Chapter 52

The Qing officials were all seasoned veterans, never making immediate statements when faced with any situation. When Chen Ke suggested that He Ruming take charge of the beehive coal production, He Ruming's immediate reaction was not to think about how he could profit from it, but to consider whether Chen Ke's proposal was a trap. As the saying goes, "When someone offers help without reason, they are either a villain or a thief." Chen Ke had no reason to give such a lucrative opportunity to him for free. Chen Ke's straightforward expression and persuasive words, however, made He Ruming more alert.

"There's no need to rush, Wenqing," He Ruming immediately put on the evasive smile characteristic of officials.

Chen Ke, seeing this expression, knew that He Ruming would not easily commit to anything. He understood this mindset and smiled, saying, "I was a bit too hasty. Please forgive me, Sir He."

"Wenqing, I assume you didn't come to Beijing just for the beehive coal project, right?"

"I was sent by Yan Fu to visit several of my teachers in Beijing."

Hearing this, He Ruming's eyes lit up. "Can Wenqing tell me more? Perhaps I can help in some way."

In the political arena, relationships were everything. He Ruming was new to his post in Beijing, and helping Chen Ke could also help him establish new connections. He would not easily let such a beneficial and cost-free opportunity slip away.

"Mr. Yan asked me to visit Mr. Gu Hongming at the Imperial University first."

"Ha ha, Wenqing has written such thick books; they must be excellent. I'm sure Mr. Gu will like them very much." He Ruming mentioned Chen Ke's works for the first time. "I haven't had the chance to read your books yet. I received Mr. Yan's letter while preparing to take up my post in Beijing, and I've been extremely busy."

"May I ask what position Sir He holds now?"

"I'm a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. It's not worth mentioning. By the way, I heard that Wenqing had some unpleasantness with my steward. What happened?"

"It was just a misunderstanding, nothing serious. Sir He needn't worry about it."

"When do you plan to visit Mr. Gu Hongming?"

"This afternoon."

"Can I send a car to take you there?"

"Thank you, Sir He, but I plan to walk."

"Why is that?"

"Whenever I arrive in a new place, I always walk to get a feel for the local customs and scenery."

"From your accent, you don't seem to be from Beijing."

"How could I be? I've never been to Beijing before."

"I've been to Beijing before, and it has changed quite a bit in the past couple of years," He Ruming smiled and began to recount some anecdotes.

In Beijing, most roads were dirt, and over time, a thick layer of mud and dust accumulated on the surface. On sunny days, the sand would bury one's feet, and the fine dust would cover one's face. On rainy days, the roads would be full of mud and the air would be filled with a foul smell. This mud and dust came from the road's own weathering, residents dumping garbage, and severe sandstorms, which occurred several times a month, sometimes even continuously. "Whenever the wind blew, the dust would rise and block the sky," and Beijing would be covered in countless layers of yellow soil and dust.

Moreover, the middle of the main roads was the imperial path. Each time the emperor went out, a layer of yellow earth would be spread on the imperial path. Over time, the imperial path gradually rose above the ground. In his book "Old Beijing Trivia," Xia Renhu wrote: "Before the construction of the roads in Beijing, the center of the main streets was a path, less than two zhang wide and three or four chi high. On rainy days, it was slippery and dangerous, often causing accidents. I asked the locals, and they said this was originally the imperial path, and every time the emperor passed, yellow earth would be spread. It was originally level with the ground, but over time, the ashes from residents' stoves also accumulated, making it higher and higher, eventually forming a high ridge."

The path being higher than the ground was partly due to the accumulation of ashes from residents' stoves. In those days, Beijing residents would dump their household waste on the roads outside their doors, resulting in "ashes and broken pottery piled up like mountains." This not only made the main roads three or four chi higher than the ground but also made the streets in front of houses "higher than the houses themselves, with people having to walk down steps as if entering a pit."

From this, one can imagine the state of Beijing's streets in the late Qing dynasty!

At that time, the habit of urinating and defecating in public was also widespread in the city. According to "Yanjing Miscellaneous Records," since the Jiaqing era, Beijing had public toilets that charged a fee, "one coin for entry." However, people still openly urinated and defecated in the streets, and residents would pour their chamber pots onto the streets. Combined with the cow dung and horse urine from passing carts, some streets were "filled with excrement and dirt," and the alleys were filled with a foul smell. The famous Tong Ren Tang pharmacy in Dashilar was always busy, but its front door had become a place where people "gathered to urinate." In the famous Liangdian area, people could "urinate freely behind the large wall opposite the Luzu Temple." Due to the filthy state of some streets in Beijing, a "medical prescription" circulated at the time: "Equal parts of human yellow, human white, cow urine, horse manure, and stove ash, mixed with rainwater, dried in the sun, ground into a fine powder, and inhaled through the nose, would eliminate one's desire for fame and profit." This satirical prescription vividly reflected the state of Beijing's streets and public hygiene at the time.

