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

Chapter 164 Slaughter all the pigs and dogs first

"kill!"

Everyone was startled, some excited, some puzzled.

Rebellion itself involves killing, which is not surprising.

However, Chen Wenming has already stated that the main reason for not occupying Guangcheng this time is to help another group of rebels escape their predicament.

How will you kill people again? How many people will you kill?

"They killed a lot of people!" Chen Wen nodded slightly and continued, "This city is the largest in scale and has the most people in Lingnan!"

"Once this thorn is removed, the Qing court will no longer be able to control Lingnan."

"Then, whatever we do will be much easier!"

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but get excited.

"That's right! Slaughter all those pigs and dogs first!"

"Raze the city to the ground, avenge the dead civilians, and wipe away the hatred of the Taiping heroes!"

Chen Wen scanned the excited expressions on everyone's faces and immediately ordered, "Now, you all go and rest, recharge your energy, and send orders to each team to remain hidden and ready to act at any time!"

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison, with no further objections, and bowed and left the room one after another.

The room fell silent.

Chen Wen walked to the window of the guest room and pushed it open.

Night had fallen.

However, as the provincial capital, many streets in Guangzhou were still dimly lit, with all sorts of pedestrians hurrying along.

The bustling marketplace downstairs seemed like another world, completely incompatible with the plans for saving the nation and its people that had just been made in the room.

As far as the eye could see, in the streets and alleys, vendors carrying loads on their shoulders were calling out their last few calls before packing up.

People of all kinds were coming and going at the entrances of restaurants and gambling dens.

At the entrance of a dark alley closer by, a sallow-faced, emaciated woman was pushing a little girl, no more than seven or eight years old and dressed in tattered clothes, toward a man wearing a silk jacket.

The man counted out a few copper coins and stuffed them into the woman's hand.

In the shadows of the corner, a emaciated figure lay sprawled, puffing smoke from a pipe.

At roadside fortune-telling stalls, people still devoutly hand over copper coins, seeking answers to the elusive and uncertain future.

A mournful, hoarse erhu melody, mixed with indistinct lyrics, drifted over from the second floor of a teahouse across the street that was still open.

The sound echoed through the noisy yet numb night scene.

"Drifting away, let no one ask about the past; all I see is the setting sun on the mountainside, illuminating a sorrowful soul. The road ahead is uncertain, and waves of grief wash over me; the past is hazy, causing my tears to fall in torrents. I longed to abandon my pen for the sword, to strive and make a difference, but the scholar's cap misled me, leaving my ambitions unfulfilled; I longed to sail the five lakes, to live in seclusion, but a demonic aura shrouded the vast expanse—only tearful eyes remain, gazing into the cold twilight, thinking of my deep affection and boundless love, both of which I am powerless to change—"

Huang Feihong had also walked to the window at some point, silently watching everything downstairs.

Listening to that plaintive singing style.

The excitement on his face had long since faded, replaced by a deep, almost powerless, complex emotion.

"To save the country and the people—even if one day we really occupy this Guangcheng, or even take over the whole south."

Will the scene downstairs really change?

Will the practice of selling children disappear? Will opium addicts stand up? Will the apathetic and superstitious masses awaken?

"No," Chen Wen's voice rang out from the side, calmly giving the answer.

Huang Feihong suddenly turned to look at him, his eyes filled with astonishment and a hint of despair he was unwilling to admit: "Then what do we do? Are we just going to—"

"I don't know how to completely change all of this," Chen Wen interrupted him, his gaze still fixed on the distant lights and darkness.

"But I know that every little bit helps. Today, we can prevent one child from being sold; tomorrow, we can help one more person quit opium; the day after, we can help one more family have enough to eat—"

"Take it one step at a time, moving in a positive direction. Even if it's slow, as long as things are getting better, that's enough."

"What I fear is that they can't even do this much, or they don't do it at all."

Upon hearing this, Wong Fei-hung seemed to understand something and appeared thoughtful.

After carefully considering Chen Wen's words, he looked downstairs and suddenly asked, "Is this one of the reasons why you don't want to immediately occupy the provincial capital and raise the banner across the board?"

