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

The next day, morning.

There hasn't been a breath of wind since last night.

Pedestrians on their way to work hung their heads, occasionally glancing up at the dark sky. It looked like rain was about to fall, but no one knew when it would, making them feel restless and irritable.

The swarm of flies, exhausted, landed on the newspaper vendor's stall and slowly rubbed their legs together.

Perhaps fearing a sudden downpour, the newspapers were covered with tarpaulins to avoid being caught off guard by a sudden drenching.

The newspaper vendors wore T-shirts and held palm-leaf fans, waving them listlessly.

"Newspapers for sale! Newspapers for sale! We have all kinds of newspapers..."

"Shenbao, Shibao, Xinwenbao, Qiwenbao, Science Magazine... Don't miss them when you pass by..."

"Following the assassination of Zheng Rucheng, the garrison commander of Songhu; Cai Songpo's support for Yuan Shikai's ascension to the throne; Japan's declaration of war against Germany, demanding that the area south of the Yellow River be designated as a military route..."

"New article by 'Warning Bell' commentator for the Strange News, see how he criticizes the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of a Social Order and Liang Yinbing!"

The shouts were much quieter today than before.

However, upon hearing that there was a new article in the oddities newspaper, a scholar in a long gown and carrying an oil-paper umbrella stopped, frowned, and asked:

"Why is the *Strange News* criticizing Liang Yinbing? Isn't it all about opposing Yuan Shikai?"

The newspaper vendor shook his head and held up two fingers:

"Two coins, you won't lose out, you won't be cheated. You'll see for yourself how lively it is."

The scholar nodded, took out two coins from his pocket, bought a newspaper, and began to read it while standing by the roadside.

The rickshaw pullers and laborers who were squatting nearby waiting for work all came over, standing on tiptoe to look at the newspaper, but unfortunately they couldn't read it and couldn't understand what was written.

"Sir, please read it aloud!" one of them called out.

The scholar looked around, hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, cleared his throat, and read the first paragraph aloud.

"This opening is written very frankly."

"Keep reading, keep reading!"

The article criticizing Yang Chengzan drew cheers from the crowd, with some even clapping and applauding, and the crowd gradually grew larger.

"The article in the Strange Newspaper has such a great analogy! It's so true!"

"Yes! But can the German Emperor and the Emperor of Japan be compared like that?"

"If we don't compare them this way, how can we compare them?"

"We don't know, but I believe the Strange News!"

The scholars did not participate in the discussion and finally read the third paragraph, which was of most concern to them and criticized Liang Yinbing.

After reading it, he suddenly realized that he had underestimated the importance of understanding.

A young man wearing glasses interjected:

"The warning bell is right! I've read Liang Yinbing's articles. His stance against the imperial system is commendable, but I felt his words were too soft, and something felt off. Now I realize the problem lies at its core!"

An old man wearing a top hat nearby was indignant:

"What's wrong with being moderate? Moderation is always better than radicalism, which only leads to trouble! Look at the chaos those revolutionaries have caused on the docks!"

The young man was unhappy and retorted:

"Isn't it chaotic enough already? Yuan Xiangcheng wants to declare himself emperor, and he's turned our country upside down. There are people everywhere cheering him on, and he's even doing things like his ancestral graves emitting red light. Outsiders will only laugh at us!"

The so-called incident of the ancestral grave emitting red light occurred this spring when a red light, shaped like a torch, appeared at night beside the grave of Yuan Baozhong, the great-grandfather of Yuan Xiangcheng. A wisteria vine resembling a long dragon grew beside the grave, and a stone inscribed with the words "Heaven's Mandate Returns" was also discovered. After the grave keeper reported this, Yuan Xiangcheng rewarded him handsomely and sent his eldest son, Yuan Yuntai, back to his hometown to investigate.

To put it bluntly, it's about using feudal superstition to create momentum for the emperor's ascension to the throne, just like the "red book in the fish's belly".

