Yuan Shikai knew Chen Ke would bring him surprises. For his own life and death survival, Chen Ke, who had always performed outstandingly, was bound to do his utmost. Even with this relatively sufficient mental preparation, the official news of Cixi and Guangxu passing away successively still gave Yuan Shikai a shock from the soul. With mixed grief and joy, Yuan Shikai immediately ordered the "whole army to wear mourning" and organized a mourning ceremony.

Leading the Henan officials and the Beiyang Army to weep bitterly, Yuan Shikai's tears were very sincere. Sincere and joyful weeping was an extremely rare experience in Yuan Shikai's life. Among the two dead people, Guangxu's death gave Yuan Shikai a joy of removing a huge trouble in his heart. As for Cixi, Yuan Shikai's loyalty was from the bottom of his heart. Before dying, the old lady let Yuan Shikai become the Governor of Henan, commanding the four Beiyang divisions, and also in charge of the Jiangbei Commander-in-Chief and the Henan New Army. The current situation was that Yuan Shikai had territory if he wanted territory, and troops if he wanted troops. Self-protection was absolutely no problem.

After the mourning ceremony, Yuan Shikai immediately announced he would strive to suppress the Anhui rebels. These days, the Imperial Clan had worked hard to mix sand and infiltrate the Beiyang New Army. These guys whom Yuan Shikai had long wanted to remove were named one after another; they formed a team ordered to attack the Base Area. After sending this group of eyesores to the front line, Yuan Shikai firmly believed Chen Ke would definitely continue to give him surprises.

After doing the superficial work, Yuan Shikai anxiously waited for news from Beiyang's own people. Official news was just official news; more accurate news could only rely on his own people. When the real news was transmitted to Yuan Shikai, although not to the extent of being scared to death, Yuan Shikai still felt a strong chill on his back. As a Westernization Movement proponent and ruler, Yuan Shikai was absolutely not a superstitious person. Even so, the thought "Does Chen Ke know some sorcery?" occupied Yuan Shikai's mind for a short time.

Notices and pamphlets, the People's Party distributed more than three hundred copies in Beijing city. The Imperial Clan searched for these pamphlets everywhere like mad dogs. Because the implication was too big, even Beiyang people dared not keep such things privately. Since the content wasn't much, in a very short time, the people Beiyang left in Beijing sent five handwritten copies. The dozen or so backbones of the four Beiyang divisions all finished reading these things at this time. Yuan Shikai wanted to hear everyone's thoughts, but unexpectedly everyone at the meeting had the same mind. Silence, ah, silence; the core of the Beiyang New Army sat there like Bodhisattvas.

"Pinqing, what do you think?" Yuan Shikai asked Wang Shizhen, whose expression was still considered normal.

Wang Shizhen was silent for a rare moment, then said a meaningless nonsense sentence. "How did Yan Jidao teach such a disciple."

The nonsense triggered resonance among the Beiyang generals. Actually, after reading "This Life of Cixi", everyone had great confusion and opposition in their hearts. Beiyang's feeling towards Cixi was "an old lady with amazing tricks". They didn't oppose Cixi's tricks, only grumbled about being fixed by these tricks. Essentially, whether it was the Beiyang Army or other forces of the Qing court, everyone was ruthlessly competing for and exchanging interests around political resources and economic resources, telling lies to fool the gentry, and adopting forceful suppression against the common people. The methods they implemented were no different.

So lies were like soap bubbles to this bunch; if one broke, just blow another. Promotion in this system depended on who could understand the laws of lies in human relations, who could integrate into this system, and tell lies better.

The People's Party led by Chen Ke was completely different. They explained the secrets passed down by word of mouth within the traditional ruling class clearly and plainly in words the common people could understand. This was no longer a power struggle; this was overturning the table of current power. Because Chen Ke was Yan Fu's disciple, and Yan Fu was a capable general of Li Hongzhang's former Beiyang, the Beiyang Army also considered Chen Ke a person of the Beiyang lineage. However, it must be explained that the biggest reason these arrogant Beiyang New Army backbones had this feeling was that Chen Ke showed tyrannical strength. If Chen Ke were obscure now, the Beiyang New Army backbones wouldn't treat Chen Ke as one of their own at all.

Others were still considered cultured; for example, Duan Qirui just snorted, but subconsciously ground the heel of his military boot on the floor a few times, as if trying to crush something invisible.

