On December 22, 1923, Wang Youhong knew he was dying. His legs were not only immobile, but he couldn't even feel it when he pinched them with his hands. This loss of sensation was slowly spreading from his legs up his body. When this feeling reached his chest, or perhaps even before that, his life would come to an end.

Regarding this manner of death, Wang Youhong felt it was incredibly fortunate. He couldn't help but think that his ancestors must have accumulated virtue to bless their descendants. He didn't have to be tormented on a sickbed until he was skinny and dying, nor did he have to feel terrified and restless about an unknown death. Just slowly feeling death approach, slowly savoring his final moments—it was almost poetic.

But this good mood was completely destroyed after seeing the faces of Yu Chen and Zhang Jian. Wang Youhong muttered in his heart, "Really, they won't even let me die in peace!"

There were no family members wailing beside him—family members he had worried about all his life—and no useless doctors giving rotten ideas that sounded like they could prolong life. If he could just sit by the river with an interesting person like Chen Ke, casually drink some tea, and chat, that would be a great enjoyment. But looking at the anxious and worried faces of Yu Chen and Zhang Jian, Wang Youhong felt that the beauty of the world had been completely ruined by these guys.

Thinking of this, Wang Youhong felt there was no need to waste the rare good time he had left on troubles that would happen after he was gone. He said, "Gentlemen, I plan to go sit by the river. Do you want to come along?"

Yu Chen and Zhang Jian were stunned. This request was a bit magical. Even in Nanjing, where the scenery was nice, winter was not the time for sightseeing. However, they didn't dare to stop Wang Youhong. The personal guards carried Wang Youhong into the car, and Yu Chen and Zhang Jian got in as well.

Wang Youhong had already made efforts. After several rounds of discussion, the Jiangsu Assembly finally set up a temporary land reform group above the Governor of Jiangsu. Zhang Jian served as the group leader, and Yu Chen as the deputy leader. The Assembly also agreed that Yu Chen would succeed Wang Youhong as the Governor of Jiangsu. Now Yu Chen was officially the Governor of Jiangsu. As soon as Wang Youhong passed away, Yu Chen would be the rightful leader.

But the two men who held great power still looked troubled. Wang Youhong couldn't help but say, "Things in the world are divided into those that can be done and those that cannot be done. Things that can be done are further divided into those with acceptable costs and those with unacceptable costs. You two can do the land reform. You have a large group of landlords and gentry supporting you, and the British have signed a raw silk purchase agreement with us. The raw silk trade for the next five years is pretty much secured. Just do it. Why are you frowning so much?"

Hearing this, Yu Chen felt a wave of resentment: "It's easy to say when you're not the one carrying the burden." However, as soon as this resentment arose, Yu Chen blushed. Wang Youhong had recognized his talent and promoted him, and was now handing over the position of Governor of Jiangsu to him. It was really inappropriate to have such thoughts. In this reflection, Yu Chen finally understood how heavy his psychological pressure was.

Wang Youhong had experienced the state of mind Yu Chen was currently in countless times. He could see through Yu Chen's thoughts just by looking at the subtle changes on his face. He smiled and said, "Governor Yu, don't think that just because I handled this matter, you can take over easily. If I weren't dying, would those people below dare to make trouble? If they don't make trouble, how can you establish your prestige? In such a chaotic world, under which governor's seat is there not a mountain of corpses? Do you think this is being a Emperor in peacetime? How many Chinese and foreigners has Chen Ke killed leading the People's Party? If those corpses were thrown into the Yangtze River, they could fill it up."

Hearing Wang Youhong discuss such a bloody topic in such a calm tone, Zhang Jian couldn't help but shiver. He wanted to remain silent, but Wang Youhong was about to die. Zhang Jian couldn't help but praise, "Governor Wang, I am truly convinced by you now."

Wang Youhong had no interest in this idle chatter. He continued, "There is one thing I must make clear to you two—oh, I've said it before, but I'll say it again. You absolutely must not let those people below mess up the raw silk trade. They are following you now because the situation forces them to, so you must learn from the People's Party. We have watched for so many years; the People's Party's methods are the most profitable. You must not listen to the nonsense of the people below!"

"Don't worry, Governor Wang!" Facing Wang Youhong's heartfelt words, Yu Chen's voice was a little choked.

The car arrived at the riverside. The personal guards carried Wang Youhong down. The weather was very good, the sun was shining warmly. Wang Youhong quietly looked at the scenery by the river, and then looked for a while at Nanjing city, where he had stayed for over twenty years. The riverside had been cleared by the army. Between heaven and earth, beside the river water, it seemed only this old man Wang Youhong remained.

