"Can the US Congress really pass a declaration of war?" Wu Youping asked. After hearing He Rui explain the internal logic that would destroy the United States, Wu Youping found he could face America's future with greater ease and rationality.

He Rui smiled. "I think the mindset of the US Congress is quite good at the moment. With American isolationism so severe, the members of Congress certainly don't want to go to war. As long as China doesn't initiate an attack on the United States and focuses on dealing with Southeast Asia, the US Congress will be able to endure it. Meanwhile, Roosevelt and the elites around him are burning with anxiety.

"The American elites are of a very high caliber. They are perfectly clear that if the United States allows China to liberate Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Indian subcontinent, the US will lose the ability to lead the future world order. So, there is a high probability that these American elites will make a move during this process.

"Youping, I've looked at the data. If the United States doesn't enter the war, they will likely face another economic crisis around 1942. When that time comes, even I can't guess what the domestic situation in the US will turn into."

Wu Youping felt the US might declare war on Germany to join the British camp, which had already declared war on China. However, he didn't offer his own thoughts. He felt that cultivating a successor and ensuring a smooth handover of work was already the limit of his abilities. His body truly couldn't hold up anymore. Yet, in this position, Wu Youping couldn't allow himself to do anything less than his utmost.

Seeing that Wu Youping truly lacked the mental energy to consider this issue, He Rui advised, "Youping, you should let the young people shoulder more of the work. In your position, you must grasp the big picture and let go of the small details." Speaking to this point, He Rui paused for a moment before continuing, "Moreover, there are comrades in the Inspectorate to wrap things up for what comes after."

Hearing this, Wu Youping fell silent for a moment, then spoke with some unwillingness, "I believe we have a responsibility to our comrades."

He Rui shook his head slightly. "Even a family has to kick a rebellious son out of the house. Responsibility is a two-way street. Many people don't feel they have a responsibility to the state, but instead feel the state has a responsibility to them."

Wu Youping felt helpless in his heart. Many formerly outstanding comrades had fallen in various matters, which was already a source of great regret for him. What he regretted even more was that comrades who were very qualified by past standards had become unqualified in the new era.

After struggling internally for a while, Wu Youping sighed. "Chairman, is the era changing too fast?"

When he said this, Wu Youping was actually trying to find an excuse for himself, but he didn't expect He Rui to answer frankly, "That's right. China has developed too fast, so fast that old understandings can no longer keep up with the times. Youping, I have to admit that judging from every angle, the current China is not ready to lead the world."

Wu Youping was left speechless. Although he himself would lament that the current China had too many problems, hearing He Rui evaluate it so frankly made him feel unwilling to accept it.

The small conference room fell silent for a time, but before long, He Rui stood up. "An opportunity to vie for world leadership might not come once in a century. Even if we aren't fully prepared, other countries aren't fully prepared either. As the saying goes, when called upon by duty, one must not decline; when it's time to go up, we can't let it slip by."

"Sigh..." With a sigh, He Rui patted Wu Youping's shoulder. "So, you still need to let the younger comrades shoulder more responsibility. Take care of your health. As long as you are here, the country has a ballast stone."

Wu Youping gave a bitter smile. "Chairman, your health isn't much better than mine. If I'm gone, there's still you. If you're gone, who can take over your burden?"

He Rui answered immediately, "I think Comrade Li Runshi is very good. This comrade has a will of steel, and he attaches great importance to fairness."

Wu Youping was stunned. Before he could say anything, he heard He Rui continue, "All these years, China's economic development has pursued efficient development. Efficiency and fairness cannot be given equal attention simultaneously. If we can build a new world order, Comrade Li Runshi can undoubtedly handle the fairness issues of the new stage."

"I don't think the issue of fairness is that serious." Wu Youping felt He Rui was being a bit too pessimistic.

"Youping, your work has been extremely meritorious, which is why the country has entered a stage where we can truly discuss fairness. Fairness in the future stage is not simply the pastoral model of agricultural production where the old are cared for and the young are provided for. Future fairness requires that *everyone* can become a talent of use, or at least a useful person. You can understand how high this requirement actually is."