But Cao Kun was the first to open his mouth and curse: "What exactly is Yan Jidao trying to do! Did he read too many foreign books and read his brain silly!"

As soon as Cao Kun's voice fell, several cold snorts immediately sounded in the room.

Yuan Shikai didn't come to hear these people scold Yan Fu or Chen Ke. He waved his hand to stop Cao Kun's likely continued scolding, "Everyone has their own aspirations in this matter; ignore them. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor have passed away; what thoughts does everyone have?"

Who among the people present didn't know the meaning of Yuan Shikai's words? Now the situation was so chaotic, yet full of various opportunities. Yuan Shikai summoned everyone first to see everyone's attitude. Cao Kun immediately replied: "I look to Lord Yuan as the horse's head (follow your lead). Wherever Lord Yuan asks me to hit, I will hit there! Brothers present, we have all followed Lord Yuan for so long; what do you think?"

"Hmph!" Duan Qirui sneered but didn't commit himself. He was Yuan Shikai's diehard; there was no need to express his stance with such a tough attitude.

"Lord Yuan, at least leave some face for the court." Wang Shizhen's stance was the mildest and richest in meaning.

Other people expressed their stances one after another. Between the court and Yuan Shikai, they all chose Yuan Shikai.

Receiving everyone's support, Yuan Shikai was somewhat relieved but also somewhat disappointed. Although he held heavy troops now, Yuan Shikai didn't plan to be Dong Zhuo. Or rather, he had absolutely no intention of repeating Dong Zhuo's mistakes.

In Chen Ke's book "Chinese Cultural Heritage and the Rise of Materialism", the content about political changes took up several volumes. Talking about Han politics, Chen Ke didn't think Dong Zhuo was a treacherous minister. The Ten Attendants and the Imperial Relatives killed each other in the capital; Dong Zhuo brought Xiliang troops into the capital to support the crumbling regime. Of course, it triggered the expansion of local autonomy that began during the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Dong Zhuo might have been boorish, but he himself was still a vine attached to the big tree of the court system. If the court was gone, Dong Zhuo had no way to exist independently. The eighteen warlords crusading against Dong Zhuo was actually also a military and political action by local forces to legalize their separatist behavior under the guise of resisting Dong Zhuo.

After Yuan Shikai read this section, he slapped the table in praise at that time. The current situation of the world was similar to the end of the Han Dynasty. The center seemed to be able to dispatch officials smoothly and maintain normal operation on the surface. In reality, it was already riddled with holes and tottering. Yuan Shikai was now the Governor of Henan, commanding a large army. If he dared to lead troops into the capital and promote a journey of power with military force as the background, the viceroys and governors of the world would instantly become "enemies". Eighteen warlords crusading against Dong Zhuo might not necessarily happen, but "pointed at by a thousand accusing fingers, dying without a disease" (dying under public condemnation). If Yuan Shikai were cursed by the world, that taste would not be pleasant at all.

Especially since the little emperor on stage now came to the throne extremely improperly, simply insufficient to convince the public. Yuan Shikai wasn't in a hurry to return to the capital at all. But not returning to the capital didn't mean doing nothing. Now a nationwide networking was needed, and waiting for an opportunity in Beijing. At that time, when Yuan Shikai led troops back to the capital openly and aboveboard, that would be "what the people hope for", and no one could shake Yuan Shikai in the slightest.

Actually, Yuan Shikai wanted his key subordinates to propose suggestions in this regard, but he was disappointed. Apart from simple oaths of allegiance, no one mentioned the serious business. "If Chen Ke were under my command, this kind of consideration should be a piece of cake, right." Yuan Shikai thought with considerable regret.

However, Yuan Shikai didn't realize that this kind of thing actually required the group leader to plan personally. Since Yuan Shikai hoped his subordinates would take the initiative to talk about this matter, it already proved his lack of confidence in the Beiyang group, and especially proved that Yuan Shikai himself lacked the firm conviction to rebel against the Manchu Qing system. Having been a slave for a long time, it wasn't that easy to twist the mentality to the position of a master first.

"Let's talk about how to fight with the People's Party." Seeing no one spoke about the core issue, Yuan Shikai had to propose another topic to cut into the problem.

