The news of the Nobel Prize soon spread in China. Foreigners viewed this matter from the perspective of a "marvel." That a Chinese person proved his strength in the scientific community with irrefutable performance was indeed a magical thing in the world of 1909. Most people thought Chen Ke was just lucky, but more people were full of interest in Chen Ke's background. Chen Ke's proficient application of various chemical equations was enough to prove that he had received higher education in European or American universities. But such a person remained nameless and even ended up becoming a rebel leader. This unintentionally shaped Chen Ke's image in European and American countries into that of a "Modern Robin Hood."

American reporters had immense interest in Chen Ke. In the vast quantity of weirdly shaped glass vessels reaching straight to the roof, various colorful unknown liquids boiled and flowed. A chemist who doubled as a rebel leader narrowed his slender eyes in this magical, nightmare-like laboratory, creating various inconceivable whims in his mind. This perfectly fit the American imagination of the mysterious East.

John Fleming was one such person who hoped to report on such a Chinese leader, Chen Ke, to American readers. It was October when he disembarked in Tianjin. Reporter Fleming knew that China had convened the First Constitutional Conference, which was a big event. Moreover, Fleming believed that Chen Ke was extremely likely to appear at this conference. So he plunged headlong into the interview.

"...Chinese people, especially Chinese officials, seem to have a natural opposition to news since birth. The Constitutional Conference was supposed to be public, but all officials remained silent about it, as if everyone was hiding an unparalleled secret. Towards reporters, they all adopted an attitude of avoiding them like the plague. Not only the officials, but the gentlemen councilors sent by various provinces also acted the same way. I very much doubt whether, after drafting the constitution, they will also hide it deeply in an underground vault and never show it to others..."

"...Although the People's Party are rebels, they still sent their own representatives to attend the conference. This representative conference is based on the ratio of one person elected per one hundred thousand people. It is generally estimated that the population in the areas controlled by the People's Party is between thirty and forty million. This exceeds one-third of the total population of the United States today. The People's Party delegation, which should have had thirty representatives, has only three observers. The backgrounds of the three representatives are very surprising; they were all once officials of the Manchu Qing, even very important officials. Mr. Yan Fu was the dean of China's earliest naval academy—the Beiyang Naval Academy—for a full twenty years. Mr. Feng Xu was once a local high official in Anhui, equivalent to a state treasurer in the United States. Mr. Shang Yuan was once a subordinate of Mr. Feng Xu and served as the highest local administrative official in the area where the People's Party first raised the banner of rebellion. The People's Party sending these three people here is likely to show that they..."

"...Almost all officials and councilors showed great fear towards the three representatives of the People's Party. And the Manchu Qing Cabinet officially announced on the day the People's Party representatives arrived in Beijing that the family of the People's Party leader Chen Ke's father-in-law would be released. These people were thrown into prison by order of the late Empress Dowager Cixi because they were family members of rebels. It is said that the order to execute them had already been issued at the time, but due to the accidental death of Empress Dowager Cixi, these orders were not passed on to the executioner, so they were able to save their lives. This is really a very unfortunate yet very lucky family..."

"...The parliamentary meeting does not allow observers. No matter how one applies and seeks help, one cannot get the opportunity..."

When the Constitutional Conference began, everyone had to kowtow in the direction of the Imperial Palace. Yan Fu, Feng Xu, and Shang Yuan sat ostentatiously in their seats, looking at the group of people kneeling and kowtowing around them. This situation was truly embarrassing. Yuan Shikai, who presided over the meeting, regretted it at the time. But when planning the opening of the parliament, despite careful planning, he just forgot the fact that the People's Party could not possibly kowtow. Now no one dared to drive the People's Party representatives out. Yuan Shikai was broad-minded after all; he didn't care how these representatives would view this matter. Anyway, Yuan Shikai had carried the black pot (taken the blame) many times. Chen Ke was the person Yuan Shikai had met who could best consider Yuan Shikai's interests. To carry such a small black pot, Yuan Shikai was willing.

