This was Feng Xu's first time participating in a high-level operation of the People's Party. Prior to this, Feng Xu had only led the compilation of the "Xinhua Dictionary," participated in the planning of the comprehensive education system, and reviewed and proofread various textbooks. He even participated in the People's Party's five-year primary school exams and had already passed the third-grade exam content. What Feng Xu regretted was that no matter how learned he was, he could never get full marks in mathematics. There were always some tricky questions on the test paper, like "a pool being filled with water and drained at the same time." Feng Xu's rational thinking wanted to rebuke such questions that completely did not conform to realistic theories no matter what. As a result, he failed to get full marks.

Although he constantly encountered various strange and weird things in his work and life, generally speaking, Feng Xu was quite satisfied with his current life. Especially after the first edition of the "Xinhua Dictionary" was printed, Feng Xu specially ran to the warehouse to look. Pulling one out at random from the mountain of dictionaries, the first name of the compilers was Feng Xu. Even though this old gentleman known as a Jiangnan talent could be considered "indifferent to fame and wealth," he still felt his eyes heat up and his nose sour slightly. These were tens of thousands of dictionaries. In this era, among all the scholars in China, few people's books could be printed in tens of thousands of copies at one time. While Feng Xu himself was naturally extremely excited, he noticed that Shen Zengzhi, who went with him, also looked filled with deep emotion after seeing his own name.

Because he had to deal with some matters, Feng Xu arrived relatively late. At this time, the initial conflict had already come to an end, and both sides were in a stalemate. Yan Fu signaled Chen Ke and the others with his eyes. Chen Ke, Lu Huitian, Shen Zengzhi, and the other four left first, leaving Yan Fu alone to persuade Wang Shizhen. Feng Xu didn't know what had happened before, so Lu Huitian and Shen Zengzhi retold the matter in detail. Feng Xu shook his head helplessly, "Chairman Chen, you were a bit too bullying."

What Lu Huitian wanted to hear least was this. As soon as Feng Xu's voice fell, Lu Huitian's eyebrows furrowed. On the contrary, Chen Ke asked for advice very seriously, "Please instruct us, Mr. Feng."

"Chairman Chen, everyone says to convince people with reason. The People's Party wouldn't want those who are greedy for life and afraid of death either. Take me for example. If at the time of capture, Chairman Chen asked me, do I want to die or thoroughly submit to the People's Party? Victory and defeat are common things in military affairs, but the commander of three armies can be captured, yet the will of a common man cannot be forced. Although I am afraid of death, I would have had no choice but to stretch out my neck for the execution."

Hearing this, Shen Zengzhi forcibly held back a laugh and turned his face away. Lu Huitian didn't fully understand the meaning, but Chen Ke kept a smiling face and continued to listen to Feng Xu's reasoning.

"As the former Provincial Administration Commissioner of Anhui, I managed Anhui's finance and accounting. The People's Party's ability to govern Anhui is definitely not something I can compare with. After seeing the industrialized financial concepts proposed by the People's Party, if you ask me now if I submit to the People's Party's finance and accounting, I am convinced heart and soul. The People's Party runs education, from promoting the education system, formulating educational content, to compiling the 'Xinhua Dictionary,' I am also convinced by this whole set of theoretical practices. Giving me the opportunity to serve the common people of Anhui, I naturally do not decline to shoulder the responsibility."

Feng Xu spoke sincerely. Chen Ke's expression became respectful, and Lu Huitian also felt it sounded pleasing to the ear.

"However, if you ask me now, saying if I don't want to die I must be docile and obedient, although this old fellow is afraid of death, I can only stretch out my neck for the execution." The implication of accusation in Feng Xu's words was very severe.

Shen Zengzhi couldn't help staring at Feng Xu. The time interval between Feng Xu being captured and coming out to work was very short, so Shen Zengzhi had always been somewhat disdainful. But listening to the meaning in Feng Xu's words now, there was a meaning of absolutely not submitting to violence. Shen Zengzhi didn't know if Feng Xu was posturing or had some deeper thoughts.

Lu Huitian heard Feng Xu speaking back and forth like this, yet always straying thousands of miles from the topic, and he got a bit anxious. "Mr. Feng, you said just now that we were too bullying; what do you mean by that?"

