Someone expressing loyalty is a good thing. But there is no free lunch in the world; the price of loyalty is that Chen Ke must give reasons for others to be loyal to him.

"Speaking reason? I usually love speaking reason to people. The reasons I want to tell everyone now are not many. Everyone surely understands them too." Chen Ke's voice was enthusiastic and cheerful. The comrades participating in the meeting stretched their necks to look at Chen Ke one by one. Everyone knew Brigade Commander Chen was a scholar. There were cultural classes in the troops, teaching cultural knowledge compulsorily. To put it plainly, it was teaching how to read characters. And the teaching materials for reading characters were not Chinese traditional basic textbooks like *Three Character Classic* or *Thousand Character Classic*, but pamphlets specially written by Chen Ke.

The textbooks were extremely targeted. The basic content was teaching everyone to write their own names and learn to write the names of other comrades in the same unit. Slightly higher content was the multiplication table. Besides these instrumental cultural knowledge, the core content of other cultural courses was nothing more than a few items: "Labor is the most glorious," "Distribution according to work," "The people are the masters of the country," "The people are the masters of the land," "Unity is strength," "The people want liberation."

During the learning process, comrades naturally asked the cultural instructors about the origin of the Insurance Corps. As the supreme commander of the Insurance Corps, comrades were naturally very concerned about Chen Ke's background. After the instructors' introduction filled with admiration, the comrades learned that Chen Ke was a returned student from overseas. What exactly a returned student was, these peasant soldiers who had never even left the local area naturally didn't know. Watching the cultural instructors introduce Chen Ke with an admiring tone, in the impression of these ordinary common people, cultural instructors who could teach them to read characters were scholars. And the higher the status, the higher the learning. Brigade Commander Chen Ke, who had the highest status in the Insurance Corps, was also a scholar returned from overseas, so he naturally had great learning.

Being able to understand the same principles as Brigade Commander Chen Ke, the soldiers felt very fresh. Many people had excited smiles on their faces.

"Only when the stomach is full can one not be hungry. Now we can't grow grain that can last until next year's summer harvest. Before next year's summer harvest, we will either starve to death or have to flee famine." Chen Ke's voice was loud enough for every soldier to hear.

This was indeed a principle every soldier could understand. Hearing this, everyone's face looked bad.

Chen Ke's attitude remained enthusiastic. He didn't care about everyone's face at all and said loudly: "Everyone comes from a farming background. Now, what can be grown in such a muddy land? Whatever is planted will rot; crops won't grow at all. Without draining the water clean, we definitely can't grow grain that can last until next year's summer harvest." In the past, these words were said to comrades within the People's Party. The reason Chen Ke had to say this to the middle and high levels was a very helpless difficulty. Most of these Party member comrades had no farming experience. If relying solely on farming, the money to let these people study could basically not be accumulated. So it was very important to let these comrades understand the significance of large-scale water conservancy construction.

Today was the first time Chen Ke expounded the reason for heavy work to grassroots comrades. As expected by Chen Ke, all grassroots comrades understood.

The soldier who stood up to express loyalty just now obviously understood Chen Ke's meaning. It seemed he already had a prepared question. As soon as Chen Ke's voice fell, this soldier continued to ask, "Brigade Commander Chen, you said just now that only thirty percent rent will be collected in the future. Is that right?"

"That's right," Chen Ke answered loudly.

"You just said land will be distributed. Is that right?" the soldier continued to ask.

"That's right!"

"Then how long can this kind of life last?" The soldier asked the question he was most concerned about.

"This comrade, may I ask how to address you?"

"My name is Hua Wenyu," the soldier answered loudly.

"Comrade Hua Wenyu, I want to ask. Who do you think prevents everyone from living this kind of life?" Chen Ke asked back.

"Mn!" Hua Wenyu was speechless for a moment.

"It's landlords, it's the government!" Someone in the crowd shouted.

Hua Wenyu gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and shouted: "Right! It's landlords, it's the government."

Hearing this, Chen Ke was happy in his heart. But his face remained calm, "Comrade Hua Wenyu, how long have you joined the Insurance Corps?"

"Three months."

"How many characters have you learned?" Chen Ke continued to ask.

"More than two hundred," Hua Wenyu said proudly.

"Unity is Strength (*Tuan Jie Jiu Shi Li Liang*). Can you write these six characters?"

"Yes."

"Then you come up and write them on the blackboard for me."

As soon as Chen Ke's voice fell, Hua Wenyu strode out. Each company had two large blackboards. One was mainly used to write various announcements. The other was mainly used for cultural education. Hua Wenyu picked up the chalk and wrote the six big characters "Unity is Strength" properly on the cultural education blackboard.

