At 8:00 sharp, when Wang Donglu entered the conference room with his notebook, he saw that the professors had already arrived. Sitting with the professors was Engineer Li from the Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau. Wang Donglu was not sure whether he should tell Engineer Li his findings first, or tell his professor first. Since he couldn't decide, he asked the two to sit together and placed the data he recorded in front of them.

The engineer and the professor just glanced at the data on the record and then concentrated on the statistical data. Wang Donglu whispered his findings from the side. Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, it was 8:10, and the leaders of the flight base arrived.

Engineer Li asked Wang Donglu to sit next to him. After the meeting started, he spoke first, "Leaders, based on the Air Force's flight records, we found that due to the altitude and air pressure of the airport, the aircraft adopted a different power from the plain area from the start of takeoff..."

With statistical data, it was easy for the engineer and the professor to reach an agreement. The meeting lasted less than an hour, and the technical personnel reached a temporary solution after a little exchange. The engine maintenance time was shortened from 180 hours to 150 hours. The recommended replacement time for the main shaft was shortened from 240 hours to 180 hours.

The Air Force leaders were somewhat surprised. "Can this solve the problem?" It could be seen that the leaders didn't quite believe it.

However, the data Wang Donglu spent the whole night compiling supported this rough conclusion: all faulty engine main shafts had problems after exceeding 150 flight hours. To avoid this problem, shortening the replacement time was the simplest and most effective choice.

The experts and professors thought the matter was solved very well here. Unexpectedly, although the Air Force leaders looked much less stressed, they did not completely put down the burden. They exchanged briefly with each other, shaking heads, nodding, frowning, and showing unhappiness. It could be seen that the leaders did not reach a consensus.

The temporary chairman presiding over the meeting suggested adjourning first, and the airbase leaders went to the adjacent room for internal discussion. Here, Engineer Li praised Wang Donglu, "Good job."

Wang Donglu didn't know how to answer, so he could only smile tiredly.

After a few words, the military leaders had finished their internal discussion and returned to the conference room. The leader in charge said straightforwardly, "We have discussed the opinions of the experts. Thank you, experts, for answering the reasons for many problems for us and proposing temporary solutions. However, with the help of experts, we have determined our needs. This need is: how to ensure that the usage time of the aircraft does not change without changing the existing equipment."

Everyone was stunned. After the initial astonishment, everyone understood and felt that the request sounded a bit excessive.

The military leader did not let everyone guess the reason blindly; he continued to explain, "Military expenditure is fixed. We can report this matter to the Military Commission and apply for additional military expenditure. Before the order from the Military Commission comes, we will adjust within the current parts supply. If the Military Commission agrees to our request, we can naturally shorten the time. If the Military Commission cannot approve new military expenditure, we have to use the current parts. Therefore, we made such a request."

After all, it was a question of money. Wang Donglu closed his mouth and said nothing; it was completely not his turn to speak at this time. Although he didn't speak, Wang Donglu had thoughts in his mind. Engines are not cheap, and main shafts are not cheap either. Based on the approximate numbers Wang Donglu had heard, the National Defense Force's expeditionary force in Burma might use 800-1000 aircraft.

Shortening the life of the main shaft by one-fourth is equivalent to spending a few hundred yuan more. Even if it is 500 yuan. 800 fighters changing once costs 400,000. If in war, one plane changes 10 shafts on average, it is 4 million; changing 100 shafts is 40 million.

War burns money; this saying is absolutely correct.

No result was discussed in the morning. Engineers and professors went to check flight records. Wang Donglu hadn't slept all night and went back to catch up on sleep. Waking up in the afternoon, he returned to attend the meeting. The Military Commission had replied by telegram, 'Agree to temporarily shorten the service life of the main shaft. The Military Commission has placed an order with the aircraft manufacturer, requiring them to provide engines capable of extending the main shaft replacement time to 240 hours.'

The experts were indeed very busy, so they left first. Wang Donglu and the teachers and students of Wuhan Metallurgy College took a plane back to Wuhan together and immediately threw themselves into the school's work. The reason why graduating students like Wang Donglu were asked to come to Wuhan was also to let these students help the school operate as soon as possible.

