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

People were terrified, crying out as they closed their doors and windows, huddled in corners of their homes, trembling with fear.

Some of the bolder ones peeked through the crack in the door and found that these pirates were not as rumored as smashing down doors and robbing people indiscriminately.

They were disciplined and, apart from necessary dispersal and guarding, did not disturb the residences.

They simply moved quickly toward the county government office and several large mansions.

That blood-red flag was both perplexing and terrifying.

It wasn't the usual skull and crossbones flag or image of a ferocious beast, but a crimson expanse, fluttering in the wind, unsettling.

Xie Si was being held captive at the entrance of the teahouse.

They watched helplessly as signal fireworks rose in the direction of the county government office, signifying a change of control, and heard the faint shouts of the Blood Flag Army coming from afar.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he roared hoarsely:

"You pirates! Traitors! You keep shouting 'Overthrow the Qing and destroy the foreigners,' how righteous of you!"

"And what was the result? They still went ashore to plunder and wreak havoc on the land! How are they any different from those murderous and thieving pirates?!"

"Do you even deserve the slogans you've shouted? Shame on you! Disgraceful!"

Lin Shirong and Liang Kuanggang, having just led their team to complete the suppression at the county government office, rushed to the teahouse to meet up.

He happened to hear these words and immediately flew into a rage.

"Bullshit!"

Lin Shirong stepped forward, grabbed Xie Si by the collar, and raised his fist to smash it down.

"Have we, the soldiers, ever touched a single grain of rice or a single piece of firewood from the common people on our way in? If you dare to slander the Blood Flag Army again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Liang Kuan was also so angry that his face turned red:

"Exactly! We only arrest corrupt officials and crack down on unscrupulous, wealthy businessmen. When have we ever harmed the people? Are you blind?"

"Enough." Chen Wen's voice came from inside the teahouse, calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.

Lin Shirong reluctantly released Xie Si and retreated to the side with Liang Kuan, but still glared at him angrily.

Chen Wen stepped forward and stood in front of Xie Si, calmly scrutinizing him:

"Officer Xie, you accuse us of harming the people. Then please point out which of my men has robbed which civilian family or harmed which innocent people since we entered the city?"

"Did you see that?"

Xie Si was taken aback by the question, opened his mouth, but was speechless.

He really didn't see it.

These rebels' marching routes and objectives were frighteningly clear, and they even deliberately avoided the panicked and fleeing civilians along the way.

"Just because you don't have it now doesn't mean you won't in the future!"

Xie Si stiffened his neck, trying to maintain his last bit of judgment.

"Once you've looted the county treasury and confiscated the property of wealthy families, you'll naturally unleash your troops to plunder! That's how bandits have always operated!"

Chen Wen simply sighed softly upon hearing this:

"Look, prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain."

"I said we are different, but you're convinced we'll become the same sooner or later. I said we came to save the people, but you're convinced we'll ultimately harm them. Fine, whether it's true or not, you'll soon see. There's no point in saying more now."

He ignored Xie Si and turned to Lin Shirong:

"How's things going with Manager Qian, the grain merchant?"

Lin Shirong immediately replied:

"Captain, that bastard surnamed Qian is holed up in his mansion and granary, relying on the high walls and deep courtyards, he's kept a lot of guards and thugs, and even has a few muskets!"

"The brothers tested the waters, and they fired a few shots. No one was hurt, but they were definitely in the way!"

Chen Wen frowned slightly:

"We don't have the time, nor the need, to waste time with him. Let's go get a cannon!"

Lin Shirong's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but rub his hands together excitedly:

"It's the captain! I'll take some men and bring him here right away! Blow the hell out of him!"

In less than a quarter of an hour, cannons had been set up opposite the imposing gate of the Qian residence.

"Listen up, you people inside! If you don't open the door and surrender, I'm going to open fire!" Lin Shirong roared, mustering his strength.

His response was another boom of a musket from inside the courtyard, followed by even more panicked shouts and curses.

"You're asking for it!" Lin Shirong spat, then personally adjusted the cannon muzzle and stuffed in the powder pack and solid iron bullets.

A deafening roar!

The solid iron bullets easily tore through the iron-clad wooden door, carrying splinters of wood and bricks as they crashed into the courtyard, causing a cacophony of howls and screams.

