Autumn is a beautiful season. Chen Ke liked the sky of 1905; the sky not polluted by industry was a mess of azure blue—that was the true "deep and blue." Raising one's head, one could see the azure sky, dotted with a few wisps of misty white clouds, making it appear even more profound and clear. September 13, 1905, was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

After yesterday's outward bound training, the Huangpu Study Society announced a one-day holiday. The People's Party branch paid for it, and Wu Xingchen, who was also a hall master of the Tiandihui, made the contacts and easily bought more than a dozen baskets of crabs. Several baskets were sent to the construction site, and the few comrades whose homes were in Shanghai, as well as the students of the Huangpu Book Society, each received a few catties. The rest were steamed in steamers in the workshop, and with some other dishes, a lively Mid-Autumn banquet was held.

Someone had picked a few sprigs of osmanthus and placed them in various corners. The refreshing fragrance mixed with the aroma of crabs actually gave a feeling of appealing to both refined and popular tastes. Quite a few members of the Huangpu Study Society had homes out of town, and during this traditional festival, everyone had nowhere to go. There weren't many patients in the affiliated hospital either, so Chen Ke invited Wang Qinian and a few other doctors over as well. It was a festival after all; everyone might as well liven things up here. Just as everyone was arranging tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks to start the banquet, someone came to the door. It was the steward of Qi Huishen's family.

"Mr. Chen, my young master asked me to send this over." After the steward finished speaking, Chen Ke looked intently and saw an object placed on the large cart at the door; it actually looked like a piano. He walked up in pleasant surprise and examined it carefully; sure enough, it was an upright piano.

For the Mid-Autumn Festival, Qi Huishen actually wanted to stay at the workshop, but Chen Ke forcibly drove him home. "Going home to reunite with your parents is the proper thing to do. We haven't started the uprising yet; after the uprising, if you want to go home for a visit, it will be extremely difficult."

"Then does Wenqing need anything else?"

"It would be nice to have a piano." Looking at the lively students in the courtyard, Chen Ke sighed.

"What?" Qi Huishen asked.

"Nothing. Hurry home."

"Mm... alright," Qi Huishen responded. Chen Ke originally thought Qi Huishen hadn't heard clearly; he didn't expect him to really find a piano.

"This really took some effort..." Chen Ke felt extremely embarrassed. Even in the 21st century, not every household had a piano, let alone in 1905.

"Mr. Chen, my master sometimes hosts drinking parties at home to entertain the British, so there is a piano at home. Today the young master said Mr. Chen wanted to use it, and my master immediately had us send this over. The master said he didn't know Mr. Chen was so proficient in musical instruments; if he had known earlier, he would have sent Mr. Chen a new one. There wasn't enough time today, so in the haste, Mr. Chen please make do with this old one."

"This is really too kind." Chen Ke truly didn't know what to say.

"No one at home knows how to play this piano anyway. Foreigners don't come a few times a year. Mr. Chen just use it for now." After the steward finished speaking, he had the people who came with him move the piano into the courtyard and place it in the position designated by Chen Ke.

After sending off the steward and returning to the courtyard, he saw quite a few students gathering around the piano and looking at it incessantly. The vast majority of people had never seen a piano. Chen Ke didn't stand on ceremony either; he lifted the piano cover, pulled over a stool of suitable height, and played a tune of "Two Tigers." This lively music immediately attracted everyone. In the 21st century, only beginners would play this as introductory music; companions of Chen Ke's age would only occasionally recall this tune when joking around. But facing these companions, Chen Ke really couldn't think of any better introductory music.

The brisk music quickly lifted the spirits of the big guys, but this tune was very simple and could only count as an accompaniment. Seeing that the students' emotions were mobilized by the piano sound but they weren't addicted, Chen Ke was very satisfied. If it were before, Chen Ke would never have thought so much when doing things. At that time, when Chen Ke performed in public, he never looked at the occasion; he always picked the piece he felt could show off his technique the most to play, resulting in many unpleasant memories. Doing anything requires conforming to the environment at the time; this principle is easy to say, and Chen Ke himself also thought he understood it, but every time he had a chance to go on stage, Chen Ke always couldn't help showing off himself, throwing the principle to the horizon. At that time, he was really childish. Chen Ke thought.

