Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chapter 232 But what exactly constitutes a great achievement?

“I’ve left some backup plans in Fengtian. If Elder Ding needs anything, he can contact them,” Chen Zhan said.

“The Bagua Sect has also left people in Fengtian. Senior Brother Ding, there’s no need to be so polite. When we’re fighting against the Japanese and saving the country, we should put aside our sect rivalries,” Li Guangpu added.

Ding Lianshan did not refuse. He nodded, clasped his hands in a fist salute to everyone, and took his leave.

His heart was heavier than anyone else's.

Gong Er led her men to Jinling, but most of the disciples who had studied under the Gong family, and even their families, remained in Fengtian.

If the Japanese were to launch a massacre in Mukden and release that plague bacteria!

He dared not imagine the consequences.

Ding Lianshan might die in Northeast China, and Chen Zhan would not only not stop him, but would also support him, because not only would he die, but many of the people present would also die.

If war breaks out as scheduled, regardless of the Nationalist government's stance, they will not resist, but Chen Zhan will resist.

He will surely lead his men north and wreak havoc.

When the nation faces life and death, what does the life or death of an individual matter?

However, there is still more than a year left, so there is still time to prepare.

After Ding Lianshan left, it was already late at night, and only the fourth floor of the Golden Building was brightly lit.

Everyone was waiting for Chen Zhan to speak.

When Chen Zhan and Ye Ningzhen entered the Golden Pavilion, they didn't actually reveal too many of their skills. Chen Zhan seemed to have a very good temper. Even when Lan Zhiyu provoked him, he didn't get angry. When a group of disciples attacked him, he not only didn't hurt them, but also carefully guided them.

When Ye Ningzhen recounted the secrets of Fengtian, everyone learned how many life-and-death ordeals the two had endured.

At the same time, he no longer doubted Chen Zhan.

"Uncle Li, I'll be frank. I know that Jinlou and the Cheng School of Bagua have political backing, and that you have close ties with Chen Jitang?"

This is what he heard from Ye Ningzhen; the situation in Foshan is very complicated.

Although the Nationalist government was nominally in control, Chen Jitang's Guangdong faction maintained a strong degree of independence and outwardly complied with the central government's orders while secretly defying them. The Nationalist government had no real control over the southern region.

This applies not only to Guangdong and Guangxi, but also to the Dian (Yunnan) and Qian (Guizhou) ethnic groups.

This is why, in the Central Plains War that soon broke out, those two warlords dared to challenge the Nationalist government.

“That’s right. One of Chen Jitang’s chiefs of staff, who I have some personal connections with, trained with me for two months of Baguazhang more than ten years ago,” Cheng Yougong said.

"Personal disciple?"

"Not really, but we do have some connections. We at Jinlou have to hand over 20% of our profits every year."

"Hmm, is there anything else?" Chen Zhan asked.

“Chen Jitang’s brother-in-law also owns shares in the building and receives 30% of the profits every year,” Li Guangpu said.

"Anything else?" Chen Zhan nodded.

"One of Chen Jitang's regimental commanders is having an affair with a young lady named Hongxiu in our building. Does that count?" Feng Junyi asked with a smile.

Does he get a share of the money?

"They won't give us anything, but they won't pay us either."

"Next time this person comes, we'll charge them the normal rate."

After pondering for a moment, Chen Zhan said, "Sever all these relationships."

"What???"

"What???"

“I said, cut off all ties and never associate with Chen Jitang again.”

"Alliance Leader, are you joking? If our relationship with the Guangdong Army is damaged in Guangdong territory, we'll probably suffer the consequences." Feng Junyi was completely baffled.

Although the Guangdong group takes 50% of the profits every year, in Foshan, the benefits far outweigh the losses.

To put it simply, there's no need to worry about official matters, and no one dares to use malicious competitive tactics.

They are not afraid of any methods used in the martial arts world.

Without the connections of the Cantonese warlords, Jinlou could never have achieved such a large scale.

Chen Zhan couldn't possibly be so short-sighted.

“If I say it’s over, it’s over. It’s not up for discussion.”

Chen Zhan said calmly, but everyone could feel the undeniable authority in his tone.

Li Guangpu remained silent for a long time before asking, "Does the Alliance Leader carry orders from the National Government?"

He knew a lot of inside information, so he understood the relationship between the Cantonese clique and the Nationalist government better than others. They were openly and secretly fighting each other, and he thought that Chen Zhan had come to Foshan with orders from the Nationalist government.

After all, Chen Zhan was the martial arts leader appointed by the National Government. Although his reputation was earned through fighting, this title was inseparable from the National Government.

Chen Zhan shook his head: "The connection with the Nationalist government has also been severed!"

"."

"This"

"Hmph, if you ask me, we should have cut ties long ago. These warlords, none of them are any good!" Li Wenbiao's words made Chen Zhan glance at him sideways, not expecting that there was a sensible person among these roughnecks.

However, everyone seemed not to hear what Li Wenbiao said.

"What is the leader trying to do? Without a backer, he can't survive in Foshan at all. The police station comes to investigate every few days, and local gangs harass him. There will never be a day of peace. Besides, the money has been paid for five years. Is he just going to cut it off like that?"

“Soldiers don’t care about the reason; they don’t even need a high-sounding excuse to cause trouble for you.” Cheng Yougong was outspoken and questioned Chen Zhan’s decision to his face.

Chen Zhan didn't have any ill feelings towards him, which was only natural. With a powerful warlord as his backer, the business of Jinlou was booming, and the Baguazhang sect was also spreading. Li Guangpu often went to the army to teach Baguazhang skills.

This couldn't be better.

There's no reason to cut this line!
"I'll handle the matter of who my backer is, and I'll also handle any trouble caused by anyone."

