In a compound on the west side of Xinfa Road in Kuancheng District, where pines and cypresses are densely planted and heavily guarded, this is the location of the headquarters of the Japanese Kwantung Army.

In the large conference room on the west side of the fourth floor, the commander of the Kwantung Army, General Takashi Hishigari, was constantly wandering around the large conference table covered with green tweed. The young officer next to him stood upright, and the gloomy face of Ryokari finally stopped destroying the oak floor with riding boots, and stared at the officer with a solemn face with triangular eyes and said: "The assassination of Inoue Kameiwa is by no means accidental, the day before his accident, he also called me, saying that he had arrested a CCP leader and had obtained very valuable information. But Na Cheng thought that this guy drank flower wine, and the CCP element who defected to Cheng was killed. Who did the tragic death? I don't know. This time, I transferred you from the mainland and asked you to take the helm of the 'Ju Zhijian', which is to find out the murderer and deal a devastating blow to the anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese elements in the Xinjing area. I've been reprimanded by the military department for this, and maybe I won't be here for long, but it's a shame on me, Toyotomi-kun. ”

The man named Toyotomi gave a military salute and said loudly: "Please rest assured, Your Excellency, Hisaki will not fail in his mission." ”

Ryokari took out a button from the paper bag on the table with his finger with his white-gloved right hand and handed it to Toyotomi Hisagi, "Look at it, this was found in the hand of the man named Song Xizhe at the scene of the crime at the Sakura Tavern. ”

"General, this looks like a standard button, could it be that it was left by the murderer?"

"As far as I know, this is the copper button on the uniform of the Manchukuo Army issued last year, this small button should be used for the cover, but Inoue and the two deceased are wearing suits, can the murderer enter the tavern in a military uniform to kill people? And who revealed their whereabouts? There are a lot of details that I haven't had time to investigate, and I've been involved in this matter too much, and my identity doesn't match, so in order to avoid startling the snake, you have to investigate this matter secretly. The chrysanthemum organ is my brainchild, you have to see that we are the same family, wash away the shame for me, please, Toyotomi-kun. ”

"Hi Yi, Hisagi is confident that he will not disappoint Senior Brother General!"

At this time, the telephone on the table rang impatiently, and Ryokari Ryu operated the receiver: "I'm Ryokara, what's the matter?" …… What? The bombing of the double-German arsenal? Yaga! ”

Toyotomi Hisagi asked suspiciously, "Shuangde arsenal?" What's the situation? ”

Ryoshikari said angrily: "I don't know who did it, I blew up the Shuangde arsenal, you take someone there immediately to see what the situation is?" ”

Toyotomi Hiagi answered, turned and left.

Looking at Toyota's back, this known as Japan's "leader in the army" Ryokari pulled his beard and fell into a long period of contemplation. It seems that measures must be taken to control the Manchurian Railway, otherwise, there will be constant troubles in the future.

At this time, a young officer walked in with neat military boots, "General Report, Mr. Lu Shikun, Deputy Acting of the Central Bank and President of the Jichang Chamber of Commerce, has arrived." ”

"Okay, please let him in."

A moment later, a man of medium build, in his fifties, walked into the conference room. This person was wearing a Chinese-style robe, with a cane in his hand, lying silkworm eyebrows, red phoenix eyes, a straight nose and a square mouth, a white face, ingots ears, and a mustache, and took a step forward and shook hands with Ryoshi Long, "Hello General!" Shikun wasn't late, was he? ”

"No, Lussan, where is it, I don't see you for a day, like every three autumns. Have a seat. He said to the officer at the door, "Serve tea to President Lu." ”

"I don't know what the general ordered when he summoned someone Lu?"

"Lusan, there are two things to discuss with you."

