Gambling and drug abuse were subjects of strict crackdowns in the Northeast. The Northeast's finances, adopting such a policy, lost a large sum of quick money.

Old Master Wang arrived at this judgment based on his experience as a local official and continued to ask his son about the prices of salt and iron in the Northeast.

As a *Jinshi* (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), Old Master Wang had read the *Discourses on Salt and Iron*, the most famous national policy document of the Han Dynasty in China. The state monopoly on salt and iron was a Chinese tradition; if quick money wasn't considered, the stable source of national tax revenue had to rely on these two sectors.

"Dad, in the Northeast, this is called..." Wang Donglu pulled out a small notebook, flipped through it quickly, and soon found the term.

Old Master Wang was both surprised and delighted. His father was the mentor of Zhao Tianlin, the Director of the Northeast Education Department, which was why he dared to let his son Wang Donglu venture into the Northeast. Seeing his son receive such serious education meant his son was valued.

However, the wind will destroy the tree that stands out in the forest; the old man felt young people should still experience more and be tempered more. Many talented people were damaged because they rushed to stand out. Let alone his son, who was only 19 this year. Even though Old Master Wang had devoted all his energy to educating his children since the fall of the Qing Dynasty, he still felt his son was too young.

At this time, Mrs. Wang spoke up. "Donglu, who did you learn this from?"

Old Master Wang felt his wife truly understood him; this was also the question he wanted to ask.

Wang Donglu replied, "Mom, distinguishing between bulk commodities and retail is the most basic content of the political economy course. In the Northeast government training at all levels, cadres at the village head level have to learn it."

Old Master Wang wasn't very used to these new terms. Village heads were recommended by the people and had no official status. He asked, "Is it the *Baozhang* and *Jiazhang*?"

Hearing this, Wang Donglu immediately understood his father's meaning. It turned out that Wang Donglu had heard about it when studying with his father, but only realized what his father had taught before after entering the Security Bureau and receiving basic training. Happy in his heart, a smile appeared on his round face. "Dad, in the Northeast, there are no organizations outside government control. It's best not to let the government know about privately organizing these."

Seeing his son behave somewhat frivolously, Old Master Wang's face darkened, and he looked at his son. Wang Donglu had been reprimanded many times, so he involuntarily wiped the smile off his face and tried his best to restore a calm expression.

However, scolding his son was one thing; Old Master Wang was somewhat surprised by the density of government management achieved in the Northeast. He truly didn't believe it in his heart.

With the knowledge Old Master Wang accumulated through reading and serving as an official, there was no lack of heroes in the imperial courts of past dynasties who hoped to build a government that directly managed down to the villages.

These attempts all ended in failure, not because they didn't want to, but because they had no money. For the government to manage all aspects of society, officials needed to be dispatched to all aspects. Establishing such a management system would lead to expenditures exceeding income, so efforts to extend imperial power below the county level all failed.

Based on the news Old Master Wang knew from various aspects up to this moment, He Rui was not a person who amassed wealth frantically. Building an army of 120,000, not borrowing from outside, and not engaging in quick money from gambling and drugs. Old Master Wang wanted to figure out immediately where He Rui's money came from.

If his son followed a maniac with great ambition but little talent, destined to perish, Old Master Wang would take his son back to Beijing from the Northeast even if he had to tie him up. Bringing two servants this time was preparation for taking the person by force.

How could Wang Donglu know his parents' caring feelings for him? Seeing his father silent and thoughtful, he refilled the tea for his parents. Just as he put down the thermos, he heard his father ask, "What is the purpose of teaching these to the *Baozhang* and *Jiazhang*? Can they understand?"

Seeing that his father didn't understand the Northeast government either, Wang Donglu suppressed his excitement and explained the administrative organization of the Northeast government to his father.

Commodities are commodities; whether bulk or retail, the object of operation falls on the same commodities. If changed to wholesale and retail, it would be more understandable.

"Dad, the difference between the two lies in pricing power. Retail pricing is based on the pricing of bulk commodities. Those traveling merchants or shopkeepers doing business, as long as they retail, have to add a markup on the basis of bulk purchase..."

Old Master Wang was still listening seriously, but Mrs. Wang couldn't listen anymore and interrupted her son directly. "Donglu, I ask you, how exactly does General He make money?"

