Fourth Master Chang had been doing good business lately. He had taken several jobs hauling coal from the station, working through the scorching sun for days, and finally finished the last load before noon on the final day. In truth, he could have finished it last night if he had pushed, but he delayed the final task until daylight, fearing that doing the cleanup in the dark might lead to errors. It proved a wise choice; when he arrived early that morning, the merchant who hired the carts asked him to also haul some of his household furniture. Chang agreed readily and happily completed the extra task.

Any other carter, finishing before noon, would have dragged it out until after lunch to ensure the employer provided a midday meal. But Fourth Master Chang didn't like taking advantage of others. Once the furniture was moved, he made an excuse about having business at home and asked to settle the bill. The merchant was equally straightforward and paid the remaining amount promptly. Chang drove his cart away without lingering for a free meal.

After days of hard work, each of his brothers received several silver dollars and copper coins, and they went their separate ways. Thinking of the "braised meat noodles" at the Yutai Tea House, Fourth Master Chang washed his face and headed there with a joyful heart.

"Oho, Fourth Master Chang! Haven't seen you in a long time." Wang Lifa greeted him with his eternal, unchanging smile. "You must have made a fortune."

"Proprietor Wang, you're teasing me again," Fourth Master Chang said with a hearty laugh. "Two bowls of braised meat noodles!"

It was the peak of the lunch hour, and the teahouse was filled with people eating. Business at the Yutai Tea House was getting better and better; ever since the People's Party returned to the northern commercial scene, business in the capital had become easier. Wang Lifa wasn't entirely clear on why so many new businesses had appeared, but he knew the People's Party's "honeycomb coal" business had spread across the entire city. The People's Party produced many types of honeycomb coal: three sizes for domestic use and specialized large coals for restaurants. The Yutai Tea House had early on switched to these coal stoves, which were clean and convenient. Wang Lifa only slightly missed the scent of burning wood from the old days.

"Fourth Master Chang, come sit over here!" a voice called from inside.

Chang looked over and saw it was Second Master Song. But on closer inspection, Song looked different from his usual self. A few more glances revealed the reason: Song was wearing a brand-new, bluish-grey silk long gown.

"Second Master Song, you've struck it rich!" Chang laughed. Sitting beside Song was another regular from the late Qing days, Pockmark Liu. Liu had no proper trade; back in the Qing days, he had made a living as a human trafficker. Chang secretly despised him but didn't let it show on his face.

Song rose to make room for Chang. He spoke politely, but couldn't help a hint of pride from showing on his face. "Others may mock me, Fourth Master, but don't you do it too. If it weren't for your recommendation, I wouldn't even know where my next meal was coming from."

"Second Master, can one earn this much just as a bookkeeper?" Chang had merely recommended Song for a clerical position at a honeycomb coal factory run by the People's Party. They hadn't met often since then. Song was a cautious man who didn't dare speak ill of others behind their backs, so Chang was curious about what had happened.

"I'm no longer a bookkeeper," Song said, looking quite pleased.

"Oh?"

"I now raise birds for a living."

"What?" Chang was greatly surprised. In the late Qing, he too had carried a birdcage, and the thrush inside had been chosen for him by Second Master Song. But after the Gengzi year (1900), Chang had never done such a thing again. He suddenly noticed that the birdcage Song almost never went without was missing. He asked quickly, "Have the wealthy families started keeping birds again?"

"Not exactly. I now raise pigeons for them," Song replied. The People's Party had a massive wool business in the frontier regions and needed a large number of carrier pigeons. Song loved birds and talked about them constantly; once this was discovered, he was transferred to a new role. Although thrushes and pigeons were quite different, Song truly loved tending to birds, and his dedication made a difference. He was doing quite well in his new career.

"And this outfit..." Chang was astonished by Song's new gown. It was clear it wasn't traditional silk. It had the luster of silk, but up close, one could tell it was cloth. Yet the fabric possessed both the fineness of silk and the texture of high-quality fine cotton. The surface was smooth and flat, and the "Western-style" tailoring was so impeccable that one couldn't help but look twice.

