"Big Brother, good skills," Liu Yongfu praised happily while tying up the villager writhing in pain on the ground. Like Pang Zi, Liu Yongfu had never fought a battle with such a disparity in numbers in his life. One against twenty, and to fight like this, was an unparalleled encouragement to self-confidence.

Pang Zi didn't care about the praise; everyone was far from out of danger at this time. Pang Zi looked around holding his gun, looking for where the villagers had hidden their horses on one hand, and observing a safe breakout route on the other. The villagers' aggressive encirclement not long ago had vanished. They hid behind walls or other places that could cover their bodies, only occasionally showing their faces when peeking at Pang Zi. From those movements and faces, Pang Zi could see the villagers' panic. This village was not big, with a total of less than 150 people. The ten knocked down were all young guys; it could be said that nearly half of the young people in this village had been captured.

Just as Pang Zi was considering, he suddenly heard cries of pain "Ouch!". Liu Yongfu and others tied them very hard, fearing these people would break free. The villagers had been beaten originally; how could they stand such desperate force? They couldn't help groaning in pain one by one.

Pang Zi ordered, "Brothers, just tie them tight. No need to risk your lives like that. We weren't here to fight these people in the first place."

"Brother, we didn't come to fight them. But these people came to take our brothers' lives," Liu Yongfu said indignantly.

Seeing Liu Yongfu still relentless, Pang Zi smiled helplessly. "Yongfu, these villagers want to kill bandits. We are now bearing the name of bandits; we can't blame the villagers for doing this."

Everyone who heard this froze in place. It wasn't because Pang Zi said something wrong, but because these words were so reasonable that they didn't sound like words that could be spoken by Pang Zi, who was treated as a bandit. Seeing Liu Yongfu and the other two brothers frozen in place, Pang Zi urged, "Hurry up and tie them. After tying, we will make things clear with the villagers. We'll ask for the horses back and leave. We'll release these people after taking them past the mountain pass."

Zhou Wencai endured the pain and asked loudly, "King Pang, are you serious?"

Pang Zi looked down at Zhou Wencai and said very seriously, "Brother Zhou, there is a misunderstanding between us. Everyone had to fight to survive. Now we don't have to fight anymore. After we get the horses back, we will go our separate ways. If you don't believe me, I have no way either. But a gentleman once told me some words before: if a person only thinks about his own gains and losses when doing things, things will never be settled. If one only thinks about what exactly this matter is, then it's enough for a matter to have a beginning and an end. Regarding our matter, you want to eliminate bandits and no longer be bullied. We encountered difficulties and had to run here to avoid the limelight. Now we want to leave the mountains and never return. Everyone fought to the death just now for the things each wanted to do. When we leave the village safely, our business is done. What's the point of harming you gentlemen again? So you don't have to be afraid. As long as you let us leave your village safely, we will neither retaliate nor return."

Zhou Wencai felt Pang Zi's words were very credible. He said loudly, "King Pang, since you say so, I provoked this bandit fighting. When you leave, you naturally need to take hostages, so you might as well take me alone. Don't touch the others."

"This Brother Zhou is very righteous. Since you are so righteous, I'll say this upfront: these horses were brought by us from outside the mountains, not your horses. As long as you give us the horses first, we'll do it this way. If you don't give us our horses, these brothers will inevitably suffer some physical pain."

Pang Zi spoke so seriously that Zhou Wencai knew Pang Zi was absolutely not joking. He hurriedly responded, "Then release my Fourth Uncle and let him bring your horses."

The subsequent matters were much smoother. The villagers obediently handed over the horses. Pang Zi and the others mounted the horses and took Zhou Wencai along. The horse team went all the way out of the village. The villagers watched from a distance. As soon as Pang Zi and the others left, the villagers ran towards those tied in a pile.

No one intercepted them on the road. After leaving the village far behind, presumably safe, Pang Zi asked everyone to stop and then put Zhou Wencai on the ground. Liu Yongfu asked, "Brother, should we..." He made a gesture as he spoke. Zhou Wencai had given everyone such a big fright; the crowd had no good feelings for him.

"I said just now, once we leave safely, this matter is done. Killing people again will only add trouble." Pang Zi himself had risked his life to deal with the villagers just now. Now that he finally left the danger, he was unwilling to do anything that would cause complications in his heart.

Liu Yongfu and others naturally dared not violate Pang Zi's thoughts. Just as they were preparing to leave, they heard Zhou Wencai shout, "King Pang, don't go back to the mountain stronghold now. Someone has already gone to attack there now. If you go rashly, I'm afraid you will meet those people."

