Chapter 35: Reactions from All Sides

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Chapter 35: Reactions from All Sides

That evening, Xu Ruiyang had dinner with Ishikawa Shunsuke and Kimura Masaru at a Japanese restaurant. He had spent too little time at the Central Security Bureau to become familiar with anyone in the Foreign Affairs and Counterespionage Section besides these two men.

Ishikawa Shunsuke and Kimura Masaru were deeply sorry to see him transferred, but they also congratulated him on his impending appointment as Chief of the Special Police Section of the Shanghai Municipal Police Bureau. In the end, it was all little more than empty pleasantries.

Xu Ruiyang drank until late into the night before driving away from the restaurant. It was then that he spotted a contact signal on a utility pole.

“Teacher, you arrived at just the right time. I was worrying about how to get in touch with you!” Xu Ruiyang said when he reached Song Haifeng’s residence.

“You’ve been drinking, haven’t you? What is it that you need to discuss with me?” Song Haifeng asked in surprise. Xu Ruiyang reeked of alcohol and did not look as though he had encountered any emergency.

But when Xu Ruiyang told him that Nishiyoshi Akira intended to transfer him to Shanghai, Song Haifeng found himself in a difficult position as well. They had finally managed to establish an agent inside the Security Bureau, and if he were transferred to Shanghai, the plan they had painstakingly developed over more than a year would be abandoned halfway. That would inevitably affect the organization’s arrangements.

“If there is no way to refuse, then go to Shanghai as the Japanese demand. I will explain the circumstances to the organization. Perhaps this is a good opportunity. You will no longer be working beyond the Pass, but Shanghai is no different in that regard.”

“As commander of the Special Police Corps of the municipal police bureau, you will be able to play a vital role in protecting the underground organization, as well as transporting supplies to the base areas. What is more, you are transferring there from the Security Bureau, and it was Nishiyoshi Akira who recommended you. That will also lessen the vigilance of the Japanese military intelligence agency stationed in Shanghai.” Song Haifeng considered the matter carefully before speaking.

If Xu Ruiyang refused, he would offend the Japanese. After that, he would have no chance of entering any government institution or police organization in Manchukuo, and might not even be able to remain there. Rather than waste this opportunity, he might as well make use of it.

“Then who will be my superior? How am I supposed to contact the organization?” Xu Ruiyang asked.

“First establish yourself in Shanghai. Put all your relationships in order. As for how to contact you, the organization will make its own arrangements. When I return to the base area this time, I will personally report your situation to the commander. As for the two matters you mentioned, I will have our comrades in North Manchuria contact the underground organization in Harbin and inform the Soviet Consulate-General in Harbin.”

“We received a response on the way here. The Soviet side has also noticed the Japanese army’s unusual movements and has expressed its thanks to us. There is one more thing: the Manchukuo Ministry of Public Security in Xinjing has no Soviet informant inside it,” Song Haifeng said.

He was Xu Ruiyang’s superior and represented the organization in directing his work. He had the authority to make corresponding adjustments as circumstances changed. The underground struggle was complicated, and such a development was hardly strange.

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Although Xu Ruiyang was about to step into a new environment and embark upon a new beginning, Song Haifeng had complete confidence in him. Anyone selected for a long-term undercover mission had naturally been chosen from among the very best.

With Song Haifeng’s approval, Xu Ruiyang’s move to Shanghai would not constitute a breach of discipline, and his mood eased considerably. Before Nishiyoshi Akira spoke with him, he began purchasing sable pelts, ginseng, and antler velvet—valuable goods even in Shanghai.

“Director, a coded telegram has just arrived from the Xinjing Intelligence Group!” The dedicated cipher clerk assigned to handle communications with Xinjing carried the telegram into the deputy director’s office.

At that moment, Dai Li was speaking with Mao Renfeng. The failure of the assassination operation in Hanoi had caused him to lose face badly before the Old Man, and he was especially furious with Chen Gongshu.

