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"Have you heard? Our Red Flag Gang has some connection with General Qiu!"

"The Great General Zhenhai?"

“Who else could it be!”

"Is this true? Wasn't General Zhenhai killed by the old emperor?"

"That's a false accusation! Besides, General Qiu also has nephews, nephews, and subordinates. It's not surprising that a few escaped, right?"

"Hey, don't tell me, our training is really different from others, even the guards can't compare to it!"

"I heard that General Qiu loves his soldiers like his own sons. Ordinary soldiers definitely don't eat as well as we do."

"But General Qiu has been killed. Will the old emperor come to cause trouble for us?"

"A lot of people died in the previous battle..."

The crowd that was talking at once fell silent, with sad expressions on their faces.

Yes, this is the first time since the establishment of the Red Flag Gang that it has suffered such heavy casualties. Not to mention the hurricane, several ships sank during the battle with the government soldiers.

There is only one fleet here. If a large army attacks, can they withstand it?

A damaged ship can be repaired and injured people can be treated, but it is difficult to deal with a shaken military morale.

No matter how much training they have undergone, these people are just ordinary fishermen. Who among them is not afraid of the imperial officials and soldiers?

The reputation of General Zhenhai was known to everyone along the coast. Such a powerful figure was easily killed by the emperor along with his entire family.

If General Qiu couldn't cope with it, could they defeat the government army and the imperial court?

Just when people were in a state of panic, the leaders, both big and small, gathered everyone together, saying that it was the gang leader's order.

Is this a celebration party?

Although many ships were destroyed and many people died, they still won. It is not surprising that they had a sumptuous banquet to celebrate. However, many people felt empty in their hearts, which even wine and meat could not fill.

Who would have thought that when everyone gathered together, what they faced was not steaming hot delicacies, but rows and rows of coffins.

In an instant, everyone's heart sank. Some clenched their fists, some had red eyes, and some had cold sweat on their foreheads, thinking of the life-and-death struggle and the tragic scene of the sudden changes in heaven and earth.

At the moment when everyone fell silent, a low and suppressed horn sounded. Countless people raised their heads and looked at the figure dressed in black and a red cloak stepping onto the platform.

Standing on the stage, Cheng Xi's gaze swept through the dark crowd and saw anger, sadness, and deep confusion.

She took a sharp breath and shouted, "Foreign enemies invaded, trying to seize our camp and bully our women and children. It was you who fought tooth and nail to repel the invaders and protect this foundation. Those who died on the battlefield are all heroes of our Red Flag Gang, martyrs who died defending our land!"

The word "defending the land" is too elegant, and some people even couldn't understand it, but they understood the word "hero", which only appears in storytellers' books, and it also makes countless men admire it.

Who doesn't want to be a hero?

And now, those comrades who died in battle are heroes and respected "martyrs"!

Cheng Xi didn't give them time to think, and continued, "Martyrs should not be humiliated. I will erect tablets and build ancestral halls for all those who died in battle. As long as the Red Flag Gang survives, incense and offerings will never cease. Heroes should not be bullied either. Even if there are no spoils of war, all compensation will be paid to their families without a penny less. Those with children can go to school, and I will provide for the elderly as well. As the leader of the Red Flag Gang, I will always remember those who died for it!"

The voice was high-pitched and clear, like a gust of wind, blowing away the haze that shrouded everyone's hearts.

Yes, they gained very little in this battle but paid too much, but were these sacrifices meaningful?

Of course there were. They protected this huge fleet, their homes, and their wives and children.

Regardless of whether they have robbed any property or not, the gang leader will fulfill his promise to provide them with compensation, take care of their children, and even build a temple for them to burn incense so that they can rest in peace after death.

Isn’t the purpose of living just to breathe?

The dejection was visibly dissipated, but for Cheng Xi, this was not enough: "But this battle is not over yet!"

The slightly relaxed mood suddenly tensed up, and many people couldn't help but hold their breath.

"Some people say that our Red Flag Gang is connected to General Zhenhai, so the court wants to send troops to suppress us." Cheng Xi looked around at everyone and suddenly smiled. "They are not wrong. The Red Flag Gang does have the blood and bones left by General Qiu, and they will not be let off by the court."

No matter how strict the military discipline was, a buzz of discussion could be heard among the crowd at this moment.

The gang leader actually admitted it!

Is the Red Flag Gang really related to General Qiu, and is the imperial court about to send troops to kill them?

What should I do?

However, Cheng Xi raised his hand and gently pressed down, and the sound was immediately suppressed. Looking at the soldiers whose eyes were full of confusion and tension, Cheng Xi's tone became a little deeper: "I think you have heard about what kind of person General Qiu is. He is devoted to his country and loyal. He can guard the sea borders and bring peace to the world. However, such a person was also slaughtered by a tyrant!"

