Blaming the Soviets

When Shen Yan returned to Shanghai, it was raining.

It was a light rain, fine and dense, sifting down from the gray sky and striking the bluestone road, where it kicked up a pale mist.

He sat in the car without rushing inside, pulled his hat brim down a little, and lit a cigarette. Its tip flickered in the dim car like a firefly.

After a couple of drags, he stubbed it out, tossed it outside, and pushed open the car door.

The Japanese military police in the corridor nodded to him.

He acknowledged each of them with just the right smile on his face. His leather shoes struck the terrazzo floor, tap, tap, tap, at an unhurried pace.

The door to Kuroiwa Masao's office was open. Shen Yan knocked on the doorframe, entered, and stood at attention and saluted.

"Section chief, I'm back."

Kuroiwa looked up and glanced at him. He wore a sharply pressed uniform and held a cigarette between his fingers. The ashtray in front of him was stuffed with cigarette butts, and several documents lay open on his desk. The cover of the top one bore a red "Top secret" stamp.

"You're back?"

Kuroiwa put the cigarette between his lips and leaned back in his chair, unable to hide the exhaustion on his face.

"Kwantung Army Headquarters speaks very highly of you. They say you're meticulous, clearheaded, and a rare talent."

Shen Yan lowered his head. "You're too kind, section chief. I only did my duty."

Kuroiwa tapped the ash from his cigarette without replying. He closed the documents on his desk and put them aside.

"You spent half a month in Harbin. Tell me what you think."

Shen Yan set his briefcase on the desk, opened it, and took out a report, which he handed over with both hands.

"Section chief, this is the investigation report on the arsenal attack. I believe the Scavenger wasn't responsible."

Kuroiwa's eyebrows twitched. He took the report and placed it on the desk without opening it.

"Why?"

"The inscription left at the scene was certainly in his style. But several details don't match."

Shen Yan spoke quietly and steadily. "When the Scavenger strikes in Shanghai, he never leaves survivors, and the scene is as clean as if it had been washed. In Harbin, a third of the arsenal guards were killed with rifles, and the cartridge cases came from Chiang Kai-shek rifles and Hanyang 88s. The Scavenger wouldn't use such outdated weapons. Several attackers' bodies were also left at the scene. After inquiries and identification, they were found to belong to local armed groups. To date, we've never received a report of the Scavenger working with local armed groups."

Kuroiwa said nothing. He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and slowly exhaled. The smoke spread through the lamplight like a thin veil.

"There's more." Shen Yan paused. "While I was investigating in Harbin, there was an accident at the Kwantung Army's Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Department. The water supply was contaminated, and many people died. While I was reporting this to you, a large number of armed men attacked Harbin. I observed them from hiding and discovered that they were armed entirely with Soviet weapons: PPShs, Mosin-Nagants, and Degtyaryov Infantry Light Machine Guns. So I have reason to believe the Soviets must be behind this."

Kuroiwa's fingers paused. He put the cigarette between his lips, picked up the report, opened it, and read a few pages before closing it again.

"Don't mention the Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Department again. Tokyo has already issued a gag order."

"Yes, sir."

Kuroiwa put the report back on the desk and leaned back in his chair, looking at Shen Yan. His gaze was heavy, like two nails pinning Shen Yan's face in place.

"Why do you think the perpetrators of the arsenal attack impersonated the Scavenger?"

Shen Yan raised his head and met his gaze without flinching. "I believe there are two possible reasons. First, the local armed groups attacked the arsenal and, fearing retaliation from the Empire afterward, used the Scavenger's name to divert the Empire's attention. Second, to expand the Scavenger's influence in China and boost the Chinese people's confidence in resisting the Empire."

The two held each other's gaze for several seconds. Kuroiwa nodded in satisfaction.

"Your analysis is very thorough. That's what I think too. Thank you for your hard work this time. I'll have Director Lu give you three days off. Go home and get some rest."

Shen Yan saluted and turned to leave.

"Wait." Kuroiwa stopped him.

Shen Yan stopped.

"There's an important meeting in three days. Make sure you attend." Kuroiwa tapped the ash from his cigarette. "There are some things I can entrust to you now."

Shen Yan nodded. "Thank you for your confidence in me, sir!"

He pulled open the door and went out. The corridor was empty, and his footsteps echoed steadily on the terrazzo floor. He went downstairs and left the building. Fang Yuan was waiting in the car and started the engine when he saw him come out.

"Captain, home?"

"Home."

The car stopped at the entrance to the alley.

"Go see Shopkeeper Qian in a little while. The Kwantung Army suffered a major setback this time, and its sweep against the Anti-Japanese United Army in the mountains will be on an unprecedented scale. While their supplies are plentiful, suggest they return to Soviet territory to avoid unnecessary losses."

