Chapter 15

At dawn, there was still one more update, please support the ranking push...

With the cheap master stepping in to mediate, Lin Sha and Porky Rong both extinguished their anger, exchanging apologetic glances, indicating that their earlier outburst was just a momentary flare-up and not a deliberate provocation.

"Shi Rong, don't act rashly! I won't allow you to get involved in this matter!" Huang Feihong warned sternly, "I will handle this!"

"How do you plan to handle it, Master?"

Lin Sha secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly changed the subject, asking curiously.

"I will go to the government office and explain the situation to the foreigners. Otherwise, the lives of our Foshan people will be very difficult in the future!" Huang Feihong nodded, his expression serious.

With the cheap master speaking so firmly, Porky Rong had no choice but to calm down. He realized his earlier impulsiveness. If he had recklessly rushed to the foreigners' area to cause trouble, not only would his safety be at risk, but everyone involved would be implicated. Even Liu Yongfu and the Black Flag Army in Annam would face criticism from the imperial court.

This outcome was truly disheartening. When the gathered militia youths in the small courtyard heard the news, their faces of disappointment and frustration were painfully obvious.

Lin Sha really wanted to do something, but he was powerless and could do nothing. He could only sigh in frustration, calling Ya Cha Su and Senior Brother Ling Yunkai to the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous feast to entertain these militia youths who were usually living below the poverty line.

After sending off the well-fed and satisfied militia youths, the Baozhi Lin Clinic returned to its usual quietness, but the atmosphere remained oppressive and uncomfortable.

The cheap master Huang Feihong was clearly in a bad mood, but he still gathered his disciples to discuss how to seek help from the government and jointly resolve this trouble.

Senior Brother Porky Rong remained silent, clearly not intending to offer any opinions. Senior Brother Ling Yunkai was a man of action but didn't have much to say. Ya Cha Su had only recently returned from abroad and spoke Chinese haltingly, so he could be ignored due to his lack of understanding of the situation.

The other disciples were either simple-minded or of low birth and had no knowledge of the government, so they couldn't offer any useful suggestions.

Huang Feihong's gaze swept over his disciples, and he found that none of them could be trusted with important matters, which naturally disappointed him. However, Lin Sha's calm demeanor stood out, and Huang Feihong's heart stirred as he developed some thoughts about this young disciple.

Huang Feihong was both pleased and puzzled by this young disciple's recent outstanding performance. Previously, this small disciple had almost no presence in Baozhi Lin, except for his talent in martial arts and medicine. He was usually quiet and unassuming.

However, in the past few days, he had suddenly excelled. His martial arts skills had reached the brink of the Mingjin stage, and his usual demeanor had changed dramatically, becoming witty, humorous, and talkative. His performance outside with Aunt Thirteen was also commendable, showing decisiveness, stability, and talent.

Huang Feihong didn't know why his young disciple had suddenly changed, but now wasn't the time to investigate. He asked Lin Sha, "Asha, what are your thoughts?"

"Master, to what extent do you want to resolve this matter?"

Lin Sha smiled slightly, as if he had expected the cheap master to ask him, and countered without hesitation.

"What do you mean by that?"

Not only Huang Feihong, but the other disciples, including Porky Rong, looked curious.

"If the goal is just to resolve the incident of the uncle who was shot for intruding on the British warship, it's actually quite simple!"

Lin Sha looked confident, almost ready to transform into Zhuge Liang with a feather fan.

"Did I hear that right? This is simple?" Senior Brother Ling Yunkai looked surprised and exclaimed in disbelief.

"It is indeed simple!" Lin Sha's gaze swept over his fellow disciples and finally landed on the cheap master, nodding firmly. "The British don't necessarily want to escalate the situation and cause public outrage. Otherwise, the uncle who was shot wouldn't have been able to be brought to Baozhi Lin alive!"

"How do you know what the British are thinking?" Porky Rong asked, clearly disbelieving.

"Don't forget, Aunt Thirteen just returned from Britain!"

Lin Sha smiled, not trying to be mysterious. "From chatting with Aunt Thirteen, I learned that Britain's colonies are spread across the world, and there are many places that require troops to maintain order. The number of troops they can send to the Qing is limited. Otherwise, they wouldn't just establish a concession but would directly send troops to turn the Qing into another India!"

"Since it's just a concession, they naturally want the surrounding environment to be stable. Most of the food and water supplies for the concession depend on Foshan. Causing too much public outrage would not be in their best interest!"

The others nodded, finding Lin Sha's analysis reasonable.

Huang Feihong smiled faintly and suddenly asked, "What if we want the British to compensate and apologize?"

"Absolutely impossible!"

Lin Sha was firm, shaking his head and looking at the cheap master, he said solemnly, "Master, we should know when to stop and not bring unnecessary trouble to Baozhi Lin!"

"Even if the British won't agree, the government won't help us and might even side with the British!"

"Why is that?" The disciples opened their eyes wide, and Senior Brother Porky Rong looked furious. Even the cheap master Huang Feihong frowned and looked at him intently.

"First, the court is currently vigorously promoting the Self-Strengthening Movement and doesn't want to offend the world's strongest power!"

Lin Sha was now speaking passionately, almost like a master orator. He held up two fingers and continued, "Second, the new emperor has just ascended the throne, and what he needs now is political stability!"

Before the disciples and the cheap master could digest his words, he held up a third finger and said solemnly, "The most important national affair right now is General Zuo's campaign to pacify the border unrest, which happens to be adjacent to Britain's sphere of influence in the Arab region. It would be unwise to antagonize Britain at this time!"

The disciples and the cheap master were all shaken by his words. Lin Sha's words were like a clarion call, making their petty grievances seem laughable in the face of true national righteousness.

At this moment, Lin Sha, moved by the atmosphere, looked pained and fierce, waving his hand and roaring angrily, "The weakness of our country is a fact. No matter how upset we are, we can't change it. But maintaining the integrity of our national territory is our inescapable responsibility!"

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