1.

Background
The biggest twist of this crisis is the fact that just like “Trosky’e Plot” in Soviet Union, “Dai Li
Conspiracy” is a complete sham and is result of sickening internal rivalry and paranoidal
commanders of both branches of armed forces. As for Dai Li himself… it is actually unknown
what happened to him, and it is not properly explained - the most shocking theory is that he
was dead entire time and he set up the conspiracy in such way that paranoid Japanese
would kill each other. This section of design proposition will give you some information
however how it came to be and what actually happened. Parts of those information can be
uncovered during the investigation and some are never stated directly, left out purely for the
speculation of the player.

2. Timeline
soundtrack for reading

1931 - 1947 - Dai Li and his Juntong in Great War of Resistance

Dai Li, arguably third most powerful person in China before the end of second Sino-
Japanese War was very specific figure. He was neither a political, nor military leader.
Personally he didn’t also have any buisnesses and economic base. What he had however
was his favourite and only child – Bureau of Investigation and Statistics – usually refered to
as “Juntong”. It’s rather innonect name hid a rather ugly truth – Juntong was secret police
and espionage service of Chiang Kai-Shek’s KMT. Bureau proved to be extremely efficient in
dissent suppression, assassinating opposition from CCP and good counter-espionage
service against slowly encroaching Kempetai. Amount of servicemen and informants of
Juntong was gigantic, reaching 100.000 people, and Dai Li genius was shown in the fact he
was able to coordinate and lead this gargantual organization to perform its objectives despite
the fact that Bureau had very limited budget and its technology was very limited (especially
in comparison to Kempetai).

Very important part of Dai Li personality was his personal loyalty and modus
operandii. Dai Li personally didn’t like Kuomintang as a party, he did not trust democracy,
and he was rather outright Fascist and Germany symphatizer. While he did not have much
loyalty to KMT, he had almost fanatical loyalty to Chang Kai-Shek, not as a leader of
revolutionary movement, but rather as a sort of father figure, mentor and friend. Modus
operandii of Dai Li however was often rather morally dubious. Not only Dai Li was extremely
brutal and cruel, to the point of being called “Himmler of China”, but in his loyalty to Chang
he often performed actions without consulting Chang first.

During Second Sino-Japanese War Dai Li service to NRA allowed to mostly correctly
predict Japanese divisions movement and even allowed for a few small tactical victories in
the field. Dai Li two biggest successes were however dealing heavy damage to legitimacy
and internal structure of RGOC of Wang Jingwei and correctly predicting every single
Japanese offensive during series of battle near Changsha after 1939, resulting in tactical
and strategic victory of NRA. Juntong also dealt critical blow to RGOC by mass assasination
of its officials, making being collaborator extremely dangerous. In 1942 China and USA
established SACO (Sino-American Cooperative Organization) to coordinate efforts of China
and USA espionage against Japan in occupied China, which led to further empowerment of
Dai Li, whose agents reeked havoc amongst Chinese collaborators and Japanese forces.

However, the strain of luck ended and in 1944 Juntong failed to detect incoming Ichi-
Go Offensive. This was a turning point for the war, as Japanese achieved complete strategic
success, encircled a lot of Chinese divisions in pockets and finally broke the defenses near
city of Changsha. For Dai Li it was his personal failure, as he thought that with this defeat he
doomed United Front struggle against Japanese. It was in 1944 when Dai Li realized that the
war is completely lost, and now it is only the matter of time.

In 1947 Japanese troops finally entered Chongqing and crushed United Front once
and for all. Chang Kai-Shek and Mao Zedong, respectively number one and number two in
China were dead. Dai Li who lost all of hope for winning the war conventionally in 1944 was
preparing for this and he managed to escape the carnage. Not only he managed to escape,
but he used stunt-double with golden teeth just as him to made Japanese think he actually
died during the battle under the rubbles. With him, key figures of Juntong and SACO were
also able to evacuate.

