Wu Youping hurried to the outside of He Rui's office. Pushing the door open, he saw He Rui talking with Tang Gui and Chen Deli. Seeing Wu Youping poke his head in, Tang Gui and Chen Deli, the two cadres in charge of rural areas, looked over with some surprise. Wu Youping felt a bit awkward; running in so hurriedly was indeed inappropriate.

Wu Youping asked, "Governor, is Mr. Morrison negotiating with the Governor on behalf of the British government?"

He Rui was both surprised and amused. "Why do you say that?"

Wu Youping was stumped. He calmed himself and said, "Governor, after Mr. Morrison finished talking with you last night, he gathered the British merchants and advised them to cooperate with us with confidence. As a result, all the British merchants ran to me today to inquire. That's why I asked if we reached any agreement with the British government."

He Rui hadn't expected Morrison to help so much. He laughed. "Gather all foreign merchants in Siping for a meeting tomorrow and formally dispel the rumor to them. Tell them there is absolutely no such thing."

Wu Youping trusted He Rui very much. Since He Rui said no, then there certainly wasn't. Hearing He Rui wanted him to hold a rumor-dispelling meeting, he hesitated instead. After thinking for a while, he asked carefully, "Governor, I don't think this meeting is necessary. If someone really asks, I'll just deny it to their face."

He Rui seemed to see through Wu Youping's thoughts and smiled. "State your reason."

"I want to use the tiger's skin as a banner [bluff with false prestige] to reach more cooperation with merchants as soon as possible. What is most lacking in the early stage of cooperation is mutual trust. We have been in Siping for less than half a year, and merchants from various countries have limited confidence in us. If we let them have an illusion, perhaps it can increase our credibility."

After speaking, Wu Youping looked at He Rui expectantly. He saw He Rui shake his head. "Without trust, one cannot stand. True is true, false is false; there is no need to confuse the public."

Tang Gui beside them had doubts. "Governor, if we deny it so readily, the British merchants might not believe it either. They probably will still think we signed some secret treaty with the British government."

Hearing this, He Rui suddenly thought of the divine drama *Yes, Minister* describing British political characteristics: anything officially denied must be true. But He Rui didn't want to say this; there was still a big gap between British politics in 1915 and 1975.

At this moment, a knock came from the door. He Rui ordered, "Come in."

It turned out Xu Jia sent someone to deliver news. Today was December 13, 1915. Just yesterday, December 12, Yuan Shikai telegraphed the whole country, announcing acceptance of the throne, overthrowing the republic, restoring the monarchy, changing the Republic of China to the "Empire of China," and ordering the abolition of the Republic era, changing the 5th Year of the Republic (1916) to the 1st Year of Hongxian.

It finally came.

Looking at the surprised and excited expressions of Wu Youping and others, He Rui suppressed his own thoughts and ordered according to the organizational process being formed: "Party members in the urban area will hold a meeting."

The number of formal members of the Civilization Party had reached more than thirty, plus over forty probationary members. Each of the 20 towns had a Party group dispatched, leaving fewer than twenty formal and probationary members in Siping.

The Party members didn't feel surprised upon hearing about Yuan Shikai proclaiming himself Emperor. On October 6, 1915, the Senate of the Republic convened the "Citizens' Representative Assembly." The representatives uniformly "approved" the constitutional monarchy and nominated the Senate as the general representative of the National Assembly, petitioning to install Yuan Shikai as Emperor of the Chinese Empire.

There was so much work in Siping; how could the Civilization Party members pay attention to this all the time? The trick of "three refusals and three yieldings" had been played for two months; everyone had long tossed this matter aside.

Now learning that Yuan Shikai finally proclaimed himself Emperor, the comrades had expected it.

Xu Chengfeng actively reported the progress of troop training. "Governor, the troops have completed basic combat technical subjects, and the deduction of combat objectives has also been roughly completed. We already have the strength to fight. Next, we can conduct resistance training."

The Party and government cadres in Siping had long held meetings and unified their thinking; everyone identified with the republican system. Xu Chengfeng saying this now meant opposing the other governors outside the pass who firmly supported Yuan Shikai's monarchy.

Statistics Section Chief Xu Jia scanned the crowd quietly. Seeing several local Party members looking hesitant, he considered how to talk to the comrades. At such a time, all Party members must keep up with the organization.

He Rui didn't talk about his own ideas but narrated completely according to the response method. "Duan Qirui, Wang Shizhen, and Feng Guozhang—although these three are involuntary, they can at least understand that their interests rely on the stability of the Beiyang clique as a whole, so they won't jump out first to oppose Yuan Shikai. Before long, factions outside Beiyang will attack Yuan Shikai on the grounds of restoring the republic. We should not get involved in this dog-eat-dog farce. If the governors outside the pass shout verbally, we'll pretend not to hear. Only when we encounter people who insist on taking advantage of the chaos to profit will we intervene."

Most comrades engaged in civil affairs only had the same stance as the organization and couldn't keep up with the train of thought immediately. A comrade asked, "Governor, what can they do by taking advantage of the chaos?"

He Rui answered, "Certainly those who don't want to maintain the status quo testing those who want to maintain the status quo."

