Chapter 819: Substitution

Someone is catching up from behind.

Zhang Yong doesn't need to turn around to know that it is Jia Tengying's subordinate.

He stops.

'Team Leader Zhang, our station chief would like to invite you back to the station.'

'Okay.'

Zhang Yong looks at the time.

It seems like he can have dinner with Jia Tengying.

After all, the food at the Shanghai station was always good. The food allowance was enough.

He led the team back to the station.

Unexpectedly, he found Junjiro Koiso there.

Previously, Zhang Yong had marked him. Once he appeared, Zhang Yong would be able to find him immediately.

Strange, why did this guy come to Shanghai?

Wasn't he in Jinling before? It seems that he didn't hand it over to the headquarters in Jieyu Lane either!

Never mind, the reason doesn't matter. What matters is that Junjiro Koiso has arrived in Shanghai. It's just in time. Maybe something can be done with it.

Enter the station.

Jia Tengying comes out to greet his men.

Zhang Yong looks around. He doesn't see Chen Gongshu. He's probably out on a mission.

There aren't many people either. It feels like another day has been drained away. Like the previous Songhu office, the staff are often transferred away. It's just an empty shell.

It was just about time for lunch. First, let's go eat. Indeed, the food was good. But there weren't many people eating.

Zhang Yong asked knowingly, 'Where are all your people?'

'Some of them went to Lingnan to provide support,' Jia Tengying replied, 'and Chen Gongshu went too.'

'To Guangzhou?'

'No. To Shaoguan. Nanxiong.'

'The Director is there too?'

'I don't know. Only the Director himself knows where he is.'

'I see.'

Zhang Yong stopped asking.

It was now June in the Gregorian calendar. The situation in Lingnan was about to explode.

The reason why the Director-General was personally stationed in Lingnan was so that he could grasp the situation here first-hand. At the same time, he was secretly bribing Chen Jitang's subordinates.

After comprehensively judging some situations, Zhang Yong remembered. The person who was bribed was Yu Hanmou.

And then...

There was no then.

The core general under his command was bribed. There was no way to fight. There was only running.

Soon afterwards, the 'Southern Heavenly King' will announce his resignation. Then he will flee to Hong Kong Island. The Guangdong army declares its loyalty to Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang Kai-shek scores another victory.

The Guangxi faction realises that things are not looking good and has no choice but to make peace with Chiang Kai-shek. On the surface, they accept Chiang Kai-shek's leadership.

Two or three months later, Chiang Kai-shek's popularity will reach its peak. No one will dare to openly defy him. He is complacent and full of self-satisfaction.

Then...

He is careless. He doesn't watch out.

He was pulled out of bed by Zhang Xiaoliu. He fell flat on his face.

Alas...

One really shouldn't become complacent.

If you do, you'll get into trouble...

'Shaolong, come, I want to tell you something.'

'Okay.'

Zhang Yong went to Jia Tengying's office.

The stationmaster, who played the honest man, had a modest office.

It's not shabby. But it's not extravagant either. It has everything it should have. It definitely doesn't have anything it shouldn't have. The most things it has are money trees and lucky cats.

'Sit down.'

'Yes.'

Zhang Yong sat down.

Jia Tengying sat opposite him.

'Junjiro Koizumi is here.'

'Who delivered him?'

'Headquarters.'

'What are you going to do with him?'

'Replace Cao Mengqi.'

'Cao Mengqi was arrested?'

Zhang Yong tried hard to remain calm.

In fact, this was the result he had long expected.

Cao Mengqi was not cut out to be an undercover agent. With his personality, he would be arrested at any time.

To be honest, he was not killed in battle. Zhang Yong was also very surprised. Lao Cao did not seem like the kind of person who would be captured alive!

"You may have a misunderstanding about the Chief.'

'Misunderstanding?'

'You should read this first.'

Jia Tengying took out an envelope.

Zhang Yong took it with confusion. He opened it. Inside was a blood-stained letter.

Although the handwriting was very sloppy, it was almost impossible to make out what it said. However, the signature at the end was very clear.

Cao Mengqi.

