249
"What did you say? The Long Whale Gang wants to attack the Red Flag Gang and ask us to send troops to assist?" Upon hearing this news, the current Yuezhou Commander Kong Mutian felt like his ears were wrong. "Even if that Blackbeard Whale guy became a guerrilla general, he belongs to Qiongzhou. Why did he come to Yuezhou to suppress bandits?"
The fact that the Long Whale Gang was persuaded to surrender was truly jaw-dropping.
They were truly powerful pirates on the sea, killing countless people and repeatedly attacking cities on land, burning, killing, and looting, causing unrest along the coast. General Qiu had driven these bandits back, and who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, he would be awarded an official title by the imperial court.
I don't know how many people were puzzled, but they also understood that with war raging everywhere, the imperial court was unable to focus on coastal defense and was probably thinking of using bandits to fight bandits.
Since the Red Flag Gang refuses to surrender and has the excuse of "avenging his father", he will use the Long Whale Gang to hold them hostage in order to achieve balance in the South China Sea.
However, who could have expected that Xu Hei, who had just been appointed to an official position, would lead his troops to attack the Red Flag Gang, and even sent a document that looked like it was real, asking the Panyu Navy to assist.
This arrogance nearly made Kong Muchian explode. A coastal defense guerrilla dared to order him, the commander-in-chief, around. Besides, the imperial court appointed you as a check and balance, not to use the imperial name to align with the dissidents. Even if you had some feelings about the Red Flag Gang, couldn't you wait until things were more settled before speaking up?
"But sir, their documents have been sent over. If a fight really breaks out, can we just sit back and watch?" the confidant asked cautiously.
Kong Mutian slammed the table and said, "What happened to Wang Ling? Have you forgotten it so quickly? The Red Flag Gang is not to be trifled with. Besides, with two gangs fighting each other, who can we help?"
He was originally dragged out to take the blame after Wang Ling was dismissed from office. It was already scary enough for him to watch the Red Flag Gang's ships sailing around on the sea all day long. Now there was going to be another chaotic war, and he actually didn't want to get involved at all.
Even though he was timid, there were still some who were not. One lieutenant general said indignantly, "But if the Long Whale Gang really wins, won't we even get any military merit?"
"Who says the Long Whale Gang will definitely win?" The confidant immediately retorted, "Back then, the government army had more than twice as many troops as theirs, yet they still suffered a crushing defeat. The one from the Red Flag Gang is a member of the Qiu family, and the Long Whale Gang couldn't defeat Qiu Sheng back then either."
"Back then, Qiu Sheng was an official, and Xu Hei was a bandit. Now the situation is reversed, and it's hard to say who will win." The lieutenant general's voice rose even higher. "Sir, if the Long Whale Gang loses, it's fine. But if they win, we're in for a rough ride. I'm afraid they'll have the final say over the entire South China Sea."
Who are the two most notorious leaders of the Long Whale Gang? Xu Hei, known as the "Black Whale," Ning Fu, known as the "Ghost Scholar," and Lu Hai, known as the "Mad Shark." None of them are simple characters, with the Ghost Scholar being the most ruthless, known for his vindictive nature.
If the Long Whale Gang really wins and they avoid fighting, it will be difficult in the future.
With the Red Flag Gang around, he could still barely keep himself safe. But with the Long Whale Gang, it's not certain who the enemy is.
As soon as these words came out, the room fell silent. Kong Mutian twisted his body uneasily and coughed: "That being said, the war is very much in the middle. I'm afraid I'll be used as cannon fodder. Don't let it end up like a tiger going out the front door and a wolf coming in the back door."
Someone grumbled nearby, "That's right, none of them are easy to deal with, so just don't get involved. The last person who dreamed of 'seeking wealth and honor through danger' is still on his way to exile..."
"Don't talk nonsense!" Kong Mutian shouted loudly. At least he had regained some dignity and said to everyone, "Sending troops is not something that can be done by just sending a letter. Shouldn't we ask the superiors for instructions and prepare food and fodder? Let's report it first and see what the governor thinks."
This seemed like an attempt to shirk responsibility, but most people in the room breathed a sigh of relief and nodded hurriedly.
It is true that wealth and honor can be sought in danger, but one must also be alive to get them, right? Whether it is the Long Whale Gang or the Red Flag Gang, they are both difficult characters to deal with. Besides, although they were defeated before and countless people were demoted and killed, the Red Flag Gang is not greedy, right?
Not only did they return the prisoners, but they also kept to themselves and the government troops. Even if there were more deserters, it would not prevent them from receiving their salaries.
There is also the "flag money". Although it ruins their private way of making money, there is less looting on the sea, and the profit of sailing at sea has increased. At worst, they can just change the way of making money.
But if it were the Changjing Gang, they might not have such a comfortable life. They were officials in disguise, and they were both officials and bandits. You can imagine how brutal they would be.
After defeating the Red Flag Gang, the Long Whale Gang will naturally become the largest force in the South China Sea. When you think of what they did back then, the scene is chilling.
