Chapter 174: with translation of chapter title

Lin Yu coldly stared at that reporter, then suddenly laughed: "Betray the court? What a fine betrayal of the court! Well then, let me ask, what has the court done for Shen City these years?"

His voice suddenly rose: "Eighty years ago, when the foreigners' gunboats forced open Shen City, where was the court? When our people were bullied in the concessions, where was the court?"

The crowd in the square began to stir. These words voiced the resentment they had held for years.

"Last winter, a foreigner killed a rickshaw puller on Hongqiao—do you know how the court handled it?" Lin Yu's voice filled with anger, "They did nothing! That foreigner swaggered back into the concession the next day, without even an apology!"

A murmur of angry discussion rose from the crowd.

"Last summer, the French Concession's police beat a pregnant woman to death—what did the imperial envoy sent by the court do?" Lin Yu continued, "He had a meal and coffee with the French consul, then swept the matter under the rug!"

"Further back, the British Concession's foreign firm boss seized the daughter of a butcher named Zhang; Zhang took it to the magistrate—what happened?" Lin Yu's voice grew more agitated, "The official dispatched by the court said: 'We can't manage affairs inside the concession!' Is that the court you speak of?"

The atmosphere in the square grew ever more heated. Many began to shout their agreement, some even yelling "That's right!" and similar cries.

"You say I betray the court," Lin Yu looked around, "then I ask the elders and folks here: does such a court deserve your loyalty? Does it have the right to demand we obey those humiliating treaties that surrender our rights?"

"No!" the crowd roared like thunder.

"The court's high officials spend their days in ease in Yanjing City, oblivious to the suffering of Shen City's people!" Lin Yu's voice brimmed with grief and indignation, "They only grovel before foreigners, trading our interests for their own comfort!"

He pointed to the Works Bureau building behind him: "This building is the best proof. The court allows foreigners to run roughshod over our land, to bully our people. Why? Because they are afraid, they dare not stand up to the foreigners!"

"But I, Lin Yu, dare!" His voice suddenly became ringing and forceful, "I would rather wear the label 'traitor to the court' than allow Shen City's people to suffer this any longer!"

The square erupted in earth-shaking cheers. People's eyes filled with hot tears; some shouted Lin Yu's name, others loudly condemned the court's incompetence. The Da Qian Daily reporter had already turned ashen, slipping away to the side under the crowd's angry gaze.

"This completely violates international law!" the Times reporter suddenly shouted in stiff Chinese, "The concessions were established under the Vienna Convention and the Paris Treaty, protected by international law! You have no right to abolish them!"

Lin Yu turned, looking at the flushed foreign reporter, and curled his lip in a cold smile.

"Furthermore," the reporter continued, his tone tinged with mockery, "what are you? A local warlord? A thug with no official standing? What authority do you have to decide Shen City's fate? On this land, the only entity internationally recognized is the Da Qian Court!"

An uproar broke out on the scene. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Lin Yu's reply.

"I have rebelled—so what?" Lin Yu's voice ice-cold and piercing, "I have abolished the concessions—so what?"

He strode up to the foreign reporter and said, "You claim I violate international law? Then I ask you: when your gunboats blasted open Shen City back then, which convention did you obey? When you oppressed our people in the concessions, what law did you speak of?"

"This... this is different..." the reporter's voice began to tremble.

"How is it different?" Lin Yu sneered, "Because back then you had powerful ships and guns while we were bare-handed? Because then you could do as you pleased while we could only swallow our anger?"

He looked around and said, "But now, I, Lin Yu, will repay you with your own methods! The concessions you seized by force years ago—I will take them back by force today!"

"This is outright banditry!" the reporter still tried to argue.

"Bandit?" Lin Yu suddenly burst out laughing, "What a fine bandit! Then let me ask, what were you lot up to in Shen City all those years?"

He pointed to the neatly ranked troops in the distance: "See? This is my confidence! I command thirty thousand elite troops, every one a veteran of a hundred battles. My forces are invincible in battle, unstoppable in attack. Even the vaunted Japanese marines you pride yourselves on would be no match for me!"

"You... you are threatening..." the reporter's voice had completely lost its strength.

"No, this is not a threat," Lin Yu's voice suddenly became unusually calm, "I am telling you a fact: the times have changed. Shen City now is my Shen City! It belongs to the people of the Great Dry!"

He gave the now-speechless reporter a meaningful glance: "Otherwise, get lost at once!"

The square burst into thunderous applause and cheers. The foreign reporter's face turned ashen, and he fled in panic under the crowd's angry stare.

"Elders and folks," Lin Yu's voice again rang out over the loudspeaker across the square, "since we've come this far, let me make things clear."

He turned and pointed to the Works Bureau building behind him: "From today on, this shall become Shen City's City Hall. I announce the establishment of Shen City's Provisional Administrative Committee, with me as its supreme director!"

An uproar rose in the square. This announcement was too shocking, even beyond anyone's expectations. Lin Yu is about to break completely with the court—not only confronting foreigners, but also standing opposed to the court.

"The former Garrison Office was merely a tool the court used to squeeze the people," Lin Yu continued, "while the new City Hall will truly serve Shen City's populace! We will establish a brand-new regime, one genuinely belonging to Shen City's people!"

His gaze swept over the dense crowd below: "From today on, all tax revenue will go to Shen City's construction. We will build roads, set up schools, erect hospitals. Every penny of this money will be spent on the people, not sent to Yanjing to indulge those officials!"

A cheer rose from the crowd. These promises struck straight at their hearts.

"I know," Lin Yu's voice suddenly sank, "this road will be hard. The court will not let us go, nor will the foreigners quit easily. But I, Lin Yu, promise you here: as long as I draw breath, I will surely defend this city and safeguard our homeland!"

The reporters below frantically took notes, knowing these words would spread nationwide tomorrow and cause an uproar worldwide. A local warlord daring to publicly declare independence from the court—this has never happened before in Great Dry history.

"The new regime needs new rules," Lin Yu continued announcing, "Starting today, Shen City will implement a completely new legal system and institutions. Whether high officials or common folk, all are equal before the law. Whether foreigners or locals, all must abide by our rules!"

The atmosphere in the square grew ever more heated. People discussed animatedly—some felt elated and encouraged, some worried and anxious, many more both hopeful and uneasy. Such an earth-shaking change left everyone stunned.

Lin Yu looked around at the varied faces in the square, the corner of his mouth turning up in a faint smile.

He knew that having taken this step, there was no turning back. This was a grand gamble, and he was destined to be the ultimate victor.