A sudden wave of dizziness made Wang Youhong's head spin. Then Wang Youhong saw various silhouettes of his life playing around him like a new movie from the People's Party: triumphant, frustrated, happy, sad, satisfied, regretful. All these experiences no longer carried strong emotions, but flowed through Wang Youhong's body like the Yangtze River beside him, winding towards the unknown downstream.

"If I could do it all over again, I really would want to go with Chen Ke." A thought bubbled up from the depths of Wang Youhong's heart—something he had always realized but never dared to say aloud. "If that were the case..."

"Governor! Governor!" Shouts came from what seemed like a very distant place. Wang Youhong finally made out that it was Yu Chen's anxious and panicked voice. A sense of annoyance rose in Wang Youhong's heart; this wailing-like shouting ruined much of his wonderful feeling.

"Don't shout!" Wang Youhong tried hard to say. He didn't know if he actually spoke the words, but Yu Chen's shouting disappeared. Sensations from several parts of his body made Wang Youhong realize that someone seemed to be holding his hand. This feeling wasn't bad. Panting lightly, Wang Youhong said with an indescribable sense of satisfaction, "Life is truly beautiful."

The intoxicating dizziness that had been interrupted by the shouting descended upon Wang Youhong again. In an indescribable lightness, everything Wang Youhong felt gradually faded. A thick, warm darkness wrapped Wang Youhong entirely, carrying him towards some distant place.

Wang Youhong died.

Unlike Wang Youhong's own gentle feelings, his physical body betrayed its master's will in the final moments. The program etched into human DNA ran automatically. To stimulate the last bit of vitality to fight against death, the muscles in Wang Youhong's face and body twisted tightly, looking extremely hideous. While Wang Youhong's body was spasming, what Yu Chen heard were two very inappropriate sentences: "Don't shout!" and "Life is truly beautiful." It wasn't until Wang Youhong's body went stiff and his temperature continued to drop that Yu Chen realized his superior was now just a corpse left in this world. That strong man who had controlled Jiangsu for nearly twenty years had left this world.

An indescribable panic and sense of loss instantly opened Yu Chen's tear ducts. He knelt beside Wang Youhong, hugged Wang Youhong's legs, and cried loudly.

Wang Youhong's death was an even bigger shock to Zhang Jian. He actually didn't like Wang Youhong at all; even facing Wang Youhong's corpse now, Zhang Jian dared to say so. But like Yu Chen, Zhang Jian felt a huge sense of loss. At least for Jiangsu, an era had passed. The curtain falling on the Jiangsu era ruled by Wang Youhong had a particularly large impact on Zhang Jian, who was seventy years old this year. Zhang Jian clearly realized that it wouldn't be long before he too would cross the threshold Wang Youhong had just stepped over.

For Yu Chen and Zhang Jian, Wang Youhong's death involved many personal feelings. But for many people, Wang Youhong's death was merely a signal. Even before the next day, on the very night of Wang Youhong's death, many assembly members gathered together. A seemingly influential assembly member spoke loudly in front of the crowd:

"Everyone! When Governor Wang was alive, we trusted him. If he presided over the land reform, we could still follow Governor Wang. But what are Yu Chen and Zhang Jian? Over a decade ago, he was just a cruel official! Acting willfully in the name of a military judge. Zhang Jian couldn't survive in Beiyang first, and after his business in Northern Jiangsu was confiscated by the People's Party, he fled to our Jiangsu. Without Governor Wang kindly taking them in, who knows where these two would have died long ago? How could they have their status today? Therefore, our Assembly absolutely cannot just listen to them. When the Assembly meets tomorrow, we must re-elect the Speaker!"

"Right! We can't let them preside over some land reform! These two are untrustworthy!"

"Zhang Jian only knows how to hang out with those businessmen; he's nothing but a profiteering merchant! What does he know about the hardships of us farmers!"

The assembly members shouted loudly as if they had never cast votes of approval in the Assembly. These people were mostly traditional landlords, or new rich who had managed to save some money over the years to buy some land. In general, they made their living by collecting land rent and issuing usury—traditional modes of operation. Once land reform happened, their interests would likely suffer significant losses. In these years, those in Jiangsu who knew how to do business had long since made their fortunes. Those who were still simply digging food from the earth were people who couldn't handle big business and could only rely on land to make money.

Just as they were speaking, there was a sudden rapid banging on the door. The assembly members were stunned. Who was banging on the door so late at night? As soon as the servant at the door opened it, a group of soldiers carrying torches and weapons rushed in from outside. The assembly members stared at this group in astonishment. They could see clearly now—these soldiers were all Tax Police.

The Tax Police officer in the lead pulled a piece of paper from his pocket with a cold face and shouted, "According to investigation, [Name], [Name], [Name]... you people have evaded taxes. Now come with us for investigation!"