Seeing that Chang couldn't take his eyes off it, Song smiled. "This is a new material from the south called 'silk-cotton.' The label on the fabric says it's fifty percent silk and fifty percent cotton. It's more expensive than fine cotton but cheaper than pure silk. Fourth Master, you should go and get some new clothes made when you have time."

Chang wanted to reach out and feel it, but he remembered he had just finished hauling coal. Though he had washed his face and hands, there was still grime under his fingernails. A touch might leave a mark. Song was a man of fastidious tastes; though he wouldn't dare say anything to Chang, Chang didn't want to upset him.

"I drive a cart all day; I can't wear such things. This fabric looks delicate; I fear it would wear out with one rub," Chang laughed.

Song quickly recommended, "Fourth Master, there's a new kind of cloth from the south called 'labor cloth' (denim). It's thick and durable. When I'm out in the field, I wear clothes made from it. When it hits the market, you should buy some. It's truly good stuff."

"I've seen that cloth; it is indeed good," Pockmark Liu finally found a chance to interject. "But those people from the south only sell it to Inner Mongolia, selling it to the Mongols when they collect wool. It's all pre-made clothes, very wide and loose. The Mongols love it."

"Oh? You've started doing honest business too?" Chang was greatly surprised.

Pockmark Liu knew he wasn't liked, and he never asked to be. Hearing Chang's words, he sighed. "Alas! Fourth Master, go ahead and mock me! Ever since the President took the world, the eunuchs in the palace are as poor as church mice, and the Princes' households have nothing left. In the old days, you had to be a man of great status just to see a Princess or a consort. Now, as long as you have a bit of money and can afford a dowry, you can marry a Princess just like that. If even the Princesses have come to this, who is there left to buy people? If I don't do some other business, I'll just starve to death."

Fourth Master Chang never took Pockmark Liu's words seriously. If a human trafficker's words could be believed, there would be no lies in the world. As they spoke, the two bowls of braised meat noodles arrived.

"I've been driving a cart all morning and I'm starving. Gentlemen, I'll eat first," Chang said, burying his head in his bowls and slurping loudly.

Pockmark Liu clearly hadn't come just to eat. Seeing Chang slurping his noodles and Second Master Song also eating quietly, Liu took a few bites of food and then poured some wine for Chang. "Fourth Master, have a drop."

After pouring the wine, Liu lowered his voice. "Fourth Master, word on the street is that you and Second Master Song are now following 'those from the south.'"

Chang ignored him, continuing to eat heartily. He didn't even glance at the wine Liu had poured. Second Master Song tried to act as if nothing was happening, but it was clear he lacked Chang's composure.

Pockmark Liu didn't care about the silence. He continued in a low voice, "Fourth Master, I don't have a good livelihood right now. If you have any business, you must let me know."

At this, Chang set down his chopsticks. "The carting guild is just the carting guild. In this city, especially in the south, there are many working in the guilds and the coal factories. Everyone is just trying to earn a meal. Who pays if you don't work? If you want a job, go look at the notice boards in front of the guild and the factory. There are new hiring notices every day. No need to come to me."

Pockmark Liu didn't dare provoke Chang too much now. Chang's business had grown significantly; he had bought three brand-new large carts, applied for some kind of "license," and was hauling goods everywhere. It was said he already had over twenty men under him and had made a fortune. Some even said Chang had once worked for the famous "revolutionary" leader Chen Ke, driving a cart for him. Moreover, Chang had once been in the Boxers and was said to be a "First Brother" who had drunk charm-water and burned incense. Liu didn't want to offend him easily.

"But as you know, it's too hard to find a living in Beijing right now. Fourth Master, you're already a cart boss. Second Master Song, though I don't see him often, is clearly making good money given that silk outfit. We've drunk many a cup of tea together; surely you can point a way for me."

