Lost and Spy

Chapter 3337 Missing Lieutenant Colonel
Capturing a Japanese lieutenant general and top-secret documents was definitely a big deal for the Allies.

Because Fukuriya Shige was injured in his leg when the plane crashed, it took the Badru guerrillas seven nights to break through the Japanese blockade and send him to the base in Cushing deep in the mountains.

The disappearance of Koga and Fukuru Shige also caused great shock within the Japanese army.

After confirming that Fukurumushige's plane crashed in the waters off Cebu, the Japanese army ordered the Cebu Island garrison to find traces of Lieutenant General Fukurumushige and his party as soon as possible.

Lieutenant Commander Onishi Masato was ordered to lead hundreds of Japanese troops to conduct a comprehensive search on the island. Finally, it was discovered that Shigeru Fukuru and others had been captured by the guerrillas, and they immediately surrounded the guerrilla base area.

In order to ensure the safety of Furu Shige, Lieutenant Commander Onishi sent people into the mountains to negotiate with Cushing, demanding that the guerrillas must return the prisoners in their hands, otherwise all villages would be burned down and all civilians executed.

For the safety of the Filipino people, Cushing telegraphed to MacArthur that the briefcase could be delivered to Negros Island, but the captured Lieutenant General Fukurun Shige and others were not sure that it would be delivered at the same time.

At this time, MacArthur showed his self-centered and stubborn side, calling back and ordering Cushing that "prisoners must be detained at all costs!"

Cushing only had 25 men under his command, but Onishi commanded more than ten times the Japanese troops. They were shrinking the encirclement and pressing forward step by step. MacArthur's orders could not be implemented at all.

In order to avoid large-scale Japanese retaliation and massacre of innocent Filipino civilians, Cushing telegraphed MacArthur that he decided to release the Japanese prisoners.

MacArthur was furious and immediately called back to remove Cushing from his position as commander of the Cebu guerrillas, and his rank was directly reduced from lieutenant colonel to private.

Cushing, who was demoted to private, ignored MacArthur's order. While ordering someone to deliver the briefcase to the designated location, he asked Shige Fukurum to write a letter to Lieutenant Colonel Onishi, asking Onishi to promise not to take retaliatory punitive actions as a condition for exchanging prisoners of war.

Daxi surrendered and agreed to Cushing's conditions, and the two parties finally reached an agreement.

Cushing sent someone to send Fukuriya Shige and others down the mountain on stretchers.

The briefcase was successfully sent to Negro Island, and a US submarine took it back to Australia.

Although MacArthur could never let go of Cushing's failure to carry out his order to detain the prisoners, the entire U.S. military agreed that the documents captured by Cushing's Cebu guerrillas were the most valuable Japanese top-secret information captured by the U.S. military during the war. Not only did the Japanese army's "Z" operation fail, but it also enabled the US military to completely understand the Japanese army's telegram code, which was of extremely important significance to the US military's future march into the Philippines.

Although Cushing disobeyed MacArthur's orders and released Lieutenant General Fukurun Shige, his action in disrupting the Japanese "Z" operation still made great achievements for the Allies.

Afterwards, in view of the breakthrough of Operation "Z", Cushing was restored from private to lieutenant colonel again.

However, the arrogant MacArthur believed that Cushing was a guy who disobeyed orders, especially his own orders. Such a person should never be used.

Ironically, MacArthur said he couldn't use it, but from the time he implemented the landing on Luzon Island to the full-scale operation, Cushing always played a huge role.

Even MacArthur had to admit privately:
"I don't like to eat carrots, but they are included in many dishes because they are essential."

As U.S. forces landed on Luzon, restored Manila, and gradually established superiority in the Philippines, MacArthur returned to Cushing.

If he had been able to bring Fu Liushi to him at all costs, then capturing a Japanese lieutenant general would have been a brilliant addition to his military career.

As for how many Filipinos the Japanese army would massacre in revenge?

That has nothing to do with MacArthur.

However, Cushing's approach shattered MacArthur's dream.

On the eve of the landing of the US military, the United States had already extended its claws to the Philippine guerrillas and was waiting for the landing operation. Almost most of the Philippine guerrillas were controlled by the Americans.

Except for the "Philippine People's Anti-Japanese Army", it has always insisted on fighting independently.

Although Cushing did not belong to the People's Anti-Japanese Army, he maintained close ties with this guerrilla armed force.