Wang Donglu was stunned. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Mom, why does the government need to make money? Now the currency in the Northeast is printed by the government; if money is needed, just print banknotes directly. What's the use of making money?"

Hearing that her son actually didn't understand, Mrs. Wang could only switch to a lower-level question. "Where does the tax revenue of the Northeast come from! Who is taxed?"

"Mom, the Northeast government is divided into two parts: one is tax revenue, and the other is finance. Tax revenue is naturally agricultural tax and commercial tax; now there are only these two parts. Finance is the big head. For example, some enterprises want to produce cloth. They want to build factories and hire workers, but don't have enough money. So they borrow money from commercial banks to buy machinery and equipment and build the factories. Once the factories are built, they buy cotton and hemp fibers to produce cloth. After the goods are sold, they pay back the money plus some interest. This money is printed out of thin air. If it goes through bank accounts, money is just some numbers in the ledger. It never appeared in the world from beginning to end. But relying on these operations, factories appeared, cotton and hemp products appeared, and loan interest also existed. The state obtained income."

Speaking up to here, Wang Donglu had exhausted his memory and imagination, and began to worry whether his mother could understand. He asked carefully, "Mom, did you understand?"

Mrs. Wang frowned, seemingly understanding but not quite. However, Mrs. Wang managed the family's finances and had participated in some investments by officials in Guizhou. After the business made money, she would get some dividends. Listening to her son, she could barely understand the process.

So Mrs. Wang asked about what she didn't understand. "Donglu, the money you mentioned doesn't sound like real gold and silver to me. Why does it sound like a government guarantee?"

Wang Donglu had absolutely no idea what kind of economic activities his mother had participated in. From the time he could remember relatively clearly, his mother had been at home assisting her husband and educating her children, with no experience of going out to work. Hearing that his mother actually understood the principles of state operation that more than half of the cadres didn't understand, Wang Donglu was surprised and delighted, and loudly flattered, "Mom, it's just as you said. The money for government-operated industries is earmarked for specific purposes. It is money issued entirely on credit. The purpose of this money is not to be spent casually, but to maintain industries..."

Watching his son happily praise his mother's brilliance and intelligence, Old Master Wang found it amusing in his heart, but his thoughts quickly turned to the finances of the Northeast government.

Although he didn't know the specific methods of the Northeast government, Old Master Wang had a basic understanding of the economic system of the Northeast.

The New Policies at the end of the Qing Dynasty were carried out vigorously. The content Wang Donglu mentioned was not new; supporting industries was part of the New Policies. However, Old Master Wang only started to encounter these detailed contents when he was nearly forty, while his son, nominally 20, was already participating in such a cause. Old Master Wang suddenly felt a sigh that he was already old.

Picking up the teacup and drinking a mouthful of plain boiled water, Old Master Wang gathered his mood and secretly evaluated the administration of the Northeast government.

In the late Qing New Policies, the imperial court hoped for a new type of government that no longer relied on land tax and poll tax as the main source of finance but obtained financial resources from industry and commerce like the great powers. In the end, it perished in the fierce political and economic New Policies.

He Rui was obviously firmly continuing on the path of the New Policies and would surely encounter the same difficulties. Could He Rui persist?

Not long ago, Old Master Wang worried that He Rui had great ambition but little talent, and his son following He Rui would come to no good end. So Old Master Wang wanted to take his son back.

At this time, Old Master Wang's worry turned into another kind. Would He Rui fail due to insufficient ability in carrying out such arduous New Policies?

Recalling his excitement when he learned about the content of the New Policies more than ten years ago, Old Master Wang couldn't help recovering a bit of the high spirit of his prime, yet he sighed with great emotion.

At this time, he heard Mrs. Wang say in an unhappy tone, "Donglu, I don't understand what you said either. I only know how to manage household affairs. Managing a household requires living within one's means. Did the Northeast government achieve a balance of income and expenditure, or is it eating next year's food this year?"

This question concerning finance made Old Master Wang turn his attention back to the conversation between mother and son. He heard Wang Donglu reply, "Mom, you are a gentleman (*Junzi*), a true gentleman. Cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world. Regulating the family is the word of a gentleman..."

With a *pfft* of light laughter, Mrs. Wang was amused by her son, and Old Master Wang was also amused. On second thought, the smile on Old Master Wang's face disappeared. His son was not wrong. In the beautiful expectations of the late Qing New Policies, with a balanced national budget and continuously growing industries, the Great Qing would naturally become a great power in the world.

