"An icebreaker? What is that?" Zhao Tianlin asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.

"It is a meeting where everyone sits together to get to know one another. They introduce themselves, chat, and generally lower their guard. The goal is to dispel the awkwardness of being among strangers in a relaxed environment, allowing them to integrate into the team as quickly as possible."

Zhao Tianlin finally understood. "I see. You are quite considerate, Brother He."

In this era, more than one person had described He Rui as "considerate." He Rui himself did not see it that way. From a management perspective, establishing mutual trust was merely the first step toward effective cooperation. Some people did this instinctively, while others simply didn't realize its importance. He Rui was merely executing a standard procedure; his personal feelings on the matter were irrelevant.

"If you find it considerate, then let it be so," He Rui replied simply.

"Colonel, we've run out of flyers. Should we print another batch?" Xu Chengfeng ran over to ask.

He Rui paused his instruction to cultural instructor Liu Jingsheng on silk-screen printing, looked up, and replied, "No more flyers. Print this literacy manual instead."

Xu Chengfeng tried to persuade him. "But we're still quite a few people short. I think another round of recruitment would be beneficial."

"How are we short?" He Rui asked pointedly.

Xu Chengfeng presented a report compiled by Zhong Yifu. He Rui scanned it quickly. In their eight days in Tianjin, they had selected 35 people, with 41 others still under consideration. At the bottom of the report, Zhong Yifu had listed the qualification rate.

Up to now, the number of people who had committed to following He Rui accounted for only a quarter of the initial candidates. If one factored in those who voluntarily withdrew after the icebreaker because they felt the fit was wrong, the final passing rate was only one-fifth.

At this ratio, only about eight more people could be expected from the remaining 41 candidates. Adding them to the 35 already selected would bring the total to 43—barely two-thirds of their target of 64.

As they were speaking, Xu Jia also hurried in. "Colonel, should we distribute more flyers?"

He Rui shook his head and sat down to begin carving a silk screen himself. "We will discuss this tonight," he ordered.

The review meeting continued into the evening. Although Xu Jia was frowning, his work remained meticulous. Among the other reviewers, only Zhong Yifu managed to maintain a steady composure. Those with more impatient temperaments, like Xu Chengfeng, were showing a clear tendency to lower their standards just to fill the ranks.

*They have reached their limit,* He Rui thought.

This did not mean that a city like Tianjin, a northern metropolis of a million people, lacked qualified candidates. Finding sixty-four people from such a population was a ratio of less than one in ten thousand.

Nor was it for a lack of effort. Every man wanted to complete the task as quickly as possible and was working just as hard as before.

The "limit" He Rui sensed was the limit of their psychological endurance. His core cadres were young; they lacked the experience to recognize this exhaustion in themselves.

Since they had reached that point, there was no sense in pushing further. At the morning meeting the next day, He Rui announced, "Cease all flyer distribution immediately. We will no longer actively seek recruits. Everyone, begin preparations to head outside the pass."

Some young officers looked visibly relieved, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their shoulders, while others were clearly unsatisfied with the shortfall. Zhong Yifu asked, "Colonel, what are our orders for now?"

"Wash your clothes, clean your quarters, and pack your gear."

"Clean the quarters?" Zhong Yifu was baffled.

"We have been staying in this school for quite some time. Would it be appropriate to leave it in a mess when we depart?"

Zhong Yifu snapped to attention. "Understood. I will lead the men in the cleaning."

The units had only just begun their work when Zhao Tianlin arrived. "Are you leaving, Brother He?"

Cheng Ruofan, who was assisting He Rui in organizing the newly printed literacy manuals, looked up at the university president.

"Brother Zhao, we have recruited enough for our immediate needs, and the Northeast is waiting for us. We intend to depart within the next two days. I was going to inform you once we had finished tidying up."

"What a pity. I had hoped to learn more from you. Please, Brother He, write to me as soon as you reach the Northeast. I have been reflecting on your words regarding the subjects of legal service; it was truly a revelation."

"If you are truly interested, why not begin your preparations now? China is weak today, but she will not remain so forever. When we reclaim our independence and achieve national liberation, the government will decide our national policies, but the task of compiling our legal code will fall to experts like you. I look forward to the day you can apply a lifetime of learning to draft a truly superior body of law."

Zhao Tianlin was stunned. He stared at He Rui for a long moment before his face broke into a broad smile. "I only hope that day comes soon."

After Zhao Tianlin left, Cheng Ruofan asked cautiously, "Colonel, did anyone tell the President we were leaving?"

"I doubt it."

"Is this like what you told us about why the Great Powers don't deceive one another? Does someone in a high position like President Zhao know our intentions just by seeing us clean?"

"The Great Powers do not deceive one another because they operate by the same logic and understand every detail of the process. As for President Zhao, if he were leading students and borrowing a place to stay, he would certainly clean before leaving. Thus, seeing us clean, he inferred our departure. Seeing through things often relies on the accumulation of experience. Those who do not value such etiquette would see us cleaning and have to stop and think, or perhaps even suspect we were cleaning because we intended to stay permanently."

"I see," Cheng Ruofan nodded, looking thoughtful.

***

June 12th. He Rui led his unit—six officers and forty-three cultural instructors—to the Tianjin railway station.

Aside from the officers, nearly everyone had family members there to see them off. Relatives held the hands of the young men, offering earnest last-minute advice and pleading with He Rui and his officers to watch over them.

He Rui and his men gave their assurances to each. Some of the families were overcome with emotion, weeping openly as they embraced their departing sons, adding a heavy layer of sorrow to the already crowded platform.

Suddenly, someone pushed through the crowd, shouting, "Brother He!"

He Rui turned to see Zhao Tianlin hurrying toward him. "Brother He, we part today, and I know not when we shall meet again. You must take care of yourself."

"You as well, Brother Zhao. Our success in Tianjin is thanks entirely to your assistance. Once I have stabilized things in the Northeast, I will write. If you ever find yourself in the North, I shall certainly host you as my guest of honor."

At this final moment of parting, Zhao Tianlin was visibly moved. "Brother He... when that day of independence and strength you spoke of arrives... we won't be too old to see it, will we?"

"Fear not," He Rui replied firmly. "When that day comes, we will still be young!"

Zhao Tianlin opened his mouth to respond, but the train's whistle let out a deafening blast, drowning out his voice entirely.

As the echoes faded, the conductor shouted, "All aboard! The train is departing!"

Zhao Tianlin reached out and gripped He Rui's hand tightly. "Take care."

Moments later, with a series of rhythmic whistles, the train began to roll. The recruits crowded the windows, waving frantically to their friends and families on the platform.

The small company, forged in less than a month, began its journey toward its first destination: Fengtian. As the train steamed out of the station and left the city behind, it carried its passengers away from their unease and toward a much vaster world.