Chapter 034: An Accidental Discovery

October 29, 1928 (Year 17 of the Republic), Lushun in Northeast China.

When Zhou Yongsu received the telegram, he was not particularly shocked, for since Chen Jiehua's departure, he had sensed surveillance lurking in the shadows.

The keen instincts of a systematically trained agent remained sharp.

For Zhou Yongsu, the telegram revealed three key points:

(1) Confirmation of surveillance and wiretapping; assuming everyone could be watched, meetings and exchanges had to be conducted with utmost caution. This was manageable—during Chen Jiehua’s time, such warnings were repeated almost daily.

(2) No more medicine coming to the Northeast! Because of the monitoring, supplies could only be sent directly to the organization. With Northeast China cut off from resupply and himself under heightened scrutiny, the two safehouses were now off-limits. Pharmacies could only rely on their current inventory. Quietly, he needed to notify each pharmacy to control sales, remove essential medicines from shelves, and store them secretly.

As for the shortage causing dissatisfaction among the Japanese, nothing could be done—the supplier’s goods had not arrived! If Chen Jiehua insisted on cutting off supplies, then so be it—a total cutoff. He must have a significant purpose; they had to cooperate fully.

(3) The shipment intended for the Northeast was now to be received by the organization, including penicillin. Another implication: it must not reach the Northeast at all. The volume was considerable, and to avoid exposure, the cargo could not be unloaded in areas frequented by the Japanese—Shanghai was out, Tianjin Port was out as well. This required urgent consultation with Zhao Shiyu.

Zhou Yongsu notified Zhao Shiyu and Liu Junze via radio: “The main store in Lushun is facing shortages of certain medicines. Nearby branches must adjust supplies. Please, both managers, conduct inventory checks as soon as possible.”

Then Zhou Yongsu, under the pretense of personally coordinating supplies, traveled to Fengtian City for a secret rendezvous to relay the details to Zhao Shiyu.

“Tianjin Port won’t do, nor will Shanghai. We can only target the area near Ningbo Port—don’t dock, inform the organization to arrange small fishing boats to collect the goods under cover of night, break it up, and distribute it to the base.”

“Don’t rush to a conclusion. Contact the organization, see what they say.”

“The organization doesn’t have a radio yet, so contact is impossible for now.”

“How can that be! What about the radio Aoki gave you? Didn’t you deliver it?”

“The contact hasn’t arrived yet.”

“This is far too slow! You’d better go in person. We can’t afford to delay Aoki’s affairs.”

“All right!”

“Take the radio with you, and according to our previous agreement, contact them in three designated periods. Once your task is complete, leave the radio there.”

“Remember Aoki’s instructions: only those two can know Qingxuan’s identity! No one else!”

October 31, 1928, Lushun Port, Northeast China. Following Zhou Yongsu’s arrangements, Zhao Shiyu boarded a passenger ship bound for Shanghai.

After much effort ensuring Zhao Shiyu’s safe departure, Zhou Yongsu and Liu Junze decided to contract the network of pharmacies, closing them in batches. First, they would suspend operations at a third of the stores—the ones with the lowest sales and less favorable locations across the four provinces—and gradually dismiss the more slippery staff and local bandits who served as fast runners.

Their official explanation: due to unforeseen circumstances, Aoki’s source of medicines had suffered a devastating blow. Although Aoki Qiao was handling the situation urgently in America, the supply could not be restored, so the pharmacy business was forced to shut down.

Zhou Yongsu’s actions were meant to signal the Kwantung Army Headquarters: the medicine is gone, stores will gradually close, and, naturally, your share will disappear as well. This was the supply cutoff Chen Jiehua demanded.

In truth, both Chen Jiehua and Zhou Yongsu underestimated the Kwantung Army Headquarters’ reliance and attention to Aoki Qiao’s pharmacy system.

Such is human nature: it is easy to become accustomed to luxury, difficult to return to frugality.

First, the officers and their families of the Kwantung Army, who had grown used to medicines delivered by “the runners” straight to their homes and headquarters, now found far fewer runners available. How many could afford telephones anyway? Most relied on tracking down the runners outside.

Now, when medicine was needed urgently, they would wait endlessly for a runner to pass by. In the Northeast, in the depths of winter, people could freeze to death! Complaints echoed throughout headquarters.

Next, the senior officials: used to their monthly generous dividends, now suddenly told they would receive nothing. Especially the newly appointed Chief of Staff, Miyake Mitsuharu, who had only received two months’ worth—October’s hadn’t even arrived!

It had to be investigated! What was the cause?

Early November, Zhou Yongsu was summoned to the office by Itagaki Seishiro for questioning.

“Teacher, when Aoki departed, he requested leave from you. At the time, there was a call from America—something had happened at the pharmaceutical factory.”

“But a few days ago, Aoki called and said it seemed some unknown force was investigating his cooperation with American partners, and even reported them to the local American authorities, prompting the American pharmaceutical company to swallow up their factory!”

“So, at present, Aoki has no source of medicine. He himself is trying to find suitable pharmaceutical companies in America, but his instruction to me is to temporarily close the stores.”

Itagaki Seishiro’s interrogation of Zhou Yongsu was merely a formality. Commander Muraoka Chotaro had already informed Itagaki of the intercepted communications, demanding that he quickly identify the force undermining the Kwantung Army Headquarters’ extra income.

Wait for Aoki Qiao’s return before investigating? Who knows how long that will take! That would mean a considerable loss.

On the other side, October 29, Tubby had also intercepted the conversation between Aoki Qiao and Zhou Yongsu.

Aoki noticed someone investigating him? Had Muto Yoshio been exposed? Or were there other forces probing him?

According to Chen Jiehua’s assessment, Tubby was his unofficial senior. In reality, Tubby himself did not share this view.

Tubby arrived in China from Japan in 1912, first entering the Aoki Residence, assisting Sakunishi Rihachiro. Later, when Sakunishi quietly established his own residence, Tubby remained his assistant.

In terms of age, Tubby Genji was a year older than Okamura Ninji; the difference lay in their respective affiliations—Okamura assisted Aoki Nobumasa, while Tubby worked under Sakunishi Rihachiro. Yet Sakunishi was in fact Aoki Nobumasa’s chief disciple.

Tubby’s investigation of Aoki Qiao originated in May 1928, when Tubby witnessed first-hand the Fengtian military police lining up at Aoki’s pharmacy to receive money.

What sort of pharmacy pays the city’s military police? Firmly believing that reward must be proportional to effort, Tubby concluded something was amiss.

Investigate! He ordered an inquiry. Soon, he discovered that the pharmacy was run by their own people! Aoki Qiao never concealed the ownership of the main pharmacy; Tubby soon uncovered Aoki Qiao’s true identity: originally named Aoki Qingxuan, the third grandson of Aoki Nobumasa.

Amazing! So there was this connection!

The deeper Tubby investigated, the more intrigued he became. After graduating from the Army Academy, he came to China, joined the Kwantung Army, and on his second day at work, struck down Colonel Sakurada Take with a single blow! Then came the opening of the pharmacy—medicines imported from America!

Further investigation revealed that he never attended classes at the Army Academy, yet managed to graduate? It turned out he was connected with Okamura! He shipped a vessel of aspirin from America, distributed to the Army and Navy in the Emperor’s name. Was the Aoki family truly so wealthy?