Chapter 558

Fu Xiaolan’s death had given him an idea. Although he still didn’t know who had killed Fu Xiaolan, working from within was a way forward.

Fu Xiaolan had died this way, and so had Tang Shaochuan…

Start with the people closest to Zhang Xiaolin.

After Chen Mo had expressed his thoughts, Xia Jiesheng and later Du Zhenshan both applauded. Zhang Xiaolin was now afraid of death, and it would be very difficult to assassinate him from the outside. If you start from the inside, that may be the only way.

鈥淐heng Mo, after the higher-ups carefully studied your thoughts, they felt that you could be given a try, but you have to give me the truth.鈥� Wen Qiu met with Cheng Mo to convey the order from the organization.

鈥淢ay I ask, senior?鈥�

“Call me comrade.鈥�

鈥淐omrade Wen Qiu, please go ahead.鈥�

鈥滻s it your idea to first put the branch of the concession police under your leadership?鈥� Wen Qiu asked very seriously.

鈥滳omrade, how did you come up with this idea? We and the branch of the concession police are two separate lines. I have never had the idea of merging them into our line. Even if we were to merge, it would be the higher-ups who would make the suggestion. If we were to make the suggestion ourselves, it would look like I’m trying to start a faction,鈥� Cheng Mo said. 鈥漎ou’re making me make a mistake.鈥�

鈥淩eally not?鈥�

鈥漅eally not. This is what I think: Our plan is based on the strength of the military and the local Qinghong Gang. Our people can blend in as both, but the police cannot. They have to stay independent. Just in case, I mean just in case we fail, the police branch can still be saved and will not be implicated by us. But we can ask our superiors to let the police branch cooperate with our actions at critical moments…鈥�

鈥淵ou’re not counting on winning, but anticipating defeat?鈥�

鈥漈his is too big a matter, we must prepare for both eventualities, and the number of people who know about this plan must not exceed one hand,鈥� Cheng Mo said, 鈥榦nly those involved in the core of the plan are eligible to know.鈥�

鈥漇o at the moment, how many people know?鈥�

鈥滵o you mean in Shanghai, or everyone?鈥�

鈥滼ust in Shanghai?鈥�

鈥漈wo, you and I, and in the future, there may be two or three more people who will be involved,鈥� Cheng Mo said after a moment’s thought.

鈥漌ho?鈥�

鈥淢y only contact in the Shanghai Military Intelligence, Xu Baichuan, who is responsible for liaising between me and the Chongqing authorities, and Wan Molin, Lu Jingshi, or Xu Caicheng.鈥�

鈥滵oes your sister know?鈥�

鈥漀ot yet, but I don’t think I can hide it from her.鈥�

鈥滱nd these people under you, will they just stand by and watch you betray the country and join the Japanese as a traitor?鈥� Wen Qiu asked.

鈥淚 will find a way to explain to these people. I will tell them some of the truth, but not all of it,鈥� Cheng Mo said after some thought.

鈥漈hen the right to know is not being expanded, is it?鈥�

鈥漈he core plan is known only to a few people, but that doesn’t mean we can’t tell them some of the situation,鈥� Cheng Mo explained.

鈥漌hat will you do next?鈥�

鈥滳onvince the Lone Army to defect.鈥�

鈥淒on’t you know what will happen if the flag of the Lone Army falls?鈥� Wen Qiu was shocked. 鈥業f it were a year ago, the impact would be great, but now it may not be. Can the defection of the Lone Army be more destructive than Wang Jingwei’s surrender?鈥�

鈥滻f you can persuade the Lone Army to defect, it will certainly be a miraculous feat for the Japanese puppet government, and it is crucial for you to gain their trust.鈥� Wen Qiu nodded and acknowledged Cheng Mo’s analysis.

鈥淗owever, now is not the best time, we have to wait a bit longer. But I can use this idea, I can unbind the Solitary Battalion and make their situation a little better, so that my persuasion will become more credible.鈥�

鈥漌ell, their situation is indeed very difficult. If you can take the initiative to make a promise, this is one way. After all, you have placed many Solitary Battalion soldiers under your command. Once this relationship of trust is established, they will also be more likely to trust you, be persuaded by you, and be more credible.鈥�

鈥淎fter Nishio Teruzo was assassinated this time, he had already developed doubts and distrust of the Japanese intelligence department in Shanghai. He asked a major general named Takeda Takeo by his side to contact me. From what he said, he hoped that I could provide him with information about Shanghai,鈥� Cheng Mo said.

鈥漈hey took the initiative to propose this?鈥�

鈥淵es, Nishio Teruzo. If it weren’t for good fortune, he almost lost his life this time, and the intelligence department gave no warning at all. The intelligence department is controlled by Itagaki, and he can’t directly intervene, but his distrust of Itagaki is already obvious. I guess he will rarely come to Shanghai in the future, but he needs to know what’s going on in Shanghai, so someone has to provide him with information.鈥�

鈥淒oes he trust you that much?鈥�

鈥滺e doesn’t have many options. After all, I saved his life and I’m still a secret agent for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I have many interests in Shanghai, and I don’t have a particularly strong backing. He is willing to be my backing, so I naturally know how to choose.鈥�

鈥漎ou were developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but you are involved with Nishio Teruzo. Won’t you be suppressed?鈥�

鈥淪uppress? What do I have to suppress? If I reveal my identity as a traitor, I’m afraid it won’t do them any good either,鈥� Cheng Mo said. 鈥楨ven if I work for Nishio Teruzo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs won’t say anything. This is an iron camp, with changing soldiers. I’m a root in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What are they worried about?鈥�

鈥漎ou kid, you really understand the Japanese mentality,鈥� Wen Qiu laughed.

鈥淏y the way, the issue of transferring Chiyoko’s organizational affiliation has been discussed with the Comintern. They think it is possible to transfer her if it is necessary for work, but we also need to consult with her personally.鈥� Wen Qiu remembered that there was still such an important matter that he had not told Cheng Mo about.

鈥漇o will Mr. Nakamura talk to her about this, or should I talk to her?鈥� Cheng Mo asked.

鈥滻f you talk to her, that would be like you admitting your identity on your own initiative?鈥� Wen Qiu said in surprise.

鈥淵ou can ask Mr. Nakamura to arrange a meeting, and I’ll go talk to her,鈥� Cheng Mo said.

鈥滼ukou Shuwu?鈥�

鈥漈hat’s fine, that’s where I met Mr. Nakamura,鈥� Cheng Mo nodded.

鈥漁kay, I’ll ask Nakamura for some advice on how to best resolve this matter,鈥� Wen Qiu said, 鈥滱fter you’ve revealed your identities to each other, there will be a change in the working relationship, and you need to be careful with that.鈥�

鈥淚 know. I’ll go back then.鈥� Cheng Mo nodded. It was time for him to go back. His wife was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital today, and as her husband, he had to go pick her up and his child.

Fusheng Pharmacy.

鈥滳hief, I’ve heard that Cheng Mo’s wife and child are being discharged from the hospital today, and he will definitely go pick them up. This is a rare opportunity…鈥�

Chen Mo glared at his subordinate: 鈥淭he wife and child will not be punished. Even if we kill the traitor Cheng Mo today, if we hurt his wife and child, would we still be human?鈥�

鈥淏ut, captain, it would be a pity to let such a good opportunity slip away.鈥�

鈥淚f you can think of it, he can think of it too. Given how much he values his wife and child, I’m afraid he has already made secret arrangements.鈥� Chen Mo glared at his subordinate again.

To attack Cheng Mo in public would be to court death.