Chapter 20: Overthrow the Manchu Qing Government

Compared to the "angry youth" Lu Xun, Yin Qi was very calm and asked, "Brother Zhou, have you ever thought about why the common people are numb and indifferent, and why they are willing to help the foreign devils fight their own government?"

"Of course, it is because the government exploits the common people too much, and the common people live in dire straits, unable to fill their stomachs. How could they care about national affairs? They don't even have a sense of honor or disgrace, so naturally, they will work for foreigners for petty gains."

Although Lu Xun deeply hated the numbness and indifference of the common people.

He also knew that this was not the fault of the common people, but the fault of the Manchu Qing's hundreds of years of high-pressure rule.

Yin Qi nodded and said, "Brother Zhou is right. Since you see the problem, then think about how to solve it. In this great world, we good men should be duty-bound and shoulder the heavy burden given to us by the era."

Lu Xun nodded solemnly and said, "I also have this ambition. I have already made plans to go to Jiangning next year and enter the Jiangnan Naval Academy. To revitalize our Huaxia, we can only start from the army. As long as we have an army capable of fighting and winning, we can drive all the Western powers out of China, and only then can we sweep away the various ills and escort the reform."

At this time, although Lu Xun was already disappointed with the corrupt Manchu Qing, he was not yet desperate.

Or perhaps, this was his only way out.

Yin Qi shook his head and said, "Brother Zhou, your ambition is good, but it shouldn't be limited to this. Although the world is big, how many people have your thoughts? Fighting alone is a big taboo in struggle. If you enter the Jiangnan Naval Academy, you will at most be a small wave, which will have almost no effect on this great era and cannot save China."

The reason why the Xinhai Revolution could succeed was because batches of revolutionary martyrs used their blood to awaken the people's wisdom.

No matter how powerful Lu Xun was, he was at most a general.

But no matter how powerful a general was, he had to be dispatched and controlled by the ruling class.

Lu Xun clenched his fists tightly. He instinctively wanted to refute, but didn't know how to speak.

If he entered the Jiangnan Naval Academy, could he save China?

The Zhou family had already declined. If he wanted to climb up in the government system, it was almost impossible without connections, and unable to hold a high position, how could he change and save China by his own strength?

After a long time, Lu Xun bowed his hands, "Please enlighten me, Brother Yin."

Just then, a voice sounded from the side, "Two brothers, I heard your conversation unintentionally, and I am also very curious. May I be allowed to listen in? I am Tao Chengzhang. I don't know how to address you two?"

Yin Qi turned his head and saw a sturdy young man walking over, bowing to them.

Tao Chengzhang, another famous person.

Yin Qi thought to himself, this Shaoxing is truly a place where famous people gather.

Lu Xun had already stood up and said happily, "So it is Mr. Tao, please sit."

Tao Chengzhang was a famous person in Shaoxing. At fifteen, he was a teacher in a private school, and he was both literate and martial. Even later, he would go to the capital twice to assassinate Cixi.

Although he never managed to take action in the end, this anti-Qing consciousness was likely already there now.

Tao Chengzhang shook his head and said softly, "There are many people here, why don't we go to the private room on the third floor? I just happened to book one. I had an appointment to drink tea with a friend, but the other party stood me up."

Yin Qi looked around. Although there weren't many people, discussing anti-Qing remarks in public was indeed inappropriate.

He stood up and said, "Alright. Mr. Tao, please."

……

Third floor, private room.

Yin Hai guarded outside the door, while Yin Qi, Lu Xun, and Tao Chengzhang sat around the tea table.

The three had already exchanged names and gradually became familiar during their chat.

Tao Chengzhang said, "Brother Yin, please enlighten me now, how can we save China?"

Lu Xun also nodded solemnly, staring closely at Yin Qi.

Yin Qi put down his teacup and said solemnly, "Brother Tao, Brother Zhou, there are only the three of us here, so I won't hide anything. If you want to save China, you must first overthrow the Manchu Qing government."

His voice was resonant, and his gaze was burning.

Tao Chengzhang, revolutionary martyr;

Lu Xun, cultural fighter.

He was going to rebel next. Relying on his own strength was definitely not enough; he needed to unite progressive people from all sides.

Just as he said to Lu Xun, fighting alone is a big taboo.

Therefore, these two naturally became his targets.

But everyone was a proud person. If he wanted to convince them and make them willing to be used by him, he definitely needed to show "extraordinary" ability, otherwise, why would everyone submit to him?

Tao Chengzhang looked excited, as if he had found a "soulmate."

Although Lu Xun was shocked, he quickly calmed down.

Seeing that the two could continue to sit calmly, Yin Qi continued, "The Manchu Qing government is already corrupt, and they are an alien race, treating us Han people as domestic slaves, taking whatever they want, with no dignity at all. May I ask how the common people could protect such a government? Brother Zhou said earlier that the common people are numb and indifferent because of poverty; actually, this is wrong."

Lu Xun frowned, "Why is it wrong?"

Yin Qi said slowly, "I once saw a story in an ancient book. It is said that during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, a Western merchant came to Chang'an and saw a beggar who was pitiful, so he gave the other party some silver money, but it provoked the beggar's angry scolding. The beggar scolded the Western merchant for being a barbarian and not worthy of giving him alms."

Lu Xun and Tao Chengzhang were both silent.

A beggar, the lowest level of Tang society, could take the alms of a Western merchant as a shame.

But what about the common people now? They even take pride in being able to serve the foreign devils for profit, forming a sharp contrast.

Why is this so?

The answer is very simple: the Manchu Qing are an alien race, and the Han people have no sense of identity at all.

Not to mention, the Manchu Qing rule is corrupt.

Tao Chengzhang was very direct, "Brother Yin, then how do you say we should overthrow the Manchu Qing government?"

Lu Xun didn't speak, just watched quietly.

Yin Qi said, "Although the Manchu Qing is corrupt, it is also a centipede that dies but doesn't stiffen.

This matter cannot be rushed; the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is a lesson from the past.

Just as I said earlier, fighting alone is a big taboo; we should unite progressive people from all sides.

But to be honest, there must be quite a few people in this world who have the same thoughts as the three of us.

But compared to the whole country, there are not many.

Therefore, the first thing we need to do is to awaken the thoughts of the common people and find like-minded people.

When the thoughts of the common people are awakened, when they are no longer satisfied with the status quo, when we unite them all, then everything will naturally fall into place.

The great trend, like rolling river water, who can stop it?"

"Good!"

Tao Chengzhang and Lu Xun both cheered.

Just as Yin Qi said, with just the three of them, they were naturally weak, but what if there were thousands of them?

"However, how can we awaken the people's wisdom?"

"Run a newspaper!"

"Run a newspaper?"

"That's right, run a newspaper, and publish articles that can awaken the people's wisdom in the newspaper. As long as the time is long enough and the scope of our newspaper distribution is large enough, we can find enough like-minded people."

Yin Qi said decisively.

Public opinion is the most hidden and also the most lethal weapon, and it is also the best means to awaken the people's wisdom at present.

Lu Xun and Tao Chengzhang's eyes lit up, and they nodded excitedly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 21 =====