As the group of councilors crawled up from the ground, they saw the three People's Party representatives sitting in their seats with cold faces, looking down on the councilors like emperors. A feeling of shame and anger immediately arose in everyone's hearts. These three people were all former subjects of the Manchu Qing. Yan Fu and Feng Xu went without saying; their status was originally quite high, and their learning was well-known to all; most councilors couldn't compare to them. Shang Yuan was a county magistrate in his thirties, usually nameless. Which of those who came to attend the National Constitutional Conference wasn't a high official or a famous scholar? Now their limelight was overshadowed by Shang Yuan. Every councilor participating in the meeting held a burst of anger in their hearts.

No matter how they usually preyed on the common people and ordered them around, a sentence almost emerged in every councilor's heart at this moment: "He who steals a hook is executed; he who steals a country becomes a prince."

When the councilors sat down, Yuan Shikai took the stage and began to speak, "Everyone, I have long wanted to invite everyone to come to Beijing to discuss the state affairs of constitutionalism like this. I have been the Minister of Beiyang, the Viceroy of Zhili, and have also walked in the Grand Council. Every time I talked about local affairs with the gentlemen from the localities, all I heard were complaints. As soon as they spoke, they said that the crowd in the capital didn't know how hard and difficult it was in the localities. When talking about this, gentlemen, you were all ambitious, thinking that if you could be the masters in the localities, you would definitely make the localities flourish. I thought, it would be great if the Imperial Court could let you gentlemen do it freely. Now that the Cabinet is established, I feel that as the Vice Prime Minister of this Cabinet, I must do something for everyone. This United Provincial Autonomy fits exactly with your wishes..."

Although everyone knew that they came to talk about United Provincial Autonomy this time, the representatives always felt unsure in their hearts. No one could figure out what exactly United Provincial Autonomy was about. Yuan Shikai talked about the problem so straightforwardly, without threats or coercion. Even with the small disturbance of the People's Party representatives not kowtowing, all representatives felt very satisfied.

Except for the representatives of the provinces in the Beiyang clique, most representatives of other provinces had only met Yuan Shikai and had no experience of working under him. Dealings in officialdom were all about superficiality; everyone had only heard that Yuan Shikai was shrewd and capable, but none had personally experienced Yuan Shikai's true ability. Now listening to Yuan Shikai spend more than an hour clearly and concisely explaining the concept, basic methods, and layout of this United Provincial Autonomy, the councilors admired Yuan Shikai's talent to the point of prostrating themselves. Leaving aside whether United Provincial Autonomy was good or not, just this cognition and layout, the representatives from various places asked themselves and felt ashamed of their inferiority. No wonder when mentioning famous ministers of the world, "Beiyang Yuan" was recommended first. Just listening to this account, everyone believed that this Beiyang Yuan Shikai was indeed a peerless scholar of the state.

Seeing that Yuan Shikai was so fully prepared and his attitude was so tough, while the representatives of various provinces admired him, a strong sense of unease also arose in their hearts.

As soon as Yuan Shikai finished speaking, the representatives of the Beiyang clique applauded first, and the representatives of other provinces, whether sincere or fake, also followed with enthusiastic applause.

The People's Party representatives listened seriously from beginning to end, and finally applauded symbolically to join the fun.

When everyone's applause died down, Yuan Shikai continued, "For this Constitutional Conference, the Cabinet will first come up with a constitution; the provinces will discuss it themselves. After the discussion, representatives from various provinces will go up to speak. After all the speeches are finished, we will vote on each article of the constitution. Of course, we will first vote on this process. Representatives from various provinces can go to their own lounges to discuss first."

The People's Party had very few people, and the meeting room was not big. The guards firmly guarded the door outside, and the three representatives then began to discuss in low voices.

"It seems Yuan Shikai really completely adopted Chairman Chen's suggestions," Feng Xu said first.

Yuan Shikai seemed very interested in utilizing Chen Ke's intellect. Before this meeting convened, Yuan Shikai specially sent someone to the base area to seek advice from Chen Ke. Chen Ke wrote a relatively detailed proposal for Yuan Shikai. All three representatives had seen it; for every future step of Yuan Shikai, Chen Ke proposed various methods of response and choice. The reasons and purposes of many strategies were marked very clearly.

What Yuan Shikai just recounted was a set of routes he chose and combined himself.

Shang Yuan said in a deep voice, "It seems Yuan Shikai has chosen the economy-focused route."