As a thoroughfare of nine provinces, the three towns of Wuhan, in addition to shipbuilding enterprises, the state also intended to set up an aircraft manufacturing bureau. Wang Donglu didn't dare to think of good things; he felt it would be good if he could successfully return to work at the Northeast Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau.

On May 24, Wang Donglu, who was responsible for arranging the school laboratory, was called to the school's Academic Affairs Office. As soon as he entered the door, he saw several old colleagues. Happily exchanging a few words with old colleagues, he learned that the purpose of everyone coming was that the Northeast Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau wanted to rely on Wuhan Metallurgy College to build an aircraft engine production factory first.

A flash of inspiration struck Wang Donglu, and he probed, "Could it be that the aircraft main shaft problem has been solved?"

"The data calculation is finished. Now the Northeast is producing prototypes. The Southwest region needs aircraft. The higher-ups set up a factory in Wuhan first, and then prepare to move to the Southwest to open a laboratory."

Opening a laboratory and setting up a factory were too far away for Wang Donglu. Wang Donglu didn't understand for a moment, "What do you mean by 'calculation is finished'?"

The old colleagues explained, "According to the needs of the troops, we redesigned the current engine. Based on the changes in design, the numbers needed on the drawings have been calculated."

This matter was resolved by the relevant departments. It was eventually known to He Rui not because the General Staff wanted to ask He Rui to solve it, but because the Air Force ground maintenance itself affected combat efficiency.

From the Sino-Burmese border to the frontline city of Toungoo at this time, there were 1,000 kilometers. The flanks could no longer be said to be empty, but full of various spaces for attacks. Air reconnaissance and combat sortie rates were very important for this war. According to British official propaganda, Britain had mobilized more than 200 fighter planes to fight in British India. The General Staff analyzed British military intelligence and believed that the maximum number of fighter planes in British India might reach 500.

After Cheng Ruofan finished talking about the matter itself, he stated the response method, "New engines have begun research and development."

"Not research and development. Adjustment, adjustment." He Rui corrected, "There are many models of rifles, and engines are the same; the same type of aircraft is also the same. Mountain type, plateau type. No need to research and develop a new one."

Cheng Ruofan immediately straightened out his thoughts and tried to get confirmation from He Rui, "Chairman, is it parameter adjustment under the same design?"

He Rui nodded. "You can understand it that way, but the specific work will be much more troublesome."

"Understood, understood." Cheng Ruofan really understood this. The standard semi-automatic rifle of the National Defense Force had been finalized, but some adjustments would be made according to different combat environments. And a seemingly small adjustment required adjusting all related parts, and the content of adjustment was quite a lot. Presumably, the complex design of the engine would require more adjustments.

Although it would take a lot of research and development time, equipment models suitable for combat in various regions were indeed very necessary. The battlefield is not a playground; if you lose a game, you can start over. The dead cannot be brought back to life; this is a reality no one can change. Targeted improvements can improve combat efficiency not by much, but for a troop scale of hundreds of thousands, the number of lives that can be saved is already quite considerable.

After reporting this small change in the Air Force, the General Staff reported the current situation to He Rui. Since the war started in April, Britain's reaction truly surprised the General Staff. The British reaction was too slow. More than a month had passed, and Britain could only send more than 40,000 British Indian colonial troops to the Burmese front line. These colonial troops were naturally beaten badly.

The dignified British Empire had completely ruled India for more than 150 years. Having experienced the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the European War, experienced battleship naval battles like Jutland, and experienced land battles with mountains of corpses and seas of blood like the Marne and Somme, and possessing huge advantages in maritime and land transportation in the Indian Ocean, the result was such sluggish action. Where could one see the slightest appearance of a world hegemon?

Of course, Cheng Ruofan did not underestimate the British. The current slow reaction of the British did not mean that Britain had no strength. Presumably, in the following months, the British army would begin to gather and launch a fierce offensive.

