After conversing with Sun Yat-sen for several hours, Sun Yat-sen stood up and invited Joffe and his party to a banquet in his southern accent. Dishes Joffe had never seen before were served one by one; the dazzling array made the Russians from the distant north suddenly feel admiration for Chinese cuisine.

Besides the fine food, several kinds of fine wine were also served. Especially Hu Hanmin, wearing round-lensed glasses, kept urging them to drink, making Joffe feel that this guy wanted to get the entire Bolshevik government diplomatic delegation drunk.

As a Russian, Joffe was confident in his drinking capacity; he drank every cup offered. Not long after, Hu Hanmin swayed and had to be helped aside by someone. Another guard surnamed Chiang then stepped forward to compete in drinking with Joffe and the others.

Russians also had the habit of competing in drinking. After a few rounds, the guard surnamed Chiang also had a completely red face and couldn't quite hold on. Just then, Sun Yat-sen couldn't stand it anymore. "Let's stop drinking here for today; I still want to have a long, intimate talk with Commissar Joffe."

Hearing this, Sun Yat-sen's subordinates withdrew and sat back in their seats to continue eating. Joffe finally had some peace and was in the mood to sort out the current situation.

In Beijing, the Beiyang government was very indifferent to Joffe and his party and did not host a banquet for them. Given Beiyang's stance and demands, Joffe didn't mind this.

In the Northeast, the banquet He Rui hosted didn't have many dishes, and all alcohol was self-serve. He Rui and his comrades drank very little and certainly didn't urge others to drink. Even Hu Xiushan, who loved alcohol the most, just poured and drank by himself, looking very unrestrained.

Sun Yat-sen's subordinates obviously wanted to get Joffe drunk, which made Joffe unable to understand what it meant. After eating for a while longer, Sun Yat-sen asked, "I wonder what Mr. Lenin entrusted Mr. Joffe to bring to Guangzhou?"

Joffe indeed had no diplomatic mission specifically targeting Sun Yat-sen. Especially after seeing Sun Yat-sen's current strength, even if there originally really was one, he wouldn't discuss it anymore. Sun Yat-sen's strength was too weak, to the point of having no trading value. "Comrade Lenin is very grateful for Mr. Sun Yat-sen's telegram. I came to Guangzhou this time specifically to express gratitude."

Sun Yat-sen didn't show an overly disappointed expression. He smiled. "Since you have already met our Revolutionary Party comrades, I wonder what Comrade Joffe's evaluation is."

Joffe looked at the others and answered frankly, "Mr. Sun Yat-sen has ambitious ideals, and your comrades are all full of vitality and possess a strong spirit of dedication; they are very reliable partners."

Hearing such an evaluation, Sun Yat-sen's subordinates revealed some smiles. But everyone wanted to hear more than just these praises; it would be better if the Russian Bolshevik regime brought more pragmatic support.

However, Joffe did not indicate any support in arms or funds; Joffe didn't even continue speaking. For a moment, the scene turned cold just like that.

Seeing the reaction of these people, Joffe could only continue, "I am very interested in the *Plan for National Reconstruction* proposed by Mr. Sun. Some of the viewpoints in it are very novel. I wonder if Mr. Sun Yat-sen could give me a copy so I can bring it back to Russia and present it to Comrade Lenin."

Sun Yat-sen made a few modest remarks and promised to send Joffe a copy as soon as possible. Seeing that Joffe didn't continue discussing aid, Sun Yat-sen could only inquire, "I wonder how the war situation in Russia is?"

Hearing this question, Joffe felt a pang of distress in his heart. Although China's overall level was not as good as Russia's, China at least maintained peace. In contrast, Russia was mired in a tragic civil war. Thinking of the destitution along the Russian railway seen on the way here, and those Russian people with pale faces and frail bodies, Joffe felt even worse.

But Joffe didn't let such emotions show. He looked up and forced a smile. "The scales of victory are tipping toward the Bolshevik regime. We look forward to Mr. Sun sending someone to visit Moscow, which will have restored peace, in the near future."

Sun Yat-sen agreed, and the banquet fell into silence again. Finally, the banquet ended in this somewhat awkward atmosphere. Joffe returned to his residence and informed the accompanying comrades to prepare for the return journey.

Hearing such a suggestion, the comrades who attended the banquet didn't ask much. Everything they saw proved Sun Yat-sen's strength; the Bolshevik regime completely didn't need such an ally right now. Someone asked, "Are we taking a ship to Tianjin or to the Kwantung Leased Territory?"

"To the Kwantung Leased Territory, then return home by rail," Joffe answered decisively.

The next day, Joffe proposed the arrangement for imminent departure. Sun Yat-sen could only express regret and at the same time invited Joffe to meet with some local personnel in Guangdong. Joffe noticed that until the meeting ended, Sun Yat-sen didn't invite Joffe to visit military camps or other places. This shouldn't be because Sun Yat-sen distrusted Joffe; it was very likely that Sun Yat-sen didn't have an army worth visiting under his command.

Before parting, Joffe handed the written joint statement to Sun Yat-sen. "Mr. Sun Yat-sen, upon returning to Moscow, I will issue this statement. Please have a look."

Sun Yat-sen was obviously somewhat pleasantly surprised. He quickly read it, praising it as he read. After finishing, he ordered someone to bring a manuscript. "This is the *Plan for National Reconstruction* I have completed so far. I present it to Mr. Joffe; please be sure to bring it to Mr. Lenin."

"Please rest assured," Joffe also said solemnly.

