Chapter 11

"Can you change your past by starting a revolution?" Zhou Yuanxiao asked doubtfully.

"Of course not," Chen Ke said seriously. Upon hearing this, You Gou glared at Chen Ke angrily, while Hua Xiongmou almost burst into laughter.

"Then why should I join the revolution?" Zhou Yuanxiao was even more puzzled.

"Brother Zhou, if you continue with your old ways, you will only repeat your regrets. When you lack the ability, you regret; when you have the ability, you still regret. This isn't just your problem; it's a problem with the world. You can't expect a white rabbit to jump out of a pile of coal. It's impossible. Follow me in the revolution. When you become a revolutionary, you will become a new person."

After saying this, Chen Ke paused, not because he thought he was wrong, but because he felt it was insufficient. The words Chen Ke spoke were actually the kind of "big principles" he usually despised. A deep sense of disgust filled his heart.

In this world, people are busy for profit, and they strive for fame and fortune. Even Chen Ke, who considered himself a communist fighter, pursued the greater good of the world. This was a harsh and simple fact. Reflecting on it, Chen Ke was only worried about one thing: the history he knew and the knowledge he possessed might fall into the hands of capable people who might not share his "ideals" or his "faith." This capability would become a resistance to the "new world" he hoped to build.

Just as Chen Ke would never believe in the existence of "gods," those capable people would also be unlikely to believe in Chen Ke's "faith." In the 21st century, Chen Ke had encountered many people who tried to "spread the gospel" to him. Chen Ke was not a naturally tolerant "moralist." He knew he couldn't do it, but if he could, he would unhesitatingly send all those "believers in God" to Xinjiang to plant trees.

The most brutal wars in the world are those between "believers." The cruelty of "faith" lies in its emotional nature. Socialist faith, at least, adheres to the "materialist view of history," meaning it acknowledges human progress and social development. Other faiths, without exception, aim to perpetuate certain systems. The faith of Christianity, Islam, feudalism, and capitalism all aim to maintain their systems for eternity. As a Chinese person, Chen Ke understood this obsession with "eternity."

Chen Ke knew that materialist history and political economy had great power, a fact proven by history. Without mentioning the collapse of the Soviet Union, China had become a significant force in the world in just 60 years. The term "G2" was somewhat exaggerated in 2011, but by 2020, it would become a well-deserved reality. Chen Ke, coming from the 21st century, knew that China was already a major power in the world. The challenge China faced was merely how a powerful "new empire" could expand its sphere of influence, not the "inability to protect itself" that China faced in 1905.

Chen Ke suddenly shivered, and this reflection made him realize something. His goal, at the very least, was to "revive the glory of China," a sentiment deeply rooted in the Chinese people. For a nation that had led the world for 20 centuries, the belief in the "central empire" was firmly embedded in every Chinese person's bones.

"If the knowledge I spread doesn't achieve my ideals but still promotes China's revolution and liberation, would everything I've done be meaningless? Or, do I truly hope for a China led by 'me,' rather than the liberation of China?" This thought flashed through Chen Ke's mind, and he suddenly felt a cold sweat on his back.

Am I just a narrow-minded person?

Chen Ke felt his face burning, and the realization of his "arrogance" made him feel deeply ashamed.

Everyone watched as Chen Ke suddenly fell silent, his face turning red. "Wenqing, are you sick?" You Gou asked with concern. Hua Xiongmou and Zhou Yuanxiao also looked at Chen Ke with worried eyes.

"I'm fine," Chen Ke said with a forced smile. Then he continued, "Brother Zhou, you've done business before. Now we're also doing business. Our workshop is so small, and we already have people extorting us. If our business grows, more people will come to share the profits. In the new era, those who extort will be punished, imprisoned, or even executed. The government will not only stop extorting us but will also actively support the development of various enterprises. Brother Zhou, in the future, the dyeing factory will be dozens of times larger. A factory will have thousands or even tens of thousands of workers. With your abilities, you could become a factory manager. Isn't that more honorable than restoring your family's business?"

Everyone listened to Chen Ke and felt a sense of anticipation. Zhou Yuanxiao's eyes sparkled, and it seemed Chen Ke's words had truly moved him. "If we start a revolution, will there be such a future?" Zhou Yuanxiao asked.

