On January 19, Minister of Commerce Morrison, who returned to China, stood in his office. The office was completely strange to him. He was in Beiping when he left, but he arrived in the new capital after returning.

Trying to distinguish the difference between the new and old capitals, Morrison soon felt that the new capital was thousands of miles south after all, and the temperature was slightly higher than the old capital. Morrison chose the route through the Soviet Union to return to China this time. Compared with the icy and snowy Soviet Union, the temperature difference in the Central Plains region with residual snow on the ground was even more obvious.

Just then, the secretary brought in a paper document box. Seeing this familiar box, Morrison immediately rejoiced. This was an internal reference for ministers and higher-level officials, containing important latest reports. Rank meant not only decision-making power but also the right to know. In a sense, the right to know is more important than the right to speak.

Morrison sat at the new desk and looked through the news content. The first item turned out to be about the Soviet Union. After discussion and decision by the Central Committee of the CPSU, Joffe was relieved of his duties as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs (Minister), and was succeeded by Deputy People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Litvinov.

Stopping reading, Morrison recalled when he passed through the Soviet Union, the one who received him was the Soviet People's Commissar for Commerce (Minister). The two negotiated on Sino-Soviet trade in 1926. Recalling some words of the Soviet People's Commissar for Commerce (Minister), Morrison felt that the Soviet attitude was slightly strange.

On the morning of the next day, the delegation reported its work to the central government. This trip to Europe was very fruitful, not only diplomatically but also in foreign trade. In the afternoon, Morrison reported to He Rui and Wu Youping alone. When speaking of the Soviet Union, Morrison mentioned some strange points of the Soviet People's Commissar for Commerce (Minister).

Wu Youping heard Morrison say that the Soviet People's Commissar for Commerce (Minister) actually asked about China's agricultural development after land distribution, and also felt it was really strange. Generally speaking, unless something particularly bad happened after China's land distribution that attracted the attention of the Soviet Union, it was very likely that the Soviet Union was interested in China's land reform model.

Of course, there were other possibilities. That was, the Soviet People's Commissar for Commerce had nothing to say and asked some questions he personally cared about. Wu Youping extinguished all imaginations and continued to discuss realistic issues that had already occurred with Morrison.

After the new Soviet People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs (Minister) Litvinov took office, he conveyed his intention to visit China to the Republic government through the Soviet Ambassador to China. Wu Youping asked if this person had actively communicated with Morrison.

Since he met too many people this time, Morrison thought for a moment before finally confirming, "I have absolutely no contact with this person."

Wu Youping didn't ask much and asked Morrison how he felt about the Soviet Union now.

Morrison recalled the Soviet cities he saw and stated that he had never been to Tsarist Russia, nor had he been to the current Soviet rural areas. Solely from the bits and pieces he could see this time, the order in Soviet cities looked good. Especially the people at the bottom in the Tsarist era, from social system security to the visible spirit, indeed looked very good. Moreover, the Soviet Union invested heavily in education, and the large number of schools in the city left a very deep impression on Morrison.

After the report ended, He Rui asked Morrison to rest for a few days. After resting, go to make preliminary preparations for negotiations with Russia. The negotiation content was about the payment cycle of Russian goods.

After Morrison left, Wu Youping asked, "Does the Chairman want to agree to the Russian Foreign Minister's visit to China?"

He Rui shook his head. "No, that meeting should be solved by the ministries of commerce of the two countries."

Wu Youping was somewhat puzzled. "Chairman, if we refuse so readily, will the Soviet Union be very unhappy?"

"If we ask the Soviet Union for help and are rejected by the Soviet Union, shouldn't we be unhappy?" He Rui laughed.

Wu Youping was speechless by this question. If there was not even a feeling of unhappiness, wouldn't it be abnormal? Especially since the Russians are too young a nation and easily influenced by emotions in judgment. Of course, Wu Youping also admitted that even in his early 30s, he was still easily influenced by emotions.

He Rui laughed, "This unhappiness must exist, and must exist. Otherwise, wouldn't the Soviet Union think we will follow their wishes in everything?"

Wu Youping nodded slightly. Among the countries with diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union at present, the only country with a passable relationship was probably China. He Rui also attached great importance to friendly relations with the Soviet Union, and it was not surprising that the new Foreign Minister came to visit China.

