Wang Yongjiang did not have a handsome appearance, nor was he particularly tall. Under the influence of the Northeast government trend where clean-shaven short hair was common, he did not deliberately keep a thick beard. This 47-year-old middle-aged man looked clean and neat.

At the dinner table, Wang Yongjiang was very natural. After all, the portion of food He Rui ordered was not large; if following the rules of the Qing officialdom, Wang Yongjiang could have chosen not to eat. But Wang Yongjiang had heard that He Rui disliked the style of the Qing officialdom very much.

Sure enough, seeing He Rui had no interest in eating, he ate very casually. He picked up his chopsticks more often for dishes with heavier seasoning.

Approaching fifty, Wang Yongjiang had long been tempered by life experience to be calm. Although he had various thoughts, he adopted the same attitude as He Rui and swept the food clean together with He Rui. After finishing the egg drop soup, He Rui picked up his water cup, took a sip, and sighed, "Did the salt seller get beaten to death?" (A Chinese idiom implying something is too salty.)

Only then did Wang Yongjiang realize that He Rui felt there was too much salt in the food. He couldn't help but admire He Rui's temperament a little. With He Rui's current status, getting up without a word after eating unappetizing food would be considered very cultivated. Cursing a few times on the spot would be nothing more than normal.

But seeing He Rui so forbearing, Wang Yongjiang was also a bit worried. Picking up his water cup and taking a sip, Wang Yongjiang said to He Rui, "Chairman, the young comrades do things a bit too intensely, but what I said at the meeting was also a bit excessive."

He Rui held his water cup and laughed. "Not excessive. President Wang demands young comrades with the standards of excellent adults. Everyone is young, so it is inevitable to be eager for quick success and instant benefits. President Wang did the right thing in this matter."

Only then did Wang Yongjiang feel relieved. After all, Wang Yongjiang himself was from the old government, while the young comrades were a group who followed He Rui; the closeness between the two was self-evident.

Relaxed, Wang Yongjiang asked a question he was curious about. "Chairman, those Russians want to go from Lake Baikal to Vladivostok in this freezing winter; I'm afraid many people will die on the way. I'm worried there might be some chaos on the border."

After speaking, Wang Yongjiang looked at He Rui's reaction. He saw He Rui's expression was indifferent, without any hatred toward the Russians. This graceful and magnanimous demeanor was truly inconsistent with He Rui's youth of 30; He Rui was too calm.

He Rui quite agreed with Wang Yongjiang's attitude of starting with emotion but stopping at propriety, so he replied, "President Wang, hundreds of thousands of people freezing and starving to death collectively is a humanitarian disaster. This is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one. As members of humanity, we cannot sit back and ignore this matter. Although Europe and America are also having hundreds of thousands of people falling ill every day due to their poor personal hygiene, and thousands dying every day, we still need to appeal to the whole world about this matter and cannot sit back and ignore it."

Wang Yongjiang didn't like Russians at all and had no interest in Russians suffering. He was even clearer that the White Russians, to keep the money in their hands, let over a million people risk death to carry out such a great migration. In his heart, he disapproved greatly of Kolchak, the former ruler of the Russian Provisional Government.

Hearing He Rui completely refrain from talking about profiting from the Russians' disaster and actually wanting to appeal for the Russians at this time, he couldn't help being surprised. "Chairman He, do you really want to help the Russians?"

He Rui nodded. "I have no interest in Russians. If I didn't know about this matter, I wouldn't pay attention either. But since I know, I can't pretend I didn't see it; this is the bottom line of being a human. I have arranged for the Foreign Affairs Office to tell this story in European and American newspapers, and will organize grain supplies so that the millions of Russian people fleeing the civil war battlefield can survive as much as possible."

Wang Yongjiang couldn't help feeling admiration. Compared with that group of young people who only thought about enriching the Northeast Bank's precious metal reserves, He Rui truly had a compassionate heart.

"The Chairman is indeed a man who does great things!" Wang Yongjiang exclaimed.

He Rui wasn't just talking. While he was talking with Wang Yongjiang, British *The Times*, French *Le Figaro*, and newspapers of various countries that had dealings during the European war, excluding the defeated Central Powers, published the news at He Rui's mobilization.

