Gongmen Revolution

by kentimagineao3

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

Chapter 1: The Mission

Po and the Five were training together in the Jade Palace's Training Hall, with Shifu supervising. Suddenly, Mr. Zeng, the palace messenger, pushed open the door of the Training Hall and hurriedly ran toward Shifu. After whispering a few words to Shifu, he looked shocked and immediately halted the training.

 

Shifu addressed the students: "Several individuals in plain clothes have arrived, claiming to be imperial commissioners sent by the court. If they are telling the truth, it is likely that the court has a significant mission for us."

 

Shifu led everyone to the main gate of the Jade Palace. When he opened the gates, Po saw that their guests were several birds dressed in civilian clothing. One of them was dressed more elegantly, resembling a wealthy gentry, while the others appeared to be his assistants and guards. The gentry greeted Shifu briefly and then handed him a letter and a seal. Shifu, with a look of suspicion, accepted the letter and seal, first reading the contents of the letter and then carefully examining the seal.

 

After some time, Shifu's doubts disappeared. He introduced the gentry to everyone as an imperial commissioner sent by the court. The commissioner stated that he had important matters to discuss with Shifu in private. Shifu instructed the students to return to their dormitories while he held a closed-door meeting with the commissioner.

 

Shifu led the commissioner and his entourage to the conference room, while the students, following Shifu's instructions, returned to their dormitories. On the way, Po realized that this situation was highly unusual.

 

The government rarely sent people to the Jade Palace. The last time Po encountered government officials at the Jade Palace was two years ago, in 1886. That year, the Jade Palace hosted the Dragon Warrior tournament to select the Dragon Warrior. At that time, the Jade Palace had invited many guests to attend the celebration, including kung fu masters from other regions and several provincial government officials. After Master Oogway unexpectedly chose Po as the Dragon Warrior, Po even took a group photo with these guests.

 

Not long after Po became the Dragon Warrior, he defeated Tai Lung, who had escaped from prison. This event shocked the entire Chinese martial arts community at the time, as Tai Lung was one of the most skilled kung fu masters in history. However, after Tai Lung's death, only a small investigation team of a dozen police officers came to the Valley of Peace to investigate. They collected sufficient testimonies and evidence before leaving. At the time, the police told them that, in the eyes of the government, this was merely a prison break incident and not a significant matter.

 

After the students returned to the dormitory, Po asked the Five if today's event was normal. They replied that it was highly unusual. The government rarely paid attention to the Jade Palace, usually only sending representatives to participate in celebrations during major festivals. Occasionally, government officials would come to the Jade Palace to order them to carry out missions for the government. Ten years ago, the Jade Palace was tasked with protecting an imperial prince during his southern tour. Even for such an important mission, the government officials had arrived openly to deliver the orders, not in secret.

 

This secret visit by the imperial commissioner suggested that the matter he brought was even more significant than protecting the prince.

 

Po heard the dormitory door open, and Shifu entered alone. Shifu said that the envoy had already left the Jade Palace. They were still in the Valley of Peace, staying at the only inn in the village at the foot of the mountain. Po noticed that Shifu looked troubled as if the envoy had brought bad news. Shifu ordered the students to gather in the conference room, where he would explain the situation to everyone.

 

Po and the Five entered the conference room. In the centre of the room was a table with several chairs. On the table were a steaming teapot, a few teacups with leftover tea, and a stack of documents. Shifu moved the teapot and teacups to the corner of the table and then neatly arranged the stack of documents.

 

Shifu announced: "The imperial court has ordered the Jade Palace to carry out a sabotage mission against the Peafowl Rebellion. I will stay behind, and all of you will participate in this mission. You will depart in a week to meet the envoy at the inn in the village below, and they will arrange the rest."

 

Shifu picked up one of the documents on the table and said, "This is the original order." He handed the order to the students, allowing them to pass it around and read it.

 

Po asked, "Did they provide or hint at any useful details about the mission?"

 

Shifu replied, "No. They said the mission details are confidential. However, I can make a reasonable guess." The red panda picked up another document from the table, which was a map of China. He unfolded it and spread it out on the table.

 

Shifu explained, "They said this is a major sabotage mission. If it succeeds, the Peafowl Rebellion will kneel and surrender. Destroying a few railway bridges and warehouses won't achieve this effect. However, if we destroy a crucial arsenal, that would be different."

 

Shifu pointed at the map with his staff and said, "The rebellion's largest arsenal is located here, in Gongmen City, Guangdong Province."

 

Shifu took out several large photographs from the stack of documents. The images showed a massive factory and its internal production workshops.

 

He said, "This is the Gongmen arsenal. I suspect this will be your target."

 

Tigress said, "This is the heart of the rebellion. This mission is extremely difficult and dangerous."

 

Shifu solemnly replied, "Yes. I can confirm that this mission will be more dangerous than any you have undertaken before. There is a real possibility that you may not return."

 

Shifu sighed and said, "Apart from the immense risks, this mission also carries little honour. The Peafowl Rebellion is not what the government claims—a group of bandits and thieves. I prefer to call them by their true name, the Gongmen Society ('The Society')."

 

It was the corruption and incompetence of the empire that led to the birth of the Gongmen Society and the rebellion. Since 1840, China had been in decline. Internally, wave after wave of large-scale peasant uprisings caused immense damage to the country. Externally, China had fallen behind Western nations in science and technology.

 

Based on the information I have gathered over the years, "The Society" has implemented numerous social reforms within the territories they control. Over the past 20 years, the much stronger imperial army has failed to eliminate "The Society." Instead, they have grown stronger. This shows that these so-called bandits and thieves are far more capable than the imperial government.

 

Po asked, "So are we fighting against good people?"

 

Shifu thought for a moment and said, "I wouldn't call them good people, but I would say they are more progressive and bring positive changes to society."

 

Po continued, "Can't we refuse this mission? I feel that carrying it out is wrong."

 

Shifu firmly replied, "No. If we refuse, it would be illegal. The government would arrest us, and the Jade Palace would lose all the privileges granted by the government."

 

Crane added, "After that, there would be no more Jade Palace."

 

Then Shifu reminded them, "There's one more thing. This mission is top secret, known only to those in the Jade Palace. You must never mention this mission to anyone outside, including your closest friends and family."

 

The students replied, "Yes, Master."

Notes:

This story originated from an idea that Lord Shen attacked the panda village for a justifiable reason. Eventually, this idea evolved into a 19th-century AU. This story also references historical events from late Qing Dynasty to Republican-era China.

I made a minor adjustment to the world setting, namely, in addition to anthropomorphic animals, there are also ordinary animals.

