Chapter 183: Magnificent, Eguchi-kun!

Zhou Ru, who had memorized the entire codebook, had no opportunity to put her skills to use this time, because the security classification of this telegram exceeded her authorization level.

She removed her headphones and handed the telegram to Cheng Qianfan.

Cheng Qianfan swept his eyes across it.

Then he turned and left for the bedroom next door.

There were two codebooks between Cheng Qianfan and Xiongzhen Tower in Hangzhou.

Codebook B was the standard issue, the one mastered by Zhou Ru. Naturally, Cheng Qianfan also knew that codebook.

There was also another Codebook A.

Only Cheng Qianfan and Yu Ping’an possessed that codebook.

The codebook existed inside Cheng Qianfan’s mind.

He pulled a specially made flat wooden board from the desk drawer and placed three sheets of blank paper on it.

Soon, he deciphered the telegram.

Yu Ping’an’s telegram mainly concerned two matters.

The Nanjing headquarters of the Special Service Office had specially approved 5,000 legal tender yuan as funds for purchasing sulfanilamide.

The money had already been deposited into the undercover group’s special account at the Shanghai branch of the Bank of China.

Cheng Qianfan could withdraw it at any time using the seal and the code phrase.

Cheng Qianfan greatly admired Dai Chunfeng’s decisiveness.

Upon learning of sulfanilamide’s medicinal value, the Director had not hesitated in the slightest and had been remarkably generous.

The authority of the Special Service Office was expanding, and its deterrent power was increasing as well.

Accordingly, there were more and more areas requiring expenditure.

Funding could be described as extremely tight.

Five thousand legal tender yuan was no small amount, roughly equivalent to 1,500 US dollars.

Even for Dai Chunfeng, approving an expenditure of 5,000 yuan would most likely be painful.

The other piece of news in the telegram surprised Cheng Qianfan considerably.

The Nanjing headquarters of the Special Service Office had actually made a blunder and mistakenly sent Eguchi Hideya to the execution ground.

Eguchi Hideya was a Japanese agent.

Although he had betrayed the Japanese, and Cheng Qianfan had agreed to spare his life, if a mistake had been made and he had been executed, then so be it.

What Cheng Qianfan had not expected was that Eguchi Hideya had actually been rescued by the Japanese agents who raided the execution ground.

Idiots!

Cheng Qianfan cursed inwardly.

The headquarters personnel who had mixed up the list were idiots.

The execution squad were also idiots for allowing Japanese agents to snatch away a prisoner.

He understood why Nanjing had asked Yu Ping’an to notify him of the matter.

From the discovery of the intelligence, to the arrest operation, to the interrogation, Cheng Qianfan had participated in every stage of the Endo Hiroshi case.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was the single greatest contributor.

The person most likely to be affected by Eguchi Hideya’s rescue was Cheng Qianfan.

More precisely, Cheng Wufang.

Cheng Qianfan considered the matter carefully.

Throughout the entire case, he had appeared only in the guise of Cheng Wufang.

The chances of Eguchi Hideya recognizing him were extremely low.

Objectively speaking, although the incident was infuriating, it posed no real threat to Cheng Qianfan’s safety.

Furthermore, Cheng Qianfan judged that if Eguchi Hideya was a smart man, he would keep completely silent about his betrayal of Japan.

Even if there were a one-in-ten-thousand chance that he had recognized Cheng Wufang, he would avoid that matter like the plague.

Of course, Cheng Qianfan never entrusted his safety to the assumption that “the probability of trouble is extremely low.”

He would increase his vigilance.

The moment he discovered Eguchi Hideya, he would act decisively.

Two plans quickly formed in Cheng Qianfan’s mind:

First, kill Eguchi Hideya outright.

Alternatively, use Eguchi Hideya’s past betrayal of Japan as leverage and force him to work for him.

As for which plan would be chosen, that would depend on future developments.

In any case, Eguchi Hideya would either die or become useful to him.

He absolutely could not be allowed to remain an uncontrollable factor.

Suddenly, Cheng Qianfan thought of something.

Haozai had also participated in the operation against the Endo Hiroshi group.

There had been dozens of Special Service Office agents present at the scene.

The possibility that Eguchi Hideya had noticed Haozai was small, but it could not be ignored.

Haozai needed to be warned to remain cautious and vigilant.

Idiots!

Cheng Qianfan was extremely dissatisfied with the blunder committed by headquarters.

The clerical personnel at headquarters simply did not understand that what seemed to them a trivial mistake could very well create fatal risks for field operatives!

Cheng Qianfan took out the German silver lighter that Big-Head Lu had given him.

With a sharp Click, he lit the flame, set all three sheets of paper ablaze, and dropped them into the brazier.

After the papers had burned completely, he scooped up a handful of sand from a sandbag in the corner and sprinkled it over the ashes.