That voice seemed to be saturated with blood. Cheng Xi exhaled deeply and released the anger in his chest: "This world can no longer tolerate an innocent person. It's simply because he is too strong, because he cares about the people and is unwilling to bow to those corrupt officials and gentry. Now, the Red Flag Gang has also become stronger and is also protecting the people. They want to make this coastal area more peaceful. Naturally, those jackals and tigers in the court will not tolerate us."

At this moment, the audience was astonishingly quiet.

In the deathly silence, Cheng Xi suddenly raised his voice: "When you were common people, the government wanted to eat your flesh and blood and make you unable to live. Now that you have joined the Red Flag Gang, even if you have never burned, killed, looted, or abused women, the court will still be wary of you and will try every means to encircle and kill you! In this case, why not fight! If we win, this sea area will be ours to rule, and millions of people like you can live a more humane life!"

If it were a few months ago, no one would believe this.

But now, they believe it, everyone standing here believes it!

Because of the Red Flag Gang, they can have enough food and clothing, because of the Red Flag Gang, they can have extra money, because of the Red Flag Gang, they can practice martial arts and not be bullied by others, because of the Red Flag Gang, they can learn to read and count, giving the children a different way out.

Similarly, it is not just them, but also the fishermen who can buy cheap goods, the farmers who can borrow money for young crops at low interest rates, and the untouchables in the boat villages who can do legitimate jobs.

The gang leader had never lied to them, and now, he said he would go a step further and let more people live the same life as them, as long as he could defeat the imperial army!

What is this? Is this a rebellion?

No, it's more like something incredibly familiar, it's...

"Doing justice for the heavens!"

Not just anyone, but a loud roar woke up everyone. Fire flashed in their eyes and they roared in anger.

“Enforce justice on behalf of Heaven!” “Enforce justice on behalf of Heaven!”

Yes, the world is unfair, the court is unkind, and they must act on behalf of heaven to do justice!

Unexpectedly, the person on the stage waved his hand vigorously and roared, "Who can act on behalf of Heaven? You must do this for yourself, for the common people like you and me!"

The sound was not even a fraction as loud as the ones in the audience, but it overwhelmed the roars, making people's hearts tremble and suddenly shut up.

Are they worthy of being the center of "morality" and saving the people?

However, the man who spoke remained calm and added the second half of the sentence: "Let the people stop being pigs, dogs, cattle and horses and become upright people."

These words were so straightforward that everyone could understand them, and the moment they understood them, even the hatred that filled their bodies seemed to fade away a little.

They have heard of this before. In the story books, in the stories, the one who stands tall and saves the people is a "hero"!

No one spoke anymore, and no one knew what to say.

In silence, Cheng Xi stepped forward, raised the wine bowl on the table, and said in a deep voice: "Today is not a celebration banquet, but a memorial banquet, a mourning for all those who died unjustly, for all those who remained unyielding."

After saying that, she flipped her hand and poured the whole bowl of wine onto the ground to comfort all the deceased heroic souls.

The next moment, the porcelain bowl smashed to the ground and shattered into thousands of pieces. She laughed out loud, "When I return victorious and reward everyone according to their merit, I will get drunk with you all!"

Even when facing the imperial court, their gang leader is not afraid and is confident of victory.

Yes, they must win, for themselves, for their families, and for the "common people" who are far away but right in front of them.

"Victory!"

A roar tore through the silence, and also shouted out everyone's thoughts.

"Victory to the Red Flag Gang!"

The roars grew louder and louder, and became more and more uniform. They knew how powerful the enemy was and that they were in danger, but they were unwilling to admit defeat and were unwilling to retreat even a step!

Millions of hearts and millions of forces are twisted together at this moment.

Standing in the distance, Lu Jian let out a breath.

He had seen similar scenes before, and had seen how that person killed people to establish his authority and win people's hearts.

But none of those were as shocking as today.

She didn't want to "enforce justice on behalf of Heaven." She didn't even care about the "Heaven" of the Son of Heaven. She wanted to replace the imperial court, at least in the South China Sea. Is this what a woman should want? Is this what a woman can do?

Lu Jian thought of countless possibilities and many ways to calm people's hearts, but none of them could be as overwhelming and devastating as this one.

Let all people in the world live like human beings?

Doesn't this mean that there is no hierarchy, no noble and humble, and the moral principles established over thousands of years?

Even someone as crazy and naughty as him would be afraid.

However, the next moment, Lu Jian shook his head. Some words are easy to say but not so easy to put into practice.

She might be able to convince this group of peasants, but she might not be able to convince those pirates who live on the edge of a knife. Once she admits that the Red Flag Gang is involved with General Qiu, she will inevitably push those potential allies aside.

And this cannot be solved by a few light-hearted slogans.

Looking at the group of angry soldiers, Lu Jian breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't matter. The more difficult it was, the more important he would be.

Compared to ambition, profit is the root of everything. She is not smooth, so he can naturally lend a hand, become her support, and also put a rein on her arrogance. Like water and fire, hardness and softness complement each other...

No longer looking at the frenzied training ground, Lu Jian smiled and turned away.