MacArthur came up with a "genius" idea.

He ordered Cushing to immediately contact the Overseas Chinese Detachment of the Philippine People's Anti-Japanese Army and requested that additional US military advisers be sent to the Overseas Chinese Detachment and fully accept the command of the US military.

Chinese people know how to fight, and overseas Chinese also have this talent.

After Japan occupied the Philippines, the overseas Chinese detachment was heavily surrounded by Japanese troops and had almost no chance of survival.

However, in such a bad situation, the overseas Chinese detachment overcame many difficulties and marched on foot in the deep mountains and forests for 2 days, passing through places under the jurisdiction of 3 communes and towns in 36 provinces. The journey was 500 kilometers long and they successfully escaped from the Japanese encirclement. .

When the Americans comprehensively suppressed and took over the Philippine guerrillas, in accordance with the requirements of the People's Anti-Japanese Army, the overseas Chinese detachment repeatedly rejected the leadership of the Americans and insisted on the policy of cooperating with the Allies but operating independently.

This made MacArthur regard the People's Anti-Japanese Army, including the overseas Chinese detachment, as a thorn in his side.

But the fighting in the Philippines is still continuing, and the cooperation of these guerrillas is still needed.The overseas Chinese detachment was familiar with the terrain, used the support of the local Filipinos, and was good at transfer, leaving MacArthur completely helpless.

At this time, he issued such an order to Cushing, knowing full well that the overseas Chinese detachment would definitely refuse, so he had an excuse.

He even asked his men to prepare a set of private uniforms, and said proudly: "When that damn private comes back after failing the mission, let him put on the military uniforms he should wear, and send him to the forefront of the battle. Let his commander charge him at gunpoint!"

Cushing was a lieutenant colonel, but in MacArthur's eyes, he was just a private!

However, MacArthur's plan failed.

Cushing, missing!

He disappeared after accepting the mission.

Live without people, dead without corpses.

Later, an American spy lurking in the overseas Chinese detachment brought news.

Cushing successfully contacted the overseas Chinese detachment and met with the detachment leader Lin Fuping.

By the next day, Cushing had disappeared from the overseas Chinese detachment camp.

It took a lot of effort for American spies to get the news. Cushing decided not to work for the Americans anymore, quietly left the US military, evacuated the Philippines, and stayed away from MacArthur's forces.

Moreover, if he wants to leave the Philippines, his only way out now is through the Port of Manila.

MacArthur was furious after receiving the news and ordered Cushing to be captured at all costs.

The person guarding the Manila Port is Lieutenant Colonel Charles:
Meng Shaoyuan!
Therefore, at MacArthur's signal, his close friend Tian Qi, head of the Southwest Pacific Theater of the Office of Strategic Intelligence, "issued" an order to Meng Shaoyuan:

Arrest Cushing!

In addition to this formal order, Tian Qi also sent a separate telegram to Meng Shaoyuan.In the telegram, Tian Qi clearly told MacArthur why he hated MacArthur so much and why he was eager to catch Cushing.

In the case of Lieutenant General Fukurun Shige, MacArthur’s telegram ordered that “prisoners must be detained at all costs!”

Cushing later called back and reported his concerns that Filipino civilians would be massacred by Japanese troops.

MacArthur was furious. In addition to revoking Cushing's position as lieutenant colonel, he also appointed Cushing's successor and also sent a telegram to his successor.

The telegram clearly stated that Lieutenant General Fukudome Shige was of great significance to the Allied Forces and would not hesitate to sacrifice all surrounding civilians when necessary.

Unfortunately, Lieutenant General Shigeru Furume was later released by Cushing.

Afterwards, MacArthur's designated successor stated that he had never received the telegram.

Now, things get serious.

Cushing seized the telegram.

Cushing's earliest telegram to MacArthur clearly stated the bad situation at that time.

The Japanese Lieutenant Commander Onishi threatened that if the guerrillas did not hand over the prisoners, they would burn down all the villages and execute all civilians.

MacArthur's first reply was: "Prisoners must be detained at all costs!"

“At any cost” means that all Filipinos are expendable.

In the telegram to Cushing's successor, he once again said, "When necessary, we will not hesitate to sacrifice all the surrounding civilians!"

These telegrams should all be in Cushing's hands.

Cushing had been leading his own small-scale guerrilla operations, and MacArthur never had the opportunity to summon Cushing in person.

