The day after Yan Fu visited Chen Ke's place, Qin Wu'an, the accountant of the People's Party, and Chen Ke distributed the day's wages to the workers of the school construction engineering team together. After Chen Ke and Yuwen Badu agreed on the price, he "took it upon himself" to pay the workers daily. This was a loophole in the contract because it didn't specify who the salary should be given to. Qin Wu'an and Du Zhenghui, as supervisors, were responsible for the daily salary distribution.

Yuwen Badu looked as if he had eaten a sour persimmon; his face was almost twisted together. He had never seen such a "master."

As a labor contractor in 1905, Yuwen Badu was considered quite capable. Of course, Yuwen Badu was very familiar with various little tricks for squeezing money. Among them, the most important was none other than firmly grasping the power to distribute money.

In Yuwen Badu's impression, Chen Ke was a very shrewd rich man, and judging by his attire, he was also educated. Yuwen Badu had seen such people before; most were mean, harsh, and nitpicking types. They rarely went to the construction site, and even if they did, they looked at the workers with a gaze mixed with disdain and a sense of superiority. Then they would make a show of patrolling around and pick some faults out of nothing. Of course, some more lenient ones might pretend to be generous and claim to add a meal for the workers. Those who were good for nothing would clamor to deduct money.

No matter how they fussed, Yuwen Badu could handle it. Moreover, their fussing was actually not bad; those fellow villagers below sometimes needed a beating. They would slack off whenever they had nothing to do. Since the power to distribute money was in Yuwen Badu's hands anyway, he just used these opportunities to deduct some wages for himself.

So when Yuwen Badu lost control over the distribution of money, his pain and panic even exceeded his own imagination. This was the first time Yuwen Badu had encountered such a situation in so many years. If it were before, Yuwen Badu still had the last resort of "the fish dies and the net breaks"—that is, simply pulling the engineering team away and then spreading many bad words about this master. If the project stopped halfway, the master over there definitely wouldn't be able to bear it and would eventually have to ask Yuwen Badu back.

Now, it wasn't just Yuwen Badu's engineering team that was busy on the construction site; there was also an engineering team organized by Chen Ke himself, and the number of people was even greater than Yuwen Badu's. Quitting work simply wouldn't have the effect of strangling them. Watching his fellow villagers line up neatly and collect their wages with beaming smiles, Yuwen Badu felt waves of panic.

At the Party meeting in the evening, after Qin Wu'an reported the project progress to the comrades, Chen Ke said to the Party cell personnel: "To win over the masses, we must first know where the interests of the masses lie. We must not only consider long-term interests but especially consider short-term interests. Let's first try to see how to win over Yuwen Badu's team of Anhui people."

This was a formal Party meeting. As the chairman of this Party meeting, Chen Ke was assigning tasks to the comrades.

"To what extent do we need to win them over?" Qi Huishen asked. Within the People's Party, Qi Huishen clearly occupied the second seat. No one tried to challenge Qi Huishen's position, but Chen Ke knew that quite a few comrades were already dissatisfied with Qi Huishen handling almost all the work. For example, Hua Xiongmao.

"Who will specifically do this work?" Hua Xiongmao asked in a frivolous tone. It was Hua Xiongmao who introduced Yuwen Badu to Chen Ke, and when Chen Ke first proposed winning over Yuwen Badu, he also said it to Hua Xiongmao. He naturally hoped to preside over this work himself.

Qi Huishen already had a lot of work on hand. If he took this on as well, he really couldn't handle it. However, Hua Xiongmao's words made Qi Huishen feel very uncomfortable. With Chen Ke as an example, Qi Huishen also worked tirelessly, going to bed late and getting up early every day. To Qi Huishen's ears, the meaning behind Hua Xiongmao's words was clearly mockery, not volunteering to undertake the work.

Before Qi Huishen could speak, Chen Ke had already taken over the conversation. "It won't work to try to grasp everything at once. I have a proposal now."

Hearing Chen Ke's words, Hua Xiongmao looked at Chen Ke with a face full of expectation. Other comrades estimated that this work wouldn't fall on their heads anyway, so they didn't care much.

"Comrades, the first part of the Party lessons has been finished. I think everyone already knows the platform and purpose of the People's Party, right?" Chen Ke's words somewhat surprised the comrades. But everyone gathered their spirits.

"I already know," Hua Xiongmao said, beating Qi Huishen to it. Since Hua Xiongmao had already spoken, everyone didn't want to say anything more.

"The platform of the People's Party is to launch a people's revolution and build a socialist New China. I wonder if comrades have any opinions on this?" Chen Ke asked.