Second Master Song was far from being as open-hearted as Fourth Master Chang. He loved putting on airs; the little money he earned from raising pigeons was spent on this outfit after taking care of his family's food and drink. Hearing Liu's words, he became increasingly uneasy.

Fourth Master Chang's irritation with Liu's persistence grew. "Listen, Pockmark Liu, I earn my bread through my own strength; I'm no 'cart boss.' Those carts were bought with everyone's pooled money; it's not like I opened my own firm..."

As he spoke, Chang noticed Liu's eyes suddenly dart toward the door. A moment later, Liu stood up. "Fourth Master, someone's calling me outside. I'll be right back." With that, Liu hurried out.

Chang thought Liu would be gone for a while, finally allowing him some peace to eat and catch up with Second Master Song. But after only a few words with Song, Liu returned.

"What is the world coming to? Someone looking for people who dare to risk their lives actually came to me. What are they thinking?" Liu looked very displeased as he sat back down.

Chang could bear it no longer. He finished his noodles in a few bites, gulped down the soup, wiped his mouth, and stood up. "I have work this afternoon. I'm going."

In truth, Chang had no work that afternoon; he simply couldn't stand Liu's pestering. But as fate would have it, the more you want to avoid someone, the more you run into them. That evening, Pockmark Liu secretly sought out Chang at his home.

Fourth Master Chang wouldn't let a human trafficker into his home. As soon as he saw Liu at the door, he stepped outside, closed the door behind him with his hands behind his back, and whispered fiercely, "Pockmark Liu, what on earth do you want?"

Pockmark Liu didn't care about being scolded. He looked around nervously to ensure no one was watching and then dragged Chang to a secluded corner. In a voice only Chang could hear, he whispered, "Fourth Master, you saw those people looking for me at noon. They're looking for someone who dares to kill."

As if burned by hot coals, Chang tried to push Liu away. But Liu's grip was strong, and he held Chang's arm firmly. "They found me again this afternoon. Those people said... they want to kill a 'big figure' from the south."

No one in Beijing dared to openly say "People's Party" now; they used "those from the south" as a substitute. This news gave Fourth Master Chang a start. He was straightforward, but he wasn't stupid. He had already guessed what Liu was hinting at.

"Fourth Master, I wouldn't dare do such a thing. But thinking that you're also earning a living with those from the south, I felt that since we've shared tea for all these years, we should look out for one another. I've said my piece; whether you want to tell the people from the south is up to you. If you don't, then consider that we never met today. If you do, please put in a good word for me with them. I'll take my leave now." With that, Liu released Chang's arm and vanished into the darkness, leaving the stunned Fourth Master Chang standing there.

Chang didn't sleep well that night. Pockmark Liu's words put him in a difficult position. Logically, such matters had nothing to do with him, and staying away was best. But Chang had seen much of the world in Beijing. He knew the current stability of the city and his own carting business were built upon the compromise between the People's Party and Beiyang.

If things fell into chaos, there was no doubt his business would suffer. After much thought, he finally made his decision.

***

Pockmark Liu's "business" seemed to have opened; someone had sought him out to provide people. But when he excitedly went to meet the client, he realized something was wrong. The guide was an acquaintance, so Liu felt relatively safe at first. But once he saw the client, he knew it was trouble.

In the human trafficking business, Liu was well-traveled and experienced. Clients who bought people usually had something on their minds and would talk at length about their own affairs. But the person before him was highly focused—and that focus was entirely on Pockmark Liu. The several men beside him were physically strong and calm, clearly the type who dared to fight and kill. Liu struggled to maintain his composure; if he showed any fear, these men would surely resort to violence.

However, when the guide took a chance to slip away, Liu also hurried to stand. "What's the rush?" The man opposite him reached out and pressed down on his shoulder. Though Liu didn't look particularly strong, in a critical moment, his strength likely wasn't inferior to Fourth Master Chang's. Yet, when he was held down, he felt the immense strength in the other man's hand—far beyond what he could handle.