"The reason for cutting off contact is simple: it's unsafe."

"With such close ties to the Guangdong faction, how long can this 'King of the South' dominate the South? Nowadays, it's not just the Japanese in the Northeast who are eyeing the world; there are countless military forces from all sides, and many of them are very powerful."

"Gong family's relationship with the Fengtian clique. Do you think the Gong family will be wiped out instantly if the Fengtian clique suffers a disaster?"

Chen Zhan's explanation wasn't the real reason, but it was enough for everyone to take it seriously.

In fact, it was now the 18th year of the Republic of China, less than 20 years after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, but the warlords of the whole country had changed one generation after another. Who dares to say that they will never decline?
“What the leader said makes sense, but our ties with the Guangdong faction aren’t that deep, are they? It’s just an exchange of interests,” Cheng Yougong said.

"You may think it's just an exchange of benefits, but when it comes to settling accounts, it won't be up to you."

"Losers can only be manipulated and obeyed. Are you sure you want to gamble?"
Chen Zhan speaks very directly.

Everyone recalled how they had fled the capital in a panic, with Wang Wu and Cheng Tinghua being killed, the Boxers being wiped out, and them becoming exiles.

"What does the alliance leader mean?" Li Guangpu asked.

"Maintain independence, avoid excessive involvement from the Nationalist government, and refrain from further contact with the Cantonese faction. Furthermore..."

Chen Zhan paused.

What happened in Foshan two years ago?

Two years ago

Everyone hesitated to speak. Ye Ningzhen was also unaware of the matter, only knowing that a major event had occurred at the time, and many disciples of the Cheng School of Bagua had died.

In the end, Li Guangpu revealed the truth.

"This matter is somewhat complicated. Two years ago, the Nationalist government began a crackdown, arresting revolutionaries and forcing the major people's labor unions to disband. This caused widespread panic in the city, and many people from the Soviet areas were dug out, and even fighting broke out in the city."

"The situation was chaotic at the time, and many revolutionaries scattered and fled. Two of them went into Brother Li's cellar."

At this point in Li Guangpu's speech, Li Wenbiao volunteered to speak, saying, "Senior brother, let me say it!"

“At the time, the city was in turmoil, and I happened to be away from home. My wife and daughter were kind-hearted and didn’t understand the politics outside, so they took in the two of them, treated their injuries and brought them food. They hid them for two months, and after they recovered, they sent them out of the city. But I don’t know where things went wrong, and someone reported them.”

“Cai Xuepeng’s men came directly to our door to arrest people and used force. Several of our disciples died, and my wife and daughter were also taken away.”

“That bastard Cai Xuepeng tortured the two of them severely, but my wife and daughter really didn’t know their identities or whereabouts. My wife was already in poor health, and the torture directly took her life. Although my daughter was released, she also suffered serious external injuries.”

"It was only because my senior brother went to great lengths to negotiate with the high-ranking officers in the Guangdong Army that we had a chance to come out alive."

Chen Zhandian and Cai Xuepeng were high-ranking officials in the Foshan National Government. Three years ago, after the counter-revolutionary coup, they were sent to Foshan to take charge of the action department, search for and kill counter-revolutionaries, and suppress revolutionary patriots.

"So that's why you supported me when I said we cut off contact with the Nationalist government?" Chen Zhan asked Li Wenbiao.

Li Wenbiao and Chen Zhan locked eyes; Chen Zhan's calm eyes revealed no hidden purpose.

"Sigh, leader, I have never liked to associate with those warlords. No matter who they are, they all exude an arrogant air and look at us like servants. Even though my senior brother teaches boxing in the army, it is not a respectable position. He is just ordered around by others."

He spoke too directly, which made Li Guangpu lose face.

But it's the truth.

Although the Qing Dynasty had only been gone for a short time, the last two or three decades saw an explosive growth in guns and cannons. Decades ago, Li Shuwen was able to serve as the chief instructor under Zhang Zuolin, a position of great importance, but that was almost impossible now.

Airplanes and cannons were too terrifying; even Bao Dan couldn't withstand them, so his status naturally declined drastically.

Li Guangpu ignored what Li Wenbiao said and continued, "The fault does not lie with Wenbiao's wife and daughter. How could women know what revolutionaries are? If the leader wants to blame someone, it should be on me."

Li Wenbiao immediately retorted, "How can that be? I caused this trouble, so I'll take full responsibility."

The two of them started arguing back and forth about who should take responsibility for the matter.

Everyone assumed that Chen Zhan would also investigate this matter, since Chen Zhan was the martial arts alliance leader appointed by the National Government, and it was normal for him to have other identities behind the scenes.

"How is your daughter now?" Chen Zhan asked.

"This leader, my daughter truly didn't know the other party was a revolutionary at the time, which led to this terrible mistake, and the National Government has already punished her!"

"Why are you so nervous?" Chen Zhan was a little speechless. He stood up, walked up to Li Wenbiao, and whispered in his ear, "I'm not here to investigate the matter. Besides, what she did was not only right, but also a great achievement."

Li Wenbiao looked up at Chen Zhan in disbelief.

He could understand if Chen Zhan didn't pursue the matter, but what exactly constituted a great achievement?

"This leader of the alliance, you..."

"Shh~"

"Tell me secretly, where does Cai Xuepeng live?"

These words, whispered in Li Wenbiao's ear, were compressed into a thin line, yet they reached Li Wenbiao's ears clearly.

"you"

"It wouldn't be difficult for me to find out about this myself, but it's better to ask you."

Li Wenbiao realized what was happening and quickly gave an address.

Chen Zhan met his gaze, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and returned to his original position without saying another word.

(End of this chapter)