"There's no helping it; Yuan Shikai lacks money." Feng Xu was the Provincial Administration Commissioner, in charge of finance and accounting. He was clearest about Yuan Shikai's choice. "The year before last, the Manchu Qing's revenue was eighty million taels, and expenditure was as high as one hundred million taels. I'm afraid last year and this year were even worse than the year before last. Even if Yuan Shikai scraped the Imperial Clan and the Imperial Household, how much money could there be? At most thirty million taels. Many are antiques that cannot be sold. In prosperous times, people collect antiques; Chairman Chen said it very clearly. Everyone knows Yuan Shikai has antiques in his hands and thinks about buying a batch at a low price. In such chaotic times, where would rich people be willing to spend money to buy these things?"

Hearing this, Shang Yuan couldn't help but snort coldly, "Beiyang certainly can't afford to fight a war, but up to now, I am still very uneasy. Beiyang is originally a broken ship, full of holes. Too many lice don't itch, too much debt doesn't worry; they can just maintain their lingering existence. They certainly can't afford to fight, but he will definitely calculate deliberately to deal with us. On the contrary, we are engaging in industrial construction in the base area on a large scale; once a loophole is attacked, our losses will be much greater. So why push for United Provincial Autonomy so anxiously? Chairman Chen's words make sense; if there is no strong central government, it will definitely turn into a situation of warlord melee. But letting these people gather together, our People's Party will be the target of public criticism and will definitely be constrained everywhere."

Yan Fu and Feng Xu remained silent after hearing this. Comrades holding this attitude were not a minority within the party. Chen Ke once strongly emphasized the significance of strategic initiative; opening up the Shandong Base Area was an important link in striving for strategic initiative. As the vanguard, Shang Yuan undertook the most proactive work. In the process of giving the Manchu Qing the final military blow, the Shandong Base Area contributed greatly. Up to now, it had always been the People's Party striking others first; there had never been any strategic passivity. It was no wonder Shang Yuan couldn't accept such a direction.

After a moment of silence, Feng Xu couldn't help but say, "Secretary Shang, once the soldiers move, who knows where it will end. Fighting a civil war like this is not a good thing after all. Even if the People's Party is brave and good at fighting, we don't have the ability to conquer the whole of China now. As the saying goes, short pain is better than long pain. Anyway, we have to fight in the end; why be anxious for a moment?"

Yan Fu nodded slightly after hearing this. He knew very well that Chen Ke had never planned to give up military struggle. But the gap between the People's Party and industrial countries like Europe and America was really too big. Chen Ke tried to build a sufficient industrial system first; Yan Fu thought this was the right path. The comrades in the party had not truly fought against the European and American powers, so they didn't understand what that kind of large-scale powerful war looked like. Luring the enemy in deep and strengthening the walls and clearing the fields were indeed good strategies. But as Chen Ke said, that was a policy adopted when facing unavoidable reality. Before the war, one should avoid the occurrence of unfavorable situations to the greatest extent. The two were not in conflict originally.

It was just that a series of military victories by the People's Party made these worries look like "unfounded fears." Moreover, with the strategic initiative now mastered by the People's Party, it still seemed unbreakable in China. Yan Fu didn't want to criticize Shang Yuan; he himself couldn't completely understand Chen Ke's strategy. When comrades tried to understand what had already happened and tried to experience and summarize what had already happened, Chen Ke was already standing in a farther place telling everyone that there was a new world here. This strong sense of incongruity made Yan Fu himself unwilling to comment much.

After the allotted time for provincial meetings ended, the first round of voting officially began.

The first to take the stage was the Viceroy of Liangguang, Zhang Renjun. The old man was hale and hearty; he came up and started to attack the inadvisability of United Provincial Autonomy. Saying things like "causing local dignitaries to collude," "forming cliques for private gain," and "opening the door wide for those who spread fallacies to mislead the public." All these things sounded really reasonable.

However, this speech itself was inevitably thousands of miles off-topic. Yuan Shikai asked everyone to discuss the "meeting process," which meant setting the rules of the game first. Zhang Renjun's speech completely disregarded the establishment of rules and instead launched a fierce attack on the plan proposed by Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai listened seriously, but among the Beiyang representatives, some low-status councilors couldn't help but boo. When Zhang Renjun finally finished speaking with difficulty, the second to rush onto the stage was Jiangsu Governor Wang Youhong. Wang Youhong first clearly expressed his support for Yuan Shikai's United Provincial Autonomy plan. The Beiyang representatives were quiet, but the representatives of other provinces began to clamor. The noise was so loud that Wang Youhong even forgot about the issue of voting on the rules.