After playing a little tune, the atmosphere also surged. Just as dinner was about to start, new guests arrived. This time it was Yan Fu leading the way; several students from Fudan Public School entered the door together. Although he didn't know what Yan Fu came to do, today was a feast, and those who came were guests. He invited everyone to take their seats, put the pastries brought by Yan Fu on plates, and placed them on the table.

There was wine, meat, mooncakes, and crabs. Having also undergone outward bound training, the distance between the young people was drawn closer. Yan Fu and Chen Ke sat at the same table; the two drank slowly and modestly. Most of the young people came from wealthy families; although lively, they were still polite. However, after starting to drink, this emotion was not easy to control. Some with shallow alcohol tolerance began to speak loudly after two cups. Chen Ke stood up hurriedly. "Classmates, today is Mid-Autumn; as the saying goes, one misses one's family more on festive occasions. Let's gather together. But I have a request: don't drink too much, and absolutely don't get dead drunk with me. Okay?"

"Okay!" Someone was already responding loudly; judging by the voice, this person had already had a bit too much. Chen Ke sat down helplessly; he didn't like drinking too much wine; the feeling of being slightly tipsy was the most comfortable. But this didn't mean other students would be the same. In his university days, what Chen Ke disliked most was going to dinner parties to drink; every time, people like him who hadn't drunk too much had to clean up the mess for those who had. That feeling was really terrible.

"Wenqing doesn't seem to like drinking," Yan Fu laughed.

Chen Ke nodded. "A cup or two is okay. Too much won't do."

"Me too."

While they were talking, the crabs were served, and the atmosphere of the crowd became even livelier. Quite a few students from Fudan Public School came from the Shaanxi side and hadn't eaten crabs. The Jiangnan students taught them how to eat. Some who ate fast carefully cut down the cone-shaped membrane inside the female crab shell along the bottom of the cone, took it out, turned it over so the inside faced out, and it became the "Crab Monk" mentioned by Lu Xun. The students from the north took it and looked carefully, clicking their tongues in wonder. Watching everyone enjoying themselves harmoniously, Chen Ke also felt happy.

After eating a pair of crabs, Chen Ke didn't eat any more.

At this time, the full moon had risen into the sky; the moon on the fifteenth of the eighth month wasn't the roundest, but it was very bright. Several gas lamps were hung in the courtyard, and coupled with the bright moonlight, the courtyard felt brightly lit. The atmosphere had become completely lively; Chen Ke felt it had a very street food stall flavor. equally noisy and lively, this atmosphere was quite comfortable.

Just as he was chatting idly with Yan Fu, he saw two students coming over with flushed faces. Looking closely, it was actually Kuroshima Jinichirō and another Japanese international student.

"Mr. Chen, I've come to toast you," Kuroshima said somewhat drunkenly.

Chen Ke had long heard that Japanese people had poor alcohol tolerance; seeing that Kuroshima hadn't drunk much just now but was already in this state, it seemed what everyone said was not false.

"Only allowed to take a sip. Don't get drunk." Chen Ke raised his wine cup and drank a small mouthful with Kuroshima and the Japanese student beside him. Kuroshima put down the wine cup and sat down respectfully beside Chen Ke. Speaking in stiff Chinese with quite a Shandong flavor, he said, "I have learned many principles of revolution here at Mr. Chen's place; I am very grateful. But there are some things I want to ask Mr. Chen for advice on."

Chen Ke looked at Yan Fu beside him, but saw that he was just listening and didn't have any adverse reaction because of hearing the word "revolution." Before Chen Ke could pay more attention, Kuroshima continued, "Mr. Chen, I followed Mr. Chen Tianhua to China. After the Meiji Restoration, the Shogunate was overthrown. Japan just has more rich people. And the lives of the common people have worsened. Listening to Mr. Chen's lectures, I feel I understand many things. But I want to ask Mr. Chen to talk about how Japan's future revolution will develop."

