Chapter 4

Xu Xilin removed his coat and waited for a while before entering. Chen Ke felt a bit strange, though the Xu family mansion was large, even a normal turtle would have almost made it from the entrance hall by now if it had been crawling diligently. Just as he was guessing, Xu Xilin led Hua Xiongmou into the living room. Although Hua Xiongmou still looked a bit depressed, at least Xu Xilin had recovered his normal demeanor. Seeing Qiu Jin in the room, Hua Xiongmou respectfully greeted her, "Aunt Qiu, hello." Then he turned to Chen Ke and said, "Brother Chen, hello. Drinking yesterday was quite enjoyable. Today, we can continue to drink and chat."

These two greetings made Chen Ke feel very uncomfortable. After a moment of thought, he realized that he had been taken advantage of by Qiu Jin. Chen Ke stood up and said, "Scholar Hua, the drinking yesterday was indeed good." Then he turned his head, "Sister Qiu, it turns out Scholar Hua is your relative."

Qiu Jin, with much more social experience than Chen Ke, immediately understood that Chen Ke did not want to lose in terms of seniority. She couldn't help but laugh at his childish behavior. "Wenqing, you don't need to be so formal. Xiongmou is my cousin's son. You can call him Brother Hua, and me Sister Qiu. I won't take advantage of you, nor will I let Xiongmou take advantage of you. Let's be casual."

"Sister Qiu, I grew up overseas and don't know much about the etiquette here. How should we address each other in such situations?" Chen Ke quickly replied.

"You can call him World Brother Hua. Don't just call him Brother Hua. Or, you can address each other by your courtesy names. Xiongmou, Chen Ke's courtesy name is Wenqing, and Wenqing, Xiongmou's courtesy name is Zhenglan."

"Thank you, Sister Qiu, for your guidance." Chen Ke hurriedly thanked her.

Hearing this, Hua Xiongmou just chuckled. "Brother Chen's courtesy name is Wenqing?" Chen Ke nodded, "World Brother Hua, my surname is Chen, my given name is Ke, and my courtesy name is Wenqing."

Everyone sat down again, and Xu Xilin said, "Xiongmou, you and Wenqing had some misunderstandings. I called you here to mediate. But from what you said, you met again yesterday and seem to have reconciled. That's good."

Only then did Chen Ke understand why Xu Xilin had lingered at the door for so long. He had been mediating on his behalf. Although Chen Ke was not afraid of Hua Xiongmou, getting into a conflict with a martial scholar was not a good thing.

Hua Xiongmou smiled and said, "Uncle, as you know, I hate fake foreigners and those who believe in foreign religions the most. Yesterday, we drank and talked, and Brother Chen is neither a fake foreigner nor a believer in foreign religions. What misunderstanding could there be?"

"That's good, that's good." Xu Xilin said with a forced cheerful tone.

Hua Xiongmou felt the atmosphere was a bit off and asked, "Uncle, do you and Brother Chen have something else to discuss? I can come another day."

"There's no need to come another day. In the next few days, I, Aunt Qiu, and Wenqing are going to Shanghai. If you have other matters, you can mention them now." Xu Xilin replied.

Hearing Xu Xilin's words, Chen Ke felt a surge of joy. Hua Xiongmou's face also lit up, "Can I go to Shanghai with everyone?"

The small group from Shaoxing to Shanghai was quickly formed, with Xu Xilin as the leader. The three official members were Qiu Jin, Chen Ke, and Hua Xiongmou. The temporary member was Qiu Jin's maid, named Lin Jian. There was no train from Shaoxing to Shanghai, let alone a long-distance bus. On the way to the dock, Xu Xilin told everyone that he had hired a large boat yesterday, and it would take about three to four days to reach Shanghai. Hearing the time of three to four days, Chen Ke merely nodded. Taking a train from Shaoxing to Shanghai would only take a few hours. The efficiency difference was quite significant.

Qiu Jin, however, was quite happy, "Wenqing, this gives us time to talk."

