Chapter 75: Commanding The Grain Transport Gang And True Skill!
“Such overwhelming aura!”
Above Twin Dragon Gorge, at the position where the Crouching Tiger Manor group was located, a black-clothed man wearing half a mask spat out a sentence, his eyes full of solemnity.
The faces of the others also showed shock. These dozens of burly strong men nominally belonged to Wu Duxiong’s command, but in reality truly obeyed this black-clothed masked man.
“Let’s go!”
The black-clothed man was concise and fell another word.
“Does the commander’s intention mean to go meet that Hong Yuan? This man has subdued the Grain Transport Gang. If we can persuade him to join our Crouching Tiger Manor, it would be like adding wings to a tiger…”
The black-clothed man glared at him fiercely: “No! We should return to the manor and report everything that happened here in detail to the Manor Lord.”
Immediately, the black-clothed man glanced at Wu Duxiong who was still gazing into the valley, and said indifferently: “Brother Wu, are you returning to the manor, or staying with your martial nephew here?”
Wu Duxiong withdrew his gaze, though his heart was still surging with shock and awe, and a smile appeared on his face: “Naturally returning to Crouching Tiger Manor. The manor has good wine and meat, and so many good brothers to keep me company in fun. They couldn’t drive me away.”
“Hehe! Brother Wu, what are you saying? The more heroes like you come, the better. Our manor can’t wish for more.”
The black-clothed man smiled insincerely, and his hands behind his back made a gesture. Those strong men split into left and right, subtly surrounding Wu Duxiong in the center.
“Since that’s the case, we can’t keep the Manor Lord waiting. Let’s return now.”
The black-clothed man had no intention of contacting Hong Yuan at all.
Even if he had some ideas at first, after seeing the other party crush Han Ding Tian and Lei Meng, two grandmasters, like crumbling dry weeds and rotting wood, and then forcefully suppress the Grain Transport Gang group, he had no thoughts left.
For such a ruthless figure, rashly making contact would make life and death unpredictable. As for using Yang Lie to threaten the other party, heh! The black-clothed man felt that he probably wouldn’t even finish a sentence before his head would be relocated on the spot.
Accompanied by the Crouching Tiger Manor group hurriedly returning, the many people on both banks of the valley also gradually dispersed. Though the various forces had different thoughts, everyone knew clearly that from now on, the situation in Linjiang Prefecture had already greatly changed.
Grain Transport Gang Stockade, in the spacious Council Hall, the lights were brightly lit.
Except for Hong Yuan who was sitting, the others were all standing trembling with fear and anxiety in their hearts.
Those qualified to enter this Council Hall were naturally the Grain Transport Gang’s core layer. Every move they made affected the livelihoods of thousands or tens of thousands of people. In the past, they were proud of this, but now they wished they didn’t have this power.
Hong Yuan held a piece of paper in his hand, which was the list of important Grain Transport Gang members.
The Grain Transport Gang had six Heads at the top, and below the Heads were Flag Masters.
This was the most important strength that allowed the Grain Transport Gang to dominate the prefecture and county for many years without anyone able to control them, and instead growing ever more prosperous: divided into River Patrol Flag and Mountain Guard Flag.
River Patrol Flag had six hundred people, mainly controlling the sluice gates, patrolling and fighting on the water. Often they also moonlighted as water bandits, robbing the great families, with six Flag Masters, each leading a hundred people.
Of course, each Flag Master could also proactively recruit masters under their command.
That Chen Jiulang who was killed by Hong Yuan was one of the River Patrol Flag Flag Masters, and also the one with the most resounding reputation and greatest power, completely overshadowing the others.
Mountain Guard Flag mainly guarded the headquarters, about four hundred people, with four Flag Masters.
Hmm, they had previously been crushed by Hong Yuan, with nearly a hundred casualties.
Below the Heads and Flag Masters were Incense Masters and Stewards, numerous in number, stationed at the branches in the twelve counties, handling local Grain Transport affairs.
“Small temple with big demon winds, shallow pond with many turtles.”
Hong Yuan sighed, his gaze glancing at the crowd in the hall.
Actually, the Grain Transport Gang’s forces were vast. There were over a hundred or two hundred thousand people making a living with the Grain Transport Gang, and including those affected, it would double. Were these positions too many?
Not many at all.
If this were an ordinary ancient world, with Hong Yuan sitting in the boss position, he would also need to create more positions to check each other and avoid being sidelined.
But now with great power concentrated in one body, there was no need for so much empty formality. Whoever dared to act up would be slapped to death directly.
Hong Yuan looked at the brocade-robed old man standing in the lead position and asked: “Are you the Great Leader?”