At that time, not only were the streets in Beijing in poor condition, but the traffic was also chaotic. On the main roads, the paths were higher and narrower, and vendors lined the sides, causing congestion. Once traffic was blocked, it could take half a day to clear. Additionally, "in the summer, there were races with hot cars, where wealthy young men would race for fun," and "those who couldn't avoid them would be killed on the spot."

In the alleys, traffic was also disordered. "Car drivers considered it shameful to yield," leading to arguments and curses, and traffic could be blocked for a long time, leaving both pedestrians and vehicles unable to move.

These conditions changed significantly after the implementation of the "New Policies" at the end of the Qing dynasty, with the introduction of modern road management.

To address the issue of "poor road maintenance" and the ineffectiveness of the "Street Management Bureau," the Inner and Outer City Engineering and Patrol Bureau was established, responsible for street management and patrols. In 1905, the Inner City Road Engineering Bureau and the Outer City Road Engineering Bureau were established, specifically responsible for the construction of roads in Beijing. From 1904, several stone-chip roads were constructed, and in 1909, for the funeral of Empress Dowager Cixi, a road was built in the Haihui area using crushed stone, lime water, and steamrollers. This method, called "sawing work," produced a flat and solid road that received widespread praise.

Chen Ke arrived in Beijing in October 1905. The stone-chip roads that began construction in 1904 were now largely completed, especially the main roads, which had significantly improved the city's appearance. The most significant improvement was the establishment of the modern police system. He Ruming, who had been transferred from Tianjin, praised Yuan Shikai's achievements in establishing the modern police system, almost to the point of idolizing him.

The establishment of the police system at the end of the Qing dynasty was a result of the reform of the traditional political structure. Its emergence indicated that the old systems of neighborhood watch and constables were no longer suitable for social development. "In recent years, the cities and towns of China are filled with ruffians, known as 'qingpi' or 'guanggun'... These people do not farm or weave, but live idly, with no fixed occupation, using their deceitful skills to wreak havoc in the marketplaces... This is because there are no patrolling constables in the cities and towns... Dishonest gentry often protect them, and the constables collude with them... As a result, there are no constables or constable assistants, and when theft or robbery occurs, it cannot be prevented beforehand, and after the fact, only rewards are offered, which are often ineffective and costly... The corruption of the constables is deeply entrenched." Given the problems with the old security system, the establishment of the police system became inevitable. "It is said that General Yuan Shikai, due to the corruption of the clerks and constables in the various counties, plans to recruit four battalions of police to maintain order and handle civil cases in the nearby counties."

From the beginning, the police system showed its unique advantages. "Governor Yuan selected police soldiers to patrol the city day and night, clean the streets, and question criminals. They change shifts at night, being especially cautious, and the petty criminals have been suppressed. The people praise them, and there is a sense of security." "Tianjin, with its diverse population, is difficult to manage, but since the establishment of the police force four years ago, the situation has improved. Although it is not yet a place where people do not pick up lost items or lock their doors at night, the criminals have been suppressed, and the people are aware of the effectiveness of the police." Not only did the Chinese praise it, but foreign newspapers also commented: "After the return of Tianjin, the police have been further improved, and the roads are cleaner, beyond expectations. If this were the case in all parts of China, why would it not become a strong and prosperous nation?"

To be fair, Yuan Shikai played a significant role in the establishment of the police system and achieved remarkable results. Beijing began to introduce the police system in 1904. Chen Ke saw police maintaining order on the streets during his visit. However, Chen Ke, who had seen the police system of the 21st century, did not pay much attention to this. Compared to the 21st-century police system, these police were like children's play.

He Ruming, seeing that Chen Ke was only listening attentively without showing any signs of being moved, felt that Chen Ke was somewhat arrogant. His expression turned slightly angry.

Chen Ke, noticing this, quickly said, "Sir He, I have been overseas for a long time and only recently returned to China. I know nothing about the domestic situation. Thank you for your guidance, Sir He."

Hearing this, He Ruming could not say anything more. He smiled lightly, "I see." Then he picked up his teacup, "Gentlemen, have some tea."

Chen Ke understood the gesture of offering tea to signal the end of the visit, so he got up to take his leave. The steward escorted the two to the door, watching them return to the opposite courtyard. The steward was surprised; what was supposed to be a routine courtesy visit had turned into a deep conversation with their master. After the opposite gate closed, the steward looked at it a few more times before turning back to their own courtyard.

"Wenqing, why didn't you mention the beehive coal project first?" Chen Tianhua asked, somewhat discontentedly, as soon as they returned to the room.

"I didn't plan it in advance; it just came to me suddenly," Chen Ke replied.

"Why?" Chen Tianhua was puzzled.

"I want to develop our party members in Beijing, and the best way is to approach the Self-Strengthening Movement officials. Without a gift, it would be extremely difficult to meet them. The beehive coal project is my gift."

"If the beehive coal project succeeds, those Self-Strengthening Movement officials might not want a revolution," Chen Tianhua frowned.

Chen Ke looked at Chen Tianhua seriously, "Tianhua, trust me. If the Self-Strengthening Movement officials don't take on the beehive coal project, they won't start a revolution. If the beehive coal project really takes off, they will."

