Indeed, as Leng Yue said in the telegram to Xiao Ancheng, a big event happened in Chongqing!
The starting date of this major event was May 20, 1939. On this day, the "Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain" had not yet begun! Chen Zifeng's gendarmerie was still looking for Communist lurkers in the 38th Army
!
As soon as this major incident came out, everyone involved knew that it must be related to the Japanese "Barrel Plan"!
Chen Zifeng's gendarmerie was able to return to Chongqing!
1-2
On this day, May 20, 1939, around eight o'clock in the morning, the mountain city of Chongqing began to get noisy.
There was a light rain last night, the road surface was moist and dust-free, and the air was fresh and refreshing. The lush forests and flowers and plants covering Chongqing's mountains were even more green.
Chongqing people walking on the road are in a happy mood. They chat and chat, sit on the street and have morning tea, or say hello to acquaintances on the road and talk about the news in front of them. They are leisurely and contented.
This is how Chongqing people live!
At this time, a motorcade was honking its horn and driving south along Zhongshan 3rd Road.
The trucks in front and behind were all heavily armed soldiers. In a black car in the middle, Duan Zegang, the head of the Central Guard Regiment, was sitting. He looked sideways and looked out of the car blankly, but he was anxious about the situation in front of him.
Three days later, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek will go to Chengdu for a meeting with the Sichuan Provincial Government.
He took two companies of guard soldiers and went to Chengdu in advance to set up security.
Except for Sichuan people, no one would have thought that Chairman Chiang Kai-shek was also the chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Government!
The chairman of the committee who manages major national affairs goes to Chengdu just to handle some official business that only the provincial government has!
This is something that makes those who know smile and those who don’t know astonished. The strange reason is also the reason why Duan Zegang is anxious at this time: Sichuan warlord!
The Sichuan warlords are the four major warlords in Sichuan and are the only warlords in the world!
These warlords cannot be provoked by their heavy troops, and they are indispensable in the war of resistance. They are stubborn and difficult to shave off, and it is difficult for the central government to control them! Even Chairman Chiang Yi, who controls the Central Army of the country, cannot do anything to them!
But Sichuan, Sichuan's warlords are like a powder keg, God knows when something will happen!
This is where Duan Zegang feels anxious!
The convoy drove to the intersection of Lianglu, turned onto the Chengdu-Chongqing Highway, and drove westward.
1-3
On the north side of the intersection, in a three-story hotel.
Mr. Sato and Ishida stood in front of the window, watching the motorcade speed past, smiling and nodding to each other.
"Eight trucks, one car, Duan Zegang should be leading two companies of soldiers." Ishida whispered.
"Indeed, you saw it accurately." Mr. Sato said in a low voice as well.
"Mr. Sato, the information about Miss Akitsu is very accurate."
"So, have you made arrangements?"
"Yes! Kawakami-kun, Kuriyama-kun, and I have done careful research and considered every step!"
"It's a pity that we made a small mistake in the second step, and the generalist sent by the military commander was incompetent, so we failed!" Mr. Sato stared at him and said.
"Oh, mentioning this makes me angry!" Ishida's expression also became serious.
He understood that the failure Mr. Sato was referring to was the assassination of Kawachi!
Thorning is the second step in the "Barrel Plan". If successful, it will have amazing results! If coupled with the third step that is being implemented at this time, China will be in chaos! There will even be a civil war!
By then, the Japanese army will easily occupy all of China! But unfortunately, the second step did not succeed!
Mr. Ishida said with great regret: "Dai, the commander of the military, sent top killers like Chen Gongshu, sharpshooters like Wang Luqiao, and even poison master Yu Lexing! And he personally went to Hong Kong to supervise the battle! He actually failed to assassinate Wang Jingwei.
!I really can’t figure out what happened!”
Mr. Sato looked out the window thoughtfully. This was something he couldn't understand!
He had a vague feeling that there must be something he couldn't think of! He felt that Takahashi, who went to Hanoi to investigate in person, might know the real reason! But for some reason, Takahashi didn't tell him everything he knew!
But, then again, if the second step of the "Barrel Plan" is not successful, it is not successful! It is meaningless to say anything more at this time!
"Ishida-kun, are you sure about Ge Er at Pier 4 of Phoenix Terrace?" He turned back and stared at Ishida calmly.
"I have been observing him for a week and have figured out this person clearly! Don't worry, sir, I can capture him!"
"That's great. I hope the third step you arranged will be successful!"
To be precise, the third step of the "Barrel Plan" formulated by Takahashi is quite simple, with only one general direction. The specific implementation method was handled by Mr. Sato.
But now, he said to Mr. Ishida: "I hope the third step of your arrangement will succeed!" As soon as he finished speaking, he could see the proud look on Ishida's face.
"Sir, I believe that the third step will be successful! I am confident!" Ishida also stared at Mr. Sato calmly!
