Newborn 1927

Upon seeing Yang Jiefang dressed in Japanese attire, a middle-aged soldier approached him and said in Japanese, "I am Cai Gongshi, the director of the Foreign Affairs Office, responsible for diplomatic affairs in the war zone. If you gentlemen have any business, you may come to the Negotiation Office to discuss matters with me at any time." Yang Jiefang, however, replied in Chinese, "My name is Ogasawara, and I am a journalist. This is my friend, Mr. Nakamura, a businessman. We are just looking around and have nothing to discuss. Sorry to bother you!" As he spoke, he nodded and bowed in Ogasawara's manner.

Seeing that Yang Jiefang was speaking Chinese, Cai Gongshi switched to Chinese as well, saying, "It's alright! We will handle all foreign affairs normally." Yang Jiefang then asked, "As a journalist, I'd like to know. What is your Military Commission's attitude towards Japan's recent military intervention in Shandong? What measures will you take?" Cai Gongshi replied, "Japan's reason for this intervention is to protect its nationals. Please rest assured! Our revolutionary soldiers will do our utmost to protect nationals of all countries in China, including Japanese nationals." Yang Jiefang then asked, "What if the Japanese army intends to obstruct China's unification?" Cai Gongshi replied, "As the journalist has said, this is a hypothetical, not a fact. Our Northern Expedition is China's internal affair. According to international conventions, your country has no right to interfere in our internal affairs. I am a diplomat, and regardless of the situation, I will make every diplomatic effort to strive for a peaceful resolution to the dispute!"

Diplomatic language, like tongue twisters, sounds pleasant but is often incomprehensible. Yang Jiefang knew that further questioning wouldn't yield any substantial results, so he took his leave. He then asked Chu Shiwu to take him to the headquarters of the Japanese Sixth Division. Chu Shiwu led him to Zhengjinyin Street, pointed out the location, but didn't follow him inside.

Yang Jiefang, posing as a reporter, requested a meeting with Fukuda Hikosuke, commander of the 6th Division. Fukuda refused to see him, sending his chief of staff, Kuroda, to receive Yang. Yang said, “I would like to ask, your division entered Jinan under the pretext of protecting overseas Chinese, yet you have indiscriminately slaughtered Chinese soldiers. Aren’t you afraid of provoking resistance? If they launch a full-scale counterattack, how can your mere five thousand soldiers protect the safety of overseas Chinese? As far as I know, there are at least fifty thousand Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers around Jinan. Your actions are truly worrying!”

Kuroda replied, "Mr. Ogasawara, you're overthinking it! So far, the Chinese soldiers haven't retaliated at all. Their commander-in-chief needs the support of the Empire and wouldn't dare to fight the Imperial army." Yang Jiefang said, "You're gambling. How can you entrust the safety of your citizens to the fact that the Chinese soldiers won't dare to resist? It's too risky! Mr. Kuroda, I will definitely report this matter truthfully." Kuroda appeared indifferent and said, "Then please report it like this, sir: The Imperial army has sufficient strength to protect the safety of your citizens!" Yang Jiefang finally asked, "Mr. Kuroda, does the Cabinet know about your deployment of troops to Shandong, China?" Kuroda didn't hide anything and said, "Of course, the military and the Cabinet not only know, but they have also reported it to His Majesty the Emperor for approval."

Yang Jiefang said nothing more and left the Japanese headquarters. He hadn't expected it to be the Japanese government's decision. They supported Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expedition while simultaneously sending troops to China; their purpose was clear: to force Chiang Kai-shek to make concessions! What they hadn't gotten from Zhang Xueliang, they wanted from Chiang Kai-shek. Yang Jiefang secretly resolved to wipe out this beastly division.

Instead of heading straight to the general store on the fifteenth of the month, he wandered around the Japanese quarter, secretly observing the surrounding terrain. As he walked, he suddenly saw three Japanese ronin dragging a Chinese woman towards him. He was certain she was Chinese because she was wearing school uniform for that period, clearly a female student.

Yang Jiefang stepped forward and shouted, "Stop! What are you doing?" The leader was slightly taken aback and replied, "We're from the Volunteer Corps. We found some very beautiful Chinese female students to have some fun with!" Yang Jiefang was furious and slapped the man across the face, cursing, "Baka—" The ronin, having been slapped for no reason, was also enraged and shouted back, "Baka—" and reached for his sword.

Yan Donglai moved even faster, swiftly drawing his pistol and pointing it at the ronin's head, terrifying him into immobility. Yang Jiefang slapped him again, cursing, "You lowly wretch, how dare you draw your sword in front of me?" He then gave Yan Donglai a meaningful look. Yan Donglai reacted quickly, shouting, "Why aren't you kneeling before me? Do you want to die?"

