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

It was almost noon.

The International Settlement was lined with shops, each with a large, upright signboard that was dazzling even without neon lights.

Since it was lunchtime, passersby quickened their pace, eager to replenish their energy.

Businessmen in suits headed to restaurants and Western-style eateries, while laborers in short-sleeved shirts looked for affordable food stalls on the street.

The class differences between people are particularly evident in their food.

Shen Zishi came out of a Sichuan snack shop, stepped onto the smooth gravel road, and patted his belly with satisfaction.

When you're out running errands, you definitely can't skimp on food.

Lin Wangzheng, Lin Wangzheng, you can just stay in the inn reminiscing about the past and appreciating the present...

He lit his pipe and walked towards Wangping Street, soon arriving at the entrance of the Shenbao building.

Newspaper staff members came out one after another, in twos and threes, arm in arm, discussing where to go for dinner.

Some people who recognized Shen Zishi would pretend to call him "Old Shen" as a greeting.

As soon as I entered, I bumped into Chen Huasheng.

The chief editor of the Shenbao newspaper actually smiled slightly when he saw him this time, which was quite a show of respect.

Shen Zishi was taken aback, feeling flattered. He took the pipe down and looked him up and down a few times:

"Brother Watson, what are you laughing at?"

Chen Huasheng shook his head, his smile undiminished:

"I wasn't laughing at anything."

I was just thinking about some happy things, like the strategic recruitment of high-end talent...

"If you're not laughing at anything, then what are you laughing at?"

Shen Zishi's mind went blank for a moment, and he felt increasingly uneasy: "You're usually like a block of wood, but you smiled at me today... Did you win money playing cards tonight?"

Chen Huasheng did not answer the question, but instead asked:

"Looking for Old Shi?"

Shen Zishi nodded.

Chen Huasheng stepped aside and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards him:

"He's in his office, hurry up and go."

Shen Zishi walked towards the stairs, completely bewildered, muttering to himself as he went:

"Did you take the wrong medicine?... "

While I was still wondering what was going on, he had already gone up to the second floor and arrived at the general manager's office.

Due to the withdrawal of previous shareholders, Shi Jiaxiu is now the only shareholder of Shen Bao, but his office is still just the same small room.

He stood at the doorway, pondered for a moment, and then...

"Bang--!"

The office door was kicked open again.

Shen Zishi strode in and called out:

"Old Shi, I'm here!"

Shi Jiaxiu, sitting at his desk reading documents, drew a long ink mark on the paper with his pen.

He looked up, saw who it was, breathed a sigh of relief, and said in a pleading tone:

"Didn't you say you'd be gentler next time? You keep doing this, I thought spies were coming to the door."

Shen Zishi had already sat down casually and offered Shi Jiaxiu a cigarette:

"What are you thinking? If spies want to find someone, they'll come to me first."

Shi Jiaxiu put down his pen, crumpled the scribbled paper into a ball, tossed it into the wastebasket, leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temples, and asked wearily:

"Tell me, what's wrong this time?"

"Same as always, just here to ask about something..."

Shen Zishi sat up a little straighter.

Shi Jiaxiu rubbed his face vigorously, opened a drawer, took out a notebook, and asked:

"Another round of approvals?"

"Yes."

"Who will be criticized this time?"

"Those six from the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the Republic, plus Liang Yinbing."

Shen Zishi said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Shi Jiaxiu stared blankly at Shen Zishi, his eyes widening as his expression shifted from calm to astonishment, and he asked incredulously:

"What did you say?"

"I said, we should criticize the Six Gentlemen of the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Peace, including Liang Yinbing!"

Shen Zishi repeated it aloud.

Shi Jiaxiu, confirming he hadn't misheard, leaned forward, slightly lifting his buttocks off the chair, and asked in confusion:

"I can understand your criticism of the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Peace and Order. But what does it mean to criticize Liang Yinbing?"

It should be noted that the Shenbao newspaper had just reprinted "How Strange Is the So-Called Question of the Form of Government," and the response was quite positive. If someone were to publicly stand up and disagree now, they would probably be condemned by public opinion.

Because at this crucial juncture, those who support restoration and those who oppose it have openly divided into two factions. If you criticize articles by the opposition, which side are you actually on?

To the point that he couldn't understand what the "Strange News" was trying to do, how could it criticize the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Peace and Order while simultaneously criticizing Liang Yinbing...

