes, Brother Fan." Li Hao nodded.
He could clearly feel the immense pressure that Fan was under. Fan was exhausted, not just physically, but even more so mentally.
The Kikuchi Monojiro that he just eliminated was someone he had already scouted and included on a list of potential targets for punishment, someone he could take action against at any time. This time, Fan-ge used him to release some pressure.
……
The next day.
No. 22 Xuehuali Road.
Inside the police station, the officers were having a heated discussion.
"What are you talking about? It's so lively." Cheng Qianfan walked into the police station and asked with a smile.
Hou Pingliang came up and took Fan Ge's umbrella away.
"Brother Fan, we were just talking about how these Chongqing elements are really messing with the latrines," a patrolman said.
"What do you mean?" Cheng Qianfan asked.
"Here's the thing, Brother Fan," Lu Jiufan reported as he approached, "a body has been found in the latrine over on Li Mei Road."
Cheng Qianfan strode towards the stairs, and the police officers along the way stood up and saluted.
The leather boots thumped on the wooden floor of the stairs.
"Were the dead Japanese?" Cheng Qianfan frowned and asked.
"Yes." Lu Jiufan followed Brother Fan into the office, closed the door behind him, and busied himself making tea for Brother Fan.
"Go away, get out of here," Cheng Qianfan said irritably. "I'll brew my own good tea. Your method is a complete waste of my fine tea leaves."
Lu Jiufan chuckled.
……
"continue."
"Yes," Lu Jiufan said. "Detective Su led his men to the scene, and the identity of the deceased has been confirmed."
"The deceased was named Kikuchi Monojiro. He was a member of the Japanese Veterans Affairs Department and the director of the Japanese-owned Shinchang Cotton Mill. He also served as the manager of the Yufeng Cotton Mill," Lu Jiufan said, lowering his voice. "It is said that he was also a secret intelligence agent for the Japanese Shanghai Special Higher Police."
Cheng Qianfan looked up at Lu Jiufan and asked, "Is this rumor accurate?"
"I don't know." Lu Jiufan quickly shook his head and said, "Someone at the Mailan Police Station said so, but it hasn't been confirmed."
Cheng Qianfan nodded. "Don't spread unverified rumors publicly."
"Understood." Lu Jiufan nodded. He understood what Brother Fan meant: don't spread it publicly, but you must report it.
“Four or five Japanese soldiers just died up ahead, and the Japanese are continuing to put pressure on us,” Cheng Qianfan said with a snort. “And now this has happened in the Mailan District. Brother Zhikang is going to have a headache now.”
……
McLan Police Station.
Su Zhikang had a cigarette between his teeth and took several slow, muffled puffs. His eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night.
"Did you get any results?" Su Zhikang asked Zeng Jie as he entered.
"Detective, Zhou Hongda has confessed." Zeng Jie said happily, "Zhou Hongda admitted that he harbored resentment because he was often beaten by Kikuchi Monojiro. This time, Kikuchi Monojiro was drunk and beat him again without reason. He fought back and accidentally strangled Kikuchi Monojiro to death."
"After that, in a panic, he threw the body into the latrine and fled in a hurry," Zeng Jie said. "After regaining his senses, in order to cover his tracks, he went to the police station to report that Kikuchi Monojiro had been murdered by a villain."
"Very good." Su Zhikang flicked his cigarette ash and smiled at Zeng Jie. "I knew you were capable, A-Jie. You solved this heinous murder case so quickly. Not bad, not bad."
"Detective," Zeng Jie checked that the door was closed, then asked in a low voice, "The Japanese are watching this case. Is this how you close it..."
"The Japanese want results, they want the murderer. We'll give them the murderer, what more do they want?" Su Zhikang sneered.
As he spoke, he waved.
Zeng Jie stepped forward.
“Zhou Hongda, the murderer, worked at Yufeng Textile Factory and was a follower of Kikuchi Monojiro. This death and injury was caused by their internal dispute. What does it have to do with our French Concession?” Su Zhikang said, chuckling lightly. “It’s not that we want to close the case this way, it’s that the higher-ups like it too.”