"...That is very difficult," Wu Youping sighed after a long silence. It wasn't the first time he had heard He Rui say this, but every time some time passed, hearing it again gave Wu Youping a completely new feeling.

He Rui also sighed. "To cultivate healthy bodies and sound souls requires the people to receive a complete education. At this stage, some will inevitably question: must one be successful to be treated as a human being? All sorts of problems will appear, and egalitarianism will also pop up. In such times, whether the leader possesses profound philosophical concepts and realistic capabilities determines how far we can go in the realm of fairness.

"Our biggest problem right now is that we haven't been able to establish socialist jurisprudence and are still implementing bourgeois jurisprudence in a great many fields. But we must also have confidence. Although China is a new member of industrial society, other civilizations have failed in the face of this challenge. Now it is our Chinese civilization's turn to answer this exam paper. If we can solve the questions on this paper, we can create a more advanced civilization. It's just that the two of us probably won't have the time to see it."

Speaking to this point, He Rui waved his hand. "Forget it, that's too far off. Let's focus on current matters."

Wu Youping became interested. "I actually think it's very good. Discussing these future matters allows me to figure out what our current efforts are actually for."

Seeing Wu Youping like this, He Rui simply spoke of the issue even further into the long term. "The future of humanity is first to ensure the continuation of the human world. If civilization cannot develop, humanity will sooner or later die on Earth. If we want to fly out of the solar system and find new habitable planets in the vast and boundless universe, humanity's current stage of civilization certainly won't do. Our success is not just China's success, but the success of all humanity."

"...That is indeed too far off. Haha." Wu Youping's mood suddenly became very good. Facing such a distant future, Wu Youping actually abandoned his thoughts of pursuing it.

He Rui walked toward the door, saying at the same time, "It's just that we won't see it, but our children will be able to see humanity fly out of Earth and build human bases within the solar system."

After finishing his words, he had reached the door. He Rui opened it and walked out. Looking at He Rui's back, Wu Youping suddenly felt he just believed what He Rui had said. Moreover, Wu Youping really hoped he could live a bit longer. Let alone establishing bases on other planets, even just seeing humanity fly out of Earth—achieving things that could only be done in legends—Wu Youping felt would make this life not lived in vain.

***

On December 1, 1940, representatives of 17 French political parties convened a meeting in Saigon. After three days of meetings, the 17 French parties announced the establishment of the Free French Government. The Free French Government elected the French Communist Commissioner Jean-Pierre as President, and Charles de Gaulle assumed the post of Minister of National Defense and War.

On December 5, people's representatives from the Indochina region gathered in Hanoi and proposed a declaration of independence. They immediately dispatched a delegation to Saigon to meet with the Free French Government. On December 6, the Free French Government met with the public opinion representatives of the Indochina region. After consultation between the two sides, a joint statement was issued on December 8. The Free French Government agreed to the independence of the Indochina region.

On December 10, the public opinion delegation from the Indochina region arrived in the Chinese capital. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the Indochina representatives. After three days of frank talks between the two sides, the Indochina region and China issued a joint communiqué. China recognized the independence of the Indochina region, and the independent Indochina would form nation-states according to the model of national self-determination.

This set of procedures left countries around the world with nothing to say. From January 5 to 12, 1941, the first Political Consultative Conference of the Indochina region was convened. In this conference, the monarchy was first abolished. As a puppet emperor prop up by the French, Emperor Bao Dai had never held real power and did not bear political responsibility.

Cambodia and Laos obtained independent status at this consultative conference. Both countries first announced they would complete border demarcation work within one year and applied to join the Asian Economic Community.

China immediately announced that since the two countries had not completed border demarcation work, they did not meet the conditions for joining the Asian Economic Community. Since Laos and Cambodia were not involved in the war, they were granted temporary observer status and invited to attend the 1941 Ministerial Conference of the Asian Economic Community.

On February 14, 1941, after a long period of negotiation, the Free French Government and Vietnam reached a difficult agreement. The original Vietnam was divided into two: the north was called Vietnam, while the south resumed the ancient name of "Champa."

