36
Seeing the number of servants armed with swords increasing, Wang Luer finally realized what was happening and shouted, "We can't add any more people! Let Master Lu come down quickly!"
The steward who came down first glanced at him and said, "Why, are you going to let my young master go to the meeting alone?"
Wang Lu'er certainly couldn't say this. He snorted and said, "Even if everyone on the boat comes down, what good will it do on the island? I'm just worried that too many people will gossip and ruin our business!"
Lu Sanding did not refute. Most of the people had come down, so he decided to quit while he was ahead.
Seeing that he didn't say any more nonsense, Wang Lu'er breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the sea again, only to see the last small boat swaying towards the shore.
When Wang Lu'er saw the man on the boat clearly, he couldn't help but gasp inwardly. Is this the legendary Second Young Master Lu? He really looks quite impressive!
Even though he didn't know the meaning of "feeling ashamed of oneself", he could still sense the panic and restraint in front of a "distinguished person". So when Lu Jian actually stepped off the boat and came before him, Wang Lu'er unconsciously bent his waist a little: "But Second Young Master Lu? I am Wang Kuaidao, the third in command of the island. The first in command is waiting for you in the camp."
Of course, he wouldn't say his real name, but used his bandit nickname. The young man smiled and nodded, "Please, Chief Wang, lead the way."
That attitude and smile made Wang Luer relax a little, and he quickly made a gesture of invitation.
Upon hearing this, the Lu family servants also raised their wine jars and prepared to follow. Unexpectedly, perhaps due to the uneven road surface or their unsteady hands, a "clang" sound came from behind, and a wine jar shattered, spilling the wine all over the floor.
The young man paused slightly and turned back with some dissatisfaction. Seeing that his master was displeased, the steward quickly scolded him, "Hold it steady! Watch your way!"
A group of servants responded hastily, but the pirates on the shore were so hooked by the aroma of wine that their throats churned and they were ravenous.
Wang Lu'er also swallowed several times before saying, "Second Master Lu, please come this way..."
We have to hurry back! This is such a good wine, I should be able to taste it at the banquet tonight, right?
With the third in command's urgency, the team walked very quickly and soon turned into the village where the leaders lived.
I don't know when this village was built, but it looks quite well. Not only does it have a wooden fence, but it also has two watchtowers that can guard the village gate from a high vantage point.
Master Lu walked in front, chatting casually with Chief Wang, while the servant following behind him quietly raised his head and carefully looked at the situation in the village.
This kind of camp should be a place where residences, warehouses, and even arsenals are placed together, and it is the core of the island.
Compared with the ports where people are in panic and the defenses are poor, the defenses of this place are much stronger. It can even be said that as long as the defenders have enough morale and perseverance, it will not be a problem to hold out for ten days or half a month.
Fortunately, what they have to do is not to capture the city, but to break through from the inside.
Cheng Xi observed calmly, from the distance from the pier to the village gate, to the number of people standing guard in front of the village, to the sentries and patrols set up inside the village, as well as the basic building layout, and memorized everything in his mind.
The figure in front suddenly stopped, and Cheng Xi immediately lowered his head and became a silent and even a little timid servant again.
"This is the meeting hall. No outsiders are allowed to enter. The servants may have to wait outside." Wang Lu'er said while standing in front of a large wooden house.
It's not impossible to bring a few more people by carrying wine jars, but you can't do that for secret meetings.
If something goes wrong, he won't be able to explain to his elder brother.
He originally thought that Mr. Lu would say something, but he just smiled and said, "San Ding, Ah Meng, you two follow me inside. The others can wait outside."
It should be okay to bring only two people. Wang Luer immediately breathed a sigh of relief and walked into the house with his men.
Seeing Lu Jian and others enter, the big man sitting at the head of the table stood up and bowed: "Second Young Master is truly courageous. Jiang admires him."
This is the boss of Luoling Island, the bandit leader recruited by the Lu family.
Lu Jian looked him up and down and smiled slightly: "The eldest master is so valued by my third brother, so I think he is also a person of great character. I am very honored to meet him today."