This topic shouldn't be sensitive, but with Yan Fu beside him, it was hard to say. Before Chen Ke could speak, Yan Fu laughed, "Wenqing also knows the affairs of the world; could you tell us about this matter for us to hear?"

Since Yan Fu urged him so, Chen Ke was also ready to speak. Kuroshima hurriedly called the other few Japanese students over. They sat around Chen Ke. Seeing this, others also gathered around one after another; the lively wine banquet actually turned into a new classroom. Chen Ke simply had someone close the door and bolt it. Only then did he start lecturing.

Hearing that Chen Ke was talking about Japanese affairs, the surrounding students' interest became even stronger. With Japan's miraculous rise plus winning the First Sino-Japanese War against China, many Chinese youths were very interested in Japanese affairs.

Chen Ke talked generally about Japan's history and economic development characteristics. The traditional feudal system, the rise of modern Chōshū and Satsuma domains, the development of the Meiji Restoration. From the causes of the First Sino-Japanese War, where exactly the money for Japan to fight the First Sino-Japanese War came from, to the effect of overseas loans on Japan. Item by item, clear and distinct.

Hearing such a clear explanation, the students admired "Mr. Chen Ke's" profound knowledge and deep understanding of the world even more.

Chen Ke said that if China could have persisted for a few months without admitting defeat, Japan would have caused its own economic collapse due to the maturity of loans. Many people were hearing this for the first time. Connecting it with the previous matter of Japanese loans, quite a few people were already wringing their wrists and pounding their chests, cursing that the court was full of bastards.

As a participant and party involved in the First Sino-Japanese War, to Yan Fu's ears, Chen Ke's explanation was so clear; many deployments and battles of both sides were exactly the same as the situation at that time. It was simply as if he had seen it with his own eyes. Yan Fu knew as soon as he heard it that this was absolutely right about the situation at the time. Moreover, the analysis was objective and true, absolutely not nonsense from hearsay. Yan Fu was extremely astonished; how exactly did Chen Ke know so clearly?

Regarding the source of Japan's war funds, this was also the first time Yan Fu heard about this matter. He knew a lot about the First Sino-Japanese War and had always felt it very strange that Japan suddenly had such strong naval strength. And Japan's eager hope to force China to submit after the war—Yan Fu's feeling at the time was that Japan was desperately trying to emulate the European and American powers. Hearing Chen Ke's narration about the economy, Yan Fu suddenly felt many things suddenly became clear, and the context of the entire war became extremely clear. Japan was also gambling on national destiny. As long as the Manchu Qing could persist slightly, wait for Japan's repayment date to arrive while the end of the war was still far away, then Japan only had the road of bankruptcy.

Just by persisting for those few more months, a completely different outcome would definitely have appeared. And his own classmates wouldn't have had to sacrifice in vain. Thinking of this, Yan Fu only felt heartache like being twisted.

Just then, Yan Fu discovered in astonishment that the courtyard was already silent. Everyone was looking at him; it turned out Yan Fu was immersed in his own thoughts, his face alternating between green and white, and his expression also became gloomy, even could be called ferocious. It was already autumn now, plus everyone was sitting in the courtyard; when the night wind blew, it was already quite cool, but Yan Fu's forehead was covered with sweat. Matching his demeanor, it looked even more frightening.

"It's nothing; Wenqing continue speaking," Yan Fu said barely. But he saw Chen Ke hand over a handkerchief. Only then did Yan Fu feel his sweat; he took the handkerchief and wiped his sweat. Yan Fu felt the entire handkerchief was already wet through.

