Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The following morning, in the county yamen's main hall. Hearing that the trial for the stage tragedy was to be held publicly, the people of Foshan thronged the yamen entrance, their anger palpable. Three shifts of yamen runners, armed with fire and water sticks, stood ready for battle. Inside the hall, beneath the plaque inscribed with "A Clear Mirror Hangs High," Magistrate Zhao Guodong sat upright, his face pale, dark circles under his eyes—clearly he hadn't slept all night. His clerk stood trembling beside him.

Surrounded by several armed Indian police officers, Ji Shan and Jackson sat arrogantly in the specially designated seats on the left, a disdainful sneer playing on their lips. Zhao Tianba of the Shahe Gang also stood to the side, his eyes sinister. The foreign priest sat a little further away, his face solemn, occasionally making the sign of the cross on his chest.

"The criminals Huang Feihong and Wang Huanbo!" Zhao Guodong slammed his gavel, his voice hoarse.

Wong Fei-hung and Wang Huan-bo, wearing shackles, calmly entered the courtroom. Despite their imprisonment, their composure remained undiminished, their gazes sweeping calmly over the people in the courtroom. Outside, the crowd stirred upon seeing them emerge, shouting, "Master Wong is innocent!" "Mr. Wang is innocent!"

"Silence!" Zhao Guodong shouted, forcing a smile. He glanced at Ji Shan, whose face was frosty, cleared his throat, and, following the pre-arranged script, said in a deep voice, "Huang Feihong, Wang Huanbo, yesterday at the theater, you two instigated a disturbance, causing heavy casualties, and even attacked foreigners with weapons. Your crimes are heinous! Confess now!"

Ji Shan immediately jumped up and shouted in broken Chinese, "Lord Zhao! The facts are clear! They attacked first! I demand severe punishment! Otherwise, the British Empire will never let this go!" Jackson chimed in from the side.

Huang Feihong proclaimed loudly, "Lord Zhao! The tragedy at the theater yesterday was witnessed by hundreds of villagers! It was Ji Shan and his men who caused trouble after drinking, and their soldiers opened fire first, indiscriminately killing innocent people! Ji Shan even launched a sneak attack, attempting to kill me! Fortunately, my apprentice stopped them in time, and the foreign priest can also testify! I implore you, my lord, to investigate thoroughly, severely punish the real culprits, and give the deceased justice!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Ji Shan said angrily. "Father! Tell me! Did they start it?" He glared fiercely at the foreign priest.

All eyes were fixed on the foreign priest. His face contorted with struggle; he glanced at Ji Shan's threatening gaze, then at the expectant and indignant eyes of the crowd outside, and recalled yesterday's horrific events. Finally, his conscience triumphed over his fear. He stood up and said in broken but clear Chinese, "Sir Zhao, I swear in the name of God… Yesterday, it was Mr. Ji Shan's men who provoked us first, who fired the first shot… Mr. Ji Shan… he even tried to shoot Master Huang from behind… It was this Mr. Wang who knocked his gun away, saving me and Master Huang…"

"Whoa—!" A commotion erupted outside the hall! The people cursed angrily, "Those foreign devils are lying!"

"Corrupt officials collude with foreigners!"

Ji Shan and Jackson's expressions changed drastically; they hadn't expected the priest to betray them at the last minute! Ji Shan pointed at the priest and roared, "You're lying! You've been bribed by the Chinese!"

Cold sweat poured down Zhao Guodong's forehead; the script had completely veered off course! He was in a bind, and could only slam his gavel: "Quiet! Quiet! Based solely on the priest's side of the story..."

"Sir!" Wang Huanbo suddenly spoke, his clear voice cutting through the noise, "If you need witnesses, the villagers who were injured but survived yesterday can all testify! If you need physical evidence..." He looked sharply at Jishan and Jackson, "Mr. Jishan's pistol with its broken hammer, and the bullets fired from the Martini-Henry rifles used by the British soldiers, compared with the wounds of the deceased, are irrefutable evidence! Furthermore..."

He paused, then uttered a startling statement: "I've also heard that a shipment of unusual 'containers' from Jardine Matheson recently arrived at the docks, suspected to be weapons! I wonder if this is related to yesterday's tragedy? Why doesn't Your Excellency send someone to inspect them?"

These words shocked everyone in the room! Ji Shan and Jackson's faces turned deathly pale instantly! Smuggling weapons is an extremely sensitive matter; if it were confirmed, even the consulate wouldn't be able to protect them!

"You...you're spouting nonsense!" Jackson screamed.

"Whether it's slander or not, an investigation will tell!" Wang Huanbo pressed on, "Or is it that the foreign dignitaries are guilty and afraid to allow an investigation?"

The anger of the crowd outside the hall was completely ignited: "Investigate the arms dealing!" "Severely punish the murderers!" "Corrupt officials, get down here!"

Zhao Guodong was completely panicked. He hadn't expected Wang Huanbo to be so shrewd, directly stirring up a hornet's nest of arms dealing! He looked pleadingly at Ji Shan, only to see a fierce, warning look in the other's eyes. Looking at the surging crowd outside, he knew that if he didn't get an explanation today, the people would likely storm the county government office!

Just then, a rapid sound of horses' hooves and a commotion came from outside the yamen! A yamen runner came running in, tumbling and scrambling: "Sir! Sir! Something terrible has happened! The dockworkers and fishermen have surrounded the Jardine Matheson & Co. warehouse! They say they want to search for weapons! It looks like a fight is about to break out!"

The situation was completely out of control! Zhao Guodong felt a wave of dizziness and almost fainted. Ji Shan and Jackson panicked too; there really were illicit items in the warehouse!

Wang Huanbo and Huang Feihong exchanged a glance, knowing the time had come. Wang Huanbo said to Zhao Guodong in a deep voice, "Lord Zhao! The will of the people cannot be defied! The truth cannot be concealed! Now, only by upholding justice, severely punishing the ringleaders, and appeasing the people can we quell the situation! Otherwise, if a popular uprising occurs and the foreigners blame us, you will be the first to lose your official hat and plume!"

Huang Feihong also said, "Lord Zhao, if you are willing to uphold justice, I, Huang, am willing to guarantee with my life that I will do my best to appease the villagers and avoid bloodshed!"

Zhao Guodong slumped into his chair, his face ashen. He knew he had no way out. He had to choose between the foreigners and the enraged crowd. Ultimately, the fear for his own life outweighed his terror of the foreigners. He slammed his gavel down and shouted with all his might, "Guards! Take...take Ji Shan and Jackson...into...temporary detention! We will proceed with the trial after I have investigated the arms matter! Court adjourned!"

"What?!" Ji Shan and Jackson couldn't believe their ears! Several constables hesitated before stepping forward.

"How dare you! I am a citizen of the British Empire!" Ji Shan roared.

"Lord Zhao! You'll regret this!" Jackson threatened.

But seeing that the magistrate had made up his mind, and seeing the people outside the hall watching him intently, the yamen runners had no choice but to reluctantly "invite" the cursing Ji Shan and Jackson away. Zhao Tianba, sensing the situation was turning against him, had already vanished without a trace.

The crowd outside erupted in thunderous cheers! Although it was only a temporary detention, it was undoubtedly a huge victory!

Huang Feihong and Wang Huanbo were freed from their shackles. As they walked out of the county government office, the people surrounded them, welcoming them like heroes. Wang Huanbo looked at the excited crowd, but felt little joy. He knew this was just the beginning. The foreigners would not give up easily; even more severe tests lay ahead. How to use this opportunity to truly bring about change to this land was the core of his next thought. The power of technology had to be demonstrated as soon as possible.