On the train back to Tokyo, Yamamoto Isoroku looked at the scenery outside the window, as if he hadn't heard Itagaki Seishirō's complaints at all. Itagaki was still talking about things like 'how can the traditions of the Imperial Country be changed', which even Ishiwara Kanji couldn't be bothered to respond to.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming more and more awkward with the silence, Yamamoto Isoroku spoke up. "Do you two think the United States is civilized?"

Itagaki was stunned, finding this question hard to answer. In July 1853, U.S. Navy Commodore Matthew Perry led a fleet to forcibly open Japan, which was known as the 'Black Ships Incident'.

Since then, Japan began a period of comprehensive turbulence, and the Shogunate eventually fell. The former *Joi* (expel the barbarians) activist Ito Hirobumi, who had burned down the British legation, planned to erect a monument to commemorate this event in 1900 and finally completed it in 1901.

Yamamoto Isoroku didn't keep them guessing. He had already told Ishiwara Kanji about his next arrangement, and now he said to Itagaki Seishirō, "Itagaki-kun, the Navy Ministry has arranged for me to study at Harvard University in the United States. This time I will go to the United States with this question to see what kind of country the United States really is. As an intelligence expert, do you have any suggestions, Itagaki-kun?"

Itagaki didn't know how to answer. He was hailed as a China expert, relying on his family's inherited Sinology. Seeing Yamamoto Isoroku's sincere attitude, Itagaki simply told the truth. "I would very much like to help, but my knowledge of European and American culture comes from reading books. If I must make a suggestion, I can only use a Chinese poem. 'What's learned on paper is always shallow; to know this matter absolutely, one must practice it personally.' Yamamoto-kun studying in the United States, walking and seeing more, will naturally gain understanding."

Yamamoto Isoroku nodded. "I will definitely travel all over the United States."

After speaking, he turned to Ishiwara Kanji. "Ishiwara-kun, I admire He-kun's insight very much, but I always have no way to have a deep friendship with He-kun. A few days ago, you explained He-kun's elementary understanding of geopolitics to me, which suddenly enlightened me. Human development is determined by the natural geographical environment; mountains, rivers, climates, and wind zones limit the freedom of human production and lifestyle. Going to the United States this time, viewing from this perspective, I should be able to see more deeply. Moreover, coming to Sendai this time and seeing Miss Mitsuko, the feeling is especially profound. Japan is indeed changing."

Ishiwara Kanji knew that the social change Yamamoto Isoroku could accept at present was probably just to this extent, so he didn't say more. The reason for inviting Yamamoto Isoroku to come to Sendai to see the female university students in Tohoku Imperial University was to let Yamamoto Isoroku see that various sprouts had actually begun to appear within Japan. After arriving in the United States, Yamamoto wouldn't feel that these changes only existed in foreign countries. Perhaps he could influence Yamamoto to become a comrade of the 'Future Society'.

When the train arrived in Tokyo, Yamamoto Isoroku said goodbye first. Watching Yamamoto's back, Itagaki Seishirō didn't want to discuss what he had seen this time, so he made small talk. "Yamamoto-kun is a celebrity in Yoshiwara; I didn't expect him not to be dissolute in Sendai."

Ishiwara Kanji laughed. "So Itagaki-kun didn't know; Yamamoto-kun is already married."

"Ah?" Itagaki was bewildered by this news but also understood why Yamamoto Isoroku was so well-behaved this time.

Since this topic was dead, Itagaki didn't want to say more. But knowing Ishiwara Kanji had a deep relationship with He Rui, he said, "I presume Ishiwara-kun is very concerned about He-kun. I have something to tell Ishiwara-kun: He-kun has sent people to contact Britain, France, and Germany to discuss grain exports. Now that the war is over, the only thing Britain, France, and Germany have too much of and can't use is probably arms."

After speaking, Itagaki Seishirō bowed slightly to Ishiwara Kanji. "I take my leave."

Ishiwara Kanji bowed back. Watching Itagaki Seishirō's back, Ishiwara Kanji didn't feel any surprise. Japan now had the ability to produce heavy artillery, so naturally, it had no interest in those second-hand artillery pieces from the European battlefield. Moreover, the barrel of an artillery piece is a consumable item and can only be replaced after its service life expires. Although parts like sights are durable goods, buying them separately is not cost-effective.

He Rui buying a portion of cheap artillery was understandable. But expecting to form a powerful artillery force with these cheap artillery pieces—Ishiwara Kanji felt He Rui wouldn't do that.

Moreover, Itagaki providing this news to Ishiwara Kanji could be considered an expression of goodwill in a sense. It could be seen that not only Yamamoto Isoroku was impacted, but Itagaki was also quite stimulated; the two just felt it in opposite directions.

Returning to his residence, what Ishiwara Kanji cared about was He Rui inviting the Foreign Minister of the Republic to the Northeast. Ishiwara believed He Rui could absolutely not accept Japan seizing Germany's interests in Shandong, and this action definitely had the possibility of considering this matter. As for how He Rui planned, Ishiwara Kanji couldn't figure it out.

At this time, Foreign Minister of the Republic Lu Zhengxiang was introducing the young talent Gu Weijun (Wellington Koo) to He Rui. Gu Weijun was somewhat interested in He Rui, but obviously more interested in his senior, Zhao Tianlin, a Doctor of Law from Harvard University.