Feng Xu looked solemnly at the somewhat agitated Lu Huitian, and his voice also became somewhat severe. "Yuan Xiangcheng is certainly surrounded by enemies on all sides now, and even faces the peril of death. This statement is definitely not intimidation, but Secretary Lu, you are threatening Yuan Xiangcheng, not sincerely wanting to help Yuan Xiangcheng. Those words Chairman Chen said to Wang Shizhen were also threats. Both of them are famous figures; do you think they haven't encountered life-and-death situations? Are they afraid of death? Not to mention Yuan Xiangcheng holds great power now, is still a Grand Councilor, and the leader of Beiyang. Even if you caught Yuan Xiangcheng now, and you held a knife telling him that if he doesn't submit you'll kill him, do you think Yuan Xiangcheng wouldn't dare to die?"

Almost out of a kind of instinct, hearing these words, the killing intent in Lu Huitian's eyes flourished greatly. Although Lu Huitian didn't make a sound, Feng Xu could tell that if they really encountered the situation Feng Xu hypothesized, Lu Huitian would really cut down Yuan Shikai with one knife. Sighing slightly, Feng Xu looked at Chen Ke.

Chen Ke obviously took Feng Xu's words in. After pondering for a while, Chen Ke had figured out the sequence of events. He looked at Feng Xu with bright eyes. "Thank you for your instruction, Mr. Feng. I indeed acted with undue haste and lost my sense of propriety."

Seeing that Chen Ke had understood the key point, Feng Xu also let down a big stone in his heart. But he was afraid Chen Ke would make mistakes in other places, so he couldn't help saying a few more sentences. "Chairman Chen, young people are naturally prone to be eager for quick success and instant benefits. Thinking back to when I was young, no matter how gentle and respectful I looked on the surface, in my heart I actually absolutely didn't submit to anyone either. Now the People's Party are all young comrades, and you have established such great achievements in just over a year. Being arrogant and impetuous is all too common. If you didn't act like this, you wouldn't be young people instead. But the more peaceful the days, the more one must be cautious and self-disciplined, accumulate more, and form more good karma. With the preparations at this time, when encountering wind and rain in the future, only then can one go all out..."

Watching Chen Ke listening to Feng Xu's speech with heartfelt respect, Shen Zengzhi felt a trace of jealousy suddenly arise in his heart. He originally thought Feng Xu was a bit greedy for life and afraid of death; Feng Xu was captured even later than Shen Zengzhi, yet he joined the ranks of the People's Party earlier than Shen Zengzhi. Hearing Feng Xu talk big about "not fearing life and death" just now, Shen Zengzhi still had mockery in his heart. These teachings Feng Xu gave to Chen Ke, pointing out these key points, Shen Zengzhi had actually discovered long ago. But the difference between the two was that Feng Xu could say it straightforwardly, and his attitude was correct; he indeed had the demeanor of a teacher. On this point, Shen Zengzhi was far from being able to position himself as correctly as Feng Xu.

Shen Zengzhi was now somewhat skeptical about the People's Party's ability. Although he admitted the People's Party had excellence in organizational programs and actual policies, he still couldn't truly believe that these nameless youths could really achieve the great cause of overthrowing the Manchu Qing and establishing a new China. But seeing Feng Xu, who was over sixty, with white hair and beard and a dashing demeanor, educating Chen Ke with the absolute right path before his eyes, and the young Chen Ke who controlled powerful military forces and whose name moved the world completely understanding principles that even these old pedants might not truly understand, listening seriously to Feng Xu's teachings. Such a scene couldn't help but make Shen Zengzhi jealous.

Chen Ke possessed extremely strong ability himself; otherwise, he couldn't have today's achievements. If Chen Ke could continue to learn the right path and grow constantly, I'm afraid the one who would sit on the throne in the future would be Chen Ke. At that time, Feng Xu would be the Emperor's teacher. Thinking of Feng Xu's name being ranked first in the "Xinhua Dictionary" while Shen Zengzhi followed behind, Shen Zengzhi felt a bit unreconciled. But Shen Zengzhi was a great Confucian scholar after all; this bit of stray thought didn't last too long. He quickly focused his attention back on Feng Xu's teachings.

