Chapter 206 - 130: I’d Like to See Who Dares Touch My Loot

Chapter 206: Chapter 130: I’d Like to See Who Dares Touch My Loot

"We are all colleagues serving the Imperial Court... ah, no, serving the government. Must it come to this?"

Lu Jing’an paused the hand seal he was forming in secret. He sized up the newcomer and asked in a level tone, "And you are?"

The middle-aged man quickly composed himself, shaking off his disheveled state and straightening his collar.

He took a black leather wallet from his breast pocket and unfolded his credentials.

He held it out for Lu Jing’an to see with an affable smile.

"Director Lu, my name is Fan Yueze. I serve in the secretariat of the provincial Security Command.

I am under the command of Minister Hu.

Minister Hu is well aware of the complexities in Yin Mountain and dispatched me to travel through the night to get here.

My specific task is to coordinate with all parties and jointly manage the aftermath."

He spoke quickly, but his words were clear and organized. He was clearly a veteran at this.

"Since you were sent by Minister Hu to coordinate, then please, Secretary Fan, judge the situation for us right here and now."

Lu Jing’an didn’t take the credentials. He simply raised a hand and pointed to the bullet-riddled Ironclad Ship in the middle of the river, which was now flying the flag of the Water Patrol Bureau.

"My Yin Mountain Water Patrol Bureau, in conjunction with the local security forces, fought a bloody battle to capture this enemy vessel.

This old official from the former dynasty, who appeared out of nowhere, immediately tried to seize our spoils of war and even launched a sneak attack.

Secretary Fan, tell me, how should this be handled?

Is this what Minister Hu meant by ’jointly managing’?"

Fan Yueze’s smile didn’t falter, as if he had already prepared a speech.

"Director Lu, you are wise and mighty, leading your men to defeat the enemy.

As for the current situation, there must be some misunderstanding."

He spoke tactfully, offending neither side.

"A misunderstanding?" Lu Jing’an sneered.

"Fine. I will take the spoils of war as per regulations, and a complete inventory of the captured goods will be submitted accordingly.

This gentleman can go back to wherever he came from.

If so, I will consider today’s events a misunderstanding and not pursue the matter."

"Misunderstanding, my ass!" the thin old man, having finally caught his breath, snarled, cutting him off.

He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, his eyes sinister.

"The ship must be mine today! And you,"

He pointed at Lu Jing’an, his finger trembling slightly with rage.

"must get on your knees, kowtow, and beg for forgiveness!

Otherwise, I, Mr. Guan, swear I will bring chaos to Yin Mountain County and leave no one, not even the chickens and dogs, in peace!"

Lu Jing’an spread his hands, his gaze shifting to Fan Yueze, his tone laced with faint mockery.

"Did you see that, Secretary Fan? Did you hear him?

It’s not that I’m unwilling to reconcile; it’s that some people are just shameless.

If this is the result of your ’coordination,’ then today’s affair...

...I’m afraid it can’t be settled with just the two words: ’a misunderstanding.’"

A bead of sweat appeared on Fan Yueze’s forehead, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

It smoothed out just as quickly, and his smile became even more solicitous.

"Director Lu, please calm your anger. Commander Guan was just speaking in a fit of rage.

How about this? You are a magnanimous man. Allow me to go and speak with Commander Guan a little more.

I will certainly get you a satisfactory explanation."

He turned, and when facing the thin old man, his tone became a few degrees more respectful, and he even bent his waist slightly.

"Commander Guan, do you think we could... step aside and talk?

There are too many eyes and ears here. Some matters are best discussed in private."

He gave a meaningful look.

The thin old man’s chest heaved violently. He shot a vicious glare at Lu Jing’an and Chen Xuan.

Especially when he looked at Chen Xuan, a deep sense of dread flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He snorted coldly, his face full of indignation.

But in the end, he still had to consider the face of Minister Hu, whom Fan Yueze represented, as well as Chen Xuan’s terrifying strength.

With a flick of his tattered sleeve, he turned and followed Fan Yueze toward the riverbank.

Lu Jing’an didn’t care what secrets or conditions they were going to discuss.

He was more interested in something else. He lowered his voice and asked Chen Xuan, who stood beside him as firm as a boulder:

"Master, the Hu Family is, for all its faults, a family of scholars.

Their ancestors produced Hanlin academicians; they’re from the Pure Stream faction.

How could they lower themselves to get mixed up with Qing Demons and their Braid Army?

Aren’t they afraid their ancestors will roll over in their graves?"

Chen Xuan’s gaze remained fixed on the twilight over the river and the distant mountains. His voice was flat and calm.

But what he said revealed a cruel historical fact:

"Young Master, there is something you may not know. Back when their iron cavalry swept south...

...at the height of their unstoppable advance, the first to open the city gates, present the articles of surrender, and hand over the ledgers of money and grain...

...were often those very same scholar-gentry who called themselves the Pure Stream and spouted righteousness and morality.

After the new rulers secured their power, it was these same Pure Stream scholars who debated the classics in their favor and drafted their imperial edicts.

They were also the ones who compiled the *Biographies of Disloyal Officials* and even edited and destroyed the records of the previous dynasty.

Soft bones and bent knees.

It’s a chronic affliction of certain scholars. It has nothing to do with how many sage books they’ve read."

Lu Jing’an was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and let out a humorless laugh, his smile full of coldness.

"So that’s how it is... ’The water is too cold, my scalp is too itchy,’ is it?

It’s the same throughout history, a tradition passed down through the generations.

I just never thought the Hu Family’s ancestral ’integrity’ would look like this."

Chen Xuan said no more, simply standing there quietly, like the most steadfast mountain range behind Lu Jing’an.

Before long, Fan Yueze returned alone.

The smile on his face was even broader than before, yet it was faintly tinged with an imperceptible tension.

He walked up to Lu Jing’an, cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute, and said:

"I’ve kept you waiting, Director Lu.

As for Commander Guan, after some patient persuasion on my part...

...he has come to realize he was a bit impulsive earlier and believes this matter may... indeed be a misunderstanding."

Lu Jing’an remained silent, simply watching him, waiting for what would come next.

Fan Yueze rubbed his hands together and continued:

"However... Commander Guan is also acting on orders this time, and it would be difficult for him to report back empty-handed.

He hopes that Director Lu can be magnanimous, consider the bigger picture, and hand the ship over to them.

After all, according to Commander Guan, this ship was a target they had been watching for a long time.

They put in a great deal of effort this time.

Of course, both Minister Hu and Commander Guan are well aware of the credit due to you, Director Lu, and your subordinates.

As long as you make things convenient, Director Lu, Minister Hu will be sure to give the Lu Family...

...and the Yin Mountain Water Patrol Bureau generous compensation afterward. Whether it’s armaments, funding, or other accommodations, everything is negotiable.