Outside the meeting hall of Japan's "Future Society," several lower-ranking members stood guard at the door. After 10 o'clock, the streets finally became lively. Even so, this industrial district didn't have the bustle of former times, and there weren't many people passing by the factory gate. The members who couldn't enter due to their rank pressed themselves against the doors and windows, straining to hear the conversation inside.

Hearing Ishiwara Kanji describe just how great the losses Europe had suffered, the young officers felt excited, wishing they could go inside. But assigned to guard duty by their position in the hierarchy, aside from pressing a little closer to the doors and windows, the officers outside dutifully remained at their posts.

"Does Ishiwara believe Japan can defeat the European powers?" The question from inside made those outside even more eager. They heard Ishiwara Kanji answer: "Europe has suffered greatly, but it's not yet an opponent that present-day Japan can challenge. The final decisive battle will erupt in twenty years or even longer."

A sigh rippled through the young officers inside. Someone said: "That's what Nagata Tetsuzan and Okamura Yasuji have been saying too."

Hearing the names Nagata Tetsuzan and Okamura Yasuji, Ishiwara Kanji felt a flash of displeasure. With a serious expression, he asked: "Gentlemen, how is your family's income? Having served in the military for so long, can your families afford to eat white rice yet?"

This question immediately struck a nerve for many of the young Japanese officers. Never mind white rice—if not for joining the Future Society and receiving interest-free loans from the membership fund, the families of these lower-class officers couldn't even fill their stomachs.

Without waiting for his comrades to respond, Ishiwara Kanji stood and continued: "This is what separates us from Nagata and Okamura and their ilk. In our eyes, all fifty million Japanese are human beings. And humans should at least be able to eat white rice. In their eyes, at most five million people in Japan count as human beings. The other forty-five million exist only to serve those five million. Such a Japan is absolutely not the Japan we of the Future Society hope for. The future those people envision must never become Japan's future!"

With that, Ishiwara Kanji turned to Major Kishida. "Kishida, has your family purchased their land yet?"

Major Kishida quickly stood. "Yes, my family's rice paddies have been purchased."

He then turned and bowed to the other officers. "I thank my comrades for their help. Now that my parents have a few acres of land to farm, they no longer worry about having food to eat. My comrades have helped me through our dues, and I will help other comrades through my contributions in return!"

Seeing Major Kishida express such sincere gratitude, the Future Society's young officers bowed in return.

Ishiwara Kanji continued: "Yamagami, has your family purchased their land?"

Lieutenant Yamagami Tomonari's heart swelled with gratitude, and he quickly stood to answer: "Report—yes, my parents' land has been purchased."

Ishiwara Kanji asked several others in turn, receiving the same answer, which finally brought some joy to his heart.

The membership dues system was a mutual-aid fund proposed by Ishiwara Kanji when the Future Society was founded. Each member paid monthly dues. After covering minimal activity expenses for comrades, there was always a surplus. When members officially joined, they submitted information about their family circumstances. The Future Society's committee members assessed their situations and used the surplus funds to help landless members' families purchase enough land to sustain themselves.

This money wasn't given freely, but as interest-free loans to be repaid over twenty years. Since the land purchased was modest—at most equivalent to three Chinese mu—the repayments were well within everyone's means.

Since the fund was operating well, Ishiwara Kanji continued: "Gentlemen, the elites and politicians have made several promises to the Japanese people, two major ones. Once after the First Sino-Japanese War, and once after the Russo-Japanese War. After each war, all citizens bore the costs—but did the lives of Japanese citizens improve? The help we Future Society members receive comes from mutual aid among the poor. The zaibatsu have given us nothing. Can a worker at a zaibatsu factory earn enough to fill their stomach? We all know the answer."

Major Kishida, as one of the three elected committee members for the Kwantung region, felt his emotions stirring as Ishiwara spoke of reality. In his excitement, he unbuttoned his uniform. Ishiwara Kanji noticed that the major's old undershirt was covered in patches, and felt moved. "Kishida, how long has it been since you bought a new shirt?"

