Assassination 1905: Volume 2

Name: Assassination 1905: Volume 2
ISBN: 9787806919422

巫童海峡书局 · ChinaDec 2021

3.5

Word count: 176K words
Chapters: 12
ISBN: 9787806919422

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Summary

In 1905, the curtain slowly rose on the bloodiest 'age of assassination' in modern Chinese history: Sun Yat-sen founded the Assassination Bureau of the Tongmenghui; Cai Yuanpei organized the Guangfu Society for assassination work; Chen Duxiu served as the behind-the-scenes planner of an assassination group; even the writer Lu Xun joined an assassination squad. Whatever their beliefs or aims, they all tried to use this oldest form of violence to seize control of the nation's future. In those concealed histories, a true assassin who held lives and deaths in his hands was also swept by the era's tides into multiple political assassinations, becoming the key to the balance of various forces: he entered the Forbidden City alone to assassinate Empress Dowager Cixi, worked as Sun Yat-sen's bodyguard in Tokyo, infiltrated a prison to rescue Wang Jingwei, and formed deep friendships with anti-Qing patriots such as Wu Yue. In that chaotic world, night after night, he changed his own fate and the nation's through his assassinations. Drawing on numerous historical materials, the author brings long-buried assassination events to light and reinterprets that perilous era with a dramatic narrative. Open this book to witness the madness and chaos of that millennial upheaval.

Editor's review

Assassination 1905: Part 2 turns its lens on the turbulent year in the late Qing Dynasty known as the 'era of assassination.' It unfolds against the historical backdrop of organizations such as the Tongmenghui Assassination Department, the Restoration Society, and assassination squads, bringing real figures including Sun Yat-sen, Cai Yuanpei, Chen Duxiu, Lu Xun, Wang Jingwei, and Wu Yue into the narrative in various ways. Author Wu Tong draws on extensive historical sources to retrieve forgotten assassination cases, and uses as his main thread an assassin entangled in multiple political killings, linking episodes such as an attempt on Empress Dowager Cixi in the Forbidden City, serving as a bodyguard in Tokyo, and infiltrating a prison to rescue Wang Jingwei. The novel's value lies not in restating textbook conclusions but in conveying the madness and chaos of an era when everyone felt endangered amid a millennial upheaval: ideals, violence, sacrifice, and calculation intertwine as individual fates are swept along by the tide of history. The narrative is tightly paced, with the historical framework and fictional characters supporting each other. It suits readers interested in late Qing and early Republican history who also want an engaging read. A caution: the book contains extensive depictions of violence and political assassination; readers should maintain a critical sense of history's complexity and not treat the assassin narrative as a simple heroic legend.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy late Qing and early Republican history and want to enter that era through fiction
Genre-fiction readers who prefer spy and assassination themes with tight plotting
History enthusiasts interested in figures from revolutionary groups such as the Tongmenghui and the Restoration Society
Readers comfortable with historical fiction that blends fact and fiction without demanding exact correspondence

Not a good fit for

Historians seeking strict academic verification who reject fictionalized plots
Readers sensitive to depictions of violence and assassination who may find them distressing
Readers who prefer light, warm themes and dislike narratives of political struggle

Reading tips

Read Part 1 before this volume for clearer character relationships and main plotlines.
When real historical figures appear, look up their biographies to distinguish fact from fiction.
Pay attention to passages where the author cites historical sources and observe how the novel imagines within the gaps of history.
After finishing, compare with an overview of late Qing revolutionary history and consider the historical role and limits of assassination as a method at the time.

About the publisher

海峡书局 China · Founded in 2010

Strait Book Company is a publisher distinguished by its focus on nature, ecology, history and the humanities; public information about it is limited, and its seventeen in-stock titles suggest a fairly diverse publishing direction. The company has invested notably in language and culture, releasing Zheng Zining's East Words, West Languages and Southern Accents, Northern Tones, which rediscover China through the lens of language. In traditional culture it offers Wang Li's Essays from the Long and Worm Carving Studio, Shirakawa Shizuka's Ancient Chinese Folklore, as well as The Ten Names of China and Models and Inheritance, balancing scholarship with readability. In history and social science it includes Tang Haoming's and Du Yinshan's business and political readings on Zeng Guofan and Wang Yangming, along with Nigel Barley's The Innocent Anthropologist. Overall, the publisher emphasizes the union of literary-historical cultivation and cross-cultural vision.

版权信息
第一章六月围城，角逐东京
第二章刺客与政客
第三章十四号当铺
第四章火烧江南制造局
第五章竞杀：最后的“夺鬼”
第六章卷轴里的秘密
第七章生杀榜五大青者
第八章吴樾血溅出洋五大臣
第九章十步杀一人，千里不留行
第十章无间轮回
第十一章终极一刺

FAQ

Can I read Part 2 without having read Part 1?

You can, but there is a threshold. Part 2 continues the experiences of the main characters, and the relationships and background events were established in Part 1. Jumping in directly may make certain plot developments feel abrupt. It is advisable to at least know the synopsis of Part 1, or read it first for a more complete experience.

Are the historical figures and events in the book all real?

According to the introduction, the author draws on extensive historical sources. The Tongmenghui Assassination Department, Restoration Society activities, and figures such as Cai Yuanpei, Chen Duxiu, Lu Xun, Wang Jingwei, and Wu Yue have historical basis, but the assassin who anchors the main thread and some plot elements are fictional. It is historical fiction blending fact and fiction; readers should distinguish real figures from the fictional main line and not cite it as strict history.

Are there many depictions of violence and assassination?

The subject matter centers on political assassination, and the book includes attempts, rescues, and pursuits; violence is part of the narrative. The author does not deliberately sensationalize gore, but some scenes remain intense. Readers sensitive to violent content should be prepared, and younger readers are not advised to read it alone.

What can I learn about late Qing revolutionary history from this book?

It helps build an intuitive sense of the 'era of assassination': why revolutionary groups chose extreme methods, how various forces checked one another, and how individuals fared amid upheaval. But it is a novel, not systematic historiography. For deeper study, readers should consult scholarly works on late Qing revolutionary history and test the novel's episodes against the broader historical context.

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About the author

巫童 Author

Wu Tong is a Chinese author of genre fiction, about whom limited public information is available; his nationality, dates of birth and death, and real name are not clearly recorded. Three of his works are currently included in the collection, spanning the categories of mystery and suspense and otherworldly fantasy. Representative titles include the first and second seasons of Song Ci's Record of Redressing Injustice, Assassination 1905: Part 2, and The Zhongnan Mountain Code 2. These works suggest that Wu Tong prefers to build his narratives around historical settings and mysterious elements, developing plots through criminal investigation, cipher puzzles, and martial-arts legends, with tight pacing and densely layered suspense. Song Ci's Record of Redressing Injustice draws on the tradition of ancient forensic case-solving, while The Zhongnan Mountain Code 2 carries a clear flavor of mystery exploration; together they reflect the author's emphasis on suspenseful atmosphere and the pleasure of puzzle-solving. Based on the available material, his writing remains largely serialized and genre-oriented, with a readership concentrated in the fields of mystery, suspense, and fantasy adventure.