Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 346: Su Zhengyang's Back-up Plan: The Ubiquitous Northwest Intelligence Bureau

At the same time, in Suiye City, the capital of Xiazhou in the northwest, a middle-aged man wearing a navy blue gown and carrying a medicine box left the Xiazhou Governor's Mansion and disappeared into the night.

Half an hour later, the middle-aged man returned to his clinic in the west of the city. At this moment, under the dim light of the clinic, a man of medium build, who looked like a shopkeeper, was sitting at the table. When he saw the middle-aged man push the door and enter, he immediately asked, "How is it? Can you confirm the identity of that person?"

The middle-aged man nodded and said, "We took a picture of him. He is none other than Asano Onryo who disappeared in the Northeast. Now we have almost eliminated all the hidden chess pieces planted by Fuso in China. I never thought that Asano Onryo would appear in the Governor's Mansion of Xiazhou. It is really unbelievable."

These two people are elite members of the Xiazhou Operations Department of the Northwest Intelligence Bureau. The middle-aged man is called Shi Maokai. On the surface, he is the chief doctor of a clinic. With his superb medical skills, he is deeply respected by the dignitaries of Xiazhou. The other one is Pang Hai, the deputy director of the Xiazhou Operations Department. Now he serves as the chief of staff of the 6th Army of Xiazhou under Ma Changfang's nephew, Ma Jingze. He is in a high position and has the trust of Ma Jingze.

A year and a half ago, under the order of Yan Shuangying, the Northwest Intelligence Bureau launched an infiltration campaign into all major forces in the northern border. After more than a year of development, Yan Shuangying's intelligence network has completely developed to an incredible level. Hundreds of spies are lurking in various forces, with all kinds of identities. There are doctors, teachers, officials in the government system, and senior military officials like Pang Hai.

"This Ma Changfang is simply courting his own death. With anti-Fuso sentiment rising in the entire northern border, he actually dared to risk the world's condemnation and harbor Asano Atsuyoshi, the highest commander of the Kwantung Army's intelligence organization. Once this news gets out, I'm afraid his Ma family's ancestral graves will be dug up."

Shi Maokai nodded in agreement and said, "Ma Changfang is a man without much ambition, but he is very suspicious and extremely self-interested. This time, he was too clever for his own good. Perhaps he never thought that the Northwest Intelligence Bureau could reach Xiazhou. With this news and substantial evidence, I think it will be difficult for Ma Changfang to return from Beilong City this time. Is Director Pang ready?"

Pang Hai responded, "Ma Changfang has one son and three daughters, but his son Ma Jingtian is a heavy smoker. He has no ambition and spends his days smoking opium and gambling. However, Ma Changfang does not want power to fall into someone else's hands, so he is always on guard against his nephew. Moreover, the death of Ma Changchun was also related to his brother. As long as Ma Changfang dies, the entire Xiazhou Army will immediately fall apart."

"Ma Changfang's trusted henchman Lu Yongan is one party, Ma Jingze is one party, and the Xiazhou Army's Second Group Army in the southeast of Xiazhou is one party. It's going to be a complete mess."

"As long as they become scattered and unable to unite and turn their attention to the Governor, Xiazhou will no longer pose a threat to us. Now I will immediately pass on the relevant information about Asano Wenliang to Beilong City. Once the news of Ma Changfang's death comes, Xiazhou will no longer pose any threat."

"The Qu clique in Huzhou is a tough nut to crack. Qu Guowei's son Qu Chen is now second only to Qu Guowei in prestige among the entire Huzhou army. It is difficult for outsiders to divide them from within. The Huzhou army is also famous for its bravery and good fighting skills. By then, Huzhou will be a big problem for the entire northwest region."

Pang Hai pondered and said, "The Governor has secretly transferred the Storm Assault Division and the Viking Division through the grassland to the northern border of Huzhou. Once the war starts, with the cooperation of the Fourth Army of the Northwest Revolutionary Army, they can complete the encirclement in a very short time and swallow up the entire Huzhou. Everything is ready, so it shouldn't be a big problem."

"We don't have to worry about Quzhou. An Chengjie probably never thought that his son-in-law would be from our Northwest Intelligence Bureau. Deputy Director Chen Tong has gained An Chengjie's trust. An Chengjie has no children, so the entire Quzhou Army will be handed over to his son-in-law sooner or later. The Qian Clan of Lizhou has always followed the lead of the An Clan. As long as we control An Chengjie, Qian Haodong won't be a problem."

Shi Maokai sighed and looked out the window with a deep gaze.

"Now everything is ready, except for the favorable wind. Whether the Governor can successfully become president and complete his reforms and ideals depends on how things develop next."

It was already late at night at the Su Mansion in Beilong City. Yan Shuangying, dressed in a black windbreaker, pushed open the door of Su Zhengyang's study, only to see Su Zhengyang sitting in his chair with his eyes closed. Opposite Su Zhengyang, a cup of hot tea had already been prepared, indicating that Su Zhengyang had already prepared to wait for Yan Shuangying to come.

"Governor, we have received news from Xiazhou that the person hiding in the Xiazhou Governor's Office is confirmed to be the highest official of the Fuso Kwantung Army's intelligence agency, Asano Atsuyoshi. Our people have obtained substantial evidence and taken photos, which will be sent to Beilong City soon."

Su Zhengyang opened his eyes, a gleam of brilliance in his eyes.

"This Ma Changfang is so brave! He is harboring Asano Onryo at such a sensitive time. Once this matter is disclosed, even without us having to do anything, the angry people will push the Ma faction to the forefront. Ma Changfang, who has always been shrewd, has made a bad move."

"Governor, I think Ma Changfang is just too clever for his own good. The reason he took in Qianye Wenliang was simply to find a way out for the Ma family. But he never expected that our Northwest Intelligence Bureau would be omnipresent."

"Well done! You have made an invaluable contribution to the Northwest Intelligence Bureau's ability to play such a huge role today. How are the chess pieces in Quzhou, Hanzhou, Lianzhou, and Houzhou being arranged?"

"Don't worry, Governor. Everything has been arranged. Shuangying dare not take credit for it. It is all thanks to the outstanding talents of the people arranged by the Governor that they were able to control a certain degree of voice among various forces in such a short period of time."

Su Zhengyang has been preparing for this chess game for more than a year, and now it is finally coming to an end.

When the system rewarded the first batch of political and military talents, Su Zhengyang transferred some of them to secretly join the Northwest Intelligence Bureau. They were talented and had experience studying abroad, so they would be valued in which force. In addition, these talents had outstanding emotional intelligence and ways of dealing with people, and with the financial support of the Northwest Intelligence Bureau, some of them had already held high positions in major forces in a short period of time.

For example, Pang Hai, the chief of staff of the Sixth Army of the First Group Army of Xiazhou, Chen Tong, who had married An Chengjie's daughter An Xin half a year ago, and Huang Qing, who was already the personal secretary of Jiangzhou Governor Lian Cheng. The energy that these people could exert at the critical moment was enormous, enough for Su Zhengyang to resolve the civil strife without bloodshed.