Chapter 166 Revolutionary Army

On a rainy night, he conspired with Huang Xing, Niu Yongjian, Cai E, Fang Shengdong and Ye Lan to plan the domestic situation.

"The Qing court has become a 'foreign court'. The imperialists are about to carve up the Central Plains. We must unite and face the outside world in unison!"

"Rumble..."

Amidst the wind, rain, lightning and thunder, the eight people spoke in unison as loud as thunder.

There was fire burning in everyone's eyes.

The Russian turmoil in Northeast China was getting worse and worse, and they knew that they couldn't go on like this.

"Rejecting Russia is imperative!"

[In the same year, the Sakura Japanese Anti-Russian Volunteer Corps was established. The members included Huang Xing, Chen Tianhua, Niu Yongjian, Cai E, Fang Shengdong, Su Manshu, and Zhang Junmai.]

[The scale of the rally grew larger and larger, with a total of more than 500 people gathering at the Jinhui Pavilion in Dongying to denounce the crimes of the Tsarist Russia! ]

at that time.

Also in Sakura Japan.

A grand expo is slowly opening, attracting many international visitors.

A group of Qing Dynasty people with long braids are very conspicuous.

One of them, named Xu Xilin, took only one look inside the Expo and then left in indignation.

There is no other reason.

Just because there was an ancient clock from China on display in the expo.

"Great powers are bullying China too much!"

"The Qing Dynasty has no hope. Reform is useless."

Another firm and loud voice sounded.

He is Tao Chengzhang. In Sakura Japan, there are many people like him who study abroad for the country.

"Please teach me, sir."

Although Xu Xilin was older than Tao Chengzhang, the latter's words and deeds always influenced him.

"The court is ill. At first, the disease could be cured, but it was wrong step by step. Now, it can no longer be solved by winning a few wars and killing a few foreigners. The only way is to overthrow the government and restore the new country!"

At this moment, the definition of "liberation" began to reappear.

1903 was destined to be a year of many major events.

After the picture of Sakura Japan ended, a new counting font soon appeared in the sky.

[Anti-Qing articles such as "Refuting Kang Youwei's Theory of Revolution", "Revolutionary Army", "Looking Back", and "Warning Bell" appeared one after another. Those books, articles, and speeches have unscrupulously provoked the already sensitive nerves of the imperial court.]

[In June 1903, the Qing government negotiated with the British Embassy on the grounds that the "Su Bao" was "outrageous and absurd, causing great harm", hoping to use the law of the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong dynasties to send Zhang Binglin and Zou Weidan to Beijing for trial, but was rejected.]

"How could this be?"

This result surprised emperors of all dynasties.

Zhang Binglin and Zou Weidan severely criticized the Qing court and the emperor, and they were guilty of treason and should have been beheaded.

The words quickly continued to appear.

[The registration location of the Subao newspaper belongs to the International Settlement, where people have freedom of speech and the court cannot kill people at will! ]

"freedom of speech?"

The emperors of various dynasties were shocked. Can they speak freely here?
Even the crime of deceiving the emperor can be pardoned?

In response, Zhang Binglin voluntarily went to jail.

He rolled up his sleeves and held his head high.

"Everyone, listen to me!"

"The government doesn't allow us to speak or write, but we insist on writing. Today, I, Zhang Taiyan, will take the lead. I am willing to be the spring mud to protect the spark of revolution from blooming!"

"Zou Rong, you should also turn yourself in! Everyone has their own responsibility!"

In the dark prison, Zhang Binglin did not show any fear or terror. On the contrary, he had a smile on his face.

Why are you laughing?
Because they understood that the Qing Dynasty was afraid.

Their words and books can really shake the foundation of a country and awaken the ignorance and wisdom of the people!
Zhang Binglin and Zou Weidan wrote poems in prison to express their aspirations and encourage each other.

The scene changes to the 28th day of the intercalary fifth month, when Zhang Binglin recites a poem "Presented to Zou Rong in Prison":
"When a hero goes to jail, the world also mourns. When it comes to life, you should intervene, for the world has only two ends."

Zou Weidan then composed a poem titled "Answering the Western Hunters from Prison" to sing and cheer:

"My brother, Uncle Zhang Mei, is deeply concerned about the country. I have no close friends in the world, and my life is miserable."

"Once you are in hell, how can you ever get rid of the evil spirits? I dreamed of you last night, and we raised the revolutionary army together!"

The two agreed to start a revolution together after they were released from prison!
[However, Zou Weidan died in prison only two months after his release due to being unable to bear the torture in prison. He was only 20 years old.]

【Since then, the much-talked-about "Su Report Case" has come to an end. 】

The dim prison was filled with the smell of decay.