1947 - Oath in Ash Garden

After the battle, with burning Chongqing on horizon three most important figures of
former Allies intelligence in China theatre - Lieutenant-General Dai Li, Mao Renfeng and
Rear Admiral Milton E. Miles met. It would be reminding of great meeting between three
heroes of War of Three Kingdoms long ago, but this time the garden was burnt to the ash by
Japanese aerial bombardement. They swore that they are not giving up, and they shall
continue the fight until complete collapse of Japanese Empire “until it will burn, like this very
garden”. While they may have different homelands, dreams and lineage, the duty remained
for them the same.

1947-1948 - Travel to Xiangyang

 The three figures of former RoC intelligence travelled together to Xiangyang, Hubei
Province. From there, their path temporarily splitted. Mao Renfeng travelled north to Xi’an,
trying to establish contact with former intelligence officers of CCP that were likely hiding
somewhere in the mountains. Milton E. Miles continued travelling east, trying to reach
Shanghai, while Dai Li in meantime would try to coordinate the rest of massive amount of
former Juntong agents and try to stop Kempetai from purging them all. Before their
departure, both Mao Renfeng and Milton receive special documents from Dai Li, who is
alread planning in advance a great conspiracy against Japan. Also, all three of them agreed
to meet each other in Nanjing in 1954.

1949 - Shanghai Dilemma

Milton E. Miles managed to reach Shanghai, despite being it very hard for him to
camoplague among the Chinese population. There he tried to get into the contacts with port
authority and smugglers, to increase Juntong possibilities and their access to foreign
support. Former Rear Admiral of USN also fought heavily against the thought of simply using
this opportunity to smuggle himself and go home to United States, but still bound by Oath in
Ash Garden he decided to stay in China. He also purposefully avoided contact with US
services, as he felt that they would be unable to help their cause and would likely
compromise their plot.

1949 - Xi’an Hell

Despite the fall of Chongqing, Xi’an province was one of the last where “order” was
properly implemented, due to absolutely terrible infrastructure and terrain, favouring CCP
partisants. Xi’an city itself fell long ago, but the interior, the massive mountain ranges and
isolated village were still spawning insurgency. Mao Renfeng tried to establish contact with
former CCP officers in this region, but due to massive activity of IJA and RGOC armies, the
only thing he acomplished was being witness to absolute massacre and devastation of the
province. <NOTE>

1949 - Dai Li Plan

Dai Li in his secret headquarters in Xiangyang finished his grand design, his great
contingency plan that would make Japan crumble in the future.

Dai Li thought went as follows: Japanese are impossible to be beat in the field, they
are too well equipped, to well-led, their soldiers with better edge than Chinese. Therefore,
the only way to deal major blow to Japanese is to infiltrate first RGOC army structure, and
through that try to infiltrate Japanese army structure, and then sabotage them from within.
Dai Li was careful student of recent modern history and he knew that Japan had a problem
with interservice rivalry and military being completely out of control. Therefore, the idea was
for infiltrators to try create internal tension and make Japanese commanders impossible to
cooperate, allowing patriotic Chinese forces to rise up successfully.
 The plan relied heavily on assumption, that in certain conditions Japanese
commanders would enter state of paranoia during which they would be unable to offer
resistance to Chinese and would likely sabotage themselves in the process. For success of
the plan several very specific intelligence actions had to be concluded. Dai Li realised that if
such would be the case, it would be very unlikely for the plan to work during their lifespan…
so he had to plan around it.

1950-1954 - Juntong Purge and Death of Mao Renfeng

Kempetai knew of Juntong existence and they knew that even with Dai Li “death”,
their structure likely still remained and somebody else was probably leading it. Kempetai
agents from 1950 started massive counter-espionage actions aimed at former RoC
intelligence. Japanese Empire deployed massive amount of military police, intelligence
officers and supporting unit and started mass search operations in the countryside, trying to
eliminate every single member of anti-Japanese insurgency.

