"Wenqing, does a People's Revolution necessitate the slaughter of every landlord and member of the gentry?" Chen Tianhua asked. It was the question he had harbored for a long time, never quite daring to voice it. Initially, he had intended only to listen, but at this point, he found himself compelled to ask. This was Xu Xilin’s bottom line.

Chen Ke extended his left hand, making a gesture of recommendation toward You Gou. "We shall let Comrade You Gou answer this question."

Chen Tianhua had a very favorable impression of You Gou, but he had never heard her speak on the topic of revolution. To him, she seemed more like an engineer, an adequate lecturer, and a remarkable woman—but not necessarily a staunch revolutionary. Seeing Chen Ke defer to her, Chen Tianhua looked at her with a hint of astonishment.

"Me?" You Gou hadn't expected Chen Ke to put her on the spot regarding a revolutionary matter. These were topics Chen Ke and the others usually debated fiercely; she had never been particularly interested or clear on the finer points.

"I don't know how to put it into words," she said, quickly declining.

"Just tell us your thoughts on Xingtai's question," Chen Ke encouraged with a smile. "We are all comrades here. Speak freely; there’s no right or wrong way to say it."

"Miss You, must a People's Revolution kill every landlord and gentryman?" Since Chen Ke had insisted, Chen Tianhua was curious to see the attitude of the other comrades within this revolutionary party. He asked the question with great gravity.

"Well, if the landlords and gentry use force to oppose the People's Revolution, then we have to... well, if they strike first, we can't just sit there and wait to die, can we?"

*Never fire the first shot!* You Gou’s response made Chen Ke’s heart bloom with joy. This sense of measured struggle was exactly what he wanted to see. He had never explicitly taught You Gou these tactics, nor had he even discussed them with the other comrades. He watched the exchange, eager to see if her personal qualities would meet the demands of the struggle.

"And how do you intend to coexist with the gentry, Miss You?"

"Industry is very profitable. Everyone can make money together."

"And what about the conflict between the People's Revolution and the owners of capital that Wenqing mentioned? What is your take on that?"

"We won't bully them, and they shouldn't bully us. Under this... this new system, no one bullies anyone, and no one is bullied. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

At this, not only Chen Ke but the others couldn't help but nod slightly. You Gou’s answer seemed like a middle-ground compromise, but she had latched onto a key point: the "new system." No one in the room misunderstood; she was referring to the system established by the People's Revolution, not a capitalist one.

Indeed, You Gou continued, "Wenqing told us about the textile mills in Europe, about 'sheep eating men' in England, and about the slave trade. I studied in Germany and heard about those things. China cannot do that. It’s too tragic. It’s wrong."

Chen Tianhua was well-educated and not ignorant of the world; he knew something of what she described. He found no reason to refute her perspective. After a moment of silence, he asked, "So, if the gentry follow the People's Revolution that Wenqing speaks of, they can still live well? The revolution won't target them?"

You Gou had heard Chen Ke’s revolutionary theories and had given them some thought, though perhaps not deeply. If her previous words were merely a reflection of the theories she could personally identify with, Chen Tianhua’s question suddenly made things click for her.

"Wenqing once said that the new system is an industrial one. In an industrialized China, everyone can produce goods far beyond their own needs. Through equal exchange, everyone’s life can be improved. This is a system where everyone can live well. Anyone dissatisfied with such a system is simply too greedy—they want to hoard all the benefits for themselves. Those are the people who must be overthrown."

Chen Tianhua had expected You Gou to launch into a radical revolutionary polemic like Chen Ke, but her explanation was surprisingly different. Her feminine perspective arrived at the same conclusion as Chen Ke’s, yet it framed the People's Revolution as the party being "bullied," making it sound almost pitiable.

*An educated person—especially an educated woman—is truly different!* Chen Tianhua marveled internally. He recalled Chen Ke’s earlier boast: "Even if it’s just about reasoning, my people are highly educated. Deceiving the uneducated masses would be child's play." At the time, Chen Ke’s words had struck him as arrogant and cold, but hearing You Gou’s response, Chen Tianhua found himself in full agreement.

Seeing Chen Tianhua fall into a thoughtful silence, Hua Xiongmao laughed. "Well, Xingtai? Our comrades here are quite extraordinary, wouldn't you say?"

Chen Tianhua took no offense at this self-congratulation; he nodded in agreement.

"Actually, I asked Wenqing the same thing a long time ago, and he always gave the same answer. Xingtai, you are a scholar and have traveled widely. You surely know how wicked those with money and power can be. Unless you teach them a lesson, they won't listen. Wenqing says revolution isn't about killing people; it's about saving them. If you don't discipline those wicked people, they will act without restraint, and in the end, they’ll meet a worse fate anyway." Hua Xiongmao was usually a man of few words; in party meetings, he was often the second most silent after Zhou Yuanxiao.

"Zhenglan is right," Chen Tianhua sighed. "But Wenqing’s theory... it carries far too much murderous intent."

Hearing this, Chen Ke barely suppressed a laugh. To hear a revolutionary like Chen Tianhua complain about "murderous intent"—what a world they lived in.