Lu Huitian bore the heavy responsibility of negotiation this time but failed to succeed. Although during the negotiation process, what he said and did were all organizational resolutions. With the People's Party's organizational system, the responsibility for failure couldn't fall on Lu Huitian's head. But these old cadres of the People's Party originally had the characteristics of being proud and radical in character. Especially in the past 1907, after the People's Party officially raised the banner of armed revolution, they were invincible in all military struggles. In civil administration construction and the political field dealing with the Yue Wang Society and the Restoration Society, they really calculated without missing, turning their hands into clouds and turning their hands into rain. Everyone mouthed serious and earnest, seeking truth from facts. In fact, in their hearts, they regarded "the current marquises of ten thousand households as dung." Cixi was nothing more than "the female bandit chieftain of the Manchu Qing bandit gang," and "the Manchu Qing's number one thug and lackey Yuan Shikai"—what was there to be smug about? Yet the first time they used political diplomatic means to deal with Beiyang's Yuan Shikai, they suffered such a defeat. Lu Huitian completely couldn't accept this fact.

Listening to Feng Xu talk big about "morality" and "not fearing death," Lu Huitian felt sick of it in his heart. But Chen Ke listened seriously. Lu Huitian looked down on Yuan Shikai, but he absolutely dared not show the slightest disrespect to Chen Ke. He could only listen with patience.

At this time, Feng Xu had finished speaking these great principles. Chen Ke nodded repeatedly. "Mr. Feng, I don't know if Wang Shizhen can listen to what I say again after I offended him like this?"

Feng Xu smoothed his long beard. "Wang Shizhen is a decisive man. His flying into a rage out of humiliation just now wasn't because he couldn't stand the humiliation. He just felt sorry for Yuan Shikai, letting Yuan Shikai be humiliated for nothing. When talking to him again, treat him with sincerity, and it should be fine."

"Mm." Chen Ke nodded, but turned to ask Lu Huitian, "Secretary Lu, can you record everything said just now?"

The People's Party always had meeting minutes. If a problem needed to be discussed, having records could always reconstruct the scene at that time to the greatest extent and find problems from it. Usually, a meeting recorder would be designated first for meetings. But this happened not to be a formal meeting. Lu Huitian didn't write fast and had never had the honor of serving as a recorder. So he hadn't worked hard in this direction. When Chen Ke asked this, Lu Huitian was stunned.

Lu Huitian had done revolution for two years after all; in his basic literacy, he wouldn't lie about such small matters anymore. He pondered for a moment and replied, " relying on memory to record, I certainly can't do it."

Hearing Lu Huitian say this, Chen Ke turned to look at Shen Zengzhi. "Mr. Shen, I heard you have the talent of photographic memory. Can I ask you to lend a hand in this matter?"

Shen Zengzhi never expected Chen Ke to actually ask him to act as a "clerk." He was surprised in his heart, but he had no reason to refuse. Shen Zengzhi replied, "This old man may not necessarily be able to record it all."

Chen Ke quickly said, "Then please, Mr. Feng, record together. This matter is very meaningful; we have to go back and discuss it well at the meeting."

Shen Zengzhi wasn't very clear about the People's Party's organizational model. He couldn't help asking, "Why bring it to a meeting for discussion?"

"This negotiation with Yuan Xiangcheng, what to say to Yuan Xiangcheng, and what to do, were all discussed at the Party meeting. Now since the situation has changed, we need to record the important parts clearly and discuss and analyze them carefully at the Party meeting. Find our problems, and make a summary of how to handle such things when we encounter them again." Chen Ke explained simply.

"Wasn't the content of the negotiation with Yuan Xiangcheng prepared by aides?" Shen Zengzhi heard the mystery within.

Chen Ke answered crisply, "Our People's Party resolutely opposes any form of aide model. Public business is public business; naturally, everyone discusses it together and then executes it. Finding aides, is that public business or private business? Our People's Party relies on the Party Committee to discuss solutions to problems, and then hands them over to various specific executive departments for execution. Power belongs to the Party Committee; there is no issue of official rank standard."

Hearing this explanation, Shen Zengzhi was quite shocked in his heart. The Manchu Qing stressed "each performing their own functions," but each performing their own functions itself meant officials controlled all power; this was a system responsible to superiors but not subordinates. But from Chen Ke's words, this model of the People's Party was vastly different from the Manchu Qing. Chen Ke, as the Party Chairman, operated this matter personally, yet had to report and summarize to the Party Committee afterward. This meant that in front of the Party Committee, Chen Ke, who specifically executed this matter, was just a "runner doing the work." This was simply unimaginable in the Manchu Qing system.

The so-called "an official a level higher crushes people to death"; Chen Ke possessing the highest status meant Chen Ke himself possessed the highest power of decision, and could be said to "determine the life and death of subordinates with one word." But obviously, in the People's Party's organizational model, Chen Ke did not possess this power.

