As soon as the Beijing Party Group meeting of 1905 convened, it immediately entered a state of drawn swords and bent bows. Although the volume was somewhat suppressed, Wu Xingchen's speech was full of the smell of gunpowder. He directly questioned what Chen Ke intended to do with Pang Zi. Chen Tianhua also cared very much about this matter; he stared at Chen Ke. He only heard Chen Ke say in his usual calm tone, "I cannot promote an uprising that is destined to fail. That is irresponsible to anyone; that is harming people."

Despite the calm tone, these words were tit-for-tat, vastly different from Chen Ke's usually rather gentle attitude.

"Are you saying Pang Zi and the others are seeking death?" Wu Xingchen was also extremely unaccustomed to Chen Ke's attitude and asked back with some surprise.

"That's right. That's exactly what I mean." Chen Ke's bright and sharp gaze fell on Wu Xingchen's face. Wu Xingchen seemed unable to bear this attitude of Chen Ke and lowered his head with a slight guilty conscience. However, Chen Ke didn't mean to let Wu Xingchen off. He asked, "Brother Wu, what do you think Brother Pang and the others actually want to do? What is the purpose of their rebellion?"

Wu Xingchen didn't answer. Chen Ke didn't insist on pursuing an answer either; he continued speaking on his own, "Nothing more than revenge and the like. Or to put it bluntly, when Uncle Jing was alive back then, Brother Pang's social status was much higher than now. And now Brother Pang might want to chase back those happy days of the past."

Hearing this, both Wu Xingchen and Chen Tianhua changed their expressions simultaneously. This was a condemnation of the heart; saying this meant Chen Ke wouldn't be polite in the slightest. A sense of trembling arose in Wu Xingchen's heart. *That's right, this is the Chen Ke that I, Wu Xingchen, have always feared.* From the first day he met Chen Ke, no matter how sincere or gentle Chen Ke's attitude was, Wu Xingchen always faintly felt that beneath these appearances, there was a cold and ruthless Chen Ke.

This wasn't because Chen Ke was hypocritical; precisely, Chen Ke wasn't hypocritical. In Party classes, Chen Ke very rationally explained the truth of the world to everyone. If he were merely a gentle person, he would absolutely not have such understanding. When a rational person speaks results purely from theoretical calculations, it must be Chen Ke's current appearance. Wu Xingchen didn't think Chen Ke was wrong.

Before coming to Hebei, Wu Xingchen's idea was to contact these old brothers he hadn't seen for a long time and then plan big things together. As a result, upon contact with the brothers, Wu Xingchen immediately felt disappointed. His first feeling was that these brothers were not as good as before. In the past, at any rate, the brothers still had enthusiasm and that innocent and straightforward friendship. After experiencing failure, although the brothers hadn't been completely defeated, they had become much more deep and reserved. To put it more bluntly, they had become much more sinister.

Wu Xingchen could understand this only because he himself had experienced such days. If he hadn't met Chen Ke, if he hadn't listened to the People's Party's lectures, Wu Xingchen probably wouldn't have been able to liberate himself from such emotions full of resentment and poison. Wu Xingchen was very clear about Pang Zi's petty calculations. Wu Xingchen could roughly guess Chen Ke's response: just perfunctory, and then everyone would go their separate ways. Wu Xingchen absolutely didn't want Pang Zi to lose this opportunity and walk on a path destined for failure.

"Wenqing, Pang Zi is ignorant. He doesn't understand revolution, but I understand some. Can you tell me what to do? I will carry out the revolution." Wu Xingchen made a final effort. Chen Ke never talked about specific methods; Wu Xingchen actually suspected somewhat that Chen Ke himself didn't know how to promote revolution.

After listening to Wu Xingchen's words, Chen Ke's expression suddenly softened, and a smile of joy from the heart appeared on his face. This made both Wu Xingchen and Chen Tianhua feel very surprised.

"Okay. How about we start discussing this issue now?" Chen Ke responded with a smile.

"That's great!" Chen Tianhua said with shining eyes; regarding this issue, he was very eager to know specifically what to do.

"We, the Revolutionary Party, are weak and isolated. If we stand up and directly confront the Manchu Qing, we are destined to fail. But the power of the Manchu Qing compared to the people counts for nothing. So, we must promote the People's Revolution."

This was still nonsense said many times before; neither Wu Xingchen nor Chen Tianhua cared. They stared at Chen Ke, waiting for the key part below.