Just as He Rui told Wang Yongjiang about the current international situation, this 1918 coronavirus pandemic that erupted from the United States was torturing various countries. In the worst year, 1918, according to population loss data that various US governments could count, 200,000 people died in October alone. Not only was the United States, as the place of origin, so miserable, but European countries also had too many deaths.

However, the flu in the winter of 1919 was much better compared to the previous two years. Many people just fell ill, and recovery was much faster than before. So in the winter of 1919, most American factories started work normally, and Europe was about the same. Besides working, workers' attention was still attracted by this possibility of large-scale death.

Not only Europe and America, but Comrade Lenin in Moscow also saw the newspaper. At this time, the Bolshevik Central Committee members in Moscow also saw it. Seeing their enemies facing such a desperate situation, many Central Committee members were in a good mood. Most of those who felt regret only regretted losing the opportunity to personally finish off this group of stubborn White bandits.

Commissar Joffe, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, didn't see it this way. This diplomatic expert among the Bolsheviks had worry in his expression. Learning that Lenin had also seen the report, Joffe's tone was slow but firm: "Comrade Lenin, He Rui's attitude toward the White bandits is worth pondering. The news he released in European and American newspapers is obviously to curry favor with the left-wing Social Democrats in Europe, hoping to leave a good impression among those people. But I don't think doing so can bring He Rui tangible benefits."

Lenin didn't answer immediately; he agreed very much with Commissar Joffe's judgment in his heart. Left-wing Social Democrats sympathized with the working people but were very opposed to the casualties brought by intense revolution itself. And He Rui appealing in the article to prevent the impending humanitarian disaster should be very much to the taste of those left-wing Social Democrats.

After all, in the eyes of Social Democrats, these million-plus people were also human.

If He Rui had only written such an article, after reading it, Comrade Lenin would only think He Rui himself was also a relatively radical Social Democrat, a bourgeois reformist. But He Rui brought up again the Bolshevik branch shooting the Tsar's whole family in 1918 in the article, so Lenin had to change his view of He Rui somewhat.

He Rui's wording in the article could be seen as criticism: '...Socialist revolution is a great cause, a humanitarian cause. In the process of promoting this cause, there will indeed be bloodshed and sacrifice, but this sacrifice must be meaningful. Could the Bolshevik government shoot the Tsar's whole family, including four maids? Of course they could. But this process should not be retaliatory killing; it should demonstrate the existence of law through court trials. Now, under intense emotions, the Russian people can accept such killing. But decades after peace arrives, the people will inevitably question how those who killed those underage children could bring themselves to do it. Just as decades later, someone will surely question: why not kill the White Army on the battlefield? Why not sentence those counter-revolutionaries to death in court? Instead, let them die by deliberately ignoring their deaths? Is doing so humanitarianism in socialist revolution?'

Comrade Lenin had stayed in Western Europe for a long time and knew the tune of left-wing Social Democrats. If it were a real Social Democrat, they would use similar wording but would not use such logic.

If one considered that He Rui also stood on the position of socialist revolution, this news article could be regarded as a kind of advice. Advice to the Bolshevik government.

Seeing Comrade Lenin didn't answer, Commissar Joffe was about to speak again when he heard Lenin say, "Comrade Joffe, give me a little time, let me think again."

After speaking, Comrade Lenin stood up and paced in the office with his hands behind his back. Joffe initially followed the beloved Comrade Lenin's footsteps with his gaze, but soon withdrew his gaze and began to ponder.

In Joffe's view, He Rui's purpose was to create a good influence in Europe. Although this influence didn't help He Rui much substantively, a Chinese local leader gaining more recognition in Europe obviously helped He Rui himself become a Chinese leader.

Of course, if viewed from a perspective full of struggle, He Rui was showing his divergence from the Bolshevik government. If so, He Rui might very well join the ranks of foreign intervention forces.

While analyzing He Rui's position, Comrade Lenin stopped pacing and said to Joffe, "Comrade Joffe, send a telegram to the representative office stationed in Shenyang, requesting a meeting with He Rui."

