Agent: Intercepting Yu Manli at the start!

Chapter 131 With no one in charge, the situation spirals out of control!

He was secretly looking forward to the ten-day agreement.

Originally transferred to Shanghai to serve as a member of the Special Affairs Committee, he was like a kite with a broken string, completely cut off from the Nanjing Party organization, drifting like duckweed.

Jinling's activities were mainly focused locally, but when he went to Shanghai, he was left to fend for himself and faced numerous obstacles.

Now, being able to directly confront key figures of the underground Communist Party in Shanghai feels like finally grasping the thread that pulls him back to the organization.

A solitary figure, a wind chime.

The two were now very close, yet neither knew the other's background.

Perhaps after this rendezvous, Zhou Xiao and Shen Fang will truly unveil each other's true nature—the shock of that moment is probably inevitable.

Beiping, headquarters of the secret service.

Yamamitsu Ichiji and Doi Madoka were in a state of utter distress.

Currently, the positions of Special Higher Police Chief and Military Police Commander are both vacant, leaving no one in charge and the situation out of control.

Worse still, a few days ago, Shanghai experienced a series of large-scale protests and assassinations, and the streets were filled with an atmosphere of panic—the root cause of which was the lack of leadership and paralysis of command.

Inside the Chief of Staff's office.

A communications adjutant strode in, stood at attention, and reported, "Chief of Staff, Mr. Tanida has replied."

Kazuo Tanida was the candidate strongly recommended by Kazuji Yamamitsu for the new head of the Special Higher Police in Shanghai.

This man was no ordinary person: he graduated from the 32nd class of the Infantry Department of the Japanese Army Academy in October 1922, and then rose through the ranks, serving in important positions such as senior staff officer of the General Staff Headquarters, head of the Kwantung Army Section, and deputy chief of the General Staff. He was a well-known veteran in the Japanese military intelligence system.

He also has another identity: he was a prized student personally taught by Doi-Yuan and Itagaki Seishiro, trained at the same time as Kawashima Yoshiko, and was a northeastern person adopted by a Japanese couple.

In short, he's a ruthless character and a seasoned spy.

Yamamitsu Kazuji hurriedly pressed, "He agreed?"

The adjutant replied, "Mr. Tanida declined, saying he was unwell and needed to return to the Northeast to handle urgent matters, so he was unable to go to Shanghai to take up his post."

"What? Even he declined?" Yamamitsu Ichiji sighed heavily. "The head of the Special Higher Police in Shanghai has now become a death sentence—they've all become cowards!"

"Unexpectedly, even Tanida-kun is unwilling to take it on."

Within a few short months, three section chiefs died suddenly in succession. The Japanese spies were terrified: if one went, another would die; who would dare to go forward?

Therefore, this position remains vacant to this day, and no one dares to take it.

Yamamitsu Ichiji had a terrible headache.

I thought that Kazuo Tanida was highly experienced and courageous, and would definitely agree, but to my surprise, he also backed out.

Nowadays, the position of head of the Special Higher Police in Shanghai has become a hot potato, and everyone avoids it like the plague.

Kazuo Tanida was indeed extraordinary—a veteran spy with a long history of battles, a direct disciple of Doi-maru and Seishiro Itagaki, and a classmate of Yoshiko Kawashima.

Who is Yoshiko Kawashima?

She was the fourteenth daughter of Prince Su, Shanqi, of the Qing Dynasty. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Shanqi was determined to restore the monarchy. He gave his beloved daughter, Xianyu, to the Japanese ronin Kawashima Naniwa as an adopted daughter, renamed her Kawashima Yoshiko, and sent her to Japan to be indoctrinated with militarism. She eventually became a sharp intelligence dagger in the hands of the Japanese army.

It is worth noting that Yoshiko Kawashima was deeply involved in many major incidents and acts of treason. There were traces of her secretly manipulating the Huanggutun Incident, which is why she was known as the "female spy dressed as a man" and the "Oriental enchantress".

Kazuo Tanida is Yoshiko Kawashima's classmate and a highly experienced veteran spy, but even he has declined the position of head of the Special Higher Police in Shanghai, and dares not take on this responsibility.

Feeling unwell?

Are you overwhelmed with work?

It's all just an excuse!!!

