Chapter 54: Visiting (Part Two)

Chapter 54: In Motion

Xu Ruiyang’s subsidies to the Special Services Department’s funds were certainly genuine, but his personal profiteering from such dealings was also true. Yet no one dared to speak openly about it.

Who would wholeheartedly serve the empire with such foolish purity? Even the Japanese themselves were not so incorruptible, especially within departments like the intelligence agencies and the military police.

Gangcun Shizō was not averse to money, but due to the Special Higher Police Section’s unique nature, its funding was relatively ample, and bribes were seldom accepted openly. In fact, few even dared to bribe the Special Higher Police, and most tried to avoid them altogether.

However, Xu Ruiyang’s money was acceptable—this was a customary gift from a subordinate agency to a superior, a necessary formality to deepen connections and foster goodwill.

After visiting the Special Higher Police Section, Xu Ruiyang went to Saburō Miura’s office, an important figure he sought to curry favor with. Instead of offering ginseng and deer antler as before, he handed over an envelope, explaining it was in gratitude for the Military Police Command’s support of the Special Services Department.

“Xu, your abilities surprise me. In such a short time, you’ve raised a substantial fund for the Special Services Department, reducing the empire’s expenditure and consolidating the strategic supply channels. You’ve done excellently!” Saburō Miura said with a smile.

“I will notify all military police detachments. From now on, when Special Services cargo passes through, inspections are unnecessary. As long as you serve the empire, your future prospects are promising,” Miura continued.

Known for his greed, Miura accepted a “gift” of three thousand dollars and immediately promised Xu Ruiyang special treatment for the department’s transactions—exempt from inspection within the Shanghai area.

A different military police commander would not be so openly avaricious. Miura was an anomaly in the Japanese Army Military Police, exceedingly greedy, and the best way to deal with him was simply to pay him off.

At the Chōkōdō Special Services headquarters, Seiki Kiyoharu smiled and said, “I appreciate your sincerity; I’ll accept this time, but let it be the last. If you focus on doing the work of the Special Services Department well, that’s far better than sending me gifts.”

Two boxes of ginseng, a package of deer antler, and three thousand dollars were generous presents he could not refuse. Besides, since the Special Services Department was engaged in business, and he had exerted significant effort, accepting this was equivalent to receiving some compensation—refusing would be foolish.

“This one is for Colonel Kagesa. Might I have the honor of delivering it to him?” Xu Ruiyang asked.

He certainly did not take “let it be the last time” literally. Once a first time existed, there would be a second, and soon enough, no more warnings—just acceptance. Habit was the most formidable force.

“Colonel Kagesa is away on official duty under the army’s orders and is not in Shanghai. I will forward your gift to him. How is the work of the Special Services Department progressing?” Seiki Kiyoharu smiled again.

Xu Ruiyang understood the subtleties. He had not included any letter with the gift for Kagesa Masaki, knowing that trying to bribe such a man would backfire.

“I’m ashamed to say we have yet to gather any useful leads. The Special Services Department is short-staffed; I prefer quality over quantity. Recently, I have been occupied with funding and refurbishing the headquarters and have not begun recruiting or training new members.”

“The main issue is that the Special Police Corps had previously collected too little information on the Military Intelligence Bureau and Central Intelligence Bureau. With populations in the two concessions numbering in the millions, conventional methods won’t suffice. I am now requiring them to develop informants daily within the concessions,” Xu Ruiyang explained.

He was quietly analyzing the information Kiyoharu provided: Kagesa Masaki was not in Shanghai but on a military mission. Logically, his task was to support the new government led by the great traitor Wang Jingwei. The best explanation for his absence was that he had gone to Hanoi to bring Wang Jingwei to Japan.

Of course, this was only Xu’s inference. The Japanese military might have other orders.

Relying solely on speculation was insufficient; additional evidence was necessary to support this hypothesis; otherwise, there would be no way to report it—intelligence work could not be founded on guesswork, as even a slight error could lead far astray.

“You are different from Li Shiqun and the others. They have long operated undercover in Shanghai, with many contacts and relations through those who defected to them. They are familiar with the Military Intelligence Bureau, which makes finding targets much easier.”

“You are new and unfamiliar with the Shanghai concessions. Intelligence work must not be rushed; it requires a gradual approach. It will take at least six months or even a year to see results.”

“Colonel Kagesa and I understand your situation. Don’t worry about us pressuring the Special Services Department too much; you are essentially starting from scratch and need time,” Kiyoharu said.

Leaving Chōkōdō, Xu Ruiyang drove to 95 Yidingpan Road, Lane 10. Ginseng and deer antler were only given to Ding Mucun and Li Shiqun; Wu Sibao was not yet qualified.

This time, Xu also prepared a package of sable fur for Ye Yiqing and She Aizhen. Ding Mucun naturally received one as well, though his wife usually stayed home, so he was entrusted to bring it back.

As the saying goes, “many gifts are never objectionable,” so naturally, tea was served, cigarettes lit, and casual conversations ensued. Though Wu Sibao received nothing, She Aizhen did, and he felt no loss of face—he was a typical henpecked husband.

“I hear the Special Services Department’s business is booming. Hongyuan Trading Company is gaining some fame in Shanghai. Brother, you must have made a good haul these days?” Li Shiqun laughed.

He was indeed envious of the Special Services Department’s dealings. If greed were a contest, he would be a top contender.

The Japanese had started allocating 300,000 yen monthly from Jiang Customs to the Intelligence Unit this month. Ye Yiqing managed the funds but dared not be too greedy with Ding Mucun watching and over a hundred agents monitoring. Money was needed everywhere.

Those who followed Xu were either traitors or ruffians, with simple ambitions: official promotion was secondary; real gold and silver were the priority. Without money, there was no authority, no cohesion, and no fighting capability.

With Seiki Kiyoharu’s support, leveraging Shanghai’s resources and the Nationalist-controlled area for smuggling and trade, Xu believed he could soon amass a fortune.

“The Special Services Department’s operations are modest at best. My appetite isn’t large. I’ve only intercepted a small fraction of smugglers’ goods entering Shanghai and made some profit on the margin. The truly powerful smugglers, like the Green Gang leader Zhang Xiaolin, I dare not provoke. Even the Japanese have to show him some respect.”

“Even the profits we earn, the Special Services Department can’t keep much. Most must go toward maintaining relations; otherwise, the business won’t last,” Xu Ruiyang said.

From Li Shiqun’s tone, Xu knew exactly what he was thinking. Such affairs were common in Shanghai, and Xu was indifferent—only a fool wouldn’t feel envy.

“When will your Special Services Department officially open and hang its sign?” Ding Mucun asked.

(End of chapter)