After introducing Gu Weijun, a Doctor of Law from Columbia University, Lu Zhengxiang asked, "Chairman He invited Dr. Zhao here; presumably, there is some advice."

He Rui smiled. "As a soldier, I know very little about the law. But as a soldier fighting wars, naturally, I have to do operational deductions. Inviting Minister Lu here this time is to ask Director Zhao and the gentlemen from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do some deductions."

After speaking, He Rui invited the Foreign Ministry group to the operations room. Several large blackboards had been hung here, and a world map was placed on the sand table in the middle, with some chess pieces placed on the map.

Gu Weijun saw various names written on the chess pieces—Britain, America, France, Germany, Japan, and other main participants of the Paris Peace Conference—and felt that the world in the eyes of soldiers was different from that in the eyes of legal scholars.

He Rui had already taken the lead in saying, "I wonder what important issue you gentlemen think needs to be resolved at the peace conference."

Several people already spoke up: "The Shandong issue."

This was also the biggest challenge China faced diplomatically at present. Originally, Germany possessed privileges in Shandong, China. As a member of the victorious Entente Powers, with Germany defeated, China naturally could recover Shandong.

He Rui continued to ask, "Who is China's opponent on the Shandong issue?"

"Japan," Gu Weijun replied.

"In that case, what will you rely on to struggle against Japan?"

Gu Weijun looked somewhat gloomy. "We can only rely on international law."

Lu Zhengxiang carefully watched He Rui's expression, various thoughts rising and falling in his heart. The territory He Rui occupied now was the largest in Beiyang and even the whole of China, and his strength was extraordinary. Recovring the Chinese Eastern Railway from Russia and holding it firmly, He Rui's determination and execution were recognized as number one in Beiyang. Although Duan Qirui was polite on the surface about the Foreign Ministry coming this time, he was actually very wary.

But Lu Zhengxiang also had his own standpoint. If a diplomatic victory could be obtained, any price was worth it. Could He Rui provide such a victory?

While he was thinking, he heard He Rui say, "To recover rights and interests in Shandong, we can only rely on struggle. Why can Japan stand firm in Shandong? It is entirely because it obtained interests in Shandong. As my personal suggestion, for you gentlemen to want Japan to give up Shandong through the explanation of international law at the Paris Peace Conference is completely impossible. As long as there is no military intervention, Japan will not leave on its own."

As soon as these words came out, Lu Zhengxiang was greatly shaken. Before Lu Zhengxiang could speak, other personnel from the Foreign Ministry already exclaimed, "Does the Commander want to send troops to Shandong?"

He Rui kept a straight face and asked unhappily, "Why are you gentlemen so frivolous when discussing national affairs!"

Zhao Tianlin, sitting beside him, was equally unhappy. 'Frivolous'—if changed to the terminology within the Northeast party, government, and army—would be 'not serious'. If a comrade received the comment of 'not serious about work', it meant 'unreliable'.

An unreliable person would be quickly marginalized in any system and very likely kicked out of the system.

Just like the one who said He Rui wanted to send troops to Shandong; Zhao Tianlin didn't know what his logic was. He Rui had absolutely no reason to send troops to Shandong now. Once he acted, it meant He Rui wanted to seize the Beiyang regime by force. If He Rui really decided to unify China by force, there would be no need to call the people from the Foreign Ministry over.

Seeing the doubts in the expressions of this bunch from the Foreign Ministry, Zhao Tianlin said loudly, "Early European diplomacy was indeed the responsibility of aristocrats in the court, and the aristocrats responsible for diplomacy in various countries were often related by blood or marriage, forming a small circle. But that era has ended. Current national diplomacy upholds the standard of national interest above all. There are only eternal interests, no eternal enemies. If you gentlemen think full of domestic affairs when considering diplomacy and discard the interest relations between countries like worn-out shoes, then you are laymen. If the Foreign Ministry really wants to have a commendable reputation after death, you should treat diplomatic issues seriously and earnestly! Treat diplomacy as a field of learning!"

Reprimanded by Zhao Tianlin like this, among the crowd from the Foreign Ministry, only Lu Zhengxiang and Gu Weijun could still remain calm; the expressions of other personnel changed, showing considerable fear of difficulty.

Zhao Tianlin wasn't surprised either. He had participated in several relatively important diplomatic negotiations with He Rui before understanding how great powers conducted diplomacy. Zhao Tianlin originally thought the Republic's Foreign Ministry wouldn't be completely unreliable, but now he had completely lost confidence.

Fortunately, Zhao Tianlin knew about He Rui's plan to attack Japan, so although disappointed, he was not in despair.

On the Republic Foreign Ministry side, Gu Weijun spoke first. "I wonder what Brother Zhao thinks our country should do at the Paris Peace Conference?"

Seeing Gu Weijun's sincere attitude, Zhao Tianlin stood up. "At this peace conference, we must not feel that Europe and America can uphold justice. However, our side's stance must be maintained. If choices must be made, we should avoid the empty and dwell on the real. For example, regarding the parts where Japan can make money in Shandong, we must strive for them with all our might. Although it cannot be done, doing so itself proves that our Chinese diplomats are not incompetent people."

The term 'incompetent people' sounded very harsh, but Gu Weijun didn't mind. He hadn't expected Zhao Tianlin's thinking to follow this line. Thinking for a moment, Gu Weijun asked, "Please explain in detail, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Tianlin then asked, "I wonder which articles of international law the Foreign Ministry has prepared?"