Chapter 9 Chapter 6 Funds of the Gods
Nakakubo Kyosuke got in touch with Otuo Shibayama and met for the first time at an inconspicuous cafe in Yotsuya.
Prior to this, Nakakubo tried three or four times to get in touch with Otoo Shibayama who was introduced in Arisume Shinzo's letter.However, Shibayama Otome is very cautious.Nakakubo tried two or three methods, and finally arranged the meeting.
The cafe was also designated by the other party.
When he saw Zhishan Otuo, he turned out to be a gentle and honest middle-aged gentleman.His hair is already grey, but his face is full of red, and his thick black eyebrows are especially impressive.
When the two met for the first time in a cafe, they felt a little awkward.As soon as Nakakubo was about to talk about something serious, Zhishan stopped him.
"Let's learn another place later."
However, the two people who met for the first time did not have much to talk about.They just said some polite words and walked out of the cafe.
It was about eight o'clock in the evening.This moment was also agreed by Zhishan on the phone.
"Let me lead the way."
Zhishan said briefly, stopped a passing taxi, and told the driver to drive towards Ueno.
In the car, the two of them couldn't help being a little embarrassed because they had no common topic. "Today's weather hahaha", and then I couldn't continue.
Nakakubo Kyosuke knew that the car was driving along the edge of the Shinobi Pond.He was a little uneasy, not knowing where he would take him, but he made an appointment first, so he had no choice but to trust Zhishan Otome.
The car stopped at a place on a residential street.There are few street lights in that area.On the stone wall are rows of tall houses.
He was taken into a small hotel.Under the illumination of the light, a gorgeous font name appeared on the plain glass signboard: "Huayue".
Otoo Shibayama walked in the door.He greeted the people in the hotel and immediately called Nakakubo Kyosuke in.They climbed narrow stairs into a squalid room of about half a dozen mats.
"This kind of house is convenient." Shibayama Otome smiled in his eyes under his thick eyebrows. "None of us will run into acquaintances here."
The mats and paper partitions in this room were rough and chilly.The two sat opposite each other across the vermilion table with peeling paint, drinking the tea brought by the old woman.
"It's been really rude for a while."
Only then did Shibayama Otome really exchange pleasantries.There was an apology in the words, because Kyosuke Nakakubo contacted him, but he didn't respond for a long time.
Kyosuke Nakakubo explained his background at the beginning.He also made it clear that Yumo Jinzao introduced him to Zhishan.
Shibayama Otome currently sells auto parts as a business.But Nakakubo did not contact the place where he did business directly.He was contacted indirectly, and everything was done according to the instructions written on the back of Shibayama's business card given to him by Shinzo Arime.
Otoo Shibayama asked Nakakubo Kyosuke's true intentions again.Nakakubo Kyosuke honestly explained all the reasons for his visit.If there is a little concealment in this regard, the other party will become suspicious and refuse to talk about anything.
"Actually, I also received a letter from Yumo-kun," said Shibayama Otome. "You have contacted me several times, but this is not something you can do casually."
Zhishan seems to be the same as Youmo, an extremely cautious person.
Nothing was discussed at the first meeting, and the relationship between the two people was not harmonious enough.Initially, both sides were trying to figure out what was going on with each other.There is a wall between the two people, which hinders the blending of friendship.
At the beginning, we talked about the situation of Mo Jin Zao.In the current situation, he is the only common topic for the two people.
There are not many guests coming and going in this hotel.It's just that when talking, you can occasionally hear footsteps walking up the stairs gently.
After Nakakubo Kyosuke and Shibayama met five or six times, Zhishan began to talk about the "situation" bit by bit.Nakakubo Kyosuke has been patiently waiting for Shibayama Kaikou.
"As Yumo-kun said, I was a good friend of the late economic commentator Jiang Muwu. For a while, I also assisted him in his work."
Zhishan talked like this.
Regarding Jiang Muwu, Kyosuke Kubo already knew the general situation.There is a letter from Mojin Zao that explains:
"When you mention Mr. Jiang Muwu, you will immediately think of this name. As an economic commentator, he is famous for his keen analysis ability on economic issues, and his reasoning is sharp and clear. He became the darling of the press for a while.
"This man went to America two years ago as an economic inspector. You may have read in the papers that, on his return before the end of his term of office, he suffered from a nervous breakdown and died of an overdose of sleeping pills. It was also concluded that he committed suicide."
After receiving the letter from Arisume Jinzao, Nakakubo tried his best to find the article written by Eki Mu and read it.Some articles have been compiled into books, and some are only published in comprehensive magazines.
As an economic commentator, Jiang Muwu is one of the pioneers after the war.Now re-reading his article, I only feel that his argument is correct, which cannot be compared with others.
He is worthy of being an official of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. He never plays empty and abstract theories in his pen, and always bases himself on specific situations.Because he was born in the investigation department, he has a wealth of information, and his analysis is based on numbers, which is a distinctive feature of his articles.It is not difficult to understand why this young official's article was easily accepted by the small postwar critics.
There are more than a dozen magazines that published Eki's articles collected by Nakakubo Kyousuke.From this we can see how actively and constantly he was engaged in writing.At that time, the newspapers reported that he suffered from neurasthenia and died shortly after returning to China. However, Mo Jinzo raised the following questions about this matter in his letter:
"But why did Mr. Jiang Muwu suffer from such a severe neurasthenia? Mr. Jiang Mu is proficient in English and graduated from a local university in the United States when he was young. The reason for his neurasthenia is definitely not that he does not know foreign languages or is lonely. It is clear. So what is the reason? All this is a mystery today. He did not leave a suicide note either. No, perhaps he did, but it was not published."
Arime Jinzo seemed to be implying that Jiang Muwu's death had something to do with some insider information in Japan at that time.
