Japan's Kwantung Leased Territory is located at the southernmost tip of China's Liaodong Peninsula. Mitsui Yasuki, Vice President of the Mitsui Zaibatsu, did not make a scene. He arrived quietly and boarded the train to Fengtian.

Inside the train carriage, there were many Chinese carrying large and small bags, looking like they were traveling far. The Japanese Kwantung Leased Territory had been recruiting Chinese people, so the cities were expanding rapidly. Judging by their tattered clothes, these Chinese were poor and did not meet the criteria for immigrants recruited by the Kwantung Territory. It seemed their destination was Outside the Pass, where General Zhen'an, He Rui, was located.

Thinking of He Rui, Mitsui Yasuki was truly looking forward to meeting him again. Hearing the news that He Rui had been appointed General Zhen'an by Duan Qirui and had become the highest official Outside the Pass, Mitsui Yasuki immediately cancelled an important meeting on June 24th and took a ship to the Kwantung Territory.

If it were anyone else, reaching such a high position at the age of 26 would surely make them smug. But this was He Rui. Mitsui Yasuki believed that He Rui must be feeling the heavy pressure brought by this status. At such a moment, what was needed was absolutely not flattery, but tangible support.

On the way here by ship, Mitsui Yasuki had already considered various possibilities and was organizing his thoughts. At this moment, his attendant stood up, interrupting Mitsui Yasuki's contemplation. Looking up, a Japanese Major was standing in the aisle next to Mitsui Yasuki's seat.

"May I ask what is the matter, Major?" the attendant asked.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Mitsui Yasuki?" the Major asked Mitsui Yasuki.

Mitsui Yasuki had no impression of this Major at all, but seeing the oval badge on the Major's chest, Mitsui Yasuki could not refuse directly. The bottom of the oval badge featured radiating lines representing a chrysanthemum. Although Mitsui Yasuki didn't think the lines looked like a chrysanthemum, since the badge was named 'Chrysanthemum and Star', he would accept it as such. Above the curved chrysanthemum pattern was a gold five-pointed star. This was the badge of a graduate of the Imperial Japanese Army War College. Possessing this badge meant a huge gap in the path of promotion.

Since the other party had such an identity, Mitsui Yasuki stood up and asked politely, "May I ask how to address you, Major?"

The Major raised his hand to salute Mitsui Yasuki. "I am Itagaki Seishirō. I met Mr. Mitsui once when seeing off... Senior He Rui."

When He Rui left Japan, it was indeed Mitsui Yasuki's car that took him to the pier. There were many military personnel seeing him off at the time, and Mitsui Yasuki was focused on He Rui's evaluation of the methods to deal with the economic crisis. He didn't remember a person named Itagaki Seishirō at all.

However, since Itagaki Seishirō wore the Chrysanthemum and Star badge and referred to He Rui as 'Senior', he must be a War College graduate. Mitsui Yasuki continued to ask, "May I ask the purpose of your trip, Itagaki-kun?"

Itagaki Seishirō replied, "I graduated this year and have been assigned to serve in the Kwantung Territory. I have been ordered by the Kwantung Governor-General's Office to deliver congratulations to Senior He. Additionally, Major General Kawai Misao, the Principal of the Army War College, also ordered me to bring a congratulatory letter."

Unexpectedly meeting someone also going to see He Rui, Mitsui Yasuki thought for a moment and invited Itagaki Seishirō to sit opposite him. After chatting for a few sentences, the topic turned to He Rui. Although Itagaki Seishirō was six years older than He Rui, a junior was a junior, and Itagaki Seishirō was indeed very concerned about He Rui, mentioning many things about He Rui's time at school during their conversation.

Perhaps Itagaki Seishirō didn't notice it himself, but Mitsui Yasuki felt his deep wariness of He Rui. So he asked seemingly casually, "Since Itagaki-kun is a War College graduate, I wonder if you support the New Asia Doctrine or the Continental Policy?"

Itagaki Seishirō was stunned. He thought for a moment before replying, "I support the Continental Policy more."

