Insufficient balance

  Cai Yuanpei is a scholar, not an economist. The others in the house, Tao Chengzhang, Xu Xilin, Qiu Jin and so on, can't even be called scholars. When Chen Ke talked about the cruelty of the capitalist accumulation period, these people didn't feel anything at first, but when they understood it, each of them looked a bit shocked.

  "Britain started scrambling all over the world 300 years ago and finally took action against China in 1840. At that time, Britain had a population of only 20-30 million people. Now China has a population of 400 million people, and it is definitely not feasible to follow the example of Britain. The world is just so big, if China follows the example of Britain, does it mean that China will have to kill all the people in other countries? China must have a brand new political system, this is not just called revolutionary success by overthrowing the Qing dynasty. Overthrowing the Qing dynasty is not a problem, but it only means that an even more difficult era has just begun."

  Chen Ke spoke freely, without any concern that he was just a young man who had only just met everyone. Chen Ke had already opened up, since Xie Xilin had recommended him as a revolutionary to Cai Yuanpei and the high-ranking officials of the Guangfu Society, so he might as well explain his own revolutionary ideas to them. What's the point of thinking too much? Chen Ke had already established his initial social connections - Hua Xiongmao, You Yun, Zhou Yuanyao, and even Qi Huishen, whom he had only just met. They were the ones who would be Chen Ke's true collaborators in the future, the social connections he would rely on.

  History has proven that revolutionary parties of this era have not become popular. After the Xinhai Revolution, the Guangfu Hui disappeared soon after. The Tongmenghui also underwent reorganization and is now completely different. What's the point of going to great lengths to cater to these political parties with no future?

  Chen Ke knew he wasn't a genius and couldn't convince people with just one conversation. So, "listen to heaven's will, do human affairs" would be enough.

  He briefly outlined the rise of various European and American countries, Chen Ke solemnly pointed out that the strength of Europe and America lies in their implementation of "industrialization", China as an agricultural country must industrialize. Industrialization is a comprehensive "revolution" against the existing Chinese agricultural system. Any system that is not suitable for an industrialized nation must be overthrown. Therefore, the Qing dynasty must be overthrown.

  Watching Chen Ke talking eloquently in front of the prestigious Guangfu Society cadres, Xue Xilun saw again the Chen Ke who had discussed revolution with him at that time. Xue Xilun once thought that Chen Ke was not actually a revolutionary party member, but an opportunist. He just wanted to get on his own line and then find opportunities in Shanghai. Now, seeing Chen Ke's behavior again, Xue Xilun suddenly felt that the Chen Ke in front of him was an unbelievable guy. Chen Ke never talked about how to overthrow the Qing dynasty, only about what kind of China should be established afterwards. Listening to his reasonable words, but unable to solve the current main problem. He was just thinking of asking a question when he heard Tao Chengzhang ask first: "Mr. Wenqing, I don't know how you plan to overthrow the Qing dynasty."

  Everyone present at the meeting lit up when they heard this question. This was what they were most concerned about. Chen Ke paused, having thought about how to respond to this question. Or rather, whether or not to tell the truth to the revolutionary veterans of the Guangfu Meeting. Chen Ke had been hesitant, looking around at the people staring intently at him, and he suddenly felt a bit nervous. For some reason, he suddenly remembered something his mother had once said to him: "Dying first is easy, dying later is hard."

  At that time, Chen Ke was still young and lacked confidence in himself. He wanted to do everything perfectly, but the result was always a mess. Chen Ke could not forget his mother's face, which showed both concern and anger as she slowly said these words.

  "Dying first is easy, but dying later is hard. Do you think those traitors have a good life after betraying? They live in terror every day. The Communist Party has taken over the world, can they spare them? Normally, one should be humble and not overestimate oneself, don't dare to promise everything and take on everything. However, once you decide on something, go all out and don't think about anything else, just strive for success. First, have your own territory that you can control and grasp. This is your foundation. If in the end, fate wants you to die, then go die with dignity. As a person, one must be upright and not resort to deceitful means. One must also be clever and not seek death. One must also have backbone and dare to face consequences. Once you decide on something, absolutely do not become a deserter or a traitor."

