It was a recognized fact within the People's Party that He Zudao always followed Chen Ke's footsteps closely. Even so, it was the first time He Zudao saw that Chen Ke, who always appeared with an upright and just posture, actually had a completely different side. He Zudao didn't think Chen Ke was a "great saint," at least not the kind of great saint who was full of righteousness from head to toe. What he couldn't figure out was what kind of insight Chen Ke used to see through the enemy. He Zudao also didn't understand why Chen Ke wasn't angry at all after understanding the bad guys' psychology, as if this should have been a matter of course.

For this reason, He Zudao went to Chen Ke privately at night to ask for advice. Everyone was busy, and Chen Ke was even busier. He Zudao only dared to visit Chen Ke after nine o'clock in the evening. Chen Ke yawned and put down the document in his hand. "Zudao, what's the matter?"

He Zudao asked straightforwardly, "Chairman Chen, I want to ask, why do you know the thoughts of those bad guys but don't get angry at all?"

Chen Ke yawned again before saying, "Zudao, you are doing political work. Let me ask you, what do you think politics is? What is the state?"

Although he didn't understand why Chen Ke asked this, He Zudao answered concisely, "Politics is interest. The state is a tool for class rule."

Chen Ke looked exhausted too. While yawning, he said, "Since you know very well that politics is interest and the state is a tool for class rule, why be angry?"

"But, I just can't swallow this breath." He Zudao spoke his heartfelt words. The more he tried to practice revolution, the more unbearable he found those people and things that destroyed the new system.

Hearing this, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing. "Zudao, when I was young, I also loved to get angry. Feeling this is wrong, that is wrong, anyway, no one is right. Blaming heaven, blaming earth, blaming the air; after blaming Soviet Revisionism, blame US Imperialism."

Actually, Chen Ke was not much older than He Zudao, but when the two talked privately, Chen Ke always spoke in the tone of an elder, and both were used to it.

"Chairman Chen, what are Soviet Revisionism and US Imperialism?" He Zudao asked.

"This, well, you will know in twenty or thirty years." Chen Ke skillfully avoided the topic and continued, "As a communist, as a member of the People's Party, our starting point should be life, not revolution. The purpose of revolution is to let everyone live a better life and be liberated. Not only the liberation of productive forces, but also self-liberation. My family discipline was extremely strict since I was young. At that time, I longed for freedom, just like growing wings to go wherever I wanted to go. Later, I found that the so-called free flying was just like that. What I longed for changed. I hope to have a clear conscience. I hope every time I pat my chest and ask myself, Old Chen, do you have a guilty conscience? Then I can answer righteously, I have a clear conscience. Then I found that since I can remember, I haven't done many things with a clear conscience."

Hearing Chen Ke talk about this topic, He Zudao was very interested. Chen Ke loved to say "The first cry of a genius is not a good poem." In He Zudao's view, Chen Ke was a genius, and He Zudao was very interested to know how exactly Chen Ke grew into a genius.

"Why do I always have a guilty conscience? Because anything I do is not for the sake of doing this thing, but to get the result I want. For example, I care about a person in the hope that the other person treats me well, not because I care about that person so much. It's just that I am personally empty and lonely. Anyway, generally speaking, it is this kind of foolish practice of never being sincere in the process to achieve the goal. Haha." Speaking of his previous foolish acts, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing.

He Zudao had a very serious personality, or rather, people in the late Qing Dynasty were struggling for life and death, and there were basically no bored people like Chen Ke. He couldn't understand how a person could do things unrelated to his own likes and dislikes.

Chen Ke didn't want to talk too much about these things either. He continued, "Later, I also participated in many businesses, and all failed. I truly reflected on these failures before I understood why I failed. Because in these things I participated in, everyone's purpose was success, to make a lot of money after success. Because of this idea, we lost the scientific attitude. Scientific attitude is to respect the objective laws of things. Not what you think this thing is like, but to observe, participate, and experience the laws of these things objectively. If you are objective yourself, your own emotions are unnecessary. Anger is a personal problem, while objective laws have nothing to do with you personally; they exist objectively. Just like those bad guys, whether you are angry or not, they will do that."

