Hearing Duan Qirui ask how he would deal with the situation, He Rui replied, "Report to the Director-General. If this subordinate were to deal with it, I would dispatch a fully equipped battalion of the Beiyang Army to Changchun. I would inform the Japanese garrison in Kwantung not to act recklessly. If it is a small trick by Japan, I will reprimand Japan for its fault and argue strongly on just grounds. If the Japanese army is truly blinded by stupidity and attacks our army, we will just fight the Japanese army. As long as the troops are sufficiently equipped and trained, always on guard, and fully prepared in advance, I am afraid the Japanese army will only try to gain an advantage but end up worse off."

Hearing that He Rui was not afraid of fighting the Japanese army, Duan Qirui was relieved. Just as he was thinking about arranging He Rui's assignment, he suddenly remembered some worried evaluations of the situation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked, "He Rui, what if Japan really wants to recruit a Volunteer Army to go to Europe to participate in the war?"

He Rui answered immediately, "Report to the Director-General, this matter is truly impossible. Not to mention losing face, they would also lose money. To train a group of people from the Northeast without a military foundation until they can shoot guns and march requires a lot of money. Transporting the so-called Volunteer Army to Europe is an even greater expense. If they conscript new recruits in Japan and send them to Europe after training, the money spent would probably be less than using a Chinese Volunteer Army."

Duan Qirui had no more doubts. "He Rui. If I send you to handle this matter under Zhang Xiluan, are you willing?"

He Rui answered loudly, "Report to the Director-General, this subordinate is willing. I just don't know in what capacity the Director-General wants this subordinate to go under the command of the General Pacifying Fengtian."

Duan Qirui calculated in his mind. "The Northeast Provincial Army now has commanders for every regiment. I will give you the establishment of a Provisional Regiment. You first go to the Baoding Military Academy to recruit a few officers, and recruit soldiers yourself in Changchun. As for your rank... Lieutenant Colonel."

He Rui didn't bargain either and answered decisively, "This subordinate obeys orders."

Duan Qirui asked coldly, "He Rui. If you cannot handle the matters with the Russians and the Japanese, do you know what the outcome will be?"

"Report to the Director-General. If this subordinate is incompetent to that extent, there is no need for the Director-General to order an execution; this subordinate will commit suicide first. I will never lose face for our Beiyang."

Duan Qirui had studied in Japan and knew the Japanese set of seppuku. He chuckled lightly and picked up his teacup. "Drink tea."

"Thank you, Director-General. This subordinate takes his leave."

Duan Qirui's staff officer led Lieutenant Colonel Lu and He Rui out. He asked the two to wait outside the door first, and returned to the official residence himself.

As soon as the staff officer left, Lieutenant Colonel Lu rubbed his hands and sighed, "I didn't expect Brother He to be valued by Director-General Duan. You are going to Jilin to take up the post. It is truly admirable."

Hearing Lieutenant Colonel Lu's sour words, He Rui asked jokingly, "Does Brother Lu also want to go to Changchun?"

Lieutenant Colonel Lu sighed but didn't answer. Who would want to run Outside the Pass after seeing the dazzling world Inside the Pass? In the Manchu Qing era, even the Manchus didn't want to stay Outside the Pass. If one stayed in Fengtian, it would be a bit better, but Changchun belonged to Jilin Province, a place where refugees venturing East of the Pass would go.

According to Beiyang rules, He Rui being sent out to Changchun meant that as long as he established a foothold locally, he would be a local warlord.

At present, Jilin was the front line of conflict with Russia and Japan. The nearby Mongolian tribes also harassed Jilin from time to time. Taking a few people there, one might not even be able to keep one's life. If Lieutenant Colonel Lu had such determination earlier, there would be no business for He Rui.

Just watching the little brother of Beiyang embark on the road to prosperity before his eyes, Lieutenant Colonel Lu smiled. "Hehe, Brother He, do you know how to collect taxes and recruit soldiers locally?"

He Rui smiled and didn't answer.

