Chapter 63

When Pangzi clearly stated, "I will not serve as Chen Ke's subordinate," Wu Xingchen was not surprised. And Chen Ke accepted this without any objection and even expressed agreement. Wu Xingchen was not surprised by this either. However, seeing the relief on Pangzi's face and the other Shandong brothers, Wu Xingchen felt a genuine sense of disappointment. But he could no longer say anything. If he were to persuade Pangzi to listen to Chen Ke at this moment, as he had done in the past, Pangzi would only look at Wu Xingchen with a suspicious eye and ask, "Brother Wu, which side are you really on?"

Wu Xingchen wanted to tell Pangzi, "Brother, I am on your side." But he couldn't bring himself to say it, because he was now also unsure of which side he was on.

To be precise, Wu Xingchen had no good feelings towards Chen Ke, and he knew this, and Chen Ke knew it too. Therefore, Wu Xingchen never hid this fact. Wu Xingchen was very clear that he joined the People's Party out of interest in its theories. He was also aware that Chen Ke knew this. This created a significant dilemma for Wu Xingchen. If this were any other organization he had been part of, this would be a major issue. A subordinate having no good feelings towards his superior, and only gathering together based on a common goal, would be considered a grave sin. The subordinate would have to go to great lengths to hide such an attitude to survive in the organization.

However, the People's Party was different. After spending so much time in this small party, Wu Xingchen gradually developed a strange feeling. Was the "People's Party" really planning a rebellion? All the political platforms and ideas proposed by Chen Ke indeed aimed at a rebellion. To avoid various possible failures, Chen Ke's measures were very cautious. Wu Xingchen understood and supported these measures. He felt he fully understood what Chen Ke meant by a "People' Revolution." If the revolution were to succeed, the People's Party would lead the people to ultimate liberation.

Based on this understanding, Wu Xingchen was even more aware of the obligations of a People's Party member. But these were the very things he found difficult to do. Yes, if the revolution succeeded, he would become a founding hero, a remarkable figure. But compared to what he would have to sacrifice, these achievements were not so impressive.

When you realize that everything you do is for the people, not for your own fame and fortune, and that all the hardships you endure are for the benefit of others, any normal person would find it hard to accept. This was Wu Xingchen's greatest confusion. This ideology made it impossible for him to refuse, but he felt that his sacrifices would not benefit the brothers he cared about. If Chen Ke could outline the specific steps for the revolution and convince Wu Xingchen that they were correct, Wu Xingchen would execute them without hesitation. But Chen Ke did not do this. He only told everyone that the world needed a revolution and that a new system must be established. Then he explained these ideas. Those who had read books found this very interesting, but Wu Xingchen was not so interested. He needed practical methods, not theories.

Thinking about this, Wu Xingchen looked at Chen Ke. There was not a trace of regret on this young man's face. Even if he were angry, he would hide his emotions behind a smile. Wu Xingchen had observed this over the past few months. But as a member of the People's Party, Wu Xingchen knew he had no real loyalty to the party and had never spoken from the party's perspective. Therefore, Wu Xingchen knew that even if Chen Ke had the right methods, he would not eagerly share them with Wu Xingchen. It was not because Chen Ke had any grudge against Wu Xingchen, but because Chen Ke did not believe Wu Xingchen would truly accept them.

Looking at Pangzi and the other brothers, Wu Xingchen noticed that except for Chai Qingguo, who still looked uneasy, the others seemed to have finally put down their burdens. Wu Xingchen's brows furrowed. If these people really wanted to rebel, among the people Wu Xingchen knew, only Chen Ke could guide these brothers. If Chen Ke abandoned them, their uprising would inevitably end in failure. Didn't they know this?

At this moment, the sound of a military band playing "The Beiyang New Army Marches Forward" came from a distance. This music, composed by Americans in the Soviet style, was actually different from Soviet military music if you listened carefully. Soviet military music followed the Orthodox "saint" style. This music from Red Alert 3 was different in arrangement, more fierce but less melodious. But to the Chinese of that time, it seemed to fit the image of a fierce and powerful army. The others in the tent were hearing this tune for the first time. After the first round, Pangzi laughed, "Do we need to play instruments in battle?" A few people laughed at this joke. Chen Ke also laughed a few times. Wu Xingchen, Chen Tianhua, and Chai Qingguo did not laugh.