Fang Yuan nodded.

Shen Yan got out and walked into the alley. It was the same alley as ever, with a pitted bluestone road and moss growing along the base of the walls. The rain had stopped, and the damp air carried the scent of earth.

He pushed open the courtyard gate. Big Yellow darted out of her bed and ran to his feet, sniffed him, then wagged her tail.

"You've gotten fatter. That little girl really is raising you like a pig." Shen Yan crouched down and stroked her head. Big Yellow licked his hand, her tail wagging even faster.

He stood up and pushed open the door to the main room. Old Chen was sitting at the table drinking tea. When he saw Shen Yan enter, he looked up at him and pointed to the square table.

Several dishes sat on the table, covered with overturned bowls and still steaming.

"Back?" Old Chen asked.

"I'm back."

"Eat."

Shen Yan sat down at the table and picked up his rice bowl. Old Chen put some food in his bowl with his chopsticks, then picked up his own teacup and drank slowly.

"Where's Nian'an?"

"Asleep," Old Chen said. "She waited for you all night and couldn't stay awake any longer. She insisted she wouldn't sleep until you got back. I told her you'd arrive tomorrow, but she didn't believe me and sat by the door waiting. Big Yellow kept her company. The two of them sat on the threshold for two hours."

Shen Yan's chopsticks paused over the food. He said nothing, shoveling a mouthful of rice into his mouth, chewing twice, and swallowing.

"Did you bring her anything?" Old Chen asked.

Shen Yan's chopsticks froze.

Old Chen glanced at him, set down his teacup, and sighed. "Honestly, you..."

"I'll buy her something tomorrow," Shen Yan said.

"Tomorrow is tomorrow. You owe her for tonight." Old Chen stood and walked toward his room. At the door, he stopped without looking back. "Don't forget next time you go away."

Shen Yan sat alone at the table, looking at the food: red-braised pork, stir-fried greens, and a bowl of egg drop soup. Old Chen had cooked the pork until it was tender and glossy, but Shen Yan had little appetite. He finished the rice in his bowl, stood up, and went to Nian'an's room.

The door wasn't fully closed. He gently pushed it open a crack.

Nian'an was asleep on the bed. Big Yellow lay at her feet and, hearing the noise, raised her head to glance at him before lying down again. The little girl lay on her side, the blanket kicked away, a red hair tie still clutched in her hand. Shen Yan recognized it-it was the one they'd bought at the City God Temple last time, her favorite, red with little yellow flowers. It bounced back and forth when she tied it on her braid.

He crouched down and covered her properly. Nian'an stirred, mumbled something indistinctly, rolled over, and kicked the blanket off again. Shen Yan covered her again, and she kicked it off again. He reached for the red hair tie, but Nian'an was holding it so tightly that he couldn't pull it free.

He crouched by the bed and watched her. Moonlight streamed through the window and fell across her face. The little girl's eyelashes were long and slightly curled, and she looked quiet and peaceful in her sleep, unlike her noisy self during the day.

Shen Yan stood and gently closed the door.

He returned to his room and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His body was exhausted, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter what he did.

Shen Yan sighed in resignation, opened his door, and went into the courtyard.

The air after the rain was especially fresh, and everything was quiet except for a few intermittent barks.

Shen Yan sat by the stone table in the courtyard, quietly smoking one cigarette after another.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Old Chen holding a bottle of Lianhuabai liquor in one hand, with two small cups inverted over its neck, and a plate of peanuts in the other.

"Since you can't sleep, let's have a few drinks together."

Shen Yan smiled and took the liquor and peanuts, filling a cup for Old Chen first, then one for himself.

They clinked cups and drained them.

After one drink, Shen Yan suddenly felt the emotions bottled up inside him becoming hard to contain.

His eyes slowly reddened.

"What the hell are you crying for?! If someone wrongs you out there, find a way to get even! A grown man sniveling like that-who's supposed to watch?! Where's that reckless streak you had when you first came to me?! The older you get, the more useless you become!"

The corner of Shen Yan's mouth twitched. This old man... if he doesn't know how to comfort someone, he doesn't have to bother. Now I can't even keep my emotions straight...

"Can you compare the two?! Back then, I only had myself to feed. If I lost my head, it'd only leave a scar the size of a bowl, and eighteen years later I'd be a hero again. But not now. I've got you and the little girl on my mind. It'd be one thing if I got myself killed, but if anything happened to you two, I'd never have a happy day for the rest of my life."

Old Chen fell silent and took a drink with his head lowered.

"I knew something was wrong from the moment you got back. There's a fire raging inside you, like you're ready to punch a hole in the sky. I won't ask what happened to you. I'll just say this: if the day comes when you really want to raise hell, let me know beforehand. I'll take the little girl somewhere quiet to hide, so we won't hold you back."