Then he picked up the brazier and shook it several times, ensuring that all the ashes were thoroughly mixed with the sand.

“Send a reply,” Cheng Qianfan said, standing behind Zhou Ru.

“To Deputy Director Yu of Hangzhou, and forwarded to Director Dai in Nanjing.” Cheng Qianfan stood with both hands in his trouser pockets and spoke in a deep voice.

“Telegram received and understood. I shall spare no effort in purchasing the greatest possible quantity of the medicine.”

“I have learned of Mr. Ye’s situation and already have countermeasures prepared.”

“Our department has recently discovered traces of Japanese agents and now reports information concerning the whereabouts of the Shanghai merchant Qian Zhongnan involved in the case.”

“Qian Zhongnan, native of Baoshan County, male, thirty-five years old, height five chi one cun, approximately 1.70 m (~5 ft 7 in). Investigation indicates the possibility that he is active in southeastern Guizhou. Please take note.”

“In addition, our department has discovered a suspected Communist infiltrator operating in Shanghai. His precise identity is currently being verified. Preliminary assessment indicates a senior Communist operative.”

“Respectfully submitted, Cheng Wufang.”

Zhou Ru stopped writing with her pencil and handed the draft telegram to Cheng Qianfan.

“Send it.” Cheng Qianfan glanced over it and said.

Hongkou District, Inoue Residence.

Inoue Hikaru hurried into the building with a Japanese doctor.

He looked at Eguchi Hideya lying on the bed, unconscious, blood having soaked through his clothing and bandages alike, his face pale as he remained unconscious.

“What happened?” Inoue Hikaru demanded sternly.

After the failure of the operation to rescue Endo Hiroshi, the surviving members of the rescue team had sent a telegram from aboard the ship describing how only Eguchi Hideya had been rescued.

“Eguchi-kun is currently unconscious, but his complexion remains good, and the torture he suffered appears relatively light. He can walk.”

That was what the telegram had said.

How had he been relatively fine during the rescue, only to end up in such a state after arriving in Shanghai?

“Director.” Onizuka reported, “Upon arriving at Yangjingbang Wharf, Eguchi-kun regained consciousness. After learning that he was the sole survivor of the entire group, he lost emotional control and snatched Kojima-kun’s dagger.”

“What was he trying to do?”

“Eguchi-kun shouted that the entire group had perished and that he could not bear to live alone. In his emotional state, he stabbed himself three times. Had we not reacted quickly and seized the dagger, he would have stabbed himself in the throat.”

“Eguchi Hideya is actually that brave?” One of the men beside Inoue Hikaru frowned.

“Yamazaki Shuichi!” Onizuka flew into a rage and pointed at him. “How dare you question an Imperial agent so brave and so willing to bleed and sacrifice himself for the Empire?”

Yamazaki Shuichi did not understand why Onizuka was so angry.

He had merely raised a reasonable doubt.

Judging from the earlier telegram, Eguchi Hideya’s torture injuries had been relatively light.

That was somewhat strange.

Moreover, he knew Eguchi personally.

After taking a glance just now, he was not sure whether it was merely an illusion, but he felt that Eguchi actually seemed a little fatter than before.

“Director.” Onizuka bowed to Inoue Hikaru. “When we rescued the Endo group, the Chinese were carrying out the executions with firearms. Eguchi-kun stood tall and fearless. His face was filled with grief and indignation as he loudly shouted battle slogans calling for the destruction of China. His willingness to face death without fear was an example worthy of every Imperial soldier and inspired the deepest admiration!”

“Eguchi-kun was actually that brave!” Inoue Hikaru exclaimed in shock.

He turned to look at the blood-covered Eguchi Hideya.

Thinking of how this man had awakened, learned that he alone had survived, and immediately attempted suicide to follow his comrades in death.

“A truly brave warrior!” Inoue Hikaru praised.

Everyone nodded.

As they looked at Eguchi Hideya, who was receiving treatment from the doctor, their expressions were filled with admiration.

The Endo group had been captured by the Chinese.

They had endured Chinese interrogation.

Facing execution, they had shown no fear, calmly accepted death, and even cursed the Chinese.

After learning that he alone had survived, he had refused to live on by himself.

Magnificent!

What a remarkable Eguchi-kun.

A man worthy of admiration!

Even Yamazaki Shuichi, who had voiced doubts about Eguchi Hideya moments earlier, was shocked and impressed.

He first bowed slightly toward Eguchi Hideya in apology for his earlier remarks.

Then he turned to Inoue Hikaru and said, “Director, for such a brave warrior who values loyalty and comradeship so deeply, I respectfully request that you petition the military authorities to award Eguchi-kun for his merits.”

The others nodded.

Immediately, they all spoke in unison.

“We request that the Director petition the military authorities to award Eguchi-kun for his merits!”