He said "thank you very much" but did not bow.
However, Boss Jiang did not find this attitude strange. After all, he had robbed the second young master's fleet and completely destroyed his newly built waterway. It would be strange if the other party had a good attitude towards him.
Laughing heartily, the head of the Jiang family said, "Since you are here, you are a guest. Please take a seat, Second Young Master."
Lu Jian was not polite either. He took off the sword at his waist, handed it to the servant, and sat down directly.
The two guards who followed closely followed behind him, looking quite imposing.
He dares to act arrogantly even when he goes to someone else's house. He is worthy of being the legitimate son of the Jiangdong Lu family.
Jiang Dajia pretended not to notice and sat back in his seat. He said, "There's no need for me to explain the current situation at sea. I beg the Second Young Master to show some mercy and ask the Qingfeng Gang to restrain themselves."
Lu Jian raised his eyebrows. "I have come all the way to your place, but this is not what I want to hear. Why don't you show some sincerity, Big Boss?"
The head of the Jiang family snorted, "Second Young Master, you're joking. Let's be frank. This entire island is run by Third Young Master, who paid for the boats and even sent people to monitor it. We're paid to do this, too, so how can we just quit so easily? Ultimately, this is a fight between you brothers, not ours."
Lu Jian smiled. "Luoling Island is a place of great feng shui. If you occupy it, you can have endless food and drink. How can the little money my third brother gave you compare to the profit of plundering ships? The eldest master should think clearly. Is it more profitable to take the Lu family's money, or is it more satisfying to occupy the island and become the king?"
The words "occupy the island and become king" really hit a nerve with Jiang Dazhang. He pretended to be thoughtful and said, "Jiang has been operating here for half a year, so how could I not have some concerns? But the Lu family is too powerful, how can we deal with it? And the Second Young Master knows about the business at sea. Not only do we have to worry about hunger, but we also have to worry about the government troops raiding the sea. If we cut off the Lu family's money and food, who can protect us?"
Was he unwilling to give up the Lu family's financial support? Lu Jian's face darkened. "Then what does the boss want?"
The head of the Jiang family chuckled, "The South Seas are vast, and there's no place we can't conquer. Why would Second Young Master go north? If he hadn't passed through my little island, how could there have been any trouble?"
Lu Jian gripped the armrest of the chair: "Boss, have you forgotten that I am the eldest son of the Lu family?"
The meaning of this statement was profound. The head of the Jiang family coughed and said, "Don't blame me, Second Young Master. I have no intention of interfering in the affairs of the Lu family. But Second Young Master is so stubborn that it's hard for me to deal with him! After all, the Lu family is powerful, and I have a wife and children in their hands. I can't just ignore them, right?"
If he really cared, he wouldn't have invited me to the island.
Lu Jian smiled coldly: "Which is more important, your family's life or your own life? I think the boss can still tell the difference. It's not a problem for me to give this island to the Qingfeng Gang."
Jiang Da's face changed: "Second Young Master, are you trying to threaten me?!"
"It's hardly a threat. The Qingfeng Gang's fleet is so close, it's just a matter of thought." Lu Jian's expression softened again. "Of course, if I can reach an agreement with the boss, I don't want the Qingfeng Gang to take advantage. If you can serve my third brother, you can naturally switch to my side."
Hearing this, Boss Jiang sighed inwardly, this second young master really did reveal his true intentions.
If you didn't want to subdue him, why would you take such a big risk and go to the island in person?
Tapping his fingers on the table, the head of the Jiang family slowly said, "Second Young Master, I appreciate your kindness. But you also know how powerful the Lu family is. The fleet alone is more than we can handle. Even if I am gone, there is no doubt that others will come and cause trouble in the future. Wouldn't that be troublesome?"
"When the enemy comes, we will fight him with our soldiers; when the water comes, we will block it with earth. How could I be unprepared? If the boss insists on standing between me and my third brother, I'm afraid I'll be implicated." Lu Jian restrained his expression and said lightly.
