Chapter 58: The Flower of the Empire (Part Two)

Under the Shadow of the Empire

Nanzao Yunzi was actually born in China, which was quite a small secret. No wonder she executed her missions without a single flaw and was renowned as the top spy of the Japanese intelligence agencies; her command of the language and her upbringing gave her an overwhelming advantage.

In truth, Xu Ruiyang had only heard rumors about her. It was said that Nanzao Yunzi had once infiltrated the Tangshan Hot Spring Resort in Jinling, a place frequented by high-ranking government officials, for a long period. Using her charm and beauty, she captivated numerous senior officials of the Chongqing government and stole a vast amount of classified intelligence.

For instance, the Chongqing government's military defense secrets and troop movement plans in Shanghai had caused the Chongqing government heavy losses, and she had even plotted to assassinate the Old Man by bombing his car.

Later, her actions were discovered, and a court sentenced her to life imprisonment, locking her up in the Laohuqiao Prison in Jinling. However, using her beauty and money, she lured a guard into helping her escape. She then came to Shanghai and assumed the post of Chief of the First Section of the Special Service Section.

As for whether these accounts were entirely true, he had no way of knowing for sure. Such a massive scandal was hardly something the Chongqing government would broadcast for all to hear.

Yet, the fact that Nanzao Yunzi could be granted the rank of major and hold a leadership position in an organization like the Special Service Section spoke volumes about her formidable abilities. The Japanese military had no female soldiers, let alone female officers.

"When it comes to dealing with the Chongqing government's spies and the underground party, there are simply too many departments with such functions: the Army's Special Service Organs, the Military Police's Special Service Section and Investigation Unit, the Police Department, the Navy's Intelligence Office and the Kodama Organ, as well as the Foreign Ministry's Special Service Section and Foreign Affairs Police, not to mention various secret organizations. Add them all together, and there are more than a dozen," Xu Ruiyang said.

"Figuring out how to make the Special Service Branch coexist harmoniously with all these departments, maintain maximum independence, and leverage everyone's resources for coordinated operations is no easy puzzle to solve. The Special Service Branch is still a new entity in Shanghai; managing these interpersonal relationships feels even more headache-inducing than handling cases."

The waiter served the food and wine. The yellow wine here was exceptionally famous, but the two of them were mostly just chatting. Xu Ruiyang never expected to get information out of a seasoned operative like Nanzao Yunzi simply by trying to get her drunk.

Only through prolonged, gradual contact, slowly lowering the other person's guard, and extracting pieces of information from repeated conversations could one possibly obtain anything useful.

"Japan's environment is actually much the same. Not only does it emphasize individual performance and ability, but it also places immense weight on connections and factions, with social hierarchy being paramount. I have made countless contributions to the Empire, yet why have I never received a medal bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor? Because I am a woman!"

"The Imperial military system does not permit women to exist, save for a few medical personnel remaining in the armed forces, and even they are not true Imperial soldiers. It is only in specialized organizations like the Special Service Section that I was given the opportunity to serve the Empire," Nanzao Yunzi said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

These words were undoubtedly from the bottom of her heart. She believed her competence and intelligence were second to no imperial agent. If she were a man, she would have long since been promoted to lieutenant colonel. Given the achievements she had racked up, she undoubtedly would have received a medal of honor presented by His Majesty the Emperor!

Pity that she was a woman. Being able to become an officer of the empire was already an extraordinary exception, which implicitly served as a commendation for her past achievements.

"Miss Yunzi, Liu Nina, the secretary to Ding Mocun of the Investigation Unit—I have a feeling she is far from an ordinary woman. Is she also an imperial agent?" Xu Ruiyang asked abruptly.

While the question seemed somewhat sudden, it was not entirely out of line. After all, he, too, was a special service branch chief working for the Japanese, and this inquiry demonstrated his professional acumen.

"Mr. Xu, your powers of observation and analysis are truly sharp. Without much contact, you managed to pierce through her disguise and see through her identity purely on intuition. To maintain such a clear head in front of such a stunning beauty—no wonder you are capable of rendering great service to the Empire and receiving commendations."

"Even Ding Mocun and Li Shiqun were completely captivated by Liu Nina's body and pretty face. If they hadn't been informed beforehand, they probably still wouldn't understand the truth even now. She isn't Japanese; she is a Chinese agent trained by the special service organs, having caught the eye of Colonel Hidesada Kagesada," Nanzao Yunzi said with a smile.

She liked men like Xu Ruiyang—unswayed by physical beauty, maintaining a sharp intuition and an iron will at all times. Even ordinary imperial agents would find it hard not to be drawn to Liu Nina.

As it turned out, this Liu Nina was indeed of mixed heritage. Her father was a businessman, and her mother was a demimonde from Russia. She had attended university, but when her father committed suicide due to business failure at the age of twenty-one and her mother ran off with another man, she was forced to cut her education short, resigning herself to degradation and becoming a courtesan in a pleasure house.

Liu Nina had received a higher education, was naturally gifted with striking beauty, skin as white as snow, and a tall, voluptuous figure—particularly her chest, which offered a striking visual impact. Because she quickly rose to fame in the courtesan world, she was hailed as the "Matchless Imperial Favorite" and crowned the "Queen of Courtesans"!

In the twenty-fourth year of the Republic, Hidesada Kagesada served as the military attaché to the Japanese Army Ministry in Shanghai. Taking note of her attributes, he deemed her exceptionally suited for cultivation as an agent and sent her to Japan for a year of training. She returned to Shanghai in the twenty-fifth year of the Republic, operating in the foreign concessions under the guise of a high-class dancer.

She first joined the Doihara Organ, operating as an independent intelligence operative within the concessions under the command of Masanobu Tsuji. Later, when Hidesada Kagesada arrived in Shanghai in November of the twenty-seventh year of the Republic, she continued to work under him.

Masanobu Tsuji used Li Shiqun and his gang of traitors to send her to the Investigation Unit of the Western Shanghai Military Police, where she served as Li Shiqun's secretary, followed immediately by a stint as Ding Mocun's secretary. In reality, she was there to monitor their activities.

"Although Ding Mocun and Li Shiqun are lustful, expecting Liu Nina to truly control the two of them is probably asking too much. Most likely, they simply went along with the flow and reaped a massive bargain," Xu Ruiyang said with a smile.

"You hit the nail on the head. Colonel Tsuji sent her to the Investigation Unit precisely to keep an eye on them and stay abreast of their movements at any moment. If you ask me, it's a waste of resources. If I were in charge, I would have kept Liu Nina stationed in the Investigation Unit deep undercover; that way, she could have actually served some purpose," Nanzao Yunzi remarked.

Xu Ruiyang's two meals were truly worth every bit. They verified his two judgments—top-secret intelligence that money simply could not buy.

In early May, inside the office of the Special Service Branch Chief.

The infrastructure construction for the Special Service Branch's headquarters had been completed. Xu Ruiyang felt that until they achieved any "results," it was unwise to decorate the office too lavishly. He stuck with the original interior and did not even replace the office furniture.

"Chief, a constable I know in the French Concession secretly told me that a crowd of Japanese and Investigation Unit personnel suddenly appeared outside a residence at No. 570 Fulu Li Road. The surrounding area was cordoned off, and the police department barred constables from approaching. There must be some major figure staying inside," Wan Xuexiang reported.

"You can gather intelligence on these sorts of matters, but make sure to maintain strict confidentiality. Take advantage of the fact that the Special Service Branch's budget is currently generous to build up your intelligence network early. Secure your own informants—the kind of informants who can actually help us get things done. By the way, have you managed to dig up any clues?" Xu Ruiyang asked.