When it was the turn of the fourth person, Hunan Governor Cen Chunming, he finally managed to put forward his views on the voting regulations. Cen Chunming was Cen Chunxuan's younger brother and also one of Yuan Shikai's political enemies. He questioned the fact that all provincial representatives had voting rights. The reason seemed sufficient: "Since it is United Provincial Autonomy, the attitude of each province should be unified. Otherwise, what is the use of this United Provincial Autonomy?"

Everyone in the meeting hall was a shrewd person; everyone knew that Cen Chunming was fighting back against Yuan Shikai's difficulties. Among the Hunan representatives this time, quite a few were Yuan Shikai's people. In fact, not only Hunan representatives, but many provinces had people who were politically inclined towards Yuan Shikai.

Provincial councilors generally knew or had heard of the parliamentary principle of "minority obeying majority." Knowing or hearing about it was one thing, but all councilors had an instinctive aversion to this rule. Those among them with high status and power all believed that their status inherently possessed dominant power. Minority obeying majority was something people below might do, but as the upper class, they shouldn't accept this system. As for councilors with lower official positions, they naturally believed that their one vote should be the critical vote. If their vote wasn't critical, then what were they voting for?

This mentality was directly reflected in the voting. Under Yuan Shikai's strong stance, if he really wanted to push for legislation, relying solely on numbers, Yuan Shikai could really get a simple majority. However, of the twenty-four provinces in the world, three had already gone to the People's Party, and the princes of Inner and Outer Mongolia did not attend. Of the remaining nineteen provinces, Yuan Shikai only occupied nine. If the remaining ten provinces united, overthrowing Yuan Shikai's cabinet wasn't very realistic, but this meeting had the full ability to force Yuan Shikai to make huge concessions.

Listening to the people on stage expressing their attitudes one by one, Yuan Shikai appeared calm and composed on the surface, but in his heart, herds of alpacas (grass-mud horses) were galloping. Chen Ke had long warned Yuan Shikai of the possibility of this situation. Yuan Shikai felt that the Viceroys and Governors should be sensible after all; asking for exorbitant prices was unavoidable, but surely it wouldn't turn into such chaos. If things went according to the Viceroys' and Governors' methods, Yuan Shikai would have spent so much mental effort only to prepare a dish for others. At least the local Viceroys and Governors could definitely blackmail Yuan Shikai severely once.

It seems the provincial assembly system must be implemented. Yuan Shikai couldn't help but sigh in his heart. As an old-style politician, Yuan Shikai was more accustomed to the Manchu Qing model where great power was held in hand, and those below must obey a word from above. But this required a national regime. When Cixi was alive, through decades of accumulation, she could finally manage personnel issues. But this completely failed to get things done. Yuan Shikai started by getting things done; although he could guarantee his political achievements, he lacked this legitimacy of holding sole power. In comparison, if the provinces had assemblies, Yuan Shikai would have more tricks to play. The Beiyang provinces would naturally be submissive. The People's Party simply couldn't form an advantage in the assemblies, and since both sides had an alliance, presumably Chen Ke was not a person who didn't understand the general situation. As for other provinces, they could all be won over by Yuan Shikai's clever operations.

The core of United Provincial Autonomy was for the assembly to meet once a year to vote on some seemingly grand issues, such as laws. The President and Prime Minister elections would be every five years, and cabinet members would be arranged by the Prime Minister. For such a meeting, it was just a matter of the intensity of bribery; Yuan Shikai was confident of winning. So no matter what, he had to get the provinces to set up their own assembly systems. If there were no assemblies, the provincial Viceroys and Governors would definitely oppose him to the end.

Speeches continued one after another; everyone spoke at length, and they didn't finish until the afternoon. The parliament temporarily ended the day's meeting and would continue the next day.

As soon as the councilors went out the door, a group of reporters from various newspapers and a group of foreign devil reporters rushed up with cameras attempting to interview the councilors. The military police hurriedly pushed the reporters away and let the councilors get on the transfer carriages.

