Dawn broke. A famished Kita Ikki went outside the hotel to find something to eat. In his memory, there used to be several breakfast stalls nearby. Now, quite a few dilapidated houses in this area had been demolished, and he wondered if the stalls were still there.

Following his memory, he walked for a while and saw from a distance that the first floors of the residential buildings along the street were all storefronts, and several breakfast shops were already open for business. The sign above one of them read "Zhou's Pan-Fried Buns". Just looking at the name, it was the shop from Kita Ikki's memories. He walked quickly to the entrance and saw that the tables inside and the folding tables set up on the sidewalk along the street were filled with men and women. They were dressed differently—clerks, workers, laborers—but everyone sat around the tables, with golden pan-fried buns and savory tofu pudding in the plates before them. This was exactly the breakfast from Zhou's Pan-Fried Buns that Kita Ikki remembered.

Walking inside, he saw a familiar face. The owner's hair was already graying, and he was shoveling freshly made pan-fried buns out of the pan. Through the aroma wafting from the buns, Kita Ikki could still recognize him as the same owner. The owner clearly didn't remember Kita Ikki, but he asked warmly in Shanghainese, "Guest, what would you like to eat?"

Kita Ikki could tell that the owner had long forgotten him. Seeing so many people around, Kita Ikki didn't strike up a conversation. Before long, carrying a plate of pan-fried buns and a bowl of soy milk, he found an empty seat and sat down next to three young men. The young men were carrying schoolbags and looked like students. Two of them were eating and chatting about going to the court today to participate in the case where the former British Concession was trying to reclaim "Concession property".

It was audible that the two young men were somewhat resigned. They naturally didn't want to work on a case for the former British Concession authorities, but the case had been assigned to their team, so they had no choice.

Kita Ikki's Chinese was good, and his familiarity with the Jiangnan accent far exceeded that of Northern Chinese. Listening to the young men's complaints, Kita Ikki felt quite happy. Just then, the other young man, who had been burying his head in his food, finished all his pan-fried buns and savory tofu pudding. He asked the server for a napkin, wiped his mouth and hands, and sighed, "You guys should be content. I still have to busy myself with the bidding for the hangman's noose. What kind of lousy job is this!"

Hearing this, Kita Ikki really couldn't hold back and asked, "Young brothers, is the noose you mentioned for the International Tribunal?"

The three young men saw that Kita Ikki spoke and acted like a scholar, so they didn't refuse to answer. The other two had also finished their meal, and the three stood up to leave. Kita Ikki watched their retreating figures without anger. It appeared the three likely worked at the court. If they were Japanese, they would likely have sternly rebuked Kita Ikki for his rudeness. Although they were also officials, the young officials here in China were much more amiable.

After finishing his meal, Kita Ikki followed the address and rode a bicycle straight to the "Asian International Tribunal Compensation Committee". Along the way, on the roads that seemed unreasonably wide, bicycles came and went. Everyone looked like they were in a hurry, rushing to work. The streets of Shanghai used to be lively too, and it wasn't necessarily much livelier now. But in the past, there were many people soliciting customers on the streets, and many people sitting by the roadside waiting for work opportunities. Such people were almost invisible in Shanghai now; everyone seemed to have a clear goal, moving forward one by one without any hesitation.

The Compensation Committee was in a standalone building. The parking lot in the open space at the entrance was densely packed with bicycles, numbering at least several hundred. Just looking at this, one could sense how many people were busy inside the building.

He handed the introduction letter he had received yesterday to the guard at the building entrance. Before long, following behind the guard, Kita Ikki stopped at the door of an office on the third floor. The office door was open. Professor Taira Toyomori turned his head, saw Kita Ikki, stood up, and came out to welcome him. The guard confirmed Kita Ikki's identity with Professor Taira and then withdrew.

Walking into the office filled with bookshelves and various documents, Kita Ikki sighed, "Mr. Taira, the security here is very tight. That's great. If you return to Japan, I'm afraid you will encounter danger."

Taira Toyomori closed the door and sighed, "Tokyo University has sent a letter urging me to return. I have decided to go back."

Kita Ikki was stunned and immediately advised, "Mr. Taira, it would be better if you didn't go back."

"Some friends are also worried about my safety. But after thinking it over, I still feel I must go back. Given the current situation in Japan, if I don't return, the *Outline for Domestic Market Construction* will be completely negated. I must go back."

Kita Ikki wanted to persuade him further, but Taira Toyomori waved his hand. "Kita-kun, in the past, when Lord Yoshida faced the Shogunate's interrogation, he calmly recounted his lifelong plans. If I stay in China today to seek refuge, wouldn't it make people look down on the philosophy of building a future Japan?"

Taira Toyomori's voice was very calm and composed, but Kita Ikki felt a rush of heat go straight from his chest to his forehead. He exclaimed in shock, "Mr. Taira, are you going to martyr yourself for the Way?"

Taira Toyomori smiled. "Kita-kun, do not underestimate the government. With Lord Yoshida's example before them, I'm afraid they don't have that kind of courage."