In order to gain some knowledge in advance, Nakakubo Kyosuke approached two or three economic commentators before meeting with Shibayama, and asked them about Ekiwu's situation.
They unanimously affirmed Jiang Muwu's talent.Of course, there were more or less criticisms, but no one denied that he was an outstanding economic commentator at that time.However, when Jiang Muwu's death was mentioned, one or two critics showed intriguing smiles.They just smiled so implicitly and stopped talking.
In order to clarify the mystery of Jiang Muwu, Kyosuke Nakakubo once asked a certain newspaper for information.The content is like this:
"Jiang Muwu was sent abroad by the Economic Bureau as the first economic inspector. But the longer he stayed in the United States, the more he worried that he would be forgotten by the Japanese press. It was difficult for him to enter the war. His ultimate goal is to resign from his official post in the future and serve as an editorial member of a newspaper or an economic commentator.
"If he lives in the United States for a long time, he will be forgotten by the ever-changing Japanese press. This is his distress. Based on this anxiety, he keeps sending reports on economic conditions from the United States to Japanese newspapers.
"I don't know if he was overly anxious. He kept telling people that he suffered from insomnia due to neurasthenia. When the news spread to the government office to which he belonged, some people whispered maliciously: Is Jiang Mu pretending to come back?" Sick. Some people guessed with jealousy: Jiang Mu probably wants to return to a popular position.
"Jiang Muwu returned to China in Showa 20X when he received such a cold reception from the office. When he got off the plane, his face was pale and his body was thin, not as plump as when he went abroad. He was immediately admitted to K Hospital After being admitted to the hospital, there were discussions in the hall that he was pretending to be sick, and some people said that he was really sick.
"He died a week or so after leaving the hospital, allegedly from an overdose of sleeping pills.
"Besides, after Jiang Mu returned to China, the office was quite anxious about what position he would ask for. What his superiors and colleagues were concerned about was whether he would go to the investigation bureau or research institute, or to the planning bureau. In a word, It was precisely because he was Jiang Muwu that he caused 'anxiety'.
"It is said that after Jiang Mu just returned to Japan, although he was mentally unable to support himself due to neurasthenia, he still said: 'Let me write this year's economic white paper. .
"It is speculated that the reason why he suffered from neurasthenia in the United States was due to factional disputes within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to which he belonged, so the research reports he submitted to the province were not taken seriously by his superiors, and the deputy minister at the time was very disgusted with him. "
"No, that's not true." Otoo Shibayama smiled slightly after reading the information provided by the newspaper that Kyosuke Nakakubo showed him. "Jiang Mu-kun's personality is basically like this. But I don't think he suffered from neurasthenia for such a reason. At first I also thought that things were just like what was written here. On this point, the newspaper's investigation was thorough. .”
Kyosuke Nakakubo asked:
"Then what is the reason?"
They still meet at that hotel.
"Don't worry, just listen to my order." Zhishan took off the glasses under his thick eyebrows and wiped them slowly. "Jiang Mujun revealed something to me before committing suicide."
"Hey, did Mr. Jiang Mu commit suicide?"
"I believe so. Mr. Jiang Mu often takes sleeping pills. I think he certainly knows the fatal dose. After taking sleeping pills, he took sleeping pills again while his family was out, and the amount was very large. Some people said that the overdose is Due to negligence, but it is said that Mr. Jiang Mu would not misuse sleeping pills."
"Is there a reason why Mr. Jiang Mu must die?"
"Yes. To be honest, Jiang Mu-jun was about to go blind at that time."
It was the first time Nakakubo Kyosuke heard of such a situation.
"What is the reason for that?"
"There was bleeding in the fundus, and it was quite serious."
"Have you ever had symptoms like that before?"
"No. Therefore, this is a serious blow to Mr. Jiang Mu. Since his relationship with the Ministry is not good, he originally planned to serve as a review committee member or economic critic of the newspaper. And he also has the practical ability in this regard. But except In addition to the troubles I told you just now, if he loses his eyesight, that's the end. He can be said to have lost his last hope. With Jiang Mu-kun's character, he would rather die than live meaninglessly. I think That’s no wonder.”
"Is there any reason for his fundus hemorrhage?"
"Yes." Zhishan nodded. "That was something he revealed to me after he returned to Japan. One night, Mr. Jiang Mu had a dinner in New York with the leading figures of the Japanese Overseas Chinese Comrades Association in the United States. After the meal, they went to the first-class nightclub in New York to have fun together, and He stayed overnight in a certain hotel. The next day he suddenly had a hemorrhage in his eyes."
"It seems that there must be some reason for it?"
"Jiang Mujun said that he fell into someone else's trick."
"Damn scheme?" Nakakubo Kyosuke stared again. "Whose trick is it?"
"I can't give a definite answer at the moment. Let me think about it." He hesitated and said, "That's all I can say. Eki-kun is an investigator. I think he has carefully investigated the postwar Japanese economy and the U.S. financial situation. The relationship between the industrial world. He is very analytical, and the investigation must also have his unique in-depth and meticulous aspects. However, during the investigation, he encountered a wonderful thing."
"Something wonderful?"
"I have to say it in such an abstract way. Jiang Mujun didn't even disclose it to me. It's a secret of great significance that I can't tell."
Nakakubo Kyosuke thought, this is strange.What did Jiang Mu encounter?
"You mean, Mr. Jiang Mu fell into someone else's trick because he discovered that thing?"
"To put it bluntly, I think so. But, Mr. Nakakubo, you may not believe it. It seems that I made it up. If I talk about it in detail, I think you will understand."
Zhishan closed his eyes and seemed to think about it for a while.
