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

Chapter 40 Kill two birds with one stone

After a long pause, Iwai Hiroichi sighed deeply and said with a hint of apology, "Mr. Chen, I'm sorry you had to see this."

"Things within the Empire are not as simple as you think. Even as the teacher, you have to bear a lot of pressure in your position as the Permanent Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs."

"Not long ago, my teacher wrote to me that the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement between the Empire and the United States was about to expire."

"However, the other party has been slow to express their opinion and continue to sign the agreement. The teacher is also very anxious and hopes that I can help him in Shanghai."

"But there's really nothing I can do to help. The United States has no intention of continuing to cooperate with the Empire."

The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement can be considered the biggest source of confidence for Japanese expansion.

Japan is a resource-poor country. Before it received iron ore supplies from China, its largest steel mill, Yawata Steel Works, produced less than one million tons of steel annually.

They could barely keep up with their consumption in China thanks to scrap steel and oil sold to them by the Americans.

Therefore, Japan's policy toward China has always been to achieve a swift and decisive victory.

Meanwhile, the Blue Army had also realized the Japanese's predicament, and the troops began to shift from direct confrontation to luring the enemy deeper into their territory.

The Battle of Xuzhou is the best proof of this. The Japanese 5th and 10th Divisions tried to capture Taierzhuang several times, but were driven back each time.

Not to mention the battlefield defeat, the Japanese had an extremely negative influence in the international community. As the largest supplier of resources to Japan, the Americans' initial goal was to alleviate the adverse effects of the Great Depression of 1929.

But once the war machine was set in motion, the Americans discovered that Japan had slipped out of their control.

At this point, they had no choice but to change their trade policy, but this move immediately aroused dissatisfaction from Japan.

Chen Yang said to Iwai Hiroichi, "Senior Brother Iwai, I have an idea, but I don't know if I should say it?"

Hiroichi Iwai smiled and said, "It's alright, there are no outsiders here, so please say whatever you want to say."

Chen Yang said earnestly, "Senior Brother Iwai, I think this bombing operation planned by the Fuxing Society may not necessarily be a bad thing for us."

Hiroshi Iwai paused, then asked in surprise, "What are you trying to say?"

Chen Yang said in a gentle voice, "I'm thinking, could we use this incident to put pressure on the Municipal Council?"

"Have the consulate cooperate with the military police headquarters to station troops at the docks in the International Settlement to prevent Fuxing Society agents from leaving from the docks."

Wow, this is an old Japanese tactic; they used the same method to invade Northeast China back then.
Hiroichi Iwai's eyes lit up: "Mr. Chen, do you mean we should control their docks and use the cargo ships coming and going to put pressure on the Municipal Council of the Concession?"

Chen Yang nodded: "Senior Brother Iwai, that's exactly what I meant."

"Doing this would demonstrate the power of the empire, and it would also force the Americans back to the negotiating table."

Hiroichi Iwai didn't speak, but instead began to consider the feasibility of the plan.

Chen Yang didn't urge him, but picked up his coffee and took a sip.

He was willing to bet that Hiroichi Iwai would take his advice.

This is similar to how the Japanese wanted to force the Americans to the negotiating table by attacking Pearl Harbor.

The arrogance and conceit of the Japanese meant they didn't believe the Americans would dare to fight them in Asia.

Moreover, Shanghai is already dominated by the Japanese. Besides protesting and citing international law, what other options do these consulates have?

If Iwai Hiroichi were to actually follow his advice and join forces with the Military Police Headquarters to attack the International Settlement wharf, it would be like Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou and never returning it.

Such a blatant infringement on American interests will also exacerbate the conflict between the two sides.

On the surface, this move seemed to be advocating for the interests of the Japanese, but in reality, it was a way to constantly provoke friction between the Americans and the Japanese. For Chen Yang, this proposal would both help him gain the trust of the Japanese and allow him to control the cargo handling at the ports of Shanghai through the Japanese.

It's practically a sure-fire way to make money.
Even if the Americans later turn against the Japanese, that's their business.

After considering it for more than ten minutes, Hirokazu Iwai still did not express his opinion.

Chen Yang stood up and said, "Senior Brother Iwai, it seems you need more time to think it over."

"I won't bother you any longer."

"Wait a minute," Iwai Hiroshi suddenly said at this moment, "Chen-san, your suggestion is too bold. I think I really can't make a decision in a short time."

"But from my perspective, I think you make a lot of sense. We must use a tough approach to force the Americans back to the negotiating table and renegotiate with us."

"Mr. Liang and his party will be departing for Nanjing the day after tomorrow, so you don't need to go with them."

"You'll report to City Hall first thing tomorrow morning,"

"Mr. Sonoda has already arranged for the Economic Division's office to be set up. This unit will be responsible for coordinating the collection and transfer of supplies from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Fujian provinces."

"Shanghai has convenient transportation and is more suitable than Nanjing."

"Furthermore, once you take over, you need to quickly complete the inventory of supplies and coordinate their supply."

"The local authorities have already formulated the 'Guiding Opinions on the Battlefield in China'."

"The first priority of the new government in Nanjing was to complete the task of suppressing counter-revolutionaries within its jurisdiction."

"Commander Qi's troops may have some difficulty dealing with the Blue Army, but they should be able to handle some guerrilla groups that move around."

Chen Yang bowed slightly to Iwai Hiroichi and said, "Senior Brother Iwai, I'll remember this."

Hiroki Iwai stood up and patted Chen Yang on the shoulder: "Do a good job and don't let me and your teacher down."

Lin Mansion, Ferguson Road, Shanghai.

Chen Yang had just returned home when he saw Lin Xueyi pacing back and forth in the living room.

Lin Xueyi saw Chen Yang come in and hurriedly went to greet him.

Chen Yang asked, somewhat puzzled, "Second Brother, why aren't you at the dock? Why are you running home?"

Lin Xueyi glanced around, then pulled Chen Yang up and said, "There are too many people here, let's go to the study to talk."

Chen Yang did not refuse, and the two quickly went up to the study on the second floor. Lin Xueyi closed the study door and said to Chen Yang, "I came here because I have something to ask for your opinion on."

"The due date is fast approaching. Should we pay or not?"

"Pay up? Pay up what amount?" Chen Yang was a little confused.

Lin Xueyi quickly explained, "Our Sixteen Factories Wharf used to be Mr. Du's territory. According to the rules, we have to pay a sum of money to the French Concession Municipal Council and another sum of money to Mr. Du every month."

"My master, Boss Cao, also gives us a token amount. After deducting everything, what's left is what we get."

"Let me put it simply: the dock revenue will be 30% for the Concession Municipal Council, 30% for Boss Du, 10% for my master, and the remaining 30% is our money."

"If it weren't for the fact that this dock is so lucrative, with so much money being distributed, we wouldn't make much profit. In fact, the night market generates more revenue than that."

After pondering for a moment, Chen Yang slowly said, "In that case, let's not pay Mr. Du's money."

(End of this chapter)