Hearing Zhang Xiluan assign Siping as his jurisdiction, He Rui stood up and bowed. "As you command."

"When does Commander He plan to set off?"

"My subordinates can set off at any time. This subordinate needs to make a trip to the Kwantung Governor-General's Office first. Director-General Duan told this subordinate about the Japanese army's actions in Changchun. This subordinate asks Lord Zhang to dispatch a subordinate who understands Japanese to accompany me to the Kwantung Governor-General's Office to negotiate with the Japanese army together."

As soon as these words came out, several people in the room gasped. In the ears of Zhang Xiluan's subordinates, the term "Kwantung Governor-General's Office" was no different from a dragon's pool or a tiger's den. They looked at He Rui, then at Zhang Xiluan, their eyes filled with shock.

Zhang Xiluan seemed deep in thought. After a moment, he chuckled lightly. "Hehe, why doesn't Commander He go directly to the Japanese consulate in Changchun?"

He Rui didn't avoid Zhang Xiluan's gaze at all and responded decisively, "The Japanese consulate in Changchun cannot control the Japanese garrison. The Kwantung Governor-General's Office is the one in charge. If the Kwantung Governor-General's Office doesn't issue an order, such incidents will only emerge one after another endlessly."

"Can Commander He persuade the Kwantung Governor-General's Office?"

"This subordinate is not going to quarrel with the Kwantung Governor. Persuading people with reason is the best policy."

Hearing this, the expressions of Zhang Xiluan's subordinates in the room became strange. They felt that He Rui's words were truly absurd, almost like a joke, yet they couldn't laugh. However, Zhang Xiluan's expression had become solemn. "When does Commander He plan to go?"

"First, I ask Lord Zhang to send a telegram informing Hamamo Matasuke, Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Governor-General's Office, that this subordinate will go to negotiate as a representative of the Fengtian General Zhen'an's Office. Once Japan replies, this subordinate will head to the Kwantung Governor-General's Office."

Zhang Xiluan was somewhat surprised. "Why meet the Chief of Staff instead of the Kwantung Governor?"

"Answering Lord Zhang. The current Governor of the Kwantung Governor-General's Office is Nakamura Satoru. I heard of this person when I was in Japan. He is a veteran Japanese general, 61 years old this year. He was promoted to Army General on January 25th of this year and is about to retire. According to Japanese rules, Nakamura Satoru's term is an honorable retirement post; daily affairs are the responsibility of the Chief of Staff. Therefore, for this negotiation, it is better to find the Chief of Staff directly."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiluan was certain He Rui had come prepared. He actually felt a hint of expectation for resolving this matter. But having been disappointed too many times over the years, Zhang Xiluan didn't dare to harbor any fantasies. He simply called the quartermaster and approved a batch of weapons and ammunition for He Rui.

Returning to the unit's accommodation, He Rui called the core personnel and explained the upcoming arrangements. Upon hearing that He Rui was going to the Kwantung Governor-General's Office, Xu Chengfeng immediately stated he wanted to go along as a guard.

He Rui smiled and shook his head. "It's not like I'm going to a dragon's pool or tiger's den; what need is there for guards? I would be more reassured if you and the others led the team to Siping. Once you arrive in Siping, inquire about this news immediately."

Saying this, He Rui took out a document from his briefcase and placed it on the table. He Rui had long planned what intelligence to collect first upon reaching the local area. He just hadn't taken it out earlier because he didn't know where Zhang Xiluan would send him.

Just as he was about to explain the contents to the young officers, Zhong Yifu said, "Commander. Siping isn't a dragon's pool or tiger's den either. If no one follows you to the Kwantung Governor-General's Office, *we* won't be reassured."

"Silang is in charge of external affairs. Let him go with the Commander to the Kwantung Governor-General's Office," Cheng Ruofan suggested a different candidate.

He Rui was somewhat surprised that Cheng Ruofan, a well-known troublemaker in school, would make such a serious suggestion. On the train from Tianjin to Fengtian, He Rui had already determined the temporary division of duties. Zhong Yifu managed logistics and finance, Xu Jia managed archives, Zheng Silang managed external affairs, and Hu Xiushan managed internal affairs and security. Regarding military affairs, Xu Chengfeng and Cheng Ruofan served as Captain and Vice-Captain.

The young officers immediately split into two factions, leaving Zhong Yifu, who supported Xu Chengfeng, looking isolated.

He Rui patted the table to stop the argument. "Using you as guards is too much of a waste of talent. No. We will split up next. Your work over there is much more important than my trip to the Kwantung Governor-General's Office."

Without waiting for the young men to say anything more, He Rui distributed the documents to the young officers. "After you receive the weapons and equipment, head to Siping. Start the investigation according to this plan."

Zhong Yifu took his copy and saw that the investigation content included three categories: local garrison, local officials, and local prominent figures.

Not only were the investigation targets listed, but the content of the investigation was also very detailed. Zhong Yifu felt he could handle some things, but for more content, he couldn't think of suitable methods. Just as he hesitated, he heard He Rui begin to describe the work distribution.

The investigation work was not to be done by the six of them alone, but assigned to the entire team. Now, it was declared externally that Xu Chengfeng was the Regiment Staff Officer, Cheng Ruofan was the Vice Regiment Commander, and the other four were Battalion Commanders. These were titles He Rui had set for external contact, not positions within the unit.

"Xu Chengfeng and Cheng Ruofan are to wear military uniforms and proceed as Vice Commander and Staff Officer to contact the local government and military in Siping. Inquire about official news..."

"Zhong Yifu, Zheng Silang, and Hu Xiushan are to change into plain clothes and take selected personnel to Siping ahead of the group. Collect intelligence within Siping city. Xu Jia, besides holding down the camp in Siping, organize the troops for gun drills. Even if the guns are empty, they must look the part. At the same time, you are responsible for intelligence compilation and analysis."

"Commander, I'm not very good at chatting with people. It would be better to let me stay in the camp," Zhong Yifu requested.

He Rui asked Zheng Silang, "If someone asks for your name under the guise of asking for directions, will you tell them?"

Zheng Silang answered decisively, "Naturally not."

"If the instructor asks you to introduce yourself to your classmates during the first class, will you refuse?"

"Of course not," Zheng Silang answered, still decisive.

He Rui turned to Zhong Yifu. "This is called 'singing the song of the mountain you are on' [adapting to the circumstances]. Conducting social surveys and intelligence collection requires methods. Through appropriate methods, let the other party speak out about things they feel don't matter during mutual exchange. Acting separately, wearing uniforms or plain clothes—it's all to facilitate communication. Do you plan to only deal with one type of person in the future?"

"I'm really not suitable for this," Zhong Yifu still wanted to decline.

He Rui ignored this guy and said to everyone, "You are all classmates, so there are fewer barriers to communication. Communicate and learn from each other. When you encounter problems, analyze them and find solutions. When I am not in Siping, you must hold study meetings. At the meeting, everyone—not just you, but also those cultural instructors—must speak in groups. Speak about their experiences of the day and write them down. Through intelligence compilation and analysis, pick out experiences to provide as a reference for everyone's future work."

"Th... this is something only *we* should know, right?" Xu Jia, responsible for archives management, was puzzled.

He Rui praised, "Confidentiality work should be like this; one cannot relax for a moment. What can be said, and what cannot be said."

Temporary archivist Xu Jia hurriedly pursued the question, "Which parts of this plan can be told to the cultural instructors?"