Chapter 11: Starting the Job

Chapter 11: Joining the Service

Within the police system of Manchukuo, there were two distinct agencies: the Security Bureau and the Special Service Section. Both were commonly referred to as the "secret police." However, their functions often overlapped, and the Chief of the Special Service Section was invariably a Japanese national. Nominally, the two organizations were partners with mutual obligations to assist one another, but in practice, they were engaged in constant infighting and covert efforts to gather intelligence on each other.

"Nonsense. I had no idea I could get into the Central Security Bureau; it was a complete stroke of luck! Let me finish the intake process, and then we brothers will grab a couple of drinks. I’ll tell you all the details then," Xu Ruiyang said with a smile.

"Fair enough. Same place tonight. It’s my treat—we’ll have some pig stew and drink our fill," Xiao Chenglin replied.

Half an hour later, the transfer orders from the Central Security Bureau arrived. The personnel department even retrieved his files. Xu Ruiyang rode in a Central Security Bureau sedan to the agency headquarters to finalize his onboarding.

The Fourth Section was the Foreign Affairs and Counter-Espionage Section. It was specifically tasked with investigating and monitoring the activities of foreign powers in Xinjing, apprehending their spies, and identifying officials who leaked military secrets of the Kwantung Army and Manchukuo.

Their primary target was the Soviets, whose consulate was located in Harbin. This was due to the Soviet Union’s proximity to the Kwantung Army and their notoriously close ties to the underground resistance. Next were the nations of Britain, the United States, and France; their consulates were in Fengtian, as they had not recognized Manchukuo. Then came Italy and Germany. Italy maintained a legation in Xinjing, while Germany had yet to open one, though they were the only two European nations to recognize the puppet state. Regardless, intelligence agents from all these countries operated secretly in Xinjing, probing for Kwantung Army military secrets in accordance with their respective national strategies.

"Mr. Shibuya has personally inquired about you, so you have been granted three days of leave as a new recruit to settle your affairs. This is your desk. You will be responsible for translating English intelligence reports for the time being. Once you officially begin, I will arrange for your colleagues to have a meal with you," said Ishikawa Shunsuke, Chief of the Fourth Section, with a surprisingly amiable attitude.

Xu Ruiyang was a man Shibuya Saburo had personally requested. Facing instructions from the man behind the scenes of the Security Bureau, the Section Chief felt the pressure mounting. It was extremely rare for a department to host a welcoming party for a new recruit; even Japanese agents rarely received such treatment.

"Thank you, Chief. Despite Mr. Shibuya's favor, I will remain humble in the Fourth Section, diligently study my professional skills, and strictly obey your commands. I believe that being able to follow the most elite agents of the Great Japanese Empire will be the greatest asset of my life," Xu Ruiyang said, bowing.

Flattery requires skill. First, you must make the superior accept you as a person; only then will your words carry weight.

"Very good. You are indeed worthy of being handpicked by Mr. Shibuya. I am very satisfied with your attitude. You certainly have much to learn, and I will have our seasoned, veteran agents teach you all sorts of skills," Ishikawa Shunsuke said with a smile.

Attitude is everything. A leader is a leader, even if you have powerful backing. Japan was a country that placed great importance on hierarchy. Leaders naturally favored subordinates who respected them, understood the facts, and knew their place—and they were more than happy to accept the flattery.

Xu Ruiyang knew that as Chief of the Fourth Section, Ishikawa Shunsuke was responsible for guiding and evaluating his performance. His assessment would reach Shibuya Saburo, and the Chief’s satisfied smile meant he had cleared his first hurdle.

"Ruiyang, congratulations on joining the Foreign Affairs and Counter-Espionage Section of the Central Security Bureau! I knew that as long as an opportunity arose, you would seize it. You were bound to rise in the world sooner or later. Come, let’s have a drink!" Xiao Chenglin laughed.

"What do you mean, 'have a drink'? We’re using these big bowls, and the food isn't even here yet. If we drink on an empty stomach, we'll be drunk in no time. Let’s start with half a bowl," Xu Ruiyang chuckled, lifting the large bowl before him.

Drinking from big bowls and eating big chunks of meat was the tradition of the Northeast.

"What kind of big shot did you pull strings with to get into the Central Security Bureau? Hurry up, tell me what happened!" Xiao Chenglin asked impatiently. He knew Xu Ruiyang’s background better than anyone; having no connections in Xinjing, he had relied on Xiao to even become a policeman. To suddenly enter the Security Bureau meant he had clearly befriended a powerful figure.

The two were close brothers who could speak directly to one another. Of course, the Special Service Section of the Xinjing Police Department where Xiao worked was also very powerful, so he wasn't jealous of Xu Ruiyang, but he wanted to identify this "big shot" in case he could be of use.

"You know my patrol beat is in the Japanese residential area, right? Three days ago, two drunk Japanese ronin were bullying a Japanese girl. I helped intervene out of kindness. It turns out this girl is a clerk for the President of the South Manchuria Railway. To thank me, she used her connections to get me transferred to the Central Security Bureau."

"It’s not that I was hiding it from you; I didn't even know I could get into the Bureau myself. It still feels like a dream. But this department isn't easy to survive in. Once you're in, you have to play the humble servant. Most of them are Japanese intelligence agents. The pay is higher, for sure, but the risks are much greater," Xu Ruiyang said.

"Wow, a clerk for the President of the South Manchuria Railway? That’s basically a secretary—a very prestigious status. You’ve always had a knack for chasing women; no wonder you got this lucky. Is she pretty?" Xiao Chenglin asked with a sly, suggestive smile.

"Get lost. Wipe that lecherous grin off your face. She’s Japanese, a student from Nagoya Imperial University, and a secretary to the President. And who am I? Trying to seduce her? Do you think we’re still chasing girls at university?" Xu Ruiyang retorted with a laugh.

"Speaking of which, it’s a bit of a pity. Your girlfriend back at university, a beautiful flower from Central University, stuck to you like a pile of cow dung—it was tragic enough already. And then, the 'cow dung' runs off first. Who knows when or if you’ll ever see her again!" Xiao Chenglin sighed.

Xu Ruiyang did have a girlfriend at Central University named Wu Yaqing. Her family was from Guangling, but she had grown up in the French Concession in Shanghai, influenced by Western culture from a young age. Her family had been salt merchants during the Qing Dynasty, a background with significant depth. Wu Yaqing’s mother was a concubine—the third wife—and although she was formally married, her status was somewhat lower. If not for that, Xu Ruiyang would never have dared to pursue her.

But winning Wu Yaqing over was no small feat. Many men in university had pursued her, with backgrounds and conditions far superior to Xu Ruiyang’s. Yet, he was meticulous, thoughtful, and empathetic, effortlessly winning her favor. That Wu Yaqing chose him in the end was a testament to his own ability.