Chapter 022: Swift Moves in the Northeast Strategy

The first group to benefit from Chen Jiehua’s courier service was the officers and soldiers’ families at the Kwantung Army Headquarters and the Military Police Headquarters. People inevitably suffer from sudden headaches, fevers, or bouts of diarrhea, and Chen Jiehua pioneered the “rapid medicine delivery” service, earning unanimous praise from his colleagues at headquarters. It was incredibly convenient! If there was a phone, they would call; if not, they’d simply spot a courier wearing the designated vest, tell him what medicine was needed, and he’d run straight back to fetch and deliver it.

Soon enough, everyone from the highest-ranking officers to the city patrol military police and gate guards knew that the diminutive Chinese man, Zhou Yongsu, was the generous Colonel Aoki’s chief steward, tasked with overseeing medicine delivery throughout the city.

Regardless of day or night, wind or rain, the medicine couriers would dash across the city, bag in hand. The patrol military police became accustomed to the sight, and sometimes, if their paths matched, they'd even give the couriers a lift.

This was Chen Jiehua’s initial plan: to use the lowest-level “courier” as the first step in laying out his citywide network.

The couriers Zhou Yongsu recruited at first were only responsible for delivering medicine, collecting payments, and returning. After some vetting, those who qualified began to gather and observe information, and every return trip included a report to the pharmacy, where Zhou Yongsu and Liu Junze handled the classification and screening.

In truth, Chen Jiehua had weighed the risks for a long time before deciding to use the “courier” model for intelligence work. It was like opening Pandora’s box—there were advantages and disadvantages.

Previously, whether Japanese or Nationalists, intelligence gathering relied mainly on street toughs and rickshaw pullers. But this new “courier” approach would soon catch the attention of clever minds at the Kwantung Army Headquarters. If such a powerful tool fell into the hands of hostile factions, underground activities of the Red regime would become even more difficult.

Therefore, Chen Jiehua tightly restricted the business to medicine delivery, and intelligence collection was handled with great caution—only the most trusted couriers were assigned special tasks.

Through several rounds of information gathering, Chen Jiehua discovered that He Ben Dazuo was furtively preparing something big.

Then, relying on both purposeful and accidental eavesdropping in the office and the section chief’s room, Aoki Qiao confirmed that He Ben Dazuo had received orders from the General Staff Headquarters and was conspiring with Higashi no Miya Ironman and Fujii Sadatoshi on a major affair.

According to memories from student days, this event was supposed to happen in June, marking a turning point in the domestic political situation.

Chen Jiehua considered, although history could not be changed, he could lay the groundwork in advance—wasn’t the right person already present?

He sent Liu Junze back, charted a route to assist the Young Marshal’s return, and smoothed the connections. When the event occurred, Liu Junze would bring the Young Marshal back to take charge.

After giving instructions, Chen Jiehua solemnly handed Liu Junze a vial of penicillin before departure. “This is the miracle medicine that pulled you back from the brink that day! Keep it with you, don’t open it unless necessary. If stopped and searched, you can hide it where the sun doesn’t shine. When safe, take it out and clean it.”

“When it’s needed, give it to a doctor or nurse. Dilute it with saline, draw it into a syringe, and inject directly into the backside,” Chen Jiehua explained, gesturing as he spoke.

“This medicine is only for you or the Young Marshal. If both of you are gravely injured, you must give it to him. You can die, he cannot. Do you understand?”

To a modern mind, this might sound harsh, but in those times, Liu Junze heard it as a commitment: “Following Aoki is worth it!”

After all, in the interrogation room at the Kwantung Army Headquarters, Liu Junze would rather be beaten to death than betray the Young Marshal.

Once Liu Junze departed, Chen Jiehua and Zhou Yongsu began to plan the Young Marshal’s route back into the city.

Next came Aoki Qiao’s second phase: discussing with Saito Tsune about opening pharmacies in Fengtian, Rehe, and Harbin. Saito was asked to make introductions, and future profits would be split—twenty percent to the Kwantung Army, five percent