1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 9

The Qing troops in various places pursued Zhao Yan like madmen, and the Manchu generals, officials and commanders stationed in various places wished they could torture Zhao Yan to death.

But the more this happened, the more renowned Zhao Yan, the revolutionary, became across China, compared to the newly established Tongmenghui, which had yet to make any significant progress.

The Revival Party has become an unstoppable revolutionary mainstream across China. In the past two months, Revival Party branches have sprung up like mushrooms after rain in various places.

Wu Zifu and others, including the initial thirty-odd party members, recklessly recruited new party members everywhere, absorbed new blood, and constantly promoted the political propositions and revolutionary ideas of the Revival Party.

Wu Zifu and Liu Shangsheng, in particular, learned the most from Zhao Yan, and they also started playing Zhao Yan's tricks of speaking to people according to their status and fortune-telling when encountering ghosts.

When he met young people, he would talk about nationalism, promote the theory of Han Chinese superiority, and advocate the elimination of the Tartars and the restoration of China!

If they encounter wealthy people, they will advocate capitalism, promote democratic participation, advocate reasonable taxation, and uphold the inviolability of private property.

If you encounter a poor person, there's nothing to say but to indoctrinate them with the full force of proletarianism, proposing that everyone should have enough to eat and meat to eat!

Various sparks were constantly being ignited, all thanks to Zhao Yan's relentless efforts to draw fire.

Zhao Yan never expected that he would inexplicably become the tank blocking the way. The Qing government was focusing almost all its firepower on him, chasing him relentlessly, ignoring the other Restoration Party members and prioritizing arresting him as the primary target.

There's no way around it; other members of the Fuxing Party can only influence a few hundred people at most with a single speech, but Zhao Yan is different; he has too many outrageous tricks up his sleeve.

Along the way, they give you eggs, hold raffles, tell stories, and sing operas. They'll even tell you tales and promise you the moon!

Each of his speeches severely disrupted the Qing government's local order, even triggering numerous riots and small-scale uprisings. This was only because Zhao Yan deliberately suppressed the fact that he only wanted to swindle money and not kill anyone.

In the end, Zhao Yan swindled over a million taels of silver, but he just couldn't make it work. Every time the Qing army pursued them, he had to throw away the money and run away.

The key issue is that the money he threw out was deliberately distributed among the common people who supported them by his subordinates, which further angered the Qing court. They even questioned whether he was a revolutionary. They were resorting to such tactics to win people's hearts!

Every time Zhao Yan escaped, he would throw money around to create chaos, making it difficult for the pursuers to break away.

Even at crucial moments, when the pursuers caught up and were right in front of him, Zhao Yan still threw money around, scattering silver and banknotes everywhere to attract the pursuers to pick up money on the ground, while he himself hurriedly fled for his life.

But then something absurd happened: despite raising funds and spending money along the way, he gained more and more followers. The most outrageous thing was that Zhao Yan's followers appeared among the pursuers.

Many spies, while trying to gather information about Zhao Yan, stopped him from giving a single speech and immediately transformed into revolutionaries!

The Green Standard Army soldiers who had been chasing after them were also deeply influenced by Zhao Yan's ideology, and they kept betraying him, turning against him and joining Zhao Yan's gang as soon as they picked up the money.

People risked their lives to cover Zhao Yan's retreat, which is why Zhao Yan managed to escape for one month and eighteen days.

Otherwise, in the Qing Dynasty's inland areas, still in the feudal era, in such an environment, a group of strangers without proof or travel permits, it would have been impossible for them to travel to multiple provinces and survive for so long while being pursued by imperial soldiers.

However, the Qing court reacted immediately and mobilized its most elite and loyal Manchu officers and soldiers to arrest Zhao Yan. The Manchus could not be misled by Zhao Yan, because they were the targets that Zhao Yan said he had to eliminate!

In yesterday's battle at Liuyang, Zhao Yan was so enraged by the pursuit that he led his two hundred followers to fight against two thousand pursuers, including more than one hundred cavalry.

