Wang Donglu sent a telegram to the hotel where his parents were staying, feeling truly lost in his heart as he left the telegraph office. He had taken leave specifically to go to Shenyang to receive his parents, but because of work, he had to cancel his leave temporarily and leave his parents in Shenyang.

Of course, his father was an official in Guizhou, and his parents had traveled thousands of miles in their lives. Wang Donglu believed his parents could certainly handle the current situation. The public security in the Northeast had been improving, and the Northeast bandits famous inside the pass had become historical terms. In the land outside the pass considered barbaric, his parents were actually quite safe.

But Wang Donglu himself hadn't been able to let this family reunion end smoothly. Even if it wasn't his responsibility, Wang Donglu was still quite disappointed.

After canceling his leave, Wang Donglu returned to his Security Bureau dormitory in Siping, changed into worker's clothes, put on the military representative armband, and went straight to the Siping Automobile Manufacturing Plant where he worked.

Following the safety management process, Wang Donglu showed his personal ID and entry/exit permit. The automobile manufacturing plant produced two types of vehicles: trucks and civilian cars. Divided into two production lines, the military representative office in the factory was also divided into two groups.

Passing through the wide lanes in the factory, the huge workshops stood next to each other. On the passage between workshops, workers vigorously pushed trailers transporting parts. There were also two newly trial-produced forklifts transporting under the supervision of technicians. The two large horizontal steel forks at the head of the forklift used for lifting goods were very conspicuous, and Wang Donglu couldn't help looking while walking. Until some people suddenly appeared in front, Wang Donglu turned his head.

Approaching were several foreign technicians. The Siping Automobile Manufacturing Plant was currently the largest automobile manufacturing enterprise in the Northeast and had introduced a large amount of British and French equipment and technology. According to the contract, Britain and France needed to provide engineers and technicians to work here for two years. One-third of the technicians in the entire factory were foreigners. Wang Donglu privately thought that one of his jobs was to monitor these foreign technicians.

Making way for these technicians in the factory, Wang Donglu continued toward the military representative's office. Along the way, he saw several groups of foreign technicians, all accompanied by Chinese technicians assigned as apprentices, and equipped with translators. In the past three years, the Northeast had established a large number of factories through joint ventures. For these foreign technicians, the Northeast gave very preferential treatment. Not only was the salary high, but residential areas were specially built for these foreigners, consisting of four-story red brick buildings. Fitness facilities, commercial facilities, and schools were provided for those who brought children. There were also clubs for relaxation, and even worship facilities were all available.

Wang Donglu had originally planned to go to the United States to study, and now he even felt that arriving in Siping was no different from arriving in a foreign country.

No, there were still differences.

According to those students who had returned from studying abroad, although foreign countries were industrially developed, they were not benevolent places. There were quite a few criminal incidents; all the villains found in China could be found abroad. Foreign countries were even ahead in new types of criminal gangs emerging based on industrialization.

The foreigners in Siping, apart from those who came for trade, were technicians; these people were considered decent people abroad. It could be said that the average level of these foreigners in Siping far exceeded the average level of real foreign countries.

Walking with these wandering thoughts, he arrived at the military representative office. Wang Donglu was immediately called over by Zheng Silang. Zheng Silang had a sturdy build, wore a worker's uniform, and wore the wide armband of a military representative; he looked like a robust master worker. However, meeting Zheng Silang's gaze, Wang Donglu was awed by that sharp look. Such a sharp gaze like a knife could definitely not be possessed by a master worker; only those soldiers would be so focused and ready to deal with all challenges at any time.

Zheng Silang said, "Comrade Wang Donglu, I received an order that your work as a military representative in the automobile plant has ended. Hand over your work now and report back to the Security Bureau."

Wang Donglu was very puzzled. He had only interned for a few days, and now he was leaving? Was it because he asked for leave to see his parents and was disliked by the higher-ups?

But Wang Donglu asked nothing. He was just about to agree and leave when he suddenly remembered something. "Representative Zheng, my time here was short; will the military representative office write an evaluation for me?"

A trace of a smile appeared on Zheng Silang's face. "We will write an evaluation for you; don't worry."

Wang Donglu then took his leave and went to do the handover procedures as instructed. After completing the procedures, he returned to the Security Bureau the next day for the handover. As soon as he entered, he saw that the colleagues in the Security Bureau had somewhat strange looks in their eyes. Seeing the Director of the Siping Security Bureau, the Director asked straight away, "Comrade Wang Donglu, write a report on your serving as a guard for Chairman He this time."

"I have already written a report and submitted it," Wang Donglu quickly explained.

