Chapter 013: The Aoki Family’s Circle of Friends

At this moment, to endure two slaps and respectfully lift the corpse above my head is the perfect display of admitting fault and accepting punishment. Now, the elders cannot pursue the matter any further; to do so would be considered inconsiderate and unreasonable.

In truth, Chen Jiehua’s acceptance of these two slaps was risky, but fortune favored him. Although Aoki Nobumasa was the progenitor of espionage, Aoki Saburo had not inherited his mantle and was not involved in that profession. Thus, the sensation of slapping Chen Jiehua’s face was unfamiliar, and he paid it no mind.

Aoki Qingxuan’s face had been slapped many times in the past and was hardened, but Chen Jiehua’s face had never endured such treatment—it was soft! If Aoki Nobumasa had been the one to strike, these two slaps would have exposed Chen Jiehua as an impostor; this is a subtle difference between Chinese and Japanese culture.

The four Aoki brothers, following funeral rites, lifted Aoki Nobumasa’s body onto the carriage and departed without concern for Aoki Qingxuan, who knelt on the ground. The carriage set off, leaving the station.

Once the carriage was gone, Aoki Qingxuan’s mother, Kanako Shimazu, and his aunt, Hide Aoki, approached and helped him up. Some boarded carriages, others mounted their horses, all following the procession at a steady pace.

As a soldier, Aoki Qingxuan naturally rode a horse. The night was pitch-black and December in Miyazaki was bitterly cold, but Chen Jiehua paid no mind to the chill. Although the three uncles would not entangle themselves with Aoki Qingxuan any longer, the cousins were not bound by such restraint. Facing his peers, Chen Jiehua would have to find his own way through!

Already, several resentful glances from his cousins swept across Chen Jiehua’s face. He feigned a vacant stare, his mind racing to devise strategies.

Upon arriving home, the elders entered first, carrying the body. According to military regulations, despite the guards’ claim of sudden heart failure, proper procedures had to be followed—a post-mortem examination.

The third generation waited outside, dismounting from horse and carriage. Chen Jiehua sought out the eldest grandson of the main branch, Aoki Qingtian, Aoki Qingxuan’s elder brother, called out, “Elder brother!” and knelt decisively.

According to custom, this act meant that as the eldest grandson, Aoki Qingtian could take charge. Whatever grievances the cousins held, they could settle them outside the home; inside, the matter would be closed.

Among the third generation, Aoki Qingxuan ranked third. Having often been beaten by his father, he was withdrawn, and as a child, his mischievous siblings would always shift blame onto him. Used to punishment, he never protested, and so the consequences had become ingrained.

Though the siblings had glared at him with hatred on the road, when the moment arrived, they acted with reason. They knew this was not Qingxuan’s intention, and remembered his solitary nature and willingness to bear the burdens of others as a child. Even if punishment was due, none would strike in earnest.

The eldest found a stick and symbolically tapped Chen Jiehua’s back, then passed it to the second sibling, entering the house himself. The second did likewise, handing it to the fourth. After all siblings had delivered their token blows, Chen Jiehua had passed this trial.

On December 13th, in accordance with local custom, the eldest son Aoki Ichiro and the eldest grandson Aoki Qingtian presided over the mourning at home. Other second and third generation direct descendants were tasked with receiving notable figures arriving to pay respects.

Given Aoki Nobumasa’s influence in the Japanese military and political circles, the family anticipated many distinguished guests, most likely arriving by train. Thus, the direct descendants were dispatched to Miyazaki Station. Chen Jiehua kept a low profile behind Aoki Saburo, maintaining his withdrawn persona while secretly communicating with the system, identifying and recording important individuals.

After all, it was only shortly after leaving Tokyo that Aoki Nobumasa died. The guards had called from the nearest station, so news reached all parties swiftly. The first to arrive were Nobumasa’s two classmates from the third class of the Army Academy, Akiyama Yoshifuru and Shiba Goro.

Akiyama Yoshifuru, serving as principal of a middle school between Tokyo and Kyushu in North Iyo (now Ehime Prefecture), and Shiba Goro, currently idle and visiting Akiyama for drinks, were close by and thus arrived first.

Such prominent figures required guidance from the second generation. After brief introductions at the station, Aoki Jiro escorted them home.

The third to arrive was Sakai Ichiro, son-in-law of Sakai Rihachiro (originally named Inada Ichiro). Sakai Rihachiro, Aoki Nobumasa’s senior disciple, was unable to attend due to military duties, so he sent his son-in-law, then serving in the Tokyo General Staff, to fulfill the disciple’s rites. Aoki Qingxuan’s second brother, Aoki Qingchi, led him home.

On the evening of the 14th, the late-night train brought a group of distinguished figures. The first among the second batch to disembark was Okamura Ninji.

Okamura Ninji: Army General Staff officer in charge of intelligence on China, Lieutenant Colonel, disciple of Aoki Nobumasa.

He was Nobumasa’s final and most authentic disciple. Although only a lieutenant colonel at present, Chen Jiehua recognized the name; any Chinese person with even a passing knowledge of history would know it.

Next to arrive was Masaki Shinsaburo, head of the Army Academy’s academic affairs, whom Chen Jiehua had called uncle.

“Maintain emotional composure in front of Okamura Ninji and Masaki Shinsaburo,” the system reminded him.

The system feared its novice host would lose control, requiring it to clean up the mess—this time, such intervention was impossible. The whole group could not be wiped out.

Following the system’s prompt, Aoki Qingxuan stabilized his emotions for half a second, then stepped forward to greet Masaki Shinsaburo, “Uncle!”

Suppressing his emotions, he adopted a look of grievance, pain, and helplessness—his acting had greatly improved.

Masaki Shinsaburo observed closely, sensing Chen Jiehua’s distress and attempt to express his grievance. This intimacy pleased him.

Masaki patted Chen Jiehua’s head, said nothing, and looked past him to greet Aoki Saburo as he approached.

Okamura Ninji, the first to disembark, was but a lieutenant colonel and received no introduction. The Aoki family assumed he was Masaki Shinsaburo’s attendant. Seeing him follow Masaki respectfully, no one paid him any mind.

Then, a group crowded around a man in general’s uniform emerging from the first carriage.

Uchiyama Kojiro: Japanese Army General, commander of the Tokyo Bay Fortress.

Aoki Shirou hurried forward to greet him.

“Host, you won’t get close to the general, but Okamura Ninji will become significant in the future. You can greet him now—consider it an investment.”

“I know him, but approaching him directly contradicts my persona, doesn’t it?”

“Find your own opportunity.”

Chen Jiehua watched as his uncle Aoki Shirou approached the general, while Masaki Shinsaburo and Aoki Qingxuan’s father chatted nearby. Okamura Ninji, ignored, stood in the cold wind like a mere bystander. He was now the closest Aoki family member to Chen Jiehua; this seemed the perfect opening.

“How should I address you?” (in Japanese)

“I am Okamura Ninji, the last disciple of Master Aoki.”

“So you are Uncle Okamura! Please, come!”

After all, addressing elders as uncle or uncle-in-law never failed in Japan.