From street tabloids to the first newspaper of the Republic of China

August 15th, morning.

Whether it's the old or new French Concession, or the International Settlement, it's all bustling with activity today.

"Strange News Report! Strange News Report! A Counterattack Against Xue Dake!"

"The newly published 'Strange News' is going head-to-head with 'Asia Daily'!"

"Strange News! Still only two coins a copy! Limited quantity, hurry and grab yours!"

The latest issue of "Strange News" has overshadowed the three major newspapers, and newspaper vendors are holding it high above their heads like a flag.

Even when the newspaper vendors' voices were hoarse from shouting, they still didn't stop.

Most surprisingly, what attracted buyers was not the news articles in the main publication, but the reader letters in the supplement.

Who are you to dare abstain from your rights on behalf of the people?

The headline was so provocative that passersby who were used to reading newspapers readily bought it.

"Give me one."

"Me too!"

"Save me a copy!"

Newspaper vendors were so busy they had to call out to the crowd to line up.

A long queue quickly formed in front of the newsstand, including scholars in long gowns, merchants in melon-shaped hats, and young scions of the slums leaning on walking sticks.

People from all walks of life crowded together, waiting to buy the same newspaper.

Those who had already bought newspapers stood aside to read them. When laborers or rickshaw pullers asked them to read them aloud, they were not stingy with their knowledge. They not only helped read the newspapers but also explained their meaning.

"This newspaper advocates 'inclusivity and freedom of thought' and is willing to provide a platform for all readers to express their opinions. This article does not represent the views of this editorial department and is for reference only."

"What does this mean? Isn't this an article from the 'Strange News'?"

"Are you stupid?! How the hell can you admit to writing something that could get you killed?!"

"Yes! This writing style is exactly the same as that previous 'Warning Bell'!"

"I see. So, you mean the sound of the wind, the alarm bell, and the shouts—are they the same thing?"

"Who knows..."

The crowd discussed animatedly, sometimes marveling at the witty remarks, and sometimes bursting into laughter.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a silk shirt with a dignified expression pushed his way to the front and slapped ten silver dollars onto the newsstand:

"I'll cover all the newspapers here!"

The news vendor paused for a moment:

"Sir, this...this ten silver dollars can buy five hundred portions..."

"Don't worry about it!"

The middle-aged man tucked the newspaper into his coat pocket, turned, and walked towards the newsstand next to him, saying to his follower with a menacing look in his eyes:

"Investigate! Investigate who this 'shout' is! We'll give you a hefty reward as long as you don't write articles for the 'Strange News Daily'!"

The student who was squatting by the roadside reading a newspaper looked up and grinned.

"You can't give away your money."

The middle-aged man turned back, displeased.

"How did you know? Mind your own business!"

The students rolled up their newspapers and ran, shouting as they went:

"Because shouting isn't just echoing others!"

The people on the street burst into laughter.

The middle-aged man, his face contorted with anger, gestured around the room, but no one seemed to fear him. Finally, he reluctantly lowered his hand and said to his attendants:

"Let's go!"

......

Meanwhile, the Shenbao newspaper office.

Shi Jiaxiu stood by the second-floor window, holding a cup of freshly brewed Longjing tea, looking down at the scene on the street.

The fragrance of tea could not soothe the turmoil in his heart.

The young man known as "Shout" not only had the courage to respond to the attack from the Asia Daily in just one day, but also wrote an article that was still so passionate, which really refreshed my previous impression of him.

He even dared to guarantee that this young man's potential was far greater than this!

[But in this "autumn," some want to drag the Xia Kingdom back to the winter of the Xuantong era, while we "summer insects" insist on learning to sing the first note in the autumn wind.]

He simply couldn't write that ending, no matter what.

Because he is no longer young, no longer fearless, and no longer possesses the spirit of thunder.

But what does it matter? New talents emerge in every generation, and Lin Wangzheng's appearance just proves the continuity of resistance against autocracy.

"Old Shi! Did you see it?!"

