On March 23, 1918, the State Council controlled by Duan Qirui issued a government mandate: "In view of the collapse of Tsarist Russia, the State Council of the Republic of China decrees the abolition of the meaningless 'Sino-Russian Declaration', the cancellation of Outer Mongolia's independence, the establishment of administrative institutions..., and orders General Zhen'an He Rui to dispatch troops into Outer Mongolia."

The news was immediately published in major newspapers. On March 24, students in Beijing and Tianjin once again took to the streets. However, this time it was not a protest march, but a demonstration in support of Premier Duan Qirui.

In the Presidential Palace, President Feng Guozhang paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. No one around him dared to utter a sound. He Rui had demonstrated his strength to Feng Guozhang through the military action of seizing Shanhaiguan, and also expressed his support for Duan Qirui. This was already a clear declaration of allegiance.

From Feng Guozhang's perspective, he first witnessed the *Northeast Daily* resume publication, and then witnessed He Rui establish the Northeast Bureau in Wudaokou, Beijing. By this time, some people had already begun to use "Fengtian Clique" to describe He Rui. This newly rising Fengtian Clique already had the status to be mentioned in the same breath as Duan Qirui's Anhui Clique and Feng Guozhang's Zhili Clique.

The cooperation between the Anhui Clique and the Fengtian Clique put immense pressure on the Zhili Clique, whose core territory was in Nanjing. Moreover, engaging in diplomacy had never been the Zhili Clique's strong suit, while He Rui had already been proven adept at it. Duan Qirui's joining of the Allied Powers had also won him much praise. This time, Duan Qirui was preparing to score another victory.

Feng Guozhang suddenly stopped. Surprisingly, he did not seem very angry, but wore a sneer on his face. "Duan Zhiquan (Qirui) is mistaken. National affairs are not decided by his State Council alone. Issue a Presidential Order: abolish Outer Mongolian autonomy, and appoint He Rui as General Zhen'an to oversee Mongol military and political affairs! Telegraph the Outer Mongolian princes to inform them."

Seeing Feng Guozhang's decisive counterattack, his staff breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Duan Qirui was the Premier, and there was no way to deny the authority he possessed. In the major matter of recovering national territory, even if Duan Qirui was one step ahead, there could be no further hesitation. Feng Guozhang had indeed made the wisest choice.

As for the title of "Overseeing Mongol Military and Political Affairs" that He Rui obtained, Feng Guozhang could not claim this title himself anyway, and Duan Qirui could not give it right now. Giving it to He Rui as a strategic concession could be considered an effort to salvage the situation.

The news was released on March 25, immediately shocking the foreign diplomatic corps in the Legation Quarter. On the night of March 25, the Japanese Embassy sent the news back to Tokyo.

Early on the morning of March 26, the Japanese General Staff Headquarters temporarily halted its plan to attack Russia and began to discuss this matter.

In the evening, Obata Toshishiro and Yokoyama Isamu, who had finished work, did not return to their residences but went to a nearby tavern. As soon as they sat down, Obata Toshishiro sighed, "I never expected that the Empire's Manchuria-Mongolia lifeline would be seized by He Rui first."

Like Obata Toshishiro, Yokoyama Isamu was a member of the Army War College Sword Club. Seeing Obata Toshishiro like this, he couldn't help but smile. "Senior, things have already come to this, why worry? I assume the Allied Powers will completely ignore this matter. What do you think, Senior?"

Obata Toshishiro was just a bit frustrated. The General Staff Headquarters had discussed this matter during the day, but the discussion fizzled out very quickly. All along, He Rui had been vigorously pushing for China to join the Allied Powers. Based on Obata Toshishiro's understanding of He Rui, He Rui had no admiration for the West; all his choices were to protect China's interests.

If China had joined the Allied Powers earlier, Japan would not have been able to invade Shandong using the excuse of attacking the German garrison there. Now that China had joined the Allied Powers, Japan could not proceed with aggression against China.

Therefore, the General Staff Headquarters only briefed on the matter, and no one else continued to discuss it. So the meeting hastily concluded with a decision to "continue monitoring" and began to continue discussing the arrangement for sending troops to Vladivostok. Given Russia's current situation, Japan wanted to tear a large chunk of flesh off Russia.

