Chapter 70: Fanning the Flames, Part Four

"Good evening, Your Excellency!" Xu Ruiyang approached Akagi Chikayoshi and bowed deeply.

"There is no need for such formality. My purpose in attending the Gendarmerie Headquarters' celebration event tonight is twofold: first, to congratulate the Special Operations Section under your command on its initial victory. You captured four heavyweight figures and weakened the Military Statistics Bureau's underground network in the Foreign Concession. Your performance is truly impressive."

"Second, considering that there are still numerous clues to be un-earthed from these traitors, particularly regarding intelligence on Wang Tianmou, let us set aside a time to draft a plan. We must strive to deal a devastating blow to the Military Statistics Bureau's latent organizations within the Concession!" Akagi Chikayoshi said with a smile, raising his glass.

Clearly, he was still unaware of the developments concerning the Special Service Headquarters. He was hoping to leverage the Special Operations Section, along with the Japanese secret agents of the Police Department, to jointly dismantle the underground network of the Military Statistics Bureau in Shanghai.

Shanghai was destined to become Japan's most crucial production and material transit base in China. Its core area, the International Settlement, served as a vital manifestation of the Foreign Ministry's influence in the city. Securing "law enforcement authority" was precisely Akagi Chikayoshi's duty and mission.

If he could destroy the breeding ground of the Military Statistics Bureau and eliminate these hidden threats, Akagi's standing within the Foreign Ministry would rise significantly, and he would even receive commendation from the Emperor. His ambitions extended far beyond Shanghai; as an aristocrat, he envisioned an even grander future.

"Has Your Excellency not been briefed?" Xu Ruiyang asked, feigning astonishment.

"What? Is there a problem?" Akagi Chikayoshi instantly developed a foreboding feeling.

"Lieutenant Colonel Harukuni Kakei has already transferred the four Military Statistics Bureau traitors and the intelligence regarding Wang Tianmou to the Investigation Team of the Western Shanghai Gendarmerie. That is Ding Mochun and Li Shiqun's intelligence organization. They are about to be expanded into the Special Operations Command of Mr. Wang's new government," Xu Ruiyang said with a bitter smile.

Upon hearing Akagi's words, he immediately recognized an opportunity. By exploiting the Japanese official's desire to eliminate the Concession's underground resistance, he could provoke the Foreign Ministry faction's dissatisfaction with the Special Service Headquarters, thereby weakening the resources the latter could secure in the Concession.

"What? Such a thing actually happened? This Harukuni Kakei must have lost his mind! What kind of people make up the Western Shanghai Gendarmerie Investigation Team? With such a smooth beginning, how could the subsequent work possibly be handed over to Ding Mochun and Li Shiqun?" Akagi Chikayoshi's face instantly darkened.

Of course he knew the true background of this bunch of Kuomintang Central Statistics Bureau turncoats, as well as the current state of the Western Shanghai Gendarmerie Investigation Team. They were a mass of hooligans and scoundrels—indulging in drinking, gambling, whoring, opium, swindling, and theft—and the Concession itself suffered deeply from their scourge.

There was concrete intelligence linking the firearms looted from the Concession police stations and the cars continuously disappearing directly to Wu Shibao of the Investigation Team.

In his eyes, these people were not completely unusable, but it depended on the task. For specialized work like arresting Military Statistics agents, how could they possibly compare to Xu Ruiyang?

Xu Ruiyang had undergone six months of study at the Xinjing Police Academy, worked for a year at the Xinjing Police廳, and then joined the Foreign Affairs and Counter-Espionage Section of the Central Security Bureau. He possessed theory, practice, experience, and achievements—he was truly the person who met the requirements.

"Your Excellency, this matter is actually in line with the Empire's strategic needs. Mr. Wang is organizing a new government and requires an intelligence agency to protect the safety of important personnel and departments, and to maintain social order and stability."

"Shanghai is the most critical of priorities in the Central China region, and the Special Operations Section clearly lacks the capacity for such broad duties. To give this new intelligence agency a good start, stabilize public morale, and establish its own image, they need a dazzling achievement. Lieutenant Colonel Harukuni is also considering the interests of the Empire."

"My personal desire for achievements must never conflict with the Empire's strategy. Without the strong backing of the Empire, the Special Operations Section would have no future to speak of. I believe that everything I have done will not be buried," Xu Ruiyang "explained."

"You certainly understand the bigger picture, possess a sense of overall strategy, and have an excellent mindset. You are right; no one can erase your achievements. It is a pity, however, that supporters like you are far too few," Akagi Chikayoshi nodded and said.

Naturally, Ding Mochun and Li Shiqun were also attending the celebration event hosted by the Shanghai Garrison Gendarmerie Headquarters. Even if they were soon to transition from the Investigation Team to the Special Service Headquarters, enjoying the dual support of the military intelligence apparatus and the puppet government, they still dared not underestimate the influence of the Gendarmerie Headquarters.

Celebration cocktail parties usually featured dancing. Ding Mochun brought his "secretary" Liu Nina—his wife was unwilling to come to such places—while Li Shiqun brought Ye Jiqing. Lowlifes like Wu Shibao were entirely unqualified to attend such an occasion; in the eyes of the Japanese, they were mere underlings.

"Shiqun, Section Chief Xu seems very familiar with Akagi Chikayoshi," Ye Jiqing remarked.

"The Special Operations Section has only been established for two months, yet it almost upended the Military Statistics Bureau's Shanghai district. Such achievements naturally earn the favor of Your Excellency Akagi."

"In the International Settlement, securing the cooperation of the Police Department is crucial. When the Special Service Headquarters is established later, I worry about how to deal with His Excellency Akagi; his arrogance is notorious," Li Shiqun said in a low voice.

According to the agreement between the Japanese military and the Concession authorities, arresting anti-Japanese elements within the Concession required prior notification to the Police Department, which would arrange for municipal police officers to monitor the operation to prevent the scope of the arrests from expanding or causing collateral damage.

Even if someone was captured, the prisoner first had to be detained in the police station's jail, and could only leave after the Shanghai Garrison Gendarmerie Headquarters completed the transfer procedures. Making direct arrests would be viewed as an act of provocation!

Meanwhile, Japan, temporarily wishing to avoid intense conflict with Western nations, was also restraining the actions of its military intelligence and espionage agencies. Under such circumstances, Akagi Chikayoshi, serving as the Deputy Superintendent of the Police Department, acted as a buffer. Through him, conducting operations became much more convenient.

If the Special Service Headquarters wanted to deal with the Military Statistics Bureau and the Central Statistics Bureau, it had to operate within the Concession. Yet such investigation and arrest work would inevitably provoke obstruction from the municipal police. Without Akagi Chikayoshi's assistance, unwelcome variables might arise.

"Lieutenant Colonel Harukuni mentioned wanting Xu Ruiyang to hold a concurrent position at the Special Service Headquarters. I think we could hand over the liaison work with the Police Department to him in the future. I get a headache just looking at this Excellency Akagi and really don't wish to see him. We can't possibly run to Lieutenant Colonel Harukuni for coordination every time something comes up," Ding Mochun observed from the side.

"This is truly a helpless measure. Let's first try engaging with His Excellency Akagi, ask Lieutenant Colonel Harukuni to step forward, and hammer out a fixed operational procedure. It is best not to go through the Special Operations Section; the fewer people who know, the better," Li Shiqun said.