"Do you comrades feel that what I'm saying is baffling?"

"Yes."

"That is correct."

Wu Youping and the Minister of Economy answered He Rui's question decisively. Seeing each other's frankness, they couldn't help but smile wryly.

Li Runshi, at this moment, was considering why He Rui was being so "a priori." *A priori* reasoning involves stating a conclusion directly without being able to provide a complete path of derivation. In the language of ordinary people, it's called "blowing smoke." Given He Rui's scientific and philosophical literacy, *a priori* reasoning was precisely the mistake He Rui was least likely to make.

Unless... He Rui really had lived in such a world.

He Rui did not address any questions regarding *a priori* reasoning. "Comrades, as of now, what has our shipping tonnage reached?"

The Minister of Economy was very familiar with these figures. He answered immediately, "As of November 1941, the tonnage of warships and civilian vessels built by our country has reached 51.6 million tons. Chairman, I admit that this tonnage is far from enough. A tonnage of 100 million tons would probably meet the demand. Furthermore, the containerization model previously proposed by the Chairman is no longer a forced regulation at this stage, but has become a demand for realistic efficiency."

He Rui raised his arm, his left index finger pointing upward and shaking slightly. At the same time, he said with satisfaction, "You are right! The biggest problem encountered at this stage is that operating and managing according to traditional models will definitely result in financial loss. But by using newer management models, not only will we not lose money, but we can also make a profit. Many comrades are quite pessimistic about their understanding of social development, and the reason lies here. According to their calculations, it will definitely lose money. Under 'paternalistic' management, social operating costs will skyrocket! The state management system would simply eat society alive."

Speaking of this, Li Runshi saw He Rui looking at him with anticipation and felt a moment of emotion in his heart. He heard He Rui say, "Comrade Li Runshi, have you ever eaten at a buffet?"

Li Runshi nodded. He then heard He Rui continue, "With so much food at a buffet, would it count as 'spending ten thousand cash a day on food'?"

Li Runshi's classical literacy was very high, and he immediately recalled the story from the *Book of Jin*. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, He Zeng lived extravagantly, spending ten thousand cash a day on food, yet still complaining there was nowhere to place his chopsticks.

Without waiting for Li Runshi to answer, the Minister of Economy asked, "This trend of extravagance and waste must be stopped!"

Before He Rui could speak, Wu Youping smiled bitterly. "Heh, those who go to eat at a buffet all say they have to lean on the wall to enter and lean on the wall to leave. I think it really can't be called extravagance and waste."

Li Runshi agreed with Wu Youping's view and followed up, "What I oppose is this kind of self-indulgent pleasure-seeking."

"Comrades, everyone's view is obviously a bit detached from the masses. What you are talking about has never been a life that the masses could enjoy. Only after entering the era of industrialization do the people have the opportunity to earn the money for 'self-indulgence' through their own labor. The saying goes that 'wealth does not pass three generations' because wealth inevitably leads to self-indulgence, and self-indulgence leads to destruction.

"So I have always been unable to understand why comrades are so concerned about rich people. They earn money, spend it, and hurry up and finish it. Society and the government learn from the downfall of these people and obtain fiscal revenue through taxation. We can also establish a scientific system and, through the analysis of these actual cases, summarize experience and laws for a certain stage.

"You have all said similar things, as if a business going bankrupt is a bad thing. I really don't understand how little confidence you have in China's economy, or how much you despise the learning ability of the Chinese people."

Li Runshi remembered very clearly that he had once proposed ideas to He Rui regarding public-private partnerships. As a result, He Rui asked Li Runshi, "How much must you love capitalists to propose such a plan?" Years had passed since then, and Li Runshi finally understood why He Rui opposed public-private partnerships.

Wu Youping sighed, "Chairman, can future efficiency really be high enough to make social operations show a positive return? We have calculated the incremental market that will emerge after the liberation of the colonies, which is to satisfy the labor of 30 million to 50 million people at the current stage. And this market also has a time limit. After this stage, efficiency will decrease. If we want to improve efficiency, we must complete the improvement of efficiency within this time period. I think this risk is too high."

"This is the reality of state governance. Other than facing problems directly and solving them, do we have any other choice?" He Rui asked.

The future world described by He Rui indeed put heavy pressure on everyone, and the comrades fell silent for a moment. Clearly, China now possessed powerful strength, but considering things according to the line of thought described by He Rui, China was standing on the most dangerous edge. There didn't even need to be an accident; as long as China's development was insufficient to solve the problems, China would fall into a profound crisis. In such a crisis, all the construction achievements achieved previously would seem to become worthless.

After a period of silence, the Minister of Economy asked, "Is there a more secure way to complete it in stages?"

He Rui shook his head. "In this kind of industrialized lifestyle, there is no question of stages, only the question of the efficiency of mandatory enforcement. Moreover, based on the grain purchase situation from the liberated areas this year, I am also preparing to consider whether to abolish the agricultural tax nationwide, that is, to abolish the turning over of public grain."

