Spy game? Stop guessing, I really am an undercover agent!

Chapter 3 The Future of the Empire

At the entrance of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce office, driver Uncle Qi and Lin Yongren were chatting casually.

As footsteps approached, Chen Yang led a Japanese man carrying a cardboard box to the front of the car.

"Put the documents here, you can go back now."

"Hi." The Japanese man put down the cardboard box, bowed slightly to Chen Yang, and turned to go upstairs.

This action startled both the driver, Uncle Qi, and Lin Yongren.

In their minds, the Japanese have always been arrogant and haughty; when have they ever been so polite to the Chinese?

Chen Yang opened the trunk, put the cardboard box inside, and said, "Uncle Qi, I'll have to trouble you to take me to the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai."

Uncle Qi and Lin Yongren, who was sitting in the front row, exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke.

But both of them had the same question in their minds: why was the young master different this time?

106 Huangpu Road, Shanghai, Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai.

Chen Yang got out of the car, told Uncle Qi to wait at the entrance for a while, and then strode into the consulate.

The Japanese Consulate in Shanghai is the highest administrative body for Japanese citizens in Shanghai. In addition to assisting Japanese residents in Shanghai with various commercial activities, it is also responsible for gathering intelligence on the China region.

The consulate consists of two small red buildings, covering an area of ​​six acres.

A Japanese flag was flying at the entrance.

Chen Yang walked straight into the small building on the right side of the consulate and said to the staff inside, "I would like to see Consul Hiroichi Iwai."

The staff member glanced at Chen Yang and said irritably, "Who are you? You can't just see His Excellency the Consul whenever you want."

Chen Yang took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to the staff member, saying, "Please give this letter to Mr. Iwai. He should want to see me after reading it."

The staff member chuckled, but his expression changed drastically when he saw the name on the envelope. Even his gaze towards Chen Yang instantly became respectful: "Sir, please wait a moment, I will send the letter up now."

Less than two minutes later, the staff member appeared in front of Chen Yang, panting: "Mr. Chen, His Excellency Iwai requests your presence. Please follow me."

The office on the second floor of the consulate.

In the office, besides Consul Hirokazu Iwai from the Shanghai Consulate, there was also a Japanese man in a suit. However, judging from his expression and behavior, it was not hard to tell that he was a soldier.

"Chen Sang, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you for a long time." Iwai Hiroichi's politeness surprised Chen Yang.

This was the highest-ranking Japanese official in the Shanghai municipal government; others were always polite to him, never to a Chinese person.

Of course, Chen Yang knew very well that Iwai Hiroichi was being so polite to him not because he was so important, but because of his teacher, Fujiwara Tomoo.

"By the way, let me introduce you. This is Colonel Mitsuhiro Abe, the head of the War Command Section of the China Expeditionary Army."

"Abe-kun, this is Chen Yang, Chen-san. He's my teacher's most prized student,"

Chen Yang bowed slightly to Abe Mitsuhiro, who obviously knew who Iwai Hiroki's teacher was, and returned the bow to Chen Yang.

“Chen Sang, please sit down. How has your teacher been lately? I’ve been in China for so long, but I still miss him very much.”

Chen Yang smiled and said, "Teacher Fujiwara misses you very much. He often tells me that you are his proudest student and that he wants me to learn from you."

"By the way, this is a letter from Mr. Miki to you,"

Iwai Hiroichi took the letter from Chen Yang and opened it open without any hesitation in front of the two of them. After carefully reading the handwriting, Iwai Hiroichi suddenly sighed. "Chen-san, what do you think of Mr. Miki's proposal?"

Chen Yang seemed surprised that Hiroichi Iwai would ask such a question so directly in front of Mitsuhiro Abe, and hesitated for a moment.

“Mr. Chen, there’s no need to hold back.” Iwai Hiroichi chuckled. “Your teacher has expressed his appreciation for you in his letters more than once.”

"To earn a double degree in medicine and economics in just four years and graduate from Kyushu University with honors, you are his most outstanding student."

"I believe you must have your own opinion on Mr. Miki's proposal to establish the Nanjing Restoration Government."

“Abe-kun is my good friend, and there are no outsiders here, so we can speak freely.”

Chen Yang slowly said, "I think Mr. Sanmu's suggestion is very correct. China needs its own government, and the empire also needs a suitable puppet."

"Mr. Iwai must have heard of the herd mentality. We can use information asymmetry to control a small group of people and thus attract the majority to join us."

"As the flock grows larger, it will naturally form a comfort zone, and that is the purpose of establishing a new government."

“Everyone knows the South is good, so they will naturally give up their resistance against the Empire and join it.”

"Frankly speaking, war is not an end in itself, but merely a means of conquest."

After the last sentence was spoken, Abe Mitsuhiro, who had been silent all along, suddenly lit up, seemingly becoming interested in Chen Yang.

“Mr. Chen’s insights are excellent. In fact, the Iwai Agency has already prepared a detailed plan.” Iwai Hiroichi smiled and said, “However, we still need the financial support of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce regarding the new government’s plans.”

Chen Yang nodded and said, "When I came here, Mr. Fujiwara met with Chairman Shimazu, and the chairman authorized me to handle all matters related to supplies in Shanghai."

"Please rest assured, Mr. Iwai, I can raise the funds you need by March."

Iwai Hiroichi was very satisfied with Chen Yang's reply and stood up, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Chen. If the Osaka Chamber of Commerce needs anything, please feel free to contact me anytime."

"I have some things to discuss with Abe-kun, so I won't keep you any longer."

Chen Yang stood up and bowed slightly, saying, "Lord Iwai, then I shall take my leave. Colonel Abe, goodbye."

After watching Chen Yang leave the office, Hiroki Iwai turned to Mitsuhiro Abe and asked, "Abe-kun, what do you think of this Chen Yang?"

Do you agree with his views?

“He’s a smart man,” Abe Mitsuhiro exclaimed. “I think his point of view is absolutely correct.”

"The Empire is still too hasty in dealing with the issue of China."

"To destroy China in three months? That's a joke."

"I still agree with Lord Itagaki's opinion that the issue of China should be addressed through gradual encroachment, rather than wasting most of our forces here as we are doing now."

Hiroichi Iwai sighed and said, "Yes, I have lived in China for so many years and I understand the characteristics of this nation very well."

"There are indeed many intelligent people among them who know how to adapt to changing circumstances and go with the flow."

"But similarly, many of them will not yield to power."

"Do you know what they said in their book? Wealth and honor cannot corrupt, power and force cannot subdue, poverty and hardship cannot sway."

"Such a people cannot be conquered by force alone."

(End of this chapter)