After weighing the two options, even fewer people are thinking about sending troops. At most, they can just follow behind secretly, wave flags and cheer for a while. Are they really going to fight to the death?
Of course, these things are only known to a few generals. What do the soldiers know? They just need to make strategies and follow the charge.
In the past, there would have been no mistakes, but this time it was very different.
"Have you heard? Another big battle is about to start!" A sentry officer whispered to the people around him.
"Seriously? Who are you fighting against? Could it be the Red Flag Gang?" The other party was obviously shocked and blurted out a series of questions.
"Shh! Keep your voice down. This hasn't spread out yet. The Changjing Gang is coming to attack the Chiqi Gang. Weren't all the Changjing Gang members surrendered before? Now they are also government troops, and they want our cooperation." The sentry's voice became lower and lower, like a thief.
However, this series of answers was shocking enough. The man was stunned for a long moment and cursed softly, "What the hell is going on?! The Long Whale Gang is much worse than the Red Flag Gang. How can they become a government army?"
"Alas, even General Qiu could be killed, so what else can't he do? What's the saying? Driving a tiger to devour a wolf." The sentry officer seemed to be unable to help himself and said a truth that was not quite right.
This topic was not something to discuss even in private. The other party was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then what does it have to do with us if they fight?"
"They're all government troops, so naturally they're going to encircle and suppress the bandits." The sentry officer sighed, "Who knows what the higher-ups are thinking? Is there any way they can get involved in this?"
"I'm afraid someone's trying to take credit..." He spat as soon as he finished speaking. "Wang is also trying to take credit, but look at what the hell he's earned! He doesn't even take our lives seriously!"
The sentry officer said, "We are all on the emperor's payroll, what else can we do? Now we have nowhere to escape to."
This chilling remark chilled my heart and lungs. Aren't these soldiers risking their lives just to make a living? In the past, they would have deserted and joined the Red Flag Gang. But now that they're about to go to war, wouldn't running away also mean death?
Feeling suffocated, the man clenched his fists and said, "I'm not going to fight this battle anyway!"
The sentry's eyes flickered slightly, and his expression became increasingly earnest: "That's right, we have to think of a way to avoid this battle..."
Initially, rumors spread from a few people, but then grew louder, reaching almost every major naval camp near Panyu. This was a matter of life and death, weighing heavily on people's hearts, with some of the more irritable ones even shouting it out.
"I won't help the Long Whale Bandit to attack General Qiu's daughter!"
"It must be the treacherous officials in the court who are trying to get rid of the orphan of the Qiu family!"
Of course, there are also those who are afraid or unwilling.
"Anyone who comes here is better than the Long Whale Gang. They are thieves in the first place, and they are wearing the official clothes. How can we have a good life then?"
"That's right. The Red Flag Gang can release the captives and spare our lives, but can the Long Whale Gang do that? I heard that ghost scholar is a guy who likes to take people's hearts alive..."
"Let me tell you, I'd rather just run away. I can't stay in the South China Sea anymore!"
"Where can we escape to? Are we going to find a small island in the East China Sea to hang out?"
Countless words came together and gradually formed a wave of sound, sweeping over like an overwhelming force, alarming the commanders of the guards everywhere.
Some resorted to brutal repression, while others tried to appease the protesters, hoping to suppress them. However, when it came to their lives, could these tactics alone be enough? The memory of the previous disastrous defeat of the government troops was still etched in everyone's minds, and with those who fanned the flames, public outrage intensified.
It wasn't until a captain went too far with torture, resulting in a fatality, that the fire finally exploded. Even the Panyu camp erupted in rebellion! Indiscriminate killings, looting, and escapes ensued. The soldiers went wild, roiling the entire camp. Even the artillery batteries were in chaos. Some even seized warships and headed east, presumably hoping to seek refuge in the East China Sea.
This was an unprecedented event, and it completely stunned Kong Mutian. He was shouting at people to clean up the situation while sweating profusely as he passed the message up the chain of command.
No matter what the governors think, the navy cannot move! This is the key point to defend Panyu City. If it is lost, the whole of Yuezhou will be in chaos!
As for the Changjing Gang's demands, they had just surrendered and been granted official titles, yet they were ignoring the imperial court's orders and sending troops without authorization. What else is there to say? Who knows if you're going to attack the Red Flag Gang or Panyu City? You should definitely put your own life first!
Those who were hoping to gain some benefits also lost their enthusiasm. Winning or losing this battle would not benefit them. Only when both sides suffered losses would people be satisfied.
The news of these military disturbances reached the ears of merchants of all sizes in Panyu City through various channels, just like pouring a basin of ice water on a brazier, instantly suppressing the restless and anxious emotions.
After listening to Zhong Ping's detailed account of what happened in the camp and Sun Erlang's arrangements, Lu Jian sighed, "Brother Sun may seem quiet, but he acts like a gang leader."
Zhong Ping laughed and said, "If not for this, why would the leader hand Xishan Island over to him? Now that the situation in the army has been determined, it all depends on Master Lu."
During this period, they have made a lot of arrangements. The outcome depends on Lu Jian's ability.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
