1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 12

Liu Gensheng also said angrily, "Mr. Zhao, it's two hundred million taels of silver! They just want to give us some travel expenses to get rid of us!"

Oh no, the supporters disagree. Zhao Yan looked at the crowd brandishing swords and spears, and he even noticed that the governor's personal guards all had murderous intent on their faces.

Their black eyes can't stand the sight of shiny silver; their appetites go far beyond that.

Zhao Yan had nowhere to retreat: "Stop running away, step forward and fight me!"

"The Qing court, from top to bottom, is like this. Whenever they encounter a powerful enemy, all they know is to spit out silver to pay reparations. Don't they know how to resist? Don't they know how to fight?"

"I, Zhao, am but a humble scholar, my life insignificant. I stand here now, why do you lack the courage to challenge me? Is there not a single man among the vast land of China?"

Zhang Mingqi was almost dumbfounded by Zhao Yan's words. He had never seen such a fierce warrior, but at this moment, facing the furious Zhao Yan, he could not muster any courage at all, because the other party's aura was too powerful.

The hundreds of guards in the governor's yamen looked at Zhao Yan with shining eyes. This was the qualified leader in their hearts. Revolutionary Zhao Yan, a true man indeed!

Zhang Mingqi dared not resort to violence. Killing Zhao Yan was easy, but quelling the overwhelming revolutionary anger following Zhao Yan's death would be extremely difficult.

Unable to resort to force, Zhang Mingqi could only grit his teeth and continue interrogating Zhao Yan: "Fine, you want to prove the righteousness of the revolution, then I ask you, what exactly is your revolution? Explain clearly!"

Zhao Yan confidently stated, "I don't want to preach grand principles, because the greatest truths are the simplest. I'm doing this revolution for three things: fairness, fairness, and fairness!"

"The revolution is about making everyone equal, living with dignity, and living freely!"

Zhang Mingqi seized upon Zhao Yan's flawed statement: "If everyone is equal, wouldn't everyone be an emperor? Wouldn't that lead to chaos?! What kind of revolution is this? This is clearly just stirring up trouble!"

Little did he know that Zhao Yan had deliberately wanted Zhang Mingqi to ask this question, and he quickly replied, "Then let me tell you properly what true equality for all is!"

"The equality that the revolution seeks to create is not about everyone being an emperor, but about political equality for all!"

"Equality for all in politics?" Zhang Mingqi stroked his beard and said, "You mean the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners?"

Zhao Yan shook his head slightly: "Yes, but not entirely!"

"When I say that everyone is equal in politics, I mean not only equality before the law, but also equality in distribution, equality in rights and obligations, and equality in personality and dignity."

"I believe that there can be a gap between rich and poor, different levels of power, and different social status among people, but the only things that must be equal are rights, obligations, personality, and dignity."

"The Manchu Qing dynasty treated the entire China as their own playground, taking whatever they wanted. Not to mention that the emperor was subject to the same laws as the common people, even if an ordinary Manchu killed a Han person, he only needed to pay some money to atone for his crime."

And everyone here, look around you, open your eyes and see clearly why those who hold positions without doing anything are promoted all the way up.

"And you all endured hardship and humiliation, doing everything in your power, even pouring your hearts and souls into it, only to watch those Manchus occupy high positions?"

"Prefect Lu, Governor Zhang, I think when you first put down your Confucian classics and entered officialdom, you also thought about cultivating yourselves, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world, and you also wanted to contribute your own strength to this country, right?"

Lu Zhaoxuan and Zhang Mingqi both nodded unconsciously, and the hundreds of people outside the hall, including the personal guards, also nodded silently.

"But why, despite all our efforts and sacrifices, can we still not change anything? Why is it that all the results of our hard work are attributed to those good-for-nothings?"

"It was you who sacrificed your lives for the country! Without you, the Qing Dynasty would have collapsed long ago! Yet you, who have spent your lives on the battlefield, governing the country, and working hard all your lives, can only live in a corner, leading a life of discontent."

Then you just watch helplessly as some idiot who did absolutely nothing climbs up on your heads and shits. Have you ever thought about why that happens? Ugh!

Officials like Lu Zhaoxuan and Zhang Mingqi immediately understood what he meant. Yes, they had quelled the Taiping Rebellion, fought in the north and south, protected the Qing Dynasty, and after the war, they stabilized the local areas, developed people's livelihoods, and restored the vitality of the land.

He did everything he could, but in the end he was still blocked by an invisible ceiling and could never realize his ambition to govern the country and bring peace to the world!