Qi Huishen did not share Chen Ke’s restraint. He immediately countered, "If Xingtai says that, I must defend Wenqing. We have been with him since he arrived in Shanghai. He is a generous and kind man. This revolutionary theory is simply a matter of logic; it’s not about bloodlust."

When Chen Tianhua first arrived, he felt that Chen Ke’s ability to articulate revolutionary doctrine was far inferior to his own. He had noticed that the party members seemed very impressed by his own speeches. He had initially thought he might be able to win them over to his side. Yet, at this critical juncture, he realized that these people were aligned with Chen Ke both theoretically and emotionally. Not a single person supported him. His earlier condescension toward Chen Ke vanished. It seemed impossible to persuade Chen Ke, and equally hopeless to sway his party members. If he wanted to make progress, he would have to stay here and work for a while. With that in mind, he asked the question he should have asked long ago: "Wenqing, what is the name of our party?"

"We haven't decided on a name yet."

Chen Tianhua nearly laughed out loud. He knew they had been together for two months, yet they didn't even have a name. Any other political group would have settled on a name before anything else.

"Do you all have any suggestions for the name?" Chen Tianhua asked.

"Xingtai, even though you are the Minister of Propaganda, this isn't a task for you." To Chen Tianhua’s surprise, the one who spoke up wasn't Qi Huishen or Hua Xiongmao, who usually followed Chen Ke’s lead, but You Gou.

Without pausing, she slapped her hand on the table. "Since Wenqing is always talking about the People's Revolution, let's just call it the People's Party."

"Excellent, excellent," Hua Xiongmao laughed.

Qi Huishen had no objections. Following the party meeting protocol, they held a vote. Though Chen Tianhua had his own ideas, he knew objecting would be futile, so the motion passed unanimously. The name "People's Party" was finalized.

Chen Ke’s subsequent actions further amazed Chen Tianhua. He didn't start handing out grand titles or empty positions, nor did he establish a massive list of regulations. Instead, Chen Ke first revised the "Three Principles of Member Conduct":

1. Link theory with practice.

2. Maintain close ties with the masses.

3. Practice criticism and self-criticism.

Chen Ke’s explanation of these three points was intriguing. "Our theory isn't clear enough yet, and since we're all party members, we don't really have a 'masses' yet. So, for now, let’s focus on criticism and self-criticism. Emperor Taizong of Tang said that using a person as a mirror allows one to see their own gains and losses. As Chinese people, we carry the heritage of our culture. Using others as a mirror, simply put, means accepting the criticism of our comrades. Only then can we know if there are issues with our work or our personal conduct."

The others might not have taken it to heart yet, but the logic was sound. They nodded in agreement.

Chen Ke continued, "You’ve all read the *Analects*, haven't you? It says: 'I daily examine myself on three points: whether, in transacting business for others, I may have been not faithful; whether, in intercourse with friends, I may have been not sincere; whether I may have not mastered and practiced the instructions of my teacher.' This is self-criticism. While it’s not exactly the same as what we’re talking about, the wisdom of our ancestors was quite high. What they spoke of is essentially the three principles I’ve proposed."

Chen Tianhua was stunned. Most modern revolutionaries were openly anti-Confucian, yet Chen Ke’s approach of embracing tradition was baffling. However, what followed moved beyond confusion and made Chen Tianhua laugh out loud.

Chen Ke required that every party meeting conclude with a session of criticism and self-criticism. "If there isn't anything specific to criticize at first, that's fine. Are you polite when you speak to people? Is your speech appropriate? These are all valid subjects for criticism—in fact, they are the priorities."

*This isn't a political party; it’s a school,* Chen Tianhua thought. *Can people trained like this actually carry out a revolution?* Chen Ke spoke of revolution with such ferocity, yet his actions were so meticulous and fussy. Chen Tianhua felt he couldn't see through the man at all.

As Chen Tianhua laughed, he realized no one else was joining him. This made his own laughter feel strangely ridiculous.

Qi Huishen said solemnly, "Xingtai, you must know that the wealthiest and most powerful families are the most obsessed with etiquette. Conduct must be taught. If a word or action is out of place, one is either forced to kneel or beaten with a rod—or both. Wenqing’s rules are born of the utmost sincerity."

Chen Tianhua felt a bit sheepish.

By a show of hands, the "Three Principles of Member Conduct" passed unanimously.

Only then did Chen Ke begin to introduce the immediate plans and assign tasks.

According to the plan, a lecture series under the banner of the "Shanghai Renxin Medical College" would begin in two days. The public-facing portion would primarily be chemistry lectures centered on *The Chemical History of a Candle*. The chemistry classes for progressive youth would begin the next day, a task Chen Ke assigned to You Gou. Following that, Chen Ke would personally lecture on Yan Fu’s translation of *Evolution and Ethics*. Once that course concluded, he would teach "The Materialist Conception of History."

Hua Xiongmao was responsible for the ongoing sale of medicine and for scouting engineering teams. Qi Huishen would handle the overall operation of the lecture series, including external relations and logistics. Zhou Yuanxiao was tasked with guarding their headquarters—the dyeing workshop—where the youth lectures would take place.

