Chapter 74 - 73: Annihilating the Water Bandits

Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Annihilating the Water Bandits

Even after realizing they’d been played by Lu Jing’an, the Liu Family could only grit their teeth and swallow their anger.

They watched helplessly as his imposing figure led his men away.

The river breeze brushed against the hem of his dark Water Patrol uniform.

And the direction he was headed...

...was clearly the harbor under the Li Family’s jurisdiction.

Watching Lu Jing’an’s ships, the members of the Liu Family felt a strange sense of consolation.

’The Liu Family can’t be the only ones to suffer.’

’The Li Family won’t get to stay out of this either.’

Sure enough, news returned in less than half a day.

Lu Jing’an had taken the Water Patrol Bureau’s newly arrived Ironclad Ships, used nearly the same pretext at the Li Family’s port, and, as smooth as flowing water, impounded another freighter.

On its deck were stacked crates upon crates of opium.

With the "spoils" from his river patrol, Lu Jing’an set a course back to Yin Mountain County.

As the Ironclad Ships cut through the murky waters of the Canglan River and sailed into the harbor, the newspaper reporters already waiting on the shore burst into a commotion.

Flashbulbs went off with a CLICK, and white light flashed again and again, capturing the Ironclad Ships, the two impounded freighters behind them, and the calm-faced young director standing at the bow, all together in their lenses.

He was giving them a taste of their own medicine.

Lu Jing’an ordered his men to carry the confiscated opium crates to an open space on the shore.

In front of all the reporters, they pried open the wooden crates, revealing the blocks of opium wrapped in oil paper inside.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut clearly through the cool river breeze:

"On its first river patrol, the Water Patrol Bureau seized several hundred pounds of opium from two merchant ships from Lou Mountain County and Xiao County."

"Today, we will destroy it in public."

Soldiers had already prepared lime and seawater.

With a wave of Lu Jing’an’s hand, all the opium was pushed into a pit.

A SIZZLE echoed as thick white smoke billowed up, spreading with a pungent odor.

Once the opium had completely dissolved, Lu Jing’an turned to face the cameras.

He spoke again, and his words made every reporter present hold their breath:

"In its next phase, the Water Patrol Bureau will focus all its efforts on eradicating the Canglan River Water Bandits."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"I know that many who have turned to banditry on the Canglan River have been forced into it by circumstance."

"In the spirit of learning from past mistakes and rehabilitating offenders,"

"I am willing to offer a path to a new life."

The river wind suddenly picked up, rustling the collar of Lu Jing’an’s uniform.

"Seven days from now, we will set up a desk outside the Water Patrol Office."

"Those who wish to turn over a new leaf may register there, and their past transgressions will be forgiven."

"Once those seven days are over..."

Lu Jing’an paused before continuing, his tone sharpening:

"Anyone who remains on the river as a bandit will be considered to be mounting a desperate resistance."

"The Water Patrol Bureau will deploy its Ironclad Ships and cannons,"

"and we will eliminate them one by one, with no mercy."

The moment he said this, the entire crowd was in an uproar.

This was not in the interview outline the Lu Family had provided beforehand, but it was far more shocking than the destruction of the opium.

The reporters, like a school of sharks that had scented blood, surged forward with questions:

"Director Lu, what are the specific arrangements for this ’turning over a new leaf’?"

"It’s exactly as it sounds."

"Eliminate... Does that mean you’ll kill them on sight?"

"It’s exactly as it sounds."

...

The Lu Family had originally prepared some silver coins, hoping today’s news would be in tomorrow’s papers.

But because Lu Jing’an had suddenly announced his plan to eradicate the Water Bandits, the silver coins were no longer necessary.

All the newspapers rushed to typeset and print.

They were afraid of missing out on this huge story.

And so, the very next day, news of the opium destruction and the plan to eliminate the Water Bandits was already in print.

"The Lu Family’s New Director Draws His Sword on the Canglan River: First Burning Opium, Then Eradicating Bandits!"

Lou Mountain, the Liu Family!

Patriarch Liu clutched several newspapers, placing them gently on the Huanghuali wood table.

He tapped his fingertips on the headline, then looked up at the people in the hall. "What do you all make of this?"

The chief from the Public Security Bureau who had previously confronted Lu Jing’an at the docks was the first to scoff.

