Passing each other in opposite directions on an inland river is troublesome for fleets. The width and depth of the river channel, and the dry and wet seasons greatly limit the free navigation of fleets. According to regulations, both fleets reduced speed and used semaphore and whistles to determine their respective positions and actions.

Experts watch the knack, while laymen watch the excitement. The passengers on the boat were a group of laymen. They just watched the two fleets moving slowly and crossing each other. They couldn't understand the nervousness of the two captains and first mates at all. Just looking at the parts of the ships on the water surface sailing side by side in opposite directions didn't show any danger. The problem was that the undercurrents stirred up by the underwater parts of the ships were unimaginable. Fast speed was bad, but too slow speed actually had more disastrous consequences. This would make the two ships inevitably collide. Fortunately, Mr. Yan Fu was indeed proficient in piloting and ship knowledge. Although the two captains who graduated from the Naval Academy of the base area were on tenterhooks, no problems occurred during the crossing. The relieved captains ordered whistles to be blown to greet each other in a friendly manner, and the two fleets gradually disappeared from each other's vision.

After watching such a leisurely fleet crossing at close range, Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren's interest in talking with Merchant Wang decreased greatly. The direction of everyone's discussion turned to when they could arrive in Fengtai County. And the one who seemingly had the final say on the ship was this Comrade Guide. The guide hadn't taken a tugboat either, so he had to frankly admit that he didn't know either. Song Jiaoren knew the guide didn't like to talk and barely said a word during the entire journey, so he didn't say more.

The tugboat fleet didn't travel slowly; the average speed per hour could reach 10 kilometers. Except for adding water and coal at the anchorage, it didn't stop in the middle. The group arrived at the destination, the current headquarters of the People's Party, Fengtai County, in less than 20 hours.

"It's really not slow." Huang Xing said. Song Jiaoren just nodded but didn't speak. In front of him was the ruling center of the People's Party, the capital of a real "state within a state." Having seen so many big cities, before seeing Fengtai County with his own eyes, Song Jiaoren couldn't help but imagine this current revolutionary center of China as a real metropolis. If it wasn't a real metropolis, how could the People's Party sweep half of Anhui with this as a base?

When he really saw Fengtai County, Song Jiaoren couldn't help being disappointed. This was a not-so-large county town. Compared with Anqing and Hefei, and even compared with the thousand-year-old ancient city of Shouzhou seen on the waterway, Fengtai County was relatively small. However, looking closely, Fengtai County had places different from other cities. Some tall buildings stood in Fengtai County town. And the dock of Fengtai County was far livelier than other places, even the current Anqing couldn't compare with it.

As soon as they went onto the dock, a strong lively atmosphere rushed over. Loaders, either with coiled queues or short hair, loaded and unloaded goods with the help of simple machinery. Did such a small Fengtai County have so many goods to load and unload? Song Jiaoren was very surprised. Before he could observe in detail, the guide urged Song Jiaoren and Huang Xing to go to the reception desk quickly.

Leading from the dock to the county town was a newly built gravel road. The road surface was quite flat and comfortable to walk on. After walking for a while, Song Jiaoren discovered that his original impression of Fengtai County might not be correct. On both sides of the road were newly built red brick houses. There were not many shops, but the people coming and going on the street obviously had businesses, and everyone looked very energetic. This appearance puzzled Song Jiaoren a bit. Prosperous areas are places where shops gather. Fengtai County looked quite prosperous now, but there were surprisingly few merchants. This street scene was a bit too weird.

Continuing forward for a while, Song Jiaoren discovered another special feature. There were too many people wearing "uniforms" in Fengtai County. On the contrary, the proportion of common people in ordinary clothes was far lower than various people in "uniforms." Under the influence of the uniformed crowd filling the street, Song Jiaoren even felt whether he had arrived in a military city.

The reception desk was in front of a row of houses in Fengtai County. People came and went here even more lively, but it was not a downtown area at all. Song Jiaoren saw the house open facing the street, with two signs hanging on both sides of the main entrance. The sign on the left read "Fengtai County Government, Anhui Province," and the right read "Fengtai County Committee of the Chinese People's Party." The characters were written extremely well, obviously from the hand of a master.

