Wang Shizhen, Yang Du, and the others found themselves suddenly stuck in Siping, unable to leave. All streets in Siping were under control. Let alone leaving Siping, every intersection was blocked with chevaux-de-frise checkpoints. Without identification, one couldn't even leave the block. Wang Shizhen and Yang Du had seen big scenes before, and Lu Feng had served as a counselor; the three did not show any signs of unease, even leisurely playing chess in the hotel to relieve boredom.

Lu Feng was just here to make up the numbers. Although he looked calm, he was anxious to leave. While playing chess, he couldn't help but ask, "I wonder when the road ban will be lifted."

After speaking, Lu Feng looked at Wang Shizhen and Yang Du, but saw that neither of them responded, continuing to play chess move by move. Lu Feng could only stand up and push open the window. He saw pedestrians on the street walking in columns, just like an army. However, there were some children leaving school on the road, also lining up neatly. At various intersections, the students walking inward split into small teams, looking orderly and cute. He couldn't help but sigh.

He heard Yang Du laugh behind him: "Duke Wang, I lost this game."

Wang Shizhen's tone was flat, "Brother Yang, I don't think so."

Yang Du sighed: "I thought I could concentrate on this game, but I realized my cultivation is not enough. What I think about is still gains and losses. Duke Wang, I actually have always regretted it. I wonder if it is really too late if I am willing to be down-to-earth now?"

Lu Feng was surprised. He heard that after supporting Yuan Shikai's failed bid for emperor, Yang Du went to study Buddhism. He couldn't figure out what mystery Yang Du was contemplating.

Wang Shizhen did not answer. He put down the chess piece in his hand, stood up and left, leaving Yang Du hanging there. Yang Du sat silently for a moment, then stood up and sighed, actually going out the door.

Lu Feng thought Yang Du would come back soon, but he didn't see him after waiting for a long time. He didn't come back by dinner time. Lu Feng couldn't help but feel uneasy. After all, Yang Du was also a person sent by Beiyang. It was not good to disappear so suddenly. Seeing Wang Shizhen's face looking even more unhappy, the two finished dinner. Lu Feng couldn't hold back and asked: "Duke Wang, what is Mr. Yang trying to do?"

Wang Shizhen looked gloomy. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Yang Du is a person who only seeks advancement through luck. Back then, he took the Second Master's path and became Duke Yuan's private minister. After gaining Duke Yuan's favor, he didn't seek to serve Duke Yuan, but only sought personal glory and wealth. He acted recklessly in the matter of Duke Yuan proclaiming himself emperor. For today's Beiyang situation, this old man is responsible, and Yang Du is also responsible! Being down and out until now, he doesn't think about repenting, but wants to cling to Brother He's path again. He really can't change his nature."

Hearing Wang Shizhen evaluate Yang Du like this, Lu Feng didn't dare to reply. But judging from what Wang Shizhen said, Yang Du ran off to defect to the Northeast Government. Lu Feng actually had such a wish, but he didn't know how to seek a position equal to his status in Beiyang. Recalling what Yang Du said about 'being down-to-earth', he was a bit curious about how Yang Du planned to be down-to-earth. Did Yang Du plan to start as a petty official?

Wang Shizhen was in a very bad mood at this time. Especially since Yang Du, like Wang Shizhen, supported Yuan Shikai's proclamation of emperor back then. Criticizing Yang Du also made Wang Shizhen feel sad. But Yang Du could jump ship, while Wang Shizhen could not. This made Wang Shizhen particularly unhappy.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. Lu Feng went to open the door and saw that it was Yang Du and two other reception personnel from Siping who came in. Yang Du didn't say much and went directly to pack his luggage. The two Siping reception personnel politely introduced the current situation to Wang Shizhen and Lu Feng, "The government has issued a Class A General Mobilization Order. The Northeast has been under comprehensive control since yesterday. According to the mobilization order system, the two of you staying in the Northeast can no longer move around. We suggest that you prepare to return to the capital now."

Lu Feng wanted to leave immediately, but Wang Shizhen shook his head, "Two brothers, if according to the regulations, can this old man stay somewhere? If possible, can you arrange a place to stay?"

"This... we have to go back and apply." The staff member replied with some difficulty.

Seeing the situation was like this, although Lu Feng wanted to leave immediately, he felt it was inappropriate now. He could only listen to Wang Shizhen negotiate.

Yang Du had already packed his luggage. After bidding farewell to Wang Shizhen and Lu Feng, he went out. Staff were waiting at the end of the corridor. Yang Du followed the staff out of the hotel, walked past two blocks, and arrived at an office. Someone was already waiting inside. Without exchanging pleasantries, "Mr. Yang Du, you requested to work in the Northeast. After discussion, our side is willing to accept the request. Mr. Yang Du, are you aware that you can only go to the countryside to take up grassroots work now?"

