Chapter 044: The Third Step—Seeking Help from the Young Marshal

A little past ten o'clock, a car drove into the compound of the Police Department, and two Japanese soldiers stepped out. Liu Junze paid them little mind at first. But before long, One-Eyed Zhao Ruilong and the two Japanese soldiers emerged from the building into the courtyard, arguing heatedly. The Japanese soldiers cursed under their breath, got into their car, and sped off. Something was wrong.

A surge of unease gripped Liu Junze. His heart pounded—disaster was at hand.

He hurried downstairs and rushed to the Police Department to find Zhao Ruilong.

“Old Liu, just the man I needed to see! We’re in trouble! Some bastard leaked our plan. The Japanese found out we were going to release the prisoners. Two of their soldiers just showed up, demanding we hand over the detainees!”

“Damn it! Old Zhao, you didn’t agree, did you?”

Of course Zhao Ruilong wouldn’t agree! One hundred and thirty silver dollars—how could he?

“Agree? I just cursed them out and sent them packing! But if they bring someone higher up and persuade the chief, we’re in real trouble!”

“Then let’s get the prisoners out of the city right now!”

“If we release them without the chief’s approval, we’ll be facing a firing squad!”

“Old Zhao, hold the line. Go see the chief and get that approval as fast as you can. Here’s the number for my pharmacy. If you get the okay, call me immediately! I’ll head back to the shop and think of something!”

Liu Junze left the Police Department and hailed a rickshaw, urging the driver to hurry as his mind raced. Damn it, who brought this mess down on us? Only Zhou Yongsu could help now. Hopefully, she’d be near the radio—please, for heaven’s sake, let her be there!

Back at the pharmacy, Liu Junze quickly tapped out a message to Zhou Yongsu in Morse code.

First, they needed to find out exactly which Japanese department was demanding the prisoners—was it the Fengtian Special Service, Section Two, or the South Manchuria Railway Investigation Department? This was crucial.

Backup plan: If they couldn’t get the prisoners released early, try to have the Northeast Army Headquarters claim custody and transfer the detainees there. At the very least, he had to keep them alive.

Liu Junze hid the radio and dashed back to the Police Department.

“Those Japanese soldiers said they were from some ‘Soil-something’ agency—a name I’ve never heard before,” Zhao said.

“The Toihara Agency!”

“Yes, that’s the one!”

“Did the chief approve your transfer request?”

“I was just about to tell you—the Japanese called, forbidding the release. The chief doesn’t want to offend them, so he didn’t sign off.”

“Damn it! Old Zhao, do whatever you can to stall them. Don’t let the Japanese take the prisoners! Hold out as long as you can! Even if we fail in the end, I won’t blame you. I’ll find a way to get you the silver you want!”

Liu Junze tore out of the Police Department like the wind, heading for the Marshal’s Residence to find the Young Marshal!

There was no time to lose—he would come clean to the Young Marshal. Even if he couldn’t get the prisoners out for now, he had to follow Zhou Yongsu’s advice: have the Young Marshal transfer the prisoners into his own custody, not the Japanese.

Luck was with Liu Junze—the Young Marshal, Zhang Xiaoliu, was at home. But fortune quickly turned; the Young Marshal was in conference with several aides on a secret matter and had ordered no one be admitted. The guards did not recognize Liu Junze.

But this was a matter of life and death.

“Young Marshal! This is Liu Junze. I beg an audience! Lives are at stake—this is an urgent matter!” Liu Junze shouted at the top of his lungs, gambling on whether the Young Marshal would hear him.

“Instructor Liu, please step back. Don’t shout like this. If you disturb the Young Marshal, we’ll all be in trouble,” a guard pleaded.

“My apologies, brothers! For you, it’s trouble; for me, it’s life and death—thirteen lives! If we’re too late and the Japanese take them, it’s over!”

“You’re fighting the Japanese for prisoners?”

“Yes—thirteen people!”

“Wait here. I’ll take the fall if need be. If you’re fighting the Japanese to save lives, I have to help!”

Liu Junze was so moved he nearly wept. This was a man worth befriending.

A nameless guard went in to report. On hearing Liu Junze wanted to snatch prisoners from the Japanese, the Young Marshal’s interest was piqued.

“Let him in!”

“Brothers, I owe you all a great debt. I’ll thank you properly when I return!” Liu Junze said, heading inside.

In the inner chamber, Liu Junze fell to his knees before the Young Marshal and his aides.

Zhang Xiaoliu and his staff regarded him quietly, waiting for him to speak.

“Young Marshal, I come to you with complete honesty. Punish me as you see fit—but please, give the order to transfer the thirteen suspects arrested earlier to the Army Headquarters prison! If we delay, the Police Department won’t hold out. The Toihara Agency will take them!”

“What did you say? Which agency?”

“The Toihara Agency!”

“Damn that Kenji Doihara again! Why doesn’t he go back to Japan and stay there?”

“Someone!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Take my written order. Assemble men and go to the Police Department. Bring those prisoners back!”

“Young Marshal, let me go with them. I’m afraid they won’t recognize the right people and might make a mistake. I promise, I won’t run!”

“Get out of here and be quick about it! I’m not afraid of you running off!”

Liu Junze felt as if he’d been snatched from the jaws of death. Overwhelmed, he kowtowed deeply, then sprang up and hurried out with the guard.

Zhang Xiaoliu watched Liu Junze disappear, smiling and shaking his head.

“Young Marshal, what’s this all about?” one aide asked.

“You mean Liu Junze?”

“No, I mean—you’ve never confronted the Japanese head-on before. Why agree to help this time?”

“You don’t understand. I’ve suspected for some time, but now I’m certain—Liu Junze has a second identity. He’s a member of the Red Communists.”

“And you still help him, knowing that?”

“Yes. Precisely because I know, I choose to help him.”

“Remember my father’s death in June? Before that, Liu Junze returned from the interior to my side. I didn’t think much of it. When news of the disaster broke and everyone was at a loss, he was the first to urge me to return to Fengtian and take command of the troops.”

“But he’s been with you for over two years. You know his character—he’s not the brains behind such ideas.”

“So you think someone is guiding him?”

“No. Someone is guiding me through him.”

“His advice was unanimously approved. Securing the army was the only way to seek revenge.”

“On the journey back, whenever we hit a dead end, he always found a way through and escorted me home safely.”

“Then it’s clear—someone is indeed guiding you through him. But why doesn’t this person act directly?”

“We’ll ask him when he returns. For now, let’s continue.”

Liu Junze and Zhang Xiaoliu’s guard, Gao Shuguang—a notable historical figure known for his integrity—ran all the way to the Police Department, arriving just as the Japanese truck entered the gates.

“Order from the Kwantung Army Headquarters: Fengtian Police Department is to transfer thirteen suspected Communist prisoners to the Toihara Agency for interrogation!”

“Since when does the Fengtian Police Department answer to the Kwantung Army Headquarters?” Gao Shuguang shouted.

Liu Junze ignored the standoff outside and hurried inside to find Zhao Ruilong.

“Quick, take me to the prison!”

“What’s happening outside?”

“Don’t worry about that. Just take me to the prisoners!”

One-Eyed Zhao, utterly bewildered, was dragged along as Liu Junze led the way to the cells.