As Zhao Tianlin entered the Presidential Palace, he noticed the reception room's decoration was truly outdated and uncoordinated. Porcelain and antiques from the Qing Dynasty, calligraphy and paintings favored by scholar-officials, and Western clocks were all placed in the same room, failing to reflect any style of the Presidential Palace's owner.

It wasn't just the mix of items; the colors, textures, and styles were completely chaotic. In contrast, He Rui's reception room, though simple, was extremely practical, monotonous but unified in style.

In this chaotic reception room of the Beiyang Presidential Palace, Zhao Tianlin finally heard Duan Qirui speak his mind, feeling a sense of relief. They could finally discuss the most critical issues and end these meaningless debates.

Zhao Tianlin pushed up his glasses and looked into Duan Qirui's eyes. In those eyes, there was unconcealable unease and anxiety. Zhao Tianlin asked, "Premier Duan, this subordinate believes that Premier Duan is a patriot."

Duan Qirui frowned; he hadn't expected Zhao Tianlin to speak such grand but empty words at this juncture.

Zhao Tianlin could understand Duan Qirui's displeasure. In the process of teaching, smart yet stubborn students would feel unhappy when forced to accept learning content they didn't agree with. Their expressions then were not much different from Duan Qirui's now. But this didn't stop Zhao Tianlin from continuing to instill knowledge, because this knowledge was the foundation of Zhao Tianlin's understanding of the world.

"The officials and soldiers of the Northeast are all human. They know very well that if a person owns ten thousand *mu* of fertile land, it means they possess great wealth and respectability. In this regard, people in the Northeast are no different from those in the capital. The current Beijing government relies on the Beiyang brothers for support, and Premier Duan must seek a better future for them. But if this future conflicts with the future of China's rejuvenation, this subordinate believes Premier Duan will choose the greater good of the nation."

Duan Qirui replied unhappily, "Is Director Zhao blaming me?"

Zhao Tianlin shook his head. "Premier Duan, the Northeast Government's land policy was not decided by Chairman He alone, but is a policy recognized and supported by the millions of Northeast Government personnel and the 40 million people of the Northeast. Because the old policies cannot realize the people's expectations for a better life, nor can they solve China's problems. Everything so far has proven that the Northeast Government's policies are effective. If promoted nationwide, the entire country can become just as powerful. This is what this subordinate wants to discuss with the Premier. As for the future of the Beiyang brothers, as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. The Northeast has become strong, and nearly ten million disaster victims have not only survived there but are living much better lives than before. If China becomes strong, how could the Beiyang brothers possibly live worse off than before?"

Duan Qirui knew he couldn't argue with Zhao Tianlin on this point and had to soften his stance. "Director Zhao, there are always few sages and many confused people in the world. The Beiyang brothers are the same. When talking about national righteousness, they pay lip service to it, but actually treat it as wind past their ears. If a month's military pay is a day late, they will immediately make a noise. I'm afraid talking to them about this is useless."

Zhao Tianlin didn't intend to dwell on this. Based on Duan Qirui's thinking, saying more would be useless. Zhao Tianlin gave Duan Qirui a final chance to choose. "This subordinate came here under orders to ask for the decision of President Xu and Premier Duan. With the prestige of President Xu and Premier Duan, as long as you two make a decision, most Beiyang brothers will still follow."

Xu Shichang heard the tone of an ultimatum and said, "The journey from Shenyang to the capital is long; Director Zhao must be tired. Why don't we stop here for today? A meager banquet has been prepared to welcome Director Zhao."

Duan Qirui also felt they couldn't continue talking, so he seconded Xu Shichang. Zhao Tianlin had already determined that Duan Qirui was unreliable and smiled, "I will defer to the hosts. This subordinate will follow whatever arrangements you two make."

Personnel at the Presidential Palace attended to Zhao Tianlin, while Xu Shichang kept Duan Qirui for a private talk. Seeing Duan Qirui's somewhat ferocious expression, Xu Shichang sighed, "Brother Duan, why not endure for now? He Rui is going to offend all the Great Powers; I'm afraid he won't be able to hold out."

Duan Qirui didn't see it that way. As a graduate of the Japanese Army Academy, Duan Qirui could judge the general situation. The Northeast's greatest advantage over the capital was that its finances were self-sufficient and didn't rely on loans. So, unless the Great Powers sent troops directly, thinking they could control He Rui through tariffs was wishful thinking.

Now He Rui had stabilized the Soviet Union and defeated Japan. The Soviet Union was already opposed to Britain and France; what price would Britain and France have to pay to get the Soviet Union to attack the Northeast from behind? At least Duan Qirui couldn't imagine it.

