He Rui took the business card. The title on it was Vice President of "Mitsui Corporation." He didn't have much impression of this name, but judging from the title and style, he should be an important figure in the Mitsui Zaibatsu.

"What He-kun said hit the nail on the head. I wonder if He-kun has any ideas regarding Japan's future national economic policy."

After speaking, Mitsui Yasuki sized up He Rui, only to see He Rui frown slightly and say nothing.

Mitsui was not surprised. How could national-level economic policies be so easy to formulate? With so many outstanding talents in the Japanese high-level leadership, they still couldn't come up with completely convincing policies. If he hadn't seen He Rui about to leave, Mitsui wouldn't have asked such a question anyway.

Mitsui Yasuki didn't know much about He Rui. He started paying attention to He Rui more than half a year ago.

He Rui only became famous after accurately predicting the World War based on the so-called "Geopolitics." It was precisely through academic cooperation with He Rui that Professor Taira Toyomori of Tokyo University gained recognition from the academic circle and was promoted from associate professor to professor in one fell swoop.

But where there are benefits, there will also be trouble. When the *Asahi Shimbun* began to reprint a large number of papers and predictions cooperated by the two, the matter of He Rui "solemnly suggesting to the Ministry of Finance" was also reported. A massive pot of blame fell from the sky, smashing Minister of Finance Takahashi Korekiyo and Prime Minister Ōkuma Shigenobu until they saw stars.

Immediately after the article was published, it caused heated discussion. Reporters visited many executives in Tokyo's banking and corporate circles respectively. The Mitsui family founded Japan's first private bank, and it was only then that they truly heard of such a person as He Rui.

Facing the inquiries of reporters, various banks expressed that the Ministry of Finance indeed did not take any measures before the war.

"The so-called measures are simply nonsense. Who could have imagined that a Chinese person could guess so accurately?" A source who did not wish to be identified claimed, "In fact, someone did mention (this) matter, but it was used as conversational material in izakayas. Who would put the economic forecast of an army officer into formal work?"

However, the opposition party's goal was to topple the cabinet. How could they let go of such an opportunity? They ridiculed and mocked in the Diet. Ōkuma Shigenobu first pretended to be deaf and dumb, but when it really didn't work, he had to apologize to the nationals. Takahashi Korekiyo personally met with He Rui and hired Professor Taira Toyomori and "Assistant" He Rui as Special Economic Advisors to the Ministry of Finance with a monthly allowance of 150 Yen.

Of course, the most important thing was to publish the news of the Ministry of Finance hiring Professor Taira Toyomori and He Rui in the newspapers to calm public opinion...

"Mr. Mitsui." He Rui spoke. Mitsui Yasuki quickly gathered his thoughts.

"Economic policy focuses on production and demand. Current demand stems from the war. When this demand disappears, national policy should go to create demand. Use the created demand to provide employment and maintain economic operation."

Mitsui Yasuki was greatly puzzled. "He-kun, the created demand you mentioned seems like a tree without roots or water without a source. If there were such demands, why would they need to be created? The government would have already started taking action."

He Rui shook his head. "Creating demand is a very high-level national policy. To implement it, several prerequisites are needed. First, the country has the ability to lower interest rates. Through wartime exports, Japan has turned from a debtor nation to a creditor nation, and the currency in hand is relatively sufficient to meet this point. Second, there are clear investment targets under low interest rates. The direction of national investment should be limited to areas of national economy and people's livelihood such as infrastructure construction. Railways, ports, electricity. Constructing new housing in cities, improving living environments, adjusting the location of industrial zones, and solving the difficulties of worker commuting transportation. By expanding the scale of education, increasing the number of educated people in Japan, and improving the quality of the Japanese people. The money is spent, and it seems that there is no actual profit. Because the role these funds are supposed to play is not profit, but to maintain economic operation so that the people do not lose their jobs and have income. If this can be done, future returns can naturally be expected. The economy is bad now, but the economy will not be bad forever. Large-scale infrastructure construction and industrial upgrading can not only maintain employment and economic operation but also prepare the foundation for longer-term production investment expansion. Once overseas markets change, Japan can immediately start its engines and produce with full force."

