The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Of course, we must also accept criticism from our comrades. When our comrades criticize you, it's because they hope you'll improve. Only when everyone improves can we do our work better. Think about it: would someone they don't know criticize you? Those who criticize you want you to do better. Of course, criticism isn't about arguing, nor is it about name-calling or retaliation. Criticism is about pointing out shortcomings, addressing the issue, proposing solutions, and then correcting them.

Chapter 40: Democracy, Science, and Labor

3727 words

Changing pain is temporary, not changing pain is lifelong, but no one teaches you how to change. — Quotes from Zhang Yinghao

Zhang Yinghao finally said with lingering feelings: "We have an old saying: A full bucket of water makes no sound, but a half-full bucket sways around. Fire needs a hollow core, and people need to be smart. This is telling everyone to humbly accept criticism from others, rather than thinking that others criticizing you are finding fault. Only when your heart is full will it be unable to hold other things. Think about it, if they are not your comrades, not your own people, others will not want to pay attention to you. So when someone criticizes us, whether this person is an outsider or our own comrade, it is a great thing, because it can motivate us to make progress..."

......

"Last class, we talked about the three styles of work of the Progressive Party. These three styles are what all of us Progressive Party members should do, or in other words, we Progressive Party members should be able to integrate theory with practice, maintain close ties with the masses, and engage in criticism and self-criticism. So, what principles should we Progressive Party members follow in governing this country, or how should we govern the areas we have conquered? Here, we will only talk about three: labor, science, and the Lord.

Comrades all know the principle of "no work, no food." We are a labor union, which means we have workers, farmers, and other laborers among us. Our principle is that workers should have food to eat, clothes to wear, a house to live in, and be able to go to school, right? "

"Correct."

"So when we conquer a place, we have to provide a lot of labor opportunities for the workers. Can we provide a lot of labor opportunities now? No, right? So in order to prevent our workers from starving or freezing to death, we must distribute land to those who want to farm and let them work. Everyone should understand one thing: we distribute that land to the people, but will that land produce more food? No, or it can only produce a little more, right?"

"Correct."

"Why do we need to divide up the land if we can't produce more food? It's because we can't let the workers starve to death. We want them to have food to eat. Do you understand?"

"As for science, I talked to you all about it last time. I'm sure you all have many things you don't know how to do, or when you encounter problems you don't know how to handle, or you always make mistakes. This is because you don't understand the scientific principles behind it.

Science refers to the discovery, accumulation, and application of universal truths or universal theorems, resulting in systematized and formalized knowledge. Science is a summary, generalization, and verification of the known world through accessible data calculations, textual explanations, linguistic descriptions, and visual representations. Science is impartial and consistent, and is the most reliable practical method for exploring the objective world.

If you don't understand this right now, there's nothing you can do. We'll print it out for you all to read often. Reading a book a hundred times will make its meaning clear. But everyone must remember: if we fail, it means we've violated scientific principles somewhere. We must find the cause and correct it. Only then will you grasp the scientific principles at work."

"Finally, let's talk about the "Master of Inscriptions." Master of Inscriptions means that everyone should discuss and decide on matters; no one can act arbitrarily. For example, let's say we want to build a hundred houses for the villagers in Zhangjiagou. Where should we build them? How big should they be? How high should they be? How should they be distributed? We can't just make decisions on our own. We must listen to the opinions of the villagers in Zhangjiagou."

"Without investigation, there is no right to speak. The investigation process is a process of connecting with the masses, so we should listen more to the opinions of relevant personnel, take the initiative, and then everyone will vote. The minority will obey the majority, and then how to build, how large to build, and how to distribute the land will be determined."

"There's one more crucial point here that everyone must remember: we only discuss the Lord with our own comrades and the people. We don't discuss the Lord with our enemies, or with groups whose political ideologies run counter to ours, just as we can't discuss exploiting the people with the landlord class. With regard to our enemies and groups whose political ideologies run counter to ours, we talk about struggle, or at most, cooperation. We can't discuss the Lord with these people."

