Zhou Shuren was reading the Chinese edition of *Introduction to Geopolitics*, feeling his emotions fluctuating more than usual. For Zhou Shuren, this sensation was rare. Every time it occurred, it stemmed from conflicting feelings clashing within him.

Closing *Introduction to Geopolitics*, Zhou Shuren closed his eyes, attempting to seek the source of this internal conflict, when he heard footsteps outside. The door to the faculty office was pushed open. A group of Peking University teachers turned to look at the newcomer, and someone immediately greeted him, "Professor Qian."

The person who entered was Qian Xuantong, a tutor at the Institute of Sinology of National Peking University. Qian Xuantong greeted the teachers and headed straight for Zhou Shuren. Arriving at the desk and seeing *Introduction to Geopolitics* on it, Qian Xuantong hurriedly said, "Yucai, my brother, you really do have a copy here."

Zhou Shuren's courtesy name was Yucai. In fact, Zhou Yucai was his original name, which he later changed. Yucai then became his courtesy name.

Seeing Qian Xuantong's somewhat anxious demeanor, Zhou Shuren pushed the book towards him. "Deqian, you read it first."

Qian Xuantong wanted to decline out of politeness but felt it inappropriate, so he quickly thanked him. Taking the thin book in his hands, Qian Xuantong mocked himself with a smile, "I'm just joining in the fun, too. This book has been sitting in the library for years. Previously, when He Rui became the High Commander of the Northeast and achieved significant diplomatic success, his books were sought after. At that time, I prided myself on being aloof and didn't want to follow the crowd. Now, I have no choice but to join in."

Hearing this, several Peking University teachers chuckled. Just as Qian Xuantong said, around 1914, Dr. Zhao Tianlin, the president of the National Peiyang University in Tianjin, had published He Rui's works. According to university regulations, these research works were sent to the libraries of various universities and even senior high schools. Since they were recommended by the president of the National Peiyang University, schools kept them in their collections.

Over the past few years, as He Rui gained fame multiple times, brief crazes for reading his research works would erupt. However, a warlord like He Rui wasn't generally well-regarded, especially by noble university professors; many read with a critical attitude. Coupled with He Rui's rising status and the controversial policies he implemented, naturally, there were few positive evaluations.

But this time was truly different; He Rui had actually gone to war with Japan. Although many professors believed He Rui had started hostilities without authorization, which was detrimental to the nation, the current social atmosphere leaned towards "National Humiliation Education." Except for a few recognized pro-Japanese figures who jumped out to express opposition, most professors, even if they held prejudices, were unwilling to speak out against it.

Having obtained the book, Qian Xuantong wasn't in a hurry to leave. He pulled up a stool and sat next to Zhou Shuren. He took a "Siping" brand cigarette, produced in the Northeast, from the pack Zhou Shuren had on the table, and offered one to Zhou Shuren as well. Zhou Shuren didn't mind; the price of Siping cigarettes was very affordable, allowing the chain-smoking Zhou Shuren to achieve "cigarette freedom." After Zhou Shuren lit the cigarettes for himself and Qian Xuantong with a lighter made in the Northeast, Qian Xuantong asked, "Brother Yucai, He Rui issued an extra edition newspaper claiming the total annihilation of the 30,000-strong Kwantung Army in the Kwantung Leased Territory, plus the Japanese garrison troops stationed in various settlements across the Northeast. A total of 40,000 Japanese troops were wiped out. Is this news credible?"

Zhou Shuren wasn't sure either. After all, this was 40,000 Japanese troops, supported by fortified fortresses, yet they were thoroughly annihilated in less than three days. The Commander of the Kwantung Army, Lieutenant General Kawai Misao, had committed seppuku in the open grounds of the Kwantung Army Headquarters. More than ten Japanese generals were captured, committed suicide, or were killed in action. Back when the Manchu Qing Dynasty fought Japan with the strength of the whole nation, the results were far inferior to He Rui's battle of just over two days. If one had to find a comparison, only the Battle of Baekgang during the height of the Tang Dynasty a millennium ago could match it.

Since Qian Xuantong asked, Zhou Shuren could only reply, "If you want to determine the authenticity, we will only know when Japan releases their battle report."

Hearing this, Qian Xuantong sighed. Zhou Shuren actually heard a trace of regret in this sigh and couldn't help but be curious. "Deqian, you have never been willing to pay attention to He Rui. I wonder how you view his actions this time?"

Hearing Zhou Shuren's inquiry, Qian Xuantong's expression was somewhat complex. However, Qian Xuantong had always admired Zhou Shuren and didn't like to hide his views, so he replied, "Brother Yucai, I truly admire the education system He Rui established outside the Pass, including compulsory education, higher education, and adult re-education. During the great drought in the North the year before last, regardless of He Rui's intentions, he accepted millions of refugees and saved the lives of at least a hundred thousand people. Since then, I decided never to speak ill of him again. However, He Rui started hostilities without authorization this time, which will certainly trigger a nationwide counterattack from Japan. Can He Rui really win?"

Zhou Shuren was also worried about this, so he simply asked, "Does Deqian think He Rui can win?"

Qian Xuantong wanted to say no, but couldn't bring himself to say it. Other Peking University teachers were very interested in the attitude of Zhou Shuren and Qian Xuantong. Someone interjected, "Professor Qian, He Rui's actions are unpredictable and always unconventional. If you say he colludes with foreigners, He Rui goes to war with Japan. If you say he holds fast to moral integrity, he invites various countries to invest outside the Pass and even spends money and effort to help White Russian refugees, getting along famously with foreigners. Apart from his seriousness in 'saving the country through education,' He Rui's attitudes toward 'saving the country through industry' and 'saving the country through science and technology' inevitably attract criticism. As for his civil administration... sigh... let's not talk about it."

