Republic of China era: A hundred-year-old still practicing martial arts? Is that right?

"Fried dough sticks..."

"steamed stuffed bun……"

"Tofu pudding..."

In Jiangcheng, which survived the disaster, as dawn broke, small stalls were already set up on the streets.

The hawking cries were accompanied by the clanging and banging of house repairs.

Liang Yanqing, along with several unfamiliar young people, wandered around the dilapidated buildings.

Jiangcheng did not actually suffer much damage; the shells that landed in the city did not kill many people.

What truly damaged Jiangcheng was the damage caused by the wickedness of people's hearts at the beginning of the war.

"I heard you started a mutual aid society? And you went to my grandma's house early this morning to fix my mom's house?"

A young man who looked like he was a manual laborer approached Liang Yanqing, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"We're all from the same hometown, so it's only right that we help each other out." Liang Yanqing has an exceptional talent for languages, and after only a few days in Jiangcheng, his accent is already indistinguishable from that of ordinary Jiangcheng residents.

"Okay, I'll join too. You help me, and I'll help you." The burly man stepped forward, his attitude very sincere.

"It's not about helping us." Liang Yanqing smiled slightly and pointed to the young people behind him: "The mutual aid association is to help our compatriots build and protect our homeland together."

Upon hearing this, several people who had gathered around to listen nodded in agreement.

In chaotic times, who doesn't long for a place to band together?

If you lend me a hand, I'll pull you up, and we can get through this.

Soon, several more people signed up, including porters, tailors, and even a former innkeeper who had lost his job after the inn was robbed of everything by local thugs.

Liang Yanqing responded to each request with enthusiasm, but in his heart he was secretly making plans.

In the past three days, the public mutual aid association has gathered more than two hundred young adults.

He had established his own team in Jiangcheng.

These were the first seeds that enabled Xinghua Society to grow stronger and take root in the south.

Apart from Lin Ji, Li Shuwen, and a few others, no one else knew the details of this matter.

Several people were shouting and getting things done.

Suddenly, everyone stopped moving at the same time.

They all turned their heads to look at the distant river.

"Waaaaah—waaaah—"

Three long, drawn-out whistles sounded in succession.

The sound grew louder and louder with each thud, making people's eardrums buzz.

In the mist on the river, three dark gray warships slowly sailed along the river. The ships were long and slender, with rows of cannons, just like the previous Jing-class ships, except that the flags on the ships were slightly different from the color of the hulls.

Three ships sailed down the river and came to a steady stop next to the Jing-class ship. Six ironclad warships lined up in a row, their cannons pointed upstream, forming a steel wall that pressed down on the isolated city on the river.

"My goodness... why are there three more?"

"This is... the authorities' main force has arrived? It seems they're going to launch a full-scale southward campaign to suppress the bandits!"

The people whispered among themselves.

In the command center of the Jing-class flagship on the river.

Zhang Zhengting stood with his hands behind his back by the porthole in the command room. He watched the three reinforcement ships slowly approaching, but his brows remained furrowed.

His adjutant, who was following behind him, reported on the current situation:

"Admiral, the next three 'An'-class gunboats have arrived. The second urgent order from above has just been sent, urging us to head south as soon as possible to annihilate the rebels."

"Understood." Zhang Zhengting's voice remained deep and resonant.

"Admiral, there's one more thing!" the lieutenant added immediately.

"Our informant in the city reports that someone just sneaked into the Jiangcheng Governor's Mansion and met with Chen Tianze. He was carrying a leather suitcase, which, judging by its weight, should contain gold and silver. However, we do not yet know what they were discussing."

Zhang Zhengting's eyes sharpened, and he abruptly turned around: "Really?"

"Indeed," the adjutant replied.

Zhang Zhengting clenched his fist.

There are two opposing forces in the city right now: one is the Xinghua Society, which has no real power and can't cause any trouble; the other is the Salvation Society, which has infiltrated the city.

It's not hard to guess that the person who entered the governor's mansion must be a member of the National Salvation Association.

Is this an attempt to turn them into defectors?

"Send word to let Jiangcheng Military Governor Chen Tianze board the ship for a meeting." He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Say that we should discuss the deployment of defenses along the river, and also... the matter of suppressing the local armed forces."

"Yes."

As soon as the small boat carrying the order left the shore, Zhang Zhengting walked to the map again, pointed his finger at the location of Jiangcheng, and remained there for a long time.

……

In the study of the governor's mansion in the city.

Chen Tianze spun around in circles with his hands behind his back.

A crumpled letter lay on the floor of the study.

Next to the letter was a leather suitcase with its lid half open.

Inside, the white ocean gleamed, its silvery light dazzling to the eye.

Just half an hour ago, He Ze's secret envoy scaled the wall and left behind this box of silver dollars and that crumpled letter.

The contents of the letter were very clear.

As long as Chen Tianze is willing to secretly provide support, the National Salvation Association will be able to prevent the government's ships from heading south.

He would forgive and forget the trivial matters of the past, and if he were interested, he could even appoint him as a deputy commander.

He was put in charge of Jiangcheng and the three surrounding counties.

At that time, we will have both money and soldiers.

"Report..."

"Wait!" The drawn-out shout from the doorway startled Chen Tianze. He quickly went to the door, gently lifted it, and stepped out: "What is it?"

"Commander...Admiral Zhang sent someone to invite you aboard the ship...saying he has important matters to discuss." The adjutant stammered as he spoke.

Chen Tianze's heart skipped a beat, and he froze on the spot. His heart sank.

Finished!

How come we're being pressed in from both sides?

Agree to He Ze's request? He wouldn't dare!

With six ironclad warships lying across the river, a single shot could level his governor's mansion. How many heads would he dare to rebel?

But why listen to Zhang Zhengting?

Hand over He Ze's secret letter?

If the members of the National Salvation Association can enter the Governor's Mansion once, they can enter a second time. He, a mere early stage of Inner Strength, might not even see the sun rise tomorrow.

He was facing threats from both sides, and he couldn't afford to offend either of them.

Chen Tianze felt like a flatbread being roasted in a fire, burnt inside and out.

"Damn it... what kind of mess is this!" Chen Tianze cursed under his breath and looked up.

The adjutant beside him kept his head down, not daring to breathe.

"Commander-in-Chief, how about... we go aboard the ship first to see Admiral Zhang and sound him out?" the adjutant suggested in a low voice.

"See me? See what?!" Chen Tianze glared. "The moment I boarded the ship, they detained me. Who am I supposed to complain to?"

"Sigh..." He sighed deeply, "If I don't see her... how can I survive until tomorrow?"

He turned to his adjutant and said irritably, "Prepare the car."

He had barely finished speaking when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Two glints of light flashed in his eyes.

Lin Ji!

Yes, find Lin Ji!

"Get the car ready!" he shouted quickly. "To the Sea Dragon Gang..."

Before he could finish speaking, a soldier carrying a gun rushed in, panting, and said, "Commander! Mr. Lin... Mr. Lin is here! He says he has something to discuss with you!"

"Please come in! Please come in!" Chen Tianze felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and he couldn't stop himself from walking towards the door, his eyes constantly glancing outside.