Yamamitsu Ichiji's face was ashen, his eyes blazing with fury: "Even Tanida-kun avoids him like the plague, he's utterly cowardly and doesn't deserve to be a soldier of the Empire!"

In less than two months, three section chiefs died one after another—this deterrent effect was truly terrifying, even many seasoned veterans and Japanese soldiers felt a chill in their hearts.

To be honest, many old Japanese soldiers were not afraid of dying, but they were particularly afraid of dying in a humiliating or unclear way.

Just like Hirofumi Asano, who was shot and killed in his office the very night he arrived in Shanghai, dying helplessly and feeling extremely frustrated.

To become the head of the Special Higher Police Section?

It's more accurate to say they willingly went to their deaths, traveling thousands of miles to their deaths.

So, it's one thing to be unafraid of death, but no one wants to die in vain or end up with a muddled fate.

Yamamitsu Ichiji recommended many people and sent them telegrams to invite them, but without exception, he politely declined them all.

At this moment, the position of head of the Special Higher Police in Shanghai has become a hot potato that everyone avoids like the plague—it's burning hot, it's deadly hot.

At that critical moment, an adjutant strode in, saluted Yamamitsu Ichiji, and said, "Chief of Staff, the Chief of Staff requests your immediate presence."

Doihara entrusted the selection of the head of the Special Higher Police in Shanghai to Yamamitsu Ichiji, but after so many days, a suitable candidate has still not been finalized.

Yamamitsu Ichiji replied, "Okay, I'll be right there."

Inside the head of the agency's office.

Doihara's face was gloomy, his brows were furrowed, and his expression was full of anxiety.

Upon seeing Yamamitsu Kazuji enter, he immediately asked, "Yamamitsu-kun, is there any progress on the matter of the head of the Special Higher Police Section in Shanghai?"

Kazuharu Yamamitsu responded truthfully: "There is no progress at present. I have extended invitations to many key personnel within the organization, but they have all declined for various reasons and are unwilling to take up the post."

While conducting intelligence work elsewhere certainly carries the risk of assassination, it also presents other risks.

However, the level of danger is far less than that of Shanghai.

They were not afraid to sacrifice themselves, but they did not want to fall down in a muddle-headed way—that would not be dying in the line of duty, but rather being disgraced.

Doihara frowned even more deeply and pressed, "You rejected them all? Tanida-kun refused too?"

Kazuo Tanida was a renowned figure in the intelligence community, a true veteran who had navigated the complex environment of Northeast China with ease, earning merits in battle, stealing secret intelligence, and orchestrating numerous operations.

Most importantly, he was a student personally mentored by Doihara.

A great teacher produces great students. As a top figure in the intelligence system, Doihara was always proud to have cultivated a talent like Tanita.

If Tanita can step forward this time, take charge of Shanghai, and suppress the local anti-Japanese forces in one fell swoop, it will undoubtedly be a great honor for him.

Moreover, in terms of both qualifications and ability, Tanida is fully qualified for this position.

Yamamitsu Ichiji replied in a low voice, "Chief, Tanida also declined. He said he hasn't been feeling well lately and has a lot of urgent matters to attend to, so he simply can't manage it all."

Doihara slammed his hand on the table with a "thud," making the teacup bounce slightly. His eyes widened: "All excuses! Absolutely all excuses!"

"They were scared, truly scared! Scared of losing their lives, scared that this position was too deadly—baka!"

Is it possible for it not to be fatal?

The first three section chiefs all fell from grace. Whoever takes over is almost certain to become the fourth.

Fear truly spread.

Not every Japanese person is willing to die for their country.

It's human nature to think that it's better to live a miserable life than to die a good death.

There is only one root cause for this embarrassing stalemate—

Zhou Xiao!

Zhou Xiao, the most deadly mastermind lurking in the deepest recesses of Shanghai.

The first section chief, Aoki Takeshige, was tricked by Zhou Xiao into going to meet Zhang Wanlin alone, and was eventually killed on the spot by the Mingtai Action Team.

The second Xian Daofeng was soon outmaneuvered by Zhou Xiao and dragged into Feng Manna's operation, where he was sniped from a distance by Sixth Brother Zheng Yaoxian.

The third Asano Hirofumi was shot dead by Zheng Yaoxian in the section chief's office on the night he arrived in Shanghai.

No section chief has ever had a good ending.