Lieutenant Colonel Lu felt he had a chance and leaned closer to say, "Brother He, set up a table in Bada Hutong, and I will invite a few older brothers for Brother He. If everyone drinks happily, they will naturally explain the key points to Brother He."

Just as He Rui wanted to shake his head to refuse, Duan Qirui's staff officer had already walked out and said to He Rui, "Regimental Commander He, let's go."

Lieutenant Colonel Lu asked first, "Where to?"

Duan Qirui's staff officer had no expression on his face and answered coldly, "Regimental Commander He will follow me to the Ministry of War."

This process went really fast. Seeing the staff officer show Duan Qirui's handwritten order, the Ministry of War approved the official documents and letters that day.

The next day, the staff officer took He Rui to the Ministry of War again to complete the remaining procedures. From paperwork like military status and files, to work that required moving around like collecting military uniforms, rank insignia, and sidearms, everything was executed quite smoothly.

After everything was done, the two arrived inside the gate of the Ministry of War. The staff officer said, "Regimental Commander He, do you want to go to Bada Hutong to host a banquet for those old military affairs officers? If you don't know anyone there, I can introduce a place for you; it will definitely be affordable."

He Rui shook his head. "This subordinate has been in the military academy for so many years, learning how to train and lead troops. This subordinate already has a plan for how to conscript soldiers after arriving in Changchun. This subordinate will not go to Bada Hutong."

The staff officer had been handling affairs with He Rui for the past two days, always remaining serious and not chatting with He Rui. Hearing He Rui speak like this, he showed a trace of a smile. He took out an envelope from his bosom and handed it to He Rui. "Regimental Commander He, I can see that Director-General Duan values you very much. This is the deployment fee given by Director-General Duan. You must use it well. After recruiting people at the Baoding Military Academy, you have to rely on this money to go to Fengtian."

He Rui pulled out the contents of the envelope; it was a check for 1,000 Yuan from the Bank of Peking.

Raising his hand to salute the staff officer, He Rui said, "I thank you here for your hard work these past few days, Sir. Please also convey this subordinate's gratitude to Director-General Duan. When this subordinate arrives Outside the Pass, I definitely won't let the Japanese army have the guts to cause trouble again."

The staff officer smiled. "Then please do a good job, Brother He. Don't disappoint the Director-General. Farewell."

After speaking, the staff officer turned and left. He surprisingly didn't stay at all.

He Rui had only read in some books that Duan Qirui was very honest and upright. Seeing the actions of the advisor, he knew it was very likely true.

Compared with a guy like Lieutenant Colonel Lu who was afraid of death but wanted to take advantage, Duan Qirui's personal character might be okay. As a national leader, Duan Qirui was completely unqualified.

On the train to Baoding, He Rui combed through the process of recruiting officers for the third time. Closing his eyes to relax, he couldn't help but imagine what the young Beiyang military cadets would be like. Among the young elites of China at present, who would step on the road of opening up a new era with him? Just thinking about it made him look forward to it.

On the morning of May 25, Lieutenant General Wang Ruxian, Principal of the Baoding Military Academy, read the official letter issued by the Ministry of War and then looked at He Rui's identity documents. But he didn't speak immediately.

It wasn't that Principal Wang was putting on airs. The graduates of the Baoding Military Academy were all excellent. At this time of military expansion, students were in great demand. A hollow commander like He Rui coming to the military academy to recruit students originally had no chance to see Principal Wang Ruxian at all. It was only because Duan Qirui sent a telegram that Wang Ruxian had to condescend.

Since he met him, he had given enough face to Duan Qirui. Principal Wang asked, "How many people did the Ministry of War approve?"

"Report to the Principal, the Ministry of War approved four officers."

Graduates of the Baoding Military Academy would be at least company commanders when they returned to the local forces. In a place like Outside the Pass, serving as a battalion commander was more than enough. One regiment, four battalions. Seeing that the Ministry of War didn't mess around, Wang Ruxian ordered, "Take Regimental Commander He to the Personnel Section."