Hua Wenyu's characters were written okay, and not wrong. Chen Ke pointed to these big characters and asked: "Comrades, why can landlords bully us common people? It's because we are not united. Zhang Youliang is an example. How many people did he have? Many of our comrades participated in the battle of breaking Zhang Youliang's fortified village, right? You say it yourselves, how many people followed Zhang Youliang to the death in the end? Who can talk about it?"

"Brigade Commander Chen, Zhang Youliang had a total of ninety-seven subordinates. I was responsible for counting at that time." A soldier stood up in the crowd and shouted with a face full of excitement.

A full-strength company of the Insurance Corps had more than two hundred people. Ninety-seven people were less than half of a company. Many soldiers participating in the meeting were recruits. Hearing this number, they immediately roared with laughter. Ninety-odd people actually dared to challenge the thousands of the Insurance Corps; this was really a big joke.

"Zhang Youliang really had guts." A soldier laughed loudly. Such ridicule immediately caused everyone's roar of laughter.

"Right. Zhang Youliang only had ninety-seven people. When we fought Zhang Youliang, the Insurance Corps had almost a thousand people. We were ten fighting one of him. Zhang Youliang counted as a fart. But why did Zhang Youliang dare to let out words at that time that he wanted to move against our Insurance Corps? Has everyone thought about it?"

This question was indeed deeper. Chen Ke's original intention was to hope everyone could understand that Zhang Youliang could be so arrogant by threatening and intimidating everyone. But this involved the scope of self-criticism. Chen Ke hoped everyone would stand up and mention this issue themselves. So he waited for the comrades to say it themselves.

The first to answer was Hua Wenyu, "That's because the Brigade Commander charged at the very front. With someone leading, we dared to fight."

Chen Ke really didn't expect Hua Wenyu to actually suck up (*pai ma pi*). "Motherfucker!" Chen Ke cursed in his heart. If it were before, Chen Ke would probably have fallen for this. This kind of "cunning" unique to Chinese peasants was really impossible to guard against. Hua Wenyu looked like he was flattering, but in a sense, he was "setting rules" for Chen Ke. If Chen Ke accepted this flattery and triumphantly thought "victory was because I led the charge," then would Chen Ke have to lead the charge in every battle in the future? If a battle was lost, someone would say, "This battle was lost because Brigade Commander Chen didn't lead the charge." Or say strange words, "If Brigade Commander Chen led the charge, we could win." How to do the work in the future?

"Comrade Hua Wenyu, your words are wrong." Chen Ke refuted decisively. "We defeated Zhang Youliang not because I was leading in front. It was because everyone in our Insurance Corps was charging."

What is called stressing principles, stressing politics. Chen Ke had not attended Party school, so he really hadn't been officially trained. But based on his current understanding, principles and politics were the organization's philosophy and system. Since he was the leader of the People's Party, Chen Ke must be responsible for his words and deeds at any moment. His words and deeds must absolutely not violate the political party's philosophy. Any of his words could not make mistakes.

And facing different periods and different objects for the same problem, different methods must be adopted. This is also where political work is complex. But in the final analysis, stressing principles and politics is the core. Right is right, wrong is wrong. For correct things, one must support. For wrong things, one must oppose. And the banner must be clear-cut.

"It's useless for me alone to lead. Why could Zhang Youliang, who originally only had ninety-seven people, commit crimes and tyrannize in Yuezhangji? Because everyone was not united. How many people could comrades gather at most originally? A dozen, twenty? Compared with Zhang Youliang, everyone couldn't match him in numbers. Moreover, once the leader was beaten down, others were afraid. Then scattered. So Zhang Youliang only had that few people. Tens of thousands of people in Yuezhangji dared not oppose him. This is because everyone was not united." Speaking of this, Chen Ke pointed to the characters on the blackboard and read loudly, "Unity is strength! Unity is strength! Comrade Hua Wenyu, I ask you, if you were asked to take the lead in charging, would you be afraid?"

Hua Wenyu was criticized to his face by Chen Ke just now, which made him lose face quite a bit. The envious gazes from other comrades originally also turned into an indescribable feeling. Hearing Chen Ke ask this, he immediately straightened his back and said loudly: "I'm not afraid?"

"Why not afraid?" Chen Ke pressed.

Hua Wenyu was speechless for a moment. He couldn't say he said not afraid because he wanted to save face now.

Chen Ke didn't mean to deliberately make things difficult for Hua Wenyu. He continued: "We fought Zhang Youliang to let everyone live a good life. Even if you unfortunately sacrificed, other comrades wouldn't be scared into fleeing in all directions. They would definitely fight on until Zhang Youliang was defeated, victory was won, and these lands were obtained. Let everyone have land to farm. If you unfortunately sacrificed, your family could also see the victory and get land. Because we are united, because everyone's thoughts are the same."