"Revolution means fighting wars, and fighting wars means people dying. I want to ask a question: on what basis do you make everyone follow you to die? Brother Wu, speak first."

Wu Xingchen didn't expect Chen Ke to start asking questions so quickly. In fact, he hadn't figured out this question either. The Boxers back then either used the banner of Beijing princes, or engaged in tricks of invulnerability, or played with supernatural things, or burned incense and became sworn brothers. Generally speaking, it was nothing more than moving them with emotion, inducing them with profit, plus other messy brotherhood loyalty and so on. Basically, it was forcing people to die. Wu Xingchen had personally experienced the result of doing this; it might be effective in the early stage, but these rabble would immediately disintegrate in the face of a powerful enemy. Once those with rallying power in the locality died, these organizations became passing clouds and could never regroup.

Since Wu Xingchen couldn't think clearly, he simply didn't bother anymore. "Wenqing, you tell us what it's about."

"Let me give the example of Uncle Jing. Uncle Jing Tingbin was first a Military Graduate (*Wuju*). This meant he had status and influence in the countryside. Uncle Jing consistently upheld justice in the countryside and helped everyone judge right from wrong. For many things in the countryside, what Uncle Jing said counted. Everyone, say, what does this mean?"

Wu Xingchen and Chen Tianhua knew their own statements were definitely not Chen Ke's meaning, so they simply didn't bother; they shook their heads together.

"This shows that Uncle Jing had law enforcement ability in the countryside. That is administrative power."

Seeing that neither comrade had figured it out, Chen Ke explained again, "That is to say, Uncle Jing had power in the locality, could make rules, and maintain rules. Regardless of the court's rules or anyone else's rules, in the locality, if Uncle Jing said their rules didn't count, those rules didn't count. Whatever rules Uncle Jing said counted, those rules counted."

"Ah! So that's how it is." Wu Xingchen nodded in agreement. Previously, in Wu Xingchen's view, this was just Uncle Jing having rallying power, but hearing Chen Ke say this, Uncle Jing's power actually had a deeper meaning.

"This is the local tyrant/strongman of the countryside." Chen Tianhua also nodded in praise.

"So, when Uncle Jing attacked churches, everyone followed. First, indeed, the villains in the church did all kinds of evil. Everyone hated them to the bone. Second, since Uncle Jing was the local rule, if he asked everyone to do something, then everyone had to follow Uncle Jing according to the rules."

Wu Xingchen no longer had the original resentment at this time; he nodded while listening.

"Then, let me talk about what revolution is." Chen Ke laughed. "The basic appearance of revolution is the same as Uncle Jing. In the revolutionary area, in the base area, there are only rules made by the revolutionary government, not rules made by others. This is revolution."

"Then how to do it?" Wu Xingchen pressed.

"What is the program of the People's Party? What kind of country do we want to build? Once you understand these, you will know what the rules of revolution should be set like."

Hearing Chen Ke say this, Wu Xingchen became anxious at that moment. "Wenqing, how do I know what you actually want to make it look like? When you talk about the future, you talk incessantly. There are dozens of various departments alone, and the damn functions of each department are different. Who can remember them? I just want to engage in revolution in a county or a few villages. If you talk to me about the whole world, I can't do it."

This complaint from Wu Xingchen reminded Chen Ke that once at a Party meeting before, everyone insisted on asking Chen Ke to talk about what China should look like after the revolution succeeded. Forced helplessly, Chen Ke had to recount the state organizational structure of 21st-century China. This lengthy narration almost made everyone lose their appetite. Thinking of this, he chuckled, "Brother Wu, why did I take everyone to see the Beiyang Army's exercise? One county, a few villages—once ten thousand Beiyang troops arrive, even if you build these places like iron barrels, it still won't work. Revolution must be a revolution of the whole world; what can a tiny bit of territory do?"

"I know it won't work if the territory is small. But everyone knows me in this village; out of this village, to other villages, no one knows me. How can I go to other places to make a revolution?"

"Wrong, wrong, your idea is completely wrong." Chen Ke shook his head gently. "Brother Wu, you talk about different situations in different villages. Then let me ask you, in this world, there are some things in every village that are exactly the same. Tell me, what are the same things?"

