State banquet halls were typically located in either the Great Hall of the People or the State Guesthouse. Both venues offered sufficiently large spaces and possessed specialized security systems. Although the Great Hall of the People was open to the public when meetings were not in session, ordinary citizens could only access it through normal channels and had absolutely no contact with the secret security protocols.

The dinner reception for Baldwin was held in the West Flower Hall of the State Guesthouse, utilizing Chinese-style round tables. There were six tables in total, with eight people seated at each. As a Chinese leader of equivalent rank to the Prime Minister of the British Empire, Wu Youping felt increasingly relaxed. Throughout the banquet, Wu Youping was courteous, refined, and humorous.

At least, Wu Youping considered himself to be so.

Judging by the expression of the 67-year-old British Prime Minister Baldwin, he did not seem to fully accept Wu Youping as a leader of truly equal standing. No matter how polite and humorous Wu Youping’s performance was, Baldwin still felt he was condescending slightly. As the Prime Minister of the British Empire, he felt he should at least be exchanging toasts with He Rui.

But Wu Youping had already passed the stage of psychological maladjustment and faced the British Prime Minister with a mindset of complete equality. Seeing the situation, British Foreign Secretary Chamberlain—the elder brother—asked if He Rui would make an appearance in the upcoming itinerary. Wu Youping replied politely, "Hasn't everything already been arranged?"

Secretary Chamberlain met with a soft rebuff and awkwardly fell silent. Prime Minister Baldwin had by now realized that in the eyes of the Chinese government, he was merely a British civil servant with a status equivalent to the Chinese Premier. Even if he felt stifled, there was no other recourse. After the British fleet was sunk by China’s suicide aircraft squadrons off the coast of Shanghai, Britain had lost its qualification for gunboat diplomacy. Unable to employ gunboat diplomacy, Britain’s capacity to intervene in China was merely that of an ordinary nation.

After a war involving millions of troops between China and Britain had concluded, if Britain did not accept China’s official view of Britain, they could have chosen not to come to China. Furthermore, China’s understanding was not incorrect; the position of the British Prime Minister within the British system was indeed equivalent to China’s Premier. Unless Prime Minister Baldwin came to China in his capacity as the leader of Britain's ruling party, only then could he seek parity with He Rui in terms of party leadership during inter-party exchanges.

However, such a notion was merely a joke. Leaving aside whether the Chinese Civilized Party would accept a visit from the British Prime Minister as a party leader, even if they did, the Prime Minister would inevitably face unprecedented attacks back home, and his tenure as Prime Minister would be over.

Baldwin was, after all, sixty-seven years old and deeply understood the ways of the world, so his acceptance of this was relatively high. Moreover, the dishes at the Chinese state banquet were delicious, which actually made the Prime Minister feel quite comfortable. After eating until he was seventy percent full, Baldwin asked, "Mr. Premier, Chairman He’s views are admirable. I imagine you must face great pressure when formulating and executing policies, do you not?"

Hearing the Prime Minister’s sigh, Wu Youping, as a counterpart, also felt a touch of emotion. "The current pressure stems from the fact that China’s industrialization time has been very short, and we lack experience. Establishing the institutions required for an industrialized era in China places great pressure on the State Council."

Baldwin felt much more balanced internally and said, "Britain can offer many suggestions in these fields."

Wu Youping replied with ease, sticking to the matter at hand. "If the opportunity arises, I look forward to cooperation between our two nations. However, the national conditions of China and Britain differ. I believe that when exchanging specific details, unavoidable misunderstandings might arise, regardless of subjective desires for friendship."

Baldwin sensed no malice from Wu Youping, yet he found these words quite objectionable. In Baldwin’s view, Britain was, after all, the current world hegemon, with a per capita income far above China’s. China ought to be sincerely asking Britain for advice on how to become a civilized nation more quickly.

With this mood, Baldwin asked with a forced smile, "I wonder where the difference lies?"

Wu Youping sensed Baldwin’s pride and acknowledged that Britain’s per capita income indeed greatly exceeded China’s. However, while per capita was a very important figure in the national economy, a nation's overall strength was not solely determined by it. Moreover, China had also entered the industrial age. With industrial society as a carrier for wealth, China’s per capita income was also increasing rapidly, and the gap with Britain was closing fast.

"China is the world's largest citizen-based state. From Chairman He down to everyone in China, all are equal, and there is no distinction in their legal status. The total population of the various demographics in the British Empire is roughly similar to China’s, but there is a vast gap compared to China regarding national identity. As a citizen-based state, the treatment enjoyed by citizens should be consistent," Wu Youping stated frankly.

