Chapter 8: The Enigma of Identity, Part Two

Chapter 8: Identity Mystery (Part 2)

How could this be possible?

Xu Ruiyang still had confidence in his own vigilance, but if the other party used the radio at home and he remained completely unaware, that would be a total failure!

“Are you deliberately sending messages when I’m not home? Even if you send them in the dead of night, I would notice something unusual. After all, we’ve lived together for quite some time,” Xu Ruiyang asked.

“In reality, the intelligence team’s radio is rarely used. Apart from the scheduled monthly security messages, there’s nothing else to transmit! The monitoring equipment of the Japanese puppet spies can’t really pinpoint my signal location because the transmission times are too short,” Feng Qidong said with a bitter smile.

Xu Ruiyang also sensed the predicament of the intelligence team. They were currently in a covert standby phase, without any substantial gains, which explained the radio’s quietness. He repeated what he had heard to Feng Qidong.

At the Shan City Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters, in the deputy director’s office.

A woman in her early thirties, dressed in a light blue qipao, hurried to the door holding a folder.

“Report!”

“Come in!”

Although it was already January 1st, 1939, Dai Li, deputy director of the Shan City Military Intelligence and Statistics Bureau, was still in his office.

“Director, here is the top-secret intelligence sent from the Xinjing intelligence team!” the woman in the qipao handed over the folder.

“What important intelligence could the Xinjing team possibly have that warrants a top-secret classification?” Dai Li took the folder but was somewhat skeptical.

The content of the top-secret intelligence was about the secret agreement signed on November 20th in Shanghai’s Chongguang Hall between Japan and Wang Jingwei, detailing the signatories. On Wang’s side were Gao Zongwu and Mei Sipeng; on Japan’s side were Kageo Teiaki and Imai Takeo.

The telegram Wang Jingwei sent was the agreed signal: when the third declaration from the Konoé cabinet was issued, Wang Jingwei was to respond accordingly.

Feng Qidong specially explained that this intelligence was obtained by agent Xu Ruiyang through contact with Nishiyoshi Akira of the Manchurian Railway Investigation Department’s Shanghai Office, Jinling Branch. Nishiyoshi was the intermediary for secret contacts between Gao Zongwu and the Japanese, with assistance from Manchurian Railway president Matsuoka Yosuke.

“This is strategic-level intelligence, excellent! I was just worried about this matter. Go and call Director Mao and Pan Qiwu immediately!” Dai Li said.

Wang Jingwei’s escape to Hanoi, Vietnam, had caused a huge stir in Shan City’s government, but the details of his contacts and agreement with Japan remained unclear. This top-secret intelligence from the Xinjing team essentially clarified the situation.

This development was unexpected for Dai Li—an intelligence officer from beyond the frontier, presumed almost dead, had managed to uncover such critical insider information through another channel.

Mao Renfeng was the director’s secretary, and Pan Qiwu was the secretary of Section A; both were Dai Li’s most trusted confidants privy to the vast majority of secrets.

Since Dai Li was on duty, they couldn’t go home. Sure enough, within two minutes, they arrived.

“So Wang Jingwei’s telegram was a collaborative agreement with the Japanese. Yet Wang Tianmu in Shanghai and the Shanghai district seem completely unaware of this. It’s surprising that comrades in Xinjing obtained this intelligence,” Mao Renfeng expressed his astonishment.

Wang Jingwei’s telegram—referred to as a “Yan” telegram—was sent on December 29th, 1938, just two days prior.

The “Yan” telegram refers to a historical method of dating telegrams. When telegraphy was first introduced in the Qing dynasty, the cost was calculated by the number of characters sent. To save on expenses, a new dating method was devised using the Earthly Branch for months and rhyme categories for days. On the 29th day, the rhyme tone corresponded to “Yan,” hence the name “Yan telegram.”

“Have the archives prepare a safe. I want to personally retrieve Xu Ruiyang’s files and store them separately. Send a telegram to Feng Qidong—his situation forbids any leaks. We must nurture him carefully,” Dai Li instructed.

“Director, he’s undercover in Xinjing. The Kwantung Army and Central China Expeditionary Forces operate independently. Even if there were intelligence, it would be minimal. Isn’t this level of caution excessive?” Mao Renfeng felt it was overly prudent.

“My concern lies with Nishiyoshi’s line. Though he’s a Japanese agent for the Manchurian Railway, he’s deeply entangled with the Japanese military intelligence. If Xu Ruiyang can reach him through a Japanese woman, it’s worth exploiting.”

“Information unobtainable directly can be inferred indirectly. Nishiyoshi might become a special intelligence channel against Wang Jingwei in the future. That’s Xu Ruiyang’s value,” Dai Li shook his head.

“Director, since Xu Ruiyang’s intelligence is so valuable, I think he deserves timely rewards, like a promotion or a bonus,” Pan Qiwu suggested.

The military intelligence bureau’s method for boosting morale was straightforward: promotions and rewards. Agents who achieved significant contributions were typically generously rewarded and promoted, with the intelligence’s value as the measure.

“Precisely because his intelligence is so valuable, his reward must be handled cautiously. I’ll consult with the commissioner and request a substantial reward,” Dai Li replied.

“You all know that Wang Jingwei’s telegram sent to Hanoi over ten days ago enraged the commissioner, prompting rare harsh criticism. But the background behind Wang’s defection remained unclear.”

“Whether it’s our bureau or the traitorous Central Bureau, we were all ordered to investigate. We completed the task in just half a month. The old man will surely view us favorably. The Central Bureau always causes us trouble; the best counterattack is to deliver results!” Dai Li said with a smile.

The Military Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bureau were bitter rivals. In fact, they once were one entity. In April 1937, the Military Investigation and Statistics Bureau was formed by merging the Military Intelligence Bureau’s predecessor, the Lixing Society’s Special Operations Office, with the Central Bureau’s predecessor, the Party Affairs Investigation Office.

After the split, the Special Operations Office inherited the Military Intelligence name under Dai Li’s leadership, mainly implementing the old man’s dictatorial will. The Party Affairs Investigation Office became the Central Bureau, effectively the notorious CC faction controlled by the Chen brothers.

The old man used the Military Intelligence Bureau to curb the Chen brothers’ growing power, but to maintain balance, he didn’t overly favor one side. The Central Bureau retained its own advantages.

Frankly, both bureaus sought to prove their worth and earn the old man’s favor to gain more power and benefits. Clashes were inevitable.

However, the Chen brothers’ faction was too powerful and deeply entrenched. Dai Li clearly lacked the qualifications to confront them directly. His only way was to win the old man’s trust through achievements.

Since its establishment, the Military Intelligence Bureau had yet to obtain any truly weighty top-secret intelligence. The newly recruited Xu Ruiyang happened to solve this problem, so Dai Li naturally treated him with exceptional favor.

(End of Chapter)