Republic of China: German-equipped divisions massacred as warlords guarded the nation's borders

December 12, 1925, late at night.

Shanghai, headquarters of the Military Intelligence Bureau.

Current funds: £4,907,058,231

Current Strength:

• Military: German-trained Guards Division (30,000 men), Newly formed German-trained Division of the Wehrmacht (200,000 men), Centrally reorganized Army Division (100,000 men), Engineer Brigade (50,000 men), Independent Armored Division, Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade, Wusongkou Fortress and its garrison brigade, Maritime Anti-Smuggling Brigade of the Tax Police Corps

• Industry: Ma'anshan Coal-Steel Complex (annual production of 500,000 tons of special steel), Jiangnan Shipyard (10,000-ton dry dock already in operation)

• Navy: One Type A destroyer has entered service, two are under construction, and six new batches have started construction.

• Territory: Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian (Mawei), the entirety of Jiangsu, and Huaibei, Suzhou, and Bengbu in Anhui.

[Mission Progress]: Investigation into the Chang faction's conspiracy - In progress

The underground operations room of the Military Intelligence Bureau was brightly lit.

Moranzhi sat at the head of the long table, with a huge network diagram of relationships spread out in front of her.

"Report." Her voice was devoid of any emotion.

"Chief." An intelligence officer stood up. "The Guangzhou Hengchang Trading Company is registered to Pierre Dupont, a French businessman. In reality, he is an employment broker who provides cover identities for an underground network based in Shanghai."

Moranzhi nodded: "Continue."

"Hengchang Trading Company has three locations in Shanghai. No. 17 Avenue Joffre in the French Concession is a nominal shop, specializing in high-end silks and suits; a private residence on Jing'an Temple Road is a secret contact point; and..." The intelligence officer paused, "We have discovered through surveillance that six batches of unidentified materials have been transported into a warehouse in Hongkou within three days."

"Supplies?" Moranzhi narrowed her eyes. "What supplies?"

"Judging from its appearance, it should be explosives," the intelligence officer said in a low voice. "At least two hundred kilograms."

The entire operations room was silent.

Two hundred kilograms of explosives.

Enough to flatten half a street.

"What do you mean by 'should be'? Does your manual tell you to use 'should be'? Keep a close watch on them," Moranzhi said. "Don't alert them. I need to know where this batch of explosives ultimately came from, who delivered it, through what channels, who will pick it up, and their complete operational plan."

"yes!"

"And another thing," Mo Lanzhi stood up, "how did that gift list get mixed into Miss Cao's dowry?"

Another intelligence officer stood up: "Chief, we've found it. The gift list was transferred through a flower shop in Shanghai. The owner of this flower shop is called Li Xiucai. On the surface, he's in the flower business, but in reality, he's an external liaison officer who's always in Shanghai. He slipped the gift list into a batch of real wedding gifts during his deliveries to various shops, thus mixing it into Miss Cao's dowry list."

"Li Xiucai," Mo Lanzhi noted the name. "Who is his superior?"

"We're still investigating," the intelligence officer said. "But according to our wiretapping of his communications, he goes to a café in the French Concession every three days to meet with a man in a gray suit."

"A man in a gray suit? Is that your answer?"

Moranzhi sneered, "Let me take your picture. Three days at most. I need to confirm his identity."

"yes!"

……

The next morning.

Chen Mansion, Study.

Mo Lanzhi reported the investigation results to Chen Zijun.

Chen Zijun leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

"Two hundred kilograms of explosives," he repeated. "The other side has a lot of resources."

"It wasn't just explosives," Moranzi said. "We intercepted a cryptic internal code."

She handed me a translation.

Chen Zijun took it and read it once.

Contents of the secret telegram:

"Please take note: The target's wedding is scheduled for August 30th. Operation codename 'Broken Bridge.' The first team is responsible for creating an explosion at the wedding site and framing the Japanese ronin. The second team is responsible for intercepting the target's wife amidst the chaos. The third team is responsible for spreading rumors in the French Concession to incite hatred towards the Japanese and create a riot. If successful, the target will be caught in a multi-front battle."

After reading it, Chen Zijun gently placed the coded telegram on the table.