Chapter 2: The History

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

Master Shifu informed his students that the Jade Palace Library housed a vast collection of newspapers, magazines, and articles about the Gongmen Society. Over the next week, they were to diligently study these materials. They needed to understand their adversary.

As Po began his studies, he suddenly realized he knew nothing about the current political and economic situation in China, as he was only interested in culinary arts and kung fu, and had only ever studied these two subjects. Master Shifu had previously criticized him for this. Shifu had advised Po to learn from the Five and to read books on politics and economics in his spare time, as well as to keep up with the news by reading newspapers, but Po had ignored his master's advice.

Fortunately, Crane and Viper, upon learning of Po's predicament, were willing to study with him and help answer the panda's questions.

They first studied the founders of the Gongmen Society, the Peacock family of Gongmen City, and the early history of the Gongmen Society. This part of history was well-documented and uncontroversial.

Gongmen City was one of Guangdong Province's important coastal trade centres and the ancestral home of the Shen Peacock family. They owned a family business called "Gongmen Pyrotechnics," which produced fireworks, gunpowder, firearms, artillery, and ammunition. Legend had it that they were the inventors of fireworks.

The Peacock family collaborated closely with the founding emperor. The majority of the emperor's army's firearms and ammunition were supplied by the Peacock family. Without this material support, the emperor could not have unified China.

When the current dynasty was officially established, the founding emperor bestowed the noble title of Prince of Gongmen County to the head of the Peacock family, a title that could be passed down without downgrading. They were exceedingly rare non-royal "iron-cap princes" . However, the prince had no actual power in Gongmen City, which was still governed by officials appointed by the imperial court. The prince had no army, and members of the prince's family could not hold government positions or join the military.

Subsequently, each prince or Lord Shen stayed away from politics and focused on managing the family business, "Gongmen Pyrotechnics."

By 1850, "Gongmen Pyrotechnics" had become one of the largest industrial enterprises in China and the most important supplier to the imperial army. Its products were sold not only throughout China but also exported across Asia. The company's numerous production departments and factories made Gongmen City one of the few industrial cities in China.

"Gongmen Pyrotechnics" was the largest employer in Gongmen City and crucial to the city's economy. The company included a largely self-contained model village that provided housing, medical care, education, and entertainment for its employees and their families. At a time when the average lifespan of factory workers was less than 30 years, the treatment of "Gongmen Pyrotechnics" employees was exceptionally favorable.

Also in 1850, the previous Prince of Gongmen County (The Prince) established the Gongmen Society, with himself as its chairman. At the time, this organization was a charitable one. It provided affordable early childhood and elementary education, medical care, and civil mediation services to the lower classes of Gongmen City.

For this, The Prince and the Peacock family enjoyed a good reputation and were popular among the people of Gongmen City. Even without actual power, they had significant influence locally.

In 1866, the Gongmen Society and the Peacock family reached a turning point.

Due to severe social injustice, heavy taxation, and natural disasters, China experienced several large-scale peasant uprisings between the 1840s and 1860s.

The corrupt and incompetent imperial government and military were unable to suppress the peasant uprisings on their own. As a result, the government had no choice but to permit the formation of militias led by local gentry and landlords to assist in quelling the rebellions. Within just a few years, a multitude of militia groups sprang up across the nation. While these militias proved to be highly effective, they also posed a significant threat to public order and security.

In 1866, the imperial court decided to establish a new position titled "Militia Commander" in every city. These commanders, often local nobles or retired officials, were tasked specifically with overseeing the local militias. The court appointed The Prince as the Militia Commander of Gongmen City.

In the same year, the Gongmen Society transformed into a political party. Its platform stated that China was a backward country threatened by economic colonization by Western powers. Chinese society was feudal, and its politics, economy, and culture were also feudal. The only way to save China was through a bourgeois-democratic revolution, which would eliminate feudal politics, economy, and culture.

The Society established the Gongmen Farmers' Association (Farmers' Association). At its inception, the Farmers' Association had only a few Society members and no more than 100 farmers. After successfully protecting poor farmers from bullies, unscrupulous landlords, and corrupt gentry multiple times, the Farmers' Association's membership surged. By 1870, the Farmers' Association had over a million members, making it the largest political force in Gongmen City, especially in rural areas.

The relationship between the Society, the Farmers' Association, and the government was as follows. The Society led the Farmers' Association, with Society members and their political allies occupying most leadership positions. The Farmers' Association cooperated with the government, serving advisory and legislative functions. The government announced all decrees, and the Farmers' Association assisted in implementing these decrees among the populace.

The Farmers' Association governed rural areas. It exercised powers granted by the government, such as mediating civil disputes. Bullies, unscrupulous landlords, and corrupt gentry lost their power. Enlightened gentry, landlords, and clan leaders had to join the Farmers' Association to exert their influence.

From 1866 to 1870, the Society and the Farmers' Association brought a series of positive changes to Gongmen. After negotiations with the government, many oppressive taxes were abolished. The Farmers' Association also worked to combat usury. It established the Gongmen Bank, which provided low-interest loans to the public. The government also reaffirmed that usury was illegal under imperial law, significantly reducing the scale of usury. The Farmers' Association also inspected and updated land records, which were used as the basis for taxation. Additionally, the Farmers' Association built many new roads and dams and repaired old ones.

On the military front, The Prince nominally controlled all militias in Gongmen City. There were three types of militias in Gongmen City: the first was the Peacock Army, directly controlled by the Society, a regular army of professional soldiers numbering over 2,000. The second type was the Farmers' Association's militia, indirectly controlled by the Society. The third type was the militia controlled by landlords, gentry, and clans. The Prince organized a bandit suppression campaign to eradicate local bandits. Tens of thousands of people were mobilized, and the militias searched every mountain and forest, stationed in every village and at every crossroads, leaving the bandits with nowhere to hide. They fled Gongmen, effectively clearing the city of bandits.

The achievements of the Gongmen Society and the Gongmen Farmers' Association inspired people in other parts of Guangdong Province, who followed Gongmen's example and formed their own farmers' associations. By 1870, farmers' associations had been established throughout Guangdong Province.

The provincial government and the imperial court were deeply alarmed by this development. They believed the farmers' associations would trigger a new wave of large-scale peasant uprisings and decided to ban all farmers' associations outside Gongmen City. They deployed police and pro-government militias to disband the associations. Any resistance was met with force, and the farmers' associations were forced underground.

The Society and the people of Gongmen City believed that the imperial court would eventually ban the Gongmen Society and the Gongmen Farmers' Association. They could not wait to be destroyed; they had to strike first. In December 1870, Gongmen City rose in rebellion, and the war began.