Chen Wen smiled but did not answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Brother Huang, suppose I really lead everyone to success, eradicate the mites, drive back the foreigners, and even—unify China."

"What will it be like then? Do you want to be the emperor?"

Huang Feihong's heart skipped a beat. His first thought was that Chen Wen was testing him to see if he harbored any disloyal intentions.

But he quickly realized that Chen Wen was a man of his word and would not test people's hearts with such a thing.

So, what exactly is the purpose of this question?

He frowned and shook his head seriously: "Me? Of course not. In terms of martial arts, strategy, prestige, and popular support, only you, Brother Chen, are qualified to be emperor."

He was speaking from the heart, following the logic of historical dynastic changes.

As the commander of the Blood Flag Army, Chen Wen was naturally the only choice to become the new emperor.

Chen Wen didn't seem particularly happy to hear this; instead, he seemed somewhat helpless and bitter: "You see, this is why I objected."

Wong Fei-hung shook his head with a wry smile.

"Brother Chen, I had already guessed that you didn't want to be emperor, but the reality is that if that time really comes, what you think won't matter."

"Everyone will push you into that seat, and another imperial robe will be bestowed upon you."

"You may be aloof and lack ambition for power, but have you considered the needs of others?"

"Everyone's risking their lives to rebel against you, isn't it all for the sake of becoming a high-ranking official?"

"In the end, you say it was inappropriate. Do you think that's possible?"

"Brother Chen, you are sometimes very clever, but at other times, you are quite naive."

Chen Wen led everyone in rebellion, succeeded, ascended the throne as emperor, and established a new dynasty. This has been the path and goal of all rebels since ancient times. Huang Feihong himself did not have much desire for power, so he could understand Chen Wen's thoughts.

But what about the others?

It was all for the purpose of supporting Chen Wen as the new emperor, and also to gain merit by following the emperor's rise to power, and to be granted titles and high positions!

This was a common thought among almost all the soldiers of the Blood Flag Army.

But Chen Wen himself objected?

That's a joke.

Chen Wen sighed and gently shook his head: "I know what everyone is thinking, but this is wrong!"

"Doing this will only create another emperor, a new dynasty. The people will still be oppressed, just with different slave owners!"

"China should not have an emperor, nor can it ever have another emperor."

"Whoever becomes emperor, I will kill them!"

Huang Feihong originally wanted to persuade him further.

But upon hearing this, he was struck dumb, and his pupils constricted sharply.

He opened his mouth, but found that he could not understand the sentence at all, let alone imagine what kind of world it was.

Without an emperor, how would the world be governed? Who would the people listen to? What would become of the established laws and regulations?

This is... this is simply unbelievable!

His mind was in chaos, filled with shock, confusion, and a primal unease, which plunged him into a long silence and deep thought.

"But—does such a future really exist?"

Chen Wen looked at Huang Feihong's appearance and fell silent.

He thought that he had shown Huang Feihong a lot of books and explained a lot of principles during this period, and that with Huang Feihong's comprehension and integrity, he should be able to understand some ideas that were ahead of their time.

Unexpectedly, even someone as enlightened as Wong Fei-hung was so shocked and found it hard to accept the fact that there was no emperor.

It seems that the road ahead is still long.

We still need to wait for those people to appear before we can truly save the country and its people.

Instead of establishing another court and having a new emperor kneel before it.

He could only do his best to clear more obstacles and prepare more strength for those people.

"Yes, and in the very near future!"

Time flies, and the Double Ninth Festival is approaching.

The White Lotus Sect has successfully reorganized into the Blood Lotus Sect, submitted to the Blood Flag Army, and continues its activities in the streets and markets.

On the one hand, they were gathering intelligence, and on the other hand, they were recruiting talent for the Blood Flag Army.

-

This day.

Xie Si rushed back to the inn with a secret report, nervously reporting, "Mr. Chen, Nalan Yuanshu's mobilization of his trusted yamen runners seems to be related to Sun Yat-sen and others!"

Upon hearing this secret report, Chen Wen's lips curled into a cold smile: "So it's finally begun? Issue orders to all departments to commence operations!"