The first dish was served, and the reception was already lively. The British businessmen couldn't help but smile. Even Morrison couldn't help but recall the time when he was studying at Edinburgh Medical College when he saw the fish and chips. At that time, a bottle of

Bad whiskey, a few fish and chips, and you can spend a happy weekend eating and chatting with your medical school classmates.

This was regarded as a gift from He Rui, and the other dishes were arranged by the British businessmen themselves. After eating a few dishes, Mori Xun felt that they did not taste like authentic British food. However, the fish and chips had been eaten by the businessmen.

Morrison could only stare at the small fish solidified inside the pancake.

Following the footsteps, the aroma wafted towards me. Morrison raised his head happily and saw the chef coming over with another large plate of fish and chips. The businessmen happily cleared their plates and prepared for another large portion.

After the wine and dinner were full, the conversation started. He Rui listened carefully to the British businessman's questions, and then replied: "If you can provide new oil extraction equipment, of course we welcome it."

"...Oh, I said it last time. We can't divide the shares. Siping will give the uniform merchants the money to transport and purchase the equipment, which is also part of the deposit. We will also pay for the equipment debugging and hiring of technical personnel, but

It is impossible for us to divide shares."

"...My friend, I am not biased against limited companies. But Siping is the government, and our current policy is to increase production capacity. At this stage, joint-stock companies are not very helpful in increasing production capacity."

"...you ask why? It's very simple. If you open an oil pressing plant here wholly owned by yourself, joint-stock company or sole proprietorship, we will not interfere. But if you want to set up a joint-stock company with the Siping government, it means that the company

It is likely to become a large joint-stock company that controls regional commodity production. For such a business organization, the core business method is to maintain product prices at a higher price and increase or decrease production at this price to obtain maximum benefits.

The optimal solution. But our economic policy in Siping is to maximize production capacity. Free competition will undoubtedly help increase production capacity, which is why I cannot set up a joint-stock company."

Morrison originally wanted to hear more about what He Rui would say at the British businessman's thank-you reception. After hearing this, he listened with all his attention.

Even though He Rui had made it so clear, the British businessmen still did not give up. They tried to let He Rui understand the issue of free competition through communication. One of them asked seriously: "Does Governor He know about the economic crisis?"

Morrison didn't know how to evaluate the businessman's speech. At least he was sure that the businessman had never read He Rui's works.

He Rui nodded slightly, "I know about the economic crisis."

"The economic crisis is caused by free competition. Regardless of the industry, as long as there is money to be made, people will invest. Everyone will rush in and increase production capacity to a level that is not needed in the short term. Then prices will collapse and the industry will be finished.

.Other industries have also suffered major damage, and the entire country has fallen into an economic crisis. Governor He, if you support free competition so firmly, you will definitely encounter an economic crisis."

Morrison ate fish and chips, slowly picked up his whiskey, and waited to hear how He Rui would deal with this somewhat difficult problem. Then He Rui replied: "I am willing to take such a risk."

The arm holding the whiskey was temporarily frozen in front of Morrison. In Morrison's view, He Rui was first a scholar-type staff officer, then an aristocratic soldier, and now he has become the commander-in-chief of an army. A man who can make decisive decisions

, a general who is not afraid of sacrifice to achieve his goals.

After taking a sip of whiskey, Morrison looked forward to seeing He Rui's new characteristics. However, he suddenly thought, wasn't He Rui himself a commander-in-chief? In Siping, all the troops were at the disposal of He Rui. According to the current rules of Beiyang,

Local government affairs were also under the control of He Rui. According to the British title, He Rui should not be called the governor in Siping, but the governor. A governor with overall power.

An aristocratic governor, Morrison had a new position for Ho Rui.

At this time, Johnson stood up. Under the light, his fluffy and thick blond hair was very eye-catching. Johnson asked a little drunk: "Your Excellency, have you ever been to India?"

"I haven't been there yet," He Rui replied.