Lu Shikun sat down and said modestly: "Your Excellency General, what you need to do below, please speak up and there is no need to discuss." ”

Ryokari took a sip of tea and said with emotion: "Lu Sang, you also know recently, the killing of Kikuki Inoue Guiyan and others in the Luoying Tavern on Kaiyun Street has been stirred up in Xinjing, as the closest ally of the Kwantung Army and the elite of Manchuria, what do you think of this matter?" Also, is it a coincidence that Congji Suzuki, the Kwantung Army's inspector stationed at the Central Bank, was hospitalized in the Army's Fifth Hospital? ”

Lu Shikun said with a smile: "Your Excellency General, I haven't heard any news about the killing of Inoue Guiyan and others, since the incident, I also read it from the newspaper, and some of the Chinese medicinal materials that Inoue Jun entrusted me to buy for him are still with me, I said to send someone to send him, he said no, he will come to me another day, and by the way, he will have a drink with me. As for Suzuki-kun's matter, I told you before, I am just a name in the central bank, and it would be good to be able to pass the central bank building once a month, and I have no intention of asking about many things, and I really don't know why Suzuki-kun was hospitalized, but I only knew it after hearing from you, or I would have visited him after I left you, and he also said that I would have played chess with him. ”

"Lu San, I mean to say that you are very good at both black and white in the Xinjing area, please arrange for people to destroy the news from the side to see what kind of people killed Inoue and others; As for Suzuki's matter, I also casually asked, Suzuki has always been tough in the central bank, and has offended many people, I know this, and the specific reasons need to be carefully investigated, who do you think will take over Suzuki's position? ”

"Your Excellency General, I will do my best to find out the news of the matter you have arranged, and I will report to you in time if there is a new situation. Later, I went to the Fifth Army Hospital to visit Suzuki-kun, and as for the arrangement of Suzuki-kun's position, I have no right to say in the matter, what do you say? ”

Ryokari squinted his eyes and said loudly: "Hehe----, Lusan is always so humble and polite, so I can rest assured, my old friend, let you bother." Please drink tea. ”

Lu Shikun stood up, raised his cane and hugged his fist, "Your Excellency General, if there is nothing else, I will leave in the next place, and I will go to Xingya Hospital to visit Suzuki-kun." ”

"Okay, goodbye. Another day, I'm going to ask you to accompany me to the Sakura Tavern for a drink. With that, Ryokari Takashi politely sent Lu Shikun to the door of the room.

"Okay, by all means, waiting for your news. I'll make the east, please have a drink. ”

Lu Shikun strode away from the Kwantung Army headquarters.

The afterglow of the setting sun glows red on the snow on the streets of Xinjing.

Lu Shikun's car was leisurely moving on the wide street, and he couldn't help but rejoice in his heart, this guy Inoue is always looking for trouble with me, this time it's good, I'm back to the west, who did it? . Suzuki is not a good thing, and the next step must be handled carefully, and the Japanese must not be left with any handles, so let's go and see this unlucky guy who is flying and domineering. So he said to his driver: "Mountains and rivers, when you get under the Xing'an Bridge, you get out of the car and buy a fruit basket." ”

"All right, sir." This young man named Zhao Shanhe readily agreed.

The Fifth Army Hospital of Xinjing Kwantung Army, which is affiliated to the Japanese Kwantung Army Headquarters, is located outside the Xing'an Bridge on Xing'an Road.

Lu Shikun took Zhao Shanhe to walk in the gloomy hospital corridor, occasionally passing by either medical staff or Japanese wounded soldiers, to the information desk, Zhao Shanhe inquired, he knew that Suzuki Cong lived in the second floor 214 ward, the two went up the stairs to the second floor, and walked straight to 214. At the turn of the staircase, Lu Shikun saw an old friend and patted him on the shoulder, "I said brother, it's always been good?" ”

The person who was photographed was a doctor in a white coat, with a thin face, high cheekbones, small eyes, a big mouth, and a cold expression, and said lightly: "What's wrong?" Aren't you good? How do I get to the hospital? ”

"One of my Japanese colleagues at the Central Bank was sick and hospitalized here, and I came to visit him," Lu said. 214's. ”

The doctor said stiffly, "Well, it's time to take a look." You're busy. As he spoke, he walked downstairs without looking back.

