Chapter Forty-Four: Anti-British Telegraph

  Upon hearing the man's shout, the dispersing crowd of students gathered again and intercepted a person who was running towards them. Huang Xing recognized that the man was Liu Qiji, also a member of Tongmenghui and one of the founders of Gongjinhui. Due to his wavering attitude between the two organizations, he is currently an acknowledged liaison officer for both organizations.

  Liu Qiong held up a telegram copy and loudly read it out to everyone:

  "At the beginning of the revolution, state affairs were complicated. Our revolutionary army had no intention of challenging the powers and was willing to protect the interests of all countries in China. This time, the British have created unnecessary trouble, which has indeed harmed the relations between our two countries! If I retreat one step, they will advance another step. Do they think that there is no one in China? The interaction between our two countries should be based on trade, but observing the powers, Britain is the most arrogant, not only monopolizing rights and interests but also interfering with our internal affairs. In the past, they used gunboats to forcibly import opium into our country, poisoning the bodies and minds of our people, destroying their will and courage. Now, in the face of China's difficulties, Britain cannot shirk its responsibility..."

  Huang Xing walked over and listened to a few sentences, his brow furrowed in surprise. It turned out that the telegram was actually criticizing the British Consul in Jiujiang, and also criticized Britain's China policy. The reason for this was that the British concession in Jiujiang had harbored two revolutionary army deserters and refused to hand them over, which became evidence of the British government supporting the Qing dynasty.

  Which of the powers that invaded and plundered China is limited to one country? If calculated, France, Japan, Russia, Germany, and even the United States should be responsible for China's difficulties. Why focus on Britain alone?

  This electricity is really unreliable.

  Britain, the true overlord of this era, its territory can be seen in every corner under the sun, and the power of the empire on which the sun never sets is inviolable. Even France and Germany have to look at Britain's face when acting. What qualifications does a mere Republican general have to challenge Britain?

  "Ignorance, arrogance." Huang Xing sighed, but didn't know who he was talking about. Seeing Liu Kuai finish reading the telegram, he hastily pulled him over, and the two of them hurried back to the small courtyard, closing the door tightly.

  "Down with the British!"

  "Recover Jiujiang Concession!"

  The overseas students outside shouted slogans excitedly, shouting all the way as they walked. Before long, half of Tokyo knew that the British had bumped into China.

  ……

  "As soon as he arrived at the house, Huang Xing complained to Song Jiaoren, who was presiding over the meeting, 'That "General Zhao" is sending out telegrams again!'"

  "What does it mean?" Song Jiaoren asked.

  Huang Xing handed over the telegram draft, Song Jiaoren took a look and stood up in surprise, saying: "What? He actually protested to the British government? What qualifications does he have? Now that the powers have not yet recognized the revolutionary army as a belligerent, provoking the British government will only make the revolution more difficult. The Boxer Rebellion is still fresh in our minds, how can someone forget so quickly? The current revolutionary cause is most afraid of foreign intervention."

  Huang Xing smiled bitterly and said: "What's the reason? In my opinion, he really thinks of himself as a revolutionary leader in Central China."

  Song Jiaoren was so anxious that he paced back and forth, complaining: "Keqiang, this is not the time to talk about trivial matters! This Zhao Bei, does he really understand what 'diplomatic protest' means? Is he really a member of the Guangfu Hui? In his telegram the day before yesterday, he supported Yuan Shikai, a Qing official, as the Republican leader. We can think that he was trying to win over the constitutionalists in the Qing court, which is a revolutionary strategy. But what does this telegram mean now? What does he want to do? What does the Guangfu Hui want to do? China has been weak for a long time, and the revolution has just started, with weak revolutionary forces. We must not provoke foreign powers. Doesn't he understand this principle? A few days ago, we were still discussing whether to pull him into our alliance, but now I think we should be cautious. What kind of person is he, after all?"

  "You ask me, who should I ask?" Huang Xing spread his hands and glanced around the room. "Since we learned about the success of the Anqing Uprising, members of the Tongmenghui in Tokyo immediately packed their bags to return home and join the revolution. Yesterday, I went to take a look, but all the Tongmenghui people had disappeared, even the branch office was sold. Now it's probably very difficult to find another Tongmenghui member here in Tokyo. Looking at us, this meeting has been going on since the day before yesterday, yet we don't have anyone who can make decisions. Although Mr. Sun is not here, we can't just wait like this. If Mr. Sun were here, he would definitely lead us to fight back immediately."

  Everyone was silent, and during this period, Mr. Sun was in Siam (Thailand) organizing a branch of the Alliance Society, with an uncertain itinerary. The previous two days, people had sent telegrams to him, but they couldn't get in touch, so these two days were spent holding meetings, without forming a unified opinion on how the Alliance Society should take advantage of the current excellent situation. The conservative faction suggested observing and waiting due to the recent consecutive uprisings having failed, while the radical faction advocated for immediately returning to China, going to Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces to mobilize the party and new army to respond to the uprising. As for the Progressive Party, some people quietly left Japan without a word, it was clear where they were headed.

  "No matter what you think, I can no longer stay here. I have already asked someone to buy a ticket for me, and I will first go to Hong Kong, then to Guangdong. The new armies of Anhui, Hubei, and Jiangsu have all turned against the Qing government, and the entire southeastern region is in a state of terror. This is a great opportunity for revolution, and if we miss it, it will be difficult to find another one."

  "I'm going back too!"

  "I'm with Gongjin Association, I didn't leave for the past two days, now I regret it terribly. I'll also leave with Brother Liu."

  ……

  Seeing the crowd in the house, Song Jiaoren and Huang Xing exchanged a glance, then whispered a few words to each other.

  "Comrades, let us calm down. The Qing dynasty is in mourning, and the new army has risen up in revolt one after another. The revolutionary situation is excellent, and we cannot afford to wait for opportunities to slip away. Now, as the acting director, I make the following decisions: First, Ke Qiang and those who are willing to return to China will immediately pack their bags, gather volunteers from among the students, and then lead them back to China to participate in the revolution. Given that Anhui and Jiangxi have already fallen into the hands of the insurgent army, we should focus our attention on Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang, especially the new army in Guangdong, which is the main force against the Qing dynasty. We must grasp it firmly in our hands. Next, we should also send some people to the Northeast to mobilize the Green Forest armed forces there. In that place, our Tongmenghui also has a foundation. Additionally, comrades from Sichuan should quickly take action and respond to the uprising in the Southeast. Comrades within the new army in Fujian must also find ways to establish contact. Second, those who do not want to return to China will stay in Tokyo, and I will also stay in Japan to coordinate with comrades in the North and South, and visit various countries' ambassadors to Japan to win a good external environment for the revolution, avoid the involvement of foreign powers as much as possible, and strive for their early recognition of the revolutionary army as a belligerent. I will first go to the British Embassy to explain the Jiujiang Telegram incident to the British government and seek their understanding."

  "Jiujiang's telegram is the business of the Guangfu Hui, what does it have to do with our Tongmenghui? Why should we go and wipe their backsides for them? That Zhao Bei is probably a madman, why must we bother with the words of a madman? He says anti-British, so he's anti-British? He really thinks he's the leader." someone said.

  "No! Now the national revolution is a whole, what the Restoration Society does is what the Alliance Society does!" Song Jiaoren corrected without hesitation, paused for a moment, and added another sentence: "At this time, any behavior that splits the revolutionary camp is short-sighted and foolish! Revolution requires unity of all forces!"