Zhang Binglin lay quietly on the prison wall with a calm look.

After Zou Weidan's death, there was no one in prison who would write poetry with him anymore.

"Wei Dan, you probably won't be able to see what the future will be like..."

In his blurred vision, he muttered to himself: "But it doesn't matter, I'll see for you, the court is trying to suppress public opinion and suppress the revolution through this incident, but we have already ignited this fire..."

"Now that the fire has been lit, they can never put it out..."

【What Zhang Binglin said was correct. Su's report to the police did not strangle people's mouthpieces. Instead, it made Zhang and Zou famous. More and more people bought and circulated their works. More and more people dared to pick up pens and write on paper, and began to play a counter-operation with the imperial court.】

【The words in "Revolutionary Army" also gradually influence the people of this era. 】

As the words fell, the scene on the gold list changed again.

"Hit me! Just don't kill me!"

Still in the dark prison.

A group of jailers gathered together and severely tortured a middle-aged man covered in blood.

The middle-aged man who was beaten was Zhang Binglin.

Zou Weidan is dead.

Died from torture by jailers.

He is the only one who is still struggling.

He had promised Zou Weidan that he would not die, absolutely not die.

The literary inquisition killed the Qing court’s last hope for reform, but the fire of revolution was also ignited by their own hands.

Then we must protect that hard-earned flame from being extinguished.

"I will see the future country that you cannot see for you. May you rest in peace in the nine springs of hell."

These are what Zhang Binglin said to his like-minded friend after his death, and it was also a promise.

The darkness and cruel torture did not destroy this great revolutionary scholar, but instead made him more determined to follow the path he was taking.

He smiled.

He laughed wildly and arrogantly, his voice was low at first, but later it became louder and louder. He looked up to the sky and laughed, as if he was mocking this ignorant and backward dynasty.

He began to recite aloud the late Zou Weidan's masterpiece, "Revolutionary Army".

"Revolution! Revolution! My 400 million compatriots, why are we revolting today? I will be the first to cry out: It is unfair! It is unfair!"

"The most unfair and heartbreaking thing in our country is that the Manchus, who are ambitious, nomadic, and thief, are the rulers, while we seek wealth and honor, wag our tails and beg for mercy, kneel three times and kowtow nine times, and indulge in it, without knowing shame or self-awareness. Alas! My compatriots have no mastery! Alas!"

……

In the quiet cell, the sound of Zhang Binglin's recitation echoed, to express his aspirations, to commemorate, and to encourage!

Gradually, other prisoners in the prison began to join in, and in the end, more and more people joined in. The sound penetrated the cell and spread outside the prison. More and more people gathered outside to listen to the shouts.

I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but there is a school outside the prison.

The outstanding students sitting in the school were also reciting "Revolutionary Army":
"Alas! Are we the Han people who fly high in the motherland? Are we the Han people who stand alone on the continent? Are we the Han people who are the great nation?"

"Alas, the Han people! Although the Han people are numerous, they are only enough to be slaves of other peoples; the Han land is larger, just enough to provide a habitat for other peoples. The Han people! The Han people! They are nothing more than obedient and loyal subjects of the Manchus!"

“My fellow countrymen, I wish that all of my compatriots would unite as one, work hard, sharpen themselves, and uproot their slave natures, so that they can become Chinese citizens!”

Their faces were firm, their eyes were like torches, and their voices were like thunder, as if they were bolts of lightning that were about to tear apart the vast darkness.

This scene is shocking.

"Your Majesty, it's just the awakening of thought! It starts with these students!"

"The seeds of reform have been planted here!"

Da Qin, Li Si exclaimed, with horror in his eyes.

Ying Zheng also stammered a little, but couldn't utter a word.

He also saw it, no, he truly witnessed the power of ideological awakening, how terrifying and shocking it was!

Even he couldn't help but shout along.

Another time and space, the fourteenth year of Zhengtong.

Yu Qian, wearing prison clothes and with handcuffs and shackles on his hands and feet, was standing in the prison.

He was imprisoned and his property was confiscated because he supported Daizong's succession to the throne. At this moment, looking at the scene of the vast recitation imprinted in the sky, his eyes were a little moist.

How similar is his experience to Zhang Binglin’s?

"But, Mr. Taiyan, you are much luckier than me..."

He will be beheaded in public tomorrow, but he is smiling with bright eyes.

Those who truly serve their country are never afraid of death, but they are only afraid of not dying a good death!

In prison, Zhang Binglin listened to the chanting coming from the school, sat up suddenly, and his eyes burst into light.

"Zou Rong, did you hear it? I heard it... People in the darkness, we finally see a glimmer of hope!"

At this moment, Zhang Binglin was crying and laughing.

