Wuchang City, the city where the first shot of the Xinhai Revolution was fired. It was also one of the most important gathering places for foreign concessions in China's Yangtze River Basin. At this moment, there were few pedestrians on the roads in Wuchang City, but unexpectedly, there was no chaotic appearance of turmoil and war.

Wu Peifu rode his horse through the streets of Wuchang, in no mood to look around. The Zhili clique had received quite a bit of weapons aid from Britain and thought they could fight the National Defense Force. But in the first battle at Nanjing, they were beaten badly by the National Defense Force. After that, they retreated all the way. Fortunately, the National Defense Force did not pursue with full force, but just followed Wu Peifu unhurriedly. Whether Wu Peifu set up ambushes or suddenly turned back to attack, it was all useless. By the time they withdrew to Wuchang, the Zhili clique, which once had hundreds of thousands of troops, had few left.

At the gate of Wuchang City, the cold river wind blew against his face. Wu Peifu sighed in his heart: Is this Wuchang the burial place of the Zhili clique?

Stopping at the location agreed upon with the National Defense Force outside the city, Wu Peifu sat on his horse and saw a person with a big long beard coming from the opposite side. A person with such striking features, needless to say, was certainly his acquaintance Zhao Ti. Although Zhao Ti belonged to the Anhui clique, he privately supported the Zhili clique. When Duan Qirui was in power, Wu Peifu had met secretly with Zhao Ti many times. Zhao Ti had stated that as long as war broke out between Zhili and Anhui, he would lead his troops to join the Zhili clique and counterattack Duan Qirui.

However, He Rui's power outside the Pass grew larger and larger, and his attitude remained ambiguous, making the Zhili clique afraid to act. Later, Duan Qirui stepped down, and He Rui claimed to be the central government, incorporating various forces of the Anhui clique. This Zhao Ti probably saw he couldn't win and accepted the reorganization. But he didn't expect Zhao Ti to come as a representative of the new government. Needless to think, he naturally came to be a lobbyist.

Zhao Ti looked Wu Peifu up and down and sighed, "Brother Ziyu, long time no see. You have lost a lot of weight."

Wu Peifu had a very eye-catching chin, angular and protruding forward. The angle formed by his forehead and cheekbones combined with his chin to form a trapezoidal slope. In addition, his eyes were already somewhat protruding. At this moment, glaring with wide eyes, he looked very simple and upright.

But Zhao Ti knew that Wu Peifu himself was shrewd and capable, and very flexible in handling affairs. He heard Wu Peifu laugh, "Brother Zhao, He Rui confiscated the land of the Zhili brothers' families, yet he still wants the brothers to surrender. Saying he is bullying people too much isn't excessive, right!"

Zhao Ti smiled bitterly, his beard trembling along with it. "Brother, what time is it now? If the Zhili brothers really care about their families, now that the land has been redeemed, shouldn't they rush back immediately to prop up the family facade? If they die here, how much will their families cry?"

Wu Peifu was fifty years old this year, reaching the age of 'not dying prematurely.' Hearing about death, he wasn't very afraid. However, the faces of those Zhili officers around him changed when they heard Zhao Ti say this. Few people felt that Cao Kun was worth their undying loyalty; these Zhili brothers had fought until now entirely because of Wu Peifu. Previously suffering defeat after defeat, the military morale had actually already scattered. Hearing Zhao Ti mention now that the land at home had already been 'redeemed,' they were even more alarmed.

Wu Peifu held a breath in his chest but couldn't say anything. He saw Zhao Ti wave his hand, and two attendants behind him unfurled two scrolls in their hands and held them high.

These were two portraits. In the portrait on the left, Lord Guan [Guan Yu] wore a green robe, rode the Red Hare horse, stroked his long beard with his left hand, and held the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his right hand. In the portrait on the right, Yue Fei wore a red robe, rode a white horse, and held the Liquan Divine Spear.

Wu Peifu had always regarded loyalty and righteousness as important and highly admired ancient Chinese heroes. Seeing the two portraits, he jumped off his horse. He dared not face these two great heroes in Chinese history from a high position.

Zhao Ti sighed in his heart. When it came to loyalty and righteousness, no one in the Anhui clique could compare with Wu Peifu. This was also the reason why he was willing to accept this task. It would be truly a pity for such a person to die for nothing.

