"Your Excellency, but... what?" Mitsuko knew He Rui was going to say something harsh.

"But, China's sovereignty was previously incomplete. With incomplete sovereignty, foreign forces occupied privileges in China and could earn excess profits. Some compradors regarded themselves as running dogs of privileged foreigners, relying on their masters' power to bully others. They also believed they should occupy higher social status and economic privileges. As China regained its sovereignty, privileges disappeared. This group of people cannot accept this fact, so they have strong hostility towards the Republic government. The British are using this group of people to subvert the Republic regime within China."

"So Your Excellency launched an attack on the mastermind, Britain?" Mitsuko asked.

He Rui just nodded but did not answer this question directly. "Ms. Morita, Britain has an extremely rich ability to trigger contradictions among powers. The British call this ability and policy 'offshore balancing.' In Chinese slang, this is called being a 'shit-stirrer'."

Mitsuko was a girl who loved cleanliness very much. Hearing such a term, she couldn't help frowning slightly, but felt that these words were very mean yet accurate, and smiled bitterly.

He Rui grew up in the ocean of internet information and was immune to such vocabulary long ago. After Mitsuko calmed down, he continued, "There are compradors in China, and similar existences in Japan. Those people can be called pro-British forces. Japan's pro-British forces pursue economic benefits through deep cooperation with Britain. Such economic benefits used to be excess profits obtained from privileged status in China, and naval advantages obtained from some military technology transferred by Britain. But this advantage cannot last long because the strength of any country is built on the foundation of economic strength. If the level of economic management is backward, other advantages lose their supporting foundation, and eventually, advantages will turn into disadvantages."

"Does Your Excellency think China's economic management level is superior to Japan's?" Mitsuko raised a new question based on He Rui's answer.

He Rui answered very confidently, "China not only possesses an economic management level exceeding Japan's, but China's economic management thinking is the most advanced in the world today, representing the highest level of civilization on earth."

As soon as these words came out, the vice editor-in-chief of *Yomiuri Shimbun* couldn't hold back. Fortunately, he was Japanese, and Japanese people knew very well how to behave in front of high-ranking people. However, the vice editor-in-chief disapproved of He Rui's 'boasting' in his heart.

He Rui didn't feel anything wrong with what he said. China's current economic thinking was the essence tempered by nearly a century of economic practice. Although He Rui didn't like to engage in any black technology, in terms of a considerable part of current technology, He Rui indeed provided 'black technology' that could be pieced together by the technology of this era. More importantly, He Rui knew the way of technological iteration very well and supported an advanced social management system with black technology including vacuum tube computers.

If such honest words were not understood, it could only prove that the other party lacked knowledge and understanding and could not understand what was correct. This was not He Rui's problem, nor China's problem.

Mitsuko's interview lasted for nearly two hours, and the questions the Japanese upper echelon cared about had been asked. Mitsuko didn't feel tired, but felt a sense of collapse because she was too excited inside. He Rui saw Mitsuko's physical weakness. In He Rui's knowledge structure, this had nothing to do with whether she was tired or not. The brain is the organ with the largest energy consumption in the human body. Mitsuko's current physical condition was due to excessive consumption leading to insufficient nutrition supplied to the brain, and the decline in body function caused by the inability to quickly metabolize the metabolites produced by the high-speed operation of the brain from the body.

So He Rui smiled, "Ms. Morita, if you have no more questions, I invite you all to have a meal together."

Mitsuko was about to agree when she suddenly remembered something. This was a question sent to Mitsuko by Mitsui Yasuki, and Mitsuko didn't write it down. Thinking of it now, Mitsuko closed her notebook and asked, "Your Excellency, if China and Japan reach a customs union, will China and Japan develop in the direction of becoming one country afterwards?"

He Rui knew this was not a question Mitsuko could ask, so he laughed, "I can only say, no. As for why not, if I have the opportunity to visit Japan, I will answer this question in Tokyo."

