1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 135

Chapter 224 Each Has Their Own Pursuits

In the evening, Zhao Yan hosted a family banquet at his own residence, inviting all five of his disciples.

This is the first time the five fellow disciples have reunited since the Songhu Incident. Over the years, they have all been busy with their own lives, and none of them have had time to talk. They are either scattered in different places or they can't agree with each other.

When they arrived at Zhao Yan's house and sat at the dinner table, the five fellow disciples all had different expressions.

Wu Zifu remained calm and composed, Wang Dingyun looked resolute, Zhang Xinghua showed neither joy nor anger, Liu Shangsheng was on pins and needles, and only Qiu Xingxun remained as invisible as ever, with little presence.

Zhao Yan sat in the main seat, unsure of what to say, and had no appetite for the delicacies and fine wines on the table.

"Have you made a decision?" Zhao Yan finally looked at his eldest disciple and asked, even though he already knew the answer, he still wanted to ask with the last glimmer of hope.

Wu Zifu faced his master's gaze without flinching, sat up straight, nodded, and said calmly, "It's decided, Master! Father came back this time specifically to say goodbye to you."

I want to realize my ideals, I want to practice my beliefs, I want to be myself, not a tool of politics!

Anger flashed across Zhao Yan's face, and the chubby Liu Shangsheng beside him quickly advised, "Senior brother, watch your words! What political tool? We're all on the same side, why would you say such a thing?"

Liu Shangsheng, who has never been very emotionally intelligent, became unusually cautious and clever today.

In the past, he was ruthless when he tricked Zhao Yan, and every time he said something wrong, Zhao Yan almost died prematurely. But now, for the sake of his senior brother Wu Zifu, he is very clever.

Wu Zifu looked at Liu Shangsheng and said, "Junior brother, everyone has their own ambitions and their own path to take. You don't need to persuade me!"

Zhao Yan couldn't hold back any longer and slammed his fist on the table: "Zifu! When have I ever treated you like a tool? Don't we even have this much trust between us?"

"Back then at the Songhu Beer Hall, I said I would lead you to overthrow the old world and create a new China. Have I gone back on my word?"

"I have given my all along, almost sacrificing myself. I have fought battles in the north and south, poured my heart and soul into it, all to fulfill my promise. I promised you, and I will do it."

"But why did you give up? Why did you leave?"

Wu Zifu picked up the wine glass on the table and drank it all in one gulp. With the help of the strong alcohol, the smile and nonchalance on his face disappeared, replaced by grief and indignation.

“Master, I have never blamed you, nor have I ever questioned whether you would harm me, but I also have my own path to walk.”

“You taught us all of this. You taught us what faith is and what proletarianism is, but you can’t lead us down this path.”

“When politics is not involved, we are teacher and student, but when politics is involved, I am a dissident.”

"To me, you are my master, but to us, you are the head of state! I cannot tolerate you using my beliefs and revolution as a tool to achieve your political goals!"

Zhao Yan was stunned. He knew who the "we" Wu Zifu mentioned represented: all the fanatical proletarians behind Wu Zifu. But Zhao Yan didn't understand why these young people were so fanatical and persistent. Did faith really transcend everything?

Wu Zifu's accusations were not unfounded. During the Far East War, Zhao Yan did indeed use proletarian revolutionaries as political tools, and at that time, revolutions were breaking out one after another in Outer Manchuria of Russia and Japan.

The top military and political leaders of the Republic saw it all and understood it clearly, but the first feeling of the central leadership was not joy, but fear.

At that time, both Jean Sinor and Wu Zifu were strongly urging the military and government to provide support and assistance to those revolutionaries, and even to send troops to help them with the revolution.

But neither the central government nor Zhao Yan could do that. The Republic at that time was no longer capable of doing so, and Europe and America would never allow such a thing to happen.

After the war, Zhao Yan would not even be able to reclaim Outer Manchuria, let alone help the revolutionaries in Russia. If he did, the Russians would definitely go to any lengths to start a full-scale war with China, and the West would also desperately support him.

Proletarian revolution was taboo throughout Europe; no country would tolerate such a thing happening.

At that time, the National Defense Army was located on the south bank of the Heilongjiang River, but it remained inactive, watching as the revolutionaries, workers, and peasants in Outer Northeast China were suppressed and slaughtered by Tsarist Russia.

Perhaps it was from that moment that Wu Zifu and Jean Sinor understood everything and became completely disillusioned with the Republic.

They understood that Zhao Yan would never abandon them, and that he would save them no matter what.

But that's all. Zhao Yan will only save his disciples, but not their faith.

"When will you understand my helplessness? Zifu, now is not the time to talk about faith and ideals. Reality is the first priority. Only after solving the existing problems can we have the right to talk about ideals and ideologies."

"The Chinese people can't even get enough to eat. Industry and the economy have only just started to improve. The country is at a time of great prosperity. You and I, teacher and student, must first be responsible to the country, the nation, and history, and then to our personal beliefs and ideals."

"What do you want me to do? Kill all the rich people in China, distribute their wealth to the poor, purge all the old bureaucrats, and then let you take over the government?"

