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

Chapter 165 Why the Haste?

Night fell.

Nalan Yuanshu personally oversaw the operation, directing a large number of yamen runners and personal guards to raid several secret hideouts where Sun Yat-sen, Lu Haodong, and others were hiding.

He received a secret report from his informant Zhu Xiang and believed he knew everything about Sun Yat-sen's group.

However, with only three hundred rabble and a lack of firearms, they are not a cause for concern.

The officers and soldiers quickly surrounded a key courtyard, and the torches illuminated the surroundings as if it were daytime.

Nalan Yuanshu rode on horseback, overseeing the battle from the rear, his face stern, waiting to catch the turtle in the jar.

"Attack! Kill any who resist!"

The constables in the front row shouted, smashed open the courtyard gate, and rushed into the courtyard with knives and guns in hand.

However, the hasty and sporadic resistance that was expected did not materialize within the courthouse.

boom! boom! boom!

Almost simultaneously, a barrage of gunfire erupted from the streets on both sides of the courtyard, from the rooftops of the houses opposite, and even from the darkness further away!

Bullets rained down on the soldiers who rushed into the courtyard and those who surrounded it.

The constables at the front collapsed, leaving only screams and wails.

Then, boom! boom!

Several explosions rang out among the officers and soldiers, sparks flew, shrapnel flew everywhere, and chaos ensued.

Amidst the smoke and fire, dark figures emerged from walls and alley corners, wielding sharp blades, and plunged into the chaotic ranks of soldiers. Where the blades flashed, blood splattered.

The offensive was fierce, the firepower was powerful, the coordination was excellent, and the actions were decisive.

This was certainly not something a hastily assembled, poorly equipped mob could accomplish!

"What's going on?!"

Under the desperate cover of his personal guards, Nalan Yuanshu retreated repeatedly, his composure vanished, replaced by shock and anger.

He turned around abruptly, grabbed Zhu Xiang, who was already pale with fright, and demanded sharply, "Didn't you say that Sun Wen only had three hundred men and no more than a few dozen guns? This firepower! This number of men is completely wrong!"

""

Nalan Yuanshu's arms trembled slightly as he looked at the horrific battle before him.

Based on the intensity and range of the attack, it can be estimated that the enemy had at least a thousand men lying in ambush! Moreover, they were well-trained and well-equipped!

Zhu Xiang's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground, her voice trembling with tears: "My lord! My lord, please see the truth! I—I didn't know either! According to the intelligence I stole, Sun Wen and his men really only had that many people, how—how could this be?!"

"Useless! The intelligence is wrong!" Nalan Yuanshu shoved him away, his face turning ashen.

Seeing that his own constables and personal guards had suffered heavy casualties in the ambush, their morale collapsed.

He knew that with the men he had, it was impossible to arrest anyone!

Nalan Yuanshu made a decisive move and roared at a trusted confidant beside him, "Quickly! Go to the city outside Mancheng and spread my order as the Nine Gates Commander! Order the adjutant to immediately muster the troops and enter the city to quell the rebellion!"

quick!"

"Yes!" The trusted aide mounted his horse and galloped away.

Nalan Yuanshu looked at his subordinates, who were still suffering from setbacks and in complete disarray, and felt both shocked and angry.

Where did Sun Yat-sen get such strong power?

Did Yang Quyun's men arrive ahead of schedule? Or is there another reason?

Just then, another scout scrambled up, panting, and reported, "Sir! We've spotted Sun Yat-sen, Lu Haodong, and other key figures!"

Upon hearing this information, Nalan Yuanshu immediately became excited.

"Okay, okay!"

Regardless of what other forces Sun Yat-sen might be hiding, it's always right to capture the leader first!

As long as Sun Yat-sen and Lu Haodong are captured, the rest of the rebels will be leaderless and no longer a threat!

"Gather all our elite forces and follow me! Straight to the dye house!"

Nalan Yuanshu dared not waste any time, and quickly led a group of capable men towards the direction of Sun Wen and his men.

Inside the dyeing workshop.

Sun Wen and Lu Haodong were left with only a dozen or so people, leaning against several huge dye vats and a pile of abandoned wooden frames.

They were the core force that fought their way out of several attacked strongholds and finally gathered here.

Everyone was wounded, their clothes stained with blood, and their breathing was labored.

The weapons they carried were extremely rudimentary; some didn't even have guns, only short knives, sticks, or even half a dyeing pole.

They were surrounded by soldiers who rushed to the scene and trapped in the dyeing workshop.

Each of them looked exhausted and desperate.

"I never expected this! Our plan was meticulous, the uprising was scheduled for the Double Ninth Festival—but a traitor has emerged!"

"It's all my fault! I've dragged everyone into this!" Zhu Qi's eyes were red-rimmed, his voice filled with remorse. "I didn't hide the proclamation I drafted properly, and my brother Zhu Xiang found it—I've ruined everyone!"

Sun Wen glanced at Zhu Qi, who was in pain and blaming himself, took a deep breath, and suppressed the anxiety and anger in his heart.

"This is not the time to talk about this!"

"Our men numbered only about three hundred, were poorly armed, scattered in various locations, and suffered heavy casualties in the hasty battle—they were no match for the well-prepared government troops!"

His gaze swept over his remaining companions, then he looked anxiously at Lu Haodong: "Brother Lu, what about Yang Quyun? Didn't he have over a thousand secret society brothers who promised to provide support with weapons? Why haven't they shown up yet?!"

Lu Haodong's face was also extremely grim. He shook his head vigorously and said in a low voice, "I just received a telegram from Yang Quyun saying that the weapons haven't arrived yet. They can't enter the city to provide support for the time being!"

"What?!" Upon hearing this reply, Sun Wen felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his face instantly turned even paler.

Our last hope has also been dashed!

The others panicked even more. Their fighting spirit, which had been sustained by their last bit of energy, began to waver under the blow of one bad news after another.

An atmosphere of despair began to spread, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

Is it possible that, with our ambitions unfulfilled and our campaign unsuccessful, we are destined for total annihilation today?

Just then.

A righteous man who had fought his way through the chaos gasped for breath and cried out, "Mr. Sun, Mr. Lu! Something's wrong—on our way here, we saw many corpses of government officials!"

'

"More people have died than we have!"

"It seems there's another group killing those constables!"

"Could it be—that some other friends are also starting an uprising tonight, and they just happen to run into the authorities?"

These words startled everyone in their desperate situation.

Other friends? Are they also starting an uprising tonight?

A name suddenly popped into Sun Yat-sen's mind—Chen Wen!

Could it be them?

Chen Wen, the man with unparalleled medical skills, a mysterious background, and who once gifted him a watch? And his Blood Flag Army?

If it really is that group of people, then there might still be hope!

Just then, a great fire broke out at the entrance of the dyeing workshop, and footsteps filled the air as more soldiers poured in.

They quickly blocked all escape routes.

Surrounded by his personal guards, Nalan Yuanshu finally arrived at the dyehouse and shouted angrily, "Sun Wen! You traitors, why don't you surrender? Tonight, this Guangcheng will be your burial ground! Let's see where you can escape to!"

Sun Yat-sen gripped a pistol tightly and declared loudly, "Nalan Yuanshu, don't waste your energy! It is the wish of hundreds of millions of compatriots to expel the Manchus and restore China!"

Though we die today, our will will not perish!

"Stubborn fools! Kill them!" Nalan Yuanshu was too lazy to waste words and waved his hand to signal the soldiers to attack.

Just at this critical moment, a voice suddenly rang out in the darkness.

"Lord Nalan, why the rush?"