Boss Jiang has already noticed this, and that's why he's so worried that he can't eat or sleep.
Who would have thought that this guy who was kicked out of the house could have such means that he could even find the Qingfeng Gang.
After hesitating for a long time, the head of the Jiang family finally sighed and said, "This matter is of great importance, and it is not something that I, Jiang, can decide alone. I am afraid that I will have to ask the Second Young Master to stay for a few more days so that I can carefully consider it."
Hearing this, Lu Jian was not annoyed, and nodded slightly: "Master, please do as you please, I am not in a hurry."
He spoke with such confidence that it actually made people feel frightened.
After all, he was alone in entering the dragon's den. How much courage and success did he need to be so calm and composed? Not wanting to be suppressed by the other party, the head of the Jiang family laughed and said, "Since you are an honored guest, you should treat me with good wine and good food. Come on, prepare the banquet!"
After saying that, he deliberately turned to Lu Jian and said, "I heard that the Second Young Master also brought some wine. I, Jiang, would like to thank you on behalf of the brothers on the island!"
He didn't expect Lu Jian to bring wine, but he would not use this wine at the banquet.
What if this Second Young Master Lu was trying to win people over with wine? Or perhaps he had drugged the wine to ruin their plans? It would be best to store the wine and dispose of it after the man left.
This man's thoughts were indeed much more meticulous than that of the Third Master. Lu Jian nodded and said, "Then I'll bother you with my troubles."
As he spoke, he glanced quietly to his side and saw that the servant holding the sword was still standing solemnly with his head bowed, as inconspicuous as a wooden stake.
A slight smile appeared on Lu Jian's lips. No banquet is good, but who knows who will suffer in the end.
What else could a pirate party be like? It was nothing more than gorging on meat, drinking wine, and having plenty of fish and shrimp.
Boss Jiang was also a generous man. He not only arranged seats for the two confidants brought by Second Young Master Lu, but also prepared a table for the guards outside.
Eat and drink as much as you want, no ambiguity!
Of course, there isn’t that much wine on the island, and most of it is mixed with water, so it tastes a bit bland.
It’s a pity that the good wine that was delivered could not be tasted immediately. The greedy Wang Luer complained a few times, but the head of the Jiang family remained unmoved.
It's okay to drink the wine privately, but using the guests' wine to serve guests makes him look inferior, and he can't bring himself to do that.
However, this thoughtful arrangement did not go well. The guards did not drink, and the Mr. Lu in the room acted in a very annoying manner. He used wooden chopsticks as if they were ivory chopsticks, and hardly touched the food. The servants had to serve him and pour him wine, thinking he was the host.
He really didn't like it. After three rounds of drinks, the head of the Jiang family pretended to be drunk and asked with a smile, "Second Young Master, aren't you afraid of getting into danger on the island? If you run into my second brother, he might just take your head off."
Lu Jian smiled slightly. "If my head stayed on my neck, it might even be a good money-making machine. If it were lost, who would bother to let you occupy such a strategic location? Boss Jiang is not a fool, so why should I worry?"
These words were light and casual, yet extremely straightforward.
Jiang DaDang's face turned black, and he laughed dryly twice: "Second Young Master is still very insightful. Come on, come on, drink!"
Lu Jian drank the whole cup and put it down. Then the servant beside him stepped forward and poured wine for him.
With his eyes lowered, Lu Jian looked at the man. The other party took this opportunity to nod slightly and retreat again.
Lu Jian withdrew his gaze and continued to drink slowly.
Although they were drinking happily, countless eyes were staring at Lu Jian and others. However, there was one person who seemed invisible and no one noticed him.
Cheng Xi held the wine jug and looked at the pirates in the room who were frequently raising their glasses, observing their expressions and body language.
Some were on guard, some were looking forward to it, some were disgusted, and some simply didn't care. The bandit leader surnamed Jiang's eyes flickered, still hesitant, but he had no intention of going all out.
Can such a group of people be united in mind?