Seeing Chen Tianhua's puzzled expression, Chen Ke took out paper and pen, "Let me explain in detail."

While Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua discussed the future, He Ruming had already called the steward to his side, asking him to recount how he met Chen Ke.

Seeing his master's serious expression, the steward did not dare to hide anything. He recounted how they met in Tianjin, where Chen Ke had laughed rudely, and how they met again in Beijing. The steward, seeing the two men's arrogant demeanor, could not resist having the driver whip Chen Ke. The steward recounted the entire story.

The steward was initially worried that his master would scold him, but to his surprise, He Ruming repeatedly confirmed whether he had met Chen Ke before. After some thought, the steward said, "Before we met in Tianjin, I had never seen these two men."

"Can you tell me where these two men are from by their accents?" He Ruming asked.

"Well, I couldn't tell where Chen Ke is from. His accent is neither Beijing nor Tianjin, and I've never heard such an accent before," the steward said hesitantly, "But Chen XingTai is definitely from Hunan."

He Ruming recalled the meeting, and the suggestion of the beehive coal project by Chen Ke was unexpected. Chen Ke could collaborate with the British, so he was not an incompetent person. Moreover, he had been recommended by Yan Fu. The benefits of the beehive coal project, as described by Chen Ke, were quite appealing. However, He Ruming, who had worked in the Tianjin Machinery Bureau for over a decade, knew the efficiency of the court. If the court were to undertake this project, it would take years just to convince the officials, and getting the funds and starting the project would take even longer. Moreover, the people handling the funds would take their cut... Thinking about this, He Ruming felt a headache coming on.

Seeing He Ruming deep in thought, the steward asked, "Should I find out more about their background?"

He Ruming shook his head lightly, "The business card clearly states that he collaborates with the British in Shanghai. This man is clearly from the north. How did he end up in Shanghai? There must be more to the story." He Ruming thought for a moment, "Investigate thoroughly."

As the steward was about to leave, He Ruming called him back, "By the way, where are the books Mr. Yan Fu sent during the move? Bring them to my study."

The steward was slightly surprised, "Sir, the books are currently being read by the fourth and eldest daughters."

"Really? Why would they be interested in such books?"

"The fourth daughter saw the books from Mr. Yan Fu and, since you hadn't read them, she took them first. Later, the eldest daughter also started reading them."

"Understood, you may go." He Ruming dismissed the steward and walked to the back courtyard. He did not enter the main house but went to the side room. Inside, he saw two young girls sitting at a table, the same two he had met earlier. A stack of books was on the table. The older one was listlessly flipping through a book, while the younger one was embroidering.

Seeing He Ruming enter, the younger one quickly stood up, "Father, you're here. Has the guest left?"

"He's gone." He Ruming's face immediately lit up when he saw his daughter.

"Now that he's gone, can I play the zither?"

"It's almost lunchtime. Why play the zither now? Your brothers are still studying. We'll talk about it this afternoon." Although he refused her request, the care in He Ruming's voice was evident.

"But Auntie played yesterday," He Ying felt it was unfair, her voice tinged with disappointment. She was referring to He Qian, He Ruming's youngest sister, who lived with him after their parents passed away.

Seeing his daughter pouting, He Ruming couldn't resist, "You're about to get married, so finish your embroidery quickly. Otherwise, if your mother scolds you, I won't protect you."

Hearing this, He Ying sat back down, lowered her head, and picked up her embroidery, but she didn't continue working. Seeing her daughter's reaction, He Ruming felt it was inappropriate and said softly, "This afternoon, after your mother leaves, you can play the zither, but you must finish your embroidery today."

He Ying's face immediately brightened, "Thank you, Father." She quickly picked up her needle and continued embroidering.

After He Ruming finished with his daughter, He Qian put down her book and looked up, "Brother, what do you need?"

"I want to read these books. Can you lend them to me?"

"Why are you interested in the books of the revolutionaries?" He Qian laughed.

"What?" He Ruming was shocked.

"These are books of rebels. Didn't you know?"

Yan Fu was actually involved with rebels? He Ruming found it hard to believe. However, in those times, whether it was the royalists like Kang Youwei, who hoped for the restoration of Emperor Guangxu, or the constitutionalists who advocated for a constitutional system, they were all considered rebels. They all opposed the Empress Dowager, who was in actual power. After the Boxer Rebellion, the court was already in a difficult position. He Ruming's political views were quite conservative. Although he was part of the Self-Strengthening Movement, he supported the Empress Dowager. In his view, whether it was the imperial faction, the constitutionalists, or the more radical revolutionaries, they were all incapable and destructive. In comparison, although Empress Dowager Cixi had made many mistakes, she was politically more mature.

Seeing He Ruming's serious expression, He Qian laughed, "Brother, the author of these books is quite clever. The officials in the court would never recognize him as a rebel. They might even use him as an ally."

Seeing his sister's insightful comments, He Ruming felt a sense of regret. He Qian was more like their father, sharp and intelligent. Among the