novelAbuy Chapter 90 Walking Alone
Chapter 90 Walking Alone
Chen Feng was completely unaware that he had almost been summoned by Emperor Guangxu, and even if he had known, he would have just scoffed at it.
Inside the room, after Shi Lingxi finished speaking, she picked up the hot tea that Pang Li had brought over, a hint of anticipation in her eyes, and quietly waited for a reply.
Luna's expression was tense. He would occasionally adjust the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, his gaze fixed on Chen Feng behind the lenses, as if afraid that Chen Feng would refuse outright and completely ruin any possibility of cooperation.
Liu Hengfu frowned, picked up the teacup and took a big gulp. The scalding tea burned his lips and made them twitch, but he was completely unaware.
He knew better than anyone the strength of the Free Army, and that once they sided with the US military, the path to Luzon's independence would be even more difficult!
On the contrary, Zheng Mingsong seemed completely unconcerned about the matter.
He picked up the teacup and took a small sip, then smacked his lips and frowned. Clearly, this crudely made tea was not even good enough for a young master from a wealthy family like him.
He simply placed the cup on the table, leaned back in his chair, and adopted a purely spectator's posture.
The lingering fragrance of jasmine in his nostrils, mixed with the stuffy atmosphere of the room, made it impossible for Chen Feng to concentrate at all.
He simply got up from the bedside, walked slowly to the window, and pushed open half of it. A cool evening breeze mixed with drizzle rushed in, instantly dispelling some of the stuffiness.
With his back to everyone, Chen Feng lightly touched the cool windowpane with his fingertips, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly asked, "Do you all think that these conditions are sufficient?"
Shi Lingxi then stood up and walked slowly to the window to stand beside him. Her voice was soft but firm: "General Chen, the situation in Luzon is currently at a stalemate. Aguinaldo's attitude is tough. This condition is the maximum we can negotiate."
Luna, who was sitting in his chair, suddenly stood up, pushed up his glasses, and added urgently, "General Chen, it's not that we haven't tried our best! If we insist on increasing the number of Chinese members of parliament, Aquinado will definitely take the opportunity to expand the total number of seats in parliament and allocate the seats to his own tribe. In the end, the Chinese will still be a tiny minority, which is completely meaningless!"
Liu Hengfu put down his teacup and placed it heavily on the table. He said in a deep voice, "General Chen, I have always respected your concern for the Chinese people, but the number of council seats really cannot be increased. If you feel that the territory allocated to the Chinese Free Army is too small, we can still negotiate with them to try to allocate a few more good plots of land."
Zheng Mingsong glanced at the arguing group, shrugged lazily, and said casually, "I don't care. You guys decide the size of the territory and the number of councilors. I'll just benefit from it."
Chen Feng stood by the window, the evening breeze ruffling his clothes, his gaze growing increasingly profound.
This isn't an attempt to persuade anyone!
They're clearly here to force me to abdicate!
Luna wanted to use the strength of the Chinese Free Army to fight against the US military, Liu Hengfu wanted to rely on the independence army to consolidate his own position, and Shi Lingxi hoped to achieve independence through a coalition government.
The three men each had their own agendas, yet they joined forces to force him to agree to Aguinaldo's conditions and bind the Chinese Free Army to the independence army's chariot!
Chen Feng slowly turned his head, his eyes showing no hesitation whatsoever, and said, word by word, "I do not accept this condition!"
The words struck like a thunderclap, and the room fell into a deathly silence; even the sound of rain outside the window could be clearly heard.
Shi Lingxi looked up abruptly, her pupils contracting, her eyes filled with disbelief: "General Chen! Do you know what this means? We will completely break with Aguinaldo, and the Chinese in Luzon will be attacked from both sides! On one side are the remnants of the Spanish forces, on the other side are the Philippine Revolutionary Army, and there are also the American troops eyeing us covetously! You are driving the Chinese to their deaths!"
"Let's break up then!" Chen Feng said calmly.
Luna pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and stood up anxiously: "But we have no better choice! The US military has already taken control of Manila Bay; what they want is control of the entire Luzon region, not genuine help for the Chinese! You rejected Aguinaldo, does that mean... you're determined to side with the US military and become their lackey?"
"Seek refuge with them?"
