Chapter 695: Danger

Japan's occupation of the International Settlement, although it did kill some people, did not harass civilians on a large scale; those who died could only be said to have had bad luck...

This statement, of course, made no sense; why wasn't it you who died? But there was no other way.

This time Japan's occupation of the International Settlement, compared to the various things done before, was already much better. Mainly, by now, the ferocity of the Japanese no longer needed to be stated; the poor masses were as obedient as little lambs. The once bustling International Settlement immediately looked much less lively, not as busy with traffic as before.

On the contrary, the French Concession was much livelier. In the jurisdiction of the Central Police Station, the number of deaths at night for three consecutive days was over a hundred, and the situation in several other police stations was the same; the number of deaths had significantly increased compared to usual. Summing it up, in just three short days, thousands of people died in the French Concession. There were elderly, children, men, and women.

This was because of a struggle for survival between the large number of refugees who suddenly poured in and had no assets in the French Concession and the refugees who had originally gathered in the French Concession. After all, the French Concession was only so big, and resources were actually limited. And previously, all forces and industries had maintained a relatively stable state. Now, a large number of people from all walks of life pouring in from the International Settlement were naturally competing with them for survival.

In addition, there was the instability of the situation during this period, the secret competition of various forces, and the secret clashes of intelligence personnel from all sides; these were all things that would cause people to die.

However, as a meat-eater in the upper echelons, this had no impact on Wang Yan at all. Not to mention that three hundred died on his turf, even if a thousand died, people would mostly just sigh at the turbulent situation and the difficulty of the world, and would not question his ability to act. Because among these people, there was not a single foreigner; they were all Chinese struggling for their lives with their own agendas. As long as it was controlled within a certain range and the influence was controlled, no one cared.

Japan's war process in China was not very ideal, and it was also very intense in the Pacific battlefield fighting against the United States, but in the Southeast Asian region, it was invincible. Every day, war reports of where the Japanese army had conquered were sent back, spreading among the Japanese army on Chinese soil, declaring their long-lasting martial luck.

"Wang Sang, this is the latest war report from Southeast Asia; take a look."

In the tea room of the Iwai Tianyue Gongguan, Iwai Eiichi picked up the top one from a stack of documents on the table and handed it over.

Wang Yan responded by putting down his teacup and took the document to flip through it.

Although this folder was large, it only contained two sheets of paper, which were translated telegrams. The biggest characteristic of telegrams in this era was that they were short. Using the fewest words to say the most things. He himself contacted his leaders by trying to be as concise as possible. It wasn't that he couldn't afford to send telegrams; after all, the radio station was his own, and he had plenty of batteries, which were listed as contraband and extremely difficult to obtain; the main reason was the efficiency of communication.

He stared at it and saw that on the first thin sheet of paper, it was written: "April 6th, conquered Lu Song." And on the second sheet of paper was the detailed process sorted out after the battle.

Clearly, the first sheet used a clear code, for the two parties and other forces to see. The second was encrypted and could not be leaked for the time being, because it involved the specific location of the Japanese army in Southeast Asia at the moment, as well as military deployment; this was high-level military intelligence.

He didn't linger on the second sheet of paper, just glanced at it and closed the folder. From the moment he met Iwai Eiichi, he had always been indifferent to these documents, avoiding them whenever possible.

Moreover, Lu Song was too far from China, and the news of Japan's victory had no value to him. If there was any value, it was to understand some of Japan's current situation in Southeast Asia, especially the troop deployment. Because the current Japan was fighting on three fronts: fighting the two parties in China, fighting those colonies in Southeast Asia, and arm-wrestling with countries led by the United States in the Pacific.

Knowing these situations as much as possible allowed one to judge Japan's actual military strength, material transportation direction, estimate the general economic situation, etc. After all, war was comprehensive national strength; in front was a big soldier, and a line starting from this big soldier ran through Japan's overall situation. In a highly obedient and unified army, the individual was the whole.

