Chapter 1

On May 6, 1905, early summer. It was about a month before the rainy season, and the sky over Shaoxing was clear and sunny, with a pleasant temperature. On such a morning, Xu Xilin entertained a guest at home.

A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of the flowers in the courtyard into the small living room. This was a typical Shaoxing living room, with two carved armchairs on either side of a table against the north wall, and four chairs arranged in pairs in the middle of the room. The walls were adorned with landscape paintings and calligraphy. The environment was quiet and comfortable, perfect for conversation. The carved window frames were fitted with window screens, and the sunlight falling on the screens cast beautiful shadows inside the room, exuding a classical charm.

Xu Xilin, with his queue and wearing a long robe, sat opposite a short-haired man in a Western suit. Xu Xilin was 32 years old, slender with a not very prominent facial structure, and his thick, jet-black eyebrows were particularly striking. The guest's age was hard to determine; he had a square face with distinct features typical of northerners, a high forehead, high cheekbones, and a high nose bridge, with large, bright eyes set deep in his sockets.

Xu Xilin had recently joined the Restoration Society, and this renowned revolutionary smiled as he observed the guest, Chen Ke. Xu Xilin had seen Western suits before, but Chen Ke's suit seemed unusually unconventional. Chen Ke did not take offense at Xu Xilin's curiosity; he wore a deep yellow blended leisure suit with leather elbow patches, a dark green shirt with a subtle vertical pattern, a dark blue tie, a gold tie clip, and a pair of crystal cufflinks. In this era, 21st-century leisure suits were far from fashionable, not even niche. Xu Xilin's gaze was filled with mild curiosity rather than surprise, which was a testament to the personal cultivation of this famous revolutionary.

This meeting between Xu Xilin and Chen Ke was rather abrupt. Even Xu Xilin, who enjoyed making friends, found it amusing when he thought about it.

The previous noon, Qiu Jin suddenly sent someone to inform Xu Xilin that a short-haired man in a Western suit had a piece of paper with Xu Xilin's name on it and was speaking in a strange Mandarin, asking anyone who looked like a scholar how to find Xu Xilin. Qiu Jin wanted to know what Xu Xilin had to do with this strange man. After hearing the report from Qiu Jin's servant, Xu Xilin was quite surprised. He had a wide circle of acquaintances and knew some Shaoxing students who had cut their queues. However, Qiu Jin, in her letter, mentioned that she had never seen this man before. Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin were cousins and revolutionary comrades; if Qiu Jin, who had a wide circle of acquaintances, had never seen this man, Xu Xilin was likely unfamiliar with him as well.

Xu Xilin asked where the man was. Qiu Jin's family replied that he was not far away. Xu Xilin then asked what the man looked like, and after some thought, Qiu Jin's family answered—wealthy or noble. Curious, Xu Xilin went to see for himself.

From a distance, Xu Xilin could see Chen Ke. Southerners were generally short, and in this era of malnutrition, Chen Ke's 1.82-meter height made him stand out like a crane among chickens. At that moment, several Shaoxing ruffians were surrounding Chen Ke, taunting him in the local dialect. Chen Ke seemed to be listening intently, a look of confusion on his northern face. His demeanor clearly indicated that he was a scholar.

The ruffians realized that Chen Ke did not understand the local dialect and moved to push and shove him. Chen Ke immediately understood the clear intention. He raised his left hand, not quickly but precisely. His smooth, long fingers clamped onto the neck of the leading ruffian like a steel vise. With a slight effort, the ruffian's face turned a deep purple. The ruffian's hands instinctively grabbed the wrist that was choking him, trying to pry it loose. Chen Ke took a step forward and, with a gentle but forceful swing of his left hand, sent the ruffian, who was already rolling his eyes, crashing into his companions. Like a row of dominoes, they all fell to the ground. The onlookers burst into laughter.

Xu Xilin was quite impressed by Chen Ke's performance. In an era where scholars were generally physically weak, such skills were rare. When Chen Ke disciplined the ruffians, his face did not show the usual ferocity of a brawler. Moreover, Chen Ke's attire was unlike that of any student; the fabric was fresh and clean, not as bright as silk, but it looked slightly worn yet neat and comfortable.