It was just that the Great Qing was dying at that time. A 'Royal Cabinet' made the world no longer trust the imperial court, and it collapsed within two years. It has been less than 10 years from then to now.

Feeling emotional in his heart, Old Master Wang didn't want to hear this anymore. He smiled, "Donglu, our family hasn't eaten together for a long time. You are the host now; your mother and I came from afar, so arrange it."

Wang Donglu hadn't expected his father not to treat him like a child. He was overjoyed and quickly stood up. "Mom, Dad, I have already thought of a place; please follow me."

After finishing the meal, Wang Donglu sent his parents back to their residence, while he hurriedly rushed to report to the Security Bureau in Shenyang.

Other units didn't need to report during rest time, but as a member of the Security Bureau, the regulations were naturally much stricter than other units.

On the way, Wang Donglu recalled being treated as an adult by his parents during the meal and was truly happy. Moreover, wearing the Security Bureau uniform also attracted quite a few gazes in the restaurant. The respect from the shopkeeper made Wang Donglu feel truly satisfied.

After signing in at the Security Bureau check-in point, the person in charge of signing in said, "Clerk Wang, come once tomorrow morning; the Security Bureau needs to organize personnel."

According to regulations, Security Bureau members must cancel their leave at any time. Wang Donglu dared not refuse. After agreeing, he quickly ran to the hotel where his parents lived to inform them.

Unexpectedly, his parents just responded and didn't say anything more. Wang Donglu felt guilty and wanted to apologize again. Unexpectedly, his father said, "Donglu, I taught you that once you become an official, you should prioritize public affairs. How can loyalty and filial piety be both satisfied! You hurry back to sleep and do your duty well tomorrow."

Wang Donglu was shaken in his heart, feeling as if he had returned to the boyhood days of being taught by his father. But seeing encouragement in his father's gaze, Wang Donglu felt warmth in his heart. He stood at attention and saluted his father. "Dad, Mom, please rest well; your son takes his leave."

Seeing his parents nod slightly, Wang Donglu suppressed his excitement and left his parents' residence.

Previously, Wang Donglu said he had a residence; that residence was actually the collective residence for Security Bureau members, specifically used to host family members. There were only a dozen or so suites; whoever had relatives visiting would stay there. At other times, everyone lived in the dormitory.

Waking up early the next morning, he gathered with the Security Bureau comrades. The person in charge was actually Director Wang Bin. Wang Bin's chubby face was very serious. "Japanese Mitsui Yasuki has a meeting with Chairman He. Our Security Bureau needs to send people to accompany them. Everyone must abide by confidentiality discipline, listen from the side, and say nothing. Understood!"

"Understood!" the Security Bureau members responded loudly.

Wang Bin took out a list and began assigning tasks. Wang Donglu thought he would be a peripheral member, but unexpectedly, he was arranged into He Rui's personal guard. Ignoring the envious gazes of others, Wang Donglu only felt his heart racing. Just thinking of seeing Chairman He Rui of the Northeast Government made him feel excited.

Afterward, Wang Donglu didn't remember much, just obeying arrangements. He Rui did not hold talks with Mitsui Yasuki in the government office building. Under the protection of a group of entourage, He Rui, Mitsui Yasuki, and several Japanese zaibatsu members boarded a train and headed straight for Siping.

Wang Donglu was assigned the task of serving tea and water. In the train compartment, he heard Mitsui Yasuki say through an interpreter, "Your Excellency Chairman, Sino-Japanese friendship is what we have always been committed to. In these few years, although both sides have promoted it, compared with our urgent feelings, the current degree of friendship is far less than one ten-thousandth of our feelings. Your Excellency Chairman's Northeast Bank is already running well but should lack gold as currency collateral. The Mitsui Zaibatsu, Mitsubishi Zaibatsu, and other zaibatsu intend to provide gold to the Northeast Bank as currency collateral. I wonder if Your Excellency Chairman is willing to accept our kindness?"

Hearing this, Wang Donglu wondered if he had heard wrong. For so many years, foreigners had attacked China, and every time they defeated China, they demanded territory and indemnities. From 1840 to now, the gold and silver lost by China, calculated in silver, amounted to billions of *liang*.

Japanese zaibatsu actually wanted to provide gold to the Northeast Bank... Wang Donglu held his breath and listened carefully, afraid of missing a single word.