Chapter Thirty-Six: The Human Pig

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“I need a pledge of allegiance. Something insignificant won’t do,” Song Yingge said.

“Sumer is preparing to hand Jiang Shuning and her daughter over to Ma Zhengguo, deputy director of the First Section of the First Bureau of the General Staff Headquarters in Nanjing,” Ruyu said.

In 1928, after the success of the Northern Expedition, the Kuomintang merged the former General Staff Office of the Military Affairs Commission with the Staff Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the National Revolutionary Army, establishing the General Staff Headquarters.

Directly subordinate to the National Government, the General Staff Headquarters oversaw national defense and military operations. It also administered the nation’s staff officers, the Army University, the General Survey Bureau, and military attachés stationed abroad.

The First Section of the First Bureau was responsible for national-defense mobilization, operational planning, and the pacification of fortified areas.

As deputy director of the First Section, Ma Guozheng could easily obtain a vast amount of military secrets.

If a man like him were persuaded to defect, the damage he could cause would be incalculable.

“Has Ma Zhengguo already gone over to the Japanese?” Song Yingge asked.

“Soon. I’ve bought intelligence from him several times,” Ruyu replied.

Song Yingge clenched his teeth. A traitor like that deserved to die.

“Is that enough? If not, there’s more,” Ruyu said indifferently.

“Go on,” Song Yingge said.

“There’s one of our people in your headquarters as well, though I don’t know exactly who it is. I only know that she’s a woman,” Ruyu said casually.

Song Yingge’s eyes flickered.

For Ruyu to know so many secrets, her position within the intelligence division of Japan’s Foreign Ministry could not be low.

This woman might be beyond his control.

Should he let her go after all?

Ruyu seemed to have seen straight through his thoughts.

“You’ve probably realized it yourself—I don’t have any faith,” she said. “Compared with those foolish militarists, I treasure my own life far more. It’s only a job. Sacrificing my life for it would be a terrible bargain.

“If you think you can’t control me, I can sleep with you.

“Let me tell you something in secret—I’m still a virgin.

“Why don’t I bear you a child? A child can tie a woman down, can’t it?”

She teased him with a laugh.

This woman was insane.

And yet, there was some truth in what she said.

Her concern was her own life, not some worthless job.

“Stay put. I need to report this to my superiors,” Song Yingge said.

When he reached Dai Li’s office, Song Yingge reported everything concerning Ruyu.

“Release her,” Dai Li said without the slightest hesitation.

If the gamble failed, they would merely have let one Japanese spy escape.

If it succeeded, the rewards would be enormous.

“What about the mole in the Secret Service?” Song Yingge asked.

“You will be responsible for investigating it in secret,” Dai Li replied.

“Yes, Chief,” Song Yingge said.

…

Interrogation Room

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“I go to the ballroom once a week. You’d better not play any tricks,” Song Yingge said.

“After this mission fails, I’ll be transferred elsewhere before long,” Ruyu replied.

“Before you leave, call my office. Hang up three seconds after the call connects. I’ll come to find you,” Song Yingge said.

“Will you take me out for a farewell dinner then?” Ruyu asked with a smile.

“Forget it. I’m afraid you’ll eat me instead,” Song Yingge replied.

Ruyu licked her lips. “I’d certainly like a taste.”

Song Yingge ignored her. He placed a hood over her head, put her in the car, and drove her back to the Seeking Pleasure Ballroom.

Before leaving, Ruyu tossed him one last remark:

“Remember to deal with the two men who were with you when you arrested me.”

The two men belonged to the Operations Division. They had both been present when Ruyu was captured and therefore knew what had happened.

For the sake of secrecy, the only option was to send them to their deaths.

It was simply their fate. If the two men had not volunteered to accompany Song Yingge, they would never have suffered this undeserved calamity.

Now, all he could do was provide their families with more compensation.

By the time Song Yingge drove back to Caodu Lane, the men from Intelligence Group Four had only just returned.

During the operation, three Japanese spies had been shot dead on the spot, while two others had committed suicide.