Zhao Shanhe was very puzzled: "Master, what kind of person is this?" Ignoring people, he's sick, right? ”

The two said as they walked, "Shanhe, he is a master, he studied in Sendai, Japan in his early years, he has a withdrawn personality, few words, is a medical wizard, and has a deep knowledge of antiques." He was the same for everyone, always cold. ”

Lu Shikun pushed open the door of ward 214, only to see that the light in the room was very dim, and the thick curtains were drawn tightly. There are two hospital beds, the bed near the door is empty, and the one near the window doesn't say much, it must be Suzuki Congji. Zhao Shanhe opened the curtains and shone in the afterglow of the setting sun, and the person on the bed poked his head out of the quilt and roared loudly: "Who opened it?" Yaga! ”

Lu Shikun stepped forward and pressed Suzuki's hand with his hand, "Suzuki-kun, has it always been good?" I'm Lu Shikun from the Jichang Chamber of Commerce! ”

Suzuki sat up and looked at Lu Shikun with godless eyes, "Oh, it's Lu Sang, why are you visiting me?" ”

"I learned from the headquarters General Ryokari Takashi that you are sick, what is it that made your strong and bull-fighting imperial elite hospitalized?"

"My Lusang, I don't know what the reason is, since the beginning of last month, I have felt fatigue all over my body, and then my whole body aches, and recently my head has also hurt, I can't sit still, I can't sleep well, and I can only sleep well by taking anesthetics."

"What did the doctor say?"

"The doctor is also helpless, neither a cold symptom, nor an infectious disease, suspected that it is poisoned, but it is inconclusive. In the past few days, the anesthetic seems to be a little ineffective, what should I do? ”

"Lu doesn't know anything about medicine, so I'm sorry to help you. Who's here to take care of you? ”

"I came to Manchuria from Nagasaki alone, who can take care of it, let it be fate, I don't know what the strange disease is, even the cold and arrogant doctor Zhu can't tell what the cause is. It's a strange disease that is more terrible than death. ”

This is a female nurse about twenty years old who walked in with a syringe box, Lu Shikun stood up, smiled and asked, "Miss nurse, are you in charge of the nursing of patients in this room?" ”

The nurse whispered, "Yes, sir, do you have any orders?" ”

Lu Shikun took out a thick dozen banknotes from his trouser pocket and handed it over, "Miss, this is my best friend, he has no relatives in Manchuria, I bother you to take care of it, this little bit is not respectful." ”

The female nurse whispered, "Sir, you are too polite, don't worry, I will take care of this patient, I can't ask for money." ”

Lu Shikun couldn't say anything, got up and left, and said to Suzuki: "Suzuki-kun, take care, I will come again when I have time." With that, he stuffed the banknote into the nurse's hand and took Zhao Shanhe out of the ward.

Suzuki shouted from the bed, "Lusang, thank you a lot, you have time to play chess with me." ”

Lu Shikun slightly quickened his pace and walked to the first floor, Zhao Shanhe, who was used to following square steps in the past, was a little unaccustomed to it.

The two got into the car, and Zhao Shanhe asked puzzledly: "Master, is there anything urgent?" Where are we going? ”

At this time, the sky was a little dark, Lu Shikun looked at his watch, the time was 5:15 in the afternoon, and said, "Shanhe, let's go to the Chamber of Commerce." ”

Zhao Shanhe drove the car to No. 13 Jiutai Road, where the Jichang Chamber of Commerce led by Lu Shikun was working.

The residence of the Chamber of Commerce was originally the earliest office of the salt authority, the Jihei Transportation Bureau, and later a new site was built, and Lu Shikun purchased it as the office building of the Jichang General Chamber of Commerce. This is a courtyard surrounded by gray brick walls on all sides, a gray tile gatehouse on the top of a hard mountain, a black lacquered gatehouse, the courtyard is a four-storey small building with six bays, blue brick covering, dark green glass windows, the roof is a combination of Chinese and Western style, the middle roof octagonal pavilion type, gray tile roof, both sides are German castle-style towers, the courtyard is facing the courtyard gate is a fish pond, now it is frozen. Ten arborvitae trees, reflecting the darker the night, the more verdant.