The pursuers were fully armed, even bringing up Gatling guns, while Zhao Yan's side only had a dozen or so pistols and a dozen or so old rifles brought by the surrendered Qing soldiers.

The outcome was predictable: Zhao Yan suffered a crushing defeat, nearly being killed himself, and finally fled with a dozen or so men to hide in the outskirts of Changsha.

"Damn it, did I break some heavenly law? The Qing dogs aren't giving me any way out, chasing me all over the world. Did I sleep with Empress Dowager Cixi or kill Emperor Guangxu? What kind of deep hatred is this?"

Inside the dilapidated temple, Zhao Yan lay listlessly on a pile of straw, cursing under his breath.

"My money, my money! Oh, heavens, how cruel you are to me?!"

"These days, making a fortune by swindling a few bucks is just too difficult!"

Just as Zhao Yan was feeling miserable, Zhao Hao, who had heard the commotion outside, rushed in with his men. Upon seeing Zhao Yan's disheveled appearance, everyone assumed that he was heartbroken because of the setbacks in the revolution.

"President, you must take care of yourself! You can't get into trouble, or the revolutionary cause will never be completed!"

"President, please rest assured, we will protect you even at the cost of our lives!"

Hearing what everyone was saying, Zhao Yan had no choice but to stop complaining. After all, these people had really risked their lives to defend their own lives.

Even people like Zhao Yan were moved. In the thirty years of his life before this, no one had ever protected him so recklessly.

Zhao Yan sighed and said, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone!"

"Too many people have died along the way because of Zhao Yan. I'm so sorry for them!"

"Now that things have come to this, you should all disperse. Before the pursuers arrive, you should all go your separate ways. I think a few of you will survive. Following me is a sure path to death!"

"You must all preserve your lives and wait for a better opportunity for the revolution! I, Zhao, will cover your retreat today. You should leave now!"

Zhao Yan finally understood that he must not be arrogant or showy. He was being chased all the way and could not shake off the Qing army's pursuers.

The root cause is that he was too arrogant and ostentatious. He had been deceiving and swindling money all along, and with so many people around him, it would be strange if he could hide his whereabouts.

Zhao Yan decided to break up the group here as soon as possible, and everyone would go back to their own homes. With fewer people, the target would definitely be much smaller. He could just change his name, shave his head completely, and pretend to be a monk, which would greatly increase his chances of escaping.

"President, no! Today's events are nothing more than death. To die alongside you, President, I, Zhao Hao, will have no regrets in this life!" Zhao Hao immediately knelt down on the ground with a thud.

The remaining dozen or so people also knelt down, weeping bitterly, none of them willing to abandon Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan was inwardly cursing. His original intention was to let the scapegoats scatter first to attract the Qing soldiers' attention, giving him time to go into hiding.

Who would have thought that these people were so stubborn and refused to leave, insisting on following him? With so many people huddled together, and everyone injured, how the hell could they possibly escape?

Without getting rid of these burdens, Zhao Yan simply cannot change his ways and start anew. His idea is simple: get rid of these people, hide for a while, and then change his identity to continue making money.

The alias of revolutionary Zhao Yan is no longer viable; if he continues to use it, he'll lose his head at the entrance of the vegetable market.

He might even be escorted to the capital and skinned alive by the old witch Cixi with three thousand six hundred cuts, which would be a complete and utter end for him.

Just as everyone was putting on a melodramatic show, outside the dilapidated temple, the Green Standard Army of Changsha Prefecture had already crept up, and with the help of nearby villagers, they directly locked onto Zhao Yan and his group at the dilapidated temple.

"This is bad! The Qing soldiers have crept up and surrounded the area!"

The lookout outside rushed in immediately, holding an empty revolver and looking at Zhao Yan with a panicked expression.

Upon hearing this news, everyone else looked resolute, determined to die alongside Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan's face turned pale, and he thought to himself: You guys have misled me!

If you had listened to me and scattered earlier, the Qing soldiers might have been lured away, and I would have had a chance to escape. But you just wouldn't listen and insisted on putting on this melodramatic show. Now all that precious time has been wasted, and nobody can leave!

Chapter 16 Even in prison, things don't stop!