You Gou frowned slightly. Out of a woman's keen intuition, You Gou felt there were quite a few other meanings in these words. "I have no opinion on this. What exactly does Wenqing want to do? Hmm, I should say, what does Wenqing plan to do with the People's Party?"

"I plan to reorganize the People's Party." Chen Ke answered this question straightforwardly.

Most comrades showed surprised expressions. Zhou Yuanxiao still looked cold. Chen Tianhua and He Zudao seemed slightly nervous. Wu Xingchen looked carefree, as if whatever Chen Ke did was fine. Qin Wu'an looked as usual, just listening seriously to Chen Ke's speech.

"I must explain today that future work will enter the first stage. The goal is to build base areas and launch armed uprisings. This is already planning to rebel. No, this is already rebelling. So I ask everyone to think seriously about whether you really want to participate in the revolution."

After speaking, Chen Ke scanned the circle of comrades. After Chen Ke finished lecturing on the materialist view of history, the comrades all knew that Chen Ke intended to rebel, but after these words were spoken clearly by Chen Ke, everyone still felt somewhat shocked.

"Can I withdraw?" Zhou Yuanxiao broke the silence.

Chen Ke nodded. "Yes, I won't force anyone to stay. Brother Zhou, I will talk to you about the workshop later. As a friend, I hope Brother Zhou keeps some things secret for us."

Everyone's gaze focused on Zhou Yuanxiao. Amidst such doubtful and dissatisfied gazes, Zhou Yuanxiao stood up. He looked somewhat relieved. Regarding Chen Ke's reminder, Zhou Yuanxiao replied, "Wenqing, don't worry; I will absolutely not betray everyone."

You Gou wanted to say something, probably to persuade Zhou Yuanxiao to stay. But she tried to speak several times but couldn't get the words out. In the end, she simply turned her head, probably not wanting to watch Zhou Yuanxiao leave the venue. Chen Ke noticed this and gave You Gou a gentle smile. You Gou saw Chen Ke's smile but lowered her head.

Zhou Yuanxiao walked out of the crowd quickly as if relieved of a heavy burden. Near the door, his steps slowed down. Zhou Yuanxiao didn't want to participate in rebellion; rebelling meant opposing the imperial court. If caught by the court, one would be beheaded. He wasn't stupid; halfway through the lectures, Zhou Yuanxiao was very clear that Chen Ke definitely intended to rebel. Although Chen Ke had guaranteed Zhou Yuanxiao that he wouldn't let him participate in armed struggle, once the rebellion really started, could Chen Ke's words be realized?

Zhou Yuanxiao had joined Chen Ke's political party only when he was desperate back then. If Chen Ke had really risen up in rebellion at that time, perhaps Zhou Yuanxiao would have followed Chen Ke. Zhou Yuanxiao still remembered Chen Ke saying confidently at that time: "Brother Zhou, once you become a Party member, you will become a new person."

Yes, after becoming a Party member and listening to Party lessons, Zhou Yuanxiao had indeed changed. The lessons Chen Ke gave the students were just the surface. After the open classes ended, Chen Ke lectured deeper. Not only the materialist view of history but also *Das Kapital*. Zhou Yuanxiao really didn't know before that there were such principles in the world. Uncovering the complex surface of this world, there were actually such invisible laws governing the operation of the world. Zhou Yuanxiao didn't have much work and had plenty of time to reflect. Comparing his past experiences, Zhou Yuanxiao could finally see where he had gone wrong back then. Why he had lost everything in such a mess.

"If I could start over, I would absolutely not fail," Zhou Yuanxiao couldn't help saying to himself. Precisely because of this confidence, Zhou Yuanxiao didn't want to revolt anymore. For him, rather than expecting revolutionary results that might be realized at some unknown time in the future, it was better to grasp the present to restore his family business.

Zhou Yuanxiao could see that this group of people really intended to rebel. Since he made this determination, he actually dared not say it out loud. Chen Ke looked gentle, but based on that life-risking ruthlessness when he worked, Zhou Yuanxiao knew Chen Ke was definitely not such an easy-going person. Neither Qi Huishen nor Hua Xiongmao were pushovers. And that Wu Xingchen who always liked to smile sinisterly—having seen the translator who offended You Gou and Chen Ke beaten to a pulp, Zhou Yuanxiao knew he absolutely couldn't afford to provoke Wu Xingchen. If these few people felt he was unreliable, he probably wouldn't escape the clutches of the People's Party.