This confirmed Itagaki Seishirō's stance for Mitsui Yasuki. Japanese military men who supported the New Asia Doctrine believed that a new Asian order should be built with Japan as the core, leading Asian countries to confront Western powers and achieve world hegemony. Those supporting the Continental Policy believed that Manchuria and Mongolia were Japan's lifeline, and that Japan must seize control of the regions Outside the Pass and Mongolia to obtain vast territory and quickly strengthen Japan.

The problem facing the New Asia Doctrine was that if China's elites did not support it, unifying Asia was a delusion. And the Continental Policy, because it involved seizing Manchuria and Mongolia from China, was destined to face China's opposition. He Rui was a member of China's elite and would never let it happen. Not to mention that He Rui himself was now the highest official in the Northeast.

Having determined Itagaki Seishirō's stance, Mitsui suddenly wanted to know He Rui's military strength among the War College graduates. With this thought, Mitsui Yasuki laughed straightforwardly, "Listening to Itagaki-kun, He-kun's academic performance was extremely excellent. As far as I know, He-kun has never fought a battle. I wonder how his actual command ability is?"

Itagaki Seishirō had participated in the Russo-Japanese War as a platoon leader. He was sent to the hospital due to injuries shortly after entering the war, and by the time he recovered, the war was over. Being asked this, Itagaki Seishirō felt he was stronger than He Rui, but in all exercises at the War College, whether paper exercises or others, He Rui had never lost. Itagaki Seishirō couldn't find a reason to support his own view.

Sensing Mitsui Yasuki's focus, Itagaki Seishirō asked, "I wonder if Mr. Mitsui supports the New Asia Doctrine or the Continental Policy?"

Mitsui Yasuki did not answer this question. Which policy he supported made no difference to him; what truly decided Mitsui Yasuki's direction was whether he could make money. He would unhesitatingly support whichever policy allowed him to make more money, and would unhesitatingly abandon a policy otherwise.

If not to make money, Mitsui Yasuki had no reason to travel thousands of miles across the sea to the Northeast.

Fortunately, Itagaki Seishirō looked quite sharp. Seeing Mitsui Yasuki's perfunctory response, he didn't pursue it. They chatted a few more sentences, and Itagaki Seishirō stood up to take his leave and returned to his seat.

Mitsui Yasuki looked at Itagaki Seishirō's back, considering which forces would be interested in He Rui, the highest official in Northeast China.

Arriving in Fengtian, Noguchi Nobuo, the Mitsui family's trade representative in the Northeast, was already waiting at the Fengtian train station. On the way to the hotel, Noguchi Nobuo informed Mitsui Yasuki of recent important events. Hearing that French merchants had actually shipped arsenal equipment over, Mitsui Yasuki couldn't help but frown slightly.

Noguchi Nobuo continued, "Sir, those equipments have been sent to Siping, not kept in Fengtian."

Now Mitsui Yasuki was even more puzzled. But this was not the time for detailed questioning. Mitsui Yasuki continued to inquire, only to learn that the equipment brought by British and French merchants had all been sent to Siping to establish factories there. The matter was too strange. Mitsui Yasuki asked Noguchi Nobuo, "Did He-kun mention any intention of moving the factories in Siping to Fengtian?"

Noguchi Nobuo shook his head, "I asked Mayor Wu Youping several times, and he always said no. It can be seen that Mayor Wu Youping also feels very surprised about this."

Although Mitsui Yasuki found it very strange, he felt this question would be a good entry point when meeting with He Rui.

At the agreed time the next day, Mitsui Yasuki went to He Rui's office. He saw the General Zhen'an's office was bustling with people coming and going. Right at the entrance, Mitsui Yasuki saw Itagaki Seishirō coming out, with He Rui personally seeing him off. From Itagaki Seishirō's earnest salute posture, it was evident he attached great importance to He Rui.

When Mitsui Yasuki met with He Rui, He Rui spoke first, "Brother Mitsui, I heard from Itagaki that he came on the same train as you."

Mitsui Yasuki smiled, "Indeed. I was quite surprised to learn that Itagaki-kun was also coming to congratulate He-kun. My purpose for this trip is also to congratulate He-kun in person."

