Chapter 45: Arresting Ma Guozheng

The operation to capture Ma Guozheng was crucial to whether Song Yingge could meet Principal Jiang, so Song paid special attention to it.

That evening, Song arrived near Ma Guozheng’s residence and found Sun Xi and the others.

“Team leader, Ma Guozheng returned home just after seven and hasn’t gone out since,” Sun reported.

Ma’s home was an independent courtyard near Lucky Street.

Lucky Street was a famous commercial thoroughfare at the time, bustling with banks, restaurants, and bookstores.

“How many people live in his household?” Song asked.

“Apart from Ma Guozheng and his wife and child, there’s a servant. Also, I found out Ma is from Hunan Province, same as Ding Mocun—they’re both from the same hometown and studied together,” Sun said.

From the same hometown and classmates?

Could it be that Ma Guozheng intended to turn Ding Mocun for the Japanese?

“Alright, keep a close watch. When he leaves for work tomorrow morning, we’ll apprehend him,” Song instructed.

After nine that night, Song was listening to opera at a teahouse when Sun rushed over.

“Team leader, Ma Guozheng just left for the Laike Restaurant.”

Laike Restaurant was right on Lucky Street.

Ma going there so late suggested he was meeting someone important.

Hearing this, Song set down his teacup. “Let’s go see.”

Near the Laike, Liu Dazhi came up to report, “He’s in the Plum Blossom Room on the second floor.”

“Have the operations team set up around the perimeter. Wait for my signal,” Song said as he headed inside.

As soon as Song entered, a waiter approached, but Song cut him off, “Reserve a private room on the second floor; I’m expecting company.”

“Right this way, please,” the waiter led the way.

On the second floor, Song quickly spotted the Plum Blossom Room and pointed to the adjacent room, the Chrysanthemum Room.

“This one,” he said.

Once inside, Song sat down and clearly heard the voices next door.

“Brother Mocun, wait just a moment. My friend will be here shortly,” Ma Guozheng said.

“Brother Guozheng, this friend of yours is quite mysterious—can’t meet during the day and must meet at night?” Ding Mocun replied.

“You’ll understand once you meet him,” Ma answered cheerfully.

They then reminisced about their youthful days, the atmosphere becoming lively.

“Creak.”

The Plum Blossom Room door opened.

“Brother Suma, we’ve been waiting for you. Please, take a seat,” Ma Guozheng greeted warmly.

“Caught up in mundane affairs—pardon me. I’ll make it up with three drinks later,” Suma Miyoshiro apologized.

“Brother Suma, this is Ding Mocun, Director of the Third Division of the Investigation and Statistics Bureau and my close friend. Brother Mocun, this is Ambassador Suma Miyoshiro of the Japanese Consulate General in Jinling,” Ma introduced.

“Brother Mocun, I’ve long heard of you,” Suma said politely.

Ding Mocun said nothing.

From the moment Ma called out “Suma,” Ding knew trouble was coming.

He knew who Suma Miyoshiro was—how could he not?

He never imagined that Ma Guozheng, with his thick eyebrows and broad face, was secretly collaborating with the Japanese.

Anger welled up inside Ding.

If only Suma had used an alias, he could have played ignorant.

But such blatant exposure—what did it mean?

Did they think Ding Mocun was a fool?

Ding rose, ready to leave in frustration.

“Brother Mocun, once you step outside this door, you’ll be an enemy, not a friend,” Suma said.

“I have nothing to say to the Japanese,” Ding replied firmly.

At this time, Sino-Japanese relations had not yet broken into full-scale war; the situation was not as bleak as it would be in a few years.

More importantly, Ding had not yet been dismissed by Chiang Kai-shek.

To say he was already inclined to side with the Japanese was premature.

“In February 1936, over a thousand yuan was embezzled from the Third Division’s funds; in March, more than two thousand yuan in bribes were taken; in April, sensitive letters were discovered and not reported, with extortion amounting to over four thousand yuan.

Brother Mocun, I have many such records. Shall I detail them all to you?” Suma said.

Ding froze, his face darkening. “You have people inside the Third Division?”

Suma said nothing, instead producing an envelope and a pistol.

“In this envelope is a check. I hope to make friends with you. If you refuse, then we shall be enemies.”

Ding’s expression flickered between hope and doubt.

“Sit down—it’s just a meal, a friendship. Afterward, as a gift, I will reveal the identities of our inside men in the Third Division,” Suma said.

After hearing this, Ding finally sat back down.

Listening to the trio’s conversation, Song was overjoyed.

Suma Miyoshiro was beyond reach, but Ding Mocun could be captured.

This was a big catch.

Thinking this, Song approached the Plum Blossom Room and pushed hard; the wooden latch snapped, and the door opened.

All three turned in unison to face him.

“Sorry to interrupt your gathering,” Song smiled.

“Leave,” Suma barked, still confused.

“Ambassador, such rudeness! Are all Japanese so ill-mannered?” Song retorted.

Suma didn’t lose his temper; he sensed something was amiss.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Huang Yue of the Intelligence Division of the Special Services,” Song said, drawing his pistol and aiming it at them.

Ding had been inwardly wailing since the door opened—his worst fears realized.

“I’m well acquainted with your chief, Weiss. Perhaps you’d do me the favor of letting me go. I promise a generous reward afterward,” Ding tried to bluff. He had met Weiss a few times but had no deeper connection.

“A generous reward? How much?” Song asked.

“Three thousand, maybe five thousand,” Ding said.

“Fifty thousand—can you pay that?” Song countered.

“I don’t have that kind of money!” Ding was startled.

“Then behave yourself,” Song said.

Song hesitated over whether to release Ding.

Though Ding had indeed secretly met with Ma and Suma, there was no conclusive evidence that he had been turned.

The Special Services didn’t need proof to arrest, but they had their limits.

Like Ma Guozheng—without solid evidence, they wouldn’t dare apprehend him.

If Ding were caught and taken in, the worst would be dismissal, or maybe nothing at all.

After all, Ding had protection behind the scenes.

After much thought, letting Ding go was the best outcome.

Whether Ding was around or not, the future problems with Unit 76 would persist.

Unit 76’s existence wasn’t because of Li Shiqun or Ding Mocun but because the Japanese needed such an agency to impose authoritarian control over occupied areas.

Even without Li and Ding, there would be Unit 77, 78, and so on.

Moreover, only Song knew Ding was here; Dai Li would remain unaware.

Besides, Song could gain a handsome sum and have Ding indebted to him.

Such a debt might prove valuable in the future.

“Can you pay thirty thousand?” Song asked.

Ding bit his lip. “I can.”

Song took out a camera and photographed the three.

“Director Ding, you’re free to go.”

“My deepest thanks,” Ding said, clasping his fists and slinking away.