Composing himself, Zhao Ti said, "Brother Ziyu, after Grand President Yuan passed away, Beiyang split into three branches: Anhui, Zhili, and Fengtian. With the Zhili clique fallen to this state, not a single person in the Anhui clique pleaded for Brother Cao. Yet General He called me over and asked me to bring a few words to you."

Hearing this, Wu Peifu felt a little better in his heart. Many of He Rui's subordinates were from Zhili, Beijing, and Tianjin, yet they never associated with people from Beiyang and were regarded by the Zhili clique as extremely arrogant. Sending someone personally at this time meant he at least had Wu Peifu in his eyes.

Since He Rui gave face, Wu Peifu asked, "I wonder what words Brother He asked Brother Zhao to bring?"

Zhao Ti asked, "China has declined to this point. Brother He fought Japan, killed the garrison troops, and hanged foreign criminals in the concessions. He wants to completely unify China. Is this right or wrong?"

Wu Peifu was unhappy in his heart, but he had always hated the Japanese. He Rui killing Japanese troops in large numbers was something Wu Peifu actually admired. After thinking about it, he simply replied, "What is there to discuss about right or wrong? If I, Wu, had such strength, I would naturally do the same!"

Zhao Ti continued to ask, "So many people starve to death in the world every day. Should the common people just starve to death like this? Should the land be divided equally so that everyone can survive?"

Hearing this, many of the Zhili officers behind Wu Peifu became angry. "For others to survive, must my family starve to death?"

Zhao Ti smiled slightly. "Brothers, hearing your words, were you deceived by someone? I came from the North. The land is not just given to those without land, but divided equally among everyone. There are only three types of people who don't get land: one is officials and troops who eat the imperial grain [government salary]; one is people in the city; and the other is those who work in the city and only return to their hometowns during New Year and festivals. This land reform also has a saying: land to the tiller."

Wu Peifu had taken the imperial examinations and passed as a *Xiucai*. He had read the new government's policies carefully. As long as the new government didn't deceive people, Wu Peifu couldn't say this policy was evil governance.

At this time, the officers around him also stopped making noise. Wu Peifu simply replied, "This policy cannot be said to be bad. But this cannot make me surrender."

Zhao Ti knew that Wu Peifu liked to put on airs, and that he could say this meant he already understood that He Rui really didn't want his life. Zhao Ti continued to ask loudly, "Our Beiyang has been torn apart since the death of Grand President Yuan. Now the Anhui brothers have returned to the central government. Is the Zhili clique preparing to treat itself as southern rebels? Brother Ziyu, so many brothers have followed you through birth and death. If you continue to fight now, they are bound to die. Do you think you can face them?"

Hearing this, some of the surrounding Zhili officers cursed, "Do you think I'm afraid of death?"

But more people remained silent. From Nanjing to Wuchang, this area was still Zhili territory. If they fought any longer, they would lose all their territory. At that time, everyone would have nowhere to go.

Zhao Ti ignored the few officers who were stubborn and continued to say to Wu Peifu, "Brother Ziyu, everyone should be dignified in conduct. However, those rituals were for the Emperor to recruit surrenderers and accept defectors, to set an example for other factions. Now it is the Republic. Chairman He has never thought of being an Emperor, and the Republic doesn't talk about those things. You fighting with the National Defense Force is a civil war. Surrender now, and this matter ends here. Everyone does what they should do afterwards, clear and plain. Also, your collusion with the British ends here as well. What does Brother Wu think?"

Although Wu Peifu never compromised with the Japanese, he was actually quite flexible with Beiyang. At this point in Zhao Ti's words, Wu Peifu knew his chance was only this one time. And Zhao Ti said He Rui didn't want to be an Emperor, so he didn't do those practices of recruiting surrenderers, which unexpectedly made Wu Peifu like it very much.

Since things had come to this, Wu Peifu said, "I alone cannot make the decision on this matter. I still have to ask Duke Cao to decide."

Zhao Ti knew very well that Cao Kun had long wanted to surrender, but was just afraid of being liquidated. He said readily, "Then I will trouble Brother Ziyu."