However, Wang Yan didn't need to look at these things; he could just close his eyes and make them up, estimate the time, and send them to Chongqing.

What he cared more about was the second one in the stack of documents on the table; the cover of the folder was written with "North China Area Army Sweeping Plan." The North China Area Army was the collective name for the Japanese army in North China. The meaning of this document was self-evident: it was to carry out a sweep against the Communist Party army operating in the North China region; this was the important intelligence.

Iwai Eiichi didn't know Wang Yan's situation; what he saw was that Wang Yan looked at the first page, paused, and then just simply flipped through the second page, looked at the header overview, and closed the folder.

Under Iwai Eiichi's smiling gaze, Wang Yan looked at a Japanese person sitting not far away. This person was also short, but lean, with a pair of triangular eyes, looking at people straight on, giving people a sense of a hawk watching a wolf. Dressed in an Army Colonel's uniform, this person was the new Chief of the Special High Police, Kitagawa Kosuke.

Wang Yan shook the folder in his hand and greeted him: "Chief Kitagawa."

"Many thanks, Wang Sang, but there's no need; before you came, I already knew."

Wang Yan nodded, handed the document to Iwai Eiichi, and sighed: "The Great Japanese Empire is truly invincible; in just five short months, it has already conquered vast lands in Southeast Asia, and in the Pacific, it has also killed the US-British coalition forces, leaving them in disarray. It seems that realizing the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere is just around the corner."

Iwai Eiichi laughed out loud; he knew Wang Yan was flattering him, and Wang Yan knew that he knew Wang Yan was flattering him. Not only that, Wang Yan actually knew quite a few of Japan's internal problems; these words were like farting, but he liked to hear them. Because flattery from a Chinese person of Wang Yan's status and position was always refreshing. Another person like Wang Yan was Zhou Fuhai.

"Wang Sang, you made the right choice long ago, didn't you? This Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere has a share for you."

"I still need Mr. Iwai to guide me more, and also need Chief Kitagawa to take care of me."

Iwai Eiichi nodded with a smile, and Kitagawa Kosuke said: "Speaking of this, Wang Sang, there is something I want to ask you, and I hope you can tell me the truth."

Wang Yan fiddled with the tea set and poured tea for the two little devils: "Of course, Chief Kitagawa, please speak."

"Regarding Ming Lou's sister, I don't know how much you know?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't know much about the Ming family's affairs. I just have a pretty good relationship with Ming Lou; after all, he is in charge of the economy, and I am a businessman. Mr. Iwai knows best about the past events of my friendship with Ming Lou. Chief Kitagawa, if there is anything, you might as well say it directly."

Kitagawa Kosuke first thanked Wang Yan for pouring tea, then said: "It's like this, half a month ago, the Intelligence Division of the Special High Police discovered that in the merchant caravan of the Ming family following Yonghua Industry out of the city, there were contraband drugs and radio batteries hidden. We secretly tracked this batch of drugs and batteries and found that they finally flowed to Suzhou. Later, in cooperation with the Special High Police colleagues there, we arrested their traffic officer. After interrogation, they were people from the Communist Party. And that batch of drugs and radio batteries was to be sent to the Communist Party's Southern Jiangsu base."

"However, because the Communist Party noticed early and evacuated in time, we failed to catch their tail. During this period, we secretly investigated the Ming family's industries and found that they had Communist Party members lurking inside, collaborating with people lurking in Yonghua Industry and a company controlled by the Communist Party in an *an* (case) to transport supplies to the Communist Party. After our confirmation, Ming Jing knows about these things, and there are many capital and commercial dealings. As the controller of Yonghua Industry, I want to ask, do you know about these situations? Do you think Ming Lou knows?"

Wang Yan's brow had long since wrinkled in coordination with what Kitagawa Kosuke said. Although Kitagawa Kosuke said so, he couldn't determine whether it was true or false; he didn't know whether Ming Lou had made a mistake or if it was really as Kitagawa Kosuke said, a reverse investigation.