Yang Du came to the Northeast this time mainly because he and Morrison were both Yuan Shikai's private staff. Others ended up with no good end because they supported Yuan Shikai's proclamation of emperor back then. None were willing to come. The reason Yang Du was willing to come was entirely because he felt his sins were heavy back then. Since He Rui started a war with Japan, if he could do something, it would be redemption for himself.

After telling Morrison about this, Morrison replied to Yang Du a few days later, 'If Mr. Yang insists on contributing, I can barely arrange for you to work in a village.'

After struggling with confidence for two days, Yang Du decided to give it a try. Regarding his own nature, Yang Du was actually very clear. He didn't necessarily really like to social climb, but he couldn't accept starting from a position under Beiyang's command.

In the 18th year of Guangxu (1892), Yang Du passed the examination as a Xiucai. In the 19th year of Guangxu (1893), he became a Juren in the Shuntian Prefecture examination; in the 20th and 21st years of Guangxu, he failed the metropolitan examinations in both the Jiawu and Yiwei years. During the metropolitan examination, coincidentally with the Gongche Shangshu movement, he also echoed it and met Liang Qichao, Yuan Shikai, Xu Shichang, etc. Returning to his hometown, he studied under Wang Kaiyun (Renqiu, Xiangqi), a famous Confucian scholar of the generation at Hengyang Dongzhou and Chuanshan Academy. In the 21st year of Guangxu (1895), when Yang Du was 21 years old, Wang Kaiyun personally went to the Yang family to recruit him as a student. The teacher-student relationship was intimate; Yang Du was deeply loved by Wang Kaiyun and could joke freely. Wang Kaiyun often called Yang Du "Yang Xianzi" (Yang the Virtuous Son) in the "Xiangqi Lou Diary".

Later, Yang Du went to Japan to study. Half a year later, at the graduation meeting, Kano Jigoro, the principal of the Tokyo Higher Normal School, made remarks belittling the Qing people. Yang Du debated fiercely with him on the spot about national character and education issues. Soon after, he published "Shina Education" in Liang Qichao's "Xinmin Congbao", which received support and praise among Chinese students in Japan.

In the 29th year of Guangxu (1903), Yang Du was recommended to enter Beijing to participate in the newly opened special economic examination for Jinshi, and initially ranked second in the first class. With such an experience, how could Yang Du be willing to be under others?

Facing the inquiry of the Northeast Government staff, Yang Du had already made a decision at this time, "I am willing to start from rural work."

Unexpectedly, the staff member opposite asked frankly: "Mr. Yang, may I ask if you are willing to go to the countryside to take up grassroots work?"

"I am willing." After Yang Du finished speaking, he only felt a burst of shame in his heart. He didn't know if he was ashamed of encountering such a situation, or ashamed of being so arrogant at this time.

"Mr. Yang, please prepare to accept political review." The staff member made a request according to the procedure.

That night, Yang Du completed the basic political review. Because his life experience was very rich, Yang Du's political review went on until very late. Early the next morning, Yang Du received a notice that his work location had been arranged, which was Yangjiatun near Siping.

Thinking he was going alone, Yang Du arrived at the departure point at 10 o'clock, only to see several young people already waiting there. Everyone was very excited. Seeing Yang Du come in, they thought Yang Du was the person in charge of arranging their work, and quickly stood up to greet him.

After the misunderstanding was cleared up, the young people apologized embarrassedly. Yang Du felt a little trance-like for a moment, as if he had returned to his youth. Yang Du was born in 1875 and was 48 years old this year. He was about to reach the age of knowing destiny, yet he was starting again from a job in a village. Yang Du had mixed feelings in his heart.

Footsteps sounded outside, and a... middle-aged man who looked about 30 years old came in. He introduced himself: "Hello comrades, I am the Town Party Secretary of Sunjiaying, Sun Youwang. Welcome everyone to join. Let me introduce the situation first. Going to Sunjiaying this time is mainly to strengthen the supply between Sunjiaying and various villages. Sunjiaying is a famous sewing village in Siping and has been providing military uniforms and bedding to factories. This general mobilization not only needs to confirm the supply of military uniforms and bedding, but also a part of bullet assembly will be completed in Sunjiaying."

Yang Du thought that going to a village was just to serve as an identity similar to Baojia. If it weren't for his strong curiosity about the Northeast Government and his determination to contribute a real strength to the war against Japan, Yang Du would never have accepted this appointment, which was almost an insult in the eyes of traditional scholars.

