You Must Come Back Alive  5

 by Chen Ching-Yang

Episode Three

1

Lin Xiantang brought the organizational charter of the Taiwan Cultural Association and the roster of founding members’ signatures to the Governor-General’s Office to meet Chief Secretary Shimomura Hiroshi.

Shimomura smiled and asked,
“Xiantang, you’ve come all the way to Taipei to see me—surely it’s not just to reminisce, is it?”

Lin Xiantang replied,
“Besides catching up, I’m here to submit the application documents for establishing an association, along with the organizational charter and related materials.”

Shimomura said,
“Oh? You wish to apply to establish an association?”

“Yes,” Lin Xiantang said, presenting the documents to Shimomura.

Shimomura skimmed through them and said,
“You intend to establish the Taiwan Cultural Association, organize various cultural activities, and raise the cultural literacy of the Taiwanese people. I approve of this purpose. However, once your association is established, all activities must strictly comply with the law. I would not want your activities to be interfered with or shut down by the police authorities.”

“Yes,” Lin Xiantang replied. “I will convey your reminder to the association members.”

Shimomura asked,
“Will your association accept only Taiwanese members?”

“Yes,” Lin Xiantang answered. “By its nature, membership will be limited to Taiwanese.”

Shimomura said,
“Very well. I understand your intentions. You are leading the petition movement for the establishment of a Taiwanese parliament—this is a long and arduous road. Although Governor-General Den Kenjirō does not approve, I support you in spirit.”

“Yes,” Lin Xiantang said. “Thank you, Chief Shimomura. You are truly open-minded.”

Shimomura smiled and said,
“You and I are both men of learning. We should reason things out—there’s no need to turn everything into a confrontation.”

---

2

At a wooden cabin on Aofeng Mountain, a group of people were enjoying tea among the cherry blossom grove.

Lin Xiantang said,
“This cherry grove is quite elegant.”

Yang Zhao-jia replied,
“To be honest, the inspiration came from Ueno Park in Tokyo. When I was studying there, I often went to Ueno Park with a few close friends.”

Cai Huiru said,
“Lin Bu of the Song dynasty once wrote of plum blossoms:
‘Sparse shadows slant across clear, shallow water;
Hidden fragrance drifts in the moonlit dusk.’
Borrowing these lines to describe this grove would still be quite fitting.”

Chiang Wei-shui said with a smile,
“Brother Huiru is truly a refined scholar. As for composing poetry and admiring the moon, I’m no match for that.”

Yang Zhao-jia added,
“Huiru has a solid grounding in classical studies and enjoys writing poetry and lyrics. Had this been the late Qing dynasty, he would surely have been a successful candidate in the imperial examinations.”

Cai Huiru laughed,
“Don’t tease me, Zhao-jia. Writing poetry is merely a pastime. Brother Wei-shui applies his learning to practical use—practicing medicine and saving lives.”

Cai Peihuo sighed,
“We sit here enjoying flowers and tea, yet who knows how many years must pass before the people of Taiwan can escape the suffering of colonial rule?”

Lin Xiantang said,
“I once heard Mr. Liang Qichao analyze this in person. He said that in the short term, Taiwan’s situation would be very difficult to change. In the future, we can only seek Taiwanese self-governance from within the system.”

Yang Zhao-jia replied,
“But this path is clearly strewn with thorns. The Japanese have no real intention of granting self-governance. Their colonial mindset is deeply rooted—they see the Taiwanese as little more than serfs.”

Lin Chenglu said,
“Precisely because of this, we intellectuals must unite, awaken the masses, and demand self-governing rights from the Governor-General’s Office.”

Lin Xiantang concluded,
“The times have given us this mission. We simply do our utmost. Even if our generation cannot complete it, there will be the next. Next month, the Cultural Association will officially hold its founding assembly. From then on, we will use the association as our foundation and steadily move toward the goal of Taiwanese self-governance.”

---

3

At Qingshui Public School, during recess, students were playing on the playground.

Chen Qiu (40), a habitual opium smoker, loitered near the school gate, peering around.

He stopped a student and asked,
“Child, could you help me call Yang Xintai?”

The student asked,
“Yang Xintai? What do you want him for?”

Chen Qiu replied,
“He’s the son of Director Yang Zhaohua.”