"In short, in short, we must focus on labor, science, and the Lord. Everyone should love labor, learn science, apply science, and uphold the Lord, then nothing can stump us. So what I want to tell you is that the future is bright, but the road is tortuous. As long as we, the Party members, keep moving forward, then our ideals will surely be realized..."

......

"...Comrades, we in the Forward Party represent the interests of the working people. That is, we primarily represent the interests of workers and peasants. And everyone here is either a peasant or a worker. So I thought, if we want to make a revolution, we must have our own banner, so that the workers and peasants will see our banner and know that we stand with them."

After that, Zhang Yinghao showed off his recent design, a red sickle and hammer flag he had given to the garment factory. He then explained, "This will be our party flag from now on. We use the intersecting sickle and hammer pattern. The sickle represents farmers, and the hammer represents workers. Our flag is red because our comrades have sacrificed their lives on the road to liberation for us, the working people, to be masters of our own destiny. It is their blood that has dyed our flag red. Therefore, our flag is red, dyed red by the blood of the martyrs. Our party flag is the red sickle and hammer flag."

Zhang Yinghao hung the flag on the wall and said, "Comrades, it represents our Forward Party and the unity of our workers and peasants. We represent the best among the workers and peasants. Our Forward Party is the vanguard of the workers and peasants. We unite and lead the workers and peasants forward..."

Zhang Yinghao was also quite helpless. He said he wanted a master, but when he did these things, there was no master, and everyone just accepted it. These things could have been discussed slowly and a good result would have been achieved, but Zhang Yinghao gave up after thinking about it.

Among my comrades, there's only one overseas student. While some of the others might be literate, many haven't learned to read much, and some are even illiterate. No one really understands what a party is, so discussing it with them is pointless. It's better for them to figure it out themselves and have them execute it. That's one of the perks of being a time traveler.

In his previous life, when the Communist Party was founded, those people were all intellectuals, and they had studied Marxism to some extent, so they had common topics to talk about. Now Zhang Yinghao's theoretical talk was empty, and there was no common topic at all. It was only when he connected it with reality that they had some reaction. Zhang Yinghao could no longer force anything; the objective conditions were like this.

But Zhang Yinghao couldn't wait any longer. As his territory expanded, talent would naturally emerge. He couldn't control those unwilling to keep up; there would always be someone who could. Zhang Yinghao could only lead those willing to move forward. He believed there were only lagging leaders, not lagging masses. With his own Party organization, he could avoid the situation where someone else's crops grew in his own fields.

Zhang Yinghao continued, "From now on, all our party members will undergo regular training and study, and all comrades who join the party will undergo party training and study. Even though we have established the Party School of the Communist Party of China, with me personally serving as the principal, some of you comrades will have to take turns to teach at the Party School, and you may even have to take time off from your actual work to teach."

"This afternoon, we will organize our government and internal party organizations, address our Party Constitution and discipline, and our laws and regulations. We will also address the election of our core leadership and the issues of each of your respective positions and salaries. We will also address personnel matters and adjustments. We will also address military struggle. Comrades, we still have much to do. As long as we all work hard and continue to learn, I believe we will be able to overcome all difficulties and carry our cause forward."

"That's all for this morning's class. We'll teach you a song today that everyone must be able to sing. Now, please allow our art comrades to teach you the song 'Chinese Revolutionary Song.'"

Zhang Yinghao walked out of the classroom. He felt his voice couldn't take it anymore, lecturing like this every day. He immediately returned to his office to have some tea when he heard a powerful song. The art soldier sang a line, and the comrades followed suit.

Arise, you starving and cold slaves! Arise, you suffering people of all China!

My blood is boiling and I want to fight for the truth!

Smash the old society to pieces! Slaves, rise up! Rise up!

Don’t say we have nothing, we want to be the masters of the world!

There has never been a savior, and we don’t rely on gods or emperors!

To create our own happiness, it all depends on ourselves!

We must take back the fruits of our labor and let our thoughts break free from the cage!

Hurry up and make the fire red hot, strike while the iron is hot to succeed!