However, "The Great Chu will rise, and Chen Sheng will be king" is a mobilization tool used by rebels to dismantle authority and build confidence when they overthrow the old regime from the bottom up, and it can inspire people. Yuan Shikai's "auspicious omen" is a legitimacy package used by those in power to consolidate their authority and deceive the world when they restore the old system from the top down. Anyone who comes will laugh at him.

The old man was speechless, and walked away with a red face.

The argument quickly subsided, and the scholar continued reading, finishing in no time.

He put down the newspaper and let out a long sigh:

"It's so well written, it's written in one go, and it has a powerful, overwhelming effect when you read it."

The young man nodded in agreement.

"This newspaper is better than those big newspapers now, and it's definitely worth the two coins."

One of the rickshaw pullers chimed in:

"Yes! Only people who read this newspaper are willing to stop and read articles to me!"

The scholar flipped through the newspaper again and said:

"This issue's news has more details than before... What are these Japanese trying to do? Are they using the pretext of fighting Germany to cede the area south of the Yellow River to them? What are we then?"

The young man sneered:

"They're all cut on the chopping block! Birds of a feather flock together!"

Everyone fell silent.

A short while later, another newspaper buyer said:

"Do you think Liang Yinbing will stand up and criticize this newspaper after seeing it? He used to fight fiercely with the revolutionaries, so he probably won't let this opportunity pass him by."

The scholar pondered for a moment, then shook his head and retorted:

"I don't think so. It's true that the police criticized Liang Yinbing, but I think the words were very restrained. They didn't deny Liang Yinbing's spirit, but pointed out that his methods were limited. This sense of proportion was probably intentionally maintained."

"You mean, the warning bell deliberately left room for maneuver?"

"That's right! He wasn't trying to engage in a war of words with Liang Yinbing; he wanted to tell readers that opposing the imperial system was the right thing to do, but opposing it in the way Liang Yinbing did was not acceptable."

"Such insight and strategy are truly rare in the press...truly capable!"

......

At noon, in an alley near the Eight Immortals Bridge in the French Concession.

This is a well-known residential area.

As the main passage for vegetable farmers and firewood vendors from the western part of Songhu to enter the city, this area developed into the famous Baxianqiao Vegetable Market at the end of the 19th century, also known as the "Chinese and Foreign Vegetable Market".

French, Portuguese, and Chinese people set up stalls together, selling vegetables, dried bamboo shoots, tofu, cheese, bread, and liquor all at the same time, giving it a real international commercial district feel.

Centered around the vegetable market, the area is surrounded by rice shops, tobacco shops, shoe stores, candle shops, and more, fully meeting the daily needs of the local people.

In particular, at the beginning of this month, the New World Amusement Park was also completed and opened here. It is the first comprehensive amusement park in the entire Songhu area. Its appearance is unique and magnificent, with a bow-shaped floor plan that resembles a reclining rabbit. Inside, there are ice skating rinks, pinball rooms, theaters, cinemas, shopping malls, tea rooms, and rooftop gardens. Tickets cost only 20 cents per person, and monthly passes can be purchased for 3 yuan, pioneering a "one ticket for all" business model.

The entertainment industry began to emerge, but it was also intertwined with the everyday life of ordinary people, which attracted many people to live here.

In Ciyin Lane, there is an inconspicuous Shikumen house. There is no signboard at the door, and the door knocker has been rusted. It looks like an ordinary residential house.

But this was an important stronghold of the Minyi Society in Shanghai.

As an external organization of the Chinese Revolutionary Party, the Minyi Society was established in Japan at the end of the year before last. It was a secret "drive out Tang and oppose Yuan" organization established by some revolutionaries from southern Hunan who were unwilling to surrender after the failure of the Second Revolution and fled to Japan.

Initially, the strategy mainly involved "mobilizing the army and rallying the bandits," launching anti-Yuan and anti-Tang campaigns in southern Hunan through military adventures. However, these efforts resulted in repeated failures and significant losses.

