The Martial Lord of the Troubled World

Chapter 82 Meritorious Service in Supporting the Army (Bonus Chapter)
On the riverbank, actors specially invited from the city's opera troupe were performing Nuo opera, singing "ee-ee-ya-ya".

The song is about the scene where "the Goddess of Winter Clothes delivers clothes on a winter night".

Beside the altar seat, where the image of the Goddess of Cold Clothes was carved, a group of local gentry and wealthy merchants watched with smiles, occasionally clapping their hands in approval, chatting and laughing.

Not far away, the refugees who had received their meager porridge didn't even glance at this scene. After finishing their bowls of thin porridge, their hunger and thirst only intensified. They were all still licking the bottoms of their bowls, staring longingly at the dozens of large pots in front of them, hoping that one day they would be given another bowl.

I heard that the costumes wouldn't be distributed until after the opera was over. If I weren't so weak, I would have rushed up there right now and killed those opera singers on the spot.
"Boom!"

Just as the opera was in full swing, a loud, muffled thunderclap suddenly came from the east.

The sound of gongs and drums suddenly stopped, and everyone on and off the stage looked eastward in unison.

Xu Leyi's heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she subconsciously stood up from her seat.

For some reason, the unease that had been suppressed before suddenly surged up again with the sound of that muffled sound, and became even more intense.

She instinctively turned around to look for Zhao Xinhua, but when she turned her head, she saw that the chair was empty and the person was nowhere to be seen.

Xu Leyi frowned slightly, just about to call someone to ask.

Just then, a peddler carrying a shoulder pole came tumbling and crawling from the nearby dock deck. Before he even arrived, his heart-wrenching cries were already carried by the river wind.

"Oh no! The rebel army from the southwest has stormed the city! The rebel army from the southwest has stormed in!"

The peddler was out of breath and, after shouting a few times, staggered and fell to the ground, unable to make a sound.

The people on the riverbank looked at each other in silence for a few seconds, then suddenly a sharp shout rang out.

"What nonsense!"

With a cold face, Hu Fulai shouted, "Arrest this bastard who's spouting nonsense and take him back to the county office!"

Deputy Commissioner of Police Zhou He, who was standing nearby, gestured to arrest the person.

Several uniformed policemen, carrying guns and cursing under their breath, quickly chased after the peddler on the deck along the riverbank.

Everyone assumed it was some crazy guy who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and come to cause trouble, but Xu Leyi felt inexplicably nervous. She bit her lip, suddenly made up her mind to get up from her seat, and wanted to grab the person and ask him for a proper explanation.

But before she could even take two steps...
"Boom!"

A second explosion followed immediately, closer and louder than the first!
The shockwave seemed to make the entire riverbank tremble, and gasps of surprise rose from the crowd, with many people crouching down and covering their heads.

Xu Leyi's body swayed, and before she could regain her balance, a series of explosions followed.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom—"

The third and fourth explosions, one after another, were like violent drumbeats, pounding hard on everyone's chest.

Everyone was stunned into place by the sudden, thunderous roar.

On the altar, Hu Fulai's mouth was still open, but he couldn't utter a sound.

The smiles on the faces of the local gentry around them froze, turning into deep astonishment and bewilderment.

The next second, countless gazes instinctively followed the source of the sound and turned to the dock not far away.

Then, they witnessed a sight they would never forget.

The dozens of cargo ships moored on the riverbank had now transformed into dozens of enormous torches!
Towering flames and thick smoke billowed into the sky, the black smoke column seemed to soar into the air, and orange-red flames licked at the hull, mercilessly devouring the cargo.
"boom--!"

Another cargo ship's hold was detonated. A huge fireball, carrying wood chips and cargo fragments, burst open in mid-air like a cruel firework, turning half the sky blood red.

Xu Leyi stared blankly at the burning sea of ​​fire, lost in thought.

"Ouch—"

On the altar, a plump, wealthy man suddenly slapped his thigh, facing the direction of the explosion, and wailed in despair, "My ship!"

My boat!
These words immediately brought Xu Leyi back to reality.

Boat!
Yes, a ship!

Who has more boats moored at that dock than the Xu family?!

The dozens of ships and cargo that the Xu family bought from the Fu family with all their resources and through great effort are now burning brightly.

"Didn't we inspect it twice? Wasn't it foolproof?"

Xu Leyi was pale and muttered to herself.