It seemed the military music had been approved by the Beiyang Army commanders. After playing twice, the music stopped, and soon there were sounds of shouting and neighing. After this commotion subsided, "The Beiyang New Army Marches Forward" played again, this time with a rhythmic accompaniment that sounded like clapping. Chen Ke listened carefully and realized it was the sound of infantry battalions marching.

Pangzi also heard this and asked curiously, "What's going on? Shall we go out for a smoke?"

"No, you can't go out. This is a military camp, and running around recklessly could cause trouble," Wu Xingchen sternly stopped Pangzi.

Seeing Wu Xingchen's serious expression, Pangzi replied irritably, "I understand." But he didn't pay much attention to it. He knew that Chen Ke had brought them here to break their spirit, to give them a taste of the "punishment stick." He had heard stories in Cangzhou about how Lin Chong had to endure the "punishment stick" when he entered prison. This couldn't fool him. Moreover, Pangzi didn't really blame Chen Ke. After seeing the Beiyang Army, he was truly impressed. In this regard, he admitted that what Chen Ke had said in his lectures was true: if they fought a direct battle, the rebels would definitely not be a match for the Beiyang Army.

In Pangzi's view, Chen Ke wanted to bring them under his control and issue orders to them. Wu Xingchen seemed to have already followed Chen Ke, always speaking well of him. Hadn't Wu Xingchen learned from the past when he was deceived by the literati sent by the Manchu princes? It was Wu Xingchen who first realized the Manchu regime was unreliable and suggested they flee. That's how they escaped with their lives. How could Wu Xingchen now be less wise than before, falling for the tricks of a literatus like Chen Ke? Pangzi planned to find time to have a serious talk with his "Brother Wu" and make him see the truth. The ones he could rely on were his brothers, not outsiders. Only his brothers would treat him sincerely and not let him down. Only by appealing to their interests would they give him what he needed. Wasn't this how one should treat Chen Ke, who had invited them to meals, helped pay for their food, and shown them the strength of the Beiyang Army? Wasn't he just interested in their reputation in the underworld?

Pangzi glanced at Chen Ke with a smug look. He had made it clear that he would not serve Chen Ke, and Chen Ke still had to listen to him. When dealing with literati, one must never give them any advantage. Pangzi suddenly thought that Chen Ke didn't seem poor. After he had embarrassed Chen Ke, literati like him would remember the slight. Over the next two days, he should give Chen Ke some face and then take advantage of his arrogance to squeeze more money out of him. Chen Ke had said that to rally a group of brothers, money and supplies were essential. Did Chen Ke really need to say this? But it was a good excuse. Since Chen Ke supported the revolution, he should provide the money and supplies. Thinking about this, Pangzi glanced at the other brothers. He needed to discuss this with them. He couldn't do it alone.

Thinking he had successfully suppressed Chen Ke, despite his efforts to control his emotions, Pangzi's joy was evident to Chen Tianhua. Chen Tianhua was 30 years old and had seen as much of the world as Pangzi, if not more. Such a small trick couldn't fool him. What puzzled Chen Tianhua was Chen Ke's expression.

Since meeting Chen Ke, Chen Tianhua had never been able to grasp his emotions. Others would often become excited and animated when discussing ideas, but become less enthusiastic when doing practical work. Chen Ke was different. When he did practical work, his serious and focused attitude was truly remarkable. Working with Chen Ke was always very easy. But when discussing ideas, Chen Ke was always solemn and thoughtful.

Chen Ke must have understood Pangzi's actions. From Wu Xingchen's expression, it was clear that he understood, and Chen Tianhua understood as well. Logically, Chen Ke should have understood too. But for some reason, Chen Tianhua felt that Chen Ke didn't seem to understand what Pangzi's actions meant. This mysterious attitude was truly puzzling. If Chen Ke allowed Pangzi to act this way, it would mean giving up the revolutionary opportunities in the north. If Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren were in charge, they would never give up such a good opportunity. But Chen Ke's current actions clearly indicated he was giving up. Chen Tianhua wanted to remind Chen Ke that this was not a good idea.