"Mr. Nakakubo," he said as if he had made up his mind, "I am now an auto parts seller in the market. I have heard a lot about Mr. Jiang Mu, and I also know a little about the content of his investigation. But it is impossible. I will tell you all about it. Even though I am a merchant in the city, I cannot talk about it. However, seeing your enthusiasm—or rather thirst for knowledge—I want to satisfy you as much as possible.”
"You mean to say..."
"Some things are inconvenient to talk about in person. I'll write it into an article and send it to you within a few days."
"Mr. Zhishan, although you say that, isn't it more dangerous to do that?"
"Of course. However, I'm asked to talk about it now. I haven't made up my mind yet. I want to think about it calmly and organize it into an article. Please burn it as soon as you finish reading it. I beg you to promise this."
"Obey, I will do it."
"I believe you. However, I can only talk about this point here: Among the leading figures of the Japanese Overseas Chinese Comrade Association in the United States who had dinner with Mr. Jiang Mu, one person is obviously connected with a certain faction. If Mr. Jiang Mu finds out some kind of If something is revealed, it will be embarrassing from the standpoint of that person. If it is just a company employee, it doesn't matter; because it is Mr. Jiang Mu, it will be difficult. As an official of the economic department, Mr. Jiang Mu has a brain Very sensitive; skillful as an investigator, with a sense of justice. If he leaks this secret in an economic commentary in the future, the other party will be in trouble."
About a week later, Nakakubo Kyosuke received a letter from Otoo Shibayama with the "article" attached.
Nakakubo Kyosuke couldn't wait to take it apart.
"—Are you all right?
"Although I promised you at the time, when I started writing, I had to consider various issues. However, I wrote as much as possible. However, please read it as a 'modern myth'. If it is said in the real world It's hard to believe that someone in the world did something like this. After reading it, you probably won't immediately think it's true. That's all right. Just read it as a modern myth.
"Furthermore, what I'm talking about below has something to do with the activities of the Special Investigation Department of the Prime Minister's Office that you heard from Yusuke-kun, so I think you will be interested to some extent.
"A few days ago I told you about the Comrades' Association in America. A person surnamed Osumi (pseudonym) who has served as the president of the Association for Japanese Overseas Chinese in the United States for a long time is a prominent figure among Japanese overseas Chinese in New York. This Osumi's daughter Married to someone like Naoyuki Hatakeyama, the general affairs director of a large steel company. This Mr. Hatakeyama graduated from Boston University, and he can be regarded as a second generation. Mrs. Hatakeyama is a leading figure in the social world. It is said that even senior US officials and senior military officers stationed in Japan Please attend her banquet with pleasure. Just like this, she depends a lot on her father's power in America and her husband Mr. Hatakeyama's power.
"Hatakeyama used to be the chairman of the Mining Alliance. After the war, Japan's largest steel company was disbanded and began to be divided into the so-called three major systems to operate. He was deeply supported by the Economic and Science Bureau, the Intelligence Department, and the Civil Affairs Bureau of the U.S. Army General Command. Reliance, the activities are carried out behind the scenes.
"In short, Mr. Hatakeyama and his father-in-law, Mr. Ohsumi, are important figures on the Japanese side who implement the Japan-US economic strategy behind the scenes.
"I have already mentioned about Eki-kun before. When Eki-kun attended the dinner in New York, Mr. Osumi was also present. Of course, it cannot be said that it was Mr. Osumi who indirectly shortened Eki-kun's life, but at least it can be inferred that among the group of people One used some means to blind Mr. Jiang Mu. The reason for Mr. Jiang Mu’s neurasthenia was not only the power struggle with the branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that was publicized in the society, the province’s lack of attention to his report, or his fear of Japan’s The press will forget him and feel anxious, etc. It must be because he got a glimpse of the secret economic funds between Japan and the United States in the process of interacting with powerful figures in the Japanese overseas Chinese organization headed by Mr. Ohsumi, and then One suffers from neurasthenia only when one fantasizes about being plotted against by someone and is frightened.
"Secret Funds—
"Perhaps you are laughing at this. You will think that is a myth. You may not believe that in the scientific world economic relations, there is still such a grotesque fund. But it actually exists. .”
When Kyosuke Nakakubo read this, he felt that he had encountered a black object that often swayed in his mind like a phantom.
Isn't what Shibayama Otome hinted at is V funds!
Shibayama Otuo's letter went on to say:
"It is difficult for the Special Investigation Department of the Prime Minister's Office to carry out its work with only the stipulated activity expenses (budget). You have heard this from Umo-kun many times. In Korea, the Investigation Department also conducts special work to make up for the shortage of activity expenses. However, it is extremely difficult to control the foreign intelligence network with the yen alone.
"In this way, the funds raised must be converted into US dollars no matter what. No matter how simple it is, we must consider setting up an external intelligence network. For this dual purpose, we opened a window to the outside world. This window is Mr. Osumi mentioned earlier. Mr. Naoyuki Hatakeyama, son-in-law and current director of general affairs of a major steel company, opened it. That is to say, Mr. Hatakeyama ordered the establishment of an office of a major steel company in Bonn, West Germany. So he exchanged the above-mentioned yen into US dollars and changed the name Deposited in foreign banks as funds for foreign intelligence activities.
"Here reminds me of Mr. S, Counselor of the Police Bureau. Mr. S was the head of the overseas branch of Japan's first foreign intelligence agency after the war. Since he is proficient in French, he is apparently stationed in Bonn as an embassy counselor. Mr. S concealed his identity as a police officer and appeared as an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"That is to say, the Japanese spy agency set up a branch in Bonn, West Germany. Here, Mr. S is responsible for collecting and sorting out intelligence, and exchanging US dollars at the window of the steel company office as operating funds.
"This is an example. When the late Jiang Mu-kun went to the United States as an economic inspector and was diligently conducting investigations, if he spied a secret organization similar to the above-mentioned organization—and it was a larger and more powerful organization— —As an 'outsider', his fate could be said to have been doomed at that time.