On February 17, 1941, the five governments of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Champa, and Free France held a meeting in Saigon, signing the "Four-Nation Agreement to Support French Liberation." The agreement stipulated that the Republic of Champa would designate a Special Residential Zone for French habitation. The Republic of Champa possessed sovereignty over the Special Residential Zone, while France obtained administrative rights over the zone from 1941 to 1945.

On February 27, the Chinese government announced that since the Indochina region had been restored to calm, the Chinese government would withdraw Chinese troops from the four countries.

Starting from February 28, Chinese troops began a comprehensive withdrawal from the four countries. By March 25, Chinese troops had completely withdrawn from the four countries.

On March 26, the Chinese government recognized the Free French Government. The two sides immediately signed a series of agreements. The most watched among them were the economic and military cooperation agreements. The Chinese and French governments decided that taxes originally paid to France by French enterprises in China would be handed over to the Free French Government. Since the Free French Government did not currently directly control the French homeland, China transferred 22.5% of the matured French loans to the Free French Government's account.

The Chinese government issued a government announcement regarding this: "...Since the loans China needs to repay belong to France and the French people. At present, France has been notified by Nazi Germany and the Pétain government, which effectively belongs to Germany's vassal states, that if China returns this loan, it amounts to effectively giving this money to Nazi Germany, rather than returning the money to the French people. Therefore, China will temporarily suspend repayment. The unpaid loans will accrue 4% interest annually during the overdue period. Once the French people have obtained complete independence, the Chinese government will immediately continue to return all due loans and related interest to France, and continue to fulfill repayment obligations.

"The Chinese government recognizes the Free French Government. Since Free France has not completely liberated France, the Chinese government cannot give the money belonging to all French people to the Free French Government without the authorization of all French people. Based on the voter proportion of the political parties participating in the formation meeting of the Free French Government, the Chinese government will hand over 22.5% of the matured French loans to the Free French Government..."

This news caused quite a stir among the countries in the world not yet involved in the war, especially in the financial industry. Countries generally believed that the Free French Government was a government propped up by China, so they hadn't expected China to treat the Free French Government with such impartiality and fairness. Especially regarding the handling of money, even those who didn't like China had nothing to say.

Many officials within the Pétain government were even more moved. They had originally thought the He Rui government would take the opportunity to swallow this money, but they didn't expect the Chinese government not to take a single cent, and not even use all the money to support the Free French Government. In the eyes of the French upper class, this was a decision Jesus would only make in the Temple. Many French upper-class figures and resistance organizations spawned the idea of going to the Republic of Champa to join the Free French Government.

The United States passed the *Lend-Lease Act* on April 1, announcing the provision of food and military supplies to Britain free of charge or for payment. Roosevelt had originally wanted to provide "Lend-Lease" to Britain and France, but after the Free French Government was established and obtained territory and money, it had no interest in American Lend-Lease, resulting in the US only being able to provide Lend-Lease services to Britain.

At this time, however, Britain didn't much need American Lend-Lease either. Although the previous British Prime Minister Chamberlain had stepped down due to his "Appeasement" policy toward Nazi Germany, he had already begun Britain's comprehensive war preparation actions while in office. Therefore, the Churchill government not only didn't have to start from scratch, but because the war preparation plan executed by Chamberlain starting from 1937 had fully entered the right track by 1940.

As Germany could not sustain the losses of the Battle of Britain and constantly postponed Operation Sea Lion, the military equipment of Britain, which had entered general mobilization, was produced rapidly. The troops also replenished the losses from the Western European campaign and recovered the ability to confront Germany.

On April 4, 1941, the Chinese Volunteer Army left Britain and returned to China. By this time, Italy, with the help of the German army, had occupied all of Greece. Many people around the world felt the war might end here, or even if it continued, it would only be a confrontation between Germany and Britain for a short time.

At this time, China's 16th aircraft carrier quietly completed fitting out and entered the combat sequence of the Chinese Navy. Originally, when a carrier went out for training, it required cruise ships to transport two complete carrier formation crews to go out to sea together. Now, with only one complete carrier formation crew following, training efficiency was greatly improved.

