Taking Office and the Japanese Soldiers' Little Schemes

Only three days had passed since Shen Yan graduated from special training. Shanghai's streets remained bleak and stormy, but his little family had taken on a whole new look.

The new house he had bought some days ago had long since been put in order. With its gray-brick walls and little courtyard, it was bright and secure, a complete departure from the shabby, cramped old house they had lived in before. The banquet to acknowledge their new family ties was low-key but lively. They had invited only a few familiar, trustworthy old neighbors, without alerting anyone on the Japanese or puppet-government side. It was a simple affair, but for the first time, it filled this patched-together family with the warmth of a real home.

At the banquet, Shen Yan brought the little girl a round, roly-poly puppy. Its fur was golden and its appearance adorably goofy. From then on, it could keep her company, watch the house and play with her, so she would no longer be lonely.

Old Chen took out a heavy gold longevity lock engraved with a pattern wishing her a long life and personally hung it around her neck. Its warm golden glow promised her a lifetime of peace.

That same day, Old Chen held the little girl's hand and solemnly gave her a new name.

From then on, there was no more unfortunate Zhaodi, sold into a ghost marriage. There was only Shen Nian'an, the treasure Shen Yan held in the palm of his hand.

Nian'an: a wish for a lifetime of peace.

Once everything was settled, Shen Yan straightened his clothes and reported back to the Special Operations Section of the puppet police station on time.

In Shanghai in the twenty-sixth year of the Republic, the sun was rarely seen after winter set in.

The sky was always gray, as though veiled by an old piece of gauze that could never be washed clean. A cold wind blew in from the Huangpu River, carrying dampness and the smell of the water into every alley and every dilapidated house. The chill seeped all the way into one's bones.

Shen Yan stood at the window of the Special Operations Squad's office, looking out at the drab, bare street, and took a deep breath.

Lu Tinghui had arranged this office especially for him. It was the innermost room on the second floor of the puppet police station, originally a storeroom for odds and ends. Now it had been cleared out and whitewashed, with two desks, a filing cabinet and a fairly new carpet. There was even a pot of asparagus fern on the windowsill, its vivid green standing out in the drab building.

"Captain Shen, everyone's here. They're waiting in the courtyard for your address."

Yamada Tarō's voice came from the doorway, respectful and stiff, like a machine without feelings.

Shen Yan turned around and glanced at him.

Yamada wore a brand-new black police uniform and stood perfectly straight, staring ahead without any expression. He was like an entirely different person from the arrogant soldier who had cursed "Chinese monkeys" in the special training base dormitory.

Shen Yan knew perfectly well that Yamada had not started behaving himself of his own accord. Kuroiwa Masao had made him do it.

"Understood."

He picked up the police cap on his desk and walked out of the office at an unhurried pace.

In the police station courtyard, more than twenty men stood in three rows.

Fifteen rookie patrolmen stood at the front, all with young faces. The oldest was no more than twenty-five, the youngest only nineteen. Their uniforms did not quite fit yet: some had sleeves that were too long, others shoulders that were too wide. But every one of them stood ramrod straight, their eyes showing both nervousness and excitement.

Most were students who had just graduated from the puppet police academy. Having been selected for the Special Operations Squad, they thought they had struck it lucky.

A few Japanese stood at the far right of the formation, half an arm's length from the rookies. Shen Yan had not arranged it that way; they had chosen to stand there themselves. Yamada came out of the building and silently walked to the end of the formation, joining them.

Shen Yan came out of the building, walking at an unhurried pace.

Rather than speak at once, he strolled from one end of the formation to the other, his gaze passing over every face.

Heavenly Eye activated silently.

The fifteen rookies' Good and Evil Points appeared above their heads-all positive, ranging from +3 to +6. They were ordinary people who had done no great good or great evil, the sort of inconspicuous nobodies one might pass on the street any day.

Shen Yan's gaze slid from face to face, then suddenly stopped.

A man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight stood in the third row.

He had a square face, thick eyebrows, tightly pressed lips and a firm jawline. His police uniform fit him perfectly. With broad shoulders, a narrow waist and a rigid stance, he was plainly a former soldier. His hands hung at his sides, fingertips held close together-not a policeman's stance, but a soldier's habit.

Heavenly Eye swept over him, and information appeared:

[Name]: Fang Yuan

[Identity]: Puppet police academy graduate / underground Party member

[Good and Evil Points]: +38

[Notes]: Former platoon leader of the 19th Route Army. Fought in the Battle of Shanghai and was separated from his unit after being wounded. Recruited into the Party by Qian Bin. Skilled in sand table exercises and close combat; steady and meticulous by nature.