Those Manchu generals and officials, without having accomplished anything or done anything, held high positions in the central court and ruled the country.

If you say this is equality, I'm afraid neither of them can convince themselves!

Zhao Yan continued: "They have not fulfilled any obligations, and have even been constantly betraying the country, yet they enjoy all the power!"

"This is the purpose of my revolution, this is the revolution I insist on: to achieve equality for all!"

"Emperors always say that thunder and rain are both imperial favors, but I say it's all bullshit! They say, 'Take what's given to you, and don't take what's not given to you,' which is even more ridiculous!"

"What is ours must be given to us; we don't need your favor! Because this is what I deserve, and I must take it!"

"Why should they give me only a portion that was due to them, and that's considered a favor? That's not fair!"

"The revolution is about eliminating these privileges and returning what is rightfully yours to everyone!"

"As long as the revolution succeeds, all of you can stand tall and proud from now on, and say: This is clearly mine, I don't need your favor! I will not kneel down to thank you!"

The entire audience was shocked. So this is what equality for all is! So this is what revolution is! Revolution is not rebellion, it's just taking back what rightfully belongs to me. That's right!

"Revolution, revolution! We want revolution too!"

"Yes, why are those Manchus officers the moment they come in, while we, who are stronger, can only be soldiers? That's clearly ours!"

The governor's personal guards all became agitated, raising their rifles and shouting for a revolution.

One of the guards ripped open his uniform, revealing scars all over his chest, and shouted.

"I have fought dozens of major and minor battles in my life, risked my life for the Qing Dynasty for more than ten years, fought against the Japanese in Korea, fought against foreigners in North China, and quelled local rebellions."

In the end, I was only sent back to my hometown as a squad leader. Those Manchus didn't do anything, yet they were appointed as battalion commanders. I'm not satisfied! I want a revolution!

The two opposing groups have now become one, with both sides subtly pointing their guns at Zhang Mingqi and Lu Zhaoxuan in the courtroom.

Zhao Yan pressed his advantage, asking, "Lord Lu, Lord Zhang, why are you still only prefects and governors? Why can't you be promoted? Is it because you don't like promotions? Or are you not capable enough?"

Lu Zhaoxuan: "Nonsense! Who doesn't want a promotion? Although I, Lu Zhaoxuan, have some flaws in my official duties, compared to those Manchus who are greedy for money, do nothing, and commit all sorts of heinous crimes, I am more than qualified to be the governor!"

Zhang Mingqi nearly plucked out his beard in frustration: "Throughout my life, I have been upright and honest, pacifying the four directions on horseback and governing the people on foot. I am skilled in both civil and military affairs. It's just that the Qing Dynasty is unjust! Otherwise, with my abilities, how could I, as the head of the central government, have suffered such a loss of sovereignty and humiliation?!"

Zhao Yan brandished his shackles and roared hysterically, "This is why we have a revolution! We don't want to prove how great we are, we just want to prove that what is rightfully ours, we must take back!"

"How can a country be governed well when surrounded by such a bunch of insects?!"

Lu Zhaoxuan waved his fist: "Revolution! Revolution! I want to be the governor! I want to be the viceroy!"

With Prefect Lu Zhaoxuan raising his fist to join the revolution, everyone in the room immediately turned their attention to Zhang Mingqi, who was sitting high in the courtroom.

Facing the volcano about to erupt, and seeing the pairs of eyes filled with anger, Zhang Mingqi decisively chose to follow his heart.

"In a moment of youthful exuberance, I must ask you today: what virtue or ability do those insignificant officials of the court possess to hold the reins of power?"

With Zhang Mingqi's statement, the matter was completely settled!

Zhao Yan's body went limp, and he collapsed into the chair behind him, completely losing consciousness.

Chapter 21 Eight hundred it is!

Late at night, the Changsha Prefectural Government Office was under complete martial law. Armed soldiers kept a close watch on everything inside and outside the office, and no one was allowed to leave.

When Zhao Yan woke up from his coma, he found himself lying in bed with his wounds re-bandaged.

Many people were by the bedside, including Zhao Hao, Li An, Liu Gensheng, Yang Dingtian, Zhang Mingqi, and Lu Zhaoxuan.

The room was packed with more than thirty people, all of whom were key figures from various factions.

"President, you're awake!"

"Mr. Zhao!"

Seeing that Zhao Yan had woken up, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Now, anyone could get into trouble, but Zhao Yan absolutely could not be harmed.

