The fourth day in the Qingdao resort was also the second day of outward bound training. In front of a 6-meter-high wooden wall, a group of senior cadres wearing training uniforms were discussing how to climb over it with bare hands. Minister of Industry Zhuang Jiaxiong and Minister of Water Resources Lu Daoming both came from engineering backgrounds and quickly determined that forming a human ladder was the only way.

Other ministers soon understood that this was indeed the case and agreed with the opinion. The strongest at the bottom, medium weight in the middle, and lightest at the top. However, Lu Daoming soon told everyone that if this order was followed, the people at the top couldn't pull up the heaviest person below. Only through permutation and combination, the heaviest person goes to the top of the wooden wall first.

Seeing that the logic was correct, everyone could only start doing it. After all, they were ministers; once a decision was made, they would not delay. Even if this plan was counter-intuitive to some extent.

Even so, with protective facilities, the comrades began to build a human ladder. However, things exceeded imagination again. The heaviest person had limited climbing ability and couldn't climb up to the high place by himself.

There was no choice but to let him stay at the bottom. Wait until everyone else went up, hugged each other's legs, formed a human chain upside down, and pulled the heaviest comrade over the wooden wall.

After completing this project, they just caught their breath. The comrades arrived at a 4-meter-high platform again. The edge of the platform extended outward. People had to turn their backs to the outside and fall straight backward. The whole person fell down from the platform as horizontally as possible.

Others grasped the elbows of the person opposite with their palms, forming a net with everyone's arms. Let the falling person fall into this net formed by everyone's bodies. The straighter the person falling backward kept their body, the less likely the human body would form a shape with the buttocks as the arrowhead, and the less impact the arms of the people below would receive, so they wouldn't be injured.

Among the crowd, the fattest one was Yan Huiqing. He could feel that although the comrades had absolutely no intention of abandoning him in the previous project of climbing over the wooden wall, there was unhappiness. This had nothing to do with self-cultivation but was a physical reaction.

At this time, Yan Huiqing heard the young team leader shouting loudly, "After the person above is ready, say loudly, I, XX (codename in training), am ready! The people below answer together, please trust us! Did everyone hear it?"

Hearing this, a feeling of emotion arose spontaneously in Yan Huiqing's heart. Falling back to the earth, Yan Huiqing could only trust everyone, and must trust everyone. In order not to injure the bodies of the whole team, Yan Huiqing had to overcome his instinctive fear.

On flat ground, everyone conducted training. Yan Huiqing could feel his fear, even on flat ground. In order to let the members participating in the training feel their physical condition, wooden frames were used to assist during training. Now, Yan Huiqing discovered that his feeling of whether his body was straight was different from what his brain thought. That had to be a state achieved only when the 'core muscle group of the chest and abdomen' fully exerted force. Not simply feeling that one was standing straight meant the body was really straight.

After completing the training, Yan Huiqing walked up to the 4-meter-high platform. His legs felt a bit wrong, and his heart instinctively accelerated beating. These were instincts, uncontrollable instincts.

When Yan Huiqing turned his back to the stage, his heart beat faster. 48-year-old Yan Huiqing knew very well that if his head landed first, he would probably be dead. If his legs landed first, they would probably break. Even if the body landed horizontally, he would at least lose half his life from the fall.

But as the Foreign Minister, Yan Huiqing didn't want to show timidity. When he climbed the 6-meter-high wooden wall with a big belly, he was extremely embarrassed. Before, his pot-bellied self had a very poor image. Yan Huiqing no longer considered these; he tried hard to leave everything behind and said loudly, "Cuckoo is ready!"

Before this outward bound training, everyone had to give themselves a codename. Yan Huiqing thought of his hometown and gave himself the codename 'Cuckoo.' At that time, he didn't think much of it, but afterwards, the codename 'Cuckoo' made Yan Huiqing feel quite ashamed several times. At this time, Yan Huiqing didn't care anymore; any shame was nothing compared to death.

After shouting his notification, he heard from below behind him, various local accents across the country answering in unison: "Please trust us."

Yan Huiqing closed his eyes and smiled bitterly in his heart: I can only trust you. Following the feeling derived from training, he tried hard to stick his fat belly forward, maintained this posture, and fell backward.