Shen Zishi noticed his confusion, took off his pipe, thought carefully for a moment, and then relayed Lin Wangzheng's words in detail.

After he finished speaking, the office was eerily quiet for a few seconds.

Even the noise outside the window was no longer audible to Shi Jiaxiu.

The statement "The issue of the form of government should not be the focus of political discourse" superficially suggests "Stop arguing about the form of government and concentrate on politics," but in reality, it avoids a fundamental question—

Isn't the form of government a political issue?

In this light, isn't this exactly what Lin Wangzheng said—an attempt to stop Yuan Xiangcheng's restoration plan by advising him to "put aside the dispute"? This was destined to be ineffective.

Which is more in line with the interests of the people and the emerging national bourgeoisie: co-governance or monarchy? This is a matter that must be debated.

Otherwise, they would fall into the vicious cycle of "any good imperial system is acceptable," which would have little impact on public opinion for Yuan's faction.

For historians like Shi Jiaxiu, a member of the national bourgeoisie, the imperial system meant feudal autocracy of the landlord class, the deprivation of freedom of association and speech, the suppression of capitalist democratic thought, and the regression and stagnation of the economic base. It was not a simple political or state form dispute, but a crucial choice of "life or death."

This is something inherent in the feudal imperial system, and it cannot be determined by the wisdom or brilliance of the individual ruler.

"So? Have you thought it through?"

Shen Zishi probed.

Shi Jiaxiu tapped his fingers on the table a few times, then stopped and asked:

"If you write it like this, it will cause chaos. The opposition will be unable to distinguish friend from foe, and Yuan's faction will reap the benefits. How will you deal with that?"

Shen Zishi pointed at him and tapped the ashes from his pipe in the ashtray:

"You're overthinking it. That kid knows what he's doing. He criticizes the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Peace and encourages Liang Yinbing. He won't cause trouble. It's just a difference of opinion."

"What's that old saying? 'A gentleman seeks harmony but not uniformity!'"

With this assurance, Shi Jiaxiu felt relieved and picked up his notebook again:

"Alright, let me start with the six members of the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Peace. Should it be the same as last time?"

"right!"

Shen Zishi took out his notebook and pen to take notes.

"Yang Chengzan, a native of Xiangtan, was a Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examination) during the Guangxu era. In his early years, he studied under Wang Kaiyun and later studied in Japan, attending Hongwen Academy and Hosei University. He had close ties with Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao and participated in the Petition of the Scholars and the Hundred Days' Reform. Later, he leaned towards the revolutionaries and became very close to Huang Xing, Song Jiaoren, and others. In 1911, he served as the Vice Minister of Education in Yuan Shikai's cabinet. In March of this year, he wrote "On Constitutional Monarchy to Save the Country" and secretly presented it to Yuan Shikai, who inscribed a plaque with the words "Unparalleled Talent of Our Time," thus making him a core figure in the imperial faction."

"This person was the initiator of the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the Monarchy. His stance shifted from favoring reform to supporting revolution and then to advocating for an imperial system, making it difficult to discern his true intentions. Furthermore, he studied under Wang Kaiyun and learned the so-called art of emperorship. He was determined to assist an extraordinary person in achieving hegemony, which is why he set his sights on Yuan Shikai."

The historian paused for a moment, then continued:

"Liu Shenshu, a native of Yizheng, was a renowned figure in the literary world and a contemporary master of Chinese studies. In his early years, he advocated anarchism and was as famous as Zhang Taiyan. Later, he also participated in the revolution for a period of time and was hailed as the 'Rousseau of East Asia.' In the end, in 1909, he sided with Duanfang, causing the failure of the revolution in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas. He became an advocate of imperialism and was extremely cowardly, comparable to a traitor who served three masters."

"And Sun Zhuru was similar. He returned to China in 1907 to lead the New Army uprising. He was betrayed for plotting to assassinate Duanfang. He defected in prison and was given a lighter sentence. After the Xinhai Revolution, he held an important position, but still defected to Yuan Shikai."

"Hu Ying, a native of Taoyuan, was a member of the Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance). During the Xinhai Revolution, he served as the governor of Shandong and was also a revolutionary hero. Later, he joined Yuan Shikai's forces."

