Chapter 069: Strategizing to Guide the Kwantung Army

On the outskirts of Moscow, at an abandoned farm, Chen Jiehua and Miu Fujiwara were finalizing the ownership of the last pharmaceutical formula.

“So, I’ve decided to take the remaining formula back to Japan before it’s made public in Europe, and give it to your father—my father-in-law! In exchange for more solid political resources!”

“Miu feels the same way. She just didn’t know how to say it!”

“Haha, we’re truly in sync. Originally, I was going to give this formula to Sorge for him to deliver to Red Russia. Who could have guessed that Ramsey was actually Sorge? Fate really does play tricks, stringing me along for days!”

“Looking back, bringing the formula back to Japan fits perfectly with the path we’ve traveled.”

“Exactly. We reported our itinerary before leaving: first to America, then San Francisco, later to Europe, with records at Hamburg Port and Leverkusen. All easy to verify.”

“We’re bringing back two formulas. Everything can be explained. This way, not only will your father’s status in the House of Peers be elevated, but our own positions in Japan will be more secure!”

“The greatest effect is to muddy these waters even further!”

After settling their plans, their first step was to coordinate their stories, ensuring their accounts matched—simply put, their statements had to be identical.

Next, they needed to explain to their organization why, after acquiring the formula, they didn’t immediately report it, but instead made their own decisions, stirring up the global intelligence network.

The most crucial task ahead was to craft a compelling story—a plot within a plot.

The first story: Do you know which American pharmaceutical factory produced penicillin? It’s the one belonging to the friend whom Aoki Joe saved. Easy to investigate, any lie here would be quickly exposed.

Headquarters would believe it.

The first and third shipments of medicine all came from this factory. Later, when penicillin was developed and the news leaked, local powers took notice. Last October’s trip to America was to deal with this situation.

But then, because an unknown organization investigated us, suspicion arose out of nowhere. We had to abort the mission, hurry back, and were even inexplicably summoned to Miyazaki!

At this point, headquarters must believe us, since they know the story behind the scenes themselves—even though they think Aoki Joe doesn’t. It’s a chance to sow doubt against that old Tubby Tohei too!

The second time, in April, Miu and I left Shanghai for San Francisco—reported through the Shanghai Consulate. But when we arrived, we’d already missed the best window; everything had changed. The factory was under military control, the friend beaten nearly to death. We only managed to obtain the penicillin formula; after handing it over, the friend died.

This, too, is easy for headquarters to accept. Without an insider, no one could get the formula. Didn’t you see all the world’s top agents stranded outside the San Francisco factory? Naval Intelligence sent team after team, all empty-handed!

The second story: from America, we diverted to the Weimar Republic, first stop Hamburg Port, using real names and passports—easy to trace.

Next, we entered the Bayer lab. One went in, one waited outside. Inside, we encountered Ramsey. We cooperated, secretly photographing all key data, then escaped together!

This segment matches the records in Abbeville, Weimar Republic, perfectly—no flaws. Headquarters’ agents can verify everything. At the time, the Weimar Republic even sent a shipment notice to the embassy, requesting self-investigation. All records are there.

The third story: our original route back from America was blocked. Abbeville laid a trap for us in Hamburg. Crossing America again was impossible!

So we planned to disguise ourselves as Chinese, sneaking from Berlin through Red Russia to get home. But Red Russia unexpectedly exposed Ramsey!

He ended up on the same train as us! The battle at Warsaw Central Station was brutal. We escaped with wit and courage, stole a truck, and fled all the way to Moscow, with Miu injuring her leg!

We simply couldn’t run anymore. And the formulas were too important. We wanted to get them home as quickly as possible—so we called headquarters for help!

With the stories ready, the next step was to send a telegram to Tokyo headquarters, requesting support.

The telegram needed careful wording to maximize benefit.

Requesting the Kwantung Army to enter Red Russian territory, escorting Aoki Joe and Miu Fujiwara back along the Far Eastern rail line.

As for how the Kwantung Army would contend with Red Russia after entering, that wasn’t Chen Jiehua’s concern.

The first step in “remote control operations” was set—attack what must be defended, forcing them to cross the border, leaving no choice. Let them clash with Red Russia’s Far Eastern bureau ahead of schedule.

If all Kwantung Army intelligence assets could be diverted from Manchuria into Red Russia, it would also ease the pressure on Zhao Shiyu and Liu Junze, wouldn’t it?

As for the impact on Red Russia’s Far Eastern agents, what does it matter? Red Russia was about to launch massive purges and crackdowns. Those agents, whether killed in battles with Japanese agents or by the purges, would mostly perish anyway. Killing Japanese could at least serve some purpose.

This plot within a plot solved Chen Jiehua’s initial financial concerns in America, his mid-phase troubles in Manchuria, and his marriage to Miu. Such a grand gift, as a token of betrothal, was surely weighty enough for old Fujiwara.

Naturally, Miu had access to her father, Duke Fujiwara’s telegram frequency.

Receiving his daughter’s telegram from the outskirts of Moscow, the Duke of Fujiwara was stunned for a moment.

“Got the medicine formula, requesting escort home!”

What did “got the medicine formula” mean? Which formula? He hadn’t asked her to find any formula!

And requesting escort home! That rebellious girl, running off to meet her fiancé without family approval, then following him to Europe for fun—wait, Europe! My goodness!

The Duke hurried to report to the Emperor—urgent business!

The Emperor summoned Neiji Okamura and a host of military and political leaders for immediate discussion.

“Isn’t Miss Miu’s fiancé Aoki Joe? The Emperor’s cousin, Aoki Joe?” Okamura reminded them. The Emperor recalled: the one he’d bestowed a name upon, who vanished after graduating from the Army Academy. Had he quietly pulled off another big operation?

“We’ve already dispatched three teams of agents to Europe. The latest reports say that after the fierce battle at Warsaw Station on May 3rd, all sides suffered heavy losses, with many of our agents killed. The formula is still being verified in a secret laboratory in Poland. The defenses are too tight; all parties are waiting for an opportunity!”