Chapter 5
The Road Less Traveled
April 13th, 1936…Imperial Security HQ, Changchun …
Li stood in the outer room of Chin’s offices, impatiently waiting for Chin’s secretary to tell him it was okay to enter Chin’s office. After what seemed a lifetime, the secretaries phone rang and Li was ushered into see the Minister.
“I hope this is important Li? I am a busy man” said Chin in an impatient tone.
Li walked up and laid some forms in front of Minister Chin. “Sir, I need your signature on the authorization forms for the operation in Hailar.”
Chin stopped what he was doing and looked down at the form and then back up at Li. “Still pursuing that foolishness?”
“Yes sir. But, as I told the Minister before, if I find nothing of value I will drop the investigation. I just want to make sure we have covered everything. Then we can say that we did our duty”, said Li.
Chin snorted. “Duty! What do you know about duty? Your starting to take this tin soldier stuff a little too seriously Li. Why don’t you stick to what your good at, shaking down shopkeepers for pocket change.”
Li stared at the wall above Chin’s head as he replied. “I do not think that the payments you are now receiving would be considered pocket change. Besides, you did say that once I took care of that problem, you would authorize the funds for the Hailar operation…Sir.”
Chin grabbed a pen and hastily scrawled his signature at the bottom of the form. “This is it Major. If you don’t find anything concrete this time, this investigation of yours is over. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes sir. Am I dismissed sir?” asked Li, picking up the now signed form.
Chin stared at Li with disgust on his face. “Get out!”
Thirty minutes later, Li was walking into his squad room. He got the attention of Cutter, Pinch, and Chen and motioned them into his office. When they had all gathered there and closed the door, Li sat down and laid the authorization form on the desk.
“We now have the funds for the Hailar operation. Cutter, Chen, have your men get their gear together, uniforms and civilian clothes. We will be leaving tomorrow. We will meet later tonight at the house and discuss plans for the operation. Any questions?”
Chen cleared his throat. “Yes sir. What weapons do you want us to check out?”
“Good question”, said Li as he considered this. After a moment, “Have them check out their rifles, just in case, pistols, and bring their clubs and any personal weapons that suit their fancy. No heavies, we wont need them, and no explosives.”
Chen nodded.
“Any other questions?” asked Li. Both men nodded in the negative. “Fine, inform your men. I will see you later this evening.”
Both men stood and walked out. Li looked at Pinch. “Guess you have figured out that you are not going?”
“Yeah, I figured it out”, said Pinch with a smile. “Is that because you figure I am too busy to go?”
Li smiled back. “I know you are too busy to go, but I am going to borrow Duang from you for the operation. That ok?”
Pinch though for a moment. “Yeah, I can spare him.”
“So, how is your little investigation going?” asked Li. He tried to hide the anticipation in his voice, but he was not sure if he was successful.
“It’s going”, replied Pinch, but said nothing else.
“And?”
“And, it’s going. I’m not finished, not by a long shot, and you know how I work. I will lay it out for you when I am done. That way I don’t have to answer any dumb questions. If you have a question after you read my report, it means I don’t have an answer”, replied Pinch in mock indignation.
Li sighed, knowing that was all the answer he was going to get.
“So, you’re still caught up in this rebellion thing, huh?” asked Pinch.
Li looked out the window. “I just want to see this thing through. Something has been bothering me about it, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Besides, if I don’t find anything in Hailar, it is dead in the water anyway. Chin won’t front anymore money for it. I guess my curiosity has just gotten the better of me” he said, shrugging his shoulders.
“Yeah, that seems to be going around these days. Wonder if I can find a cure in one of those herbalist’s shops?” asked Pinch in serious tone.
“Won’t find anything to cure that in one of those shops. The cure for that particular ailment is usually a bullet”, said Li with a laugh as they both got up and walked out of the office.