  At that time, Chen Ke felt that he had always chosen the wrong project. Later on, Chen Ke painfully realized that he was always eager for quick success and chose high-risk, uncontrollable paths. Projects with seemingly huge returns also meant a frighteningly high failure rate.

  At this point, Chen Ke could not help but admit that the close cooperation with Guangfu Hui was a high-risk project. If he wanted to join Guangfu Hui, he would inevitably have to accept many "tests". The radical program of Guangfu Hui, the uprisings and assassinations in various places, one after another. Xu Xilin had already assassinated Enming, the governor of Anhui Province. Since Chen Ke did not agree with this revolutionary model at all, it was better for him to speak his own revolutionary ideas frankly to Guangfu Hui. This was good for both himself and Guangfu Hui.

  Having made up his mind, Chen Ke looked at Tao Chengzhang and said very seriously: "My revolution is to lead the poor people who cannot survive to overthrow the local government and establish a new system. This way, we will fight our way through every region until all of China is liberated."

  Everyone saw Chen Ke hesitated for a moment, and unexpectedly said this, looking at Chen Ke's eyes were all astonished. Listening to Chen Ke's previous talk about how to build China's industrialization, it seemed like "reformist". I didn't expect Chen Ke not only advocated violent revolution, but also really could be called "extremely violent".

  "Mr. Wenqing, why are you leading those poor people? What do they know about revolution?" asked a middle-aged man Chen Ke didn't recognize.

  "I think they are the ones who really want a revolution. The current gentry, most of whom support constitutionalism, think that if they can divide the power of the Manchu rulers, they will be able to take control of the country and make it better. At least their own lives will be much easier. If the Manchu rulers were to truly implement constitutionalism now and satisfy these people's desires, they would no longer want a revolution. Even the radical revolutionary parties, as long as there is a constitution and they can cut off their queues, are afraid that many of them will also give up. As for those common people, they don't even know how to write the two characters for 'revolution', and most of them are illiterate. But if China's current system is not changed, their lives will be destined to be extremely difficult. When they rise up in revolution, it will be necessary to completely overthrow this regime. With 400 million common people standing up to demand revolution, can the 50 million people in power and their underlings stop this trend?"

  Chen Ke's voice was not loud, and he spoke slowly, one word at a time. After hearing Chen Ke's words, the faces of everyone in the room turned solemn. Chen Ke's gaze swept across the crowd, except for Hua Xiong Mao, who couldn't help but reveal a hint of joy, the others didn't seem too happy.

  The room fell silent for a moment. Cai Yuanpei's expression turned cold, and he smiled warmly, "Does Mr. Wen think he knows how to establish the new system you mentioned?"

  "There are many shortcomings in details, but basically understood in outline." Chen Keming said without hesitation.

  "What's the plan for the literary youth recently?"

  "Preparing to open a cultural supplementary class."

  "Oh, will the school building and teachers be settled?"

  "The teacher is already here, but the school building isn't."

  After hearing this, Cai Yuanpei looked at the crowd and said, "Wen Qing, I happen to have an opportunity here. The local government in Shanghai is planning to set up a school. They originally wanted me to be the frontman, but according to them, the school building has already been secured. Since Wen Qing says he can do it, would you be willing to take over?" Cai Yuanpei dropped a bombshell with his gentle tone.

  "Mr. Cai knows so many sages, how could it be my turn? Mr. Cai has overestimated me."

  "This school, it's not a school for the Revival Society either. And I heard from Bo Yun that Wen Qing wants to join the Revival Society, Wen Qing did this thing first, just consider helping me out." Cai Yuanpei said.

  Chen Ke looked around and saw that everyone was calm and collected, couldn't see any clues. Let's just wait and see what's going on, Chen Ke thought.

  "I will write a charter for Mr. Cai to review. If Mr. Cai gives me this opportunity, I will definitely do it well." Chen Ke replied sincerely.

  "That's good." Cai Yuanpei smiled and said, "I think Wen Qing should also be able to handle it."