However, Chen Tianhua had basic judgment. In the Beiyang Army camp, one couldn't speak recklessly. If someone overheard, it could lead to danger. He would have to wait until they returned to Beijing to discuss this with Chen Ke. Thinking about this, Chen Tianhua really wanted to hold a party meeting right away. The People's Party meetings were frequent, and the daily meetings had made everyone feel a bit annoyed. But since Pangzi and the others arrived, the three People's Party members in Beijing had not held a proper meeting. Many things were just being implemented without proper communication, which Chen Tianhua found unbearable. He forced himself to remain silent and sat there without a word.

After a while, the military music finally stopped. Soon, the Beiyang Army would begin to return to camp. The camp started to become lively from a distance, with the sounds of movement, shouting, and people entering and exiting tents increasing. Suddenly, the tent door opened, and Bu Guanshui strode in. As soon as he entered, he laughed, "Brother Wenqing, thank you. The military music was a great success. Even Lord Yuan was impressed. He sent a messenger to say that there will be a parade tomorrow."

"What did Lord Yuan say?"

"He said this music is majestic and worthy of the Beiyang New Army. The parade will be held the day after tomorrow, and he has specially arranged for a temporary parade tomorrow morning to familiarize the army with the music."

"Oh? Then Brother Bu will become famous," Chen Ke said with a smile.

To his surprise, Bu Guanshui only sighed, "We will return early tomorrow morning."

Seeing Bu Guanshui's expression and his words, Chen Ke could guess that Bu Guanshui's superior wanted to take all the credit. If Bu Guanshui stayed, and Yuan Shikai dug deeper, he would surely call Bu Guanshui to personally commend him. By sending Bu Guanshui away early, the credit could be taken entirely.

"Brother Bu, it's not easy to come here. Can we sneak a look?" Chen Ke asked with a smile.

"I'll arrange it," Bu Guanshui, who was not entirely willing to let his efforts go unrewarded, readily agreed. He then went out and brought in some straw and military bedding. "It's a bit rough, but we're on a trip. Please bear with it. When we return to Beijing, I'll treat you all to a meal," Bu Guanshui said, not wanting to lose his dignity.

The night passed without incident. The next day, Bu Guanshui early arranged for everyone to go to a small hill. Although it was a bit far, the Beiyang Army's parade could still be seen clearly. There were also some sentries on the hill, which helped avoid many troubles. A lieutenant personally arranged for the Beiyang Army sentries, who readily agreed. After checking that Chen Ke and the others had no weapons, the sentries were not inclined to cause trouble.

After a short wait, units began to gather on a field far from the hill. The rumbling of footsteps grew louder as Pangzi and the others watched in silence. In storytelling, it's often said, "An army of ten thousand has no end." From a high vantage point, they saw tens of thousands of soldiers lined up in dense formations, stretching for over a mile. The Beiyang Army, being one of the best-trained armies in China at the time, stood in silence, not a single voice breaking the stillness.

The military band was in the center of the formation, and opposite them was a mound of earth, freshly piled and distinctly different in color from the surrounding area. After a while, several officers on white horses rode past the formation. Then, a few horses returned and stopped at the mound. The band began to play "The Beiyang New Army Marches Forward," and the Beiyang New Army units passed by the mound one by one.

The night before, Pangzi had mocked the Beiyang Army for "blowing instruments." Now, seeing the soldiers march in perfect unison, Pangzi's expression changed completely. Thousands of soldiers marching in unison, with the fierce and solemn music, was truly awe-inspiring.

The observers did not dare to stand and watch as they had before. This time, they lay on the hill, only their heads visible. The vibrations from the marching could be felt through the ground, giving Pangzi a sense of the earth shaking. Any lingering thoughts of challenging the Beiyang Army were completely abandoned. He knew that if just ten thousand soldiers advanced like this, even the tens of thousands led by Uncle Jing Tingbin would likely be frightened away. The longer he watched, the more he felt a sense of fear, and memories of his past battles with the Beiyang Army came flooding back. Fortunately, the Beiyang Army was not as large back then. If it had been, Pangzi would not have escaped.

Chen Ke was not afraid at all. Having seen several grand national parades, the Beiyang Army's display seemed to him like a university drill. In those days, a university cohort had only about two thousand students, but compared to the Beiyang Army, it was not inferior.

The only thing that caught Chen Ke's attention was the capes worn by the officers on white horses, which fluttered beautifully as the horses ran. He wondered if, in the future, the Red Army could adopt a similar uniform for its officers. But he quickly dismissed the idea. The Red Army's characteristic was its "rural" style, which, while partly due to the lack of resources to produce better equipment, made it easier for the people to accept the army. Imagine if the Red Army wore wool coats, wool trousers, and long boots. Would the common people see such an army as their own?

