freenovelworld Chapter 68 This method is practical and feasible!
Chapter 68 This method is practical and feasible!
Zhou Xiao crouched down, his fingertips tracing a fresh bullet hole on the car door. He then glanced at the two corpses and said in a low voice, "This time, the Military Intelligence Bureau really went all out."
"But this isn't an official vehicle issued to the Special Higher Police. I remember the license plate number of the black Toyota that Chief Aoki usually drives. Why is he driving this older Buick today?"
Feng Manna shrugged, her tone curt: "I don't know."
"Then why did he appear alone on Chunxi Road?" Zhou Xiao stood up, his gaze sharp. "He usually travels with at least four plainclothes bodyguards, but today he only brought Watanabe, and they were all dressed in plain clothes—it's like he's going to a private meeting, not going to work."
Feng Manna shrugged: "Right now, nobody can say for sure."
Lan Yanzhi walked briskly around the street, her heels clicking on the bluestone slabs. Finally, she stopped beside Zhou Xiao and pointed to an old gray-walled building diagonally opposite: "If I'm not mistaken, the sniper is hiding behind a window on the third floor corner of that building. The curtains are half-drawn, the glass reflection is unusual, and the wind direction matches."
She paused, her voice growing even deeper: "Aoki and Watanabe's attire is definitely not for a routine patrol. They're here to meet someone, someone they shouldn't be meeting—they've taken the bait set by the Military Intelligence Bureau."
"There were no signs of dragging, no signs of fighting or scratches at the scene, and even the bullet casings were cleaned up. This indicates that the other side had calculated the timing, angle, and escape route in advance, killing the enemy with a single shot and then withdrawing their troops in no more than three minutes."
Feng Manna crossed her arms and sneered, "You talk a good game, but where is the murderer now? Show me."
Lan Yanzhi glanced at Zhou Xiao sideways and said unhurriedly, "Choosing to make our move here requires scouting first. Chunxi Road is usually quiet with few pedestrians, making it difficult to blend in and keep watch."
"Check the staff at the surrounding teahouses, tobacco shops, and watch repair stalls, go through the accounts of the last five days, check the patrol logs of the police, and ask each household if they have seen any unfamiliar faces—especially men wearing round-framed glasses, carrying leather bags, and pacing back and forth."
Zhou Xiao nodded: "This method is practical and feasible."
"If we really find out who the mastermind behind Aoki's murder is, you'll get the credit."
Lan Yanzhi raised the corners of her lips slightly, glanced quickly at Feng Manna, and then bowed slightly to Zhou Xiao: "Thank you, Director Zhou."
The death of Aoki Takeshige instantly turned the Shanghai intelligence system upside down. The Special Higher Police and the Military Police quickly sealed off the scene and took over the investigation; all the henchmen, including the 76th Division, the Special Operations Headquarters, and the Shang Mansion, were ordered to cooperate, but were actually explicitly forbidden from interfering in the core clues.
The Japanese devils trusted no one and preferred to dig three feet into the ground themselves.
But the deeper they dug, the less they found.
As the three men bent down to examine a fragment of an unexploded grenade under the car, a matte black sedan silently glided to the east entrance of Chunxi Road and came to a smooth stop. The door opened, and a middle-aged military officer stepped out: his buzz cut was gleaming, a pair of narrow-rimmed gold-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, and his uniform was impeccably pressed, the epaulets gleaming coldly in the sunlight. He was not tall, and his build was lean, but every step he took was extremely steady, his ankles unwavering, his back as sharp as a blade, and his eyes, when they swept over, were like a knife scraping through sheet metal.
Zhou Xiao and the other two looked up at the same time.
The man walked straight up, raised his right hand, palm facing forward, his manners precise to the point of being rigid: "Director Zhou, I've heard so much about you. Sugimoto, Ken Oshima."
Sugimoto Machine?
A thought flashed through Zhou Xiao's mind—the "Currency War Operation Briefing" that Aoki had secretly handed him had the words "Sugi Works" printed on the cover, and this was the source of the code name.
The bald major general with glasses in front of me is the head of the Sugi Agency.
