Chapter 53

He Ruming's father was a traditional scholar-gentry, and he never wanted to put all his eggs in one basket. Under his arrangement, He Ruming's two younger brothers were placed in the South China Navy and the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, respectively. Although the old man was no longer around, He Ruming still had his sister to consult with. After telling his sister about Chen Ke's situation and their meeting today, He Qian asked, "Why didn't you agree to the beehive coal project Chen Ke mentioned right away?"

"That project is clearly not easy to handle," He Ruming replied.

"Doesn't Chen Ke know that?" He Qian asked.

"Ah?" He Ruming had never thought about it that way.

"Chen Ke's books show a deep understanding of industrialization. From what I've read, he can't be unaware of how difficult this is. Do you think he lacks insight just because he's young?"

"Are you saying Chen Ke is trying to deceive me?"

"Why would he want to deceive you? Do you think you're that easy to fool?"

After hearing He Qian's seemingly contradictory words, He Ruming was somewhat puzzled. Fortunately, He Qian didn't have the habit of being mysterious. She explained her view: Chen Ke genuinely hoped to find a partner. Since Yan Fu held He Ruming in high regard and specifically sent him a book, Chen Ke was willing to discuss cooperation with He Ruming.

"From my perspective, since he already has a plan, he's now looking for someone interested to collaborate. Mentioning this to you today doesn't mean Chen Ke is counting on you. If you don't follow up with him, I doubt Chen Ke will bring it up again."

After listening to his sister's explanation, He Ruming finally managed to say, "This Chen Wenqing is quite arrogant."

He Qian knew that although her brother wasn't a high-ranking official, he cared a lot about his reputation in the bureaucracy. She didn't actually want to stir up conflict between her brother and Chen Ke. On the contrary, she hoped her brother could seize any opportunity to advance. After the destruction of the Tianjin Manufacturing Bureau in the Gengzi year, the old Beiyang had fallen into decline. He Ruming had been idle at home for several years before finally securing a position in Beijing. This was not the time to "restore his official prestige." Instead, it was a critical period to build new connections through diligent work. He Qian disapproved of her brother's excessive concern for face. Compared to He Ruming, who was over forty, Chen Ke, at twenty-five, seemed more mature.

"Brother, you and Yuan Weiting are both part of the Empress Dowager's faction. We saw firsthand how Yuan Weiting rose to power in Tianjin. While luck played a role, reorganizing the Beiyang New Army and establishing the police system weren't just about luck. With Yan Fu's recommendation, Mr. Yan must have great expectations for Chen Ke in the capital. If Chen Ke had directly introduced the beehive coal project to Yuan Weiting, do you think Yuan Weiting would do it?"

"Based on him? Impossible," He Ruming said dismissively.

"But what if Yan Fu wrote to Yuan Weiting? With Mr. Yan's letter, I don't believe Yuan Weiting would refuse to meet him."

Those words were a wake-up call for He Ruming. Following this line of thought, he became furious. He was a fifth-rank official in the capital, and he had met Chen Ke out of respect for Yan Fu. He hadn't expected Chen Ke, who seemed respectful, to actually look down on him. According to He Qian's reasoning, Chen Ke only mentioned the beehive coal project to He Ruming out of respect for Yan Fu, who had sent him the book. Chen Ke didn't really take He Ruming seriously. Whether He Ruming was involved in the project or not was irrelevant.

"Hmph. What a grand attitude. Does he think I have to beg him?" He Ruming said angrily.

Although she knew her brother's temper, He Qian couldn't help but sigh inwardly. To He Ruming, Chen Ke was arrogant and disrespectful. But He Qian thought Chen Ke had already been very considerate of He Ruming's face. Of course, He Qian also thought Chen Ke was not mature enough. While Chen Ke had good intentions, if she were in his position, she wouldn't have mentioned the project to He Ruming. Most of the time, good intentions don't bring good results.

However, since things had come to this point, He Qian was determined to push the matter in a way that would benefit He Ruming. But she couldn't help feeling a bit resentful, "If I were the elder brother, things would be handled much better."

Thinking of this, He Qian couldn't help but think of Empress Dowager Cixi in the Beijing palace. Influenced by her family, He Qian was also part of the Empress Dowager's faction. She suddenly felt sympathy for the old lady in the palace. She must be facing a large group of officials like her brother, suppressing various plots while trying to push through new policies to maintain the Qing dynasty.

He Qian and her brother He Ruming had a good relationship, but even so, most of the time, He Qian had to be "tactful" to consider her brother's "ridiculous face." When their father was alive, he was the final word at home. If he saw He Ruming's behavior, he would probably have scolded him severely. Was face really that important? Why did He Ruming cling to it so tightly? It was He Ruming who had taught He Qian the "Analects of Confucius," but He Qian firmly believed that He Ruming had never truly studied it. He just recognized the characters in it.