"Everyone, lay down your weapons. We have all done our best today."

"Now it's up to me whether I can help you get through this ordeal!"

At this critical moment, Zhao Yan suddenly ordered everyone to lay down their weapons, a command that left no one with any choice but to obey.

But Zhao Yan's attitude was firm: "Enough people have died already. There's no need for me to be the only one to die, and for even more people to die. You are the hope for the future. This time, I will take the lead!"

Zhao Yan refused to let these fools continue their reckless actions. If they resisted to the end under these circumstances, they would be certain to die on the spot. The Qing soldiers, blinded by rage, would not leave any survivors.

The only way is to give up resistance, cooperate a little, and live first. Even being captured alive is better than dying. Zhao Yan's greatest strength is not his fighting ability, but his words.

As long as he's alive and can still speak, there's still a chance to turn things around!

Under Zhao Yan's strict orders, everyone was forced to stay inside the dilapidated temple, while Zhao Yan prepared to go out alone to face the Qing soldiers.

Anyway, they were all out of fighting ability, everyone was injured, and the few guns they had left were all empty of bullets.

If everyone had a Czech-made rifle and their bodies were covered in magazines, who would dare to turn themselves in!

Zhao Yan got up, straightened his clothes, brushed off the grass clippings, and, leaning on a wooden stick, limped out of the dilapidated temple gate.

At that moment, sunlight streamed in through the gate, and Zhao Yan's departing figure, in the eyes of Zhao Hao and the others, resembled Jing Ke, who went to the banks of the Yi River and never returned. His figure, so magnificent that it was impossible to look directly at him in the sunlight, was truly awe-inspiring.

"I am Zhao Yan, the president of the Revival Party and a revolutionary!"

Stepping out the gate, facing a row of Qing soldiers' gun barrels, Zhao Yan stood alone, leaning on a wooden cane, his expression calm, his eyes showing no fear.

The Qing soldiers who had been lying in ambush in the surrounding woods emerged and surrounded the dilapidated temple in circles.

A Qing army officer wearing a straw hat and carrying a long sword came out with two men dressed as villagers. When they approached Zhao Yan within five steps, they asked warily, "Are you the revolutionary, Zhao Yan?"

Zhao Yan nodded calmly: "It's me!"

The Qing army captain glanced at the villager leading the way beside him and asked, "Is it him?"

The villager immediately nodded: "That's him! He was with a group of more than a dozen people when they passed through our village yesterday, and he was the leader!"

The Qing army captain nodded: "Alright, go and collect your reward!"

Zhao Yan smiled and said, "Give them more; ordinary people have it tough too."

The Qing army captain was also stunned: "You're really a strange person. He betrayed you, and you don't blame him?"

Zhao Yan said, "What's so strange about that?"

"I have about ten brothers who were injured inside the temple. Can you spare them? I will take full responsibility!"

The Qing army captain shook his head slightly: "You are a man of honor, but you are under military orders. The prefect has ordered that you all be captured alive!"

"Considering your situation, I will instruct the brothers to treat you well!"

"Thank you!" Zhao Yan breathed a sigh of relief immediately after hearing this. It turned out that this group of people were sent by the local prefect, who specifically requested that they be captured alive. This made things much easier.

With Zhao Yan's cooperation, the Qing soldiers did not make things difficult for them. Everyone was taken to Changsha. There were no prison carts along the way; instead, they were escorted by local Green Standard Army soldiers into the prison.

After being imprisoned, even a doctor came to treat Zhao Yan and the others, and treated their external injuries.

The meals provided by the prison warden were top-notch, and there was even meat in the food. No one beat or insulted them.

Zhao Yan immediately realized that the people who captured them were not the ones who had been chasing them all along. The Qing court was also divided into factions, and if they were captured by the central faction in the north, they would be dead for sure.

But if a local Han official catches him, he might not necessarily die. There's a lot of room for maneuver here, and it could be very profitable!

Thinking of this, Zhao Yan immediately regained his spirits. As long as he still had a mouth and room to maneuver, there was still hope.