Baldwin felt as if this forty-year-old youngster across from him had delivered a fierce counterattack, and for a moment, it was somewhat awkward. Although the system in the British Isles was similar to a republic, the population of the British Isles were subjects, not citizens, and legally there were distinctions of high and low. Not to mention the subjects outside the British Isles were divided into various classes. In this regard, Wu Youping’s words could not even be considered mockery; they were merely a statement of fact.

But Baldwin was the Prime Minister, after all, and possessed at least this much breadth of mind. Since Wu Youping was speaking of reality, he quickly admitted, "There is truth in what you say. Mr. Premier, the British Empire is also constantly elevating the status of its people and attempting to resolve the problems that exist within the Empire."

"I believe Britain is indeed making an effort."

"Oh? Then do you have any suggestions?" Baldwin asked casually.

Wu Youping had originally not intended to speak to Britain about this, as such matters could easily cause misunderstandings. However, since Baldwin had asked, Wu Youping could not suppress the impulse in his heart and said, "The disparities within a country are immense. China uses fiscal transfers domestically to provide infrastructure funding to backward regions, elevating their economic development. This kind of fiscal transfer may seem like a loss in the short term, but in the long term, it raises the development level of the entire country. Even for advanced regions, such as Shanghai—the goods Shanghai produces cannot possibly be consumed by Shanghai alone; they must be sold to the whole of China. The more developed the economy of all Chinese regions, the more developed Shanghai’s economy can become."

Baldwin was the Prime Minister; governing the country was one of his jobs. Hearing Wu Youping’s explanation, he wanted to nod, but sighed internally. Fiscal transfer was not an unknown concept in Britain; there had been many discussions and some implementation. Overall, the British upper class knew very well that fiscal transfer was a system that greatly offended people.

The systems of China and Britain were different. China, adopting centralization, had a much higher tolerance for offending people than Britain. Baldwin was actually quite envious and couldn't help but say, "It seems the gap between the systems of China and Britain is indeed very large. Mr. Premier, on this kind of policy, China differs from Britain."

"It is not that we are different, it is just a question of whether Britain has enough courage. For example, if Britain granted independent status to its colonies and formed a more equal Commonwealth, there would be a legal basis for fiscal transfers between the various economic entities of the Commonwealth. The increase in consumer power of the populations in various regions would mean an increase in Britain’s overall wealth. England might seem to be paying out, but it could quickly recoup the costs. Based on China’s current experience, the economy of the England region would achieve tremendous development."

The faces of Baldwin and the several British ministers at the table couldn't help but change. Especially Foreign Secretary Chamberlain, whose first thought was whether China wanted to disintegrate Britain. But following Wu Youping’s line of thought, he could find no words that could be interpreted that way.

Prime Minister Baldwin took it a bit better. Because British domestic society was not one of equality for all, policies to increase colonial autonomy and promote investment by British merchants in various colonies had been proposed by members of both the Labour and Conservative parties. Now hearing Wu Youping’s words, Baldwin’s overwhelming feeling was that the systemic gap between China and Britain was indeed vast. Policies that were effective in China would trigger utter chaos across the entire country in Britain.

At this moment, Baldwin had to admit to a certain extent that among the advantages held by China and Britain, those where China held the upper hand were not necessarily fewer than Britain's.

After the banquet concluded, Prime Minister Baldwin held a briefing with the accompanying British ministers. Several ministers expressed that Wu Youping’s words seemed insufficiently prudent from a diplomatic standpoint. But after voicing these opinions, the other ministers made no further statements. Saying that much was a basic professional requirement. But saying one word more would turn it into internal strife. Because none of these ministers were willing to bear the responsibility for deteriorating Sino-British relations.

The briefing ended with no results. When Prime Minister Baldwin woke up the next day, a briefing document was already prepared. Draping a silk robe over his shoulders, the Prime Minister put on his glasses and began to flip through it. The first item was that the International Human Rights Organization general assembly had completed its resolution and formally became an international organization. The founding nations were China, the Soviet Union, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Ryukyu, Hungary, Iran, Thailand, Upper Burma, and Assam.

Western Europe had always said that Russia was a mixed-blood nation with Mongol bloodlines rooted within it. And Hungary was known as the descendants of the Huns, their ancestors coming from the East. Looking at this list, there was not a single nation of pure white lineage.