"Li Zhuzhong, a native of Anhua, joined the Huaxing Society and the Tongmenghui in his early years. During the Xinhai Revolution, he led troops to recover Shanghai and made outstanding contributions. He once served as the commander-in-chief of the Restoration Army. After the Second Revolution, he took it upon himself to mediate between the North and the South, but was placed under house arrest by Yuan Shikai. It is estimated that he was added to the list."

"Yan Zongguang, a native of Houguan, studied in England in his early years and entered the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He translated 'On the Origin of Species' and advocated 'survival of the fittest,' and his ideas had a profound influence. After the Xinhai Revolution, he served as the president of Peking University for a period of time. I don't know why he actually did such a dishonorable thing."

After he finished reading, he closed the notebook and said:

"In short, these six people each have their own backgrounds, most of them are veteran revolutionaries, and they have all obtained what they wanted."

Shen Zishi nodded, his pen moving swiftly across the paper:

"Let's forget about Liang Yinbing; everyone knows his resume."

Shi Jiaxiu nodded:

"This person is very learned and writes well, but his stance is wavering. I was actually surprised that he opposed Yuan Shikai. Sure enough, people can change."

Shen Zishi finished writing down the last few lines, put down his pen, and nodded in satisfaction.

Historian Xiuwen:

"Is that enough?"

That's enough.

Shen Zishi stood up, stuffed his notebook and pen into his pocket, and bowed to Shi Jiaxiu: "It's thanks to someone like you who reports on powerful families that we have so much information."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Shi Jiaxiu watched his retreating figure, his eyes seemingly calculating something.

He recruited Chen Huasheng because he was certain that Di Pingzi was a gentleman; but if he recruited Lin Wangzheng, he could also be certain that Shen Zishi was not a gentleman.

To put it simply, Shen Zishi really dared to fight him.

How can I bring it up without getting beaten up...?

He cleared his throat and, just as Shen Zishi was about to leave, called out:

"Old Shen, wait a minute!"

Shen Zishi stopped and turned around, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Shi Jiaxiu stood up, walked around the desk, came to Shen Zishi, and began rubbing his hands together like flies.

In Shen Zishi's eyes, Shi Jiaxiu's expression was similar to Chen Huasheng's. Although he wasn't smiling, he hadn't seen it often before, and seemed quite hesitant to speak.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing much, just something to talk about. Come on, sit down and let's talk."

The two returned to the area around the desk and plopped down.

Shi Jiaxiu earnestly made Shen Zishi a cup of coffee and gestured for him to drink it quickly.

Shen Zishi wasn't sure what Shi Jiaxiu was up to, and fearing he might poison the coffee, he frowned and asked:

"What are you trying to do? Don't tell me you're trying to get more investment because my report is doing well?"

"no."

Shi Jiaxiu shook his head, gesturing for him to come closer.

Shen Zishi took a sip of coffee and leaned forward slightly.

Shi Jiaxiu simply leaned close to his ear and whispered:

"Old Shen, let me be frank with you, Yuan Xiangcheng will be tightening control over public opinion soon. Although the concession is safe for now, the pressure will come sooner or later. You need to think about your escape route for that 'Strange News' newspaper as soon as possible."

Shen Zishi glanced at him and said calmly:

"Say something I can't guess, what exactly are you up to? I can tell you're not planning anything good..."

Shi Jiaxiu was momentarily speechless, still unsure how to bring up the poaching issue, so he changed the subject:

"Yuan Yong recently wrote to me, saying that he wants to return to Shanghai because the Yuan faction is forcing him to write articles that betray his principles, and he does not want to sell out his journalistic integrity."

Shen Zishi's expression suddenly changed, turning very cold:

"Old Shi, you know we don't get along. You've said so much, trying to mediate between us? Well, let me tell you clearly, what's done is done, and there's no chance of undoing it. There's absolutely no possibility of reconciliation between us."

He put the pipe back in his mouth, and smoke billowed from his nostrils, carrying a strong smell of gunpowder.

"Although I have no moral integrity, I did not flatter the powerful or sell my principles for wealth when I was starving to death, nor did I cause the deaths of my relatives and friends. Therefore, I will never forgive him in this lifetime."

Some old stories can only be truly understood by those who have experienced them firsthand.

Shi Jiaxiu looked at him and sighed inwardly, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

Shen Zishi took a deep breath, took the pipe out of his mouth, and twirled it in his hand a few times before slowly calming down.