"Yuan Shikai's days are not easy," Shang Yuan said happily.

Yan Fu and Feng Xu both smiled bitterly. Inside the carriage were their own people, and with guards protecting the outside, it was actually a good place for conversation.

"Chairman Chen mentioned this matter long ago in his letter to Yuan Shikai. It seems Yuan Shikai still listened to the advice," Yan Fu replied.

"With just this one method, I think we won't be able to return to the base area in the short term." Feng Xu had sufficient cognition of the arduousness of parliamentary struggle.

Shang Yuan said with a mocking sneer, "We came here just to watch. No matter how hostile Yuan Shikai and the local Viceroys and Governors are, they are consistent in dealing with our People's Party. Let's just follow the plan and watch the situation develop properly. Anyway, with every passing day, our strength grows a little stronger. They can talk for ten or eight years. I think that's not bad either."

Hearing this, Yan Fu and Feng Xu also smiled helplessly. Ten or eight years might be a bit exaggerated. But talking for a month or two without results wasn't alarmist talk.

"Gentlemen, entering Beijing this time, Chairman Chen asked me to send his regards to my teacher, Mr. Li Hongqi. I will visit Mr. Li tonight." Shang Yuan made a rather personal request. The observation group had its own discipline; this visit had been mentioned long ago, so Yan Fu and Feng Xu agreed.

It was still that ordinary alley, still that ordinary courtyard house. Not long after Shang Yuan brought the guard to knock on the door, Mr. Li Hongqi opened the door himself. Compared to leaving Beijing four years ago, Mr. Li Hongqi didn't look much changed; he still wore those ordinary clothes, and the courtyard was still tidy.

Letting the guard watch the door, Shang Yuan supported his mentor into the wing room. With an agitated heart, Shang Yuan wanted to earnestly kowtow to his teacher, but he couldn't kneel down no matter what. He used a military salute to express his respect to Teacher Li Hongqi. After seeing his beloved disciple pay respects to him, Li Hongqi stepped forward to pull Shang Yuan and let him sit down. Looking his disciple up and down, Li Hongqi then asked, "Wangshan, I saw the things you asked someone to send a few days ago. You said you were extremely confused, but I don't know where the confusion lies?"

"Since we want revolution, it means changing the Mandate of Heaven. We should advocate revolutionary concepts to conform to the Mandate of Heaven with people's hearts. But what Wenqing (Chen Ke) told me in private is very different. I am greatly puzzled. Having this opportunity this time, I ask for Teacher's guidance." Shang Yuan spoke very urgently.

"What Wenqing said is still that set of your People's Party. From the perspective of a Confucian disciple like me, it's just changing 'gentleman' (Junzi) to 'laborer.' As I see it, I'm afraid you see Wenqing as Fan Chi. I actually feel that compared to Wenqing, you are Fan Chi."

Shang Yuan knew that his teacher was citing the example from the *Analects - Zilu*.

Fan Chi asked to learn farming. Confucius said: "I am not as good as an old farmer."

He asked to learn gardening. Said: "I am not as good as an old gardener."

After Fan Chi left. Confucius said: "Fan Chi is truly a petty man! If superior officials value ritual, the masses will not dare to be disrespectful; if superior officials value righteousness, the masses will not dare to be disobedient; if superior officials value trustworthiness, the masses will not dare to be dishonest. If one can do this, then the common people of the world will come to you with their children strapped to their backs. What need is there for you to farm this little bit of crops?!"

Shang Yuan never expected that his teacher would criticize him just like Chen Ke. He hurriedly explained, "Teacher, I don't oppose labor..."

"If you don't oppose labor, then work. What is there to say?" Li Hongqi interrupted Shang Yuan immediately. "Wenqing made it clear in his letter to you that management is just a link in labor. As long as one is a laborer, there is no distinction between high and low. This really makes me marvel greatly. The rule of the Three Dynasties was nothing more than this."

Hearing this, Shang Yuan felt a shiver in his heart. His teacher was really too keen; one sentence pierced through the point deep in his heart that he was least willing to mention but most opposed to Chen Ke. That was "Distinction between upper and lower, order between noble and base."