“Ah Jie understands.” Zeng Jie looked at Su Zhikang with a look of sudden realization and full of respect.
Su Zhikang waved his hand, and Zeng Jie carefully closed the door as he left.
Su Zhikang smiled and shook his head. His subordinate was actually a jack-of-all-trades, knowing everything. Life is like a play, and it all depends on acting skills.
……
"Is this the case closure report from the McLaren Police Station?" Shinta Azuma threw the documents in his hand on the table and questioned Tomoya Hino.
“Yes, Chief,” Hino Yuya said. “The case closure letter was just delivered by someone from the McLaren Police Station.”
"Does the McLaren police station think I'm a stupid idiot?" my grandson Shinta shouted angrily.
Putting everything else aside, he went to the scene to examine the body, and the body had been strangled to death with a rope, which shows that the murderer had considerable wrist strength and power.
He looked at Zhou Hongda and didn't think he was the kind of person with that kind of strength.
Most importantly, he had his suspicions about Zhou Hongda and had arranged for his men to investigate. Zhou Hongda had followed Kikuchi Monojiro for many years and was arguably the most obedient Chinese under Kikuchi Monojiro.
This man even offered his wife to Kikuchi Monojiro for his own enjoyment. When he helped Kikuchi Monojiro manage the Chinese female workers in the yarn factory, even the imperial managers were amazed by his harsh and almost cruel attitude and behavior.
My grandson Shinta doesn't believe that Zhou Hongda, who has completely submitted to the empire both physically and mentally, would suddenly rebel and even dare to kill Kikuchi Monojiro.
Just then, the telephone on my grandson Shinta's desk rang.
"Hai, I'm coming right now."
My grandson Shinta hung up the phone and then went to the section chief's office.
……
"What are your thoughts on the murder of Kikuchi Monojiro?" Arao Tomohiro put down the documents in his hand and said to my grandson Shinta.
“The police station’s case closure letter indicates that the murderer was Zhou Hongda, Kikuchi Monojiro’s Chinese subordinate. However, I do not accept this conclusion,” Shinta Abiko said. “Both in terms of ability and motive, Zhou Hongda should not be the murderer.”
“I have thought it over carefully. The only ones with the motive and, most importantly, the ability to do it are either Kuomintang agents or Communist Party members,” said my grandson, Shinta.
"Do you think it's more likely to be the Military Intelligence Bureau or the Communist Party?" Arao Tomohiro asked.
“My subordinates are inclined towards the Red Party,” Shinta Azuma said.
"Oh?" Arao Tomohiro looked at my grandson Shinta in surprise. "Tell me about it."
His initial assessment was that the murderer was likely a member of the Kuomintang's Military Intelligence Bureau, or to put it more bluntly, he tended to believe it was the work of remnants of the Shanghai branch.
Unexpectedly, my grandson Shinta, the head of the intelligence office, tended to believe that it was the work of the Red Party members.
……
“At first, I also focused more on Kikuchi Monojiro’s identity as a secret intelligence agent,” Shinta Abiko said. “However, Kikuchi Monojiro’s identity as an intelligence agent was actually quite secretive, and the possibility of the enemy finding out about his identity as an intelligence agent was low.”
"Then, Kikuchi Monojiro's other identities include being a member of the management department of the Veterans Affairs Department, the director of the Japanese-owned Shinchang Cotton Mill, and the manager of the Yufeng Cotton Mill, which he also held concurrently," Shinta Abiko said. "After careful consideration, I think that what might bring Kikuchi Monojiro's life danger is more likely his position at the cotton mill."
He told Tomohiro Arao, "The Red Party's policy has always been to cultivate deep roots in factories, secretly developing among those lowly workers."
“I suspect that Kikuchi Monojiro discovered something in the factory, such as clues about the Red Party, which led to him being silenced by the Red Party,” said Shinta Abiko.
As he spoke, he handed a document to Arao Tomohiro with both hands, “The surveillance report from Yufeng Textile Mill states that the workers have been restless recently and show signs of intending to strike.”
