Chapter 45

  "I'm planning to go north soon and develop some new party members in Beijing," Chen Ke said in a calm tone. The comrades looked at each other, either confused or not immediately understanding what Chen Ke meant.

  "Going to Beijing?" Chen Tianhua asked first.

  "That's right."

  "Isn't it Anhui?" Hua Xiongmao asked further.

  "As soon as I returned from Beijing, I went to Anhui myself." Chen Ke replied. As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Ke suddenly laughed and said: "Zheng Lan wants to go to Anhui so much, that's great. I was worried that everyone wouldn't want to leave Shanghai."

  "How come." Huaxiong Mao replied casually. However, after a moment, Huaxiong Mao realized that his words were not quite right, whether he wanted to go to Anhui or didn't want to leave Shanghai, this answer was ambiguous. Just thinking of changing the phrase, Qihui asked: "How long are you preparing to stay?"

  "Two months."

  "When shall we set out?"

  October. Today is September 18th. I will set off in two weeks.

  Chen Ke was calm and composed, as if going to Beijing was just like going from the workshop to school. This is the temperament of modern people. Developed transportation has made long-distance travel a very simple thing. Chen Ke's family was on the railway, and when he was very young, he had no psychological resistance to traveling far.

  Among those present, Chen Tianhua, You Ou, Wu Xingchen and Hua Xiongmao had also been away from home for a long time, so they could barely understand Chen Ke's attitude.

  "I need to confirm some things before I leave. When I come back, I hope to see that everyone has done these things well." Although this statement was quite domineering, Chen Ke couldn't help but say it. No one felt that Chen Ke's words were wrong, and everyone's attention was drawn to the matters he had brought up. Even if they hadn't been drawn in, Chen Ke's position within the party meant that no one would think he wasn't qualified to speak like this.

  "Before I leave, let's prepare a batch of reserve party members. Let's identify the candidates first."

  This remark immediately boosted everyone's morale, and the first party committee branch meeting was officially held. Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua began to circle names on their list, while Hua Xiongmao and Qin Wuan also started circling names on their own lists. And all the party members who were leading others in work, such as You Yun and Wu Xingchen, also began writing their own lists and circling those they thought could enter the probationary party member sequence.

  After everyone had prepared their own list, they proceeded with the grouping and overlapping screening as previously mentioned. Those who passed both ideologically and in terms of work were listed. Ten people made it to the shortlist. Four were local Shanghai Party members, three were overseas students including Mao Ping who returned with Chen Tianhua, and three were Japanese students. It was surprising that Chinese and Japanese people had made it to the list, leaving comrades feeling quite surprised. However, organizational procedures are organizational procedures, there were no private agreements between the two groups of people, everything depended on individual performance. The 30% proportion of foreigners in the list was truly astonishing.

  "This is really weird." Huaxiongmao subconsciously touched his head, "The Japanese devils are actually quite impressive."

  "The students of Fudan Public School are here to study, not to work for you." You Sheng retorted, "What do you plan to do with these people after selecting them?"

  "First, the name of the People's Party must not be mentioned at all, and everyone must strictly follow the organization's confidentiality rules. Second, assign them tasks through the organization and conduct assessments." Chen Ke's fingers tapped on another list written by He Zuodao that had only passed a certain aspect of the assessment, "Third, consider how to screen and assess these people. Prepare for the development work of the next batch of probationary party members."

  Having said that, Chen Ke closed his mouth and waited for everyone to speak. However, everyone was waiting for Chen Ke to assign tasks, and the two sides fell into a silent stare at each other.

  "What's up with these hipsters?" Huaxiongmao broke the silence first.

  "From today on, I am prepared to turn over these tasks to everyone. The revolution is not for me to establish my own dominance. I am a member of the People's Party, and I am only one part of it; what I say isn't necessarily what goes. Work must be done spontaneously by everyone."

  After these words came out, everyone was at a loss. The first to tentatively express his opinion was Qi Hui Shen, "Can't Wen Qing have an opinion?"

