regarding the question "whether Chen Ke wants to proclaim himself Emperor" raised by Yan Fu, Chen Ke was dumbstruck, and Chen Ke's guard was at a loss. Only Shen Zengzhi understood Yan Fu's meaning. With Yan Fu's intelligence, he couldn't possibly not know that Chen Ke hoped to recruit him, so he asked this question.

Shen Zengzhi had long seen that the relationship between Yan Fu and Chen Ke was by no means a simple "teacher-student" relationship. Although he didn't know what exactly happened between the two, Chen Ke never dared to make requests to Yan Fu directly, while Yan Fu was very interested in what Chen Ke did. That was why Shen Zengzhi reminded Yan Fu from the beginning that he didn't want Yan Fu, a former important minister of the state and now a famous scholar of the state, to defect to Chen Ke.

After today's tour, Shen Zengzhi's mood was far less calm than he appeared. What he saw and heard in Fengtai County made this great Confucian feel a heavy pressure. This newborn force had various deficiencies and absurdities, but it had a disturbing vitality. What was more disturbing was Chen Ke's political views. When Shen Zengzhi heard Chen Ke shamelessly criticizing the inefficiency of Manchu Qing tax collection to Yan Fu, he didn't make a sound, but he was very shocked in his heart.

With Shen Zengzhi's profound learning, he was well-read in history. The initial purpose of a rebel was absolutely not "construction"; the vast majority of rebels acted out of anger at their own unfair treatment. Either persecuted or unrecognized for their talent. In short, the first thing they wanted to do was "destroy." These people, without exception, tried their best to destroy old things. This was the reason Shen Zengzhi opposed Chen Ke. Chen Ke made it clear today that he wanted to destroy the Manchu Qing, destroy the landlords, and destroy the old system.

But Shen Zengzhi did not underestimate Chen Ke. Among rebels, the most dangerous ones were those who were proficient in government affairs at a young age. All such characters recorded in history books had an surprisingly high success rate in rebellion, such as Li Shimin. Of course, such characters who could be written into history books were also very few. Shen Zengzhi really didn't expect that he would actually see such a living example with his own eyes in his lifetime.

regarding the question "whether Chen Ke wants to proclaim himself Emperor" raised by Yan Fu, Shen Zengzhi clearly saw the meaning behind it. Yan Fu was not dissatisfied with Chen Ke; if he were dissatisfied, he wouldn't ask such a question at all. What Yan Fu wanted to see now was Chen Ke's capacity [magnanimity/vision]. Capacity is something that cannot be explained clearly. Shen Zengzhi had not learned the "Three Views" theory, so naturally he didn't know the terms of later generations like "Worldview, Values, Outlook on Life." But Shen Zengzhi knew very clearly that if Chen Ke couldn't show a capacity that Yan Fu felt he could follow, people like Yan Fu would absolutely not throw themselves into the movement against the Imperial Court so easily. Chen Ke was only in his twenties; in any case, his social experience would not be richer than the fifty-something Yan Fu. But being able to make Yan Fu ask the question "whether Chen Ke wants to proclaim himself Emperor" already proved that Chen Ke was quite remarkable.

Shen Zengzhi looked at Chen Ke carefully. In the twilight, he saw a stunned expression on Chen Ke's face. It wasn't the surprise of having his mind read, nor the blankness of not knowing how to respond. It seemed that Chen Ke had never considered the question of whether to proclaim himself Emperor. Seeing this expression, Shen Zengzhi felt relieved for the most part. If Chen Ke reasoned again, no matter how reasonable those principles were, Yan Fu would not really throw himself into the revolution led by Chen Ke. There are many people who know principles, but too few who can implement these principles into reality. Thinking of this, Shen Zengzhi watched Chen Ke with bated breath, wanting to know what this young man would say.

Chen Ke's mind was also in chaos at this time. Yan Fu's question really exceeded Chen Ke's imagination. He could vaguely feel what Yan Fu wanted to hear, but he just couldn't find the sentence Yan Fu truly wanted to hear. If he said he wanted to be Emperor, he would just be a madman. If he said he didn't want to be Emperor, he would appear very cowardly. If he stated facts, Yan Fu had followed him to see the base area for a day; he knew what he should know long ago. Reasoning? What reasoning should be discussed?

He couldn't see how to persuade Yan Fu to join the revolution no matter what, but his heart very much hoped that Yan Fu could join the revolutionary team. Chen Ke just felt chaotic. Fortunately, Yan Fu didn't seem to insist on Chen Ke answering immediately. This old handsome guy stood there steadily, looking at Chen Ke calmly.