Shen Yan stirred slightly.

One of Qian Bin's men.

And no rookie-a veteran who's seen the battlefield.

He betrayed nothing on his face and continued walking.

When he reached the far right of the formation, the four Japanese all straightened their backs.

Shen Yan stopped in front of them and looked at each one in turn.

Yamada Tarō, Matsumoto Kiyokazu, Takahashi Tetsuya and Miyamoto Kenta.

The four of them had almost as many Good and Evil Points between them as a small Japanese company.

"You four," Shen Yan began, his tone as casual as if he were remarking on the fine weather, "all fought me at the special training base."

All four expressions stiffened at once.

The corner of Yamada's mouth twitched. Matsumoto reflexively touched the arm that had once been dislocated. Takahashi and Miyamoto exchanged a glance, but neither spoke.

"I know what you're capable of," Shen Yan continued. "Starting today, the four of you will form a separate assault team under my direct command. When there's a mission, you'll charge at the front with me. When there isn't, you'll train with me."

He paused, his gaze passing over their faces.

"Any objections?"

Silence.

Yamada was the first to react. He stood at attention and bowed his head. "Hai! Please teach me well, Captain Shen!"

The other three hurriedly bowed their heads as well.

Shen Yan nodded and turned back to the front of the formation.

"Uncle Chen."

Old Chen emerged from beside the formation, a teacup still in his hand, and ambled to the front. "I'm coming, I'm coming. What are you shouting for?"

Shen Yan pretended not to notice his carefree manner and said seriously, "Uncle Chen has worked at the police station for twenty years. He has more experience than all of you put together. Starting today, Uncle Chen will be in charge of the rookies' daily training."

He turned to the fifteen rookies. "In three months, whoever performs best will be promoted to team leader and receive a pay raise."

The rookies all turned to look at Old Chen-a skinny man in his fifties holding a teacup.

A flicker of eagerness appeared in everyone's eyes.

Old Chen slurped some tea and grumbled, "All you ever do is find me more work. No consideration for the elderly at all!"

Shaking his head, he took his teacup and walked off to one side.

Shen Yan had entrusted the rookies' training to Old Chen for two reasons. First, it was safe: Old Chen would not let them throw their lives away easily. Second, it saved him trouble: Old Chen knew how to train an ordinary person into a qualified policeman.

As for the four Japanese-

Shen Yan kept them with him not out of trust, but as a show of openness.

Doesn't Kuroiwa Masao want to keep an eye on me? Fine. I'll keep his watchers at my side and take them everywhere I go. It was advancing by retreating: I have nothing to hide from you. The more clearly you see, the less you'll suspect me.

When the address ended, the formation dispersed.

Shen Yan was about to return to his office when he caught sight of Fang Yuan walking unhurriedly toward a corner of the courtyard, neither coming over to ingratiate himself nor deliberately keeping his distance.

Shen Yan looked away and nodded inwardly.

This man will do.

The afternoon meeting was long and dull.

Lu Tinghui sat at the head of the table, talking at length about the "public security situation," the "will of the Empire," and "Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity." The section chiefs and captains below him sat stiffly upright, their eyes half open. It was impossible to tell whether they were listening or sleeping.

Shen Yan sat in a corner, outwardly listening attentively, while actually pondering what treats to bring the little girl that evening.

As he was thinking, Lu Tinghui suddenly raised his voice. "Captain Li, tell us about your progress."

Li Kui stood up with a somewhat smug smile. "Director Lu, I have indeed made a discovery recently."

He pulled a sheet of paper from his briefcase, walked up to the wall map and drew a circle on it with a red pen.

"There's a private residence on the eastern stretch of Avenue Joffre in the French Concession. After investigating through several channels, I confirmed that it's a secret Military Statistics Bureau contact point."

The meeting room fell silent for a moment.

Shen Yan looked at the red circle on the map and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Is the intelligence source reliable?" Lu Tinghui asked.

"Reliable." Li Kui thumped his chest. "I intercepted a coded Military Statistics Bureau transmission and had men watch the place for three days. We confirmed there are at least seven or eight people inside. Their leader is said to be a Military Statistics Bureau veteran surnamed Fang."

Lu Tinghui nodded, looking satisfied. "Thank you for your work, Captain Li. Tell us your plan."

Li Kui cleared his throat and pointed at the wall map as he began laying it out. "I suggest we act tomorrow night. I'll lead my men in through the front, while Captain Shen's Special Operations Squad seals off the perimeter to prevent anyone from escaping."

