Chapter 005, Restoration of the Tribute

Moreover, engaging in such treasonous activities that could lead to execution and implicate one's family, even a sum of over one hundred thousand is insufficient. While Lin Chengkun secretly despised the stinginess of the revolutionaries, he discussed other matters regarding them with Chen Jingyun. In fact, both he and Chen Jingyun had unjustly accused the revolutionaries; not everyone among them was wealthy. Their daily income relied on donations, and they lived quite frugally. Sun Yat-sen, Tao Chengzhang, and Zhang Taiyan had even quarreled multiple times over financial matters, with the amounts involved being merely over ten thousand yen! To cope with the payment demands from Tao Chengzhang and others, Sun Yat-sen had even sold his watch and clothes! This shows that the revolutionaries were certainly not affluent. Furthermore, if the revolutionaries could readily produce hundreds of thousands at any time, they would have long used it to purchase weapons and ammunition, rather than giving it away!

The victory of the revolution is imminent; when that time comes, the nation will be restored, and after overthrowing the foreign tyrants' regime to establish a republic, we will all be recorded in history, becoming great heroes of the nation. Although the speaker lowered their voice, it still revealed a tone that was captivating and persuasive.

The eight characters "Leave a name in the annals of history, national hero" have ignited the fighting spirit of these young officers

Afterwards, someone immediately said: "Do you think this matter should be discussed with the members of the Xingzhong Association and the Gongjin Association?"

Unbeknownst to him, time gradually slipped away, and it was not until after ten o'clock in the evening that he finally set down his pen. The manuscript paper before him was filled with writing, but it did not contain any battle plans; rather, it comprised various aspects of military technology.

However, while artillery is indeed expensive, it cannot be entirely absent; otherwise, one would have to brace for bombardment and bullets

Well done! Continue to engage with them, and do so quickly; it is best to finalize everything within these few days Chen Jingyun was genuinely afraid that prolonged delays would lead to complications After the Wuchang Uprising, revolutions had essentially occurred in all southern provinces, and it would not be long before Fujian followed suit He needed to act ahead of those individuals At the very least, he had to ensure the safety of his own troops If things went well, becoming a division commander or a military governor would be well within reach After the Wuchang Uprising, revolutions had essentially occurred in all southern provinces, and it would not be long before Fujian followed suit He needed to act ahead of those individuals At the very least, he had to ensure the safety of his own troops If things went well, becoming a division commander or a military governor would be well within reach

How much longer do we have to wait

It is possible that although Chen Jingyun is somewhat stubborn, he certainly has a family to consider and would not accompany the Tartars to their deaths. Moreover, he has returned from studying abroad and at least has some sympathy for the revolution; otherwise, he would not have endured us for so many years

As Chen Jingyun fantasized about how he would train troops and develop military industry if he were to become a warlord in the future, the door was knocked on.

I met someone with the surname Liu, who I heard is an editor from a newspaper. I was afraid he might misunderstand, so I didn't ask him about his identity in detail. He said that if a senior officer like you were to join the revolution, he wouldn't be able to make the decision, but he would report it.

With a hint of doubt in his heart, Chen Jingyun and Lin Chengkun, along with others, made their way to the South Parade Ground. Upon returning to the South Parade Ground, they issued orders to recall the 38th Brigade, 3rd Battalion, stationed in Funing Prefecture, Fuan County, back to Fuzhou. They then personally inspected the barracks and offered words of comfort to the soldiers

After speaking, he turned to look at the others: "Now, the Restoration Society has successfully reclaimed Wuchang, and the flames of revolution have ignited across this vast land. It will not be long before provinces rise in large-scale uprisings, and the restoration of Fujian depends on our Restoration Society! Gentlemen, our civilization, which has flourished for thousands of years, has suffered under the oppression of the Tartars for over two hundred years. In recent decades, the Tartars have continuously lost power and misgoverned the country. Not only have the Western barbarians bullied us, but even the Japanese pirates have seized our Korea. At this moment, our nation is at its most critical juncture! This land is calling us; it yearns for us to bring it strength and prosperity, and it longs for us to restore the grandeur of the Han and Tang dynasties. Gentlemen, our civilization, which has flourished for thousands of years, has suffered under the oppression of the Tartars for over two hundred years. In recent decades, the Tartars have continuously lost power and misgoverned the country. Not only have the Western barbarians bullied us, but even the Japanese pirates have seized our Korea. At this moment, our nation is at its most critical juncture! This land is calling us; it yearns for us to bring it strength and prosperity, and it longs for us to restore the grandeur of the Han and Tang dynasties. Forty million compatriots are calling us; the people yearn for us to bring them freedom and desire for us to lead them to a prosperous life.

