Chapter 16: Field Duty, Part Two

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Chapter 16 Field Assignment Part Two

Inside a teahouse located at the southwest corner of an intersection in Xinjing, directly opposite to the north, stood the renowned Guandong Hotel—a prestigious establishment offering dining and lodging, second only to the Manxi Hotel operated by the Prime Minister’s family.

The owner was a relative of a high-ranking official of the puppet Manchukuo government and maintained close ties with the Japanese. Few dared to cause trouble at the hotel, which was frequented by many Japanese officials and military officers. The cost of patronage was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Foreigners arriving in Xinjing preferred staying at the Guandong Hotel because the Manxi Hotel was dominated by Japanese guests. With its superior facilities, attentive service, and the owner’s influential connections, the Guandong Hotel met the basic needs of foreigners and gradually became a gathering place for them.

The teahouse not only enjoyed an excellent location but, under the ruthless exploitation by the Japanese, the various trades in Xinjing’s Chinese community were barely surviving. The teahouse did not attract many customers, making it an ideal spot for surveillance.

This time, the surveillance target was an American businessman, reportedly the manager of the Fengtian office of an American trading company based in Shanghai.

For three consecutive days, Xu Ruiyang accompanied Kimura Masaru on duty here. The teahouse opened at seven in the morning and closed at five in the afternoon. They took numerous photographs of people entering and leaving the Guandong Hotel.

Fortunately, since he was with the team leader, Xu Ruiyang did not have to work the night shift. The current nighttime temperatures were brutal—often below minus ten degrees Celsius, sometimes reaching as low as minus twenty.

“The work of the Foreign Affairs Counter-Espionage Division is far more complicated than you imagine! These people are not underground party members whom you can arrest or execute at will. Even if you arrest or kill the wrong person, it doesn’t matter to them. They have protective identities. Without evidence, taking a tough stance could bring serious trouble.”

“Those who dare to spy possess strong psychological resilience. Without torture, it’s difficult to break them in a short time. Since we lack evidence, they might turn the tables on us. If we use torture, their consulates will accuse the Security Bureau of coerced confessions, escalating the matter into a diplomatic incident we fear we cannot contain!”

“The reason the Foreign Affairs Counter-Espionage Division has no achievements is that it hesitates too much, unwilling to act decisively. The Empire must consider its relations with other countries. Unless we catch them red-handed with irrefutable evidence, it’s better not to act rashly. We cannot bear that stain!” Kimura Masaru shook his head.

A weak nation has no diplomacy. Countries like the Soviet Union, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States were all forces Japan dared not provoke lightly. The Chinese citizens in Xinjing enjoyed the backing of these powerful nations and often faced the Japanese with considerable confidence.

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Ordinary people caught and interrogated would be terrified and panic. But spies are like porcupines bristling with quills; not only are they unafraid, but they also respond with sharp questions. The Security Bureau often hesitates, fearing to act, and ends up in an awkward position.

“These people pose too great a threat to the Empire and Manchukuo. Couldn’t we secretly capture and quickly interrogate them? Once the consulate learns we have caught them red-handed, they won’t have much to say, right?” Xu Ruiyang asked.

“You are very loyal to the Empire, which is good. But since they dare to spy in Xinjing, they have considered such situations and have corresponding safeguards in place.”

“Last year, we followed your logic and suffered a loss. The consulate complained directly to the Kwantung Army headquarters, embarrassing the commander. Staff Officer Tominaga Kyoji severely reprimanded the division chief,” Kimura Masaru said.

Germany and Italy had consulates in Xinjing. Britain, America, France, and the Soviet Union did not have consulates there, but they had permanent representatives who maintained constant contact.

Initially, the Security Bureau thought that once they caught someone and obtained a confession, there would be no problem. Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrested someone, the consulate personnel began causing trouble.

They reported to the Kwantung Army headquarters, claiming their nationals’ personal safety in Xinjing was not guaranteed and threatened to launch international public opinion campaigns condemning Japan and imposing sanctions.

The Japanese ambassador to Manchukuo was concurrently the Kwantung Army commander. After the Japanese invaded the region beyond the Great Wall during the September 18 Incident and established the puppet Manchukuo, they wanted to maintain a respectable image. Xinjing, as the “capital” of Manchukuo, was highly significant.

Moreover, Western developed countries like Britain and America were major suppliers of strategic materials such as oil and steel, so Japan dared not offend them lightly.

Kwantung Army Commander General Ueda Kenkichi, frustrated by foreign consuls, vented his anger on the Second Section, and naturally, the chief of staff took it out on the Security Bureau.

The Tominaga Kyoji mentioned by Kimura Masaru was head of the Kwantung Army’s Second Section of the Staff Office, also known as the intelligence chief staff officer. This man needed to be watched carefully.

Tominaga hailed from the Imperial Japanese Army Staff Headquarters and would later become an important aide to Hideki Tojo. Known for flattery and cowardice in battle, he was nicknamed “Tojo’s belt.”

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“Team leader, have we been surveilling these people for a long time without any significant findings?” Xu Ruiyang asked skeptically.

The Security Bureau, a secret agency under Manchukuo’s Public Security Department, was established in November of the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937). Now it was January of the 28th year (1939), so it had been operating for just over a year.

“The Security Bureau was established somewhat late. Previously, Manchukuo’s situation was unstable, and the police system was ineffectual with no solid foundation. The information they provided us was minimal. These foreign spies took advantage of the chaotic times to successfully establish their intelligence networks.”

“We conducted large-scale screenings and stakeouts, including long-term surveillance of various consulates and their diplomatic personnel. We’ve gradually gathered some information and identified more than a dozen suspects. Unfortunately, we still cannot capture any evidence against them.”

“Every time these suspects come to Xinjing, their every move is under our watch. We investigate everyone they contact, but find nothing. After a while, even we start doubting whether they are really spies,” Kimura Masaru said.

At that moment, two men dressed in plain clothes arrived at the teahouse’s second floor and chose a table by the window facing the small commercial street running north to south. They gave Kimura Masaru a slight nod before sitting down and ordering a pot of tea and a plate of sunflower seeds.

“Team leader, who are they?” Xu Ruiyang asked.

“You have a keen eye. They belong to our Bureau’s Second Section, the Investigation Section. Its members are mostly Chinese agents, except the deputy section chief who also doubles as an Imperial agent. Their task is to deal with underground party members,” Kimura Masaru explained.

(End of chapter)