"Arrogant fool! Does he think a few Ironclad Ships are enough to let him run rampant on the Canglan River?"

"The reed marshes stretch for dozens of miles, and the waterways are a tangled mess."

"What does a wet-behind-the-ears brat like him know about suppressing bandits?"

A chorus of agreement rose from the assembled men.

The bandit infestation on the Canglan River had been a problem for years. If it were truly easy to solve, why would the Liu Family have given up the position at the Water Patrol Bureau so easily back then?

They’d even tried burning the reed marshes before, but like weeds, they always grew back.

The Patriarch listened quietly to their discussion, his eyes dark and profound.

After the others had dispersed, only that chief remained.

"Find a small boat. Load it with some rifles and ammunition," the Patriarch ordered in a low voice. "Deliver it near the reed marshes under the cover of night."

"Remember, do it cleanly."

The chief understood immediately. "Yes, sir."

A similar scene was also playing out at the Li Family’s residence.

Although neither family believed Lu Jing’an could actually succeed, arming their enemy as a precaution was better than letting the Lu Family seize the opportunity to grow stronger.

...

「Black Shark Gang, Water Stockade.」

A one-armed Water Bandit hurried across the wooden bridge built over the water, and lifted the curtain to enter Juyi Hall, his face beaming with joy.

"Dragon King! The Liu and Li Families each sent a boatload of hardware!"

"Thirty rifles, twenty crates of ammunition, and two light machine guns!"

From his seat, the Dragon King grinned, revealing a set of teeth stained yellow by opium.

"How considerate. We’ll rob the Liu and Li Family ships a few less times from now on."

His smile vanished, and a vicious glint appeared in his eyes.

"That little brat surnamed Lu sure talks big."

"Surrender in seven days?"

"Heh... I’ll be waiting right here on the Canglan River. Let’s see what he can do to me!"

He suddenly remembered something and stared at his subordinate.

"I told you to find the Lu Family’s ships. Did you find them?"

The subordinate trembled. "R-Reporting to the Dragon King, there are... no ships on the river flying the Lu Family flag at all. Not even any freighters coming out of Yin Mountain County."

The Dragon King narrowed his eyes. He understood.

’The Lu Family is lying low for now, avoiding the brunt of the attack.’

"Then find a few unlucky bastards who were stingy with their protection money."

"Kill them, dig out their hearts, and hang them on a ship."

"Then send it to that Lu fellow."

"Since that Lu fellow didn’t appreciate my previous courtesy, we’ll just have to ’show him our sincerity’ again."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"Wait," the Dragon King called out again.

"Has the word I told you to spread on the river gotten around?"

"It’s spread everywhere! All the stockades have made their position clear: anyone who surrenders is making an enemy of every brother on the Canglan River!"

The Dragon King nodded in satisfaction but still added, "Send a couple of sharp guys to sneak into Yin Mountain County. In seven days, have them stake out the entrance of the Water Patrol Office. I want to see if any blind fools actually go and surrender."

Lu Jing’an’s speech was like a stone tossed into still water, creating a thousand ripples.

The various powers began to move in the undercurrents.

Only the Lu Family remained unnervingly quiet.

Even when Secretary Hu personally called to inquire, Lu Huaiqian simply replied with a laugh, "Young people have to go out and make their own way."

He didn’t show the slightest hint of worry.

At that moment, Lu Jing’an was sitting alone in the study of his private courtyard.

Outside the window, bamboo shadows danced as he sat at his desk, brush in hand.

On the rice paper, he was sketching the winding waterways of the reed marshes, and a rough layout of the Black Shark Gang’s Water Stockade.

From the moment he made the announcement, Lu Jing’an knew this matter wouldn’t go smoothly.

And "not smoothly" was exactly what Lu Jing’an wanted.

’If I want to solve the bandit problem quickly, I have to use this kind of thunderous, carrot-and-stick approach.’

’Giving them no hope at all and just trying to annihilate them from the start... is simply not feasible in these chaotic times.’

’It would only unite the Water Bandits against a common enemy, and wiping them out would come at a much higher cost.’

’My announcement now is, in itself, a way to divide them.’

’Besides, completely eradicating all these Water Bandits isn’t in my best interest either.’

’Those Water Bandits willing to submit... I still have a use for them.’