Even though it was only 4 meters high, Yan Huiqing felt the wind whistling in his ears, as if falling into an abyss. For a moment, Yan Huiqing even felt he might really die.

Then, his buttocks, back, legs, and head were caught by a solid yet elastic piece of something.

Yan Huiqing weighed more than 170 *jin*. He was very worried that these people's arms couldn't catch him. Unexpectedly, the arms of the crowd only sank slightly, steadily supporting the 170-plus *jin* Yan Huiqing, stopping his descent.

Opening his eyes, Yan Huiqing saw faces surrounding him above. Above those faces, the 4-meter-high platform was high above. The 48-year-old Foreign Minister hadn't been truly moved for many years. At this time, he also felt something in his heart suddenly become active.

He actually managed to fall backward from a height of 4 meters unscathed. The power of mutual trust could actually do this. Yan Huiqing dared not believe it completely, but he couldn't help but believe it.

The outward bound training continued. Everyone only had to fall backward once, and everyone had to catch everyone else. In this process, Yan Huiqing discovered that the more one could overcome self-fear and keep the body straight, the less harm one would cause to others in this interactive project.

At the summary meeting in the evening, Yan Huiqing frankly recounted his experience. Because everyone participated personally and experienced it personally. Such words, which sounded like high-sounding talk in the past, triggered a strong resonance among the crowd. Afterwards, the discussion on this sentiment turned into a discussion on the system construction and interfacing links of various government departments.

If there is a lack of trust in government work interfacing, at least acting according to rules can eliminate a lot of unnecessary mutual harm.

The outward bound training lasted for four days. On the evening of the fourth day, the last project ended. That was on a platform more than twenty meters high, at heights of 5 meters, 10 meters, and 20 meters, a square beam ten meters long and 20 centimeters wide. Everyone had to walk from one end to the other without protection.

When everyone completed the project and looked up at the elevated frame again, many people couldn't believe they actually walked across this beam. If it were in the past, let alone completing this project. Just thinking about it, they would think they definitely couldn't do it.

However, the projects completed in these four days were all projects they thought impossible to complete. Yet, like walking this beam, they were all completed. For a moment, everyone felt a myriad of emotions, yet felt it was logical. Because the key points of completing each project and the state of mind to overcome behind it were clearly explained at the beginning. The reason why they thought they couldn't do it before was just because they didn't know.

Just then, a sharp whistle sounded. Seeing everyone looking at him, the young coach put down the whistle and shouted, "Attention! At ease!"

All senior Party and government officials, including ministers and Central Committee members, obeyed the order. "Today, we have completed all outward bound training projects. I told everyone at the beginning that everyone would definitely be able to complete these projects. No matter what everyone thought at that time, now everyone has completed every project. Regarding the feelings about the projects, everyone is different. But I believe everyone must have their own feelings. The last thing I want to emphasize now is that these are very dangerous projects. Therefore, I request everyone never to ask others to repeat them casually at home or other places. Even if you really want to repeat them, you must consider the danger. Everyone is a professional and should fully understand that these projects indeed have great danger and require very professional preparation and organization to complete! Did everyone hear that?"

Even though the coach was just a young man, these senior Party and government officials answered in unison according to the outward bound training, "Heard!"

"Then, I announce that after everyone claps hands three times together, this outward bound training ends!" the young coach shouted.

Clap! Clap! Clap! After three claps, the coach walked straight off the stage.

Everyone was excited and felt there were many emotions that still needed to be vented. If He Rui went on stage to say something at this time, it would perfectly fit the mood at this time. However, He Rui didn't go on stage. Instead, an official of the Organization Department organizing this event went on stage and said, "Now rest begins. Everyone can drink water and talk. Half an hour later, set off for the restaurant."

Because He Rui did not participate, the dinner party was extraordinarily lively. Even Vice Premier Zhao Tianlin, an educator, praised the outward bound training very much. Needless to say for others, they all thought this was not just an eye-opener but an improvement for themselves. After chatting for a long time, He Rui appeared.

Appearing at this time was also a link in the entire training. As the saying goes, 'No enlightenment without puzzlement, no articulation without anxiety.' Confucius knew this two thousand years ago, and modern outward bound training naturally must consider it. Sure enough, seeing He Rui, the comrades who were chatting happily stood up one after another, hoping He Rui would say a few words.