Entering the building, a middle-aged man wearing a melon skin hat in the reception room on the first floor stood up, "Master Lu, are you back?" ”

Lu Shikun didn't raise his head, snorted, and took Zhao Shanhe down the stairs and went straight to the office on the third floor.

Entering the office, Lu Shikun sat down on the big leather chair and said hurriedly, "Shanhe, I'll tell you to do something, I have to go to Yuzhishan for a banquet tonight, so you don't have to go." You remember, late at night, you go to No. 34 Legislative Alley on the west side of the town guard embassy, which is Suzuki's residence, and when you get there, you must search carefully and find a rosewood box, there are two cans of Go in it, be sure to bring that wooden box back, remember not to touch the black and white chess pieces inside, it is highly poisonous. Then I'll give you the same wooden box and replace that one. As he spoke, he opened the safe on the left side of the chair, took out a box wrapped in red flannel, and handed it to Zhao Shanhe.

"Master, then you go to the banquet, who will accompany you? I can do this little thing well, I have been in the rivers and lakes for so many years, and I have experienced everything, so you can rest assured. ”

"Shanhe, for the sake of safety, let Lu Wang accompany you, so that you can take care of it."

"Master, that's all, don't need him, let him drive you to the banquet. Just take a look. ”

"Remember to disguise, leave no traces, get things back, and wait for me directly at the Chamber of Commerce, no matter how late it is, you have to wait for me. You go downstairs and eat something in a while, this is for you, and after I leave, you will act. As he spoke, he took out a bamboo suitcase from under the table and put a wooden box wrapped in red flannel in it.

Zhao Shanhe, a young man who has been performing since he was twelve years old, quickly took over the suitcase from Lu Shikun's hand. He saved Lu Shikun in danger many times, and the friendship between the two cannot be repeated.

Lu Shikun sat quietly and smoked a bucket of cigarettes, and a young man in a new jacket stood at the door, "Master, are you looking for me?" ”

"Lu Wang, come in, you go to the restaurant on the first floor to find Shanhe, after you finish dinner, cooperate with him to do something for me, and then, you have to come back safely."

"All right, sir." Rwan answered, turned and went downstairs.

Lu Shikun picked up the tweed coat from the hanger, and was about to go out, when he heard a delicate voice in the corridor, "Daddy, I'm here, I heard the housekeeper say that you are going to the banquet tonight, and I will go too." ”

With a gust of fragrant wind, a woman in her twenties walked in, 1.7 meters tall, wearing a lotus-colored Western-style dress, covered with a mink coat, long hair hanging down her waist set off her pink peach cheeks, a pair of crescent moon smiling eyes full of water, and under the towering nose bridge, a cherry mouth slightly showed her teeth. As soon as he entered the house, he took Lu Shikun's hand and didn't let go, "Daddy, will you take me there?" ”

"Song Mian, my good daughter, is there no evening class in the academy?"

"There are no classes. When I got home from work, Uncle Zhan said that you would go to the banquet at night and not eat at home, and I was not interested in being alone, so I came to you. ”

"Well, that's exactly what I mean. So let's go downstairs, how about you come and be a driver tonight? ”

With that, the father and daughter talked and laughed and went downstairs, got out of the compound of the Chamber of Commerce, got into the car at the door, and disappeared into the twilight.

Four men in black on bicycles followed. In fact, these four people are the people of the gang organization "Qingfeng Tang" controlled by Lu Shikun, and they are like shadows who protect Lu Shikun full-time.

The dim street lamps lit up quietly in the snow, and on the long street, pedestrians hurried.

Xinjing at night has a unique style.