"After Jiang Mu-kun died, I left his side. Speaking of which, I have become a citizen, out of the position of observing such things. However, I still want to tell you a little about the reasons for Jiang Mu-kun's death. I think you should Think of the thing whose truth is not known as the 'international secret fund'. Furthermore, the existence of such a thing can be said to be the origin of modern mythology.
"You must have heard from Yumo-kun about the unimaginable disaster that happened in Bonn when the first Minister of Special Investigations of the Prime Minister's Office secretly traveled abroad.
"According to the above description, it can be seen that the branch of the Investigation Department is located in Bonn, which can also be said to be the residence of the police officers of the Ministry of the Interior. If there are Japanese bureaucrats (Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of International Trade and Industry) In the case of unique factional struggles, I think this kind of inference can be established: due to internal and external responses, the first minister became a victim of the power struggle between the two sides.
"Then, what is the thing that Jiang Muwu-kun encountered during his investigation - the entity of the international secret fund? This is something everyone wants to know. Jiang Mu-kun has probably also investigated desperately. I think , it is the monster hidden in the post-war Japanese economic circles, and has played a major role in the political and financial industry trends.
"Just mentioned the political circles and the financial industry circles. Fortunately, you are very close to the highest organization in the Japanese economic circles. I think you might as well rely on your own judgment to analyze its essence.
"But if I were to give an account of this simple conclusion, it would be this:
"I think that during the occupation of Japan, the United States put its huge secret working funds under the administration of the US General Command and its own country. However, after the occupation ended, they retreated. Of course, the administrator of this fund in Japan should be the A Japanese will be in charge. And the funds will never be simply placed in the bank's vault.
"It is conjectured that the funds may be invested in the large companies which form the basis of Japanese industry, or placed under the management of large Japanese banks with close ties to foreign countries. It may become stock in powerful companies and the capital of large restaurants, or It is also unknown whether it will function as a fund for intelligence activities in other ways.
"Let me give you a simple example.
"It's the notorious Kabia agency. It was originally led by Lieutenant General Eckberg of the Eighth Army in Yokohama, and later transferred to the US General Command and moved to Tokyo. How did this agency work with Collusion is still a semi-public topic today.
"However, just as a certain weekly magazine recently revealed, the Americans in the 'Dark Street' colluding with the agency at that time are still keeping that fund in the form of investment in the gaming facility in Tokyo.
"I think it's just a microcosm, and it's the most concrete reflection of what I imagine the substance of international clandestine funding will be.
"As for how powerful international secret funds have become in the Japanese economic circle, although it is only my imagination, I would like to ask you to gain insight based on the following conjectures.
"As a salesman of auto parts, I can't talk about such a major event as forecasting the international political situation. Besides, I have neither such high opinions nor systematic knowledge. Please read it as a myth. But I hope Remember that I was greatly influenced by the late Mr. Jiang Mu in my views.
"The above-mentioned international secret fund has various names. Some are named after the administrators of Japan and the United States, and some are named after the initials of the administrators before the word 'fund' according to the circumstances at the time of establishment.
"Not long after the U.S. occupation, the person who served as the economic counselor of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Japan was called Perkins. Just from the fact that someone called this person before the word 'fund', one can understand the origin of the fund." nature.
"According to newspaper reports, this Perkins visited Japan last time on behalf of the U.S. government. His task seems to be to determine the amount to be borne by both parties under the Mutual Security Act. According to the provisions of the Mutual Security Act, Japan has to consult with the U.S. government to decide The so-called share of defense costs.
"Therefore, Japan's budget cannot be determined without consultation to determine the sharing amount. A country can only prepare a budget after the figures instructed by other countries are determined. This also shows how harsh the terms of the mutual security law agreement are. .
"The fund for international activities based on this mutual security law agreement is the International Cooperation Agency Fund called the International Economic Cooperation Fund.
"And Perkins was sent to Japan by the U.S. government as a plenipotentiary representative who instructed the Japanese government to share the cost of the common security law and conducted consultations. This is of great significance. In the era of the Ministry of Finance, Major General Marquette of the Bureau of Economics and Science had the highest say in all aspects of finance, economy, industry, trade, and finance. Then, after the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan's finance, economy, industry, trade, and finance, etc. It can be said that the person in power in the financial and economic work of the United States is the former economic counselor of the US diplomatic mission in Japan Perkins. In this sense, it is just that the US diplomatic mission in Japan replaced the original US military headquarters. The Bureau of Economic Sciences at that time can now be said to be replaced by such a position as the Economic Counselor.
"Moreover, it is of decisive importance that this leader on the Japanese side is a big figure in Japanese politics, and no one can violate his authority.
"Then, how did this kind of authority come into being? And why do his confidants centered on this top politician enjoy such unshakable influence in Japanese politics?
"I'm too blunt, but it's inconvenient to name the politician here. Please think it over.
"Factions in the political world come together and part ways. But I think at least in the Japanese political world, the factions don't part ways because of morality or human feelings—that is to say, it is by no means this kind of concept that governs their activities. , but more materialistic factors. For example, material factors such as economic interests or power are disguised as morality and play a role.
"That's too far off topic.
"Besides, since there is such an international secret fund, what was the process of its establishment? Although the following is my speculation, you may think that this view has also been greatly influenced by the late Jiang Mu-kun."
Nakakubo Kyosuke continued to read.
"With regard to this 'secret international funding' that seems to exist between the United States and Japan, one has to start with the U.S. Army General Command itself during the occupation of Japan. Because this funding did not suddenly appear after the occupation ended, but in the It came into being during the occupation period. It can also be said that it was born, grew up and carried out activities closely following the history of the changes of the US General Command.
