Chapter 197: Strange and Dangerous Shen City

Shen City Train Station.

The steam locomotive let out a long whistle, and white steam spread over the platform. The smell of coal smoke mingled with the aromas of various foods and the sweat from the crowd, creating the unique atmosphere of this bustling station.

The crowd surged like a tide. Foreign trading house agents in crisp suits, local merchants in long robes, dockworkers in work clothes, and people of all sorts weaved across the platform. Their soft chatter mixed with English, French, and even a few loud Japanese phrases, forming a cacophonous symphony.

"Everyone step aside! Step aside!"

"Imperial official! All civilians, move aside quickly!"

Two hundred fully armed guards quickly formed a line on the platform, their rifles flashing coldly. Dressed in relatively tidy uniforms, they tried to clear a passage through the crowded throng.

Chen Jingwen's embroidered brocade insignia of a second‑rank court official glimmered in the sunlight. He stepped down from the carriage, striving to straighten his back and lift his chin, attempting to display the dignity befitting an imperial envoy. Yet his slightly clouded eyes could not hide the fatigue of the long journey and a hint of unease about this unfamiliar city.

The guard company commander followed closely, his demeanor deferential. Yet Chen Jingwen keenly noticed the indifferent, even contemptuous looks in the surrounding crowd. In this era of warlord fragmentation, the weight of an imperial official might not even match a single machine gun.

The clamor on the platform did not lessen with his arrival. Some hurried passers cast curious glances, but most remained indifferent. In this commercial port, the court's authority had long since faded.

Chen Jingwen sighed inwardly. Officially, his trip to Shen City was to investigate Lin Yu's actions, but in truth he was sent by the court to probe beneath the surface. Judging by the scene, success seemed unlikely.

The steam locomotive let out another long blast, as if sounding an alarm for the imperial envoy's arrival. The crowd on the platform remained bustling, seemingly indifferent to the minister sent from the distant capital.

Chen Jingwen stepped out of the station hall, and the scene of the square before the station made him furrow his brow slightly.

Tall Western-style buildings rose in dense rows, red bricks and gray tiles, pointed Gothic spires, starkly different from the capital's red walls, yellow tiles, and sweeping eaves. On the road, black Ford cars intermingled with rickshaws, and the clanging streetcars carrying passengers passed by, emitting harsh metallic screeches.

The shop signs along the street mixed Chinese and English—'BANK', 'CAFE', 'HOTEL'—the foreign fonts standing out sharply. What unsettled him further was the pedestrians' attire: women in high‑slit cheongsams on high heels, boldly exposing arms and ankles; men either in suits or fashionable Zhongshan jackets, leaving no trace of ancient propriety.

It teemed with vitality yet felt chaotic and disorderly, exuding a brash vigor that made him uneasy. The air was thick with car exhaust, coffee aroma, and a medley of unnamed foreign goods, starkly contrasting the capital's centuries‑old austere ambience.

"Sir," a attendant whispered as he stepped forward, "Where shall we go next? Should we first find an inn to lodge, or go directly..."

He hesitated to speak, but Chen Jingwen understood his meaning. Go straight to see Lin Yu? The storm‑calling warlord of Shen City?

Chen Jingwen clasped his hands behind his back, gazing at the bustling traffic, his mind a haze of confusion. Before arriving, he had drafted numerous speeches on how to assert the court's authority and condemn Lin Yu's illegal deeds. Yet now, stepping onto this soil and feeling the atmosphere so different from the capital—especially recalling the bloody rumors about Lin Yu—his courage seemed scattered by the station's clamor.

"Go straight to find Lin Yu?" he thought, a sudden jolt. It was like a lamb walking into a tiger's mouth. The fate of the former Zhou Special Envoy was still vivid—rumored to remain locked in a dark dungeon. Where else could he go? On Shen City's streets, where was there still a place under the court's rule?

Suddenly, he recalled: "Ah, the Ministry of Works seems to have an old office in Shen City that manages river and sea customs duties. Though small, it is still a court property."

The thought eased him a little. At least that place was still a 'home‑team' territory. Though within Lin Yu's sphere of influence, it still bore the court's seal, so barging in recklessly would still require some regard for the court's face.

"Head to the river‑and‑sea customs office," he ordered, a hint of relief in his tone, "First we'll lodge there and plan our next moves."

The attendants exhaled in relief. Clearly, they too were reluctant to confront the dreaded Commander Lin so quickly.

The group passed through the noisy streets. Chen Jingwen walked in the middle of the procession, watching the exotic city around him, his confusion deepening. He suddenly realized how feeble the court's pomp felt here.

"Let's go," Chen Jingwen waved his hand, preparing to lead his guard and attendants away from the station square.

However, after only a few steps, a squad of soldiers suddenly blocked the road ahead. The unexpected force made Chen Jingwen and his attendants halt involuntarily.

These soldiers differed completely from the guards sent by Xu Shaoyuan. They wore uniform, crisp black uniforms, German‑style steel helmets, polished leather boots, and slung brand‑new Mauser rifles at their waists. Each stood rigidly, eyes sharp as knives, exuding a chilling killing aura.

Their movements were synchronized, quickly dispersing to form a faint encirclement. That military bearing and professional aura were beyond any ordinary unit. Chen Jingwen's heart sank instantly—these were Lin Yu's troops!

"Sir..." the attendants gathered nervously. Xu Shaoyuan's guards also swiftly readjusted formation, trying to protect the imperial envoy. Yet Chen Jingwen could feel their hands trembling slightly.

At that moment, a low rumble came from the far end of the street.

It was a massive sight Chen Jingwen had never seen. A huge iron box rolled forward slowly, its heavy armor glinting coldly in the sun, a snarling gun barrel pointing ahead, the tracks grinding the ground with a teeth‑aching screech.

"What... what is this monster?" a attendant shouted in panic.

The armored vehicle halted ten steps away. Its engine's roar shook them to the core, and the black, gaping muzzle resembled a cold eye staring down at the officials from the capital.

Chen Jingwen felt his throat dry. He had heard in the capital that Lin Yu's troops were equipped with many foreign new weapons. Yet seeing this iron clod up close, the shock and terror nearly made him lose his footing.

Is this the power of the new era? The military might that makes the Great Powers wary? He suddenly understood why even foreign consuls in Shen City had to crawl like a dog with its tail between its legs.

The armored car's roof hatch clicked open...