Hua Wenyu's originally somewhat awkward emotion disappeared. Chen Ke actually spoke his mood at that time. When charging towards the enemy with comrades, he really didn't have any fear. Because everyone around was charging, all comrades were shouting and running beside him. In such a torrent, Hua Wenyu had no fear. His emotion at that time was completely driven by a kind of high spirit, an inexplicable excitement. When victory was easily obtained, Hua Wenyu felt incredible. That high fortified village wall, those hundreds of captives—if he faced them alone, it would be unthinkable. But being with everyone, these were completed so easily.

"Unity is strength! Comrades, we must unite." Chen Ke shouted loudly, "But why unite? What do we want to achieve by uniting? What I want to say now is, in the next three months, we must grow grain that can be eaten until next year. One person, or one family, or people of one village, can't do it. Everyone comes from a farming background. In this situation now, wanting to grow grain for tens of thousands of people to eat until next year, it can't be done without unity. Do you say it is so?"

Among the Insurance Corps soldiers, the old soldiers who had participated in annihilating Zhang Youliang already had shining eyes. Chen Ke's words made them recall the battle not long ago. This was the first time in their lives they easily trampled such high-above local powerful figures under their feet. This was an experience they never had. This was an experience they were proud of. Although new soldiers didn't have such experience, they also knew Chen Ke was right. This muddy land after the flood now couldn't feed tens of thousands of people at all.

"Brigade Commander Chen, it's so hard; until when do we have to work? Doing this every day is really tiring people to death. I have never been so tired farming myself." A soldier looking forty years old stood up and asked. His appearance couldn't be seen clearly in the night and firelight, but that lackluster withered and wrinkled skin, and those bulging blue veins all proved that this soldier was a farmer who had undergone heavy physical labor.

"This comrade, why did you join our Insurance Corps?" Chen Ke asked.

This middle-aged soldier hesitated to speak upon hearing this.

Chen Ke smiled: "This is a meeting of the Soldiers' Committee. I am an ordinary soldier just like you. Speak straight if you have anything to say; this is the place for everyone to speak their hearts."

Hearing Chen Ke say this, the middle-aged soldier answered somewhat shrinking back: "I joined our Insurance Corps, firstly to have food to eat, secondly, our Insurance Corps will definitely preside over land distribution. After I joined, with our Insurance Corps backing me up, my land won't be bullied."

These words were the heartfelt words of the participating soldiers. Chen Ke smiled slightly after hearing them. This was what he hoped to hear.

"This comrade, you are right. First, the Insurance Corps will let everyone eat. Not only will our own soldiers eat, but we will also let the common people of our Fengtai County eat. Second, our Insurance Corps will inevitably preside over future land distribution. Moreover, I want to say this upfront: in this land distribution, the Insurance Corps will inevitably keep twenty thousand *mu* of land for ourselves. Our Insurance Corps will not leave Fengtai County; we will take root here."

With a "buzz," the soldiers boiled over then. Fear, joy, panic, various emotions mixed together. Twenty thousand *mu* of land; this number made all soldiers feel dizzy. How many families' land would be seized for such a number? But how much property would this allow the Insurance Corps itself to possess? Amidst gains and losses, the soldiers heard Chen Ke shout loudly: "Comrades, be quiet. Many comrades have been here for not just one or two days. Comrades have dealt with us for not just one or two days. Have you seen our Insurance Corps, up and down, take a single bit of things from the common people for ourselves? Have you?"

This question was asked solidly. The Insurance Corps never took a bit of things from the common people for themselves. This was the consensus of old and new soldiers of the Insurance Corps. Chen Ke's words effectively implied that the Insurance Corps didn't rob the common people. This calmed everyone's mood a lot.

"These twenty thousand *mu* of land are for our Insurance Corps to farm ourselves and eat ourselves. We won't levy grain or money from the common people. Our Insurance Corps is the team of the common people. Our Insurance Corps won't now, and won't in the future, take a needle from the common people, won't take a thread from the common people, won't take a grain of food from the common people. Then what do we eat? Just rely on farming ourselves to feed ourselves. Why is it so hard now? It is because we have to farm and reclaim wasteland. It won't work without being so hard. As the Brigade Commander, I will farm with everyone, harvest together, build houses together, and live together. Whatever everyone does, I will do. Our Insurance Corps officers and soldiers are one. There is no work that soldiers do but officers don't need to do. There is nothing that officers can eat but soldiers can't eat. We are a group; we are the army of the common people. We must unite. Otherwise, when our Insurance Corps presides over land distribution in the future, we won't be able to beat those enemies."