"The revolution is for such a future!" Chen Ke said firmly.

"What does Wenqing want me, Zhou Yuanxiao, to do?" Zhou Yuanxiao's tone was filled with the determination of someone who had found hope.

"Work hard and honestly," Chen Ke's answer was simple.

Everyone was astonished.

"Ha ha!" You Gou laughed first, "Wenqing, why are you so funny?"

"I'm just speaking the truth."

"Can I also join the revolution?" Hua Xiongmou asked.

"Of course."

"I want to join too," You Gou shouted, "I'm not afraid of hard work."

"Welcome, You Gou, to the revolution." Chen Ke said calmly, as if he were inviting You Gou to a meal.

Hearing this, You Gou couldn't help but laugh again. "Brother Zhou, will you join?" You Gou asked after laughing.

"If it's just about working, I'll join," Zhou Yuanxiao agreed, though he still had some doubts.

"Then, let's form a revolutionary party," Chen Ke concluded.

The next day, Qi Huishen and He Zudao arrived at the workshop early in the morning.

"Mr. Wenqing, I have a request," Qi Huishen said.

"What is it?"

"I have a few friends who also want to work and attend your lectures. Can Mr. Wenqing agree?" Qi Huishen looked somewhat anxious.

"Of course," Chen Ke smiled.

"Then please wait a moment, I'll bring them over." With that, Qi Huishen hurriedly turned and left.

Watching Qi Huishen's hurried back, Chen Ke felt a sense of relief. Turning around, he saw that He Zudao had already changed into a dark blue work uniform and was standing by You Gou, ready to follow orders.

"What obedient children," Chen Ke felt even more relieved.

Qi Huishen brought five young men, making a total of seven young people, including himself and He Zudao, who joined the workshop. Chen Ke was meeting the young people of this era for the first time. These young men were either Qi Huishen's junior classmates from church schools or friends he had met through revolutionary propaganda who had attended private schools. In Chen Ke's impression, they should have preferred to become teachers rather than work hard in the workshop.

Chen Ke knew that the lectures he gave were indeed special for this era, but he also believed that, unless they were very special, people in this era still considered mental labor to be of higher status. How to arrange these young people was a source of great worry for Chen Ke. After much thought, he could only seek answers from history.

The answer was quickly found, and it was so simple that Chen Ke suddenly felt an urge to hit himself. Even in the prosperous era of the 1940s, the number of Communist Party members was only a few hundred thousand, a mere one percent of the population in the liberated areas. This one percent of Party members was a very small proportion of the population. Why did he need to have only Party members around him? Could Party members only interact with other Party members?

Realizing this, Chen Ke cursed his own stupidity. After some simple thought, Chen Ke determined the current approach: to build a new-style enterprise based on his knowledge. If possible, he would also build a modern school.

Including the people Chen Ke had gathered earlier, there were now eleven people available. Originally, Chen Ke had to be cautious with these people, but with a new perspective, they instantly became valuable resources. These people were educated and would be valuable labor in the new enterprise and school.

In this era, educated people, especially those from church schools, considered manual labor somewhat "dishonorable." In the lectures Chen Ke had given over the past few days, he had described the new country to be established after the revolution, emphasizing that it would be a world where "labor is the most glorious." When discussing the future of the workshop, Chen Ke openly shared his plans to build a new-style company. He also seriously discussed his plan to establish a new school.

The young people had been invited by Qi Huishen to attend the lectures. They were not all wealthy, and the small wages they earned were better than nothing. However, if Chen Ke invited them to "work," they would definitely refuse. But after Chen Ke painted a beautiful picture of the future and his lectures broadened their horizons, the young people, being both adorable and impulsive, all expressed their willingness to follow Chen Ke.

Seeing the enthusiastic young people, Chen Ke felt a bitter smile. He had been like them once, willing to give everything for a vague and distant future, only to end up with nothing but a bloody head.

"I hope I don't disappoint them," Chen Ke could only use this hope to ease his guilt.