Information about the war's progression was not only fragmented but also contradictory. The government imposed strict news censorship, banning all publications from areas controlled by the Gongmen Society. Meanwhile, government news and propaganda were filled with lies. Despite this, Po and his friends were able to roughly outline the course of the war.

When the Society launched the rebellion, the entire Gongmen government sided with the Society. Their first step was to disband the militias controlled by landlords, gentry, and clans in Gongmen City. If they refused to disarm, the Society would mercilessly eliminate them. There were unverified reports that the Society razed a panda village to the ground because the pandas refused to disband their clan militia. After dealing with internal enemies in Gongmen City, the Society immediately attacked Guangdong Province, catching the provincial army and police off guard. The Society took only a few months to occupy the entire province.

Then, the war entered a phase of attrition. In the first three years, the imperial army launched several large-scale offensives against Guangdong Province, but the Society successfully repelled them. In the fourth year, the Society went on the offensive, expanding into Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces.

These four provinces remained the front lines to this day. The government had always claimed to control most of these provinces. At the same time, they had marked many areas in these provinces as "non-pacified zones" with Gongmen Society activities. This indicates that the Society has successfully established extensive bases in the rural areas of these provinces, and the government's actual control is much smaller than they claim.

Although the government referred to the Society as "rebels," the two sides maintained "diplomatic relations." Since the fourth year of the war, peace negotiations have been ongoing, but no agreement has been reached. The emperor had not stripped The Prince of his title as Prince of Gongmen County. After the imperial army accidentally killed The Prince, his only surviving son, a white peacock, inherited the title.

The situation within the Gongmen Society-controlled areas remained a mystery. The government has consistently portrayed the Society's rule as brutal, with the people suffering greatly under it. Po and the Five do not believe this propaganda, if the Society were truly so brutal, they would not have the people's support, and the government would have already won the civil war.

Additionally, Po unexpectedly discovered his origins. While reading the materials, Po saw several photos of the Gongmen Society and the Peafowl Army's flags, which triggered memories from his infancy. He saw his mother, a burning village, and a white peacock. He never expected to unravel the mystery of his origins at this moment. His goose father, Mr. Ping, had found him in a vegetable crate, and neither the residents of the Valley of Peace nor Master Shifu and the Five knew anything about his birth parents. Now he knows he is from Gongmen City, and the loss of his parents is likely related to the Society.

At the same time, Po is grateful that he grew up in the Valley of Peace. He learned that most Chinese people today are starving and suffering under the oppression of bullies, bandits, and the government's heavy taxation. In contrast, the Valley of Peace has mostly enjoyed favourable weather and abundant food. The area is safe, and there is no war.

Crane and Viper told Po that they had witnessed many tragic scenes outside, and survival was not a given. Po's life was much better than that of most Chinese people. Po had to agree with what Mr. Ping had told him before, "Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but you have a happy life."

Notes:

The family name of Gongmen Peafowl Nobles is Shen "沈". It means Lord Shen's father is also called Lord Shen.

Chapter 3: The Journey to Gongmen Part 1

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

A week later, Po and the Five sat out from the Valley of Peace. Before their departure, Master Shifu warned them that their safety was the top priority. They were not to risk their lives for the mission. Additionally, Shifu specifically instructed Po that he must never endanger himself and the Five in pursuit of the truth about his origins.

Carrying their luggage, they headed to an inn at the foot of the mountain to meet with the imperial commissioner. As they left the village, the entire community gathered to bid them farewell.

The imperial commissioner led them to the provincial city at the foot of the mountain. The commissioner provided each kung fu master with a special pass that would allow them to travel unimpeded throughout the empire, with no one daring to trouble them. The commissioner also gave them travel instructions, which included the itinerary for their mission and contingency plans for emergencies. They were to follow these instructions to reach their destination.

Following the instructions, Po and the group found a merchant caravan in the provincial city. They showed their passes to the caravan leader, who, after verifying the authenticity of the documents, immediately welcomed them into the group without question.

The caravan leader explained to Po and his companions that the caravan's final destination was a city near the territory controlled by the Gongmen Society. He had been travelling this trade route for a long time. A few days ago, the local authorities had suddenly notified him to transport a few people to the destination, with a reward upon completion. The leader would not inquire about their identities or mission, but he asked them not to cause trouble or bring him any difficulties. Seeing that Po and the others were strong and capable, the leader assigned them physical tasks within the caravan, such as guard duty and moving cargo.

Not long after the caravan set off, Po and the group encountered a tragedy.

As the caravan left the city and arrived at a rural market, bustling with people, they suddenly saw a group of men rush out from the roadside to rob a farmer of the fish and vegetables he had just purchased.

Po wanted to intervene, but Tigress, standing beside him, firmly gripped his shoulder and shook her head, saying seriously, "Po, we have a mission to complete, and we're in unfamiliar territory. We can't act recklessly and cause trouble."

"But—" Po started.

Tigress tightened her grip on his shoulder, cutting him off. "Po! Even if you don't care about yourself or the mission, please think about the others."

After the robbers took the farmer's belongings, they also beat him before leaving. Once the robbers were gone, Po and the group hurried to help the farmer, but he was too injured to walk. Po asked where he lived, intending to take him home. The caravan leader, upon hearing the address, mentioned that the caravan would pass through that village, so Po carried the farmer onto one of the caravan's carts.

On the way, Po and the group chatted with the farmer. They learned that he was a tenant farmer working for a local tyrant. This tyrant was the largest landowner in the area, owning all the land in over a dozen surrounding villages. He was also the captain of the local militia, with his own armed forces. The tyrant and his men were like demons. The farmers not only had to pay exorbitant rents but also had to pay rent for their homes. If they couldn't pay, they were forced to take out high-interest loans.

If they couldn't repay the loans, the lightest punishment was having their belongings robbed by thugs, as had just happened. A more severe punishment involved the thugs seizing the farmers' furniture, grain, tools, and livestock. The worst punishment was being dragged to the tyrant's compound, where they would be beaten, imprisoned, and held for ransom, demanding money and grain from their families.

In the farmer's village of over 50 families, five or six had sold their children to repay rent and loans. The tyrants not only extorted money but also abducted women. Just last year, the tyrant's son had taken a liking to the daughter of the farmer's neighbour. He suddenly demanded that the neighbour repay all outstanding rent and loans. Unable to pay, the neighbour had no choice but to sell his daughter to the tyrant's son. The farmers here lived like slaves.

Po recalled that in the Valley of Peace, tenant farmers not only worked the land but also engaged in cottage industries to supplement their income. He asked the farmer if he did any cottage industry work. The farmer replied that they had stopped over a decade ago. That year, the market had been flooded with foreign goods. These goods were both cheap and of high quality, making it impossible to sell anything the farmers produced. Without the ability to supplement their income through cottage industries, their situation had worsened.