Mao Rengeng was caught during those attempts when he was trying to leave Xi’an
and reach Zhengzhou, he was recognized by Japanese intelligence officers. Mao Rengeng
however managed to outrun them, but it was still a disaster, for it alerted all Japanese forces
in all neighbouring provinces. Knowing of massive amount of blockades on main road, he
tried to escape to the north, reaching south-western Hebei province. He wanted to travel to
Nanjing to meet with Dai Li as he promised, but Shantong, Hebei and Henan were on
lockdown. To confuse the hunters, Mao Renfeng escaped to Beijing and then hid on the
border with Manchukuo. It worked and finally Japanese forces relaxed the regime in
neighbour provinces, but during the time of lockdown Kempetai eliminated massive amount
of Juntong members in entire China, about 50% of their entire force, in Shantong province
almost to 100%.

Year 1954 when he promised to meet with his oath-brothers in Nanjing was coming
close. Mao Renfeng knew that he could easily escape to Eastern Siberia to escape
Japanese or he could hid permanently in Manchuria to live to his death. However, bound by
oath he tried to reach Nanjing anyway. He was finally found near the city of Linyi and
surrounded from all sides by military police he committed suicide by shooting himself in the
mouth through the skull.

While his death was tragic and Dai Li never wished for it, he made his contingency
plans. Back in Xiangyang he gave Mao Renfeng a set of documents that would make look
like Mao was commanding the entire Juntong by himself, as he was chosen successor by
“Himmler of China”. With death of Mao Renfeng, Kempetai concluded that the purge of
Juntong was successful and the case was closed.

1954-1958 - Conspiracy Grows

In very moody atmosphere, Milton E. Miles and Dai Li met in Nanjing. As chief of
Juntong noted, it is the darkest under the lantern, and counter-espionage and security in
Nanjing region was paradoxically, suprisingly weak. Dai Li still commanded the rest of
Juntong that survived the purge, and Milton E. Miles established contacts in Shanghai under
the fake name. Now, two major points of his grand plan were supposed to be moved into the
motion.

First, Dai Li managed to gain influence in RGOC military structure. Planning in

advance, Dai Li knew that especially important would be those collaborists commanders that
were trained by Japanese in their own military academies. Dai Li scheming finally paid off
and he managed to one prominent “cadet” under his influence. He would later become his
chief agent in RGOC structure. What this agent didn’t know however was the fact it wasn’t
about inflitration or information. That was useful too, but his main objective was something
else. In the meantime, he also regained contacts with some generals of RGOC and bullied
them through threats to become his informants - those include Bang Pingxun and Sun
Dianying.

Second of all, Milton E. Miles as former Rear Admiral of USN wanted to break into
IJN communication network. To do so, they were required to break their military codes and
infiltrate IJN Post Office. Because of how powerful IJN was in Japan political sphere and in
the colonies, access to information from IJN would make it possible to capture the intel and
messeges between various colonies. This information would be finally used for final nail in
Dai Li plan: fake messeges, fake intel and fake letters between Japanese officers and
officials, written in such way they would lead to thoughts of massive conspiracy.

1958 - “Death of Dai Li”

Despite his dedication to destroy accursed Japan, Dai Li felt into depression in 1950
with beginning of the mass purges. Death of his mentor Chang Kai-Shek, purge of majority
of his organization and constant paranoia and fear of being found out by Kempetai took the
toll. Besides depression, Dai Li struggled a lot of with alcohol addiction.

During 1958, while Milton was finishing his work with IJN infiltration Dai Li worked on
decentralization and slow dissolution of former Juntong structures to make them easier to
blend into China interior. He wanted to purposefully divided them, as he was not able to rule
them from his secret headquarters in Tianchang, north of Nanjing.