He Rui still didn't make a concluding speech but ate with the comrades. When they arrived at the lounge, He Rui began his concluding speech, "Everything I want to say has been personally experienced by comrades in the outward bound training. There is one thing that was not explicitly stated, that is, everyone must learn to accept oneself. Even if this self doesn't run fast, jump high, or runs fast and jumps high. This is not important. What is important is that we are all ignorant. Admitting one's ignorance and accepting one's ignorance is the biggest obstacle to our personal growth."

Without this outward bound training, this remark would inevitably be a metaphysical discussion. At this time, everyone understood. Yan Huiqing was particularly emotional and couldn't help saying, "I know what I can do, and I also know what I really can't do. But I don't know what I don't know. Encountering such things, I would shift blame and vent anger. This was indeed the biggest obstacle to progress before."

Everyone agreed. This training let them know that they could actually do things they dared not even think about before, which indeed greatly established confidence. But precisely because of this, they understood that their previous inability to progress was really because they didn't know, not because they didn't perform well with their abilities.

Just confirming these greatly expanded one's mind. As for admitting one's ignorance in failures time and again and accepting the ignorant self, although it was very uncomfortable, one obtained liberation in the new cognition.

The previous self felt that I knew what was going on but couldn't do it, so the frustration and loss felt were very strong. Thinking of those things, I felt my thoughts couldn't be cleared.

Although accepting the fact that I am ignorant indeed feels very uncomfortable. But this discomfort also stimulated everyone's confidence to continue learning and progressing. As long as there is a direction and steps, I can learn and do it.

Compared with the despair brought by completely unable to find direction and having to deny oneself in various ways before, the pain brought by the realization of accepting one's ignorance appeared negligible, and even seemed a bit sweet.

"True knowledge can soothe pain and bring happiness." After making the final concluding speech, He Rui stopped being a teacher but chatted with everyone about various things in this outward bound training.

This time was a vacation, so time management was quite loose. Even though they were all Party and government cadres, they also had their own small circles. Small circles also had small circle preferences. Some liked bathing, some liked pure chatting. Some also liked chatting while drinking.

Some people also liked to walk around in various circles and chat for a while when encountering topics they cared about. Wu Youping and Zhuang Jiaxiong took juice and bread and sat in the gauze tent to chat.

"Old Zhuang, I'm not criticizing your vice minister. I just feel that everyone seems to put too much thought into being responsible to superiors; I don't approve."

Hearing Wu Youping's words, Zhuang Jiaxiong also agreed deeply. "Don't mind; they are just a little too excited. After all, the current economic development exceeds imagination. We also held a brainstorming session in our ministry. At the meeting, everyone put forward a view that China is indeed very strong. It's just that the Chairman was not in charge back then. If the Chairman overthrew the Manchu Qing and sat on the throne, how could Britain dare to be as arrogant as now!"

"It's not too late to do it now. Whenever one understands, it's never too late." Wu Youping sighed.

If it were before, Zhuang Jiaxiong felt he was affected by other things, so he failed to do many things. At this time, although Zhuang Jiaxiong still had resentment about past events, it was much weaker than before. Admitting and accepting his ignorance, Zhuang Jiaxiong didn't want to blame others much anymore, but asked, "Old Wu, did the Chairman hold back some words?"

Wu Youping dared to tell his old classmate his heartfelt words at this time. "The Chairman believes that everyone should not consider how to be responsible for the Chairman's orders just because of the responsibility relationship in the system. Instead of having this thought, everyone might as well think more about the logic behind the policy and the principles used."

"...Indeed so." Zhuang Jiaxiong understood what Wu Youping cared about.

The effect of this vacation was very good. After resting for 10 days, everyone returned to Beiping. The work in the ministry was not delayed because of everyone's short vacation, and no major incidents happened. Everyone did feel some subtle inner reactions, but everyone gained a lot ideologically this time. These subtle reactions not only did not affect work but made everyone's understanding of themselves deeper.

At this time, He Rui went south first to Kunming. After Zhong Yifu, the First Committee Member of the Southwest Bureau, happily welcomed He Rui's arrival, he immediately began to report on work. According to reconnaissance, Britain had pulled up a force of 600,000 British Indian troops in the past 80 days, and transported 70,000 ANZAC troops, 6,000 Canadian troops, and 40,000 British mainland army troops. It was clear that a large-scale offensive was to be launched.