Major Kishida immediately replied: "Thanks to my comrades' help, I was finally able to buy rice paddies for my parents. How could I spend money on myself? More comrades will join the Future Society in the future; I want to put all my money toward repaying the loan as quickly as possible."

With the committee member taking such a stance, the surrounding comrades expressed their agreement. Ishiwara Kanji followed their mood and said: "Gentlemen, how has our senior He Rui been doing lately? You're all in the Kwantung region—you should know best. Could you tell me?"

At this question, the Future Society members all sighed. Major Kishida's face was full of melancholy. "Senior He is exercising his ambitions freely in Manchuria and Mongolia. The senior officers in the Kwantung Army say that Manchuria and Mongolia now have the same vigor as during Itō Hirobumi's time leading Japan."

The era of Itō Hirobumi's rule was considered the period of Japan's most rapid development. Especially during that time, Japan's spirit was vibrant and forward-looking. Hearing Major Kishida's description, Ishiwara Kanji sighed: "Senior He once said that a great war between China and Japan is inevitable. It seems he's already preparing with all his might."

At these words, many of the Future Society's young Japanese officers nodded vigorously and began speaking over each other: "If Senior He leads China, winning will definitely be a bitter struggle."

"Yes. Even if Senior He's subordinates aren't as skilled in combat as our Japanese army, Senior He has great strategic insight and is extremely resolute. Even if we gain the upper hand, Senior He won't give up—a situation like the First Sino-Japanese War won't happen again."

Ishiwara Kanji listened without interrupting. Just as he was privately lamenting his comrades' limited vision, someone spoke up loudly: "Have all you comrades already forgotten what Ishiwara just said?"

Ishiwara paused, and the other young officers froze too else froze. All eyes turned to the speaker, Yamagami Tomonari. Yamagami stood, and a ray of sunlight streaming through the window fell on his chest, making his patched old uniform appear somewhat brighter.

Yamagami hadn't originally intended to speak, but hearing his comrades' optimistic words only deepened his concerns. Having spoken up, he no longer held back. Facing everyone, he asked loudly: "Just now, Ishiwara said that every Japanese citizen is a human being who deserves to eat white rice. Under Senior He's rule in Manchuria and Mongolia, every citizen is treated as a human being. Do you think citizens who are treated as human beings will back down in war?"

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them. The Future Society's young officers' faces all changed.

Standing in the sunlight, Yamagami continued addressing those who had changed color: "As long as people eat well and receive rigorous training, their bodies become strong and their combat skills improve. As long as there's extensive education, officers can master military knowledge. Since Senior He is already preparing for a Sino-Japanese war, on what basis do you all believe Japan will definitely win when war breaks out?"

Major Kishida felt greatly offended. His voice turned sharp: "Yamagami, watch your words!"

But neither the military rank gap nor the difference in position within the Future Society made Yamagami retreat an inch. He stared at Major Kishida and responded loudly: "I hope Japan wins every future war just as much as you, Major Kishida. That's precisely why we cannot underestimate any opponent. Our opponent is not Senior He alone, but all the citizens of Manchuria, Mongolia, even all of China. I joined the Future Society because I believe in its ideals—that every Japanese citizen should be treated as a human being. Since we all believe such a Japan would be stronger, what kind of enemy would a China where every citizen is treated as a human being become? Have you all truly lost the ability to think?"

These words were rather harsh. Kishida wanted to curse *bakayaro*. But before the word reached his lips, he felt guilty—because Lieutenant Yamagami Tomonari was right. Other young officers, however, didn't necessarily think the same way, and several had already stood up to challenge Yamagami.

"Enough!" Ishiwara Kanji cut off the brewing argument. Under the indignant gazes of everyone, Ishiwara Kanji said: "I intend to visit Senior He. Who wishes to accompany me?"

Hearing this, the Future Society's young officers were momentarily stunned, then more than half of them stood to express their willingness: "I wish to go!"