“Miss Huang,” Zhou Fugui asked Huang Daimei by the pond in the Great Commander’s mansion of Donghai Commandery, “I have gone to such great lengths for only one thing, and that is to pacify the pirates! The pirates are rampant, plundering and killing the people of Donghai Commandery. You must know about this, right?”
The scenery by the pond was beautiful, and a gentle breeze was blowing. It was indeed pleasant to discuss matters in such a place.
“Indeed, this matter is widely known in Donghai Commandery. How could I not know?” Huang Daimei replied. “But what does this have to do with me?”
“If it had nothing to do with you, I wouldn’t have invited you. Or rather…” Zhou Fugui smiled, “it has something to do with your Huang family. Miss Huang, do you understand what I mean?”
Whether it was the Huang family, the Xu family, or other prominent families and wealthy households in Donghai Commandery, if they wanted to survive in the chaotic Donghai Commandery, they had to have intricate connections with various forces in Donghai Commandery. They were even colluding, or rather, working hand in glove, including the Donghai pirates. Otherwise, the Huang family or other families in Donghai Commandery would not be thriving so well and living so prosperously.
Moreover, such matters did not require in-depth investigation; a casual inquiry or catching anyone would reveal it.
The Yiqing Society was a faction of the Huang family. It upheld the banner of "righteousness" and prioritized "righteousness." However, it couldn't be said that they didn't do any dirty deeds behind the scenes. Otherwise, as mentioned before, they couldn’t survive in this chaotic world.
“I don’t understand!” Huang Daimei said after glaring at Zhou Fugui. “I would like to hear what evidence you, Great Commander Zhou, have to say that my Huang family is involved with the Donghai pirates?”
“Huang Weifan, Old Master Huang, he is your uncle, isn’t he?” Zhou Fugui said coldly.
“What? Where is my uncle? Is he in your hands? What have you done to him?” Huang Daimei stood up upon hearing this, her movement stirring a fragrant breeze, and asked in alarm.
Huang Weifan was the elder brother of Huang Weilun. He had gone out to sea for business and was supposed to return in the coming days, but he hadn't returned to the family. The Huang family found it very strange and had been inquiring in many ways, but there was no news.
This meant that Huang Weifan had fallen into Zhou Fugui’s hands.
“Alas, Miss Huang, why are you so impatient?” Zhou Fugui chuckled. “Old Master Huang and his subordinates are being well-fed and entertained in my mansion. What could I possibly do to them? Besides, I am also the Vice Leader of the Yiqing Society. How could family harm family?”
“Who is family to you?” Huang Daimei was immediately relieved, sat down again, and glared hatefully at Zhou Fugui. “You actually know you are the Vice Leader of our Yiqing Society…”
To this day, Huang Daimei didn’t understand why her father had appointed Zhou Fugui as the Vice Leader of the Yiqing Society, which now put her at his mercy everywhere. She herself was also in a passive position.
“Isn’t that so? Hehe…” Zhou Fugui chuckled. “Therefore, I… no… this Leader, command you to tell me the truth.”
“Vice Leader, is it?” Huang Daimei gave him another “seductive” look, which was actually another glare, and asked, “What truth do you want to know?”
“The pirates’ land base!” Zhou Fugui said word by word. “As for the insignificant ones like ants, there’s no need to mention them. I… no… this Vice Leader wants to know the largest land base of the pirates, or where they frequently go.”
Huang Daimei remained silent, her mind racing.
Huang Daimei certainly knew that place, but many of the Huang family’s businesses were also located there, such as gambling houses, brothels, entertainment houses, and teahouses. Zhou Fugui’s intention was also very clear: he wanted to make an example of them, or to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, by sending a large army to attack there and capture or kill the pirates. If this happened, the city gate would be on fire, and the fish in the moat would be affected.
Furthermore, if the Donghai pirates or other forces knew that the Huang family had betrayed them, it would not be good for the Huang family or the Yiqing Society.
“What? Miss Huang, you don’t want to say?” Zhou Fugui smiled slightly. “If you want no one to know, you must not do it! If you don’t say it, can I… damn it, I made a mistake again… can this Vice Leader not find out? The only difference is whether it is sooner or later!”
“If that’s the case, why did you seek me out?” Huang Daimei asked indifferently.
