Chapter 17: A Kick Turns Everything Upside Down

  Li Zhen and Huang Shi Hai made a move, and the soldiers at the city gate immediately became tense.

  The people shuttling in and out of the city have changed their attire, growing their hair long and not braiding it into pigtails. However, Li Zhen and his group had shiny bald foreheads with a long whip hanging from the back of their heads, drawing attention whenever they appeared. Huang Shi Hai was being cautious, but Li Zhen strode boldly towards the city gate.

  "Halt!"

  Just as Li Zhen arrived at the city gate, a loud shout immediately rang out.

  The man who shouted was a rough-looking middle-aged man, who was Duan Zhenggang, a general under Yang Xiuqing. He arrived at the city gate early with his soldiers and waited for Li Zhen to arrive.

  Li Zhen was observing from outside the city when Duan Zhengyang was ready to make his move at any moment.

  Now it's his turn to shine.

  Duan Zheng just saw Li Zhen and his party stop, with a cold face and frosty voice, shouting: "You little boy, this is where the people of Tianchao live, everyone is equal, there is no distinction between the pure and the impure. The people have all grown their hair long, unwilling to be the running dogs of the Qing court. There is still a pigtail hanging behind your head, are you willing to be a slave for the rest of your life?"

  Duan Zhenggang pretended not to recognize Li Zhen although he knew it was him who had come.

  Li Zhen's heart was like a clear mirror, knowing it was intentional.

  He opened the door and said straightforwardly: "I am Li Zhen, the deputy general of Jiangbei Dajiang, who has come to visit Dong Wang to discuss the handling of 10,000 prisoners. Who are you? How dare you block my way?"

  Huang Shi Hai glared at him and shouted: "Get out of the way!"

  Duan Zhenggang burst out laughing and said coldly, "I don't care who you are. Let me tell you, I am Duan Zhenggang, a great general under the command of Dong Wang. You claim to be Li Zhen, but you must be an imposter. Two days ago, two fake Li Zhens came to see our king, but they were both exposed and eventually torn apart by five horses. You look so despicable and lowly, one glance tells me that you are not Li Zhen."

  Li Zhen's eyebrows twitched and his face suddenly turned gloomy.

  Yang Xiucheng made up his mind and really wanted to give him a ruthless blow.

  As for the two "Li Zhen" incidents, Li Zhen did not believe it at all.

  Duan Zheng had just seen Li Zhen's solemn expression, the corners of his mouth curled up, and with a wave of his large hand, he shouted: "Come on, take down this fake Li Zhen for me. This person is extremely reckless, trying to deceive people with a fake identity, truly deserving of death. Beat him severely, just don't beat him to death."

  Li Zhen thought of taking out Qi Shan's letter, but after hearing Duan Zheng's words, he gave up the idea.

  Duan Zhenggang deliberately did so, and taking out the letter would be useless anyway.

  Huang Shi Hai made an early preparation, with a wave of his hand, the guards who followed him immediately protected Li Zhen and vigilantly watched the people surrounding them. Li Zhen thought for a moment, then reiterated: "Duan Zheng Gang, you must think clearly, if you randomly arrest people, it will affect the important matters of the Eastern King, and it will be your fault. If one hundred thousand soldiers lose their legs or arms because of you, it is all caused by you."

  Duan Zhenggang's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, but he shouted: "Take him down, this arrogant scoundrel!"

  At the sound of the order, the soldiers around Duan Zhengyang immediately rushed up.

  All the soldiers were empty-handed and unarmed, without drawing their waist knives.

  Hundreds of soldiers surrounded Li Zhen and his group, shouting loudly as they rushed forward. Huang Shi Hai ordered the soldiers to counterattack, although he didn't have a spear, his fist was just as fierce. The Eight Extremities Fist style was ferocious and overbearing, with powerful and swift movements that left no room for mercy. Especially when Huang Shi Hai was enraged, each move was more ruthless than the last.

  Bang! Bang!

  Huang Shi Hai punched and kicked the Taiping Army soldiers, knocking down over a dozen of them in an instant. Each soldier lay on the ground wailing, their faces contorted in pain. The bodyguards protecting Li Zhen were also skilled fighters, trained by Huang Shi Hai himself in the Eight Extremities Fist style. Although their martial arts skills were far inferior to Huang Shi Hai's, they had thick skin and flesh, and their fists were fierce.

  Ten soldiers charged forward in a burst, immediately repelling the onrushing troops.