Although he recognized the characters on these signs and understood the meaning of the characters, Song Jiaoren really couldn't connect the Yamen of Fengtai County with the government Yamen he imagined. There were neither high walls surrounding it nor a grand hall and other traditional layouts. Except that this row of houses was a bit distant from the street, leaving a space similar to a field, the Fengtai County Government looked just like an ordinary house of a wealthy family. Moreover, trees were planted neatly in this open space, and there were some stone seats of strange texture under the trees. Apart from this, there was absolutely no setting that reminded people of majesty. Those entering and leaving the county government were also ordinary people, going in and out of the county government gate like visiting neighbors. Who would be willing to deal with the government office if they had nothing to do these years? This abnormal appearance surprised Song Jiaoren extremely.

"You two, let's go in." Seeing Song Jiaoren looking left and right unwilling to continue walking, the guide couldn't help urging.

As soon as he entered the door of the county government, Song Jiaoren saw tables and chairs in the room, but not high above like in a traditional grand hall. The floor of the entire room looked like stone, smooth and hard, yet a whole piece. Several ordinary tables were placed in the middle. Two men and two women sat behind the tables, and common people were waiting in front of the tables.

"You ask about grain sales; go to the second door on the left corridor."

"Housing application requires obtaining a household registration (*hukou*) first, or a certificate issued by the unit. Proving that you work in that unit... The certificate of a private unit won't do; private units need to issue a certificate at the Industry and Commerce Bureau. Proving that they hired you to work there... You ask why? If a private unit defaults on wages, you can go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau to apply for legal mediation... The legal mediation I mentioned means the court or the judicial section in the district is responsible for this matter..."

"If you want to file a lawsuit, you have to go to the court. The court is out the door and walk west for about a hundred steps... Our government is different from the original government office; our government is not responsible for lawsuits. Lawsuits are the responsibility of the court."

There were many people in the room. Several cadres in military uniforms in the main room explained to them where to go to handle affairs. They also had to be responsible for some explanatory work. Song Jiaoren and Huang Xing saw that these four cadres were all very young; one little girl looked less than twenty years old.

The three queued up to wait. Listening to the skilled answers of these receptionists, Song Jiaoren admired them more and more in his heart. He was knowledgeable. Although he didn't understand the formation mode of the new government, after listening for a while, he could also feel that in Fengtai County under the rule of the People's Party, someone was specifically responsible for everything. Instead of managing everything like the original government office but managing nothing well.

The common people were not familiar with the government's work. Some people saw the government people received them kindly and pestered them endlessly. The staff could only stand up helplessly and lead the common people to the department specifically responsible. There were also some common people, especially those applying for housing, who were obviously confused facing complicated procedures. As a result, it wasn't known what result they got inside; anyway, they ran out again to pester the receptionists, really saying all good words. But the receptionists were not actually responsible for the work, so they got entangled. Song Jiaoren listened to the content, which was nothing more than issuing certificates.

Some common people didn't know how to issue certificates at all. At this time, some clerks also returned from outside. The receptionists asked these clerks, who were obviously responsible for leading the way, to take the common people to issue certificates. Song Jiaoren watched with relish, but Huang Xing was a bit impatient. The trivial matters of the common people were concentrated in this room, and a group of super patient clerks were responsible for telling them who to find for solutions. Huang Xing was exhausted from the journey, tired and sleepy, and his mood became terrible. After standing for a long time, it still hadn't reached Huang Xing and the others.

However, one thing surprised Huang Xing very much. He had organized some revolutionary actions involving public participation before, and the public's performance was extremely unruly. As a result, in this county government, everyone queued up. As long as someone dared to jump the queue, other common people immediately scolded and stopped them. This spontaneous rule was completely different from common people in other places. While waiting impatiently, Huang Xing asked Song Jiaoren, "Is the folk custom in Fengtai County different from other places?"