He Zudao felt that Chen Ke was really tired at this moment. His attention was obviously not focused, and he spoke incoherently, turning seven turns and eight turns before getting to the main topic. As a result, in the end, it turned out to be a simple sentence "the emotion of anger is unnecessary." He Zudao didn't know he shouldn't be angry; he just couldn't help getting angry after thinking of those bad guys who would act wildly. More accurately, when thinking of these people, his instinctive first reaction was to execute these people.

Looking at He Zudao frowning with a look of indignation, because of his excited emotions, his face was a bit flushed. Looking at this appearance of "a righteous person being wronged," Chen Ke couldn't help laughing out loud again. "Zudao, my expression when I was young was very similar to yours." Chen Ke said while laughing. Being laughed at by Chen Ke like this, He Zudao's face was no longer flushed, but turned a bit purple.

He Zudao had been a political commissar for so long after all, and his loss of composure in front of Chen Ke only lasted for a short while. Looking at Chen Ke's gentle gaze, He Zudao soon recovered a certain degree of calmness. "I really want to solve all problems immediately. Your method is a bit too slow."

"I think accurately speaking, it is slower than you think." Chen Ke corrected. "Zudao, going upstairs, you definitely know that every step must be taken. This has nothing to do with whether you are anxious or not. You can't just aim at the surface of the goal. This time, on the surface, it is to get rid of those people. You rush up and kill those people; do you think this achieves the goal? If it were as simple as killing people, do you think I am an indecisive person? Back then, I shot more than eight hundred people in one go without blinking an eye."

Mentioning that suppression of counter-revolutionaries, He Zudao calmed down instead. The number of people killed that time was so large that He Zudao was scared quite a bit at the time. He knew that Chen Ke's only hesitation at that time was because of compassion, but in the end, these more than eight hundred people were still killed. After the great execution ended, the atmosphere in the base area immediately improved a lot, and no one dared to openly resist the new government's decrees. This was also one of the important reasons why many comrades leaned towards violent implementation this time.

"Chairman Chen, the situation this time is relatively similar to last time, so many comrades feel that violent means can be adopted." He Zudao explained.

"The difference is big. Last time those people had already done bad things. We killed them, and the masses knew that the rules we set could not be challenged. The most important thing is that the land reform system we promoted indeed allowed the people to enjoy benefits and improved their living standards. The people felt that with such good policies, this group of people actually attacked our People's Party government; these people were indeed seeking their own destruction. Now those bad guys haven't jumped out yet; they haven't done bad things yet. What is it if you kill them?"

He Zudao still felt he couldn't quite accept Chen Ke's idea. "Chairman Chen, since those people are a scourge, why must we wait until those people have done bad things before taking action?"

Chen Ke guided for a big circle before He Zudao finally asked the relatively core question. Chen Ke also felt relieved. "Zudao, suppose, suppose the path I point out is absolutely correct, how many people do you think can do as I say?"

He Zudao fell silent. The answer was obvious; few people could do it. He Zudao believed that many people actually didn't sincerely support the policies Chen Ke promoted. When executing specifically, everyone might be able to abide by these regulations, but no one really cared why Chen Ke did this. Only after Chen Ke's predictions became reality could people, including He Zudao, understand the subtlety within. The premise of understanding was still Chen Ke saying it himself. When Chen Ke didn't say it, there were many people guessing Chen Ke's thoughts, but none guessed correctly.