Chen Feng sneered, his laughter filled with undisguised sarcasm: "In my life, I, Chen Feng, only trust the gun in my own hand. I will never side with anyone! The US military has its own agenda, and Aguinaldo has his own ambitions. Nobody cares about the lives of Chinese people! What I've always wanted is simply a piece of land where Chinese people can live in peace and dignity, free from oppression. If they can't give me that, I'll fight for it myself, I'll seize it!"
Liu Hengfu slammed his hand on the table, his eyes wide with fury as he pointed at Chen Feng: "Compete? How can we compete? Without Aguinaldo's alliance, we're all alone! In the end, you just want to rely on the power of the US military to control the entire Chinese community in Luzon and become your local tyrant!"
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These words were like a poisonous thorn, piercing the last vestiges of tranquility in the room.
Shi Lingxi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her gaze towards Chen Feng completely changed, from initial admiration to disappointment along the way, and now to icy coldness.
These days, rumors have been circulating among the Chinese Free Army that they are lackeys of the US military. She was skeptical at first, and even scoffed at the claim after Chen Feng risked his life to come to Malolos alone.
But now that he refuses to unite against the enemy and insists on going his own way, what other choice does he have but to join the US military?
Do they really think that with just over a thousand soldiers, they can fight against three powerful enemies and lead the Chinese to freedom?
It seems he really is willing to be a lackey of the US military!
Thinking of this, any lingering goodwill she had felt vanished instantly. She subconsciously took a step back, creating distance, and said in a distant tone, "General Chen, you have disappointed me greatly."
Chen Feng glanced at her indifferently, then his gaze swept over the three people before him. He said in a deep voice, "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. If you believe that following the Independent Army can bring hope to the Chinese, then go ahead and do it! I, Chen Feng, have my own path to walk, and I don't need others to tell me what to do, nor will I tolerate anyone throwing mud at me!"
"Pointing fingers? Throwing dirty water?" Liu Hengfu laughed angrily, his chest heaving. "We're saving you, saving all the Chinese in Luzon! But you're stubbornly clinging to your delusions, insisting on jumping into the American army's fire pit! Chen Feng, you traitor who betrayed your compatriots!"
The word "traitor" struck the air like a heavy hammer blow.
Luna's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth in agreement: "General Liu is right! He's clearly a lackey of the American military! His refusal to form an alliance is precisely to deprive the Chinese of their only support, forcing them to rely solely on the American military. In that case, he'll become a puppet supported by the American military, monopolizing the voice of the Chinese!"
Shi Lingxi's voice trembled slightly, "General Chen, I misjudged you. I once thought you were a hero of the Chinese people, but I never imagined you were just a coward who willingly served as a lackey of a foreign race and betrayed the interests of his compatriots!"
Zheng Mingsong, who had been leaning back in his chair watching the play, now sat up slightly.
He opened his mouth, wanting to offer some advice, but remembering his father's warning not to get involved in the infighting among Chinese, he swallowed his words, shook his head, and leaned back in his chair.
Looking at the three people in front of him, who were so excited they were almost distorted, Chen Feng knew that saying anything more would be useless.
The overwhelming strength of the U.S. military is beyond the comprehension of those trapped in Luzon.
With its powerful ships and cannons, and well-trained troops, it was far beyond the capabilities of that poorly equipped and undisciplined rabble.
Aguinaldo was merely an ambitious politician, far from a hero who could win the hearts and minds of all parties. Once the US military actually took action, the defeat of the independence army was only a matter of time.
He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Since that's what you all think, then let each do it your own way! Whether it's me, the Shi family, or your Katipunan led by Luna, we've chosen our own paths, and we must bear the consequences!"
"Bear the consequences?"
Enraged, Liu Hengfu pointed at Chen Feng's nose and cursed, "You traitor, you dare to talk about the consequences? Wait until you follow the American troops and push the Chinese into an abyss of no return, then we'll skin you alive!"
Luna echoed, her tone fierce: "Anyone who dares to obstruct Philippine independence and go against Mr. Penny Fashu's last wishes, I, Luna, will never let them get away with it!"
"There's nothing more to say! Let's go!" Shi Lingxi sighed deeply, her voice filled with unyielding disappointment, and then walked towards the door.
Chen Feng watched the three figures disappear into the distance and sighed softly, "Whether they know me or condemn me, only history will tell!"
These eight characters, carrying a sense of isolation, composure, and helplessness at being misunderstood, intertwined with the sound of rain outside the window, echoing in the quiet room.
Shi Lingxi paused outside the door, but did not turn around. She simply said in a solemn voice, "His merits and demerits will be judged by history!"