Wu Xingchen lowered his head in contemplation; *what exactly is the same?* Just as he was pondering, he heard Chen Tianhua say impassionedly, "In this world, bullies exist in every village, and they are always that batch of people. Corrupt officials, landlords, and local tyrants. The people being bullied are also the same, all ordinary common people working hard. Am I right, Wenqing?"

Hearing this, Chen Ke felt very gratified. Just two months ago, Chen Tianhua had asked very seriously whether the People's Revolution advocated by Chen Ke meant killing all landlords. His words showed considerable concern for the safety of landlords in the revolution. Now, Chen Tianhua could already recognize that the government and landlords were both classes oppressing the common people. Such a change couldn't help but excite Chen Ke.

Chen Ke had never dared to adopt a brainwashing education mode to instill the concept of "class struggle" into Chen Tianhua and the others before. After all, the comrades of the People's Party were all from the old classes. If they couldn't spontaneously recognize these, even if Chen Ke spoke with a tongue like a lotus flower, enabling them to understand these theoretically, the hearts of these comrades might not necessarily be convinced. Nor would they necessarily truly develop a determination against the landlord class that "it won't do not to overthrow them." But what Chen Tianhua said today proved that Chen Tianhua could already spontaneously have a consciousness of confrontation against landlords.

"Xingtai is absolutely right. Brother Wu, what do you say?" Chen Ke asked Wu Xingchen.

Contrary to Chen Ke's expectation, Wu Xingchen didn't express his stance directly. His brows were slightly furrowed, calculating something. Seeing him like this, Chen Ke wasn't anxious either. Having said so much just now, Chen Ke was also thinking about how to explain the specific revolutionary steps in a while. "No investigation, no right to speak." Chen Ke had read records about rural areas in history books; he actually wanted to investigate too. But now he really couldn't spare the time. If Wu Xingchen was willing to engage in revolution in the northern countryside, Chen Ke actually quite supported it. Moreover, he considered that letting Chen Tianhua follow Wu Xingchen to the countryside for social investigation first should be no problem. Since Chen Tianhua could recognize that landlords were the oppressive class in the countryside, it could be said to be a huge leap forward. He could truly be entrusted with heavy responsibilities.

While thinking, he heard Wu Xingchen say hesitantly, "These are all fellow villagers; talking about revolution, these are all relatives."

This statement made Chen Ke speechless. *How could Wu Xingchen have such a notion?* Regarding rural clans, Chen Ke knew a little; the biggest impression was that clan forces must be completely crushed. Because rural clans controlled too much power. A meeting of clan elders could determine the life and death of clan members. This was unacceptable for a modern industrial country. In a modern industrial country, state institutions possess all administrative and judicial powers. Let alone the power of life and death, even if brothers fight, elders have no power to take coercive measures against members. But Chen Ke could understand Wu Xingchen's concern. In 1905, the state had no obligations to the common people at all. The social security system only began to be built after the founding of New China. Under the rule of the Chiang Kai-shek government, during the War of Resistance, there were even bizarre examples of collecting taxes for decades later in advance. So clans had to stick together to resist the government's exorbitant taxes and levies. However, such examples were also a minority in clans. Chen Ke felt he must convince Wu Xingchen. But this problem was the most difficult to deal with; he prepared to change an angle to speak.

"Brother Wu, there is a saying: 'Injustice provokes outcry.' I'll use another saying: 'Where there is oppression, there is resistance.' In such oppression and resistance, which side are you prepared to stand on?"

"Naturally, I stand on the side of resistance," Wu Xingchen said without hesitation.

"Then there is so much resistance now. There are landlords resisting tax collection, and tenant farmers resisting landlords taking back tenancy rights. There is resistance against usury driving people to death. Some people are both oppressors and resisters. Which side are you prepared to stand on?" Chen Ke asked.

This time Wu Xingchen was silent. He actually only really wanted to rebel against the Manchu Qing. Regarding landlords, he sympathized with them for being oppressed by the Manchu Qing on one hand, and was dissatisfied with their excessive cruelty to the poor on the other. Chen Ke's culture brought Wu Xingchen into a confusion he had never thought of before.

Seeing Wu Xingchen silent, Chen Ke said, "Okay, let's change the question. Since Brother Wu wants revolution, let's speak even more simply. Specific execution methods. Let's not talk about how to make everyone follow you to risk death for now; let's first talk about how to make the common people support you."

Hearing this, Wu Xingchen perked up some interest again.

