Duan Qirui raised the Speaker's gavel and struck it. With a *bang*, he announced that the Parliament of the Republic of China had passed the "Special Tariff Act on US". Reporters in the back row of the parliament stood up one after another and rushed out of the parliament entrance as fast as politeness allowed to report this matter.

The Civility Party members were quite calm; after all, the party caucus had communicated with everyone beforehand, and the decision on how to vote had already been made. Other members were emotional, especially a few members with hardline stances who had already begun to greet other non-Civility Party members, looking like they were preparing to start something else.

Duan Qirui walked straight down from the Speaker's seat, didn't even go to his office, and went straight to the parking lot behind. Once in the car, Duan Qirui unbuttoned his old Beiyang military uniform, which lacked rank insignias and medals, and let out a long breath. Duan Qirui had spent a lot of effort to make the old Beiyang members understand what to do now. At this moment, Duan Qirui just wanted to relax completely before the parliament convened in half a month. In between, he neither wanted to think about those bastards nor contact those bastards.

The car picked up Xu Shichang at the National Archives and went straight to the train station. Xu Shichang minded taking airplanes a bit, always feeling that things flying in the sky were unreliable. At this moment, he laughed, "I heard the express train to Tianjin is finally open; it takes less than 10 hours to get to Tianjin. That saves a lot of suffering."

After speaking, seeing Duan Qirui didn't speak, Xu Shichang looked at Duan Qirui's appearance and was somewhat puzzled, "What made Brother Duan so angry?"

"Isn't it those parliament members!" Thinking of those people, Duan Qirui was full of anger and said unhappily, "Grandstanding!"

Xu Shichang had organized the 'Anfu Club' parliamentary group with Duan Qirui, so he could understand Duan Qirui's mood quite well. However, thinking that the next parliament would probably be dominated by the Civility Party, Xu Shichang inevitably felt somewhat lost. Duan Qirui wasn't in the mood for that and continued unhappily, "Besides grandstanding, what else can these parliament members do? If the country is handed over to them, it will definitely not be good!"

These words left Xu Shichang speechless, and he could only sigh. The two arrived at the train station. At this time, a military train had stopped at the platform. Seeing through the window that the officers and soldiers were already sitting in their seats, the two were led into a carriage, which turned out to be a special carriage. He Rui was already sitting in the carriage, talking with three young men.

After introductions, Duan Qirui heard the name Wang Dongliu and felt it was somewhat familiar. Xu Shichang quickly remembered, "This Brother Wang, are you from the Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau?"

Wang Dongliu knew his father was an old acquaintance of Xu Shichang. After introducing his family background, he said, "I heard my father mention Director Xu; my father has always admired Director Xu's scholarship very much."

Hearing it was an old friend's son, Xu Shichang was also very happy. Duan Qirui also remembered at this time that he had eaten with Old Man Wang and evaluated Old Man Wang's insight highly. Seeing that Old Man Wang's most proud son could actually converse with He Rui, while admiring him in his heart, he also felt very lost. Both were old officials of the Qing Dynasty; why was the difference between Duan Qirui's son and others so big? Was it because Duan Qirui was not a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), so his family learning was not good enough?

He Rui didn't avoid Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang. Both of them knew the importance of things and would never leak secrets. Moreover, these two completely didn't understand turbojet engines and turboprop engines; even if they wanted to leak secrets, they couldn't leak anything. Avoiding the two would affect the relationship instead.

The three young men were highly anticipated young mid-level engineers in the Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau. They came this time to report on their work. Everyone was puzzled why the three of them were sent instead of the Chief Engineer. Everyone guessed that they might be valued, feeling both excited and worried. After exchanging greetings with Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang, they continued to talk carefully with He Rui about the design ideas of turbojet engines.

Now the global aircraft industry had not been developing for long. After China and Britain established peaceful and friendly relations, exchanges with the whole of Europe were very frequent. All three had just returned from an inspection in France and had a lot of ideas in their hearts.

"Chairman, we are now roughly certain that China's engine technology and aircraft technology, even if not leading Europe, are definitely not weaker than Europe. Especially in jet engines, Europe has related research but hasn't really formed a train of thought. For Europe, their research and development are all lone battles. Domestically, it is joint development. I feel our advantage is very large; now we even have prototypes..."

