Chapter 43 Tokyo

  November 26, 1908, Japan, Tokyo, Ushigome-ku, Wakamatsu-chō.

  An inconspicuous Japanese-style courtyard, due to its remote location, is usually very quiet, but now it's crowded with people, shoulder-to-shoulder, and the small street in front of the courtyard is packed with young men and women wearing school uniforms and student hats, among whom many men still have queues at the back of their heads.

  They were all Chinese students studying in Japan, including both government-funded and self-funded students. In their daily lives, they were either deeply engaged in their studies for the sake of revitalizing their country or to secure a good position after returning home, bringing glory to their ancestors and honor to their families. Some of them participated in various student organizations such as the Tongmenghui, Gongjinhui, and Qinxueshe etc.

  Everyone has different political ideas and purposes for studying abroad, and they have also had their fair share of heated arguments and physical altercations due to ideological differences. The discord and cooperation between various organizations have also had a certain impact on the thoughts of these overseas students.

  Due to the invasion and turmoil of the powers at the end of the Qing dynasty, these Chinese youth who stood at the forefront of the times began to seriously explore the way out for their country. Some chose knowledge to save the nation, while others resolutely joined the revolution, believing that only violence could save this ancient nation in deep suffering.

  The Japanese-style house had a sign that read "Kin Gakusha Headquarters" to the outside world, but insiders and Japanese military police knew it was just a front. In reality, its true function was as a liaison office for the Tongmenghui's Japan headquarters. Mr. Sun, who is now highly respected, has been forced to leave Japan, and those actually in charge of the Tongmenghui's headquarters are Huang Xing, Tan Renfeng, Song Jiaoren, and others.

  With the departure of Mr. Sun and the failure of the Tongmenghui's successive anti-Qing uprisings in China in recent years, the Tongmenghui was temporarily disheartened, and this small Japanese-style courtyard also became deserted. Everyone debated the future of the revolution without end, and the Tongmenghui began to show cracks, with some radical-minded people secretly forming the Gongjin Association, which began to oppose the Tongmenghui, further weakening its prestige.

  Until the other day, this small house was once again bustling. The news of Anqing's new army uprising was transmitted to Japan through telegraph and newspaper, shocking Chinese students in Japan, who were also excited, except for a few stubborn Qing loyalists, most students came to this Japanese-style house voluntarily to inquire about the news. Soon they learned that the leader of the uprising was not the Tongmenghui but the Guangfuhui, although the two organizations had merged before, they split again last year and went their separate ways, so when the news of the uprising reached Japan, the Tongmenghui was surprised to find that the Guangfuhui had taken the lead in instigating the new army against the Qing.

  However, the telegram that arrived later made the Tongmenghui feel slightly relieved, as they learned that among the core members who participated in the Anqing New Army uprising were also cadres from the Tongmenghui, although there were very few of them and they did not play a leading role. However, this was already enough, and it was a good opportunity to expand the influence of the Tongmenghui. Moreover, although the Guangfuhui had parted ways with the Tongmenghui, it had not publicly declared a split, so this uprising could also be seen as the result of joint efforts between the Tongmenghui and the Guangfuhui. Everyone's revolutionary goals were consistent, and it was indeed impossible to say who stole whose thunder.

  For the past few days, people have been gathering together to discuss returning to China to participate in revolutionary activities. However, they had not yet reached a consensus when another piece of good news arrived: following the successful uprising of the Anhui New Army, tens of thousands of Hubei and Jiangsu New Army troops participating in the Taohu autumn maneuvers also responded to the call to rise up, and with lightning speed captured Jiujiang, a key city in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The commander-in-chief of the insurgent army, Zhao, telegraphed the whole nation, declaring his determination to overthrow the Qing dynasty.

  Zhao's "Electric Shock" was not only shocking to the Qing court, but also inspired all overseas Chinese students in Japan and around the world. The uprisings in Anqing and Jiujiang showed that the Qing dynasty's rule was on shaky ground, and perhaps with a bit more effort, it could be overthrown.