There was some dissatisfaction in Johnson's tone, but it was not directed at He Rui. "What the Governor-General described is exactly the current situation in India."

"Oh? India has been controlled by a very large joint-stock company?" He Rui asked with interest.

"If that's the case, it would be better. At least there are many opportunities. India has various princely states that hold hereditary power, and India's economy is controlled by the nobles who have taken root in India since the East India Company era. Businessmen like me

No matter how hard you work in India, you can't actually make money. If possible, I really look forward to a few economic crises in India that will wipe out those guys."

Everyone was a little drunk, and Johnson's words triggered a burst of applause among the British businessmen.

After everyone calmed down a little, He Rui said: "But as far as I know, in every economic crisis, those large consortiums have a lot of cash because of their strong capital. Instead, they take advantage of the large number of small factories and companies in the economic crisis to lower their prices.

The price is high. So I can understand Mr. Johnson’s views, but I don’t agree with Mr. Johnson’s expectations.”

Johnson was stunned for a moment, but his eyes brightened. He picked up the wine glass and said loudly: "Let us drink a toast to the Governor's frankness and sincerity."

Everyone raised their glasses and drank it all in one gulp. Mo Lixun couldn't bear it anymore and raised his glasses to He Rui, but saw He Rui smile slightly and point to the salon area.

Soon, the two of them sat there with wine glasses. Mo Li Xun did not conceal his name, and was not surprised that He Rui recognized him. After introducing himself, Mo Li Xun asked the question that had been bothering him for some time.

"Your Excellency, Overseer, what led you to take geopolitics as your research direction?"

"In order to explain the success of the United Kingdom, the theory of sea power first appeared. Later, Mr. Mackinder of the United Kingdom created a theory that can be roughly called the theory of land power in his book "The Geographic Pivot of History", but I personally think it is not enough.

To explain the current situation of human society. Does Mr. Morrison know Mr. Yan Fu?"

Yan Fu was an important member of the preparatory committee that promoted Yuan Shikai's proclaimed emperor, and Mo Li Xun naturally knew him. However, Mo Li Xun did not want to discuss Yuan Shikai's proclaimed emperor with He Rui, and just nodded.

"Mr. Yan Fu summarized the theory of natural evolution as natural selection and survival of the fittest. I got inspiration from it and wrote a preliminary understanding of geopolitics based on the geographical environment determining the development of human society. The foundation of geopolitics is nature.

The development of science and human society is certainly the result of human subjective initiative, but natural conditions have determined various development possibilities in different regions."

After speaking, He Rui smiled and said: "I don't know what Mr. Morrison has to say about my humble work. Please speak frankly."

Seeing He Rui's frankness, Morrisson asked: "I would like to ask Governor He, after the war is over, from a geopolitical perspective, in what direction will the world situation develop?"

"After the war is over, the victorious Allies will reshape the world order with Britain and France as the core. However, Tsarist Russia will most likely not be able to survive the war and will collapse due to its internal revolution. As for what Russia will look like in the future, I have too little information.

I can’t tell. But the winner after the Russian Civil War will not be able to influence the process of Britain and France formulating a new world order.”

Mo Lixun did not expect that He Rui's thinking was still calm at this time. The current Beiyang government was focused on Yuan Shikai proclaiming himself emperor. Of course, without Yuan Shikai proclaiming himself emperor, since the beginning of the world war, Beiyang would not have the money.

No one in the government was thinking about Russia's future. Since He Rui was able to consider the problem calmly, Morrison continued to ask: "What about the situation in Northeast Asia?"

"The situation in Northeast Asia is best achieved by a balance of power between China, Russia, and Japan. At present, this balance of power no longer exists. Japan's advantages are getting bigger and bigger, and it is almost the dominant player in Northeast Asia. Even the United Kingdom cannot change Japan.

advantages. And after the war, a new player will intervene in the situation in Northeast Asia, making the situation more volatile."

"New player?" Mo Lixun was a little unsure of who He Rui was referring to.