"First, you have to let the common people know that someone wants to decide for them (uphold justice for them). Moreover, in what aspects can you decide for them. Actually, Uncle Jing achieved these back then. If Brother Wu goes down to the countryside, you must determine what exactly you want to do."

Hearing this, Wu Xingchen felt quite confused; *to what extent should I do it?* According to his initial idea, it was to get rid of the cruel and pacify the good. But after a deep talk with Chen Ke today, who was "cruel" and who was "good," he was now a bit confused.

"Second, you must have a force to complete this work. Anyone who touches your rules must be knocked down. For example, you spread your eyes and ears widely to know whose family is being bullied. You knock on the door through the door in the middle of the night, ask them who bullied them, and exactly how they were bullied. Then you take the team to help them solve the problem. After doing this for a long time, your reputation will naturally exist. The people will also be willing to believe you and tip you off. Some people will even join your team."

Seeing Wu Xingchen not speaking, Chen Ke continued, "Third..."

"Wait," Wu Xingchen interrupted Chen Ke's words. "Wenqing, is this your revolution?"

"Yes, helping the masses, mobilizing the masses, uniting the masses. These are my revolutionary measures."

"Wenqing, this is not a small matter. Not to mention anything else, if you do this, how many people will you offend? As the saying goes, 'When a wall is about to fall, everyone pushes it.' When those people join hands to deal with the revolution, that will definitely be a big deal."

Chen Ke answered very frankly, "I know. Last time I told Brother Pang that he could do whatever he wanted according to his own mind. As long as he doesn't launch a People's Revolution, his end is destined to be a complete defeat, and he will lose his life in vain."

Wu Xingchen fell silent. Originally, he was worried that Chen Ke would give up on Pang Zi. If Pang Zi didn't get Chen Ke's guidance and rushed to rebel, he would be destined to fail. So Wu Xingchen wanted Chen Ke to state the specific revolutionary steps. In his imagination, as long as he could get these specific methods and strategies, even if Chen Ke ignored Pang Zi, Wu Xingchen himself could help. But unexpectedly, Chen Ke would propose such a true People's Revolution. After listening to these simple narrations, Wu Xingchen could imagine what kind of fierce confrontation such a revolution would cause. This was no longer revolution, but risking one's life.

"Is there no other way? Wenqing."

"Then what does Brother Wu want Brother Pang to get?" Chen Ke asked back with a smile.

*Yes, what do I want Fatty to get?* Wu Xingchen suddenly remembered Chen Ke's earlier words: "What do Brother Pang and the others actually want to do? What is the purpose of their rebellion? Nothing more than revenge and the like. Or to put it bluntly, when Uncle Jing was alive back then, Brother Pang's social status was much higher than now. And now Brother Pang might want to chase back those happy days of the past."

Not long ago, Wu Xingchen thought this was just Chen Ke's condemnation of the heart. But now it seemed that Chen Ke was the same as before, merely stating the cold reality. Looking carefully at Chen Ke, Wu Xingchen still saw that familiar expression. Every time after Chen Ke conducted such an analysis, he had neither complacency nor the slightest look of pity. Facing the speechless comrades, Chen Ke was expressionless, even feeling somewhat lonely. Looking at Chen Tianhua next to him, he saw Chen Tianhua's brows slightly furrowed; he should be pondering Chen Ke's words repeatedly. And his own expression, presumably, should be a kind of helplessness and anxiety.

Wu Xingchen only truly came into contact with revolution after joining the People's Party. In these few months, Wu Xingchen thought he had learned a lot. But after such a narration of practical operations today, Wu Xingchen understood that compared to Chen Ke, he only understood a little skin and hair about revolution. Such a sense of frustration, and sense of loss. And after thinking deeply about revolution, recognizing what kind of huge hostile forces he had to face. These heavy emotions mixed together made Wu Xingchen suddenly think of a question. *What kind of person is Chen Ke exactly?*

Just at this moment, he saw Chen Ke smile. "Brother Wu, these enemies are nothing to be afraid of. Believe me, if it is a true People's Revolution, we can definitely smash these enemies. We can definitely create a powerful New China."

These words didn't arouse Wu Xingchen's courage. Recalling the impression Chen Ke left on him before, Wu Xingchen suddenly had a superstitious fear. Chen Ke seemed to be a revolutionary star descended into this world. If not for this reason, how could a person understand revolution so profoundly? How could a person be tough enough to face such huge enemies without the slightest fear?