As the two dances concluded, the Japanese field officers broke into applause. The geishas bowed elegantly once more, preparing to withdraw.

Requesting geishas to stay and pour wine required an additional fee. Fortunately, since this was a banquet on the public dime, one of the field officers called out, "Ladies, please stay a moment longer. Let us compose some *haiku* together."

The proposal met with immediate approval. The officers looked toward Major General Hamamo Matasuke, and seeing him nod, they all raised their glasses in salute.

The composition of Japanese *haiku* follows two fundamental rules: it must consist of three lines with a five-seven-five syllable structure (totaling seventeen *on*), and it must contain a *kigo*—a seasonal word indicating spring, summer, autumn, winter, or the New Year.

As the highest-ranking officer present, Major General Hamamo Matasuke naturally began. When it was He Rui’s turn, he listened to the Major General’s opening and, after a moment’s thought, responded:

(At dusk’s fading light,

Like a runner’s false start,

Summer lamps flicker.) [^1]

The officers were visibly surprised by the quality of the verse, and even the geishas looked toward him with newfound interest.

Nagata Tetsuzan raised his glass and cheered loudly, "Gentlemen, let us all toast to He-kun!"

The Japanese officers followed suit, raising their glasses in respect.

He Rui laughed heartily and drained his glass in one gulp. Impressed by his forthrightness, the officers cheered, "He-kun is as bold as he is friendly. The top scholar of the Army War College truly lives up to his reputation!"

He Rui could only nod modestly, acknowledging these "academic lightweights" who had failed to make the cut for the War College.

The great Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō once remarked: "The paper on which *waka* is copied becomes waste paper once the gathering disperses." This speaks to the true essence of linked verse: the pleasure of the moment. The joy lies in the intellectual exchange, the competitive spark between lines, rather than the completeness of the final work. Each line forms its own transition; every two lines create a new world.

As the haiku exchange continued, the wine flowed freely, and the atmosphere grew increasingly warm. Noticing his subordinates were well into their cups, Major General Hamamo Matasuke turned back to He Rui. "He-kun, I wonder what your plans for the future might be?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, General. I have been appointed as the local administrator of Siping and am about to take up my post."

"Is He-kun not intending to serve as a staff officer in General Zhen’an’s Office?" Hamamo Matasuke asked with a smile.

"Your Excellency, I believe Siping holds just as much potential as Fengtian. Once I arrive, I intend to rectify the social order and encourage production. To protect the peace of a region has long been my cherished wish."

Major General Hamamo’s expression remained impassive, offering only a casual compliment: "Ambitious."

"Your Excellency, goods only yield profit when they can be sold," He Rui continued. "I believe that for industrial development to secure a steady supply of raw materials, there must first be security and stability. If the commercial environment is chaotic—if troops cause disturbances or force trades—then farmers and factory owners will never feel secure enough to increase the production of grain, coal, iron, and other essential materials. The Northeast is plagued by bandits and rogues. I will not tolerate them. I intend to restore order. As long as the situation remains stable, the export of affordable grain and raw materials from the Northeast will increase significantly. During this Great War, the urgent task is for China and Japan to join hands, support one another, and revitalize our economies together. In my humble opinion, the Kwantung Garrison led by Your Excellency should serve as a guarantor for Japan's industrial and commercial development, fostering friendly cooperation between our two nations."

Hamamo Matasuke listened in silence. He did not respond directly, instead glancing at Nagata Tetsuzan. The two exchanged a knowing smile.

Nagata laughed. "Your Excellency, did my prediction from yesterday not come true? Does the top scholar of this class not live up to his name?"

Major General Hamamo turned back to He Rui. "When I received your telegram yesterday, Nagata Tetsuzan immediately concluded that you were coming prepared. He suggested I make things difficult for you—that I refuse you entry to headquarters, avoid all talk of official business, and shun any mention of Sino-Japanese affairs, just to see how you would handle it. I did not expect you to be quite as perceptive as the rumors suggested."

Nagata clapped his hands in delight. "He-kun, among everyone here, I was the only one with full confidence in you—though even I could not have guessed exactly what you would say!"

He Rui smiled faintly. "The minor disputes between our nations are hardly worth mentioning. Only the economy and industry are of such grave importance that they cannot be ignored."

Major General Hamamo nodded, his expression turning serious. "Does He-kun have any specific suggestions?"

"Your Excellency, during this World War, Japan’s greatest interest lies in exports. I recently had a chance meeting with Mr. Mitsui Yasuki [^2], where we discussed several economic concepts. After returning to China, I developed these ideas into a formal proposal. I would like to ask Your Excellency to forward it to Mr. Mitsui on my behalf."

He Rui produced a written letter and handed it to the Major General, along with Mitsui Yasuki's business card.

Hamamo Matasuke’s eyes widened when he saw the card. The heir to the Mitsui Zaibatsu was no minor figure. He looked at He Rui with a complex expression, shocked that this young officer had managed to forge a connection with the highest levels of the Japanese business world.

The Mitsui Zaibatsu was Japan's preeminent conglomerate and the founder of the nation’s first private bank. Though the Mitsui family maintained a low public profile, their influence was immense. Mitsui Yasuki, already in control of the family's banking interests in his early forties, was rumored to be the next head of the entire house.

"He-kun, might I ask what you have proposed to Mitsui-kun?" Hamamo Matasuke inquired.

"When I was in Tokyo, I once tried to buy some candy, but found the shops near the academy were completely out of stock due to the boom in demand. This illustrates just how voracious Japan's need for materials has become. I will be stationed in Siping, a vital transportation hub for the Northeast. Grain, coal, iron, and non-ferrous metals all pass through my garrison area. In my view, the people here suffer because of a lack of development. We must strive to increase production and open trade to improve their lives. To that end, my letter invites Mr. Mitsui to send a representative to Siping to discuss export and import opportunities."

Major General Hamamo was stunned for a long moment before finally pocketing the letter and the card. He raised his glass, looking pleased. "Since He-kun possesses such vision, I will certainly assist in forwarding this. Come, He-kun, let us drink."

The two shared another two rounds of sake. Soon after, Nagata Tetsuzan excused himself to whisper to a staff officer in the corner. The officer nodded repeatedly and hurried out of the room, only to return a few moments later with an urgent report for Major General Hamamo.

"Reporting to Your Excellency! Headquarters has just received a telegram. Battalion Commander Matsuoka has, without authorization, sent men to Changchun to recruit local volunteers for the European theater. This has caused a violent friction with the local government. The unit commander requests Your Excellency's immediate instructions!"

The officer’s report was loud enough for the entire room to hear. The festive atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy, solemn silence.

Translator Zhao hurriedly whispered the news to the others. The situation had shifted with jarring suddenness; Major Liu and Xu Chengfeng sat dazed, struggling to process the rapidly escalating crisis.

***

[^1]: The original Japanese includes the term "furaingu" (フライング), a loanword from "flying start" or "false start" in racing. He Rui uses it here to describe the summer lamps being lit prematurely, before night has fully fallen.

[^2]: Mitsui Yasuki (三井康木) is a character representing the Mitsui family interests.