After observing the Asian International Tribunal, He Rui did not return to the capital immediately but continued south. There were reporters accompanying him on this trip, and a news report "Chairman He Rui Inspects Fujian Military Region" made the headlines.

Most Chinese readers only learned about He Rui's actions through newspapers, knowing that Chairman He Rui did not just stay indoors in the capital every day. But a small number of people felt that this news itself was a military gesture. In the newspaper, when He Rui inspected the troops of the Fujian Military Region, he put forward the requirement of 'be prepared to fight a big war at any time!' to the troops of the Fujian Military Region. At present, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance had been established, and British and Japanese troops were fighting Chinese troops in Burma. Opposite Fujian was Taiwan, and it was not impossible for war to break out.

After inspecting the Fujian Military Region, He Rui flew back to the capital Zhengzhou. Just after returning to the urban area from the airport, He Rui immediately ordered a Central Committee meeting. At the meeting, He Rui told the comrades, "I am preparing to announce the holding of a judicial trial in Shanghai regarding the confiscation of foreign assets during the unification war."

Xu Chengfeng's handsome face was full of confusion. Since Xu Chengfeng was asked to participate in a meeting discussing the economy, it proved that there was a reason for the military to participate. So Xu Chengfeng asked, "Haven't we already finished the trial?"

He Rui shook his head. "That was called an announcement, not a trial."

Xu Chengfeng was a little dazed, feeling that he still didn't understand He Rui's idea. Wu Youping asked, "Chairman, can you describe the specific work?"

"Previously, we announced the disposal plan for foreign personnel in China, and tried the criminals among foreign personnel in China according to our laws, and disposed of foreign assets in China. Now, we are going to open another special tribunal, allowing legal experts from various countries to participate, and requiring personnel from various countries involved, especially those whose property has been affected, to come to China for judicial trial regarding their asset issues."

Speaking of this, He Rui strengthened his tone, "This is not to confirm our confiscation action through judicial activities, but a real judicial trial. If the trial result is that the confiscation was unreasonable, we must return the confiscated legal foreign assets."

Hearing this, Xu Chengfeng frowned. "This is inappropriate, Chairman!"

Although other Central Committee members were not as excited as Xu Chengfeng, they were not so accepting either. When He Rui first returned to China in 1915, not many people chose to follow He Rui; it could even be said to be very few. Whether it was Xu Chengfeng and others from the Baoding Military Academy, or intellectuals represented by Zhao Tianlin and Wu Youping, they all placed their hopes on He Rui.

More radical comrades hoped to abolish unequal treaties and take back concessions. More moderate comrades hoped to re-sign treaties and abolish excessive content.

When He Rui marched south to unify China, the policy he adopted was more radical than the comrades' most radical ideas. Not only did he completely refuse to recognize various treaties and recover all concessions, but he also launched attacks on foreign garrisons in China and concession managers.

After that action, after screening and review, barely less than 20% of foreign soldiers were kept in POW camps until now because they really did not participate in criminal actions punishable by death. Almost 100% of the concession personnel of various countries were executed for participating in various criminal crimes. About 30% of foreign merchants in China were executed or sentenced for participating in drug trafficking and killing Chinese people.

Even as radical as Xu Chengfeng, after executing such a thorough action, he felt that He Rui's means were very ruthless. While feeling very satisfied, he also felt that there would inevitably be some unjust cases in so many killings.

As for the less radical comrades, they felt that it seemed inappropriate for He Rui to take action on these cases at the moment when the Asian International Tribunal was created.

Seeing the expressions of the comrades, He Rui felt that everyone was thinking wrong, so he explained, "If there really are unjust, false, and wrong cases, why can't we rehabilitate those who were killed? Is our face bigger than justice? Moreover, whether there are unjust cases or problems with the review, I think we must take advantage of the current situation to conduct a trial or retrial in front of legal experts from all over the world. If our laws are inappropriate, we should invite excellent legal experts from various countries to participate in the formulation and revision of our laws. Comrades, the opportunity is rare. It is impossible to invite so many world-famous legal experts to China in normal times. Since they are here, we certainly hope that the world's top legal experts can contribute to China's judicial construction."

For a time, the Central Committee members were silent. Finally, Xu Chengfeng asked frankly, "Chairman, what exactly is the reason?"

He Rui replied seriously, "What I just said is the purpose. As for the reason you think might exist, it is because the world does not understand our diplomatic principles. Through this trial of foreign assets in China, conducting the trial when there are so many reporters from all over the world, we can prove to the world through case by case what our diplomatic principles are."

Xu Chengfeng understood He Rui's view but felt that it was indeed unnecessary. Not only Xu Chengfeng, but quite a few members felt it was somewhat unnecessary.

