"Throw him to death."
Seeing the public's agitated state, Li Boyang could only smile bitterly. He hadn't wronged these officials. The Guangzhou Telegraph Bureau was established by Li Boyang with the help of Baozhilin, in partnership with Jardine Matheson and the government, to facilitate communication with the outside world. Not only was it expensive, but it could only send telegrams to Hong Kong and Shanghai at present.
In front of the telegraph office, besides the yamen runners protecting the office, there were also followers of the White Lotus Sect, and a group of White Lotus Sect members dressed in white robes and wearing round white hats. Several of them carried an altar dedicated to the Eternal Mother, and there were more than a dozen people performing shamanistic dances, gesturing wildly and chanting incantations.
"When the wind and fire of heaven and earth come together, we will wipe out the righteous spirit of the foreigners."
"Now a white lotus has come to save the world, driving away all evil spirits and its fame will last for generations."
"Burn down the telegraph office."
After watching the performance by the White Lotus sect members, the followers were even more excited, and upon hearing their words, they all joined in the shouting:
"Burn down the telegraph office."
"Burn down the telegraph office."
Baozhilin owns one-third of the shares in the Guangzhou Telegraph Bureau. Both Li Boyang and Huang Feihong are aware of this. After Li Boyang and Huang Feihong explained the significance of the telegraph bureau, they both strongly agree with its establishment.
The two men stared intently at the blindly agitated crowd stirred up by the White Lotus sect members, and at the White Lotus followers who were already losing control of their behavior. Their faces darkened, and they gritted their teeth, unsure of what to do.
They should just stop the crowd. Not to mention that there are only two of them, there are already thousands of White Lotus Sect followers and onlookers at the small telegraph office entrance. Two people simply cannot stop them.
If we were to deal with the White Lotus Sect members, we would be making enemies of the White Lotus Sect followers and the general public. If they were to make a move, they would likely overwhelm us with sheer numbers. Although I have absolute confidence in my skills, the ignited crowd would still storm the telegraph office.
While the two were pondering, they didn't notice that Aunt Thirteen, finding the White Lotus Sect believers performing their shamanistic rituals very amusing, grabbed Liang Kuan and the other two and disappeared.
"Liang Kuan, this is it. This angle is good. We can capture all the dancers on camera."
Thirteen Aunt, who had already run to the eaves of the telegraph office, kept gesturing to Leung Kwun, who was holding a camera, signaling him to hurry up.
"Oh dear, Liang Kuan, I'm not tall enough. The people in front of me are blocking my view, so they can't see me."
The area in front of the telegraph office roof was also crowded with onlookers.
Liang Kuan stared at Aunt Thirteen and said, "It's okay, just set up the camera higher, you can stand on me and it will be high enough."
"Okay, okay."
As she spoke, Aunt Thirteen climbed onto Liang Kuan's shoulder, adjusted the camera angle, and held the camera shutter in her hand, ready to press the shutter button.
Liang Kuan was completely unaware of the danger of their actions, and Thirteen Aunt was still looking ecstatic the moment she stepped on his shoulder.
"When the wind and fire of heaven and earth come together, we will wipe out the righteous spirit of the foreigners."
"Now a white lotus has come to save the world, driving away all evil spirits and its fame will last for generations."
"A white lotus descends to earth, and all people are liberated."
"Dismantle Westernization and enjoy peace together."
In front of the telegraph office, the White Lotus followers danced and shouted, occasionally throwing talismans into the air. Strangely enough, these talismans spontaneously combusted as soon as they left their hands.
Huang Feihong snorted coldly, clenched his fists, and said disdainfully, "Hmph, a trick to play tricks."
Just then, there was a loud crack.
Everyone saw a flash of white light, the sky suddenly brightened, and then a plume of smoke rose. It was Aunt Thirteen pressing the shutter button, the white smoke from the burning magnesium powder in the camera.
Unfortunately, Aunt Thirteen's snap of the camera attracted everyone's attention.
The followers of the White Lotus Sect and the general public all turned to look at Aunt Thirteen.
"Perfect!"
Thirteenth Aunt still had a smile on her face, clearly thinking her photo was perfect, but the next moment she realized something was wrong, and the onlookers around her suddenly gasped:
"This woman is electrifying, run!"
The White Lotus sect members, enraged that the ceremony had been abruptly interrupted, exclaimed:
"Capture that foreign devil who can generate electricity."
Free novels, ad-free novel website, TXT downloads, please remember Ant Reading Network
------------
Chapter 23 The White Lotus Sect in Guangzhou (Part 2)
As soon as the White Lotus sect member finished speaking, the scene at the telegraph office began to riot.
Those onlookers who were close to Aunt Thirteen scattered, fearing they would be implicated. The followers and believers of the White Lotus Sect swarmed forward and surrounded Liang Kuan and Aunt Thirteen.
"Hello! Hello! Hello!"
"Don't do anything reckless! He's Chinese, how could he be a foreign devil? Look carefully."
Liang Kuan stepped forward and stood in front of Aunt Thirteen to explain.
A man dressed as a minor leader among the White Lotus sect pointed at Aunt Thirteen and said viciously:
"Judging by your Western-style clothes and the glowing monster you're carrying, you must be either a demon or a monster. Everyone, attack!"
As soon as the White Lotus Sect leader finished speaking, the followers swarmed forward and grabbed Thirteen Aunt.
Bai Lian shouted to the leader, "Take her back to Chaotian Temple and burn her alive."
"Let's see who dares."