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

"Me?" Xie Si was completely dumbfounded.

What was his status? He was a prisoner of war!

In their eyes, he should be a lackey of the imperial court, an enemy. Why should he be the one to accuse his superior?

But for some reason, he suddenly felt a strange impulse.

"Yes, you." Chen Wen nodded. "They dare not say it, they don't know how to say it, and perhaps they don't even know where to begin."

"But you are different. You have worked in this city for many years. You know how corrupt officials embezzle and break the law, how unscrupulous merchants seize and plunder, and how officials and businessmen collude to exploit each other..."

"Even if you didn't participate, you must have heard or seen it. Now, you tell me."

Xie Si opened his mouth but didn't dare to speak, but what choice did he have in this situation?

"If I told you... would you let me and my brother go?"

Chen Wen slowly shook his head, looking directly at him:

"You said it wasn't about surviving. It was for the innocent souls who were driven to their deaths, for the children who starved to death, for whatever remnant of... justice and conscience might still remain in your heart!"

"Fairness...conscience..." Xie Si murmured, repeating these two words, his body trembling slightly.

He recalled the passion he had when he first became a constable.

The frustration of witnessing all the injustices over the years and feeling powerless to do anything about them.

Thinking of the new graves outside town, and the mountains of moldy grain piled up in the granary just now…

He snapped his eyes shut, and when he opened them again, a resolute glint flashed in them.

Facing the dark mass of people.

"Fellow villagers... I, Xie Si, have been working in this yamen for over ten years. I'm a useless constable. There are many things I'm not capable of handling, nor dare I."

"But today, there are some things I've been holding in for too long, and I have to say them!"

He turned abruptly, his finger trembling as he pointed at the limp county magistrate:

"That corrupt official! Three years ago, in order to seize the two acres of meager land belonging to Widow Li on West Street, he instructed Manager Qian to forge land deeds, driving Widow Li to desperation, where she hanged herself at the entrance of the county government office!"

"Afterwards, he only spent one or two taels of silver to settle things with the aggrieved woman's family!"

He then pointed to Manager Qian:

"That unscrupulous merchant! During last year's grain shortage, he colluded with that corrupt official to blockade the docks, preventing grain ships from other regions from entering the port, and driving up grain prices more than tenfold!"

"Corpses are thrown out from behind the City God Temple every day!"

Xie Si became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice rising higher and higher, recounting one incident after another.

The county magistrate and Manager Qian's evil deeds of oppressing the villagers and disregarding human life over the years were fully exposed.

Some are open secrets, while others are hidden secrets within the case files.

More often, these are tragic stories that circulate in the streets and alleys, but no one dares to investigate them.

at first.

The crowd remained deathly silent, with only Xie Si's voice echoing.

But gradually, sobs and suppressed whimpers began to emerge from the crowd.

When Xie Si mentioned the name and horrific condition of a specific victim, a cry that could no longer be suppressed finally erupted from the crowd:

"My dad... my dad was driven to his death by their relentless pressure to pay off debts!"

"And my sister! She was violated by the young master of the Qian family, thrown into a well, and they said it was an accidental fall!"

"They forcibly requisitioned my family's boat to transport smuggled salt. The boat capsized, and everyone died. We haven't even received an explanation!"

Once a breakthrough is found, the long-suppressed anger and grievances will burst forth like a flood!

The accusations, cries, and curses grew louder and louder! (Taiwan)

The two kneeling figures were instantly engulfed by a wave of angry shouts, their faces drained of color, unable to even utter a word of begging for mercy.

Lin Shirong, Liang Kuan, and the others listened with bloodshot eyes, their fists clenched, their teeth clenched in hatred.

Even Yan Zhendong's face was terribly gloomy.

Chen Wen looked at the crowd below the stage, which was finally starting to ignite, and a complex light flashed in his eyes.

He waited until the noise subsided, then stepped forward and raised his arm.

The crowd gradually quieted down, and countless eyes were fixed on him.