Wang Dongliu listened to his companion's statement and couldn't help nodding slightly. Before going to France, he was also somewhat worried, always feeling that Europe's scientific level and engineering level were higher than China's. Unexpectedly, the aircraft research and development he saw didn't show such an advantage at all. Wang Dongliu of course knew he must not underestimate Europe, but Wang Dongliu really felt Europe was a bit like a pewter spearhead that looks like silver (impressive looking but useless).

He Rui certainly knew why the Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau sent these three people, because it was He Rui who first made the request: 'Send three young capable generals researching turbine engines over; I'll chat with them.'

These three people in front of him should be the most promising young engineers in the Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau. He Rui listened quietly to the three making their report. After the three finished introducing Europe's development, they handed over a design drawing of a domestic turbojet engine. After taking it, He Rui slowly ran his finger along the main shaft of the engine design drawing, examining the design. When his finger slid from head to tail, He Rui closed the design drawing and returned it to the three.

Now the three young engineers were confused. They could roughly feel that He Rui indeed saw the knack, but none of the three were sure what specific knack He Rui saw after looking at it once. He Rui immediately became unfathomable in their feelings.

In another timeline, He Rui was very interested in design drawings, which led to He Rui knowing very limited specific technical details of industry. But as long as he gave the Chinese technical personnel of this timeline a rough design drawing, the Chinese technical personnel could understand. This was what He Rui liked most.

Just like turbojet engines, the literature He Rui had read introduced that the early life of these engines was 20-40 hours. Too many parts had to be solved by the development of materials science, so He Rui was not in a hurry to invest huge resources in turbojet engines.

He Rui took a stack of scratch paper and began to draw on it with a pencil at the level of a 'soul painter', talking while drawing.

There are also some technical know-hows in turbojet engines. Turbojet engines are divided into centrifugal and axial-flow types. At this stage, naturally, the axial-flow design is adopted first. There are technical details here. Rolls-Royce Engine Company was the first to develop two-spool and three-spool engines, relying on these technologies to lead and flourish in the world for decades.

Duan Qirui studied in a German military academy; he understood machinery and drafting. Seeing He Rui drawing personally, he immediately leaned over to look. Although Xu Shichang didn't understand these, seeing He Rui giving personal guidance, he immediately judged that this was an extremely important matter and also leaned over to look.

Wang Dongliu and the others were all skilled in drafting. What seemed to be inexplicable lines to Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang, in the eyes of the three, was a brand new design drawing of a turbojet engine. Even if the lines were rough, let alone beautiful, the design ideas outlined without any superfluous lines made all three feel the world became broader.

The two-spool structure, simply put, is to sleeve another shaft into a hollow single shaft, and its two ends are also connected to a set of compressors and turbines respectively. That is to say, a two-spool engine simultaneously possesses two sets of independently operating compressor-turbine sets, and compressors and turbines thus have a distinction between high pressure and low pressure.

He Rui's drawing was introducing the two-spool structure. When He Rui marked out the high-pressure set (high-pressure compressor, high-pressure turbine) connected by the high-pressure shaft close to both ends of the combustion chamber, and the low-pressure set (low-pressure compressor, low-pressure turbine) connected by the low-pressure shaft located on both sides of the high-pressure set, Wang Dongliu felt numb all over.

When He Rui marked the reverse rotation directions of the engine's high-pressure and low-pressure shafts with arrows, Wang Dongliu heard his colleague beside him let out a sigh like a lament, then uncontrollably said loudly, "I understand! I understand!"

Wang Dongliu also understood. When the engine is running, the two shafts rotate in reverse directions at different speeds. This can not only effectively improve the working efficiency of the whole machine but also cancel out the rotational torque generated by the two to the maximum extent. This can produce an engine that is extremely stable in flight.

Before the three could recover from the shock, He Rui drew a three-spool engine. Having understood the two-spool, the three-spool was not difficult to understand. It was nothing more than sleeving another shaft into the center of the two shafts, and then connecting a set of compressors and turbines (intermediate-pressure compressor, intermediate-pressure turbine) located between the high and low-pressure sets respectively.