"What to talk about in the meeting?" Joffe asked. If He Rui had confirmed his imperialist stance, any negotiation would only fuel He Rui's arrogance and would not help solve Russia's problems.

Comrade Lenin had made up his mind at this time. "Just talk about views on the current world situation and the future world situation."

At this time, the Bolshevik government had already set up an office in Shenyang very low-key. After receiving the telegram from Moscow, they went to ask to see the Director of the Foreign Affairs Office. Walking into the Foreign Affairs Office, they saw people coming and going, very lively. The personnel of the Bolshevik government office had been here several times and paid great attention to the layout of the Foreign Affairs Office. Based on what they knew, they could roughly determine that the people coming and going all came out of the telegraph room of the Foreign Affairs Office. And these people coming and going held telegram papers in their hands, some even letters.

The receptionist was a Section Chief surnamed Zhou, who looked exhausted due to busyness. After listening to the request and asking a few sentences, someone knocked on the door. "Section Chief Zhou, there is a telegram from the United States."

Section Chief Zhou responded and sped up the questioning. Learning that the Bolshevik representative wanted to see the Director of Foreign Affairs, he asked them to wait first and hurried out.

At this time, the Director of Foreign Affairs was also extremely busy. Telegrams flew in from all over the world like snowflakes. London, Paris, New York, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon...

These names, originally just existing in various diplomatic training knowledge and famous world cities in the mind, now had vivid contact with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Northeast Government.

Most of the telegrams were attacks on the Bolshevik government and sympathy for those Russian people fleeing to Vladivostok on the vast snowfields.

During this period, they also received many calls from other departments of the Northeast Government. The Ministry of Public Security informed the Foreign Affairs Office that Russian expatriates in Harbin had launched a parade expressing support for the White Russians.

The Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai stations of the *Northeast Daily* sent news. Some foreign expatriates in China went to the local newspaper offices of the *Northeast Daily* to express their attitudes to the newspaper, and some foreigners donated money, wanting to provide help to the millions of White Russian people.

It was not only private individuals who proposed to help the White Russians; the Foreign Affairs Office also received telegrams from some foreign non-governmental organizations willing to provide entry assistance for women and children.

This 'entry' did not refer to helping White Russians enter China, but helping White Russians depart from the Northeast and enter European and American countries.

As the Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, these tasks could still be handled by various relevant departments of the Foreign Affairs Office. But the Director of Foreign Affairs had to meet with the consuls of various countries in the Shenyang Consulate. All countries that had established consulates in Shenyang sent consuls to meet, expressing concern face-to-face and inquiring about the Northeast Government's preventive measures for the possible outbreak of a 'humanitarian disaster'.

When Section Chief Zhou knocked on the door and entered, Director of Foreign Affairs Zhou Xinghao was talking with the British Consul. "Mr. Henry, if our side sends troops into Russia, it will be considered an act of war. If Britain wants to send a humanitarian team into Russia, starting from China is obviously inappropriate..."

Seeing Section Chief Zhou was anxious, Director Zhou Xinghao could only interrupt the meeting temporarily and come out to ask. Learning that the Bolshevik government office requested a meeting, Zhou Xinghao was furious; this bunch was the damn culprit!

"I definitely can't see them today; tell them to come back tomorrow!" After speaking, Director Zhou Xinghao returned to the office and continued talking with the British Consul.

Everyone approached the Northeast Government under the banner of humanitarianism. Director Zhou Xinghao knew very well that the purpose of foreign officials wouldn't be so simple. But since the matter was announced to the world by the Northeast Government, the Northeast Government also had to bear responsibility.

It wasn't just the Foreign Affairs Office bearing such pressure within the Northeast Government; He Rui also received quite a few telegrams. The ministers of the great powers to China all sent telegrams to He Rui, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic also sent a telegram. It could be seen that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic was very dissatisfied with He Rui stirring up such a thing. But facing He Rui, a major faction counted in the Republic, the wording of the Foreign Ministry's telegram was very polite.

'...Hope General He stabilizes the border and properly resolves this crisis.'

He Rui put this telegram directly aside and ordered his secretary to write a telegram to Jordan. If possible, He Rui would prefer to contact London directly, but this didn't conform to diplomatic rules, so he could only drop it.