By the time the caravan arrived at the village, the farmer was able to walk on his own. Po instinctively took out some silver from his bag, but the farmer refused the money, thanking them for their concern before limping away.

Po was deeply shaken by all of this.

While studying the Gongmen Society's materials at the Jade Palace, Po had learned that many people in China were living in dire conditions, leading to large-scale peasant uprisings. The novels and plays he had read and watched also depicted tyrants who could set up private courts, beat and kill people at will, seize land, and abduct women.

Living in the Valley of Peace, where everyone lived in peace and prosperity, Po had found it hard to imagine such things. He had thought these were exaggerated descriptions, existing only in literature and art. It wasn't until he ventured into the world beyond the valley that he realized these things were real.

Po exclaimed indignantly, "Aren't these people just bandits? How can the imperial court allow them to wreak havoc in the countryside?"

Crane stepped forward to explain, "During the nationwide uprisings in the 1850s, the imperial court realized it couldn't suppress the people on its own, so it allowed local gentry and nobles to develop militias. As long as they could suppress the people and pay taxes, the court turned a blind eye."

Po asked, "But didn't the court later appoint militia commanders to oversee these militias?"

Crane replied, "The militia commanders' most important task is to ensure the militias' loyalty to the empire. Whether they oppress the people or not is irrelevant."

Monkey asked Po, "Only rich and influential people could find their own militias. When they have private armies, nearly unlimited power, and no oversight, what do you think will happen next?"

Po thought for a moment and answered, "They become local despots, ruling their territories lawlessly. But isn't that just drinking poison to quench thirst?"

Mantis jumped onto his shoulder and concluded, "Yes, everyone knows it's drinking poison to quench thirst. But if the court doesn't let them manage the countryside, can the empire survive? Clearly, it cannot."

Viper added, "Po, in these times, all we can do is protect the Valley of Peace and prevent it from becoming like the outside world."

For the first time, Po felt utterly powerless. No matter how strong he was as the Dragon Warrior, he couldn't fix systemic injustice.

The journey to the caravan's destination was relatively smooth overall. Along the way, neither the local authorities nor the tyrants gave them any trouble. They only encountered bandits a few times, but they were no match for the caravan and the kung fu masters. Each time, they easily drove the bandits away.

During the journey, Po also witnessed numerous tragedies of oppressive taxation, tyrannical landlords, and the suffering of the people. He began to wonder: by participating in this mission and serving the empire, weren't he and the Five upholding this terrible social order and aiding the oppressors? He felt this was wrong and went against his conscience.

Chapter 4: The Journey to Gongmen Part 2

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

After half a month of travel, the caravan arrived at its destination, a provincial city near Guangdong Province.

The caravan owner informed Po and the Five that this provincial city was already on the edge of the war zone. If they continued towards Guangdong, they would enter the "Non-Pacified Zone" designated by the Empire. There, the guerrillas of the Gongmen Society and affiliated militias clashed with the Empire's military and various militia groups, making it a war zone.

Although this provincial city was not within the war zone, the provincial city was pulsed with a wartime atmosphere. In the suburbs, they passed by a large military camp and saw fortresses built on the hills. Once inside the city, Imperial soldiers were everywhere.

Following the instructions of the Imperial commissioner, the Jade Palace group was to leave the first caravan upon reaching this provincial city and find another caravan. The second caravan would take them into the Gongmen Society-controlled area.

Po and the others bid farewell to the caravan members, thanking them for their care along the way. The caravan owner also gave them a small sum of money as gratitude and payment for their efforts in fending off bandits during the journey.

Po hadn't eaten well on the road. Now that they had finally reached the provincial city, Po was determined to have a good meal, especially since they had enough money. They went to a restaurant in the city, sat down, and ordered several dishes.

While waiting for the food to be served, Po noticed three gentlemen sitting at the next table, discussing rural affairs. One of them planned to return to his hometown in the countryside but had heard that bandits were active there, forcing him to stay in the city for a few more days.

Po leaned over and asked, "Are they the Peacock Bandit?"

The first gentleman replied, "No, although there are Peacock troops in the countryside, these are real bandits."

Po deliberately asked, "But aren't the Peacock troops also bandits? I've seen all the newspaper articles and official proclamations calling them bandits."

"Newspapers and well-known writers must follow the government's line. They have to call them 'bandits,' otherwise, it would mean acknowledging their legitimacy and righteousness."

Po asked, "But aren't people terrified of the Peacock Bandit Army in areas where they operate?"

The gentleman replied, "That depends on who you ask. The wealthy, landowners, officials, and tax collectors all fear them. But the poor, especially the farmers, don't fear them; in fact, they welcome them."

Crane asked, "Do you think they are exploiting the poor, or do they genuinely have their best interests at heart? History books are filled with ambitious individuals who started by claiming to fight for the poor, only to betray them once they achieved their goals."

The second gentleman thought for a moment and replied, "A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. If we judged by intentions, there would be no perfect people in the world. Their leaders are all from wealthy or noble families, risking everything to 'save the people' and cause trouble. The previous leader, Lord Shen, lost his entire family, leaving only his white peacock son. This at least shows they are not cowards hiding in mansions, sending their subordinates and common people to die."

The third gentleman said, "I have relatives living in villages under their control. They wrote to me saying that the Society had completely eradicated local tyrants, sent people to maintain order, abolished usury, reduced land rents, and organized villagers to work. They even invited me to come to live there, saying life is better there. So you see, they are not bandits, nor are they illiterate rebel farmers. They have principles and ideologies."

He added, "But their rule is extremely authoritarian and terrifying. They want to personally manage all social affairs. If anyone disobeys their management, they arrest the dissenters. It's said they have arrested many people, and many of those arrested have disappeared. If an entire clan opposes them, they dare to treat the village as a bandit stronghold and destroy it. They have killed many people."

At this point, the restaurant staff brought the food, and Po and his group stopped talking to the neighbouring table. As they ate, Crane said, "Don't easily believe all kinds of rumours. History books can be wrong, let alone stories passed around among the people, half-truths, and exaggerated tales. Seeing is believing."

Monkey pointed and said, "Did you see their attire? They are not poor. In the countryside, the wealthy are equivalent to landlords, and the Society opposes landlords. I've heard they have implemented many laws to suppress them. Cutting off someone's wealth is like killing their parents."

Mantis said, "But they still said a few good words about the Society, which means it's not just a bandit group."

Viper added, "They must be doing something right. They can't have lasted nearly 20 years relying solely on violence and terror."