On June 26th, Chen Ke finally sold all 1,200 bolts of cloth. After receiving their due wages, the other young people politely took their leave. At that moment, a stranger knocked on the door. Usually, it was Hua Xiongmou and Chen Ke who would open the door. Today, You Gou was particularly proactive, rushing to open the door whenever someone knocked. On the third time, You Gou brought in a servant-like man with a smile. The man carried away You Gou's silver and left the workshop. You Gou, still smiling, helped Zhou Yuanxiao carry his silver and took his leave.

Only Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou were left in the workshop. Facing the pile of silver dollars and ingots, Chen Ke let out a meaningless complaint to Hua Xiongmou, "If only we had a bank."

"Does Wenqing want to open a bank?" Hua Xiongmou was surprised.

"That was just a joke," Chen Ke said, merely venting. The pile of money felt more like a chain to him. Carrying it would be exhausting, and hiding it at home would invite theft. If there were modern banks, he could simply deposit the money. But in this era, such a luxury was impossible.

"Let's split the money and go home," Chen Ke suggested.

Fortunately, it was silver dollars and ingots, so Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou could each carry a bag. If it were copper coins, they would have been exhausted.

Upon returning home, Chen Ke first took the promissory note and money to Qiu Jin, "Sister Qiu, thank you for your help. Here's the money to repay you."

Qiu Jin looked at the promissory note and the silver but did not take it. She smiled, "Does Wenqing want to get your watch back?"

Chen Ke quickly explained, "No, Sister Qiu, you misunderstood. You can keep the watch as long as you like. I just don't know where to put this pile of silver. Repaying Sister Qiu's money will at least give me some peace of mind."

"That won't do. If I take your silver, I must return your watch. I know Wenqing is generous, but I can't take advantage of you," Qiu Jin insisted on not taking the money.

Chen Ke understood the reason. Historically, Qiu Jin was soon to go to Japan to participate in the establishment of the Tongmenghui. In this era, a watch like this represented more than just a timepiece; it symbolized financial power. In the late 20th century, Chen Ke had seen some bosses who were essentially penniless but drove Mercedes-Benz cars to prove their wealth and gain others' trust. For a revolutionary like Qiu Jin, a "luxurious" watch could better demonstrate her noble background and earn praise.

To be honest, after spending time in 1905, Chen Ke's aesthetic standards had declined, or rather, they had become more aligned with the era. A watch that seemed unremarkable in the 21st century now looked increasingly beautiful. Although Qiu Jin was wealthy, she could not afford such a watch.

Hua Xiongmou was indifferent to material possessions, and Zhou Yuanxiao had not yet resolved his inner conflicts. They were exceptions. You Gou and Qi Huishen came from distinguished backgrounds and were quite impressed by Chen Ke's watch. The young men Qi Huishen brought were even more respectful when they saw Chen Ke using such a watch to tell time.

This era made Chen Ke somewhat uncomfortable, but it was a characteristic of the time, and there was no way around it. Since he couldn't repay Qiu Jin, Chen Ke reluctantly invited everyone to a meal. Qiu Jin was considerate and ordered food from a restaurant to be delivered. After arriving in Shanghai, the group had been busy, and now they finally gathered to eat and talk about their affairs, which was quite harmonious.

"Wenqing, Mr. Cai spoke highly of your school charter," Xu Xilin said.

A few days ago, Chen Ke had written a charter for the school and given it to Cai Yuanpei. It was a description of a junior high school from the 21st century, which naturally impressed Cai Yuanpei in the early 20th century.

"Does Brother Bosen also have plans to build a school?" Chen Ke asked, knowing that historically, Xu Xilin had established several schools in Anhui as bases for the Guangfuhui.

"Building a school requires money. I'm not poor, but it's far from enough," Xu Xilin said frankly.

Chen Ke knew Xu Xilin was interested in the money he had, and he had already promised to support Xu Xilin's school. "If Brother Bosen wants to build a school, here's what I propose. I'll give you 300 taels of silver first. You can find a location and negotiate the rent. I also want to do some business, and I need money. Once you've determined the location, I'll continue to invest. How does that sound?"

Xu Xilin didn't hesitate, "That sounds good."

