Chapter 21: The Wind Rises (Part 1)

  When the prison guard opened the gate and let him out with a scolding, Zhang Biao's desperate heart was still filled with indignation. He was thinking of shouting "I'm a good man again after 18 years" when he arrived at his destination, but the situation suddenly changed. Zhang Biao was not taken to Caishikou for execution, but instead gained his freedom.

  On the way back to the city, Zhang Biao couldn't help but steal glances at this big shot who had pulled him out of his misery. The man didn't look very old, probably around thirty or so, dressed in a well-tailored Western suit, holding an ivory-handled cane, and puffing on a cigar that was several times thicker than a regular cigarette... He exuded an air of superiority, clearly a high-ranking official who had grown accustomed to his position.

  No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure out how Zhang Biao's family, who had always been ordinary people, managed to establish such a connection. When they arrived at the destination, they saw Zhou Saner, his childhood friend, eagerly waiting for him with a sincere expression, and only then did Zhang Biao suddenly realize what was going on.

  "Brother! You've suffered!"

  "Third...third..." The two met and hugged each other, crying out loud. After a few wails, Zhang Biao wiped away his tears and hastily knelt down in front of Fang Zida, who was still standing aside.

  He didn't say a word and knocked his head three times with a loud thud.

  Fang Zida didn't blame Zhang Biao for this. As the saying goes, "Great kindness is not spoken of in gratitude." Just by looking at the bloodstains on his forehead, he understood Zhang Biao's intentions. If Zhang Biao had really shown a willingness to repay him even if it meant being a cow or horse in his next life, Fang Zida would have felt that he had saved the wrong person.

  Supported Zhang Biao to get up, comforted him in a good voice for a few sentences, and let Zhou San'er take Zhang Biao to wash and change first, also to get rid of the bad luck in the prison.

  Not long after, Zhang Biao returned with Zhou San'er on Wednesday, and Fang Zida was sitting in the yard, smoking a cigar and tasting tea.

  "Master Fang, San'er has told me everything. From now on, Zhang Biao's life belongs to you, Master Fang!"

  "No need to be polite, just sit down. 7Z?" Fang Zida waved his hand with a smile and pointed to the seat in front of him.

  After they all sat down, Fang Zida said with a serious tone: "Zhang Biao, although you've come out, things haven't been settled yet, so you can't go home for the time being either, understand?"

  Zhang Biao is no fool, he understood at once. In his heart, he was even more grateful to Fang Zhong for risking danger to save himself. He hastily clenched his fist and said: "I understand, thank you, Master Fang, for saving my life!"

  Xin Wei nodded in agreement, and Fang Zida and Yan Yuese said: "Don't worry about things at home, San Er is taking care of it, your mother is fine, first stay here with me to avoid the storm, hmm...it's best to change your name again, after a long time this matter will fade away, everything will be easy to handle."

  "Yes, I'll leave it to Master Fang's arrangement!" Zhang Biao immediately agreed, but he also hesitated and asked: "Master Fang, my humble life is at stake. If I get involved in something trivial that affects you, I won't be able to rest even in death!"

  "Haha, don't worry about this, I have arrangements for the prison side, just stay here with me." Fang Zida was very satisfied with Zhang Biao's attitude. As the saying goes, "those who are righteous are often killed by dogs", and the ancients were not deceiving me! As for getting Zhang Biao out, it didn't take much effort, with Yang Du and Xia Shoutian's help, it's easy to get someone out of prison. However, Yang Du and Liang Shi'e have always been at odds, and this matter was entrusted by Liang Shi'e to be handled below, so some aspects still need to be properly resolved. Fortunately, last night, Yuan Daguizi mistakenly hit Yang Du with this matter, which made Fang Zida think of a perfect plan - to swap Zhang Biao with the unlucky Liu Zi, using him to replace Zhang Biao in prison, and even if Liang Shi'e wants to investigate, it will be difficult.

  But even if the matter is exposed, what can be done about it? Liang Shiyu and Yang Du are at odds with each other, would he dare to go and bother Yuan Kedding again? To offend Yuan Gongzi for a nobody like Zhang Biao? It's absolutely impossible for someone of Liang Shiyu's temperament.

  So, Zhang Biao temporarily stayed at Fang Zida's house and even changed his name to Zhang Huchen, saying that from now on he was Fang Zida's man. Seeing this result, Fang Zida was naturally very satisfied, and found an opportunity to ask Zhang Biao if he was willing to join the KMT. Zhang Biao was a straightforward person, and asked Fang Zida in return if he was a member of the KMT. Fang Zida nodded and said yes, and Zhang Biao immediately agreed on the spot.