Shen Zengzhi was an extremely smart person. He had done quite a bit of research on foreign countries and also knew some information about the People's Party's organization. Soon he could roughly imagine what a People's Party meeting looked like: a group of young Party Committee members listening to the report of the specific executor. Regardless of your status, you could speak at the Party Committee meeting. What ultimately decided a matter was not the person with the highest status making the final decision, but everyone voting after discussion. Thinking of this, Shen Zengzhi suddenly had a feeling of sudden enlightenment. "No wonder this group of People's Party youths has absolutely no cognition of the order of senior and junior or the dignity of status." In this system where everyone is equal and calculated by votes, you, an eighty-year-old man, are one vote, and a yellow-mouthed child is also one vote. A man is naturally one vote, and a woman is also one vote. The order of senior and junior, the distinction between men and women, have no meaning in this system at all.

Using great concentration to forcibly hold back from thinking further, Shen Zengzhi nodded. "Since Chairman Chen thinks highly of this old man, this old man will do this task."

"Then many thanks." After Chen Ke finished speaking, he went to another room with Lu Huitian. They had to hurry and discuss how to negotiate with Wang Shizhen in the second round of negotiations.

Shen Zengzhi no longer had the slightest curiosity about Chen Ke's departure. He really couldn't figure out how effective policies could be reached in such a system with no distinction between big and small.

"Brother Shen, what are you thinking about?"

Hearing Feng Xu's question, Shen Zengzhi said subconsciously, "If everyone speaks, isn't that the same as no one speaking?"

"That's not necessarily true. The key depends on what is being discussed. If discussing interests, naturally the more talk, the more chaotic. If discussing how to do things, instead, it pools the wisdom of the masses," Feng Xu replied.

These words gave Shen Zengzhi a feeling of sudden enlightenment. He looked up at Feng Xu. He heard Feng Xu continue, "Just like us discussing how to negotiate with Wang Shizhen this time, how the mistakes were made, why they were wrong, and what is correct to do. This discussion produced a result. If this matter can be accomplished in the end, Chen Wenqing will take all the recorded content back to their Party Committee to discuss with others, and the crowd can continue to check for omissions and fill in the gaps. They can reflect even more on the shortcomings within. They are not only doing work but also learning."

Shen Zengzhi was stunned for a while before replying, "Brother Feng is right."

After saying this, Shen Zengzhi intended not to speak anymore, but eventually couldn't hold back. He sighed, "I've always been strange. I've also seen some people who rebel. Looking at history books, rebels ancient and modern are not much different. They are all a few bandit chieftains, taking advantage of natural disasters or civil uprisings. Even if they can raise their arms and get a response, it's just coercing some common people. Moreover, these bandit chieftains usually have some reputation; it's certainly not to the extent of never having been heard of. But the uprising of the People's Party was actually a sudden emergence of a group of nameless juniors side by side. Looking at their ability to govern the locality now, they should have had some reputation long before the uprising; even being illustrious wouldn't be rare. Looking at it now, these people are actually rebelling while learning. This is truly unheard of."

Feng Xu listened and couldn't help laughing. "That can only mean Yan Jidao taught a good student."

Shen Zengzhi was amused by these words. "That Yan Jidao was the Chief Instructor at the Beiyang Naval Academy; he had even more students. Yet I haven't seen him teach anyone so outstanding. Otherwise..." Speaking of this, he felt that mentioning the failure of the First Sino-Japanese War was speaking ill of people behind their backs, so Shen Zengzhi immediately shut his mouth.

Feng Xu was originally joking too. Hearing Shen Zengzhi misunderstand his meaning slightly, he took over the conversation. "Brother Shen, now you should be able to see that although these young people are quite talented, they are young after all. Letting them do as they please, they will certainly do many outrageous things. The reason I decided to come out and do some things at that time was actually that Yan Jidao begged me to contribute some effort. When these young people act recklessly, someone has to come out and tell them. But looking at it now, although Chen Ke is young and sometimes does things completely unreliably, he is a person willing to listen to correct words and walk the right path. Brother Shen's learning is superior to mine; why not come out and do some things together?"

"With the People's Party's fierce methods against landlords and gentry, I really can't come out to work," Shen Zengzhi sighed.