"What are you hesitating for? Come in quickly!" After Chen Jingyun said this, Lin Chengkun finally walked in

Indeed, we have been trying to win over Chen Jingyun for quite some time now. Over the years, he has remained unyielding and has not yielded any benefits. Now, when someone says that he has changed his attitude, I am the first to not believe it

Sir, I have inquired about it!" Lin Chengkun lowered his voice

Since field artillery is so expensive yet indispensable, Chen Jingyun turned his attention to mortars. It is said that mortars are not only technically simple but also quite powerful, making them the most suitable for artillery support at the regimental level and below. Of course, the most crucial factor is that this equipment is both technically straightforward and affordable. In the absence of a large number of 75 mm infantry guns, using a significant number of mortars to enhance artillery firepower is an excellent choice

Upon hearing Chen Jingyun mention the Tongmenghui, Lin Chengkun was momentarily taken aback, then seemed to recall something: "They are the Gongjin Society! However, saying they are the Tongmenghui is not incorrect either"

Tonight's Fuzhou is destined to be anything but peaceful

The others were also moved by Lin Wenying's words, inevitably becoming emotionally stirred for a while, and it took them some time to calm down afterwards

What Chen Jingyun did not know, of course, was the significant role played by the revolutionaries in this process

"Three hundred thousand?" Chen Jingyun asked tentatively

After these words were spoken, several people inside fell into deep thought

Lin Chengkun shook his head

Unexpectedly, Lin Wenying waved his hand and said: "Not for the time being. After a thorough cleaning at the beginning of the year, the United Association has little influence here in Fujian. I mentioned it because I was afraid the news would leak! As for the Xingzhong Association, Xu Chongzhi was sent to Shaowu by Sun Daoren this afternoon. Without him, the Xingzhong Association is just a pile of loose sand, of no use!"

If we were to also equip grenade launchers and hand grenades, it would probably be about right

As night fell, in one of the barracks, six or seven young officers sat under the dim light of an oil lamp. If Chen Jingyun were here, he would certainly recognize the majority of them.

I know that those revolutionaries seem to be quite wealthy. It is said that the fundraising they conducted overseas in places like Nanyang could easily yield two to three hundred thousand. Lin Chengkun also felt that the three thousand yuan was indeed too little; not long ago, his uncle spent more than three thousand just to redeem a prostitute.

After this impassioned speech began, the young people below were already flushed with excitement

Lin Wenying said: "Very well, we will send someone to make contact again. If that does not work, we will eliminate him before taking action!"

"It would be best if we could win over Chen Jingyun; if not, we will handle it ourselves!" Lin Wenying took a deep breath and said, "At that time, I will lead the uprising with the engineering battalion as the main force!"

Lin Wenying, who has already fallen into a fantasy, will not know that after the Xinhai Revolution, this country did not welcome the national prosperity and strength that many revolutionaries had anticipated. Instead, it faced decades of warlord chaos, and later suffered countless military and civilian casualties due to the invasion of the Japanese army. The phrase "national prosperity and strength" is nothing but a joke

Lin Chengkun raised three fingers.

After this statement was made, everyone nodded in agreement

Chen Jingyun said: "Oh, what does their alliance say!"

Seeing that Chen Jingyun's expression was somewhat unusual, Sun Daoren also looked a bit awkward and immediately said: "Let's talk about it tomorrow. I need to go to the governor's office for a while. You should head back to the military camp first! It's important to keep those big soldiers steady!"

Lin Chengkun's expression was on the verge of tears: "It's 3,000! 3,000 taels!"