  Everyone said a few more words, Qiu Jin gave Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao a look. The two quickly got up to bid farewell. Cai Yuanpei nodded in agreement.

  As soon as he stepped out of the door, Chen Kelong let out a deep breath, as if he wanted to expel all the depression in his chest.

  "Wen Qing, are you really prepared to run a school?" asked Hua Xiong Mao.

  "What's wrong with that?" Chen Ke retorted.

  "Have you ever run a school?" Hua Xiongmao was an interesting guy who always got straight to the point.

  With Hua and Xiong Mao, who are both pragmatic, Chen Ke feels quite relaxed. He smiles and says: "Hua, I've actually run a school before." This is not a joke, as Chen Ke had started a tutoring class with friends in the 21st century. He's not unfamiliar with these things. "What I'm worried about is that we don't have a campus. As for starting a school, that's no big deal."

  Hua Xiongmao's words to Chen Ke were somewhat convincing, he thought for a moment and suddenly laughed: "If Wen Qing opens a school, I'll go be a student. Being able to listen to Wen Qing teach should also be a delightful thing."

  "What's fun about it?" Chen Ke laughed loudly after hearing this, "Zheng Lan, how many students have you seen who love studying? Which one isn't forced by homework until they're fed up with life."

  Hua Xiongmao also burst out laughing, "Although I took the martial arts exam, I also attended a private school. In those days, I was beaten by my teacher every day. Being beaten by the teacher wasn't the worst of it, if my parents found out that the teacher had beaten me, I'd still get a good scolding at home. It was truly unbearable."

  "Mr. Cai, if you want me to run the school, I'll go and do it. One step at a time, no use thinking too much. What we can't put down is our own dyeing business." Chen Ke's words sounded more like self-encouragement.

  The two returned to the workshop, and it was almost noon. As soon as they entered the door, they saw three people working in the yard. Upon closer inspection, under Yu Yun's command, helping to dry the cloth was actually Qi Hui Shen, whom they had just met yesterday. Qi Hui Shen was also wearing a deep blue work uniform, tilting his head back to pull the rope. "Aren't you tired with your head tilted back like that?" Yu Yun ordered, "First bring down the rope, there's a loop on this end, put the loop on the corresponding hook. Then go adjust the position."

  There were ten wooden beams placed on the ground and four corresponding to the upper part, with iron hooks nailed on the wooden beams. In order to prevent scratching people, the iron hook was almost cut off in a small gap like an iron ring. This was Huaxiong Mao's suggestion.

  Qī Huì Shēn pressed down on the fabric as Yóu Yūn said, and lifted his head to look at the fabric hanging above. It was hung very unevenly. Yóu Yūn pulled on a rope tied to one side of the wall, which adjusted the distance between the bamboo poles used for drying clothes. When he tightened the rope, the distance between the poles became even. Qī Huì Shēn thought this design was amazing and looked up to examine it carefully when he heard Yóu Yūn shout, "Finish your work before you look around! Now keep putting up the fabric!" Startled by Yóu Yūn's yell, Qī Huì Shēn immediately lowered his head and prepared to put more fabric on the bamboo poles hanging down. Then he saw Chén Kè and Huà Xióng Mào standing at the door looking at him in surprise.

  "Wen Qing, Mr. Qi is looking for you to ask for guidance on a problem. I think you won't charge him tuition, so let him work in exchange for the fee." You Yun shouted while quickly setting up the fabric on the bamboo pole.

  "Is it really so, Mr. Qi?" Chen Ke asked with a smile.

  "It's not that Miss You forced me to work. It was my own request to help out, last time I saw Mr. Wenqing and a few others working together, I also wanted to see how tiring the work you do is, Mr. Wenqing."

  "You go ahead, I'll come over and join you right away."

  The number of people working in the courtyard increased from four to five, and everyone let Qi Hui do some lighter work. With just one more person, the work efficiency was greatly improved.

  In the late afternoon, when fifty pieces of cloth had filled up the courtyard, five people gathered around the table, rubbing their sore necks and shoulders. Qi Hui looked back at the densely packed fabric, hardly believing that he had participated in so much work.