Chen Wen surveyed the audience and spoke again:

"Fellow villagers! You have all heard this! These incidents, one after another, are stained with blood and tears, and their crimes are too numerous to recount! Such corrupt officials, such unscrupulous merchants!"

"Should he be killed?!"

After a brief silence.

"He deserves to die!"

"Kill them!"

"revenge!"

The people broke their silence and roared in anger, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down!

The county magistrate and Manager Qian completely collapsed, defecating and urinating, leaving only unconscious wails.

Chen Wen said no more, turning his gaze to Lin Shirong and Liang Kuan, who were already unable to contain themselves, and said in a deep voice:

"Lam Sai-wing! Leung Kwan!"

"Here!" The two stepped forward.

"Execute!"

"yes!"

A flash of cold light!

Two large swords slashed down fiercely!

puff!puff!

Two heads flew off with a thud, splattering blood as they rolled down the platform, rolling all the way to the front of the crowd below.

The crowd was startled at first and instinctively backed away.

Avoid the rolling heads and splattering blood.

But the next second, a young man rushed forward and stomped hard on the still-bleeding head!

"You beast! Give me back my father's life!"

This kick seemed to shatter the last invisible shackle.

More people rushed forward with bloodshot eyes, kicking, spitting, cursing, and screaming wildly at the two heads and the two headless corpses that were still convulsing!

The humiliation, hatred, and pain that had been building up for so long finally erupted at this moment!

On the high platform, the blood-red flag fluttered in the wind.

Lin Shirong, Liang Kuan, and the other members of the Blood Flag Army watched as the crowd, filled with righteous indignation, finally erupted with bloodlust and rage.

His chest was surging with passion, and his eyes were somewhat red.

They truly felt how great their actions were!

At this time.

Chen Wen stepped forward and spoke again:

"Fellow villagers! The corrupt official has been executed, and the unscrupulous merchant has been eliminated! Now!"

"Open the granaries! Distribute the grain!"

"Open the granaries and distribute the grain!" Lin Shirong, Liang Kuan, and the others shouted in unison, their voices incredibly loud.

The Blood Flag Army soldiers, who were already prepared, immediately sprang into action.

To maintain order, they opened the sacks and distributed the food to the crowd that had surged forward.

"Thank you! Thank you, sir!"

"A living Buddha! Truly a living Buddha!"

"Child, quickly kowtow to your benefactor!"

"My life was given to me by the Blood Flag Army!"

Many of the people who received the grain burst into tears on the spot, holding the golden rice and wheat as if they were holding their lives that they had lost and then regained.

Facing the Blood Flag Army soldiers and the blood-red flag on the high platform, they knelt down in gratitude.

That sincere gratitude brought tears to my eyes.

This gave many Blood Flag Army soldiers, who were originally acting out of orders or hatred, an unprecedented surge of warmth and satisfaction.

They suddenly understood the significance of the swords and spears in their hands even more.

I now understand the meaning behind the phrase "oppose the Qing and destroy the foreigners".

It's not just about anger, but also about enabling more ordinary people like us to have a full meal and live with our heads held high.

Just as the distribution of food was in full swing.

Xie Si squeezed through the crowd and came to Chen Wen. His face no longer showed the hostility and fear he had shown before; instead, it showed a sense of urgency.

"Captain!"

"The grain has been distributed, and the people have been killed. Take my advice: leave now! Leave immediately! There's no time to waste!"

Lin Shirong, Liang Kuan, and the others were taken aback by these words and looked at him warily.

"Officer Xie, what do you mean by this? You were just helping to interrogate the corrupt official, what tricks are you trying to pull now?"

Xie Si stamped his foot in frustration:

"What tricks could I possibly play! I'm doing this for your own good! There's a Manchu city not far from here! It's garrisoned with over two thousand Eight Banner soldiers!"

"The news from here will get there soon!"

"When the main army arrives, even if you have modern guns and cannons, you will be too few in number! I'm afraid your chances of survival are slim!"