Chapter 2 Return to Chu

  This was not the first time Qin Ying had invited Qiao Yu to join the alliance, but in the past, Qiao Yu had never formally agreed. However, looking at today's situation, Qin Ying was extremely sincere, and Yu Peiren also had a hopeful expression on his face.

  Qiao Yu thought to himself, since he had come to the late Qing dynasty, it was inevitable that he would have dealings with these revolutionaries. For now, being able to wear the hat of a revolutionary wasn't bad either. After all, it was just an outer garment that could be discarded at any time. As long as he didn't go to participate in the Huanghuagang Uprising with Qin Bing, that was enough. Having made up his mind, Qiao Yu smiled and said: "Brother Qin, I've traveled extensively throughout Europe and America, and I'm also very clear about the corrupt aspects of the Manchu government. Being able to do something for our nation is my honor!"

  "Shun Qing, little brother, are you willing to join us?"

  "That's natural, and I hope you'll take care of me more in the future, big brother!"

  "Shun Qing, don't worry, you are a great talent. Our Tongmenghui lacks military talents like yours, which is why our uprisings have failed several times. The gentleman is already preparing for a new uprising and I must recommend you to him, so that you can lead us!"

  Qiao Yu's head grew bigger as soon as he heard it. The uprising being prepared now won't be the Huanghuagang Uprising, will it? Isn't this just asking to become a martyr?

  "I'd be willing to save the country, but I have some thoughts. I still have something hidden from my two brothers. My father was an official in the Qing government and held a position as the Right Vice Minister of Revenue, so our family has some power. China is too big, and it's unlikely that one or two uprisings can completely overthrow the Qing dynasty, given its accumulated prestige over hundreds of years and the fact that people's minds are not yet open. To succeed in an uprising, we can't just rely on ourselves. So I think I'll try to persuade my family. If they support us, starting an uprising in Sichuan won't be difficult."

  Qin Ying and Yu Peilun's eyes widened in surprise as soon as they heard this. As people from Sichuan, they had some understanding of the Qiao family's reputation. They did not expect that the young man in front of them was actually the son of the Qiao family. They knew about the Qiao family's influence and if they could win them over, the Tongmenghui would definitely gain a significant boost in power in Chongqing.

  "Qiao, you've been suffering in silence for us!"

  "Two elder brothers, a real man should be self-reliant and independent, can't always rely on the family!" Qiao Yu could only find this unreasonable reason, but Yu Peiren instead gave him a thumbs up.

  "My dear brother is a capable and ambitious person. If he can launch an uprising in Sichuan, that would be the best. Sichuan is deep inland, with great influence, and we have many brothers there, especially the heroic Mr. Yang Cangbai, who is truly a hero. My dear brother can definitely contact Mr. Yang Cangbai. I think Sichuan will soon see a new dawn."

  Qiao Yu looked at the highly emotional Yu Peilun and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Is revolution so easy? The Qing dynasty's accumulated prestige over hundreds of years can be overturned with just one word? Without careful planning, there is no possibility of success. If it weren't for the Railway Protection Movement that sparked the trend, the Xinhai Revolution might have been delayed for a few more years. Moreover, even if the Qing dynasty were to be overthrown, it would only be the first step in a long journey of ten thousand miles, and the hardships that followed would only increase. However, this was something that couldn't be said to Yu Peilun.

  "Who is this Mr Yang Cangbai and how can I contact him?"

  "Yang Cangbai's real name is Yang Shukun, he is the main ally of the Sichuan Alliance Society, has prestige and insight, is a person who can handle big things, and has been running around for the revolutionary cause in Sichuan. My younger brother, you go back to Sichuan first, when the time comes, we will let Mr. Yang take the initiative to contact you."

  Qiao Yu nodded in agreement, wasn't this Yang Shou the future Governor of Sichuan? The few people discussed how to overthrow the Qing government for a while. Although Qiao Yu had intended to humor them, he inadvertently said something that made Qin Bing and Yu Peilun admire him greatly. Being able to win over such talent naturally delighted him. That Sanmu Jirō also occasionally interjected, but Qiao Yu really disliked the Japanese attitude of unintentionally revealing their sense of superiority, so he hastily prepared to take his leave.