"Your Excellency Jordan, regarding the changes facing the Far East, I appeal to the British government to provide support. Help those people and reduce casualties. Especially now that the Russian people have already set off, the clear attitude of the British government is an important guarantee for stabilizing the world situation..."

After sending the telegram to the British Minister to China, the content of the telegram was changed in name and sent to France, the United States, Spain, and other countries.

After recording He Rui's order, the secretary asked in confusion, "Chairman, Japan is not among these countries."

"I don't intend to send it to the Japanese government," He Rui answered decisively. All telegram recipient countries were too far away to truly influence this matter. But Japan could do it. If Japan received He Rui's telegram, with their style of climbing up the pole when hitting a snake, they would definitely find a way to intervene and drag He Rui in.

Just as the secretary left with a large amount of paperwork, a call came from the Foreign Affairs Office. "Chairman, the Japanese side requests to see the Chairman."

He Rui decisively told Director Zhou Xinghao of the Foreign Affairs Office on the phone, "Tell the Japanese that we are doing our utmost to solve this matter. Japan guaranteeing not to affect the situation in Northeast Asia is the greatest help Japan can provide!"

Putting down the phone, He Rui adjusted his clothes. Since the black military uniform had been allocated to the Security Bureau, He Rui changed into a civil official uniform and appeared in the reception room.

Many reporters were already sitting in the reception room, including many foreign reporters. When He Rui sat down, various questions came rushing in. Most were about whether He Rui would send troops into Russia to solve this humanitarian crisis.

He Rui's answer was simple: sending troops into Russia was a military action. Since the Chinese side had not received an invitation, the military action would become an invasion. Since the Northeast Government had not received orders from the central government, it naturally would not send a single soldier into Russia.

Reporters immediately asked if the Northeast side would implement humanitarian rescue. He Rui smiled. "Given the current situation in Russia, armed personnel protection is necessary for the Northeast to allow rescue organizations from various countries to enter Russia. Otherwise, we might have to rescue those rescue organizations. I don't want to see more humanitarian tragedies appear in order to solve a humanitarian disaster."

Quite a few reporters laughed. Amidst the laughter, a reporter immediately stood up and requested to speak. "Your Excellency Chairman, I am a reporter from *Le Parisien* in France. Do you think the current situation in Northeast Asia will spiral out of control?"

He Rui immediately put away his smile and said seriously, "Just recently, the Japanese government proposed to the Northeast Government that they wanted to intervene in this humanitarian disaster. I have already refused! The reason for refusal is just as this reporter gentleman said: if a huge change occurs in the Northeast Asian situation, it will only trigger more humanitarian disasters. China is a peace-loving country, and we absolutely do not accept such things happening!"

The reporter from *Le Parisien* was stunned and quickly pressed, "What if the Japanese government does not agree with Your Excellency's view?"

This remark had a flavor of fanning the flames. All reporters waited seriously to hear He Rui's answer. For a moment, the reception room was silent.

He Rui smiled. "Reporter gentleman, you shouldn't ask me this question, but ask the Japanese government. My current position is only one: I do not wish to see the occurrence of a humanitarian disaster. However, any statement I make now targeting another country will become a diplomatic excuse. This goes against my original intention of pursuing peace."

The questioning reporter from *Le Parisien* was moved by He Rui's answer for a moment. His question was meant to fan the flames; if in Europe, the answer would definitely be tough. But He Rui didn't; if his answer were in Europe, it would be considered weak and powerless. But He Rui admitted it frankly, showing that He Rui indeed intended peace.

Sure enough, He Rui continued, "Reporters, I put forward my expectation here. I hope everyone can make things develop in a good direction through reports. There are countless creatures on this earth, and we humans are the same species. Soldiers fighting on the battlefield is something that can't be helped. But for the large-scale death of civilians, we should, and must find a way to solve it. We in the Northeast are weak alone, yet willing to do so. I hope peace-loving people all over the world can come together to solve this crisis."

After listening to He Rui's speech, the reporter from *Le Parisien* took the lead in applauding. For a moment, thunderous applause filled the reception room. He Rui just waved to everyone and turned to leave the emotionally enthusiastic reception room.