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Since the assassination had been arranged, there were naturally people waiting for the outcome. In a large house east of the city, an old man with a gloomy face asked sternly, "Everyone was taken away? Not even a body was left behind?"
"They took everything away. There wasn't much blood on the ground." The attendant, with sweat on his forehead, answered in a low voice.
This is not good news. The less bloodshed, the faster the war will end. I'm afraid they'll capture me alive. Now that I'm in the hands of the enemy, I'm in big trouble.
"Did that group of people return to the ship? Did they send anyone back?" the old man continued to ask.
"No!" the attendant said hurriedly, "They are all on board, but they haven't left the port yet."
"It seems they really left." The old man sighed deeply, "It's a pity that we sent too few people, and they tricked us."
It had only been four or five hours since he learned the young woman was coming to Panyu. He had acted decisively, arranging an assassination. However, he couldn't get any spies inside the bank, so he couldn't predict when she'd leave or which route she'd take. That's why he set up ambushes along every road.
This was a safe approach, but I hadn't expected that bastard to actually take just one team and retreat along the path. They had the fewest people deployed there, and they were caught in one fell swoop.
But it was no use thinking about it now. The old man was decisive and said immediately, "Tell someone to pack up and leave the city early tomorrow morning and take shelter in the countryside first."
"Master, the men we sent are all death warriors, they should not reveal any information..." the attendant couldn't help but say.
"You know shit! If a tycoon like this were to face an assassination attempt, wouldn't he torture and investigate? Even the most determined warriors wouldn't last more than a day or two." He had been working with the Long Whale Gang for years, but this was the first time he'd seen the Ghost Scholar so concerned about his enemies. He could only imagine the threat the Red Flag Gang posed. Regardless of whether that woman was in power or not, if she was in danger, the entire Red Flag Gang wouldn't let it go!
Although they didn't join the coalition forces that attacked Luoling Island, if they were to investigate, they should still be able to find their connection to the Long Whale Gang. If the Red Flag Gang really reacts and comes knocking on their door, will they still be alive?
Thinking of this, he quickly ordered: "Withdraw the other ambushes as soon as possible and arrange them to other places. Don't let anyone find out about them and us."
Since they knew there would be an ambush, who knew if this group would be eyeing other places? If they were to follow the clues and find the door, it would be more trouble than gain. The most important thing now was to buy time. As long as they left quickly, they could escape this.
Besides, are they the only ones in Panyu City who fear the Red Flag Gang? If that little bitch can't hold back and stirs up a bloody storm, it would be a good thing.
This decision was swift and the handling was quick and decisive. It took only an hour to arrange all the affairs of the mansion. By the next morning, he could leave this dangerous place under the pretext of a female relative visiting relatives.
The sky gradually darkened, the streets deserted, the only sounds remaining were the long calls of the night watchman. Late in the night, as everyone fell asleep, a group of black-clad figures appeared at the alley entrance. The moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the surrounding scenery but unable to penetrate the darkness where they hid. With barely a sound, the group gathered in front of the mansion and, in groups of three, began to scale the walls.
There were still some faint torches in the courtyard, as if someone was patrolling. While this wouldn't be unusual in a wealthy family, it was rare to see such strict security. The carriages were ready, loaded with countless valuables, as if they were about to leave.
Unfortunately, even with such a large display, they were unable to stop the group of men in black. Twenty or so of them climbed over the high wall and disappeared into the courtyard.
The night grew increasingly silent, until suddenly a sharp, miserable cry pierced the night, startling countless people awake. The sound was extremely short and terrifying, but it stopped abruptly, as if someone had strangled the throat.
Then there were several more screams, from men and women, and the cries of babies, all of which were gone in an instant, like a continuous nightmare. Apart from these sounds, no other sound could be heard.
This strange situation made everyone tremble in fear, afraid to move. Not even a single light was on in the nearby house. No one could tell what was happening outside, and how could they dare to rashly attract attention?
After an unknown amount of time, the noise finally disappeared and silence returned.
Those who were woken up dared not go back to sleep, and even the night watchmen stopped coming this way. It was not until the roosters crowed in the morning that someone tremblingly pushed open the door and looked outside.
I saw a house nearby with the door wide open and a strong smell of blood coming from inside.
"Kill, murder!"
…
"Have you heard? The Zhang family in the east of the city was wiped out!"
"really?!"
"How could it be false? All the men in the family died, leaving only a few women and children. Oh, it's so tragic. I heard that the government has sent people to investigate."
"Who on earth is responsible for such a big case?"
"Who knows? I guess those officials in the government office must be having a headache."
"What a cruel method! I'm afraid it's another ruthless thief..."
Pirates were numerous in Panyu, and vendettas were common. However, the fact that they could pull off such a monstrous act without making a sound, without burning houses or killing women and children, was truly remarkable. The people below were buzzing with discussion, all blaming it on a demon, but some had already guessed what was going on.
"Dad, it seems like someone attempted assassination at the dock yesterday. Could it be..."
Just as Zhu Jiaen was about to speak, his father stopped him: "Is that something you can say?"