Even Lu Zhaoxuan and Zhang Mingqi genuinely didn't want Zhao Yan to back down at this point. They had shouted "Revolution" in front of hundreds of eyes, and under everyone's gaze, they were already on the wrong side.

Zhang Mingqi, in particular, still feels bewildered. He brought several hundred personal guards with the sole purpose of getting rid of Zhao Yan, this troublesome man, and preventing him from dying on his territory. However, he had absolutely no intention of joining the revolutionaries at the beginning.

Zhang Mingqi simply had some goodwill towards the revolutionaries and Zhao Yan's actions, while remaining neutral towards the Restoration Party, hoping that the Restoration Party could make some noise to attract the Qing court's attention.

This prevented the Qing court from continuing to weaken the power of these local Han officials, thus undermining their ambition to maintain their own power.

Moreover, by this point, it was clear to anyone with discerning eyes that the Qing Dynasty was nearing its end, and its reign was over.

Officials like Lu Zhaoxuan and Zhang Mingqi, who are well-versed in history, know it all too well. Every three hundred years is a cycle, and no one can escape it!

Now is a time of great change. These officials are shrewd; they know when they have leverage, but they won't make rash bets.

But Zhao Yan's mouth is just too captivating. His words are worth a thousand troops, especially when he puts on that fearless look, as if he's ready to sacrifice himself at any moment.

Then his aura began to become demonic, and he entered a state of madness, with every word that came out of his mouth being awe-inspiring.

If Zhang Mingqi and Lu Zhaoxuan dare to defy their superiors this afternoon and continue to fight, then everyone present will dare to kill them as a sacrifice!

In the late Qing Dynasty, the lower classes, especially armed personnel like soldiers, were already in a state of unrest. Officials like Zhang Mingqi could only rely on the last remaining authority of the system to suppress and command these people.

But if someone steps in and offers them a better option, and punctures the last vestige of the Qing dynasty's authority, then they will be left with no one to command them.

Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, Zhang Mingqi and Lu Zhaoxuan were already on the revolutionary ship, and the die was cast.

"Mr. Zhao, hurry up and take charge of this important matter! Time waits for no one!" Zhang Mingqi rushed to Zhao Yan, his face full of anxiety.

Things have escalated to a major point now. He, the governor, and his subordinate prefects have all been dragged into this, and hundreds of soldiers are stationed here.

It was impossible to keep this a secret or keep a low profile any longer. With over eight hundred of the governor's personal guards, Green Standard Army soldiers, prison guards, and yamen clerks and runners, there were simply too many mouths to keep quiet.

It might not even take until dawn tomorrow for the good news to spread, and the new army stationed around the city and the troops led by the Manchu generals will immediately rush to the aid of Changsha and enter the city to quell the rebellion. No one will be able to escape.

The Qing government's attitude towards any potential rebellious elements was "better to kill ten thousand innocent people than let one hundred guilty people go free!"

"How long have I been asleep? What time is it now? What's everyone's situation? Report to me immediately!" After waking up, Zhao Yan quickly got into the zone after a short while.

If Zhang Mingqi knew this, then Zhao Yan, this seasoned veteran, knew it even better.

Zhang Mingqi said, "It is midnight now, and the city is under curfew. The Green Standard Army soldiers, jailers, revolutionary leaders, my personal guards, and yamen runners and clerks that you brought are all inside the yamen. No one has left."

"The die is cast, Mr. Zhao, you'd better get up and take charge, or we'll all be waiting to be beheaded!"

"Help me up!" Zhao Yan stood up, and the people around him quickly helped him.

Sitting down at the table, the first person Zhao Yan asked was Zhao Hao, his most trusted confidant: "Zhao Hao, tell me how many men we have, and what their equipment is like?"

Zhao Hao has also grown a lot, and he had already sorted out these matters: "President, the total number of personnel is 844, with 350 long spears, all of which are Hanyang rifles brought by Governor Zhang's personal guards, 17 short spears, and more than 600 cold weapons."

Zhang Mingqi and Lu Zhaoxuan, who were standing to the side, frowned as they listened. There were far too few people. When they thought about the strength of the New Army and Green Standard Army stationed inside and outside the city, they couldn't help but sigh.

"What are you sighing for? Ah! I'm not dead yet, my mouth can still speak!" Zhao Yan slapped the table and stood up.

Seeing Zhao Yan's boldness, everyone's hopes were rekindled. This guy's words could indeed be worth a thousand troops. With eight hundred people plus Zhao Yan's mouth, the advantage was on our side!