“No! In response to the Great King…”
“Hm?” Hong Yuan raised an eyebrow and waved his hand: “Don’t call me Great King. It sounds like a bandit. Do I look like a bandit?”
“This…” The brocade-robed old man felt bitter inside, bowed even more deferentially, and carefully changed the address: “Lord…”
Seeing Hong Yuan did not object, he breathed a sigh of relief and continued: “This old man Qian Shan Zhi ranks as Fourth in the Grain Transport Gang. As for the Great Leader position, it has actually been vacant for over ten years.”
“What happened?” Hong Yuan said.
“Over ten years ago, Lei Meng invited the Great Leader to drink wine. That night someone heard arguing, and the next day the Great Leader ‘died of illness.’ After that, the Grain Transport Gang had no Great Leader. We thought Lei Meng would take the position, but unexpectedly he didn’t want the title. However, in reality, he has been acting as Great Leader for these ten years.”
“Candlelight and axe sounds!” Hong Yuan nodded, not interested in delving into the previous generation’s grudges and enmities. He looked at this Fourth Head: “How many Heads does the Grain Transport Gang have now?”
“Jin San offended the Lord and deserved to die! Previously, Second Head He Lin and Old Fifth failed to recognize the times and also… Right now, only this old man and Sixth remain.”
Hong Yuan looked at the crowd: “Which one is the Sixth Head?”
Fourth Head Qian Shan Zhi hurriedly said: “Sixth is the youngest among us, not yet thirty years old, but he has connections in the prefectural city. A month ago, for some unknown reason, he went to Dragon Abyss Prefecture in the prefectural city and has not returned.”
“Our gang encountered a great enemy, and it was time for him as a Head to step forward, but he wasn’t even here. It’s simply neglecting duty.”
Hong Yuan shook his head, as if forgetting that the great enemy was himself, and sighed: “No need for such a Head.”
He slapped the table, slowly stood up, looked at the Grain Transport Gang high-levels in the hall, and said calmly: “From now on, the Grain Transport Gang will no longer have Heads. Below me, there will be Left and Right Stewards.”
He patted Qian Shan Zhi’s shoulder and said: “You will be the Left Steward.”
Qian Shan Zhi’s body trembled, his face not knowing whether it was fear or excitement, his head drooping even lower as he hurriedly said: “Thank you for the Lord’s favor. This lowly one will surely devote himself fully to serving the Lord.”
Hong Yuan ignored him and continued: “Left Steward is set, still need a Right Steward. Additionally, River Patrol Flag and Mountain Guard Flag remain unchanged, but there are too many Flag Master positions. Each flag will keep only two Flag Masters. As for who becomes Steward and who Flag Master, discuss it among yourselves!”
He looked at the crowd in the hall whose expressions had changed drastically, then smiled and asked Qian Shan Zhi: “Steward Qian, take me to where Lei Meng is imprisoned.”
“Yes!”
While speaking, Qian Shan Zhi led the way ahead. When Hong Yuan was about to step out of the main hall, he suddenly turned back with a smile: “I hope before I return, you can decide on the Stewards and Flag Masters. If you feel there are too many people and it’s hard to choose, you can also reduce the numbers a bit.”
His voice was mild, and this smile had an indescribable charm, but to the people in the hall, it only made their hearts chill, with cold air surging.
Lei Meng was imprisoned in a dark stone chamber not far away. Hong Yuan first used his spiritual sense to check and confirm no one was tampering, then entered the stone chamber.
This former supreme emperor of the Grain Transport Gang was slumped on the ground, his head of gray hair disheveled, face dirty. His limbs had been broken, not even bound with chains. Hearing the noise, he looked over with a pair of hollow, bloodied eyes.
Qian Shan Zhi was startled, but thinking that Lei Meng was now not only a prisoner but also crippled of his martial arts, purely a paper tiger, he immediately puffed out his chest.
“Lei Meng, the Lord has come to see you!”
Qian Shan Zhi said loudly.
“Lord?! Hehe!” Lei Meng’s voice was hoarse as he sneered: “Old Fourth, you old dog, shouting it quite smoothly. Indeed, these years you’ve been just as obsequious in front of me. Otherwise, with you being a waste, how could you sit in the Head position.”
“Enough!” Hong Yuan waved his hand, looked at Lei Meng, and said indifferently: “No need for more nonsense. What method did you use when you sneak attacked me earlier?”
Hearing this, Lei Meng seemed enraged, struggling fiercely but falling flat on the ground face-first into the mud, still shouting: “Kill me if you want, don’t humiliate me. You, such a master, how could you not know True Skill? It’s just a pity that I only touched the threshold of True Skill, otherwise, otherwise…”
