Lu Tinghui

Biodata

Background / History

Undercover Career and Police Appointment

Watanabe Seiichi spent years operating undercover in China, becoming fluent in Chinese and Japanese and familiar with Shanghai customs. A trusted confidant of Special Higher Police chief Kuroiwa Masao, he entered the collaborationist police station as Deputy Chief Lu Tinghui. Before taking office, he thoroughly investigated every station employee’s background 14.

His appointment gave him authority over all station affairs, with disobedience punishable under military law. He quickly cultivated goodwill through approachable speeches, departmental interviews, and a calculated balance of rewards and criticism. Although nominally assisting Chief Li, his conduct made clear that he held the greater authority 14.

Recruiting and Screening Shen Yan

Lu singled out Shen Yan on his first day, seating him beside himself at a banquet and questioning him about his Japanese teacher and fighting ability. Satisfied that Shen’s account matched his investigation, he secured Shen’s promotion to third-class police officer. Unknown to Lu, Shen had already used Heavenly Eye to uncover his Japanese identity 14.

Lu later recommended cultivating Shen as a capable, pro-Japanese subordinate. When Kuroiwa questioned the discrepancy between Shen’s earlier head injury and his subsequent fighting prowess, Lu suggested that a surprise attack from behind explained it. Kuroiwa authorized the recruitment but required a loyalty screening 18.

For the test, Lu claimed that Communist guerrillas had killed Shen’s teacher, Inoue Jirō, then arranged for Shen to interrogate a supposed Communist prisoner. The captive was actually Special Higher Police agent Matsumoto Ichiro. Watching through one-way glass, Lu interpreted Shen’s observation skills and brutality as evidence of talent and loyalty. Matsumoto died afterward; Lu ordered compensation, a line-of-duty death report, and approval for his younger brother to take his place 19.

Drunken Immortal Tower Operation

Acting on intelligence supplied by Shen, Lu organized a raid on a Green Gang meeting at the Drunken Immortal Tower in the French Concession. Despite diplomatic pressure to avoid further disturbances there, he authorized twenty selected action-team members to infiltrate separately, each carrying two Mauser C96 pistols and extra ammunition 21.

During the raid, burning opium intoxicated both sides. The usually cautious Lu charged into the fighting and eventually lost consciousness. Shen evacuated him, Li Kui, and six surviving team members on a cart. After recovering, Lu visited Shen in hospital, openly expressed his gratitude, and ordered him to rest 22 23.

Establishing the Special Operations Squad

Lu continued testing Shen even after the rescue. At an izakaya banquet with Kuroiwa, he pressed Shen to explain his head scar; Shen’s embarrassing account of being ambushed while relieving himself eased their suspicions 24.

The next morning, Lu appointed Shen captain of a new Special Operations Squad under his and Kuroiwa’s direct joint command. He promised priority equipment and arranged a month of Special Higher Police training in marksmanship, combat techniques, and team command before Shen formally assumed the post 25 26.

The Lone Wolf Investigation

Lu personally supervised the raid on a Military Statistics Bureau contact point, intending to observe Shen’s first operation after training. Li Kui attacked ahead of schedule and led his men into explosives. After Shen apparently wounded the fleeing Scavenger, Lu used a recovered American pistol casing to identify the fugitive and treated the injury as a major breakthrough in the Lone Wolf investigation 30 31.

The encounter was staged through Shen’s clone, but Lu accepted it as genuine. He subsequently confirmed Li Kui’s suspension, transferred Li’s surviving personnel to the Special Operations Squad, and placed Old Chen in temporary command during Shen’s recovery 32.

Following the destruction of the Hongkou arsenal, Lu presented the crime-scene findings under a seven-day deadline imposed on the Japanese authorities. When Shen proposed falsely blaming Jews to provide a face-saving solution, Lu privately questioned whether he had considered the consequences and noted that the victims would hate the Japanese 35.

Later Appearances

Lu attended the opening of Shen’s Cherry Blossom Hot Springs, bathed beside Kuroiwa, and praised Shen’s ability to cultivate influential patrons. He did not discover the concealed listening arrangement intended to collect intelligence from Japanese guests 45.

He later appeared behind Kuroiwa at No. 76 headquarters, carrying a folder shortly before the headquarters’ destruction 50.

Appearance

Lu presents himself as a composed, professionally dressed police official whose outward appearance does not reveal his Japanese identity 14.

• Build and features: Upright, well-proportioned, and regular-featured 14.
• Usual clothing: A crisply pressed police uniform; later appearances specify a black uniform 14 35 45.
• Field clothing: A dark gray overcoat with its collar turned up during the contact-point raid 31.
• Under pressure: After the arsenal bombing, he appears with reddened eyes, dark chin stubble, and dust on his cap 35.

Personality

Lu’s genial manner conceals a suspicious, ruthless, and exceptionally cautious disposition. He speaks modestly, gives nominal superiors face, and makes junior officers feel valued, while closely studying their behavior and checking their accounts against prior investigations 14.

His investment in talented subordinates is substantial: he arranges promotions, training, equipment, and personal introductions for Shen. Gratitude does not end his scrutiny, however; even after Shen saves his life, Lu continues probing possible weaknesses in his background 23 24 25 26.

His response to Matsumoto’s death demonstrates his emotional detachment. After only a brief pause, he handles the death as an administrative matter and returns to reviewing documents 19.

Abilities & Skills

Undercover Work and Languages

• Maintains a Chinese identity after years of clandestine work in China 14.
• Speaks fluent Chinese and Japanese and understands Shanghai customs 14.

Investigation and Observation

• Thoroughly researches personnel files before assuming command 14.
• Combines background checks, emotional manipulation, and staged interrogations to screen recruits 18 19.
• Recognizes Fang Yuan’s military background from his posture, gait, and gun-cleaning habits 32.
• Uses ammunition evidence to connect the fleeing Scavenger with earlier attacks, though Shen’s staged encounter leads him to the wrong conclusion 31 32.

Operational Command

• Plans armed deployments, assigns assault and support roles, and supervises operations personally 21 30 31.
• Shares direct command of the Special Operations Squad with Kuroiwa 25.
• Exercises disciplinary authority over failed subordinates, including personally questioning Li Kui after the disastrous raid 32.

Relationships

• Kuroiwa Masao — Superior and trusted patron. Lu reports to him, seeks approval to cultivate Shen, and jointly commands the Special Operations Squad with him 14 18 25.
• Shen Yan — Favored subordinate, recruit, and lifesaver. Lu promotes and protects him while repeatedly testing his loyalty, unaware that Shen has identified him and is deceiving him 14 19 23 24 32.
• Li Kui — Subordinate action-team captain. Lu reprimands his poor judgment and personally questions him after his unauthorized early assault causes heavy losses 21 23 31 32.
• Matsumoto Ichiro — Fellow Japanese agent used as the prisoner in Shen’s loyalty test. Lu authorizes his treatment, then processes his death and replacement 19.
• Old Chen — Police subordinate whom Lu appoints temporary leader of the Special Operations Squad during Shen’s recovery 32.
• Fang Yuan — Shen’s subordinate. Lu notices his military habits but accepts his service provided his background is clean and he follows police rules 32.