After watching, Wang Dongliu only felt various originally unsystematic ideas in his mind begin to combine quickly, becoming a part under this set of design ideas.

Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang completely couldn't figure out what was going on, but they also understood that the ideas provided by He Rui far exceeded this group of Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau engineers. Now, Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang looked at each other and saw the incomprehension in each other's eyes. Those who could discuss problems with He Rui must be excellent engineers. But looking at it now, the level of these people was much worse than He Rui. This was somewhat baffling.

But He Rui didn't care. The reaction of the young engineers satisfied He Rui very much. That they could understand to this extent immediately proved that they were indeed the most outstanding young engineers in the Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau now, talents worth cultivating. If they were ordinary engineers, after seeing such a design, they would definitely not figure out what this idea was about.

On another piece of paper, He Rui continued to draw. This was the only design drawing of a turboprop engine He Rui remembered, which was also the engine cutaway view of the A-29 propeller plane in the 21st century.

Turbine engines need more than ten years to become mature and reliable, but turboprop engines are much simpler. Reduce the rotation speed of the turbojet engine and use the turbojet engine to drive the propeller. Turboprop engines could likely be developed in one or two years and mature in three or four years. If the flight speed of propeller fighters wants to exceed 550 kilometers per hour, they will encounter aerodynamic problems.

So what He Rui wanted to equip in the next few years was a combat-bomber general-purpose propeller fighter with 6-8 hours super endurance and a maximum speed of 550 kilometers per hour. And the A-29 is such an all-around combat aircraft. It can carry 1000 kilograms of external weapons, which is enough until 1942.

Aircraft using turboprop engines surpass the Zero fighter in various parameters across the board, especially the sturdiness of the aircraft, which is several times better than the Zero fighter. Moreover, turboprop engines burn kerosene, which is much cheaper than piston engines burning gasoline.

If the Japanese Zero fighter could fight the full game in the Pacific War, He Rui felt there would be no problem for new fighters using turboprop engines to fight until 1942.

Moreover, within the next 15 years, turboprop engines have immensely broad space in the civilian market. Even in the 1920s and 30s of the 21st century, many countries, including Russia, still used turboprop-driven propeller planes for regional aircraft. The reason is simple: this kind of short-haul regional aircraft with a range of 1000-2000 kilometers is really cheap.

He Rui said nothing about the future because He Rui's work was just to hand the future over to these young people and let them create the future. He Rui continued to work hard for the present to create more futures for China.

Wang Dongliu finally barely understood He Rui's train of thought, recovering from the state of turning a blind eye to everything else. He saw two colleagues: one was like an old monk in meditation, and the other raised his hand, drawing something in the air with his finger. Wang Dongliu knew his two colleagues were not hysterical, but like the process he went through, they were learning and integrating knowledge in their minds.

So Wang Dongliu looked at He Rui and saw He Rui had already drawn two pages of things. Ignoring others, Wang Dongliu leaned over to look and saw a reducer added to the turbojet engine on one sheet, and the shape of an airplane drawn on the other.

This aircraft adopted a cantilever low-wing and tricycle landing gear. Cantilever low-wing means a single wing located below the fuselage. Tricycle landing gear refers to the three sets of tires of the landing gear, one in front and two in the back.

The Air Force fighters of the National Defense Force basically adopted this design method, which had a huge advantage in the Sino-Japanese War and Sino-British War. It was heard that Britain had already begun to produce fighters with the same design. However, the plane He Rui drew had a huge glass cockpit and was a two-seater.

Looking at this design, the pilot had excellent vision, but this vision was already at a wasteful level. Wang Dongliu didn't dare to accuse He Rui either, so he could only ask, "Chairman, what plane is this?"

"This is a turboprop engine. This is an advanced trainer aircraft using a turboprop engine, belonging to the all-around type compatible with air combat and bombing. The Aircraft Manufacturing Bureau can produce exclusive models for air combat and bombing according to needs later." He Rui explained while adding the last few strokes.

Only then did Wang Dongliu relax. Wang Dongliu felt he couldn't accept producing such a flashy aircraft that didn't consider aerodynamic layout. Even facing He Rui, a peerless genius in engine design, Wang Dongliu couldn't pass it without argument.