The person at the forefront is Lin Wenying from the engineering camp, and the others are also mid- to low-ranking officers. One of them said, "Brother Lin, are you sure that Chen Jingyun said this as per the * diagram * ?"

Yes, we will definitely succeed

At that moment, Lin Chengkun expressed strong agreement, saying: "At that time, I also told him this. Later, that person said that if the gentleman could indeed take action, then he would contact his superiors to raise more military funds"

With this nonsensical remark, Chen Jingyun, still somewhat confused after leaving the town commander's office, could not understand why Sun Daoren would act in such a manner. Was it to win over his subordinates? That didn't seem likely! Hmm, was he interested in him and planning to make him his son-in-law? That was also impossible. As far as Chen Jingyun knew, although Sun Daoren had two daughters, both were already married, so it had nothing to do with him. So what was the reason?

"Restoration of Light!" This term sounds somewhat unfamiliar. Chen Jingyun asked in confusion, "Bribery? How much do they intend to offer?"

Lin Chengkun nodded: "I contacted them in the evening and we had a meal together. As per your instructions, I hinted at something to them!"

It is all the same, it does not matter, how much can their restoration really achieve? Chen Jingyun currently has little desire for wealth; even if the revolutionaries were to send him several hundred thousand yuan, he would likely use it to win people's hearts and purchase weapons

Upon hearing the figure of three thousand, Chen Jingyun could not help but scoff: "Is this a way to send off a beggar? Three thousand? Any officer below would earn dozens to hundreds of yuan in monthly salary. Even a private would make eight yuan a month. What use is three thousand yuan?" Chen Jingyun originally wanted to continue by saying that a single artillery piece would cost several tens of thousands!

As evening approached, news of the Wuchang Uprising had already reached the military camp. As expected, there was indeed much discussion and speculation within the camp, and even the word "revolution" occasionally reached Chen Jingyun's ears. However, due to the urgent arrangements made earlier, the officers were calming the soldiers' emotions, and with the camp gates tightly closed and ammunition collected in advance, the situation was stabilized.

Chen Jingyun waved his hand and said, "You continue to negotiate with him. Even if the Qing court is ineffective, it won't collapse in the short term. I will give you a few more days to discuss this matter. As for the military pay, well, what they refer to as the restoration fund, we need to secure at least several hundred thousand. Otherwise, we won't be able to distribute the military pay for the first month after the uprising. Of course, the more, the better. The specifics depend on your own efforts!"

At that moment, another person remarked: "It seems that Chen Jingyun may indeed harbor revolutionary sentiments!"

Although the road ahead is fraught with twists and turns, we, the revolutionaries, should fear nothing. We shall awaken this nation with our cries and rouse the people with our blood

Lin Wenying stated: "The future is full of hope, however, the path forward is winding. Everyone still needs to provide more reassurance to the revolutionary comrades below, and must not act out of momentary courage"

However, after pondering for a moment, Lin Wenying said: "Do you think it could be because of the uprising in Wuchang that Chen Jingyun has lost faith in the Tartars, and is therefore seeking an alternative route at the last minute"

Indeed, if we are to restore Fuzhou, the Second Battalion is crucial. However, this Second Battalion has been under the control of Chen Jingyun for such a long time, with his people in every position. Although we also have some individuals within, they do not play a significant role. Therefore, to restore Fuzhou, we must strive to win over the Second Battalion. Another person has expressed support for courting Chen Jingyun.

Anyway, it's all the same. Why don't you tell me who you've seen? Chen Jingyun knows a bit about the Alliance; he understands that it is merely a loose political coalition, which will completely fall apart after the Xinhai Revolution.

Upon opening the door, it turned out to be Lin Chengkun. He appeared to be acting in a sneaky manner, which made Chen Jingyun feel somewhat frustrated. After all, he was a new army officer and had attended a modern military academy, so why was he displaying such a furtive demeanor

Unexpectedly, Lin Chengkun said: "This signal is for the soldiers below; as for the gentlemen here, they have not yet spoken!"

If we can win him over, the restoration of Fuzhou will be hopeful

However, when Chen Jingyun got up to leave, Sun Daoren said again, "It would be best to bring some osmanthus cake from Beicheng Yangji tomorrow"

Chen Jingyun was puzzled: "Could it be three million? Are these revolutionaries so wealthy?"