  Chen Ke originally thought that Hua Xiongmao would be the first to jump out and "protect his master", and that Qi Huishen's revolutionary awareness was the highest among comrades, Chen Ke thought that Qi Huishen would have enough "political correctness". As a result, Chen Ke found himself mistaken, the first person to suspect Chen Ke of being dissatisfied with certain people in the organization was actually Qi Huishen. Or rather, the first person to come out and express his attitude was actually Qi Huishen. Looking at Hua Xiongmao again, he seemed to be looking around nervously, as if trying to find someone who opposed Chen Ke.

  Noticing the atmosphere was becoming somewhat awkward, Chen Ke explained: "I'm about to go to Beijing, all the work in Shanghai has to be handed over to my comrades. While I'm here, I can still attend meetings and express my views. If I'm not in Shanghai, you can't wait for me to come back before doing things, right? The work in Shanghai must keep moving forward."

  Deep down, Chen Ke's mind had to consider some personnel matters, which were actually the most detestable considerations for him. The struggle for power and position implies an inevitable internal conflict. There are many reasons, but ultimately, they all boil down to individuals wanting their opinions to become mainstream or seeking to satisfy their personal interests first. Once a struggle for power and position arises, regardless of the reason, it inevitably leads to tragic consequences.

  In the history of the party, there have been various manifestations of this kind. And the strategies to deal with it have also taken completely different measures. However, the names of these measures are synonymous with fear in the minds of many people later on. For example, "rectification", for example, "purge". To ensure the smooth operation of organizational discipline, personal struggles must be suppressed. The party's iron discipline is no joke. It's a fact. Even in the period after liberation without cruel military struggle, at various critical moments, whether voluntarily or not, party members stood up to lead the masses to solve problems. Floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, people first saw the figures of party members and cadres, they always stood in the most dangerous places. If these people ran away first, no matter who this person was, no matter what background this person had, they would inevitably be severely punished.

  It is clear that the discipline within the People's Party still has a long way to go. Chen Ke himself absolutely did not mean to frame anyone. What he hopes for now is just one thing, comrades must bring out their subjective initiative to promote the progress of the revolution. Therefore, even if Chen Ke now has all sorts of doubts, he must make his thoughts understood by his comrades.

  "I once asked what the current task is? Who can answer that. Hmm, Wu An, you tell me."

  Qin Wu'an did not expect to be named, and his surprised expression gave it away. "The current task is to develop party members and prepare for the next step of working in Anhui."

  "Correct answer, add ten points," Chen Ke said to himself. But this kind of casual remark was absolutely not something that could be directly spoken out loud. Chen Ke simply nodded very normally, "I'm going to Beijing also for the development of party members. Everyone in Shanghai is also for the development of party members. To prepare for the next step of work. It can't be that I went to Beijing and the work in Shanghai was neglected. And things are always changing, I'm not some kind of Zhuge Liang, preparing a few clever plans, and everything will be solved. At any time, everyone must bring out their own subjective initiative. Now we're just a few people, but later we'll have hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of comrades. I won't be able to lead everything myself."

  The logic of this sentence is not wrong. After thoroughly understanding Chen Ke's meaning, Hua Xiongmao, who was tense with the string of struggle, also relaxed. The next question was quickly raised by someone, "Now that Wen Qing is gone, it really feels like there is no mainstay." You Suan smiled and said.

  "We are organized through the party committee, and no matter whether I am here or not, we must do things according to the party's organizational discipline. The party's organizational discipline absolutely cannot be ineffective. The party organization is the only mainstay." Chen Ke responded.

  Everyone stopped talking, and Chen Ke had been emphasizing the party's discipline all along. Over the past few months, everyone had gradually accepted the existence of organizational discipline. However, with Chen Ke's departure to the north, the existing organizational structure suddenly underwent tremendous changes. This was where everyone felt very uncomfortable. Yet this was exactly what Chen Ke hoped everyone could adapt to. The first generation of leaders of the party were not Chairman Mao. Li Dazhao and Chen Duxiu founded the party, and as history developed, so did the party. The reason the party grew stronger was that its core idea of saving China had never changed. Each successive leader struggled for this goal. If the party became merely an organization for its leaders, it would be no different from the Tongmenghui or other trashy secret societies.

  Regardless of whether comrades can fully accept it or not, Chen Ke said: "I estimate that I will be back before the Spring Festival. After my return, I will report my work to the party organization. As the chairman of this party meeting, I would like to discuss with everyone the arrangement of social investigation work."

