My years of espionage

Chapter 2015 Memorandum of Wang Jingwei's Visit to Japan Regarding His Demands

"Uncle Chu, you wanted to see me?" Cheng Qianfan asked respectfully as he entered Chu Mingyu's room.

"Take a look at this." Chu Mingyu casually handed a file folder to Cheng Qianfan.

“This…” Cheng Qianfan took it, glanced at it, and immediately showed a solemn and serious expression. He asked with slight hesitation, “Uncle Chu, is this something I can see?”

This is because the document bag was stamped with the Executive Yuan's official seal across the seam, as well as the words "Top Secret" in red.

"I'll show you, so just look." Chu Mingyu glanced at Cheng Qianfan and said.

"Yes." Cheng Qianfan then carefully opened the file bag and took out the documents inside.

This is actually a memorandum of demands made by the Wang Jingwei regime to Japan; more precisely, it is the core framework of Wang Jingwei's demands to Japan during his visit to Japan.

……

One of Zheng Zhi's demands is that Japan endorse Zheng Zhi's statement, which means demanding that Japan publicly recognize the Nanjing regime as the "sole legitimate regime of China" to the international community.

Previously, although Japan had formally established diplomatic relations with the Nanjing regime, it still regarded Chongqing as an "effective regime" for negotiations, which was the biggest concern of the Wang Jingwei regime.

Secondly, the Wang Jingwei regime requested food aid from Japan, with the memorandum explicitly requesting one million tons of rice to relieve the famine in Central China.

Thirdly, the Wang Jingwei regime requested weapons and equipment assistance from Japan, specifically asking Japan to provide enough weapons and equipment to arm 500,000 pacification troops.

Fourth, it demands that Japan return the administrative control of the Japanese-occupied areas.

Cheng Qianfan shook his head inwardly. Of the four demands that the Wang Tianhai puppet regime made to the Japanese, apart from the first one which the Japanese might consider and discuss, the other three, based on his understanding of the Japanese, were something the Japanese would never agree to.

……

"Uncle Chu, I've finished reading it," Cheng Qianfan said, putting the memo back into the file folder and retying it.

"Mr. Wang's visit to Japan carries the expectations of hundreds of millions of people; it is a long and arduous journey," Chu Mingyu sighed.

"China is fortunate to have such virtuous ministers as Mr. Wang and Uncle Chu. The country and the nation are very fortunate," Cheng Qianfan said with heartfelt emotion.

"You should have heard about the temperament and behavior of the Japanese. These four demands are the most urgent matters for the National Government," Chu Mingyu said. "There will be considerable difficulties, but we must find a way to achieve the goals of this visit to Japan."

Cheng Qianfan nodded, knowing that Chu Mingyu had more to say.

"Find a way to get the Japanese side to know about this memorandum," Chu Mingyu said.

"Huh?" Cheng Qianfan looked at Chu Mingyu in astonishment.

He never expected that Chu Mingyu would summon him to assign him such an outrageous task.

"Our allies are very wary of the Nationalist government," Chu Mingyu said. "However, there are still friends in the Japanese cabinet who are friendly to China. Letting these friends know our demands will allow them to speak out in the cabinet at critical moments and provide us with the necessary support."

"Uncle Chu is absolutely right." Cheng Qianfan nodded.

In reality, he still couldn't quite figure out Mingyu's intentions.

"Director-General Hirohiro Ishihara of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is a classmate and friend of Heitaro Imamura. You should quietly visit him and convey our request to Hirohiro Ishihara," Chu Mingyu said.

“Uncle Chu, although I am familiar with Counselor Imamura, but…” Cheng Qianfan looked troubled. He was almost saying that he was nobody compared to Hirohiro Ishihara.

"Before coming to Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with Counselor Imamura," Chu Mingyu said.

"Nephew understands." Cheng Qianfan nodded with a look of sudden realization.

……

"If there's anything you don't understand, go see Liu Xia. The two of you should discuss it carefully and make sure things are settled," Chu Mingyu said.

“I understand,” Cheng Qianfan said. “I will go and discuss this matter with Secretary Liu later.”

"Go ahead." Chu Mingyu waved his hand.

Watching Cheng Qianfan respectfully retreat, Chu Mingyu rubbed his temples wearily.

There were some things he found difficult to say to this younger person.

This was because his arrangement for Cheng Qianfan to secretly reveal their demands to the Japanese side was a last resort.