Kita Ikki was agitated and did not agree with Taira Toyomori's view. The "Lord Yoshida" Professor Taira spoke of was Yoshida Shōin. This man opened a private school to teach, and students like Kusaka Genzui, Takasugi Shinsaku, Kido Takayoshi, Itō Shunsuke (Hirobumi), Yamagata Kyōsuke (Aritomo), Inoue Kaoru, and Maebara Issei were all his disciples.

After Yoshida was killed, his disciples Kido Takayoshi, Itō Hirobumi, Takasugi Shinsaku, Yamagata Aritomo, and others completely despaired of the Shogunate and embarked on the path of armed overthrow of the Shogunate, finally toppling it. Kita Ikki knew this old history, so he was extremely worried about Professor Taira's safety.

Just then, Professor Taira asked, "Kita-kun, what are your thoughts on coming to China this time?"

"Mr. Taira, I was forced to flee to China this time." Kita Ikki then told Taira Toyomori about the Japanese government beginning to implement controls. Kita Ikki had received news in a hurry and managed to escape. He wasn't very clear on exactly how many people the Japanese government had arrested. He could only tell Taira Toyomori some things he had heard through the grapevine.

Taira Toyomori didn't interrupt, just listened quietly, his gaze gradually becoming deep and profound. When Kita Ikki finished speaking, Taira Toyomori asked, "Since you have come, Kita-kun, is there anyone you want to see?"

"This subordinate wishes to seek an audience with Chairman He, to request his help for the Japanese revolution. We have reached a critical juncture. I believe that with Chairman He's magnanimity, he certainly won't take advantage of the situation to do anything untoward. As long as the Japanese revolution succeeds and China and Japan advance together, Asia will be saved!"

Hearing Kita Ikki finish, Taira Toyomori picked up a pen and dashed off a letter with a few sentences. Switching to new stationery, Taira Toyomori began writing again. This time the writing speed was much slower, with many pauses for contemplation. Finally finished, Taira Toyomori put the two letters into separate envelopes and handed them to Kita Ikki.

"Kita-kun, this one is a letter of recommendation. With this letter, given my relationship with He-kun, he should meet you. As for the other one, give it to him on my behalf after you meet He-kun." With that, Taira Toyomori stood up. "Kita-kun, I have a meeting today, so I won't host you any longer. As for the liaison, I will make arrangements. I will also send a telegram to He-kun to inform him of this matter."

Kita Ikki wanted to say more, but Taira Toyomori had already gone out the door. Helpless, Kita Ikki could only leave first.

That afternoon, He Rui's office delivered Taira Toyomori's telegram to He Rui's hand. After reading it, He Rui couldn't help but sigh. The secretary rarely saw He Rui with such an expression and said, "Chairman, the report from Shanghai says that President Taira has already booked a flight to the Northeast for tomorrow. If you want President Taira to stay, we can arrange it."

"...No need. Everyone has their own aspirations. Since Professor Taira has the spirit of Yoshida Shōin, stopping him would only make Professor Taira feel that I underestimated him." After speaking, He Rui sighed again.

"Chairman, who is Yoshida Shōin?" The secretary was very puzzled.

He Rui couldn't help but smile bitterly. More than sixty years had passed; in Japan, actually only those who understood the Bakumatsu era very well remembered Yoshida Shōin's name. He then recounted the names of Yoshida Shōin's disciples to the secretary. Hearing these illustrious figures of the Meiji era, the secretary was even more puzzled. "Why does Yoshida Shōin have no reputation?"

"He was killed more than sixty years ago," He Rui sighed, and then told the secretary about how Yoshida Shōin was killed.

The Shogunate had arrested Yoshida twice. The second arrest was because they believed there must be some connection between Yoshida Shōin and the *Sonnō Jōi* (Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians) faction members like Yanagawa Seigan and Umeda Unpin, and that an anonymous letter thrown into the Imperial Palace looked like Shōin's handwriting.

Yoshida Shōin replied that Umeda had always been cunning and had nothing to do with him; moreover, his own character was open and aboveboard, he did not engage in conspiracies, and he had his own plans. He then revealed his activities for the country and people since the American ships came to Japan in the 6th year of Kaei, as well as his plan to assassinate the Elder Manabe Akikatsu.

The Shogunate was shocked and threw Shōin into the Tenmachō Prison. Later, the Edo Magistrate conducted a second interrogation, and the Tairō Ii Naosuke personally changed the sentence of exile determined by the Edo Magistrate to a death sentence. The death penalty was announced on the morning of October 27, 1859, and he was beheaded at the Kozukappa Execution Grounds at 10 a.m. that day. He was thirty years old.

The secretary was stunned. He hadn't expected Yoshida Shōin to be so spirited, and he understood why He Rui was sighing repeatedly. Taira Toyomori had been He Rui's academic partner more than a decade ago, and they had written the book *Introduction to Geopolitics* together. Afterwards, the two had corresponded frequently, continuing their academic exchange. The current Taira Toyomori was Japan's premier scholar of law and geopolitics. For such a great scholar to return to his country at this time, he must have had the resolve to be imprisoned or even killed.