Chen Huasheng hurriedly pushed open the door and came in, holding a copy of the "Strange News Report" in his hand.

Shi Jiaxiu turned around and nodded:

"I've seen it."

Chen Huasheng sat down and placed the newspaper on the table:

"This one is even harsher than the last one. The last one used the word 'sir' repeatedly and the language wasn't too intense, but this one is like pointing fingers and cursing."

Shi Jiaxiu sat down with a smile, placed his teacup on the table, and said:

"The last article was about reasoning, this one is pure showing off; the last one was about argumentation, this one is a dagger; the last one was 'Sir, you are wrong,' this one is 'Who do you think you are?' This young man really doesn't compromise at all."

Chen Huasheng glanced at the statement under the title and smiled, a rare occurrence for him:

"Moreover, he used the format of a reader's letter and added that disclaimer, which was to leave himself an out. Even if everyone knows it was him, if someone investigates, he can say that it was a reader's submission, not the newspaper's position."

"This level of political acumen is definitely not what one should have at this age."

"He writes well, understands how to assess the situation, and knows how to maximize the impact—he's a journalistic genius!"

He paused, then asked eagerly:

"What are you going to do next? Maybe you should just dig him up already!"

Shi Jiaxiu stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and stood there silently for a while, looking at the worn-out cover of "Zuo Zhuan".

He thought of many allusions, then suddenly turned around and gave an irrelevant answer:

[Repost!]

Chen Huasheng's eyes lit up:

"A complete repost?"

"The entire article was reprinted, and... not a single word was changed!"

Shi Jiaxiu said firmly.

Chen Huasheng stood up, walked to Shi Jiaxiu, and extended his hand:

"We'll face this together."

Shi Jiaxiu grasped his hand and smiled:

"The Shenbao newspaper has been moving slowly in the past, but it needs to move faster now. The Yuan faction has been plotting for years, and now the storm is brewing. What should we journalists do?"

He walked to his desk, picked up a pen, wrote a line on a notepad, and handed it to Chen Huasheng:

"Reprint this article tomorrow, put it on the second page, and add this paragraph as an editor's note."

Chen Huasheng took the note, glanced at the words on it, nodded, and turned to leave.

Shi Jiaxiu sat back down in his chair, picked up the copy of "Strange News" and prepared to read it again.

Upon seeing the title again, he suddenly smiled and muttered to himself:

"Lin Zisheng, your son is more capable than you."

......

Afternoon, the International Settlement.

The Astor House Hotel, No. 15 Huangpu Road, Hongkou District.

This Victorian-style building, which was first built in the 26th year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign, is one of the most upscale hotels in Shanghai.

Located on the banks of the Huangpu River, you can see the Bund's buildings and ships slowly sailing on the river just by opening the window.

There are many firsts here—

The first electric light in China was lit here; the first Western circus troupe performed here; the first telephone line in China was connected here; the first open-air movie with sound was shown here; and the first ballroom dance was held here...

Therefore, it also attracts many high-society people to stay here.

The room was furnished in a Western style, with thick carpets, crystal chandeliers, mahogany furniture, and fresh flowers and a plate of fruit on the table.

Liang Yinbing sat on the sofa by the window, holding the latest copy of the "Strange News Report".

This veteran of the Hundred Days' Reform is now over forty years old.

At the beginning of the year, Yuan Shikai ordered him to move south from Jiulianzi Hutong in Beiping to Sanmalu in the Italian Concession of Tianjin. The intention was to remove him from the center of power so as not to affect the restoration plan.

However, he hasn't been idle; he's been busy traveling around these days. His trip to Shanghai was twofold: first, to handle matters related to the monthly magazine "Greater China," which he edits; and second, to seek treatment for his stomach ailment.

However, the public opinion here surprised him.

He never imagined that a tabloid could produce such an article. Although the style was somewhat crude, the content was definitely top-tier political commentary in China.

"Sir, what is your opinion on this article?"

A young man who looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old asked.

He was Lan Zhixian, who studied in Japan in his early years, enrolling in Waseda University, and later went to Germany for further studies, where he became proficient in philosophy and law.