Xu Xilin nudged his stunned family member and had him hand Chen Ke a visiting card, inviting him to visit the next day. From a distance, Xu Xilin saw Chen Ke and his family member struggling to communicate. Then, the family member ran back, and Chen Ke glanced in Xu Xilin's direction and smiled.

The message brought back by the family member pleased Xu Xilin. Chen Ke said that his inn was very simple and asked if he could visit Xu Xilin's home the next day. Xu Xilin, who loved making friends, immediately instructed his family member to convey that he would be waiting at home the next day.

In 1905, revolutionaries across China were forming alliances. Xu Xilin had already joined the Restoration Society and met Tao Chengzhang. Tao Chengzhang, who had early ambitions, dedicated himself to overthrowing the Qing dynasty. He attempted to assassinate Empress Dowager Cixi twice but failed. He then went to Japan to study military affairs. After returning to China the following year, he actively participated in revolutionary activities, traveling in tattered clothes to various places to organize revolutionaries. He often wore a hemp rope around his waist and straw shoes, walking 110 miles a day without complaint. Although his home was just across the river from Hangzhou, he "visited Hangzhou four times without returning."

Xu Xilin had already decided to meet Chen Ke when he saw his short hair. In the late Qing dynasty, short hair already indicated a lot. As a revolutionary, Xu Xilin would have been a laughingstock if he turned away a short-haired youth who came to visit.

"Sir Xu, I have come to visit you uninvited, which is already quite impolite. I am deeply grateful that you have taken the time to receive me amidst your busy schedule," Chen Ke said in standard 21st-century Mandarin.

Xu Xilin smiled and was about to speak when a servant brought in tea and placed two cups in front of each person, then stood by. "Mr. Chen, please have some tea," Xu Xilin said in Mandarin, with a strong Shaoxing accent.

Chen Ke nodded in acknowledgment. One of the cups contained plain water, and the other was a clear tea. Chen Ke, who had not had any water since early morning, felt truly thirsty when he saw the plain water and drank it in one gulp. The servant standing behind Chen Ke immediately showed a mocking expression. Xu Xilin glared at the servant, then drank the plain water in one gulp and waved his hand. The servant removed the cup used for rinsing the mouth, and Xu Xilin then lifted his tea cup, "Mr. Chen, please have some tea."

Both of them lifted their tea cups and took a sip. Xu Xilin then asked, "Where are you from, Mr. Chen?"

"Zhengzhou, Henan," Chen Ke replied.

Chen Ke's face was clean-shaven, and his short hair seemed deliberately cut unevenly. He looked very spirited. Xu Xilin had been guessing Chen Ke's age but could only narrow it down to between 20 and 35. In terms of appearance, Chen Ke looked no more than 20, and his occasional smiles made him seem very young. However, when Chen Ke was serious, especially his calm and composed gaze, he appeared much older than his looks suggested.

"Travelling from Henan to here is a long journey. What advice do you have for me, Mr. Chen?" Xu Xilin asked.

Chen Ke did not rush to answer. After returning to this era, Chen Ke had carefully considered his future. He had no intention of dying for the Qing dynasty. As a modern person, revolution was the only path for him. However, Chen Ke did not like the Tongmenghui (Alliance Society). After much thought, the only organization he could join was the Restoration Society. The leaders of the Restoration Society he could remember were Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin. This was why he had traveled a long distance to Shaoxing to "find the organization." However, the Restoration Society was a local revolutionary party in Zhejiang, and as an outsider, it would be extremely difficult for him to join. Gaining Xu Xilin's trust was the main issue Chen Ke had been considering on his journey.