Tigress commented, "Even if those terrifying rumours are true, they are still much better than the bandit gangs ruling the countryside, who kill for fun."

Po didn't respond, focusing on his meal. Indeed, seeing is believing. The Empire has imposed strict news blackouts on the Gongmen Society, making it extremely difficult for information to get out. The outside world can only hear folk rumours and the Empire's propaganda about the Society's brutal tyranny.

As Viper and Tigress said, this mysterious organization must have employed a series of methods to efficiently utilize the human and material resources of its territory and maintain a highly effective military force. Relying solely on violence and terror couldn't achieve this. The Gongmen Society couldn't be as evil and terrifying as the Empire's propaganda suggests. Even if the Society's governance is indeed oppressive and terrifying, killing many who don't deserve death or even innocent people, they are still much better than the bandit tyrants controlling the rural counties.

Po felt a twinge of fear. From the descriptions of these strangers, he sensed that their enemy was a highly organized and efficient opponent. This mission was indeed very dangerous. On the other hand, he was eager to enter the Society-controlled area for an exciting adventure and to understand this mysterious world.

Monkey's criticism interrupted Po's thoughts, "Po, eat slower, or there won't be anything left for us."

Notes:

This chapter mainly showcases the outside world's views on the Gongmen Society.

Chapter 5: The Journey to Gongmen Part 3

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

After the meal, Po and his companions followed the directions on the travel instructions and found the second merchant caravan in a courtyard in the provincial capital. According to the instructions, this caravan would take them into the territory controlled by the Gongmen Society. Like the first caravan leader, the second leader, after confirming Po's group's identities, immediately recruited them into the caravan without hesitation.

This caravan leader had specialized in cross-border trade between the Empire and the Gongmen Society's controlled territories over the past decade—a lucrative but extremely dangerous business. Many of his peers had lost their lives, as the authorities, the Imperial army, local tyrants and bandits, or the Gongmen Society could all be responsible for their deaths.

At the beginning of the war, the authorities had banned trade between the two sides. However, due to rampant corruption, officials and military personnel knowingly broke the law, engaging in large-scale smuggling for profit, rendering the bans a joke. During that period, the caravan leader had also helped officials with smuggling operations. Later, the authorities lifted the trade ban and replaced it with trade regulations, requiring merchants operating between the government and the Gongmen Society to register and obtain licenses.

They stayed in the provincial capital for another week before the caravan set off. Before departure, Po and his group destroyed all items related to the authorities, as the caravan informed them that the Gongmen Society's customs and border defences would inspect imported and exported goods, search individuals, and thoroughly investigate their backgrounds. Upon arrival at their destination, someone would come to meet them.

After leaving the provincial capital, they entered the "Non-Pacified Zone" designated by the Empire. According to the authorities, this area was frequently active with Gongmen Society troops and pro-Society militias, making public security extremely poor.

As they travelled through the "Non-Pacified Zone," Po sensed the atmosphere of a war zone. The villages they passed had Imperial flags hanging at their entrances, most fortified with walls, trenches, watchtowers, and other defensive structures. Militia members manned checkpoints at village entrances and nearby crossroads, inspecting passersby. Residents needed travel permits issued by the authorities to leave their home counties, and outsiders, like Po's caravan, had to present business licenses and transit passes issued by the government. Militias were required to report any signs of the Gongmen Society to the authorities. Passing through one county town, they saw an entire family executed and hung on the city gate as a warning, with a notice below accusing them of colluding with the Gongmen Society.

Through conversations with the caravan leader, Po learned much about the true situation in the "Non-Pacified Zone." This area was a contested buffer zone between the Empire and the Gongmen Society. The Empire controlled the towns, but the countryside was far more complicated. On the surface, the villages obeyed the authorities, but in reality, many were controlled by or sympathetic to the Gongmen Society. Frequent clashes occurred between Society forces and Imperial troops or militias.

During their journey, the caravan encountered traces of Society guerrillas. They came across a group of dead militiamen on the road, with a poster attached to one of the corpses detailing his identity and crimes. This man was a notorious local tyrant and militia leader who could arbitrarily arrest, rob, or kill anyone by accusing them of "colluding with the Gongmen Society." Over 18 years, he had killed over a hundred people, including more than a dozen buried alive—all under the guise of "eliminating bandits." None of his victims were Society members; they were all impoverished peasants. The caravan leader also knew of this man and exclaimed, "Good riddance."

The leader explained to Po that this was one of the ways the Gongmen Society expanded its influence in rural areas. They eliminated infamous and widely hated despots, then took direct control of the area. This also served as a warning to other landlords and gentry.

The leader pointed out that killing was only a secondary method. The Society's primary means of expansion was by suppressing bandits, undermining the basis for landlords and gentry to organize private militias. Over the past few decades, rural public security had deteriorated, and banditry ran rampant. What people feared most were bandits, which was why the rural lower and middle classes supported local elites in organizing militias—even though this increased the peasants' burdens and turned the militias into tools of oppression. When the Gongmen Society entered a new area, they would send troops to eradicate local bandits. This won them public favour, demonstrated their strength, and eliminated the need for rural militias. As a result, most villagers would demand that landlords and gentry reduce militia sizes. The landlords and gentry, in turn, saw the trade-off—reducing their armed forces and losing some power—as worth it for a life free from the fear of bandit kidnappings.

Whenever the Society wiped out local bandits, most nearby villages would negotiate with them, engaging in varying degrees of cooperation until they were fully under the Society's control.

The leader noted that the Empire had no real understanding of rural conditions. During a business discussion with city officials, he had learned that the authorities often had no idea which villages remained loyal to them. Naturally, this meant their intelligence on the movements of Society troops was equally muddled. The result was that Imperial forces frequently suffered defeats against the Society's Peacock Army.

The caravan encountered no major trouble passing through the "Non-Pacified Zone." When Po saw a border checkpoint appear on the road ahead, it meant they had reached the fully controlled territory of the Society. Beyond lay the nation governed by the Gongmen Society—they were about to enter enemy territory.

Chapter 6: The Journey to Gongmen Part 4

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

The caravan moved along the road and arrived at a border checkpoint. The outpost was quite rudimentary, consisting only of a small house for the border guards and a bamboo flagpole flying the flag of the Gongmen Society. The flag was diagonally divided into four triangles, with red triangles on the top and bottom and black triangles on the left and right. The checkpoint was manned by six Gongmen Society militiamen and Peacock Army sentries. The militiamen wore civilian clothes, while the Peacock Army soldiers were dressed in full gray uniforms, all carrying rifles.

