When Wu Xingchen returned to the People's Party for his political review, the Central Committee acted with great confidence. The Party's political work was absolutely capable of overriding traditional personal authority, and thus he retained his position as Commander of the Shandong Military District. Pang Zi didn't understand such nuanced matters; after joining the Shandong base area, he naturally continued to follow his "Big Brother Wu." In major matters, Pang Zi was still willing to consult with Wu Xingchen.

The outcome of the People's Party's discussion regarding the "Yuan Keding assassination incident" left Pang Zi very dissatisfied. It wasn't because the discussion ultimately revealed that the mastermind likely wasn't Yuan Keding—that Keding was merely being manipulated. Within the Party, with Chen Ke leading the way, they were attempting to handle Beiyang peacefully. Aside from severely punishing Yuan Keding, the primary targets for suppression were the black hands behind the scenes. Pang Zi believed the hidden enemies must be severely punished. The problem was that the Yuan family, especially Yuan Shikai, should also be severely punished.

Challenging Chen Ke's proposal was clearly unrealistic, and getting a resolution for severe punishment of Yuan Shikai into the People's Party's official decisions was extremely difficult. It was impossible for Pang Zi to do it alone. Thus, he went to find Wu Xingchen.

"That's impossible. The Party Committee already has a train of thought regarding the decision on Yuan Shikai and Beiyang," Wu Xingchen resolutely rejected Pang Zi's request.

"Big Brother Wu, I support all the Party Committee's other decisions, but on the matter of the attitude toward Yuan Shikai, couldn't you look out for us brothers a bit?" Pang Zi pleaded earnestly. "He killed so many of our people, and now in the Party Committee's stance, they actually consider Yuan Shikai a victim. It's not fair."

"Comrade Pang Zi, we are first and foremost members of the People's Party. The Party's decisions must be obeyed at all times. This is the most basic level of organizational discipline. Personal grievances must be placed after organizational discipline," Wu Xingchen said with iron determination.

"Big Brother Wu, we've gone through life and death together, seeking no reward. Can't you even agree to this one small thing? Yuan Shikai is not innocent." Pang Zi was not convinced by Wu Xingchen's few words; instead, he tried to persuade Wu.

Wu Xingchen replied with a cold face, "Comrade Pang Zi, to become a member of the People's Party is to obey the Party's discipline consistently. It's not like you are a Party member most of the time but can choose not to be a Party member in a few instances. At all times, you must be a member of the People's Party and consistently obey its discipline."

"Then... shouldn't our People's Party look out for its own comrades? And I'm not saying we should do anything wrong. Yuan Shikai was always a great counter-revolutionary. We'll fight him and Beiyang eventually anyway. Taking him out now would save a lot of trouble later." Pang Zi had no intention of giving up and continued to "reason" with him.

Wu Xingchen finally lost his patience. He let out a long, heavy breath from his nose. "Old Third, it seems you don't want to obey the Party Committee's decision at all."

"Big Brother Wu, I want the Party Committee to let us brothers vent our anger. Just this once—after this, I will never ask the Party Committee for anything again," Pang Zi said, his brow furrowed deeply.

Wu Xingchen could bear it no longer. In his agitation, he poked his left index finger onto the table several times before speaking. "Failing to obey the Party Committee once shows you are unwilling to obey its decisions. Why would there be a 'next time'? Old Third, you can never place your own attitude above the Party Committee. That is organizational discipline. It's a matter of principle. Not even once is acceptable."

"So, does that mean for our entire lives we can only sell our lives for the Organization, and the Organization will never stand up for us?" Seeing he couldn't persuade Wu Xingchen, Pang Zi finally spoke his mind.

"Overthrowing Yuan Shikai is an inevitable general direction. As long as he doesn't die of natural causes first, we will surely see that day. Even if he's lucky and dies early, the Beiyang clique certainly won't escape. But *when* to strike is something that must be decided by the Organization. Old Third, it's not like you can't speak up in the Party Committee meetings, but you didn't fight for it yourself. What are you trying to do now?" Wu Xingchen asked back angrily.

"What use is speaking in the Party Committee? Chairman Chen obviously doesn't want to move against the Yuan family this time. What did you want me to say?"

"This isn't Chairman Chen's idea; it's the Party Committee's idea. If you think this is Chairman Chen's personal idea, you don't need to come to me. Go talk to Chairman Chen about it." Wu Xingchen was no longer willing to spend energy trying to persuade Pang Zi. He was someone who had passed a political review, after all, and the first rule of passing a review was to recognize the relationship between the Party organization and the individual. The People's Party's organizational discipline stipulated that the individual must obey the Party organization's decisions; there was no discussion on this matter. If an individual did not obey the Party organization's decision, there was no room for negotiation; it was definitely a mistake of the individual lacking organization and discipline.