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Zhou." Pang Zi responded, then urged his horse away.

This time Pang Zi could be said to have lost completely, losing even his last foothold. Yet Pang Zi didn't feel sorry for himself at all in his heart. He made up his mind that as long as he found Chen Tianhua and Chen Ke, he would follow them wholeheartedly. Once a person has a clear goal, he doesn't have so many thoughts. The group went all the way east after leaving the mountains. Everyone had walked this road many times and wouldn't get lost at all. Moreover, although Pang Zi's belongings were left in the mountain stronghold, he still carried some money with him. Just this money was enough for the travel expenses to Shandong. They didn't dare to go through Nangong County, but detoured towards Baoding first. Pang Zi knew that the two *Lingzhi* in his hand could sell for a good price in big cities. Although he was "renowned" in Xingtai and Nangong County, no one knew him in Beijing at all.

The weather was already hot, making travel convenient. Everyone marched lightly and arrived in Beijing in a few days. The group found a place to rest near Beijing, and Pang Zi entered the city alone to sell the *Lingzhi*. As soon as he entered Beijing city, he saw police everywhere on the road. Pang Zi mixed in the crowd to watch and couldn't see any special people, but the whole atmosphere in Beijing was tense, looking like something big was about to happen.

Just as Pang Zi was looking for a medicine shop to sell the *Lingzhi*, Cen Chunxuan was standing with his hands down in front of Cixi, saying loudly with emotion, "Old Buddha, your subject is willing to be a watchdog for the Two Palaces, sparing no effort until death."

Ten days ago, on April 20, the official system of the Three Northeastern Provinces was published. Xu Shichang was the Governor-General, Tang Shaoyi was the Governor of Fengtian, Zhu Jiabao was the Acting Governor of Jilin, and Duan Zhigui was the Acting Governor of Heilongjiang. All four were from the Beiyang clique. The Beiyang clique seized power unscrupulously. As soon as the appointment was announced, it caused strong repercussions in the court and the public. The timing for a joint counterattack against Beiyang was maturing. With Qu Hongji's secret assistance, Cen Chunxuan used the name of going to Sichuan to take office, took a boat to Wuhan, and soon submitted a memorial requesting to see the Empress Dowager "on the way." Expecting that this memorial would be rejected by Yikuang and others, he took the Beijing-Hankou train north day and night without waiting for a reply. On the way, Qu Hongji's fellow townsman, Censor Zhao Qilin, made a special trip to Baoding Station to welcome him and accompany him into Beijing.

On the night of May 1, Cen arrived in Beijing. In the early morning of the next day, he knocked on the palace gate, unveiling the Dingwei Political Tide. In the following May 2 and May 3, Cen Chunxuan was summoned by Cixi twice in a row. Cen Chunxuan was an official promoted by Cixi after the "Westward Hunt" (flight to Xi'an) in the Gengzi year. Cixi greatly appreciated Cen Chunxuan's reputation as a "Blue Sky" (upright official) who "feared no violence." Plus, Cen Chunxuan himself always supported the New Policies promoted by Cixi, so Cixi always regarded Cen Chunxuan as a usable person in her hand.

This time, in order to lead the constitutionalism, Beiyang frantically placed its own people among the high officials of various provinces. Cixi also felt that Beiyang's actions had reached an unscrupulous level. Although Cen Chunxuan first violated the state's appointment and then secretly ran to Beijing, Cixi didn't blame Cen for his fierceness. Instead, after he arrived in Beijing, she immediately met him to consult on national policies. Relying on Cixi's trust, Cen Chunxuan impeached Yikuang for corruption and Yuan Shikai for forming cliques for private gain face to face after meeting.

Although Cixi had a pathological desire for power, she hoped to accomplish something when she was in power after all. But she was an old woman deep in the palace after all. Compared with the ministers in the Manchu court, they were actually birds of a feather. They all had the same fatal flaw, which was "not professional enough." Engaging in power tactics was excellent; everyone in the Manchu court knew this clearly. But when she truly wanted to do something for this country, her shortcomings were immediately exposed.