When they saw the caravan approaching, the guards raised their guns. When the caravan was still about 20 meters away, they ordered it to stop and demanded that one person come forward to present travel documents. Po watched as the caravan's owner went alone to the checkpoint. After inspecting the documents, the guards chatted casually with him. It was clear they were quite familiar with each other. Once the conversation ended, the owner led the caravan through the checkpoint. The border guards did not interrogate the other members of the caravan or inspect their luggage or goods. Clearly, this was just the first checkpoint, mainly meant to intercept strangers and those without proper documentation.

After passing the checkpoint, the owner told the Jade Palace group that they now had to follow a designated route to a county town for customs clearance. Deviating from the assigned route would result in penalties. In the past, some merchants had tried smuggling by taking various backroads to avoid paying tariffs to the Society, but all were eventually caught.

Along the way, they encountered many other caravans, a clear sign of bustling trade. As they neared the county town, Po also saw things he had only read about in books or newspapers before. For instance, telephone and telegraph wires run through mountains, wilderness, and along roads. The Gongmen Society had already connected county and township governments with telephones and telegraphs, allowing instant communication across regions—far faster than carrier pigeons. They also came across a steam tractor, its chimney belching smoke, driving four wheels and pulling several carts of heavy cargo, its strength far surpassing any human or animal labour. On the road, they even encountered "police" dressed in all-black uniforms with wooden batons and pistols at their waists—in Po's eyes, these were more professional and specialized versions of constables.

The expressions of the people here were also completely different from those in the Empire-controlled regions. Though most were still relatively poor, their eyes held hope and anticipation, much like the Valley of Peace, devoid of the numbness that came from long-term brutal oppression.

Upon reaching the county town, they first went to the immigration control station to complete entry procedures. Since Po and the Five were entering for the first time, the police took them away for investigation, while the rest of the caravan only needed standard registration and had their goods sent for customs inspection and declaration.

The police separated Po and the Five, questioning them individually. Po was led to a room where he sat on a chair in the center like a suspect. Across from him at a table sat two police officers—one conducting the interrogation, the other taking notes.

The police asked Po about his past in great detail. Fortunately, the Imperial Commissioner had already prepared them for this. The travel instructions provided by the envoy included fabricated life stories and identities for each of them, blending truth and fiction. Along the journey, Po had memorized his story thoroughly. He claimed he had worked in his father's restaurant since childhood and, at their request, provided numerous details about daily restaurant operations—cooking as a chef, serving customers as a waiter, and keeping accounts. A few months ago, the restaurant had gone bankrupt due to oppression by local bullies and corrupt officials. Though this part was fabricated, Po's experiences fighting bandits around the Valley of Peace and during his travels had made him intimately familiar with how gangs persecuted common folk, allowing him to empathize deeply. As he recounted this part, his face showed genuine grief and anger. After the restaurant's closure, Po had no choice but to venture out to make a living, eventually joining the caravan. The police seemed to accept his explanation, concluding he was not an Imperial spy.

Next, the police informed Po that they needed to create his identification document and took him to a photographer for a portrait. After the photo was taken, the police explained that producing the document would take time and led Po to a waiting room. There, he reunited with the Five, who had gone through the same process—interrogations that the police appeared to believe.

After waiting for an hour, an officer finally entered and handed each of them their documents. The document was a rectangular piece of paper titled "Residence Permit for Non-Locals," listing their species, name, date of birth, gender, employer, issuing authority, and issue date. A photo was attached in the top-right corner, and the document was stamped with the issuing authority's red seal. The police warned them never to lose this document, as it was proof of their legal entry and stay. If law enforcement questioned them and they failed to present it, they would be detained until their identities could be verified.

Once they passed the police inspection, they rejoined the caravan, which had already completed customs clearance. The caravan then set off for Gongmen City. As they travelled through the county town's streets, shops and markets on both sides thrived, showing no signs of an economy ruined by prolonged war.

At that moment, Po spotted several gray-uniformed Peacock Army soldiers buying goods from civilians—one of them was a white peacock. Po recognized him immediately: Lord Shen. After finishing his purchase, Lord Shen turned and looked toward Po's direction. Their eyes met. Lord Shen and his men stopped the caravan, and he walked straight up to Po, asking, "Mr. Panda, might you be the Dragon Warrior of the Jade Palace?"

Notes:

1. Shen finally appears.
2. late 19th-century elements are introduced, such as photo IDs, telegraphs, telephones, and steam tractors.
3. The red-and-black flag of the Gongmen Society originated from the flag of the Haifeng Peasant Association founded by 彭湃Peng Pai (October 22, 1896–August 30, 1929).

Chapter 7: The Journey to Gongmen Part 5

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

Lord Shen and his men intercepted the merchant caravan. He walked straight up to Po and asked, "Mr. Panda, are you the Dragon Warrior?" Po denied it on the spot. Lord Shen sized up Po for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the Five.

Po was already preparing to fight, starting to assess his opponents. Lord Shen wore a grey military uniform resembling an officer, however it lacked any rank insignia. He carried a bolt action rifle on his back, and his waist belt held one revolver and two short knives. At this close range, the rifle wasn't a threat. The white peacock's most dangerous weapons were the pistol and knives at his waist; one of his hands rested on the revolver, showing he was also wary.

Just as Po was planning how to seize or knock away Lord Shen's pistol, Lord Shen said, "My apologies, it seems I've mistaken you for someone else." Then he quickly left with his men.

After Lord Shen had gone some distance, Po and the Five moved a few steps away from the caravan into a small alley to discuss their next move. They were most likely already on the enemy's watchlist. People didn't randomly identify a strange panda as the Dragon Warrior. Lord Shen must know about them, or at least recognize their appearances. Lord Shen suspected them; after leaving, he would surely notify the police to keep a close watch on them.

The instructions provided to Po and the Five by the commissioner included contingency plans for entering enemy territory, which involved infiltrating a designated location in Gongmen to await contact from Imperial undercover agents. However, they believed their best choice now was to stay with the caravan and go wherever it went. They were only under suspicion; if they abandoned the caravan to flee, it would only confirm those suspicions. Furthermore, from what they had seen along the way, the Gongmen Society managed society extremely strictly. Strangers from outside who were on wanted lists would find it hard to survive; the contingency plan was too risky.

After emerging from the alley, they informed the caravan to proceed as planned. The caravan boss didn't say anything, but his face wore a look of worry; he also understood what had likely happened.

The caravan continued along its original route. Over the next few days, everything seemed normal. No police intercepted them, and no suspicious individuals followed them. Po and the Five began to harbour a sliver of hope that Gongmen Society had decided to let them go.