This was a temporary parade, and the units moved directly to the training ground. The ten thousand soldiers quickly disappeared, and the sentries also withdrew. Chen Ke noticed that when Pangzi and the others stood up, their legs were weak, either from lying down for too long or from fear.

Having seen what they needed to see, the group returned to the camp, mounted their horses, and set off for the return journey.

On the way, Pangzi and the others deliberately kept their distance from Chen Ke. Chen Ke also wanted to recruit Bu Guanshui. Without Pangzi and the others interfering, it was more convenient. Although Bu Guanshui had been deprived of credit, this was common in the Beiyang New Army. From the official documents, he was now a deputy lieutenant in the Anhui New Army. A lieutenant in the Beiyang New Army was not a high rank, but in Beijing, it was significant. In Anhui, it was a high-ranking officer.

"Brother Wenqing, once I leave Beijing, we won't have many opportunities to meet. It's a rare chance to meet someone like you, and I don't want to leave so soon."

"I don't want to part with Brother Bu so soon either. But it's not necessarily hard to meet."

"How so?" Bu Guanshui asked, interested.

"I plan to go to Anhui next year. Since Brother Bu is also in Anhui, we can see each other often."

"Really? If you go to Anhui, you must find me."

"If I come to you, it will be because I need your help. And I will definitely need your help, so don't be annoyed."

"I would be honored to help Brother Wenqing. If you have a problem and don't come to me, that would be a lack of trust."

After some casual conversation, they discussed military issues. Bu Guanshui, being a graduate of a military academy, had a higher level of knowledge than Chen Ke, who had only read "The Art of War" and had not finished "On War." Chen Ke's military knowledge came from the Red Army and the People's Liberation Army, which were not suitable for this era. When Chen Ke mentioned the strict discipline of the Red Army, Bu Guanshui laughed, "Brother Wenqing, you are talking about theory, a purely scholarly view. Who doesn't know the importance of military discipline? But who can really achieve the level of the Yue Family Army, where soldiers would rather freeze to death than break into a house, or starve to death rather than rob? The Beiyang Army has good discipline, but don't forget that it is maintained with a lot of money. Without the government's pay, heh."

Chen Ke knew this was true. Even the Red Army and the Eighth Route Army had pay. And because there was no embezzlement, the pay for the Red Army and the Eighth Route Army was even higher than that of the Nationalist Army. After reaching Shaanbei, the core of the Eighth Route Army had been through the Long March, a process that had produced a highly skilled and resilient force. In such harsh conditions, no other army in Chinese or human history had been forged. Building such an army in this era was a luxury.

Seeing that Chen Ke was silent, Bu Guanshui thought his words were too harsh and tried to comfort him, "Brother Wenqing's views are not without merit. But the problem in China now is the backwardness of industry, which means military equipment cannot be produced domestically. If we go to war with foreign countries and they cut off our supply of weapons, it will be a serious issue. But the domestic military industry has limited production capacity, which has always been a headache for me."

Hearing this, Chen Ke began to discuss foreign industrial development with Bu Guanshui. This was right up Bu Guanshui's alley. Bu Guanshui was a layman in this area, and Chen Ke's clear and concise explanations quickly captivated him. Chen Ke, who had been teaching for a long time, was well-versed in these topics. Bu Guanshui, who already had a good impression of Chen Ke, now felt that his long-standing problems were being solved one by one, and his admiration for Chen Ke grew rapidly.

Chen Ke, feeling parched, stopped to drink from his water bottle. Bu Guanshui then asked seriously, "Brother Wenqing, what do you plan to do in Anhui?"

"Do some business."

"What kind of help do you need from me?"

"I plan to set up some factories and form a trade caravan. Without Brother Bu's help, it won't be possible."

"Here's what I suggest. Since you are so familiar with industry, once you get to Anhui, you should gather a group to manufacture weapons. I will have some status in the Anhui New Army. As long as your products are good, I will definitely buy them and ensure you make a profit. As for forming a trade caravan, you will need military personnel. When you recruit people, I will help train them. I will not charge you a penny for the training."

Hearing this, Chen Ke was very pleased. Over the past few days, he had sensed that Bu Guanshui was not yet corrupt and still