Chapter 070: Let Me Take You Home

“Is Miss Miu really talking about acquiring the formula for the medicine? Are we certain it’s that formula?” The Army Department found it hard to believe.

“Our agents sent to San Francisco to investigate the penicillin formula suffered heavy losses—more than a dozen vanished. We believe they most likely sacrificed themselves for the Empire,” declared a senior official from the Naval Command.

The implication was clear: the Naval Command’s Third Division had dispatched over a dozen agents to America for a single penicillin formula, none of whom returned. And yet, Miu, a delicate young lady, even with Aoki Jo by her side, were only two people—could they pull off something so grand? They refused to believe it.

Duke Fujiwara grew displeased. Your agents failed, so you assume my daughter and son-in-law will fail too?

Perhaps he’d forgotten that he hadn’t yet agreed to this son-in-law. The Aoki family held no title, nor were they part of the aristocracy. Though his mother hailed from the Shimazu family, it was only due to that hint of Shimazu blood that they hadn’t sent secret police to Shanghai.

He must contact Miu again, clarify the situation, and prove these old men wrong—for the honor of the nobility!

Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Miu were well acquainted with the temperaments of those at headquarters. After sending the first telegram, they kept the radio on and, half an hour later, sent a second, more detailed message—unafraid of trouble, sparing no words:

We have obtained the original formula reels for two medicines. The ones in Warsaw are mere copies! We have escaped to Red Russia, hoping to return home via the Far Eastern railway. We request the Kwantung Army’s full support! Delay may result in the loss of the formulas!

The message was clear: they had the originals, while nations elsewhere fought over mere duplicates. They demanded protection to return home, or the formulas would be lost—likely to Red Russia if rescue wasn’t swift.

The operator immediately delivered the second telegram to the meeting site, where Duke Fujiwara decrypted it on the spot.

“To give it to Red Russia? Absolutely not! Spare no effort! Bring the formulas home! No, bring them back as well!”

“Order: The Kwantung Army is to spare no effort; aside from forces needed for basic operations, all agents and combat personnel are to suspend current tasks and infiltrate Red Russia via the railway, escorting Fujiwara Miu home! Any who fail or delay are to commit ritual suicide!”

“For a single Fujiwara young lady, have all Kwantung Army agents drop their work and spare no effort to escort her home from Red Russia?”

Shortly after the Kwantung Army received its orders, Zhao Shiyu got wind of the internal news. Yet something about the message was odd—he couldn’t decipher it.

But while he couldn’t understand it, the opportunity was unmistakable—a chance not to be missed!

With the Kwantung Army agents withdrawn, it was a stroke of luck—the comrades in prison could finally be saved!

Those comrades who’d been under constant watch could now be relocated. So much to do—heaven-sent opportunity!

Comrade Zhao Shiyu, ever disciplined and organized, arranged the rescue mission and transmitted the puzzling news to the organization as well.

Just because Zhao Shiyu couldn’t understand it didn’t mean the organization couldn’t. Fujiwara’s young lady was actually their own Lin Miu. Because Hongluan had repeatedly stressed that identities must remain secret, Agent Five had been cautious, avoiding communication with Gu Shunzhang. Still, it was certain that Hongluan and Miu were together, and he knew the comrades from the Manchurian Provincial Committee were imprisoned.

Through this remote maneuver, nearly all Kwantung Army agents were pulled away, clearly giving Northeast China time and space. The chance had to be seized—not a single moment wasted from Hongluan’s arrangement!

The deeper implications could wait. When they returned, they could explain in person.

Thanks to Chen Jiehua’s strategic move, Zhao Shiyu and Liu Junze, freed from Kwantung Army interference, launched a full-scale operation and finally rescued several imprisoned comrades, transferring them safely.

Considering Zhou Yongsu’s repeated telegrams urging prompt departure for America, and with Liu Junze unable to reach Chen Jiehua, after relocating the comrades, he requested Zhao Shiyu’s approval and bought a ticket to America to meet Old Zhou.

The mass mobilization and withdrawal of the Kwantung Army and its agents were soon detected by Red Russia’s Comintern operatives stationed in the Northeast. Detailed telegrams, troop movements, and entry routes were all relayed through the Far Eastern branch of the GRU to the Beryzin office.

Beryzin was now at his wit’s end.

First, the Berlin and Warsaw branches were nearly wiped out. Rebuilding was necessary, along with negotiating prisoner exchanges with Poland.

Second, the negatives brought back by Sorge needed verification. Reports had already been filed, and experts arranged for secret laboratory tests, but defensive forces were dangerously thin.

And now, a large influx of Japanese in the Far East!

“To mobilize all Kwantung Army agents just to escort a young lady home? Ridiculous! Who’d believe it? Investigate thoroughly—what are they really up to? Order the Far East Division: Any Japanese agent or spy discovered is to be executed on the spot!”

“Comrade Richard Sorge, you are needed in the Far East to uncover the true intentions of the Japanese.”

“When you finish this task, proceed to Shanghai, China.”

Upon receiving his orders, Sorge’s first reaction was: what are those two up to now? Of course, a German wouldn’t phrase it that way, but the sentiment was the same.

He knew it could only be Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Miu—no one else was so resourceful. Even within Red Russia, they couldn’t sit still! Couldn’t they just rest, recover, and quietly return home? If necessary, he’d personally escort them out—a diplomatic departure!

While Chen Jiehua was out shopping for supplies, Sorge spotted him and, recalling the phrase “that look in his eyes—I’d recognize it even if he turned to ash” that Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Miu had used, he returned the sentiment: it was that cunning gaze. Even if he turned to ash, Sorge would recognize him!

Sorge discreetly trailed Chen Jiehua as he returned to the abandoned farmstead. Upon entering, Miu had already set the table.

From outside the window, Sorge saw three place settings on the table.

They couldn’t have found new companions in just two days, could they? Surely not. But then—the boy had spotted him! The extra setting was for him! Remarkable—his tracking skills had been seen through!

Sorge pushed open the door. As expected, Miu didn’t stir or lift her head. Chen Jiehua beckoned him over and pointed to a chair.

The truth was, Chen Jiehua had instructed Miu to set three place settings for every meal, arranging the seats carefully, with firearms and mechanisms prepped as well—typical Chinese hospitality.

“When friends come, there is good wine; when wolves come, there are hunting rifles.”

This was the daily contest between top agents.