Chen Ke then went back to the room and brought out the pile of silver, giving Xu Xilin 300 taels. The remaining 500 taels seemed less significant. Chen Ke thought it would be good exercise to carry the money around. What a great opportunity, much better than a punching bag!

Xu Xilin had not yet returned to Shaoxing, waiting for Chen Ke's money. Although he still didn't fully trust Chen Ke, he had no other way to raise funds. With Qiu Jin's belief that Chen Ke would not let Xu Xilin down, Xu Xilin had some hope. Chen Ke's contribution relieved him, and he felt that helping Chen Ke come to Shanghai had been the right decision. He had not misjudged Chen Ke.

As they drank and talked, Chen Ke's willingness to support the revolution impressed Xu Xilin, who gradually mentioned his plans to establish a military school with Tao Chengzhang, which later became the Datong Academy. After a long period of preparation, the Guangfuhui was ready to gather people for the uprising. Tao Chengzhang had already obtained legal permission to establish a school in Hangzhou. However, Chen Ke's appearance had piqued Cai Yuanpei's interest in establishing a school in Shanghai. Cai Yuanpei, a prominent figure in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, was highly sought after in Shanghai to establish a school. The call to abolish the imperial examination system was strong, but how to replace it with a new education system was a significant issue. Students from new schools could not become officials upon graduation, leading to confusion in the new education system.

Chen Ke's charter was valued by Cai Yuanpei precisely because it emphasized the integration of education and social production. Chen Ke deliberately made this part unclear, which suited Cai Yuanpei's taste. In official circles, one could not be too clear. Cai Yuanpei did not make significant changes to the charter.

There were two main views within the Guangfuhui: whether to establish a school in Shanghai first or to establish schools in both Shanghai and Hangzhou. If they could gain official support in Shanghai, the wealth of the Shanghai Customs would provide ample funds for the school. The Guangfuhui could not only establish a school but also receive financial support. However, many members were eager to start the uprising, and establishing schools in both Shanghai and Hangzhou would allow them to act sooner.

These debates within the Guangfuhui led to Chen Ke's charter being criticized as "suspect of loyalty to the Qing government."

After listening to Xu Xilin's introduction, Chen Ke understood his position in this matter.

When the Guangfuhui would start the uprising was not a concern for Chen Ke. By nature, he was impatient and felt that China should seize the opportunity of World War I. He hoped to be well-prepared before then. Moreover, he wanted to earn money quickly and go to Anhui. While the rural areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang could still maintain stability, the peasant resistance movements in Anhui from 1906 to 1910 were intense. If a new regime could not be established during this period, it would be a missed opportunity. Chen Ke knew that Xu Xilin had first established a school in Shaoxing and then moved to Anhui. This was why Chen Ke had sought out Xu Xilin first.

While deep in thought, Chen Ke suddenly heard Xu Xilin ask, "Wenqing, are you troubled by something?"

"Yes, the preparations for the revolution are complex. I was just lost in thought," Chen Ke replied.

Xu Xilin was puzzled by this answer. Chen Ke's business was going well, and Xu Xilin thought Chen Ke would focus on making more money. He didn't expect Chen Ke to be thinking about the revolution.

Hua Xiongmou didn't say much, eating and drinking slowly as if nothing was wrong. Qiu Jin was surprised, "Xiongmou, have you changed your temper after being with Wenqing for so long? You used to be quick-tempered, but now you can sit still."

"Aunt, my temper hasn't changed. I've decided to join the revolution. Being with Wenqing, I feel that the revolution isn't a bad thing. If Wenqing leads, I will follow him through thick and thin," Hua Xiongmou said calmly. Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin's faces remained unchanged, but they felt uneasy inside.

As the saying goes, "outsiders should not interfere in family matters." Hua Xiongmou was their relative, and they had tried to talk to him about the revolution before, but he had always thought it was not a good choice. Now, after only a month of knowing Chen Ke, Hua Xiongmou had become a revolutionary. What was Chen Ke up to?

Chen Ke couldn't say anything at the moment and pretended not to hear. After more eating and drinking, the gathering dispersed.

In the evening, Hua Xiongmou invited Chen Ke for a walk. The