Li Runshi sighed silently in his heart. Current farmers turned over 30% of their grain as public grain every year. In terms of proportion, compared to past dynasties, this was truly very conscientious. But this total amount was very high, becoming the foundation of the Chinese government's grain allocation. Abolishing the agricultural tax was a huge matter at the policy level. A strong leader like He Rui could decide it with a word. But Li Runshi also knew that there was actually no problem doing so. Because this bit of grain tax accounted for 5% of China's GDP, but it generated 60% of the conflict between the government and farmers. Ten years ago, radicals had proposed this view. Li Runshi himself also largely agreed with abolishing the agricultural tax.

Wu Youping stood up. "Chairman, is there anything else?"

"No," He Rui replied.

"Then I will go back to work first. I look forward to the new world order bringing China the benefits of entering a brand-new lifestyle." After speaking, Wu Youping took his leave.

The Minister of Economy also stood up. "Chairman, we will strictly investigate various issues affecting compulsory education. But among those who really no longer accept compulsory education, most actually do not want to study."

He Rui also stood up. "These are questions of two different natures. Compulsory education is China's national policy. Mandatory education does not mean that every citizen who accepts compulsory education will necessarily learn very well in school. We will continuously improve the level of compulsory education, but we cannot ensure the results of compulsory education."

The Minister of Economy nodded, feeling in his heart that he had misspoken. Because the reason he had just mentioned was actually a reason used to support giving priority to educated people entering the industrial sector when the economic department collected opinions from below.

The Ministry of Economy believed that even a teenager with two years of junior high school education was more valuable than that labor force which had only completed four years of education during mandatory literacy campaigns. Now that the most outstanding youth had all gone to join the army, and the various enterprises were recruiting unsatisfactory labor, the economic department's days were difficult.

When only Li Runshi and He Rui were left in the office, Li Runshi asked, "Chairman, after the war ends, will we be able to possess the strongest competitiveness in the world?"

He Rui sat down and answered confidently, "In the next few years, the number of university students in European and American countries will fall to a shocking level. Although a large number of highly educated talents going to the front lines can indeed get exercise in other aspects, and among this group of people who survive the war, there will also be many talents with a firmer mental state. However, I personally still believe that China's method of maintaining the quantity of education will inevitably achieve greater progress."

Li Runshi thought of the views of the two financial industry comrades, Lei Baxi and Yang Liu, on how many casualties the United States would have to suffer to withdraw from the war, so he asked, "Chairman, can the United States really suffer 15 million casualties?"

He Rui laughed, "Heh, have you also considered the loss of American talent on the battlefield?"

"I always feel that the United States cannot endure such a huge cost. Although judging from the casualty figures of the First World War, this proportion is not uncommon among European countries. However, I still feel that the United States might not be able to continue fighting when casualties reach 5 million."

"There are not many reasons for the United States not to continue fighting. In my personal opinion, it's possible that the Confederate States of America becoming independent again could make the United States withdraw from the war. As for 15 million casualties, it puts huge pressure on the US government, but this kind of casualty count is not enough to destroy the US industrial system. Under the circumstances of suffering 5 million casualties, if the United States withdraws from the war, it means the United States will be excluded from the new world economic system, and the US economy will collapse directly. Compared to that, joining the brand-new world economic system after defeat would be of much greater benefit to the United States."

Li Runshi shook his head. "The natural endowment of the United States is enough to support US self-sufficiency. The days will be hard for the US, but it is still far from economic collapse."

"The scale of the domestic population in the United States is just that much; the market is too small. If it loses the world market, the United States cannot hold up. If the United States only satisfies a self-sufficient lifestyle model, its industrial scale will probably not be half of what it is now, maybe even one-third would be enough to meet domestic demand. Do you think such a United States can afford the astronomical amount of bonds issued during the war?"

Li Runshi calculated the numbers in his mind, feeling things were much clearer. But having clarified one matter, another question popped up. "The American upper class should be very clear about this, right?"

"Yes. Those in the American upper class centered on Roosevelt are very clear. I don't think Roosevelt and the majority of the American upper class are people who are evil for the sake of evil, but even if Roosevelt knows such a future, he has no way out. According to economic data, if the United States cannot obtain the world market, the next economic crisis is coming immediately!

"This crisis is not even the same as the Great Depression. Roosevelt's New Deal relied on deficits to stimulate the economy, which means the United States has incurred astronomical debts bound to the credit of the US federal government. The Great Depression was the collapse of private enterprises, and its debts were private debts. The US killed hundreds of thousands of bankers with international capital backgrounds, and this debt was reneged upon.

"Now the one owing the debt is the federal government. Whose heads is the US federal government preparing to take to solve the problem? How many heads are they preparing to use to solve the problem?

"In such a situation, are 15 million casualties an unacceptable figure?"

Hearing this analysis, Li Runshi had mixed feelings. He didn't know if war was frightening, or if He Rui was more frightening. War itself still had some involuntary aspects, while He Rui's thinking was incomparably thorough, so cold and severe that there was no room for rebuttal.

Li Runshi did not want to continue discussing this matter, because the end of the cold war was the bright future of mankind. In terms of idealism, He Rui was a typical example who did not yield to others. It was just that He Rui used high pragmatism to realize the ideals of human society. If He Rui were even a little bit impure, it would be a different situation.

