Chapter 69: Fanning the Flames, Part III

Plum Work? What on earth is that?

"Miss Yunzi, I don't think I have ever heard of such an organization in Shanghai," Xu Ruiyang asked.

"It is normal that you haven't heard of it. Last July, General Doihara established the Doihara Agency in Shanghai, known externally as the Special Committee for China, but its primary function is actually intelligence work. Last year, the Tianjin spy agency, code-named the Bamboo Agency, was merely a branch."

"Taking advantage of the chaotic situation in the Great Southwest, the General secretly deployed a batch of elite imperial agents. When I was lurking in Jinling, I also cultivated several officers in key departments."

"Plum Work is a directive issued by the Defense Division of the Ministry of War, intended to integrate the secret agents of the Doihara Agency with my intelligence network, and, under the leadership of Colonel Ikeda Sadaki, to step up penetration into the Nationalist-controlled areas."

"The mission is to continue dispatching agents into the Nationalist-controlled areas in the Great Southwest to gather local military, political, and economic intelligence. The Mantetsu Research Department is also involved in this to make preliminary preparations for the Empire's future advance into the Great Southwest."

"Joining the Plum Work organization also brings many practical benefits. Our funding is unlimited, and we possess special powers. Through the coordination of Colonel Ikeda with the Headquarters of the China Expeditionary Army, Imperial troops, spy agencies, and gendarmerie everywhere must render service to us," Nanako Yunzi said.

"It sounds like Plum Work is an extremely important intelligence agency for the Imperial Army. As a head of the Special Investigation Section and a Chinese citizen, wouldn't it be somewhat inappropriate for me to participate in top-secret Imperial matters?"

"I am deeply grateful for the trust shown by the Colonel and Miss Yunzi, but I must ask for this matter to be considered over and over again. If needed, I would be more than happy to provide some assistance," Xu Ruiyang said with a solemn expression.

An organization with the code name Plum Work was of vital importance to him. Through continuous daily contact, he might just be able to uncover the threats that the Doihara Agency and Nanako Yunzi had hidden within the Nationalist-controlled areas! Whether they were Japanese agents or moles, they could cause tremendous losses to the Chongqing Government.

However, if he were to agree to participate in such an important undertaking without the slightest hesitation, it would hardly be a normal reaction. Everyone knows the adage that the more you know, the more dangerous it is. As the head of the Special Investigation Section who had just cracked a major case involving the Military Statistics Bureau's Shanghai Station, could he really be so blind to something this obvious?

"Laying out an intelligence network is never a matter of overnight success. The reason we have set our sights on you is because the work done by the Special Investigation Section prior to this arrest operation was exceptionally solid. Such character and operational methods fit the requirements of Plum Work."

"The time you have spent in Shanghai is very short, and very few people know you. Furthermore, the Special Investigation Section's arrest operation this time was extremely covert; the Military Statistics Bureau will only assume it was the work of the Spy Headquarters. This is a very advantageous condition."

"From now on, you must take care to conceal yourself—to be precise, ensure that people do not know your true identity. For the time being, even those who know you do not know you have joined Plum Work. Tomorrow, I will pull your file from the Police Department and place it in the Shiguang Hall," Nanako Yunzi said.

The reason Ikeda Sadaki made this decision was also due to the previous performance of the Special Investigation Section. When Xu Ruiyang came to Shanghai to form the Special Investigation Section, he quietly laid out a relatively preliminary intelligence network across the International Settlement and the French Concession, with eyes and ears in every single street, trading the minimum cost for the maximum benefit.

Plum Work was an important project of the Japanese Ministry of War's intelligence department and served as preparatory groundwork for the future total occupation of China's Great Southwest battlefield.

Although the offensive momentum of the Japanese army had been checked following the Battle of Jiangcheng, and their troop strength and war resources were insufficient to sustain the next phase of operations, the Military Department never abandoned its plan to seize the Great Southwest by force.

Intelligence dictates the outcome of war. In the vast majority of cases, whoever grasps the enemy's intelligence first gains the initiative and strikes first to achieve victory!

Driven by this demand, Ikeda Sadaki, who had facilitated Wang Jingwei's surrender and was about to become the puppet government's supreme military adviser, was authorized to integrate intelligence resources in Central China and carry on intelligence-gathering activities against the Nationalist-controlled areas. Within the Japanese military, this was designated as Plum Work.

"I understand Miss Yunzi's meaning. In the Special Investigation Section, I am the head of the Special Investigation Section, but once I leave my post, my public identity will be that of a businessman. I will restart a trading company specializing in smuggling, extending my business tentacles to all parts of the Nationalist-controlled areas, and even to Chongqing!" Xu Ruiyang said in a low voice.

The reason for choosing to engage in smuggling was not solely for profit; rather, this identity was the easiest one to survive with in troubled times. Who wasn't aware that the Nationalist-controlled areas were blockaded by the Japanese army, causing the prices of all kinds of supplies to skyrocket?

Many officials and military generals of the Chongqing Government were connected to smuggling. As long as one formed a relationship based on mutual interests, not only would an intelligence channel be secured, but an extra layer of camouflage would also be added to one's undercover existence.

"You truly live up to your reputation as an expert. Your ability to draw inferences about other cases from one instance makes me admire you greatly. That is precisely the course to take. But remember, do not mention this matter even to the Special Service Section or the Police Affairs Section, let alone other departments. The only two people who know your identity are Colonel Ikeda Sadaki and myself," Nanako Yunzi said with considerable satisfaction.

"Thank you, Colonel Ikeda and Miss Yunzi, for your appreciation of me. I will surely proceed step by step with steady and solid progress, and I will not let down the trust and expectations of the two of you!" Xu Ruiyang said softly.

"Both Colonel Ikeda Sadaki and I have great confidence in your ability, especially those eight words—proceeding step by step with steady and solid progress—which summarize the approach wonderfully," Nanako Yunzi said with a smile.

When arresting members of the anti-Japanese underground organization in the leased territories of Shanghai, the Special Investigation Section played on its home turf. Because this was occupied territory, Xu Ruiyang needed to speak quite directly.

However, when setting up a new intelligence network in the Nationalist-controlled areas, one would have to face not only the Military Statistics Bureau, but also the Central Statistics Bureau, gendarmerie, and police of the Chongqing Government. One never knew at which link trouble might arise, and rushing for success would lead nowhere; therefore, a cautious attitude was imperative.

"Xu-kun!"

As the tune ended, the two returned to the crowd, conversing and laughing. Just as Xu Ruiyang had displayed his gentlemanly demeanor and handed a glass of wine to Nanako Yunzi, he heard someone calling him.

Turning his head to look, it turned out to be Chiyuki Akagi, the Deputy Superintendent of the Shanghai Municipal Police of the International Settlement Public Works Bureau.

"Lord Akagi rarely appears on such occasions. For him to take the initiative to greet you is a rather rare privilege indeed. Go on over quickly!" Nanako Yunzi said in a low voice.

In her impression, ever since Chiyuki Akagi arrived in Shanghai, he rarely participated in activities organized by military intelligence agencies. The Foreign Ministry's intelligence department was an independent system, not under military jurisdiction.

As a Japanese aristocrat, let alone a Chinese person, very few Japanese could catch his eye. Field-grade officers like Seiei Haruki, Okamura Satsuzo, and Tsukamoto Kiyoshi were respectful and proper when contacting the Police Affairs Section, and even Saburo Miura could not be so casual when meeting and talking with him.

For Chiyuki Akagi to take the initiative to speak with Xu Ruiyang meant that the work of the Special Investigation Section must have been exceptionally outstanding, winning his high praise.