Although the International Human Rights Organization had become an inter-governmental organization, it allowed human rights organizations from non-member nations to participate in its various activities as members. The British branch of the International Human Rights Organization was one such member.

The most explosive news was not this, but that the International Human Rights Organization had rejected the application of the Nazi German government. Not only that, but many in the German branch faced questioning due to their Nazi Party identity. The International Human Rights Organization decided to temporarily suspend the German branch’s rights, and its members could only apply to participate in activities in a personal capacity.

Seeing this, Prime Minister Baldwin took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He felt this case proved that China had, to a large extent, figured out how to play the game of international organizations. For an international organization to be established, the primary requirement was institutional fairness. Britain was too experienced in these matters; the fairer the system, and the more equal the rights and obligations, the greater the advantage for strong nations.

The reason for the International Human Rights Organization’s rejection of the Nazi government was absolutely not because China disliked Nazi Germany, but because Nazi Germany’s philosophy was completely antithetical to that of the International Human Rights Organization. Although Baldwin did not know the details, he could roughly determine that even if this opinion was proposed by China, the resolution to reject Nazi Germany was certainly a decision made by the International Human Rights Organization after a fair vote.

Baldwin had not expected the maturity China demonstrated in constructing the first transcontinental international organization, and the pressure in his heart increased by a few degrees. The old man had slept very late last night; he had repeatedly mulled over Chinese Premier Wu Youping’s views on fiscal transfer, feeling very uncomfortable. Internal fiscal transfer, as Wu Youping said, was very good for the entire country. But British local factions were numerous, very similar to an international organization.

In international organizations, Britain advocated for the equality of rights and obligations, the purpose being to provoke confrontation between various forces. In a state of opposition, the Matthew Effect would prevail: the strong get stronger, and the weak get weaker.

China’s ruling party, however, could suppress opposition from all regions with astonishing capability, forcibly pushing through fiscal transfers and enduring short-term losses. This was already a very mature domestic political system.

The current China had a mature and effective domestic system, a very solid surrounding alliance system, and demonstrated a mature style internationally. Although Britain currently regarded the United States as its greatest enemy, Baldwin felt that China’s threat to Britain was not one bit smaller than that of the United States. The harm to Britain from the United States annexing Canada would be much smaller than the harm from China annexing India.

For a moment, Prime Minister Baldwin suddenly felt an urge to retire. He knew he had no ability whatsoever to solve the threats he faced. If someone inevitably had to leave a legacy of infamy in history, Baldwin did not wish to be that person.

Since he had come to East Asia, the British government naturally would not arrange for Baldwin to visit only China. Next, Prime Minister Baldwin visited Japan. The unique "hypocrisy" of the Japanese left a deep impression on Baldwin. During the reception, China had been proper but always a bit casual. This casualness was also a characteristic of a great power; the British Prime Minister felt the same when dealing with the United States.

Japan’s performance, however, was exquisite in every detail, from the head of state to the reception staff, polite beyond reproach. But with China and Britain, as long as they talked, there were results. For instance, Baldwin and China had jointly issued several substantive joint statements, and there was real progress in economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. But with Japan, no matter how polite they were, there were absolutely no substantive benefits.

Even when the British Foreign Secretary met with the Japanese Foreign Minister, the Japanese Foreign Minister very politely and humbly stated that he had also invited the Chinese Ambassador to Japan to join this friendly meeting.

At the meeting, the Japanese Foreign Minister took diplomatic hypocrisy to the extreme, every speech flowery and praising the heavens. In such an environment, the British Foreign Secretary could find absolutely no opportunity to drive a wedge into Sino-Japanese relations.

Arriving in Thailand, the Thai King’s reaction surprised Baldwin even more. The Thai side’s reaction was simple: they feared Britain would annex Thailand and turn it into a British colony. Prime Minister Baldwin felt that Thailand expected only one goal, which was to never be noticed by Britain. The more Britain paid attention to them, the less secure Thailand felt.

Unlike China’s mature diplomacy, the Thai Prime Minister even somewhat rudely proposed that he hoped the British Prime Minister could issue a public statement respecting Thailand’s territorial integrity at the press conference.

This was a very rude request, as Britain had no intention of annexing Thailand at this time. If Britain issued such a public statement, the international community would think Britain was warning other countries who wanted to infringe on Thailand’s sovereignty not to act rashly, and that if they did, Britain would take military action. Subsequently, nations would ask the British government who exactly was threatening Thailand’s sovereignty.