Chen Ke spoke, though his words were still somewhat uncertain. Apart from knowing some of Xu Xilin's "glorious deeds" from history books, he knew nothing else. Since he dared to rebel and had become an important figure in the Anhui government, Xu Xilin was certainly not a fool. Therefore, Chen Ke spoke slowly, with a hint of hesitation, "Sir Xu, I have come from afar, naturally with a request. The current state of the nation is so decadent that a revolution is inevitable. The Boxer Rebellion has been over for five or six years, and the Qing dynasty, though seemingly recovering, is fundamentally beyond salvation. Now, the constitutionalists are rampant, and I look down on them. The so-called reforms of the Qing are merely to appease the scholars and deceive the people. They are only concerned with the interests of the Manchus. Moreover, everything the Qing does is completely off the mark. To be honest, I have been studying abroad and only returned this year. Abroad, foreigners look down on Chinese people. In China, I see the country's upper and lower levels in a state of confusion, with no clear direction. It is truly heart-wrenching. There are no revolutionary parties in Henan, and I have heard that Sir Xu and Mr. Cai Yuanpei are leaders in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Therefore, I have come to speak to you in confidence. I hope you will listen."

As Xu Xilin listened, he observed Chen Ke. Chen Ke's attire and appearance suggested he had returned from abroad. Perhaps Tao Chengzhang also formed alliances with local heroes in this way? Xu Xilin thought to himself, never expecting that a revolutionary comrade from Henan would have heard of his name. This thought made Xu Xilin smile.

However, Chen Ke was an outsider and had openly mentioned his connection to Cai Yuanpei. At that time, the Qing dynasty was appeasing the gentry while sending spies to arrest revolutionaries. The Restoration Society had just been established, and it was unlikely that people in Henan would know about it. Yet, Chen Ke, a man from Henan, knew about it, which was quite surprising to Xu Xilin.

"What advice do you have, Mr. Chen?" Xu Xilin asked.

Chen Ke said frankly, "Mr. Xu, I have written something and would like you to read it." He then pulled out a stack of manuscripts from his bag.

Xu Xilin took the manuscripts. The cover was a plain white sheet of paper. When he opened it, the paper inside was of excellent quality, with neatly aligned vertical lines. Just by looking at the paper, it was clear that it was very expensive. Xu Xilin glanced through a few pages, and his face showed surprise. He then forced himself to continue reading, trying to suppress a mocking expression. The writing was not done with a brush but with a fine pen, and the handwriting was even finer than that of a pen. Moreover, the writing was truly ugly; from Xu Xilin's perspective, Chen Ke's handwriting was worse than a child's. Additionally, the manuscript used simplified characters, some of which were simplified to the point of being unrecognizable.

The title on the right side of the first page was "Who Are China's Enemies?" Xu Xilin found it within his tolerance. Just by reading the text, Xu Xilin began to look down on Chen Ke, but then he thought, Chen Ke could read and write, which meant he was not from an ordinary family. He continued reading the manuscript, which was over thirty pages long, with dense text amounting to more than ten thousand characters. In this era, writing such a lengthy piece was no easy feat. Xu Xilin decided to be more lenient.

"It seems you have put a lot of effort into writing this, Mr. Chen. I will read it slowly. Please wait a moment," Xu Xilin said.

"It is my honor that Sir Xu is willing to read it. Please take your time," Chen Ke quickly replied.

Impressed, Xu Xilin invited Chen Ke to sit down, "Mr. Chen, I need to finish reading this now. Please wait a moment."

"No problem, I came today to have you read it. If you don't finish, it would be a waste of my visit," Chen Ke said with a smile.

"Bring tea and snacks," Xu Xilin called out. Hearing the servant's response, Xu Xilin hurriedly picked up the manuscript and continued reading. After analyzing the differences between China and Europe, the manuscript predicted the future development of the Qing dynasty. This part was a brief summary of historical events, from the preparatory constitutional reforms to the establishment of consultative councils in various regions, to some improvements in the new policies, and finally to the Qing's "Imperial Cabinet," the disappointment of the consultative councils, and the eventual collapse of the Qing.

Xu Xilin was shocked by this content. He often commented on national affairs, and his friends were similar. When they talked about revolution, it was always about overthrowing the Qing. As for how to do it, most advocated violent revolution, either through assassination or uprisings. They would get excited and passionate when discussing it, but when it came to action, they found it extremely difficult. No one had ever looked at national affairs from a national perspective.

Chen Ke's manuscript described the Qing dynasty clearly and concisely. The language used to describe the Qing was cold and detached. To Xu Xilin, the Qing was a living, powerful entity. In Chen Ke's manuscript, the Qing was described as a dead skeleton, a walking corpse. After reading this, Xu Xilin felt that overthrowing the Qing would be a relatively easy task.

