69novels Chapter 206 Heading North! Eliminating Future Trouble!
Chapter 206 Heading North! Eliminating Future Trouble!
Chapter 206 Heading North! Eliminating Future Trouble!
The group fell silent.
They now knew that the man before them was not only Sir Chen, but also the commander of the Blood Flag Army, who was stirring up Lingnan and causing the imperial court sleepless nights.
A world-renowned miracle doctor, but also a notorious and ruthless traitor!
Such a person would naturally not stay in Hong Kong.
But—did he really come all this way just to see Ma Rulong?
Teaching martial arts techniques and gifting warships—what is the deeper meaning behind such generous treatment?
Could it be that they want to recruit him? To get them to join the rebellion?
Ma Rulong took a deep breath, somewhat embarrassed: "Sir, I understand your ambitions, and I admire you from the bottom of my heart. Overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and rebuilding China, I know that is a great cause that requires millions of people to sacrifice their lives."
"I am not afraid of death. If necessary, I, Ma Rulong, am ready to risk my life at any time."
He paused, his tone becoming somewhat complicated: "But asking me to rally others, to get them to sacrifice with me—I can't do it. I don't know what the result will be after so many sacrifices?"
""
"Everyone's life is precious, and you only have one. So—I'd rather be a policeman, where I can protect one person and save one person if I can in my position."
Liang Kuan listened from the side, his brows furrowed slightly, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with Ma Rulong.
Zhuo Yifei was so nervous that his palms were sweating. He secretly tugged at Ma Rulong's sleeve, afraid that his refusal would anger this notorious traitor.
It brought about utter destruction.
Chen Wen looked at Ma Rulong, and instead of being displeased, he showed an appreciative smile.
"I understand, and I knew you would say that."
"You're right. If there were more people like you in this world, perhaps there wouldn't be a need for someone like me to do those things."
Ma Rulong was startled, his eyes gleaming with disbelief. He exclaimed excitedly, "Sir—you think what I said—is right? You agree with me?"
"Of course it's right." Chen Wen nodded firmly, his tone resolute.
"There is more than one path to saving the nation and its people. We may have different roles and methods, but our goals may differ. However—"
He then changed the subject, with a hint of regret: "But in this colony, the justice you uphold, the protection you provide, is often pale and powerless, and may even turn into shackles that bind and harm you."
"They won't be grateful to you; they'll only take advantage of you, ostracize you, and even frame you."
Ma Rulong's eyes dimmed for a moment, but then a more determined flame ignited within him as he straightened his back: "That's precisely why I can't leave!"
"If even I don't fight back, if I don't resist, then the people here truly have no hope! My abilities are limited, but I'll protect whoever I can, and fight for whoever I can, for as long as I can!"
Looking into Ma Rulong's stubborn yet pure-looking eyes, Liang Kuan's dissatisfaction suddenly dissipated.
He was silent for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "Ma Rulong—I was a little angry at you for not knowing what was good for you. But now I'm convinced. You're a real man, and I, Liang Kuan, consider you my brother."
Upon hearing this, Ma Rulong's face immediately broke into a bright, slightly embarrassed smile.
"Brother Liang!"
A huge weight was lifted from his heart.
Actually, he had to muster up his courage to say those words.
After all, the other party was the leader of a rebel group, and there were all sorts of rumors about the Blood Flag Army, including that they were ruthless and vicious.
He was terrified that his refusal would anger the other party and lead to his death.
But after spending time with him, he realized that Chen Wen was not the person described in the rumors.
He made the right bet.
Chen Wen looked at Ma Rulong, his smile deepening, and patted the other's arm: "Ma Rulong, before you leave, I'll give you three more things."
Ma Rulong immediately stood at attention and listened.
"First is Drunken Fist."
"Secondly, there's this island, some of the treasure, and these people."
Chen Wen nodded, his gaze becoming somewhat distant, and slowly uttered the third item: "The third item is rather special. It consists of only one sentence—"
"In the future, we will succeed!"