Who created the human world? We, the working people!

Everything belongs to the workers, so how can there be room for parasites?

The most hateful things are those poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts that eat up our flesh and blood!

Once they are completely eliminated, the bright red sun will shine all over the country!

This is the final struggle. If we unite together and work towards tomorrow, our country will become prosperous and strong and our goal will surely be realized!

This is the final struggle. Unite together and tomorrow, our nation will be prosperous and strong, and our destiny will surely be realized!

......

The song "Chinese Revolutionary Song" calls on all Party members to march forward, fearless of the past, and to persevere in the struggle. Fearless of the future, we must strive hard to create tomorrow! Believe in justice, and victory will surely come!

Zhang Yinghao felt he'd given his all in teaching, and even had no appetite. Perhaps his classmates, too, were feeling the shifting tides of fate, unable to see clearly what was ahead. So, the entire meal was spent in a state of low tension. Zhang Yinghao didn't care. He rested for the afternoon, and continued teaching in the afternoon. He had already prepared the material. He didn't need to worry about it anymore.

It was time for the afternoon class, and Zhang Yinghao handed out the documents without further ado. Zhang Feng took the documents and started reading them:

1. The name of this party is "China Forward Communist Party".

2. The Party's program is as follows:

(1) The Chinese revolutionary army must work with the proletariat to overthrow the Manchu Qing regime, which is composed of the landlord and comprador bureaucrat classes, and must support the workers and peasants until class distinctions in society are eliminated.

(2) The dictatorship of the proletariat must be recognized until the end of the class struggle, that is, until the realization of communism and the abolition of class distinctions in society;

(3) Eliminate the private land ownership system and establish a modern industrial state dominated by public ownership;

(4) Unite the proletarian forces of other countries.

3. This Party recognizes the system of conference administration, organizes the working people, peasants, and soldiers, and recognizes that the Party's fundamental political goal is to carry out social revolution (not rebellion or regime change). Members of the China Forward Communist Party must completely sever all ties with any party, group, or individual that attempts to oppose the Party's program.

4. Party members must strictly abide by the principles of the minority obeying the majority, the individual obeying the organization, the lower level obeying the higher level, and the entire Party and localities obeying the central government. This applies to both ordinary Party members and cadre Party members, without exception.

5. Anyone who recognizes our party's program and policies and wishes to become a member of the Kadima Party must be recommended by two members. Regardless of gender or nationality, they may be accepted as members and become our comrades. However, before joining our ranks, they must sever all ties with parties, groups, and individuals that attempt to oppose our party's program.

6. The procedure for accepting new members is as follows: Candidate members must undergo a probationary period of at least two months by the local Party committee. After the probationary period, they may be admitted to the Party with the approval of a majority of the Party members. If an Executive Committee exists in the area, approval must be obtained from the Executive Committee.

7. When the Party is in a secret state, the Party’s important propositions and the identities of Party members should be kept strictly confidential.

8. Where there are five or more Party members, a committee should be established.

Chapter 41: Conditions for joining the Party

3550 words

A person may be able to walk fast, but a group of people can go far. The further you go, the more you need the support of ideals. - Quotes from Zhang Yinghao

9. Members of the committee may transfer to another local committee upon recommendation by the local committee secretary.

10. All local committees with fewer than ten members shall have a secretary. Local committees with more than ten members shall have a finance committee member, an organization committee member, and a propaganda committee member. Local committees with more than thirty members shall elect an executive committee from among the committee members. The charter of the executive committee shall be formulated separately. If the above requirements cannot be met, a provisional Central Executive Committee shall be established. Details regarding the work and organization of the executive committee shall be formulated separately.

11. When the number of Party members in local organizations of workers, peasants, soldiers, and students is too great, they may be sent to work in other areas, but they must be under the strict supervision of the local executive committee.

12. The finances, activities and policies of the local committees shall be supervised by the Central Executive Committee.

13. When the number of members of a committee exceeds 500, or when there are five committees in the same place, the National Conference shall appoint eleven leaders.

