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

"Waaaaaahh ...

Six long, drawn-out whistles echoed across the river.

The tremor caused the people on the dock to stop what they were doing and look towards the center of the river.

Six ironclad warships slowly raised their anchors on the river, emitting white steam as they slowly turned their bows toward the river current, and then slowly sailed south along the river.

"They've left? Have the government troops gone south to suppress bandits?"

"My God, they're finally gone... That cannon was pointed at us every day, and I was always on edge."

The people whispered among themselves, their voices carried on the river breeze, filling the entire dock.

In the study of the governor's mansion, Chen Tianze paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.

The news of the main naval force heading south had arrived half an hour ago, and he felt both relieved and anxious.

The relief is that Zhang Zhengting is finally gone, and I no longer have to live in constant fear of the ironclad warship.

The real problem is that with the main force gone, the river defenses are vulnerable. If He Ze were to turn around and attack, the city defense troops under his command would be far from enough.

"Oh dear... what kind of mess is this?" He stopped and muttered to himself, rubbing his hands together.

As he was muttering to himself, the adjutant knocked on the study door, "Knock, knock, knock—"

"Come in."

The adjutant pushed open the door and bowed, saying:

"Commander, Mr. Lin has arrived, and he has brought a young gentleman with him."

"Could this be the person?" Chen Tianze wondered when footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

He looked up and saw Lin Ji walking in front, Liang Yanqing following beside him, and a young man in a blue cloth robe following behind.

The young man looked to be no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. His hair was neatly combed, and his back was ramrod straight, making him look like a schoolteacher, but his eyes were very sharp.

"Mr. Lin!" Chen Tianze quickly went to greet him, his gaze then falling on the old man: "And this gentleman is?"

"This is my mentor, Mr. Feng Zhonglin." Liang Yanqing stepped forward, his tone filled with rare respect.

"In his early years, he presided over the school in the north, and later followed the Xinghua Society. This time, he came south to Jiangcheng to take charge."

Chen Tianze was stunned for a moment.

My mentor?

He had assumed that someone who could be Liang Yanqing's teacher would be at least fifty years old, but he hadn't expected him to be so young. Yet, judging from Liang Yanqing's respectful demeanor, it didn't seem fake.

Feng Zhonglin smiled, his gaze sweeping over Lin Ji and Chen Tianze, his voice clear and resonant, like the ringing of a copper bell:

"Commander Chen, there's no need to be so polite. I'm young and don't deserve to be called 'Old Gentleman.' I've come to Jiangcheng for two reasons: first, to check on Yan Qing's job, and second, to discuss our future plans with you all."

He speaks with an inherently convincing aura, completely devoid of the impetuousness of a young man in his twenties.

Lin Ji stepped aside and gestured, saying, "Let's talk inside."

The group entered the study, and the guards served tea before leaving. The door closed, and the room instantly became quieter.

Feng Zhonglin picked up the teacup, his fingertips covered with calluses.

That's something honed through years of holding a pen and a gun.

He took a sip of tea, then put down the cup and got straight to the point:

"With the main force of the navy heading south, Commander Chen, do you feel you can finally breathe a sigh of relief?"

Chen Tianze paused for a moment, then chuckled dryly, "This... is a bit too lenient. After all, no one can withstand six cannons pointing at the city."

"We can't let go." Feng Zhonglin shook his head, tapping the table lightly with his fingertip.

"It's true that Zhang Zhengting went south, but what was that marine corps he left behind for? Ostensibly there to assist in defense, but in reality, they were supervising the army. He Ze suffered a loss from the ship bombing, and his strength was damaged, but his foundation wasn't severed. Once he recovers, the first place he'll retaliate against will be Jiangcheng. At that time, the navy will be far to the south and unable to return in time. Commander Chen, do you think you can hold the city with the small number of garrison troops you have?"

These words made Chen Tianze's face turn several shades pale.

The last vestige of hope he held onto was shattered by a single sentence from Feng Zhonglin.

"Then... then what does Mr. Feng mean?" Chen Tianze leaned forward.

"Don't rush to talk about Jiangcheng." Feng Zhonglin changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "I came from the north with some news. Listen to what I have to say. The government has made contact with the foreigners. The foreigners are providing money and weapons, and have even sent military advisors. Their condition is that they help the government quell the rebellion and eliminate all opposition forces in the south."

"What?!" Chen Tianze jumped to his feet, the chair scraping against the floor with a screeching sound. "Foreigners have gotten involved? Then... how is He Ze supposed to fight?"

Lin Ji frowned slightly.

With the intervention of foreigners, the situation completely changed. What was originally just a civil war between the North and South has now been complicated by the influence of foreigners, giving the ruling government more confidence and making its actions even more ruthless.

"That's not all." Feng Zhonglin raised his eyes, his gaze sharp:

"The north is already discussing the 'Jiangbei Arms Ban Order,' which is nominally to stabilize the local area, disband all civilian armed forces, and punish those who privately possess weapons as traitors. In reality, it is to use the guns and cannons of foreigners to wipe out all the Jianghu factions and local armed forces so that the ruling government can consolidate its power. Last month, the Flying Tiger Village in Xuzhou Prefecture was surrounded by government troops and burned to the ground because it had a dozen knives hidden there. Dozens of people, young and old, did not escape. The government posted a notice saying that this is the consequence of resisting the arms ban."

His words weren't loud, but they hit the room like a stone.

Chen Tianze opened his mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

Arms ban...

If this policy is actually implemented in the south, the first to be laid off will be his city defense army.

"Aren't they afraid of being rebelled by people in the martial arts world?" Li Shuwen asked in a muffled voice, appearing at the doorway at some point.

"Rebel?" Feng Zhonglin sneered. "How can we rebel? We're a disorganized mess, each fighting our own battles. The government has calculated this perfectly, which is why they've come up with an even more insidious plan. They're preparing to hold the 'North-South Martial Arts Tournament' at Mount Hua, ostensibly to elect a martial arts alliance leader and discuss the ban on martial arts, giving martial arts practitioners a way out. In reality, it's a trap, a banquet to lure all the sect leaders and masters from various regions there. Those willing to submit will be given a sinecure, while those unwilling will be eliminated on the spot, wiping them out in one fell swoop and eliminating any future troubles."

The study fell silent instantly.

The river wind swirled fallen leaves against the window paper, making a rustling sound that only amplified the somber mood inside.

This is no martial arts competition; it's a slaughterhouse.

Lin Ji traced the rim of the teacup with his fingertips, and after a long while, he slowly spoke:

"A brilliant plan. Divide and conquer first, then lure them into a trap. There are wise men in the government."

"He is indeed a master." Feng Zhonglin sighed, his tone finally carrying a touch of youthful melancholy: "I came here for two reasons. First, to inform everyone that Jiangcheng is making preparations in advance. Second, we must send someone to the Huashan Martial Arts Tournament. If we don't go, we won't know what kind of scheme they have set up or how far the martial arts ban will be pushed. But if we go, it will be a nine-out-of-ten chance of death."

He looked up at Lin Ji, his eyes filled with expectation: "Moreover, the people who go must have real skills, and they must be new faces so that they cannot be recognized by the people of the Executive Government."

Chen Tianze sat in the chair, his mind a jumbled mess.

One moment it's an ironclad warship, the next it's He Ze, then it's a ban on weapons and the Huashan Gathering.