Shen Yan glanced at Li Kui.

The frontal assault was where the greatest credit lay. Sealing off the perimeter was errand work.

Li Kui wanted all the credit for himself and a chance to put Shen Yan in his place.

Lu Tinghui considered this for a moment, then looked at Shen Yan. "Captain Shen, what do you think?"

Shen Yan stood up, his voice calm. "Captain Li's plan is thorough. However, the Military Statistics Bureau's people are desperadoes, and a frontal assault carries considerable risk. I suggest I lead the assault team in support of Captain Li from the side. Attacking from two directions will give us a better chance of success."

Li Kui's expression changed slightly-Shen Yan wanted a share of the credit.

But Lu Tinghui had already nodded. "Good, it's settled. Both teams move at ten tomorrow night. Captain Li will lead the assault, and Captain Shen will provide support. Remember, take them alive if possible."

"Yes!" both men answered at once.

As Shen Yan sat down, he caught a glimpse of Li Kui's face.

Some of the smugness had faded, replaced by something hard to describe-not anger or jealousy, but more like resentment at having something taken from him.

Shen Yan looked away, and a system notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Special mission triggered! Disrupt the Japanese operation and save the Military Statistics Bureau members. Reward: 200 Good and Evil Points for each person saved, the clone skill extended to 48 hours, and its cooldown halved!]

After the meeting, Shen Yan did not return directly to his office. As the newly appointed captain of the Special Operations Squad, he no longer needed to clock out.

He strolled out of the police station gates and found a deserted corner. Taking a shabby cloth bundle from his space, he changed into a short gray cotton jacket and trousers, then left at a brisk pace.

Half an hour later, he was standing in an alley off the eastern stretch of Avenue Joffre in the French Concession.

Unlike the Chinese districts, the streets here were wider and the streetlights brighter. Most of the buildings on either side were Western-style houses and shikumen residences. Dead vines climbed their walls, and their wrought-iron railings had rusted, casting crisscrossing shadows in the dim yellow light.

Shen Yan did not approach the target building. He merely made a circuit at a distance.

On the minimap, several yellow points of light appeared around the three-story building-probably the men Li Kui had left to watch it.

Inside the building, four cyan points of light were clearly visible. They did not move around much, so it was obvious they had not discovered they were under surveillance.

He made another circuit, committing the surrounding lanes, forks and back alleys to memory. Where he could enter, where he could retreat, where an ambush could be set and where he would be easily exposed-the instructors had taught him these things at the special training base, but he trusted his own eyes more.

Once he had checked everything, Shen Yan turned and left.

Back at the police station's rear entrance, he changed into his uniform and returned the cloth bundle to his space.

The whole process took less than an hour, without anyone noticing.

After his shift, Shen Yan did not go straight home.

He turned into a secluded alley and stopped before an inconspicuous wooden door. He knocked three times, paused, then knocked twice more.

The door opened.

Qian Bin stood behind it, watching him warily. When he saw it was Shen Yan, he immediately stepped aside.

"Mr. Shen, what brings you here?"

Shen Yan walked in and closed the door behind him.

"Your man has arrived."

Qian Bin froze for a moment, then understood. "Fang Yuan? He reported for duty today?"

"Mm." Shen Yan sat down on a chair.

Qian Bin nodded and poured Shen Yan a cup of tea. "Fang Yuan was a platoon leader in the 19th Route Army. He fought at Luodian during the Battle of Shanghai. He joined us after he was wounded. He's reliable, good in a fight and smart enough. Most importantly-"

"He knows how to keep his mouth shut," Shen Yan finished.

"That's right." Qian Bin sat down opposite him. "You need someone at your side to look after you. There are some things he can handle more conveniently than you."

Shen Yan picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"How did you know I needed someone?"

Qian Bin smiled but said nothing.

Shen Yan did not press him. The underground Party's intelligence network was denser than he had imagined. He had only just been appointed captain of the Special Operations Squad, yet Qian Bin already knew and had even arranged for someone to enter the police academy in advance, just waiting for this day.

"Does Fang Yuan know who I am?"

"He does," Qian Bin said. "But he doesn't know you're the Scavenger. I only told him you're an important contact of the organization, and that he needs to protect you and keep the lines of communication open."

Shen Yan nodded.

That's for the best. The less he knows, the safer he is.

"One more thing." Shen Yan set down his teacup. "Tomorrow night, on the eastern stretch of Avenue Joffre in the French Concession, the Japanese army is going to make a move."

Qian Bin's expression changed at once. "What's the target?"

"A Military Statistics Bureau contact point."