"Old Shi, if you keep me here today to talk about Huang Yuanyong, that lackey, there's really nothing to talk about. He's not worthy of discussing journalistic integrity."

"Don't talk about him, don't talk about him, don't get agitated."

"So what exactly are you trying to say?"

"I want to acquire the Strange News..."

Shi Jiaxiu finally revealed his thoughts.

Shen Zishi frowned, his expression shifting from anger to confusion, and then picked at his ear:

"What are you babbling about!"

"I said, I want to buy your newspaper!"

Shi Jiaxiu repeated himself, his tone awkward: "The *Shenbao* newspaper can give you a column, temporarily placed after 'Free Talk.' Would you be willing to participate?"

Shen Zishi suddenly laughed, not a happy laugh, but a laugh of sudden realization.

No wonder Chen Huasheng had that expression, no wonder Shi Jiaxiu kept rambling on and on...

So it turns out they were after the "Strange News" newspaper!

He put the pipe back in his mouth, looked at Shi Jiaxiu, and smiled:

"Old Shi, you're not being honest. After all that beating around the bush, you're either after the newspaper or you're after my man, aren't you?"

Shi Jiaxiu did not deny it, and nodded:

"Yes."

"Who are you after?"

"Those who write reports about dockworkers, accounts of what happened in beggars' slums, and those political commentators. Anyway, it has nothing to do with you; you're just an extra, so as not to make you feel bad."

The office fell silent, and the two men exchanged a silent battle of wits.

Shen Zishi was so angry he laughed, and asked:

"Are you looking down on me? I worked for my nephew and at least got to be a boss. Now I'm working for you, being bossed around all day. Tell me, what am I doing here?"

Shi Jiaxiu waved his hand and laughed:

"Don't try to flatter yourself. In my eyes, you're just an accessory to your nephew."

Shen Zishi felt deeply hurt, and a surge of anger rose within him. He stood up and braced himself against the table.

"Now I know how Di Pingzi feels. Let me tell you, even if I, Shen Zishi, jump off this newspaper, I would never agree to send my nephew here!"

Shi Jiaxiu patted him on the shoulder, his smile somewhat sly:

"Old Shen, Old Lin entrusted his son to you before he died. You don't want Lin Wangzheng to suffer with you, do you? Anyway, I won't let him stay in hotels and hide all day long."

Lore!

Shen Zishi felt as if he were choking on a lump of poop, unable to swallow it or spit it out.

Before long, his face flushed red, and he stood with his hands on his hips, cursing:

"You scoundrel! Capitalist! Newspaper tycoon!"

"Yuan Shikai should send someone to riddle you with bullets! I'd be clapping and cheering then!"

"If you're so good at digging, why don't you dig a Grand Canal!"

As the saying goes, lies don't hurt, but the truth is the sharpest knife. Only the truth could break his defenses like that.

Lin Wangzheng offended so many people by writing those articles, and he could be arrested or killed at any time. As his uncle, all he could do was help him with layout and accounting, and create content that anyone could do.

He certainly didn't want Lin Wangzheng to suffer, but he also didn't want Lin Wangzheng to leave.

Shi Jiaxiu walked around the table and put his arm around his shoulder to comfort him:

"Alright, I was just teasing you, didn't I? We're all buddies, I don't think of you as Di Pingzi, otherwise I would have done this in private already."

"Don't rush to refuse. Go back and ask your nephew first. There are many ways to resolve the issue of not selling the 'Strange Newspaper.' With your nephew's intelligence, he's sure to have his own opinions. We can go along with him then, what do you think?"

Shen Zishi lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

Actually, my dignity was somewhat bruised...

"Have you thought it through?" Shi Jiaxiu urged.

Shen Zishi answered in a muffled voice:

"Let's go back and discuss it."

Shi Jiaxiu nodded repeatedly, a smile on his face that said, "The fish has taken the bait."

"Okay, okay, think it through and come over as soon as possible. Time waits for no one, who knows what will happen in a few days."

Shen Zishi did not answer, but pushed open the door and went out.

The door made a "click" sound when it closed.

Shi Jiaxiu stood in his office, looked at the closed door, smiled, walked back to his desk, sat down again, picked up his pen, and wrote a line on his memo.

[On August 28th, Shen Zishi came and mentioned the acquisition of the "Strange News" newspaper; a response is pending.]