Zhao Yan was completely at ease, eating his meal heartily. After he was full, he even lay down and took a nap, acting as if nothing had happened. It didn't feel like he was there to go to jail, but rather to stay in a hotel.

The others who were separated and imprisoned refused to eat, drink, or sleep, sitting in their cells constantly sighing and lamenting their own powerlessness.

Everyone was imprisoned separately, not together, and unable to communicate with each other. No one knew what the other's situation was.

The Qing soldiers guarding the prison were layered upon layered, and even the prison gate was crowded with people, making the security extremely tight.

The prison guards who delivered the food had to search everyone who came in, and all the food had to be tested to see if it was poisoned.

The jailer walked around and was very surprised by Zhao Yan's calm and composed demeanor. Even the Green Standard Army captain guarding the area was curious about why Zhao Yan was so relaxed.

"You traitor, you certainly have some guts. Among the people locked up in this cell, some cry out for justice, some are afraid of death, and some even cry like women. But you, who came in like you're staying at an inn, eating and drinking as if it were nothing, is the first time I've seen anything like this in decades!" The jailer tidied up the empty rice bowl as he did so.

Similar bowls and chopsticks must be removed immediately after eating, and prisoners like Zhao Yan must be supervised while eating to prevent them from harming themselves or committing suicide.

Zhao Yan lay on the haystack and said leisurely, "For revolutionaries, going to prison is like going home. From the moment they embark on this path, they should have this awareness."

A real man faces the path he has chosen with composure; why act like a woman?

"What a fine man! I admire you! Even if you are a rebel, you are still a rebel with spirit," the Qing army captain exclaimed.

Zhao Yan stood up and cupped his hands in greeting: "Have I not yet had the pleasure of asking your question?"

The Qing army captain also bowed and said, "I am Li An!"

Zhao Yan nodded and then bowed to the jailer who brought the food, asking, "May I ask your name?"

"Me?" The jailer pointed to himself incredulously. He couldn't believe that someone as insignificant as himself was worthy of Zhao Yan's deference. He quickly returned the greeting, saying, "My name is humble and not worth remembering."

Zhao Yan spoke up: "Hey, in my eyes, all Chinese compatriots are equal, regardless of status. We are all born of parents, with two shoulders and one head. Where does the distinction between noble and lowly come from?"

These words were heard even by the Green Standard Army soldiers outside the prison gates. Everyone who heard them felt a warmth in their hearts.

Even if Zhao Yan is a rebel, he is still a big shot, a big shot who is wanted by the Forbidden City in Beijing. Who wouldn't like to hear someone like him say that you are equal to him?

"petty person"

"Hey, don't call me a scoundrel. A person is a person. You are Chinese. Stand up straight, chest out, and say your name to me as an equal!"

Upon hearing this, the jailer seemed to have mustered his courage, straightened his back which had been bent for decades, and looked at Zhao Yan with excited eyes: "My name is Liu Gensheng, yes, my name is Liu Gensheng!"

Zhao Yan extended his hand: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Liu Gensheng!"

The two men clasped hands, and for the first time, the jailer felt respected and treated equally.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Li An!” Zhao Yan extended his hand to the Qing army captain.

Li An looked puzzled, but still shook hands with Zhao Yan: "Aren't you angry with me? I'm the one who arrested you. I'm a soldier, and you're a thief!"

Zhao Yan laughed and said loudly, "In my eyes, there are no soldiers or thieves. I will not blame anyone for my capture, because in my eyes everyone is equal, free, and has dignity."

You are merely following orders; you are simply pitiful people swept along by the tide of history, unable to control your own destiny. If I had the chance, I would rather liberate you, use revolution to shatter this unjust world, and let you decide your own fate.

"Do you know why the imperial court is so desperate to capture me, regardless of the cost? Because they are afraid of me, afraid of revolution."

Do you want to know what revolution is?

The jailer and the Qing army captain nodded with a mixture of confusion and awe, while the Green Standard Army soldiers outside the prison gates also gathered around, wanting to hear more clearly.

Zhao Yan continued his speech: "Revolution is not a rebellion, but a fight for fairness and the dignity of every individual!"