Chapter 147: A Fight Erupts
Linhai Town.
On the wharf, a young porter held up a recruitment sign and strode with an overbearing gait, specifically targeting the local porters. As he walked, he craned his neck and shouted at them: “Every trip counts! Honest dealings! Every trip counts! No commissions, no deception, every trip is just one trip!”
Dozens of steps away stood about ten burly men in fine clothes.
“Damn it! I can’t stand this anymore!” A towering strong man violently threw off his outer jacket, about to charge at the young porter.
A man beside him quickly stepped forward and forcefully pulled him back, sternly saying: “Come back! What are you doing! The Boss hasn’t spoken yet!”
“Boss! Say something!” The towering strong man glared at the middle-aged man standing in the center.
“Don’t you see where this is? This is not a place to fight,” the middle-aged man tilted his chin towards Gu Yan’s shed and glared at the strong man.
“What about the Young Lord? The Young Lord also has to be reasonable! They are clearly claiming work that isn’t theirs! Damn it, if the Young Lord doesn’t care about them claiming our work, and they dig into our territory, and the Young Lord still doesn’t care, but if we beat them back, then the Young Lord will intervene? What kind of logic is that!” The towering strong man’s face contorted with anger.
“Fourth Brother, calm down,” an elder next to the middle-aged man patted the towering Fourth Brother. “Think about it, why is the Young Lord stationed at this wharf? When this shed was built, the Young Lord made it very clear that it was to prevent fights on our wharf. If you rush in like this, you’ll be running into the mouth of a tiger.”
“Old Sui is right,” the man who grabbed Old Fourth draped his outer jacket over Old Fourth’s shoulders. “Look at that kid’s demeanor, he’s deliberately provoking you. He’s provoking you until you can’t stand it and charge at him, then you’ll be the one causing trouble. Stay calm, don’t rush, the Boss definitely has a plan.”
“What you’re all saying makes sense, but on this wharf, we don’t talk reason, we talk fists. If we don’t fight to the death, this matter won’t be settled!” Old Fourth put on his outer jacket and said resentfully.
“What Old Fourth said is right, on this wharf, we don’t talk reason, we talk fists,” the middle-aged man snorted coldly.
“They say the rotation is the day after tomorrow,” the elder Old Sui, who was next to the middle-aged man, said in a low voice.
“Mm, that’s exactly what I’m planning, to take advantage of the rotation,” the middle-aged man’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“It’s better to break one finger than to injure ten,” Old Sui’s voice was extremely low.
“Mm, they have quite a few people. We can’t do it alone. You arrange it, gather everyone. This isn’t just our problem. Those other families aren’t fools. Let’s join forces. Taking advantage of the rotation the day after tomorrow, it’s best to settle this once and for all, and eradicate them completely!” The middle-aged man squeezed the words “eradicate them completely” through his teeth.
Old Sui grunted in response.
“Let’s go, no need to watch anymore,” the middle-aged man turned and walked back.
………………………………
Gu Yan, dressed in a black robe with a python pattern and quick-drying boots, faced the sea breeze and watched dozens of warships charging towards them. As the sound of waves breaking against the bows reached him, huge white sails rustled down. On the central ship, command flags fluttered. Gu Yan smiled as he watched the rapidly changing flags.
The warships approached the wharf one by one and dropped their massive anchors.
Before the ships had even docked, long gangplanks were extended. Yang Qifan, the youngest son of the King of Changsha, in military attire, rushed down the gangplank and knelt before Gu Yan, saying, “Young Lord!”
“It’s you who’s arrived!” Gu Yan smiled, reached out to pull Yang Qifan up, and examined him from head to toe. “How many years has it been since we last saw each other? Many years.”
Gu Yan’s throat choked slightly.
He truly hadn’t seen him in many years.
The last time, before they had annihilated him and the Emperor, among the Emperor’s and his supporters who were eliminated, the foremost was Yang Qifan, who commanded the Jiangnan naval forces. That time, they had parted in bitter farewell.
“How can it be years, Young Lord!” Yang Qifan, choked by Gu Yan’s emotion, teared up. “You’re too sentimental! How can it be years! It’s been three years, minus three or four months.”
Gu Yan put an arm around Yang Qifan and hugged him tightly.
“Young Lord, you really are!” Yang Qifan also put an arm around Gu Yan’s shoulder and hugged him tightly.
“With you here, I’m like a tiger with wings,” Gu Yan pushed Yang Qifan’s shoulders with both hands and looked at him again.
“Eldest Brother received the imperial decree, stating he was to guard the Crown Prince. Eldest Brother selected the men, and the most elite of the Empire’s navy are all here. But the Crown Prince wrote me a letter, saying your situation here is the important matter. What are you planning to do? Bloodbath the Maritime Tax Bureau?” Yang Qifan said, leaning close to Gu Yan, his voice very low.
“Purge!” Gu Yan corrected him.
“That’s about right,” Yang Qifan’s tone rose. “These bastards are getting more greedy and more ruthless. Eldest Brother hates them to the point of grinding his teeth whenever he mentions them. According to the law, those who deserve to die should be killed. The blood will surely be enough to scrub the Maritime Tax Bureau inside and out!”
“Tomorrow night, the first battle,” Gu Yan and Yang Qifan spoke shoulder to shoulder, whispering.
Yang Qifan nodded continuously. Upon hearing the end, he raised his eyebrows and looked at Gu Yan, “No killing? Not a single one? Hmm! Alright, I understand, I understand!”
“You should return to the ship. Don’t show yourself yet. After tomorrow, if it comes up, you were here to escort the Crown Prince south, and you’re not involved in anything else,” Gu Yan instructed with a smile.
“Don’t worry!” Yang Qifan responded seriously and looked at Gu Yan, “Have all the important matters been discussed?”
Gu Yan nodded.
Yang Qifan smiled, “Then let’s talk about trivial matters. I heard you made a female confidante in Pingjiang City?”
Gu Yan’s eyebrows shot up. “Where did you hear that? Who’s been spreading nonsense to you?”
“Your Aunt, my cousin-once-removed, mentioned it in a letter to Eldest Brother,” Yang Qifan said with a smile.
Gu Yan snorted, “I knew it was her. At her age, she’s always so improper. She writes to your Eldest Brother and brings this up? She’s really bored!”
“Mm, she wrote several pages, saying your little confidante is very cunning, and not very good-looking, but she also praised you, saying you at least aren’t one to indulge in beauty,” Yang Qifan seemed very interested.
Gu Yan looked up at the sky speechlessly.
“Are you really smitten?” Yang Qifan carefully observed Gu Yan’s expression.
“As you just said, she’s not good-looking, what would I be smitten with?” Gu Yan took out his folding fan and opened it.
“That’s what I want to ask you, smitten with what? Really smitten?” Yang Qifan moved from his right to his left.
“It’s not being smitten, what is there to be smitten with! We’re just friends, you’ll know when you meet her,” Gu Yan pushed Yang Qifan back with his hand.
Yang Qifan looked surprised. “I’ll meet her? I can meet her? A friend? Then I really must meet her properly.”
“There’s a big event tomorrow night. You should hurry back, rest if you need to, arrange things if you need to, hurry back,” Gu Yan waved his hand, urging Yang Qifan back.
“Don’t worry, I’m going back then. See you tomorrow,” Yang Qifan looked back a few steps and waved his hands a couple of times.
Gu Yan waved his folding fan, signaling him to hurry back.
After watching Yang Qifan board the ship, Gu Yan turned and walked back.
