The trial and execution preparations in western Zhejiang were all open, and no one dared to speak out when Feng Guozhang and other Beiyang people were executed, let alone pleaded for mercy. After the news of Cai Yuanpei's death sentence broke, China's literati became lively.

Of course, old-fashioned figures such as Feng Xu and Shen Zengzhi of the "Institute of Literature and History" did not dare to speak up, and they were afraid that they would be happier in their hearts.

All the new-school literati, such as the "education and national salvation faction" represented by Ma Xiangbo in Shanghai, Chen Duxiu, who once rose up in rebellion, Li Dazhao's gang in Beijing, Yang Jichang in Hunan, and others wrote letters to Chen Ke or the People's Party to petition. The most amazing thing is that Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren, who are still locked up in prison, also tried to make a plea to Chen Ke through various channels. Ignoring the reality that they were still prisoners, the two shouted that they were willing to die with Mr. Cai.

The People's Party really didn't expect to kill a counter-revolutionary, and the literati in the country reacted so strongly. In the end, Yan Fudu had to write a letter to Chen Ke very implicitly, saying: "Recently, someone has visited every day to intercede for the people. It's overwhelming. ”

Faced with almost pervasive lobbying, the Politburo had to ask Chen Ke to come out and come up with an idea under such strong pressure. At first, Chen Ke thought that it was because the propaganda work was ineffective, and he asked Zhang Yu, "Is Cai Yuanpei's behavior publicized?" ”

Zhang Yu was also quite aggrieved, "Where do I have time to manage the Propaganda Department recently?" But the work has already been arranged. I asked the comrades of the Propaganda Department to investigate, and everything that should be propagandized in various places has been propagated. Who knows what these SB literati think. ”

Chen Ke knew that it was impossible for Zhang Yu to talk nonsense on such matters, and he already had a rough idea in his heart, "Are they trying to save the counter-revolutionary, or are they going to save the literati?" Have you analyzed this question? ”

"Save the counter-revolution or save the literati?" The comrades really did not think about such issues. It is no secret that the BJP has always despised and even discriminated against the old literati. Although the People's Party is full of educated people in the old era, all these years the comrades have stood with the people in the revolution, and all the time they talk about the mass line, mobilize the masses, serve the broad masses of the working people, and work is the most glorious. No one has time to deal with those second-hand literati. Not to mention the struggle in local work, the literati who fought to defend the patriarchal system were constantly working tirelessly.

In such an atmosphere, almost all literati were labeled as "untrustworthy and unusable", coupled with the invincibility of the People's Party, the expansion of the base area led to a geometric blowout of work. The People's Party even less had the heart and strength to deal with the literati, and no one expected that the literati across the country would actually try to unite because of Cai Yuanpei's matter.

Lu Huitian looked left and right, and saw that every comrade had a surprised face, and he asked, "Is anyone responsible for investigating this matter?" The People's Internal Affairs Committee did not move? ”

Ren Qiying, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, said with a smile: "Recently, the focus of our work has been on anti-corruption and anti-sabotage, and no one cares about this matter at all. Moreover, these literati did not really connect, they delivered words to us through various channels, and then gradually connected in the process of delivering words. My father is a little talented, and the so-called people of the same family and faction who I haven't seen for many years come to him. Annoys him. I think it's the same for everyone. ”

Ren Qiying said that she did not investigate, but in fact, she summarized it quite well. In fact, these central cadres of the People's Party have long left Cai Yuanpei behind and killed hundreds of thousands of counter-revolutionaries, who cares to kill this great counter-revolution whose hands are stained with the blood of the people. But everyone didn't expect that the guys who hadn't seen each other for many years, or even had never met, would actually intercede with Cai Yuanpei through various channels. The Central Committee of the People's Party was forced to hold a meeting for this purpose.

Qi Hui pondered for a while, and then said: "My old man is a businessman, but he was actually involved in this matter by others. The devil is confused! I received a letter from Xie Mingxian, secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee, saying that he had given orders to the party, government, and military on this matter, and that no one was allowed to call anyone who pleaded for Cai Yuanpei. and all such people shall not be received. ”

Chen Ke knew very well that Qi Huishen also wanted to keep his father, since he couldn't go back to Shanghai to persuade his father, it was better to scold his father at the meeting first, so as to make some preparations for the future. Chen Ke admired Qi Huishen's cleverness, at least this matter has developed to such an extent that it is not a simple matter of killing Cai Yuanpei or not, but that the People's Party wants to fight against the old gentry. It is really hard to say how far such a struggle will develop.