Yan Fu was a soldier; he knew the importance of temple calculations very well. If Chen Ke had been in power in the court back then, the First Sino-Japanese War would absolutely not have been fought to such a result. Such a thought leaped out of Yan Fu's almost boiling train of thought. After the First Sino-Japanese War, the court from top to bottom attacked each other, all shifting responsibility. Either saying how superior Japan's system was after the Restoration, or that Japan's cannons and rapid-fire guns were powerful. Every argument seemed reasonable, but compared with Chen Ke's analysis, these arguments all became extremely superficial. If there could have been someone like Chen Ke presiding when the war started back then... Even if Yan Fu's self-cultivation was high, his mind was already occupied by reflection on the First Sino-Japanese War at this time.

But Yan Fu was Yan Fu after all; after a moment of confusion, he calmed his mind. He must discuss this matter in detail with Chen Ke, but what was more important today was to listen to what Chen Ke would say next. Squeezing out a smile with difficulty, "Wenqing, you continue speaking."

Chen Ke nodded. He led people to carry the blackboard out and hung a lamp beside it.

"I have already roughly narrated the basic situation of Japan. Now what I want to talk about is Japan's revolution. Have these few classmates from Japan heard of the *Sekihōtai* (Red Bear Corps)?"

Kuroshima and the others shook their heads.

Chen Ke narrated the history of the Japanese "*Sekihōtai*." Sagara Sōzō, the leader of the "*Sekihōtai*," whose name was Kojima Shirōazaemon Masamitsu, was the son of Kojima Hyōma, a rustic samurai of Sōma District, Shimōsa Province. After the outbreak of the Boshin War, he led the comrades of the "*Rōshitai*" to regroup in Kyoto, and serving Ayanokōji Toshizane and Shigenoi Kinhisa as lords, formed the "*Sekihōtai*." Shirō changed his name to Sagara Sōzō and served as the captain of the First Unit of the "*Sekihōtai*." What was the main task the "*Sekihōtai*" received from the new government? It was to act as the vanguard of the Tōsandō Army, enter provinces like Shinano and Kōzuke first, propagate the benevolent government of the new government all the way, call on nearby feudal lords to submit, and join forces to overthrow the Shogunate. The so-called "benevolent government" of the new government mainly referred to "halving the annual tribute"; this was a political slogan proposed by Sagara Sōzō and agreed to by Saigō Takamori and others. Sōzō believed that peasants everywhere were already suffering unspeakably under the Shogunate's years of exorbitant taxation; if the new government promised to reduce the annual tribute by half, they would definitely rise in response, and the Shogunate's rule would inevitably collapse instantly.

However, by late January of the fourth year of Keiō (1868), rumors began to spread in Kyoto that the "*Sekihōtai*" was "intimidating the populace and plundering property." Hearing such rumors, the Second and Third Units of the "*Sekihōtai*," which had already entered Shinshū, immediately turned around and ran back to Kyoto under the leadership of the two noble leaders. Sagara Sōzō was at a loss, so he went alone to the Tōsandō Governor-General's Office to clarify the rumors.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of Sagara Sōzō's departure, the various domains in Shinshū launched surprise attacks on the "*Sekihōtai*" one after another, killing half and arresting half. When Sōzō successfully appealed at the Tōsandō Governor-General's Office and returned to Shinshū happily, he couldn't help being stunned by the scene before him. After his repeated lobbying and urging, the various domains finally agreed to release all the arrested members of the First Unit of the "*Sekihōtai*"—but this was just a delaying tactic; the complete destruction of the "*Sekihōtai*" was right before their eyes.

It turned out that the rumors about the "*Sekihōtai*" "intimidating the populace and plundering property" were simply released by people sent by the new government. The reason lay in the new government's financial straits; unable to bear the huge military expenses, they were forced to borrow from big *zaibatsu* like Mitsui. And these big *zaibatsu*, in order to amass wealth, fundamentally opposed the "halving the annual tribute" policy. Based on this factor, the new government didn't hesitate to break its promise and lose faith with the people of the world; the "*Sekihōtai*" thus became a pathetic political sacrifice.

