Alarmed by the fact that a lack of ethics and a moral code had led to the fall of the Ming dynasty, Yang Lai-ju sold his house and traveled to Shangtung, Hopei and Honan provinces, after first serving a three years 'mourning period for his mother's death.
楊來如明白人心的陷溺，道德的淪亡，造成了亡國的現象。他懍於民族大義，立志要挽救人心，救國家於危亡。在母喪守孝三年後，便盡散家財，遍遊山東、河北、河南各省，希望能結交天下英豪，舉師起義。