In other words, from the initial move to the final move, he was the true mastermind behind the entire scheme: counterfeit money printing, old currency aging, infiltration by trading companies, and bank money laundering.
The Sugi Agency belongs to the Ninth Scientific Research Institute of the Japanese Army and specializes in "Sugi Projects"; while its headquarters in Shanghai is known as the "Sakata Agency" on the outside, it is actually the heart of the counterfeit currency production line.
Zhou Xiao extended his hand to shake hands, his grip neither too firm nor too loose: "General Oshima, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Ken Oshima's gaze swept over the bodies of Aoki and Watanabe, then slowly across the three faces, his tone calm: "So far, how many clues do you all have?"
Feng Manna succinctly described the situation at the scene, the trajectory predictions, and Lan Yanzhi's assessment. Although she did not explicitly name the killer, every word she spoke pointed to the Military Intelligence Bureau.
Ken Oshima remained silent for a moment, then suddenly removed his military cap and bowed deeply to the two bodies, his back taut in a solemn arc: "Aoki-kun, Watanabe-kun, pillars of the empire, paragons of samurai. To die in the line of duty, they died a worthy death."
Zhou Xiao lowered his eyes, Lan Yanzhi held her breath, and Feng Manna straightened her jaw—the three stood still as pine trees, their faces expressionless.
A moment later, Kenjiro Oshima stood up, his gaze behind his glasses falling on Zhou Xiao's face: "Section Chief Aoki has died in the line of duty, and I will temporarily take charge of the Special Higher Police. I have already telegraphed headquarters to expedite the dispatch of a new section chief."
"The situation in Shanghai is critical, and we hope that Director Zhou will provide his full assistance."
Zhou Xiao bowed slightly: "General, you flatter me."
For Ken Oshima, Aoki's death was nothing short of a devastating blow.
The currency war was thus put on hold.
The original plan was for the Sugimoto government to produce high-quality counterfeit currency, age it through special oxidation and rubbing processes, and then mix it into the circulation of genuine banknotes. The counterfeit currency would be injected in batches through the Special Higher Police channels into the payments for goods in trading companies, bank settlements, and black market exchanges—using waste paper to exchange for rice, cotton yarn, and firearms, thus making a profit without any investment and disrupting the financial lifeline of Central China.
But now, the one who wielded the knife has fallen, and the knife is still in its sheath. Who will pull it out?
The Special Higher Police (STPD) is the most convenient weapon handle.
Ken Oshima never truly trusted a single Chinese person.
Zhou Xiao eliminated Qingmu with another hidden agenda: the currency war plan had already been leaked.
Under his covert manipulation, the Military Intelligence Bureau, the underground Communist Party, and even some chamber of commerce spies have all figured out the entire outline of "Operation Sugi"—top secret has long become an open secret.
Once Aoki detects the slightest clue, his investigation will inevitably begin with those in the know. And the number of traitors who were involved in the entire plan can be counted on one hand.
Zhou Xiao was right in the center of the list.
It would be better to shut Aoki up forever before he turns hostile.
Ken Oshima drove back to the headquarters of the Sugimoto Corporation, and as soon as he entered, he picked up the dedicated phone and dialed directly to the office of Kenji Doihara at the Tokyo Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Beiping.
Kenji Doihara was the head of the Japanese military's intelligence system in China, holding a position comparable to Dai Li, and controlling the intelligence lifeline of the entire North China and even East China. He was the third Japanese intelligence giant to be based in China, following Nobuzumi Aoki and Rihachiro Sakanishi. He spearheaded many major operations that shocked the government and the public, and was privately referred to by high-ranking enemy and puppet officials as "the Lawrence of the Far East".
The Special Higher Police—this fearsome black organization—was personally planned and established by him.
When Ken Oshima rushed into the office and finished reporting the Shanghai incident in rapid succession, Doihara suddenly gripped the sandalwood paperweight tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"Baka!" he growled, his voice like a dull knife scraping against sheet metal. "Aoki-kun was indeed a rare talent in the empire, but he was too arrogant, too cocky, only seeing himself and blind to the undercurrents—that's why he fell so completely!"