14. This program may be amended only with the approval of two-thirds of the delegates to the National Party Congress.

Zhang Yinghao waited until everyone had read it several times before he said, "Is there anything you don't understand?"

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, because many people had only ever been to a place within a few dozen kilometers of their home, and perhaps even their most distant relatives only visited once a year, so their experiences were truly limited. Zhang Yinghao's writings were completely bewildering.

Comrade Zhang Feng put down the materials and raised his hand. Zhang Yinghao gestured for him to do so, and then he asked, "What's the difference between the proletariat and the working people? We didn't hear the group leader talk about this much this morning."

Zhang Yinghao replied: "The proletariat refers to those who are deprived of the means of production and are forced to sell their labor to capitalists in order to survive. The proletariat is abstracted from the working class in early capitalist countries who did not own the means of production. In socialist countries, the main body of society is the proletariat.

Just like in our country, many people lost their land and were forced to work as cargo handlers at the docks, becoming the proletariat. In other words, the proletariat is exploited in contrast to the bourgeoisie; the proletariat becomes the target of exploitation and oppression because they have to sell their labor.

The laborers encompass a broader range of people, including rich peasants, petty bourgeoisie, and others, who also participate in labor. In plain English, the proletariat is defined as those who must sell their labor for wages to survive. Laborers, on the other hand, are like self-employed farmers, petty bourgeoisie, and others. These people don't necessarily earn their living by selling their labor, as they possess their own assets.

We, the progressive party members, are the vanguard of the proletariat. To describe us progressive party members in one sentence: even with a steamed bun and a glass of water, we will continue to work for our liberation. Only by liberating all of humanity can we, the proletariat, liberate ourselves. How do you explain this? Let me ask the comrades present: do you have any solutions to ensure that your descendants will not be poor? What solutions do you have? Zhang Feng, please answer this question.

"My descendants are not poor. How can I know whether they will become poor?"

"Ha ha......"

After hearing Zhang Feng's words, everyone burst out laughing. There really was no way. Who knew that their descendants would not be poor in the future? No one could guarantee it.

Zhang Yinghao waved his hand and said, "We really don't know whether our descendants will become poor after we die. But there is another way to ensure that our descendants will not be poor. What is that method? That is to make sure that there are no more poor people in the world. If there are no poor people in the world, our descendants will naturally not suffer from poverty.

This is what we pursue; this is what the proletariat is. We proletarians seek no fame or fortune; we strive solely for the liberation of all oppressed people. Think about it: we proletarians rely on selling our labor to earn our living. As long as there are exploiters in the world, there will be a profit gap, and thus a continuous stream of proletarians.

Although the proletariat can earn their own wages, the essence of exploitation remains unchanged. Once the proletariat loses their jobs, they will return to poverty. Therefore, our Forward Party, representing the proletariat, must oppose exploitation and oppression. Because exploitation and oppression are long-term and cannot be eliminated in the blink of an eye, we must ensure the dictatorship of the proletariat to ensure that our government always represents the working people.

So when will the proletariat disappear? That's when we reach our ultimate goal, communist society. At that point, society will be incredibly wealthy, and the people's lives will be vastly elevated. Put another way, everything on Earth will be publicly owned, all material flows will be controlled, productivity will be incredibly advanced, and humanity will be able to access endless resources from space. As long as people's needs are within their rational limits, all will be met. At that point, there will be no exploitation, no oppression, only equality. That's all!

Zhang Yinghao, fearing he might have led people astray, continued, "Any other questions? What's on this paper is our platform, and we must do it. We only discuss how to do it better, not whether it can be done or not. Any other questions? Let me say this one last time: we in the Progressive Party are free to come and go, but we must come openly and honestly, and leave with integrity."

To join our Forward Party, you must submit an application; to leave, you must state your reasons. If you leave now, it's simply because we differ in political stance; we remain friends. I'll preside over the oath-taking ceremony for you all. Once you've taken the oath, if you fail to abide by our rules and violate them, you will be subject to disciplinary action. If you defect to the Qing court or join another party or gang, you are a traitor. Regarding traitors, I can publicly state here that the Forward Party will never let them go.

