Chapter 975 - 814: Jiefan Guard

The Anti-Japanese Army ran away.

To be precise, it was the Zhang Family members hidden within the Anti-Japanese Army who ran away, leaving behind five empty large ships and forty-seven genuine Anti-Japanese soldiers.

Prince Fu looked at the sparse Anti-Japanese Army and wondered, "It shouldn’t be like this. Running away like this, doesn’t it mean handing over the authority of sea taxes to others?"

He turned his head towards the sea outside the port, comparing hearts. If he had taken Dinghai Port, he certainly wouldn’t have abandoned it like this. It was millions of taels of silver, an immeasurable achievement.

But that group of people indeed left without a trace of attachment.

Prince Fu got off his horse and pulled Chen Yu aside: "I ask you, you’ve been mingling with the Anti-Japanese Army for so long, do you know who the person wearing the mask is?"

Chen Yu feigned ignorance: "What is Your Highness talking about? I have said it many times, I’ve never seen anyone wearing a mask. It’s just a rumor."

Prince Fu pondered for a moment and then whispered, "I was entrusted by Lady Wu Xiang Hou, traveling day and night with the elite from the Five Armies Camp to arrive at Dinghai Port today, and now I haven’t even seen the face of the chief. The port is about to change hands, I need to know what they plan to do. Is there any backup plan... Did they leave any message before leaving on what to do?"

Chen Yu sized up Prince Fu for a moment, glanced at Wang Changzhen, and kindly reminded: "Your Highness, it’s the Hu Family who wants to take over Dinghai Port, isn’t it different if the Hu Family takes it or you take it?"

"Of course, it’s different," Prince Fu replied sternly, "Whatever I want, I’ll fight for it myself, not steal or rob."

Chen Yu smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "I’ve always heard of Your Highness’s righteousness, it’s well deserved. But they didn’t explain anything before leaving, they just said to dock today, and someone will come to clean up the aftermath, we don’t need to worry."

Prince Fu, suspicious and uncertain: "So certain? Aren’t they afraid of something going wrong after they leave?"

Chen Yu shook his head: "Not afraid, he was very confident."

At this moment, the Central Army Commander’s Mansion General rode to Wang Changzhen’s side: "Sir, what do we do now? We can’t catch the Zhang family, can’t move Chen Yu either, Mr. Hu would likely blame us, otherwise..."

"Do you dare to take action in front of His Highness, do you have a death wish? The urgent matter now is to secure Dinghai Port, we can’t bother with anything else," Wang Changzhen contemplated for a moment, then said aloud, "Bring the Ministry of War documents, for the Anti-Japanese Army’s thousands households Zheng Jiye has achieved merit against the Japanese, promote him to the Central Army Commander’s Mansion Commander."

Zheng Jiye’s eyes lit up: "Promoted again? Uncle, did you hear that I got promoted again!"

Uncle Zheng whispered with annoyance: "You fool, you can’t tell good from bad, all you see is the rank, when you get to the Central Army Commander’s Mansion, you’ll find trouble with your shoes."

Zheng Jiye didn’t care about these, he quietly asked: "Can we erect a merit flagpole in front of our house?"

Chen Yu smiled and explained: "No, you need to pass an examination-based merit to erect a flagpole."

Zheng Jiye sighed with regret: "Shouldn’t the merit obtained from battle outside be more significant than the one obtained from sitting in the Imperial Examination Hall?"

Chen Yu was taken aback, then smiled gently: "It makes sense. But military generals glorify their family with a Loyalty and Righteousness Archway. When I return to Jinling, I’ll write a memorial to the court, requesting His Majesty to bestow an archway for you in the countryside."

Zheng Jiye immediately smiled brightly: "Thank you, thank you!"

Just at this time, Wang Changzhen’s subordinates brought the Ministry of War document to Zheng Jiye: "Report to the Jinling Ministry of War within seven days without failure!"

"Alright, alright, thank you, thank you," Zheng Jiye took the document and expressed his gratitude.

However, before he could take a closer look at the Ministry of War document, he heard Wang Changzhen again loudly announce: "The Anti-Japanese Army has achieved merit against the Japanese, and finding out the affair of collaborating with the Japanese involving merchant ships at Dinghai Port and Songjiang Port is a great achievement. However, the Anti-Japanese Army has no authority over punitive fines. You are to follow military orders and accompany us to the Central Army Commander’s Mansion for rest. Dinghai Port and Songjiang Port will be taken over and administered by our Ministry of War..."