As for Japan, although areas outside the Great Kanto Earthquake were not affected, Japan's core industrial zone had collapsed, and reconstruction would take time. Moreover, Japan had used up its money in the war, and its domestic economy was extremely tight. Japan could no longer afford to fight.

If they wanted to fight, Britain and France would have to pay to arm Japan, a huge sum. Britain and France would certainly not be willing to pay.

Britain and France might be able to send 100,000 troops to fight in China. If facing the Beiyang government or the southern rebels, these 100,000 troops would certainly win. However, in the great war between the Northeast and Japan, Japan's million-strong army failed to defeat the Northeast. Sending 100,000 British and French army troops into China would be no different from sending them to their deaths.

As for Britain and France transporting a million troops to China, Duan Qirui knew that was absolutely impossible. After graduating from the Japanese Army Academy, Duan Qirui had at least that much basic military common sense.

He Rui was indeed going to offend all the Great Powers, but only offend them. If the Great Powers just cursed him verbally, let alone He Rui, even Duan Qirui wouldn't be afraid. What Duan Qirui feared was the Great Powers' armies actually attacking and annihilating the Anhui clique's Beiyang Army.

Thinking of this, Duan Qirui asked, "The President must have already made a decision."

Xu Shichang indeed had a decision and smiled, "With national affairs before us, we naturally must consider the country."

Duan Qirui felt a pang in his heart. Helping Xu Shichang to the position of President had resulted in this. Even though Duan Qirui felt Xu Shichang didn't owe him anything, he still felt as if he had been betrayed.

Xu Shichang had been pushed up by Duan Qirui; he had neither military power nor financial power, so being President didn't really matter to him. Now that he had made a decision, he said, "If we can have a future like Lord Zhang [Zhang Xiluan], it would be a perfect ending."

Duan Qirui was shaken. Zhang Xiluan's example was right in front of them. Because he fully supported He Rui, the stronger He Rui became, the higher Zhang Xiluan's evaluation rose. In Duan Qirui's view, Zhang Xiluan's own ability was actually unworthy of his current prestige. However, Zhang Xiluan had self-knowledge; he asked for nothing but didn't shirk responsibility. As a peer of Zhang Xiluan, Duan Qirui knew Zhang Xiluan was only of average talent, yet in future history books, Zhang Xiluan would surely be described as having superb insight, being generous and heroic, and worrying about the country and the people. His evaluation would be higher than Yuan Shikai's.

Now Zhang Xiluan had secured his reputation both in life and after death, while Duan Qirui faced the possibility of ruin because he had to consider the Beiyang brothers. For a moment, Duan Qirui felt disheartened. He sighed, "Since President Xu says so, I can only show my hand to the Beiyang brothers. As for the future, let fate decide."

With that, he stood up and left the Presidential Palace reception room.

Xu Shichang didn't stand up. He looked at everything around him, thinking that he wouldn't be sitting here for many more days. He called the orderly and ordered, "Make tea!"

The aroma of the tea spread through the empty reception room. The pure scent didn't change just because it was faint. Xu Shichang picked up the teacup to take a sip, but felt a surge of emotion in his chest rush to his head. Putting down the teacup, Xu Shichang slapped the table and stood up, striking a pose and shouting: "Drink! Ah..."

Then he sang with emotion: "In vain I wipe a hero's tears, facing a hermit's home. Thanking the compassionate for tonsure beneath the lotus platform, having no destiny, we separate in the blink of an eye. Naked I came and naked I go, without a care. Where to find a straw raincoat and bamboo hat to travel alone? I'll let my straw shoes and broken bowl follow fate..."

At this moment, Duan Qirui was outside the door. Through the glass window, he watched Xu Shichang sing this aria, standing rooted to the spot. Only after going outside the Presidential Palace did Duan Qirui realize he wasn't wearing his military cap. After recalling for a moment, he remembered that upon hearing He Rui was going to move against the Great Powers, he had taken off his cap in agitation and thrown it on the sofa. When leaving, he was too agitated and forgot to take it.

Duan Qirui felt stifled in his chest, so he decided to come back personally to retrieve his cap, but he didn't expect to see Xu Shichang singing this segment of "The Parasite Grass" alone in the empty reception room.

He had thought Xu Shichang was just someone who rose by borrowing others' power. Only now did Duan Qirui truly feel that Xu Shichang also had the heart to achieve great deeds. Hearing this generous and desolate song, and seeing Xu Shichang cover his face with his hand after singing, his shoulders twitching slightly, Duan Qirui felt empathy. His nose soured, and long-absent tears burst from his eyes.

The guards beside him saw two streams of tears sliding down Duan Qirui's cheeks and quickly lowered their heads. Duan Qirui no longer thought about retrieving his cap. He raised his hand to wipe away the tears, his expression returning to its usual coldness. He turned and walked out.