Since he didn't know what to say, he might as well speak his mind. Chen Ke soon made up his mind. "Mr. Yan, our Fengtai County Base Area has achieved what it has now in just one year. In the future, we will definitely be able to liberate the whole of China. So I very much hope Mr. Yan can stay in Fengtai County and liberate China with us, pulling China back from the edge of this cliff. If we don't act, China will inevitably fall into an era of warlord scuffles. Moreover, with internal chaos and foreigners eyeing covetously from outside, China will fall into the abyss of eternal damnation at that time."

Hearing this, Shen Zengzhi immediately knew it was bad. Although these words couldn't be considered the "best answer," they catered well to Yan Fu's thoughts. If Yan Fu looked for a force to rely on, he would definitely look for a force that could save the country and the people. On the point of saving the country and the people, Shen Zengzhi and Yan Fu were not much different. It was just that Shen Zengzhi was more loyal to the Manchu Qing and unwilling to bear the name of a traitor. But Shen Zengzhi knew that Yan Fu placed China's interests above the Manchu Qing's interests. If Yan Fu believed Chen Ke could save China, then Yan Fu wouldn't care about betraying the Manchu Qing.

Chen Ke completely didn't know Shen Zengzhi's thoughts. He continued: "As for proclaiming Emperor, imperial rule considers one's own descendants and those meritorious ministers and generals. To put it bluntly, it is for one's own selfish interests, for the selfish interests of a small group. Our People's Party focuses on people's revolution and people's interests. I never thought about becoming Emperor at all, and our comrades will absolutely not become any princes, marquises, or generals after the success of the revolution, sitting on the people's heads and domineering. After the success of our revolution, the Chinese people will be the masters of the country, and the interests of the Chinese people are supreme. Our People's Party is to serve the people. We are the public servants of the people, not the masters [Lao Ye] of the people."

When Chen Ke spoke, it wasn't so resonant. He hesitated slightly, but without any doubt, which also conformed to the respectful attitude of a junior to a senior. Yan Fu listened quietly and did not express his attitude. Seeing the actual situation of Fengtai County today, the old handsome guy Yan Fu didn't have boiling blood, nor was he moved beyond description. The People's Party revolutionized to the point of political system revolution; even Yan Fu felt it was a bit radical. The reason he asked this was purely out of curiosity: what exactly was the ultimate goal of this person Chen Ke's revolution?

If Chen Ke engaged in an election system, it meant Chen Ke himself could hardly become Emperor. Yan Fu really wanted to see what kind of thoughts this young man full of talk about people's revolution had. Hearing Chen Ke state his "ideal," Yan Fu was very dissatisfied in his heart. He felt Chen Ke was young after all; "people as masters of their own house" sounded very bewitching, but in Yan Fu's eyes, this thing was full of holes. So Yan Fu remained silent. seeing Yan Fu like this, Shen Zengzhi also breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing the expressions of these two people, Chen Ke also knew Yan Fu was not moved by him. Since the talk didn't work out, Chen Ke let go of all illusions. He felt he had to speak some heartfelt words. This wasn't for Yan Fu; even if it was for himself, Chen Ke felt it necessary to say some heartfelt words.

"Mr. Yan, forgive my bluntness. You and people like Mr. Shen have high learning and broad knowledge. But you inevitably have the fatal problem of literati. You are just engaging in 'pure talk' [empty talk]. When talking about principles, you have sets of them; criticizing problems, you can also hit the surface. But what use is this? The revolution my comrades and I are carrying out in Fengtai County looks full of flaws and very imperfect. But we worked with all our might. Mr. Shen said the common people think the Manchu Qing is the Imperial Court; correct. But as long as we don't let a single soldier of the Manchu Qing step into the base area, the common people still follow us. If Mr. Shen runs among the common people now shouting that the People's Party wants to rebel, and we catch Mr. Shen and tear him into eight pieces, will there be a single common person willing to lift a finger to save Mr. Shen? This is the struggle between revolution and counter-revolution. This is reality."

These words were already quite vicious. Shen Zengzhi snorted coldly after hearing them. If Chen Ke really killed him, Shen Zengzhi would feel relieved instead.

Chen Ke also sneered. "Mr. Shen, you are not afraid of death; everyone dies. But Mr. Shen, when the Ming Dynasty fell, the Manchu Qing were barbarians. But those who want to overthrow the Manchu Qing now are all patriots. None of these people are barbarians. You are loyal to the Manchu Qing; how will history books write about you in the future? A running dog loyal to the Manchu Qing, hindering the Chinese revolution? The Manchu Qing will inevitably perish in the face of the people's revolution; is your eternal fame, Mr. Shen, to be a stone in the latrine, smelly and hard? If Mr. Shen doesn't care about this, I don't care about fulfilling your wish, Mr. Shen."

"Wen Qing, don't act on impulse." Hearing Chen Ke speak so impolitely, Yan Fu couldn't help advising.

