“Xu Ze, do you really have confidence?” General Yang Guanglian looked at Xu Ze and spoke very seriously. Although he knew Xu Ze’s skills were extremely formidable, and that he had even dealt with those special Japanese ninjas before, he had only thought of Xu Ze because he had no other choice and wondered whether Xu Ze might be able to complete the mission.
Looking at the serious expression on Minister Yang’s face, Xu Ze nodded and said, “I have confidence. This mission suits me best. I also think that apart from me, no other comrade is equally skilled in both acupuncture and Japanese!”
“Very well… since you are confident, then make your preparations. Tomorrow morning you will fly to Japan… You must complete this mission as quickly as possible. Try your best to rescue that comrade, but if it is impossible… then act according to circumstances while guaranteeing your own safety… Even if the intelligence cannot be obtained, you must still protect the other Third Bureau comrades in Japan!” Minister Yang looked at Xu Ze and said in a deep voice.
“Yes… Minister…” Xu Ze stood up solemnly and saluted.
“Mm… you may go. If you complete this mission, I will record another first-class merit for you…” Minister Yang looked at Xu Ze and said with a light smile. “However, you are already a senior colonel now. If you are to be promoted again, there is temporarily no way to do so…”
“That is fine, Minister… Even if you do not promote me, I still have to go… Just keep it on record for me… When there is another time, you can settle it with me then…” Xu Ze said with a grin.
When Sun Lingfei heard that Xu Ze was going to another place to carry out an inspection mission, she was also full of reluctance. She had originally thought that when she returned to Yanjing tomorrow, she would be able to see Xu Ze. But who would have thought that Xu Ze would actually call and mention this matter, immediately dimming the excitement she had originally felt.
But there was no way around it. A mission was a mission. She could not simply not go. So at that moment she could only say helplessly, “Then about when will you come back?”
“Mm… there are still twelve days until the New Year. I can be back before the New Year…” Xu Ze said to Sun Lingfei with a smile over the phone.
“All right then… Be careful, and try to come back as early as possible…”
Early the next morning, Xu Ze met Elder Guo, the old director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute, whom he had not seen for a long time. Seeing Xu Ze, a trace of deep puzzlement and surprise flashed through Elder Guo’s eyes. He had not expected that the person the country asked him to recommend to the Japanese was actually Xu Ze.
Elder Guo naturally knew that the person arranged by the country this time had a special mission. But when he saw Xu Ze, although he was extremely surprised and puzzled, he did not ask anything. He only said gently, “On this trip to a foreign country, be careful in all things…”
“Director, rest assured… I will definitely be careful!” Xu Ze respected Elder Guo greatly, and when he saw Elder Guo he was also very surprised. At this moment, hearing Elder Guo’s earnest words, and the deep care and concern in them, Xu Ze was very moved.
Seeing that Elder Guo was actually an old acquaintance of Xu Ze, and that there even seemed to be some kind of mentor-disciple bond between them, the officer from the General Staff’s Foreign Liaison Department who had come along was very surprised. However, seeing that the two only spoke a few cautious words, he relaxed. He knew both of them were very sensible and cautious people. Still, this Foreign Liaison officer made up his mind that afterward he definitely had to remind this old gentleman a few more things.
The two assistants from Japan’s Akita Corporation were very surprised by Xu Ze’s youth. But after all, he had been fully recommended by two old gentlemen from the Huaxia Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute, so the two assistants still treated Xu Ze with great respect, chatting warmly with him in fluent Chinese.
After chatting for a while, the two were very satisfied with Xu Ze. In addition, after the two old professors vowed that within the country there was absolutely no one whose acupuncture skills could surpass the person before them, they happily drove respectfully toward the airport with Xu Ze.
On the plane, the two Japanese were extremely polite. Not only did they arrange for Xu Ze to sit in business class, but they also deferred to Xu Ze in everything, truly being very courteous. This made Xu Ze sigh with emotion quite a bit…
After getting off the plane at Tokyo Airport, the two Japanese politely helped Xu Ze with his luggage. After carefully guiding Xu Ze all the way out through the VIP channel, a stretched Mercedes limousine was already waiting at the entrance. A driver in a black suit and white gloves stood respectfully waiting nearby.
Seeing the two assistants leading Xu Ze over, the driver bowed respectfully, then looked at Xu Ze and said very respectfully in Chinese, “Mr. Xu, you have had a hard journey…” Then he opened the car door and carefully held it open, inviting Xu Ze to get in.
Seeing such a display, Xu Ze could not help but become extremely curious about the president of this Akita Corporation. Even the driver had been specially arranged to understand Chinese. This president really knew how to be considerate.