Finally, at the end of 1958 Dai Li wasn’t able to stop himself and died of alcohol
overdose, as he drank himself to death, four years before the start of the game. Dai Li was
burrowed with his death unannounced, keeping the myth of Dai Li dying in battle of
Chongqing of 1947 alive. According to the last documents, orders and directives sent by Dai
Li, he ordered divided organizations of former Juntong for each to pretend they are main
division of Juntong and if “Dai Li would vanish”, to pretend that Dai Li is with them when the
time will be right.

...or did it?

Almost all informations about Dai Li after 1958 become far more obscure and hard to
assess. It is possible that indeed, Dai Li died during that time. But maybe he didn’t? Maybe
he pretended to fake his own death, even to his most loyal subordinates? Maybe he left and
without informing Miles he infiltrated Hong Kong or other city to continue his eternal plots?
 Dai Li as masterful deceiver had a contingency plans upon a contingency plans, and
his evil schemes seemed to be truly unstoppable for both his subordinates and Japanese
investigators several years later. The truth is… that nobody truly knows.

In the game it is reflected by the fact, that Dai Li, despite “dying before 1962” has not
one, but several death events, very different from each other. There is also one event that
suggests that he cheated his death again and is still alive. The truth is however obscure, and
will never be reached.

1958-1962 - Step by Step

Milton E. Miles was now alone, the lone survivor from Oath in Ash Garden. However,
there was still much to do, especially in his rather desperate tries to break into IJN
communications. At this point he had several men from Juntong to help him with breaking
military codes, but it was not enough. In the meantime he was also sending some orders to
Juntong units in the interior and most importantly, studying carefully the left-overs from Dai Li
plans and execute them, mostly by spreading those “false messeges” and “rumors”.

The most important development however for Miles was change of his HQ. Miles
already adopted a perfect new personality and as member of one of civilian ship transport
companies he moved to Hongkong when he established connections with Chinese triads to
further his goals.

1962 - TNO Game Begins

1962-1966 - Breakthrough

After long years of studying, Milton managed to break military codes of IJN, and not
only that, but he managed to insert two agents into Postal Offices, that would allow him to
gather massive amount of informations, while also giving him access for immense
manipulation.

However, at this point he had no clue what to do with it. He thought of sending
information and materials to United States, but he consider US would not be much of help in
conflict against Japan, as they still struggled to even get Treaty Ports back. However, the
opportunity would soon appear…

1967-1970 - Indonesia War

Access to IJN network and huge amount of “friends” in Shanghai and Hong Kong
allowed for Miles to know in advance when ships of IJN were leaving their military ports to
conduct operations in Indonesia. Rear Admiral Miles used it by sending former Juntong
members as fishermen to Indonesia region and then, by using encrypted transmisions to his
agents in Macau and Hong Kong he would transfer the info to warn Indonesia uprising forces
in advance.
 Milton realised that Japanese at this point will realise that something is wrong,
therefore he moved to prepere the last part of Dai Li’s plan.

1970 - Plan is Set Into Motion, Milton E. Miles Dies

The last step of plan to begin “the great conspiracy” envisioned by Dai Li former
American admiral had to do only one simple thing - write anonymous report to Kempetai
about Dai Li’s agent in RGOC Army. After sending it, Milton felt that his duty was finally
fulfilled. As at this point there was no point in remaining here, as Dai Li’s plan would work
regardless of his activity at this point, he booked the ship from Hong Kong to America. For
him, the war was finally over.

But the fate was cruel, because for that day before departure vice-admiral went to
sleep and did not wake up. He died peacefully in his quarters. Subordinates from Juntong,
not knowing really what to do with him decided to bury his body in anonymous grave in the
countryside. With that nobody present during Oath at Ash Garden was alive and Juntong
now truly had no leader. But at this time, it didn’t matter anymore. (ALTERNATIVELY)

1971 - Former Agent of Dai Li in RGOC Army Gets Arrested

The one general in RGOC structure that was “loyal” to Dai Li clique also completely
disregarded the thought of rebelling against Japanese and embraced his inner Nihonani
mindset. He didn’t care at this point about his Chinese roots and he wanted to only live a
good life, taking advantage of the wealth he could amass from his position. His name was
Sun Dianying and he had a really good position in RGOC structure.