Although his expression had regained composure, Duan Qirui felt dead inside. Previously, Duan Qirui felt that Yuan Shikai's death after failing to proclaim himself emperor was truly a failure. Now, Duan Qirui suddenly realized that his own life was just walking on the path opened up by Yuan Shikai. Walking on a path opened by others, no matter how far one went, one was just a passerby.

Yuan Shikai's life had successes and failures. Duan Qirui didn't even qualify for success, let alone failure.

Duan Qirui remembered that although He Rui opposed Yuan Shikai's proclamation as emperor, he pointed out that Yuan Shikai's goal was to achieve unity, a desperate gamble. So, Duan Qirui's road had reached its end. If he still wanted to try to struggle, how should he be evaluated?

Zhao Tianlin had internally given up on persuading Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui, so he relaxed. But unexpectedly, starting the next day, Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang showed a posture of full cooperation. They asked in detail about what they needed to do, without asking why, only clarifying the specific time and their specific actions.

Later, Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang asked Zhao Tianlin to bring a message to He Rui, "Since Brother He fears neither life nor death for the country, we are overjoyed to be able to lend Brother He a hand. As for the Beiyang brothers, we have already talked to them. Those who care about the country will naturally stay in the capital. The others, let them go. Please ask Brother He to not mind this matter. Please ask him to prioritize the country."

The two big figures of Beiyang surrendered so thoroughly that Zhao Tianlin felt something was wrong. But he couldn't ask now, so he could only promise them again, "It is the country's fortune that you two are so profoundly righteous. The Northeast Government's promise regarding the treatment of Beiyang will certainly be honored. Please rest assured."

Duan Qirui smiled faintly, "The country has suffered so much, and the people are in dire straits. The whole world expects Brother He to lead China out of this situation. Please ask Brother He to send troops as soon as possible. I will wait in the capital to meet with Brother He."

Seeing the matter was settled, Zhao Tianlin stood up to take his leave and returned to Shenyang without stopping. When he returned to Shenyang, it was November 5th, only six days before the deadline for the Northeast Army to march south. The Northeast Government had also received telegram contact from the capital. The Northeast Army had already made demands to Duan Qirui: all Beiyang troops willing to accept reorganization must wait in designated areas. The Northeast Army would deal with any Beiyang troops outside the designated areas on their own.

Learning that Duan Qirui was not stalling, Zhao Tianlin felt much more relaxed and smiled, "Civil war is not like foreign war; if we can shed less blood, we should."

He Rui nodded and handed a document to Zhao Tianlin. Zhao Tianlin read it for a moment, his expression turning serious. After finishing it, he sighed, "The Chairman classifies those resistors as war criminals; legally, there is nothing wrong with that. But isn't using 'war criminal' to define the armed forces of landlords and gentry a bit of an overreaction?"

He Rui shook his head. "Landlords and local forces will certainly use force to oppose us. This period will probably last for two years. We naturally must define them clearly. If they are bandits, it is naturally bandit suppression. If they are military actions launched by local armed forces, they are actions launched based on political reasons, which are acts of war against the new regime. I don't know much about the law; this work naturally has to be handled by an expert like Director Zhao."

Zhao Tianlin thought for a moment and felt there was no problem legally, but it felt strange out of habit. Finally, he replied, "I will find someone to study this issue and give a result as soon as possible. But now, the hostile actions of the armed forces in various provinces can indeed be unambiguously classified as acts of war. If they are captured after defeat, they are naturally war criminals."

"One more thing," He Rui continued. "When the local situation stabilizes, I plan to start land redemption in the northern plains first to complete state ownership of land."

"Land redemption... that will cost a lot of money!" Zhao Tianlin felt he was stuttering a bit.

He Rui nodded. He had only tried discussing this with Wu Youping and Xu Chengfeng, and their reactions were much bigger than Zhao Tianlin's. Moreover, both were very worried about this seemingly whimsical policy. Instead, Zhao Tianlin looked calmer, so He Rui couldn't help but say a few more words. "State ownership of land is a very high-risk policy, but any policy has huge risks. From a revenue perspective, the actual revenue from state ownership of land is also huge. This matter needs to be put on the agenda. I will hold a special meeting after stabilizing the northern region."

"Where is the revenue?" Zhao Tianlin asked carefully for confirmation.

"Currently, China's land is undoubtedly under private ownership; we can't pretend not to see it. If we change it to collective ownership by the locality, there are still too many problems. Especially in organizing production, there will be many future troubles. The biggest benefit of land redemption is having a startup fund when establishing a market. As long as people willing to farm have land to farm, they need to purchase means of production. At this time, the funds from land redemption can meet their needs."

He Rui finished speaking and looked at Zhao Tianlin, wanting to see how this legal expert would judge.