Huaqing Tower had been entirely booked by He Rui. At this moment, the prominent figures on the second floor were inexplicably shocked. Some of the older and more prudent ones sat in their seats with solemn expressions, while the bolder ones secretly approached the windows to watch the commotion on the street.

They saw a convoy driving from the direction of the city gate in the distance. The cars flew the "plaster flag" [^1] of the Japanese. They drove straight down the street and arrived at the entrance in no time. A group of Japanese officers emerged from the vehicles.

He Rui had already gone downstairs. Seeing Major General Hamamo Matasuke come out, he stood at attention and saluted. "Your Excellency, Major General, I didn't expect you to come personally. I am endlessly grateful!"

Major General Hamamo Matasuke returned the salute and laughed. "He-kun is embarking on his official career for the first time. According to our Japanese rules, this is a major event." He cordially held He Rui's hands and smiled. "I am acting as your *Eboshi-oya* [^2]!"

He Rui held Major General Hamamo Matasuke's hand and smiled. "Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Let us create a new situation together!"

The officials and gentry upstairs were all dumbfounded, not knowing how to react for a moment.

Afterward, several staff officers also stepped forward to congratulate him, saluting together. "Senior, assuming office in Siping, you will surely open up a new situation!"

He Rui nodded grandly and returned the salute.

A low murmur of amazement erupted from the crowd peeking from above.

He Rui turned to lead the way. Major General Hamamo Matasuke and the group of officers went upstairs one after another. As they got closer, the knowledgeable ones among the Merchant Guild Presidents eyed the uniform and rank insignia, gasping in cold air. The visitor was actually a Japanese Major General.

He Rui introduced him to everyone: "This is Major General Hamamo Matasuke, Chief of Staff of the Japanese Kwantung Governor-General's Office. Please welcome him."

Siping Mayor Peng Minsheng felt his scalp go numb. His friend in Fengtian had told him earlier that He Rui had gone to the Kwantung Governor-General's Office and seemed to have accomplished something, deeply pleasing Marshal Zhang Xiluan. So Peng Minsheng had given up the idea of fighting him head-on from the start. However, he had been an official in Siping for a long time and had many entangled interests; it was hard to let go immediately, so he had planned to find opportunities to plot slowly.

Now, seeing the Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Governor-General's Office personally come to stand up for He Rui, the last bit of Peng Minsheng's petty scheming scattered with the wind.

However, as the Mayor and the head of the gentry and officials, Peng Minsheng had to come forward to greet the guest as the host, if only to save face for the locals. He coughed and walked toward Major General Hamamo Matasuke. Unexpectedly, he had just taken a few steps when a Japanese officer stepped forward to block Major General Hamamo Matasuke, looking at Mayor Peng Minsheng with a dark face.

Peng Minsheng could only say carefully, "I am the Mayor of Siping. I wish to pay my respects to the Major General."

It was unclear if the Japanese officer understood Chinese; he just looked at Peng Minsheng coldly without saying a word.

Peng Minsheng was extremely embarrassed.

The officers of the Siping Garrison Regiment were already undecided about whether to step forward. Seeing the Japanese attitude, they didn't go up to invite a snub.

He Rui smiled at this moment. "Everyone is here. Serve the dishes!" He extended his left hand, inviting Major General Hamamo Matasuke to sit in the seat of honor.

Major General Hamamo Matasuke glanced briefly at the layout inside the building and said with interest, "He-kun, I have already sent a telegram to the Mitsui family. Hearing that He-kun wrote a proposal, Mitsui Yasuki attached great importance to it. He replied immediately, saying he would send someone from their trading company to pick it up personally. I felt that would waste too much time. Since Nagata Tetsuzan happens to be returning to Tokyo, I let him take it back to hand to Mitsui-kun personally."

Hearing this, He Rui sighed deeply. "Hearing Your Excellency say this, I am actually a bit worried. Last time I spoke with Mr. Mitsui at Tokyo University, we discussed Japanese fiscal policy. What I sent this time is a business plan. If Mr. Mitsui mistakenly thinks the content I sent is related to our last conversation, he might be disappointed."

"Oh? Fiscal policy?" Major General Hamamo Matasuke became interested. "I wonder what the content was?"

He Rui briefly introduced his conversation with Mitsui. It was evident that Hamamo Matasuke was thinking seriously about what He Rui said, but being a soldier, Major General Hamamo knew very little about economics and trade, so he didn't form any conclusions immediately.

As the two spoke, various dishes were continuously served, soon filling the table with a dazzling array. Seeing the first round of dishes was complete, He Rui stood up and said, "The dishes are served. Let the banquet begin."