After Cixi died, Yuan Shikai's Beiyang "swore to exterminate the rebel bandits", but the Shanghai Qing troops attacking the Zhejiang Guangfu Society immediately withdrew to Shanghai.

"Lord Tao, the Qing troops really withdrew towards Shanghai!" Listening to the returning scout's report, Tao Chengzhang stood on the city wall of Hangzhou; no trace of the Qing troops could be seen in the telescope anymore. Actually, this was superfluous; the scout's range of activity was far larger than the range the telescope could reach. Tao Chengzhang suddenly felt his legs go soft, almost wanting to sit on the city wall.

Ever since the defeat under Nanjing city, the main force of the Guangfu Society retreated all the way back to Hangzhou. This was a defeat, so naturally there were no benefits like spoils of war. Many troops left the Guangfu Society main force and went home directly when passing near their hometowns. Often after a night's rest, many camps that should have had people stationed were already empty. This attrition halfway continued until Hangzhou; the original main force of tens of thousands left less than four thousand.

This loss wasn't actually the most important. In several key battles south of Nanjing, the Guangfu Society lost most of its elite troops. During the retreat, they even left behind their own wounded and the People's Party's medical team. This was the real loss.

Although in the news obtained later, the People's Party medical team single-handedly withstood the fierce attack of the Qing army unit of Wang Youhong, and finally, under the reception of the People's Party main force, thousands of Guangfu Society wounded retreated safely to Anhui. But the elite troops were now all injured; it was impossible to let them return to fight in the short term.

The Guangfu Society started cursing the People's Party again this time, "Why didn't you send out capable troops to help earlier? When dividing spoils, it's impossible not to give the People's Party a share." This bunch completely forgot that many of them had insisted that when the People's Party brought weapons to Zhejiang, they had to hand over the weapons to the Guangfu Society for management first.

But scolding the People's Party was hollow no matter what. The Shanghai Qing troops attacked all the way. Since the Guangfu Society's troops were concentrated in Hangzhou, the Qing troops advanced "like splitting bamboo" along the way; more than three thousand Qing troops fought all the way to the foot of Hangzhou city before stopping. Fortunately, the Guangfu Society had undergone the cruel tempering of the Battle of Nanjing. Having experienced war or not made a big difference. Only after fierce shooting would the Shanghai Qing troops approach to attack the city with fear and trembling. The Guangfu Society could even manage to hide on the city wall without firing a shot, waiting until the Qing troops approached the city wall before conducting disciplined volleys. The Qing troops often suffered a dozen casualties and the attack would be defeated.

After attacking a few times, the Shanghai Qing troops immediately changed their mode; they began shelling the top of the wall. The Guangfu Society adopted staying under the wall and placing a small amount of troops on the wall. Once the Qing troops attacked within range outside the city, the Qing artillery stopped firing. The Guangfu Society troops hurried up the wall to resist the enemy. The Qing army quantity was inferior to the Guangfu Society, plus the Guangfu Society's tactics were reasonable, the Qing army couldn't take Hangzhou, and the two sides simply fell into a staring war.

However, as the Beiyang New Army moved south, Cixi also strictly ordered the Shanghai Qing troops to attack Hangzhou. The Qing army increased by two thousand soldiers, and the fighting finally became a bit fiercer. The Guangfu Society didn't have much weapons and ammunition originally, and consumption was huge in the early defense battles. Facing the Qing army's attack, each gun had less than ten bullets. Although the siege battle showed no improvement, the Qing army effectively blockaded Hangzhou. The Guangfu Society couldn't get supplies of food and weapons and ammunition; the situation inside the city was precarious.

At this time, Qiu Jin stood out. Qiu Jin publicly executed more than a dozen deserters and personally took over the command. All bullets were managed centrally; no firing unless it was a critical moment. The Qing army was still that cowardly appearance; apart from firing cannons, there was no progress. Every attack was not resolute. Even so, to create enough gunfire momentum, the Guangfu Society's ammunition was still consumed continuously. It wasn't until Qiu Jin finally remembered the People's Party's method of setting off firecrackers inside iron buckets to create "gunshots" that the utilization rate of bullets was greatly improved.

After Cixi died, the Qing army retreated. In the entire Hangzhou city, the total number of bullets of the Guangfu Army remained less than three thousand rounds. If the Qing army really launched a fierce attack, the Guangfu Army would soon have to fight the Qing army with broadswords and spears.