After the General Staff's report was completed, He Rui thought about the latest changes and analyzed for the General Staff, "Britain's current sluggishness is an inevitable reaction of Britain. Burma is a colony obtained by Britain through three Anglo-Burmese Wars. The first time was March 1824 - February 1826; the second time was April 1852 - December 1852, Britain obtained six areas: Assam (now part of India), Manipur (now part of India), Cachar (now part of India), Arakan, Tenasserim, and Lower Burma. The third time, it captured Upper Burma, completely annexing Burma. From the terrain point of view, there are mountain ranges separating Burma and the Indian colony, which is not suitable for the British Army and the British Indian Colonial Army to fight. What does this mean?"

Cheng Ruofan answered immediately, "It means that Burma is not as important to Britain as India."

Seeing that Cheng Ruofan had understood this point, He Rui continued to analyze, "We are not going to compete with the British for colonies. Spending so much money and sending so many troops, even if we conquer it, what in the end? We still have to face the Burmese people. The gain is not worth the loss; really not worth the loss. What is our purpose?"

Cheng Ruofan saw that the comrades of the General Staff dared not answer He Rui's question decisively, so he answered himself, "Our purpose is to let the British know that we have the ability to make them lose money in the colony of British India."

Since Cheng Ruofan was very clear about this core, He Rui was relieved. Cheng Ruofan's only shortcoming was that when his relevant knowledge structure was incomplete, he would start thinking wildly when encountering problems in that field.

Like Xu Chengfeng and Hu Xiushan, they could do it even if they were unclear, steadfastly working in the pointed direction. As for Zhong Yifu and Zheng Silang, they were tactical talents and did not care much about strategy. What they thought about was how to complete the task best.

But a guy like Cheng Ruofan also had his advantages. Once Cheng Ruofan's knowledge structure was complete, he could take charge of a field alone. So He Rui didn't say much more. Next, he had to meet with intellectuals from universities in the Beiping and Tianjin area. After all, the capital was moving, and he had to have a good chat with everyone.

When He Rui left the General Staff, Cheng Ruofan followed He Rui and asked, "Chairman, I have another question. Will it really work?"

He Rui was somewhat disappointed at that moment. But inability to understand this matter was really not due to Cheng Ruofan's insufficient level, but because everyone lacked experience. He Rui replied, "I asked you to send a telegram to Germany requesting help from the German side. Did you do it?"

"Done. The materials are on the way." Cheng Ruofan sighed.

"The German methods of dealing with Indian prisoners of war worked. Think about it; at that time, Indian troops were fighting in Europe, troops were on French soil, and there was no way to escape home even if they wanted to. Germany's methods were still effective. Why can't we do it? You, wait patiently for the materials. You will definitely have a feeling after reading them."

After speaking, He Rui had reached the door. Looking at Cheng Ruofan's somewhat unwilling appearance, He Rui wanted to let Cheng Ruofan realize it himself, but he still couldn't bear it, so he patted Cheng Ruofan. "Ruofan, I suggest you make some adjustments to your mentality of 'judging others by yourself.' The vast majority of Indians are really different from you. You can disregard your personal life and death for China's independence. It is China's fortune to have people like you. But the vast majority of Indians really don't think so. As for the British Indian Army, they certainly won't think so. The British Indian Army gets a better life by suppressing Indians for Britain. The Indian people don't even know why they are suffering."

Hearing this, Cheng Ruofan showed considerable unhappiness in his expression. Seeing this look, He Rui added, "You can't expect too much from those people. Ruofan, I think you require those people to have ideals and aspirations, and the reason for doing things is out of strong personal will. And analyze and understand their own will, and constantly learn and improve during the execution process. This is you exceeding the norm of the normal world."

After speaking, He Rui sighed, "I'll just say this much. I think you understood, but you may not accept it at this stage. Of course, I hope you will always be healthy and upward like this, and never drift with the tide. In the future, when we have time, we can talk again as friends."

After speaking, He Rui walked towards the car parked at the door. At the car door, He Rui turned his head and saw Cheng Ruofan saluting him with a straight military salute. He Rui waved his hand and got into the car.

The car went straight to Peking University. Along the way, He Rui's thoughts couldn't help but fall on Cheng Ruofan. Idealists are so distressing. These guys indeed make people worry that they might cause some trouble or do bad things with good intentions. But it is precisely because of the existence of such guys that this world makes people feel hope. If there really is a flame of justice in this world, it must be this group of idealists who burn themselves to maintain the flame.