  Wednesday's side is the same, he was originally helping Fang Zida with things, and this time Fang Zida saved Zhang Biao again. Oh, now it should be called Zhang Huichen, who has always been thinking of repaying kindness. What's more, Fang Zida absorbing him into the KMT is a small matter? As long as he can help Fang Zida in the future, let Wednesday do more dangerous things, he is willing.

  The KMT has always been rich in talent, apart from Sun Dapao who pretended to be a doctor with a doctoral degree, there are many people with high academic qualifications who have studied abroad. Fang Zidah, who is already working within the party, certainly understands this very well. However, the relationships between these individuals are complex and most of them have high standards, while Fang Zidah is new to the scene and his qualifications and prestige are far inferior to those of Song Jiaoren and others. This is also why he has always been afraid to use these people. The idea of bringing Zhou Saner and Zhang Huachen under his wing is one that Fang Zidah had long entertained, as some things require someone he trusts to take the lead, and precisely these two are the most suitable candidates.

  Yang Du's beating incident was finally handled in a low-key manner. A few days later, Yuan Da Gongzi came forward and found an opportunity to set up a wine table under the wind and moon. Both sides pretended that nothing had happened and laughed and talked as if nothing was wrong. Fang Zida couldn't help but sigh that people who do politics are good at yielding and stretching. By helping Yang Du with this matter, Yuan Da Gongzi owed him a favor, and also conveniently wiped out Zhang Hu's tail, the biggest beneficiary of which was Fang Zida. However, he didn't have much to be happy about, because by then the entire Chinese political atmosphere had become increasingly tense.

  On June 13, Shanghai was the first to rise up. Under the connection of Sun Wen and Chen Qimei, the Revolutionary Party and other parties jointly condemned Yuan Shikai for the Huang Xing case and the large loan affair. Two days later, on June 15, the governors of Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Anhui jointly issued a telegram to pressure the central government. Immediately afterwards, even Beijing was no longer peaceful. Under the instigation of some people, the students of Peking University also began to rise up.

  "Damn it! How could this happen? How did you mess things up like this?! What is the Vice Minister of Education eating?! Why didn't you realize it earlier?" Premier Zhao Bingjun was furious upon receiving news about the students, and immediately called in Vice Minister of Education Dong Hongyu for a scolding.

  It wasn't hot in Beijing in June, but Vice Minister of Education Dong Hongyu kept wiping the sweat from his forehead. To say that he was overworked would be an understatement - since Chen Zongyi resigned as Minister of Education, the position had been vacant, and he, as vice minister, had been acting minister.

  Dong Hong was not a person who should be an official in the first place. He is good at academic research and has no problem with writing documents, but when it comes to other things, he is almost completely clueless. Letting him act as the Minister of Education is basically like pushing a duck onto a perch, it's really hard on him.

  His heart was both ashamed and angry, Dong Hongyu didn't know how to distinguish what was good anymore. As the deputy head of education, he only received news when students made trouble, which was really a failure. Turning his thoughts around, he actually blamed Sun Wen and others. No matter what, Dong Hongyu was an old Tongmenghui member! Everyone had known each other for so many years, not looking at the monk's face but also the Buddha's face, thinking back to the revolutionary days when Dong Hongyu didn't support Sun Wen less. Now that you want to make a move, no matter what, shouldn't you first give yourself a heads up? Let yourself prepare or pretend to be ill and avoid the wind ahead of time. Who would have thought it was a sudden attack, coming to his own territory with a surprise coup, not even putting him as the deputy head of education on the menu, really too ungrateful.

  He scolded a few words, Dong Hongyu hastily replied: "Zhao Gong, I went to Peking University before coming here and saw Mr. Xie Hou, he promised to organize teachers to go on the street to persuade students to return to school, however... however..."

  "What's wrong?" Zhao Bingjun asked with wide eyes.

  "Although Mr. Xiang Hou is the principal, his prestige among students is far inferior to that of Mr. He Qiong, and it may take some time to calm down this matter," he said, wiping away the sweat on his forehead again with a handkerchief held by Dong Hongyu.

  Zhao Bingjun was about to open his mouth and scold again, but in the end he just sighed. Although Dong Hongyu is weak and incompetent, this matter cannot be blamed entirely on him. Even the current principal, He Xiehou, cannot control these students, so it's a bit too much for Dong Hongyu to bear the responsibility alone. As he said earlier, if Cai Yuanpei were in Beijing, his prestige in the education circle might have been able to quickly calm down this matter. Unfortunately, Cai Yuanpei is currently inspecting various European countries, and distant water cannot put out a nearby fire.

  He sat silently, thinking about how to deal with this matter. At this moment, someone came in and walked to Zhao Bingjun, whispering a few words. Zhao Bingjun nodded, got up, put on his coat, and said to the anxious Dong Hongyu: "The President has summoned us, let's go see the President together."

  "Ah!" Dong Hongyu's heart sank again, and he could only nod in response with a bitter face.