  "Two brothers, Mr. Sanmu, now that things can't be delayed, I'll go to Shanghai first and then take a boat back to Sichuan, hurry up and prepare, if you delay for a moment, the Qing court will do more evil!" Qin Bing and Yu Peilun didn't think much about it, but instead thought that Qiao Yu was sincere, so they encouraged him a few words and temporarily parted ways.

  The next day, Qiao Yu went to buy a ticket and prepare to return to China. Qin Bing still had things to do, so he didn't see Qiao Yu off, but Yu Pei Lun came to see him off. Yu Pei Lun seemed to be very emotional.

  "Shun Qing, after being away from home for many years, it's a great fortune to be reunited with loved ones. I only hope that the revolution will succeed, so I can return to my parents' knees and fulfill my filial duties. For now, I can only be an unfilial son. I have a letter here for my family, would you please help me deliver it? If you have time, could you also visit my parents on my behalf? I've neglected them for the sake of the country."

  Qiao Yu took over the thin letter, sighed in his heart, and didn't know if Yu Pei Lun would end up with a defeat before even leaving. He feared that he might never see his family again. "Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been hard to achieve together. I will definitely deliver the letter, but Brother Yu must also pay attention to his own safety."

  "I have long since put life and death out of consideration in choosing revolution, my brother. I am about to go to Hong Kong to make arrangements for the uprising. I only hope that the uprising will be successful, and the world will return to the hands of the Han family. Then we brothers will still have a chance to meet again."

  Yu Peilun was indeed a hot-blooded hero, Qiao Yu knew he was best at making bombs, and had made more than 300 for the Huanghuagang Uprising, but his efforts did not change the outcome of failure. Looking at this tragic hero, Qiao Yu suddenly felt a pang in her heart.

  "Brother Yu, have you ever thought that after overthrowing the Qing dynasty, what kind of country should we establish? Without an emperor, can we really stand on our own and become strong? Are those leaders you mentioned truly selfless as you imagine? Is revolution just about overthrowing a dynasty? Can those people really establish a new China?"

  Qiao Yu suddenly asked, like a string of firecrackers, which made Yu Peiren somewhat speechless. He never thought that Qiao Yu would change his tone so much, his face turned bright red, and he was about to retort.

  "Yun Ji brother, I don't want to argue with you about anything. I just want to advise you not to make a useless sacrifice. That's all I have to say, we'll meet again someday!" After finishing speaking, Qiao Yu rushed towards the passenger ship. He originally didn't want to interfere with the course of history, since Yu Pei Lun was already on the list of martyrs, he didn't need to save him either. However, after spending some time together, Yu Pei Lun turned out to be a good person and very talented, Qiao Yu really didn't want to see him die like this, so he spoke up to remind him, but it seemed that this guy hadn't listened.

  Sitting on the passenger ship, drifting across the ocean, Qiao Yu was heading straight to Shanghai, the Magic City. The ship's speed was not fast, and it would take almost four days to reach Shanghai. Qiao Yu hid in his cabin, thinking about his future path.

  Sichuan, the Heavenly Kingdom, is a great place, with abundant resources and a strategic location. Most importantly, it is located inland, avoiding interference from powerful countries, allowing for self-development, building factories, training troops, seizing power, promoting civil rights, competing for dominance abroad, and eliminating corruption at home. To change this ancient empire, there are many things to be done. Qiao Yu's mind was constantly drawing up plans. During the Republic of China era, the situation in China was extremely complex, with the influence of powerful countries rampant, and countless heroes rising and falling, all with the shadow of foreign powers behind them.

  At that time, China was nothing more than a piece of meat, and anyone could take a bite. These powers did not want any bones to come out of the meat, so they constantly played balancing acts. Whether it was Yuan Shikai, Duan Qirui, Zhang Zuolin or Sun Yat-sen, all these people were destined to be manipulated by the powers.

  It can be said that without the strength to compete with powerful countries, it is absolutely impossible to change the situation of the Republic of China. Qiao Yu's mind kept thinking that he might become a pawn in the future, but he must have the strength to change his fate and truly become the one who moves the pieces.