He Rui did not sell out and answered directly: "The United States is a two-ocean country. They accumulated huge wealth during the war and their strength has grown unprecedentedly. Britain and France may be able to keep the United States out of Europe and Africa, but they do not have the strength to prevent the United States from becoming

New players in Northeast Asia.”

Morrison probed: "Then does China have the ability to become a country that balances regional power balances?"

He Rui shook his head, "With the current situation, China's internal divisions will only intensify, and true reunification will not be possible in a short time."

Although Morrison decided not to discuss Yuan Shikai's affairs with He Rui, he very much agreed with He Rui's prediction. Now that He Rui had been able to see this step, Morrison continued to test: "General He, have you ever considered acquiring the British army?"

The support of the Imperial Government.”

After saying that, Mo Lixun stared at He Rui and carefully observed He Rui's expression. He saw that this young and somewhat excessive governor did not have any surprise or confusion, nor did he have the slightest expectation or desire. He Rui just

Smiling lightly, "I think the most important task at the moment is to increase production capacity and provide maximum support for the Allied Powers to win as soon as possible."

Mo Li Xun knew that this topic could no longer be discussed, so he picked up his wine glass and greeted He Rui. The two clinked a glass, and when He Rui poured the wine, Mo Li Xun felt a little dazed. The surrounding decorations and the people in the room filled the room.

Even though the British businessman knew that he was in a small county called Siping outside the Chinese customs, Morrison felt that he was in a high-society club in Europe, talking to a powerful aristocrat with a standard oriental face.

He Rui, a young warlord, made Mori Xun feel such an atmosphere just through communication. This matter was completely beyond Mori Xun's imagination.

At this moment, businessmen were seen gathered around the bar, as if something big had happened. Seeing Mo Lixun's curious eyes, He Rui smiled and said, "Mayor Wu should be mixing drinks for everyone."

"Mayor Wu?" Morrison was impressed by the current young mayor of Siping, "How can he mix drinks?"

"Let's go and have a taste." He Rui stood up.

After waiting for a long time, the two of them finally queued up in front of Wu Youping. They saw Wu Youping taking off his coat, revealing a beautiful silk shirt. Because there was no tie, but a beautiful tie, with a shiny metal collar clip holding the tie in place.

The front of the shirt is completely different from the waiter wearing a tie.

Soon, two glasses of wine were placed in front of them. Morrison took a sip and felt that the taste was much better than other wines. He asked curiously: "Why does Mayor Wu do this?"

Wu Youping naturally wiped away the wine that dripped on the bar while mixing drinks, and said with a smile: "When I was in school in Tianjin, I worked in a club with my classmates and learned a little bit. How about you two, do you want another drink?

"

He Rui shook his head, but Mo Lixun nodded. Wu Youping took a rinsed wine glass, shook off the water drops, and placed it on the table.

At around nine o'clock in the evening, He Rui and Wu Youping said goodbye to the drunken British businessmen. When they walked out of the temporary clubhouse, a chill hit their faces. On the night of early December, the temperature had already reached below zero, and it was so cold that the moonlight seemed to freeze people.

The shadows of the two men were cast on the ground.

Wu Youping said: "Warlord, tomorrow I will mobilize cadres to clear snow from the roofs. Not only in Siping City, but also in the countryside. Every year, people's houses are collapsed by snow. This year, we must reduce such disasters no matter what."

"That's right." He Rui replied. He couldn't help but praise, "You have now begun to take the initiative to consider issues from the perspective of people's livelihood and mobilize organizations to advance work. You have made great progress."

Being so praised by He Rui, Wu Youping replied with some embarrassment: "Overseer, I have listened to so many lectures and changed my mind many times. I now believe that the people themselves will pursue a life of peace and contentment, and we do not need to force it.

But there are some things that the people cannot think of and cannot do for the time being. At this time, organizations need to come forward to coordinate and mobilize. The organization is neither responsible for everything for the people, nor is it issuing orders from above. How should I put it... it is to serve the people."
Chapter completed!