Arao Tomohiro carefully examined the document, then closed it, pondered for a moment, and slowly shook his head, saying, "The possibility of him being a member of the Red Party is unlikely."
He looked at my grandson Shinta and said, "The Red Party has always tried to avoid taking actions such as assassinations."
My grandson Shinta frowned slightly, about to defend his point of view.
"Of course, this is only a preliminary judgment, and we still need to uncover the truth," said Tomohiro Arao.
“Hai,” my grandson Shinta said, “we will continue to put pressure on the McLaren Police Station…”
……
“No, we accept the French Concession’s official letter of closure,” Arao Tomohiro suddenly said.
"What?!" Shinta Agasa stared at Tomohiro Arao in shock.
“I said, our side accepts the case closure letter from the McLaren Police Station,” said Tomohiro Arao.
"But……"
“No buts.” Arao Tomohiro said in a deep voice, “Ferguson called. Neither the French nor the Empire actually want to see frequent attacks against the Empire in the French Concession.”
"The Empire is preparing to reclaim the French Concession. What the Empire needs is a situation where the Japanese army eagerly awaits its arrival and welcomes the royal army, not a French Concession that is always filled with shootings and assassinations and is a haven for anti-Japanese elements!" He looked at my grandson Shinta and said with a serious expression, "Everything must serve Zheng Zhi's overall interests. You must understand this."
"Understood!" My grandson Shinta said quickly, his expression serious.
“But—” Arao Tomohiro said, “We have accepted the official letter of closure from the French Concession’s Melan Police Station. This does not mean that we have given up the investigation. You should arrange for people to continue the secret investigation on your side.”
"Hai."
……
"Has Kentaro Miyazaki visited Araki these past few days?" Tomohiro Arao suddenly asked.
“No.” Shinta Abiko shook his head and said, “Perhaps he was frightened by the military police’s questioning last time, or perhaps he was warned, so he chose to reduce contact with Araki-kun for the time being.”
"Have you found any clues about the little book that Ryoto Ohno asked us to help find?" Tomohiro Arao asked.
“We have some initial clues and judgments,” Shinta Asako said. “Based on the clues at hand, my preliminary judgment is that it was the work of the Shanghai Special Intelligence Bureau. They assassinated Professor Mizutani Shogo in Nanjing and then discovered the notebook that Saito Matsuya used to record experimental data.”
He told Arao Tomohiro, "I deduce that the other party must have brought the booklet to Shanghai and presented it to Xiao Mian."
"Furthermore, it has been confirmed that among those killed by our side in the Nanjing Xiaguan Wharf attack were Shen Xi, Zhang Xiaonao, and others who had escaped from the former Kuomintang Qingdao Station. This also confirms that the attackers were Kuomintang personnel." My grandson Shinta said with a frown, "However, I need to find clues connecting these remnants of the Qingdao Station with the Shanghai Special Intelligence Bureau."
“There’s no need to search anymore,” said Arao Tomohiro. “After Shen Xi and the other remnants of the Qingdao station left Qingdao, it can be basically confirmed that they were placed under Xiao Mian’s leadership.”
His expression was extremely serious. "Intelligence indicates that the mastermind behind the tragic death of His Highness Prince Fushimi in Qingdao was none other than Xiao Mian's Shanghai Special Intelligence Bureau."
……
"That, that unfortunate person who perished, was really, really Prince Fushimi?" Shinta Akagi asked in astonishment.
Although the Chinese side has consistently claimed to have achieved a brilliant victory in the ambush of Prince Fushimi Shunsuke, the Empire has never acknowledged it. Even my grandson Shinta, a mid-level officer in the Empire's intelligence department, was unaware of the details of what happened in Qingdao, or rather, had no concrete intelligence to confirm it.
Arao Tomohiro frowned and glared at my grandson Shinta. Is this the time to be agonizing over this?
"The intelligence comes from Chongqing," Arao Tomohiro said in a deep voice. "The reliability of the intelligence is beyond question!"
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(End of this chapter)