Qiu Jin walked to Tao Chengzhang's side. These days she led the newly formed Dare-to-Die Corps to patrol day and night, participating in combat during wartime. Qiu Jin had thinned a lot. The once plump complexion now gave people a withered feeling, and many white hairs appeared at her temples. Qiu Jin, in her thirties, looked fully ten years older now.

"Lord Tao, ask the People's Party for help," Qiu Jin's throat had been hoarse for a long time; her voice sounded rough like sandpaper at this time.

"Send whom?" Tao Chengzhang asked somewhat sluggishly. This once energetic and enthusiastic revolutionary leader also lost his former appearance. His vitality had been drawn away by more than half by daily fighting and hardship; the remaining part could only maintain normal speaking and patrolling.

Qiu Jin glanced at the Guangfu Society soldiers in the city. The long siege warfare tortured these people into haggard appearances and slow movements. Qiu Jin was very puzzled about this. The People's Party actually experienced more battles, and the bloody and cruel degree was simply not comparable to the Guangfu Society. But why couldn't she see these things on the People's Party at all? From Chen Ke to the officers and soldiers below, everyone looked focused and full of vitality.

"Where do we fall short compared to them?" Qiu Jin thought silently. These days, there were actually quite a few people privately cursing Xu Xilin for hiding in safe Anhui and not returning, letting the Guangfu Society brothers in Hangzhou city die. Every time Qiu Jin heard these words, she gave a severe scolding.

Xu Xilin and the others had already done their best under Nanjing city. The Guangfu Society members who abandoned Xu Xilin and others to flee back to Hangzhou had no right to make irresponsible remarks. Without Xu Xilin and others bringing up the rear, the Guangfu Society being chased by the Jiangnan New Army, complete annihilation might not have been impossible. The People's Party also withstood the Qing army only after cruel fighting. The wounded escaped with their lives after fighting hard, yet they had to suffer such slander. Qiu Jin's dissatisfaction could be imagined. In fact, Qiu Jin even hoped Xu Xilin wouldn't return rashly. If Hangzhou unfortunately fell, those elite troops of Xu Xilin were the last connections of the Guangfu Society.

"Lord Tao, if there is no one, I will go now." Qiu Jin requested orders.

"No. Xuanqing, if you leave now, I'm afraid this city will scatter immediately." Tao Chengzhang looked sluggish, but actually could still judge the situation effectively.

"Lord Tao, everyone is full of complaints now. Sending them, heaven knows what the comrades will say." Qiu Jin also had sufficient thinking ability.

Tao Chengzhang swept a glance at the Guangfu Society members leaning everywhere. The retreat of the Qing army should be a happy thing. But there was only the look of survivors on these people. Some held the city wall and looked out timidly, some simply covered their faces and wept for joy. There was absolutely none of that excitement and high spirit after winning a defensive battle.

"Xuanqing, you stay to reorganize the troops. I will go ask for help." Tao Chengzhang said wearily.

"Lord Tao!" Qiu Jin never expected Tao Chengzhang to choose this.

"Xuanqing, no need to decline. These days, the only one who can lead everyone to persist is you. Apart from holding on desperately like other comrades, I can't accomplish anything. I feel reassured handing Hangzhou city to you. Going to see Chen Ke this time, I will go personally. Since I am the leader of the Guangfu Society, even if I have to kneel to death at Chen Ke's place, I will definitely request aid back." Tao Chengzhang's tone was extremely flat, as if talking about going for an outing.

"Lord Tao, you'd better stay in Hangzhou. Besides you, who else here can contact Guangfu Society comrades in various places?" Qiu Jin still opposed Tao Chengzhang leaving.

"Haha," Tao Chengzhang laughed neurotically upon hearing this, "Contact Guangfu Society comrades in various places? This siege has lasted for months; who among the people we sent out to contact brought anyone back? The comrades from Shaoxing came, but Shaoxing was already emptied by us; what use are those few dozen people who came? The only ones reliable now are the comrades in Anhui. I heard Besun (Xu Xilin) let the comrades engage in revolution with the People's Party in Anhui and learn seriously. Presumably, they also learned quite a lot. If we continue like this, it definitely won't work. The Guangfu Society must learn the People's Party's methods."

