The headquarters of the Dajiang Gang was built on the Huai River, resembling a floating manor in the river, but in reality, it was connected by a floating bridge.
However, the pontoon bridge swayed precariously in the turbulent river, and anyone without sufficient cultivation could easily fall into the water if they stepped onto it.
At this moment, Chen Bingkun, the leader of the Great River Gang and known as the Crimson-Faced Flood Dragon, was sitting on a crimson dragon chair, frowning as he looked at the imperial edict handed to him by his subordinate.
Chen Bingkun is in his sixties, with a dark red complexion and a face weathered by time.
His cultivation was so profound that he was not considered old; he was still in his prime.
Chen Bingkun started as a canal worker at the very bottom of the Dajiang Gang. He seized an opportunity to join the gang under a leader and rose through the ranks, from a member to a leader, from a leader to a branch leader, and then to a deputy leader. Finally, twenty years ago, he became the leader of the Dajiang Gang and has controlled the gang for more than 20 years, making it deeply entrenched.
"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts on the fact that Yang Cheng, the Grand Commander of the Zhenwu Hall, is coming to our Great River Gang?"
Below Chen Bingkun were rows of chairs, where eight deputy leaders of the Dajiang Gang and a young man sat.
The young man was Chen Bingkun's only biological son, Chen Dongtian.
What sets the Dajiang Gang apart from other gangs is its large number of vice-leaders.
There are at least five or six people, and at most a dozen or more.
The vice-leaders are either experienced and senior elders or the most capable and energetic branch leaders in the gang, who are used to cultivate the next generation of successors.
However, Chen Bingkun is still in his prime and far from being ready to train a successor, so the eight deputy leaders are all very old elders.
One of the elders, with white hair and beard, stroked his beard and pondered, "Our Great River Gang mainly deals in waterway transport, and we have the most dealings with the imperial court."
However, Yang Cheng is different from those other corrupt officials in the court; one must be cautious when dealing with him.
Another tall, bearded old man nodded and said, "That's right. Those who come are not friendly; those who come with good intentions will not come. We should be careful."
Three years ago, Yang Cheng became famous in the capital and established the Zhenwu Hall, but then he lay low for three years. As soon as he came out of seclusion, he wiped out the White Lotus Sect, destroyed the Thirty-Six Great Bandits, pacified the Wuwei Army, and killed General Dugu Cheng.
What could such a person possibly want with my Great River Gang? I bet it's nothing good.
The martial arts world of the Great Zhou Dynasty is closely intertwined with the imperial court, yet they are also wary of each other.
It's no wonder the Jiang Gang was wary of a high-ranking official like Yang Cheng suddenly visiting them.
Dressed in splendid robes, Chen Dongtian said lazily, "I say, Father, and a few elders, aren't you being a little too cautious?"
Our Great River Gang controls the Grand Canal; perhaps Yang Cheng is coming to ask us for a favor, such as transporting troops.
If you ask me, we should discuss how to squeeze some money out of him later, otherwise it will be difficult to give a price if we bring it up at the last minute.
This is the vast Huai River, the territory of my Great Jiang Gang.
He, Yang Cheng, may be a dragon on land, but on the Huai River, even this land dragon has to coil up before me!
Although Chen Dongtian is a playboy and seems unreliable, he actually has extremely high martial arts talent and reached the Grandmaster level in his early twenties.
But precisely because of this, he was also somewhat arrogant, looking down on even the heroes of other major sects, and acting domineeringly within the gang, showing little respect even to the elders.
So, aside from disliking his son's carefree attitude, Chen Bingkun actually valued his son highly and even had the idea of grooming him to be the next gang leader.
The Great River Gang is not hereditary; it has always prioritized the strong. You must have the ability and strength recognized by the gang members to be qualified to become the gang leader.
Chen Dongtian has the ability, but lacks experience. However, his personality still needs some work.
Chen Bingkun glared at him: "Don't be careless! The two elders are right. We should consider the worst-case scenario for everything."
In short, when Yang Cheng arrives, you'd better watch your words.
However, what you said makes some sense. Our Great River Gang occupies the entire Huai River region; this is our territory.
If this Grand Commander of the Zhenwu Hall has any requests, as long as they are not excessive, we can grant them, considering it as establishing a good relationship.
If his demands are difficult, then we'll have to see what price he's willing to pay.
Just then, a member of the gang came in and reported: "Gang leader, Grand Commander Yang Cheng of the Zhenwu Hall has arrived, and he has brought over a thousand men!"
Chen Bingkun and the other deputy gang leaders exchanged glances, their hearts sinking.
Yang Cheng brought so many people with him to the Dajiang Gang; it seems he has ill intentions.
However, it seems unusual for Yang Cheng, as the Grand Commander of the Zhenwu Hall, to go out without some people with him.
"Please let them in."
The person has already arrived at the door, so of course we can't turn them away now.
At this moment, Yang Cheng had arrived outside the Great River Gang. Looking at the water estate in the river that resembled a small island, Yang Cheng couldn't help but shake his head.
The headquarters of the Dajiang Gang was indeed very grand and magnificent.
But how much manpower and resources would it take to build such a huge manor on the river, comparable to a small island, and how many skilled watercrafts would have to risk their lives to complete it?
"The people's hard-earned money! Who knows how many innocent souls have drowned down here? Are the people from the Great River Gang really comfortable living here?"
Yin Wuxie said coldly from behind, "Of course they're used to living here!"
Every year, thousands to tens of thousands die on the canal, and if a flood occurs, the number is even more countless.
However, for the Dajiang Gang, these are just numbers. Anyone who wants to make a living on the river is a member of the Dajiang Gang.
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