  Social investigation is to enable comrades to thoroughly understand the current situation in China and social contradictions. Its main purpose is to illustrate the necessity and legitimacy of revolution. Although Chen Ke is not a person of this era, his understanding of social reality far surpasses that of anyone in this era.

  In the end, everyone agreed on three topics:

  Why small-scale peasant economy will inevitably go bankrupt.

  2. The relationship between the rise in cotton prices and the invasion of foreign goods.

  3. The current social structure and composition of China.

  Apart from this, Chen Ke demanded that the party organization start conducting surveys in the area south of the Huai River in Anhui. He bluntly told everyone that they must go to the areas with the sharpest social contradictions to launch a revolution. As the saying goes, "no conflict, no noise", without sharp social contradictions, there is no gathering of revolutionary forces. If people have no worries about food and clothing, scolding the government is not a problem, but thinking about rebelling is unthinkable. Chen Ke's feelings on this point are deeper than anyone else's. The ugly appearance of those so-called democratic activists is either to incite the people to send them to death, hoping to climb to the top of power by trampling on the people's blood. Or they hug the thighs of foreign backers, fantasizing that foreign "royal troops" will come in and they will rely on selling out to rise to prominence.

  Chen Ke often has a witty remark on his forum targeting these people: Revolution, let the "elites" die first.

  This is not just sarcasm, the party was like that back then. Party members always stood in the front row, their chests closer to the enemy's gun muzzle than the masses. Now can the Communist Party members, including Chen Ke himself, really withstand such a test? Chen Ke himself has made up his mind and is taking everyone to try it out personally.

  With the outline in place, all that was left was a detailed division of labor. Over the next few days, the People's Party began to divide up tasks, and the Huangpu Book Society, as an external organization, was also mobilized. Amidst the bustling crowd, Chen Ke's figure did not appear. As Chen Ke had expected, Yan Fu called him away.

  Old Master Yan Fu did things very methodically. After calling Chen Ke over, he showed him a letter. This letter was written by Gu Hongming, the deputy principal of Beijing University. The general meaning is that after reading the book sent by Yan Fu, Gu Hongming greatly admired this set of "The Inheritance of Chinese Culture and the Rise of Materialism". He hoped that the author of the book would go to Beijing to give lectures.

  Seeing Chen Ke's surprised expression, Yan Fu simply explained. After Chen Ke's book was publicly sold, because of the low price, Yan Fu bought 20 sets and sent them to his friends. Everyone highly praised this book, and Gu Hongming even invited the author to come to Beijing.

  Chen Ke asked with some embarrassment, what school is the Imperial University of Peking, and who exactly is Gu Hongming. Fortunately, Yan Fu was well-cultivated, otherwise he might have burst out laughing directly.

  Imperial University of Peking was the name used for Peking University from 1898 to 1912. The Imperial University of Peking was China's first national comprehensive university and also served as the country's highest administrative organ of education at that time. The Imperial University of Peking had great significance and received nationwide attention, but due to the corruption of the Qing government, the government did not give sufficient investment to the university.

  In 1900, after the Eight-Power Allied Forces entered Beijing, the Imperial University of Peking was destroyed. On December 17, 1902, the Imperial University of Peking was restored. Zhang Baixi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, served as the Minister of Education. Wu Rulun and Gu Hongming were appointed as the Chief and Deputy Chief Instructors, respectively. Yan Fu and Lin Shu served as the Director and Deputy Director of the Translation Bureau of the University. The Tongwen Guan, which was established in 1862 during the Self-Strengthening Movement, was also merged into the university. In 1904, the first batch of 47 students were sent abroad to study.

  Chen Tianhua's "Meng Huitou" which spread throughout the country mentioned the Imperial University of Peking: "He need not speak, building a university in the capital would cost 3 million silver coins, the government said it was too expensive and has yet to be built. The Empress Dowager spent tens of millions of silver coins to renovate the Yiheyuan Garden and it was done. Every year, the imperial mausoleum is managed with hundreds of thousands of silver coins, which also exists. Is this 3 million really impossible to find?"

  Yan Fu knew that Chen Ke was not a person who pretended to understand without knowing, so since Chen Ke said he didn't know, Yan Fu explained it to him. Seeing the look of sudden realization on Chen Ke's face, Yan Fu said: "Wen Qing, when I mentioned the matter of becoming an apprentice last time, it was actually aimed at you preparing to go north."