Qiu Jin agreed with these words. She stopped obstructing and instead smiled as heartily as possible: "Then Lord Tao doesn't need to worry about my side. As long as I am still here, I can definitely hold this Hangzhou city. Don't rush; come back after getting things done. Guns and ammunition, various aids, ask for as much as possible. Don't be polite with Wenqing (Chen Ke)."

When Tao Chengzhang set off for Anhui, the Central Committee of the People's Party also reached an agreement. Mobilize the second batch of 15,000 troops enlisted from the Dabie Mountain area to Fengtai County. Form the 106th Division with the remaining 5,000 troops. The 104th and 105th Divisions, which had finished reorganization and training, marched into Wuhan in the name of disaster relief. From July to August 1908, Hubei suffered "excessive rain causing disaster" in summer. "The three territories of Wuhan lake districts had no harvest, residents in the city were mostly in accumulated water." The disaster area covered 29 prefectures and counties. In heavily hit areas like Huanggang, Macheng, Huang'an, Qianjiang, Huangpei, "most became watery kingdoms, countless people drowned, disaster victims filled the wild." Because of disasters for five consecutive years, the suffering of the people was indescribable.

Before Cixi died, the People's Party troops had to confront Beiyang and had no power to move at all. Once Cixi died, the People's Party Central Committee approved the plan to march into Hubei after discussion. The purpose of this troop dispatch was to seize all areas north of the Yangtze River in Hubei. Especially the Hanyang Iron Works and related military industries; the People's Party was determined to get them. To achieve this goal, the elite troops of the People's Party turned out in full force, heading to Hubei for "disaster relief" under the leadership of General Political Commissar He Zudao.

The troops remaining in the Base Area were the 106th Division about to be formed on paper. The division commander was served by Pu Guanshui, and the political commissar was Xiong Mingyang who performed outstandingly. To stabilize the army's morale, Chen Ke personally commanded this force to confront Beiyang. With Chen Ke sitting in command, it seemed to give the comrades the confidence of five divisions. Comrades who originally opposed the main force entering Hubei also compromised temporarily.

Not only was the Anhui Base Area moving, but Military Commission Vice Chairman Hua Xiongmao and a portion of comrades from the Military Commission and Staff Department went to the Shandong Base Area. The four Beiyang divisions were fighting outside, and Beijing's troop strength was empty. After a year of construction, the gradually stable Shandong Base Area already had the ability to fight externally.

Chen Ke requested the Shandong troops to harass the Manchu Qing's Beijing city fiercely during this period, creating chaos. Let Yuan Shikai's attention be placed more on Beijing. To alleviate the threat the Base Area might receive.

After three years of revolutionary experience, starting from 8 people, this revolutionary party that grew up in countless temperings engaged in large-scale dispersed combat for the first time. Although Chen Ke didn't say it, there was great panic in his heart. If he faced complex situations and dangers himself, he might not even twitch an eyebrow. But these cadres and soldiers were all brought up by Chen Ke painstakingly; Chen Ke once used all his ability to protect them. And this protection had now reached the end; they had to stand alone.

No matter how he used "this is an inevitable process" to persuade himself, Chen Ke couldn't let it go. Hua Xiongmao departed first. Although their troops weren't many, they were all elites in the command system accumulated by the People's Party over these years. Chen Ke held Hua Xiongmao's hand and didn't want to let go no matter what.

Hua Xiongmao revealed a resolute smile, "Wenqing, don't worry. I will definitely coordinate well with the Shandong comrades and turn Hebei and Beijing upside down."

"Zhenglan!" Chen Ke wanted to say something to this comrade-in-arms who always followed by his side, but whether saying take care or be careful, it always felt wrong. Actually, what Chen Ke wanted to say was, "Don't die no matter what." But these words felt unlucky however he thought about it. Chen Ke finally let go of Hua Xiongmao's hand.

"Zhenglan, work well." This was the only sentence Chen Ke felt he could say smoothly.

Hua Xiongmao didn't expect Chen Ke to squeeze out such a sentence in the end. His expression instantly became solemn. Saluting Chen Ke seriously, Hua Xiongmao replied: "I will definitely listen more and learn more, and won't cause trouble for the Shandong comrades."

Chen Ke also returned the salute with a solemn expression. The two shook hands again, but neither spoke. Letting go of Chen Ke's hand, Hua Xiongmao walked towards the pier with other jubilant comrades.