However, at the Central Committee meeting, everyone discovered under He Rui's narration that the Soviet Union was very likely coming to 'touch porcelain' [feign a relationship for gain]. At this stage, what the Soviet Union needed most was a breakthrough in diplomacy to restore trade with Europe. The Soviet Union joining the Asian International Tribunal was just to show its face. It helped diplomacy indeed, but the help to the economy was actually very limited.

However, once the Soviet Union makes Europe think that China and the Soviet Union are about to reach a 'Sino-Soviet Military Alliance,' the situation will be different. It is not guaranteed that in order to stabilize the Soviet Union, some European countries will make adjustments.

In order not to create trouble for China itself, China must maintain friendly relations with the Soviet Union and not let countries around the world misunderstand China. This requires not only diplomatic ability but also strategic definition. In terms of determination, Wu Youping admired He Rui's strength. At least He Rui would not have excessive hostility towards enemies, nor any indulgence towards friendly countries, but formulated plans completely based on China's national interests and policy needs.

Wu Youping asked another question, "Chairman, we define the Asian International Tribunal as an academic organization; is this a bit excessive?"

Seeing that Wu Youping still couldn't turn the corner, He Rui laughed, "Ha! Not excessive at all, but just right."

On the morning of January 20, the Observation Group Committee held its first plenary meeting. Three law professors from the Soviet Union walked into the venue wearing the Soviet national emblem on their chests. The seats in the large conference room had been arranged. The Soviet professors were quite happy to see familiar Russian and the correct way of writing their names.

Sitting in their seats and looking around. There were oriental faces and European faces. Several observation group members placed small national flags on their tables, which turned out to be Brazil and Argentina. The Soviet professors had heard that the 'Asian International Tribunal' was considered the 'League of Nations' of the global legal circle. Seeing these legal experts from various countries, they had to admit that this statement actually made sense.

Soon, the meeting was officially convened. The staff asked the participating experts to wear headphones, and the Soviet professors followed suit. The speaker was an oriental man, not tall, wearing thin-rimmed glasses. Elegant and introverted, just standing there already had the demeanor of a scholar. He bowed slightly and handed his speech to the staff, who distributed the speech to the participating experts.

After the distribution was completed, the oriental man began to speak. The Soviet professors didn't know much about Japanese and Chinese and didn't understand what the professor was saying. However, the Russian voice coming from the headphones stunned the Soviet professors.

That was real Russian, and the translation of a man with a quite pleasant voice, 'Hello everyone, I am the Dean of the Law School of the University of Tokyo, Japan, Taira Toyomori. As the rotating chairman of this week, I will discuss the current work arrangements with experts from other countries...'

The Soviet professors couldn't see where the translator was at all, but the simultaneous interpretation was indeed working. Such excellent arrangements and detailed work made the Soviet professors admire very much.

In his speech, Professor Taira Toyomori introduced what the Asian International Tribunal was to the observation group. Since the Chinese government wanted to try the ANZAC Corps that massacred the Burmese people in Burma, there was currently no international law or Chinese domestic law to support this trial.

Therefore, the Chinese government invited legal experts from all over the world, and the legal experts formed the 'Asian International Tribunal.' The Asian International Tribunal has neither national status nor is it the League of Nations; it is a global academic organization, a supranational organization. The Chinese government handing over the jurisdiction of this case to the Asian International Tribunal means that the Asian International Tribunal, as an academic organization, possesses the power that only the state could execute originally.

"...Legal experts, this is the first time in human history that a global academic organization exercises public power. I am very moved to be a participant in this historic event. I will also contribute my meager efforts to this trial..."

Hearing this, the Soviet professors were all astonished. They initially thought that the 'Asian International Tribunal' was an international organization manipulated by China, and the purpose was nothing more than to strike the opponent Britain through this matter and expand China's influence internationally. Those legal experts participating in the Asian International Tribunal probably regarded the Asian International Tribunal as an exchange venue of unprecedented scale. Of course, the Soviet professors did have certain respect for the Chinese government's act of upholding justice.

Listening to the speech of this week's rotating chairman, Professor Taira Toyomori, the Soviet professors discovered that things exceeded their imagination. Legal personnel from various countries who should have served the governments of various countries around the world, in the Asian International Tribunal, the international academic circle broke free from the shackles of various regimes, using academics as a tool to work hard to realize human fairness and justice.

...Is this true?