So last year, they changed their approach and decided to shift from military adventures to planning assassinations. In April of this year, after returning to Shanghai from Japan, key figure Xiao Meicheng secretly plotted to establish an uprising headquarters there, planning the "Three Revolutions" to oppose the restoration of the monarchy.

For the police and detectives in the concession, this was where they would achieve their annual KPIs. Unfortunately, because it was located in a quiet area amidst the hustle and bustle, only three stops away from the central police station, no one expected it to become a place where the light of day would be obscured.

The main door of the house was tightly closed, and candles were lit inside, filling the air with smoke, creating a fairyland-like atmosphere, though it was a bit choking.

On the large square table in the very center, there were materials such as mercury, gunpowder, canned food, and fuses, which would explode if touched by even the slightest spark.

Even so, a group of people sat around a square table, smoking and passing around copies of the "Strange News" newspaper, quite confident in their own abilities.

The man in the main seat looked to be in his forties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. He was wearing a gray long gown, but he didn't have much of the air of a scholar; instead, he looked more like a soldier.

He is Wang Dao, a director of the Minyi Society.

Beside him were Zou Yongcheng, Yin Zhilu, Xiao Meicheng, Yang Yuqiao, Jin Dongshu, and others, all of whom were key members of the Minyi Society.

As a well-known anti-Yuan Shikai group, the Minyi Society had a clear division of labor. In addition to having a director and a vice director in charge, it also had five departments: general affairs, finance, military affairs, diplomacy, and literature. On the surface, it used the name "National Salvation Society" as a cover. In order to oppose the signing of the Twenty-One Demands, it also founded the "National Salvation Daily" in May. However, due to its radical language and lack of boundaries in publishing articles, it was shut down in less than three months.

Without a public platform for public opinion, the few people who dealt with guns, bullets and explosives every day felt frustrated and resentful when they saw the rampant propaganda of Yuan's party. They wished they could shove a detonator into Xue Dake's mouth.

"Have you finished reading? What do you all think?"

Wang Dao put down the "Strange News" newspaper, picked up the tea on the table, and took a sip.

Jin Dongshu, a reporter for the Salvation Daily, took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and said:

"It speaks my mind; it's very well written."

Tell me about it.

"This commentator, whose name is 'Warning Bell,' basically agrees with our assessment—Yuan Shikai's self-proclaimed emperorship was a step backward in history and represented the pinnacle of warlord dictatorship. Asia Bao and the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Peace were helping him whitewash the situation."

"Yes, that's what I think too!"

Another radio operator, Xu Xue, agreed.

Wang Dao tapped the table with one hand and nodded:

"What do you think of his criticism of Liang Yinbing?"

Kim Dong-seo pushed up his glasses, which he had just put on, and said excitedly:

"You hit the nail on the head with one sentence! How many years have we, the revolutionaries, debated with Liang Yinbing? The Xinmin Congbao and the Minbao fought a war of words for so many years. Although we won in the end, no one has ever pointed out his weakness so clearly in such a short sentence."

Xu Xue picked up the conversation and said:

"Yes, the ideas in this article are quite close to our beliefs in 'civil rights and people's livelihood.' It repeatedly questions the stability and livelihood of ordinary people, and takes the well-being of ordinary people as the ultimate criterion. Many of us cannot achieve this kind of thoroughly populist stance, let alone the level of debate."

The group nodded in unison, secretly plotting something.

Hsiao Mei-cheng suddenly spoke up: "But I have a question."

Everyone turned to look at him in unison.

Hsiao Mei-cheng explained:

"This article stops at reasoning and concern, ending with 'the foundation is rotten and the root needs to be replaced,' which is somewhat empty talk."

Kim Dong-seo frowned and retorted:

"We can't be so dogmatic. Even mild criticisms of the Yuan faction are hard to survive, let alone revolutionary rhetoric. This article has already reached its limit in terms of its scope."

Yang Yuqiao stepped forward and insisted:

"But it didn't call for action. What's the use of just talking without doing anything? I think it's just scholars ruining the country!"