  "Mr. Wen Qing..." Qi Hui said deeply.

  "You can just call me Mr. Wenqing directly, no need for formalities."

  "Brother Wenqing, yesterday you talked about some revolutionary topics, especially saying that revolution should be led by the people. Can you elaborate on it today?"

  "Hey brother, with your work efficiency, I think you can work for me here. I'll give you 15 cents per piece of cloth, plus free lectures, how about it?" Chen Ke threw out his own requirements.

  "......" Qi Hui Shen did not expect Chen Ke to make such an absurd request. After some thought, Qi Hui Shen said: "I have a friend, I'd like him to come and work/study together with me, is that okay?"

  "Alright, consider today a free pass. Starting tomorrow, you and your friends will come to work together. And I have something else to attend to today, so I won't be able to give you lessons. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Chen Ke stood up as he spoke.

  Qī Huì Shēn didn't show any sign of anger, he also stood up, "Then I'll take my leave first." After Qī Huì Shēn left the courtyard, Huà Xióng Mào curiously asked: "Wén Qīng, why are you tormenting this guy like this?"

  "The revolution is done by action, those who are not willing to take action do not have the qualifications to participate in my revolution." Chen Ke smiled and said. After meeting Cai Yuanpei and others during the day, Chen Ke no longer wanted to look back on the revolution. The Communist Party at the beginning was just a few people, but by 1928 they had liberated China. Since he himself was willing to make revolution, he would gather comrades who were willing to make revolution and work hard like those predecessors. Struggling hard was all there was to it, "Dying first is easy, dying later is hard." If the day really came when one had to sacrifice for the revolution, then going to death without regret would be fine. What's the point of thinking so much?

  When I returned to my residence, the sky had already darkened. The one who opened the door was Qiu Jin's maid, Lin Jian. After entering the courtyard, I saw that both Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin's rooms were lit up, and the sound of debate came from Xu Xilin's room. Upon hearing the movement at the gate, a moment later Xu Xilin walked out of his own room, "You two come in." From the tone, Xu Xilin's voice was quite stern.

  As soon as he entered the house, Xú Xīlín said to Chén Kè: "Wén Qīng, what did you say to Mr. Cài today?"

  "I am frank about revolutionary matters."

  "I'm not talking about those in front of you, Mr. Cai said he wanted to build a school, and you dared to accept?" Xu Xilin's voice sounded severe, but Chen Ke felt no malice.

  "Mr. Cai instructed me, and I also think this matter can be handled. I will come up with a plan for Mr. Cai within five days. If Mr. Cai thinks it's feasible, I'll proceed; if not, I'll follow his instructions. Did I offend someone from the Guangfu Association?"

  After hearing this, Xue Xilun wanted to speak but stopped. The person who was actually annoyed was Xue Xilun himself. He had already discussed with Tao Chengzhang to start a school in Shaoxing. If Chen Ke were to start a school in Shanghai, he would inevitably not be able to help his own cause. Xue Xilun was somewhat dissatisfied with this.

  Qiu Jin knew Xu Xilin's thoughts, she knew it wasn't good to say anything directly, so she changed the subject. "Wen Qing, Mr. Cai has a high opinion of you. He says that Wen Qing is a rare practical person and thinks you have a sharp spirit and a sense of responsibility. As for building the school, I have high hopes for you."

  Chen Ke didn't know about the twists and turns in between, for him, as long as he could do a good job with the current task at hand, that was enough. "I will come up with a plan within seven days," Chen Ke said.

  After hearing what Autumn Jing and Chen Ke had to say, Xu Xilin couldn't say anything more. He continued: "I and Xuan Qing are going out for a while, I don't know if Wenqing can get used to staying in Shanghai?"

  Chen Ke asked strangely: "Where are you two going?"

  "Xuanqing will go to Japan for a trip. I want to return to Shaoxing."

