It is reasonable for Kusumoto Sanitaka and Yamamoto to choose to cooperate with Hase Ryosuke. The counterfeit banknote plan is public and the generous gifts are private. When taking both public and private considerations into consideration, why not do it.
Besides, the final outcome of the matter depends on the game played by the big shots in Tokyo. It is not something they can decide. There is no need for the two of them to offend a luxurious figure with great powers in Shanghai.
After initially confirming the cooperative relationship, the three looked at each other and smiled. Then Hase Ryosuke waved his hand and ordered his subordinates to help disassemble the printing press and seize the time to move the banknote printing factory.
Seeing the deft movements and operational style of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agent, Yamamoto nodded with satisfaction, turned sideways and softly complimented Mr. Don.
"Yoshi, thank you very much, Mr. Hase. The quality of your personnel has opened my eyes. In Chinese terms, a strong general has no weak soldiers."
Shitaka Kusumoto observed for a while, and nodded in agreement: "The intelligence officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are indeed worthy of their reputation, and they are worthy of being the elite of the empire."
As he said that, he asked a question seemingly unintentionally: "But Vice Minister Hase, you said you can help us move to a safe place. Can you tell us the specific arrangements."
He asked this not because he was suspicious, but because of his nature and professional instinct. The longer he worked in this industry, the harder it became to trust others.
Even if the other party is about to take office as the head of the agency and has undergone the most stringent background checks, he still needs to be careful where he should be.
What's more, the two parties have never dealt with each other before, and he doesn't know the other party's working ability. If it is a young man with high ambitions and low vision, he will be the unlucky one, and he has to guard against this.
At the same time, the reputation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not very good within the empire. Those diplomats who graduated from higher education institutions and claim to be well-informed have always scorned such things as sacrificing their lives for the Locusts.
They regard serving the empire as an ordinary job rather than an honor. As long as there are enough benefits, it is common to betray the empire's interests.
If this person is also a non-citizen, if they follow him, they are falling into a trap.
You must ask the other party's next arrangements clearly to make a judgment. After asking, Kusumoto Shitaka secretly observed Hase's reaction.
Hase Ryosuke seemed not to have seen his actions, and said confidently: "Don't worry, I found a printing factory in the Zhabei area of the original Chinese border. This place meets all printing requirements.
It is very remote, adjacent to the suburbs, with no residents nearby. The only road was destroyed in the Songhu War, and few people usually pass by.
And it is very close to the garrison barracks. Once someone attacks, the imperial warriors can arrive within five minutes and eliminate the attackers. Colonel Kusumoto, I wonder if you are satisfied with this answer. "
"Arigado bound Emma."
Sanitaka Kusumoto bowed slightly and said thank you. As the most senior and oldest of the three, using such words among peers was equivalent to an apology.
"Kusumoto-dono, you are too kind."
Hase Ryosuke was startled, and quickly avoided the other party's salute, and discussed the evacuation route with Kusumoto Shitaka and Yamamoto.
There are two routes to take from Houde Middle School to Zhabei.
One is to cross the Sioux City River directly to the north.
The second is to go west through Jisi Feier Road, cross the river at Cao's house, and then go around.
The first route of Kusumoto Shitaka and Yamamoto Satoshi is more suitable because the distance is close and it only takes an hour to reach the scheduled location.
After hearing this, Ryosuke Hase shook his head and expressed a different opinion. He took out a map of Shanghai, pointed in the direction of the Sucheng River and said seriously.
"I have roughly read that it would take at least 15 trucks to transport all the items. Such a large convoy is very conspicuous. National intelligence agents are not blind.
And there are not many bridges on the Sioux City River. The Chinese can easily target us as long as they send people to guard them. Don't forget that this is the Republic of China, and they have no shortage of operatives.
If you want to hide it from the other party, you have to break it into parts and let the trucks go to Zhabei separately. But this will disperse the escorts and make it easier for the enemy to destroy.
Of course, if Colonel Kusumoto doesn't mind and allows the garrison to protect him throughout the whole process, then there will be no problem. No matter how elite the agent is, he can't fight with the regulars.
The regular army launched a frontal battle. "
"Yoshi, this makes sense."
Yamamoto thought thoughtfully, if he were Chinese, he wouldn't need to know what was on each vehicle, he could just attack one at will.
Because the car is either equipped with machinery or raw materials. No matter where there is a problem, repairing or repurchasing it will take time.
If the core components of the printing press are destroyed by the other party, the resumption of money printing may be far away. The first route is indeed risky.
As for sending troops for protection, this was not part of their plan. If it were not for confidentiality and diversion, they would have no need to locate the printing plant in the British and American sphere of influence. Hongkou had plenty of space.
Sanitaka Kusumoto also realized this and couldn't help but frowned. It was just that the second route was equivalent to a half-circle of Shanghai. Would there be any danger in such a long distance?
When he was in trouble, he suddenly saw Hase Ryosuke's confident look, and his heart moved, and he realized that the other party probably already had a countermeasure, so he quickly opened his mouth to test.