After another while, Wang Dongliu's two colleagues also woke up from intense thinking. After seeing the turboprop engine and the advanced trainer, their reaction wasn't big. There is a saying in the Aircraft Design Bureau: 'With enough power, even a brick can fly.' As long as the engine is fierce enough, a brick can also fly in style.

The two-spool and three-spool designs solved various problems encountered by single-shaft turbojet engines. As engineers, they naturally hoped to implement the design ideas immediately.

When the three took the drawings to the back of the carriage to discuss, Duan Qirui asked, "Chairman He, do you usually give guidance to young people like this?"

He Rui could also take a breath, leaning back in the seat and answering, "It can't be called guidance. They are inherently excellent engineers; mine is just a humble opinion (one gain from a fool)."

Duan Qirui sighed, not knowing what to say. Xu Shichang also sighed slightly, having mixed feelings. As far as Xu Shichang knew, officials in the central government felt He Rui was never bound by fame and wealth, but Xu Shichang felt this might not be necessarily so. People say the moon waxes only to wane, and water brims only to overflow. Even though Xu Shichang didn't like He Rui, he sincerely admitted that He Rui's achievements could be said to benefit the whole world. Others pursued fame and wealth because they didn't have them. He Rui was already the Chairman of the Republic, his status and prestige far exceeding an emperor. For He Rui, what he lacked least was precisely fame and wealth.

Just like now, He Rui handed his design ideas to young talents for them to complete. When these people achieved fame and success, they wouldn't be stupid enough to oppose He Rui, right? If these people really did that, in Chinese culture it's called deceiving the master and destroying ancestors; everyone can execute them!

He Rui didn't use power for his own benefit and was willing to share with others; this point alone surpassed so-called wise rulers. Xu Shichang didn't expect to see such a figure in his lifetime. His own position was taken away by such a person, yet Xu Shichang didn't even have resentment.

This is fate! Xu Shichang sighed in his heart. While sighing, he suddenly thought of Zhang Xiluan again. Zhang Xiluan had vision and decisiveness; this had long been public opinion. As a person who supported the dragon (emperor/leader), it was only right to have today's status. However, the old man was so sensible that he hadn't asked about worldly affairs for many years. Now he invited He Rui to celebrate his birthday. And He Rui communicated with people even while taking the train, yet still went to celebrate the birthday. Could there be some major event in this?

The speed of internal combustion locomotives was much faster than steam engines. From the capital (Zhengzhou) to Tianjin, a railway journey of nearly a thousand kilometers actually arrived in just 10 hours. When they got off the train, it was already past 10 PM. The three went their separate ways. At 10 AM the next day, the three took a car to Zhang Xiluan's residence.

They saw the streets were several times wider than before, enough for 6 or 7 cars to drive together. Both sides of the street had been demolished into ruins, as if struck by a military disaster. But in the distance, many buildings were being built. They looked to be 6 or 7 stories high. On the construction site, migrant workers wearing masks were demolishing houses. Dust flew in the city, so much so that people riding bicycles and tricycles all over the street were wearing masks.

Duan Qirui didn't know whether to praise it or not, feeling very emotional in his heart. Such massive construction was something Duan Qirui had never thought of. In the past, building a house in the capital could attract a lot of attention. Now, whether in the new capital Zhengzhou or Tianjin before his eyes, he didn't know how many high-rise buildings were being built. But the market was not impacted; instead, because of the large number of workers employed in urban construction, everyone made money and life was much better. Duan Qirui himself couldn't figure out where so many capable officials in the government came from.

Calculated by time, these officials were at least 20 or 30 years old. Duan Qirui had every opportunity to bring these people under his command. But Duan Qirui just didn't meet these people, while the He Rui government could collect them all. Thinking of this, Duan Qirui only felt his heart ache.

The street where Zhang Xiluan's house was located hadn't been demolished. As soon as He Rui arrived, the Zhang family steward led He Rui in. Just entering the hall at the entrance, Zhang's eldest son had already come out to welcome him. Seeing He Rui, he immediately said, "Your nephew comes to welcome Chairman He."