Feng Xu was also speechless upon hearing this. The People's Party's fierceness towards landlords and gentry, from the logic of the People's Party's survival and development, indeed made sense. And after actual execution, countless common people indeed survived the flood. However, this wasn't the reason Feng Xu was willing to come out and work. Shen Zengzhi was called a great Confucian scholar, and the world praised his outstanding learning. Feng Xu was also called a Jiangnan talent, and his learning wasn't much worse than Shen Zengzhi's.

He refused to come out at first because after understanding the People's Party's cruel suppression of local gentry, Feng Xu believed the People's Party certainly wouldn't last long. Landlords and gentry might not be good people, especially in a relatively poor place like Anhui; landlords and gentry with fortified villages were local bullies. Feng Xu had been an official in Fengyang Prefecture and knew the landlords in the fortified villages very well. But these landlords and bullies could at least maintain order in the locality. If a place had no one to maintain order, it was often worse than when there were landlords and bullies maintaining bad order. On this point, Feng Xu, who had rich experience in local administration, was very clear.

Precisely because he was clear about this, Feng Xu cared extra about the People's Party's aspect of order establishment. After investigation and research, Feng Xu was really shocked. Regarding the level of understanding of order, Feng Xu actually couldn't find anyone in the Manchu Qing court who could compare with them. Before destroying, Chen Ke was already very clear on how to rebuild. Moreover, there was a group of educated youths around Chen Ke. Not only were there these youths, but Chen Ke was also constantly devoted to the education of his People's Party subordinates. In order to get educational manpower, Chen Ke even dared to snatch female students from Anqing to the base area to be teachers.

Under Chen Ke's efforts, the old maintainers of social order were certainly eliminated, but the new maintainers of social order caught up immediately. Although these new people were young and lacked experience, the People's Party, through the model of establishing new systems, didn't rely on outstanding officials to govern the locality, but organized a Party organization model of "learning while working, promoting learning through work, and advancing work through learning." This newborn organization was young and vigorous; although its ability was naturally far from perfect, it was much better than those overthrown landlords and bullies. The situation of "great chaos under heaven" that Feng Xu originally thought would happen simply didn't happen, and very likely wouldn't happen at all.

This was the true reason why Feng Xu was willing to come out and work. As an official and scholar with basic conscience, Feng Xu believed he had an obligation to do something for China. Although it was completely impossible for him to make the Manchu Qing improve in the slightest, facing these youths with infinite possibilities, Feng Xu believed he should shoulder the educational obligation that an elder should shoulder. Of course, the premise was that these young people were willing to learn from Feng Xu.

However, Feng Xu ultimately didn't say so much to Shen Zengzhi. Feng Xu knew very well that a twisted melon isn't sweet. Since Shen Zengzhi couldn't accept the People's Party's policies, Shen Zengzhi naturally couldn't accept the People's Party's concept of "serving the people" even more. If he forcibly dragged Shen Zengzhi out to work, he feared the result would harm Shen Zengzhi instead.

"Brother Shen, let's record the content of this conversation," Feng Xu said.

In the room next to Shen Zengzhi and Feng Xu, Chen Ke and Lu Huitian went through a discussion and finally decided on a new negotiation strategy and way of speaking. Despite this, Lu Huitian was still somewhat dissatisfied. "Chairman Chen, isn't it too showing weakness for us to speak like this?"

"We talked about it just now. We said too much at the beginning and said everything Yuan Shikai should have said. We said what Yuan Shikai should have said, so what is left for Yuan Shikai to say? Didn't he have nothing to say? This isn't showing weakness; this is negotiation," Chen Ke explained.

Lu Huitian still wanted to persuade Chen Ke to change strategy a bit. "Now Yuan Shikai has obvious weaknesses. We don't talk about Yuan Shikai's weaknesses but only talk about our weaknesses. This makes people feel wrong no matter what."

Chen Ke explained, "Yuan Shikai definitely knows his own affairs better than we do. We talk about our own weaknesses to tell Yuan Shikai why we are doing this next. Otherwise, Yuan Shikai won't believe we will really adopt which strategies."

Lu Huitian felt Chen Ke's attitude was a bit outrageous. "We and Yuan Shikai are in a life-and-death struggle between enemy and us. We tell him our weaknesses; isn't this aiding the enemy?"

"Whether we tell Yuan Shikai or not, these weaknesses will exist. It's just that some weaknesses Yuan Shikai will know sooner or later, and some weaknesses Yuan Shikai may not necessarily know. What we are saying are things Yuan Shikai will know sooner or later. This is naturally not aiding the enemy." Chen Ke explained patiently.