Mr. Sato nodded and judged in his heart that this Ishida is a little thief with a high ambition! He got proud too early!
He turned back and looked at Kuriyama behind him, and asked softly: "Is there any news from Kawakami?"
Kuriyama gave him a vicious smile, "Not yet. But he is definitely ready! Sir, please don't worry!"
Mr. Sato looked at him and nodded, saying nothing.
1-4
It was also at this time, in the Military Command Headquarters, in the office of Deputy Director Dai Li.
It was overcast and the office was a bit dark. However, Boss Dai sat with his back to the window and had enough light to read the newspaper.
He finally threw down the newspaper, pushed the pile of newspapers aside, and looked up at Gong Binsheng sitting opposite the desk.
Gong Binsheng's expression was very serious at this time. He understood that Boss Dai's worries were the same as his own! They were all worried about the miscellaneous things published in the newspapers!
"Have you read all these newspapers?" Dai Li asked in a low voice.
"Yes, I've seen it all." Gong Binsheng said simply.
"If the Hanoi operation fails, these newspapers will keep making noises. It's really annoying!" Boss Dai said in a low voice.
Gong Binsheng looked at Boss Dai motionless, with no expression on his face.
He has received news that the operation to assassinate Wang in Hanoi was led by the famous military killer Chen Gongshu. Boss Dai personally went to Hong Kong to supervise the operation, but he failed! What a surprise!
After the assassination failed, no one was dealt with within the army! This is a big question in Gong Binsheng's mind!
He said calmly: "Yes, sir, I want to take some action and warn those newspapers!"
"Newspapers can warn, but how can you warn those who are always taking to the streets to demonstrate?" Boss Dai asked softly.
"After all, there were not many people marching. There were two to three hundred people, four to five hundred people, and the police dispersed them as soon as they were dispatched."
Dai Li looked at him and said nothing for a while. Although he trusted Gong Binsheng, there were some things he still couldn't tell him!
These unspeakable situations are too sensitive! For example, what happened behind stabbing Wang, or what the chairman of the committee really thinks!
Especially the Chairman’s true thoughts! He had to guess for many days before he gradually understood it! If this situation was leaked, he would not be able to chop off even ten of his heads!
To realize what the Chairman has in mind, I may be able to take some special measures! But during this period, no accidents must happen! Any accidents at this time will simply cost lives!
He thought about it again and again, and finally simply said: "Bin Sheng, you must pay special attention to what may happen recently! Be careful! You must not make any mistakes now!"
1-5
Gong Binsheng left the headquarters in a car and felt a little disappointed on the way back to the investigation office.
He had a feeling that there might be some special situation behind Hanoi's assassination! Boss Dai was such a sophisticated person, and all the people sent to Hanoi were the top experts from the Military Command Bureau! The operation failed!
But since the assassination operation failed, Boss Dai has said nothing! This is abnormal!
He came today, in addition to reporting the nonsense in the newspapers recently, he just wanted Boss Dai to give him a little more explanation! Let him know what happened in the assassination operation!
But Boss Dai refused to say more! In this way, it will be difficult for him to control his next move!
Although Wang Jingwei and his followers have now gone to Shanghai, they still have some followers in Chongqing!
Among the followers who remained, the ones that worried him the most were the major warlords in Sichuan!
Except for a very few of these major warlords, almost all of them have anti-bones on the back of their heads! Some of them are almost Wang's admirers! They stayed and stayed, like a time bomb that could explode at any time.
Something will happen!
Gong Binsheng was very worried at this time.
What he is most worried about is the warlords in Sichuan! These warlords are simply powder keg, ready to explode at any moment!
1-6
Duan Zegang's motorcade left Chongqing and entered Jiangjin County. It entered the mountains and ridges, and the road was extremely difficult!
The Chengdu-Chongqing Highway existed as early as the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At that time, the official name was Dongdadao, which was very loud. But the common people called it Wuchidao, which means that the road was so narrow that only ox-carts and horse-drawn carriages could be used.
In fact, the East Avenue at that time could only be regarded as a relatively wide trail!
In 1927, Liu Xiang, the leader of the four major warlords in Sichuan and chairman of the provincial government, raised funds to expand the "Five Feet Road". This was done intermittently, and it was not until 1933 that this Chengdu-Chongqing highway that could be used by cars was completed.
!
To describe this road in one word, it is "dangerous"! It can even be said that it is extremely "dangerous"!
When cars are driving on the road, eye-catching signs such as "Narrow road is dangerous!" "Sharp turn ahead!" "Slow down!" can be seen everywhere.
It's impossible for a car to drive fast on such a road! But Duan Zegang was very anxious.
When the convoy was having a meal on the road, Duan Zegang told the company commander on duty, "Tell the drivers to be careful on the road! But speed up as much as possible! Try to get to Chengdu tomorrow night! You can make arrangements!"