Shen Yan slowly nodded, then shook his head.

"It won't be that easy. The Japanese want to raise me into a good dog now, and you and the little girl are the leash they use to tie me down. If I really want to send you away, I'll need to find the right opportunity."

Old Chen nodded silently.

Shen Yan drained his cup.

"When the time comes, there'll be a way. Don't worry about it, old man. Your godson is a genius; he'll definitely think of something! Go to bed. You still have to work tomorrow, unlike me. I've got three days off in a row, and I can get up whenever I want!"

Old Chen rolled his eyes at Shen Yan and went back to his room with his hands behind his back, without clearing the table.

Shen Yan returned to his room and lay down on the bed. He rolled over and pulled the blanket up.

Outside the window, the rain started again, pattering on the roof tiles like someone sighing.

He closed his eyes. Tomorrow, he'd buy Nian'an presents first: two candied hawthorn skewers, a new hair tie, and a packet of osmanthus cakes. If that wasn't enough, he'd add more, until the little girl spared his miserable life.

There was one more thing-he had to visit Hot Springs. Kobayashi had several days' worth of intelligence saved up.

Damn it, I'm busier on my days off than at work!

Early the next morning, Nian'an was still asleep when Shen Yan went out. He bought two candied hawthorn skewers at the alley entrance, wrapped them in oiled paper, and put them on the table in the main room with a note tucked underneath: "From your godfather. Remember to brush your teeth after eating. You have to fill three whole sheets with calligraphy today. If you don't write well, I'll post them at the alley entrance and see if you still have the nerve to play with your friends! -Godfather"

He thought for a moment, then added another line: "Big Yellow has to lose weight. Starting today, cut her rations in half."

Then he got into Fang Yuan's car and went to Hot Springs.

When Shen Yan arrived, the proprietress of the izakaya was sitting at the front desk, going over the accounts. Business at Hot Springs was good enough, and Shen Yan paid her enough, that she had simply transferred the izakaya to someone else and brought her entire staff to Hot Springs.

"President, you're back?"

"Mm." Shen Yan sat down across from her. "Has anything happened these past few days?"

"Nothing major." The proprietress poured him a cup of tea. "Business has been good all along. This place is practically an imperial officers' club now."

The proprietress took out the account book.

"We made quite a bit this month. After expenses, we earned around 3,000. I took it upon myself to send 500 each to Section Chief Kuroiwa and Director Lu. I'm not sure if that was appropriate."

Shen Yan looked at her in surprise.

"You did very well. You were much more thoughtful than I was! From now on, take an extra ten silver dollars every month."

"Oh, thank you, president. Would you like to have a drink together tonight? I still have a lot to ask your advice on regarding the business."

Shen Yan looked as though he could see right through her. "I've given you the money, so don't go setting your sights on me. Get back to work. I'll go upstairs and have a look around."

Shen Yan turned and walked away, paying no attention to the proprietress's resentful look.

He went up to the second floor. The hidden door at the end of the corridor was closed. Shen Yan pressed a button in a concealed corner a few times, two long presses and one short, and the door quietly opened from the inside.

He went in. Kobayashi was sitting at the table with his ear still pressed to the receiver. When he saw Shen Yan enter, he put it down and stood up.

"Captain."

"Sit." Shen Yan sat down across from him. "Anything these past few days?"

Kobayashi flipped through the folder on the table, pulled out a sheet of paper, and handed it over. "Last night, private room one. Two men, one from the Army General Staff and the other from the Navy Quartermaster Department. They were talking about the fighting in Hebei."

Shen Yan took it and read it. The paper said that the Japanese army was planning a large-scale encirclement and suppression campaign in the Taihang Mountains soon, with approximately 30,000 men. The target was the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.

He folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket.

"Anything else?"

"No," Kobayashi said. "It's all been nonsense these past few days. One old man sang in a private room for two hours. He was eight hundred miles off-key."

Shen Yan smiled. "Thanks for your hard work."

Kobayashi smiled, picked up the receiver, and resumed listening.

Shen Yan left the small room and locked the door.

He went over the history of his previous life in his head.

According to the history textbooks in his previous life, this was just when the Japanese began their large-scale "Pacification Operations," specifically targeting the Eighth Route Army's and New Fourth Army's base areas behind enemy lines.

The soldiers had relied on crude weapons to defeat the Japanese sweeps time and again, but their sacrifices had also been enormous.

Shen Yan checked his Good and Evil Points, then glanced at the prices of light and heavy weapons in the shop.

Still poor!

He'd give as much as he could. Even one extra bullet might save a soldier's life.