On January 18, 1924, Cao Kun led the remnants of the Zhili clique to surrender to the Republic of China National Defense Force in Wuchang. Since then, the formerly divided Beiyang ceased to exist. At least in the eyes of other forces in the Republic, Beiyang was unified. And Guangdong Army Commander Chen Jiongming, by arresting the foreigners from the Yangtze River Basin who fled to Guangdong, immediately announced his obedience to the leadership of the Republic of China government.

The wealthiest regions in all of China, except for the Chengdu Plain in Sichuan, all came under He Rui's new government.

Since then, although resistance still existed, it became weaker and weaker. By April 19, during the National Defense Force's advance from Hunan to Yunnan and Guizhou, the governments of both Yunnan and Guizhou telegraphed to express their acceptance of the central government's leadership. On May 27, the troops arrived in Lhasa, and the Tibetan government swore allegiance to the central government.

Since then, China, which had been divided for decades, was finally unified in name.

As a modern country, the standard of unification was naturally the convening of the National Assembly. Representatives from various places took different means of transportation and set off for the capital.

The National Defense Force and southbound cadres set off for various parts of the motherland. Eastern Army Group Commander Zhong Yifu received an order; his new position had been assigned: Committee Member of the Southwest Bureau of the Civilization Party.

The task of the Southwest Bureau was to complete a transportation route into Burma as soon as possible. The purpose of this route was to support mountain infantry operations of at least one corps (40,000 men) in Burma and the northeastern region of British India.

For this reason, Zhong Yifu rushed back to the capital from Hunan to personally understand the vision and goals of this work.

Arriving in Henan territory, he saw many engineering and technical personnel working along the railway line. Zhong Yifu thought they were repairing the line and was truly happy in his heart. In this war to unify China, a plan of '80% politics, 20% war' was set from the time of strategic design. However, when the fighting really started, the government troops in various places were vulnerable, and it was feared that even '10% military' was not enough.

What truly affected the advance was the terrible traffic, and the logistical supply made even more difficult by this terrible traffic. If a double-track railway was built, the route from the northern industrial base to the Yangtze River in the south would be much easier. This would be of great benefit to completing the Southwest transportation line.

Back in the capital, the Central Committee of the Civilization Party held a meeting. Zhong Yifu also met Hu Xiushan, who had been left in the Northeast to be responsible for defending against possible attacks. The armies of various Great Powers generally had 'three chiefs,' and the Republic of China National Defense Force had a similar organizational structure. Since the National Defense Force was an armed force led by the Civilization Party, it was inevitable that the Party Chairman would concurrently serve as the Chairman of the Military Commission. Therefore, the three chiefs of the Republic of China National Defense Force were the Vice Chairman of the Military Commission (Minister of Defense) in charge of military orders, the Chief of General Staff, and the Minister of General Logistics. Hu Xiushan served as the Minister of General Logistics. The original Commander of the West Route Army, Zheng Silang, was a committee member of the Northwest Bureau.

He Rui spoke with a relaxed expression, "The British side has already stated that they will never recognize the new government of China. Until the negotiations on British interests such as concessions are completed, they will not conduct any other negotiations with us. This is also very good. Burma has been our neighbor since ancient times. The Burmese government informed us that there is a group of armed bandits in Burma, whose nickname is Britain. The Burmese government invited us to enter the country to suppress bandits. For the sake of thousands of years of friendly relations, we agreed to the invitation of the Burmese government and will send armed forces into Burma."

Since Zhong Yifu ordered the sinking of the British fleet shelling Shanghai, the foreigners he saw were as obedient as grandsons one by one. He Rui's joke couldn't make him laugh anymore. Zhong Yifu asked a question, "Chairman, with our current strength, it is not enough to truly shake British rule in India. What is the reason for doing this?"

He Rui nodded. "You are right. India is the fundamental pillar of Britain. If India is lost, Britain is just an ordinary power in Europe. Precisely because of this, Britain can never give up India. Our strike against the British presence in India is aimed at increasing the cost of British rule in India. We in China have experienced long-term war and chaos, and we know very well what negative impact such chaos can have on a country's economy."

