Chapter 202: An Accidental Encounter with an “Old Acquaintance”

The sudden increase in communications between the Communist Central leadership and the local Communist organizations in Shanghai and Hangzhou put both the Shanghai Special District and the Hangzhou Station of the Party Affairs Investigation Department on high alert.

What they feared most was precisely this kind of unexpected move by the “enemy.”

As the Operations Section Chief of the Shanghai Special District of the Party Affairs Investigation Department, Wu Shanyue was even more vigilant.

Past experience told him that this was a sign that the Communists were preparing to launch an offensive.

It might be a military offensive.

Or it might be an offensive in public opinion.

Considering that the Shanghai Communists had probably not yet recovered from the massive crackdown that began in the winter of the previous year, Wu Shanyue believed the possibility of armed action by the Shanghai Communists was low.

Including Wu Shanyue himself, the senior leadership of the Shanghai Special District of the Party Affairs Investigation Department had previously held a special meeting to study the current state of the Shanghai Communists.

Shanghai was the primary focus of anti-Communist suppression and had remained under constant high-pressure operations.

Repeated encirclements and crackdowns had been carried out.

Especially after the massive roundup in the twentieth year of the Republic and the major roundup of the previous winter, two consecutive devastating blows had nearly annihilated the Shanghai Communists.

The Shanghai Special District of the Party Affairs Investigation Department estimated that the total number of Communists currently in Shanghai definitely did not exceed forty people.

Therefore, even if the Communists had plans, the possibility of armed action was extremely low.

The most likely scenario was that the Communists would use resistance to Japanese aggression as a pretext to agitate the ignorant masses and thereby achieve their scheme of spreading patriotic anti-Japanese propaganda while taking the opportunity to recruit strength for the Red cause.

The greatest possibility was demonstrations, strikes, student walkouts, and business shutdowns.

Those were also the tactics at which the Communists excelled most.

“Kangnian, the storm is coming,” Wu Shanyue said thoughtfully. “I have only one requirement. Under no circumstances can we allow the Communists to carry out demonstrations or strikes that create a severe negative impact.”

“Your task is to arrange surveillance of Shanghai’s major educational institutions, especially National Tongji University, Fudan Public School, Jiaotong University of the Ministry of Railways, and Guanghua University.”

“There are student Party members among them. Get them moving and have them call on their fellow students to remain loyal to the Leader and devoted to the Party and the nation.” Wu Shanyue spoke in a deep voice. “Students are the most restless group. They require special attention.”

“Understood.” Wang Kangnian nodded, radiating murderous intent. “Those who should be arrested will be arrested. Those who should be killed will be killed.”

“When you handle things, I am always at ease.” Wu Shanyue nodded.

Wang Kangnian smiled, pretending that he had forgotten the furious scoldings he had received from Wu Shanyue after bungling two consecutive operations.

Afterward, he reported his discovery regarding the missing-person advertisements in the newspapers.

“You suspect this Huo Miao is either Chenzhou or Yuchang from the Communist Party Special Branch?”

“Yes. I suspect he is one of those two fugitives.”

Wu Shanyue pondered.

“Not Chenzhou.” Wu Shanyue shook his head. “Previously, you deduced that the person who rescued Minister Wang and the others was Chenzhou of the Communist Party Special Branch. In that case, Chenzhou should already have reestablished contact with the Communist organization and successfully returned to it.”

“Excellent insight, Section Chief.” Wang Kangnian looked full of admiration. “I failed to consider that point carefully enough. In that case, the greatest possibility is that this Huo Miao is Yuchang of the Communist Party Special Branch!”

On the way to Longhua Garrison Headquarters, after calming down and thinking it over, he had actually arrived at the same conclusion as Wu Shanyue regarding Chenzhou’s rescue of Minister Wang.

Nevertheless, he still reported the matter according to his original speculation.

If you understand everything and see through everything, what will your superior have left to say?

The principle was the same as why Wang Kangnian disliked that subordinate Xiao Ou who was always showing off his cleverness.

“The fact that you were able to discover important intelligence hidden between the lines of newspaper advertisements already shows that you have done an excellent job.” Wu Shanyue was in a good mood and smiled.

He paused, raised his right hand, and gestured forcefully as he spoke.

“The possibility that this Yuchang has already left Shanghai is not high. I will ask the Garrison Headquarters to strengthen inspections at railway stations and docks.”

“However, don’t place too much hope in it. This man has managed to hide for so long because he is exceptionally cunning. Most importantly, we do not know what he looks like. Unless he exposes himself, it will be very difficult to catch him.”