Lu Huitian has always been regarded as a right-wing force in the party, and he is not too tight on the string of struggle. He couldn't help but ask, "What are these people trying to do?" ”

Zhang Yu smiled: "What do you want to do?" I want to turn the world upside down! Now, through compulsory education, we have trained a large number of new intellectual classes, and we are striving to complete the literacy eradication of the whole of China, and even let everyone become a new type of worker with culture and knowledge. When those literati saw it, they would of course be anxious. When we're done with this job, what do they rely on to maintain their identity? ”

Some comrades did not immediately understand this form of conscious struggle. However, Yuwen Badu, who has a low level of education, immediately echoed Zhang Yu's words, and he said with high morale: "These people have become worse and worse in recent years, but the stinky virtue of that idea has not changed at all, and after reading a few stinky books, he thinks that he is invincible, he can't pick his hands and can't mention it, and he looks down on the working people, and he regards himself as an uncle." In the early years, they rebelled against the government during the land reform, and then for a while they tried to sing the praises of virtue. But at that time, we ignored them, and in the past few years, they have become more and more resentful, and they have shouted at our People's Party to deliberately make things difficult for them. ”

Because of his low level of education, Yuwen Badu is honest and hardworking, although he can't take on the heavy responsibility in the direction, but he also works in important departments in various places. Although he does not have a place in the Standing Committee, he is also an old qualification among the members of the Politburo. At present, Yu Wenba is the deputy director of the Organization Department, responsible for the training and selection of grassroots cadres. After these words came out, it was quite level.

And Yuwen Badu was obviously very angry, and he continued: "Those literati still like to point out from above. Fortunately, since the establishment of our People's Party, we have completely abolished and cracked down on the staff, and all work is a turnip and a pit, holding meetings before work, summing up after work, and holding accountable who has an accident. Those literati who passed the examination and entered the system at all levels of the People's Party were quickly expelled because they looked down on the masses and loved to blame others openly and secretly, and even those who were not expelled kept their mouths shut and buried themselves in their work. So I think Comrade Zhang Yu is right, these people are not trying to intercede for Cai Yuanpei at all, but want to turn the sky upside down. Try to regain the status of the reader. ”

The comrades were originally confused, but later Ren Qiying sketched a general situation. Then he was bluffed by Zhang Yu's murderous words. In the end, after listening to Yuwen Badu's angry statement, the whole thing probably basically came to an eyebrow. However, when the mood was relaxed, he saw Yuwen Badu's anxious appearance, and at the same time felt that those literati were too self-conscious. Many comrades even laughed out loud.

Yuwenba thought that his comrades were laughing at him, and although Yuwenba could despise those literati, he was still one of the lowest comrades in the Party Central Committee composed of hard-working workers. Although Yuwen Badu's cultural level can be said to have improved by leaps and bounds over the years, there is still no way to get rid of the inferiority complex with low education formed by these close comrades-in-arms. Therefore, after Yuwen Badu misunderstood the comrades, he simply shut his mouth and sulked angrily.

Ren Qiying and Yuwen Badu have been partners for several years, and they know Yuwen Badu's temperament and heart knots. In the process of improving the cultural level of Yuwen Badu, Ren Qiying and his father made great efforts. So Ren Qiying also laughed, and then said: "These literati lard is blinded. ”

As soon as these words came out, the comrades who had not laughed couldn't help but laugh out loud with malice, and Qi Hui sneered a few times with malice on his face, "Comrade Batu described it too vividly, I just saw it with my own eyes." ”

Yuwen Badu actually knew about his own problem for a long time, and he quickly recovered his mood at this time, and he said with a cold face: "Now that the grassroots level is engaged in this civil service examination, all the demons and monsters will come out." Put their to heart, and we'll be. ”

The comrades nodded slightly, but their eyes shifted to Chen Ke. If it is just a matter of affection, the BJP can ignore it. But once the problem rises to the level of a civilian counterattack, the BJP can only launch a large-scale counterattack. Chen Ke was the only one who could give an order in such a short period of time.

Chen Ke looked thoughtful, and after a while he said, "Without investigation, there is no right to speak, we need to investigate first." ”

"How to investigate? Find someone one by one to ask when? And I couldn't ask why. Zhang Yu obviously did not support such a gentle approach.

Chen Ke smiled and said, "There are many ways to investigate, but we have a great advantage now. Although it can be said to be extremely arbitrary, no matter what the outcome of the investigation will be, it will not change our attitude towards the literati. Now that the final position has been decided, the investigation can be relaxed. ”

Zhang Yu immediately nodded in agreement, but Lu Huitian felt that Chen Ke's attitude was too tough, and he persuaded: "Meaningless stimulating contradictions will not help solve any problems. ”

"Comrade Lu Huitian, what is the essence of our People's Party?" Chen Ke asked.

"The vanguard of the proletarian toilers." Lu Huitian was naturally able to answer these questions immediately.

Chen Ke nodded heavily, and his tone became quite mean, "How could the proletarian workers support Cai Yuanpei's release?" Not to mention what kind of excuses these people use. They considered Cai Yuanpei to be a scholar and a literati who had made contributions. If this is the position, I am afraid that the workers may not be able to support Cai Yuanpei to be spared. The literati class are trying to regain control of Chinese society, and as long as our People's Party is still around, this is their dream! ”

"But forcibly exacerbating such a contradiction......" Lu Huitian was still quite worried about this.