In March of the fourth year of Keiō (1868), the Tōsandō Governor-General's Office suddenly arrested Sagara Sōzō, who came to appeal again, and the remaining members of the "*Sekihōtai*." Immediately, on the charge of being a "false government army," Sōzō and his eight trusted followers were executed by beheading at Shimosuwa in Shinshū—Sagara Sōzō was only thirty years old. The Meiji government used this to show the peasants: the government never issued a promise of "halving the annual tribute" at all; these were all rumors by the "*Sekihōtai*," these false government troops, to confuse the public. We fight the war as usual, overthrow the Shogunate as usual, and collect the annual tribute as usual. Thinking that peasants can live a good life under the rule of the new government is just an unrealistic delusion!

"Now everyone knows why the lives of the common people remained the same as before after the Japanese revolution, right? Even plundering land, plundering China's money after the First Sino-Japanese War—this money merely fell into the pockets of European and American capitalists and Japanese *zaibatsu*. The Japanese common people didn't get any benefits."

"So that's how it is. Many thanks for Mr. Chen's advice." Kuroshima stood up and bowed respectfully to Chen Ke. Other Japanese students also stood up and bowed.

"Sit down. I'll talk about Japan's future." Chen Ke waved his hand.

In Chen Ke's view, Japan's idea of becoming an independent industrial country by relying on its own strength was destined to become a bubble, limited by raw materials and markets. This was proven by the history Chen Ke had seen. Chen Ke also stated his view bluntly: as long as China could become strong, Japan was destined to be a tragedy.

Japan now relied mainly on textiles and the sex industry. Japan might be the only miraculous country in the world that organized and promoted the flesh trade. After the Meiji Restoration, countless villages without young girls appeared in Japan; the girls either entered textile factories to work until death or went to foreign brothels to die. A big buyer of Chen Ke's medicine now was Japanese brothels. Once China rose, Japan's textile industry would suffer a heavy blow. Losing this pillar, and losing China's market, Japan couldn't sustain itself by relying on itself.

However, as a Japanese, Kuroshima was not repulsed by these comments of Chen Ke. Kuroshima said excitedly, "In Japan, there are also many young people dissatisfied with Japan's status quo, hoping that China can lead the revolution. Then the revolution will enter Japan again, promoting Japan's comprehensive revolution."

Hearing this, Chen Ke was really a bit confused; how did he encounter Japan's "guide party" (traitors)? Was this guy Kuroshima fooling him? But honestly, in the 1920s, Japan ran "indentured labor" textile factories in China. After being reported by Xia Yan, at least the government of that time immediately sealed them up. This article triggered a strong response at the time. If they did this in China, the degree of cruel exploitation within Japan back then would only be fiercer than this. Facing such social reality, Japanese youths would absolutely not refuse revolution.

"Japan's revolution is not a people's revolution. But that doesn't mean Japan won't have a revolution in the future. The main force of the Japanese revolution is the petty bourgeoisie." As Chen Ke spoke, he wrote the names of several classes on the left side of the blackboard: Big Bourgeoisie, Petty Bourgeoisie, Proletariat.

"Japan's domestic resources are scarce, so a large number of middle-class people will not appear domestically. In this country with fierce class contradictions, the main contradiction occurs between the big bourgeoisie and the petty bourgeoisie. Now, in order to expand, Japan has strengthened its military power. Japan's land area is small; this military power is absolutely enough to suppress domestic people's uprisings in Japan. So if the people cannot rise in revolution comprehensively, relying on their own uprisings, there is absolutely no chance of liberation. Therefore, Japan's future trend is built on this group." After speaking, Chen Ke wrote two big characters on the blackboard with chalk: "Army." And he drew a box around these two characters with chalk to emphasize.