Britain was the world hegemon, so Britain absolutely could not tell the world that Thailand was worried Britain would annex it; that was destined to be mocked by the world. And Britain was a declining world hegemon; if Britain accused other countries of threatening Thailand’s sovereignty, whether accusing France or China, Britain could not bear the diplomatic consequences.

But this kind of thing had to be understood by Thailand itself; Britain absolutely could not explain it to Thailand. Given Britain’s understanding of Thailand, Thailand would definitely not believe it. Thailand would likely express even more rudely that Britain could issue a clearer statement that Britain would absolutely not annex Thailand.

Just as Prime Minister Baldwin’s party was in the midst of a not-so-pleasant visit, the Sino-British Border Demarcation Treaty was officially published, ready to be submitted to Parliament for review.

This news triggered a huge reaction within China. The nationalists initially did not understand it. After reading the details of the demarcation, although they couldn't speak of joy, their emotions were at least stable. Even so, the more nationalist newspapers still published articles titled "The Bitter Seven-Year Wait."

Naturally, the articles showed no disrespect to He Rui, but they still believed that there must be incompetent people in the government who had dragged a border issue that should have been resolved in 1927 out for seven years until it was finally settled.

Since this article did not attack any specific officials, the government pretended not to see it. After all, the level of this article was too low, with no understanding of national strategy or international politics, and it wasn't even worth refuting or correcting.

After the end of the Sino-British War, China’s strategy was to immediately engage in diplomatic struggle with the United States to resolve issues between China and the US. If China had not demonstrated the strength to resolve Sino-US contradictions, France very likely would not have accepted China’s cooperation proposal. An incompetent nation could not enter France’s vision; France needed a strongman at the time, a civilized nation accepted by France as a partner, to revitalize France’s economy.

It was precisely after He Rui had exhausted his wisdom to complete Sino-French cooperation and fully drive China’s economy that the conditions were created where the current Britain had to choose to eliminate the factors of war with China as much as possible. If the current China were still the China of 1927, Britain very likely would not have made concessions.

China did not come out of this without paying a price. During negotiations with British Prime Minister Baldwin, He Rui repeatedly declared he would absolutely not seek to acquire colonies. This was a public guarantee; as long as China made the slightest move to lay a finger on British colonies, the diplomatic credibility China had worked so hard to accumulate would completely collapse. He Rui would be viewed internationally as a liar. The impact of this would be enormous; to salvage such a reputation issue, He Rui would not only have to pay with his political life, but all the achievements he had built would likely collapse with a crash. The Civilized Party would likely have to be purged to restore China’s diplomatic credibility.

In the eyes of the nationalists, as long as it was to realize China’s national interests, leaders and ruling parties could lie and cheat without scruple. This was not only not a stain but was even a kind of honor that reduced China’s losses. Between a serious regime and nationalists with no high-level experience, there were huge divergences in many fundamental philosophies. These divergences were hard to eliminate.

The government had thought the nationalists would quiet down for a while due to the Sino-British demarcation issue, but they didn't expect the nationalists to quickly become angry again because of the "Sino-British Friendship" propaganda conducted by the "Pro-British Faction." They began to angrily denounce the domestic "compradors." The war of words not only did not subside but actually intensified. It reached the point where even Wu Youping saw some related reports.

As Premier, Wu Youping felt very helpless. The reason He Rui adopted so many diplomatic means, not hesitating to start wars, was not to kill until the sky was dark and corpses covered the earth in battles with the global powers. It was to obtain a situation of normal trade with countries around the world through the means of war.

Now China had indeed allowed a great many foreign enterprises to make money in China. In the bidding for many projects, foreign enterprises also won many bids. But these foreign enterprises were completely different from the colonizers who ran rampant in China before 1924. Precisely because the Great Powers knew it was impossible to defeat China, the wealthy people in the Great Power nations had enough intelligence to naturally accept this reality and honestly do business with China.

As for these foreign enterprises making a lot of money in China—if there were no money to be made, these people would not come to China to bid or invest. They came to make money in the first place. The Chinese government did not expect foreigners to sell their livers and kidneys to come and build China, nor did it believe foreigners would come to give money to China with a mentality of atonement.

The Chinese government expected only one goal, which was to obtain the commodities, equipment, technology, and funds China needed through normal trade with the world. For this purpose, they had to let foreign merchants make money. Otherwise, they wouldn't come.

At this moment, Wu Youping missed the time when Li Runshi was the Minister of Propaganda. Li Runshi could publish excellent articles that provided great guidance to national sentiment. The current Minister of Propaganda was hardworking, but people die from comparisons, and goods are thrown away from comparisons.