Unlike before, the meal He Rui hosted for the Japanese interview group this time was entirely Chinese style. Doing so before was to let personnel from various countries understand that He Rui and the Northeast Government understood the world, so as to reduce diplomatic obstacles. Now China had let countries understand through practical actions that China was not unfamiliar with foreign countries. It was time for foreign countries to understand China.

Since they were in Beiping, the food naturally had Beiping characteristics; hot pot and everything were prepared. The vice editor-in-chief of *Yomiuri Shimbun* had also done his homework before this trip. Picking up a slice of mutton and putting it into the pot, the vice editor-in-chief rinsed it while saying, "I heard that eating instant-boiled mutton requires 'seven ups and eight downs'; I must try it this time."

The vice editor-in-chief completed the 'seven ups and eight downs' rinsing method, dipped the mutton in seasoning, ate it, and praised that it was indeed delicious. He Rui laughed, "I am not a Beiping native, but I have heard of such a way of eating. But in my opinion, the reason for such a saying can probably be explained in one sentence."

"I wonder how Your Excellency thinks it should be explained?" the vice editor-in-chief asked hurriedly.

He Rui pushed a plate of raw meat slices into the pot before answering, "That's poor people's fastidiousness. Eating meat in big mouthfuls makes the body feel refreshed. If you feel the meat is not tender enough, just rinse it in the pot for a shorter time. Eating slice by slice, you can't eat many slices of meat in an hour. Where is the refreshment? The fundamental reason for the so-called 'seven ups and eight downs' is still poverty; they can't afford to eat."

Speaking of this, He Rui saw that the meat slices had changed color in the boiling soup and laughed, "Come, the meat is cooked; everyone pick it up quickly. Otherwise, the meat will be overcooked."

The vice editor-in-chief never expected He Rui to evaluate such a tradition in this way. Mitsuko seemed completely unaffected, using public chopsticks to pick up meat slices and distribute them to everyone. Everyone had seven or eight steaming meat slices in front of them, emitting the aroma of instant-boiled mutton. The vice editor-in-chief knew to do as the locals do, so he didn't say much and ate honestly.

The waiter next to them put meat into the pot plate by plate, and after it was cooked, picked it out and distributed it to everyone. After everyone had eaten a dozen slices of mutton, the waiter nimbly skimmed the foam off the surface of the soup, ladled out the soup into everyone's small soup bowl, and sprinkled coriander.

After refilling the soup, the water needed to boil for a while. The vice editor-in-chief wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and indeed felt very refreshed. He couldn't help sighing, "Your Excellency, you look at problems truly differently."

"I am nothing different. It's just that in an era of material scarcity, even if everyone says it so frankly, it doesn't solve any problems. Instead, it is easy to be misunderstood. Only when the country enters a stage where everyone eats meat casually can such truth be accepted by everyone. After all, in Eastern culture, 'to have a constant heart without constant property' is extremely difficult. 'When granaries are full, people know etiquette; when food and clothing are sufficient, people know honor and disgrace'; this is the norm. With national economic development, everyone knows etiquette and honor and disgrace. Telling the truth is just natural."

Although the vice editor-in-chief didn't have the opportunity to study 'He Studies' with Professor Taira Toyomori, he was knowledgeable. Observing He Rui for a moment, he already knew that everything He Rui said came from the heart, without any hypocrisy. The editor-in-chief then asked, "Your Excellency, do you think all national problems are economic problems?"

"Everyone's view of national problems is different; at least the national problems in the hearts of us sitting here are different. It's just that my priority order for solving various national problems at present is politics first, then economics, then military. Given the current development status of civilized countries in the world, explaining with economics is the perspective that can best grasp the primary and secondary contradictions. If social development can reach a higher level, this perspective will change with the level of social development."

The vice editor-in-chief pondered for a moment and finally asked the question he personally cared about, "Your Excellency, I heard that you are a communist. Do you believe communism can be realized?"

"Communism is a research direction of social science; it is not an inevitable result that already exists. True communists are scholars who walk forward along this research direction. Communism currently points out the internal contradictions of the capitalist system and imperialism, and tries to find ways to solve these internal contradictions restricting the development of human society. What I can be sure of is that current communists will never be people who shackle society at a certain stage of development for personal interests, thereby preventing social development."