However, artillery is exceedingly expensive. To fully equip an artillery battalion, just the fifty-four 75mm cannons alone would cost over one million silver dollars. Moreover, to ensure these fifty-four cannons can fire, soldiers would need to use live ammunition, which would require firing at least ten rounds each. Additionally, each cannon must be supplied with hundreds of rounds for combat readiness, which adds nearly another million in ammunition costs. This does not even account for the salaries of over one thousand personnel and the horses needed to pull the cannons. Even in peacetime, the costs are so high, and during wartime, it becomes even more wasteful; each round fired is like throwing a pile of silver directly onto the enemy.

Lin Chengkun continued to shake his head

What I need now is not tanks, nor any epoch-making aircraft carriers, but rifles, heavy machine guns, and army support artillery. In addition to quality, the reliability and stability of the armaments, while remaining sufficiently affordable, are even more important. For instance, the domestically produced Hanyang rifle aligns well with the current national conditions. With a sufficient number of inexpensive rifles, along with heavy machine guns, it would be nearly possible to form an infantry regiment. If we also add a certain number of 75mm infantry guns, it would be even better. A division does not need to be large; it is sufficient to have thirty-six field guns and eighteen mountain guns, similar to the Beiyang Army's six garrisons. With a sufficient number of inexpensive rifles and heavy machine guns, it would be nearly possible to form an infantry regiment. If we also add a certain number of 75mm infantry guns, it would be even better. A division does not need to be large; it is sufficient to have thirty-six field guns and eighteen mountain guns, similar to the Beiyang Army's six garrisons. While I cannot claim to sweep across China, at the very least, it would be possible to contend with the Beiyang Army's six garrisons.

If it is possible to establish a prosperous and powerful nation, to revive the grandeur of the Han and Tang dynasties, I would willingly accept death! Lin Wenying's tone gradually slowed as he spoke these final words, his gaze becoming somewhat vacant, as if he were envisioning what the scene would be like if the revolution succeeded and the nation became prosperous.

Sun Daoren's words left Chen Jingyun even more puzzled. It is normal for you, Sun Daoren, to offer me tea and invite me to dinner as a means of winning over your subordinates; this is not a significant matter. However, how did the relationship between superiors and subordinates involve your wife? It should be noted that in these times, family members do not meet outsiders. Over the years, Chen Jingyun has hardly seen Mrs. Sun a few times, and he has barely caught a glimpse of his other family members.

30,000

Although Chen Jingyun does not have much knowledge about military technology, he is still aware of some common items, such as automatic rifles, airplanes, tanks, and artillery. However, these things are still too distant for contemporary China

After finishing the inspection of the barracks and returning to the living room of the commander's office, it was already past seven in the evening. Tonight, Chen Jingyun did not plan to return home but would stay in the military camp instead, as the current situation was tense, and it was more prudent to remain stationed at the camp. After taking a hot shower, he did not rush to rest but instead opened a map of Fuzhou city, studying how to capture the city when the time came to rise up. In addition, Chen Jingyun was also thoughtfully recalling some useful information.

"What nonsense!" said an officer with somewhat dark skin, "When Lin Hao went to pay him a visit at the beginning of the year, he was thrown out. If he hadn't run fast, he would probably have been caught!"

Oh! Upon hearing this, Chen Jingyun also understood that Lin Chengkun was referring to matters concerning the revolutionary party: "You have been in contact with them!"

Lin Wenying nodded and said: "Absolutely true! Chen Jingyun clearly stated at that time that Brother Jue Min is a righteous man!"

By the way, they also said that if you, as an adult, could take action, they could provide support for the restoration! Lin Chengkun revealed something that Chen Jingyun did not expect

Chen Jingyun nodded. Since he dared to let Lin Chengkun make contact with the revolutionaries, he knew that those revolutionaries would not refuse him for the sake of the revolution's success. After all, they could consider even gangsters as revolutionary comrades; as a dignified officer of the new army with thousands of troops at his command, he did not believe they would not seek to win him over.