He Rui did not take the Beiyang matter to heart. When formulating plans, Beiyang was never considered as an isolated object. This was not because the Northeast Army or the Civilization Party looked down on Beiyang; rather, like Japan, Beiyang was never the ultimate target of their strategy.

Unifying China. That was the strategic goal. To achieve the strategic goal of unifying China, two environments had to be considered: domestic and foreign. Who would support China's unification, and who would oppose it? Only at this stage did Beiyang and Japan enter the list as existing facts to be analyzed.

It wasn't just He Rui, who taught strategy formulation, who thought this way; the Military Commission and the high-ranking officers of the Northeast Army had also learned to think this way. After sending Wang Shizhen to the guesthouse, He Rui went straight to the Northeast Army General Headquarters. At this time, the General Headquarters was full of manpower, and every soldier was walking quickly. It was so busy that a banner had to be specially pasted at the corner: 'Slow Down at Corners'.

The corridors were filled with the sound of footsteps, making it impossible to judge by hearing whether someone was coming from the other side of a corner. Collisions caused by hurried walking had happened more than a hundred times, and there had even been accidents. Several people had been sent to the hospital.

There were also a dozen or so soldiers who, in a fit of anxiety, got into conflicts with the colleagues they collided with and were sent to the confinement room to cool off.

Recently, a computing room had been added on the first floor. In the corridor, one could hear the sound of hand-cranked mechanical calculators running twenty-four hours a day. Compared with the rustling of pen tips across calculation paper and the crisp sound of abacus beads colliding in traditional calculation rooms, the noise caused by these machines was far less pleasant. Even though this new department improved efficiency greatly, some comrades with sensitive hearing suggested building a separate building for the hand-cranked mechanical calculator room outside the main building.

He Rui, however, did not dislike such sounds. He Rui even recalled the crisp sound of his favorite blue switch mechanical keyboard when typing; that rhythm really improved his mood when doing paperwork.

Arriving at the third floor, Xu Chengfeng and others had already arrived. Chief of Staff Cheng Ruofan immediately began his report, "The first phase of the campaign has ended. According to the initial plan, our army will establish two commands in Korea and three commands in the Northeast. On the Korean frontal line, the Pyongyang Theater Command will be established, with Comrade Hu Xiushan serving as commander. It is responsible for dealing with the Japanese counterattack. On the Korean flank, the Korea Command will be established, with Comrade Xu Chengfeng serving as commander. It is responsible for coastal anti-landing operations."

Xu Chengfeng did not care at all about his transfer from Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast Army to a theater commander; his attention was focused on the orders themselves.

He Rui, meanwhile, was making his final calculations regarding the choice of commanders. Hu Xiushan was extremely meticulous in his work. In the next phase of the campaign, the Northeast Army's goal was to consume Japan's strength during their offensive. Hu Xiushan had said that in Korea, nothing was indispensable. Fighting and retreating, once a Japanese division or brigade-level unit broke away from the battle line, a counterattack would be launched immediately.

In this regard, the most suitable candidate was actually Cheng Ruofan. Over the past few years, Cheng Ruofan had made great progress. His characteristics had not been obliterated; instead, his advantages of being smart, keen, and good at seizing tactical opportunities had been further highlighted.

However, changing generals just before battle was disrespectful to Hu Xiushan, and Hu Xiushan was fully capable of completing the command task. Since Hu Xiushan had no intention of stepping down, He Rui could only keep his mouth shut about this.

As for Xu Chengfeng, he had the most temperament of a senior German military officer in the Northeast Army. Firm, calm, and decisive. Given the current status of the Northeast Army, it was completely incapable of dealing with the Japanese Navy; the method of anti-landing warfare was to defend the line to the death. And the Northeast Army's logistical capabilities were insufficient to sustain mobile operations for more than 400,000 troops in Korea.

Even using more than half of the trucks, they could only sustain rapid offensives for one corps. If there were enough trucks and sufficient fuel, He Rui would not have let go of Seoul.

Fighting such a tough battle, the impact of a commander's super-keen perception on the war situation would be very limited. Xu Chengfeng's methodical and resolute style could maximize their strength.

Cheng Ruofan continued his report, "In the Liaodong Peninsula of the Northeast, the Liaodong Theater Command will be established, with Comrade Zheng Silang serving as commander. It is responsible for coastal anti-landing operations. On our territory west of the Yalu River, the Yalu River Command will be established, with myself, Cheng Ruofan, serving as commander. Relying on the defense lines our army has already completed, we will prepare for the third phase of the campaign. The Yalu River Theater is also responsible for providing logistical support in the upcoming campaign phase and providing troop support when necessary. In the Shanhaiguan to Jinzhou area, the Shanhaiguan Theater will be established, with Comrade Zhong Yifu serving as commander. It is responsible for guarding against possible attacks from the direction of Shanhaiguan. The General Headquarters in Shenyang will be the responsibility of Comrade He Rui, coordinating relations between the Northeast Government and the various commands. Report complete."