Cen Chunxuan, known as the "Official Butcher," stood in front of Cixi. This leader of the Pure Stream, known as the last incorruptible official of the Manchu Qing, was extremely excited at this time. The sovereign and subject had been talking for quite a while. When Cixi talked about "the current situation is worsening day by day, and every step is difficult," she couldn't help shedding tears. Regarding Cixi's tears, Cen Chunxuan felt "empathy." He first said loudly, "Old Buddha, your subject is willing to be a watchdog for the Two Palaces, sparing no effort until death." After saying this, Cen Chunxuan couldn't help crying aloud too.

Cen Chunxuan's performance was not affected; at least he didn't think it was affected. Cen Chunxuan believed this was out of loyalty to the court. He had repeatedly explained to Cixi that the government affairs were ruined in the hands of this group of nobles. The political body was terminally ill from top to bottom and helpless. The reason lay in high-level corruption, which had become a consensus. But the nobles formed a web of interests and couldn't move. Any move would make the Pure Stream constitutionalists die without a burial place.

Watching Cen Chunxuan, a grown man, crying like a child, Cixi, as a woman, couldn't help taking out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. She calmed down, turned her head and gave a few instructions, and someone went out immediately. Cixi asked, "Lord Cen, I wonder what you think about asking you to take office as the Minister of Posts and Communications?"

Hearing this, Cen Chunxuan was overjoyed. He immediately knelt down and said loudly, "Your subject will definitely not disappoint the Old Buddha's hope."

Cixi was 72 years old this year after all. Although she still wanted to talk more with Cen Chunxuan, her strength was failing. The palace maids and eunuchs below obviously saw Cixi's fatigue and hurriedly poured a bowl of ginseng soup for Cixi. Although Cen Chunxuan was nicknamed "Official Butcher," he dared not really tire Cixi out. After all, to bring down the Beiyang clique this time, he must get Cixi's support.

Smelling the scent of ginseng tea, Cen Chunxuan asked to leave. Although Cixi wanted to say more, her body was exhausted after all. She said, "Lord Cen, I will continue to summon you into the palace tomorrow."

That day, the news that Cixi granted Cen Chunxuan the post of Minister of Posts and Communications spread throughout the capital. This was an extremely obvious signal. Everyone up and down the court knew that the political offensive launched first by the Pure Stream had successfully taken the first step.

By the evening of this day, twenty-seven young people gathered in a courtyard in Beijing. This was the place where they often met. Nearly half of the attendees were members of the political group Chen Ke formed in Beijing before. That time Chen Ke just wanted to see if there were any capable people in Beijing. Finally, the few people he selected followed Chen Ke south. The other part was left in Beijing unattended. These people were all young people. They finally found some companions with a common language. Although Chen Ke, Shang Yuan, Xu Dian, and others left, the remaining people still had no plan to disband this organization.

These people came very fully today because a very important figure had returned to Beijing. Everyone had been waiting for news of this person for a long time. While waiting together, the young people naturally chatted about everything, and Cen Chunxuan's matter was naturally the focus.

"Brother Zheng, you are from Beiyang; what do you think?" Someone asked Zheng Wenjie, who was sitting aside smoking a cigarette.

Zheng Wenjie exhaled smoke, then said, "I have no thoughts. Cen Chunxuan came prepared. After seizing the position of Minister of Posts and Communications, he will definitely attack Prince Qing and Lord Yuan. It just depends on how he does it and when he does it. How can a pawn like me know such things?"

"Can it be that Lord Yuan and Prince Qing can't beat Cen Chunxuan, this Official Butcher?" Someone said somewhat doubtfully.

Zheng Wenjie continued to smoke his cigarette as if he hadn't heard.

"Brother Zheng, what exactly are you thinking about?" Li Yongzhong leaned over and asked. "It's rare to see you so depressed."

Zheng Wenjie saw many people looking at him and knew his recent performance was indeed very abnormal. Since Chen Ke and Shang Yuan left, Zheng Wenjie had become the generally recognized leader in this "Revolutionary Interest Group." He simply stopped hiding his thoughts. Zheng Wenjie said loudly, "Gentlemen, everyone knows that one of the earliest initiators of our group was Chen Ke. He has now started a very big situation in Anhui."

Hearing this, the expressions of several attendees became strange. Not having seen him for more than a year, these people couldn't even remember clearly what Chen Ke looked like now. What they could remember was that these people who stayed in Beijing had tried to remove Chen Ke from the position of "leader." And they drove Chai Qingguo out of the group meeting. When Chen Ke had to leave Beijing in a hurry because of something happening in his southern lair, these people were very jubilant.