On the fifth day, that sliver of hope was shattered. As they passed through a village, a large troop of police suddenly rushed out from the village entrance, surrounding them. A police officer who looked like the leader shouted at them to surrender peacefully and raise their hands. Standing beside him were Lord Shen and several of his guards.

The caravan surrendered immediately. They raised their hands and walked towards the police, who then took them away. Before leaving, the boss even urged Po and the Five to surrender as well, saying the enemy treated prisoners well. Soon, only the six Kung Fu masters remained within the police encirclement.

Po and the Five had no intention of surrendering. Although many police officers had pistols holstered at their waists, they hadn't drawn them; instead, they held batons and long staffs. This indicated the enemy wanted to capture them alive, which presented an opportunity.

Po and the Five exchanged glances for a moment. Tigress gave a single nod, signalling the attack. In the blink of an eye, they charged at the police. With a few moves, Po knocked down several officers in front of him.

Just then, Po saw Lord Shen enter the fray, wielding a long staff. Lord Shen chose to engage Po directly. He attacked with a flowing series of strikes, using his footwork and the staff's reach to evade Po's counterattacks. Lord Shen was far more formidable than the police officers.

Po seized an opportunity, slipped past the staff, and closed the distance; his opponent hadn't had time to retreat. At that moment, Lord Shen fanned out his tail feathers into a full display. Po wasn't just dazzled by the red and white patterns; it also triggered memories of the burning Panda Village and his mother from his childhood. In that momentary lapse, Lord Shen delivered a downward strike, hitting Po squarely on the head with the staff.

Po's vision went black, and he fell to the ground. Hazily, he felt Tigress grab his shoulders, lifting him to a sitting position, then gripping his face and calling his name. Po regained consciousness and told them he was alright. The Five had pushed the enemy back, creating a gap in their formation. It was time to break out. Po and the Five disengaged and fled towards the nearby forested hills.

Crane took flight to scout the surrounding area from the air. Just then, three gunshots rang out from behind Po. Crane shouted from the air, "I'm hit!" and plummeted. Po looked back and saw only Lord Shen holding a rifle, working the bolt with his right hand. He was the one who had fired.

Po and the others rushed towards where Crane had fallen. A voice called out from ahead, "Over here!" Crane came running towards them. He was alive and mobile; the worst hadn't happened. However, Crane's right wing was shattered. He couldn't fly. This was devastating news. Tigress pulled bandages and alcohol from her pack and began emergency treatment and bandaging on Crane's wound.

After Tigress finished treating Crane's injury, Po said to him, "I'll carry you. You can't fly now, and you won't be fast on the ground." Crane replied, "Okay," and immediately used his claws and his good wing to hold onto Po.

Po saw figures appearing in the woods behind them – the pursuers. He shouted to the others, "They're catching up! Let's go! Hold on tight!" With that, Po and the others continued their desperate flight deeper into the forested hills.

Notes:

The story is set in the late 19th century, featuring modern breech-loading rifles and pistols, hence Lord Shen uses modern firearms.

In the original work, Lord Shen only has one set of formal silk attire, which is impractical for daily activities. Here, he wears a military uniform when operating outdoors.

Chapter 8: The Journey to Gongmen Part 6

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

After Po and the Five escaped into the mountains, they temporarily shook off the pursuing police squad. They decided to resort to their backup plan—heading to a designated location in Gongmen City to await extraction by imperial undercover agents.

However, before executing this backup plan, they needed to solve two problems. First, they had abandoned almost all their luggage during their escape and now had no food or water left. This wasn’t much of a challenge for them—they could easily sneak into a village and steal enough supplies. The second problem, however, was far more critical. Crane’s injury was slowly worsening and required proper medical treatment soon; otherwise, he might need an amputation to save his life. They needed to quickly enter a residential area, find a doctor capable of treating Crane’s wound, and persuade them to help—all without alerting the police.

This was extremely difficult. After their fierce battle with dozens of officers, the surrounding villages and towns were surely plastered with wanted posters bearing their faces, and the locals would be on high alert. Despite the challenges, they persevered.

By the afternoon of the next day, Po and the Five arrived at a village to test their luck. Before entering, they scouted the perimeter, checking for any military or police ambushes. Confirming the coast was clear, they proceeded along a narrow path leading into the village. As they walked, they passed fields where farmers worked the land. The farmers slowed or halted their labour, eyeing the strangers with suspicion. One of them even dashed back toward the village. At that moment, Po sensed they had been recognised.

Shortly after entering the village, Po and the Five were met by a group of villagers charging toward them with spears and rifles, shouting, "These six outsiders are spies—catch them!" The kung fu masters immediately turned to flee, but more villagers armed with weapons emerged from nearby houses and fields, surrounding them. Dozens of spears and rifles were now pointed at them. Seeing no point in futile resistance, they raised their hands in surrender.

The villagers led Po and his companions to an empty house on the outskirts of the village, far from other homes. Inside were a few beds and chairs. The village chief and militia captain conducted a brief interrogation, assuring them, "Don’t be nervous or afraid. Gongmen Society won’t mistreat you—we treat prisoners well." They then demanded Po and the Five truthfully disclose their identities. The masters confessed: they were from the Jade Palace, sent under imperial orders to infiltrate Gongmen Society’s territory and carry out sabotage.

Satisfied with the answer, the militia captain concluded the interrogation with a warning: "We trust the honour of kung fu masters. Don’t try anything after surrendering. Wanted posters with your faces are up in every village and town nearby—everyone recognises you. Even if you escape here, you’ll immediately be caught in the net of our mass organisations. There’s no way out."

The village chief added, "Tomorrow, our superiors will send someone to escort you to Gongmen City, where specialists will handle your interrogation. Cooperate, confess everything, and as long as you’re not important or influential people or guilty of serious crimes against civilians, you’ll be safe. We’ll release you soon."

Po asked, "So, do you think kung fu masters from the Jade Palace count as important or influential people?"

The chief replied, "It’s not up to me. Ask yourselves—does the imperial court truly value the Jade Palace? In their eyes, are you really that important? Do they even care whether you escape after completing your mission? Over the years, we’ve captured many spies sent to sabotage. We know exactly how the empire views them—they’re cannon fodder. You’re just more of the empire’s expendable pawns. Think hard—is this rotten regime worth dying for?"

With that, the chief and militia captain left the house, and armed villagers locked the door behind them. Peering through the window, Po spotted several armed militiamen standing guard outside.

A short while later, the door opened again, and an elderly man entered. He introduced himself as a doctor. The chief, noticing Crane’s severe wing injury, had sent him to treat it. The doctor carefully unwrapped the bandages, examined the wound, cleaned it, and applied fresh dressings.