At this time, a common person coming out from inside wanted to talk to the clerk. The common people queuing behind immediately clamored, "Queue up, queue up!"

Those common people who wanted to jump the queue originally wanted to pretend not to hear, but the clerk also darkened his face and said to the common person trying to jump the queue: "Please go to the back and queue up."

"I'll just say one more thing." The common person trying to jump the queue pleaded.

"You go to the back and queue up first." The clerk didn't accommodate at all. The common person was helpless and went to the back to queue up sheepishly.

After watching these, Song Jiaoren whispered, "Brother Huang, queueing is always a rule."

Huang Xing wanted to speak, but heard the guide who had been silent beside him say in an unfriendly tone: "Queueing is not for talking about rules; queueing is the most efficient. Also the fairest, first come first served. After finishing one thing, start a new thing. Crowding together in a swarm, nothing can be done."

This tone was impolite, but quite reasonable. Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren turned to look at the guide, only to see the guide turn his head somewhat contemptuously, looking listlessly at the clerk at the front of the queue.

"Brother, your words are too arbitrary. Talk about rules in everything..." Huang Xing was somewhat unconvinced.

The guide was also very tired. Physically exhausted, his mood naturally wouldn't be much better. He continued to say grumpily: "The purpose of making rules is to solve problems faster and more effectively. So obeying rules is not for the rules themselves, but to get things done well. Everyone is willing to queue because they feel that although waiting in line is anxious, it is already the best method. If swarming up can get things done well, you see everyone will definitely swarm up."

Being rebuked, Huang Xing was naturally unconvinced. Song Jiaoren hurriedly stopped Huang Xing. He agreed with the guide's words in his heart, but he couldn't speak for the guide. So stopping Huang Xing from continuing the conflict was Song Jiaoren's only choice.

After waiting for a while, it was finally Huang Xing's turn. The one receiving them was the youngest girl in the reception desk. She had noticed Huang Xing and the others for a while. The girl looked up and asked, "What help do you need?"

The guide said, "These two are comrades from outside who want to see Chairman Chen. May I ask who is responsible for reception?"

The girl stood up after hearing this. "Comrades, please follow me."

Entering the corridor on the right hand, "Foreign Affairs Office" was written on the door of the innermost room. Several people entered the room, and the girl said with a smile, "I am Ren Qiying, Director of the Fengtai County Party Office. I am responsible for reception work."

The guide knew the status of the Director of the County Party Office. Those who could reach this position were basically members of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and Executive Deputy Magistrates. In the base area, especially an old base area like Fengtai County, this was already a senior cadre. The guide immediately stood at attention and saluted, "Comrade Ren Qiying, I am Ma Hongsheng, a guide from the Office of the Anqing Municipal Committee. These two are Mr. Huang Xing and Mr. Song Jiaoren of the Tongmenghui. Mayor Zhang Yu ordered me to bring the two to see Chairman Chen Ke. Report completed."

Although Guide Ma Hongsheng said "Report" with his mouth, his attitude was so confident and natural, as if a noble big shot was introducing his guests to a distinguished guest.

After listening, Ren Qiying extended her hand to Ma Hongsheng. "Comrade Ma Hongsheng, you've worked hard. Is there anything else to explain?"

"No more." Ma Hongsheng answered while shaking hands with Ren Qiying.

"Then I will write a certificate for you now." After Ren Qiying finished speaking, she sat on the left and began to write documents.

Song Jiaoren was very surprised watching the two handing over tasks. These two seemed to be in a subordinate relationship, but there was not a trace of superiority or inferiority. Except for the different levels of work, the two seemed completely equal. No status suppressing people, no claiming credit and arrogance. This attitude felt completely unreasonably absurd in this era.

Song Jiaoren certainly didn't know that "guides" like Ma Hongsheng came from the Reconnaissance Troops of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army, and Ren Qiying was a young cadre Chen Ke appreciated quite a lot. Both were outstanding talents and backbones in departments in the base area. He thought that the cadres of the People's Party all had such quality and cultivation. This startled Song Jiaoren quite a bit.