That "Your Excellency" isn't a title of respect, but rather signifies noble status. Modern Japan is a society with a very strict hierarchy; nobles can arbitrarily beat and verbally abuse commoners. These Japanese ronin, despite their seemingly unbridled behavior in China, are spoiled brats. In Japan, they are essentially the lowest rungs of society, thugs and hooligans.

Yang Jiefang was now a warlord controlling his own territory, exuding the aura of a superior. He also spoke fluent Japanese, the kind of pronunciation reserved for the upper class, not the Osaka dialect that Yan Donglai and his ilk had learned. The three ronin dared not doubt Yang Jiefang's identity and immediately knelt down with three thuds.

Yang Jiefang said, “The Empire has sent troops here to protect the safety of its citizens. How dare you act so recklessly here, relying on the support of the army? The Chinese government has already notified the consulate about this matter. Your actions have put the consulate in a very passive position. I really want Consul Nishida to hand you over to the Chinese army for processing!”

The three ronin trembled with fear, repeatedly apologizing. Yang Jiefang really wanted to kill them on the spot, but he forcibly restrained himself. He then said, "I'll let you off this time, but if I encounter you causing trouble again, you can expect to commit seppuku!" The three ronin readily agreed. Yan Donglai put away his gun, kicked the leader of the ronin, and shouted, "Get lost!" The three ronin were greatly alarmed and quickly got up, bowing and thanking him as they left.

The female student, unable to understand Japanese and bewildered, stood frozen in place. Yang Jiefang stepped forward and said in Chinese, "Miss, you've been frightened! I apologize on their behalf. I'm sorry! If there's nothing else, you can leave now." The female student then realized she was saved. But she didn't leave immediately; instead, she tentatively asked, "Can I really leave now?" Yang Jiefang replied, "Yes." The female student, confirming she hadn't misheard, said, "Thank you!" She turned and took a few steps, then turned back and said, "Could I ask you for a favor?"

Yan Donglai said impatiently, "If you're told to leave, then leave quickly. Why all the nonsense?" He actually disapproved of Yang Jiefang's behavior just now; it was rather rash. Yang Jiefang replied, "What is it?" The female student said, "Could you release my classmates too?" Yang Jiefang asked curiously, "Your classmates? Where are they?" The female student replied, "They were captured and are being held in one place." She pointed to the three Japanese ronin who had walked away. Yang Jiefang pressed further, "Are they all female students?" The female student answered, "Yes."

Without needing to say more, Yang Jiefang could guess what was going on. He took a deep breath and whispered, "Yan Donglai, gather the men... take control of this Japanese volunteer group." Actually, he really wanted to say wipe out the Japanese volunteer group, but he held back in the end. Yan Donglai replied in a low voice, "Yes." He secretly gestured, beckoning the special forces members to assemble.

The female student tentatively asked again, "Are you Chinese?" Yang Jiefang replied, "Yes. We pretended to be Japanese just now to save people." The female student breathed a sigh of relief and immediately smiled, saying, "My name is Wenxiang, and I'm a student at Qilu University. May I ask your name, sir?" Yang Jiefang didn't answer but asked instead, "Because of the war, I heard the school has already closed for the holidays. Why are you still here?" Wenxiang replied, "We're from out of town, and it's inconvenient for us to go home. Maybe the fighting will end soon, and the school will reopen."

You could tell from her Sichuan accent that she was a Sichuan girl. Going home for a trip like this was truly difficult. She and several other classmates from out of town rented a room off-campus, waiting for school to resume. Who knew they'd be targeted by these Japanese ronin? These ronin in Jinan were capable of anything—rape, kidnapping, and plundering. They didn't just assault her on the spot; they kidnapped her all. Their intention wasn't just to possess her temporarily, but to keep her permanently. Young and beautiful female students were very appealing to their vanity.

Wenxiang happened to be in the outhouse at the time, thus escaping the ordeal. She heard her classmate's cries for help but didn't rush out rashly; instead, she followed at a distance. When they reached the location, she intended to go back to find someone to rescue her. However, she encountered several other ruffians, and if she hadn't run into Yang Jiefang, they would have all been captured.

Wenxiang remembered the route and led Yang Jiefang to the place where the female students were being held. It was a Japanese-style residence, quite large in area. Behind Yang Jiefang were two squads of special forces members, all dressed as Japanese ronin. The special forces members were well-trained and had a clear division of labor. They quickly knocked on the door and rushed in. Yang Jiefang put his arm around Wenxiang and asked her to cooperate with his act, following her inside. Wenxiang seemed very reserved, but in order to save her classmate, she forced herself to endure it and cooperated with all her might.