“Polaris is actually coming to Shanghai! Nishiyoshi Akira admires his abilities and has recommended him for the position of commander of the Special Police Corps at the Shanghai Municipal Police Bureau. This is excellent news for us.” After reading the telegram, Dai Li handed it to Mao Renfeng.

Whether Polaris continued his undercover work inside the Pass was not what concerned him most. As long as he could maintain contact with Nishiyoshi Akira, Shanghai would be even more convenient. Headquarters would be able to provide timely support.

“Remarkable. Not only did the Japanese government award him the Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class, but Manchukuo also bestowed upon him the Order of the Auspicious Cloud, Fourth Class. To receive decorations from the enemy—that must be the highest achievement any spy could dream of.” Mao Renfeng smiled.

“Feng Qidong suggests that we place Polaris under the direct command of headquarters and equip him with a radio, while taking strict measures to protect his identity. What do you think?” Dai Li asked.

“The Shanghai branch already has a sufficiently large establishment, and there are quite a few agents operating within the enemy’s puppet regime. I don’t think it is necessary for Wang Tianmou to establish contact with Polaris as well. Putting all our eggs in one basket would create a hidden danger.”

“Once Polaris has settled in, we might consider assigning him a dedicated radio operator and forming an independent intelligence team. He may have access to relatively high-ranking circles, so it would be more appropriate for him to report directly to headquarters.” Mao Renfeng smiled.

March 24, 1939.

The Special Headquarters of the South Manchuria Railway held a grand ceremony for the change of directors. Yosuke Matsuoka formally stepped down as director, and Takuichi Omura took over the position.

As for Xu Ruiyang, he went to a café to meet Wilson.

“Mr. Wilson, I’m sorry. I have won the favor of an important figure in the South Manchuria Railway administration, and in the next few days I will be leaving Xinjing for Shanghai to serve as commander of the Special Police Corps of the municipal police bureau. I can no longer fulfill my promise to you.” Xu Ruiyang stirred the coffee in his cup as he spoke.

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“That is good news. You helped me in Xinjing, and the United States has a consulate-general in Shanghai. I will ask them to look after you discreetly. It is extremely troublesome for the Japanese to enter the foreign settlement. If you can obtain permission to operate in the International Settlement, it may well make your work easier.” Wilson smiled.

As if Americans, with their selfish and self-serving nature, would do anything so generous?

Xu Ruiyang was not inclined to indulge in wishful thinking. He had already guessed Wilson’s intentions: Wilson merely wanted to develop an informant and obtain intelligence from the Japanese. Their relationship was nothing more than a straightforward exchange of interests.

In Manchukuo, the Americans were interested in whether war might break out between Japan and the Soviet Union. In Central China, they were likely interested in the relationship between Japan, Wang Jingwei, and the Chongqing government. All of it was strategic assessment.

“Then thank you, Mr. Wilson. If I come across any sensitive international news, I will inform the American Consulate-General in Shanghai,” Xu Ruiyang said.

“I believe that everything you contribute will be rewarded—and the reward will exceed your imagination. We might even be able to arrange for you to become a secret American citizen!” Wilson said with satisfaction. He knew how intelligent the other man was, and that mutual interest was the best foundation for cooperation.

Their meeting was brief, and Wilson soon departed. If the Security Bureau discovered that the two of them had been speaking, it would cause no small amount of trouble.

“Natalia, I will soon be going to Shanghai for work. I never expected that our cooperation would end before it even began. If you encounter any difficulties in Xinjing, you can come to Shanghai and find me. I will be working at the municipal police bureau,” Xu Ruiyang said.

He then took two hundred dollars from his wallet and handed them to Natalia. The money would cover her living expenses for a short time after she arrived in Shanghai. The exchange rate between the national currency and the dollar was one hundred to thirty, so two hundred dollars amounted to more than six hundred national dollars. A worker in Shanghai would need at least two years to earn that much.

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