It would be a good life, but “””someway”””, “””somehow””” Kempetai found out about
his previous contacts with Dai Li organization. During interrogation he tried to tell Kempetai
everything he knew, but it backfired, because he believed in things that were outright wrong.
He still thought that Dai Li was alive and that Juntong is still relevant and powerful. He didn’t
know details so much, so dissapointed Kempetai started torturing him. It backfired twice,
because then trying to save his skin he started accusing and giving the names of supposed
so traitors in the ranks of Nihonani and Japanese figures related to them.

1971 - Dai Li Conspiracy Begins

Some figures inside IJA and Kempetai thought that this entire situation is a great idea
to purge their opponents inside military structure, and therefore – they sent a completely
overblown report to Home Ministry in Japan about so called “Dai Li Conspiracy”. And so, the
great crisis began.

If Dai Li would be alive, he would laugh in his grave.

3. Notes

a) Design Concept
 Dai Li Conspiracy Investigation is done by Japan, but Japanese cannot possibly find
every single piece of information related to DLC and especially, they have no possibility of
knowing every single fact from timeline above. The same goes to player - if player will play
only Japan he will be unable to understand what exactly happened before start of the game
and why things in the game are unvealing in such a way.

The general concept is - to fully grasp Conspiracy, the player should play other
factions. Two most important are Japan and RGOC, they have biggest influence on
investigation and they can gather the most information. RGOC and Japan findings are not
the same, they complement each other. However, it would be even more perfect if some of
the details of DLC and Juntong past would be hidden in even more different countries.

Prime example for it could be Yunnan with its Western Insurrection. Some survived
members of Juntong from the deep western interior of China could join Long Yun, as they no
longer have contact with “real” Dai Li and alived rear admiral Milton who would stop them.
Player on Yunnan could learn something more on Juntong that would be different from
RGOC and Japan. After Yunnan (very likely) fails, members of Juntong will likely vanish
again in the interior of country, but some foreshadowing events for China and Japan could
help the climate. In general, it would justify Japanese paranoia more if some events would
imply that Juntong is behind *everything*, even if this is not true.

b) Japan Knowledge

Before DLC begins, Japanese believe that Dai Li died in 1947 in Battle of Chongqing,
while Mao Renfeng died in 1954, after which successful purge made Juntong completely
disintegrated. While Kempetai knew of Rear Admiral Miles presence in China under SACO
organization, Japanese believe that he died even before battle of Chongqing in 1946 when
the plane with former US advisors under SACO was shot down by Japanese airforce. What
Japanese don’t know is that Miles was never aboard this plane. The same knowledge
applies to RGOC government, although with less details and access to information.

c) Notes about “Direct” Foreshadowing

Rear-Admiral Milton E. Miles is the only man from Oath of Ash Garden that is still
alive in 1962 and he lives until 1970, just before actual DLC starts. He is man responsible for
actually unleashing the final part of Dai Li contingency plans that is supposed to doom
Japan. Some events can be written from his perspective. He uses second identity and
pretends to be typical foreign merchant in the buzzling city of Shanghai. Has connection to
ports authorities, smugglers and Chinese and Japanese mafia.

d) Zhang Guotao

This is suplementary idea to the document, but there is one specific character heavily
related to Dai Li and CCP at the same time - Zhang Guotao. After losing the struggle for
power with Mao Zedong, he defected to KMT and became Dai Li informant and one of the
key supporters of his Juntong. With both Chiang and Mao dead, the animosities between
Nationalists and Communists would likely disappear at this point in history and Zhang
Guotao could be the leading figure of former CCP intelligence following Dai Li orders now. I
could add him as fourth figure of Oath at Ash Garden, could be the leader of CCP uprising
somewhere or I could think about something else with him.