The vice editor thought for a moment before carefully continuing to ask, "...You mean that anyone can become a communist?"

"The soup is boiling, come, eat meat!" He Rui answered readily.

At the end of the banquet, seeing that everyone was full, He Rui returned to the vice editor-in-chief's question. "Only if one finally chooses to research according to the research direction of communism can one be considered a communist. As for those who always pursue social development but do not choose the communist research method, they are progressives. If they research along the research method pointed out by capitalism or the research direction of imperialism, they are capitalists or imperialists."

The vice editor-in-chief only felt very comfortable physically; the instant-boiled mutton was delicious, and the soup was sweet and fragrant. Hearing He Rui's explanation at this time, he also felt it was logical.

And He Rui had already stood up to take his leave. "Comrades from our Propaganda Department will communicate with you regarding the subsequent visit itinerary. I still have official duties, so I will take my leave first."

Everyone stood up to see him off. He Rui shook hands with everyone one by one and walked out with big strides. The comrade from the Propaganda Department followed out and asked in a low voice, "Chairman, do we really want to arrange for them to visit relatively poor areas?"

"Of course. Letting Japanese readers and the Japanese upper echelon understand China's poor areas is not a bad thing. Those economically developed areas in our country do not need us to introduce them; the Japanese press has long known about them."

The comrade from the Propaganda Department was stunned, then nodded. He continued to ask, "Do we need to arrange the interview content?"

"No need; let them interview whatever they want. We have nothing to worry about." After speaking, He Rui looked at the comrade from the Propaganda Department. Seeing this comrade frowning slightly, He Rui stopped and waited.

Seeing He Rui like this, the comrade from the Propaganda Department immediately explained, "Chairman, I am not worried about losing face or not being decent enough. With our country's economic development, these currently poor areas will naturally change. I am considering, what is the purpose of such an interview?"

"Japan's rural areas are not much better than ours. It can even be said that most of Japan's rural areas are more miserable than the rural areas in our poor areas now. The reporters of *Yomiuri Shimbun* are knowledgeable Japanese. Seeing real poor areas, they will naturally compare them with Japan, so that these Japanese can feel something."

"But will they report truthfully?"

He Rui chuckled, "Hehe, this is not our problem. We only need to complete our own work."

Hearing He Rui speak confidently, the comrade from the Propaganda Department answered immediately, "I understand."

He Rui was a little worried that this comrade didn't understand, so he couldn't help patting him on the shoulder. "Comrade, completing the work is already a very high requirement. Whether the effect is good or not is not determined by us, but by the result. being able to truly complete the work is our pursuit. Never use whether the result is as wished as the standard for judging our propaganda work."

When He Rui returned to the office, his secretary was gnawing on a steamed bun while writing and drawing on the meeting minutes. Seeing He Rui come in, the secretary hurriedly swallowed the steamed bun in his mouth and handed the modified part to He Rui. He Rui sat down, reading quickly and modifying at the same time. After working for two hours, the annotations and explanations for the interview record were completed.

The secretary seized the time to finish eating while He Rui modified the last part. When he got the completed draft, he asked, "Chairman, is Ms. Morita trustworthy?"

"In the Japanese press, she is already the most trustworthy person. One of the reasons we provide these to her is that Mitsuko's press release will be shown to Japanese big shots first. At that time, she might be called back for questioning."

Hearing this, the secretary was somewhat surprised. "The Japanese upper echelon can't even fail to understand this, right?"

Seeing the secretary so unconfident, He Rui couldn't help laughing, "Why do you think so highly of those so-called Japanese high-levels? If they could really understand this on their own, Japan wouldn't have reached today's state. We must have confidence in China's political and economic thinking."

The secretary dared not be so optimistic; he frowned slightly. "Chairman, those people are Japanese elites; they should be able to understand this. If they really understand this, will they look for our weaknesses to launch an attack?"