Lu Huitian actually knew this too; he just simply didn't want to show weakness to Beiyang. After the second counter-encirclement campaign, the People's Party annihilated Beiyang's most powerful Third Division. The People's Party's attitude towards Beiyang took a 180-degree turn. From fear to complete contempt. The comrades believed that neither Beiyang nor the Manchu Qing could beat us at all. Since they can't beat us, what is there for Beiyang to be smug about? Carrying this arrogance to express "goodwill" to the "defeated opponent" Yuan Shikai, they were actually "refused" by Yuan Shikai. The young Lu Huitian naturally couldn't accept this.

Although there were no other excuses, Lu Huitian still continued to ask, "Chairman Chen, we talk to Wang Shizhen again and again like this. If Wang Shizhen gets annoyed and perfunctory with us, what do we do?"

"Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times to invite Zhuge Liang out of the mountains. We certainly don't have Liu Bei's eloquence, and Wang Shizhen has a hostile relationship with us. If it takes only three times to make Wang Shizhen annoyed, that actually shows we are doing not bad, right? Secretary Lu, I think there is one thing that can be certain. No matter how Wang Shizhen opposes the content of what we say, Wang Shizhen doesn't refuse to negotiate with us in his heart. Beiyang has suffered such a big blow now; Wang Shizhen definitely wants to get more intelligence from us. So no matter how we talk, Wang Shizhen may not necessarily get annoyed."

Lu Huitian could no longer find other excuses. He responded, "Hope so."

"Alright, let's check each other to see if our clothes are tidy, cheer up, and continue negotiating!"

The two youths straightened each other's military uniforms, making the cotton-textured uniforms as neat as possible. Then the two strode into the main hall where Wang Shizhen was. Upon entering, they saw Wang Shizhen and Yan Fu saying nothing to each other, just sitting silently on the chairs. However, Chen Ke noticed a detail: the snack plate used to treat guests was placed on the table next to Wang Shizhen, and the snacks had already been finished by Wang Shizhen.

"Admiral Wang, these snacks are all local products of our Anhui and can't compare with Beijing's snacks. We only have this condition; please make do," Chen Ke laughed.

Hearing Chen Ke's form of address finally became reliable, Wang Shizhen hummed but didn't answer.

Chen Ke didn't intend to make Wang Shizhen express thanks either. He was reminding Lu Huitian that Wang Shizhen had eaten and drunk his fill; this was preparation for a long talk. It was just that Chen Ke couldn't ask Lu Huitian openly or secretly if he understood. A person as smart as Wang Shizhen would hear it as soon as he heard it. That would only make Wang Shizhen look down on Chen Ke and Lu Huitian for nothing.

After sitting down, Chen Ke said, "Admiral Wang, just now we said too many threatening words. Thinking about it now, it's actually quite boring. We were also afraid of the Beiyang Army, so we had to say a few more threatening words to embolden ourselves. Please forgive us, Admiral Wang."

Wang Shizhen glanced at Chen Ke and answered slowly, "Wen Qing is too polite. How dare I, a defeated general, speak of bravery."

Lu Huitian couldn't help blinking. The matter really was a bit like what Chen Ke said just now; after the form of address and the angle of speaking changed, Wang Shizhen really spoke more cooperatively.

"Admiral Wang, you also know we are surrounded by enemies on all sides. Guns need to be repaired, and weapons need to be forged. It really won't do without steel."

As soon as Chen Ke's voice fell, Wang Shizhen asked, "Not just weapons, right? I heard the farm tools Wen Qing forged are not bad, and the price sold to the common people isn't high. The common people are grateful."

"Haha," Chen Ke gave two dry laughs. "I originally thought Admiral Wang didn't know, so I thought of muddling through. Since Admiral Wang already knows, then I have nothing to hide. We indeed have to rely on farm tools to buy people's hearts. So the 1.2 million silver dollar ransom we proposed to Mr. Yuan was just an excuse. What we truly want is only Hanyang's steel. As for the other things we said, except for wanting to cooperate with Mr. Yuan being our sincere words, the rest were just posturing."

"Wen Qing is too modest. Actually, regarding the rumor-mongering Wen Qing mentioned, I thought about it carefully just now, and it's not without reason. Wen Qing has such insight at such a young age; rare, rare." Wang Shizhen sneered twice.