There were also about twenty Japanese ronin inside, and they were clearly having some kind of argument, arguing incessantly. The three ronin they had just encountered were among them, and upon seeing Yang Jiefang, they trembled all over, bowing and calling out, "Your Excellency—" Yang Jiefang was extremely arrogant and ignored them completely, which made them even more confused about his background.

Yan Donglai asked, "I heard there are some pretty Chinese girls here. Where are they?" His question was redundant, because the special forces soldiers had already found them in the inner room. There were seven of them, all quite good-looking, but they were terrified, their heads bowed, looking very frightened. Yan Donglai glanced at them, then turned back and said, "We want these pretty girls. Do you have any objections?"

A burly Japanese ronin stepped forward and said, "I am Onizuka Taro, the commander of the Volunteer Corps. Who are you?" Although he stood in front of Yan Donglai, his eyes were fixed on Yang Jiefang. Yang Jiefang was so arrogant that he didn't even bother to glance at him. Yan Donglai replied, "You are not worthy to know your identity. From now on, you are no longer the commander. Do you have any objections?" Onizuka Taro certainly had objections and asked in a deep voice, "Why?" Yan Donglai kicked Onizuka Taro to the ground and said, "Even Chief of Staff Kuroda wouldn't dare to speak to you in such a tone. Who do you think you are?" Onizuka Taro, who was about to get angry, immediately cowered upon hearing Yan Donglai's words.

The three ronin they had encountered earlier immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "We are willing to acknowledge you as the leader of the volunteer corps!" Yan Donglai shook his head and said, "You have no interest in this leadership position. My name is Nakamura Jiro, and I will take the position! Does anyone have any objections?" These ronin were not an army; they were merely a hastily assembled group with little organization or discipline. They did not get along well with each other and were even at odds. Although Onizuka Taro was the leader, he did not have absolute authority. Despite their arrogance in front of the Chinese, no one dared to object at this moment, and they all expressed their support.

Seeing that the situation was under control, Yan Donglai ordered, "Find a clean room for Your Excellency to rest!" Special forces members had already identified a room and immediately led Yang Jiefang there. Yang Jiefang was still embracing Wen Xiang; any man could see that he seemed to want to do something with this young woman. The seven female students were temporarily placed in a room by the special forces members, who discreetly explained the situation to them. Yan Donglai then sat down in the middle and inquired about the situation of the volunteer regiment.

The twenty-odd people present were clearly the core members of the volunteer group, hailing from different regions, and all spoke with heavy local accents. Although Yan Donglai possessed a talent for languages, his limited experience learning Japanese meant he often couldn't understand, forcing him to repeatedly ask questions to obtain more inside information. Anyone paying close attention would have easily noticed that Yan Donglai was an imposter. However, Yang Jiefang's group quickly created a commotion. Unfortunately, the wooden house and paper windows provided poor soundproofing, and the seductive sounds only fueled the lust of the group of ronin, completely diverting their attention. No one noticed anything wrong with Yan Donglai's questions. It's worth noting that just moments before Yang Jiefang and his group entered, this group had been arguing fiercely about the allocation of the seven female students.

Such sounds usually don't last long. Once the sound subsides, you might think it's over? The special forces soldiers guarding the door quickly received Yang Jiefang's orders and escorted the other seven female students inside. Just when the ronin thought he was about to hear more drama, Yang Jiefang quickly emerged, already fully dressed. He said to Yan Donglai in Japanese, "I'm taking these female students to the consulate and returning them to the Chinese. Nakamura, this is your responsibility." Yan Donglai quickly replied, "Yes, sir, I will not disappoint you." He sent one squad to escort Yang Jiefang away, leaving another squad to assist him in controlling the Japanese volunteer corps.

After confirming their safety, the eight female students breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Wenxiang and Yang Jiefang. However, what to do with them was a problem; they dared not return to their rented rooms, and staying in the city was too dangerous. Yang Jiefang asked for their opinions; having nowhere else to go, they were willing to follow instructions. Yang Jiefang then had Gui Liqiu summoned. Gui Liqiu, leading another group of special forces members scattered throughout the city, quickly arrived upon hearing the news. Yang Jiefang instructed Gui Liqiu to arrange for men to escort the female students to the military camp in Zhangqiu for protection.

Then, Yang Jiefang circled the city before finally arriving at the general store on the fifteenth of the month. There, he found a radio station and a telegraph operator for external communications. Sun Zhiyong had sent a message from Zhangqiu that the female students had arrived safely.

In the evening, Yan Donglai brought news that he had completely taken control of the so-called Japanese volunteer group. It numbered only a little over a hundred, primarily composed of Japanese ronin (masterless samurai) and mainly Japanese merchants and employees in Jinan. Although the situation remained tense that day, no shots were fired, and it seemed unusually calm. Yang Jiefang, however, had a premonition that this was merely a brief calm before a major explosion.