"If they are true elites, they will choose cooperation after understanding this. Because Sino-Japanese cooperation is the most beneficial choice for Japan, and even Japan's only choice at present. If after reading these, they look for our current weaknesses to facilitate Japan's effective attack on us, they are definitely not true elites, but narrow-minded politicians. Such people are incapable of organizing an attack that threatens our survival."

Hearing He Rui's explanation, the secretary completely regained his confidence. He nodded, "I'll go prepare now."

That night, Mitsuko received a copy at a very ingenious time. Opening it, it was the Chinese side's 'understanding of key points' of the interview content. studying political economy with Professor Taira Toyomori, Mitsuko naturally saw that this was an explanation completely in accordance with He Rui's philosophy. Mitsuko even suspected whether this might have been modified by He Rui himself.

But these were not the most important things. Since she had obtained such content, Mitsuko had determined how to write the news release, writing these key points clearly in words and descriptions that Japanese nationals could understand.

That night, Mitsuko wrote until very late. Because of nervousness during the interview, Mitsuko found that she had actually ignored many details and failed to truly understand He Rui's thinking. Now Mitsuko began to understand gradually; He Rui's idea was very clear: he wanted Japan to ally with China, and offered very good conditions.

After figuring this out, Mitsuko put down her pen and stood up. She had never liked smoking, but since there was no one in the room at this time, Mitsuko also took out a cigarette and lit it. He Rui had said that the reason he smoked was entirely because thinking brought too much physical pain, and he sought such external stimulation to alleviate the negative physical reactions.

At this time, Mitsuko could also understand that at least He Rui was not joking or making excuses when he said this. Just thinking about national affairs was already very hard. If revitalizing the country was taken as one's responsibility, a sense of pain would arise spontaneously. The more one loved one's motherland and wanted to do more for the motherland, the more the pain would multiply.

Even herself, a small reporter, a girl who mostly just wanted to live a life without worrying about living pressure, because she had contacted too much of Japan's status quo and learned too much knowledge, opening her horizons, she actually often felt pain, so much so that she had to smoke for relief.

During the interview, Mitsuko felt that He Rui's description of Lieutenant General Kawai Misao before his death was exaggerated. Now Mitsuko didn't think so. There was no lack of patriots in Japan, and Lieutenant General Kawai Misao, the principal of the Army War College, must be one of them.

Mitsuko's current mentor, Professor Taira Toyomori, knew many scholars and people with lofty ideals, and they often went to Professor Taira Toyomori for exchanges. Talking about the future of Japan, some sighed, some were resentful and indignant, and some who were easily emotional even wrung their hands and gnashed their teeth or even cried bitterly during the conversation. That feeling of being crushed by the despair of reality, presumably Lieutenant General Kawai Misao felt it exceptionally strongly before his death.

After Lieutenant General Kawai Misao died for the country, the Japanese Army stationed in Korea was quickly annihilated by the Northeast Army. Afterwards, the Japanese generals who could confront the Northeast Army were only Nagata Tetsuzan and Ishiwara Kanji.

Because of her special identity, Mitsuko could contact a vast number of Japanese high-level officials. These two 'Pair of Jade in the Army,' not only were they highly respected by the Japanese public, but the high-level officials also fully recognized their abilities. Mitsuko herself didn't understand military affairs, but through the reaction of the high-level officials, she could determine that these two people relied on their excellent strength to confront He Rui.

In the process of interviewing these two people, Mitsuko could feel that the hearts of the two 'Pair of Jade in the Army' had the same hesitation, fear, and torment. It was just that they were already in high positions and had high self-cultivation, so they could hide it so that ordinary people couldn't see it. But their moods couldn't be hidden from Mitsuko.

The cigarette was finished quickly. Mitsuko opened the window to let the smoke dissipate as soon as possible. She sat back in her seat, with the excitement stimulated by nicotine, and continued to write at her desk. This news article must be completed as soon as possible and published in Japanese newspapers.

Although she was just a small female reporter, Mitsuko believed she should also do what she could for Japan.