Seeing Shang Yuan silent, Li Hongqi couldn't help but sigh lightly. "Wangshan, you know me; I have never liked saying the ancient is not as good as the present. Even if ancient Confucianism has now degenerated into rotten Confucianism, I only feel that the fate of the Confucian school has ended. But when mentioning the rule of the Three Dynasties, I feel it is absolutely correct. Wangshan, stretch out your hand and let me see."

Not knowing what his teacher meant, Shang Yuan stretched out his hand. It was a palm once accustomed to holding a pen; the skin was once delicate and smooth, but now because of participating in quite a bit of labor, it had become rough.

"These calluses are not enough," Li Hongqi laughed. "I heard that you managed water and relieved disaster in Anhui and Hubei. Although I worried about you and Wenqing, I was truly proud of you in my heart. In the time of Great Yu, let's not mention him passing his house three times without entering. Great Yu wore tattered clothes, ate coarse food, lived in simple mat sheds, and personally held the spade and hoe every day, taking the lead in doing the hardest and dirtiest work. After a few years, the hair on his legs and arms had fallen off, his palms and soles formed thick calluses, his body was withered, and his face was dark. This was an ancient sage emperor, looking not even as good as an old farmer. Have you done as much as Great Yu? As heavy as Great Yu? You only see Wenqing commanding with composure when mobilizing the crowd, but if Wenqing hadn't worked personally, if he hadn't labored day and night on the front line, how could he know how to mobilize the crowd?"

During the Anhui floods, Chen Ke had always been on the front line, leading comrades against the wind and rain, enduring countless hardships, doing countless jobs, and experiencing countless dangers. At that time, Shang Yuan was only undertaking the work of a county magistrate in the county town. In terms of enduring hardship and working, he knew he was indeed inferior to Chen Ke. Thinking of this, Shang Yuan couldn't help but frown slightly.

"Wangshan, do you think Wenqing is a weirdo who isn't afraid of hardship?" Li Hongqi exposed Shang Yuan's thoughts with another sentence.

"Teacher..." Shang Yuan only felt that his teacher, Mr. Li Hongqi, was extremely terrifying at this moment. even his voice stuttered a bit, "You, how do you know?"

"Wenqing is not unafraid of hardship, nor does he find joy in it as described in books. If you think of Wenqing in terms of bitterness and joy, then you are wrong." Li Hongqi couldn't help but sigh again after finishing speaking. This was extremely rare for Li Hongqi. If he didn't sincerely care for his disciple, according to Li Hongqi's usual practice, he would have sent Shang Yuan away long ago.

Seeing his teacher like this, Shang Yuan hurriedly stood up and said, "Teacher, I indeed have countless doubts in my heart. Please, Teacher, instruct me."

Li Hongqi had great expectations for Shang Yuan after all. He pondered for a good while before speaking again, "Actually, what I want to say, Wenqing has already said in the letter to you. Wangshan, do you think people are divided into high and low, noble and base?"

"This..., Teacher, I think there are."

"The difference between you and Wenqing lies in the fact that Wenqing does not believe people are divided into high and low, noble and base. He truly believes that labor created man himself. If one cannot do the right thing, it is only because one hasn't labored enough. I know why you don't believe it, because there really are some people who actually don't love labor and really don't want to believe that labor creates everything. What they want is not to work, not to labor. And in this world, seemingly there indeed are some people who don't work, don't labor, yet enjoy glory, wealth, and honor. Ask yourself, everyone wants to sit in this position, everyone wants to reap without sowing. Before, the Manchu Qing closed the door and did this themselves, and it already caused great chaos in the world. But foreigners are willing to labor, can labor, and know how to labor. As a result, they fought from thousands of miles away and plagued our China to this state. Wenqing told you clearly; foreigners plaguing China is one thing, and our own labor being inferior to foreigners is another thing. Wangshan, you used to know that reaping without sowing was wrong, but when you have the chance, you still hope that you can reap without sowing. Wenqing is afraid that after working hard to start a revolution, with so many people dying and so many battles fought, the result is overthrowing a group who reaped without sowing, only to have another batch who reap without sowing come up like taking turns dealing cards. Then wouldn't those who died in this revolution have died in vain? What he wrote to tell you has always been this one thing."

