Anqing is located in the south of Anhui Province, on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and is the provincial capital of Anhui. Since Enming became the governor of Anhui, he has been committed to implementing the new policy. As Enming's disciple and cadre, Xu Xilin was also able to become the main person in charge of the Anqing Army Primary School and the Police Academy.

On January 12, 1907, Xu Xilin finished his daily work and went to visit Enming to hear what else Enming had to say. Coming out of the courtyard of the police academy, I didn't go far when I saw a flatbed truck piled up with several scrawny corpses heading to the south gate by the Yangtze River. Many of the victims begging in the streets starve to death every day, especially since the beginning of winter, and the corpses that used to be cleaned every two days are now cleaned almost twice a day. Looking at these starving people, Xu Xilin felt a little unbearable. However, this mood did not last long, and after passing by the car carrying the corpse, Xu Xilin quickly left this pity behind. He didn't know that Fengyang Mansion had been conquered by the People's Party led by Chen Ke. The campaign deployment for the attack on Anqing is also being carried out intensively. Xu Xilin's mind was full of other things.

A month ago, he received a letter from Chen Ke, which said that Chen Ke might lead troops to attack Anqing around the Spring Festival, and hoped that Xu Xilin could prepare enough manpower before that, and after Chen Ke defeated Anqing, he would return to the area of Fengyang Mansion, and Anqing would be handed over to Xu Xilin.

Regarding what Chen Kexin said, Xu Xilin couldn't even talk about the letter at first, he thought that Chen Ke was talking nonsense. It wasn't until Xu Xilin saw the People's Party's fleet and the peculiar red sickle-headed hammer-headed flag on the fleet that he somewhat believed Chen Ke's words. At that time, one of the leaders of the fleet was actually Yan Fu, and Yan Fu was actually Chen Ke's teacher, which gave Xu Xilin quite a shock.

After Xu Xilin left Shanghai, he originally wanted to study at the Japanese military academy, but because Japan began to strictly prohibit the revolutionary actions of Chinese students, many restrictions were set. He had no choice but to return to China, so he had the idea of "pouring the Qing court with art". So by mobilizing and using the relationships of all parties, Xu Xilin sought to prepare for the establishment of the Anqing Army Primary School. Later, due to the recommendation of his cousin Yu Liansan and Xu Xilin's own shrewdness and ability, he was finally reused by the governor of Anhui. And Xu Xilin is a teacher of Enming, and he has become Enming's confidant. Unexpectedly, Chen Ke also took such a route and worshiped under Yan Fu's door. I don't know how much help Yan Fu has, Chen Ke was able to build a fleet, and even thought that he had the strength to attack Anqing Mansion. This is a huge stimulus to Xu Xilin.

Yan Fu was extremely strict, and deliberately avoided Xu Xilin, Xu Xilin had no way to get along with Yan Fu alone. The fleet came and went, leaving only a lot of mysteries for Xu Xilin. Qiu Jin also supervised Anqing Girls' School in Anqing, and the two had an in-depth discussion on this matter. Chen Ke met Xu Xilin first before meeting Qiu Jin. But Qiu Jin and Chen Ke have cooperated more, and Xu Xilin feels that Qiu Jin has a very high opinion of Chen Ke. Chen Ke can set up Renxin Medical College in Shanghai, make money from pharmaceuticals, and recruit Chen Tianhua to his banner, just these three things, Qiu Jin feels that Chen Ke is by no means an idle person.

But Xu Xilin's opinion was very different, he felt that Chen Ke's attitude towards the Restoration Society was very cold, and although he was polite and righteous enough to Xu Xilin, he did not mean to open his heart. Of course, when Chen Ke first met Xu Xilin, he also said that he would borrow Xu Xilin's help to go to Shanghai, and after Chen Ke became famous in Shanghai, he would not have much to do with Xu Xilin, who was also in Shanghai. Although he didn't mention it in his mouth, Xu Xilin felt very wrong in his heart. "The hustle and bustle of the world is for profit", Xu Xilin knows and agrees with this, but to the extent that people like Chen Ke can be cold without tea, they can be regarded as extremely calculating.

Xu Xilin thought that Chen Ke threw a big steamed bun that he could never ignore when he saw him for the first time, so what was the calculation behind it?

Qiu Jin has a good temperament, and after reading the letter, she said: "Wen Qingxin also made it clear that we don't need to contribute to Anqing, and he will hand over Anqing to us after beating Anqing." Although it is not easy to manage Anqing, how can we gather hundreds of people, and we can manage Anqing well. Besides, there are Wenqing echoing in Anhui, what are we afraid of? ”

After listening to such optimistic words, Xu Xilin felt that things were by no means so simple. He just shook his head, but didn't speak.

Looking at Xu Xilin's worried appearance, Qiu Jin suddenly laughed: "Haha, Bosun, in fact, I think Wen Qing didn't say it directly." Wen Qing is humble and polite, Bosun, haven't you seen through it? ”

Compared with Xu Xilin, Qiu Jin is not particularly proficient in interpersonal relationships, hearing Qiu Jin say this, Xu Xilin didn't believe that Qiu Jin could really come up with a better explanation, he still frowned and asked, "Where did I not see through?" ”

Qiu Jin didn't care about Xu Xilin's expression, she said calmly: "When Wen Qing was down, I begged for your door. Now Wen Qing should have some family background, not to mention whether he can lay down Anqing. Just said that if he really laid down Anqing, and you supervised the school in Anqing, what would he do to you, a benefactor, at that time? ”

"Huh?" Xu Xilin felt that this idea was something he had never thought of, and after hearing this, Xu Xilin's spirits lifted. "You mean, Wen Qing is afraid that he will have an argument with me in Anqing?"