Even the comrades who hadn't had time to consider this before understood after a little thought. Under the great changes at this time, those guys who wanted to make a fortune from the Yuan Shikai monarchy event naturally hoped to rise with the momentum. The current General Zhen'an, Zhang Xiluan, wanted to maintain the status quo outside the pass, so he would naturally become the object of probing.

Vice Commander Cheng Ruofan's handsome face was full of fighting spirit. "Governor, do we stop all troops attempting to pass through Siping?"

He Rui nodded. "Yes. At this time, no matter who it is, don't think about going south through Siping. I will inform General Zhang of our decision."

Cheng Ruofan pressed, "Governor, what targeted preparations should we make?"

He Rui knew Cheng Ruofan wanted to do something actively, so he stood up and said to the comrades, "Those governors outside the pass are just fence-sitters. The few soldiers in their hands are their capital for self-preservation; how could they have the backbone to risk everything they have? This meeting is to unify thinking. We should not let what happened disrupt our rhythm, but complete the work step by step according to the set work schedule. The changes brought by the President proclaiming himself Emperor will definitely affect the cadres' mood. After comrades go back, convey the spirit of this meeting, let the cadres restore a normal working mood, and don't let this matter affect work. If there is anything requiring our action, it must not be because the President proclaimed himself Emperor, but because someone disrupted our current work arrangement."

Although He Rui was calm and composed, it was hard for the comrades to do the same. Originally, having no time to consider these things allowed them to settle their hearts, but now that they had to consider it, they felt it difficult to stabilize their minds.

However, He Rui didn't give everyone a chance to ferment these thoughts and ordered decisively, "Meeting adjourned!"

Two days later, inside the General Zhen'an's Office, Zhang Xiluan saw Adjutant Liu walk into the study holding an official document.

Seeing Zhang Xiluan's expression seemed unhappy, Adjutant Liu hurriedly said, "Marshal, it's an official document from Siping Governor He Rui."

Zhang Xiluan's face remained sunken like water. He took the document and opened it to look. His expression actually gradually relaxed.

After presenting the document to Zhang Xiluan, Adjutant Liu carefully observed Zhang Xiluan's expression. Seeing Zhang Xiluan's expression gradually smooth out, he became curious about the document's content for a moment.

Zhang Xiluan pondered for a moment and ordered, "Go to Siping. Tell He Rui: he was effective in suppressing bandits a while ago, and the troops suffered losses. Allocate 300 rifles to him to replenish equipment. As for the military exercise he prepared in Siping..."

Zhang Xiluan suddenly stopped. Adjutant Liu waited for a long time without a follow-up, so he had to ask, "Marshal, He Rui wrote to hold a military exercise?"

Zhang Xiluan threw the document on the table, and Adjutant Liu picked it up carefully.

He saw He Rui stating in the document that he was considering holding a bandit suppression exercise in Siping recently. To avoid chaos, troops of other governors would be temporarily prohibited from passing through Siping during the exercise. He asked for Zhang Xiluan's instructions.

Since He Rui arrived outside the pass, he had indeed done many famous things, but this was the first time He Rui wrote an official document to Zhang Xiluan in an official capacity.

Adjutant Liu had read He Rui's exclusive interview and knew He Rui's stance and reasons for opposing Yuan Shikai's monarchy. Reading the content of the document, Adjutant Liu felt He Rui wanted to help Zhang Xiluan eliminate trouble.

Siping, a county town, couldn't compare with provincial capitals like Fengtian and Changchun at all, nor with border cities like Harbin. However, Siping was located in the south of Jilin, guarding the main road coming and going between north and south outside the pass. As long as He Rui didn't allow other governors' troops to pass through Siping, the governors of Heilongjiang and Jilin couldn't coerce Zhang Xiluan in any way.

"What are you still standing there for? Go handle the errand quickly!" Zhang Xiluan shouted unhappily.

Adjutant Liu looked blank. "Marshal, you just mentioned the military exercise and didn't give further instructions."

Zhang Xiluan wanted to sigh but straightened his back again. "Tell He Rui, the military exercise is not necessary."

Watching Adjutant Liu leave, Zhang Xiluan leaned back heavily, mixed feelings in his heart.

Now, the entire area outside the pass knew that although he, Zhang Xiluan, didn't openly oppose it, he didn't support Yuan Shikai proclaiming himself Emperor in his heart.

But the governors outside the pass not only all suggested that Zhang Xiluan firmly support President Yuan Shikai, but also all mentioned the matter of Wang Xiuzhi, Zhang Xiluan, Sun Baoqi, Pan Kejun, and Yuan Shikai becoming sworn brothers thirty years ago.

Only He Rui alone never caused trouble for Zhang Xiluan regarding Yuan Shikai's monarchy. Even when expressing his views on the monarchy, He Rui found a newspaper for an exclusive interview himself.

Looking back on his life, he joined the army in Wuchang, and the next year entered the Ting Battalion of Bao Chao's Xiang Army to handle camp affairs. After more than ten years of military life, he followed Rehe Lieutenant General Chongshi to outside the pass. That year was exactly the first year of Guangxu, exactly 40 years ago.

For 40 years, he had led troops and governed people outside the pass, enjoying a prominent reputation.

Unexpectedly, seeing that he was about to turn 73 today, in the entire area outside the pass, only a Siping Governor, He Rui, still knew to treat him with the attitude due to a superior.

Zhang Xiluan supported himself on the desk with both hands, a sense of desolation rising in his heart for a time.