At that moment, Wang Dawang walked over and asked,
“Yang Xintai is in our class. Who are you, and why are you looking for him?”

Chen Qiu said,
“I’m a hospital attendant. The director asked me to bring him home—his mother was injured in a traffic accident.”

Wang Dawang said,
“Alright, I’ll go call him. Wait here.”

Wang Dawang went into the classroom.

“Xintai,” he said, “your mother was hit by a vehicle. Your father wants you to hurry home.”

Yang Xintai replied,
“Dawang, please help me inform Teacher Miura.”

“There’s an uncle waiting for you at the school gate,” Wang Dawang added. “He says he’s here to pick you up.”

“Alright,” Yang Xintai said. “I’ll pack my schoolbag.”

He slung his bag over his shoulder and left the classroom.

---

4

At dusk, Nishikawa Riko stood at the doorway waiting for Yang Zhao-jia to return from work.

She asked anxiously,
“Second Brother, have you seen Xintai?”

“No,” Zhao-jia replied. “What’s wrong? He hasn’t come back yet?”

“Yes,” Riko said worriedly. “He’s never been out this late by himself.”

“Maybe he went to a classmate’s house,” Zhao-jia said. “Should I ask Jiantai to help inquire?”

“If he went to a classmate’s house, he would have come home to tell me first,” Riko said.

“In that case,” Zhao-jia said, “I think we should let Elder Brother know.”

“Alright,” Riko said. “I’ll make a phone call.”

“If Xintai hasn’t gone to the hospital,” Zhao-jia added, “be sure to tell me. If necessary, we’ll report to the police immediately.”

“Alright.”

---

5

That evening, a young girl brought a letter to the outpatient counter of Yang General Hospital and immediately turned and left.

Nurse A handed the letter to Director Yang Zhaohua, who opened it.

His face turned pale.
“This is a ransom note,” he said. “It says my son Xintai is in their hands.”

The on-duty physician, Zhang Wenming, exclaimed in shock,
“A ransom note? How could criminals be so brazen?”

Nurse A asked,
“Director, should we report to the police immediately?”

“Not yet,” Yang Zhaohua replied. “The kidnappers forbade us from contacting the police. They only want the ransom and claim they won’t harm the child.”

Zhang Wenming said incredulously,
“This is unbelievable! How could something like this happen in our simple, rural town?”

Yang Zhaohua asked,
“Who delivered the letter just now?”

“A young girl with braided hair,” Nurse A replied.

“Do you recognize which family she belongs to?”

“No, but I remember her appearance.”

Nurse B said,
“Director, Madam is on the phone.”

“I’ll take it,” Yang Zhaohua said. “That girl shouldn’t have gone far. Help me look for her.”

“Understood,” Zhang Wenming said. “We’ll search separately.”

Zhang and Nurse A rushed outside.

On the phone, Riko said anxiously,
“Husband, our son still hasn’t come home.”

“He’s been kidnapped,” Yang Zhaohua said. “I just received the ransom note.”

“Kidnapped?” Riko cried. “Then we should report it to the police immediately!”

“Calm down,” Yang Zhaohua said gently. “Let me think this through first…”

---

6

Yang Zhao-jia accompanied his elder brother Yang Zhaohua and sister-in-law to report the case at the Qingshui Police Precinct.

Inspector Fukuda said,
“Street Chief, after receiving Director Yang’s report, the chief and I rushed back immediately.”

Chief Hashimoto asked,
“Director Yang, did the criminal leave a ransom note?”

“Yes,” Zhaohua replied, producing the letter. “Here it is.”

Hashimoto read it and passed it to Inspector Fukuda.

With a grim expression, Hashimoto said,
“This criminal is extremely bold—daring to commit a kidnapping in my jurisdiction.”

Yang Zhao-jia placed a bundle wrapped in brown paper on the table.
“Please ensure the child’s safety first. We have brought the ransom.”

Fukuda examined the letter closely and said,
“The kidnapper is likely left-handed but deliberately wrote with his right hand to mislead us.”

Hashimoto asked,
“Inspector, how should we deploy our forces?”

“The criminal is cunning,” Fukuda replied. “He demands the exchange be made on a train. Director Yang will follow his instructions and deliver the ransom. We will deploy plainclothes officers at Shalu, Qingshui, and Dajia stations.”