"The United States did not formulate an economic policy that put Japan to death from the very beginning. The original goal was to insist on destroying the Japanese military headquarters on the basis of the Potsdam Declaration, and to prevent the resistance and chaos of the Japanese people who surrendered.
"However, as the economic policy of the U.S. Army General Command has grown year after year, it has grasped the economic lifeline of the whole of Japan, and it will inevitably enter the stage of power. Following the old soldiers and fascists, the Zaibatsu was disbanded, The old plutocrats were purged, thus paving the way for the economic occupation of the United States that followed. The Japanese economy—from finance and finance to industrial production—was completely under the control of the Bureau of Economic Sciences. After the occupation was lifted, the Today, the strength of the Bureau of Economic Sciences still dominates everything in Japan. The planning and personnel trained during the occupation period still dominate Japan today.
"So no matter what, I have to make some explanations about Marquette, who is the director of the bureau, and also talk about the hidden agencies that have been active since the MacArthur era until now-the Intelligence Department of the U.S. Army General Command and the Civil Affairs Bureau. I don't know about these It is impossible to understand the role of this secret fund without knowing the situation of the institution.
"In the final analysis, the current situation in Japan can be said to be formed by the Ministry of Intelligence, the Bureau of Civil Affairs, and the Bureau of Economic Sciences. This means that the Bureau of Civil Intelligence and Education also has considerable influence. For example, the tasks of the Bureau of Civil Intelligence and Education It is to change the ideological tendency of the Japanese people by showing American films, and this kind of ideological work is actually accompanied by economic magic. That is to say, the profits from showing American films are accumulated into huge funds. Funding does not go to the Bureau of Civil Intelligence and Education but to the Bureau of Economic Sciences. As you know, there was a bitter struggle between the Ministry of Intelligence and the Bureau of Civil Affairs, and the Bureau of Economic Sciences is constantly cooperating with the Ministry of Intelligence in its behind-the-scenes activities. Therefore Therefore, the planned intelligence activities of the Ministry of Intelligence must also involve the Bureau of Economic Sciences.
"Therefore, the Bureau of Economic Sciences will also work on its own in the future, and will act as an agent of another agency of the Ministry of Intelligence in Southeast Asia and the Far East.
"However, there is another important situation here: before the U.S. General Command realized civil administration in Japan, Japan's politics and economy were all under the command of the U.S. Eighth Army Command, and all were under the command of Lieutenant General Eckberg. Until today, some The Japanese mistakenly believe that Japan is completely governed by a political institution called the U.S. General Command. However, as a political institution in the early days of the occupation, the existence of the Eighth Army Command cannot be ignored. That is to say, as early as the During the Eighth Army period, this hidden fund had already begun to accumulate.
"The power to dominate Japan held by the commander of the Eighth Army, Ekberg, was taken away by MacArthur overnight, and behind the scenes was the secret struggle between him and MacArthur.
"Eckberg's dismissal remains a mystery to this day, but the general fought back fiercely against MacArthur after returning to the United States, and finally played a part in Truman's dismissal of MacArthur. This is well known thing.
"But why did MacArthur dismiss Eckberg? The inside story is: the central organization of the U.S. Army General Command wants to seize the police power in Japan held by the Eighth Army and the funds and materials obtained through the exercise of police power. No Knowing this fact makes it impossible to understand the situation of the secret funds that still influence Japan.
"Colonel Kabia originally served in the Yokohama Area Anti-Spy Team under the Eighth Army Headquarters. Later, he was transferred to the central government and became the head of an independent agency. It is said that he secretly detected the Eighth Army Headquarters. Secret, reported to MacArthur and made meritorious service.
"From January 1950, the Intelligence Department of the U.S. General Command became an institution directly under MacArthur. As a result, the authority to issue orders from the military and political departments in each region of the combat command was abolished, except for the military and political departments in the eight regions of the country. In addition, all departments are under the leadership of the Central Civil Affairs Bureau. The so-called military and administrative departments of the prefectures that were originally established in various counties in Japan will be abolished. The gaps in the public security organs caused by the above measures will be filled and taken over by the anti-espionage teams in each region. This As a result of the changes, the status of the Civil Affairs Bureau has grown. Therefore, the local economic and scientific bureaus also openly established relationships with the Ministry of Intelligence and the counterintelligence team.
"For example, the materials concealed by the Japanese side are in the order of the Eighth Army-Counterintelligence Team-Intelligence Department and the Legal Affairs Bureau-Economic Science Bureau of the U.S. General Command. The Economic Science Bureau is responsible for the final custody, especially Preserve the information held by the Ministry of Intelligence and the real objects seized by agencies mobilized based on the information.
"At the end of the war, the Ministry of Intelligence had already learned of the huge amount of materials from all over Japan that served as the backing of the Japanese military's call for 'Eight Years of War of Resistance'. But the authority to receive and store these materials was in the hands of the Bureau of Economic Sciences. The Bureau has no way of getting involved.
"From the situation of the Bureau of Economics and Sciences, nothing can be done without the organization of the Ministry of Intelligence and the activities of its executive agency (the counterintelligence team at the grassroots level) when collecting hidden materials. Therefore, the Bureau of Economics and Sciences and the intelligence Starting from common interests, the Ministry must conclude an agreement of close cooperation under top-secret circumstances.
"(Moreover, the Bureau of Economic Sciences also has investigators directly under it. This kind of personnel is roughly similar to the administrative inspectors or investigators of the Economic Research Institute in the past. Although they can take individual actions, they are not organized. Moreover, despite the efforts of individuals , but under pressure from above, the investigated materials were secretly withheld before they were made public, just like the current Japanese administrative agencies.)