The early summer of 1905 was not as hot as the summers of the 21st century, and the cabin was quite cool. Looking out the window, the riverbanks were lined with crops, and occasionally, a water wheel could be seen slowly turning. Farmers were working hard in the fields, creating a picturesque scene. The river was not very wide, and there were many boats on the water, most of which were small. Chen Ke had seen many such scenes in TV shows and movies, but growing up by the Yellow River, he found the experience of traveling by boat in the densely watered Jiangnan region quite novel.

Seeing Chen Ke staring out the window, Qiu Jin asked, "Wenqing, what do you think of the scenery?"

"I've never seen such beautiful scenery before. I don't travel by boat much." Chen Ke replied casually.

"Such beautiful scenery, yet the country is in such a state. Wenqing, don't you have any thoughts?" Xu Xilin interjected. From his tone, it was clear he was trying to get Chen Ke to reveal his revolutionary plans.

Chen Ke turned his head. Since he had decided to cooperate with Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin, he felt that there needed to be a solid foundation for cooperation. After much thought the previous day, he had roughly determined what he could and could not say. "Brother Bosen, hasn't the price of cotton increased a lot in the past two years?"

"Eh?" Xu Xilin was momentarily confused by Chen Ke's seemingly irrelevant response.

"More textile mills have opened in recent years, and the number of foreign trade ports in China has also increased. Domestic cotton is either exported or used locally. The demand for cotton has increased, but the total production of cotton has not. Therefore, the price of cotton has been rising."

Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin looked at each other, finding Chen Ke's words logical, but they had not investigated the price of cotton.

"Indeed." Hua Xiongmou interjected.

"Xiongmou, how do you know about the price of cotton?" Qiu Jin asked.

"Recently, I transported a batch of cotton with some friends, and they were complaining about the rising price of cotton the whole way. That's how I found out." Hua Xiongmou replied calmly.

Hearing Hua Xiongmou's words, Chen Ke found it strange that a martial scholar would participate in such activities. But then he thought, the business atmosphere in Jiangnan was strong, and it was not unusual for Hua Xiongmou to engage in business. At this point, Xu Xilin asked, "What are you trying to say, Wenqing?"

"The production of cotton has not increased, but the demand has, so the price of cotton has risen."

"How does this relate to the revolution?" Xu Xilin was thoroughly confused.

"I believe that the government established by the revolution should be one that can manage these issues. For example, if you open a textile mill, the workers need food, so you need to provide grain. If you open a textile mill, you need cotton, and with high cotton prices, the cost of cloth will naturally be high. Foreign cloth is cheaper than Chinese cloth, so you can't compete in the market. If you invest a large amount of money in a textile mill but can't compete on price, your cloth won't sell, and you'll lose money. There's no point in doing a losing business." Chen Ke felt his explanation was sufficient.

Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin began to think about Chen Ke's words.

After a moment, Hua Xiongmou suddenly asked, "Is Wenqing suggesting that the country should open textile mills?"

Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin had a sudden realization. They had been so focused on Chen Ke's cost calculations that they had missed the underlying premise. Chen Ke was suggesting that the country should manage grain production, cotton cultivation, textile mills, and labor organization.

"This, this... Wenqing, your revolution..." Xu Xilin found Chen Ke's ideas hard to accept. "We are revolutionizing for China, and after the revolution, we should step back and let the people govern themselves. Your revolution is not about stepping back but about advancing to a higher level."

Hearing Xu Xilin's words about "letting the people govern themselves," Chen Ke couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Many people in Chinese history had said similar things, like "pleading for the people" or opposing "competing with the people for profit." But weren't these people all representing the interests of the propertied class? When had the "people" ever been anything other than the landlords and merchants of the propertied class?

These propertied classes always put their economic interests first. In recent days, Chen Ke had been reflecting on his political knowledge, and one phrase stood out to him: "The petty bourgeoisie is the most reactionary." The big bourgeoisie, having infiltrated various aspects of society, at least had a broader perspective when considering issues. The petty bourgeoisie's interests were limited to their own small plots of land, and their thinking was both narrow and stubborn. If the mainstream of the country were the petty bourgeoisie, it would be a disaster.

However, Xu Xilin had not picked up on the implication that the state would seize the land from the landlords, Chen Ke thought. If Xu Xilin had understood this, it was unclear what his reaction would be. For now, Chen Ke needed Xu Xilin's support. If there were a conflict in revolutionary theory, it could complicate things. He needed to make Xu Xilin believe he was a true revolutionary while also giving him hope without causing a full-scale conflict. This was necessary to ensure the cooperation continued.