  Nearly a hundred Taiping soldiers charged forward but were unable to take down the guards brought by Li Zhen.

  Just saw it in front of his eyes, and he was anxious in his heart.

  He didn't expect Li Zhen's guards to be so formidable, it was really beyond his expectations. Duan Zhenggang's eyes rolled around and thought that he should take down Li Zhen first, then force the others to surrender. Duan Zhenggang also saw Huang Shi Hai's bravery in battle and left a thought, he carefully avoided Huang Shi Hai, taking advantage of Li Zhen's guards being exhausted from resisting, grabbing the opportunity, he rushed towards Li Zhen.

  "Little kid, you're impersonating Li Zhen, I'll catch you later."

  Duan Zheng just dodged Li Zhen's guard and punched towards Li Zhen.

  Huang Shi Hai was busy fending off the Taiping soldiers who were rushing forward, and had no time to spare. Seeing Duan Zheng Gang rushing towards Li Zhen, he became even more worried. Li Zhen was their mainstay, if Li Zhen was captured, things would become very tricky.

  Huang Shi Hai made a series of swift moves, shaking off the entangling soldiers and pounced towards Duan Zheng Gang.

  Even so, Huang Shi Hai was still one step too late.

  Duan Zhenggang rushed up to Li Zhen and pounced on him. Li Zhen's expression remained calm, standing still in his original position. This action made Duan Zhenggang think that Li Zhen was frightened silly, and he felt even more delighted. With excitement, Duan Zhenggang loudly shouted: "You little brat, remember this! Never dare to deceive people again, or else today's lesson will be repeated!"

  Li Zhen sneered inwardly, and with a slight movement of his foot, he retreated one step back. It was this very step that allowed him to narrowly avoid Duan Zhenggang's attack, causing the latter's move to be in vain and unable to catch Li Zhen.

  "Fall down!"

  Duan Zheng was just about to make another move when he heard Li Zhen's icy voice beside his ear.

  Li Zhen lifted his left foot and kicked out with one leg.

  This kick was incredibly fast, and Duan Zhenggang only saw a shadow flash by.

  "Bang!"

  Li Zhenyi whipped his leg and struck Duan Zhengyang's chest with a loud thud.

  "Ah!!"

  Duan Zhenggang let out a miserable cry, feeling as if his chest had been smashed by a massive boulder weighing thousands of catties. The force was so powerful and overbearing that it almost shattered his bones. Immediately afterwards, Duan Zhenggang felt the ground beneath him give way, and his sturdy body actually flew up into the air, tracing an arc before crashing to the ground with a loud thud, sending him tumbling about in all directions.

  "Take it down!"

  Li Zhen shouted loudly and Huang Shi Hai immediately rushed to Duan Zheng Gang's side, taking control of him.

  The surrounding soldiers saw Duan Zheng being caught and were all stunned.

  The bustling city gate suddenly fell silent. The Taiping Army soldiers who had just been showing off their military prowess all stopped, and the guards protecting Li Zhen did not pursue their victory, but quickly retreated to Li Zhen's side and protected him. Li Zhen's expression was icy cold, he stretched out his hand and pointed at a soldier, ordering: "Go, bring me a chair."

  Duan Zheng just heard Li Zhen's words, enduring the pain, a look of confusion appeared on his face.

  Chair?

  What does Li Zhen want with the chair? Is he going to use it against him?

  The soldiers pointed by Li Zhen did not dare to refuse, and hurriedly went into the city to fetch a chair and placed it beside Li Zhen. Li Zhen sat down on the chair with a swagger, beckoned with his hand, and Huang Shi Hai immediately brought Du Zheng Gang over to Li Zhen's side.

  Li Zhen looked at Duan Zhenggang, who was hanging his head in shame, and said with a smile: "You are Duan Zhenggang, very good. You privately ordered the soldiers to capture me, the general, which must be intentional, wanting to put the lives of 10,000 soldiers in Jiangbei's camp to death. I want to ask Dong Wang, is he not willing to have the lives of 10,000 soldiers? Or does he want my life?"

  Duan Zheng was so angry he wanted to cry but had no tears, his intestines were all twisted with regret.

  No way, can't be intimidated by Li Zhen.

  Duan Zhenggang glared fiercely at Li Zhen, shouting: "Li Zhen, I am Duan Zhenggang, the great general of Dong Wang. If you know what's good for you, release me immediately. If you provoke this general, you will not leave Nanjing alive, and you will certainly die."

  Li Zhen furrowed his brow, his eyes growing even colder.

  Postscript: three watches