She looked up at the stage and saw Xu Shirong slumped in his chair, staring blankly at the sea of ​​fire, seemingly too weak to even stand. Xu Leyi instinctively searched for Zhao Xinhua, but a burst of gunfire erupted at that moment!
"Boom! Boom!"

On the platform, Deputy Commissioner of Police Zhou He was covered in blood, riddled with bullets.

Among the crowd, police officers in dark blue uniforms also collapsed one after another.

Amidst a chorus of panicked screams, a figure with a gun leaped onto the platform and kicked the already terrified Hu Fulai to the ground, pinning him under his shoe.

"A single cloud hangs in the eternal blue sky, while raging flames of karma burn the heavenly court!"

The man, who was holding a gun barrel to Hu Fulai's head, was wearing glasses and a suit. Although he was dressed in a respectable manner, all his elegance had vanished, and his face was now contorted with rage and madness.

Who else could it be but Zhao Xinhua, whom Xu Leyi has been searching for?
"Today, our Southwest Fire Cloud Army enters the city, slaughtering corrupt officials and powerful gentry! From now on, everyone will have food to eat and clothes to wear!"

"boom!"

Zhao Xinhua pulled the trigger, killing Hu Fulai at his feet with a single shot. He then roared at the crowd of displaced people who were staring blankly in the distance, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and come over here!"

"Fire Cloud! Fire Cloud!"

Below the stage, dozens of men, whose heads were now bound with red scarves, were either holding guns or sticks, and were cheering and shouting with fanaticism on their faces.

After a few breaths, a loud "buzz" was heard, and the crowd on the riverbank erupted.

The long-suffering refugees, as if awakened from a dream, rushed toward the altar with frenzied expressions.

In an instant, the entire riverbank dock was thrown into chaos.

Amidst curses, cries, and screams, Zhao Xinhua laughed heartily, his gaze unconsciously falling on Xu Leyi.

He smiled at Xu Leyi from afar, but the smile was full of amusement.

"Le Yi, your Xu family has rendered meritorious service by supporting the army this time. Once Commander Ming enters the city, I will certainly speak highly of you to him and request commendation."

Before he could finish speaking, a loud "poof" was heard, and Xu Shirong, who was sitting on the altar, spat out a mouthful of blood. He was so angry that he collapsed to the ground.

At this moment, Xu Leyi felt dizzy and everything in front of her seemed unreal and unreal.

All that remained in his mind were the dozens of burning cargo ships he had seen earlier, and Zhao Xinhua's ferocious smile flashing back and forth.

The chaos and excitement on the riverbank intensified, while below, in the cold, murky water...
At this moment, a huddled dark figure, seemingly disturbed by the commotion on the water, suddenly opened a pair of eyes as eerie as will-o'-the-wisps.

“Squeak——!!!”

The black sedan executed a beautiful drift on the street before screeching to a halt.

The car door opened, and Fu Juemin shook his neck and got out of the car.

It has to be said that cars from the Republic of China era were really difficult to drive. Fortunately, it was today, the day of the winter clothing distribution, and there were not many people on the streets. He didn't have to abide by any traffic regulations, so he was able to drive recklessly all the way to the county government.

Fu Juemin parked the car across the street, walked to the back of the car, took out the Chinese-made rifle and a box full of bullets that he had prepared in advance from the trunk, and then loaded the bullets one by one into the magazine.

Li Tong got out of the car lightly, without even saying hello to Fu Juemin, and walked straight towards the gate of the Hu residence not far away with a calm expression.

Fu Juemin jumped onto the roof of the vehicle with his rifle, ready to fire.

The talent [Whispering] has been quietly activated.

In an instant, he "heard" the city gates behind him opening wide.

Chaos was like a gray tide, gradually piling up and spreading along the streets and alleys, slowly moving towards him.

Meanwhile, directly in front of him, inside the Hu residence, a commotion was rising and quickly moving towards the entrance.

"Uncle Tong!"

Just as Li Tong was about to enter the gate of the Hu residence, Fu Juemin suddenly raised his voice and called out to him.

Li Tong quietly stopped and turned his head slightly.

"never mind."

Fu Juemin shook his head, swallowed back what he wanted to say, and continued to stand in deep concentration.

Li Tong slipped inside.

A moment later, a deafening roar came from behind the door, as if something inside was being violently smashed, torn apart, and blown away.
(End of this chapter)