  It turned out that this time Cai Yuanpei found Xu Xilin, and they had been discussing Sun Yat-sen's invitation to revolutionary parties from all over the country to gather in Japan for a meeting to discuss cooperation. Several key members of the Guangfu Society would attend. Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin were also invited. Xu Xilin was not very satisfied with Japan and even more afraid of those "overseas revolutionaries" hiding in Japan, so he simply declined the matter.

  "Brother Bohong, can you wait for me for a few days?"

  "What's wrong with you?"

  "In a few more days I will finish dyeing the cloth in my hands and sell it. If I can make some money, Brother Boyou has treated me so kindly, I also want to give Brother Boyou some small gifts."

  Xu Xilin recalled the conversation he had with Qiu Jin yesterday, in which she believed that Chen Ke was not an unfeeling and unrighteous person. Hearing what Chen Ke said today, Xu Xilin's dissatisfaction with him dissipated a lot. He politely declined several times, but did not refuse.

  Chen Ke was unaware that Xu Xilin was in dire need of money. Historically, the Guangfu Society had planned to establish a school, using the name of running a school to provide military training for the backbone members of the Hui Party in various parts of Zhejiang, and to prepare for an armed uprising to overthrow the feudal autocratic rule. Tao Chengzhang worked with Xu Xilin and others to raise funds for the establishment of the Datong School. The first problem faced by the school was the difficulty of raising funds, and Cai Yuanpei's brother Cai Yuankang suggested to Xu Xilin that they use the method of robbing a money shop to raise funds. Xu Xilin agreed and immediately took action, borrowing 5,000 yuan from Guangfu Society member and Shaoxing merchant Xu Zhongqing, using the name of Shaoxing Prefectural School students' physical exercise performance to obtain approval from Shaoxing Governor Xiong Qican, purchasing 50 rear-barrel nine-shot guns and 20,000 rounds of ammunition from Shanghai. Xu Xilin also instructed Zhuo Shaokang to return to Yinxian County, select more than 20 strong and capable Hui Party youths to come to Shaoxing, give each person 20 yuan in expenses, and have Xu Xilin personally supervise their training at Donghu, preparing to implement the robbery plan as soon as the opportunity was ripe. Tao Chengzhang strongly opposed this approach, believing that it would harm the overall situation by raising funds through irregular channels. Because once the plan was implemented, it would inevitably cause a huge response in society, exposing not only themselves but also tarnishing the reputation of the Guangfu Society, ultimately ending in failure.

  This is why Xú Xī Lín was surprised that Chén Kè took over the task of running a school in Shanghai. But Chén Kè voluntarily offered to provide Xú Xī Lín with some money, and Xú Xī Lín naturally wouldn't refuse.

  Qiu Jin immediately encouraged Chen Ke a few words, and the meeting dispersed.

  The next day, Qi Hui-shen indeed brought his companion. Qi Hui-shen was originally a relatively slender young man from Jiangnan, and this classmate named He Zu-dao was a delicate young man from Jiangnan. He Zu-dao even had a braid, looking very shy and polite.

  Fortunately, there were many work clothes, and everyone put on their clothes and started working. Qi Hui Shen and He Zu Dao worked very hard, while You Ou was in charge of tasks with a small labor intensity, now he had two subordinates, and You Ou was even happier.

  At noon, Wu Xingchen appeared at the door. Looking at the densely hung fabrics in the courtyard, Wu Xingchen felt a great deal of regret. The last time he saw Chen Ke, if it wasn't for He Yifan's meddling, Chen Ke would have probably signed an agreement with him by now. With such a large yard full of fabric, they could have made quite a bit of money. After He Yifan left, he began searching for buyers, but this guy was just a "small turtle" in Shanghai dialect. Otherwise, at his age, it wouldn't be possible to only hold the position of an ordinary helper. He went to find people, but no one would take him seriously. To be honest, although Wu Xingchen was quite angry at the time and had some reservations about Chen Ke's visit, he didn't dislike Chen Ke. So he made up an excuse and sent He Yifan out on an errand, which actually helped Chen Ke avoid any trouble.

  Today, according to the agreed time with Chen Ke, Wu Xingchen came to see what kind of tricks Chen Ke had up his sleeve. This way, he could also take advantage of the situation.