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

Lin Ji had just stepped into the gate of the Governor's Mansion.

Chen Tianze, his military cap askew, staggered over from the study to greet him.

"Mr. Lin, I was just about to come to you. Please come in, please come in." Chen Tianze's tone was full of barely concealed urgency.

"You all stay here and keep watch." He dismissed his personal guards and opened the study door to welcome Lin Ji in.

As soon as he entered, Chen Tianze looked at the door as if he had found a lifeline:

"Mr. Lin, you have to save me! I'm truly desperate!"

Lin Ji glanced at the crumpled letter on the ground, then his gaze fell on the leather suitcase with its gleaming white silver dollars sticking out. He chuckled and said:

"Commander Chen, this is clearly making a fortune, how can you say we're desperate?"

He picked up the tea that Chen Tianze had just poured, took a sip, and then said, "Didn't Admiral Zhang invite you aboard the ship? Maybe you can get some more benefits."

"Mr. Lin is joking." Chen Tianze gave a wry smile, glanced at the suitcase on the ground, and said:

"I knew this couldn't escape your eyes, sir. How did you know He Ze had sent people here?"

"Just guessing." Lin Ji put down his teacup and uttered two words casually.

However, Lin Ji felt a pang of sadness: Wasn't this what you said?

He tapped the rim of the teacup lightly with his fingertips, then spoke after a moment's thought:

"If the National Salvation Association wants to establish itself south of the Yangtze River, it must continue to deal with the government. After the navy goes south, Jiangcheng will still be the key. If Jiangcheng is blocked, whether the navy wins or loses, it will never be able to go back..."

"If you were an inside man, this matter would be a piece of cake. The National Salvation Association could catch us like a turtle in a jar, and you would have contributed to this."

Lin Ji looked up at Chen Tianze and said.

As Chen Tianze spoke, his expression became increasingly contorted, looking almost like a bitter gourd.

"Look at you... joking again."

"However... Zhang Yuting isn't stupid. He'll definitely keep an eye on you. If you dare to do anything reckless, he'll take your head." Lin Ji said, grinning.

After listening to Lin Ji's analysis, Chen Tianze found it quite reasonable. His legs went weak, and he slumped into a chair next to him. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with trembling hands, then forced a bitter smile.

"Mr. Lin, it's come to this, please stop teasing me. I'm really out of options. Please, give me a way out."

Lin Ji didn't speak, but slowly took a sip of his tea.

Chen Tianze's eyes were bloodshot, filled with pleading and urgency.

Just a second before Chen Tianze could lose his temper, Lin Ji slowly lowered his head and looked up at Chen Tianze:

"There is a way out, it just depends on whether Commander Chen dares to take it."

"I dare! I dare!" At this moment, Chen Tianze felt a huge weight pressing on his heart. Hearing Lin Ji's words, he felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders. He didn't sit up abruptly, but quickly agreed.

"At this point, what is there to be afraid of? As long as I can save my life, I'll do anything! I'll do whatever Mr. Lin says."

"Then you should go to the ship and see Zhang Zhengting first." Lin Ji put down his teacup.

"Listen to what he has to say first, and when you come back, I'll tell you how to proceed."

Chen Tianze was stunned for a moment, and his eyes twitched twice:

"Are you really going? What if he detains me?"

"Commander Chen, do you think you can refuse to go?" Lin Ji shook his head after seeing Chen Tianze hesitate slightly.

"Go ahead, he won't do anything to you. If he detains you, Jiangcheng will be leaderless and things will really get chaotic... He won't dare to go south with peace of mind."

Chen Tianze was skeptical. He stared at Lin Ji for a long time and found that Lin Ji's eyes were very calm, without the slightest ripple, as if he was certain that Zhang Zhengting would not make things difficult for him.

Seeing this, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, there's no other way now, I'll go!"

He stood up abruptly, straightened his crooked military cap, and adjusted his uniform:

"I'm going to board the ship now, Mr. Lin. You must wait for me here!"

Chen Tianze hurriedly left the governor's mansion with two adjutants.

On the way to the dock, the autumn wind was bleak, making the clothes on Chen Tianze and his companions flutter.

Chen Tianze stood on the dock and looked out over the river. Six ironclad warships were lined up in a row, their cannons gleaming coldly in the sunlight, which made him feel uneasy.

The messenger was already waiting on the shore. Seeing him arrive, he quickly ushered him onto the boat: "Commander Chen, this way..."

Chen Tianze glanced at the ironclad warship on the river, steeled his heart, and strode over.

Seeing Chen Tianze approach, the soldier smiled and said:

"Commander Chen, I thought you weren't coming. I was even planning to go back and report to the Admiral."

Chen Tianze glanced at him briefly, thinking to himself:

What kind of thing is it that dares to threaten him?

He opened his eyes wide, and the pressure from his inner strength made the soldier instantly breathless. After a long while, he finally spoke:

Let's go!

The soldier coughed twice, started the boat, and rowed towards the ironclad warship in the water.

The small boat cut through the waves and headed towards the flagship. The closer it got, the stronger the oppressive feeling of the ironclad warship became, and Chen Tianze's palms became sweaty.

After climbing the gangway, two sailors searched him before leading him to the command room.

Zhang Zhengting still stood with his hands behind his back in front of the large Yangtze River waterway map.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't even turn his head, but said, "Commander Chen, did you specifically meet with Mr. Lin before coming? What arrangements did Mr. Lin make for you? Tell me about it."

Chen Tianze's heart skipped a beat, and he almost felt his heart jump out of his chest.

He felt a sense of dread, but after a moment's thought, he suddenly realized...

It seems Lin Ji didn't say anything.

His face gradually calmed down, and he bowed to Zhang Yuting in a military salute before saying, "Reporting to the Admiral, Mr. Lin did indeed visit the Governor's Mansion just now, but he didn't say anything important. He only told me to come and listen to the Admiral's instructions first."

Zhang Zhengting slowly turned around, his eyes sharp as knives, staring directly into Chen Tianze's reddened eyes.

That gaze seemed to see right through people's thoughts, and Chen Tianze instinctively flinched away the moment they made contact.

Zhang Yuting stared at it for a full half minute before letting out a cold snort, turning around, and walking to the table, saying:

"The National Salvation Association members entered your governor's mansion, why didn't you report it?"

Chen Tianze's eyelids fluttered, and he panicked instantly. Before his thoughts could even process what was happening, his body was already moving at will.

He knelt down with a thud, his head bowed, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"Admiral, you are wise! I would never dare to collude with the bandits! He... he came to persuade me to surrender, but I refused! I was just about to report to you, Admiral, and hand over the stolen goods when you arrived with the order!"

"Get up." Zhang Zhengting glanced at Chen Tianze on the ground.

"I never said you were a traitor. If you were, you wouldn't be standing here talking now."