Once this statement was made, many Peking University teachers expressed their agreement.

Zhou Shuren could completely understand these people's views; this was how most literati viewed He Rui. As for Zhou Shuren, he had his own views and wasn't willing to discuss them with others. In Zhou Shuren's eyes, He Rui was vastly different from the "enlightened ruler" literati expected, yet he was very similar to the enlightened rulers recorded in history books.

As a lecturer at Peking University teaching the history of Chinese fiction, Zhou Shuren was very clear about the preferences of the literati. In novels, Emperor Taizong of Tang was always waiting for others to "save the emperor." But the historical Emperor Taizong led three thousand Xuan Ce Army troops and dared to charge against a hundred thousand enemy troops. Leaving aside those novels and speaking only of historical facts, whether it was Emperor Taizong going to save those generals or the generals saving Emperor Taizong is hard to say because there aren't many historical records. In Zhou Shuren's view, the possibility of Emperor Taizong leading a team to save others was greater.

He Rui personally cultivated officers and troops in the Northeast; this alone made him a ruler the literati didn't like. As for the various policies He Rui formulated, without exception, they had clear objectives, strict laws, and strong enforceability. In the eyes of the literati, this He Rui was a Legalist through and through!

Mentioning Legalists naturally brought to mind Shang Yang, Han Fei, the tyrannical Qin, and the burning of books and burying of scholars. Although the organizational model of "Confucian on the outside, Legalist on the inside" of successive Chinese dynasties was written into history books, the literati wouldn't mention these things at this moment.

Starting as a military commander, taking the Legalist route in politics, culturally He Rui advocated that "the working people are the creators of history." As for personal characteristics, He Rui was modern to the point of being alternative. He had a surname and a given name, but no courtesy name, belonging to the category of "commoners" in the eyes of the literati. When others addressed He Rui, they could only use his titles in the party, government, or military—a style typical of the grassroots.

No matter which point, He Rui was not an object of affection for the literati.

Seeing Zhou Shuren remain silent, Qian Xuantong also felt it was a bit uninteresting. He stood up and said, "Brother Yucai, have you finished reading this book?"

"I've browsed through it a few times but couldn't grasp the essentials," Zhou Shuren replied straightforwardly.

Qian Xuantong admired Zhou Shuren's scholarship very much and, ignoring Zhou Shuren's modesty, said directly, "When I finish reading it, I will come to ask for advice."

Seeing Qian Xuantong about to leave, someone among the lecturers asked, "Mr. Zhou, do you know how many troops Japan has?"

Zhou Shuren had studied in Japan but hadn't paid attention to these numbers, so he shook his head to indicate he didn't know. The lecturer continued, "Japan has only lost 40,000 troops so far. According to the extra edition, the Northeast Army is fighting the Japanese Korea Army. Even if He Rui wins a great victory, annihilating a total of 100,000 Japanese troops, for Japan, I'm afraid it would only be considered a minor defeat."

These words left Zhou Shuren speechless. In any era, the annihilation of 100,000 elite troops would not only not be considered a minor defeat but would be a major event shaking the nation, potentially even shaking the foundation of the country.

However, Zhou Shuren did not refute it. After all, in recent years, Chinese nationalist sentiment had been high, and the phrase "400 million compatriots" was spoken almost every year. The European War had just ended a few years ago, where the great powers mobilized millions or even tens of millions of troops. In every major battle, casualties numbered in the millions. Compared to that, the number 100,000 seemed somewhat insignificant.

Zhou Shuren stood up and said to Qian Xuantong, "It's getting late, Deqian, I'll go back with you."

As the two walked on the campus, Qian Xuantong stopped, "Brother Yucai, do you think He Rui can win?"

Zhou Shuren took out his cigarette case, lit one for himself and one for Qian Xuantong, but remained silent in thought. From what Zhou Shuren had seen of Japan, its strength was truly not to be underestimated. If He Rui could defeat Japan, it would prove that Zhou Shuren's judgment of Japan's power was wrong. Zhou Shuren didn't believe he was necessarily right, but such a change truly left him somewhat confused.

Seeing Zhou Shuren still not making a sound, Qian Xuantong simply spoke his mind, "Brother Yucai, if He Rui can really defeat Japan, the unification of China is just around the corner. However, I simply cannot imagine what kind of China He Rui wants to build. Although there are great sages like Mr. Zhao Tianlin in the Northeast Government, more are personnel selected by He Rui according to his selection system. To serve the country, the first step is actually a political review, checking three generations. This... how is this different from the Manchu Qing? Where is the atmosphere of a new era!"

Zhou Shuren then remembered that political review was also one of the things the literati loathed about He Rui. When literati criticized these things, they didn't mention that the Manchu Qing or even the Republic of China were actually the same. In the Manchu Qing era, one had to have ancestors who had held titles within three generations to be eligible for the imperial examinations. In the Republic of China, one needed to be a "famous scholar" to have status. The political review of the Northeast Government was said to be exactly the opposite: apart from talent in science and engineering, only those from working-class backgrounds could pass the political review. It would be strange if the literati liked this kind of political review.

After saying all this, Qian Xuantong sighed again, "Sigh... Brother Yucai, don't blame me. I was just thinking wildly. I feel better after saying it out loud. As for this battle, I genuinely want to see Japan defeated to prove that there are capable people in my China. The repeated defeats in the past were only because those in power were incompetent, not because my China is backward. As for other matters, it won't be too late to discuss them after Japan is defeated."

"Precisely so," Zhou Shuren finally responded. What Qian Xuantong said was also Zhou Shuren's thought. Even if He Rui had many aspects that were displeasing, in the face of whether China could be revitalized, they counted for absolutely nothing.