"Chairman, I have listed the names. I don't know when the judges will be in place?" Li Runshi began to discuss work.

He Rui was somewhat helpless. "Although we are in a war, we still sent telegrams to Europe and America. We suggested that even in war, they cannot abandon basic human conscience and the pursuit of justice. At this stage, there are people contacting us secretly, but we don't need to expect legal experts from Europe and America to come to Southeast Asia to participate in the trials for the time being."

Li Runshi couldn't figure out if He Rui was pretending or really helpless. This great trial was directed at the various crimes of the colonialists in Southeast Asia, and there were also some massacre crimes committed by some extreme revolutionaries in Southeast Asia. Criminals who colluded with the colonialists would also be tried.

Even if European and American legal experts wanted to come, the European and American governments could not possibly allow them to come and participate in the trial of colonialist crimes. In this world, only China could hold its head high and say calmly: "I have no colonial crimes!"

He Rui's compassionate tone seemed a bit ill-intentioned. However, Li Runshi felt he could understand He Rui. From the perspective of liberating all mankind, the participation of legal experts from European and American countries in the trial would indeed be conducive to bridging contradictions. It would help European and American countries be accepted by the new world human family as soon as possible.

"Chairman, these trials cannot be dragged on," Li Runshi asked. One of the reasons for his return to Beijing this time was to prepare for the trials. China had liberated so many colonies, the trials had to begin as soon as possible.

"Go see Mr. Zhao. He has already prepared the people," He Rui replied.

With a mood of anticipation, Li Runshi went to see Zhao Tianlin. Zhao Tianlin was currently working at the Law School of Renmin University. As soon as Li Runshi entered the room, he saw eight people sitting in Zhao Tianlin's office. Among them, three were black, three looked like people from the Indian region, and two were of Asian race.

"Chairman Li, let me introduce you." Zhao Tianlin enthusiastically introduced these foreigners to Li Runshi. Half of them had received higher education in Britain, and the other half had received higher education in France. These people had already obtained lawyer qualifications in Britain and France and could also become judges.

After introducing their academic qualifications, Zhao Tianlin continued enthusiastically, "There are also some young legal personnel who received higher education in China undergoing review. When the review is over, I will introduce them to you."

Li Runshi looked at these skin colors and was truly delighted in his heart. Having judges from colonial backgrounds try cases was undoubtedly a manifestation of justice. But just then, a black judge asked somewhat distressingly, "Professor Zhao, do you think our trial will be considered revenge?"

Zhao Tianlin was somewhat surprised. "Why would it be considered revenge?"

The black judge replied, "Because we must formulate many legal articles, and these articles might be considered targeted revenge."

Zhao Tianlin frowned slightly. It seemed these black judges were indeed inferior to local European and American legal professionals. In the view of European and American legal professionals, even if it was just an opportunity to create legal articles, they would not yield to anyone. If they could become the creators of legal articles, it was a major honor in the legal world.

As for whether this legal article would be considered revenge, legal professionals were very confident in their academic abilities. Even if it was really for revenge, they would provide a reasonable explanation.

But this kind of confidence building could not be solved in the short term. Zhao Tianlin chose to draw analogies. "There are so many legal articles in Europe and America, have they never worried about being considered sadistic killing?"

The black judge was stunned at first, thought for a while, and his brow gradually relaxed.

Li Runshi was not familiar with the law, but this kind of conversation made him feel quite interesting. When the meeting ended, Li Runshi asked Zhao Tianlin, "Professor Zhao, we are waiting for the trial this time."

Zhao said, "This trial has a jury system. The jury still needs some basic theoretical training. To save them from bringing out the human relationship thinking of agricultural society."

"'The upright in my party are different from this. The father covers for the son, and the son covers for the father, and uprightness is to be found therein.'" Li Runshi teased.

Hearing the academic question raised, Zhao Tianlin's expression became a bit serious. "Chairman Li, recent research suggests that Confucius was not that bad. The original meaning of that sentence is, Confucius said: The upright people in my hometown are different from this practice: if a father did something bad, the son would be ashamed and hide away from people; if a son did something bad, the father would be ashamed and hide away from people. Uprightness lies within this."

"Oh? Is it interpreted like that?" Li Runshi was a bit surprised.

"A bunch of later generations' trash interpreted Confucius's ideas wildly. Although Confucianism has various problems, Confucius wouldn't be that 'low'. Looking through the *Analects*, Confucius really didn't advocate covering up for crimes. At most, it's just 'Does X know the rites?'"

Li Runshi nodded repeatedly. He firmly believed that destroying Confucianism and destroying Chinese culture were not the same thing. Being able to clarify the source would only be good for building culture. After all, if Chinese culture wanted to go to the world, the *Analects* couldn't be hidden away.

Li Runshi asked, "If the jury accepts basic theoretical training, will it be considered influencing the judiciary?"

Zhao Tianlin shook his head. "These trainings are just basic principles, such as crimes not involving family members, and the punishment fitting the crime. If we don't do this, in the vast colonies, when the people see the opportunity to decide the life and death of the colonialists, do you think they will allow the colonialists to live? We are not here to kill people, but to win hearts."