Just recently, important intelligence came from the Communist Party that the Japanese had begun building a poison gas factory in Nanjing. This drew great attention from the high command of the National Revolutionary Army. In previous battles, the Japanese had violated the Geneva Convention and openly used this poison gas. Because the Chinese army was poorly equipped and lacked protective equipment such as gas masks, it suffered heavy casualties every time. Chinese soldiers deeply resented this.
The poison gas shells used by the Japanese Central China Army were initially transported from China and Northeast China over long distances. Due to various reasons, the quantity was limited. However, now that a factory is being built directly in Nanjing, it is conceivable that the frequency of use of poison gas shells on the main battlefield will greatly increase in the future, which poses a great threat to the Chinese army.
Therefore, as soon as the Director received this intelligence, he immediately took it seriously and prepared to sabotage the construction of the poison gas factory and stop the Japanese plan. The task was naturally handed over to the Nanjing Station.
Bian Ze had finished reading the documents in his hand and naturally understood the importance of this mission. He dared not shirk his responsibility in the slightest. Strike at the enemy's important facilities and strategically valuable targets. This was what the Military Intelligence Bureau agents were really supposed to do when they infiltrated behind enemy lines. This was much more reliable than going around carrying out assassinations.
However, the document clearly states that the poison gas factory was located in the Xiaguan area of Nanjing, where a large number of Japanese troops were stationed, making it heavily guarded and heavily defended. Completing this mission would be no easy task.
"Yes, I will immediately send an urgent telegram to Nanjing Station to convey your instructions and order them to take immediate action."
After receiving the order, Bian Ze bowed and withdrew. At five o'clock in the morning, it was time to make emergency contact with Nanjing Station. The telegram was sent on time and quickly reached the hands of Shang Zhenyun, the stationmaster of Nanjing Station.
Upon seeing the telegram from headquarters, Shang Zhenyun was so shocked he almost jumped up. The telegram clearly stated that the Japanese knew that their hiding place was Dong'an Town, and had even discovered their whereabouts. They were currently under surveillance and could launch a large-scale search operation at any time.
Shang Zhenyun couldn't believe his eyes. Even after he had settled in Dong'an Town, he still couldn't escape the surveillance of the 21st.
It should be noted that although Dong'an Town was under the jurisdiction of Nanjing, it was located in a relatively remote area because it was separated from Nanjing by the Yangtze River. The Nanjing government and the Japanese army had very weak control over the area.
The Japanese military was stretched thin and simply unable to maintain the defense of such a large area, so they had to hand it over to the Nanjing puppet government's pacification army.
The entire town was guarded by only one company of pacification troops, not even a hundred men. The defense force was practically non-existent. There weren't many pacification troops stationed nearby either. The defense of the entire Jiangbei area was virtually non-existent. In some places, the New Fourth Army and the National Salvation Army were even active at the same time. It could be said that although it would be extremely inconvenient to set up an agency here to enter Nanjing, its safety would be absolutely guaranteed.
Therefore, Shang Zhenyun and his group did not act as cautiously as usual in Dong'an Town, which inevitably revealed their whereabouts and it was not surprising that they were targeted by people with ulterior motives.
It was still dark outside, and the sky was gray, but Shang Zhenyun was extremely anxious and couldn't wait any longer. He immediately sent someone to notify the other key members to hold an emergency meeting.
At this time, there were only about sixty people at Nanjing Station. Apart from the intelligence agents originally stationed in the city, almost everyone else was hiding here. He didn't know which people were being monitored, so he could only seize the time to conduct a self-examination and get rid of these surveillance agents as soon as possible, and find a safe place to lie low again.
Shortly after, Jin Guoyuan, the head of the intelligence department, and Fang Mingyu, the action team leader, walked in together.
Before they could even settle in, Shang Zhenyun blurted out, "We've been exposed!"
Jin Guoyuan and Shang Zhenyun were both stunned for a moment. They looked at Shang Zhenyun in surprise, waiting for him to continue.
"We just received an urgent telegram from headquarters. The people from the 21st have been watching us. Headquarters has ordered us to evacuate immediately. Wen Hao may launch a large-scale manhunt in Dong'an Town at any time!"
This bombshell news caught both assistants off guard. Intelligence Chief Jin Guoyuan steadied himself and, after a moment's thought, said, "Chief, actually, I've also felt something's off these past two days. My intelligence officers reported that two young men selling firewood have appeared on South Street. Yesterday morning, they got into an argument with Old Song, who used to sell firewood. Later, I heard that Old Song chased them away, which made me suspicious. When I went to check, they were gone."
Jin Guoyuan's intelligence agents had opened a small restaurant on South Street as a cover. Every day, they would buy firewood from Old Song. When Jin Guoyuan heard that strangers had appeared, he became suspicious. When he went to check, they had disappeared. However, Dong'an Town was located north of the river and was generally safe. So, although he was suspicious, he did not pursue the matter further. Now, hearing Shang Zhenyun's words, he suddenly remembered this incident.
Shang Zhenyun snorted and looked at his two subordinates coldly, saying, "It seems that what the headquarters said was right. We have all been complacent. We have enjoyed a few months of comfortable life here, thinking that we could rest easy since this is Jiangbei. We didn't even know that someone had come knocking on our door."
Fang Mingyu, standing to the side, was still somewhat skeptical. He hesitated and said, "The suburbs around Nanjing are so vast, and we've crossed the Yangtze River. How did No. 21 find us? Is Wen Hao really that difficult to deal with?"
Shang Zhenyun glared at him fiercely and said unhappily, "The Director personally instructed that the operation must be meticulously planned. This time, it was because of the lack of planning that we were targeted. Apart from the last time we went into Nanjing to assassinate Fang Hongqi, we have not taken any other action. It must be because you were not careful in your work that you were targeted. I warned you long ago that you must be careful in the cleanup work after the operation!"
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