  Getting off the ship in Shanghai, Qiao Yu felt that he was full of energy and no longer a half-dead white-collar worker, but an ambitious young man with great aspirations. Heaven had sent him to this era where heroes rose together, which was a great blessing for himself, and he must let this era dance to his own rhythm.

  After wandering in the Magic City for two days, the rubber stock disaster is now raging in Shanghai, making Shanghai also a scene of mourning, and the ten-mile foreign concession has lost its former prosperity. Qiao Yu also paid attention to it, and during this period at the end of the Qing dynasty, many things were closely linked. The stock disaster consumed a large part of the Qing dynasty's wealth, and in order to make up for this loophole, Sheng Xuanhuai wanted to take back the railways as national property, which led to the protection of the road movement, and the wheel of history was set in motion like this, ultimately burying the Qing government thoroughly.

  However, Qiao Yu also had no ability to change anything now, but only felt more urgent. He got on the boat and headed straight to Sichuan. The transportation at that time was really incomparable with later generations, it was extremely slow and uncomfortable. Sitting on the boat made Qiao Yu almost vomit, just when he could hardly bear it, the ferry arrived in Chongqing.

  As soon as he got off the passenger ship, Qiao Yu saw several family members surrounding a man in his thirties, waving at himself. Qiao Yu recognized that it was his elder brother Qiao Cheng who had come to pick him up and hurriedly ran a few steps.

  "Old Three, you've finally come back!"

  Qiao Cheng was less than thirty years old, but he was very mature and serious. He truly cared for his brother and protected Qiao Yu with one hand.

  "Big brother, how are mom and dad?"

  "Both parents are fine, they just keep mentioning you all the time. It's been five years since you left! When we received your telegram, both parents were overjoyed. They would have rushed to pick you up themselves if I hadn't come! Come on, let's go to Uncle's house first, and then we'll head home!"

  Qiao Yu's uncle, Bai Kuan, was a famous businessman in Dongchuan. He had dozens of pawnshops, money houses, hotels and cloth shops under his name, with enormous wealth. Living in Chongqing, Bai Kuan didn't have any sons, so he treated the Qiao brothers as if they were his own children.

  "Uncle, why didn't you come? Are you mad at me, your nephew?"

  "How can I talk? Your uncle has been mentioning you every day, but he's really too busy now. Our uncle is preparing to open a factory!"

  Build a factory? Qiao Yu's heart suddenly moved, wasn't he also planning to build several factories? Not only can it make money, but also win over people. By the time of Xinhai, it will be easier to cope with.

  "What is uncle preparing to build?"

  "The textile mill, these two years foreign cloth is booming, native cloth is getting more and more difficult, uncle's shop is being squeezed by competitors, isn't it a must to open his own factory? He has been busy for half a year already, now he went to negotiate with foreigners about machines again."

  I really want to eat hailstones. Don't I also want to set up a factory? Can't I rely on my uncle's foundation?" "Big brother, have you ever thought of setting up a factory?"

  Qiao Cheng was apparently surprised, the Qiao family is much more conservative than the Bai family, and they don't have any intention of running a business. Qiao Cheng obviously didn't expect his third brother to suggest that he also set up a factory.

  "Third brother, running a factory requires talent, technology, land, machinery, and even more money, it's not easy. Moreover, our old master only wants to focus on farming and education for the family inheritance, will he allow us to start a factory?"

  "Big brother, in recent years the slogan of 'industry saving the country' has been shouted very loudly. In Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, many factories have emerged, to be honest, some are profitable, while others are not. Our Sichuan province still doesn't have any decent factories. If we can be the first to take the lead, I'm sure we'll make a fortune! The difficulties you mentioned earlier are nothing!" Qiao Yu discovered that a great opportunity had presented itself right before his eyes. He must ensure big brother's work is done smoothly.

  "We don't lack silver, as for talent, I'm willing to take care of it, just need to spend some money to recruit some, machines and land will require some effort, but we can partner with Uncle and use the foundation he has laid!"

  "This won't do, I feel like we're taking advantage of our uncle!"

  "How can it be called taking advantage? Uncle running the factory alone must have had a lot of difficulties, we work together and definitely save a lot of trouble, besides, we just hand over the profits to uncle and that's it, this is a win-win situation!"