Thinking and thinking, the car arrived at the destination. As soon as He Rui got out of the car, Zhao Tianlin came out to welcome him with Cai Yuanpei, Chen, Li, and Huang Yanpei. Cai Yuanpei laughed, "Brother Junda said Brother He would definitely arrive on time. I didn't expect it to be true. Brother He is so punctual; it is admirable."

He Rui stepped forward to shake hands with Cai Yuanpei and others, laughing at the same time, "I made you gentlemen wait for a long time. Mr. Heqing, I wonder which auditorium the others are in."

Cai Yuanpei led He Rui forward, asking as they walked, "Brother He, why not take a courtesy name? Being addressed like this all the time is a bit too modern."

He Rui didn't answer this question but sighed, "Mr. Heqing, I heard Brother Zhao say that scholars in Beiping and Tianjin recently proposed smashing the Confucius Shop. Hearing this, presumably, Mr. Heqing is the leader."

Cai Yuanpei was slightly surprised. "Oh? I didn't expect such a small matter to alarm Brother He. I wonder what Brother He's evaluation of this is."

He Rui laughed, "I happen to want to talk to the scholars about this matter. Let's talk after meeting everyone."

Chatting while walking, they soon arrived at the auditorium. Many people were already sitting inside. Seeing He Rui come in, they stood up one after another. From the greetings, He Rui felt that the attitude of these old scholars towards him had indeed changed a lot. Just Cai Yuanpei calling him 'Brother He' was enough to prove the acceptance of him by the scholar circle.

And the way everyone greeted each other at this time was even more so. At this time, there were obviously fewer people calling him 'Chairman He,' and more calling him 'Mr. He.' However, compared with everyone calling Zhao Tianlin 'Brother Junda,' Zhao Tianlin was still more recognized by scholars.

But this couldn't be helped. After all, Zhao Tianlin had long been a member of the Beiping and Tianjin scholars, an insider, one of their own. Although He Rui was also regarded as a scholar, it was Zhao Tianlin who introduced He Rui into this circle. The time was still short.

After everyone finished greeting, He Rui walked onto the podium. "Gentlemen, recently I heard the Beiping and Tianjin academic circles propose the idea of smashing the Confucius Shop. This reminds me of a person, Martyr Tao Chengzhang. Back when Martyr Tao Chengzhang propagated revolution everywhere, he had a very good evaluation of Confucianism. If Old Master Confucius came alive now, he would definitely hit the heads of these so-called disciples and grand-disciples with his cane, thinking they are scum from nowhere. Is the Confucius Shop Confucius's set, or created by later generations? I think this matter needs to be distinguished clearly. If this set is Confucius's, smashing the Confucius Shop is only right. If this was not Confucius's in the first place, smashing Confucius's signboard is useless. Because Confucius is not the rightful owner."

The people off stage were all learned people. Hearing this, although some held opposing views, they did not speak rashly but waited for He Rui to continue.

He Rui didn't want to explain at this time either, so naturally he continued, "Personally, reading the Four Books and Five Classics, reading the Hundred Schools of Thought, especially Xunzi's works, I only feel admiration for the predecessors thousands of years ago. It was they who pushed Chinese culture to a peak. Under their thoughts, a unified China and Chinese culture were born. Are they the Confucius Shop? Not so. What exactly is the Confucius Shop? In my opinion, the Confucius Shop is a social organizational form centered on the small peasant economy. In order to make this social form operate more effectively, systems and various concepts were generated. These are the main body of the Confucius Shop. As for Confucius, he never saw the establishment of such a society. I personally do not recommend using such an inaccurate term as Confucius Shop."

Hearing this, Cai Yuanpei finally spoke, "Confucius Shop is a term that can be understood upon hearing. Does Brother He not think so?"

"If names are not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If everyone has read *Xunzi*, you know that Xunzi believed that the use of words must be extremely cautious. The term Confucius Shop is too misleading in itself and fails to point out the essence. It is better not to use it." He Rui refuted without hesitation.