"Where did this People's Party come from? How come I haven't heard of it?" Fan Chuanjia, a member of the Yuewang Society, asked with a frown. "Exactly how many people does the People's Party have, wanting us to be insiders?"

Bai Wenwei answered excitedly: "The People's Party is a revolutionary party organized by Mr. Yan Fu. A while ago, Mr. Yan Fu led a fleet past Anqing; I wonder if everyone has seen it."

"Is it that big fleet? En Ming even went to pick up and send off personally." An envious look appeared on Fan Chuanjia's face immediately.

"This People's Party is very rich. Letting us be insiders, we can't let them off cheaply." Cadres of the Yuewang Society attending the meeting immediately started shouting.

"Anqing is our territory; we absolutely cannot let outsiders do whatever they want."

"If they fight into Anqing, what do we do?"

Although the Yuewang Society had only 30 people when it was established in early 1905, and now the core members were less than 200, these "revolutionaries" evaluated their own strength quite highly. Hearing that outside forces wanted to enter Anqing, they became filled with indignation.

"Everyone quiet down," Bai Wenwei was long accustomed to such a meeting atmosphere. He first temporarily stopped everyone's disorderly noise before saying loudly: "I have already discussed with Mr. Yan Fu; they just want the lives of En Ming and this gang. After killing officials like En Ming, the People's Party people will leave. Anqing is still our Yuewang Society's."

"Then what if they don't leave?" someone asked immediately.

"Exactly how many people does that whatever People's Party have?" someone also asked Fan Chuanjia.

"That fleet had quite a few people, at least five or six hundred." The one who took over the conversation was Xiong Chengji. Xiong Chengji graduated from the regular military academy of the Jiangnan Artillery Academy; once he spoke, others quieted down a lot.

"How many people does the People's Party plan to send over?"

"More than three thousand people." Bai Wenwei answered.

"So many people? Then if they take Anqing and refuse to leave, what do we do?" Someone in the Yuewang Society shouted anxiously then and there.

"We finally have so many revolutionary comrades in Anqing with difficulty; we can't let the People's Party run over to pick the fruit."

"Exactly. If it really doesn't work, let the People's Party and En Ming fight it out. When they fight until both sides suffer, we will come out and take Anqing."

Endless clever plans from members within the Yuewang Society came out one after another. Bai Wenwei only felt very familiar with them. Most of them were mentioned by storytellers. To really speak of the core idea, it was just one: "I come to pick the fruit; you go to die." regarding these suggestions of the comrades, Bai Wenwei could understand. Anqing was where the goal of all comrades lay; if it were suddenly snatched away by Yan Fu breaking in, the comrades would absolutely not allow it. On this point, Bai Wenwei was no different from these comrades. But Bai Wenwei was a revolutionary activist after all, and his vision was slightly broader. Relying on the less than 200 comrades of the Yuewang Society, wanting to take Anqing was simply unrealistic. Revolution must have assistance. When this assistance came from the renowned and trustworthy Yan Fu, Bai Wenwei thought it was relatively reliable. So he tried hard to persuade the comrades. "Mr. Yan Fu has always kept his word. I believe since Mr. Yan Fu said he wouldn't stay in Anqing, he shouldn't."

Before his voice fell, someone retorted immediately. "Although Yan Fu keeps his word, after taking Anqing, if their People's Party sweeps Anqing clean, what do we do? Leaving an empty Anqing city, what do we want it for?"

"Exactly!" Someone expressed support immediately. In the view of this group of revolutionary parties, they not only wanted to seize Anqing, but also wanted Anqing to possess all the functions it had in the hands of the Manchu Qing, such as tax revenue, such as military strength. In short, Anqing should be seized by the Yuewang Society in a "completely ideal state," and then immediately show super capability to support the success of the revolution.

The Yuewang Society had joined the Tongmenghui at this time, and compared with the revolutionaries of this era, the Yuewang Society was basically consistent. None of them understood what exactly the revolution was to do. These people just firmly believed that after overthrowing the Manchu Qing and taking power themselves, China would definitely become better. As for what means to adopt, these people didn't know at all. generally speaking, the attitude of these revolutionaries towards revolution was quite "unscientific."