"Charge in! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!" Lin Shirong roared, drawing his sword.

The Blood Flag Army soldiers surged into the courtyard through the broken gate like a tidal wave.

The resistance was weaker than expected.

The guards and thugs were utterly terrified by the cannon blast and dared not resist any longer, kneeling down to surrender.

The group quickly apprehended Manager Qian.

However, when they opened the Qian family's granaries, Lin Shirong and Liang Kuan were among those present.

All the Blood Flag Army soldiers who rushed in were stunned by the sight before them.

The warehouse was filled with sacks of grain, piled up like mountains!

Rice, beans... some of the old grains were even slightly moldy.

But the sheer number of them almost filled the entire tall warehouse!

"This...this much food?!"

Liang Kuan's eyes widened as he grabbed a handful of rice, his fingers trembling.

A Blood Flag Army soldier stepped forward, forcefully patted a bulging burlap sack, then brought it closer to sniff it, his face turning extremely grim:

"Damn it! Some of it's stale, almost moldy! So many people out there can't even get a decent meal of spoiled food!"

Lin Shirong slammed his fist into the pile of grain beside him and roared:

"Beasts! Utter beasts! There are starving people on the streets outside, forced to sell their children!"

"That bastard's family has so much food that it's rotting, but they won't even take it out! How can they eat it? How can they sleep?"

The other Blood Flag soldiers also began to curse, their hearts filled with indescribable anger and a sense of absurdity.

Most of them came from poor backgrounds, so they certainly knew what it was like to go hungry.

Seeing this shocking contrast, I felt a surge of anger rush to my head.

"I really don't understand!"

"So many people in the city are starving to death! No matter how high the Qian family's walls are or how many guards they have, can they stop thousands upon thousands of people who are blinded by hunger? Why doesn't anyone dare to rush in and rob them?!"

"Yes! We used to be so desperate that we dared to fight foreigners!"

"These villagers...are they just going to starve to death? Even if they risked their lives to come in and grab a handful of rice, they could live a few more days!"

"Even if ten people were to take his place, he could still rob these unscrupulous merchants of everything!"

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, expressing their hatred for Manager Qian and his crookedness, as well as their frustration and resentment at the city's people's passive acceptance of their fate.

They themselves have embarked on the path of resistance.

It's hard to understand why anyone would willingly wait to die in a desperate situation.

Chen Wen listened silently to his subordinates' indignation and confusion.

Once everyone had calmed down a bit, he slowly began to speak:

"Anger is right. Hating these parasites is also right."

"But we shouldn't, and shouldn't, be too harsh on ordinary people outside."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:

"Ordinary people have already exhausted all their strength and luck just to survive."

"Moreover, what has the imperial court been doing for the past two hundred years?"

"It was the 'shaving your head and changing your clothes' that broke your spine, it was the 'literary inquisition' that imprisoned your mind, it was the layers of exploitation that drained your blood and flesh, and then the 'fooling the people' policy that made you numb, obedient, and afraid to think!"

"They are shackled both physically and mentally."

"Many people are not even aware that they are wearing shackles, or they think that these shackles are a matter of course."

"Unlike you, you once followed Lord Liu Yongfu in raising the banner of righteousness, and witnessed what resistance and fighting for oneself truly mean!"

"Though you later fell silent, the flame of your spirit was never extinguished!"

"So today, you can stand here, wield swords, and fire cannons!"

"And most of them don't even understand what resistance means."

His words stirred both emotion and a heavy feeling in everyone's hearts.

Yes, they had also been lost before, but Chen Wen rekindled the fire in their hearts and gave them direction and strength.

"The captain is right! The culprit is that utterly corrupt court!"

"It's those Manchu nobles and corrupt officials who ride roughshod over us!" Lin Shirong roared.

"A blood debt must be repaid in blood!" The crowd echoed in unison, their voices reverberating through the granary.

Chen Wen raised his hand to quell the noise and continued:

"Alright! The enemy is defeated. Now, open the granaries and distribute the food!"

"Pass down the order: let the brothers spread the word throughout the city: The Blood Flag Army has rid the people of a scourge and is opening the granaries to distribute grain!"

"Publicly try corrupt officials and unscrupulous businessmen, and seek justice for the people!"