Zhang Yinghao sat on the podium and waited for a while. Seeing that everyone was looking at him, he had a firm attitude, no hesitation in his eyes, and no desire to speak.

Zhang Yinghao then said, "Those who don't want to leave have accepted it. You are the first batch of members of the Progressive Party. So, swear an oath of membership with me now."

Afterward, Zhang Yinghao produced a small blackboard bearing the Party oath. He urged everyone to swear in front of the red Party flag. By this point, no one objected. The China Progressive Communist Party had naturally become a revolutionary party, taking a solid step toward overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and achieving national independence and prosperity.

Zhang Yinghao felt very lucky because he was dealing with a group of peasants who had just put down their hoes, some of whom were even peasants, so the party could allow him to reform. At the same time, Zhang Yinghao was very clear that the transformation of this group of comrades would be a very difficult process and he could not relax at all, otherwise he might immediately return to the old path of peasant uprisings.

Zhang Yinghao knew that his party wasn't really a political party in the modern sense, but rather a secret society. Of course, as long as it adhered to its principles, underwent education and reform, and absorbed a large amount of fresh blood, Zhang Yinghao believed it could quickly become a modern party.

Zhang Yinghao turned his back to everyone, faced the party flag, stood at attention, raised his right hand and clenched his fist at shoulder level.

"Make your right fist and level it with your eyebrows. Join me in swearing in the Party."

Other comrades stood facing the red flag and saw Zhang Yinghao's posture and immediately raised their right hands in the same posture.

"I swear," Zhang Yinghao said. "I swear," the comrades said in unison.

"I volunteer to join the China Progressive Party." "I volunteer to join the China Progressive Party."

"Support the Party's platform." "Support the Party's platform."

"Abide by the Party's Constitution." "Abide by the Party's Constitution."

"Fulfill your duties as a Party member." "Fulfill your duties as a Party member."

"Carry out the Party's decision." "Carry out the Party's decision."

At first, everyone's voices were a little disjointed. Some, like Chen Yiwei, who was preoccupied, even shrugged with fear and unease. As they followed Zhang Yinghao through the oath, their voices grew more unified, their emotions stabilizing, and their voices rising in spirit. Being together with like-minded comrades, everyone felt a greater strength.

"The Conservative Party's secret." "The Conservative Party's secret."

"Be loyal to the Party." "Be loyal to the Party."

“Work hard.” “Work hard.”

In his previous life, Zhang Yinghao wasn't a Party member and thought these oaths were just ordinary, simple requirements, a mere formality. As he worked hard to establish his own business and now the Progress Party, he has come to understand the significance of these oaths. Within these simple words lies the greatest power and the highest demands.

The Party members of previous generations were ordinary people, without supernatural powers or the ability to fly. However, the Party's journey is firmly engraved in Chinese history. All Party members have fulfilled their promises and achieved unprecedented feats.

As he led his comrades in reciting the oath, Zhang Yinghao didn't listen to them as he had intended. Instead, he felt a surge of anxiety. As the founder of this political party, could he set an example and live up to these oaths? Could his words and actions live up to the standards of a Party member? Zhang Yinghao wasn't entirely confident. He knew he was simply repeating history.

“Always be prepared to sacrifice everything for the Party and the people.” “Always be prepared to sacrifice everything for the Party and the people.”

“Never betray the Party!” “Never betray the Party!”

Honestly, the oath wasn't long and ended quickly. After the oath, when Zhang Yinghao finished the last sentence, some of the comrades were a little excited, and many looked at Zhang Yinghao out of the corner of their eyes, somewhat bewildered. The oath was just an oath, the simplest language, not a magic spell. After everyone took the oath, there wouldn't be any earth-shattering visions or any external changes. The new identity would only temporarily excite people, but that was all.

"Swearing-in: Zhang Yinghao"

"Swearing person: Zhang Feng."

"Swearing person: Bao Shilin."

......