Qian Bin was silent for a while before speaking slowly. "You want to..."

"I don't want anything to happen to the Military Statistics Bureau people," Shen Yan said. "Whatever party they belong to, as long as they're fighting the Japanese, I'll lend a hand."

Qian Bin looked at Shen Yan, his expression complicated.

"You don't belong to the Military Statistics Bureau, and you're not one of us either. Yet what you're doing is more dangerous than what many of us do."

Shen Yan stood up and brushed the wrinkles from his clothes.

"Don't flatter me. I'm just an ordinary man who wants to live long enough to see the Japanese get out."

He walked to the door and looked back at Qian Bin.

"Tell Fang Yuan not to act rashly these next few days. He should get his feet under him first. I'll find him if I need him."

"Understood."

The door opened and closed again, and Shen Yan's figure disappeared into the night.

Qian Bin sat at the table, looking at the unfinished cup of tea opposite him. He said nothing for a long time.

By the time Shen Yan got home, it was completely dark.

Shen Nian'an was crouched at the courtyard entrance, holding the little yellow puppy in her arms and gazing expectantly toward the mouth of the alley. When she saw Shen Yan, her eyes lit up, and she took off running toward him.

"Godfather!"

Shen Yan bent down and picked her up. The little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face against his shoulder, her soft little body warm.

"Were you good at home today?"

"I was!" Shen Nian'an nodded vigorously. "Nian'an helped Grandpa wash the vegetables and fed the puppy too!"

"So helpful?" Shen Yan smiled and pinched her nose. "Then Godfather will bring you tanghulu tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Pinky swear!"

Shen Yan freed one hand and hooked his little finger around hers.

"Pinky swear, no changing it for a hundred years!"

Old Chen called from the courtyard, "If you're back, come in and eat. Why are you standing in the doorway letting the wind blow on you?"

Shen Yan carried Nian'an into the courtyard.

Four dishes and a soup sat on the square table: red-braised pork, stir-fried greens, steamed egg custard, a plate of peanuts, and a bowl of steaming hot-and-sour soup. The dishes were simple but plentiful, and steam rose from them.

Old Chen sat at the table and poured him a cup of wine.

"Have some. It'll warm you up."

Shen Yan set Nian'an on a stool, picked up the cup, and took a sip. It was cheap yellow wine, sharp on the tongue, but it warmed his chest once he swallowed it.

"Godfather," Shen Yan said, setting down his cup, "keep an eye on those fifteen newcomers for me. If any of them stand out, make a note."

Old Chen put a piece of red-braised pork in Nian'an's bowl without looking up. "What, planning to pick a few to keep by your side?"

"Yeah. The four Japanese can't be trusted. When it comes down to it, I'll need my own people."

Old Chen fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "All right, I know what to look for."

Nian'an chewed her pork and asked through a mouthful, "Godfather, did you fight any bad guys today?"

Shen Yan smiled. "Not yet."

"Then when will you?"

"Soon."

"Then be careful, Godfather." Nian'an looked at him earnestly. "Grandpa said people who fight bad guys can't get hurt. If you get hurt, Nian'an will be sad."

Shen Yan's heart softened. He reached out and patted her head. "All right, Godfather won't get hurt."

Old Chen held his wine cup and pretended not to hear, but his ears turned red.

"Eat, eat. Why all the chatter?"

"Hey, old man, watch how you talk to your superior!"

Old Chen didn't even look up. "Just say it if you're asking for a beating!"

"Getting worked up again! You really can't take a joke, old man."

Shen Yan picked up his bowl and put a piece of red-braised pork in his mouth.

The meat had been stewed until tender, with just the right balance of salty and sweet. It was Old Chen's handiwork.

The wind howled outside the window, while the light inside was dim and yellow.

In these turbulent times, to have a room sheltered from the wind, a hot meal, and someone waiting for him to come home.

It was enough.

Night grew late.

Nian'an was already asleep. The little yellow dog was curled up at her feet, snoring softly.

Shen Yan sat at the table in his room, a sheet of blank paper spread out before him.

He drew a simple map on it-the eastern stretch of Avenue Joffre, the three-story building, and the surrounding lanes, forks, and back alleys.

Then he drew an arrow at the side of the building.

His clone would enter from there.

He drew several circles around the building-Li Kui's men would storm in from the front, while his assault team would provide support from the side.

Then he drew a cross at the building's main entrance.

Shen Yan studied the map for a long time, making sure he hadn't missed a single detail.

He folded the paper and put it away in his space.

Tomorrow would be a long day.

Captain Li, I hope you'll like the big gift I've prepared for you!