Chapter 37: Extraordinary Treatment

Chapter 37: Extraordinary Treatment

After a flight of nearly four hours, the plane landed at Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai. A car, long since prepared by the South Manchuria Railway’s Shanghai office, whisked Nishi Yoshiaki and Xu Ruiyang away to the Shigemitsu Hall in the Japanese-occupied Hongkou District.

Watching the familiar scenes pass by the car window, Xu Ruiyang felt an extraordinary sense of excitement; he hadn't been back in over a year. He had been wearing a heavy overcoat on the plane, but upon landing, he was dressed in a Western suit. While the temperature in Xinjing had just reached freezing, Shanghai was already a mild ten degrees Celsius.

"Welcome to Shanghai. I heard that because of your continuous success in cracking spy cases and unearthing traitors hidden within the Manchukuo military institutions, you have made a tremendous contribution to the Kwantung Army's military intelligence security. You have just been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by the Empire. It is no wonder that Nishi-kun thinks so highly of you," said Sadaaki Kagesa with a smile.

"The current situation in Shanghai is dire. Due to the interference of the International Settlement, the special service agencies and the military police do not have enough personnel to launch operations to encircle and suppress the Shancheng government spies and underground party members hiding there. The performance of the police bureau is very disappointing; it plays no role in maintaining stability in Shanghai."

"The purpose of asking Nishi-kun to find a suitable candidate in Manchukuo this time is to strengthen the police bureau's investigative capabilities and eliminate the underground organizations opposed to the Empire as soon as possible. You are to serve as the Chief of the Special Police Corps. Go ahead and do what you must—I am your backing!"

Kagesa, forty-six, was a Colonel in the Japanese Army Ministry and served as the Chief of the Military Affairs Section. His tone and demeanor were remarkably casual, showing none of the overbearing attitude one might expect.

"Xu-kun, I am Kayoin Haruki. I am currently in charge of all special service agency affairs in the Central China region. You can come directly to me if you have any issues in the future. Your house and car have been prepared for you. I will have you taken home to rest for two days; there is no need to rush to report for duty at the police bureau," said an officer wearing the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

"Once you officially take office, I will convene a meeting with Major Okamura Tekizo of the Special Higher Police Division of the Shanghai Military Police Headquarters, Li Shiqun, the captain of the investigative team of the West Shanghai Military Police, and yourself as the Chief of the Special Branch of the police bureau. We should all sit down and talk; you should have much in common."

"I will follow your instructions, Excellency. I shall take my leave now," Xu Ruiyang said, bowing deeply.

On a first meeting, one must never leave an impression of being a braggart, nor should one make empty promises by thumping one's chest. Whether he was capable or not, the others would naturally judge for themselves.

To a man like Sadaaki Kagesa, a Special Branch Chief like Xu Ruiyang was merely a small fry; he offered only a slight nod as Xu left.

Kayoin Haruki, however, walked him out to the courtyard and handed him a paper bag. "This is ten thousand yuan in legal tender, specially approved by the Colonel as your settling-in allowance. Your office budget will be determined when we hold the meeting."

He then instructed his driver to take Xu Ruiyang to Lane 1136, Yuyuan Road.

This was a beautiful three-story Gothic-style building, shielded by a small grove of trees; from outside the wall, only half of the structure was visible. It was unclear which wealthy merchant had owned it previously.

Two thugs were guarding the gate. Seeing a Japanese military vehicle arrive, they hurriedly nodded and bowed as they opened the gate. Xu Ruiyang felt truly shocked seeing his new "home" in Shanghai; living in such a large house all by himself felt incredibly extravagant.

Past the gate was a garden and lawn, with a circular concrete driveway leading to the main building. A Ford car was parked below the steps, looking ninety percent new, with the keys still in the ignition. He was now a man with a house and a car.

"Thank you for the ride," Xu Ruiyang said to the Japanese soldier, casually pulling out a twenty-dollar bill. His network of connections in Shanghai would begin with Kayoin Haruki's driver.

"I am Hirano, Lieutenant Colonel Kayoin's driver. Please look after me!" The soldier, Hirano, took the US dollars without hesitation, his face instantly beaming with joy. The arrogance of the Yamato people could not withstand a crisp green dollar bill; in Shanghai, the US dollar was the ultimate hard currency, far more tempting than the local legal tender.

"Chief Xu, we are from the 67 Daxi Road Investigative Team of the West Shanghai Military Police. Captain Li Shiqun sends his regards," one of the thugs said.

"Please convey my thanks to Captain Li. Once I take office, I will definitely invite him to dinner!" Xu Ruiyang replied with a smile.

After receiving the keys to the gate and the house, the two thugs each received ten yuan in legal tender and left happily. Xu Ruiyang closed the gate and carried his suitcase into the living room.

There were many such high-end properties in the West Shanghai area seized by the Japanese army. Most had been sealed off for future use and remained largely undamaged, though the valuables inside had either been taken by the owners or looted.

The furniture, which the Japanese found of little value, was well-preserved and looked nearly new. It was entirely Western-style. It appeared someone had already cleaned the place; it was spotless.

The floor was laid with marble tiles, with an exquisite carpet in the center. There were leather sofas, a rosewood coffee table, a golden floor lamp, and floor-to-ceiling windows with thick and thin curtains. In the southeast corner stood a piano. A large, beautiful crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the white walls were adorned with golden wall lamps.

After a tour, Xu Ruiyang’s feeling about his new home was: It was damn huge!

The three floors totaled about fifteen or sixteen hundred square meters, with over twenty rooms, including six bedrooms, not counting the garage or the storage rooms in the back.

When this residence was built, the original owner must have spent a fortune. Based on construction costs during the Republic of China era, it would have cost no less than 200,000 silver dollars.

But the question remained: he was just a minor policeman from beyond the Great Wall who had never even served as a squad leader or department head. Why, upon arriving in Shanghai, was he receiving such high-level treatment?

"Kagesa-kun, what is your impression of Xu Ruiyang?" Nishi Yoshiaki asked at Shigemitsu Hall.

"He is very composed. Most people, if given such an opportunity, would immediately proclaim their loyalty to the Empire and spout a bunch of empty, vague rhetoric to win my favor, but he did not do that."

"He likely knows that if it comes to bootlicking, I am not short of such people around me. They even come up with new ways to do it, without repeating themselves for a year. What I lack most are people of action—those who trade results for my attention. The benefits gained that way are far greater than any flattery," Kagesa said with a smile.

"Colonel, I feel that in the environment of the police bureau, Xu Ruiyang will be constrained at every turn. Not only does the Military Police Headquarters' police affairs section control the bureau, but the Army Ministry’s special service agency in Shanghai also has advisors there. I fear they will not be willing to give him too much power," Kayoin Haruki noted.

"It is precisely because of the conflict between the Military Police and the special service agencies, and their tendency to pull each other’s legs, that the police bureau has become so lax. I have no choice but to use traitors from the Zhongtong Bureau like Li Shiqun."

"How he handles his relationship with the police affairs section will depend on his own efforts. I do not wish to deal with General Saburo Miura; he is a veteran, and even Commander Yasuji Okamura finds him a headache," Kagesa said, shaking his head.

"We only asked the Military Police Headquarters to provide a residence. I didn't expect the General Affairs Section to hand over such a grand villa. I imagine Xu Ruiyang is quite puzzled right now!" Kayoin said.

"It is just a larger place to stay. They cannot live in it themselves, and keeping it empty is not as good as using it as a favor. The police system is controlled by the Military Police Headquarters anyway. This is fine; it shows the importance we place on him," Kagesa said with a smile.