Although it wasn't winter yet, Shang Yuan's face turned pale as if he had stood in a cold night. But Li Hongqi's words did not end here. "Wangshan, do you think you are a person who is stupid beyond cure?"

Shang Yuan originally wanted to follow his teacher's meaning and say he knew he was stupid beyond cure, but he clearly knew that if he said this, he was actually telling a lie. Most importantly, his teacher would also clearly know this was a lie. After hesitating, he answered, "This..., I think I am not."

Li Hongqi nodded slightly, "I see Wenqing also said that if a matter has one hundred links, as long as one link is not done, the whole matter will definitely be unrecognizable. Just knowing what these one hundred links are from beginning to end is incomparably difficult. And after knowing these links and personally trying to do them, one will definitely find oneself stupid beyond cure. Of these one hundred links, there are few that one can do oneself. Ordinary people do things completely differently; everyone always takes a superficial look, finds a few links they can do, and then thinks they are right, believing that if others can match the remaining ninety-plus links, they can achieve feats unmatched by anyone. Only seeing what one can do and not seeing what one cannot do, this is true stupidity beyond cure."

Ever since the revolution, no one had ever criticized Shang Yuan so severely. But Shang Yuan began to return to normal at this time, and his expression and attitude gradually returned to normal.

Li Hongqi continued as if he didn't see it, "I've read some of Wenqing's books. His discussion on the biological and social nature of humans is indeed a penetrating insight. The biological aspect is self-centered, while the social aspect is centered on social relations. So Wenqing fiercely criticized vulgar tastes. Vulgar taste is when the biological nature has not been completely transformed within society. Being self-centered, afraid that others don't know what one has, afraid that others can't see one's superiority, afraid that one's social value is underestimated by others. But what you can really do, you know very well yourself. If you even deceive yourself, that doesn't matter. As long as things really get started, you can't deceive others. So I see that Wenqing's letter only said one thing: for you comrades of the People's Party to transform yourselves and honestly be laborers. I think this is correct, so I really don't know where exactly you are confused."

"Teacher, I feel I have done everything I should do. But I always feel there is a place different from Wenqing. If you ask me what is different, I can't say it no matter what. This is where I am confused." Shang Yuan looked at Mr. Li Hongqi with eager and anxious eyes.

"Wangshan, I underestimated you; it turns out you have already understood to this extent." Mr. Li Hongqi couldn't help laughing. "That is because all the things Wenqing does are things he ought to do. And the things you do are all things you want to do."

Regarding this statement from his teacher, Shang Yuan felt he couldn't accept it. "Teacher, why do I feel exactly the opposite?"

"That's because you don't think you are a bad person. You think you are a good person, a saint. You love evaluating yourself too much." Li Hongqi finished with a cold smile, then pointed at Shang Yuan and said, "A petty man (Xiao Ren)! That is Wangshan!"

After giving such an incomprehensible evaluation, Li Hongqi drove Shang Yuan out.

The second day's parliamentary discussion continued the style of yesterday. A group of councilors outwardly ignored the formulation of game rules and instead spoke in a vague and mysterious manner from ancient times to the present, from south to north. Literati all spoke in this wretched manner, forcibly summarizing a "truth" from things of different times, backgrounds, and methods, and then posing as "defenders of the truth." In fact, saying a thousand or ten thousand things, representatives of other provinces were all opposing the one-man-one-vote system in the parliament.

Shang Yuan's mind was full of what his teacher said yesterday, which was also vague and incomprehensible. He didn't know if he was thinking too much or for some other reason. In the end, Shang Yuan actually couldn't remember what exactly his teacher had said. That night, Shang Yuan went to visit his teacher again.

After Shang Yuan seriously informed him of the fact that "Teacher's teachings were not kept in mind at all," Mr. Li Hongqi couldn't help laughing loudly.

"It seems you didn't bear a grudge against me." Mr. Li Hongqi laughed extremely happily.

"How could I bear a grudge against Teacher?" Shang Yuan hurriedly said.

"Wangshan, what did I tell you when you left last time?" Mr. Li Hongqi asked.

"This..., I forgot." Shang Yuan answered very crisply.