Those who held differing opinions immediately began arguing.

Wang Dao leaned back in his chair, listening quietly to the opinions from all sides. He pinched the web of his right hand, but because it was covered in calluses, he could no longer feel any pain.

Seeing that the scene was getting chaotic and was about to escalate, he slammed his hand on the table, causing several cans to tip over and roll onto the ground with a clattering metallic sound.

Everyone immediately fell silent, waiting for their leader to speak.

This is what discipline is...

Wang Dao clicked his tongue and slowly said:

"Yuqiao, your words are biased. We do need to take action, but you can't ask a publicly published tabloid to directly call for a revolution. If you do that, it will be shut down the next day, the author will be persecuted, and the newspaper office will be vandalized."

"This isn't bravery, it's stupidity, it's suicide."

"Given the general apathy in the press, we, as revolutionaries, cannot use ourselves as the standard to demand that a small newspaper that dares to speak out do things like the Salvation Daily."

Yang Yuqiao and the others fell silent, lowering their heads and saying nothing.

Wang Dao continued his address:

"This article, under the existing conditions, has done its best. It has thoroughly criticized the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the Monarchy, clearly exposed Liang Yinbing, and made the people understand the true face of the imperialists. That is enough."

"In my opinion, this tabloid is truly wise and worthy of our learning. They know what can be said, what cannot be said, what attitude to use, and when to stop, never crossing the line."

"This approach is not only reasonable and well-founded, but it can also attract more people to think about it and clearly explain the rationale, rather than just inciting them from the outset."

The telegraph operator of the "National Salvation Daily," who was indirectly named, also lowered his head.

Xiao Meicheng sighed and said:

"That's right. This article is enough to awaken you from your slumber, and that's enough."

After he finished speaking, no one in the room spoke; everyone was deep in thought.

Wang Dao sat up straight and dropped a bombshell:

"A letter came from my colleagues in Beiping saying that the Asia Daily was going to set up a branch in Shanghai."

Everyone's expression changed drastically.

"Is Xue Dake heading south?"

Xiao Meicheng pressed for an answer.

Wang Dao nodded:

"Yes, it is said that they are going south by imperial decree, and the funds are quite substantial, amounting to several hundred thousand."

Xiao Meicheng sneered:

"The beggar reporter is here to stir up trouble again."

Yang Yuqiao said coldly:

"So what do we do? Just watch him do his thing?"

Wang Dao pointed to the explosives on the table and said:

"Courtesy first, then force."

"What are the proper etiquette rules?"

"When he arrives, send him a letter first. Warn him not to cause trouble in Shanghai... If he doesn't listen, send him a congratulatory gift."

"good!"

Everyone largely agreed with this opinion.

The newspaper office was shut down, but the people are still here.

As long as people are still alive, things can still be done.

Thanks to Xiao Meicheng's connections, quite a few people in the military and police circles of Shanghai joined the Communist Party and could get their hands on all sorts of things.

As bombers, no one knows better than them how to use explosives to shut people up.

"There's one more thing."

Wang Dao picked up the newspaper and waved it, saying very seriously, "The person behind this newspaper must be a discerning individual, or even a spies infiltrating the area."

Hsiao Mei-cheng roughly knew what he wanted to say and asked:

What do you think?

Wang Dao stood up and commanded:

"We must find them no matter what. If the person behind them is an ally, recruit them into the team. If not, protect their personal safety. We cannot afford to lose such a valuable asset."

"clear!"

Everyone stood up to receive the order.

Wang Dao walked to the gate and pushed it open.

The alley outside the courtyard was quiet, the kind of quiet that comes before a storm.

"In this era, we need people to speak out, and we also need people to take action."

Wang Dao, with his back to the crowd, said, "The ones who speak are already here; the ones who act... are us."

......

Two days later, in the Italian Concession of Tianjin, on South West Road.