Originally, Zhou Yuanxiao was still worried about when he could propose to Chen Ke that he wanted to leave the People's Party. He didn't expect the opportunity to come so quickly. Even less did he expect Chen Ke to be so reasonable. Warning him not to leak this group's secrets—Zhou Yuanxiao would absolutely not leak them. These people had no action at all right now; even if he reported to the officials, so what? Moreover, that Qi Huishen was so keen on revolution, yet happened to be the young master of the Qi family. Presumably, even if the People's Party were caught, nothing would really happen.

Even if the government really killed Qi Huishen, once Master Qi knew the person who betrayed his only beloved son was him, his own end wouldn't bear thinking about.

With a feeling of "hurriedly fleeing Jinshan Temple," Zhou Yuanxiao walked quickly to the main gate but couldn't help stopping. A strong sense of discomfort suddenly surged up. Among those people behind him was You Gou; she had helped him when he was in the most difficulty, which was kindness like sending charcoal in snowy weather. Not to mention Chen Ke; his ability to pull himself together again relied entirely on Chen Ke. More importantly, getting along day and night for these few months made Zhou Yuanxiao feel so accustomed to it. Leaving here now actually gave him a feeling of being exiled from a warm family. Zhou Yuanxiao stood at the doorway; just one more step forward would allow him to escape the dangerous future, but he felt his legs were filled with lead, unable to take this step no matter what.

Zhou Yuanxiao turned his head back. Everyone was still sitting there as before. The distance was relatively far, and those blaming looks he could distinguish clearly before were no longer very clear. Zhou Yuanxiao did see You Gou look up; the expression on her face should be one of expectation, right? And Chen Ke looked at him with a smile on his face. That was a smile of understanding. Zhou Yuanxiao made up his mind again. He said loudly, "I will absolutely not betray everyone. Everyone rest assured." Then he turned and walked out the door without looking back.

Seeing Zhou Yuanxiao really leave, Chen Ke breathed a sigh of relief. Based on observations so far, Zhou Yuanxiao was not a true revolutionary. Even if Zhou Yuanxiao didn't leave, Chen Ke wouldn't entrust him with heavy responsibilities. It was actually a good thing that Zhou Yuanxiao had the courage to leave voluntarily. With him taking the lead, presumably, if other comrades wanted to leave, they would also have more courage. An organization must retain voluntary Party members; otherwise, those disloyal ones would inevitably become hidden dangers.

"Are there any other comrades who want to leave? If you feel you are unwilling to rebel, then leave now."

No one spoke. After waiting for a while, no one left.

"Then, comrades. The People's Party not only wants to overthrow the Manchu Qing government; first of all, as a political party, the People's Party is an organization, and this organization has its own discipline. I have already drafted this organizational discipline. Comrades, please take a look." After speaking, Chen Ke took out a stack of documents and distributed them to everyone.

Chen Tianhua received this document and saw that on it was Chen Ke's fountain pen writing, which was already somewhat presentable, not some printed document. Chen Tianhua wondered secretly, could it be that when this platform was drafted, Chen Ke didn't even discuss it with Qi Huishen? He glanced at Qi Huishen and saw him reading the document with rapt attention. Chen Tianhua buried his doubts in his heart and began reading the document.

1. This Party is named the "Chinese People's Party."

2. The Party's platform is as follows:

(1) The revolutionary army must overthrow the Manchu Qing regime composed of the landlord and noble classes together with the proletariat, and must support the working and peasant classes until social class distinctions are eliminated;

(2) Acknowledge the dictatorship of the proletariat until the end of class struggle, that is, until the elimination of social class distinctions;

(3) Eliminate private land ownership and establish a modern industrial state led by public ownership;

(4) Unite with the Second International.

3. This Party acknowledges the system of management by representative conferences, organizes workers, peasants, laborers, and soldiers, and acknowledges that the Party's fundamental political purpose is to implement social revolution; members of the Chinese People's Party must completely sever all connections with parties and groups attempting to oppose this Party's platform. Party members must strictly observe the principles of: the individual obeys the organization, the minority obeys the majority, the lower level obeys the higher level, and the whole Party obeys the Central Committee. This applies to both ordinary Party members and cadre Party members.

4. Anyone who acknowledges this Party's platform and policies and is willing to become a loyal Party member, upon introduction by one Party member, regardless of gender or nationality, may be accepted as a Party member and become our comrade. But before joining our ranks, they must sever all connections with parties and groups attempting to oppose this Party's platform.

5. The procedures for accepting new Party members are as follows: probationary Party members must undergo observation by the committee in their locality, with an observation period of at least two months. After the observation period expires, upon the agreement of the majority of Party members, they may be accepted into the Party. If an executive committee is established in that region, it should be approved by the executive committee.