Just as the secretary was judging whether the control measures adopted by the Japanese government would lead to Taira Toyomori's imprisonment, he heard He Rui say, "Since Professor Taira recommended Kita Ikki to see me, I don't want to disappoint Professor Taira. Let Kita Ikki come to the capital."

The secretary asked, "The comrades in Shanghai want Kita Ikki to stay in Shanghai a while longer, to let him see the changes in Shanghai."

"No need. Professor Taira has already done a great deal of propaganda for China. Whether Kita Ikki sees it with his own eyes or not makes little difference. Moreover, Kita Ikki's current mood is the mood of many Japanese revolutionary aspirants. I also want to see to what extent the sentiment within Japan has reached."

The secretary left with his orders, and He Rui picked up the latest report to read. It was a consumption analysis based on bookkeeping tables from hundreds of rural Supply and Marketing Cooperatives. In 1925, consumption in Supply and Marketing Cooperatives everywhere was quite good. Aside from sufficient consumption of salt, farm tools, and needlework items, consumption of commodities like cotton cloth and rubber-soled shoes was quite active.

By 1926, this consumption suddenly dropped. But occurring simultaneously with the decrease in consumption was an explosion in the number of farmers buying bicycles on installment plans.

Based on an analysis of Chinese rural purchasing power in 1925, if an ordinary rural family was relatively frugal and saved money for a year, they could barely afford a bicycle. The installment plan was for three years, grasping the needs of rural families very precisely.

According to the assessment by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, bicycle sales in China in 1926 could potentially reach 10 million units. By February 1926, 8.37 million units had already been sold. For any plan, once the fluctuation range exceeds 20%, the plan can be considered a failure. Not to mention a fluctuation exceeding 65%, so much so that the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Civil Affairs no longer dared to make assessments.

Fortunately, installment plans required an application first, and production was organized only after orders arrived, so it didn't catch the Ministry of Industry off guard. Currently, the various types of bicycle orders submitted by counties had already exceeded 3 million units.

The current economic policy was to develop the domestic market, and the thirty-plus bicycle factories distributed across the country were producing for their lives. Although there would be some shortages, there wouldn't be too large a demand gap.

After reading the report, He Rui called Wu Youping. "Youping, how are preparations going for the bidding meeting to allow domestic capital to invest in the bicycle industry?"

Wu Youping's voice sounded very unhappy on the phone. "Chairman, I just scolded the person in charge of the Northeast General Factory. I asked them to set standards, and they surprisingly still haven't produced them."

"You also scold people? Haha!" He Rui was amused.

Wu Youping immediately replied, "I told them, bring out however much you've done. If they can't produce it in two weeks, bring their heads to see me!"

He Rui couldn't say much more to that, so he changed the subject. "I saw that matter regarding the hangman's noose. What do you think?"

Hearing this, Wu Youping hesitated for a moment. "Chairman, I haven't heard about it yet. Let me ask first. I'll call you this afternoon."

Putting down He Rui's phone, Wu Youping immediately called his secretary. "What's this about the noose?"

"The noose... Some of the trial results are out now. Many criminals from the the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) have been sentenced to death. Some legal experts proposed adopting the death penalty customs of the countries the condemned belong to. It's best to execute those from the ANZAC sentenced to death by hanging. Then some British media criticized our hanging as inhumane, saying British hanging standards are higher. Newspapers also got involved, actually getting into a shouting match, saying China doesn't have the capability to produce high-quality nooses."

...Wu Youping didn't know what to say for a moment. Did executing these sadistic murderers require a high-grade noose? A sturdy hemp rope would suffice! Did they expect to use white silk to hang this bunch of criminals? That was the level of a bestowed suicide; the ANZAC criminals really didn't deserve it.

Thinking of this, Wu Youping wanted to call He Rui. But before his hand touched the phone, Wu Youping withdrew his palm. "Are there any production areas for high-quality rope in the country recently?"

The secretary immediately replied, "Premier, there actually are. Two years ago, when the Chairman laid out the domestic industrial circles, he suggested planting sisal in some drier areas of Guangxi. The period from planting to harvest for sisal is two years, and the harvest is just starting recently. The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry, and Ministry of Commerce produced a joint report, wanting to sell the white brown rope made from sisal fiber, a subtropical and tropical specialty, to the Soviet Union. And they invited Soviet comrades to conduct tests with us on the effectiveness of using white brown rope in high-latitude cold zones."

Wu Youping felt he understood at this moment why He Rui had mentioned the noose. He Rui's line of thinking on economic development could be described as "very thorough"; as long as there was a gimmick for publicity, he would utilize it. Wu Youping immediately picked up the phone. When the other party connected, Wu Youping asked, "Minister Mo, do you have time to come to my place?"