Facing these comrades, Bai Wenwei could only try his best to persuade. "We have already discussed with Mr. Yan Fu. Of the gold and silver in the Anqing treasury this time, Mr. Yan will only take half. The rest is transporting some equipment from the Anqing Machinery Bureau."

This could already be considered a very fair distribution method, but opposing opinions in the Yuewang Society rose immediately. "This absolutely won't do! If they take these away, what do we do? Anqing is our territory; we can't let people from some People's Party come to run wild."

Just at this time, Xiong Chengji interrupted very "untimely": "Is the People's Party waiting for us to act as insiders before setting off?"

Xiong Chengji graduated from a proper military academy; the question was quite reliable. Bai Wenwei had also asked Yan Fu this question. Yan Fu's answer was "We will march into Anqing; whether the Yuewang Society cooperates or not, we will fight." Since Yan Fu's tone was calm and his attitude steady, Bai Wenwei didn't feel anything wrong at the time. Now having talked with the comrades for so long, recalling Yan Fu's words again, he only felt there was quite a murderous meaning in these words. He answered: "I'm afraid the People's Party has already started moving. They should arrive at the foot of Anqing city within half a month."

Hearing this, the revolutionary comrades of the Yuewang Society attending the meeting immediately went silent. They didn't expect the People's Party to actually do what they said. According to the "revolutionary habits" of these years, whenever there was an uprising, everyone would link up for a long time first, and even start shouting "revolution" and "rebellion" publicly on the street. Next was recruiting people, linking up, treating to meals, treating to drinks, and swearing oaths with great fanfare to semi-publicly. Finally, when the agreed day of launching the uprising arrived, basically it was still the few main initiators and a few followers; either everyone simply scattered, or they launched a moth-to-the-flame type uprising. According to what Bai Wenwei said, the People's Party's team of more than three thousand people set off just like that—this kind of thing had always existed in the imagination of "revolutionary patriots." The actual situation was that this group of people had never seen it once.

Yan Fu's reputation was too loud. Since the members of the Yuewang Society learned that this attack on Anqing was led by Yan Fu personally, everyone couldn't help but believe it a bit.

"How about we wait and see first? If the People's Party can fight into the city, we'll talk about helping them then." Someone proposed such a fencesitting suggestion. Unexpectedly to Bai Wenwei, there were quite a few who agreed. Bai Wenwei was very speechless. He really didn't expect that these comrades, who usually thought they could display their grand plans as soon as the East Wind of revolution came, actually had such an attitude facing the revolutionary storm Yan Fu really wanted to bring.

While Bai Wenwei discussed with comrades how to cooperate with the People's Party, several people in plain clothes had already mixed into Anqing City. Most of the people in this team were formerly officers and soldiers of the Anhui New Army. After following Pu Guanshui to the base area, they were very moved seeing the revolutionary movement of the People's Party and later joined the People's Party. Now their task was to try their best to persuade the officers and soldiers of the New Army to see if they could become insiders and play a key role in the battle to attack Anqing. Leading the team was the underground liaison officer of the People's Party. Worrying that the Anqing side already knew some news about Fengtai County and Pu Guanshui, these comrades disguised themselves as ordinary common people and entered Anqing. What reassured everyone was that compared with when they left Anqing a few months ago, except for the weather being colder and the number of disaster victims being fewer, the situation hadn't changed much. At least on the surface, Anqing did not know about the big events that happened in Fengyang Prefecture.

These few New Army comrades arrived in Wuhu at the same time as Yan Fu. Using the Water Detachment ship to send them specifically to Anqing would be too conspicuous, so these comrades took a boat from Wuhu to Anqing themselves. Seeing no big changes in Anqing City, they also breathed a sigh of relief. The military camp was not in the city, but now everyone prepared to probe the actual situation first before talking about mixing back into the military camp. The military camp had rules after all, and everyone's faces were familiar. These New Army comrades went out with Pu Guanshui; coming back secretly like this, there would always be various questions once known by others.