6. When the Party is in a secret state, the Party's important propositions and Party member identities should be kept secret.

7. Wherever there are more than five Party members, a committee should be established.

8. Members of a committee may transfer to a committee in another place upon introduction by the local committee secretary.

9. Any local committee with no more than ten Party members should have one secretary; those with more than ten should have one finance commissioner, one organization commissioner, and one propaganda commissioner each; those with more than thirty should elect an executive committee from the members of the committee. The constitution of the executive committee shall be formulated separately.

10. When the number of Party members in local organizations of workers, peasants, soldiers, and students is large, they may be sent to work in other areas, but they must be under the strict supervision of the local executive committee.

12. The finances, activities, and policies of local committees should be under the supervision of the Central Executive Committee.

13. When the number of Party members in a committee exceeds five hundred, or five committees are established in the same place, an executive committee composed of ten people should be appointed by the National Representative Conference. If the above requirements cannot be realized, a provisional Central Executive Committee should be established. Detailed rules regarding the work and organization of the executive committee shall be formulated separately.

14. Unless compelled by law, Party members may not serve as government officials or members of parliament without the Party's special permission. Soldiers, police, and staff are not subject to this limitation.

15. This platform may only be amended with the agreement of two-thirds of the representatives at the National Congress.

The document wasn't long, and Chen Ke's handwriting wasn't large; it was finished in less than a page. While writing the book on the materialist view of history with Chen Ke, Chen Tianhua had discussed a lot with him. After returning to the People's Party, he had also discussed deeply with Chen Ke many times. Other comrades had undergone comprehensive Party lesson education, or at least comprehensive theoretical education. Everyone could understand this Party organization platform.

Chen Tianhua's gaze fell on the third article: "Members of the Chinese People's Party must sever all connections with parties and groups attempting to oppose this Party's platform." Chen Ke had explained the difference between people's revolution and property owners' revolution very clearly. For Chen Tianhua, if he joined the People's Party, he would have to sever all relations with the Tongmenghui and the Huaxinghui. Picking at the words one by one, Chen Tianhua's heart was very unsettled. Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren were Chen Tianhua's close comrades-in-arms. Severing relations, and *all* relations at that—this was very severe.

At this moment, he heard Hua Xiongmao laugh: "Wenqing, you prepared this platform before meeting me, didn't you?" Hearing this, Chen Tianhua looked up at Hua Xiongmao. Not only Chen Tianhua, but everyone's eyes fell on Hua Xiongmao's face. Having gotten along for these few months, everyone knew Hua Xiongmao was the earliest in the Party to follow Chen Ke. Although Qi Huishen's status rose quickly, the time he knew Chen Ke wasn't considered very early. You Gou, Wu Xingchen, and even Zhou Yuanxiao who just left knew Chen Ke earlier than Qi Huishen. Was Hua Xiongmao saying this to faintly show off his seniority? To demonstrate to Qi Huishen?

He only heard Hua Xiongmao continue reading: "'When the Party is in a secret state, the Party's important propositions and Party member identities should be kept secret.' Wenqing, you have been observing this discipline all along. Everyone has known you for so long, yet you hemmed and hawed for a long time without telling the Party's important propositions. Haha. Sure enough, a good Party member."

Qi Huishen rolled his eyes at Hua Xiongmao but didn't comment on Hua Xiongmao's words. He asked with slight hesitation, "Wenqing, what does the Party plan to do about compradors in the future?" Hearing this, You Gou's eyes lit up, and she stared intently at Chen Ke. Others also waited for Chen Ke's answer with their own different worries.

"This manuscript is our organizational platform. What I want to discuss today is also the organizational model of the People's Party. Huishen's question was actually discussed in the Party lessons before." Chen Ke answered this question calmly.

Chen Tianhua attended the big lecture held by the People's Party, but he went to Japan afterward. He didn't attend the People's Party's Party lessons. He scanned the others and saw everyone frowning in thought; even Wu Xingchen looked like this.

Seeing everyone silent, Chen Ke assumed the crowd wouldn't say anything more, so he simply spoke up. "I came out to revolt, and my parents wouldn't let me report my family background. Huishen and You Gou's families are compradors, landlords. Zhenglan's family, gentry, landlords. Brother Wu is a hall master of the Tiandihui. Zudao and Wu'an's families, workshop owners, petty bourgeoisie. Tianhua has close relations with the Huaxinghui and the Tongmenghui. We eight people all came out of the old system. If you insist on talking about family background, none of us are poor common people. However, on what basis is organizational discipline established? It is established on our stance. Are we standing on the stance of the people's revolution, or on the stance of other classes? Just this one point determines everyone's choice."