His mind was full of thoughts, but on the surface, he didn't hesitate at all. Almost as soon as Kitagawa Kosuke's words fell, he shook his head and smiled bitterly, picking up the conversation: "I just said that I need Chief Kitagawa to take care of me, and now you're taking care of me. I don't know the situation of the workers under me; even my General Manager, Gu Zhang Yongcheng, is the same. Mr. Iwai, Chief Kitagawa, I have always known that the composition of the workers under me is complex, but we have no way to distinguish them. Besides the ubiquitous agents of the two parties, don't the Special High Police and No. 76 also have people planted there?"

"The year before last, because of a manager under me, it even implicated quite a few people from the two parties. At that time, Wang Manchun was still there, and she presided over the activities. If Mr. Iwai hadn't trusted me at that time, I wouldn't have been able to get out unscathed. I didn't expect that after not having a peaceful life for two years, trouble would come to my head again. However, I recruit workers and managers, and I have no way to distinguish who they are. I am a businessman; I recruit them, and as long as they do their work well, then everything is fine. It's just that the current situation is complex, and this is something that cannot be prevented; I hope the two of you understand."

"Mr. Iwai, Chief Kitagawa, regarding these people, as long as you have solid evidence, arrest them if you should. Although we have business dealings, it absolutely does not include such things. I still have the same attitude as two years ago: absolutely cooperate, absolutely do not protect, and do not engage in small actions."

"As for Ming Jing's affairs, I really don't know anything at all. My partner is Ming Lou; because Ming Lou holds a position in the government, business matters are handled by Ming Jing. Regarding this aspect, you can ask Gu Zhang Yongcheng; most of my business is handled by him. And the most important reason why I don't have good contact with Ming Jing is that my reputation is not very good..."

The two little devils both revealed knowing smiles; they, of course, understood—greedy for money and lustful. In fact, by now, it wasn't just the Shanghai Bund that understood; the whole of China, as long as it wasn't people whose eyes were on the two acres of land at their doorstep, basically understood. This mainly stemmed from the rapid expansion of Wang Yan's influence in recent years.

If you look into it carefully, not to mention the flow of funds, among all the people in China making a fortune from the war, he was in the front row. For a person like him, to be able to maintain a certain degree of independence to this day was already considered amazing by many. If this period of history were to be sorted out after the new millennium in this realm, and someone were to engage in some life philosophy, he could even compare with Zeng Guofan, who was highly praised; the chicken soup books about him would be enough to support a large group of people.

Being laughed at by the two little devils, Wang Yan didn't feel embarrassed; he just pretended to rarely scrape the tip of his nose with his finger, and then smoothly slid his thumb and thumb across the corners of his mouth.

After the two of them finished laughing, he asked: "Chief Kitagawa, have all the people involved in the matter you mentioned been arrested?"

"Not yet; we are currently monitoring them, and it's not yet time to close the net."

"Then have you told Ming Lou? After drinking tea here in a while, I am going to have lunch with Ming Lou to talk about my industries in the International Settlement."

"I haven't told him yet, so I hope Mr. Wang will hide it for the time being."

Wang Yan shook his head and sighed, somewhat helplessly: "Chief Kitagawa, you know the kind of person I am; I have always not wanted to know too much of your secret intelligence, otherwise if something happens, I really won't be able to explain it clearly. No secret operation can guarantee 100% confidentiality; if there is any oversight, and you come to me later, wouldn't I be wronged to death? In a while, I will cancel the lunch with Ming Lou, and I won't see him for a period of time recently. Chief Kitagawa, is this okay?"

"Wang Sang is wise to protect himself; naturally, there is no problem. However, I hope Wang Sang will find a proper reason so as not to startle Ming Lou."

"That is natural." Wang Yan turned to look at Iwai Eiichi, "Ming Lou seems to have been suspected ever since he entered the new government; this is really..."

Iwai Eiichi laughed and said: "The innocent are innocent; if he really has no problems, who can do anything to him?"