The assembly members were dumbfounded. Those among them with clear heads had already figured it out: Yu Chen didn't wait for these assembly members to rise up in resistance at all; he had struck first.

"You are so bold!" Some assembly members were already screaming hysterically.

Others who were quick-witted shouted, "We still have our status as assembly members! You can't arrest us! This is illegal!"

The leading Tax Police officer was well-prepared for this legal issue. He took out another official letter. "Here is the instruction from the Standing Committee of the Assembly. Your status as assembly members has been suspended. Come with us now."

"Wait! You say it's an instruction, so it's an instruction? Let us see!" The assembly member who had taken the lead earlier suppressed his panic and shouted sternly.

"Sure!" The Tax Police officer handed the official letter to that assembly member.

The surrounding assembly members gathered around to look. It was indeed an official letter from the Assembly. The ink was still fresh, the names of the attendees were all there, and the seal of the Standing Committee of the Assembly was stamped over the names. All signs indicated that this operation was indeed carefully planned.

A local tyrant is a local tyrant. Even with the title of assembly member, their nature hadn't changed much. Thinking they were doomed, one person beside him actually snatched the official letter and tore it to shreds.

"Heh heh!" The Tax Police officer sneered twice. "You actually dare to tear up an official document and attempt to resist arrest? Beat them!"

As soon as the words fell, the Tax Police swarmed up, brandishing their sticks and began to beat this group of assembly members violently. Professional law enforcement agencies were trained; although their strikes were ruthless, they inflicted internal injuries. There were no bloody heads or broken bones. The assembly members were knocked to the ground one by one, howling like pigs being slaughtered.

"Tie them up and take them away. Gag their mouths; hearing them squeal is disgusting!" the Tax Police officer shouted.

The whole plan had begun execution while Wang Youhong was still alive. The Jiangsu National Defense Force had long been confined to barracks for training. Except for those troops loyal to Yu Chen, all unreliable military personnel were disarmed under various orders, completely cut off from contact with the outside world.

The day after the assembly members were arrested, Yu Chen, in the name of the Governor of Jiangsu, began a major purge of the Jiangsu civil service system. A large number of people with dissenting political views were purged from the Jiangsu civil service. Some with rallying power were thrown directly into prison.

The land reform plan that had been passed by the Assembly during Wang Youhong's life was immediately implemented. Arresting people from the Assembly was one thing, but the land reform plan having been passed by the Assembly was another matter entirely.

By mid-January, the situation in Jiangsu finally stabilized. Yu Chen completely controlled the army, and the capital faction led by Zhang Jian also suppressed other factions in public opinion. At least the common people of Jiangsu knew one thing: the new Governor Yu Chen was going to carry out land reform in Jiangsu, and the land reform model was quite similar to that of the People's Party. Everyone would have land, and even tenant farmers would have the opportunity to obtain their own land. Moreover, it would no longer be the local gentry leading the villages; the Jiangsu government would rely on raw silk, agriculture, and other institutions to lead the production of the Jiangsu people. Even institutions like agricultural cooperatives and agricultural banks would be fully implemented in the countryside. Jiangsu had a large proportion of owner-peasants, so this impact was limited. What really excited the villagers was that Governor Yu Chen proposed to "eradicate usury; the government bank will provide low-interest loans to the people!"

What the farming people of Jiangsu found most unbearable was actually not water conservancy construction. While they certainly envied the water conservancy facilities under the People's Party's rule, the land in Southern Jiangsu was already fertile; the People's Party's great efforts in water conservancy construction just made land in other areas as good as Southern Jiangsu.

What the Jiangsu people found most unbearable was the "usury" that farmers had to endure. "Nine out, thirteen back" was considered generous. Compound interest, rolling interest, short-term monthly interest of 30%... various forms of usury meant that after the people with no financial power worked hard, most of the profits were taken away by usury. And with slightly bad luck, they would face the prospect of their families being broken and ruined.

The newly appointed Governor Yu Chen vowed to wipe out usury, which immediately won the hearts of the Jiangsu people.

This was something the Jiangsu people could understand. What they couldn't quite understand was the "universal suffrage" proposed by Governor Yu Chen. That is to say, as long as one was registered in the government's new population hierarchy and paid taxes to the government on time, any man or woman over the age of eighteen could be a "citizen."

When Wang Youhong was around, the "citizens" were the gentry class, or at least owner-peasants who could afford to pay taxes. Citizens could run for assembly members, and after the assembly members enacted laws, they could do whatever they wanted according to the law. Although they didn't know what they could actually do after becoming citizens, the people genuinely supported such a change.

By early February 1924, representatives from Jiangsu finally sent a telegram to the Central Committee of the People's Party, hoping to discuss with the People's Party Central Committee the issue of the central government dispatching forces to help Jiangsu with water conservancy construction planning.