“I understand.” Wang Kangnian spoke seriously. “Eliminating bandits and malignant growths for the Party and the nation has never been an easy task accomplished overnight. One must endure loneliness, remain meticulous, and search again and again. Eventually, there will be results.”

“Well said!” Wu Shanyue applauded and patted Wang Kangnian on the shoulder. “Kangnian, you’re very good. The Party and the nation need capable people like you who can settle down and do serious work.”

“Kangnian has always regarded Section Chief as his role model,” Wang Kangnian said.

“Excellent. That’s exactly the spirit we need.” Wu Shanyue nodded happily and waved his hand. “Off you go.”

After hesitating for a while, Wang Kangnian still asked Wu Shanyue whether action should be taken against the Japanese woman Ruth and the Japanese agent Yingzuo Eiichi, both of whom had been under surveillance.

“Foolish!” Wu Shanyue slapped the table. “How many times have I emphasized this? Who is our enemy right now? The Communists! The Communists! The Communists! They were our enemy before, they are our enemy now, and they will still be our enemy in the future!”

“The Japanese are here to seize our territory.” Wu Shanyue rebuked him angrily. “But what are the Communists trying to do? They want to seize our political power. They want to eliminate us! There may still be room for negotiation with the Japanese, but the Communists are our mortal enemies!”

“Yes, yes, I was foolish.” Wang Kangnian stood at attention and accepted the criticism.

“Of course, the Japanese are invading our country, and they are our enemies. Sooner or later, there will be a war between China and Japan.” Wu Shanyue picked up his teacup and took a sip. “Once we have dealt with the Communists, once the entire nation is united and the military and civilians stand together, we will naturally have a decisive struggle with the Japanese.”

“The Japanese never abandon their ambition to destroy us. I understand your feelings.” Wu Shanyue put down his teacup and tapped the desk with his finger. “You must learn patience. The National Government is accumulating strength and enduring humiliation for the sake of future resistance against Japan. The entire nation is enduring hardship. We are no exception.”

“I understand now.” Wang Kangnian nodded solemnly.

On the way back to the clinic, Wang Kangnian continued thinking about Huo Miao’s advertisement searching for Zhu Lin.

The more he considered it, the more something felt wrong.

Huo Miao had said he was only willing to wait for Zhu Lin for two more days.

That was not right.

Huo Miao was currently safe.

Recently, apart from Liu Bo, the Party Affairs Investigation Department had not discovered any traces of other Communists.

There was absolutely no need for Huo Miao to flee Shanghai immediately.

Therefore, his answer of “two days” did not mean that he would leave after waiting two more days.

It was a reply.

He was replying to a question from the other side.

Although Wang Kangnian still did not understand what exactly this reply of “two days” meant.

What did that indicate?

It meant that Huo Miao had already established contact with the Communist organization.

How had they contacted each other?

Damn it!

Wang Kangnian cursed inwardly.

After repeated failures recently, his mood had deteriorated badly, and severe insomnia had plagued him.

As a result, over the past two days he had only paid attention to the missing-person advertisements and had not examined the other newspaper sections.

Huo Miao and the Communist organization must have been communicating through coded messages hidden in other sections of the newspaper!

“Drive faster!” Wang Kangnian ordered the driver.

He was anxious to return and carefully study the newspapers.

“Eguchi-kun, I really envy you. You’ll be returning home soon and seeing your fiancée again.” Mitsugi Ichijō looked enviously at the many bags of gifts carried by Eguchi Hideya.

The Director had personally requested a commendation for Eguchi-kun from the military authorities.

The military greatly praised Eguchi Hideya’s loyalty, courage, and willingness to sacrifice himself. They issued an internal commendation, awarded him a bonus of three hundred yen, and even permitted him to return home to visit his family.

This made everyone extremely envious.

Eguchi Hideya was especially excited.

Using the three hundred yen awarded by the military, he went on a shopping spree, buying many gifts for his mother and fiancée.

“Mitsugi-kun, don’t worry. When I return to Japan this time, I’ll make time to visit your family in Sendai,” Eguchi Hideya said.

“My thanks, Eguchi-kun.” Mitsugi Ichijō was delighted.

Cheng Qianfan had just dropped Song Fuguo off at an intersection.

After driving some distance farther, he passed the entrance of a department store and suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Two people were walking ahead of him.

Because they had their backs to the automobile, he could not see their faces clearly.

Suddenly, one of the men carrying several bags stopped in the middle of the road and stood there in a daze.

Had Cheng Qianfan not braked in time, he would have hit him.

When Cheng Qianfan slammed on the brakes, his first reaction was not to open the window or get out and curse.

Instead, he instinctively reached for his gun.

His first thought was that someone had deliberately stopped his car.

Someone was trying to ambush him.