Without He Rui emphasizing, the Staff Department of the Burma Theater began to report on the operational plan. As long as the British took the initiative to attack, they would reveal flaws. Although the Staff Department of the Burma Theater really couldn't figure out whether the British army had figured out the current situation, since they wanted to give away heads, the National Defense Force had no reason not to collect them.

After a large amount of reconnaissance, from Yangon by the Indian Ocean to various areas on the Sino-Burmese border, the Staff Department had formulated operational plans for each area. Now they were waiting for Britain to launch an attack. If Britain didn't attack, the National Defense Force wouldn't be idle either. The road in Burma had to stop work because of the rainy season, and there were too many projects to do now. If the British didn't attack, the National Defense Force could complete the road. Once completed, hundreds of thousands of National Defense Force troops could move freely throughout the Burma region. Although infantry infiltration tactics were very favorable to the National Defense Force, it didn't mean that the National Defense Force only had these three tricks. Actively annihilating British troops was not particularly difficult for the National Defense Force.

As if to dispel He Rui's concerns, just while introducing the war situation and arrangements, the Staff Department received news that the British army began to move. The British white army went north from Yangon and began to attack. The British Indian Army in the Assam region marched towards Upper Burma in a dense formation.

Zhong Yifu watched the staff officers mark the direction of the British attack and said happily to He Rui, "Chairman, Britain adopted the stupidest tactics."

He Rui laughed, "I don't agree with your wording, but I agree with your response to the war situation."

Being told so by He Rui, Zhong Yifu was a little embarrassed and couldn't help explaining, "I am eager to fight. Please forgive me, Chairman."

"I understand." He Rui tried hard to reassure Zhong Yifu. After all, among the six people from the Baoding Military Academy who followed He Rui back then, Zheng Silang swept the Kwantung Leased Territory within 72 hours, and Xu Chengfeng, Cheng Ruofan, and Hu Xiushan beat the Japanese army badly in Korea. Although Zhong Yifu held an important position and indeed undertook very important work, he never had the opportunity to fully display his talents like other classmates. Commanding a theater this time, Zhong Yifu looked forward very much to achieving results comparable to his old classmates.

"Chairman, do you want to command personally?" Zhong Yifu asked.

He Rui was amused by Zhong Yifu and answered with a smile, "Haha, I'll stay here for a few days; you don't need to entertain me specially."

On September 18, 1925, the Air Force of the National Defense Force moved out in large numbers in the Burma region. The 4th Group under the 7th Air Division encountered the British Air Force first. In the past period, Britain had strengthened its air force in India. After the rain cleared, the British Air Force also joined the war.

Many of the British Air Force using biplanes were pilots from the European War. When they saw the Chinese monoplanes pouncing menacingly in the sky, they immediately adopted the tactics of World War I and flew their planes up to meet them like knights fighting in the air.

Since there were no radios installed in the British Air Force planes, they could only communicate by shaking the wings of the planes. Just at the moment of shaking the wings and commanding the wingman to follow closely, the Chinese plane pulled up and quickly disappeared from the British pilot's field of vision.

This was the tactic of the Chinese Air Force. In World War I, air combat was basically horizontal circling combat. The Chinese Air Force accepted He Rui's air combat thinking, not only having horizontal circling but also utilizing vertical space, greatly increasing the range of air combat.

The Chinese Air Force adopted the 'Figure-8' flight. Pulling up is the bottom of the figure 8, then flying to the high point along the left trajectory, and then diving down along the right trajectory of the figure 8.

When the plane returned to the bottom of the figure 8, because the British plane continued to fly forward, the Chinese plane was located diagonally above the rear of the British plane. The machine gun sight was aimed at the British plane. It began to strafe like target practice.

Soon, the British plane emitted thick smoke and was shot down. According to the rules of the European War, the air force fought with momentum. So the Chinese Air Force did not shoot the parachuting pilots but launched attacks on other British planes.

The air battle lasted less than 40 minutes, and more than 20 British planes were shot down. The 4th Group of the 9th Air Division continued its mission, scouting forward. At the same time, looking forward to encountering more British planes to increase their combat achievements.

On September 18 alone, 87 planes of the British Air Force were shot down. At this time, all British Air Force planes in India were only 500.