Sixteen had been taken alive.

The Secret Service’s interrogation rooms were suddenly packed to overflowing.

Aside from Wang Sheng, the other Japanese spies were of little value.

Song Yingge went straight to the interrogation room where Wang Sheng was being held.

Zhang Ke had already been questioning him for some time.

“Do you know Toyota Chiyo?” Song Yingge asked as he approached.

Wang Sheng twisted the corner of his mouth. “No.”

“Do you recognize her?” Song Yingge took out a photograph of Liu Yuezhen and waved it in front of Wang Sheng.

“No,” Wang Sheng said.

“You were trained together, weren’t you? Once you’re in here, you either confess or wish you were dead,” Song Yingge said.

“And how would you make me wish I were dead?” Wang Sheng asked.

“You’ve heard of a human pig, haven’t you?” Song Yingge said.

“I have. I’d like to experience it,” Wang Sheng replied with a smile.

For fanatics who had been indoctrinated since childhood and had convictions branded into their minds, ordinary interrogation methods were useless. There was no way to pry open their mouths.

Liu Yuezhen was the best proof of that.

Most infuriating of all, both Liu Yuezhen and Wang Sheng were Chinese themselves.

The actual Japanese—Ma San, Zhou Shun, and even Ruyu—had been far more cooperative.

“Then we’ll grant your wish,” Song Yingge ordered.

Before long, someone carried in a large vat.

Once the doctor had arrived, the men bound Wang Sheng to a table so tightly that he could not move.

Song Yingge had never done this kind of work before. His hands were inexperienced, and he feared killing Wang Sheng before completing the mutilation. So he ordered Shen Wei to carry it out.

At that time, the Secret Service had several men assigned specifically to administer torture in the interrogation rooms.

But an interrogation division had not yet been established.

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Shen Wei was an experienced hand at such work.

He had performed this procedure several times and knew exactly what he was doing.

Shen Wei picked up a saw and began.

The harsh rasp of iron moving back and forth made Song Yingge frown slightly.

Wang Sheng’s mouth had been gagged, leaving him able to produce only muffled cries of pain.

The veins on his forehead stood out, and sweat poured down his face.

His fierce instinct to survive was locked in a violent struggle with his will.

“First we saw off your limbs. Then we’ll pierce your ears until you can hear no more, gouge out your eyes, and poison your throat until you can never speak again.

“Enjoy the last moments in which you can still hear sound.

“Before long, your world will contain nothing but darkness and silence.

“When that happens, you’ll be little more than a walking corpse, suffering through an endless stretch of time.

“Death will become an unattainable luxury.

“The only thing left for you to do will be endure this torment that is worse than death.

“By then, everything you believe in and everything you serve will have become nothing but passing dust.

“The only thought remaining in your mind will be the desire to die.

“But we will never let you die.

“For a traitor to his own country like you, only the most agonizing torture can ease our hatred even slightly.

“You claim to have unbreakable bones? Then I’d like to see whether they can outlast an iron saw.

“Do not confess.

“I don’t even want to learn anything from you.

“Torturing you and pleasing myself—that is the one thing I most want to do right now.”

Torturing people was not truly what Song Yingge wanted.

Physical pain combined with verbal assault would gradually break through Wang Sheng’s psychological defenses.

And if that failed, Song Yingge did not mind turning Wang Sheng into a madman.

Once he went insane, he would confess all the same.

Shen Wei’s technique was highly practiced. Within minutes, he had sawn through one section.

The doctor hurried forward to stop the bleeding, preventing Wang Sheng from dying of blood loss.

“Are you all right? You must hold on,” Song Yingge murmured into Wang Sheng’s ear.

Wang Sheng was already utterly exhausted. He no longer had the strength even to speak.

“Aren’t you supposed to be so tough? Do you like how this feels?” Song Yingge asked.

“I like it.”

Wang Sheng forced the words out with every last ounce of strength.

Song Yingge waved his hand.

“Continue.”

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