Unbeknownst to him, Xu Xilin had already reached the last page of the manuscript. He noticed that the last word was in the middle of a sentence, and the entire article ended abruptly.

"Mr. Chen, it seems this manuscript is not finished," Xu Xilin stared intently at Chen Ke, as if trying to extract the rest of the manuscript from his face.

"In a hurry, I haven't finished writing it yet," Xu Xilin's enthusiastic gaze made Chen Ke uncomfortable. He picked up his tea cup, hoping to ease the tension by drinking, but found it empty. Xu Xilin saw Chen Ke's awkward movement and got up to call a servant, giving him some instructions in a low voice. The servant looked surprised at Xu Xilin, who gave him more instructions before the servant left.

When Xu Xilin returned to the living room, he personally refilled Chen Ke's tea. After they both sat down again, Xu Xilin said with enthusiasm, "I have prepared a light lunch and would like to have a drink with Mr. Chen." Xu Xilin glanced at the manuscript on the coffee table, "I have just read your work, Mr. Chen. I am not very learned, and there are some parts I do not fully understand. I hope you can enlighten me."

"I came to visit you uninvited, hoping to form a connection. My writing is rough and unrefined, and some of it is just my own speculation. I hope you can provide guidance. I will accept your hospitality," Chen Ke said politely, feeling relieved. It seemed he had taken the right first step.

"Mr. Chen, how old are you?"

"I was born in 1880, so I am 25 years old. How about you, Mr. Xu?"

"I am 32, a few years older. You are quite young. However, in today's world, many young people are making a name for themselves, like Chen Tianhua and Zou Rong, who became famous in their twenties," Xu Xilin praised, "Where did you study abroad?"

"I studied abroad for a few years, but I cannot reveal where. I hope you understand."

"Why?"

"I have decided to devote myself to the revolution and have severed all ties with my family. Therefore, I cannot disclose this information," Chen Ke said seriously.

Xu Xilin thought for a moment and then asked, "Are you a Manchu?"

Chen Ke was taken aback, "How could I be a Manchu? My family has been Han Chinese for generations. Perhaps my ancestors were descendants of the Xiongnu who submitted to the Han, but they are certainly not Manchus. According to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, the Xiongnu are also descendants of the Yan and Huang clans. I am a genuine descendant of the Yan and Huang clans. How could I become a Manchu?"

"Reading your article, you seem to have a good understanding of politics. I was concerned that you might be a Manchu, as I would never associate with one," Xu Xilin said seriously.

"If I were a Manchu, may I be struck by heaven and earth," Chen Ke said seriously, "I am a descendant of the Yan and Huang clans, and the Manchus are just barbarians who stole China. I would never consider myself a barbarian. I still have a sense of shame."

Xu Xilin, seeing Chen Ke's serious expression and hearing his oath, believed him, "Looking at your attire and knowledge, are you from a high-ranking family in the government?"

Hearing this, Chen Ke stood up and said loudly, "After devoting myself to the revolution, I have no ties with my family. I grew up abroad and will never be loyal to the Qing. Although I have never had a queue, I still have ancestors. I cannot say that my ancestors never had queues. So, I am who I am, and my family is who they are. Since I left home, we have no connection. I will not lie to you, but I cannot reveal my background. I hope you understand." Chen Ke then bowed deeply.

Before Xu Xilin could respond, a cheerful female voice came from outside the living room, "These words are similar to Chen Tianhua's 'The Revolutionary Army.' If one truly devotes themselves to the revolution and severs ties with their family, it is a matter of personal choice. Bosen, you should not force it." Bosen was Xu Xilin's courtesy name, and the voice was familiar. Earlier, Xu Xilin had sent a servant to invite Qiu Jin, and he did not expect her to arrive so quickly.

Chen Ke looked towards the door and saw a woman in her thirties stride into the living room. She had an oval face, clear features, and a spirited demeanor. Xu Xilin stood up and spoke in Shaoxing dialect, which Chen Ke could understand to some extent