"Small and medium-sized enterprises simply cannot compete with large enterprises. I talked about this in class, right? No matter comparing manpower or efficiency, they can't compete. We can believe that small and medium-sized enterprises will inevitably go bankrupt gradually, and these petty bourgeoisie will be reduced to the proletariat. Then let's look at the composition of the Japanese army. Middle and high-ranking officers have close relations with the big bourgeoisie; they are basically people of the big bourgeoisie. Moreover, after multiple civil wars, all middle and high-ranking officers standing on the stance of the petty bourgeoisie have also been killed off. Most low and middle-ranking officers come from the petty bourgeoisie because their parents don't have that much money to distribute to the children, but have a little money to let the children go to school and military academy. So NCOs, lieutenants, and some field-grade officers are all of petty-bourgeois origin. Oh, field-grade officers are called *Sakan* in Japan."

While speaking, Chen Ke wrote down various Japanese military ranks on the blackboard.

"These low-ranking officers, after fighting hard for the war launched by the Japanese *zaibatsu*, return home to find that their families have gone bankrupt. The originally passable life is now completely finished. Then they have no other thoughts except wanting revolution. This group of people is the main force promoting Japan's future political direction."

Speaking to this point, Chen Ke's understanding of a series of mutinies in Japanese history also became suddenly enlightened. In the February 26 Incident, what the young officers demanded was "Heaven's punishment for national traitors." In the view of these young people, those high officials in power all represented the interests of the zaibatsu clans. Of course, these young people were used, used by those guys who were more eager to promote their own policies of aggression and expansion. After sweeping away the high officials who were still somewhat "rational," the group advocating aggression quickly controlled Japan's politics. Pushing Japan onto the road of aggression and expansion. The biggest victim of this policy was undoubtedly China.

"No matter how the Japanese petty bourgeoisie fuss, they cannot change the fact that Japan lacks resources. Therefore, the road these people finally choose is aggression and expansion. The current Russo-Japanese War is a war aimed at seizing privileges in China. Japan wants to expand the raw material market in China and expand the sales market in China. In the future, it will even launch military aggression against China, attempting to destroy China." Chen Ke narrated an indisputable prophecy.

The people below were silent; quite a few were looking at Kuroshima and the other few foreign students with unkind eyes.

"The Japanese classmates here with us are not the vanguard of Japan's aggression policy, but comrades who hope to stop Japan from sliding into that situation. Therefore, I hope everyone doesn't look at them with such eyes." Chen Ke waved his hand and laughed.

"Mr. Chen, China has reached this stage; can you still smile?" A student in the front row with a face full of grief and indignation couldn't help questioning in Sichuan dialect. This person was called Xiong Mingyang. Born in a bureaucratic family in Sichuan, he first went to Nanyang Public School in Xi'an to study in 1902. As a result, the "Ink Bottle" incident broke out that year, and he dropped out with his classmates. Then he transferred to Aurora University in Shanghai, but encountered the school being ordered by the British to change school rules. As a result, he dropped out again and transferred to Fudan Public School to study. After listening to Chen Ke's lecture, he joined the Huangpu Book Society that day, becoming a backbone element in the Book Society. This person hated extremely the fate of China being unable to escape repeated defeats and battles, being carved up and invaded. He was a very radical youth.

Seeing Chen Ke silent, Xiong Mingyang stood up. "Mr. Chen, you only teach us how to view the world and view China. But what does seeing this fact clearly help? As long as you, Mr. Chen, point out a road that can save the country... if you want to rebel, I will follow you to rebel. If you want me to fight, I will definitely rush to the very front. This cheap life of mine counts for nothing. As long as we can save China, wherever you say, Mr. Chen, I will work there!"

"Right! Isn't it just rebellion? This world should have rebelled long ago."

"That's right! If I die for China, I die; twenty years later, I'll be a good man again!"

The students shouted all at once.

Chen Ke's face became colder and colder; suddenly he laughed loudly. "I told you not to drink too much, but you insisted on drinking more. Look, look, drunk, aren't you? That's all for today. Dismissed."

After speaking, Chen Ke returned to the dormitory without looking back. Closing the door, Chen Ke fell onto his bunk, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. Soon, he fell into deep thought, and that trace of a smile also disappeared without a trace.