During his studies in Japan, he joined the Liang Yinbing Research Department and was known as one of the "Three Young Men" along with Zhang Junmai and Huang Yuanyong, truly demonstrating his mastery of both Eastern and Western knowledge.

Now working alongside Liang Yinbing, he is his most capable assistant at the "Greater China" monthly magazine. Known for his outspokenness, integrity, and uprightness, he is nicknamed "Blue Cannon" in the press.

Liang Yinbing did not answer the question immediately, but placed the newspaper on her lap:

"Zhixian, Yuan Shikai is becoming increasingly outrageous; he actually wants to become emperor..."

Lan Zhi was somewhat puzzled, and replied:

"Sir, didn't you see it coming a long time ago? Otherwise, we wouldn't have been driven out of the capital."

Liang Yinbing nodded:

"I know, I know... I've just been waiting..."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait for a signal."

"What?"

Lan Zhixian was even more puzzled.

Liang Yinbing picked up the "Strange News" newspaper and pointed to the reader's letter column:

"This is the signal I've been waiting for. What do you think of my writing?"

Lan Zhixian said without hesitation:

"Good. Although the language isn't fancy, it's powerful and incisive."

Liang Yinbing put down the newspaper:

"That's enough. We need to focus on the essentials right now, not get bogged down in fancy or vulgar language. The most important thing is, do you know who wrote this?"

"have no idea."

"The person who wrote this article was a reporter for a tabloid hidden in the French Concession. We don't know his name; we don't know his age; we don't know his background. But we do know one thing... In this era where everyone is silent, there is still someone who dares to stand up and speak out."

"Yes."

Lan Zhixian felt somewhat ashamed.

Liang Yinbing suddenly said again:

"Yesterday, I received an urgent telegram from Beiping, sent by Mr. Songpo. Can you guess what it said?"

"What content?"

"See for yourself."

Liang Yinbing did not answer, but took out a telegram from his pocket and handed it to Lan Zhixian.

Lan Zhi took it first, quickly scanned it, and his expression changed drastically:

"The Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the Republic!? Yang Chengzan, Sun Zhuru, Yan Zongguang, Liu Shenshu, Hu Ying, Li Zhuzhong, these six people..."

"I know Yang Chengzan. A few years ago when he was in Japan, he published something called 'The Doctrine of Iron and Steel.' At the time, some people refuted him, but I didn't expect him to actually do such things."

"And what about these other guys? Don't they even care about their reputation? This is something that will be recorded in history!"

Liang Yinbing nodded:

"Yesterday, the announcement of the formation of this academic conference was made, ostensibly to study the issue of the form of government, but in reality, it is to create public opinion for the imperial system."

Lan Zhi asked first:

"Sir, what are your plans?"

Liang Yinbing shook her head:

"Even tabloids dare to stand up and criticize Yuan Shikai's perverse actions, while what are the editors of those major newspapers doing? They either pretend to be deaf and dumb, or they sing his praises. Some even say that the issue of the form of government can be discussed. What's there to discuss?"

Lan Zhi looked at Liang Yinbing and knew that he was truly enraged:

"Sir, if you'd like to write, I'll help you."

Liang Yinbing glanced at him, then nodded, walked to the desk, spread out the manuscript paper, picked up the brush, and dipped it in ink.

He paused for a few seconds to think, then put pen to paper and wrote a line.

How strange are those who question the so-called "form of government"!

After writing the title, he put down his pen, waited for the ink to dry, put away the paper, and said to Lan Zhixian:

"Mr. Songpo has already rushed to Tianjin to discuss with me how to deal with Yuan's plot. Let's put this article aside for now and get back as quickly as possible."

"Also, find out who the chief editor of the Strange News is. Tabloids have no backing. We are constitutionalists, that's true, and we are not blindly pursuing co-governance, that's also true, but we absolutely cannot tolerate the Yuan faction using constitutionalism as a pretext to restore the monarchy. If we can help them then, we will."