"It's not just that I'm afraid of having a dispute with you in Anqing, Wen Qing knows that we are comrades of the Restoration Society, and after Chen Tianhua defected to Wen Qing, the affairs of the Alliance Association can't be hidden from Wen Qing. Wen Qing should be worried that there will be a conflict with the Liberation Society. If Wen Qing asked us to help first, and the attack on Anqing was unsuccessful, wouldn't the two sides have torn their faces afterwards. If it succeeds, the two sides are afraid that they will have to say who will listen to whom's command, right? At that time, you and I were in Anqing, and Wenqing always had to give us some face. I see that Wen Qing is very decisive, and I guess he thinks that instead of tearing his face with the Restoration Society, it is better to simply give Anqing to us. ”

The previous analysis is very reasonable, but just because he didn't want to tear his face and let Anqing out, Xu Xilin didn't believe it at all. "I think Wen Qing has a lot of courage, if it's just a face, he is afraid that he won't be so scrupulous. There must be other reasons. Xu Xilin said, "And although Anqing is convenient here, it is difficult to defend, and our original plan was to first develop comrades in the school, and then persuade the new army to start together." If, according to Wenqing, we don't have so many revolutionary comrades in Anqing, what's the use of having such an Anqing in vain? ”

"This is where the Wenqing Club will be, since we know that it is difficult to hold Anqing with our strength, there are two ways left. Either we don't want Anqing, or we ask to go to Wenqing and ask to join Wenqing. Anyway, Wen Qing not only estimated everyone's face, but also got Anqing. ”

When Xu Xilin heard this, he couldn't help but change his face. Originally, he didn't believe that Chen Ke could really defeat Anqing, but now the thought in his heart was that even if Chen Ke defeated Anqing, Xu Xilin would not hand over Anqing to Chen Ke like this. But the situation is stronger than people, since Xu Xilin's strength is limited, and there is not much time left before Chen Ke said, he only has two ways now, either he is calculated by Chen Ke, or he asks for reinforcements from the Restoration Society in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Xu Xilin immediately decided to take the second path.

Since he made up his mind, Xu Xilin has, on the one hand, stepped up efforts to propagate revolutionary ideas and recruit comrades in army primary schools and police academies. On the one hand, he reported more to Anhui Governor Enming to get more information. At the same time, he anxiously waited for news from the comrades of the Liberation Society in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Half a month later, Tao Chengzhang actually came to Anqing in person, and he brought the news of the comrades of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Liberation Society, if Chen Ke can really defeat Anqing, then the Liberation Society will immediately reinforce Anqing, and Anqing cannot be handed over to Chen Ke in any case.

After discussing with Xu Xilin, Tao Chengzhang thought that Xu Xilin could temporarily cooperate with Chen Ke and help Chen Ke take Anqing. Within the time agreed by everyone, the Restoration Society will send people to the road in batches, and if Chen Ke can really take Anqing, people from all walks of life will contact each other and hurry to Anqing City. Let Chen Ke fulfill his promise and hand over Anqing. If Chen Ke had not taken Anqing, all the men and women would have returned to Shaoxing to continue the local revolutionary cause. Regarding the news provided by Xu Xilin that Chen Kebai was under Yan Fu's door, Tao Chengzhang said that Cai Yuanpei and Yan Fu are both old friends of Mr. Ma Xiangbo, and the Guangfu Society has contacted Yan Fu through this relationship, hoping that Yan Fu can cooperate with the Guangfu Society.

After talking about this, Tao Chengzhang asked Xu Xilin again how likely it was that Chen Ke was talking nonsense.

Xu Xilin thought for a while before replying: "Up to now, there has been no news of rebellion in other places in Anqing, and that fleet has at least four or five hundred people. Wen Qing can send out these large fleets, and he must have a thousand people in his hands. And it was clear in his letter that we didn't want our help in attacking Anqing. So far, there is no other news from him, as far as I think, thirty percent should be true, seventy percent is just his wishful thinking. ”

Hearing this evaluation, Tao Chengzhang showed a slightly disappointed look on his face. Sighing, Tao Chengzhang said: "I hope that Chen Ke is not talking nonsense." ”

Tao Chengzhang didn't stay long and left, Xu Xilin thought that Chen Ke had ulterior motives, but he didn't expect that a messenger came again yesterday, Chen Ke told Xu Xilin that he was going to attack Anqing before the Spring Festival, and hoped that Xu Xilin would be ready. Xu Xilin asked the messenger where Chen Ke was, and the messenger finally told Xu Xilin clearly that Chen Ke had established himself in Fengtai County. After sending the messenger away, Xu Xilin immediately revised the book and reported the situation to the comrades of the Restoration Society in Shaoxing, and on the other hand, he was also considering whether to stay in Anqing or go to Fengtai County to see what was going on.