Finally boarding the train, Joffe could finally breathe a long sigh of relief after the train started moving. Before arriving in Guangdong, Joffe thought the meeting with the Beiyang government might be the most boring and useless itinerary, but things were by no means that simple.

Having ample time on the train, he flipped through Sun Yat-sen's *Plan for National Reconstruction* for a while. Joffe closed the manuscript, took out a notebook, and began writing his report.

"...Sun Yat-sen's political program is a mixture of various ideas. Due to a complete lack of practical political experience, the program is also a jumble of various ideas. What can be clarified from this trip is that the military strength led by Sun Yat-sen originates from the warlords in southern China. When southern Chinese warlords need to wage war, they will offer support to Sun Yat-sen to gain the help of his prestige. As for Sun Yat-sen's own team, it is very weak, with a loose organizational structure..."

He quickly finished writing the report on Sun Yat-sen. Rereading all three reports, Joffe believed that only the one on He Rui was truly valuable, especially after comparing with other forces in China; He Rui's uniqueness was completely revealed.

Precisely because of this, Joffe added another paragraph. "The current political system of China has not been completely liberated from the influence of the monarchy. If He Rui is not considered, both North China and South China display an extremely unprofessional level in politics and diplomacy. The only valuable region is the Northeast. Even the capital of China is just a traditional capital of the old empire; perhaps a political center and railway transportation hub, but not a military center or economic center. If the factor of He Rui is not considered, China's weak strength is completely insufficient to constitute a real threat to Russia. Judging from current developments, China's center will shift more toward the south, the British sphere of influence, in the future, and the Beiyang government is bound to become a puppet government of imperialism..."

Writing up to here, Joffe stopped his pen. Since the general situation in China was clear, Joffe could only suggest to the Bolshevik Central Committee to cooperate with He Rui. Joffe was still very resistant to this judgment. If He Rui's inner considerations were actually the same as other forces in China, trusting He Rui lightly would undoubtedly be a wrong choice. Just as Comrade Stalin said, He Rui was very likely planning a conspiracy.

Joffe guessed right; He Rui was indeed planning a conspiracy at this time. But the target was not Russia, but Japan, which was attacking Russia.

History has proven countless times that the best way to make a conspiracy succeed is to go with the flow, and all the content of this conspiracy should not be hidden but placed grandly on the table.

Mitsui Yasuki and He Rui sat facing each other cross-legged, with a Kung Fu tea table placed between them. He Rui poured the second brew into the cup in front of Mitsui before asking, "Mitsui-kun, the Japanese newspapers I saw said the 12th Division has moved out. I wonder if other divisions will participate in the operation to attack Vladivostok?"

Mitsui Yasuki completely understood He Rui's thoughts. "He-kun, if it weren't for the domestic rice riots, I wouldn't have come personally. This trip is to ensure the grain supply on He-kun's side."

He Rui probed, "Mitsui-kun saw our Government Work Report?"

"Yes." Mitsui Yasuki nodded. He Rui had been in the Northeast for only three years but had already produced a very serious Government Work Report. According to the report, He Rui's grain revenue last year was 900 million *jin*. This was not a small number, but it wasn't enough. According to calculations by accountants in the Mitsui conglomerate, He Rui's current grain stock should be between 30 million *jin* and 50 million *jin*, and at most wouldn't exceed 55 million *jin*.

So Mitsui Yasuki asked, "I wonder if He-kun can tell me how much grain is currently in the warehouse, and how much can be obtained if purchasing from the populace?"

He Rui did a quick mental calculation. "Mitsui-kun, even if a division has 20,000 men, a month of combat only requires 1.2 million *jin* of grain. Our current grain stock is still around 40 million *jin*. Since the Japanese government entrusted Mitsui-kun to prepare military grain supplies, I can guarantee there won't be problems."

After speaking, He Rui laughed heartily. "War is dangerous; I have no intention of watching the fire from the other side of the river. However, if the Japanese army wants to pacify Sakhalin and Vladivostok as soon as possible, one division probably isn't enough; three divisions would be needed. I should also prepare more military grain and materials."

Mitsui Yasuki wanted very much to say that he also looked forward to such a result. The greater the military consumption, the more the Mitsui conglomerate, as the grain supplier, would earn.

But it was better to keep this tacit understanding in mind; saying it publicly wasn't appropriate. Especially in the eyes of a sensible person like He Rui, it was particularly inappropriate.

Just as Mitsui Yasuki wanted to say something about Sino-Japanese relations, he heard He Rui ask, "Mitsui-kun, I wonder if Japan will dispatch colonization groups to reclaim land in Vladivostok?"

Sure enough, smart people don't need unnecessary words. Mitsui Yasuki sighed, "Someone has already intervened in this matter; it's inconvenient for us."

One phrase 'us' made He Rui smile and nod. "So that's how it is."

Although He Rui worried about painting legs on a snake, he still said, "If those people can't undertake it, Mitsui-kun might as well bravely undertake the supply work."

Mitsui Yasuki smiled slightly. There was absolutely no need to discuss this matter now; He Rui was obviously impatient too. But Mitsui Yasuki could understand. After all, this was big business, and a good business where money and goods were exchanged on the spot. After the Rice Riots, the Japanese government managed to suppress rice prices a bit with great difficulty, but they still couldn't return to the prices before the European war.

He Rui had already made a sum from exporting grain. If he could take all the logistical grain supply for Japan's march into Vladivostok, it would be another large sum of money.

Knowing what He Rui sought, Mitsui Yasuki changed the subject. "Is He-kun interested in expanding coal exports?"