He Rui had already made a decision, so he asked, "I want to ask now, who opposes this plan?"

At a meeting, if asking who supports, it is actually not easy to get support. But when asking who opposes, there may not be anyone who really opposes. This was the case this time. The committee members lowered their heads to think, then looked up at other committee members. Seeing that others were also unwilling but no one clearly opposed it, they could only let it go.

Just when He Rui decided to discuss the next issue, Xu Chengfeng spoke, "Chairman, I don't oppose. But I think there will definitely be many foreigners and foreign governments trying to use this opportunity to launch a counterattack against us. I think the Chairman knows this very well."

He Rui nodded. "Of course I know. If they all obediently say nothing, I would be disappointed instead."

Seeing He Rui admit this readily, Xu Chengfeng said nothing more, waiting for He Rui to start the next topic.

On April 8, the Chinese government announced to the world, 'The Chinese government establishes a special tribunal to accept appeals for foreign-related cases involved in China's unification war, especially cases involving foreign assets.'

The content was short, but the reaction triggered was huge! US Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg had ordered his assistants to send him news from China at any time. Getting up at 5:30 AM, Secretary of State Kellogg immediately got this news. After reading it once, Secretary of State Kellogg immediately ordered the car to be prepared and went to the White House.

At 6:00, Kellogg was invited into the small reception room by the White House presidential security personnel. President Coolidge appeared in the reception room in his pajamas. Being woken up so early, President Coolidge was still sleepy. But he felt that Kellogg would never do this without reason.

When President Coolidge finished reading the briefing, the servant had brought coffee. President Coolidge picked it up and took a sip, feeling a sourness rushing straight to his forehead. His brain cleared up a lot immediately, but his face wrinkled involuntarily.

Secretary of State Kellogg thought this matter was very serious and hurriedly explained, "Mr. President, the He Rui government did this to prepare for establishing formal diplomatic relations with various countries. Now, apart from Britain and Japan, the only country with strategic conflict with China is the Netherlands. Besides that, the contradiction between most countries in the world and China is mainly assets in China. Through this trial, He Rui should be able to solve the issue of assets of various countries in China. This sweeps away the stumbling block for He Rui to establish diplomatic relations with countries around the world."

Listening to the Secretary of State's explanation, Coolidge took another sip from the teacup. This time it was not as pungent as the last sip, so President Coolidge's expression smoothed out. Putting down the coffee cup, Coolidge asked, "Can American interests in China be fully guaranteed?"

"Mr. President, after the He Rui government came to power, our trade with China has expanded a lot. Moreover, I have previously entrusted the Department of Justice to assess the damage to American interests in China, and the result is quite surprising."

"Oh?" President Coolidge's brows raised slightly.

Secretary of State Kellogg continued to report, "Mr. President, China has proposed two of their principles in diplomacy. The first is not to recognize the interests in China obtained by foreign countries through war."

President Coolidge thought of the American War of Independence and nodded slightly.

"The second principle is that they recognize the interests of legitimate merchants in China and protect legitimate trade activities. After investigation by our Department of Justice, the executed American merchants indeed violated the laws and regulations of the Northeast Government. Moreover, China's judicial system belongs to the Continental Law System. The Department of Justice's investigation and assessment believe that the Republic government's trial of American merchants in China is basically fair and reasonable from the perspective of the Continental Law System."

"Oh?!" Coolidge was stunned. If what Kellogg said was true, it meant that He Rui not only verbally claimed that China was a civilized country but was also civilized in actual actions. This made President Coolidge feel incomprehensible.

This time Secretary of State Kellogg did not answer immediately. He picked up the coffee poured by the servant and took a sip, waiting for President Coolidge to understand. The President has to consider US domestic issues, so his thinking is quite different from the Secretary of State responsible for diplomacy. But the Secretary of State has no reason to cooperate with the President's thinking and choices.

Before becoming Secretary of State, Kellogg was a famous American lawyer. He knew very well what legal warfare was. He Rui's method of applying judicial struggle to international political struggle made Kellogg appreciate it very much and also feel very difficult to deal with.

The Asian International Tribunal publicly stated that there would be no discrimination based on religion, nationality, race, politics, or status. And the United States was a country with serious discrimination and a tradition full of racial violence. So it was very passive politically. Especially...

Just then, Coolidge asked, "Mr. Kellogg, do you have any suggestions for protecting Chinese Americans?"

Secretary of State Kellogg was happy in his heart. The President is the President after all; at this time, he can still distinguish priorities. He immediately put forward his opinion, "We don't need to have any agreement with the Chinese government politically. So let's launch a protection operation on the grounds of cracking down on crime and strengthening public security."