"That must have been tiring for you, Brother Mitsui."

As they talked, they arrived at the office. He Rui asked directly, "I wonder what I can do for you, Brother Mitsui?"

Mitsui Yasuki didn't hide anything either. "Does He-kun know that a large coal field has been explored in Hegang?"

He Rui nodded, indicating he knew.

Hegang was located in Heilongjiang Province near the border. The exploration was naturally not done by He Rui, but by the South Manchuria Railway Company. For He Rui, the Hegang Coal Mine must absolutely not fall into Japanese hands. He Rui had already started taking action.

Mitsui was extremely frank at this moment. "If I'm not guessing wrong, He-kun will not let me invest for shares."

"I will use coal to repay the loan. To use a Chinese saying, with Brother Mitsui's strength, providing complete sets of equipment is just a piece of cake."

Mitsui Yasuki really wanted He Rui to accept a joint investment plan, but no matter what Mitsui Yasuki said, He Rui did not relax at all on this matter. Mitsui Yasuki knew this wasn't because He Rui became the Military Governor; he was this tough when he was in Siping.

After trying several times without shaking He Rui's decision, Mitsui Yasuki could only settle for the next best thing. "He-kun, I want to invest in building power stations in the Northeast. With He-kun's foresight, you must know the importance of power stations."

After speaking, Mitsui Yasuki looked at He Rui, expecting quite a bit in his heart. Then he heard He Rui say, "Brother Mitsui, I have already reached an agreement with Mr. Tesla from the United States to build an AC power grid in the Northeast."

"Americans?" Mitsui Yasuki was very surprised. A moment later he understood that he couldn't compete with the United States.

He Rui nodded but said no more. Being able to invite Tesla was itself very miraculous. As a person from the future, He Rui knew some of Tesla's deeds but had never particularly cared about them. Having Zhao Tianlin's connections in the US, He Rui asked Zhao Tianlin for help.

However, unexpectedly, the Serbian-born American scientist Nikola Tesla had reached a stage of bad luck in his life. The once-glorious famous electrical engineer had become a crazy scientist nearing sixty in the eyes of Americans.

Moreover, the Wardenclyffe Tower he once wanted to build for wireless power transmission was confiscated as collateral for debt and demolished last year. This was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Tesla. So after receiving He Rui's invitation letter, this old gentleman actually agreed. He Rui naturally welcomed the world's top electrical engineer, but he was also prepared for whatever requests Tesla might make after arriving in the Northeast.

Of course, he naturally wouldn't tell Mitsui Yasuki these things. He Rui just clearly told Mitsui Yasuki that the Mitsui family's investment was not needed for the power plant matters.

Mitsui Yasuki didn't care who Tesla was. He clearly felt that General Zhen'an He Rui was very different from Military Governor He Rui of Siping. Or rather, there were many things He Rui no longer needed to hide.

But this didn't make Mitsui Yasuki uncomfortable. This conversation confirmed at least one thing: He Rui, who was originally confined to Siping, was now cooperating with Mitsui Yasuki with the entire Northeast. The Siping Military Governor He Rui would never have discussed the development of the Hegang Coal Mine in distant Heilongjiang with Mitsui Yasuki.

With such a satisfactory result, Mitsui Yasuki felt the trip was not in vain. However, before preparing to take his leave, Mitsui Yasuki asked a question that puzzled him greatly. "Why is He-kun cooperating with the French to build an arsenal?"

"Is Brother Mitsui interested in cooperating to build an arsenal?" He Rui laughed.

Mitsui Yasuki indeed thought this was a good business, but on second thought he knew it was obviously impossible. If the Mitsui family built an arsenal overseas, even if just the news leaked out, the General Staff Headquarters would immediately send someone to question him and demand Mitsui Yasuki terminate such a project.

So Mitsui Yasuki stood up and extended his hand to He Rui. "Congratulations again to He-kun on being promoted to such a status. I wish He-kun continued success and promotion."

He Rui shook Mitsui Yasuki's hand. "Welcome again, Brother Mitsui, to invest in the Northeast."

The two looked at each other and smiled; everything was understood without words.