Chen Ke finished speaking and looked at everyone. The comrades still had no intention of speaking; each was listening and pondering.

"Let's vote now. Who exactly stands on the stance of the people's revolution?" After speaking, Chen Ke raised his own hand. One by one, everyone raised their arms high. The first to raise his arm was actually Wu Xingchen; Chen Ke didn't quite understand why he was so active.

"Put your hands down," Chen Ke said, lowering his own arm first.

"I said before, revolution is not for killing people, and I won't ask everyone to kill their fathers and mothers to prove their revolutionary consciousness. If people like us, including future new Party members, have parents, relatives, and friends at home who stand on a different political stance from us, or even become reactionaries... As long as they don't raise a butcher's knife against the people, we won't touch a hair on their heads. Even if they committed crimes against the people, as long as they can repent thoroughly, we will also give them a way out and give policies."

Hearing this, You Gou breathed a sigh of relief lightly. Just then, Chen Ke said heavily: "But!" Hearing this heavy and loud "but," You Gou shivered slightly.

"But, our Party's organization requires that everyone's stance must absolutely not be wrong. You cannot stand on the stance of those parties and groups attempting to oppose this Party's platform just because of parents, relatives, and friends. Party members are not allowed to betray the Party and defect to those parties and groups attempting to oppose this Party's platform. If everyone cannot do this, then you can leave now. If everyone feels they will be 'in Cao's camp but with their heart in Han,' or have a foot in two boats, then please leave now. Because, after this constitution is passed, I will lead everyone to swear an oath to join the Party. Leaving now, we just have different political stances, and everyone is still friends. Once you swear, if you leave again because you cannot observe the Party's discipline, that is a traitor. I guarantee to everyone, in the process of overthrowing the Manchu Qing regime that is about to begin, we will absolutely not let off any traitor."

"I was a Party member to begin with; I join," Hua Xiongmao said carelessly. "Let's vote right now."

"Please wait a moment." Chen Tianhua interrupted the voting process. "Wenqing, then what views does Wenqing have regarding other political parties?"

"That is a technical matter. What we need to vote on is everyone's stance." Chen Ke finished speaking and smiled. Unlike his previous smiles, Chen Ke's face was indeed smiling, but his eyes were not. Those elite pupils were so bright they seemed able to see through people's minds.

Chen Tianhua understood instantly. If according to organizational discipline, his behavior was actually standard behavior of being unable to sever relations with "parties and groups attempting to oppose this Party's platform."

Chen Tianhua participated in the establishment of the Tongmenghui and also participated in the fierce internal debates and factional struggles. He was very clear about the purposes of the various factions of the Tongmenghui. The political stances between the People's Party and the Tongmenghui, and between the People's Party and Song Jiaoren, were destined to erupt in fierce conflict. More accurately, the two sides would inevitably be in a hostile state in the future.

Unknowingly, Chen Tianhua had closed his eyes, and his jaw was clenched tightly, so much so that the muscles on both cheeks bulged. The voices and smiles of Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren floated in his mind. The friendship of comrades-in-arms was definitely not that easy to cut off. But Chen Tianhua knew that after so much thinking and exploring, so many failures and setbacks, only after meeting Chen Ke did he find a road where the future could truly be seen. Thinking of these, the fear and hesitation he once had back then floated into his heart again. That deep despair was like falling into a bottomless abyss, and he simply didn't know where the end was.

Just then, Chen Ke's gentle voice entered Chen Tianhua's ears. "Xingtai, if you can't decide, talk about it later."

Chen Tianhua opened his eyes and saw that Chen Ke had recovered that usual gentle expression. Chen Ke was even looking at him with a smile, his eyes full of understanding and tolerance. Although some of the surrounding comrades had disdain on their faces, the expectant looks of Qi Huishen and You Gou warmed Chen Tianhua's heart. That was not the look of coercion and pressure most common among Chen Tianhua's other revolutionary comrades. Instead, it was the encouraging gaze of comrades walking ahead expecting him, who had fallen behind, to catch up quickly.

In this time at the People's Party, there was no intrigue, no perverse and tyrannical atmosphere born of disappointment. This was an organization that moved forward constantly through learning knowledge, through hard work and serious effort. Although there were also quarrels, they never slandered anyone. Everyone always had laughter, like a warm fire in a cold night, not only pointing out the direction for people marching in the cruel cold darkness but also making the hearts of people marching in the cruel dark night feel warm.

"No need. I join the Party. I will strictly observe all organizational disciplines of the People's Party," Chen Tianhua said firmly.