He Rui nodded. He felt some emotion in his heart. At present, all the senior military officers cultivated by the Civilization Party's Northeast Army had been thrown into the war. Everything had to be supported by these young men. He Rui believed that the young soldiers would definitely do their best; if the war situation went poorly, it must be due to He Rui's own lack of ability.

Just then, Cheng Ruofan offered a suggestion, "Commander-in-Chief, I think we have placed too many troops in the direction of Shanhaiguan. In my personal judgment, the possibility of the Japanese Army or the Beiyang Army attacking Shanhaiguan is much lower than we estimated. If we could dispatch one more corps to the Korea Command, it could enhance defensive capabilities."

Without waiting for He Rui to answer, Xu Chengfeng said, "Commander-in-Chief, I partially agree with Comrade Cheng Ruofan's view. But if a corps is transferred, it would be best to strengthen our army's logistical transport capabilities. Based on the experience of the advance into Seoul, the logistical transport pressure on our current battle lines is too great."

He Rui fully understood Cheng Ruofan and Xu Chengfeng's concerns. These problems were unsolvable at the current stage, so he replied, "I think this is already the best layout. Since the situation in Beiyang has changed, we can transfer one corps from Jinzhou to garrison Yingkou, east of Jinzhou. This will relieve some pressure on the Liaodong Theater. But I do not support changing the current overall layout. The current stage has already proven that our judgment of the Northeast was slightly optimistic."

After these words were spoken, neither Xu Chengfeng nor Cheng Ruofan spoke again. The 'slightly optimistic' He Rui referred to would be nothing in peacetime. It would really just be 'slightly optimistic'. Probably the difference between 100 and 95 points.

However, in wartime, let alone a 5% difference, even a 1% difference could cause a huge impact; 5% could lead to failure. These aspects were reflected under high-intensity management, where many social models that originally operated well underwent violent shocks.

The Northeast actually did not lack grain, and there were very good state-run grain stores for supply. Even if rationing were implemented, it would not affect the normal life of the people.

However, the environment in which the people of the Northeast had lived for a long time was not a 'normal environment'. Famine caused by floods and droughts was continuous, coupled with the exploitation by the government, warlords, gentry, and landlords under the old system; any sign of trouble could cause families to be broken and people to perish.

And among the 40 million people under the rule of the Northeast Government, more than half were people who had fled to the Northeast because they nearly lost their families due to natural and man-made disasters. They did indeed believe that the Northeast Government was a good government, and there was a management relationship between the two sides, but it was far from being intimately united.

Just as the Northeast Government had clearly told the public that there was no problem with grain supply and that everyone should not hoard grain or panic-buy supplies, the people still did it. If they couldn't buy it in the market, they bought it privately. Even though this problem had been considered, it still caused huge pressure on the government after the war really broke out. And hoarding supplies was just one of many problems.

Although He Rui was not disappointed, he still felt immense pressure inwardly. Because this was also the inevitable result of the policies He Rui had formulated previously.

The Northeast Government had been pursuing economic policies of developing industry and small commodity economies over the past few years. The depth and breadth of people joining socialized production had greatly increased, and wealth accumulation was fast. These policies developed the market and also allowed the Northeast economy to develop rapidly.

Since there was a market, under the influence of panic, the market began to conversely affect the Northeast economy. Even in the 21st century, after China became a fully industrial country, it could not avoid such problems. This was the backlash of policy. Whether they could carry through it depended on the level of institutional construction of the Northeast Government.

Of course, He Rui did not feel discouraged. Because the Japanese side was facing the same problems, and they were even more intense than those of the Northeast Government.

The great victory in the first phase of the war relied on surprise attacks. The reason why other various forces, including the Great Powers, did not expect the Northeast Government to dare to start a war was simply because they considered He Rui to be an excellent politician of this era. Therefore, He Rui could not possibly be unaware that even if the Northeast Government possessed the operational level of the current Great Power nations, challenging Japan with the Northeast's strength would fail due to domestic economic collapse.

But He Rui believed that the Northeast Government, built with the experience of the Chinese Revolution, could withstand such huge pressure without collapsing. In the war between the Northeast and Japan, the one to collapse first from being unable to hold out would definitely be Japan.

Transferring one corps from Shanhaiguan to other commands would not have a significant effect. But if the situation changed and they could not respond immediately, the risk brought about would be much greater than the benefit brought by the transfer of one corps. From He Rui's perspective, even if that corps really only served as a temporary garrison, he had to accept such redundant preparation. This judgment was not a military judgment.