"Mr. Hase, please stop being so pretentious and just tell me if you have any good ideas."
After hearing these words, Hase Ryosuke smiled slightly, pointed on the map not far south of Caojiadu with his hand, and raised his head to look at the two of them.
"Since the highway is easy to be attacked, why don't we change our thinking. There is a railway cargo station here, and the Beijing-Shanghai Railway passes through the Caojiadu Railway Bridge to the north directly to the Zhabei area.
If my calculations are correct, the truck can be driven onto the flatbed train and drive away directly from the North Station. The loading and unloading work will be completed by us, and no one knows what is inside.
More importantly, there are imperial troops stationed along the railway line. Even if the Chinese are brave, they don't dare to take action when surrounded by heavy troops. What do you think? "
Rail transport?
Isn't it so complicated?
Kusumoto Sanitaka and Yamamoto were deep in thought. The problems they encountered at present were that they were afraid of sabotage by the Chinese, and that it was inconvenient to send troops publicly for protection in order to keep it secret.
The two are contradictory. If the army cannot be used on a large scale, the transportation cannot be guaranteed to be flawless. Therefore, although Changgu's method is troublesome, it can effectively prevent being attacked.
The government was defeated again and again, even Jinling was lost. There were only a few stragglers left in the Shanghai area, and it was indeed difficult to pose a threat to the railway line.
At this moment, several dull explosions were heard faintly outside the basement.
A small group of Ministry of Foreign Affairs agents who were dismantling the printing press rushed to the bunker, took control of key positions, took out their weapons and started to be on guard. Others continued busy with the work at hand without any panic.
The Japanese navy and army intelligence personnel who were originally responsible for protecting the factory took a moment to react, and dispersed in a chaotic manner, running around like headless chickens.
Kusumoto Sanitaka was so angry at the poor performance of his men that he shouted to a small agent: "Baga, go and see what happened, and the rest of the people will seize the time to dismantle it."
Yamamoto also ordered his subordinates hurriedly. They are professional soldiers, and most of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are from civilian backgrounds. They can't compare to this. It's embarrassing!
Amidst the scolding, the little spy who went out to inquire for information came back and reported bad news.
"Your Excellency Colonel, there was an explosion on the highway from the public concession to Hongkou and Zhabei. The specific information is unknown."
"Nani?"
Yamamoto was shocked when he heard this. Hase-kun was really right. This must be the Chinese conducting road raids on the road, trying to make their transfer work more difficult.
Faced with this situation, Kusumoto Shitaka, who had been a little undecided before, no longer hesitated, turned around and said seriously to Hase Ryosuke.
"Hase-kun, then retreat according to the second route. I think you must have made corresponding arrangements at the cargo station. I leave everything to you. Yamamoto-kun and I will obey your orders."
"Hai, don't worry, sir."
Hase Ryosuke touched his heels, lowered and raised his head suddenly, and replied solemnly: "My people have dispersed the staff at the cargo terminal and established multiple surveillance points within a radius of one kilometer.
There are few people there, and the Chinese will definitely be discovered as long as they dare to show up. With the strength of our three parties
, maybe it can teach the other party a profound lesson, and please don’t worry about the train.
Although the Beijing-Shanghai Railway is not yet fully operational due to the war, I arranged through internal connections for a freight train to be loaded with coal and boosted, so that it can depart for Zhabei at any time. "
Sure enough, it is Hase who has great supernatural powers, Kusumoto Shitaka sighed secretly.
After the Songhu Battle, the Shanghai Expedition Army Logistics Department imposed military control on the railways in Shanghai to transport supplies to the front line.
These officials in charge of the logistics lifeline are not easy people to talk to. The other party can actually get through the joints here. No wonder General Doihara asked him to pay attention to this person before he left.
While talking, the heavy printing press was all dismantled and loaded into the car. The three of them walked out of the basement with humility to each other and came to two cars and a long truck.
"Yamamoto-kun, Colonel Kusumoto and I are in the first car. There are limited seats, so I have to ask you to take the second car. I will send my most capable subordinates to protect your safety."
Hase Ryosuke stood in the yard, pointed at a tall, sinister-looking Ministry of Foreign Affairs agent, and apologized to Yamamoto.
Yamamoto didn't pay attention. He followed the other person's gestures and his eyes suddenly lit up. He looked like a burly and strong man, but a little ugly.
He immediately nodded with a smile, slowly got into the back seat of the second car, leaned back comfortably on the seat and closed his eyes.
They had been nervous for so many days, fearing that the printing factory would be discovered, but now they were relieved that the Chinese knew about it.
With the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we may be able to obtain advanced papermaking technology from Europe and the United States more quickly. Thinking about it this way, tripartite cooperation is indeed a good thing.
On the other side, Hase Ryosuke personally opened the car door for Kusumoto Shitaka, and the two got into the car one after another. Hase Ryosuke immediately waved his right hand and gave the order.
"出発する(Get on the road/depart)!"
"Hai."
The driver in the driving seat lowered his head and responded with a standard Kanto accent.