After confirming this problem, He Zudao suddenly saw the real reason for his anger clearly. He thought he was useless and couldn't share the work for the respected Chairman Chen Ke. He Zudao actually knew his ability was constantly improving, but it was precisely because of the improvement in ability that He Zudao saw the gap like a chasm between himself and Chen Ke more clearly. This was also the thing He Zudao found most difficult to accept. He Zudao hoped that as long as Chen Ke said a word, he could do things to Chen Ke's level, or at least to the level that satisfied Chen Ke. The actual situation was that He Zudao found he couldn't even truly understand Chen Ke's meaning. This couldn't help but make He Zudao anxious, couldn't help but make He Zudao angry.

Chen Ke didn't know He Zudao's thoughts. What he truly hoped for at this time was that He Zudao could make a breakthrough. Seeing He Zudao silent, Chen Ke simply explained, "I know it's hard for everyone to do it because everyone hasn't seen the new system and doesn't understand it. Comrades and the people in the base area still look at problems with the thinking of the old era. It takes a lot of effort to make them transform their thinking to the thinking of the new era, so I want those bad guys to jump out. These bad guys are actually capable. Precisely because they are capable, they can contrast with us better. Because of the contrast, the difference between the new system and the old system can be seen by everyone, and everyone can know the existence of a new world different from the old system. Even if it is to complete our cause, we have to let them jump."

He Zudao looked at Chen Ke's frank expression, and the sense of shame in his heart increased a lot. He asked, "Chairman Chen, then why can't everyone accept what you said directly? Wouldn't that be faster?"

"It takes a process for any new thing to be accepted; this is a normal law. Moreover, I believe the masses can accept new things because everyone's goal is to make their own lives better. The new system is obviously more effective than the old system. So I am not anxious at all. Zudao, the reason why the old system can exist is that the old system must have its rationality. Since the old system has existed for thousands of years, it is impossible for the new system to completely replace the old system in just a few years. This attitude is unscientific. We are not gods; we can't persuade comrades and the people just by mouth. Only by solid work, by the scientific attitude of doing without saying and not claiming credit, can we win over the people."

After Chen Ke finished speaking, He Zudao felt even more ashamed. "Chairman Chen, I disappointed you." He said sincerely.

Regarding He Zudao's words, Chen Ke was somewhat surprised. "Zudao, did someone say something?"

He Zudao hurriedly said, "No, Chairman Chen, no one said anything. I just feel useless. Just eager for quick success and instant benefits, making you worry more instead."

"Zudao. You didn't disappoint me. With you here, I am very relieved about the political work department. I am so busy now; without you, I couldn't hold on even if I worked myself to death." After speaking, Chen Ke patted He Zudao's shoulder. "Zudao, I am very grateful to you. I see all the efforts you put into the revolutionary work. It's just that I am sometimes too lazy and have strong dependency. You did well, and I thought it was natural. My practice caused you to misunderstand."

"Chairman Chen, please don't say that." He Zudao hurriedly explained. Everyone saw Chen Ke's heavy work with their own eyes. As long as he was not resting, Chen Ke was working. As a married person, Chen Ke actually rarely had time to sit there and eat a meal with his wife. Chen Ke often approved documents and made plans all night in the office. Now that the work in the base area was so heavy, many mid-level comrades wished Chen Ke could take on more work. Executing orders is always much easier than making a plan. Seeing Chen Ke criticizing himself, He Zudao immediately felt very terrified.

"Zudao, this revolution we launched is not just my cause; this revolution is also your cause, and everyone's common cause. I think you have a shortcoming: too lacking in a leading attitude. Let me put it this way: in case I die, do you hope I die with peace of mind?"

"Chairman Chen..." He Zudao blushed with shame.