Mr. Li Hongqi's memory was very good. He replied, "Last time I said, nowadays the world is cruel, perverse, and fawning; it is already in great chaos. And which change of dynasty was not like this? How to treat the tyranny, cruelty, and shamelessness of the world, how to break free from these tyrannies, cruelties, and shamelessness, and eliminate all injustice with a firm attitude, is a very difficult thing for ambitious people like you. In today's China, as soon as the Manchu Qing falls, there will be great chaos. It is destined that sorrow will fill the wild, and corpses will number in the millions. Even if you make the world more chaotic, you don't need to care. This is the fate of China; you alone absolutely cannot stop it. What you can do is to cure this great chaos, take advantage of this great chaos, sweep away chronic illnesses, and root out all injustice from the foundation."

Hearing his teacher repeat these words, Shang Yuan's expression became serious.

Li Hongqi looked at his beloved disciple and said equally seriously, "Last time Wenqing looked very confused, and you thought yourself amazing. I could only speak to that extent. Actually, everyone in the world has tyranny, cruelty, and shamelessness in their hearts. It's just that no one is willing to admit this darkness of the human heart. Anyone willing to admit it must be a down-to-earth laborer. Like Yuan Shikai and Cixi, they suffered so much and did so many things before taking power. After taking power, they used this tyranny, cruelty, and shamelessness to do things. No matter how the people of the world view them, they indeed did extraordinary things. Can you understand?"

"Teacher, I understand a little." Shang Yuan replied.

"I read the letter Wenqing wrote to you. He has already seen his own darkness, and he has found the way to overcome these tyrannies, cruelties, and shamelessness in his heart. That is to be a true laborer and live magnanimously. This tyranny turns into bravery, cruelty turns into firmness, and shamelessness turns into humility. Wangshan, you think people like Yuan Shikai and Cixi are dirty and unwilling to learn from them. Your heart is full of wanting to learn to be a brave, firm, and humble person. Learning these appearances is just superficial. Just like a monk, researching Buddhism intensively, reciting and discerning clearly, but if he doesn't harbor the thought of mercy and charity to save all living beings, even if he is well-versed in classics and eloquent in debate, what is the use?"

Hearing this, Shang Yuan felt a sudden enlightenment. But according to what his teacher said, the gap between himself and Chen Ke was like a natural chasm. This made Shang Yuan completely unable to accept it.

Li Hongqi didn't intend to let Shang Yuan have an epiphany. He continued, "So yesterday I said you are a petty man; you love evaluating yourself too much. Evaluating things, to put it plainly, is something for after death. The current thing is for everyone to live well. Whether revolution or rebellion, or even being a highwayman who blocks the road to rob, what is sought is nothing more than this. So Wenqing repeatedly said in the letter that it is not you leading the revolution, but the people needing the revolution. I think he is right. If you think Wenqing makes sense and are willing to contribute to the lives of the common people of the world, then work with Wenqing. If you are unwilling, then I advise you to seek another path early. Wenqing writing to persuade you now shows that he will definitely try hard to make all your People's Party members have a common belief in the future. If you can't do it and still force yourself to sit in your current position, the end will definitely not be good."

Shang Yuan didn't care about his teacher's prediction. He pondered for a while and asked, "Teacher, why did you say that all the things Wenqing does are things he ought to do, while the things I do are all things I want to do?"

"It is because you feel Wenqing acts bravely, firmly, and humbly. He doesn't care about others' evaluations at all. Even if the people of the world scold him, if he thinks this thing should be done this way, he will definitely do it this way. You do things to get the evaluation of being brave, firm, and humble from others. If the person you care about criticizes you, I'm afraid you won't do it."

Hearing his teacher's words, Shang Yuan wanted to speak several times but stopped. Finally, he smiled bitterly, "Teacher, I only know now that I am truly stupid beyond cure."

Hearing this, Li Hongqi laughed loudly, "If you really think so, that would be great. If you really know you are stupid beyond cure, then you will definitely study humbly and cautiously. Look, with this thought, you immediately became a humble person."

Shang Yuan originally thought his teacher was mocking him, but thinking carefully, what his teacher said was actually not wrong at all. The more one knew one was stupid beyond cure, the more one would truly become humble and cautious. So-called virtue was just such a thing. Shang Yuan found that apart from a bitter smile, he could only smile bitterly.