The Japanese are arrogant and domineering, and the Nationalist government is afraid that these demands will anger the Japanese. Therefore, it is testing the Japanese attitude through this private disclosure to avoid the Japanese getting angry in public and embarrassing Mr. Wang. If Mr. Wang is disgraced, then the country will be disgraced.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has many channels to contact the Japanese side privately, but contacting them in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is extremely inappropriate, as such behavior is too embarrassing and unbecoming of the country.

Using Cheng Qianfan, such an insignificant 'little guy,' to carry out the operation under the guise of a private visit, makes it plausible to all parties.

This was a solution proposed by Imamura Heitaro after a secret meeting between him and Imamura.

That is why Cheng Qianfan was urgently selected to join the delegation visiting Japan.

……

"Sister Xia, the Secretary-General seems to have something left unsaid, and I'm completely confused," Cheng Qianfan sighed and said to Liu Xia.

"My silly little brother." Liu Xia chuckled. She took the memo, opened it, and after reading it, her expression became somewhat serious. Then she sighed.

Then, Liu Xia walked to the door, opened it, looked outside, closed it, and locked it from the inside.

“My brother and I have taken on such a hot potato, so there’s nothing we can’t say,” Liu Xia said.

"Please speak, Sister Xia," Cheng Qianfan said. "I'm all ears."

“From our perspective, all four of our demands are reasonable and legitimate,” Liu Xia said. “However, the Japanese side has always been arrogant, and in their eyes, these demands are not so pleasant, and may very well anger the Japanese side.”

Cheng Qianfan blinked. "What Sister Xia means is..."

……

Liu Xia nodded, meaning, "It means exactly what you understand."

Cheng Qianfan felt it was absurd and then scoffed at it.

The Wang Jingwei regime, while making demands of Japan, was also afraid of angering Japan, so it resorted to this petty trick of "secretly sending intelligence" to Japan in order to gain Japan's "understanding".

In other words, Wang Tianhai's side was not very optimistic about the results of this visit to Japan, but it seemed that they had no choice but to make the trip.

It is likely that there were many hidden reasons behind Wang's visit to Japan.

"Mr. Wang has had a tough time," Cheng Qianfan sighed. "Thinking about how much Mr. Wang has endured for the country and the nation, sigh..."

"Yes," Liu Xia sighed, looking at Cheng Qianfan's grief-stricken appearance with contempt.

This person has been poisoned by Wang's ideas and is determined to follow Wang Tianhai down a dark path.

"I'm also quite clueless about how to meet Hirohiro Ishihara this time. I would appreciate it if Sister Xia could give me some advice," Cheng Qianfan said.

“There’s no set procedure, it’s just a formality.” Liu Xia blurted out. Seeing Cheng Qianfan’s surprised expression, she lightly patted her red lips, then glared at Cheng Qianfan. “Just pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“Of course, of course,” Cheng Qianfan said with a smile.

"If Hirohiro Ishihara has any message, just bring it back to the Secretary-General," Liu Xia said. "It's nothing more than conveying messages from above and below, ensuring good communication, and preventing the nation from being humiliated."

"I understand," Cheng Qianfan nodded.

……

Hirohiro Ishihara is a stocky man who looks more like a Japanese soldier than a diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"This Mr. Wang really dares to ask for an exorbitant amount," Hirohiro Ishihara said sarcastically, tossing the memo onto the table.

As he spoke, he glanced at Cheng Qianfan in front of him, "Miyazaki Kentaro."

"Hello," Cheng Qianfan said respectfully.

"Imamura-kun speaks highly of you, saying you are one of his most outstanding disciples," Hirohiro Ishihara said.

"Teacher, you flatter me. I am dull-witted and have caused you so much worry. I am truly ashamed," Cheng Qianfan quickly replied.

"Tell me your thoughts on the four demands of the Wang family," Hirohiro Ishihara said.

“The Wang Jingwei regime has always wanted to break free from the shackles of the empire,” Cheng Qianfan pondered, “and the first demand should be something the Wang Jingwei regime values ​​very much. In fact, they have always been worried that the empire will successfully persuade Chongqing to surrender, which would directly lead to the Wang Jingwei regime losing its usefulness.”

Hirohiro Ishihara nodded slightly, signaling Kentaro Miyazaki to continue.

……

"As for the second demand, Wang Jingwei does indeed need a large amount of food relief, after all, the famine in Central China is a fact," Cheng Qianfan said. "However, in my opinion, this demand is actually the one that Wang Jingwei values ​​the least out of the four demands."

“Continue,” Hirohiro Ishihara said, glancing at Kentaro Miyazaki with a satisfied look.