"According to my understanding, he doesn't seem to pay attention to No. 76 anymore? It's better if there are no problems; this person, he is just nostalgic. We have cooperated pretty well these past few years; if something really happened, it would be a pity."

Wang Yan was also uncertain; after thinking for a while, he continued: "Chief Kitagawa, I personally still want to plead for mercy. I hope you will show mercy to Ming Jing, because the Ming family's business is also very closely related to my Yonghua Industry. Once the Ming family's business has problems, I will also be affected to some extent. And if we really talk about transporting things to the Communist Party, I have sent quite a lot; you should be clear about this. I think it's better to have as little trouble as possible."

He wasn't pleading for Ming Jing; he was pleading for himself. After all, he was a person who only cared about himself and was afraid of death; he wouldn't look for trouble for himself. His words revealed the meaning that it didn't matter what happened to Ming Jing, but don't delay his business. He was cooperating with many high-ranking Japanese officials; affecting him meant affecting a bunch. This wasn't a request; this was a warning.

"This is natural; even if you didn't speak, I would have to consider Ming Lou; he has handled economic affairs very well these past few years and has made great contributions. If there is no problem, Mr. Iwai will also give him this face. Moreover, according to the situation we have mastered so far, even if Ming Jing is a Communist Party member, her rank is not high; she is not important; what is important is her line."

"Then many thanks to Mr. Iwai and Chief Kitagawa."

"Alright, Wang Sang, let's not talk about these things; let's chat about other major events; the Great Japanese Empire has now completely controlled the central Pacific..."

Wang Yan listened to Iwai Eiichi's bragging with a smile; yes, it was bragging. Iwai Eiichi, of course, couldn't reveal so much news to him; more, it was still depicting a beautiful blueprint for the future. The reason he called him over, perhaps Kitagawa Kosuke's matter was one reason, but another more important reason was that he knew how to flatter.

He knew that in a few days, the US military would air-raid Tokyo, scaring them into a mess. He also knew that in less than two months, the Battle of Midway would start; this battle would collapse the Japanese navy...

Drinking tea here all morning, Wang Yan used the phone at the Iwai Tianyue Gongguan to call Ming Lou's office, using the excuse of having something temporary to do, and rescheduled. Only then did he leave the Iwai Tianyue Gongguan, get in the car, and leave directly to have lunch.

His gaze looked out the car window, his mind thinking about what Kitagawa Kosuke said.

The only thing that could be determined was that Ming Lou was currently safe. Otherwise, there would be no need to find him to talk about these things, but rather to directly raid his home.

As Kitagawa Kosuke said, Ming Lou had done well in the Economic Department, to a certain extent boosting the economic situation in most areas under Japanese rule and earning a lot of money for Japan. However, Ming Lou's ability stopped there; after all, no matter how capable he was, he couldn't withstand the Japanese exploitation and harm. So Ming Lou still couldn't be moved lightly, because Japan's current economic situation was not very good.

In 1938, they sold opium to raise military funds; by now in 1942, it was multi-front warfare and massive conscription. Although there was income, they spent even more. Talents like Ming Lou still had to be considered.

What was uncertain was how much of what Kitagawa Kosuke said to him was correct. The overall major events were certainly fine, but the problem was, where exactly did the problem arise? This was the key.

Was it Ming Lou who was suspected first, or Ming Jing who was suspected first, or was the breakthrough found first in Ming Jing's superiors and subordinates, or was it really as Kitagawa Kosuke said, discovered during customs clearance, were there people who had been turned, why didn't the Special High Police's previous operation in Suzhou alarm this side, was the operation really a failure or a fake failure, were there Communist Party members turned to infiltrate the Southern Jiangsu base or the Suzhou underground party organization? One hair moved the whole body; these were all problems that needed to be figured out; a small oversight would be fatal.

However, these problems were not his problems; they were Ming Lou's problems. Because he couldn't reach the detailed information below, and it wasn't easy to ask, the point of this matter was still on Ming Lou.

If Ming Lou was smart enough, he should be able to perceive the imminent danger... ===== CHAPTER 696 =====