Chapter 162: Iwai Eiichi

The torrential rain that struck Shanghai between the spring and summer of 1936 lasted nearly three full hours.

As far as the eye could see, the world had become a vast expanse of water.

On many roads in the urban districts of Shanghai, floodwaters reached depths of several inches.

The shantytowns along the banks of Suzhou Creek suffered especially severe damage.

The more common dwellings in the shantytowns were huts or simple houses built from bamboo, wood, grass, and mud. These were already considered relatively good residences in the area.

Even more numerous were A-frame or semi-circular structures made from bamboo and wooden slats, known as “rolling dragons.”

A “rolling dragon” was a shack built by bending bamboo strips into arches and inserting them into the ground as a frame, then covering the structure with reed mats.

These huts had no windows. A grass curtain served as a door. Most were only as high as an adult’s chest.

Inside a “rolling dragon,” there was room only to sleep. There was not even space to sit.

The so-called bed consisted merely of straw and tattered cotton padding spread on the ground.

After hours of torrential rain, the “rolling dragons” of Pingjiang Village had suffered near-total devastation amid the storm.

In some places, the water was nearly half a meter deep.

Countless cries of grief and calls for help rose and fell throughout the darkness.

Yang Ximei’s tiny body clung to half a wooden plank, floating among the bamboo strips and wooden boards that had once been her home and were now nothing but ruins.

From time to time, the little girl swallowed a mouthful of muddy water.

A look of satisfaction even appeared on her face.

If she drank enough, perhaps she would no longer feel hungry.

In the end, even the two secret agents conducting surveillance could not bear to watch any longer.

In the darkness, they rescued the “foolish” little girl, gave her a beating, and then handed her a steamed bun.

The little prisoner could not die.

Otherwise there would be no bait left to catch the fish.

Hongkou District was also struck by the sudden storm.

The Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai.

Japanese soldiers had piled sandbags at the entrances to residential buildings to resist the flooding.

Everywhere was a scene of frantic activity.

Yet at this very moment, the office of Iwai Eiichi, Deputy Consul General of Japan in Shanghai, was filled with animated discussion and deafening noise.

Representatives from the Japanese Army General Staff’s Shanghai Intelligence Agency, the Special Higher Police Section of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Shanghai Consular Police Bureau, the Japanese Navy Shanghai Naval Attaché Intelligence Department, the Japanese Navy Shanghai Marine Corps Intelligence Department, and the Inoue Residence had all gathered together.

The major Japanese intelligence and security organizations in Shanghai were packed into one room.

These intelligence agencies were far from harmonious.

They regularly looked down on one another and even occasionally engaged in dirty tricks against each other behind the scenes.

Now that they had met face to face, sarcastic remarks and mockery naturally filled the room.

For example, the Special Higher Police Section of the Foreign Ministry’s Shanghai Consular Police Bureau looked down upon the “rabble” of the Inoue Residence and accused it of consuming funding wildly disproportionate to its actual capabilities.

The Inoue Residence was subordinate to the Army General Staff’s Shanghai Intelligence Agency, so the Army intelligence representatives naturally came forward to defend it, counterattacking by accusing the Special Higher Police Section of incompetence.

Watching the Army factions criticize each other, the Navy’s two intelligence agencies burst into laughter and showered them with sarcastic remarks.

Eventually:

“Navy: Army idiots.”

“Army: Navy idiots.”

Yingzuo Eiichi, attending such a meeting for the first time under the guidance of his uncle Yingzuo Teiaki, stared at the scene in stunned disbelief.

Yingzuo Teiaki shot his nephew a look.

Don’t make a fuss over something so ordinary.

At first, Yingzuo Eiichi remained silent.

He was observing.

Very quickly, everyone present witnessed the formidable combat power of this unfamiliar young man’s verbal attacks.

Whether it was the Army General Staff’s Shanghai Intelligence Agency or the Navy’s two intelligence organizations, all were criticized by Yingzuo Eiichi until they were left utterly battered:

Only our Special Higher Police Section is the best.

No objections accepted.

As for the Inoue Residence?

Yingzuo Eiichi did not even bother mentioning it.

Outside the room, a squad of Japanese soldiers patrolled back and forth.

Security was extremely tight.

The soldiers’ steel helmets and bayonets gleamed under the lights.

“Deputy Consul General Iwai Eiichi has arrived!” the orderly announced from the doorway.

Wearing a raincoat, Iwai Eiichi pushed open the door and entered.

As he spread his arms, a guard immediately stepped forward to help remove his raincoat.

Out of respect for the organizer of the meeting, the participants temporarily ceased their noisy arguments.

Everyone rose and saluted Iwai Eiichi.

Iwai Eiichi gestured for everyone to relax and take their seats.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Iwai Eiichi said, “I believe all of you have conducted considerable research into the current state of the war between Japan and China. Many people are dissatisfied with the current situation and believe the Empire has been excessively cautious.”

His remarks immediately sparked a lively discussion among those present.

After allowing the participants to discuss the matter for a while, Iwai Eiichi continued.

“China is a piece of fat meat. We have already swallowed one bite, and even richer portions remain at our lips. This is an opportunity tied to the Empire’s fortunes for the next hundred years. The thousand-year dream of the Yamato race to conquer China is about to be realized in our generation.”

His words triggered a chorus of excited shouting.

“This is a recently drafted plan from the Foreign Ministry. Please take a look.”

Iwai Eiichi waved his right hand, signaling his aide to distribute the documents.

Across the top was printed:

“Outline of the Imperial Plan for Expanding the War Against China.”

After seeing that everyone had finished reading the document, Iwai Eiichi continued.

“Intelligence agencies are the Empire’s eyes. Persuading Chinese generals to defect, creating incidents, gathering information on Chinese military strength and deployment plans, all of you are among the finest members of our intelligence services. You understand the importance of intelligence better than I do.”

Looking at the satisfied expressions around the room, Iwai Eiichi nodded and continued.

“The Imperial Consulate General in Shanghai is currently planning an operation. We hope to receive full cooperation from all sides.”

“The specific coordination requirements for each of your organizations are all listed in the documents. There is one point I wish to emphasize. Colonel Yingzuo Teiaki will serve as the central commander of this operation. If there are any problems, you may contact him directly. I hope everyone will cooperate fully.”

“Yingzuo Teiaki asks for your continued guidance and support,” Yingzuo Teiaki said as he rose to his feet, a pleased expression on his face.

After seeing off the representatives of the various intelligence organizations, Iwai Eiichi’s face darkened.

Despite all their chest-thumping assurances of “No problem” and “Leave it to us,” Iwai Eiichi did not trust any of them.

At that moment, he felt a stronger urge than ever before to establish an intelligence organization directly under his own command.

Iwai Eiichi had graduated from the Tongwen Academy established in Shanghai by Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

The academy was, in essence, a spy school.

It specifically selected young Japanese men to study Chinese within a Chinese-language environment and produced a large number of Japanese experts on China.

Its graduates specialized in cultivating relationships with Chinese intellectuals and collecting strategic intelligence on China under the guise of cultural activities.

Using cultural exchange as a cover for cultural infiltration, they sought to indoctrinate China’s cultural elites and use their influence to shape government policy toward Japan, causing them to consciously serve Japan’s war of aggression against China.

As a graduate of the East Asia Common Culture Academy, Iwai Eiichi felt it was necessary to revisit his alma mater and cultivate relationships with some talented young people.