Ma Hongsheng took the certificate and read it carefully once, then put the certificate into an envelope. After bidding farewell to everyone, he left the reception office relaxed.

Ren Qiying stood up and invited Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren to sit down, then poured water for the two. The base area office used glass cups, not to show off wealth, but because glass utensils were cheap in the base area now and could be recycled. Song Jiaoren didn't know this situation. Looking at the glass windows of the office, the glass water pitcher and glass cups holding water, the "wealth" of the People's Party surprised this senior cadre of the Tongmenghui quite a bit.

"I have heard of you two. Mr. Huang Xing manages military affairs, and Mr. Song Jiaoren manages government affairs. You are Mr. Sun's right-hand men in the Tongmenghui." Ren Qiying spoke very politely. These were all contents in Chen Ke's letter. After briefly introducing the situation of the Tongmenghui, Chen Ke wrote unceremoniously that if the Tongmenghui sent people, don't care too much, just send them directly to Chen Ke.

She didn't care about Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren in her heart, but Ren Qiying wouldn't be rude. The host flattering the guest is also etiquette in dealing with people.

Sure enough, Huang Xing's unhappy look brightened a lot. He laughed, "Miss Ren, we are entrusted by Mr. Sun Yat-sen, President of the Tongmenghui, to come and visit Mr. Chen Ke, Chairman of the People's Party. Is Mr. Chen Ke in Fengtai County?"

"Chairman Chen has gone to the rural areas near Fengtai County to inspect local elections and is not in the county town now. Did you come by tugboat?"

"Yes."

Ren Qiying said heartily, "Then you must be tired. How about this, I'll arrange for you two to rest first. Wait until tomorrow to see if Chairman Chen has returned. We'll talk then, okay?"

After hearing this, Song Jiaoren said seriously, "Miss Ren, as far as we know, it is very likely that the Manchu Qing will send troops to attack the People's Party base area within a month. Aren't you anxious?"

"Anxious? Is being anxious useful?" Ren Qiying asked back in a friendly manner.

Song Jiaoren thought all the way. Apart from pointing out the "crisis situation" of the People's Party, he couldn't think of any better way to persuade the People's Party to join the Tongmenghui. Along the way, he saw the huge territory of the People's Party. Although he couldn't see the number of troops, the number of Anhui people who had already attached themselves to the People's Party was really quite large.

Knowing one's own family affairs, Song Jiaoren knew that the current strength of the Tongmenghui couldn't help the People's Party at all. If the People's Party won again in the upcoming war, the Tongmenghui would never be able to interest the People's Party in the slightest. He had actually given up the idea of letting the People's Party join the Tongmenghui. What Song Jiaoren hoped for was "cooperation." As long as the People's Party could announce even one call through the Tongmenghui, such as a call to Chinese students in Japan, Song Jiaoren was confident he could maximize this opportunity.

Ren Qiying's answer made Song Jiaoren feel a kind of nervousness, but he hadn't given up yet. He felt Ren Qiying was just a young girl who didn't understand military affairs. Although Ren Qiying said "anxiety is useless," that was just a wrong view.

"Miss Ren, the Manchu army is pressing down on the border; the situation cannot be said not to be critical." Song Jiaoren had to continue bluffing.

Ren Qiying stood up and pointed to the map of China on the wall. She asked with a smile, "Since Mr. Song says so, then I want to ask Mr. Song, the Manchu army is pressing down on the border; what is their marching route? Where are their troops stockpiled? What are the unit numbers? How many are there? Who is the commander? Can Mr. Song explain to me facing the map?"

Song Jiaoren only felt the muscles on his face twitching. When he saw Ren Qiying, he felt Ren Qiying was young and very kind. She completely lacked the "impulsive and passionate" temperament of female revolutionaries like Qiu Jin. So he couldn't help feeling Ren Qiying was a weak girl. Being rebuked by Ren Qiying with a gentle attitude and a smiling face, Song Jiaoren felt he really misjudged. The girl in front of him was not weak at all, but a true smiling tiger.