"That one is for our Siping Security Bureau, different from the one you wrote for the General Bureau," the Director said somewhat unhappily. After speaking, the Director pondered for a moment before continuing, "Go handle the transfer procedures after you finish writing; you have been transferred to the Investment Promotion Bureau."

"Yes!" Wang Donglu replied. After speaking, he asked, "Director, does the Security Bureau also have representatives in the Investment Promotion Bureau?"

Now the Director's expression showed great displeasure. "Comrade Wang Donglu, didn't you hear clearly? You have been transferred to the Investment Promotion Bureau. After completing the procedures, you are no longer a member of the Security Bureau!"

This news greatly surprised Wang Donglu. He didn't want to go to the Investment Promotion Bureau; why was he suddenly transferred?

But the Director didn't give Wang Donglu a chance to ask. He kept a straight face and ordered, "Go write the report now, and handle the procedures quickly!"

"...Yes," Wang Donglu had to respond.

Two days later, Zhao Tianlin invited Old Master Wang and his wife to dinner. After the three sat down, Zhao Tianlin said, "Brother Wang, Donglu's job has been transferred."

Old Master Wang was both surprised and happy, and quickly expressed his thanks to Zhao Tianlin. Although Old Master Wang didn't know the system of the Northeast government, he knew the Qing official system very well. Every promotion path had rules. Different backgrounds, such as *Xiucai* who bought their rank, *Juren* with fame, and *Jinshi* who passed the imperial examination, all had their own routes.

Even within *Jinshi*, the promotion roadmaps for *Sanjia*, *Jinshi*, and *Tongjinshi* were very different.

Unless there was someone above, changes different from the convention could appear on the promotion route. As for job transfers between civil and military positions, only someone with immense influence could achieve that.

Although he didn't know the system of the Northeast government, Old Master Wang was certain that the Northeast under He Rui's rule was a government with a rigorous system. That Zhao Tianlin could achieve such a thing showed that his influence in the government was very powerful.

Zhao Tianlin stopped Old Master Wang and his wife's thanks. He habitually looked around the room, then whispered, "Brother Wang, you are wrong about one thing. I don't have such great ability to transfer someone from the army to a department like the Investment Promotion Bureau."

Old Master Wang was not surprised but felt more reassured, and quickly responded, "May I ask who Brother Zhao found? Rest assured, Brother Zhao, I will immediately cover the expenses for you."

Zhao Tianlin sighed slightly. "Brother Wang, your father said you are cautious in doing things; I have always remembered that. Please don't blame me for what I'm about to say."

Old Master Wang immediately felt something was probably wrong and nodded silently.

"Brother Wang, I pulled out Donglu's exam paper and showed it to Chairman He before mentioning the transfer. Apart from this method, I really had no other way." After Zhao Tianlin finished speaking, he sighed apologetically.

Old Master Wang's reaction was just as Zhao Tianlin expected. He was not happy, and his expression became solemn. As a genuine *Jinshi*, Old Master Wang was very wary of 'advancement by favor'.

Any official promotion requires opportunity. Choosing who among a group of officials with similar performance naturally leads to faster promotion with the help of a noble person. But advancement by favor is completely different. It means insufficient strength and far insufficient qualifications, but because of being favored by top-level people, one skips the various tribulations one should experience and soars into the sky.

Precisely because of soaring into the sky, there is nothing under one's feet. Once abandoned, one will naturally fall directly to the ground and be smashed to pieces.

However, Old Master Wang was not overly uneasy. He trusted Zhao Tianlin and also felt that if He Rui were a person who only promoted favored ministers, he would absolutely not have today's power and influence. A very direct proof was Zhao Tianlin in front of him; Zhao Tianlin would never follow a lord who promoted favored ministers.

After a moment of silence, Old Master Wang forced a smile. "Brother Zhao, I know nothing about the official system of the Northeast. I wonder what kind of *Yamen* the Investment Promotion Bureau is."

At this time, the restaurant just started serving dishes. Zhao Tianlin smiled, "Brother Wang, let's talk while eating."

After speaking, he poured wine for Old Master Wang and Mrs. Wang. Zhao Tianlin raised his glass. "Brother Wang, let me toast you."

Old Master Wang didn't know what kind of *Yamen* the Investment Promotion Bureau was, but Wang Donglu, having studied and worked in the Security Bureau for two months, knew the powers of the Investment Promotion Bureau very well due to the work training arrangement.

The work of the Investment Promotion Bureau was just as its name suggested: responsible for attracting investment. The Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau was the Englishman Morrison. Among the foreign officials in the Northeast, Morrison had the highest position and the greatest real power.