Everyone understood Chen Ke's words, but these words described a future that these common people, who had been in a loose state of society for generations, had never thought of. They couldn't imagine what kind of state such a future should be. But since Chen Ke arrived in Fengtai County leading that small team, he had never done anything to harm the common people. In this year of great disaster, the Insurance Corps actually maintained the order of Fengtai County and the livelihood of the common people. From this perspective, Chen Ke wouldn't have any other schemes saying this. Even if there were, they were things beyond the imagination of these farmers.

Everyone knew only three things: First, the Insurance Corps wouldn't leave. Second, the Insurance Corps would own twenty thousand *mu* of land. Third, such changes would completely change everything in Fengtai County. And this change couldn't be shaken by anyone.

"Brigade Commander Chen, I'll follow you." Hua Wenyu took the lead in expressing his attitude, "I'm not afraid of anything; I'll follow you."

With someone leading, old soldiers also stood up to express their attitude one after another.

"Brigade Commander Chen, I'll also follow you."

"Me too."

"Me too."

This is the Chinese common people. Facing irresistible forces, they will choose to obey. But these people may not necessarily understand that the power possessed by Chen Ke and the Insurance Corps comes precisely from these soldiers themselves.

About more than half of the people expressed obedience, and the rest didn't mean to oppose either.

"Comrades, I know what you are worried about. You are worried that your own land will be distributed away. If the land is gone, there is nothing left. You don't need to worry about this matter at all. What we have to worry about is whether we can grow grain that can be eaten until next year in these three months. Without grain to eat until next year, any superfluous words are nonsense. Moreover, in the next few days, I will tell everyone more detailed content. How exactly will this land be distributed?"

In the comrades' excited or puzzled gazes, Chen Ke ended his speech and left the venue. Leaving the soldiers discussing animatedly.

Chen Ke didn't break his promise. In the following few days, he participated in the Soldiers' Committee meetings of various troops on one hand, spreading his remarks widely. On the other hand, large posters were erected on various construction sites.

Hao Ju was almost the unique one in the Insurance Corps who studied Western painting. The reason this original playboy was involved in such an organization as the People's Party was quite simple. He participated in the parade in Shanghai and was unfortunately arrested. So he was swept along. After Chen Ke handed over the work of drawing large posters to this Propaganda Department officer who had been responsible for propaganda skin (leather?) printing work, Hao Ju finally returned to his old profession.

Drawn on the huge poster was a large landscape painting of a "New Countryside." Continuous flat land, water flow led by water wheels churning in silver-thread-like ditches. Two rows of beautiful big trees were on both sides of the flat road between the lands. Farmers and Insurance Corps soldiers worked in the fields. In the distance, three-story buildings were set off in beautiful tree shades. Chen Ke didn't create it either; he just sketched the rural scenery of the 21st century with a pencil. The coloring work was given to Hao Ju to do.

After Chen Ke spent seven evenings participating in all soldiers' meetings of the two regiments of the Insurance Corps 359th Brigade, this huge poster, which looked extremely rough in Chen Ke's eyes, was finally erected. Chen Ke could finally tell everyone what the future would look like exactly.

In the era of 1906, scattered land directly caused a result: the land was uneven, and a systematic irrigation system was even more unthinkable. Fengtai County was actually the same. And one of the "benefits" of the flood was that it flattened the land to some extent.

After the large poster came out, Hao Ju slept for a day before alleviating the extreme exhaustion caused by days of sleeplessness. And the cadres of the People's Party and the Insurance Corps could also point to the poster to narrate the construction purpose of various facilities and the efficacy brought after construction completion.

Soldiers might not necessarily like the style of Western painting, but explaining against the picture like this was much more convincing than empty talk. The once boiling resentment in the troops was comprehensively evacuated.

And most importantly, the hardest civil engineering work was initially completed. According to the terrain, the troops completed the construction of the first batch of drainage ditches. Surface and shallow groundwater entered the drainage ditches and then was led into the low-lying areas serving as water storage grounds. Although the ditches collapsed in many places during soaking, and because there were no good surveying tools, actually many ditches couldn't flow smoothly by themselves. But these were all small problems. Simple small water wheels ran, draining water through the newly dug shallow ditches. The wet ground began to dry quickly. The soldiers were all from peasant backgrounds; they knew the subsequent cultivation would become much easier. This year's rush-planting harvest had a new guarantee.

Just when Chen Ke was appeasing soldiers in the troops and pointing out the new road, Pu Guanshui, the Deputy Commander of the Anhui New Army, boarded the boat to Fengtai County as agreed.

Anqing, the provincial capital of Anhui, is on the edge of the Yangtze River. Actually, it is a military stronghold rather than an economic center. Anqing is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the Yangtze River on one side. The sixty days of heavy rain ravaging Anhui did not affect Anqing. But after leaving Anqing and taking the boat to Fengtai County, only half a day out, Pu Guanshui seemed to see hell on earth.