But no matter how much she complained inwardly, He Qian would never show it. Not only would she not show it, but she would also try to persuade He Ruming according to his habits, insisting that he must cooperate with Chen Ke to some extent. Since Chen Ke might promote the beehive coal project, He Ruming's early involvement was necessary.

Chen Ke, unaware that someone was already plotting against him, was explaining his ideas to Chen Tianhua.

The greatest advantage of the beehive coal project was the significant improvement in fuel efficiency. Large-scale use would inevitably reduce the living expenses of Beijing residents. The market potential for this project was vast and unquestionable.

"Trees around Beijing have been cut down, so when the wind blows, there's dust everywhere. Beijing residents have long relied on coal. The demand for smokeless coal from the Western Hills is already there. The equipment for beehive coal, although the Tianjin Manufacturing Bureau is in ruins, the remaining equipment is sufficient. If not, we can buy equipment from the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau. Moreover, this can promote the use of new iron stoves. The iron production from the Hanyang Iron and Steel Works is enough to manufacture these."

"Isn't everything ready, except for the final push?" Chen Tianhua asked hesitantly. If it were before, Chen Tianhua would have been overjoyed at this news, thinking that any progress, no matter how small, was a great thing and could be acted on immediately. After following Chen Ke for so long, Chen Tianhua's enthusiasm remained, but his perspective had become more comprehensive. Besides, Chen Ke was not the type to act rashly. He must have a deeper plan. Serving the Qing dynasty for nothing was not Chen Ke's style.

"The greed of Qing officials is like that of wild dogs. They won't stop until they've put all the money in their own pockets. Xing Tai, what will our People's Party's future government be for?"

"Hmm, developing productivity and advancing the country." These days, Chen Tianhua had become accustomed to these words. Of course, it wasn't that he had learned the party's jargon, but after deep learning and discussion, he had become convinced.

"So, in planning this, we must not approach it with our own attitude. We must follow the Qing's way of thinking; otherwise, it won't be practical."

"But won't this just benefit the Qing for nothing?" Chen Tianhua still didn't believe Chen Ke really wanted to make this happen.

"What we need to do is to get this project started. Do you think it will succeed? It's destined to fail."

"If Wenqing leads, I think it will definitely succeed."

"Why would I want it to succeed? My goal is to intensify the conflict. Blocking someone's path is worse than killing their parents. These days, many people want to make money but can't find a way. We give them an opportunity and hope. Then, the corruption of the Qing will destroy these opportunities, making those who had hope even more desperate. At that point, recruiting party members and getting them to join our revolution will be much more effective than empty promises."

"..." Chen Tianhua was speechless. He knew Chen Ke was not naive, but such methods and plans didn't seem like those of a gentleman. In Chen Tianhua's impression, Chen Ke was a true gentleman.

"Xing Tai, the Qing will inevitably fall. If we save some people from this sinking ship, are we wrong? Are we being unkind?" Chen Ke understood why Chen Tianhua was silent and said.

Heroes are not always good! This thought suddenly flashed through Chen Tianhua's mind. In the Huaxing Society, with Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren, Chen Tianhua had seen his share of intrigue. But those schemes were all small tricks. Either they were emotional and vengeful, stirring up the gentry's memories of oppression, or they were empty promises, promising grand positions and power after the revolution, exploiting the urgent desires of the gentry. Or a combination of both, stirring up emotions and making promises. The result was always failure.

Chen Ke's current scheme was different from Chen Tianhua's past intrigues. The Huaxing Society's schemes, to put it nicely, were "seeking wealth and honor through risk." For Chen Ke's plan, Chen Tianhua felt that after seeing the inevitable failure, anyone who could withstand the blow would inevitably follow Chen Ke on the path of revolution.

This feeling was not a theoretical conclusion. After being with Chen Ke for so long, Chen Tianhua felt that Chen Ke had something indescribable, as if he could see the future. No matter how tragic the outcome, if you believed Chen Ke's explanation, it was just a minor setback. The sky wouldn't fall, and the earth wouldn't crack. As long as you followed the right path, there was an infinite future to look forward to.

Chen Tianhua admired Chen Ke's arrangement but felt a deep sense of discomfort. He looked at Chen Ke carefully, who was drawing some sketches. Whenever he worked, Chen Ke had an indescribable focus. It was as if even if the world fell apart, Chen Ke wouldn't waver. From the first time he met Chen Ke to now, Chen Tianhua had seen Chen Ke always working this way. Chen Ke never indulged in fantasies; he was calmly and firmly doing his own thing.

Looking at Chen Ke's familiar expression, Chen Tianhua found Chen Ke incomprehensible. This person was passionate and cold, kind and cruel in an indescribable way. Except for a few rare occasions, Chen Ke never showed his emotions. Chen Tianhua was thirty this year, and at thirty, he was established. He had many experiences and was considered a notable figure in terms of insight. But Chen Tianhua found himself easily influenced by others. To put it bluntly, if someone made a good point, Chen Tianhua would be influenced. In comparison, Chen Ke, at twenty-five, was frighteningly determined. Nothing could change Chen Ke's mind, and no one's theories could sway him.

