Chapter 091: He Might Be One of Us

On the way back to the Consulate General, Chen Jiehua was driving, with Mio sitting in the back seat; there was no one else in the car.

“Mio, something’s not right. Mr. Hu chose to go with Mr. Yang Dengying from the Party Affairs Investigation Department rather than with us. There has to be some situation we don’t understand.”

“When we get home, you should send a telegram to the organization reporting today’s results as soon as possible. Ask for instructions on the next steps. I’ll finish my business and come back to pick you up. Then we’ll head together to take over the East Asia Tongwen Academy.”

Right now, the only plausible explanation was that Yang Dengying was one of their own. Chen Jiehua just needed confirmation. He blamed himself for being poor at history—he had never heard of that name before. Perhaps it was an alias?

At the intersection of Jisfeil Road, Chen Jiehua made a quick turn to drop Fujiwara Mio off at home. Then he hurried to the Consulate General, where several alumni had already returned and were reporting the incident to Consul General Shigemitsu Mamoru.

In the end, Shigemitsu was very satisfied with Aoki Qiao’s tough stance at the English police station. A soldier of the Empire of Japan should be forceful! Besides, the son-in-law of the Fujiwara family looked good by any measure.

The matter was not yet concluded; Watanabe Wataru was assigned to follow up. After lunch, Aoki Qiao drove with Shigemitsu to the East Asia Tongwen Academy on Hongqiao Road for the handover. Since it was on the way, they stopped to pick up Fujiwara Mio.

True to Japanese nature, the military and political departments looked down on each other, except for members of the old aristocracy. So, even though Aoki Qiao held the rank of colonel, at the Tongwen Academy—which was directly under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—the director could still give him a hard time.

But bringing Mio along made all the difference.

Chen Jiehua parked outside his home and called out to Mio. When she came out, she only said a few words: “Let’s not follow up.”

Chen Jiehua immediately understood. Yang Dengying was a comrade from their organization, or at least a member of the Comintern. Perhaps Sorge had contacted him.

Today had truly been a day of good fortune after good fortune.

Aoki Qiao sped up all the way, finally following Shigemitsu’s official car into the East Asia Tongwen Academy.

With Shigemitsu’s introduction and Mio’s presence, the handover with the director went very smoothly.

On December 2, 1929, Colonel Aoki Qiao (Mr. Chen Jiehua) officially assumed the post of director of the East Asia Tongwen Academy, becoming the third director since the academy’s founding.

Immediately afterward, Aoki Qiao and Fujiwara Mio accompanied Shigemitsu on an inspection tour of the academy. The Japanese had no custom of holding welcome or farewell banquets here; the outgoing director packed his own things and returned to headquarters to await new orders.

During the inspection, Aoki Qiao once again met his university classmate from Luda, Second Lieutenant Higuchi Keishichiro, who was serving as an intelligence instructor at the academy.

Of course, Aoki Qiao’s eagerness to take over the East Asia Tongwen Academy was not to seek out old friends, but to find Ozaki Hidemitsu. However, today was not the day; there would be plenty of time later.

That evening, Aoki Qiao insisted that Higuchi Keishichiro get into the car with him. They left the academy together, returned to the city center, then went to the Consulate General to pick up Watanabe Wataru before heading to the Japanese Club at 309 Tanggu Road to drink.

The three chatted boisterously while Mio served the drinks. This was quite a high-class gathering—old classmates catching up. Gradually, Higuchi’s guard dropped, and all three grew increasingly intoxicated.

“Higuchi-kun, Watanabe-kun, in a few days, Miyazaki-kun and Karakawa-kun will come together to escort the first batch of managers to Shanghai. Our classmates are still here—we must welcome them properly!”

“All right! Let’s welcome them!”

“Oh, by the way, Watanabe-kun, today at the English police station, that Yang—Yang Dengying—and I had a bit of a confrontation. You didn’t come to back me up! That’s not very brotherly! You owe a drink! Mio! Pour him a full cup!”

“Aoki-kun, shall I summon him here? We can all drink together and clear up the misunderstanding. After all, we’re all serving headquarters!”

“Call him here? Yang Dengying?”

“Yes, invite him here to drink.”

“Mio, what do you think?”

“I think it’s a good idea. He’s my uncle’s friend. We should treat him with courtesy. It’s better to clear up any misunderstandings promptly.”

Mio’s keen mind quickly caught on to Chen Jiehua’s plan; this was designed to properly bring out Yang Dengying. She willingly cooperated.

Watanabe Wataru called over a waiter, whispered a few words, and after confirmation, handed the waiter a large sum of yen to fetch Yang Dengying.

Yang Dengying was well-known in the bustling districts of Shanghai—he was rarely anywhere but the “Yipinxiang” or the “Metropolis,” indulging in nightly revelry. Even the Japanese Club’s waiters knew him.

Aoki Qiao was surprised. “Watanabe-kun, doesn’t our Japanese Club refuse to admit Republic of China citizens? How does the waiter even know Mr. Yang?”

“You don’t know, Aoki-kun. The club doesn’t admit ordinary Republic citizens, but if they’re brought by consulate officials, they’re welcome. And Yang-san is generous with his money—most of the waiters know him well.”

“I see! Higuchi-kun, you see, in the Republic, one must seize the moment to enjoy life. When it’s time to rest, one must rest. You can’t stay cooped up in the academy all day!”

“Aoki-kun, it’s your first day at the academy, so you don’t know the rules! The academy prohibits students and teachers from leaving freely. But now that you’re the director, you make the rules!”

“Ha ha ha! Higuchi-kun is right! Come, drink! Mio, fill our cups!”

After just two rounds of drinks, barely twenty minutes, the waiter returned with Yang Dengying! (Looking at the 1932 map of Shanghai, the Japanese Club was only 1.2 kilometers from the Party Affairs Investigation Department’s office on Dade Road.)

Perhaps the waiter was lucky; today Yang Dengying had not gone out to indulge himself but was at the office handling paperwork. Upon hearing the waiter’s request, he tossed his pen down and came along immediately—always ready for a drink!

As soon as Yang Dengying arrived, he exuded the aura of a seasoned reveler. Since Aoki Qiao had extended a friendly invitation, there was no reason to put on airs. He quickly lowered his guard to become familiar with everyone.

Before leaving, Yang Dengying had thought quickly: Why was this Japanese colonel Aoki Qiao so strange? This morning at the English police station, he shouted and fought, trying to snatch Mr. Hu away and said all sorts of harsh things. How come tonight he was inexplicably inviting me to drink? What was this Japanese fellow’s game? Could this be some kind of ambush?

Yang Dengying was genuinely afraid that he might go and never return. So before leaving, he left a signal with his secretary, An’e—also his secret contact assigned by the organization—telling her that if anything happened, the organization must ensure Mr. Hu’s swift extraction.

With arrangements made, he was no longer afraid of an ambush. Upon arrival, it was clear this was no trap; after all, no ambush would start with three people already half-drunk, and a beautiful lady from the noble Fujiwara family was pouring drinks for everyone.

Yang Dengying relaxed and clinked glasses with Aoki Qiao, drinking back and forth until they became friends.

But each harbored their own thoughts.