"The Magpie Bridge is Broken." A slight smile played on his lips. "What a beautiful name. Sister Cao and I have been together for so many years; this is nothing compared to the Magpie Bridge. You really underestimate me!"

Mo Lanzhi observed his expression: "Young Marshal, what should we do?"

"Their plan has three layers," Chen Zijun said, holding up three fingers. "The first layer is to bomb my wedding. The second layer is to kidnap Cao Qingdi. The third layer is to frame Japan, making me fight with Japan. Killing three birds with one stone, their intentions are truly vicious."

"Yes," Moranzhi said. "If he succeeds, we will not only lose Miss Cao, but we will also be forced to go to war with Japan, and the whole of China will be plunged into chaos."

"That's right." Chen Zijun stood up and walked to the window. "But he overlooked one thing."

"What?"

"He underestimated my Military Intelligence Bureau." Chen Zijun turned around, his smile widening. "Did he think I was just a reckless brute who only knew how to fight?"

Moranzhi remained silent, awaiting his instructions.

"Sister Lanzhi." Chen Zijun's voice suddenly became very soft and calm, but Mo Lanzhi knew that the calmer he was, the more dangerous he was.

"exist."

"I don't care who these troops are, continue to monitor their three strongholds in Shanghai, and don't make any moves. Have someone keep a 24-hour watch on the explosives depot. Keep a close eye on Li Xiucai and his superiors, but don't alert them."

"clear."

"On the day of the wedding," Chen Zijun walked up to Mo Lanzhi, looking down at her, "I want all three groups of these people captured. Leave no one alive."

A cold glint flashed in Mo Lanzhi's eyes: "Don't worry, young master."

"It's not over yet." Chen Zijun returned to the table, picked up the coded telegram, and said, "They want to frame Japan? Fine. I'll use them against them."

"What the young marshal means is..."

"On the wedding day, let their people act according to their plan," Chen Zijun said coldly. "But the explosion will not happen. I will seize these people at the last moment, in front of all the consuls and media in Shanghai."

"Then?"

"Then," Chen Zijun's eyes were filled with coldness, "I want the whole world to know that it was the Japanese Empire that attempted to carry out a terrorist attack at my wedding. I will ruin their reputation in the international arena."

Mo Lanzhi gasped.

That was a ruthless move.

It's ten times more ruthless than simply arresting and killing people.

Regardless of who the other party is, especially if they want to cause trouble, Chen Zijun not only has to stop them, but also nail them to the pillar of shame.

And whoever he says he is, that's who!

"Furthermore," Chen Zijun's tone grew even colder, "their base is in the French Concession, isn't it?"

"Yes. No. 17 Avenue Joffre is within the French Concession."

"Okay." Chen Zijun smiled. "They planned a terrorist attack in the French Concession, and the French are to blame. Then I'll have leverage to negotiate with the French."

Mo Lanzhi finally understood.

Chen Zijun not only had to counterattack his enemy, but also use this opportunity to pressure the French and reclaim part of the French Concession's sovereignty!

Killing three birds with one stone.

"Young Master," Mo Lanzhi took a deep breath, "Lanzhi understands. On the wedding day, everything will proceed as planned."

"Hmm." Chen Zijun sat down again, picked up his teacup, and said, "Also, tell Shen Li to raise the security level to the highest level on the wedding day. A regiment of the Imperial Guard will be on guard around the perimeter, and armored vehicles will be on standby at all intersections. I don't want any surprises."

"yes!"

"And what about Wang Ma?" Chen Zijun took a sip of tea. "She found the gift list this time and did a good job. After the wedding, give her a reward of one thousand silver dollars. Tell her I haven't forgotten her loyalty."

"clear."

Moranzhi accepted the order and left.

Chen Zijun sat alone in his study, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

Chiang Kai-shek, Chiang Kai-shek.

Are you trying to cause trouble on my wedding day?

I've been waiting for you for a long time.

This time, it wasn't your scheme that succeeded, but my trap that closed in.

On the day of the wedding, all of Shanghai will remember this moment.

It wasn't just Chen Zijun who married Cao Qingdi.

Even Chiang Kai-shek suffered a complete loss of face.