Chen Ke raised his hand to stop He Zudao from continuing. "Zudao, if I want to die with peace of mind, it means I am not worried at all that there will be no successors to the revolutionary cause after I die. The revolutionary cause will definitely be carried out and achieve complete victory. In this Battle of Hefei, Li Yuanhong asked to surrender, and Mr. Yan dared to go to Li Yuanhong's fleet alone. Why is this? Because Mr. Yan knew that even if he was killed by Li Yuanhong in desperation, we could still win this battle completely. He was not afraid at all. Zudao, I said long ago that the revolution is not my personal cause. Don't engage in revolution just to be loyal to me. This mentality is unscientific. If you sincerely want to be loyal to me, then you must also treat the revolution as your own responsibility, not just be responsible to me. Our power comes from the people; you must be responsible to the people."

He Zudao never expected Chen Ke to have such deep expectations for him. Although the sense of shame didn't disappear completely, what occupied He Zudao's heart at this time was a kind of heartfelt emotion and satisfaction. This was the emotion of having one's value recognized by the person one respected. He Zudao suddenly felt that everything he had done before was rewarded. The original dissatisfaction and anxiety vanished instantly.

Although Chen Ke couldn't fully understand He Zudao's psychology, he could see that the thing confusing He Zudao had disappeared. He couldn't help reminding again, "Don't consider me when considering problems in the future; consider problems from the perspective of the people."

The next day, the political commissars held a meeting. They suddenly found that He Zudao seemed to be a different person. If yesterday He Zudao's level and level of thinking about problems were similar to everyone else, then today He Zudao obviously kept up with Chen Ke's thinking. The political commissars actually involuntarily leaned Chen Ke's thoughts towards conspiracies and tricks, while He Zudao obviously regarded winning the masses as the core goal.

Since He Zudao originally thought similarly to these comrades, now he was responsible for connecting Chen Ke's thoughts above and understanding everyone's thoughts below. After half a day of discussion, several political commissars finally understood Chen Ke's true thoughts.

After understanding the core program of "competing for the masses," the political commissars discovered an extremely nonsensical thing. This was the problem Chen Ke explained from the beginning. It was just that after explaining this core program, Chen Ke said the specific execution method again. As a result, everyone thought this method was too calculating, and lost the true direction of the policy instead.

Seeing the political commissars understood the essence of the matter, Chen Ke said, "Comrades, I am not engaging in conspiracy. I said earlier that conspiracy is deception based on interests. I think I can call my method an open conspiracy (*Yangmou*). Because those people will definitely do this based on their own class stance. We just give them the opportunity to jump out and do this. I emphasize again. Our revolutionary cause is to serve the interests of the masses. In the revolutionary cause, we must distinguish who is our friend and who is our enemy. Neither treat the masses as our enemy, nor treat the enemy as our friend, letting the enemy sneak into our ranks. This point must be distinguished clearly."

Xiong Mingyang had studied at Fudan Public School after all; he had thoroughly understood Chen Ke's meaning. He lost yesterday's impetuousness and said with a slight frown, "Chairman Chen, why must we promote the local election system? Our strong leadership is actually more efficient."

"We are engaged in a people's revolution. The two pillars of the people's revolution are science and democracy. If the people are not allowed to participate in this people's revolution through local elections, then the people will not have a political stance based on their own interests. That means the people have not participated in this people's revolution. More bluntly, the people cannot support us sincerely. All our victories so far are based on the support of the people. Perhaps because of the promotion of local elections, some people will sincerely oppose us. But because of the promotion of local elections, most people will choose to support us. We cannot stop promoting local elections just because we have to face some small difficulties and are afraid of trouble."

Xiong Mingyang nodded slightly. Thinking of the difficulties to be encountered in this local election, just thinking of part of the difficulties, Xiong Mingyang couldn't get excited no matter what.

Chen Ke wasn't excited either. He said with a serious look, "Of course, I must emphasize one thing. It is clearly stated in our People's Party constitution that our People's Party is the vanguard representing the interests of the Chinese people. To forge iron, one must be hard oneself. In addition to accelerating the development of Party members, we must strengthen Party building. This local election will be a more difficult challenge than the revolutionary war. I hope everyone can be sufficiently mentally prepared and must do this job well."