The headquarters did not discuss this further. Xu Chengfeng and Cheng Ruofan began the next report, "Commander-in-Chief, according to the campaign arrangements, we will report to you the current personnel transfer arrangements of the headquarters..."

He Rui knew that once the troops were divided, the campaign would have to be fought this way. Excluding all uneasiness, He Rui focused his attention on the report.

***

Whistles sounded as the ship carrying Major General Nagata Tetsuzan, the liaison officer of the Manchuria-Mongolia Expeditionary Army, arrived at Tokyo Port. Standing by the high ship's rail, one could see soldiers lined up neatly at various dock areas of Tokyo Port, preparing to board ships. Equipment was piled up like mountains; coolies carrying equipment on their backs and shoulders were like ants moving house urgently before a rainstorm, forming long, thin lines connecting the supplies and equipment to the ships that had begun loading.

Nagata Tetsuzan went down the gangway to the pier. The captain receiving the ship immediately came forward and asked, "Excuse me, is this Your Excellency Nagata?"

Seeing Nagata Tetsuzan nod, the captain hurriedly saluted, "Your Excellency Nagata, this subordinate is Captain Owada of the Ministry of War. I am ordered by Your Excellency Tanaka to escort Your Excellency Nagata to the Ministry of War. The car is ready outside."

Nagata, bringing his guards, followed Captain Owada through the gaps in the forest formed by the soldiers. Some officers were scolding and cursing those undisciplined soldiers, while some officers shouted angrily at the guiding personnel responsible for directing the boarding: "Why can't we board when it's five minutes late! Don't you know the war situation is urgent?"

Other officers shouted angrily: "Do you want our soldiers to blow in the cold wind all night!"

It was already evening, and most of the sun had sunk into the western sky. The night wind at the end of October was already very cold, and the sea breeze was even colder. Nagata's face had already turned gloomy.

Walking out of the pier, the streets outside felt even more impenetrable. Compared with the open space inside the port, the streets and entrances were undoubtedly much narrower. Teams of Japanese soldiers stopped at various entrances waiting to enter the port. In the cold wind, the soldiers wrapped their military coats tightly and leaned against the long wooden fences of the pier.

And those peddlers doing business took this opportunity to sell some small food items to the soldiers waiting for orders. Some bold ones ran through the gaps in the marching columns to the wooden fence side, stepping up their peddling.

Just then, the sound of running came. A small squad of Kenpeitai, wearing white armbands and holding wooden sticks, came rushing over quickly. They went straight for those peddlers affecting the traffic. The peddlers were so scared they ran away immediately, and the Kenpeitai chased after them tightly. Both sides disappeared from Nagata Tetsuzan's sight, but soon the angry scolding of the Kenpeitai and the crying and begging of the peddlers could be heard.

It took some more time to walk about a kilometer away before the view before Nagata Tetsuzan finally opened up a bit. The car coming to pick him up was parked in a small open space. Captain Owada had already apologized inside the port, and at this time he said again: "Your Excellency, please forgive me. The car can only be parked here."

Nagata Tetsuzan did not care. Captain Owada's decision was correct; even if the car forced its way in, it probably wouldn't be able to drive out. However, Nagata saw a newsstand not far from the parking spot, so he said: "Please wait for me a moment, I will buy a few newspapers."

Captain Owada knew very well that Nagata Tetsuzan had just come down from the Seoul battlefield and knew nothing about the domestic situation. So he said: "Your Excellency, let me buy you something to eat."

Faced with such a suggestion, Nagata Tetsuzan thanked him. He naturally reached into his pocket to feel for it, but found that he hadn't brought his wallet. Nagata Tetsuzan had brought his wallet when he went to Korea, but fighting day and night these past days, how could he think about money matters? Returning this time, he had changed into a new uniform. The wallet was probably in Seoul at this moment; as for where exactly, Nagata Tetsuzan had absolutely no idea.

Withdrawing his hand, Nagata Tetsuzan asked: "Owada-kun, can you lend me 5 yen right now?"

Captain Owada hurriedly fished through his pockets, only finding a little over two yen in change. Just as he was about to ask others, Nagata said: "That's enough." He took the change and went straight to the newsstand.

By this time, the sky had turned dark. Nagata Tetsuzan stood under a nearby gas lamp and began to read. On the front page of the first newspaper, it was boldly written "Wall of the Empire — Major General Nagata Tetsuzan's Great Activity".

Scanning it slightly, Nagata Tetsuzan smiled bitterly in his heart. He, Okamura, and Ishiwara were nothing but defeated generals, yet they were being loudly trumpeted by the newspapers, as if holding Seoul was a great victory.

'With a force of less than 30,000, facing over a hundred thousand vicious Shina troops, preventing them from taking a single step into Seoul...'

Nagata Tetsuzan sighed slightly. Had the internal pressure in the Empire already reached the point where they had to rely on boasting to maintain public sentiment?