Zhong Yifu recalled the information on India he read on his way back and raised a question, "Chairman, I have a very intuitive idea. Britain has colonized India for so long; the wealth that can be scraped has almost been scraped clean. Our strike against British forces will only cause Britain to send more troops to fight us. This consumption is not particularly large."

"If it were floating wealth like precious metals, Britain would have scraped it countless times over so many years. But the interest of an industrial country lies in the market. As Britain's largest colonial market, the products produced by India's labor force are extremely huge. For example, after the American Civil War, cotton from the American South was no longer shipped to Britain but supplied to textile mills in the American North. Britain began to grow long-staple cotton in India, solving the raw material needs of British factories. This is just a not-so-important one among the important functions of India for Britain. The major function of India lies in that the products produced by the Indian people must be priced in British currency."

Speaking of this, He Rui stood up and started drawing a diagram on the blackboard while narrating, "Once Britain's money printing press starts, what is the use of the printed paper? It's too hard even for wiping one's bottom. But after British banknotes correspond to the commodities produced locally in India, this paper has value. Holding the paper can be exchanged for commodities. Exchanging paper for wealth is very easy."

At this time, He Rui had finished drawing the diagram. He turned around to face the comrades, "We enter India to fight, as Comrade Zhong Yifu said, Britain mobilizing troops to fight us doesn't cost much money; Britain can definitely afford it. However, our goal is not simply to annihilate the British army and occupy Indian land. Instead, by striking the British army, we mobilize the colonial people to gain independence. In this way, the quantity of commodities and labor that British banknotes can exchange for begins to decrease."

Speaking of this, He Rui picked up the blackboard eraser and wiped off a piece of the long bar representing the commodities Britain could obtain. Originally, the long bar representing the pound was the same length as the commodities; now the pound stuck out a section.

"Britain is indeed very rich, but if British money has no corresponding commodities, it is just a piece of paper. Meaningless. To maintain so much currency means the purchasing power of the currency shrinks, which leads to inflation. In the late period of Yuan Shikai and the early period of Duan Qirui, in order to purchase more equipment, they issued more currency. The direct result was inflation. Everyone should still have an impression."

Zhong Yifu understood a lot now. But before he could ask questions, He Rui continued to explain, "If Britain wants to continue maintaining its previous rule, there are two ways: suppress the Indian people, or bribe the Indian upper class. But no matter which method, Britain has to spend more. British money doesn't seem to decrease, but the quantity of commodities that British money can buy is constantly decreasing. As one wanes, the other waxes; the cost of British rule will rise rapidly."

Speaking of this, He Rui tapped the blackboard with chalk. "Comrades, wars with smoke indeed cost a lot of money, but wars without smoke often cost even more money."

Zhong Yifu had a general idea by now. "Chairman, if you say so, fighting into India is a huge project. The preparatory work to be sorted out is not just about war."

"Correct!" After He Rui finished speaking, he couldn't help but exhale a breath of pent-up air from his chest.

More than ten years ago, when He Rui first arrived in Japan to study, he had already started strategic thinking for this stage. Now, China's unification was entering the middle and late stages. Once China was completely unified, the prerequisites for executing this strategy would be met.

"Comrades, according to the information we have collected, have the oppressed people in the vast colonies ever resisted colonial rule? Not only have they resisted, but they are resisting. So, why have their resistance had no results? Who is willing to offer an opinion?"

Zhong Yifu answered immediately, "It should be that their resistance strength is too weak."

"Correct! The resistance strength of the colonial people in the past was too weak, but with our help, the resistance strength of the colonial people will be enhanced, and greatly enhanced. However, this does not mean that the colonized people can understand this point. What we want to send is not just guns and ammunition, but also tools to liberate their minds. Let them realize where the source of their miserable and painful lives comes from. Only by correctly recognizing the root of the problem and letting the people realize that true liberation can be achieved by solving the real enemy can the people's will to resist and fight be stimulated. This is indeed a big subject. Although we still have time now, this time is not long, and we still have a lot of work to do."

Speaking of this, He Rui wrote a sentence on the blackboard: 'Make many friends, make few enemies.'

Turning back, He Rui said seriously, "Comrades, what the colonial people need is liberation, not changing to a so-called slightly more benevolent oppressor. So, we are going to make friends, not to replace the colonizers. Only comrades who clearly understand this can participate in this operation!"