"You're not the naive young man you used to be. You know what this means. China can't afford to suffer like this anymore!"

"Let's be realistic. Stay here, and I'll give you the opportunity to realize your ambitions. You're still too young. When you've truly grown up, I'll entrust everything to you!"

At this point, Zhao Yan opened his heart completely, saying everything that should and shouldn't be said, since there were no outsiders present.

But after hearing Zhao Yan's words, both Wang Dingyun and Zhang Xinghua clenched their fists under the table. Zhang Xinghua's expression remained relatively stable, but Wang Dingyun's thoughts were written all over his face.

Wang Dingyun might be reserved with others, but when it comes to Zhao Yan, he speaks his mind directly: "Master, you're being too biased."

“From the very beginning, we have been carrying out a nationalist revolution. Our goal is to restore the strength and majesty of the Han people and reshape their glory.”

"I oppose any kind of proletarian revolution. I still insist that national and ethnic interests are above all else!"

Zhao Yan was still trying to persuade Wu Zifu, but Wang Dingyun got upset again. Zhao Yan's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and he slammed his fist on the table: "Are you all trying to drive me crazy?"

"When have I ever harmed you? Everything I've taught you is to help you understand the future trends of this world and what you are about to face."

"I only let you understand the ideology, but I didn't ask you to dedicate yourselves to it!"

"Young men, wake up! Think smarter, don't blindly follow the trend, learn to be more discerning."

Wu Zifu countered, "Learn what? Learn to assess the situation and protect yourself wisely? Learn to be indecisive and go in the opposite direction?"

"If we were all like that, then what was the point of the Shanghai Revolution, and was the Changsha Uprising even necessary?"

"Without those pure revolutionaries who shed their blood and sacrificed their lives to follow you, there would be no republic as we know it today. I just want the one who created everything to rule everything. What's wrong with that?"

"The proletarian working class created history and the world, so why are they always at the bottom of society, suffering oppression and exploitation no matter what?"

"I refuse to accept this! I will change all of this, I will shatter this cycle!"

"I want to make oppression no longer bend the people's backs, I want to make exploitation no longer able to skin the people, I want to make all that high and mighty vanish into thin air!"

Wang Dingyun retorted, not to be outdone: "The people? I only recognize the Han Chinese!"

"The Han people are the most superior and perfect race in the world! Only the Han people are qualified to be called the people!"

"Master, you've compromised too much. Why do you let those beastly foreigners continue to be high and mighty? They are clearly the enemies of the Han people!"

"They've colluded with the Manchus to oppress the Han people for so long, and now we're expected to continue being friends with them?"

"I disagree, and the great Han people disagree too. They only deserve to go to reformatory camps!"

"It's all over!" Zhao Yan slapped his forehead, feeling a chill run down his spine. What kind of trash had he raised? One was more steely than Stalin, and the other more extreme than Hitler.

Zhao Yan felt deeply aggrieved. He had fooled these young people, and they had believed him completely.

But when he spoke from the bottom of his heart, these young people just wouldn't believe him no matter what. Zhao Yan was so angry that he wanted to crack open their skulls to see what was inside.

People are willing to believe lies, but not the truth. What's wrong with this world?

They're all almost thirty years old, how can they still be so rebellious? Can't they just give their master a break?

After Wu Zifu and Wang Dingyun finished speaking, they glared at each other angrily. Neither of the two fellow disciples would yield to the other, and each believed that they were right.

"Sit down, you two! Do you want to fight to the death in front of me?" Zhao Yan slammed his fist on the table again. Wu Zifu and Wang Dingyun had no choice but to sit down, turn their gazes away, and stop looking at each other.

Zhao Yan earnestly advised, "You are still young, and it's right to have ideals!"

"But when you reach my age, experience everything I've gone through, and stand in my position, you'll realize that the country needs development, and that ideals and beliefs alone are useless. Then you'll understand that reality is the most important thing."

"There is no such thing as an ideology in this world, only interests."

"I didn't want to tell you anything so soon, but now I have no choice."

"No matter what kind of revolution or ideology it is, theory and practice are two different things. Something that is perfect in theory is always full of holes in practice."

"Because ultimately, it is people who carry out these things, and people are the foundation of everything, but how many truly pure people are there in this world?"

"Think more, consider more, don't walk in a one-track mind. No road in the world is straight. There will always be a turning point, and there will always be a moment when you encounter a cliff."

"At moments like these, the pure-hearted become those thrown off at the bend, those materials used to build bridges on the cliff, and it is ultimately those who cross the gap who make it across."

At this point, Zhao Yan could hardly continue, and could only sigh and say, "Compromise and stability are the main themes of politics."

"Faith is faith, and politics is politics. Faith can be used to influence politics, but it cannot be used to completely determine politics."

"The world is inherently imperfect; everything develops and changes amidst contradictions. You must also change along with it, or you'll become cannon fodder instead of tools!"

"I'm the master, that's why I treat you this way. If it were anyone else, you would have died eighteen times over by now!"