When MacArthur sent Cushing to perform the mission, he was also prepared.

One is that Cushing's mission failed and he was immediately recalled for this reason.

Second, if Cushing refuses, MacArthur will have a reason to immediately send troops to destroy his small guerrilla army!
But Cushing didn't do that.

He is missing!
Once he makes MacArthur's telegram public, it will inevitably cause an uproar in the Philippines.

What is the difference between a general who regards civilian lives as trivial and the brutal Japanese army?
This will inevitably seriously affect MacArthur's future career!

At the very least, it will leave him with a stain that can never be erased!

This was intolerable to MacArthur, who thought highly of himself.

Keston is an absolutely brilliant man.

When he learned Cushing's identity and MacArthur personally ordered Cushing's capture, he made excuses and left.

He did not read another telegram from Tian Qi to Meng Shaoyuan.

I am a businessman myself.

It's better not to know some things yourself.

Let them handle matters within the army themselves.

Unless Lieutenant Colonel Charles has something to ask for.

"The disappearance was probably the idea given to Cushing by Lin Fuping, the leader of the Overseas Chinese Detachment." Meng Shaoyuan struck a match and lit the telegram Tian Qi gave him: "It's a good idea. This can be the most direct way to avoid MacArthur. But , I think that although MacArthur looks furious now, he is actually snickering in his heart."

"Why?" Li Zhifeng didn't quite understand.

"MacArthur was looking for an opportunity to deal with Cushing, but he tried to avoid it." Meng Shaoyuan watched the telegram gradually burn to ashes: "He was very worried that Cushing would do something drastic if he was pressed. However, at this moment, Cushing Xin ran away and now he is a deserter.

No matter what charges MacArthur laid on Cushing, he could not defend himself. He was now a fugitive. "

Li Zhifeng frowned: "But Cushing still has those telegrams in his hand."

"What does that mean? Have you heard a saying among us Chinese, antiques in prosperous times are gold in troubled times." Meng Shaoyuan said lightly: "Many antiques are priceless treasures. In the prosperous times, the trend is very high, but when the war breaks out, antiques are replaced by gold." If you can’t have money, you can’t fill your stomach. Only gold is the real hard currency!”

Speaking of this, he couldn't help but think of some public figures of his own time, who preached about reducing the country's gold reserves and buying more U.S. debt.

The results of it?
He smiled bitterly and said: "Now, the telegrams in Cushing's hands are like a batch of antiques, which are obviously worth a lot of money, but they can't get rid of them. Cushing wants to publish these telegrams. According to the current situation in the Philippines, what can he do? channel?
There is zero journalism in the Philippines, all mouthpieces are in the hands of the Americans, and any news items must be reviewed by the wartime information management department.Where could Cushing go to show his people this?
MacArthur was very careful about him, but now the 'rat' has escaped, and he has escaped on charges of desertion, which allows MacArthur to arrest him freely.MacArthur's judgment was correct. Cushing's only escape route was the Port of Manila. As long as the Port of Manila was blocked, he would have nowhere to go.

The most disadvantageous thing for Cushing now is that as time goes by, the value of these telegrams in his hands will become less and less. "

"Why?" Li Zhifeng was even more confused.

What to say?

Once the Philippines was liberated, MacArthur was undoubtedly a major contributor.

At this time, the voices that were unfavorable to him would quickly be drowned out.

Then, there is North Korea.

The U.S. government will try every means to help him hide a lot of things.

"In short, Cushing's situation is very dangerous at the moment." Meng Shaoyuan did not answer directly, but frowned and said: "From Tian Qi's telegram, it seems that we hope that we can keep Cushing. Maybe he is still useful.

In any case, Cushing's life or death has little to do with us, but if we can capture Cushing, we have two options. One is to use him for our own benefit.Even if we can't do what we want, at least we can hand this person over to Tian Qi and let him make a great contribution again! "

"I know, I'm going back."

Just when Li Zhifeng said it, Meng Shaoyuan said: "You don't have to do it. Let Xie Changcheng handle this matter. I estimate that Cushing's photos will be delivered soon. Go tell Xie Changcheng not to make a big move. The outside is loose and the inside is tight. Cushing I will definitely come to Manila Port to test it out.”

As he said that, he stood up and took the cigarette: "You stay here. It's time to close the net on Colonel Dillon's line! We must open up this line to ensure that the gold can be transported safely. out!"

(End of this chapter)