The guide seized the chance and vanished. Liu's vision suddenly went black as someone slipped a burlap sack over his head from behind. In the darkness, he felt several hands grabbing him. A moment later, he was bound tight, and even his mouth was gagged from outside the sack with a cloth band.

***

By late August 1911, the People's Party's intelligence agency in Beijing had received information from multiple sources, both active and passive: someone in the capital was looking to hire assassins. Normally, once intelligence was aggregated, the situation would become clear. But this time, the agency felt greatly perplexed.

The employer was Yuan Keding—various pieces of intelligence proved this. Yet Yuan Keding was actually trying to find "desperate" heroes from the Beijing-Tianjin underworld. Most of the "heroes" in the region were former "First Brothers" of the Boxers. The problem was that of the famous Boxer leaders from the Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Shandong areas who had survived, the most prominent were now with the People's Party—men like Wu Xingchen, Pang Zi, and Chai Qingguo. As for those in the Shandong units, while the "First and Second Brothers" had mostly been purged, there were hundreds of former rank-and-file members. With this vast network of connections, the People's Party was extremely well-informed about local "heroes."

Thus, the Beijing intelligence department couldn't understand if the reports they were receiving were true. The comrades had long been mentally prepared for all-out war with Beiyang; the question was *when* the war would start, not *if*. The focus of their doubt was: "Yuan Keding is Yuan Shikai's son, after all." He shouldn't be stupid enough to go to this extent. If he were carrying out Yuan Shikai's orders, he should definitely not be acting like this. If Yuan Shikai wanted to assassinate Chen Ke, he would surely send men from the military and ensure no word leaked beforehand.

Chen Ke had required the intelligence department to strengthen their studies, and in the vocabulary they had learned, "Yuan Keding's actions are completely illogical."

However, the comrades didn't dare assume this was just a groundless rumor. The intelligence was immediately passed up to the People's Party headquarters. The Beijing intelligence department finally decided to infiltrate Yuan Keding's inner circle to find out what was truly happening from the inside.

"I think we might as well do this: let's send someone to earn that reward money," Tao Zhengdao, the head of the Beijing intelligence department, proposed his plan.

***

Chen Ke didn't react with too much excitement upon receiving the news. In these chaotic times, effectively protecting his own safety was a responsibility he had to bear for his comrades. The People's Internal Affairs Committee paid extra attention to such matters; for instance, the bodyguards for all military and civil cadres, including Chen Ke's own, were assigned after screening by the Committee.

The effective grassroots management system established in the base areas also included security and prevention work. The strict household registration system and the travel permit system were all designed to ensure the safety of the base areas.

Chen Ke was not misled by this intelligence. Historically, the Yuan family had pinned many a "shit-pot" on Yuan Keding's head—for example, the story that Yuan Keding printed fake newspapers to deceive his father. Chen Ke didn't believe that at all. Yuan Shikai was no three-year-old child; how could he be fooled by a single newspaper?

Yuan Shikai's decision to become Emperor was his own; even if Yuan Keding printed fake papers, he couldn't manipulate the National Assembly. Regardless of the means Yuan Shikai used against the Assembly, they had ultimately passed the resolution to elect him Emperor.

Chen Ke's judgment was that this was most likely Yuan Keding's private action. Yuan Shikai would never leave behind such evidence when doing business, let alone such a ridiculous piece of evidence. Even if he were to conduct an assassination, it should be like the case of Song Jiaoren—a situation full of lingering doubts. To have the intent to assassinate known by so many people before even finding the killers... Yuan Shikai could never botch things to such an extent.

This could have been seen as a joke, but Chen Ke could not view it as such. It wasn't that he was afraid of death, but rather that once Yuan Keding was involved, it was no longer possible to brush the matter aside as a mere prank.

Even Chen Ke could not do that.