Unlike the bustling French Concession and the cosmopolitan British Concession, the streets of the Italian Concession were narrow and clean, lined with mostly Italian-style mansions with red bricks, gray tiles, arched doors and windows, and courtyards planted with sycamores and lilacs. There were few pedestrians on the streets, and occasionally a horse-drawn carriage would pass by, its hooves making a crisp "clattering" sound on the stone pavement.

This road is located on the banks of the Haihe River, very close to the train station, with complete public facilities. It is a group of Italian-style buildings consisting of various garden villas and mansions, and is the largest Italian-style building group outside of Italy.

Liang Yinbing's home is also located here; it is a two-story villa with a total area of ​​over 1,000 square meters.

At this moment, Liang Yinbing was sitting in the study on the second floor, holding a copy of the Ta Kung Pao newspaper, reading the latest international news.

Ta Kung Pao, which balances "commercial interests and social responsibility," is quite famous in Tianjin, and its influence extends beyond Tianjin.

The water in the teacup had gone cold, but he was completely unaware of it, and he didn't even look up when Lan Gongwu came up to him.

Holding the newspaper in his hand, Lan Gongwu hesitated before calling out:

"gentlemen?"

"Um."

Liang Yinbing did not look up, and her response was lukewarm.

Lan Gongwu clenched his fist, hesitated for a moment, and handed the newspaper to Liang Yinbing:

"This is the latest issue of the 'Strange News Report,' and they've published a new article..."

Liang Yinbing casually tossed the Ta Kung Pao newspaper onto the table, looked up, and took the paper:

"Writing about ordinary people again? That reporter of theirs writes about dockworkers and beggars quite well, how come he's so fast?"

"no."

Lan Gongwu didn't know what expression to make, so he said tactfully, "It's an editorial criticizing the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of Peace and Order, and..."

"Um?"

"And...your approval..."

"..."

Liang Qichao stopped, feeling utterly absurd. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Look, you'll see for yourself."

Lan Gongwu urged.

Liang Qichao spread out the newspaper, lowered his head, and began to read.

He read the first paragraph with a calm expression, nodding slightly as if he were reading an ordinary article.

This opening is well-written, getting straight to the point without being long-winded, maintaining the style I've always used.

When it comes to grabbing readers' attention with the opening of political commentary, the Qiwen Daily is probably number one in China.

The content of the first two parts made him frown, but he quickly relaxed.

The criticism of Yang Chengzan is well-reasoned and supported by evidence. Although the language is strong, the logic is clear and there is no sophistry.

The comparison between the German Emperor, the Japanese Emperor, and Yuan Shikai is particularly sharp.

But when he read the third part, he became restless.

The writing style is very polite; it's not a critical attitude, but more like the kind of advice given between like-minded people.

However, the content is quite ruthless, and coupled with this writing style, it's like a cup of sweet tea; you only realize how painful it is after you drink it.

He cursed inwardly: Why curse so harshly!

Liang Yinbing put down the newspaper, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes.

Lan Gongwu stood aside, not daring to utter a sound.

Even the boss got criticized, so what can a nobody like him say?

Go and fight the "alarm bell"? You couldn't possibly win; you'd just be asking for trouble...

The clock on the wall ticked away, and the sycamore trees outside the window swayed wildly in the wind.

After a long time, Liang Yinbing opened her eyes, picked up the newspaper, and read it again.

After reading it, he put the newspaper on the table, let out a long sigh, tugged at his hair, and asked in a hoarse voice:

"Gongwu, have you found out who this 'warning bell' is?"

Lan Gongwu shook his head regretfully and explained:

"We don't know yet, but we do know that this 'Warning Bell' is probably the same person as 'Shout' and 'Wind'."

"The same person?"

"The news coming from the Songhu region is..."

"sharp......"

Liang Qichao was silent for a while, then said, "This person is truly extraordinary; what he said only makes me feel pain."

Although the article is strongly worded, it does indeed pinpoint his most fundamental contradiction to date—

He believed in elites, not the masses; he believed in reform, not revolution; he hoped to promote change through gradual means, but he had to admit that gradual means often fell short when faced with an "ironclad wall of vested interests."