However, hearing that a Sunjiaying actually had a job like bullet production, Yang Du's curiosity overwhelmed all other procedures. If a village could participate in such work, what kind of strength did the Northeast possess?

The Town Secretary introduced for a while, and Yang Du understood a part. Sunjiaying's production cooperation with Siping has been going very well in the past few years. The town mayor and village heads have received high praise in production organization and won many orders. In this war with Japan, the arsenal is responsible for the production of new bullets, and the work of reloading bullets is the responsibility of other factories that have switched production. Even so, a large number of reloaded bullets cannot be produced immediately. Sunjiaying worked hard to win a part of the orders. The current stage is a trial cooperation period. If quality can be guaranteed, more orders can be obtained.

Yang Du originally thought that the Northeast had the strength to challenge Japan because the urban industry in the Northeast had developed very rapidly in these years. Hearing about Sunjiaying, he realized that it seemed not to be the case. When Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor back then, Yunnan, which fired the first shot against Yuan, abruptly started secret production a few months in advance in order to scrape together bullets for large-scale combat. If the Northeast countryside has the ability to produce reloaded bullets, it means that the Northeast countryside, which should be the most ignorant and uncivilized, has surpassed the provincial capital of Yunnan.

Is this really the case?

After the introduction, the group set off. Along the way, checkpoints were continuous, and the inspection personnel were very strict, but there was no extortion. Sun Youwang, Secretary Sun, also introduced the general mobilization regulations. Not only cities, but also rural areas are prohibited from leaving the village at will. If travel is necessary, there must be a letter of introduction and a pass from the village and the town.

The young people hadn't figured out the specific process yet, but Yang Du was already greatly admiring. He didn't expect the Northeast wartime system to be so strict. Seeing so many checkpoints, he thought it could really be enforced. The purpose of such strict means is to avoid causing disturbances. Yang Du understood this very well.

When they arrived at the town, it was getting dark. Having been blown by the cold wind all the way, Yang Du was wondering if there was a place to warm up by the fire when he was let into a room to rest on the heated kang with other young cadres. As soon as he sat on it, Yang Du felt sleepy and unknowingly fell asleep leaning against the earthen wall pasted with newspapers.

When he woke up, he heard the wind whistling outside. He didn't know when the wind had picked up. Snoring was heard in the room; the young people who came with him were all fast asleep. Yang Du went out and couldn't help shivering. He saw stars in the sky, and a slender crescent moon hanging in the clear night sky.

Then he saw electric lights actually shining in the windows of many offices in the town government. Yang Du only felt that he had made a mistake. How could there be electric lights in a village town?

Hearing the sound of opening the door, an office door was pulled open, and Mayor Sun Youwang walked out. Seeing Yang Du, he greeted: "Comrade Yang, I was just saying I'd go call you guys up for dinner."

Saying that, he went to the room Yang Du came out of. As the light cord was pulled, the room lit up. Yang Du then realized that he hadn't made a mistake. The town really had electricity.

It was already past 8 o'clock in the evening. The hungry crowd sat around on the kang, eating and chatting. The town's arrangement this time was different from the past. Starting five or six years ago, the town accepted some textile orders. At that time, payment was made in grain. In the last two years, payment was made in paper notes issued by the Northeast Bank.

After the general mobilization, the order price was suppressed to cost price plus the basic consumption that must be paid to workers every day multiplied by 1.5. The price was much lower than previous orders.

These new staff members not only had to participate in quality inspection and other work, but were also responsible for understanding the production arrangements issued from above and supervising the completion of production.

Town Mayor Sun Youwang was not optimistic, "Comrades, the masses will definitely have emotions when facing this kind of thing. Our work is to let the masses know that if we don't do this, we can't win this battle. The Municipal Party Secretary specifically held a meeting. At the meeting, it was said that government expenditure is spent like flowing water. If we pay according to the previous pricing, the government can't afford it. But without so many supplies supplying the front line, once we lose the battle and the Japanese rush into the Northeast, every household will be looted empty by the Japanese. That will be too late to cry."

Yang Du originally thought that patriotic education would be more impassioned and stirring. But he didn't expect that patriotic education in the Northeast was so unadorned, yet so grounded.

The town mayor continued: "If the masses still have doubts, tell them that when the *Hu Zi* (bandits) rob, at least they know they are Northeasterners. To rob a few more times, they have to wait for people to have something to rob. The Japanese are foreigners; they don't consider themselves Northeasterners. They will definitely rob everything clean. We suffer for two years now. When we defeat Japan, we won't worry about being robbed by Japan in the future. This is not just for the present, but a major event so that our children and grandchildren will not be robbed by Japan!"