The Mercedes drove steadily along the highway without the slightest bump. Xu Ze casually looked outside through the window.
In his whole life, apart from going to Africa last time, he really had never been abroad. Now that he had come to Japan, he was somewhat curious and looked around.
Seeing Xu Ze’s curious expression, the assistant beside him thoughtfully introduced the scenery on both sides and so on, and said that once the treatment was finished, he would definitely invite Mr. Xu to tour around Japan.
Xu Ze was quite satisfied with this assistant’s arrangements. The main purpose of coming this time was to complete the mission. As for sightseeing, that was secondary. However, if there was an opportunity to sightsee and take advantage of it to complete the mission, that would be best of all.
After the Mercedes had driven for two hours, it finally turned into a small road. Along the way, Xu Ze saw traffic coming and going, but few cars honked casually. Moreover, even though there were quite a few residences on both sides of the road, it was actually very clean. Not even a scrap of paper or other debris could be seen. This could not help but make him marvel.
Although he had never had a good impression of Japanese people, and this time when coming to Japan he intended to not mind killing a few more Defense Agency people while completing his mission, in certain respects he still had to admire the Japanese.
The house of this Akita Corporation president was a rather large courtyard residence, built according to the style of ancient Japanese gardens. In the courtyard there were ponds and small pavilions and so on, giving quite the feeling of being transported to Japan’s ancient Warring States period.
The two assistants led Xu Ze into one of the small courtyards. Inside the small courtyard, a beautiful Japanese girl in a kimono was waiting. Seeing Xu Ze come in, she bowed carefully, then fetched wooden clogs for Xu Ze and placed them by his feet, which made Xu Ze feel rather unused to it.
He had not expected that this president would not arrange for him to stay in a hotel, but instead directly have him stay in his own home.
After the two assistants helped Xu Ze put away his suitcase, one of them smiled respectfully at Xu Ze and said, “Mr. Xu, please rest well… This afternoon the president will invite you to dinner…”
Then the two bowed and carefully withdrew.
After the two withdrew, the kimono-clad girl kneeling nearby smiled and bowed to Xu Ze, then said in clear and accurate Chinese, “Mr. Xu… you must be tired from the journey. The bath has already been prepared with hot water. You can first rest and clean up. I will prepare two dishes for you… How does that sound?”
At first Xu Ze did not feel that he needed a bath, but upon arriving here, it was natural to follow the host’s arrangements. In the afternoon he still had to dine with their president, and making himself a little cleaner for a first meeting was also polite…
So he nodded and followed the kimono-clad girl toward a small wooden house at the back…
Entering the bathroom, sure enough, hot water had already been prepared in a large wooden tub. Fortunately, the girl did not, as Xu Ze had imagined, try to undress him or anything. She only scattered some flower petals into the tub, then carefully withdrew.
Xu Ze took off his clothes and got into the wooden tub, soaking comfortably for a while. It felt extremely pleasant. Although the journey had consisted only of flying and riding in a car, it had still taken several hours, so he really was a little tired. After soaking like this for a while, his whole body felt much more refreshed.
After soaking for a while, he came out and took a set of comfortable, soft clothes that the kimono-clad girl had placed nearby and put them on.
Seeing Xu Ze come out, the kimono-clad girl led him to another room. In the room was a small table, on which were placed several Chinese-style dishes and a small bucket of rice.
Xu Ze walked over and sat down on a soft cushion beside it. The kimono-clad girl came over and carefully served him rice, smiling as she said, “I was not sure whether you were used to our food here, so I specially prepared some Chinese dishes for you. I hope you like them!”
Xu Ze smiled and nodded, then said, “Sorry to trouble you…”
“You are too polite!” A shy smile appeared on the kimono-clad girl’s beautiful face. After bowing slightly, she said, “Please enjoy your meal. A room is also prepared over there. After you finish eating, you can rest for a while. Then I will come call you at dinner time!”
After the kimono-clad girl withdrew, Xu Ze finally let out a sigh of relief. These Japanese really were polite, but too polite. He was somewhat unused to it.
Xu Ze rested well for a while. Then, toward evening, the first two assistants finally came over and took Xu Ze to meet their president.
Only then did Xu Ze realize that this courtyard was much larger than he had imagined. They walked for quite a long time and turned two corners before arriving in front of a separate small house.
One of the assistants stepped forward, carefully opened the door for Xu Ze, then bowed and invited him in.
After Xu Ze walked in, he saw an old Japanese man in a kimono sitting in front of a small table, smiling as he looked at him. Seeing Xu Ze enter, he bowed slightly and said a few words!