Thinking about these things, Chen Ke replied, "Brother Bosen, I've said before that my ideal revolution is not just about overthrowing the Qing dynasty. It's about revolutionizing the old system of China. Until this is achieved, the revolution is not complete. In my view, the state should manage these issues. The old system of imperial power not extending to the county level is no longer suitable for this era."

These words were beyond Xu Xilin's imagination. As a patriotic and passionate youth, Xu Xilin felt that eliminating the corrupt Qing government would usher in a new and beautiful era for China. Chen Ke's ideas about building a new system after the revolution were something Xu Xilin had never considered. Now, hearing Chen Ke's words, Xu Xilin found them logical but couldn't quite grasp the full implications. He had a vague sense of resistance to Chen Ke's ideas.

Qiu Jin listened to the conversation in silence. Emotionally, she was more inclined to support Xu Xilin, but Chen Ke's words made more sense to her. Hua Xiongmou, on the other hand, found the discussion intriguing and interjected, "What kind of official system would Wenqing's new system have? Would it still be the imperial examination system?"

Hua Xiongmou's question surprised Chen Ke, and he couldn't help but stare at him for a moment. Perhaps because Hua Xiongmou was a martial scholar and still part of the system, he was more sensitive to it than Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin. Chen Ke replied, "Ultimately, we would still have an examination system, but the new examination would not select officials but clerks."

"Ah? How would the exams work?" Hua Xiongmou always asked the right questions.

"The exam content would not be the Four Books and Five Classics but subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry, and natural sciences. Most importantly, the state would establish schools, and all children would receive education. Everyone would have the opportunity to take the examination."

"How would officials be selected? Would they be chosen from the clerks?" Hua Xiongmou was even more interested.

Chen Ke was no longer just impressed but also a bit wary. However, encountering someone who understood his ideas was truly surprising. He replied, "World Brother Hua is correct. In the future, officials would be those who perform well in clerical duties and gradually rise through the ranks."

"So, the clerical duties would include managing agriculture, cotton cultivation, and running factories?" Hua Xiongmou asked, his face lighting up.

"Is World Brother Hua a revolutionary?" Chen Ke was at a loss for words.

"I am not a revolutionary. I am thoroughly disillusioned with the government. Although I passed the martial examination, there is no place for me to serve the country." Hua Xiongmou smiled, "Wenqing, I hate fake foreigners because every time I see one, they talk about how backward China is and how powerful the foreigners are. Those who believe in foreign religions use the power of foreigners to commit evil. The court established the literary and martial examinations, but they are not what they claim to be. Even if you pass the examination, you can't serve the country. The martial examination has been corrupt for years, and the literary examination, which used to at least evaluate the quality of the essays, now only cares about the handwriting. The content of the essays is no longer the focus. Hearing Wenqing's words, I feel this is the right path for the country."

Hua Xiongmou's words were so clear and logical that Chen Ke was surprised, "Why don't you apply to a new school, then?" he asked.

"Graduates from new schools are just private disciples of those who run the schools. I can't do that. My family doesn't lack money, and I can make a living doing business with friends. I can't be a servant to anyone." Hua Xiongmou replied.

There are all kinds of people in this world, Chen Ke thought. He had assumed that as revolutionaries, Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin would understand his revolutionary ideas, but he never expected that Hua Xiongmou, a martial scholar, would be more receptive to the bureaucratic system Chen Ke had envisioned. If he could bring someone like Hua Xiongmou to his side, the revolutionary cause could really move forward.

At this point, Chen Ke felt it was unnecessary to discuss the revolution further and shifted the topic to modern scientific knowledge. Qiu Jin and Xu Xilin were interested in assassinating high-ranking Qing officials, so Chen Ke explained the chemical principles of bombs, their manufacturing methods, and various precautions for storage, transportation, and use. To ensure the two revolutionaries wouldn't be blown up by their own bombs, Chen Ke gave them a basic chemistry lesson, writing equations fluently, which looked like gibberish to Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin. Faced with their frustration, Chen Ke said, "When we have money, we can open a school. Then, the two of you can study these things thoroughly at the school."