The foothold for the liaison officer and the New Army comrades was the secret liaison station of the People's Party in Anqing, an ordinary courtyard in the west of the city. Traditional Anhui architecture, that is to say, white walls and black tiles, with extremely high courtyard walls. These comrades of Anhui local origin had gradually become accustomed to the newly built houses in Fengtai County these days—red bricks and red tiles, plus glass windows, looking festive. Everyone couldn't help comparing the old-style houses with the new houses in Fengtai County in their hearts.

The outer door was left unlatched. After the group entered, they found no one there. Everyone shouted a few times but heard no response. Just as they were puzzled, the main gate sounded, and a man in his thirties came in from outside. It was Huang Yuedong, the head of the Anqing Liaison Station. Seeing so many people in the courtyard, he was startled at first, but recognized the liaison officer after looking closely. Huang Yuedong then relaxed. Closing the door, he led the comrades into the main hall. Huang Yuedong asked about the general situation. Hearing that these new comrades were actually from the New Army, a strange look appeared on his face.

Those who could become liaison officers were clever comrades. Seeing Huang Yuedong's expression, he knew something big had happened. Since they wanted to attack Anqing, the more they knew about Anqing affairs, the better. The liaison officer asked what big events happened recently.

Huang Yuedong looked at those few New Army party members. "Do you know Liu Shicheng of the New Army?"

Some New Army party members shook their heads, some lowered their heads to recall. But New Army party member Xie Jinfu asked: "Is it that Liu Shicheng of the Transport Battalion?"

"It is that Liu Shicheng. A disturbance happened in the city the day before yesterday. Liu Shicheng pushed their Battalion Officer off the second floor of a brothel, and then ran away with a prostitute. He is being wanted now. Gentlemen, better not rush back to the New Army camp these few days."

"Why?" The liaison officer was somewhat strange.

"Think about it. That Liu Shicheng is alone; his clothes and money are probably still in the military camp. Without getting his luggage, in this big winter, taking a woman with him, where can he run to?"

"How did Liu Shicheng get jealous over a woman with a Battalion Officer?" The New Army party member Xie Jinfu was also a low-level officer in the Transport Battalion; he asked strangely. In his impression, Liu Shicheng was not a person who dared to beat a superior.

"I also went to inquire about the news. The brothel wasn't very clear either. But according to them, it seems it wasn't jealousy over a woman, but Liu Shicheng fell out with the Battalion Officer directly."

Everyone was very interested in what exactly happened but couldn't figure it out, so they simply didn't guess wildly. Huang Yuedong introduced the intelligence he collected on ordinary days. There was no news of the People's Party here in Anqing. The difference between north and south Anhui was originally huge; after the flood, no one in southern Anhui was willing to go to the disaster area in northern Huai either. News was extremely blocked.

Although they didn't know if people of the level of Anhui Governor En Ming had received any news, there were no rumors about the People's Party on the market, so the comrades felt much more relaxed. After this tiring journey, everyone was tired too. Except for Xie Jinfu who felt very curious and took the initiative to go to the New Army camp to take a look, other comrades wanted to rest. Seeing Xie Jinfu volunteering, everyone didn't stop him either, just told Xie Jinfu to be careful and let him go by himself.

After everyone slept a sleep, they didn't see Xie Jinfu return, and the comrades felt something was very wrong. Did something happen? Waiting for another good while, the moon had risen, and the comrades were like ants on a hot pan one by one. This must be an accident, but the feeling of not knowing what happened was the most uncomfortable. Every time there were footsteps at the door, everyone hoped it was Xie Jinfu, but worried it was Anqing's officers and soldiers coming. Everyone knew very clearly what exactly the People's Party wanted to do; this was really rebelling, and being caught really meant beheading.