"Regarding the Manchu Qing court's affairs, our People's Party is a bystander. The so-called bystander sees clearly. Moreover, you also know I've read some history books. As for what Cixi has done, it's nothing more than a bit of power tactics. History books have long talked about it countless times. And regarding preparations before an emperor's death, history books talk about it even more. Most importantly, we don't need capital to spread rumors. There are already many people in the capital who love to gossip, plus the various guild halls in Beijing; they just love to spread and believe rumors. We make up a few lies and say them, post some notices, and then we don't need to care. Naturally, interested people will help spread them. This kind of thing is easy to do." Chen Ke answered very relaxedly.

Wang Shizhen looked at Chen Ke's face full of simple and honest silly smiles and wished he could extend a few hands from his heart to strangle Chen Ke to death. He was really strange; as the leader of the People's Party commanding tens of thousands of brave and battle-wise troops, how on earth did Chen Ke smile so innocently? And Yan Fu and Lu Huitian beside Chen Ke turned a blind eye to Chen Ke's silly smile; it seemed they were used to it.

Just then, Chen Ke asked, "Admiral Wang, since Admiral Wang knows clearly that we must get Hanyang's steel, what view does Admiral Wang have on this? We hope very much that Admiral Wang can explain this matter clearly to Mr. Yuan, let Mr. Yuan understand our difficulties, and lend a hand."

Hearing Chen Ke speak sincerely, Lu Huitian raised his hand to cover his mouth; otherwise, he felt heaven knew when he would laugh out loud.

Wang Shizhen didn't want to laugh. He pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, "Wen Qing, I want to ask something. Who did you hear about Cen Chunxuan's matter from?"

Although he knew the People's Party certainly had spies in the capital—otherwise those notices couldn't have been posted all over the capital—what Wang Shizhen was truly concerned about was the evaluation of Cen Chunxuan that Lu Huitian mentioned. This evaluation of "hypocrite" was said by Yuan Shikai. Although quite a few people also evaluated Cen Chunxuan this way, Wang Shizhen felt very awkward in his heart.

"Cen Chunxuan knows quite a few people in Japan, and these people know the Tongmenghui. You also know, those people in the Tongmenghui don't have a gate on their mouths. Stuff them a few coins, and they'll do whatever you let them do, say whatever you let them say. We are also a revolutionary party; it's very convenient to inquire about news from them."

Lu Huitian naturally knew this wasn't a fact at all, but seeing Chen Ke casually make up a plausible lie, he couldn't help praising him greatly in his heart.

Wang Shizhen really didn't think this was a lie; he thought the credibility of these words was quite high. Beiyang knew about Cen Chunxuan and Liang Qichao being in cahoots. Liang Qichao was in Japan, and between him and the Tongmenghui, although they said they were fighting, privately the entanglements were definitely deep. Chen Ke's words were by no means empty. However, Wang Shizhen didn't ask more about who specifically revealed the news. Although Chen Ke had a face of innocent silly smiles, Wang Shizhen didn't think Chen Ke would be silly enough to say the real name of the news provider.

"Wen Qing, I heard you say you would release the captured Beiyang soldiers. I wonder if releasing them requires a ransom?" Wang Shizhen asked.

Chen Ke put away his smile. "We brought all these soldiers to Suzhou. There isn't even a minor officer among them. Our People's Party's prisoner policy does not allow looting prisoners' property. Before the battle, the Beiyang Army had already issued enough reward money; they are all not short of money. We will give them some dry rations and prepare to release them all after a collective lecture."

"These are all soldiers? Not a single officer among them?" Wang Shizhen immediately became alert.

"Correct. The officers are all in the POW camp here in Fengtai County."

"What lecture is Wen Qing preparing to give?" Wang Shizhen's voice was rarely a bit trembling.

This time Chen Ke no longer had any fake smile. He said loudly, "Admiral Wang knows about the Hubei New Army persecuting the Hubei New Army captives we released, right? And when we defeated the Hubei New Army greatly this time, it was the time before we fought with our Beiyang Army. We caught quite a few Hubei New Army captives again. They said that among the captives we released last time, quite a few were sent to Beijing. We don't intend to say anything else, just tell the facts to the Beiyang brothers. We treated these captives with good intentions, but we don't want these brothers to suffer again after releasing them."

"You cannot!" Wang Shizhen couldn't help saying. Before his voice fell, Wang Shizhen knew he had leaked the bottom line by doing this. But he had no choice; these words had to be said.

