Jiang Yiwu paced the small room and wondered how the leader of the Literary Society had got here. He could hear the Russian and Manchu police outside. They were looking for him. The Russians controlled the railways now, cutting through China, taking land and resources. The people were angry, and so was he. The revolution was almost ready.
But things went wrong. Sun Wu, a key leader, lay in the hospital with critical wounds. The explosives were meant for the revolution but detonated by accident. Sun and the revolutionary plans were discovered by the police. Jiang grimaced at the thought of his arrested compatriots. They were immediately executed, and their severed heads displayed as a public warning. The Qing government had to crush the revolution before it started. Jiang knew if they didn’t act now, all would be lost.
Jiang stopped and looked out the window. The streets were quiet. He decided to advance the attack and told the military commander Wu Zhaolin. Wu immediately gathered his troops. They looked nervous as he issued the command, “We strike at seven.” They knew this was their only chance. It was only a matter of time before the police would be at their doorstep.
At six, they grabbed their weapons and headed to the Qing garrison. The air was tense, like a storm about to break. Jiang’s heart raced. As the clock struck seven, the first shot rang out. The uprising had begun.
蔣翊武在狹小的房間裡來回踱步，腦海中思索著文學社的領袖是如何深陷如此的境地。他可以聽見外面俄國和滿洲警察的聲音，他們在尋找他的蹤跡。俄國人現在控制了鐵路，勢力橫貫中國，並奪取了土地和資源。人民怒火中燒，他也深感憤慨。革命就快要準備就緒了。
然而事情卻出了差錯。一位核心領袖——孫武，正躺在醫院裡，身受重傷。原本打算用於革命的炸藥意外引爆了，導致孫武和革命的計劃被警察發現。蔣翊武想到那些被捕的同胞們，臉上不經流露出了痛苦的神情。那些遭到逮捕的夥伴被立即處決，頭顱被擺放在大街上警示著大眾。清朝政府要在革命開始之前把一切都瓦解。蔣翊武知道，如果現在不開始行動，那他們將會失去一切。
蔣翊武停下腳步並望向窗外。街道一片死寂。他決定提前進攻，並將他的想法告訴軍事指揮官吳兆麟。吳兆麟立即召集了他的部隊。「我們要在七點鐘進攻。」 當他發出命令時，所有人都露出了緊張的神情。他們知道這會是他們最後一次的機會。再過一會，警察就會抵達他們的家門口。
六點鐘，他們拿起武器，向清軍的駐紮地出發。空氣裡散發著緊張的氣息，就如同暴風雨即將來臨一樣。蔣翊武的心跳加速。七點一到，第一聲槍響響起。起義開始了。
Epilogue 故事討論
By the next morning, Jiang Yiwu, Wu Zhaolin, and the revolutionaries took control of Wuchang, the capital of Hubei province. The Wuchang uprising on Oct. 10, 1911, started the Xinhai Revolution to reclaim China from foreign control. In the days that followed, the revolution spread and soon 18 provinces declared independence from the Qing Dynasty. Two months later, the Republic of China was established and Sun Yat-sen returned from exile to become its first president.
Oct. 10, also known as “Double Ten Day,” became a significant date in Chinese history. It symbolizes the struggle against imperial rule and the quest for national sovereignty. It is now celebrated in Taiwan as National Day, but also reflects the island’s complex identity and historical ties to China.
到第二天早上，蔣翊武、吳兆麟和革命黨人控制了武昌，湖北省的首府。1911年10月10日的武昌起義，開啟了辛亥革命，以從外國控制下收回了中國。隨後的幾天裡，革命蔓延開來，很快有18個省宣布獨立於清朝。兩個月後，中華民國成立，孫中山從流亡中返回，成為第一任總統。
10月10日，也被稱為「雙十節」，成為華人歷史上的重要日子。它象徵著反對帝國統治和追求國家主權的鬥爭。現在，它在台灣被慶祝為國慶日，但也反映了台灣複雜的身份和與中國之間的歷史聯繫。
Vocabulary 單字片語
1. revolution 革命
2. uprising 起義
3. national sovereignty 國家主權
4. imperial rule 帝國統治
5. exile 流放/流亡
6. Republic of China (ROC) 中華民國
7. declare independence 宣布獨立
8. dynasty 王朝、朝代
Idioms 相關成語
1. 冥思苦想 (mīng sī kǔ xǐang)
► Engaging in deep contemplation, repeatedly wrestling with thoughts.
2. 怒火中燒 (nù hǔo zhōng shāo)
► Describing an intense state of rage.
3. 義憤填膺 (yì fèn tīan yīng)
► Referring to a deep anger filled with a sense of justice.
4. 萬籟俱寂 (wàn lài jù jì)
► All things were silent, enveloped in stillness.
All things were silent, enveloped in stillness.
Nigel P. Daly is a writer with a language learning newsletter called Chin-glish bilingual lab (https://ndaly.substack.com).
Cynthia Chen is a translator and writer specializing in blogs, scripts and articles.