Prince Fu frowned and interrupted loudly: "Hold on!"

Wang Changzhen sighed, dismounted, and approached Prince Fu to speak in a low voice: "Your Highness, it’s not that we are trying to pluck the fruit, but our Ministry of War has the responsibility for maritime defense. Since a major case of collaboration with the Japanese has emerged here, it’s fitting for our Ministry of War to administer it. The Anti-Japanese Army indeed has no authority for punitive fines... This matter will be explained to you in detail by Mr. Hu when you return to Jinling; it’s also for your good!"

Prince Fu, however, shook his head: "I understand what Lord Wang means, but someone taught me a phrase, ’The mandate of heaven, the will of people, both depends on this. The current profit seems rich, but gaining wealth and losing the people, even rich, is dangerous; taking profit but harming people, even gained, will perish!’"

Wang Changzhen hesitated for a moment, but eventually made up his mind.

He cupped his hands towards Prince Fu: "Your Highness, although I seem to be the Minister of the Ministry of War in the capital, in reality, I’m just a small pawn who has crossed the river, I can only act on orders. The rest will be explained by Mr. Hu."

With that said, the Central Army Commander’s Mansion soldiers swarmed into Dinghai Port, expelling the Xu Family members originally in the port, and kept the Anti-Japanese Army tightly surrounded, intending to ’escort’ the Anti-Japanese Army back to the Central Army Commander’s Mansion for supervision.

Just then, more hoofbeats, denser, heavier, and more urgent than before, could be heard approaching from the dock. Everyone looked, only to see hundreds of Jiefan Guard rushing in.

Wang Changzhen’s expression changed: "Why is it Jiefan Guard?!"

The Jiefan Guards wore bamboo hats and straw coats, long knives strapped behind their waists, appearing grim and killing.

Prince Fu sighed: "No wonder the one from the Anti-Japanese Army walked away so decisively. It turns out he intended from the start to turn the tariffs over to the Inner Treasury, now this is His Majesty’s silver."

At this moment, the Governor Mansion’s troops under the archway at the pier were about to block the Jiefan Guard, but saw the Jiefan Guard pull out hand crossbows from behind their waists, firing the trigger from dozens of paces away.

Crossbow arrows shot towards the Governor Mansion’s troops, hitting two men and turning them into porcupines on the spot, scaring the troops into hurriedly dodging.

"Outrageous!" Wang Changzhen was furious, and marched forward: "How dare the Jiefan Guard recklessly harm the soldiers of the Central Army Commander’s Mansion? Who is in charge?"

The Jiefan Guard reined their horses in front of him, and with a twitch of the reins, the five hundred Jiefan Guard split into two teams, opening a path.

Feng Daban slowly rode forward and spoke warmly: "Lord Wang, in this land of Southern Zhili, who else besides Mr. Feng can command five hundred Jiefan Guard?"

Feng Daban was wearing a black leather armor over a white robe today, with a long sword hanging from his waist, completely changing his usual gentle appearance, yet his speech remained warm and sluggish.

Wang Changzhen spoke in a deep voice: "Coastal defense is my Ministry of War’s duty. What business does your Ritual Supervision have here?"

Feng Daban chuckled: "Lord Wang, the Japanese pirates have been rampant here, can’t my Jiefan Guard come and take a look? A few days ago, someone from the Anti-Japanese Army came to Quanfu Alley in Jinling and found Mr. Feng, claiming that the Japanese pirates here were sheltered by high officials in our court, specially requesting the Jiefan Guard to investigate this matter. I originally didn’t believe it, but now seeing Lord Wang here, I half believe it."

Wang Changzhen chided angrily: "Ridiculous, this place has nothing to do with your Jiefan Guard, leave quickly!"

Feng Daban slowly restrained his smile: "Lord Wang, you might have forgotten over time... My position as the Capital Guard, externally manages the capital’s discipline, internally supervises the Imperial City’s tombs, reports secret memos to the Imperial Capital, and controls both civil and military nobility."

