Chapter 17

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

After Lv Muzhi finished speaking, many other students stood up to speak as well.

By the time class was nearly over, the instructor asked Jiang Xiangyun to speak, and finally concluded: "What is most important to us right now is to disarm the Merchant Corps. Such an independent force controlled by merchants could defect at any time due to economic interests. At the same time, we must pay attention to developing the strength of the workers and peasants. I hope most students understand what they are fighting for, and I also hope everyone remembers the couplet at the school gate:"

"Seeking official rank and wealth, go elsewhere; fearing death and loving life, do not enter this gate—revolutionaries come!"

"Class dismissed!"

Sure enough, after class, He Zhonghan found an opportunity to meet with the Principal and repeated what Lv Muzhi had said in class, embellishing it as he went.

The Principal was fiddling with his radio, looked up at He Zhonghan, and said: "What is it? Lv Muzhi is right. Chen Lianbo is a British national merchant; he has no reason to join our revolution and might even oppose us. I also advocate cracking down on the Merchant Corps."

"It's just a pity that Acting Grand Marshal Hu Hanming doesn't see it that way. He foolishly negotiates with the Merchant Corps and even wants to lift the arrest warrant for Chen Lianbo. Our Whampoa Military Academy has no decision-making power on this matter. Discussing it in political class does no harm, though. The new Wu Instructor teaches well; it saves some students from being muddled."

He Zhonghan was stunned for a moment, then changed his tone: "Oh, I think so too. I'm not saying Lv Muzhi was wrong, but rather that his attitude is problematic."

"Attitude?" The Principal took a handkerchief from the drawer and began wiping the radio: "What attitude? I think he has improved greatly lately, and his attitude toward learning is very good."

He Zhonghan said: "What I mean is Lv Muzhi's attitude toward the Workers and Peasants Party. As a Qingtian Party member, his words today sound exactly like something a Workers and Peasants Party member would say!"

The Principal remained expressionless: "Hmm, I understand. You may leave."

"Principal... I haven't..."

"I told you to leave..."

He Zhonghan left the Principal's office reluctantly, feeling resentful, and slammed his hand heavily outside the office door.

After He Zhonghan left, the Principal took out Lv Muzhi's file and began reading it:

"Born in 1904, joined the Qingtian Party in 1920, graduated from middle school in 1922, then served as a geometry teacher at an elementary school until joining Whampoa Military Academy in 1924, exactly twenty years old... That doesn't make sense. This fellow worked as a teacher after graduation and also handled grassroots party affairs for the Qingtian Party. He shouldn't have had time or opportunity to get involved with the Workers and Peasants Party..."

That evening, the Principal summoned Lv Muzhi to the office, saying he wanted to talk about his recent studies.

As soon as he entered the office, Lv Muzhi noticed that the Principal's radio had been replaced with a new one. No need to guess; it was surely bought with money confiscated from Chen Lianbo's family property.

"Muzi, sit down directly. I still remember that candlestick chart you talked about last time for stock trading. Thanks to you, I recovered a loss on my stock capital." The Principal said, beginning to adjust the radio frequency.

"But I've been busy with affairs lately. I've almost forgotten that candlestick chart you mentioned last time. Could you explain it to me again?"

These words from the Principal instead made Lv Muzhi alert. The Principal might not be good at war, but in political maneuvering and memory, he was absolutely first-rate. Not to mention the Principal had taken notes in his notebook last time; how could he forget so quickly?

But Lv Muzhi naturally could not refuse: "Since that's the case, then the student will explain it to the Principal once more..."

"Hey, don't rush, wait a moment..." The Principal adjusted the radio. After a while, he finally tuned it in, and the familiar voice of a female announcer came from the radio: broadcasting 'Northern China Victory Bulletin' news...

"Oh, alright, alright. Here's what we'll do: you listen to the stock market while drawing that candlestick chart you mentioned on paper..." Saying this, the Principal handed over paper and pen.

Lv Muzhi nodded and listened intently to the radio: textile stocks have recently warmed up. Xinhe Silk Factory's opening price was eleven yuan and three jiao, closing price eleven yuan and five jiao.

While listening to the female announcer's broadcast, Lv Muzhi concentrated on drawing the chart.

"Muzi, your study and training results have improved recently. You must keep working hard." The Principal suddenly interjected.

"Yes, the student will certainly study hard and serve the revolution."

"The day's highest price was eleven yuan and eight jiao, lowest price eleven yuan and two jiao..." The broadcast continued.

"I heard you were very active in today's political class, and on the matter of the Merchant Corps boycott, hah, you even made an astonishing statement."

Lv Muzhi immediately understood. The Principal had received He Zhonghan's small report.