"Eight hundred it is! Eight hundred people have their own way of fighting!" Zhao Yan said confidently, and after sitting down, he called out, "Everyone, come over for a meeting!"

Zhao Yan had already realized that he could only advance and not retreat. If he retreated even half a step, he would die without a burial place. If the Qing army didn't kill him, his own people would kill him.

Putting everything else aside, Zhang Mingqi alone would not allow any retreat at this time. "I, the governor, have followed you in the revolution. If you dare to back down, do you think Zhang Mingqi will let Zhao Yan off the hook?"

Hearing Zhao Yan's words, everyone felt relieved. This was clearly the start of an uprising. Regardless of success or failure, everyone was willing to take a gamble, as it was better than surrendering without resistance.

Zhao Yan continued, "Old Zhang, tell me about the Qing army units that can arrive within a day, both inside and outside the city."

Zhang Mingqi said, "The 25th Mixed Brigade of the New Army is stationed in Changsha City. It has more than 3,700 soldiers, fully armed, and has a very strong fighting force. It is equipped with both infantry and artillery, as well as a cavalry force of about 400 men!"

The Green Standard Army patrolling outside the city numbered around four thousand men. It's unclear how many were actually paid without working, but they had at least two thousand men and were equipped with a considerable number of firearms.

"The only other soldiers who can reach Changsha within a day are the Green Standard Army from the Zhuzhou and Liuyang areas, but they are not a threat. What we should fear most is the Wuchang New Army!"

After listening, Zhao Yan glanced at his watch and asked, "Old Zhang, do the New Army and the Green Standard Army obey your commands?"

Zhang Mingqi shook his head: "I am a civil official, and my three hundred personal guards are all remnants of the Xiang Army. The commander of the 25th Mixed Brigade of the New Army is a Manchu from the Plain Yellow Banner who was sent from Beijing. He will not listen to me at all."

The deployment of Green Standard Army soldiers also required a Manchu warrant, and with the curfew at night, a sudden dispatch of someone to take over the Green Standard Army soldiers was obviously suspicious.

Zhao Hao, who was standing to the side, suddenly patted his chest and said, "President, I'll take care of things with the new army. Minister Wang Dingyun of the Armed Forces Department is currently serving as a squad leader in the 25th Mixed Brigade."

Zhang Mingqi said, "What's the use of a team leader? He has at most two hundred men under his command."

Zhao Hao continued, "His father is a battalion commander!"

Zhang Mingqi immediately clapped his hands: "The mission is accomplished!"

Zhao Yan nodded and said, "Take your team and set off immediately. Find a minor official to guide you to the New Army camp. You must contact Wang Dingyun. The uprising must begin at dawn tonight."

Tell Wang Dingyun to do everything in his power to take control of the 25th Mixed Brigade Command of the New Army as soon as possible. All commanders must be controlled, and that Manchu brigade commander should be eliminated if possible!

"Understood!" Zhao Hao led his men away to carry out the order.

On the other side, Ang Lee also stepped forward: "Mr. Zhao, I know the Green Camp very well. They are all my brothers and relatives. As long as I start an uprising, they must follow. I'll leave the Green Camp to you!"

Zhao Yan trusted his men implicitly and immediately nodded: "Li An, lead your men to the Green Standard Army's garrison outside the city, contact everyone who can support us, then kill those Manchu officers and bring the Green Standard Army into the city. This must be done before dawn!"

"Yes, Mr. Zhao!" Li An accepted the order and left.

Zhao Yan continued to issue orders: "Lu Zhaoxuan, you are the prefect. I will give you two hundred of the governor's personal guards. You will go and recruit more people yourself. Before dawn, you must control the main gates in and out of Changsha, as well as the telegraph office, granaries, and warehouses within the city. In short, all the main transportation routes, communication facilities, and storage locations for money and grain within the city must be under control!"

Lu Zhaoxuan looked troubled: "Huh? Only two hundred people, controlling so many places?"

Zhao Yan scolded in a low voice, "Can't you hire people yourself? Do I have to teach you such a simple thing, you dignified prefect?"

"Remember, these areas must be completely under our control. After dawn, we must control the city's transportation, communication, and warehousing!"

Lu Zhaoxuan cupped his hands in greeting: "Yes, Mr. Zhao!"

Turning his head, Zhao Yan looked at Zhang Mingqi: "Old Zhang, take the remaining hundred personal guards and rush back to the governor's office immediately. Tonight, issue a letter summoning all officials in the city. No matter what means you use, you must get all the officials to the governor's office before dawn, and then keep a close eye on them!"