"MacArthur originally planned to allow the occupying forces to simply perform military tasks, but two new spheres of influence emerged: on the one hand, the authority of the Civil Affairs Bureau in the central government was expanded; also expanded.
"In this way, the Civil Affairs Bureau and the Ministry of Intelligence colluded with each other and openly established a special relationship with private companies in Japan. To give an extreme example, there is the fact that a counterintelligence team of the Ministry of Intelligence used materials obtained through secret work Engaged in smuggling activities (of course, the form adopted is not smuggling on the surface), guaranteed by a bank in the city with a large transaction volume. The commercial department of a chaebol that existed before the war became the Economic Science Bureau and the Intelligence Department. A place for extremely secret consultations, or as a place of liaison.
"In any case, the activities of the Bureau of Economic Sciences can be said to have absorbed the forces of the intelligence department and the counter-espionage team that have infiltrated the local government agencies. With huge supplies and money, they secretly grasped the control of Japan under occupation. It's getting more and more complicated. But I think, if you don't start here, you can't touch the outline of the 'international secret funds' you are interested in. The occupation policy itself can indeed be said to be the source of this fund.
"I have to write some more.
"Another reason why the Bureau of Economic Sciences and the Ministry of Intelligence must be combined is that the collection of intelligence related to the work against the communist circle (the Ministry of Intelligence) and the work of preventing the outflow of strategic materials (the Bureau of Economic Sciences) are necessary in terms of military planning. The Singer agency was originally part of the Bureau of Economic Sciences, but because of the above reasons, it has the complexity of dual leadership: while reporting intelligence to the director of the Bureau of Economic Sciences, Major General Marquette, it also has to report to Secretary of Intelligence Willow However, when Marquette accepted the information provided by the agency, he apparently entrusted Willoughby directly. For example, at that time, the Singer agency was in charge of examining whether Japanese trading companies were loyal to the United States (putting forward non-communist or anti-communist powerful proofs), but what information to collect is almost entirely in the shadows of the counterespionage team.
"For example, assume that a company applies to the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry to operate foreign trade. Although the Ministry of International Trade and Industry itself has no power, when submitting the application, it must attach the company's experience and business achievements, and the resumes of the employees.情况在内的一切表报。公司填写的这些表报被送到辛格机关后，立即转到经济科学局局长马凯特手里。马凯特通过某联络机关将此事告知情报部部长威洛比的同时，又委托他暗中进行调查，程序就是这样复杂。