As they approached Shanghai, the waterways became increasingly busy. On the third morning, they saw a familiar yet strange sight: a tall chimney belching smoke. Chen Ke had seen many chimneys and often climbed them as a child, but he hadn't seen them in cities for many years. As one of the few industrial centers in China, Shanghai concentrated a significant proportion of industrial enterprises. The closer they got to Shanghai, the more factory chimneys they saw.

Moreover, the number of boats increased. Shanghai, a bustling city, not only concentrated factories but also a large number of workers. As an important port city, it was also a commercial hub. However, there were negative effects as well. The closer they got to Shanghai, the worse the water quality became. The river was filled with a foul smell, forcing Chen Ke to retreat to the cabin.

At the dock, the crowd was bustling, with various local dialects calling out for customers. People looking for lodging, transporting goods, and laborers in short jackets were all vying for business to earn their daily bread. Apart from the different modes of transportation, it was not much different from a modern train station. After getting off the boat, Chen Ke felt his legs go weak, and the ground seemed to be swaying. Hua Xiongmou laughed and took Chen Ke's large travel bag, "It seems Wenqing doesn't travel by boat much."

"Forgive me for causing a scene." Chen Ke said, trying to take his bag back.

"Cut the nonsense." Hua Xiongmou said, then turned and shouted, "Get some rickshaws!" Rickshaw pullers with empty rickshaws were already heading their way, and more rushed over at Hua Xiongmou's loud call.

Xu Xilin didn't want to waste money and ended up hiring a large cart to take everyone into the city.

Chen Ke was still wearing the same clothes he had in Shaoxing, but no one paid much attention. Western suits were not uncommon in Shanghai. The shops lined the streets, and there were many pedestrians, with beggars visible everywhere. This bustling and lively Chinese metropolis matched the historical records.

Chen Ke had a poor sense of direction, and as they navigated through the streets, Xu Xilin led them to the Shanghai branch of the Restoration Society. As soon as they entered, someone called out, "Bosen, when did you arrive in Shanghai?" Xu Xilin hurried over to speak with the person. Over the past few days, Chen Ke had been teaching the group and learning some southern dialects. He vaguely understood that Xu Xilin called the man Tao Gong. Looking closely, this Tao Gong, dressed in a long robe, gave Chen Ke the impression of being "round." He was plump and had a round face, but his features were sharp and he looked spirited.

After a brief conversation, Xu Xilin introduced both sides. This Tao Gong was named Tao Chengzhang. Chen Ke had some vague memory of this name but couldn't recall much more. He was likely a well-known figure in the Restoration Society. When Xu Xilin introduced Chen Ke, he was vague, only mentioning that Chen Ke had returned from studying in America. Tao Chengzhang greeted everyone with a sincere bow, showing that he was well-versed in socializing.

"Tao Gong, we would like to see Mr. Cai. Is he available?" Xu Xilin asked.

Hearing this, Tao Chengzhang's face showed a hint of difficulty, "Mr. Cai is currently in talks with members of the Tongmenghui. It might not be possible these days."

"Then we can wait." Xu Xilin replied, "Tao Gong, do you have any friends in the foreign community in the concessions?"

Tao Chengzhang was taken aback. Everyone knew that Xu Xilin disliked foreigners, and few members of the Restoration Society enjoyed dealing with them. It was unexpected that Xu Xilin would want to have dealings with the foreign community in the concessions. After some thought, Tao Chengzhang said, "I know someone named You Gou. You might want to talk to him."

"Where can we find Mr. You?"

"Guangyuan Tavern."

"..."

Guangyuan Tavern was on Baochang Road, in the middle of Xiangfei Road. The sign was neither new nor old, as if it hadn't been cleaned in a long time. The storefront was small, and it was early afternoon, so there were few customers. When Chen Ke, Xu Xilin, and Hua Xiongmou entered the tavern, there were only three or four people inside. More specifically, one Chinese person and two foreigners were sitting at a table, and the owner was standing behind the counter. That was it.

According to Tao Chengzhang, this You Gou often came to Guangyuan Tavern to drink and pass the time. When talking about him, Tao Chengzhang's expression was mixed with sympathy and