He explained that the village lacked the resources to fully heal Crane’s injury—they could only slow its worsening. However, Gongmen City had better medical facilities. The journey there by train would take no more than three days, and Gongmen Society would continue treating his wing. With proper care, Crane could recover enough to fly again, avoiding amputation. Hearing this, Po and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

By dusk, the militiamen brought them dinner. The village had even prepared a special meal for Crane, richer and more nutritious than the others.

After eating, Po and the Five discussed their fate. They had followed their master’s orders—abandoning the mission to save themselves. This empire wasn’t worth dying for. Once in Gongmen City, they would confess everything they knew to Gongmen Society. Given how concerned their captors were about Crane’s injury, they believed the Society would ensure their safety. Their only hope was that the Society wouldn’t deem them "important or influential people." If they were labelled as such, they’d become bargaining chips for prisoner exchanges with the empire. Based on past public records, such exchanges happened at irregular intervals—the worst-case scenario was being imprisoned for years.

Their greatest future danger came from the very empire they had served. Gongmen Society had issued warrants for their arrest across multiple regions. Given the commotion they’d caused, imperial agents hiding in the area had likely already reported their capture to the court. The empire might ignore them, send assassins to silence them, or punish the Jade Palace for incompetence.

In the end, they decided not to overthink it. Their war was temporarily over—that was enough. All they hoped for now was to find a way to contact their master and let him know they were safe.

Chapter 9: The Journey to Gongmen Part 7

Summary:

The civil war between the Imperial Government and Gongmen Peacock Rebellion had raged for nearly 2 decades. Po and The Furious Five were on a mission to infiltrate into the Peacock Rebellion-controlled Gongmen City. They were caught by Lord Shen, and the Peacock Lord decided to give them a tour through the city. 19th Century AU, and Lord Shen was a determined revolutionary.

Early the next morning, a squad of over a dozen Peacock Army soldiers arrived in the village to escort Po and the Five back to Gongmen City. The Peacock Army informed them that they would walk to the county train station and then take a train to Gongmen City. Out of respect and trust for the kung fu masters, they did not bind Po and the Five or put them in handcuffs.

Along the way to the county, they passed through several villages. They stopped in one to fetch water and buy food. Po and the Five noticed that the villagers held great respect for the Peacock Army, and the soldiers paid for the food they purchased. Occasionally, the soldiers would stop to pick wild fruit from trees, but they never touched the crops belonging to the villagers. If it had been any other army, they likely would have just taken what they wanted from the people.

They walked the entire day and reached the county town by dusk. The train station was located on the outskirts, bustling with crowds. A long line stretched in front of the ticket office, and a clock and train schedule hung on the wall. The waiting hall was filled with rows of benches occupied by passengers waiting for their trains. A few chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light bulbs casting a soft yellow glow. The sound of a train whistle echoed from outside, and a station staff member in a dark uniform entered the hall to announce the arrival of a train, instructing passengers to board at the platform. Po found everything incredibly novel.

They weren't taking this passenger train. The Peacock Army sought out the stationmaster, informing him of their identity and purpose. After verifying their credentials, the stationmaster didn't ask too many questions and directed them to wait for their train at the station's water and coal depot.

A station employee led the way. They walked to the platform, where the passenger train had already arrived, with passengers boarding and disembarking. The employee guided them to the end of the platform, down onto the tracks, and across several rails until they reached the water and coal station. There were large water tanks and coal bunkers used to supply steam locomotives with fresh water and fuel. The employee told them their train would arrive shortly to refuel.

After about ten minutes, the mechanical signal on the tracks shifted, and a station staff member on the platform waved a green flag. The passenger train blew its whistle and slowly pulled away. By the time it left, night had fallen.

Not long after, a light appeared at the end of the tracks, accompanied by the sound of a train whistle. The train stopped at the water and coal station, and Po saw a military flag planted on the steam locomotive. The engine pulled several flatcars carrying artillery, a few freight cars, and nearly ten passenger cars—this was a military transport train.

Two drivers jumped down from the locomotive's cabin and immediately began working with the depot staff to resupply. Over a dozen Peacock Army soldiers disembarked from the passenger cars and took up guard positions around the train.

The Peacock Army escorting them led them to an officer and reported their situation. After hearing the details, the officer hurried to one of the rear cars and boarded. Moments later, a white peacock appeared at the car's doorway—it was their acquaintance, Lord Shen. Upon seeing Po and the Five, he ordered them to be brought aboard.

The Jade Palace group was taken to Lord Shen's car, which contained several compartments. They were assigned to an empty one, with a table in the center and wooden benches on either side, each seating three. Of course, Po alone took up space for two, though Mantis and Viper didn't take up much room.

They were told the train would travel overnight and arrive in Gongmen City the next morning. After departure, dinner was brought to them, and a military medic came to check on Crane's injuries.

Before sleeping, Po and the Five browsed through the reading materials on the compartment's bookshelf. The first was a promotional booklet from the Gongmen Railway Company, featuring a railway map displaying the company's operational and planned passenger lines, along with timetables and pricing for different classes of service. Every town, big or small, within Gongmen Society's territory was connected by rail—only remote or geographically challenging mountainous areas lacked tracks. In terms of total mileage, most of China's railways were within Gongmen Society's control.

Aside from the booklet, there were also recent newspapers reporting on government affairs, economic developments, and frontline battles involving the Peacock Army. One particularly eye-catching article covered the government's parliament debating taxation for the upcoming year.

Viper remarked, "The tax burden here is crushing—it's practically squeezing people dry."

Monkey commented, "No surprise. It's wartime. The frontline troops need funding, and the war-related industries at home require massive amounts of money too."

Po asked, "But even with such heavy taxes, the people here still strongly support the Society?"

Tigress explained, "In the past, the common folk here were oppressed by corrupt officials and local tyrants, barely scraping by. Now they can live with dignity. As long as things are better than before, they'll keep supporting it."

Viper said, "But the world runs on material needs—people still have to eat. The war can't go on forever. Eventually, resources will run dry, and the economy will collapse. Maybe they're already on the brink."

Mantis responded, "The Empire isn't doing much better—otherwise, why would they humiliate themselves by negotiating peace with the rebels?"

Hearing this, Po understood. "The sabotage mission makes sense. If they're already struggling, a crippling blow to their production might force them to sue for peace."

Monkey offered a different perspective: "Usually, it's the weaker side that resorts to cheating to turn the tide. Right now, it's the empire playing dirty."

Po asked, "Is the empire on the verge of collapse?"

Crane said, "Very likely. History shows that dynasties in decline are far weaker than people realize. I think both sides are nearing their limits, but the court might be the first to fall."