"The third demand is probably the most pressing one for the Wang Jingwei regime, and it's what they most hope the Empire will agree to," Cheng Qianfan said. "The army is the foundation of their power, and the Wang Jingwei regime has always sought to develop and strengthen its armed forces."

"As for the fourth point, the Wang family actually knows that the Empire will most likely not agree," Cheng Qianfan continued. "Or rather, only after the third point, their demand for armed forces, is met, will the fourth point be seen as a natural outcome by the Wang family."

"Therefore, the real demands of Wang Jingwei's regime during this visit to the Empire are: to gain public recognition from the Empire as the sole legitimate regime in China, and to receive arms aid from the Empire and be allowed to expand its own armed forces," Cheng Qianfan said.

……

“Not bad, not bad, not bad.” Hirohiro Ishihara nodded slightly. He looked at Kentaro Miyazaki and said, “It seems that what Imamura-kun said was true. You are a good student.”

"It's all thanks to the teachers' excellent guidance," Cheng Qianfan said modestly.

“Wang Tianhai has a good plan.” Hirohiro Ishihara sneered. “The Empire will not pay any attention to these four points.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded; he thought so too.

"Then how should I respond to Chu Mingyu when I get back?" Cheng Qianfan asked respectfully.

“We are already aware of these demands, and some of them are excessive. The Wang family lacks sincerity,” Hirohiro Ishihara said.

"However, we should also give Wang Tianhai's side some hope." After a pause, Hirohiro Ishihara thought for a moment and said, "Just say that we will carefully discuss and contact them on some details."

Cheng Qianfan immediately understood that whether it was the meeting between Imamura Heitaro's side and Chu Mingyu, or Ishihara Hirohiro's intervention, the Japanese were actually completely insincere. In fact, it could be said that they were using this method of contact to save face for Wang Tianhai's side.
We have carefully considered your requests and tried our best to fight for them, but unfortunately...

“I understand,” Cheng Qianfan said happily. “The Wang family has received great favors from the empire, yet they are still indulging in wishful thinking. It is truly wrong of them.”

……

Hirohiro Ishihara nodded, a hint of approval in his smile.

“Alright.” Hirohiro Ishihara looked at Kentaro Miyazaki and said, “Go back and give them that reply. Of course, you can embellish it a bit to give them a little more hope.”

"The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment." Cheng Qianfan said with a smile, "It's time to teach the Wang family some lessons. The empire can support him, but he must behave himself."

“You,” Hirohiro Ishihara pointed at Kentaro Miyazaki, “no wonder Imamura-kun said you’ve always looked down on Wang Tianhai and dare to say anything.”

“Back in the Empire, on my own country’s soil, I’m filled with courage and confidence. What wouldn’t I dare to say?” Cheng Qianfan said with a smile.

“Imamura-kun has a good student.” Hirohiro Ishihara just looked at Kentaro Miyazaki, then laughed heartily, stood up and patted Kentaro Miyazaki on the shoulder, “Very good, you are very good, very good.”

Cheng Qianfan naturally bent over to make it more comfortable for the short Ishihara Hirohiro to take the photos.

……

Back at our accommodation.

Cheng Qianfan went to meet Chu Mingyu without stopping.

After reporting Ishihara Hirohiro's feedback to Chu Mingyu, Chu Mingyu remained silent.

“Uncle Chu,” Cheng Qianfan said after thinking for a moment, “Ishihara Hirohiro said that our country’s demands are quite excessive. After thinking about it carefully, I think this is actually a good thing.”

"Hmm?" Chu Mingyu looked up at Cheng Qianfan.

“Although Hirohiro Ishihara was somewhat angry, he did say he was willing to communicate with us on some details,” Cheng Qianfan said seriously. “This shows that although the Japanese side is not satisfied with these four demands, they still respect Mr. Wang and are willing to communicate on some aspects. There is still a possibility that they can meet our demands.”

“It is precisely because they are not happy that it shows they will seriously consider it,” Cheng Qianfan said. “When my nephew is working, he also encounters similar difficulties. He is not afraid of the other party getting angry, but he is afraid that the other party is hypocritical and that there is no way to communicate with them in reality.”

“Secretary-General, I think Secretary Cheng’s words make sense.” Liu Xia thought for a moment and said, “Now, what we need to figure out is which of our demands are negotiable and which are they most likely unwilling to discuss.”

As she spoke, Liu Xia looked at Cheng Qianfan and asked, "Secretary Cheng, do you know which specific demands the Japanese side is willing to negotiate, and which ones they are definitely unwilling to concede to?"

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(End of this chapter)