Chapter 22

Is that it?

Seeing the retreating backs of the soldiers like a receding tide, the young men of the militia, including those from Baozhi Lin, looked at each other in silence for a while, all feeling as if they were still in a dream.

"What are you all standing around for? Haven't you seen to the injured and taken them back to Baozhi Lin yet?"

Lin Sha's shout immediately roused the previously anxious young men of the militia, who began to bustle about.

"Lin Sha, you're really something! You managed to send off the new general with just a few words!"

"Yeah, yeah, seeing his fierce demeanor, I thought we were in big trouble this time!"

"I never knew you had such a way with words, Lin Sha!"

"..."

These guys had just gone through a fierce battle, each with injuries but not caring, as they urgently treated the severely wounded while joking and laughing with Lin Sha.

Lin Sha, with a smile on his face, joined in the banter with the busy young men of the militia, gradually relaxing. It wasn't until his "master" Huang Feihong, with a serious expression, walked over that his mood changed.

"Asha, do you know how reckless you were just now?"

The "master" started with a scolding, his serious expression not at all playful.

"What's wrong, Master? Is there a problem?"

Lin Sha's smile faded slightly, feeling a bit annoyed. Damn, he had just talked his way out of a significant trouble for the militia, and this was the treatment he got?

"Asha, you don't understand!"

Huang Feihong, with his rich experience, saw through Lin Sha's dissatisfaction at a glance. He sighed and pulled him aside, softly recounting the previous negotiations with the foreigners and the threats from the new Foshan general. He ended with a helpless smile, "It's all my fault for not listening to your advice to quit while we were ahead. I just didn't expect the court to... sigh..."

Lin Sha breathed a sigh of relief. The "master's" serious expression had scared him, making him think something terrible had happened.

"Master, you're overthinking it!"

As an outsider, and with his nearly ten years of experience from the future, how could he not see through the new Foshan general's ulterior motives?

"Since the new Foshan general specifically mentioned Lord Liu Yongfu, it shows he is wary of Lord Liu and the Black Flag Army in Annam!"

Lin Sha smiled lightly, explaining, "His actions are just a show of attitude, and a warning to us not to think that with Lord Liu and the Black Flag Army backing us, we can act without regard for the court!"

Huang Feihong was enlightened, wondering why he hadn't thought of these things, focusing only on the new Foshan general's potential to find fault with the militia.

"Are we not also a form of hostage in the eyes of the court?"

Since he had started speaking, Lin Sha didn't mind being thorough, "With us in their hands, Lord Liu in Annam would also be cautious, not daring to act too much against the court!"

"Of course, if we act recklessly and give the court an excuse, they might make an example of us, and even Lord Liu would be helpless if he heard the news!"

Huang Feihong was thoroughly shocked. He never imagined that he and the militia were just hostages to threaten and control Lord Liu in the eyes of the court.

Feeling a chill, even with his broad and generous nature, he couldn't help but feel disheartened and resentful towards the court, which was a natural human reaction.

"What about us and the militia in the future...?" His voice was hoarse and dry, his face full of bitterness as he looked at Lin Sha and asked with difficulty.

"Just don't give the authorities an excuse!"

Lin Sha smiled, his good attitude unaffected. In his past life, he had seen too many helpless situations; if he had dwelled on every one, he would have been depressed long ago.

Of course, there were things he didn't say. If his plan to connect with the foreigners succeeded, 'using the foreigners to strengthen ourselves' would not be just empty words. The Foshan militia could take the opportunity to grow and develop until one day they would be strong enough that the authorities wouldn't dare to act rashly. Then their situation would be completely different.

"Huang Feihong!"

At that moment, a strange voice caught everyone's attention.

Lin Sha looked up and saw two tall, strong foreigners swaggering over, their eyes looking down on everyone, almost as if they were walking sideways like crabs.

"Who are these two guys?"

He frowned, feeling very uncomfortable. Although he knew that foreigners acted arrogantly on Chinese soil in this era, knowing and seeing it were two different things.

He pulled over Ya Cha Su, who had been standing there as a backdrop, and asked with a frown.

"They are Captain Sassoon of the American ship and his assistant!"

Ya Cha Su swallowed hard, seeing Lin Sha's unfriendly expression and swallowing the respectful "sir."

"Hmph, what kind of scum is this?"

Lin Sha, feeling annoyed, was not at all polite, taking two steps to stand behind his "master," curious to see what these foreigners wanted.

"Huang Feihong, I advise you not to meddle in things that don't concern you!"

The American captain, Sassoon, a tall and thin white man in his forties, spoke rudely to his "master" with a strange accent, which was oddly amusing.

"Mr. Sassoon, what do you mean?"

Huang Feihong frowned, his tone displeased.

"Nothing much!"

Sassoon shrugged and laughed strangely, his eyes looking down with arrogance, his words full of threats, "If you interfere with my making big money, I will have the Foshan authorities arrest you!"

"Do you think this is the Philippines?"

Before his "master" could respond, Lin Sha stepped forward and said rudely, "This is the territory of the Qing Dynasty. The British can act arrogantly with their power, but you Americans, who only know how to cheat and follow the British and French for scraps..."

He shook his head in disdain, his unspoken words clear.

"Boy, you've got guts!"

The American, Sassoon, looked vicious, and the tall, muscular white man standing beside him, exuding a fierce aura, cracked his knuckles loudly, looking at Lin Sha with ill intent.

"Boxer?"

Lin Sha, ignoring Sassoon's threatening gaze, looked at the muscular white man with interest and asked lightly.

"Sure!"

The muscular white man looked proud, flexing his strong muscles in a challenge.

Bang!

Without a word, Lin Sha twisted his body and threw a punch, stopping just twenty centimeters from the muscular white man's face. The air exploded with a loud sound, and the muscular white man felt a fierce wind slap his cheeks, his golden hair being blown back by the force.

The sound in his ears was like a thunderclap, and he looked at the 'slender' fist in front of him with shock...