Republic of China: German-equipped divisions massacred as warlords guarded the nation's borders

Chapter 206 Assassination is permissible, but I will decide the consequences!

Six o'clock in the morning.

On the second floor of the Chen Mansion, Chen Zijun had just wiped his face with cold water.

My father's words from last night still echoed in my ears. Someone in the family has gotten involved in the opium and human trafficking business. If this matter isn't dealt with properly, it'll be a ticking time bomb sooner or later.

But he didn't have time to think about it.

Because the footsteps outside the door were unusually hurried.

"Young Master..."

Moran's voice.

It wasn't Shen Li who came to inform them, but Mo Lanzhi herself.

Chen Zijun dried his hands and frowned. For Sister Lanzhi, the head of the Military Intelligence Bureau, to personally come to the Chen mansion at this hour, and so early in the morning, meant this was definitely no small matter.

Could it be that the crackdown has caused problems?

Did those local gentry and wealthy landowners really unite in rebellion?

"Come in."

The door opened, and Mo Lanzhi strode in.

She was wearing a dark gray cheongsam, her hair was neatly combed, but there was a layer of fine sweat on her forehead and obvious bloodshot eyes.

I didn't sleep all night.

"Have some water first..." Chen Zijun said softly, looking at her.

Mo Lanzhi then sat down, took the teacup, but didn't drink it. She put it aside, took a deep breath, took out a translated copy of a secret telegram from her bosom, and handed it over with both hands.

"Young Marshal, at 2 a.m. last night, my mole inside the Sassoon & Co. sent a encrypted telegram."

Chen Zijun took it and glanced at it.

The telegram was sent from the Sassoon & Co.’s Shanghai office to its headquarters in Bombay, but it passed through a transit point.

"Sassoon & Co. has gotten involved with the Japanese military?" Chen Zijun looked up.

"More than that," Moranzhi said. "The codebook for this telegram uses the highest-level cipher of the Japanese military. In other words, this is not an ordinary commercial collusion, but a military-level cooperation."

Chen Zijun placed the coded telegram on the table and tapped the surface twice with his fingers.

"The Japanese military has intervened so early..."

"The core of the telegram, once translated, boils down to just two words," Moranzhi said, staring into his eyes, enunciating each word clearly, "assassination."

Chen Zijun's lips curled up slightly.

"They're still trying to assassinate me? Can't they come up with something new?"

"Yes," Moranzhi said. "Sassoon & Co. is providing the funds, and the Japanese military is providing the personnel. The target is you, Young Marshal. The time is tonight, and the place is on your way to inspect the Fuxing District."

"What kind of people came from Japan?"

"The 1st Division's Special Ninja Class A Operations Team, four people," Moranzhi said. "The team leader's codename is 'White Crane.' According to our intelligence, this team assassinated a Russian general during the Russo-Japanese War, and previously planned three assassinations in Mukden, all of which were successful. They are elusive, and each time their targets died without anyone noticing..."

Chen Zijun snorted coldly.

"Those Russian nobles, along with the Beiyang and Fengtian cliques, didn't even have proper guards when they went out. It's not surprising that they were killed."

Mo Lanzhi didn't respond, but continued her report: "I've found their hideout. It's a Japanese-style inn in the International Settlement. The four of them checked in yesterday afternoon, registering as businessmen, but their luggage contained two modified Type 14 pistols from the South and a sniper rifle."

"The Southern Fourteen-Year Pistol?"

"That thing doesn't even make a sound when it's committing suicide. Using it for assassination?"

"Sniper rifles?" Chen Zijun narrowed his eyes slightly. "Looks like they're preparing for a long-range attack. But, weren't they supposed to be ninjas?"

"How can we let our family's traditional skills be lost?"

"hehe……"

Moranzhi chuckled, paused slightly, and continued in a low voice, "According to the clues provided by our informant, their plan is to ambush at the corner of Datong Road in the Fuxing District. There's a three-story Western-style building there, with a rooftop overlooking the entire street. The sniper will be hidden on the roof, while the other three will be on the street to block and provide backup fire, making use of what the young master called their ancestral skills!"

Chen Zijun stood up, walked to the window, and looked out with his hands behind his back.

The morning light shone on the canopy of the plane trees, and a few vendors carrying loads on their shoulders were slowly walking by on the street.

Everything seemed calm and normal.

But in the shadows, a deadly trap has already been set.

"Sister Lanzhi," Chen Zijun suddenly spoke.

"Your subordinate is here."

"What do you think I should do?"

Mo Lanzhi thought for a moment: "The normal procedure would be to send people directly to the hotel to arrest them."

"and then?"

"After arresting and interrogating them, we will follow the clues and completely sever the connection between Sassoon and Japan."

Chen Zijun turned around and stared at her.

"Too slow."

Mo Lanzhi was taken aback.

"What does the young marshal mean?"

"I'll go," Chen Zijun said. "The inspection of Fuxing District will proceed as scheduled, with the same route."

Mo Lanzhi's expression changed: "Young Marshal!"

"Let me finish," Chen Zijun said, raising his hand. "How many times has Sassoon & Co. been lurking in the shadows trying to undermine me? Every time, I'm the one chasing after them. This time, they've jumped out on their own, offering me this opportunity. Why should I hide?"

Mo Lanzhi opened her mouth, then closed it again.

She knows the young master too well.

The young master isn't the type to hide in a safe house waiting for news. Last time Mr. Sun came to Shanghai, he was used as live bait to lure the snake out of its hole.

"But this time is different," Moranzhi said. "The other side has snipers, and also a top-tier ninja task force; they're not ordinary people..."

"I know," Chen Zijun said, "so I need you to do three things."

"Young Marshal, please speak."

"First, you take your men and secure that building beforehand, but don't alert them. Wait until they've gone upstairs and set up their positions before making your move. I want them alive."

Mo Lanzhi nodded: "Understood."

"Secondly, hand over those three men on the street to Shen Li. Have him lead the plainclothes guards, disguised as rickshaw pullers and street vendors, and blend into the streets. Once you've got the sniper under control, they'll naturally be exposed."

Moran's eyes lit up.

This is not a case of turning the tables on someone.

This is like catching a turtle in a jar.

"Thirdly, at the same time, take action against the Sassoon family. Remember, the Sassoon family, not just the Sassoon Trading Company! I want to completely eradicate this Jewish bloodline in Shanghai, to exterminate their lineage and cut off their descendants..."

"Young Marshal, and what about you?"

Chen Zijun took a Browning M1903 pistol from the drawer, pulled the bolt, and tucked it into his waistband.

"I just sat in the car, waiting for them to make their move. Waiting for an excuse to go all out..."

"After all, I don't want to be eating their 500,000 gold mark bread one day →..."

Although Mo Lanzhi did not understand what her young master was saying, since he had given the order, all she had to do was to complete it perfectly.

"Understood, young master." "I'll go make the arrangements now."

"Go ahead," Chen Zijun said. "Oh, and tell Huixin not to go out today. Don't tell Qingdi about this."

Mo Lanzhi nodded, turned around, and quickly left.

The moment the door closed, a cold smile appeared on Chen Zijun's face.

Sassoon & Co.

Japanese military headquarters.

Now that we've entered the game, this is just the beginning.