Martial Arts Across the Heavens: Becoming a Martial God Starting from the Big Boss in Tangshan

The expressions of the Blood Flag Army soldiers all changed.

"What?! There's a Manchu city here too!"

The Chinese people are not without courage.

Over the past two hundred years, countless righteous men and rebel armies have emerged across the land of China.

But often, they are attacked as soon as they stand up.

How could a group of common people who couldn't even get enough to eat possibly defeat those wolfhounds specially trained by the imperial court?

Although the Blood Flag Army was an elite force reorganized from the Black Flag Army, their numbers were too small.

Facing more than two thousand Manchu soldiers was indeed a big problem.

Lin Shirong stared at Xie Si suspiciously:

"Why are you telling us this, a mere constable from the yamen? Are you perhaps plotting something?"

A bitter look flashed across Xie Si's face, but he straightened his back and said solemnly:

"Because I am also a Han Chinese."

These words stunned Lin Shirong, Liang Kuan, and the others.

"Officer Xie is a good man!" An old man who had just received his grain suddenly spoke up.

"Officer Xie has secretly helped us a lot with the despicable deeds of Qian the Skinflint and the corrupt Magistrate Qian!"

"Yes, last time the Sun family lad was injured by the Qian family guards, it was Officer Xie who secretly delivered the medicine..."

"He couldn't do anything about it; he was under pressure from above..."

The surrounding people echoed in hushed tones, their eyes filled with gratitude and sympathy as they looked at Xie Si.

Chen Wen looked at Xie Si and nodded:

"I believe what Officer Xie said is true, and I thank you for the reminder."

"But since the Blood Flag Army dares to raise their flag, we're not afraid of them!"

Lin Shirong was still somewhat worried, and said with a solemn expression:

"Captain, we are too few people, and the whole city is indeed a problem."

Toothbrush Su nodded and added:

"Moreover, we have just started our uprising, our foundation is not yet stable, and our ammunition supplies are limited. It is not advisable to launch a large-scale land battle at this time."

Liang Kuan scratched his head:

"What should we do then?"

None of them had any good ideas. Their men were not afraid of death, but they couldn't just throw their lives away in vain.

Chen Wen didn't seem to have any hesitation and said:

"Storing up grain and delaying the declaration of kingship, building high walls, is the right way."

"The objective remains unchanged. We will proceed as planned: first, eliminate Cheung Po Tsai and secure a stable maritime base."

"We'll come back when we have enough strength!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, preparing to order the troops to assemble and evacuate.

however.

Below the stage, a sea of ​​people were already kneeling!

It wasn't just the people who had just received their grain rations; there were also many able-bodied young men and even some teenagers who rushed over after hearing the news.

Most of them were dressed in rags and looked pale, but their eyes were fixed intently on Chen Wen and the others.

Xie Si was also standing at the front of the crowd. When he saw Chen Wen come out, he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Heroes of the Blood Flag Army! We are willing to follow the Blood Flag Army and fight against the Qing Dynasty together!"

"We are willing to follow the Blood Flag Army! To oppose the Qing Dynasty together!" Hundreds of people behind him shouted in unison. Although their voices were uneven, they carried a resolute determination to burn their bridges.

Chen Wen frowned slightly and said in a loud voice:

"Fellow villagers, I appreciate your kind intentions!"

"But rebellion is a death sentence. Our Blood Flag Army lives on the edge of death, our future is uncertain and extremely dangerous! Why would you follow us to your deaths?"

A middle-aged man raised his head and said loudly:

"Our benefactors! Without you, we would have starved to death long ago! Or we don't know when we would have been driven to our deaths by corrupt officials and unscrupulous merchants!"

"Thieves come like a comb, soldiers like a fine-toothed comb, officials like a shaving tool!"

"Now that you're gone, new officials will come and surely target us, looting and plundering us, and accusing us of 'colluding with bandits'!"

"Since we're going to die anyway, we might as well rebel with you!"

"At least I died knowing why, and I died a quick and painless death!"

"Yes! We'll follow our benefactor! We'll fight to the death!"

"We are not afraid to die!"

The crowd shouted and became emotional.

Chen Wen watched the scene unfold before him, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

He had long ago decided that he must overthrow the Qing Dynasty and destroy the foreigners, which even delayed his martial arts training.

But he always had a good understanding of his own limitations.

Rebellion is truly a skill; he neither knows how to do it nor pretends to know what he doesn't.

Therefore, his strategy has always been to accumulate strength and cultivate talent.

Wait for the right moment to hand over power to a more suitable person.

But now, seeing these people with my own eyes, and thinking about the brutal reckoning they might face if they stayed...

How could he remain unmoved?

Yan Zhendong, Lin Shirong, Liang Kuan, Yacha Su and others also gathered around, looking at the kneeling people and then at the silent Chen Wen.

"Captain, shouldn't we think of something?"

"Staying here is definitely a dead end."

Yan Zhendong was deeply moved as he watched this scene.

Chen Wen had told him this before.

China has never lacked patriots throughout history, but most of them don't know what they are doing or what they want!

They rose up with passion, and they died with passion!

He knew all too well that these people were too weak, and following them would only lead to their deaths.

But staying means certain death.

Yan Zhendong also looked at Chen Wen.

"What should the captain do?"

Chen Wen looked at everyone and finally made a decision.

"Let's fight Cheung Po Tsai!"

"If we take him down, we'll have food, guns, and silver. Taking over his territory will also allow everyone to move there and avoid being harmed."

"And we can also subdue some pirates and use them to deal with the entire city!"

Liang Kuan nodded:

"The captain is right. But where exactly is Cheung Po Tsai hiding? The sea is so vast."

At this moment, Xie Si raised his hand in the crowd.

Lin Shirong immediately looked over, his tone filled with distrust.

"Xie Si? Do you know where Cheung Po Tsai is?"

Xie Si quickly said:

"I don't know the exact location, but I roughly know which sea it is. Cheung Po Tsai's men often robbed people in that area. When I was investigating cases in the past, I heard fishermen talk about the locations where they were robbed, so I can deduce a general area."

Chen Wen's eyes lit up, and he took out a roll from his pocket and spread it out on the ground.

Yan Zhendong, Lin Shirong, and the others remained calm, as if they were already used to it.

Xie Si was taken aback.

The map was huge, with dense lines and extremely detailed markings, more refined than any nautical chart he had ever seen.

He couldn't help but glance at Chen Wen's clothes.

Moreover, this picture is so big, how did the other person pull it out of their pocket?

However, this is not something I can be curious about.

Xie Si quickly examined the map closely, and soon a look of surprise appeared on his face:

"My lord, there are many small islands on this map that I have never seen before."

Chen Wen waved his hand.

"Never mind that. Based on your deduction, circle the most likely location."

Xie Si quickly continued his search and soon identified three or four islands that were close together.

"It should be this area."

"The old fishermen all say that this place is dangerous to enter because there are many hidden reefs and the currents are turbulent. If Cheung Po Tsai were hiding here, the government's navy would not dare to go in at all."

Chen Wen looked at that stretch of sea and waved his hand.

"Others dare not approach because they don't know the sea conditions in that area, but I have the information!"

"Very good, quickly load everything onto the ship!"

"Ready to go, let's take down Cheung Po Tsai!"