The Principal questioned him while making him focus on the radio and draw the candlestick chart by hand. He didn't want Lv Muzhi to think fully and directly speak his mind.

"The student answered with his true inner thoughts, without hiding anything." After saying this, Lv Muzhi continued listening to the broadcast and drawing the chart.

"Huafeng Textile's opening price is fifteen yuan..."

"So these are your true thoughts? When I was your age, I was like that too, loving to indulge in wild thoughts. So tell me, how do you view the Workers and Peasants Party?"

"The day's highest price is sixteen yuan..."

A bead of sweat appeared on Lv Muzhi's nose tip. Holding the pen, he drew a line on the paper without hesitation and continued answering: "For the Northern Expedition cause, the Workers and Peasants Party is a sharp sword. Any thought of discarding this sharp sword is foolish."

"How so?" The Principal stared at Lv Muzhi's pen tip and asked.

"A gentleman is not born different; he is good at utilizing external things. Xunzi believed that a gentleman is no different from ordinary people, merely good at borrowing external things. If the revolution is to succeed, we must utilize the Workers and Peasants Party as this sharp sword, mobilize the strength of workers and peasants, and request military and material aid from the Soviet Union—weapons and rubles, the more the better. These are all external things we need to utilize."

The Principal nodded with satisfaction. Although he did not approve of the Workers and Peasants Party, this Whampoa Military Academy was built on the cooperation of the two parties. Without this cooperation, he himself could not be the Principal.

Besides, the old Russians' aid is truly desirable.

At this time, to win over the students' hearts, the Principal still supported the two-party cooperation on the surface; otherwise, he would be undermining himself.

"Not bad. What you said is exactly what I think. It's much better than those who recklessly suppress the Workers and Peasants Party regardless of the occasion."

Hearing this, Lv Muzhi thought of He Zhonghan's small report against him and said to the Principal: "Now among our students, there are indeed people like those the Principal mentioned. Their purpose in suppressing the Workers and Peasants Party is not at all for the revolution, but merely to cater to certain right-wing figures."

"Oh, really?" The Principal looked puzzled, very curious about who Lv Muzhi was referring to.

Lv Muzhi sighed: "The student previously had a good relationship with his dormitory mate Jiang Xiangyun and others, but received warnings from some people, and they from time to time filed small reports against us. The student really cannot understand why. Jiang Xiangyun has excellent grades. Even if he is a Workers and Peasants Party member, what is wrong with me learning from him to improve myself?"

The Principal narrowed his eyes, naturally understanding in his heart that this was probably done by He Zhonghan. He had valued He Zhonghan's ability and asked him to pay attention to who was getting close to the Workers and Peasants Party, but he didn't expect He Zhonghan to directly threaten them. This had crossed the red line and was not something a student should do.

Could it be that He Zhonghan has others backing him?

Thinking of this, the Principal thought of Hu Hanming, who was currently acting as Grand Marshal. This fellow was a hardliner who specialized in suppressing the Workers and Peasants Party. Could He Zhonghan have climbed up to him?

But the Principal still pretended not to know: "This is probably just a prank among students. By the way, you and Jiang Xiangyun have a good relationship? What do you think of him?"

"The relationship is passable. Jiang Xiangyun is an all-rounder with firm revolutionary will. The Principal should promote and retain him."

The Principal nodded with satisfaction, then asked about He Zhonghan, whom he favored: "Then what do you think of He Zhonghan?"

Lv Muzhi's pen paused. He understood in his heart that Jiang Xiangyun and He Zhonghan were the two people the Principal valued most. He smiled slightly: "Student He Zhonghan, if he also traded stocks, would be an expert."

"How do you mean?" The Principal tilted his head, very interested in this.

"He Zhonghan has strong public speaking ability, is suited for political work, and has leadership qualities. Moreover, he is good at political speculation. The student thinks political speculation and stock speculation are the same thing—betting on future expectations. He Zhonghan is very good at speculation and has a bright future."

Inside the Office, apart from the stock market news broadcast by the female announcer on the radio, there was no other sound.

It was not until half a minute later that the news broadcast finished, and the Principal reached out to turn off the radio, smiling: "What you just said, if He Zhonghan hears it, he's bound to get angry. All right, you go back first; come to my place another day to listen to the broadcast."

The Principal wore a smile on his face, but his heart was already churning: he had not yet spoken, and this He Zhonghan was already so eager for the Anti-Workers and Peasants Party—could it be that he had really hooked up with Hu Hanming?!

Lv Muzhi put down his pen, saluted, and walked out, feeling much more at ease.

This time, He Zhonghan had been roasted over the fire!