"Mr. Yan, I originally thought learned people like Mr. Shen would prioritize China's interests like you. But looking at it now, people like Mr. Shen are not like this at all. Mr. Yan, I truly and sincerely hope you can join the revolution, because the people's revolution will inevitably win. Do you have so little confidence in the people? Are you unwilling to contribute your knowledge? I know, you feel your learning was acquired in schools paid for by the Manchu Qing, but regarding the money for running these schools, and the tens of millions of taels of silver for establishing the Beiyang Navy, which coin didn't come from the common people? Which coin wasn't the hard-earned money of the people breaking their backs? Could that old witch Cixi give birth to a coin from her crotch? Can those princes and ministers in Beijing shit gold and piss silver? Don't they rely on squandering the people's blood and sweat to domineer? The Beiyang Navy spent countless blood and sweat of the common people, and the Beiyang Navy has already let the common people down once. Now I ask you to dedicate yourself once for these visible and tangible common people. Let the blood and sweat of these tens of thousands of common people in Fengtai County not be wasted again. I invite you to join our people's revolution. Mr. Yan, is it so difficult to ask you to contribute strength to the people's revolution?"

Hearing this passage, Yan Fu was finally moved. Chen Ke was not narrating his own or the Revolutionary Party's concepts. Chen Ke was pointing out a fact. Everything the Manchu Qing took out was taken from the common people. And Yan Fu himself had let the common people down once. Every time he thought of the failure of the Beiyang Navy, Yan Fu felt a heart-rending regret. And Chen Ke tore this wound open again mercilessly, and pointed out Yan Fu's failure from the perspective of the Chinese common people. This pain was even more unbearable for Yan Fu than the failure back then.

Seeing Yan Fu's painful expression, Shen Zengzhi knew Yan Fu could no longer have a reason to refuse Chen Ke. He couldn't help shouting: "Chen Ke, Mr. Yan is your mentor; your words are too unruly!"

Chen Ke turned to Shen Zengzhi. At this time, his face was full of anger, without a shred of pity or sympathy. "Mr. Shen, you are a great Confucian of the current age. Your learning is extremely high. Let me ask you: you have been eating and drinking the people's fat and marrow these years; what exactly have you done for the common people? Can that set of things you talk nonsense about all day resist enemy countries externally, or allow the common people to live and work in peace and contentment? When a disaster year comes, when you officials should come out to relieve the common people, you led a group of officials to hide in Shouzhou City, carefree and at ease. I want to ask you, do you want to be worthy of the people's fat and marrow you ate and drank over the years? Do you want to serve the people, or do you insist on standing on the opposite side of the people's revolution? If you firmly refuse to seek welfare for the common people, refuse to create a tomorrow for the common people, and insist on being loyal to the Manchu Qing. No problem, I can tell you clearly right now: if you drink poison, I'll give you the bottle; if you hang yourself, I'll give you the rope."

Shen Zengzhi had never been scolded like this, nor had his personality been trampled underfoot like this. And it was trampled in such an impolite and merciless way. The old man's greying beard began to tremble violently. And his body shook even more severely.

But Chen Ke had no thought of letting Shen Zengzhi go now. A fierce emotion filled his chest, even exceeding Chen Ke's own imagination. When facing comrades, Chen Ke at least felt these people had a common ideal of saving the country. But facing Manchu Qing officials like Shen Zengzhi, these enemies, Chen Ke suddenly discovered that he had such overflowing hatred. Even more intense words couldn't help blurring out.

"In which year of tax collection did the Manchu Qing not drive people to death? Don't think that just because you didn't personally drive people to death, you are innocent. You eat the Manchu Qing's salary; you eat not only the people's blood and sweat, but also the people's lives. When eating people, you all pretend to be innocent, pretend not to see. But encountering the revolution we promote to liberate the people, you suddenly remember loyalty, filial piety, and etiquette. The Manchu Qing system is a man-eating system, and you are all accomplices. Wanting to eat people yourselves, yet afraid of being eaten by others, you all look at each other with extremely suspicious eyes. Getting rid of this thought, seeking welfare for the people, creating a tomorrow—how comfortable it is to work, walk, eat, and sleep with peace of mind. This is just a threshold, a pass. Yet you fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, wives, friends, teachers, students, enemies, and strangers all form a gang, encouraging each other and holding each other back, refusing to cross this step even in death. Not only do you refuse to cross this step, but you also firmly forbid others to walk this way."

Chen Ke became more and more angry as he spoke, his voice almost roaring: "Mr. Shen, I tell you, you can change, start changing from your true heart! You must know that in the future, people who eat people will not be allowed to live in the world. If you don't change, you will be eaten up yourselves. No matter how many people like you there are, you will be wiped out clean by the people's revolution, just like hunters killing off wolves! Just like bugs!"