Pang Zi's current actions were already a serious violation of organizational discipline. If he had fought his case during a meeting, the Party's discipline of open discussion would have protected him; encouraging open speech and honest dialogue among comrades was a basic rule, falling under the category of intra-Party democracy. But privately forming factions and attempting to use individual action to oppose the Party's decision—that was an absolutely intolerable error.

Wu Xingchen, out of brotherly affection, was still trying to persuade him. If it were anyone else, Wu would have kicked them out long ago. And not just kicked them out; he would have publicly criticized such extremely wrong actions in the Party Committee meeting.

Pang Zi thought his request in this matter was not excessive. He obeyed the Party's command precisely so the Party would help him fulfill his wishes in his time of greatest need. Up to now, he had completed every task excellently, and now that he truly had a request of the Party organization, he felt they should give him some "face." Not to mention, Yuan Shikai was not just his enemy but also the enemy of the People's Party.

Looking at the angry Wu Xingchen, Pang Zi felt very aggrieved. He was the one who should be angry, wasn't he? He had worked so hard, only to find that in the end, not even a single personal request could be met. Yet according to Wu Xingchen, he was even in the wrong. The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt. He shouted, "Big Brother Wu, you've changed! In the old days, you were a man of peerless loyalty, always treating your brothers' affairs as your own. Now, for the sake of your official position, you no longer care about your brothers' blood feuds."

"Shut your mother's mouth!" Wu Xingchen was finally enraged, and he cursed loudly. "The People's Party is not a sworn brotherhood; it's not a bandit lair. We are conducting a revolution; we are seeking a way forward and creating a tomorrow for the laborers. You can't just think of your own little affairs at a critical moment. Pang Zi, if a civil war breaks out, how many people will die untimely deaths? How many of our comrades will die? What right do you have to ask these comrades to die for you?"

Cursed out like this, Pang Zi also became enraged. His face turned red, and his neck thickened as he retorted, "A civil war will have to be fought eventually! People won't die then?"

"When it's time for a civil war, it's because the people need liberation—it's a war of liberation. As the vanguard of the laborers, we have the obligation to bear that sacrifice. At that time, it's fighting for the liberation of China. How is that like your current request? You want others to fight for you now. Is there any logic in that? What right do you have?!" Wu Xingchen's voice was like thunder, completely overwhelming Pang Zi's volume.

Pang Zi's lips trembled with rage. "So all the merit I've accumulated counts for nothing?!"

"What do you mean by 'merit'? This is the work you're supposed to do! If you don't do it well, I'll remove you and have someone else do it! When we're in battle, so many soldiers charge forward—is charging forward 'merit'? You try taking a step back and see if I don't carry out battlefield discipline!" Wu Xingchen shouted, slamming his hand on the table.

Though they were shouting fiercely, Wu Xingchen was also a martial artist and could hear clearly: there were faint footsteps outside, more than one set. The bodyguards for both himself and Pang Zi had likely been alerted, as had other comrades on duty.

At this point, Wu Xingchen knew this matter could not be hushed up; the People's Party's discipline simply didn't allow for it. He rose, pulled open the door, and shouted to those outside, "Commander Pang's bodyguards, come here!"

Two young soldiers were in the courtyard. Hearing Wu Xingchen's roar, they hurried forward. "Report, Chief! What are your orders?"

Wu Xingchen said loudly with a dark expression, "Take your Commander Pang to your division's political commissar immediately, along with my bodyguards. Tell him I am ordering Commander Pang to be placed in confinement for three days. After the three days, the division commissar must have a talk with him. And not just him—I will also send the military district commissar to talk to him. Execute the order now!"

The bodyguards, though not knowing what to say, didn't resist and simply replied with a "Yes." They entered the room. "Commander Pang, let's go."

"Comrade Wu Xingchen, you're something else. I truly misjudged you," Pang Zi said, his body trembling with rage as he pointed at Wu. Despite his anger, there were tears in his eyes. With that, Pang Zi left the room under the "escort" of his own bodyguards and Wu's.

Wu Xingchen was also trembling with rage. It was never his intention to have such a falling out with Pang Zi, but during the political review, he had learned one thing: organizational discipline is organizational discipline. There was no room for compromise in such matters. After joining the People's Party, one no longer worked for oneself but for the liberation of the Chinese people, for the cause of the laborers becoming the masters of their own house—fighting, sacrificing, and dedicating oneself. This was the sole obligation of a People's Party member.

It wasn't that an individual couldn't request something from the Organization, but that the purpose of the People's Party was the liberation of the Chinese people, not the fulfillment of the personal wishes of its members. Thus, in the oath of joining the Party, it was repeatedly emphasized that members must obey the Party's political ideals. And members were required to solemnly swear that their lifelong highest goal was the cause of the liberation of the Chinese people.