Having said that, he said no more, waved to Liang Kuan and the others, and strode away.
The Blood Flag Army soldiers, escorting some of the important prisoners and the main treasures, followed closely behind, their figures quickly disappearing into the morning light and lingering smoke outside the clock tower.
Ma Rulong stood there, pondering those last words.
Drunken Fist is meant to make him stronger.
Islands, treasures, and manpower were what gave him power and a foothold.
But what about the third sentence—"In the future, will we succeed?"
This sounds like a blessing, a beautiful vision.
But Chen Wen's tone and eyes were unusually firm when he said this, as if he were stating an established fact.
Why? What makes him so certain?
What does "success" mean? Overthrowing the Qing Dynasty? Establishing a new nation? Or something far more profound?
Ma Rulong frowned, lost in thought.
"Hey! Brother Long! What are you spacing out for!"
Zhuo Yifei, limping along with a lump in his throat, approached, his face flushed with excitement and relief at surviving the ordeal. He patted Ma Rulong's shoulder forcefully, spitting as he spoke.
"We've struck it rich! We've really struck it rich this time! Such a huge island, so much gold and silver, and so many people!"
"From now on, we'll have our own pirate king! We'll be pirate kings—no, pirate heroes! Heroes!"
His loud voice interrupted Ma Rulong's thoughts.
Ma Rulong glanced at the excited Zhuo Yifei, then at Lu Huiguang, Lin Guobin, and the others, as well as the terrified pirate prisoners.
Then look out at the warship moored outside the cave and the vast sea.
Yes, the real problems are already piling up.
How to revitalize this island? How to resettle these people?
How can we use these resources to do what we truly want to do and protect those who need protection?
He still couldn't understand Chen Wen's last words.
But it's okay, live on, and see with your own eyes.
On the sea, the Blood Flag Army's fast ships cut through the waves, heading towards the mainland.
On the deck, Liang Kuan walked to Chen Wen's side, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Captain, Ma Rulong is a man of loyalty and principle, and can be trusted."
"But—can he really keep those people in check? Luo Sanpao's old subordinates, slippery guys like Zhuo Yifei, and the people in that murky water of Hong Kong—"
Looking at the distant sea, Chen Wen smiled faintly upon hearing this: "No need to worry. Hong Kong is right next to Lingnan. If there are any problems that can't be solved, Huang Feihong can bring his men over in half a day."
not to mention----"
"This was just a random move."
"If it can be used, that's good. If it can't, that's fine too."
"On this trip, I saw the people I wanted to see, and that's enough."
Liang Kuan carefully considered Chen Wen's words and slowly nodded.
He now understood that Chen Wen valued Ma Rulong so much not because he wanted to drag him into a rebellion.
Instead, we admire his unwavering, perhaps somewhat naive, spirit in the face of a corrupt environment.
It is not a grand, heroic act of sacrificing oneself for righteousness, but a greatness found in the ordinary.
This kind of mindset is rarer than gold in today's world.
"Captain, are we heading straight back to Guangcheng now?"
Liang Kuan asked, but then another thought came to mind, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.
Chen Wen seemed to read his mind and teased, "Go back? Go back to see the yellow robes you secretly prepared?"
Liang Kuan blushed and stammered, "Captain, we—we're just following the will of the people—everyone feels that there needs to be a leader, a legitimate authority, for the people to feel secure—hasn't that always been the case throughout history?"
"That's your problem, not mine," Chen Wen shook his head, his tone relaxed yet undeniable.
"I've said it many times, I won't sit in that position. It's your business if you want to make trouble, but don't drag me into it."
Liang Kuan scratched his hair, somewhat helpless, but dared not offer any more advice.
Chen Wen turned around, his gaze fixed on the north, his eyes gradually sharpening as if piercing through layers of waves to see into the distance.
"Now, I have something else I want to do even more."
7
"Captain, where do you want to go? What do you want to do?" Liang Kuan's spirits lifted.
Chen Wen suddenly let out a cold laugh and slowly uttered a few words: "Head north! To eliminate future troubles!"