Chapter 62: Catching a Whole Bunch at Once

While Xu Ruiyang and Liu Nina were having dinner, the Special Service Section initiated its very first operation since its establishment, involving three minor team leaders and two staff members, one of whom acted as the driver.

They stationed themselves outside a residence on Lincoln Road in the French Concession, preparing to arrest a suspect based on intelligence provided by the local police. After more than ten days of surveillance, this individual had been confirmed as a member of an underground organization. By following this lead, they had also uncovered the addresses of several other people.

"Are we going to notify the Section Chief before making the arrest?" Hou Chengye asked.

"This fellow has already sensed that we're tailing him. Even though he hasn't made any major moves yet, there's no guarantee he won't slip away. We have to grab him as soon as possible. We don't even know if he's of any real value yet. Once he opens his mouth and confirms his identity, it won't be too late to ask the Section Chief to interrogate him. There's no need to disturb him over such a small fish," Chang Weigang replied.

"As expected of an expert invited by the Japanese with a high salary. Look at his competence! How long has it been, and we've already reaped rewards? Only by getting off to a good start can the Special Service Section survive," Chang Weigang added, shaking his head.

Over the past two months, the Special Service Section's subsidiary, Hongyuan Trading Company, had been doing a booming trade and earning a fortune for the section. However, the intelligence branch itself had yet to produce any tangible results, leaving all nine members feeling immense pressure.

The suspect, strolling leisurely back home, was about to insert his key into the lock when Chang Weigang and Hou Chengye pressed pistols into his back. He was shoved directly into a car and quickly vanished into the night.

Meanwhile, a nearby patrolman sat smoking on the rear saddle of a bicycle, watching unconcernedly without any reaction.

Ring, ring—the telephone was ringing.

"What? You captured a suspect in the French Concession? Oh, and he noticed he was being watched? You did the right thing. He claims he has crucial intelligence and insists on seeing me before he talks? Treat him well, I'll be right there."

Xu Ruiyang, who had just returned home not long ago, picked up the phone and was momentarily dumbfounded. He had never expected his subordinates to carry out an arrest without seeking prior approval!

Upon arriving at the Special Service Section, he found the three minor team leaders keeping the suspect company, drinking tea in an office choked with cigarette smoke—a sight that left him with a deeply sinking feeling.

For the captive to demand an audience with him meant he undoubtedly possessed high-value intelligence, which would inevitably pose a serious threat to the underground organization.

"Section Chief Xu is truly young and promising. Brother goes by Chen Mingchu, and I'm the Personnel Section Chief for the Military Statistics Bureau's Shanghai Station. Actually, I've long harbored the intention to defect to the Japanese, but I just couldn't find the right path. Tonight, my wish has finally come true!" the man said with a smile.

To coax Chen Mingchu into talking, the men from the Special Service Section had heavily exaggerated their superior's credentials, claiming he was an expert specially brought in from Manchuria by the Japanese secret service organs and deeply trusted by Major General Saburo Miura, Commander of the Japanese Gendarmerie Headquarters in Shanghai.

It wasn't as though Chen Mingchu was unaware of Ding Mocun and Li Shiqun's faction, but they currently only operated under the signboard of the Western Shanghai Gendarmerie Investigation Team, a title that seemed far less prestigious than the Special Service Section.

At present, very few people in Shanghai knew that this band of traitors and ruffians was about to rise to prominence and become universally despised arch-traitors!

Chen Mingchu wasn't lying, either. He genuinely desired to defect, holding a profoundly pessimistic view of the Chongqing government's prospects. Being captured by the Special Service Section actually felt like an opportunity to him.

The Personnel Section Chief of the Military Statistics Bureau's Shanghai Station?

Xu Ruiyang was stunned. This spelled serious trouble; Chen Mingchu was no small fry—this was going to cause a massive crisis!

The Shanghai Station had a large establishment, with the Station Chief typically holding the rank of major general, while the heads of various sections were either lieutenant colonels or full colonels. He never imagined that Chen Mingchu, the personnel chief, would turn out to be a traitor who had long harbored disloyal intentions.

