On the morning of September 8, the reveille sounded at the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. The slumbering cadets woke up by conditioned reflex, and a flurry of noise from getting out of bed erupted in every dormitory. Infantry cadet Aisin Gioro Puyi of the 39th Class, along with his classmates, dressed neatly within five minutes and ran towards the drill ground.

In 1925, Puyi went to Japan to study. After a series of selections, Puyi chose to attend the Imperial Japanese Army Academy first, just like He Rui. Fully dressed, he arrived at the drill ground with brisk steps like the other classmates.

After more than a year of study, Puyi was already very accustomed to life at the Military Academy. Through study and training, Puyi felt he had chosen the right school. The teaching at the Imperial Japanese Army Academy was rigorous and scientific, and not everyone could graduate smoothly. Its military education covered all aspects, and the courses taught were numerous and complex. To graduate, the courses one had to pass first included: Tactics; War History; Military Organization; Weaponry; Marksmanship; Aviation; Fortification Engineering; Transportation; Cartography; Hippology; Hygiene; Pedagogy; Military Education; General Education; and Foreign Languages.

The squad leaders in charge of morning exercises had booming voices, almost shouting from their chests. Under their command, Puyi and his classmates began morning exercises together.

Under this exertion, the young men's faces were all rosy. Famished, they headed straight for the canteen as soon as they were dismissed.

The meals at the Military Academy were monotonous, always soup, rice, and the like. Two classmates sat opposite Puyi, chatting with him while eating.

"Puyi-kun, which unit have you decided to go to?" Nanbu asked.

Kobayakawa next to him looked preoccupied but deliberately interrupted, "Do you even need to ask? It must be the Imperial Guards Division."

After 1920, cadets of the Military Academy had to serve in the troops for half an year. Puyi himself actually wanted to go to a unit with more actual combat experience, but he also knew he actually couldn't make the decision, so he could only shake his head, "I will go wherever the school arranges for me."

Nanbu swallowed a few mouthfuls of rice and couldn't help asking again: "Puyi-kun, if war breaks out between China and Japan, will you choose to join the Japanese army?"

Kobayakawa glared at Nanbu but said nothing. Puyi didn't mind much; he was interested in anything that could oppose He Rui. So he asked back: "Nanbu-kun, do you not hate He-kun?"

Nanbu was stunned, looking like he wanted to say something but stopped. His expression couldn't help becoming complicated, and even his eating speed slowed down a lot. When Puyi first decided to study at the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, he still held the determination of entering a dragon's pool and tiger's den. He felt that since He Rui had defeated Japan and killed so many Japanese, the Japanese military academy should presumably be filled with hatred towards Chinese people. The reality, however, was different from what Puyi thought.

Although Chinese students all left Japan after the war broke out between the Northeast and Japan, there used to be quite a few Chinese students in the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. Jiang Fangzhen and Cai E were both senior alumni with top grades. Aisin Gioro Liangbi was also Puyi's senior. The current students at the Military Academy were not as exclusionary towards Puyi, this 'Chinese classmate', as imagined.

Seeing that his classmate Nanbu couldn't answer, Puyi didn't press him and continued eating. Over the past year, he had gained a full understanding of the Japanese mentality of 'admiring the strong'. For He Rui, this 'Great Senior' who should logically be Japan's most powerful enemy right now, the students of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy actually held more admiration than hatred. Especially after the war started between China and Britain, as the Chinese army suppressed Britain in the fighting, the evaluations of He Rui in the Imperial Japanese Army Academy were actually mostly 'God of War of Asia', 'Genius unprecedented in China', and some Japanese cadets even considered He Rui to be the Asian Leader.

Consequently, Puyi was also looked upon with higher regard. This treatment made Puyi feel very helpless. He came to study at the Military Academy to some extent seeking the ability to contend with He Rui, not to serve under this 'Asian Leader' He Rui. Precisely because of the pressure from classmates looking up to him, it actually made Puyi strive his hardest to study and train, and his grades in all subjects were excellent in the Military Academy.

After eating, the students went back to the dorms to prepare before going to class. This class was War Theory. Arriving at the final Q&A session, Kobayakawa raised his hand requesting to speak. After receiving the teacher's permission, he stood up and asked: "Instructor, I want to ask, Britain has already started negotiations with China. Will Britain abandon Japan and make peace with China alone?"

As soon as these words came out, the students were in an uproar. Yesterday, news about Britain beginning negotiations with China had reached the Military Academy through private channels. Some cadets knew, but more did not. Someone had already forgotten classroom discipline and asked in astonishment: "Kobayakawa-kun, is what you said true?"

The instructor's face changed. The school had held a special meeting yesterday saying that instructors were not allowed to spread this news. The instructors knew this news would only deal a heavy blow to Japan, which was already near despair, so they naturally obeyed the order. But looking at it now, the instructors did not have the ability to monopolize information, and this kind of news would spread sooner or later.