The signature was Cao Mengqi. The blood-stained letter was written by Cao Mengqi.

His breathing gradually became heavier.

The blood-stained letter was genuine. It had not been forged.

There was no need to forge it either. It was easy to see through.

The content of the blood letter is simple: Cao Mengqi applied to go to the most dangerous place himself. He mentioned the three provinces of Northeast China himself.

'He...'

'Shaolong, I'm going to say something offensive. Not everyone is as cowardly as we are.'

'I was wrong,'

Zhang Yong nodded. He admitted it frankly.

Indeed, after wandering in the dark for too long, his psychology had also become dark.

In fact, he had always been very clear that Cao Mengqi was eager to face the Japanese invaders head-on. Cao was no longer satisfied with simply capturing Japanese spies.

Applying to go to the three provinces of Northeast China, where the Japanese invaders were everywhere, just met his requirements.

It was indeed the most dangerous place.

The problem was that going there was suicide!

Cao had plunged in headlong, and it was simply impossible for him to last long.

The entire Kwantung Army of the Japanese invaders was there. Hundreds of thousands of people!

This was the time when the Japanese Kwantung Army was at its strongest. There was no other like it. It was truly an elite force.

At that moment, before the outbreak of the Battle of Nomonhan, the Kwantung Army was extremely arrogant. Their supposed enemy was not the weak China. It was the Red Soviet Union. They wanted to defeat the Red Soviet Union. And they were preparing for it.

At least ten of the 17 standing divisions of the Japanese army were stationed in Manchuria, including the fifth, sixth and ninth divisions, which were the most powerful. There was also the only tank division and a large number of cavalry. The Japanese had a very large cavalry force.

Lao Cao ran over there alone...

He had nothing but courage.

'This blood letter was first given to Li Boqi.'

'And then?'

'Li Bozhi approved it. Then it was passed on to the head of the department. He also approved it.'

'Did he go himself?'

'Of course not. There were thirty others. They all volunteered. Everyone wrote a suicide note before setting off. The head of the department equipped them with the finest weapons. He even bade them farewell personally.'

'What's the situation now?'

'Five are still alive. The rest have all died.'

'Heroes,'

Zhang Yong said slowly.

Although, rationally, he disapproved of such actions.

However, if China did not have such passionate young people, I am afraid that the country would have already fallen. He himself could not do it. It does not mean that others cannot.

Next year, there will be countless heroes and martyrs, charging bravely against the Japanese guns. They will sacrifice their lives. But their heroic spirits will live on.

'What do the Japanese say now?'

'Exchange Koiso with Zhang Yong.'

'Who will be in charge on our side?'

'You are the most suitable candidate.'

'Where is the exchange to take place?'

'Shanghai.'

'Who to contact?'

'Imai Takeo.'

'Good.'

Zhang Yong nods.

There is not much sadness. War is like this.

Cruel. Death.

Sadness cannot solve problems.

The dead are dead. The living must continue to fight.

'Here are the contact details.'

'Good.'

Zhang Yong takes a piece of paper.

It has a phone number on it. Five digits.

Generally speaking, five-digit phone numbers belong to a later period.

Earlier ones are three or four digits.

Standing up, he dials the number directly.

'Doodle doodle...'

'Doodle doodle...'

There was no answer for the time being.

But Zhang Yong waited very patiently.

'What is it...'

'I'm looking for Takeo Imai.'

'Who is this?'

'Zhang Yong. I'm here to discuss the exchange of personnel.'

'Bring the person to Tenryu Dojo, we'll wait for you there.'

'I don't agree.'

'We have the hostage...'

'You also have hostages in my hands.'

'We have many hostages.'

'I have quite a few too.'

'Damn it! If you don't agree, we'll kill the hostages.'

'Fine! Let's kill each other then! You kill one, I'll kill one. I'll just drag them to the street corner and kill them.'

'Damn it! How dare you provoke us?'

'I told you, my name is Zhang Yong. If you don't know who I am, go and get Takeo Imai right now!'

'Damn it! You...'

The other person was still cursing. The sound suddenly stopped.

