Chapter 30: The Meeting, Part Two

Never underestimate the value of these words. Xu Ruiyang had been undercover for too short a time; he lacked a deep understanding of the cruelty of underground warfare and was severely lacking in experience. The Japanese secret service agencies were hellish places devoid of humanity, and in such an environment, it was impossible to survive without overcoming one's inner conflicts.

The mission of an undercover operative is to serve the organization. The most important task is to provide intelligence, but it also involves carrying out temporary assignments, such as providing cover or rescuing comrades, and, whenever possible, supplying the organization with necessary items. The premise for all of this is that he must gain the enemy's trust.

What kind of person would the enemy grant limited trust to?

Rooting out underground Communist Party members or anti-Japanese organizations in occupied territories is exactly what the enemy hopes to see. If one cannot resolve their inner struggle, what happens when the enemy makes you a "supervisor of executions," forcing you to watch as your comrades are slaughtered, or compels you to use brutal torture to interrogate your own people for party secrets?

The primary mission is, of course, rescue, or at least stalling for time to find a glimmer of hope. However, in the environment of Manchukuo, once someone is arrested and their identity confirmed, there is almost no possibility of rescue. Watching large numbers of comrades being killed, and enduring such psychological torment over a long period, is something one might not be able to bear.

"Teacher, I understand what you mean. Since I chose to accept the mission assigned by the organization, I am prepared to bear the pressure. I understand what I must do and how I must do it!"

"The environment in Manchukuo is too cruel. These damned aggressors and the lackeys who do their bidding have left very few loopholes. I am also walking on thin ice at the Security Bureau; I dare not relax for even a single moment," Xu Ruiyang said.

For the past year, aside from helping Inoue Haruka by dealing a hidden blow—knocking out two Japanese ronin and leaving them to freeze to death in the snow—he had not engaged in any real risks. At that time, as a mere patrolman, he lacked the ability to assist the underground party organization in Xinjing; he could neither access intelligence nor get close to interrogations.

Upon arriving at the Security Bureau, the environment became even more hostile, surrounded entirely by secret agents. Fortunately, he was in the Foreign Intelligence Division. Had he been in the general counter-intelligence or investigation departments, dealing with underground party members all day, he could have been exposed at the slightest lapse.

"I know the situation in Manchukuo. Party organizations across the region have suffered heavy losses, and the several base areas of the Anti-Japanese United Army have also faced large-scale encirclement and suppression by the Kwantung Army and puppet troops. The situation is dire. When I asked you to come to Xinjing, the plan was for long-term infiltration. The success you have achieved so far has already exceeded my expectations."

"Although I have met with you this time, this is not a formal 'awakening.' You still need to continue your deep cover at the Security Bureau. This situation where the enemy is strong and we are weak may persist for a long time—years or even decades. You are doing very well; while gaining the enemy's trust, you have also built your own intelligence network and connections."

"Moving forward, continue with this approach. Your identity is absolutely classified. Unless you receive direct instructions from me, you must not reveal your identity to anyone—I mean the local comrades. Once you have earned sufficient seniority and status, look for an opportunity to transfer to the Northern Manchuria region. It is relatively closer to the Anti-Japanese United Army, and you will be able to help our own forces then," Song Haifeng said.

"How long do you intend to stay in Xinjing this time?" Xu Ruiyang asked. He knew Song Haifeng could not have been in Xinjing for the past year; even though he was his direct contact, his base of operations might have been in Harbin.

"Following the instructions of my superiors, I spent some time studying and working at the Yanzhou base. I returned this time to receive instructions from the leaders at Yanzhou, to meet with provincial committee comrades near Jiamusi, to convey the latest orders, and to report the situation of the Anti-Japanese United Army back to the base."

"Relying solely on radio communication does not clearly convey the current work of the Anti-Japanese United Army. Moreover, batteries for the provincial committee's radio are hard to come by, and they are constantly hunted by local Security and Police Bureau signal-tracking teams. It is dangerous, and transmissions cannot last long," Song Haifeng explained.

"I hope that one day, I can visit the Yanzhou base myself. I don't know when that wish will be fulfilled. Teacher, here are three hundred Manchukuo Yuan; take it for your travel expenses."

"I don't have much money myself. If the Americans pay me 'hush money,' I can turn it over to the base as funds. In Manchukuo, US dollars are hard to come by," Xu Ruiyang added.

"There will be opportunities. I will accept the Manchukuo Yuan, but the US dollars are unnecessary. Although it is difficult to buy things in Manchukuo, the value is understood."

"For your long-term infiltration, you must keep hard currency on hand. These are your resources; they might play a vital role at a critical moment," Song Haifeng said, shaking his head.

"Please find a way to notify the Soviet Consulate General in Harbin. If there is an inside agent at the Ministry of Public Security, tell them to go into deep sleep so that my arrest operations don't expose them."

"Also, the Kwantung Army has secret operations in Northern Manchuria. Remind the Soviets to be wary of the Japanese 23rd Division. When will you return to Xinjing?" Xu Ruiyang asked.

"I will relay the message to the Soviet Consulate General in Harbin through the underground organization there. Before I leave the region, I will come to see you one more time. It could be in half a month, at most a month. Keep an eye out for my contact signal," Song Haifeng said.

Xu Ruiyang did not linger. God only knew if those Japanese were secretly monitoring him. Although the probability was very low, he did not want to bring trouble upon himself or his teacher.

The second investigation operation officially began.

In a private room on the second floor of a hotel, two female officers from the household registration section of the New District Police Station came every evening after work to compare photographs. On one side were photos of the target's family, relatives, and social connections; on the other were surveillance photos taken by the Security Bureau. Every day, a large volume of new photos was delivered.

At the entrance of the Ministry of Public Security, over a dozen rickshaws, divided into four groups, took turns on duty. Some would stop for a few minutes, while others would simply drive past with empty seats.

Tang Rongcai and Zhang Tianshun divided the labor: one was responsible for directing five patrolmen to track and monitor the family, relatives, and social contacts of the suspects, while the other was responsible for tailing the German, Fane.

Xu Ruiyang, meanwhile, pulled out the surveillance logs on Fane and reorganized them into a table to track his movements, employing the exact same method used in the American case.

The inside agent dared not contact Fane by phone for fear of being monitored by the Security Bureau, and direct contact was impossible—the risk of exposure was too great. There had to be a fixed time and place for their meetings.

By comparing the Security Bureau's past surveillance logs with his current observations, Xu Ruiyang narrowed it down to two locations where Fane appeared most frequently: a bar and a dance hall. Both were nightspots, and such high-traffic venues were the most difficult to monitor.

By early March, the case saw a breakthrough.