Zhu Ming's brows were furrowed tightly, and his expression was not very good. He had expected an assassination attempt and had sent people to warn Lu Jian, but who could have imagined that an assassination attempt would cause such a big commotion!
How long had it been? Only a few hours! Having just been assassinated, they had pinpointed their nemesis and exacted revenge with such swift force. Just how powerful was the Red Flag Gang, and how many spies had they deployed in Panyu? Even someone as powerful as him, who could single-handedly control the market, felt a chill in his heart.
Startled, Zhu Jiaen said cautiously, "Dad, this seems a little strange. The Zhang family isn't a wealthy family, and they have no grudges against that person. Why would they come after them?"
Zhu Ming sneered, "The Zhangs have a complicated relationship with the Changjing Gang. Others might know, but how could I not know? Besides, word has come in from the government office that a head has been nailed to the door of Zhang's mansion, a crossbow bolt piercing the ceiling from the jaw. The death looked horrible, yet he died several hours earlier than the others. I'm afraid it's the man who attempted the assassination yesterday."
Zhu Jiaen gasped. If he had just picked a random gang to protest against, it would have been ruthless, but if he had truly found the real culprit, it would have been terrifying. The Red Flag Gang had just finished fighting, so how could they have such a stronghold in Panyu?
With a long sigh, Zhu Ming said, "As expected of a great man in the sea, he reminds me of the past. But who could have expected that this girl would be so unfilial to her father?"
At his age, he'd seen his fair share of powerful figures, some roaming the provinces, some murdering officials and rebelling. What was the big deal about exterminating a family? However, Miss Qiu's response was truly unexpected. What kind of person was Qiu Sheng? Loyal to the court, never abusing the people, never abusing her power, a perfect man. The Red Flag Gang was also like this in the beginning, even returning soldiers after a major battle for a ransom. Who could have imagined she would resort to such brutal tactics...
This didn't seem like an ordinary gang feud, but more like battlefield tactics being used against the common people. The more so, the more frightening it was, because the gap between the two was so huge that no one could withstand the combined force.
"Then, what should we do?" Zhu Jiaen asked uncertainly. This was a serious matter. How should they deal with it?
Zhu Ming suddenly laughed. "What else can we do? We're a major shareholder of China Merchants Bank. Boss Fu has already said we want to get rich together. How can we not listen?"
Zhu Jiaen was stunned by these words, but then he understood and breathed a sigh of relief: "Dad, you are still far-sighted."
Yes, they have already invested in the Red Flag Gang and have established a relationship with it. Even the flag-hanging fee can be exempted for ten ships. If they were persuaded by Lu Jian before, now that they have thoroughly witnessed the strength and means of the Red Flag Gang, how can they retreat?
"Haha, this time we have really made a name for the bank. From now on, we can just sit back and wait to collect the money." Zhu Ming had relaxed his brows and leaned back in his chair contentedly.
…
"She doesn't plan to come back?" Lu Jian frowned and asked the person who delivered the message in front of him.
The man immediately said, "The gang leader said that the situation has been opened up, and Mr. Lu just needs to manage it well."
What a great way to "open the situation"! Lu Jian couldn't help but take a deep breath to suppress the churning in his stomach. He could have expected Cheng Xi to be unafraid of assassination, and he could have expected her to retaliate with thunderous means, but he hadn't expected it to be so fast, so cruel! An entire family was wiped out in one night. There were so many things revealed in this. And yet, even he didn't know that the Zhang family was actually connected to the Changjing Gang and was the first to take action.
How did she find out all this? And how many elite troops had she planted in Panyu? It wasn't just the banks and the fish stalls that were in charge of Panyu now. There was also the big boss, Sun Erlang. Who knew how many boat gangs and merchants had secretly joined them? No one knew how many troops were hidden in Panyu City.
Is this what you truly gain after a victory? Even someone like him who has been doing business for years might not be as well-informed as the Red Flag Gang.
And that’s not all. This bloody incident probably made everyone realize that the leader of the Red Flag Gang is a woman.
No one had ever fought a woman, and no one knew what was going on in her head. She could be capricious, vindictive, overbearing, or even vicious. And when a woman did something so ruthless, her intimidation naturally surpassed the norm.
If the punishment is unknown, then the power is unfathomable. Who would dare to take action against the Red Flag Gang or Panyu's industries in the future? The phrase "opening up the situation" is truly apt.
After this battle, I'm afraid not many people will take General Qiu seriously. After all, the one in charge of the Red Flag Gang now is not Miss Qiu, but Boss Fu, Gang Leader Cheng.
Similarly, this show of force wasn't just for others; it was also about making him realize his responsibilities. Just like the way she'd unconsciously changed her address to him, the omission of the word "brother," did it also represent a swapping of their identities?
When they first met, he could not have anticipated the current situation. Fortunately, he was not her enemy, not in the past, and certainly not in the future.
After calming down and smiling again, Lu Jian nodded gently: "I will take my responsibilities seriously, please be at ease, Boss."
How could he let go of such a strong and hard-to-see-through woman so easily?
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