“于是威洛比向情报部所属机关和反间谍队等发出命令，要它们秘密调查该公司的一切情况。必要时就把调查资料编入情报部的档案。然后把调查结果通知马凯特，再由他转告辛格机关。辛格机关则根据这些资料决定自己的最高方针，向日本的负责官员下达命令。负责官员向通商产业省或有关人员说明其意图，让他们对该公司采取必要的措施，通商产业省则据此作出正式决定。过程就是这样。看了这个例子，就可以了解经济科学局与情报部的工作关系多么密切，同时也可以了解经济科学局所处的地位是能够洞悉日本金融实业界、政界和工业界的内部机密的。”
芝山的信里接着写道：
“正如马克·盖因、罗伯特·得克斯特或威尔士等人在他们的著作里所指出的那样，当时美军总司令部的各部各局事实上把划分给它们的行政区域看作是一种势力范围，工作人员都企图乘着驻在日本的期间把将来回国退役后的一切经济基础打好。于是各自与本国的资本或企业暗中建立联系，进行种种勾当。
“例如，在美军总司令部里负责运输的高级官员，在本国不过是个铁路职员；在任期间就急于在日本的铁路上抓权，这是运输部门至今都熟悉的事。
“这些人在本国时不过是公司职员、地方报纸的记者或铁路上的下级职员，一来到日本就当上了局长或部长，他们抱这样的打算也是很自然的吧。其中，有些人干得太露骨，都作为个人的丑闻受到检举，但是一律暗中作了处理，不向日本方面公布。
“这还仅仅是个人要谋取的特权。推而言之，如果在国际上抱着类似的目的进行什么勾当的话，规模就一定庞大无比了。
“例如，战争刚结束后，鲍莱代表团到日本来调查赔偿问题，曾有过要把日本的工业设备和工厂等当作赔偿和战利品予以查封的趋势。他们查封的却不是民间企业团体的财产（当时美国还没有认真考虑日本的工业化问题），而是旧军部的财产和政府的财产。
“对于解散财阀和股份民主化等一系列措施拚命进行抵抗的金融实业界和旧统治阶层，看到旧军需品的原料、旧军部财产和政府财产等作了他们的替身而遭到查封，毋宁说是欢迎的。因为要是能把自己的企业受到的压力转嫁过去，他们是求之不得的。
“另一方面，政府也做出尽量注意保护民间企业的姿态，在避开国民耳目的情况下完成了对美军总司令部的赔偿工作。
“那末，被没收的政府财产和旧军部财产究竟是些什么呢？有种种不同的说法：一说是日本银行储存的金块；一说是钻石和稀有金属；还有人说是贵重金属、麻醉药以及其他特殊物资。
“总之，在不向国民作任何公布的情况下，两国的一小撮人之间达成了谅解并处理了这笔巨大的财产。
“问题就是从这个时候产生的。因为，战胜国作为战利品从战败国取得东西时，是需要讲明条件的。首先，只有已经查明不是属于私人的财产才能充作赔偿。因此，如果名义上是私人经营的商店或私人名下的财产，就一律不得没收。（当时日本政府某些高级官员就抓住这一点，同民间企业勾结起来，把日本政府的财产也算在私人名下，获得幸免。）
“可是，上述办法是海牙战时条约所规定的，而以第二次世界大战来说，战胜国是包括苏联、英国、加拿大、中国等在内的盟国，是许多国家，决不是美国一国。尽管如此，美国和美军总司令部却抵制对日委员会和远东委员会，硬采取由盟军最高统帅独断独行的直接路线，这样，美国一国同日本的暗中合作就获得成功。因此，这项工作从来也没有提到审议日本占领政策的远东委员会的重要会议上讨论。
“但是，这样做是必须有共谋者的。美方就来和日本方面的要人——各部门的人员进行个别接触。其中有内阁中负责经济事务的阁员、大使、中央银行或市内银行的有关人员。而且为了对这些有关人员全面保密，还做了周密的布置。
“总之，大量的物资就这样完全背着国民被隐匿起来了。而且为了以特殊的方式保管并运用这批物资，他们还采取了一切秘密措施，而这就可以说是产生那笔隐蔽的资金的第一步。
“我想把当时日本方面主要成员的名字开列出来，可是请允许我再稍微考虑一下。我所能说的只是：那些人现在都是各界的首脑。
“这里令人想起了当时居于首相地位的人。这个人后半生落魄了，可以断言这是由于他没有加入这个日美秘密合作组织。前首相久我先生等人也同样退休了，却还保持着雄厚的势力。这就形成鲜明的对照。
“曾经作过中央银行总裁的某人可以算是另外一个例子。此人以后当过驻外大使，因辱命而回国，孤寂地死去。他与驻外机关和特别指定的旅美日侨组织合不来，固然也是一个失败的原因，但是我觉得他日末途穷最大的原因还在于他不是当时秘密合作的成员之一。一句话，他与这笔庞大的资金是没有关系的。
“说得恐怕有些走题了。这个巨大的合作组织的另一头还有个人物。
“前面已经说过，藏在各地的物资、贵重金属和稀有金属等，战后都陆续被揭发出来了。当时负责这些工作的是各地美军军政部（由第八军管辖）和反间谍队等。日本方面的所谓S机关等组织，似乎也进行了种种活动。被揭发出来的物资下落如何呢？为了依法处理，就首先把全国各地的资料集中到中央法务局。固然有些资料和报告并未送到中央，中途就遗失了，同时，各地机构作了适当处理的为数也不少；然而集中到中央来的材料，内容想必相当丰富。
“在法务局担任揭发工作的负责人叫哈德雷。
“再来说一段插话吧。哈德雷是个单身汉，当时住在美军官舍。他爱上了在那里当女仆的一个非常漂亮的日本姑娘。于是，就向那位姑娘的父亲提出了想正式娶她为妻的要求。有人说那个姑娘有外国血统，她精通英语，长得有些象外国人。
“她父亲接受了哈德雷的要求，同意他和自己的女儿结婚。据说结婚仪式的排场十分阔气，当时的日美双方高级官员都出席了。那以后，姑娘的父亲就不断出入法务局了。他不会讲英语，但是从全国各地送到哈德雷那里的揭发文件都是用日文写的，所以他从作哈德雷的妻子兼秘书的自己的女儿那里得到了阅读那些文件的机会。
“根据揭发文件，这个姑娘的父亲了解到一切有关隐匿物资的内容，不知不觉之间就具有了一种权力。出入于法务局和反间谍队的日本方面的大人物中，有银行总经理，也有金融实业界的大人物，还有与旧军部有关的大人物。凡是赴美军总司令部晋谒的各界大人物，他都能够自由地会见。而且，由于他是显赫一时的美国高级官员的岳父，日本人方面考虑到未来的好处，深怕得罪这个人于己不利，就不断向他讨好。与现今的当权者有裙带关系的人，常常假借当权者的威风，这在任何时代都是一样的。而在他的情形下，由于掌握了机密之故，不知不觉之间就拥有了一种肉眼看不见的实力。