After speaking, Zhang's eldest son was about to kneel. He Rui stepped forward and hugged Zhang's eldest son, stopping his kneeling action. He Rui said, "When I see Lord Zhang later, I must tell Lord Zhang that if this happens again, I won't come."

Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang sighed in their hearts; Old Zhang really knew how to behave! Since Zhang Xiluan made friends with He Rui, he always addressed him as 'Worthy Brother', so Zhang's eldest son, who was 50 years old this year, also had to call himself nephew. Zhang family descendants kneeling to welcome He Rui was not shameful. He Rui was only 37 years old. As long as the Zhang family descendants didn't court death themselves, they could ensure peace for decades to come.

Of course, Zhang's eldest son knew the new customs of the Republic and knew that He Rui really disliked kneeling. Since he was stopped by He Rui, naturally he didn't force it anymore. When He Rui let go of his arm, he led the three inside.

They saw only Zhang Xiluan and Mrs. Zhang sitting in the room. Seeing He Rui come in, Mrs. Zhang got up to welcome him and immediately arranged tea and refreshments for the three guests. Zhang Xiluan wanted to stand up, but He Rui hurriedly went up to support him and asked Zhang Xiluan to sit down. Zhang Xiluan held He Rui's hand and laughed, "Worthy Brother He, you... have become thinner."

"Lord Zhang looks hale and hearty; I am very happy," He Rui laughed.

Zhang Xiluan invited the three to sit down, held their hands together, and then said, "Worthy brothers, I invited everyone here this time because I really missed you worthy brothers. People say 73, 84, if the King of Hell doesn't call, one goes oneself. I am exactly 84 years old this year. If I couldn't see you worthy brothers again, I would really miss you very much in my heart." As he spoke, there were tears in his eyes.

He Rui hurriedly said, "Lord Zhang, I think you can live to be a hundred."

Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang also followed with words about Zhang Xiluan living a long life. And the two were indeed not hypocritical; seeing Zhang Xiluan's hair completely white and trembling a bit, their eyes were moist.

Zhang Xiluan let go of the three's hands and then said, "I invited the three worthy brothers here this time just to see the three of you. In addition, I also have something to say." After speaking, Zhang Xiluan called his children and grandchildren in and was about to stand up. He Rui hurriedly supported Zhang Xiluan to stand up. With He Rui's support, Zhang Xiluan walked to his descendants and made them kneel.

With a crash, they knelt all over the floor. Zhang Xiluan was originally tall. At this time, looking down from above, he said, "I, Zhang, came from the military (Hang wu) and haven't read books. In my life, I fought a few small battles with the Japanese and can't talk about any achievements. If talking about diligence and loving the people, I can't talk about it either; at most, I didn't prey on the people. Today, I say it again: Zhang family descendants must not learn from me; all must study. If you don't study well, family law will serve you. One more point, Zhang family descendants must be law-abiding. If anyone thinks that because I, Zhang Xiluan, have some friendship with Worthy Brother He Rui, they dare to act recklessly, the Zhang family will absolutely not tolerate such descendants and will definitely send them to the officials. After death, they may not enter the ancestral grave! If anyone dares to shield them, send them to the officials together! Did you hear?"

Hearing Zhang Xiluan ask this, the Zhang family descendants all answered carefully, "We heard!"

Zhang Xiluan turned around and held He Rui, "Worthy Brother, at my age, I have seen too many descendants of famous families who think they have ancestral protection. Not seeking progress is still good; committing crimes is very common. The result is not only disgracing the ancestors but also bringing a bad end to themselves. Worthy Brother, if you really feel that I, your brother, am sincere to you, Worthy Brother, if the Zhang family produces unfilial descendants, please, Worthy Brother, must eliminate them. If Worthy Brother is willing to help your brother take care like this, your brother can close his eyes in the Nine Springs (underworld)."

Duan Qirui felt Zhang Xiluan's sincerity and couldn't help thinking of his own son. While pained, he also couldn't help envying Zhang Xiluan. Although He Rui might not really take care of the Zhang family descendants in such a way, as long as He Rui could really execute a scum of the Zhang family, he could save one or two generations of the Zhang family.

The old man is not confused even at this age; truly enviable!