The death of Aoki Takeshige sent chills down Doihara's spine. This wasn't just the loss of a key member; it was the first time since the Special Higher Police's founding that a section chief had died in battle!
His face was slapped hard across the face.
Enraged, he felt a surge of murderous intent stemming from his perceived offense.
Previously, Aoki had sent several secret telegrams to Shanghai regarding the situation—but then came the assassination of Li Moqun, the sudden death of Bi Zhongliang, and the death of Chen Mingfu in the street... Each and every one of these incidents was a bloody case that had spiraled out of control right under the nose of the Special Higher Police.
Now, it's his turn.
Chief of Staff Kazuji Yamamitsu bowed and said, "Chief, after Aoki's death, the Special Higher Police in Shanghai has become like a kite with a broken string, without a leader or any plan. The original plan has been completely stalled. We must immediately appoint someone decisive and capable to take charge."
Doihara nodded: "The currency war cannot be stopped. Shanghai is the financial hub, and we must seize the opportunity before the British and American forces retaliate, and smash the 'Union Bank Note' into every crack of money shops, banks, and exchanges!"
"However, with the Empire's forces scattered and its elite troops deployed to Southeast Asia and Northeast China, it is difficult to find suitable candidates in the short term..."
Yamamitsu Kazuji paused briefly, his gaze steady: "Shanghai is a deep and murky place. On the surface, it's a dazzling spectacle, but underneath, it's fraught with hidden dangers. Ordinary spies probably wouldn't last even three months."
"The recent assassinations of our officials demonstrate that the local resistance forces have already woven a dense and silent net."
Doihara was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up: "Where's Sendoh Kaede? He's doing quite well in Fengtian."
Yamamitsu Ichiji was taken aback: "Sendoh? That libertine who spends all his time in dance halls, drinking sake with female entertainers?"
"Wrong." Doihara's lips curled up slightly. "When he's drunk and his eyes are blurry, his ears are sharper than a hunting dog's; as he raises his glass and chats, he's already sketching out three secret reports. That's the kind of person who's best suited for Shanghai."
After a moment's thought, Yamamitsu Kazuji added, "Furthermore, the new government is also in dire straits—Li Moqun and Bi Zhongliang have fallen one after another, and No. 76 and the Special Operations Headquarters are almost paralyzed. We need to send someone trustworthy and capable to stabilize the situation."
Doihara raised an eyebrow: "You have someone in mind?"
"Yes." Yamamitsu Ichiji lowered his voice, "Shen Fang, deputy head of the intelligence section of the Nanjing Security Command."
"Shen Fang?" Doihara narrowed his eyes, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. "Oh... that young section chief who defused the time bomb at Pukou Station and saved the special train? I've seen him twice in Nanjing. His eyes are clear, he's efficient, and he doesn't have that slickness of those old hands."
"Exactly." Yamamitsu Kazuharu nodded. "I've worked with him for half a year and observed him closely: his loyalty is not superficial, his abilities are not hidden, and he is extremely good at unraveling complex situations. More importantly—" He paused, "we can use this transfer to test him."
"Bring the files here."
"Yes."
In less than fifteen minutes, Shen Fang's file was placed in front of Doihara. He flipped through the pages, his gaze lingering on the sections "Pukou Special Train Case," "Yuhuatai Informant Cleanup," and "Three Interceptions of Military Intelligence Telegrams." Finally, he closed the file and said softly, "It's him. Effective immediately, he will be transferred to Shanghai to serve as a member of the Special Affairs Committee, overseeing all intelligence affairs."
"If there are vacancies in front-line institutions, they may be concurrently appointed as such."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jinling.
Office of the Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Section, Security Directorate.
Shen Fang was working at his desk, composing a translation of an encrypted telegram.
Ring ring—
The phone rang abruptly.
He picked up the receiver: "Hello, Intelligence Section, Shen Fang."
Sun Deqiang's steady and powerful voice came from the other end of the receiver: "Shen Fang, I have just received orders to pack your bags immediately and go to Shanghai to take up a post as a member of the Special Affairs Committee, in charge of the city's intelligence dispatch."