  At this point, even those who had originally intended to wait and see couldn't sit still, and they all ran to the Kin Gakusha to see how the revolutionary situation would develop, in order to decide their own stance. As a result, the quiet streets of Wakamatsu-chō suddenly became bustling, and even the rickshaw business in this area improved a lot.

  "The revolution will surely win! The Manchu dynasty will surely fall!" Some overseas students held up banners and shouted slogans, these people were representatives of the radicals, all of whom had no queues behind their heads, each with an excited expression.

  In contrast, a small number of others were also holding banners, which were larger and wider, with louder slogans.

  "The imperial court sent us abroad to study, and their kindness is heavier than Mount Tai! You must not be deceived by others, and your hearts should be connected with the nine clans!"

  These people were mostly Banner people, with a small number of Han Chinese. They were representatives of the die-hard faction among overseas students. Seeing that the overseas students had not attended classes for several days, the Qing government's minister to Japan and the supervisor of overseas students became anxious. Under their instigation, the conservative and constitutional factions among the overseas students took action, standing on this small street, facing off against the revolutionary faction, and trying to win over those who were wavering.

  "The Tartars have occupied our China for over 200 years, it's time to get out! Drive out the Tartars, restore China! Establish the Republic, equalize land rights!"

  "Dare you shout again, I'll report it to the supervisor, and get your student status revoked! You'll be escorted back home, and handed over to the authorities for severe punishment!"

  "My old man is self-funded overseas student, that son of a bitch supervisor has nothing to do with me!"

  "Under the supervision of the superior and the ambassador, a diplomatic note will be enough to get you kicked out! Tang Jiyao, Ouyang Cheng, Yin Changheng, Sun Chuanfang, Li Genyuan, Zhao Hengti, you are all on government scholarships, don't waste the court's kindness. And you, Gu Pinzhen, Zhang Fengchuo, Lu Xiangting, Zhou Yiren, you are also from the Military Academy, just about to graduate and return home, with boundless prospects ahead, how can you also join in the chaos? And you, Yan Xishan, Liu Cunhou, don't think that covering your face will make me unable to recognize you! Quickly come over to our side, or else your official hats will be given to others to wear!"

  "Don't be afraid of them! Get out if you have to get out! I'm not afraid! It's a good chance to go back to the country, shoulder a gun and fight, kill all the way to the Forbidden City, plant the revolutionary flag on the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth, and the Temple of Agriculture! Singing 'The Revolutionary Army', slaughter the Tartars until none are left!"

  "Li Liejun! You little scoundrel, I'll have your name reported to Supervisor Sir right away!"

  ……

  Just as the situation on the scene was about to erupt, a group of Japanese military police came over with a menacing attitude, followed by a cavalry team, which separated the remaining students.

  The leader was a soldier who could speak Chinese fairly well.

  "Get out of here quickly! Otherwise, you'll all be arrested! You'll all be fired! This is the Empire of Japan, not your China!"

  The overseas students were stunned for a moment, and a few of them began to disperse and return to school. However, the majority remained on the street, tiptoeing and peeking into the courtyard.

  Several Japanese cavalrymen ran over and cut down those banners with their swords. Several students who stayed behind to reason with them were wounded by the backs of the swords and fell to the ground.

  "Don't hit people!"

  "This is a lawful assembly!"

  ……

  The overseas students were indignant and some even rolled up their sleeves and clenched their fists, wanting to have a showdown with the Japanese military police.

  "Classmates! Quiet down! Everyone quiet down!" A person ran out of the small courtyard and stood at the gate, shouting to everyone.

  "It's Huang Xing!" The overseas student recognized the man as Huang Xing.

  Huang Xing waved his arm and shouted to the students: "Everyone, don't clash with them! Everyone go back first, those who want to return home can pack their luggage, we'll discuss it later."

  The team leader walked up, bowed to Huang Xing and said: "Mr. Huang, your gathering has seriously disrupted social order, I am ordered to disperse you, at the same time, on behalf of the residents of Ushigome district, we warn you that if you gather here again next time, I will have no choice but to close down your Qunxuehui."

  Huang Xing was about to respond when he heard someone shouting from a distance: "Telegram! Telegram! The Jiujiang Revolutionary Army has issued another telegram!"