“这位老人另外还有两个女儿，其中一个嫁给了T县名门出身的某个最有权势的人物。这个老人如今可以说是知道这项'国际秘密资金'的人们当中的一个。
“这项资金的实质，只有那个集团的一部分人才知道。已故的江木务君在美国期间想必曾相当深入地调查了那项资金的实质。看来，他运用自己所擅长的调查方法，研究了一切资料，分析了情况，得出了一个结论。
“奇怪的是，江木君同旅美日侨同志会的首领们会晤的那个晚上，哈德雷的岳父也在座。这个老头子虽然不谙英语，却不断出国旅行。这位老人为什么得不时出国旅行，且不论其表面上的理由，他的真实动机是可以引起种种猜测的。
“前面已经说过，江木君在参加那次宴会的次日患了严重的眼底出血。如果说，由于他已略微窥见了那笔隐蔽的资金，探知了它的实质，因而有人'暗算'了他，那末当晚象个不速之客似的在座的那位老人，应该说是个可疑的角色吧。
“拉拉杂杂地写了不少。照这样写法，我想您是无法得到清楚的理解的。不用说，要把这件事情谈个仔细，还需要更多的时间和笔墨；并且那样做也有困难，因为我对其实质知道的也不清楚，而且从江木君听到的具体事实，无论如何我也说不出口。江木君曾说过：再过三十年，日本大概才能够把其间的真相披露出来。或者，如果日本在世界史上的地位改变了的话，这个真相才能够大白于世。他说过，现在哪怕把那件事谈出一点点，都会感到有生命的危险。那个预言可以说已被他的死亡所证实了。
“写到这里，我发现连我自己都非常不清楚到底要告诉您些什么。这种暧昧不明正是一向隐蔽的特工活动所具有的特征。下面就试把我个人想象中的'隐蔽的资金'的幻影勾勒一下吧。
“我认为这项隐蔽的资金当然是有它的管理机关的，这个机关在日本设于东京，对方则设在那个国家的中心城市。各自的管理机关下当设有事务机构。例如，在日本，谅必是某大银行之类。
“这项资金在日本又以种种形式分散着。也许有的已经换了名义存放在殷实的市内银行里了。在那种情况下，料必是分存在几家银行里。
“资金想必也变成了实物、股票、企业团体、秘密工作机关、国际投资机关、心理工作机关等等。所谓'实物'，从前面所提到的贵重金属、钻石等到锡、钨等稀有金属，大概都包括在内。'股票'呢，说不定也换了名义投资到构成日本工业骨干的第一流公司里去。至于'企业团体'，在美国，可以想象是诸如保险公司或石油公司；而'秘密工作机关'呢，可以想象是反间谍队那样的机关的活动资金。用在国际投资机关，方面的钱，说不定有一部分包括在诸如东南亚工作费或刚果的开发费里。至于'心理工作机关'，可以想象是宗教团体等的活动费。
“可是，这图景始终只是我所想象的。这项资金之庞大，只能凭着想象来推测，是无从用今天的价格来衡量的。
“但是，由于这个图景太不现实了，您一定不会相信。我要说，您不相信倒好。您就只当这彻头彻尾是'现代神话'好了。
“但是，希望您照原先约好的那样，读完这篇东西之后立即销毁。因为据我估量，这个幻影今天仍然在日本国民不知道的地方晃动着。
“经有末晋造君介绍，我同您会了面，结果写下了这样的事情。我不想再跟您见面了，因为已经没什么可谈的了，见面也没有意义。其他就请您自去思考吧。
“再者，您同我的接触，希望到此为止。我个人的身份仍是市上一个汽车零件销售商，我只想混在那些被遮住眼睛、什么事情都看不见的庶民之中，平平安安地生活下去。”
中久保把这篇东西读了三四遍。
芝山乙男讲了奇妙的“现代神话”。他说其中有不少情况是从猝然死掉的经济评论家江木务那里听来的。因此，芝山的看法大概包括一大部分江木所“告诉”他的情况。
芝山乙男一定从江木那里听到过更具体的事实。可是，仅仅读了这里写的事情，中久保京介就感到不寒而慄。
美军总司令部在占领期间为了进行特工活动而设置的资金（据芝山乙男说），如今依然存在——这一事实的分量使他感到震惊。这笔款子存在日本国民所注意不到的地方，并且有人仍在用它进行活动，这使他感到可怖。
芝山的信中最刺激中久保京介的，是把女儿嫁给法务局美国高级官员的那个老人的事。
他眼前又掠过在京都车站站台上悠然踱着的举止文雅的老人的身影。那就是他随同坂根重武乘列车西下那次，与他们同车的人。
于是，他又回想起有末晋造告诉他的情况。
——执政党的政策审查委员会副会长木下邦辅在顺便访问T县的有力人物、县议会议长的时候，曾要求议长务必把他介绍给一位老人。那老人当时正在美国，木下邦辅未能立即会到。可是木下邦辅想会见的人物确实是县议会议长的亲家翁，所以情节与这篇文章的内容相吻合。
中久保京介沉思起来。
有末晋造曾经说过，T县含有不可思议的因素。他还说过，说不定不久就要发生什么事情。
说到T县，木下邦辅也是该县人。
中久保京介想起最后一次见到有末晋造时，有末告诉他：木下邦辅曾因欠债不还而被债主起诉。后来他在某经济研究所所长是枝勋夫的劝告下，接受了一笔贷款，还清了债。当时作为代理人出面的是外国系统的通讯社驻远东的负责人山形孝三郎。
当时谈及山形可能是到是枝的姨太太家去取期票。那时，似乎是一个“浓妆艳抹得令人吃惊的女人”把钱交给木下的代理人山形的。
不巧，中久保京介开会的时间快要到了，因此，有末讲到那里为止，结果就再也没有听到下文。
那个女人究竟是什么人呢？木下邦辅把那笔钱还给对方之后，他同那个女人之间究竟形成了怎样的关系呢？——宛如阅读连载的通俗小说，情节到此中断了。
这里面是有文章的。一种不可思议的活动在T县里进行着，那是肯定的。而且可以想见，那个不可思议的活动与芝山乙男所说的“现代神话”里的国际秘密资金似乎有某种联系。
中久保京介没有把这封信拿给坂根重武看。没有必要给他看。
坂根重武一定更深入地了解问题的实质。
中久保京介好容易才依稀知道了以前只闻其名的V资金的轮廓。
问题是：这笔资金与现时有什么样的关连。
中久保京介尊重芝山乙男的意志。他觉得这样太可惜了，可是也没有旁的办法。他并不是不能理解芝山有所畏惧的心理。
看来不论他怎样试图与芝山接触，芝山也绝不会再有反应了。今后他必定以一个汽车零件销售商的身份隐身于市井。
但是使他不安的是，象这样一个人物竟销声匿迹地生活在庶民当中。
可是中久保京介还不死心。他想更进一步调查这个问题。
坂根重武若无其事地让中久保京介调查进展中的现象。不过那也只是现象而已。经总协副会长坂根重武一定比任何人都更加清楚引起那种现象的根源。
中久保京介从有末晋造那里了解到关于总理厅特别调查部的实质以及其工作内容的许多情况。
他又从芝山乙男那里了解到象是V资金的实质的轮廓——即所谓“现代神话”。
尽管芝山知道更多的具体事实，由于畏惧，他不敢谈出更多的情况。
但是单凭想象也可以估量这笔资金的规模有多么大，多么隐秘。而且，他所说的“机关人员”，据说遍布日本的政界和经济界。
尤其是，中久保京介认识某大钢铁公司的总务部长畠山尚之，并且和他攀谈过。他是个精通英语、文质彬彬的绅士。
原来就是这个人！——他不禁要叫出来。
中久保京介的注意力集中到T县了。
Notes:
Notes: