He Rui was not worried that the news of the Northeast Army's plan to attack Japan would be revealed to Japan by Duan Qirui. Back in Shenyang, He Rui continued his work. War is not simply a matter of a supreme commander giving an order, followed by soldiers naturally forming armies and swarming to the front lines.

Even in an agricultural society, war requires a preparation period. In an industrial society, the content and scale of war preparations are far greater than in an agricultural society. As a commander-in-chief, one must and can only grasp the progress of war preparations through documents.

The day after He Rui returned to Shenyang, Morrison came to see him. He Rui had just finished reading a large stack of reports and confirmed the military arrangements on the Sino-Soviet border in Outer Mongolia and Heilongjiang.

It was already August, and the Soviet Union had not yet formally appeared. However, the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) had already held a meeting and decided to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. According to historical trends, this matter would be finalized.

While waiting for Morrison to come in, He Rui had a mischievous thought. The Soviet Union indeed hadn't come to ask China if it wanted to join. If the Soviet Union dared to ask, He Rui would dare to agree.

Footsteps sounded, and Morrison walked into He Rui's office. He Rui thought Morrison would beat around the bush, but he didn't expect the Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau to get straight to the point. "Chairman, is the Northeast Army really going south?"

There were some foreign officials in the Northeast Government, including British, French, and Russians. Among these people, Morrison held the highest position and the most real power. Therefore, the British government had high hopes for Morrison. On one hand, the British government used the promise of a position in the British cabinet after Morrison resigned from the Northeast Government as bait, offering him sufficient temptation. On the other hand, the British government also tried to obtain core intelligence on the Northeast Government through Morrison.

Therefore, He Rui's key decisions were all made in Party branch meetings. As part of the administrative branch, Morrison could only obtain news that the administrative branch was entitled to know. And this news itself was nothing to hide.

As for the military branch, it was even less accessible to Morrison. So although He Rui wasn't surprised, he was somewhat satisfied. It seemed the British side indeed believed that the Northeast Army's combat target was the Beiyang clique.

Although he thought this, He Rui still had to follow the rules. His face darkening, He Rui asked, "Director Morrison, if there were such a war, the comrades in the administrative departments would naturally be informed at the mobilization meeting. The Investment Promotion Bureau inquiring about military matters is a violation of administrative discipline!"

Morrison certainly knew about administrative discipline. The British government had indeed sent a message to Morrison, asking him to determine the purpose of He Rui's actions as soon as possible.

Hearing He Rui say this, Morrison stared at He Rui and answered decisively, "Until now, the Chairman has never expressed his stance on the treaties signed by the Chinese central government. I personally support the speedy unification of China, and the purpose of my visit is to ask the Chairman to prepare for these matters. After the Northeast Army enters the Pass, it will immediately face the garrisons of various countries stationed in China. Military conflicts will inevitably occur then. If the Chairman can immediately issue a statement acknowledging the treaties, while sternly declaring that those treaties do not mean that foreign garrisons in China can unscrupulously initiate attacks on the Northeast Army. Once foreign garrisons provoke the Northeast Army, it exceeds the content of the treaties, and the Northeast Army will conduct annihilation operations against them in accordance with the rules of war. Based on my understanding of the various countries, they will restrain their troops and will not start a war without authorization."

He Rui was a little touched. To be able to say this proved that Morrison indeed had some affection for China. However, He Rui's emotion was limited. If it were a nationalist who adhered to He Rui's position, Morrison's words would not only fail to be considered 'having affection for China', but would be seen as 'an imperialist running dog intimidating the Chinese people's liberation cause'.

Why should foreigners decide how Chinese armies fight on Chinese soil?

From the standpoint of Chinese nationalists, anyone who dared to say such things was a running dog of imperialism, and killing them would not be a pity.

He Rui smiled. "Does Director Morrison miss his days in the Capital?"

"The environment in the Capital is much worse than in Shenyang," Morrison sighed.

He Rui advised, "Don't think like that. Wherever money is spent, it becomes good. As long as the money is in place, flowers can bloom even in the desert. Besides, the climate in the Capital is warmer than in Shenyang."

Morrison did not answer immediately. He Rui's words could already be seen as a hint, implying that He Rui wanted to take Morrison back to the Capital with him. Moreover, He Rui intended to shift his center of power from Shenyang to the Capital. So Morrison smiled and said, "Beijing and Tianjin are good places for trade. The Investment Promotion Bureau will certainly be able to attract more investors in Beijing and Tianjin."

He Rui nodded. "Compared to Beijing and Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing are also not bad."

Morrison's expression became serious again. "Chairman, once the Northeast Army reaches the Yangtze River, it will have to face the British fleet in the Yangtze. Before reaching an agreement with Britain on this matter, I really do not recommend the army crossing the Yangtze. If the army insists on forcing a crossing, it will really trigger a war."

He Rui just smiled but did not answer. At this moment, the secretary pushed a small cart in, loaded with many documents. He Rui pointed to the documents. "Director Morrison, I will consider what you said. But I really can't talk with you any longer today. Look at these."

Morrison had said what he wanted to say and received the response he wanted, so he stood up to take his leave.

On the way back, Morrison was not particularly worried. Based on his judgment of He Rui, such an intelligent politician who understood international politics would never fail to consider this. If possible, Morrison hoped to unify China under relatively peaceful circumstances. If the Chinese army overly provoked Britain, Britain would have to launch military operations. Once military operations began, it would be a tragedy for both China and Britain.

That evening, Morrison was invited to a ball hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce in Shenyang. Morrison had attended too many such gatherings and knew the ropes well. On the second floor of the completely British-style venue, Morrison leaned against the railing with a wine glass, looking down. Soon, the British Consul in Shenyang also walked up to Morrison with a wine glass. The two stood side by side, and the Consul asked, "Mr. Morrison, how is it?"

Morrison did not answer but asked instead, "Has the government prepared a contingency plan for the Northeast Army going south? What is London's attitude? Continue to support the Zhili clique, or decide to support the Northeast?"

Hearing this answer, the Consul understood that Morrison was certain the Northeast Army would go south. However, such things couldn't be based on guessing. The Consul continued to press, "Are you sure the Northeast Army will go south in the near future?"

"Going south is certain, but when they will go south cannot be determined. The Northeast Army's training is generally based on a three-month cycle. Soldiers who perform well undergo two cycles, which is six months of training. Non-commissioned officers are selected from outstanding soldiers and continue with three to six months of NCO studies. According to this timeline, and with the current recruitment intensity, war might break out after May next year."

The Consul nodded. "Have you written a report?"

Morrison touched his chest; the report was inside his clothes. But Morrison didn't take it out immediately. He returned to the previous question. "Is there any decision from London?"

The Consul was somewhat helpless. As a consul, he just did the dirty work in the diplomatic system. Unless London really made a decision and sent it to the diplomatic mission in China, the consul wouldn't know the news.

So the Consul said, "Once there is news, I will inform Mr. Morrison immediately. Up to now, we have not received any instructions."

Morrison didn't ask further. He took out the report in the envelope and handed it to the Consul. The Consul was relieved. As a worker, his job was done by submitting Morrison's report attached with a report on the current situation in Shenyang. Taking responsibility was naturally for those ambitious people who wanted to climb up; those who just wanted to get by only needed to survive.

Moreover, it wasn't easy to get by well within the system. Just taking responsibility once could ruin one's future.

For people who wanted to live a good life, 'getting by' was an unavoidable choice. In this regard, there was no difference between Chinese and foreign human societies.

Morita Mitsuko felt this clearly. Before former Prime Minister Hara Takashi was assassinated, Mitsuko received a mission to interview He Rui in Shenyang. Mitsuko soon discovered that the interview itself was a diplomatic mission. With Prime Minister Hara Takashi dead, the interview was naturally cancelled.

More than half a year later, Mitsuko received an arrangement from the newspaper office again. His Excellency Saionji Kinmochi, a big shot in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was going to visit the Northeast, and *Asahi Shimbun* dispatched Morita Mitsuko to cover the visit throughout.

Mitsuko wanted to agree after hearing it; she didn't have the chance to refuse anyway. Before the words left her mouth, Mitsuko remembered something and asked, "Which other newspapers are participating?"

The president smiled. "We got an exclusive interview this time, Mitsuko. You must write a good report."

"Yes," Mitsuko bowed and replied. But Mitsuko knew very well in her heart, and knew that the president knew very well, what this interview was really about.

Returning home, Mitsuko told her mother the news. Upon hearing it, Mrs. Morita immediately stood up and said, "Since you are going to see He-kun, the gift must be prepared well. Pickled vegetables... put more salt in them first. It's so hot on the road, they might spoil..."

Watching her mother rush off to get busy, Mitsuko suddenly felt a little sad. If possible, Mitsuko did not want to interview He Rui in such a capacity. But Mitsuko also knew very well that if not for this capacity, she would not be able to find an opportunity to interview He Rui independently.