"He's right... Yang Chengzan and I are both, at our core, elitists. It's just that Yang Chengzan chose Yuan Shikai, while I chose... I don't even know who."

Liang Yinbing pushed open the window, and the wind made him look ten years older.

This is an obstacle he cannot overcome.

Lan Gongwu looked at him, feeling a pang of sadness.

He had followed Liang Yinbing for many years and had never seen him so frustrated, so eager to do something.

"Sir, I'll go and write an article right away to refute the Strange Newspaper."

"No need."

Why?

"Because he's right, I can't win an argument with him."

Liang Qichao leaned back in his chair, looking at the ceiling fan spinning rapidly.

Lan Gongwu was stunned, unable to believe his ears.

This writer, who used the Xinmin Congbao as his platform to debate with the revolutionaries in the Minbao newspaper for more than two years between 1905 and 1907, has actually given up on refuting them!

It's just three paragraphs!

"People always change. After seeing so much chaos, I feel powerless even if I want to, but my mind is surprisingly clear..."

Liang Yinbing saw through his apprentice's thoughts and explained, "Besides, there's no need to argue. Jingzhong isn't debating with me; he's explaining his views to his readers. His audience isn't me; it's the ordinary people who buy newspapers for two coins a day. They don't care whether I respond or not. If I respond, it's like giving him a free ride, and it might even lead to something going wrong."

Lan Gongwu thought about it and felt it made sense, but he was still unwilling to give up:

"So, we'll just leave it at that?"

"It's not that I've given up, it's that I want to."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Thinking about what he said."

Liang Yinbing got up and paced back and forth in the study, finally stopping in front of the bookshelf. Looking at the Records of the Grand Historian, he murmured, "He asked me whether we should replace the rotten wood. I couldn't answer that question. You know, I've opposed revolution my whole life... But Yuan Shikai is going against the tide of history. How can we do without revolution?"

Lan Gongwu fell silent, wondering what his master wanted to do.

Liang Yinbing walked back to her desk, sat down, picked up a pen, wrote a line on a piece of paper, and then put the pen down:

"Gongwu, go find me a major newspaper; I need to publish an announcement."

"What announcement?"

"Announcement of Withdrawal from the Party"

"Leaving the Progressive Party!?"

Lan Gongwu was quite surprised.

The Progressive Party was founded two years ago by Liang Yinbing, Tang Hualong, and others. It merged with several parties, including the Communist Party, the Unity Party, and the Democratic Party, becoming the second largest party in the National Assembly at the time. Originally established to support Yuan Shikai's regime, it hoped to assist Yuan Shikai in achieving constitutional government through party politics. However, with Yuan Shikai actively promoting the imperial movement, what was the point of remaining in the party?

This means it is supported by default.

Liang Qichao nodded:

"I want to publicly leave the Progressive Party."

He had to break with Yuan Shikai, and first and foremost with the Progressive Party, before he could proceed with what he was about to do.

"Sir, have you thought this through? If you do this, there will be no turning back."

"Yuan Xiangcheng has already been warned after his previous attempts to bribe him failed. If you publicly withdraw from the party again, he..."

Lan Gongwu's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Liang Qichao looked at his apprentice:

"Arrest me? Kill me?"

He stood up again and patted his apprentice on the shoulder:

"You've been with me for so many years, do you know how many times I've been in exile? Japan, America, Australia... I've been there, I'm not afraid of exile."

"I would rather go back to the old ways than live a wretched life in this foul air."

Lan Gongwu looked at him, his eyes stinging with tears:

"Sir, I'll stay with you."

Liang Yinbing laughed heartily, folded the manuscript paper, and handed it to Lan Gongwu:

"Send it to Songhu, so that the whole world will know that I, Liang Yinbing, am severing all ties with Yuan Xiangcheng."

Lan Gongwu took the manuscript and carefully put it away:

"You didn't respond to that article, but this announcement of yours is louder than any response."