Silence fell over the dinner table. Wang Dingyun and Wu Zifu couldn't listen to Zhao Yan's earnest words, but Zhang Xinghua's eyes lit up.

Liu Shangsheng looked conflicted, not caring about ideologies or ideals, only about the bond between his fellow disciples. Qiu Xingxun also looked conflicted, wanting to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything and remained silent.

Zhao Yan had done everything he could; he was at his wit's end with these two disciples.

Just like he said, this world is too contradictory, and people are the most contradictory products. They may have come from the same school, but they are like fire and water.

They are clearly intelligent and capable people, with no shortage of methods and courage, but they are just too stubborn.

However, those who are not stubborn are usually mediocre. Wang Dingyun and Wu Zifu are typical examples, being both geniuses and madmen.

"Fine, it's going to rain or a mother will remarry, so go ahead and do as you please."

"But remember one thing: no matter what, you are still fellow disciples. I can accept different ideals and conflicting beliefs, but I will never accept anyone who dares to kill fellow disciples!"

Zhao Yan picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, his words resounding with conviction.

Struggle is acceptable, but killing fellow disciples is absolutely unacceptable; this is Zhao Yan's bottom line.

Zhao Yan couldn't support any of them, even though they were all his students. That's just how helpless reality is, because Zhao Yan was not only the mentor of these young people, but also the head of state of the Republic.

China belongs to Zhao Yan, but Zhao Yan also belongs to China. Caught in the middle of the situation, Zhao Yan is not free to do as he pleases.

He hoped that these apprentices could truly mature and help him share the burden. He even thought it wouldn't be unreasonable for Zhao Yan to give up his position, but seeing the current situation, Zhao Yan had given up hope.

Zhao Yan was worried about entrusting the country to them!

This dinner was arguably the last supper of the Revival Party, which had once dominated the Chinese political landscape and ceased to exist after it.

Zhao Yan tried to piece them back together, but ultimately failed.

The delicacies on the table were not touched. In the end, the master and his disciples all drank in silence, no one spoke, just kept drinking.

Just like the beer hall back then, but back then everyone was thriving and united, while now... well, let's not even talk about it.

Chapter 225 Fellow disciples are fellow disciples, steel blades are steel blades

The dinner ended unhappily, with the fellow apprentices each harboring their own thoughts.

Before leaving, Wang Dingyun and Wu Zifu said their final goodbyes. Both knew that their next meeting might not be so amicable.

The two agreed that fellow disciples should remain fellow disciples, and steel blades should remain steel blades.

Wang Dingyun left the Forbidden City and went back to pack his things to prepare for leaving the capital.

Wu Zifu stayed at the presidential palace with his mother and younger brother.

Liu Shangsheng went home, while Qiu Xingxun disappeared at some point, or perhaps he had been hiding in the shadows, silently seeing him off.

In the end, Zhao Yan sat alone on the kang (a heated brick bed) in the imperial study, unable to sleep all night.

The next day, Wang Dingyun left the capital and returned to Xinjiang with his entourage.

Accompanied by Wu Xia and her younger brother Wu Zijian, Wu Zifu and his group left the capital and headed to Tianjin to board a ship to go overseas.

News of the banquet at the capital's presidential palace could not be kept secret and quickly spread throughout the city. Officials and high-ranking officials in the capital who were attending a meeting in the city were all deeply moved upon hearing it.

But the world keeps turning no matter who leaves. Zhao Yan continued his normal work as always, presiding over the central decision-making meetings. The absence of Wu Zifu and Wang Dingyun did not affect the continued operation of the core of power.

During the subsequent meeting, Zhao Yan's serious expression was somewhat frightening, and no one dared to provoke him. Fortunately, Zhao Yan also rarely spoke.

Zhao Yan seemed like a completely different person before and after the banquet; everyone could sense the difference in him.

Previously, Zhao Yan would sit on the steps to hold meetings with everyone, but afterwards, he would sit in the highest chair, no longer smiling or angry.

The departure of his apprentice also took away the little humanity Zhao Yan had left. He began to become much more indifferent, and more and more like an unfathomable emperor.

Three days later, the series of central decision-making meetings concluded, and the remaining task was for the Prime Minister's Office to draft a document and then report and announce it to the whole country.

Zhao Yan stayed in the Imperial Study and worked as usual. Wu Xia, who had gone to Tianjin to see him off, also returned. Upon meeting, she started scolding him relentlessly.

"Zifu has been forced to flee abroad, and you still have the mood to look at documents here?"

"What kind of father are you? Even if Zifu is your stepson, he has done so many important things for you over the years. If we disregard our friendship and only consider his contributions, you can't drive him away!"

"Everyone says you're the emperor, but you can't even control your own son. I think you're just a coward!"

Wu Xia ranted and raved for almost ten minutes, but in the end she was too exhausted to continue and could only sit aside and sob.

After Zhao Yan stopped hearing any sound, he put down his pen, looked up at his wife with an impatient expression, and asked, "Are you done scolding?"

"After you've finished scolding me, go back and get some rest. Just take good care of the kids and don't worry about anything else."

"What do you know, you woman? You've been talking about emperors, but did you bestow any title upon me?"