In the basic assessment of the Security Bureau, the Investment Promotion Bureau led by Morrison was not high-risk. Because Morrison was the Director, responsible for attracting investment from foreign enterprises. And the Investment Promotion Bureau was not only for attracting foreign investment; several deputy directors under it were responsible for attracting domestic investment.

Just as Wang Donglu had seen, due to the special relationship between He Rui and Japan, Japanese zaibatsu tended to seek business opportunities directly from He Rui. Director Morrison was merely a shrewd and capable Investment Promotion Director with extensive connections within the Northeast government, completely lacking the identity of a high-and-mighty foreigner.

After arriving at the Investment Promotion Bureau, Wang Donglu began to receive departmental training. At the same time, he did daily work in the mailroom. Wang Donglu carried a backpack, with a sign-off board tied to the strap, delivering documents to offices one by one.

After working for just two days, Wang Donglu saw quite valuable visitors in the corridor of the Investment Promotion Bureau office building. The Japanese zaibatsu delegation, led by Deputy Director Guo Hanshan, who was responsible for attracting investment from Japan, went straight to Director Morrison's office.

Wang Donglu was somewhat puzzled. He couldn't guess how the Japanese zaibatsu representatives had offended He Rui so that they couldn't get approval directly from He Rui and had to run to the Investment Promotion Bureau.

But thinking aside, Wang Donglu took the letters for the investment promotion group responsible for the domestic Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions into their office. Everyone already had an impression of Wang Donglu, the new young man. After taking the letters, they took the sign-off board handed over by Wang Donglu, signed on the document receipt attached to it, and said, "Thank you."

Wang Donglu liked the atmosphere of the Northeast government very much. Compared with the strictly hierarchical system of the Qing Dynasty, everyone here showed goodwill under discipline and training requirements. 'Thank you' was not directed at anyone specifically, but expressed gratitude to the person providing the service; this gratitude was only for the matter, not for any person. These styles did not exist in the knowledge Wang Donglu learned from his father, making Wang Donglu feel very relaxed.

When Wang Donglu passed the door of Director Morrison of the Investment Promotion Bureau, the office door was already closed. Although Wang Donglu was curious about what was being discussed inside, he continued to run his errands hurriedly.

The negotiation in the office was a very ordinary business negotiation. The Japanese zaibatsu representatives did not get any opportunity to touch the economic core of the Northeast. He Rui only allowed Japanese enterprises to invest according to the investment regulations of the Northeast.

Since He Rui set the tone this way, the subsequent matters were naturally the responsibility of the Investment Promotion Bureau. After the Investment Promotion Bureau finished talking, it would be the turn of relevant mining, agriculture, and other departments to review.

This time, the Japanese side hoped to invest in mining. Morrison inquired about the investment location and the types of minerals to be produced.

In the office of the Siping Government Building, half of the standing committee members of the Central Committee of the Civilization Party arrived, four people. Plus He Rui and Zheng Silang, a total of six people held a meeting.

He Rui's tone was very relaxed. "At this stage, foreign countries are unlikely to adopt direct military invasion, but adopt methods of supporting their agents within China and controlling China's economic lifeline to obtain excess profits. After the Japanese zaibatsu came this time, Mitsui Yasuki, not knowing whose instructions he was under, actually asked if he could provide gold to the Northeast Bank. He is really bold."

The four standing committee members were Wu Youping, Xu Chengfeng, Tang Gui, and Xu Jia, representing the three major departments of party, government, and military, as well as the Organization Department. Tang Gui had now returned to the Party Central Committee to be responsible for party affairs. Hearing He Rui's words, Tang Gui was somewhat puzzled. "Chairman, if they probed by chatting, how do we judge whether they are bold or not?"

He Rui then explained, "Secretary Tang, do you think Japan will only provide gold?"

Tang Gui shook his head. If they provided gold, it meant what the Japanese side wanted was ten or a hundred times more precious than gold.

He Rui continued, "That's why I said he is so bold, actually daring to threaten us."

"Threaten?" Tang Gui felt He Rui might be too sensitive.

Xu Chengfeng saw the puzzlement in Tang Gui's expression and couldn't help sneering. "Secretary Tang, Japan daring to make such a request is a kind of threat. If Secretary Tang encounters such a thing next time, you might as well respond directly like this; there won't be a mistake."

Tang Gui blinked, even more confused. He fully understood that the Japanese were bad, but regarding expressing threats through goodwill, Tang Gui indeed hadn't been exposed to training in this area.