At this time, Kobayakawa was already speaking loudly to his classmates: "Fellow students, the possibility of Sino-British peace is very high. His Excellency Ishiwara has already published views in military journals stating that what Britain seeks is the security of India. As long as China can satisfy this requirement, Britain has no necessity to continue fighting."

Hearing the name of Ishiwara, one of the 'Twin Walls' of the Army, the cadets all stood in awe. The instructor had mixed feelings in his heart. When Ishiwara was at the military academy, he was his instructor. His overall evaluation of Ishiwara was not high, but he was deeply impressed by Ishiwara's perceptiveness in strategy. Later, the instructor served in the army for a period and returned to teach at the Military Academy, only to hear students mention this name again.

Kobayakawa was agitated at this time and continued to speak loudly: "Fellow students, Ishiwara-kun has analyzed Britain's strategy. After China becomes strong, it contains Soviet Russia to the north and stops American power from moving west to the east. Once China and Britain sign a peace treaty, to the south it can guarantee the safety and stability of Southeast Asian colonies. And since the mainlands of China and Britain are far apart, peace and friendship between Britain and China are of great benefit to British interests. At such a time, Japan's utility value to Britain becomes very low! We cannot fail to consider Japan's current status from the perspective of Geopolitics."

Hearing the term 'Geopolitics', Puyi's breathing became somewhat unsmooth. Before coming to Japan, he had heard of 'Geopolitics'. In rumors, this was a discipline created by He Rui during his study in Japan. Puyi himself was unwilling to believe it. He felt it must be He Rui taking Japanese Geopolitics to use as a facade for himself.

Only after studying for more than a year did Puyi barely accept the fact that Geopolitics was indeed founded by He Rui. Hearing Sino-British relations analyzed using Geopolitics at this moment, Puyi only felt extremely uncomfortable.

Kobayakawa was extremely emotional at this time, so he simply said loudly: "Gentlemen, the Empire has now fallen into a strategic predicament. Whether it is the surrounding China, Soviet Union, United States, or Britain, France, and the Netherlands, we cannot defeat any of them. If China and Britain make peace, the Empire's strategic predicament becomes a desperate situation. Now there is only one way to break the deadlock!"

"Enough! Kobayakawa, shut up," the instructor shouted angrily. But his angry emotion was not straightforward, because the instructors also clearly knew Japan's current strategic desperation and were burning with anxiety inside. Since a student wanted to say something, the instructor didn't truly want the student to shut up.

Kobayakawa looked at the instructor apologetically and wanted to sit down. But a rush of heat surged in his chest, and he couldn't help but say: "China will be more powerful and will inevitably not be satisfied with its current status. In this one war, China seized hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of colonies. If China and Japan join hands, with China's army and the Great Japanese Empire's naval strength, we have the full ability to drive the Anglo-American brutes out of Asia!"

"Hasegawa!" The instructor finally scolded sternly.

Hasegawa hurriedly bowed to the instructor in apology and sat back in his seat amidst the shocked gazes of all the classmates. Puyi only felt as if struck by five thunderbolts. China and Japan uniting to jointly oppose Europe and America—such an idea was too crazy. Moreover, once China and Japan united, what would Puyi do? Would he have to leave Japan and go to Europe or America to seek their support?

Seeing that the lesson could no longer continue, the instructor snapped his lecture notes shut and shouted to the students: "Class dismissed!"

Without waiting for the students to stand up and salute, the instructor shouted: "Kobayakawa, come to my office after class!" After speaking, he turned and left. With the sound of military boots stamping angrily on the floor, the instructor's figure disappeared outside the classroom door. Kobayakawa hurriedly stood up and chased in the direction of the instructor.

The cadets left in the classroom immediately exploded. Those who didn't dare to be completely sure that China and Britain had started peace talks discussed spiritedly. Another portion began discussing Japan's future strategy. Puyi was left to one side. When some classmates joined the discussion, their gazes constantly swept over Puyi.

Puyi sat in a daze, his mind in a turmoil, completely without a clue.

Ishiwara Kanji, mentioned by his juniors, was currently chanting Buddhist sutras calmly in his office at the Anglo-Japanese Coalition Headquarters, "...If there is anyone who holds the name of this Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, even if they enter a great fire, the fire cannot burn them, due to the imposing spiritual power of this Bodhisattva; if they are drifted by great waters, calling his name, they will immediately reach a shallow place; if there are hundreds of thousands of millions of billions of beings, seeking gold, silver, lapis lazuli, giant clam shell, agate, coral, amber, pearls and other treasures, entering into the great ocean, even if a black wind blows their ship and it drifts to the land of Rakshasa ghosts, if among them there is even one person who calls the name of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, all these people will be liberated from the difficulty of the Rakshasas..."