But sending people to find Xie Jinfu now—Anqing was so big, and it was night; where to find him? Waiting for an unknown amount of time again, accompanied by footsteps, finally someone knocked on the door. It was the signal of two long and two short knocks. The comrades were immediately overjoyed and secretly opened the door. Xie Jinfu slipped in through the crack of the door. Everyone returned to the hall in silence. Before the liaison officer could criticize Xie Jinfu, they saw Xie Jinfu with an indescribable expression on his face. "I found out about Liu Shicheng's matter clearly. That prostitute was Liu Shicheng's cousin [paternal]. She was sold to Anqing because of the flood. When the Battalion Officer went to the brothel, the one guarding the door outside was actually Liu Shicheng. Later Liu Shicheng's cousin sent the Battalion Officer out, and the two met."

Hearing this story which was almost like storytelling, Huang Yuedong had a bit of suppressed smile on his face. But the faces of the New Army comrades were gloomy and scary. These comrades had seen the appearance of the disaster area with their own eyes. With the help of the People's Party, these New Army officers and soldiers had sent their relatives to the base area. During the house distribution this time, everyone's relatives were also distributed houses and temporarily distributed land. As long as no big accident happened, everyone's family members could pass this year safely. But in the disaster area, the lives of the common people were not so lucky. Selling sons and daughters was just one of the norms. Many didn't even have the chance to sell sons and daughters; basically no one went to the disaster area to buy people. The common people struggled on the death line by themselves. In the new base area conquered by the People's Party, because disaster victim camps were formed, the common people had a way to live. In other places, the common people could only run their own course.

"Then why did you come back so late?" the liaison officer asked.

Xie Jinfu gritted his teeth slightly and said: "I went back to the military camp. This matter spread very widely. The brothers of the Transport Battalion were all very annoyed. And I heard, it seems Liu Shicheng has already been caught."

"Comrade Xie Jinfu, how dared you return to the New Army?" The liaison officer was anxious.

"Now everyone is worried about the people at home again; who has the mind to manage me? I just said I asked for leave and sneaked back first to handle some private affairs. Everyone didn't mind. No one in the New Army knows about our People's Party either. I found this out clearly."

The liaison officer didn't know what to say either, but Xie Jinfu didn't intend to listen to the liaison officer say more. He continued to say with righteous indignation: "The New Army brothers serve as soldiers and sell their lives, yet their family members have to starve to death alive. Just starving to death would be one thing, but they are even sold to brothels, unable to lift their heads for a lifetime. This world really can't go on. I have decided that no matter what, I will go back to the New Army brothers and tell everyone: rebel then rebel; it's better than this life!"

Other New Army comrades nodded one after another. "Although the base area is bitter now, looking at it like this, everyone can live a good life this year. Why still sell our lives for these government people!"

The liaison officer was also an old party member. He said hurriedly: "Comrades, this kind of thing cannot be rushed. Since Anqing hasn't received news of our People's Party yet, we don't need to leak the wind. If we can trick open the city gate, why suffer to attack hard?"

Xie Jinfu retorted immediately: "Your words are wrong. Let's not talk about the high officials in the New Army; the brothers of the New Army serve as soldiers just to eat grain. Who sincerely wants to sell their lives for the Court? If we don't let the brothers of the New Army know that our People's Party seeks welfare and creates a tomorrow for the common people, and the two sides fight like this, the ones dying are all our common people. I think this won't do. We can't let the brothers die in vain for those bastards."

These words made a lot of sense; the liaison officer couldn't say it was wrong either. Thinking for a while, he said: "In that case, everyone go contact reliable New Army brothers first. Didn't you say Liu Shicheng was caught? It's best to wait until there is a clue about Liu Shicheng's matter before telling everyone the truth about our People's Party."

Xie Jinfu sneered. "It doesn't need to be so troublesome at all. If Liu Shicheng is really caught, I will let the brothers of the Transport Battalion ask how exactly Liu Shicheng will be treated. Those Battalion Officers are not things [good people]; do you think they will feel they are wrong at all when encountering such a thing? They will only feel that Liu Shicheng actually dared to beat a superior officer, which is a great crime. As for Liu Shicheng's sister, hmph! Those bastards won't have any mercy."

Looking at the liaison officer's surprised expression, Xie Jinfu said categorically: "Don't disbelieve it; it's really like this!"