At this time, the sake was served. Obata Toshishiro raised his cup and clinked cups with Yokoyama Isamu. After taking a sip, Obata Toshishiro sighed, "Yokoyama-kun, do you think He-kun will proceed to attack Russia?"

Yokoyama Isamu thought for a while. "If it were me, I would definitely attack. However, I always feel that He-kun will do it more cleverly. I just have a feeling he won't act overtly."

"Oh? Not overtly?" Obata Toshishiro was intrigued by this response.

Yokoyama Isamu nodded. "I heard that He-kun has already agreed to provide support within Manchuria and Mongolia. Presumably, He-kun is thinking of stabilizing the situation in Outer Mongolia. Once the Great Japanese Empire completely defeats the Russian army in Vladivostok, he will make his demands to Russia."

"This is really a distasteful scenario," Obata Toshishiro agreed.

Just then, someone outside the door shouted, "Get lost, get lost quickly. Don't you know not to be a nuisance when begging!"

Hearing this voice, Obata Toshishiro looked displeased. Yokoyama Isamu sighed slightly, "Sigh, there are more and more beggars in the city recently."

Obata Toshishiro followed He Rui closely, and worked in the General Staff Headquarters, having many dealings with Itagaki Seishiro, the person in charge of the "He Agency". When He Rui was studying in Tokyo, he was particularly sympathetic to the poor. If He Rui were outside the door, he would definitely take out some money to give to the beggar.

According to intelligence provided by the "He Agency", He Rui had established a Social Welfare Bureau outside the Pass to take in beggars, providing them with basic food and drink, and trying his best to provide employment opportunities. At the same time, severe crackdowns were carried out on organizations like the "Beggar Gangs", and those people were all arrested for labor reform. Beggars could no longer be seen outside the Pass.

Frustrated, Obata Toshishiro took another sip of sake and said with distress, "Japan's exports have developed greatly during the war, not only paying off the debts accumulated over the years but also becoming a creditor nation. Why are there somehow more and more beggars?"

Yokoyama Isamu was the eldest son of Army Colonel Yokoyama Shinji and had grown up in a relatively privileged environment. Seeing that even the well-traveled Obata Toshishiro, the eldest son of Japanese elder statesman and Baron Obata Bito, couldn't figure out the reason for this, Yokoyama Isamu sighed, "These people refuse to do honest work. Unless the state can punish them severely as England did in the past, the situation can only continue like this."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a *bang* next to them. Obata Toshishiro and Yokoyama Isamu turned their heads and saw a tipsy Major slamming the table and standing up. His companion opposite him also looked over with an angry face. The Major, emboldened by alcohol, shouted angrily at Obata Toshishiro and his companion: "Do you... know what factories are like right now! Workers work twelve hours a day, everyone has only one bunk, and they have to... sleep in shifts. Day shift and night shift people... share the same beds. Can they sleep well? The wages are so low, and they get kicked out after getting injured. The workers can't stand it, so the foreman sends people to guard the gates. You... you go try being a worker!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several other soldiers nearby also voiced their agreement. Seeing that most of the soldiers in the tavern were siding with the poor, Obata Toshishiro was furious, but Yokoyama Isamu saw that they were few in number, and the other party was obviously drunk and completely ignoring the rank disparity.

So Yokoyama Isamu pulled Obata Toshishiro to his feet and shouted to the owner, "Boss, put it on the tab." Then they left the tavern.

Once the two were outside, they felt a cool breeze blowing, which was somewhat comfortable. Even so, Obata Toshishiro's anger did not dissipate. As he walked, he said hatefully, "These people really don't see the big picture. If the country is not strong, it cannot expand its territory. And those factory owners are all treacherous, the country can't do anything about them either!"

Yokoyama Isamu sighed. No one in the General Staff Headquarters liked merchants and factory owners, but soldiers couldn't take action against these people. And those bureaucrats in the Ministry of Finance were very fond of these profiteers and factory owners.

Finally, Yokoyama Isamu sighed, "If only Nagata-kun would return from Europe sooner. He is knowledgeable and will definitely have compelling insights."

Obata Toshishiro knew that Yokoyama Isamu was talking about Nagata Tetsuzan, and he also sighed, "Indeed. But Nagata-kun just isn't in Japan, which is truly regrettable."