It reminded me of an interesting incident from his childhood - when he was sixteen years old, he took part in the boy's examination arranged by his father.

The title is: On the Glorious Qing Dynasty!
In the examination room, all the students were thinking hard, trying to write the essays they were most satisfied with, but he wrote a whole article criticizing the Qing Dynasty and shouted "Restore China"!
The natural result was a scolding from the examiner.

"I think we can discuss it now, but the title has to be changed - On the Splendid China!"

While muttering to himself, he fell into a deep sleep.

Zhang Binglin's imprisonment is still going on, but he is waiting for the day when he will be released...

At this moment, the emperors of all dynasties all had expectations in their eyes.

"Such a person of great potential should not be kept in prison forever. When he is released, he will surely cause a great storm!"

Every pair of eyes believed it firmly.

In the sky, the counting of words continues.

【During the time Zhang Binglin was in prison, earth-shaking changes had taken place outside.】

【After the closure of the Su Bao, the National Daily was launched, known as the "Second Su Bao". 】

[The anti-Russian movement intensified, and the Wancheng Patriotic Association was established.]

President Chen Qingtong never gave up his patriotic views.

The wind on the street was howling and whistling through the deserted alleys, but it could not cover up his passionate and loud speech.

"It's not the first time that the Russians have been abusing the Chinese. I witnessed this when I traveled to the three northeastern provinces. Chinese people who took the train, even though they had bought tickets, were often driven off the train by drunk Russian soldiers in the dark and stormy nights for no reason, or beaten to death in the train. Chinese officials dared not intervene. Residents along the railway were often raped and abused, and the story is too much to describe."

"It's not just Russia that's doing this. If other countries divide up our Central Plains in the future, the tragedy will be unimaginable!"

"According to my opinion, there are three essentials: first, information; second, thoughts; third, physical fitness..."

He is still talking!

Young Chen Qingtong believed that the Chinese people should stand up, liberate their minds, and strengthen their bodies...

During the speech, Qing army officers and soldiers were still chasing after him.

But this time, Chen Qingtong did not run away.

Patriotism is not for him, not for the world, and even less for the corrupt Qing Dynasty, but for the new China!
On the other side, Sakura Japan.

[The anti-Russian demonstrations became increasingly intense, and the Qing government had no choice but to negotiate with Japan. The movement ended, and the Volunteer Corps was forced to disband! ]

[The flame is extinguished, but the sparks remain! ]

The expulsion had just ended, and on these young and resolute faces suddenly emerged a tenacity and faith that was inconsistent with their age.

"Disbanding the Volunteer Corps is nothing more than 'resisting Russia in name only, but revolution in reality'. The overall situation in the country has been destroyed to the extreme. From now on, only by carrying out revolution can we save the country from danger!"

"We should stand up!!"

Huang Xing shouted.

Huang Xing was still very young at this time, with neat short hair.

"We should stand up!!!"

At this moment, Chen Tianhua, Niu Yongjian, Cai E, Fang Shengdong, Su Manshu and Zhang Junmai all echoed.

Start traveling around and spreading the word, and more and more people will join.

[After the Anti-Russian Volunteer Corps was disbanded, the Military National Education Association was established.]

"Cultivate a martial spirit and practice nationalism."

"Gentlemen, it's time to stand up!!"

Huang Xing's loud shout resounded throughout the screen, and like an echo, it lingered for a long time.

At this moment, in all the parallel universes, the emperors were silent.

What they saw was a passionate young man who cared about his country and was determined to reform, and the determined gleam in their eyes that showed he would not give up.

So what if it's difficult? They have to keep going step by step.

“What will they do next?”

[The Military National Education Association aims to "cultivate a martial spirit and practice nationalism", and its specific implementation methods include propaganda, uprising, and assassination.]

[In 1904, the Assassination Group was established and the Restoration Society was established. ]

[Some members, including Yang Yulin, Huang Xing, Su Peng, He Haiqiao, and Zhang Ji, "specialized in advocating assassination and researching explosives" and returned to China at the end of the year to act according to circumstances.]

"Rumble..."

The first thing I heard was a deafening thunder.

On a rainy night, blinding flashes of lightning lit up the sky.

On the deserted streets, one can vaguely see people in black clothes investigating something.

The vast earth seems to have a turbulent undercurrent beneath the calm.

In a dilapidated and deserted small room, a group of people were hiding, but they were also talking about their ambitions and blueprints.

“This country is no longer my country.”

"My country should be prosperous and the people should live and work in peace and contentment, but this corrupt and cold country is not like that!"

“It should be broken!”

In this dim house, there came a low, firm voice of oath, filled with faith.

……

(End of this chapter)