Two-thirds of the construction of cruisers and destroyers required for 36 carrier formations had been completed. These ships only needed to be stuffed with the remaining personnel to have everyone participate in training. Their training efficiency increased greatly. In particular, the ideological work of the Chinese Navy was in place; the officers and men displayed China's consistent tradition of considering the big picture, and relatively arduous living conditions did not affect training.

The report He Rui received showed that by October 1941 at the latest, the Chinese Navy would possess 24 carrier formations, 16 of which could be committed to war at any time. Such a scale of naval power was already only slightly less than the US Navy. If counting the entire East Asian Coalition Forces, the quantity and tonnage of the Chinese Navy were no longer inferior to the United States.

At this time, Roosevelt was still struggling with the isolationists within the US. Once war broke out, it was unlikely the US would declare war on China in the short term. It was estimated that before March 1942, the possibility of the US actively entering the war was not great.

He Rui had to wonder if the Roosevelt government would think China would actively declare war on the United States. However, with the caliber of Roosevelt and the bunch of American elites under him, they shouldn't be so naive ("sweet and white") as to think the He Rui government would actively declare war.

There was no major news regarding the Soviet official stance in the report. He Rui could only assume Stalin had decided to solve the European situation on his own. Regarding Stalin's reaction, He Rui could only praise him with "Good man!"

He Rui was actually wrong; it wasn't that Stalin didn't want to obtain He Rui's support. The CPSU Central Committee had been silently watching China's means of handling the four southern countries. Unlike the Soviet Union's annexation of the three Baltic states, China not only truly helped the four southern countries gain independence but also helped Free France. This approach was completely different from the Soviet Union's methods, so Stalin suspected that if he made any more gestures of goodwill, he would be rejected by He Rui again.

Stalin didn't want to suffer such rejection. Now, Stalin's status in the hearts of Russian nationalists had risen significantly. If Stalin showed any weakness at this time, it would damage his current image.

It wasn't just the partition of Poland and the consumption of the three Baltic states that improved Stalin's image; the Soviet Union's Third Five-Year Plan was proceeding very smoothly. Although China was dissatisfied with the Soviet Union's foreign annexations, Sino-Soviet trade remained unaffected and naturally hit new highs.

Because some French perfumers had fled to China and started producing perfume there, the trade volume of the Soviet Union in these relatively higher-priced commodities had always been low. However, due to the rapid increase in the income of the Soviet people, there was a 1284% growth in the field of light luxury consumption such as perfume. Since the situation was so good, Stalin was even less willing to see any accidents that might affect his glorious image.

Stalin had the intelligence analysis department strengthen its analysis of China. The CPSU military department believed China would very likely take action against the Indochina Peninsula and the Dutch colonies after solving the problem of the four southern countries. The Soviet military department had long felt that after China possessed such powerful naval forces, it was absolutely impossible to let these military equipments gradually age.

Although China's handling of the four southern countries had indeed gained global left-wing recognition for China, the Soviet military department believed that since China had already obtained a very good solution, it would only further stimulate China's impulse to go south.

Regarding this, the views of the Soviet military department were relatively divided. Some Soviet generals believed the Soviet Union perhaps should think of ways to offer some opposition to China's southward actions. If a military conflict broke out between Britain and China, it would leave Britain powerless to continue attracting Germany's attention.

Another group of Soviet generals believed that if a military conflict broke out between Britain and China, it would make Hitler continue to choose to invade Britain. In the long run, German occupation of Britain was not beneficial to the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet Union's goal was to hold out until early 1943, possessing overwhelming power against Germany. At that time, whether Britain surrendered or not would have little impact on the Soviet Union, or even be beneficial to it.

If the Soviet Union launched an attack on Germany, it could liberate all of Europe. And for the Soviet Union to control all of Europe was an idea that Russian rulers throughout history had never taken seriously. But the current Soviet Union was possessing the hard power to make this possibility a reality.

The leaderships of the three major powers—China, the US, and the Soviet Union—each had their own ideas, but all three great powers were invariably considering the direction of leading the world's future.

On this day, April 30, 1941, the world unexpectedly saw no large-scale combat.