If one must say, the common point of these young people was that they all believed the Manchu Qing was incurable, and constitutionalism was also incurable. There must be a revolution to let them ascend to the position of leaders themselves and guide China out of its current miserable fate. Although Chen Ke claimed to be an international student and indeed wrote such a book, the problem was that Chen Ke was an unknown person. It was impossible to make these people convinced. The reason why this group of people failed to bring down Chen Ke when he was in Beijing was only because Shang Yuan and others strongly supported Chen Ke. And this group of people hadn't elected a leader they identified with yet.

Since Chen Ke left, the eyesores also disappeared one after another. The members of the Beijing "Revolutionary Group" became a group of people who could accept each other. Not long after, these people felt that although the atmosphere in the Revolutionary Group made them more comfortable, compared with when Chen Ke was there, this group no longer had that style of doing practical things. Everyone could say whatever they wanted now, and the result was that saying anything was useless. Everyone tried to issue orders themselves and let others do things. The problem was that everyone in this "Revolutionary Group" had similar status, and no one was willing to be under others. Those who were willing to be under Chen Ke back then had all left with Chen Ke. There were no longer people willing to be under others here.

Zheng Wenjie was from the Beiyang Army. More than three months ago, he accidentally learned that Wang Shizhen sent people to investigate Chen Ke. He took this matter to heart. Later, he got the news that Chen Ke actually had territory in Anhui. Zheng Wenjie dared not be sloppy about this. He told the "Revolutionary Group" this news, and everyone appointed Wang Simiao to make a special trip to Anhui to find out about this matter. It had been almost two months. Wang Simiao arrived in Wuhan a few days ago and immediately sent a telegram. The telegram said he was taking the train back to Beijing, extremely urgent. This was the code Zheng Wenjie agreed upon in advance. If Chen Ke made a big name in Anhui, naturally no handle could be left in the telegram, so "extremely urgent" was used to replace it. Tonight, Wang Simiao was coming back.

Most of the people in the "Revolutionary Group" now were new people. They didn't even know who Chen Ke was. They just knew there was such a former member. New members naturally didn't know the grudges between old members; they were jubilant instead.

While talking, the courtyard gate rang. A moment later, two people entered the room door. It was Wang Simiao and Meng Shu who went to the station to welcome him. Wang Simiao looked both excited and nervous. As soon as he entered the door, he looked at Zheng Wenjie. Others were mixing in various official circles; how could they not know what this look meant? Someone already shouted, "Brother Wang, you've worked hard. Just say whatever you have."

Zheng Wenjie didn't think there was any need for a private conversation either. He poured a cup of tea for Wang Simiao. "How is it exactly?"

Wang Simiao drank the tea in one gulp, then said, "Close the door tight and watch it. It's a big deal."

Half an hour later, there was silence in the room of the Beijing "Revolutionary Group." Wang Simiao had finished talking about the intelligence he personally went to the base area to see. The People's Party occupied half of Anhui and formed an army of tens of thousands. Everyone knew Wang Simiao was not a person who boasted and deceived others, so they sent him to Anhui to check the situation.

After Zheng Wenjie was silent for a long time, he asked, "Did you see Chen Ke?" Wang Simiao was a member of the group at that time and had seen Chen Ke. Zheng Wenjie suspected whether the head of the People's Party who made such a big name was Chen Ke or not. Or maybe just a person with the same name.

"I saw him; it was indeed Chen Ke." Wang Simiao replied solemnly.

No one in the room spoke. Everyone looked at the comrades they were familiar with, and could see various thoughts in each other's eyes. Finally, someone couldn't help asking in an expectant tone, "Brother Wang, what exactly did Chen Ke say?"

Wang Simiao's face became slightly ugly. "Chen Ke sends his regards to everyone, saying it's been a long time since we contacted. He misses everyone very much and hopes to contact more when free."

Such polite words were obviously a condescending refusal. If Chen Ke really took the Beijing Group seriously, he would absolutely not say so. New members were very dissatisfied with Chen Ke being so arrogant, while the old members didn't speak one by one. They knew very clearly that they treated Chen Ke like that back then; Chen Ke being able to say this was already a very cultivated performance.

Zheng Wenjie already knew why Wang Simiao wanted to talk to him alone at the beginning, but regret was meaningless at this time. Thinking that Chen Ke, whom he didn't put in his eyes at all back then, actually had such achievements, Zheng Wenjie felt a strong sourness rising in his heart. For a moment, Zheng Wenjie was so jealous that he wanted to kill Chen Ke.