“Good,” Hashimoto said. “Koizumi, assemble all officers tomorrow morning for briefing and task assignment. We must capture this kidnapper.”

“Yes, Chief!” Koizumi replied.

---

7

At the Shalu Street Station outpost, Inspector Fukuda briefed several plainclothes officers.

“We’ll enter and exit the station separately,” Fukuda instructed. “Nakagawa and I will screen suspicious passengers in the waiting hall. Sakai, the four of you will blend in with passengers when the train arrives. Each of you will check two carriages.”

“Yes,” Sakai (25) replied.

“The hostage may be with the kidnapper,” Fukuda warned. “Proceed with extreme caution to avoid harming the child.”

“Yes.”

“Before departure, Nakagawa and I will also board the train,” Fukuda continued. “We’ll communicate using hand signals.”

“Yes.”

---

8

In the waiting hall of Shalu Station, Inspector Fukuda and Detective Nakagawa (28) hid in separate corners, newspapers raised to conceal their faces, occasionally glancing at incoming passengers.

Chen Qiu entered the hall, nervously scanning his surroundings. His behavior immediately caught Fukuda’s attention.

Fukuda thought to himself,
“That opium addict Chen Qiu—look at how nervous he is. Something’s definitely wrong with him.”

Fukuda signaled to Nakagawa, who immediately fixed his gaze on Chen Qiu. Noticing Fukuda, Chen Qiu flinched, lowered his head, and hurried toward the ticket counter.

He bought a ticket, purchased a newspaper, and sat on a bench pretending to read.

Soon after, the train arrived. Chen Qiu queued toward the platform. Fukuda and Nakagawa followed behind him, one in front, one behind.

Chen Qiu boarded the train and chose a seat near the exit, continuing to feign reading. Though he tried to remain calm, he noticed Inspector Fukuda—dressed in plain clothes—seated one row behind him on the aisle side.

Other plainclothes officers boarded from different carriages as the train slowly departed the platform.

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9

Yang Zhaohua sat in the Qingshui Station waiting hall with his wife, holding a black leather suitcase. In several corners of the hall, plainclothes officers disguised as vendors or office workers lay in wait.

Police Chief Hashimoto and Officer Koizumi, in uniform, stood on the platform.

Seeing Hashimoto, passengers sensed something unusual and spoke only in hushed voices.

When the train arrived, Yang Zhaohua quietly instructed his wife, then stood up, joined the line, had his ticket checked, and entered the platform carrying the suitcase. Several plainclothes officers blended into the crowd and followed.

On the train, Chen Qiu looked out the window and saw two uniformed policemen—recognizing one of them as Chief Hashimoto.

He thought to himself,
“So Director Yang has already reported to the police… Should I abandon the ransom altogether?”

---

10

Inside Fangming House, an opium den, Li Zixian lay comfortably on a wooden bed, smoking opium. Black Dog arrived with several underlings, viciously dragged Li off the bed, and grabbed him by the collar.

Black Dog cursed,
“Li the Salty, you’ve got some nerve—daring to cheat us with a fake necklace!”

Li Zixian said in terror,
“That’s impossible! That necklace was part of my wife’s dowry.”

Black Dog dangled the necklace in front of him.
“Take a good look. The goldsmith burned it with fire and found out it’s fake.”

Enraged, Li Zixian shouted,
“That woman dared to deceive me! I’ll go settle accounts with her!”

Black Dog sneered.
“Stop putting on an act, Li the Salty. If I don’t teach you a hard lesson today, others will follow your example. Brothers—do it!”

His men beat Li Zixian mercilessly. He collapsed on the ground, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth and eyes, unconscious—his body limp like mud.

One underling said,
“Second Brother, this bastard’s passed out.”

Black Dog replied,
“Drag him to the hospital entrance and dump him there.”

They hoisted Li Zixian up and dragged him away.

The den owner, You Fangming (45), asked,
“Second Brother, another one smoking on credit?”

“Yes,” Black Dog replied. “I had the boys teach him a lesson.”

“Don’t hit too hard,” You Fangming warned. “If someone dies, it’ll be hard to clean up.”

“Don’t worry, Boss,” Black Dog said. “I’m always restrained when dealing with this kind of troublemaker.”