Chen Ke sneered: "If they are not afraid of death, can they go to Duan Qirui's place." Duan Qirui, as the successor of Beiyang, should welcome these literati very much. If they are afraid of death, can they go to Wang Youhong? As long as they are in our liberated areas, they have to face this reality! There is no place for the literati in the ranks of the ruling class, made up of working people. ”

"That's right! There is no place for literati in the new ruling class! Yuwen Badu loudly agreed, in fact, he had long wanted to lash out and belittle those literati, but he could not find the right words. Listening to Chen Ke's words, Yuwenba felt that all the emotions in his chest were completely expressed, and he couldn't help but applaud repeatedly.

Zhang Yu didn't want Lu Huitian to babble on and on rightists, so he asked, "Then what kind of investigation method?" ”

"Find a few comrades and fight with them." Chen Ke said without hesitation, "Those literati also have some newspapers at the moment, and we also have newspapers. As for what has happened at the moment, let's use a large chapter to explain it clearly. I think that those literati will definitely fight back. Isn't that the investigation clear. ”

After finishing speaking, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing, "It can't be said that these literati didn't help Cai Yuanpei, if you do this, Cai Yuanpei can live a few more days." ”

"It's a scolding war, but we can't really scold people." Although Zhang Yu is the Minister of Propaganda, he also has to ask after Chen Ke intervenes.

"It's easy. Tell those literati that everyone is equal in this world, and no one is more equal than others. Chen Ke's words were full of malice.

Most of the people in the People's Party are scholars, and after listening to the harsh words that only a literati can say, everyone couldn't help but laugh together. Although Yuwen Batu never regarded himself as a literati, he had a wealth of work experience. I also know how these words can sting the "self-esteem" of those literati.

"In Hebei, in the southeast, in Wuhan, in Shanghai, find a few comrades to write articles. And then waiting for those literati to fight back, I have always believed that the eyes of the people are clear. Unless it's those who think they can make the leap to the top of the literate class, no one is going to support the literati class to regain their high position. In addition, this is also a good opportunity, and we have a direction for our own internal rectification. In addition to fighting back against the literati class, we ourselves must completely separate the literate and knowledgeable from the literati. Learn culture. To acquire knowledge is to work better, not to gain a privileged position. Chen Ke quickly set up his work.

After listening to this, Yuwenba couldn't help but praise: "Chairman Chen, your judgment is really good!" How did you come up with it? ”

Chen Ke smiled: "It's not something I came up with. When I was studying, I was also the kind of bastard who thought that if I read a book, I should be above others. So don't think about it, I've practiced it myself. ”

When the comrades of the Central Committee heard Chen Ke's "joke," they almost all burst out laughing. But Zhang Yu, Lu Huitian, Qi Huishen, and Ren Qiying didn't laugh. Several of them believed that Chen Ke's words were no joke.

After the comrades finished laughing, Chen Ke said: "There must be a comrade who is in charge of this matter." I suggest that Comrade Yuwen Batu take charge of this matter. ”

Yuwen Ba didn't expect Chen Ke to arrange it like this, he hurriedly said: "I don't know how to make a fuss, I can't do this kind of thing." ”

"Comrade Yuwen Badu, you haven't figured it out. Now I don't want you to make a fuss, what I want now is that you can stabilize your position. Fight against those literati from the standpoint of a laborer. And what we have to do is not to convince or ridicule the literati, but to win over the masses and the laborers. Now the central government is full of people who have read books and can write articles. On the contrary, it may not be able to speak to the hearts of the masses. In this regard, we are not as good as you. You should write about the things that the masses are concerned about, the concerns of the masses, and how those who read books bluff the masses. You know this best. Chen Ke said.

If it weren't for Chen Ke saying this, Yuwen Badu was afraid that he would take this as a mockery. But Chen Ke never laughed at his comrades, so Yuwen Badu finally had some confidence.

And Chen Ke then said: "Comrade Yuwen Badu, if our party can really have a tolerant attitude towards the masses, you should be the most tolerant. We are really inferior to you in this regard, and we have to learn from you. ”

Hearing Chen Ke's words, Yuwenba didn't know why his eyes were hot. He quickly wiped his eyes and regained his mood. "I'm going to try to get it done...... Done. ”

"There are comrades from all over the country who write specific articles, and you just need to do a good job of checking the matter. In addition, if Comrade Ren Qiying has time, he will also help Comrade Yuwen Badu. You've been working together for so long, so you should be able to cooperate well. In addition, Comrade Ren Qiying, I also incite you, those literati look down on women. Chen Ke smiled after speaking. The other comrades also laughed together.