Ishiwara was originally a believer of the Nichiren Sect in Japan. After learning that Britain and China decided to start negotiations, Ishiwara took out the Buddhist sutras and began reading. The Nichiren Sect, also known as the Hokke (Lotus) Sect, is one of the major sects of Japanese Buddhism. It was founded by the Japanese monk Nichiren in the mid-Kamakura period (about the 13th century).

The Hokke Sect was originally a Chinese Buddhist sect, originating from Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai in Zhejiang. Its doctrine is mainly based on the *Lotus Sutra* (*Miao Fa Lian Hua Jing*), hence it is called the Tiantai Sect. The Tiantai Sect was the earliest sect founded in Chinese Buddhism and was transmitted to Japan by the Japanese monk Saicho in the early 9th century.

The Tiantai Sect lineage claims nine patriarchs: Nagarjuna, Huiwen, Huisi, Zhiyi, Guanding (Great Master Zhang'an), Zhiwei, Huiwei, Xuanlang, and Zhanran.

Others consider Zen Master Huiwen as the first patriarch, or Great Master Zhiyi as the first patriarch. Great Master Zhiyi was a disciple of Zen Master Huisi; he inherited the Zen meditation of southern China and the Madhyamaka view of the Sanlun Sect (Three Treatise School) of the north, and revered the *Lotus Sutra*, hence it is also called the Hokke Sect.

Regardless of whether it is the Chinese or Japanese Nichiren Sect, they all revere the *Lotus Sutra*. Ishiwara's chanting tone was very devout, "...True gaze, pure gaze, broad and great wisdom gaze, compassionate gaze and merciful gaze, constantly wishing, constantly looking up to. Spotless pure light, the sun of wisdom breaking all darkness, able to subdue calamities of wind and fire, universally illuminating the world. The body of compassion is the thunder, the mind of mercy is the wondrous great cloud, raining down the sweet dew of Dharma rain, extinguishing the flames of affliction. In places of litigation before officials, or terrified in the midst of military arrays, mindfulness of that Avalokitesvara's power will cause all enemies to retreat and scatter..."

A British officer passed by Ishiwara's office. Hearing Ishiwara chanting Buddhist sutras, he unconsciously stopped to listen for a moment, feeling that this chanting had some similarities with the chanting of monks in Myanmar.

"It seems the culture of the Chinamen is all the same," the British officer thought in his heart. With such a mood, the British officer continued walking towards the Staff Department within the headquarters.

Inside the British Staff Department, a border demarcation report was currently being discussed. Given the understanding of Asia by those lords in Downing Street or Whitehall in London, heaven knows what big jokes they would produce. It wasn't to say that these lords were selling out the country, but in traditional European cognition, 'china' was China; citing the Arab appellation, it was also called 'Taugast'.

North of Persia and east of India were all called china. In the eyes of Europeans and the British, European expansion into the china region did not start from 1840, but had been going on for hundreds of years since the Age of Exploration.

This Anglo-Japanese War was considered the formal beginning of a counterattack by china. This border demarcation issue was an important means of probing China's attitude. As soon as this officer entered the office, he heard a staff officer ask: "Will China make any demands regarding Nepal?"

No one answered immediately. This officer's gaze, along with other officers, fell on the map. The current Line of Actual Control between China and Britain was very clear; it was the traditional border line of the china region. What still remained in British hands at this time was the India region, and the Yangon area in the southeast corner of the Myanmar region. British officers who had been to India and Myanmar were very clear that apart from the Yangon region, one could distinguish the difference in race between the regions occupied by China and Britain just by looking at appearance.

After a period of silence, someone asked again: "Will China accept giving up Lower Burma?"

Lower Burma was the coastal region of Myanmar and also the land in the Myanmar region earliest conquered by Britain. With British naval thinking, although China would enter the Indian Ocean after possessing the coast of Lower Burma, such an isolated region would have limited deterrence. However, Britain was still unwilling to let China possess an outlet to the Indian Ocean.

In the Staff Department of the British Indian Army, still no one answered immediately. But after a moment, someone finally said: "If we make the Chinese give up Lower Burma, what will China demand?"

Now, apart from Yangon, the Lower Burma region was in Chinese hands. The British Indian Army really did not want to pay a huge price to seize this land. The Staff Department had estimated that to seize all of Lower Burma, disregarding whether it could succeed first, they had to be prepared to pay the price of tens of thousands of casualties among British homeland troops.

Based on British diplomatic experience, what could not be obtained on the battlefield could not be obtained at the negotiation table. If it couldn't be solved by war, it could only rely on trade. If China was willing to give up Lower Burma, Britain would have to pay from other regions. Looking at the long border line on the map, everyone in the Staff Department of the British Indian Army had a headache.