Then a slightly deeper voice came on:

'Are you Zhang Yong?'

'Imai Takeo?'

'Yes. It's me.'

'Koiso Jūnijirō, replacing Cao Mengqi.'

'Done.'

'Exchange at the Hongkou West checkpoint.'

'OK.'

Imai Takeo didn't waste much time.

After that, Zhang Yong hung up the phone directly. He began to prepare.

'What do you think?'

'Exchange at the Hongkou West checkpoint.'

'Will the Japanese invaders play any tricks?'

'I don't think so. They don't want Koiso to die.'

'Okay, you handle it. If you need people or supplies, get them from Shanghai Station...'

'I don't think so. I'll take Koiso there first.'

'Be careful. I'll have someone meet you 100 metres away. And notify the garrison headquarters.'

'No need,'

Zhang Yong shook his head.

It's just a change of guards. There's no need to make a big deal out of it.

In theory, the Japanese invaders should not want anything to go wrong with the switch.

After all, the life of Junjiro Koiso is more important than the lives of other Japanese invaders. If something goes wrong, Koiso Kunio will most likely have to take responsibility.

In addition, there is another reason that is not easy to say.

That is, Cao Mengqi is a prisoner. He was exchanged back. According to the Chinese way of thinking, prisoners who are exchanged back are never treated very kindly.

It is always considered a disgrace to be captured.

The only commendable thing to do was to commit suicide before being captured.

Even in later generations, this mentality seems to have not changed. Therefore, the fewer people who know, the better.

Bring Koiso Kuniaki with you. Wear masks.

Go to the checkpoint on the west side of Hongkou.

Raise your binoculars. You find that Takeo Imai has not arrived yet.

Map surveillance has not found anything unusual. There are no ambushes nearby. You judge that there is no conspiracy.

Finally, Takeo Imai arrives.

He really didn't bring many people.

As Zhang Yong had guessed, Imai Takeo also wanted to bring the people back smoothly.

Both sides wanted to keep a low profile.

Because the Japanese invaders were also unfriendly towards the prisoners who were being exchanged.

Among the Japanese invaders were six masked men. They should be the captured personnel.

Sure enough, the one in the middle was Cao Mengqi.

He was also blindfolded. His hands were tied.

Fortunately, there were no missing limbs. It didn't look like he had suffered too cruel a punishment.

A change of guards.

The black cloth is removed.

A signal is given.

Koiso Junjiro heads east. Cao Mengqi and the others head west.

No accidents have occurred.

Just as Zhang Yong guessed, Imai Takeo really doesn't want any more complications.

His task is to bring Koiso Junjiro back safely. If he tries any tricks, the result will most likely be mutual destruction. The losses will outweigh the gains.

Who is that person across from me? It's Zhang Yong!

Who doesn't know how ruthless this guy is?

If Cao Mengqi is killed, how can Koiso Junjiro still be alive? Takeo Imai would not dare to play with fire.

'Cao.'

Zhang Yong came forward and checked Cao Mengqi's injuries.

Cao Mengqi suddenly reached for his gun. Zhang Yong held him down. He thought Cao Mengqi was going to commit suicide.

After all, being captured was a very humiliating thing.

At least, that's what the Chinese people thought at the moment.

'I want revenge,'

Cao Mengqi said calmly.

His eyes were red. With anger.

'Not now,'

Zhang Yong refused to cooperate.

This guy is still so impatient.

Wanting to kill the Japanese invaders is understandable. But going alone to attack the Japanese Kwantung Army...

Courage is commendable.

But it's useless.

Save yourself for the battles behind enemy lines next year!

'Zhang Yong, I'd rather die!'

'Guards!'

Zhang Yong waved his hand.

He ordered Cao Mengqi to be restrained.

He would be locked up in solitary confinement for now to calm down. Otherwise, he would not be persuaded.

Alas...

Zhang Yong was not feeling well himself.

It was hard to say what was wrong. He just didn't feel good. He was not well.

He couldn't sleep at night. So he took Jia Tengying out for a stroll.

And then...

He accidentally discovered Kuroshima Ryuzo.