This wasn't because Chen Ke was always right. Some things, Chen Tianhua thought Chen Ke did not do correctly. But Chen Ke was gradually changing. If it were the first time they met, Chen Ke would never have proposed such a "scheme" directly. At that time, Chen Ke would have tried harder to persuade others. Instead of waiting for others to be in a desperate situation and then extending a hand, Chen Ke was changing, like a sword slowly being drawn from its sheath. The light it revealed was still gentle, but the closer you got to the sword, the more you felt its sharpness. It was a dangerous and uplifting feeling. Chen Tianhua didn't want to criticize, but this subtle feeling seemed to have the power to cut through the darkness.

The drawing was quick, and Chen Ke put down his pen, looked at his watch, and said, "It's time to visit Mr. Gu Hongming. Let's get ready and go."

The streets were crowded. After Beijing began to emulate Tianjin's police system, there were not only patrol officers but also traffic police on the streets. The only thing Chen Ke found unfamiliar was that the traffic system was modeled after Japan's, with vehicles driving on the left side, opposite to the right-side driving in the new China. "Once we liberate, we must restore right-side driving," Chen Ke thought to himself.

On the way, they saw a few arguments between vehicles. At the sites of these arguments, traffic police were mediating and maintaining order. At each intersection, there were notices, which Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua stopped to read. They were mostly announcements about new regulations. Since 1904, Beijing had begun to construct new streets. At least from Chen Ke's residence to the Imperial University, the road was made of gravel, and water was sprinkled on the road throughout the day to reduce dust. With management and order, the market looked peaceful. People walked briskly, and there was no sign of widespread suffering.

No wonder the Qing loyalists claimed that the failure of the late Qing reforms was a tragedy. If you only looked at this stretch of road, it might provide the Qing loyalists with some "strong evidence." Chen Ke thought sarcastically. Chen Tianhua was also observing the surroundings, looking at the road, the police, and the orderly streets. He misinterpreted the smile on Chen Ke's lips. "Wenqing, as long as the new policies are implemented, China's affairs can be handled well."

Chen Ke didn't want to discuss sensitive issues on the street. He replied sarcastically, "A last gasp."

Hearing this, Chen Tianhua frowned. Chen Ke's harsh evaluation seemed excessive to him. Such a scene, if called a last gasp, was too harsh. But discussing this now was inappropriate, so Chen Tianhua decided to talk about it later in a safe place.

The gatekeeper of the Imperial University was in his thirties, a tall and thin man. Hearing Chen Ke's request to see Gu Hongming, he looked at the two short-haired young men with suspicion.

"We were sent by Mr. Yan Fu from Shanghai."

Hearing this, the gatekeeper's expression changed to one of understanding. Chen Ke handed him Yan Fu's letter and asked him to deliver it to Mr. Gu Hongming. The gatekeeper ran off to the school. Seeing no one around, Chen Ke smiled and said, "Xing Tai, you used to fight for this school."

Chen Tianhua didn't respond but carefully examined the highest institution of learning in China. The Imperial University was the first national comprehensive university in modern Chinese history, serving both as the highest educational institution and the highest educational administrative body, overseeing schools in all provinces. Chen Tianhua's widely read "Wake Up" had mentioned the Imperial University: "Don't talk about it, but to build a university in Beijing costs 300,000 silver taels. The government said it was too expensive and never built it. The Empress Dowager spent millions of silver taels to rebuild the Summer Palace. Every year, the imperial tombs cost millions. But 300,000 taels for the university, can't they find it?"

Now, the school stood before Chen Tianhua, with buildings and many students on the playground. The brick walls outside the campus were lined with willow trees, giving it a genuine scholarly atmosphere. Chen Tianhua felt a mix of emotions.

Chen Ke could guess how Chen Tianhua felt. He didn't want to shake Chen Tianhua's confidence and said sarcastically, "The new policies won't save China. The only effect of the new policies is to dig the Qing's grave. Of course, without the new policies, the Qing would still fall, but with the new policies, the Qing will fall faster."

Hearing Chen Ke's cold prediction, Chen Tianhua felt some resistance. Other provinces, whether rural or urban, were gradually deteriorating. Seeing some improvement in Beijing, Chen Tianhua, while not feeling grateful to the Qing, couldn't help but feel a sense of novelty. Chen Ke's words, however, dismissed this small improvement as worthless, which was quite a dampener.

But Chen Tianhua had no desire to defend the Qing. They waited for a while, and soon the gatekeeper ran back, his braid bouncing as he hurried.

"Mr. Gu invites you two," the gatekeeper said respectfully.

"Then please lead the way," Chen Ke said.

Following the gatekeeper, Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua entered the gate of the Imperial University.