Feng Daban pulled out a King’s Command Flag from his bosom, casting it to the ground with authority: "Lord Wang, Mr. Feng is not just a local official, but a close minister to the Emperor, can act as an Imperial Inspection, oversee officials, and kill first, report later!"

Wang Changzhen was silent for a moment: "I naturally know Lord Feng’s authority, but..."

Feng Daban no longer paid him attention, instead looking at Chen Yu, who immediately pointed at the large ship that just attempted to ambush the Anti-Japanese Army: "They’re all on the ship!"

Feng Daban said in a deep voice: "Half alive, half dead!"

In the next moment, the Jiefan Guard dismounted swiftly, took off their hand crossbows from behind their waists and strapped them to their left wrists, quickly closing in. A person on the large ship stuck out his head, and five crossbow arrows promptly arrived, turning his head into a mushy watermelon.

Wang Changzhen’s face changed, the Central Army Commander’s Mansion’s General beside him whispered: "Lord, is this directly aimed at us?"

Wang Changzhen muttered to himself: "The Jiefan Guard could have taken over Dinghai Port long ago, yet they waited till today. Indeed, they’re worried Zhang Zhuo’s qualifications aren’t enough, the Emperor hesitates, so they intend to eliminate Zhang Zhuo’s political enemies together, leaving the Emperor with no choice. They aren’t targeting us, they’re targeting Mr. Hu from the Hu Family, what a ruthless plan... Dinghai Port is a bait!"

The General urgently said: "Lord, what should we do?"

Wang Changzhen clutched his collar, leaned close and whispered: "Don’t panic, it’s not the end of the line yet!"

As he spoke, sounds of fierce fighting came from the ship. Wang Changzhen turned to look, only to see dozens of Jiefan Guard had stormed the large ship, throwing down their hand crossbows, drawing waist knives and engaging in battle with the Jianghu Officials.

The Jianghu Officials on the ship were all skilled, but the Jiefan Guard were numerous and coordinated perfectly, pushing these officials back step by step.

Initially, the Jiefan Guard were wary of several Seeking Dao Realm officials on board, yet the Seeking Dao Realm officials were slow to make a move, prompting an immediate assault.

A Jianghu Official on the ship shouted angrily: "Stand shoulder to shoulder!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than the sound of whistling came from the flank. Turning to look, it was the Jiefan Guard already boarding the adjacent large ship of the Anti-Japanese Army, shooting crossbow arrows from over twenty paces away.

The thudding sound continued without end, and the iron head crossbow arrows turned the ship’s hull into a porcupine, killing the Jianghu Officials in a barrage of arrows.

Feng Daban stood below the ship, loudly imploring surrender: "You are merely carrying out orders. If you lay down your weapons now, you’ll only be conscripted and exiled, there’s still time."

With a shout, the Jianghu Officials scattered like birds and beasts, stepping on the ship’s edge ready to jump into the river for escape. But just as they leapt out of the ship, they were shot by more than ten crossbow arrows.

The arrows rained down like droplets, the Jianghu Officials fell into the sea like dumplings, the sixty-plus Jianghu individuals crumbled instantly before the elite official army.

Some officials, seeing no escape, could only retreat into the narrow passage of the ship’s cabin.

The Jiefan Guard was about to charge in, but was blocked by a Seeking Dao Realm official, whose sweeping movements surprisingly prevented them from entering the cabin.

Feng Daban stood on the Anti-Japanese Army’s large ship, smiling as he said: "Finally a Seeking Dao Realm official... Why does everyone else call reinforcements while your master is so honest?"

The Seeking Dao Realm official shouted loudly: "My lord, we are merely working for money, no need for complete slaughter! If we fight to the death, I can take dozens of Jiefan Guard down with me! Spare my life, and I’ll go to the Southern Ocean, never to return to the Ning Dynasty!"

Feng Daban coldly sneered: "Even house-trained Jianghu wanderers dare to provoke my Jiefan Guard."

Saying this, he suddenly sprang up from the deck like a green onion taken from dry soil, his toes touched the ship’s edge, and he flew over twenty paces towards the large ship.

The Jiefan Guard cleared the entrance to the cabin, Feng Daban drew the long sword from his waist, and charged alone into the cabin with a sword. Within moments, the cabin was filled with cries of agony.