Chen Tianhua was to work with Chen Ke on editing the lecture manuscripts, which would eventually be compiled into a collection. Chen Ke had already chosen a title: *The Heritage of Chinese Culture and the Rise of Materialism*. Furthermore, Chen Ke planned to launch a newspaper called the *Huangpu Review*, which would be distributed for free to lecture attendees to promote their new school.

Finally, Chen Ke stated that if the lectures were successful, he would work toward establishing a reading organization called the "Huangpu Society."

The other comrades agreed the plan was highly feasible, noting that aside from the cost, there were no major issues. Chen Tianhua thought back to the Huaxing Society he had organized with Huang Xing; the process was remarkably similar to Chen Ke’s. However, their group had failed due to a betrayal before they could even launch an uprising. From his probing, it seemed Chen Ke knew nothing of that event, nor did he seem to be lying. If so, it was simply a case of "great minds thinking alike." Yet Chen Tianhua remained uneasy. He asked tentatively, "Wenqing, since you want to overthrow the Qing, an armed uprising is inevitable. Do you plan to launch one in Shanghai?"

"I will not launch an uprising in Shanghai. The enemy's strength here is too great; an uprising would only send our comrades to their deaths. If we are to rise, it must be where the enemy is at their weakest."

"Do you still intend to rise in Anhui, as you said before?"

Chen Ke did not answer directly. He said gravely, "Xingtai, I must emphasize the difference between a People's Revolution and a bourgeois revolution. In a People's Revolution, we do not simply 'launch' an uprising and trick the people into dying for us. A People's uprising happens when the people themselves can no longer endure and rise up against the old system. Our job is to connect with the masses, then lead them against tyranny to establish a bright new world. This means we must be the first to die. Therefore, unless we are fully prepared, we should not speak lightly of uprisings. To do otherwise is irresponsible—not only to yourself but to the many who would follow you to their deaths. It is wrong."

Seeing that Chen Tianhua didn't quite grasp his meaning, Chen Ke added, "As for the uprising, let’s discuss it after we finish this lecture series and everyone has accumulated enough theoretical knowledge. If we spend the entire lecture series thinking only of inciting an uprising, we will betray the original purpose of the event."

"Is the purpose of these lectures not revolution?" Chen Tianhua was even more puzzled.

"Revolution is about saving people. By holding these lectures and spreading knowledge, those who attend will gain something. This is itself a part of social revolution. The goal of revolution is to push the country forward; that is the ultimate objective. Gathering comrades is the goal of this specific activity. An uprising is not even under consideration right now."

Seeing no objections, Chen Ke adjourned the meeting.

The following week was perhaps the most interesting one Chen Tianhua had ever experienced. Though he still had many doubts, his days were full. No one around him spoke in grand platitudes or voiced constant complaints. There was only work, followed by more work.

Chen Tianhua finally understood why the comrades followed Chen Ke so loyally. Besides assigning work, Chen Ke was constantly working himself, always choosing the most difficult tasks. When setting up the venue, Chen Ke was always the first to lift tables and chairs. When the lectures ended and the peripheral comrades like Du Zhenghui were still excitedly discussing the content, Chen Ke was the first to roll up his sleeves and clear the hall. He patrolled the venue, spotting and solving small problems as they arose. It seemed that wherever Chen Ke went, there was work to be done, and he handled it all with casual efficiency. The entire lecture series proceeded smoothly.

After the busy days, Chen Ke spent his nights writing manuscripts. Every morning when Chen Tianhua woke up, a neat stack of papers would be waiting on the table, while Chen Ke slept fully clothed on a nearby lounge chair. Chen Tianhua’s job was to read through them, discuss any points he didn't understand, and then polish the text into language that ordinary people could easily grasp. There were debates, but never arguments. Everything was discussed openly, with nothing hidden.

Day after day, throughout the week of You Gou’s lectures, Chen Ke never once undressed to sleep, except for his twice-daily baths.

What surprised Chen Tianhua even more was that the other comrades weren't surprised by this at all. They were just as busy as he was. You Gou had offered to help, but Chen Ke insisted she focus on practicing her lectures. Whenever they had a spare moment, Chen Ke, He Zudao, and Zhou Yuanxiao would watch her rehearse. He Zudao would ask questions about parts he found confusing, while Chen Ke critiqued her delivery and gestures. Even the silent Zhou Yuanxiao would occasionally offer a suggestion.

Hua Xiongmao and Qi Huishen were rarely seen, constantly on the move. Every time they returned, they brought either money or thick stacks of the *Huangpu Review*. Qi Huishen had learned a new phrase: "leading by example." These members of the People's Party lived by it. The young volunteers who had initially been lazy soon felt ashamed of themselves. Within a few days, the work ethic of the entire team had shifted dramatically. As the lectures continued, the team didn't grow weary; instead, they seemed to gain more energy.

Many young people noticed this, and some began to ask if they could join.

This was something Chen Tianhua had truly never seen before—a team and an organization so full of life and infectious spirit.

He might have believed the entire lecture series would continue in this orderly fashion, had someone not arrived to disrupt it on the seventh day.