Chapter 94: The Japanese Were Thrown Into Panic!

With war against the Imperial Japanese now looming, Jiang Bai would never permit such a hidden danger to remain within the ranks.

The moment hostilities erupted, these traitors would become lethal enemies from within, inflicting devastating damage from the inside.

With Jiang Bai’s direct authorization and ample financial backing, the Military Investigations Bureau sprang into action at once, launching an extensive roundup.

To improve the efficiency of the sweep, an entire infantry battalion was even assigned to assist.

After two straight days of intensive searches, more than twenty military officers and senior commanders suspected of betraying the dynasty had been arrested. The highest-ranking among them was a lieutenant general, who also served as chief of staff of an important corps.

This discovery sent a chill down Jiang Bai’s spine.

If these men had not been rooted out in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

After interrogating this band of traitors, Jiang Bai did not hesitate to send them before the Old Marshal.

The Old Marshal showed no mercy to traitors. With a single summary charge, he ordered a public execution by firing squad within the army.

At the same time, he flew into a rage and used the occasion to conduct a thorough purge of the forces under his command.

On another front, under severe torture, Ono Koji finally broke and revealed a wealth of intelligence, including the identities of other hidden moles and Japanese spies who had yet to be exposed.

Even more shocking was the fact that many within the administrative system were also serving the enemy.

This counterespionage campaign spread rapidly. Many officials and military officers died under mysterious circumstances, some in traffic accidents, others in supposed accidental deaths.

At the same time, large numbers of Japanese spies were expelled or arrested.

The operation caused severe social unrest. Both the Reformist faction and the Localist faction expressed fierce dissatisfaction with the Military Investigations Bureau’s actions, and protests even began to emerge, because many of their own people had been implicated as well.

But Jiang Bai paid them no mind. He answered all protests directly in the Old Marshal’s name:

“All operations were carried out under the Old Marshal’s orders.”

Faced with Jiang Bai’s unyielding reply, the two factions could do nothing further, for everyone knew Jiang Bai was the Old Marshal’s most trusted man.

Jiang Bai’s bold move had indeed caused a considerable stir, but it had also been unavoidable, because enemy infiltration had already reached a dangerously serious level.

Even after such a sweeping purge, there could still be fish that slipped through the net.

So Jiang Bai decided to focus on thoroughly inspecting the army, ensuring that no hidden danger remained.

He would never allow the enemy to probe the performance of the advanced weapons in their possession.

If the enemy came to know their weaknesses before a single shot was fired, that was something Jiang Bai could not accept.

Therefore, he specifically instructed Duan Peng to organize intensive searches on a regular basis.

Jiang Bai believed that through repeated cleansing operations, the Japanese intelligence network in Chengyun would surely suffer a heavy blow.

Once that network was dismantled, their intelligence-gathering ability would be sharply reduced.

That was precisely the result Jiang Bai wanted to see.

Meanwhile, inside the Japanese military headquarters, Buxin was speaking with the newly appointed garrison division commander, Tianyuan Yize.

In the recent turmoil, Buxin had not only escaped unscathed but had unexpectedly been promoted to general.

This made him exceptionally pleased with himself.

He was a rare case in Japanese history: a man who had risen directly from the intelligence service to the rank of general.

Added to that, with the garrison’s elite force annihilated and Lieutenant General Tianye, the man in charge of the operation, dismissed from his post, Buxin’s position within the Japanese army had become rock solid.

However, resentment toward him still lingered among the army’s higher ranks. The glaring contrast between Tianye’s dismissal and Buxin’s promotion only deepened suspicions that he might have been pulling strings from the shadows.

“Commander Tianyuan, the latest intelligence shows that Jiang Bai’s troops are intensifying their training. Their ammunition consumption is astonishing.”

“Clearly, they have improved the army’s training methods, using large-scale live-fire drills to enhance combat effectiveness.”

“And without a doubt, their target is us.”

Buxin’s tone carried unmistakable concern.

As Jiang Bai’s stance grew harder, relations between the two sides became increasingly strained, as though a spark could ignite the whole situation at any moment.

If war broke out, the Chengyun region under his responsibility would be the first target.

For the newly promoted Buxin, that was the last thing he wanted.

If the defense held, all might still be well, but if it failed, his hard-won general’s stars would surely be lost.

After hearing this, Tianyuan Yize also showed a look of worry.

“As you said, the speed at which Jiang Bai’s forces are expanding is truly astonishing.”

“It poses a tremendous threat to us.”

“If war breaks out, we will need to commit at least five first-class divisions just to stand against them.”

“Even if we can defeat them, fully occupying that land will not be easy.”

“Much less if the Old Marshal pours in even more troops.”

“Then we may have to deploy still more forces.”

Considering that the Japanese total strength amounted to only seventeen divisions, this was undoubtedly a daunting challenge.

If five full divisions were truly mobilized despite the incomplete overall order of battle, the number of troops involved would come close to one hundred and sixty thousand.

For the Japanese, this would unmistakably be a major campaign.

When Tianyuan Yize finished his analysis, Buxin frowned and said, “Do we really need to commit so many troops just to oppose Jiang Bai?”

“Isn’t that a bit of overkill?”

Tianyuan Yize explained helplessly, “Commander, you may have overlooked the changes in the Seventh Front Army now under Jiang Bai’s command.”

“The large number of new weapons they have introduced means we need the strength of at least five divisions just to offer basic resistance.”

“If the fighting turns into a prolonged stalemate, we may need to gather even more men.”

“Given their natural geographic advantages, while our Chengyun Province is flat terrain.”

“Once the enemy launches mass attacks, it will be very difficult for us to stop them completely without superior numbers.”

Buxin was silent for a moment, then said slowly, “In that case, we really cannot allow Jiang Bai’s strength to keep growing unchecked.”

“We must find a way to contain it.”

“At the same time, increase intelligence gathering on this mysterious army.”

“As the old saying goes, to win a hundred battles and never be defeated, one must know both oneself and the enemy.”

Just as they were discussing intelligence work, a messenger rushed in and reported anxiously:

“Something terrible has happened!”

Seeing the messenger’s panic, Buxin frowned and reminded him, “Remember your station. As a warrior of the dynasty, maintain your bearing.”

“Take a deep breath before reporting.”

After being reprimanded, the messenger calmed somewhat and continued:

“Report to Your Excellency, our intelligence network in the Chengyun system has suffered a devastating blow.”

“Multiple intelligence stations have been wiped out in one sweep, and many agents have been arrested or expelled!”

“Even the Literary Academy has been shut down by Chengyun. The situation is extremely grave!”

Buxin and Tianyuan Yize exchanged a glance, each seeing shock in the other’s eyes.

Buxin, in particular, was shaken. As a former intelligence officer, he understood all too well that this meant the start of a great purge.

Darkly, he said, “They actually dared to do this?”

“Before I even made a move, they struck first!”

At once, Buxin ordered, “Inform the intelligence department immediately. All personnel are to go into concealment and avoid any unnecessary exposure!”