"Those who know how to adapt to circumstances are wise men. I deeply admire Section Chief Chen's ability to assess the situation. You hold a vast amount of classified intelligence regarding the Shanghai Station, which is precisely the resource the Special Service Section urgently needs."

"As long as you assist the Special Service Section in achieving sufficiently brilliant results, I will personally recommend you to General Saburo Miura of the Gendarmerie Headquarters. Your future prospects will certainly be no less than my own," Xu Ruiyang said with a smile.

"Achieving results is easy. I can offer Section Chief Xu a welcoming gift: Wan Liliang, the Operations Section Chief of the Shanghai Station, and Lin Zhijiang, the leader of the Second Operations Group. Both of them live quite close to me. What do you think?" Chen Mingchu proposed.

Hearing the intelligence provided by Chen Mingchu, Xu Ruiyang nearly jumped out of his seat. Yet another section chief, plus an operations group leader! In a single stroke, the Special Service Section would achieve "brilliant battle results," but this was hardly what he wanted.

"It's getting a bit late today. Let's keep an eye on them first and launch the arrest operation tomorrow night," Xu Ruiyang said, naturally hoping to buy time to transmit a warning to bureau headquarters.

"We cannot wait until tomorrow. According to our scheduled arrangement, I am supposed to meet with them tomorrow morning to discuss assignments for new recruits. We must make the arrests tonight; otherwise, if they slip away, you cannot blame my intelligence for being inaccurate," Chen Mingchu retorted, shaking his head.

"Section Chief, let's make the move now! We've established a good relationship with the patrolmen on Lincoln Road. They won't interfere; in fact, they'll even help with the arrests. It's only nine o'clock now, and the Concession is at its liveliest. We can split into two groups and bring them back in no time," Chang Weigang urged immediately.

With everyone watching, Xu Ruiyang had no way out. If he rejected his subordinates' advice and botched a case that was already a sure thing, it could potentially pose a grave threat to his own safety.

Nine people already knew about this development—not a small number by any means—making leaks virtually inevitable. Combined with Chen Mingchu's veiled threats, if the Special Higher Police caught wind of this, suspicion would inevitably fall upon him.

"Very well. Split the six men into two groups, one car per group. Follow Mr. Chen's intelligence, quietly bring the targets back, and try not to cause too much of a stir."

"Zhou Hexmin, take my car to the Old Restaurant, order a top-tier banquet, and pick up some Huangjiu wine from the Wang Baohe Restaurant. We must treat an esteemed guest like Mr. Chen properly; we cannot fall short on etiquette," Xu Ruiyang ordered.

Chen Mingchu wrote down the addresses, and the two groups quickly boarded their vehicles and departed. Everyone was consumed by intense excitement; capturing three heavyweight Military Statistics agents would surely earn the Special Service Section a massive reward from the Gendarmerie Headquarters.

"Thank you for the hospitality, Section Chief Chen. Beneath the wardrobe in my home, there is another roster of personnel for the Shanghai Station. It's only a partial list, as only Station Chief Wang Tianmou knows the identities of everyone, but you can send someone to retrieve it tomorrow," Chen Mingchu said, accepting a cigar and smiling with satisfaction.

"Do you know the whereabouts of Station Chief Wang Tianmou?" Xu Ruiyang asked.

"I only know the places he frequently visits, though I don't know his exact residence. I can tell you these locations, and as long as the Special Service Section assigns men to keep a patient watch, you are bound to catch him!" Chen Mingchu replied.

"There's no rush. Capturing someone as important as Wang Tianmou requires notifying the Gendarmerie Headquarters' Special Higher Police in advance. That will be your capital for earning merit in front of the Japanese," Xu Ruiyang said with a faint smile.

You actually do know!

Xu Ruiyang felt an irresistible impulse to eliminate Chen Mingchu right then and there. The destructive potential of this man against the Shanghai Station of the Military Statistics Bureau was simply boundless! The Personnel Section Chief was a critical, sensitive post holding the dossiers of every single operative—how on earth could headquarters have been so blind as to harbor such a traitor?