  Chen Ke now also understood Yan Fu's mind, and for the care of his seniors, Chen Ke couldn't say anything else. He steeled himself and said: "I will go to Beijing, other things, but follow Mr. Yan's instructions."

  Chen overcame his weakness, and Yan Fu did not pursue him aggressively. He said: "I know that Wen Qing must have difficulties, if it were elsewhere, with Wen Qing's talent, he could go unimpeded. But Beijing is different from other places. So I wrote a few letters for Wen Qing, stating that Wen Qing was my disciple. Wen Qing took these letters and went to Beijing to pay respects to several high officials. I also have some relatives and friends in Beijing and Tianjin, if Wen Qing has time, he can also go visit them."

  Chen Ke nodded in response, and carefully asked about the characteristics of these people. Seeing that Chen Ke also wanted to make the most thorough preparations, Yan Fu simply kept Chen Ke behind, and gave a detailed introduction to whom he hoped Chen Ke would meet and what proposals he intended to put forward to those people. Chen Ke took out his notebook and made a detailed record. This meticulous attitude of Chen Ke's was somewhat satisfactory to Yan Fu.

  Yan Fu specially introduced Mr. Gu Hongming, the vice teacher of Peking University, who valued Chen Ke's book so much, not because he really wanted to buy Yan Fu's account. In the early 20th century, Westerners had a saying: "You can go to China without visiting the Forbidden City, but you cannot miss Gu Hongming." Who is Gu Hongming? He claimed to be "born in Southeast Asia, studied in Western countries, married in Eastern countries, and served in Northern countries." He obtained 13 doctoral degrees, read English newspapers upside down to mock the British, said that Americans had no culture, and was the first to translate China's "Analects" and "Zhongyong" into English and German for the West. With his three-inch tongue, he lectured Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi on Confucianism, exchanged letters with literary master Leo Tolstoy, discussing world culture and political situations, and was called the "most noble Chinese" by Indian saint Mahatma Gandhi.

  This elderly gentleman, although holding multiple doctoral titles from foreign schools, is a person who attaches great importance to the inheritance of Chinese culture. In this regard, he and Yan Fu have exactly the same stance. Yan Fu did not reveal all the circumstances to Chen Ku and Pan Duo, in fact, Gu Hongming's letter had two versions. The letter that Chen Ku saw was written by Gu Hongming according to Yan Fu's intention, which was actually meant for Chen Ku to see. There is another private letter sent to Yan Fu. Gu Hongming, like Yan Fu, after reading Chen Ku's book, was very fond of Chen Ku's concept of "Chinese cultural inheritance". In the letter, the old gentleman believed that Chen Ku's national studies were not thorough, but his ideas were excellent. He is truly a talented person who has led Chinese culture towards modernization.

  Gu Hongming liked the chapter on "Chinese Phonetic Spelling" written by Chen Ke in the appendix of his book. The modern Chinese phonetic spelling is also the result of many national masters' efforts to purify it, and its rationality naturally far exceeds the level that those literati could reach at that time. Gu Hongming was proficient in multiple foreign languages and highly praised Chen Ke's phonetic spelling. As an educator, Gu Hongming deeply understood the role of Chinese phonetic spelling in cultural dissemination. Chen Ke's book adhered to his concept of "development of productive forces", and the article directly stated: China has a situation where there are hundreds of different dialects, but what maintains the unity of Chinese civilization is the unified writing system. However, for the development of productive forces and to reduce communication costs, a standardized language is necessary. If everyone can understand Mandarin, then the cost of communication will be reduced to an unprecedented level.

  Kung considered Chen Ke to be a talented individual who could implement his own ideas and use them to interpret the world in a way that ordinary people couldn't. Kung was very interested in Chen Ke and also asked about his relationship with Yan Fu. In Kung's view, Chen Ke's book inherited the spirit of Yan Fu's "Tianyan Lun" and should have had a deep connection with Yan Fu.

  Yan Fu would naturally not show this letter to Chen Ke, seeing that Chen Ke had already acknowledged the "teacher-student relationship". Yan Fu only told Chen Ke to set off for Beijing as soon as possible.

  The 45th