I'm afraid this island is not as peaceful as the boss appears to be.
With a powerful enemy at hand, the undercurrent cannot be suppressed. It is like a powder keg, just waiting for a match.
In this case, they can naturally choose a safer option.
Although there were no women to entertain the guests and no good drinks, the banquet lasted from noon to evening and was only considered to have ended when Lu Jian, the guest of honor, left.
The group was placed in a small courtyard with few houses around. There were guards at the door, obviously to prevent them from causing trouble. However, this remote area was perfect for Cheng Xi and others.
After entering the yard, Cheng Xi said to Lin Hu, "The master of the house told us to go to the boat and get some bedding."
Her voice was loud enough that the guards outside could hear her clearly. Lin Hu understood and hurried away with his men.
This is a secret signal to act according to the original plan to avoid any unexpected situation that may cause the two parties to be unable to cooperate.
But there was no such concern now. Lu Jian was indeed as he said, able to control the rhythm of the conversation and make the bandit leader feel apprehensive. With her observation and layout, there shouldn't be any problems.
She whispered a few words to the guards in the yard before entering the house.
Lu Jian was now leaning against the headboard, wiping his face with a handkerchief. Even the mildest of drinks couldn't be easy to drink all afternoon, let alone going deep into a dangerous area, feeling nervous and apprehensive. It wasn't surprising that he felt tired.
However, when he put down the towel, his eyes, which were clearly black and white, were still bright. Seeing Cheng Xi enter the room, the Lu family immediately whispered, "Have you sent someone to get the bedding?"
Cheng Xi nodded: "There will be no delay. After a tiring day, the guards can take turns to rest for an hour."
The operation was scheduled for the middle of the night. There was no accurate timer, and the situation at the dock could not be predicted, so it could only be scheduled around the time when the moon was high above the branches.
Team members must maintain sufficient physical strength and take turns to rest for two hours, which is better than being tense all the time.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jian immediately said, "San Ding, pass the message down and take turns on night duty."
Lu Sanding obeyed and left. Lu Jian asked again, "Do you want to take a break?"
Cheng Xi shook her head: "I still have to wait for someone to come back. It's okay, you can get some sleep first, and I'll call you when everything is arranged."
Who wants to sleep at this time? However, Lu Jian nodded. Now is not the time to cause trouble. Even if he closes his eyes and rests, it is better than worrying about it.
Cheng Xi said no more, walked to the table, took out some paper and started writing and drawing. Lu Jian looked at the slightly thin back, breathed a long sigh, closed his eyes and lay down on the bed.
…
Even though the wine was incredibly bland, if you drank too much you'd still get tipsy. As the Third Master's trusted confidant, Zhang Xiaowu staggered to the side yard and called out to the man sitting in front of the fire, "Brother Yan, the Master said we have distinguished guests coming today, so you need to be careful tonight."
The man was holding a leg of lamb and carving the meat with a knife. He didn't even look up when he heard this, but just said "hmm".
This answer was quite unpleasant, but Zhang Xiaowu didn't dare to say anything else. He cursed angrily and turned away.
This man named Yan has a weird temper. Although he has a lot of skills, he never gets on the boat or goes ashore. He stays in the village all day, guarding the house for the head of the village.
When he has nothing to do on weekdays, he likes to go to the women's camp. He just watches and doesn't sleep. He is really sick.
Zhang Xiaowu had also heard people mention that this guy's wife was in trouble and he came to the island just to find a wife.
But Zhang Xiaowu didn't believe it. A man like that, if he lost his wife, couldn't he just find another one? These days, if a woman ran away, even if she was still alive, no one knew what had happened to her. Why would he still care about her?
However, no matter how much he complained in his heart, he didn't dare to say it to Yan's face.
That man was truly formidable, and even the headmaster looked up to him and treated him with great respect. Not only was he provided with good food and wine, but he was also promised that he could take away any woman he took a fancy to in the women's camp.
How could Zhang Xiaowu afford to offend such a person? After saying this, he was going to sleep.
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