Mitsui Yasuki fell into deep thought, and the reporters next to him continued to scribble and record quickly.

He Rui took out his pocket watch and looked at it again. Seeing that He Rui wanted to leave, Mitsui Yasuki said, "He-kun, please take my car and let me send He-kun to the pier."

He Rui didn't decline either and smiled. "Then many thanks."

On the road to the pier, Mitsui Yasuki asked many more questions in the car, mostly related to China and Japan. It could be seen that Mitsui Yasuki was very concerned about Chinese affairs, and his conversation was deep yet polite. At this time, the Japanese elites were high-spirited. Although they were slightly immature regarding major political and economic issues, they were ambitious and full of vitality. He Rui couldn't help but feel a little heavy-hearted.

When the car arrived at the pier, He Rui saw the huge outline of the passenger ship from a distance through the car window. The three large characters "Mito Maru" on the bow were particularly eye-catching. Crowds surged in the passages of the pier, a busy scene of hustle and bustle. The people who came to see He Rui off had been waiting by the pier for a long time.

Lü Feng, the Counselor of the Embassy in Japan, came over to meet everyone and then handed the boat ticket to He Rui. "Brother He, the luggage has been sent onto the ship. You go board quickly."

He Rui got out of the car, nodded to the Morita family, Ishiwara Kanji, Nagumo Chūichi, Yamaguchi Tamon, and others. He turned his head to look around but was surprised to find that even Okamura Yasuji and Tōjō Hideki, who were usually at odds with him, actually came to see him off. He immediately strode forward and shook hands with Okamura. "I am honored to see Senior Okamura and Student Tōjō here. Your breadth of mind is indeed unexpected!"

Okamura Yasuji took a step forward. "He-kun's departure will inevitably make you a great enemy of the Empire. Thinking that I will confront He-kun in the court and on the battlefield for the rest of my life is truly a joyous thing in life. Since it is so, how could I not come?"

Behind him, Obata Toshishirō, Tōjō Hideki, and a group of army officers nodded in unison and said loudly, "Exactly so!"

He Rui shook his head and sighed. "If you gentlemen are obsessed with the petty path of militarism, I will definitely rectify it!"

At this time, the steam whistle blasted loudly, urging passengers to board the ship. He Rui then bid farewell to Nagumo Chūichi and Yamaguchi Tamon. Seeing Nagumo Chūichi hesitating to speak, He Rui smiled. "You and I are close friends; why be shy? If China and Japan become hostile in the future, everyone will serve their own masters, just doing the duty of a soldier!"

Nagumo Chūichi and Yamaguchi Tamon looked at each other and smiled. "He-kun is free and easy; we admire you!"

Yamaguchi Tamon held He Rui's hand, shook it vigorously, and laughed loudly. "This morning, Senior Yamamoto was restless, thinking back and forth for a long time, but finally didn't come. Presumably, he should be afraid of being at a loss at this time!"

Mentioning that guy Yamamoto Isoroku, the three couldn't help but laugh together, showing the heroic spirit of soldiers.

The steam whistle sounded again. Seeing that he could not delay any longer, He Rui waved to the Morita family and Professor Taira Toyomori, and walked slowly up the gangway. Halfway there, he suddenly turned around and said loudly, "Gentlemen, after this parting, He Rui will inevitably meet you again on the battlefield. At the moment of life and death, please do not show mercy!" He paused and bowed. "Gentlemen of the Army and Navy, please serve Japan well!"

The officers under the ship all looked solemn and bowed in return together. "Please serve China well, He-kun! Meeting on the battlefield, do not show mercy!"

The last steam whistle blasted loudly. A flock of seagulls hovered and flew at the bow of the ship. The "Mito Maru" started slowly and accelerated out of the port.

A ray of sunlight pierced through the haze, spilling into the waves, paning out spots of golden flowers.

Sky, water, and the human world; colorful clouds drifted west.