Mayor Peng Minsheng saw He Rui chatting happily with Major General Hamamo Matasuke, with the Major General asking and listening intently. Although the two spoke Japanese and Peng Minsheng couldn't understand, Major General Hamamo Matasuke looked very peaceful and didn't seem difficult to deal with.

Holding onto a shred of fantasy, Peng Minsheng stood up and raised his wine glass. "Visitors from afar are guests. As the Mayor of Siping, I toast Your Excellency, Major General."

Hearing this, several Merchant Guild Presidents who did business with Japan also stood up with their glasses to support the Mayor.

However, Hamamo Matasuke didn't even lift his eyelids. He continued to laugh and talk with He Rui, ignoring them completely.

The Japanese officers on the side pulled long faces, looking at Peng Minsheng unkindly. Even the translator next to them didn't translate anything, only sneering slightly. They just looked at Mayor Peng Minsheng and the others with completely unfriendly gazes.

The atmosphere at the banquet instantly turned somewhat cold. The gentry and officials all froze with their chopsticks, as if stunned.

The last shred of fantasy in Peng Minsheng's heart shattered. He cried out *bad* in his heart, but having been an official for many years, he took the opportunity to slap his forehead and forced a laugh. "Oh my, I forgot the General doesn't understand our Chinese language. Disrespectful, disrespectful. I will punish myself with a cup!" He smoothly drank the wine.

The merchants holding their glasses also laughed. "Right, right, should be punished, should be punished!" Forcing smiles on their faces, they each drank their wine.

He Rui smiled slightly and then smoothed things over. "Major General Hamamo Matasuke, Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Governor-General's Office, has graced Siping with his presence. Please, Major General, say a few words to everyone."

This was said in Chinese. Before the translator could speak, Major General Hamamo Matasuke had already stood up. The translator hurriedly stepped closer. Hamamo Matasuke spoke in Japanese, and the translator shouted to the crowd in Chinese: "He-kun is an honor graduate of our Great Japanese Imperial Army War College and a most excellent talent. His assumption of office in Siping embodies Sino-Japanese friendship. You are all renowned figures in Siping. I came personally to attend He-kun's inauguration banquet because I have a few words to tell you. What He-kun wants to do is exactly what our Great Japanese Empire wants to support. If there are any problems or difficulties, our Kwantung Garrison will assist with all our strength!"

There were quite a few Japanese doing business in Siping, and some of the prominent figures present understood Japanese. Listening to Major General Hamamo Matasuke's speech and comparing it with the Chinese spoken by the translator, these people found that the translator didn't exaggerate anything; it was a word-for-word, dutiful translation.

These words unambiguously conveyed the attitude of the Japanese Kwantung Governor-General's Office toward He Rui to the prominent figures of Siping.

After Hamamo Matasuke finished speaking, he raised his wine glass. "He-kun, congratulations on your inauguration."

He Rui raised his glass. "Thank you for Your Excellency's support."

Three cups were drunk.

A Japanese staff officer next to him immediately stepped forward and stood at attention. "Your Excellency, according to the schedule! You have another important military meeting!"

"Then, He-kun!" Major General Hamamo Matasuke reached out to He Rui. He looked around left and right, glancing at the gentry and officials, and laughed softly. "The situation in the Northeast is complex. If there are any work difficulties in the future, my Kwantung Garrison will certainly not stand by and watch!"

After shaking hands, Hamamo Matasuke led the officers downstairs one after another. Observant people took out their pocket watches to check; from start to finish, the coming and going took no more than ten minutes.

As the sound of car engines came from downstairs, the Japanese troops also began to line up and leave following commands.

He Rui smiled at everyone. "Gentlemen, I came to Siping seeking nothing more than to protect the peace of the region. As for matters on the ground, I am but a martial artist, so naturally, I ask Mayor Peng and everyone to help out more!"

After speaking, He Rui raised his wine glass. "Come, gentlemen. For the long-term peace and stability of Siping, drain this cup."

Everyone was silent as a cicada in winter, hurriedly standing up to drain their cups. The wine was good wine, but in their mouths, it tasted no different from bitter medicine.

Afterward, He Rui enthusiastically invited everyone to resume the banquet. The crowd could only force smiles and barely keep him company. The wine and dishes at Huaqing Tower were excellent, yet everyone felt they tasted like chewing wax, almost unable to swallow.

***

[^1]: "Plaster flag" (膏药旗) is a derogatory Chinese term for the Japanese Rising Sun flag (Hinomaru), likening the red circle to a medicinal plaster.

[^2]: *Eboshi-oya* (乌帽子亲) refers to the person who places the *eboshi* cap on a young man's head during the *genpuku* (coming-of-age) ceremony in feudal Japan. It implies a godfather-like mentorship role.