Chen Ke actually knew why Wang Shizhen wanted to stop the People's Party from releasing captives like this. The Beiyang New Army was commonly known as the Beiyang Six Divisions. But there was another saying: "Of the Beiyang Six Divisions, the Third Division is the most capable of fighting." Duan Qirui was called the Tiger of Beiyang, relying on the Third Division with the strongest combat effectiveness, and the Third Division was especially loyal to Yuan Shikai. If Chen Ke released them after intimidating them like this, the soldiers of the Third Division would certainly not dare to return to their unit easily. Then even if the officers of the Beiyang Army Third Division were released, the court couldn't possibly allow this bunch of officers who had been captured to be the backbone to rebuild the Third Division.

The reason Yuan Shikai was anxious to redeem the captured officers was that he wanted these officers to take the released soldiers and return to the unit. With Yuan Shikai coordinating in the middle, plus the unit organization was not chaotic, they only needed to replenish weapons. The Third Division would still exist. If Chen Ke tossed about like this, and the soldiers of the Beiyang Third Division were gone, Yuan Shikai's idea would naturally fall through. The officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Army were all fed full by Yuan Shikai with silver; to build such a new army division again, even Yuan Shikai's financial resources couldn't support it. Yuan Shikai absolutely couldn't accept losing the most loyal and most capable Third Division. This was also why Yuan Shikai didn't refuse to redeem people even though he refused to cooperate with the People's Party.

Moreover, Chen Ke actually had even colder calculations in it. He even prepared to distribute some weapons to the released soldiers of the Beiyang Army on the grounds of "letting brothers protect themselves from being robbed along the way." Chen Ke knew very clearly that once these released Beiyang Army soldiers had weapons in their hands, it would be easier for them to act in groups. And among the soldiers acting in groups, there were no officers at all; naturally, those fellows who were usually brave and fierce would become temporary leaders. Such a large force of several thousand people would divide into several large action organizations. This was enough to make the government offices along the way full of various precautions exceeding the normal range. And the soldiers who were already worried couldn't accept this stimulation.

Then the only certain result would be that with those brave and fierce soldiers acting as temporary leaders, it would inevitably cause the soldiers of the Third Division to loot heavily along the way. With several thousand soldiers looting wantonly, at least before they entered Zhili and approached their hometowns, the places along the way would definitely suffer great crimes. Leaving aside that the soldiers participating in the looting wouldn't dare to return to the unit. Even if the soldiers who didn't participate in the looting returned, they were destined to be "arrested for interrogation." In these years, information was not smooth. Once soldiers were arrested for interrogation, the claim Chen Ke made beforehand that "the court persecutes released New Army soldiers" would naturally be "confirmed." This would be a very fatal blow to the Beiyang Army. Fighting desperately for the court, clearly not having defected to the rebel party but returning from thousands of miles away to rejoin the unit, yet being persecuted. The Beiyang Army was not a Party army but an old army with a mercenary nature. This fact would be a heavy blow to the other units of the Beiyang Six Divisions.

This was the plan Chen Ke had never told the comrades. Chen Ke was very glad now; if he had told the comrades in advance, he was afraid this real threat would have been told to Yuan Shikai.

Wang Shizhen was quite a character too. Since the bottom line was leaked, he no longer hid it. Moreover, Chen Ke's lack of surprise also revealed that Chen Ke had already calculated this matter. Wang Shizhen stared at the calm-looking Chen Ke and said, "It seems Wen Qing is determined to get Hanyang's steel?"

"Correct. I am indeed burning with anxiety," Chen Ke answered sternly.

"Then presumably Wen Qing can also guarantee that the officers and soldiers of the Third Division and the Mixed Thirteenth Brigade will definitely be released together in Suzhou?" Wang Shizhen asked next.

"I am confident I won't let Mr. Yuan and Admiral Wang down," Chen Ke replied.

"Then I can go back and talk to Duke Yuan," Wang Shizhen replied.

"Then I'll trouble Admiral Wang to take the trouble."

Sending Wang Shizhen back to the cell, Lu Huitian couldn't help asking, "Wang Shizhen leaked the bottom line so quickly?"

"Because Wang Shizhen is a person who loves peace," Chen Ke replied.

"Loves peace?" Lu Huitian completely didn't understand what Chen Ke wanted to say.

"Admiral Wang Shizhen of course loves peace," Chen Ke replied. "Seeking peace through compromise results in the death of peace; seeking peace through struggle results in the survival of peace."

After saying this famous saying of Grandpa Mao, Chen Ke added a modified sentence of Mr. Lu Xun, "Abuse and threats are not fighting."