“Alas, Miss Huang, you misunderstand. Actually, I don’t intend to do anything to them…” Zhou Fugui sighed. “I just want to teach them a lesson and make them restrain themselves, so that the people of Donghai Commandery can live a few peaceful days. Also…”
Zhou Fugui placed his hands on his knees, rubbed his slightly numb knees, leaned forward, and brought his upper body and head close to Huang Daimei, whispering, “Today, I sought you out, firstly to apologize… secondly, I want to ask about your or your Huang family’s concerns. As I said, no matter what, I am the Vice Leader of the Yiqing Society, and I am also a member of the Yiqing Society!”
“Ah! Get away from me…” The strong scent of a man made Huang Daimei flustered. She pushed Zhou Fugui away and said, “What… what apology? Why don’t you ask my brothers? Why don’t you ask my father?”
Huang Daimei’s heart was pounding like a little deer. She was already in a daze because of Zhou Fugui…
Your father and your two brothers are cunning and experienced schemers. How could they be as easy to deal with as you, a young girl who pretends to be world-weary? Zhou Fugui muttered to himself and then said with a smile, “Miss Huang, aren’t you grateful?”
“I’m not… Who would be grateful for your… anything?” Huang Daimei couldn’t stand it anymore. She got up and turned to leave.
If she stayed any longer, who knew what would happen?
“Hey, hey, why are you running away?” Zhou Fugui was caught off guard, and Huang Daimei was already walking quickly towards the courtyard gate.
“Great Commander Zhou, if I tell you, how will you thank me?” As Huang Daimei was about to rush out of the courtyard gate, she turned back to look at Zhou Fugui with apparent hesitation.
“Hahaha, how to thank you? Miss Huang, whatever you say goes, how about that?” Zhou Fugui was overjoyed. “I… damn it, I can’t change my words? I’ll offer myself in return, how about that?”
“Pah! You scoundrel, you cunning and shameless fellow, watch your sword!”
“Ouch!”
“Plop!”
“Hehe, weren’t you going to train the navy? Weren’t you going to practice swimming? Why are you sinking?”
“Huang… *glug*… Gu… *glug*… Niang… *glug*…”
Donghai Commandery, Ju County.
Ju County is located in the northeast of Donghai Commandery, built against the mountains and by the sea. It was also called Linju and was established in the Qin Dynasty. The mountain it relied on was also named Ju Mountain. Ju Mountain, with its double peaks as if cut, shaped like horse ears, was also called Ma’er Mountain. Ju County, facing the sea and backed by the mountains, was a place frequently passed by ships traveling north and south along the coast.
Ju County was an important sea transportation hub and also a place with a mixed population. The people were complex, including local residents and outsiders, Han, Yi, and Hu people. The local residents were mainly Ju people, who were descendants of the people of the ancient kingdom of Jusui in the Spring and Autumn period. There were also people from overseas, including wealthy merchants and peddlers, honest citizens and escaped criminals.
In short, the people coming and going in Ju County were extremely complex, brave, and fierce. Under the Xia Dynasty, the government could not establish a yamen to manage this place and was extremely troubled by it. Basically, as long as Ju County did not cause major disturbances or rebel, the patrol officers and soldiers would not enter Ju County. After the Xia lost the Central Plains, Ju County fell into the hands of Yan, who ignored it completely, making it a "land beyond civilization."
Ju County thus became a place favored by all sorts of pirates or forces. Pirate ships or ships of other forces often docked here, not only to shelter from the wind but also to replenish fresh water, and even to trade their plunder with the people of Ju County and purchase necessary supplies.
The people on the shore of Ju County were also tempted by the immense profits brought by the pirates, amounting to tens of thousands. Wealthy and powerful families harbored stolen goods for the pirates, while the poor were driven by the pirates.
Even more so, the most common establishments in Ju County were brothels and gambling dens, attracting pirates who were lustful and addicted to gambling.
“Who would have thought that such beautiful scenery hides such filth?”
Standing on the hills surrounding Ju County and looking down, one could see a town embraced by sapphire-like seawater. Several bluestone paths ran through it from east to west and north to south. In the center of Ju County city, there was a small bridge. The bridge and flowing water were like the scenery of Jiangnan. Bridges were connected to streets, and there were wharves, covered corridors, elevated arcades crossing streets, and waterside pavilions. Willow branches swayed in the wind, mixed with a hint of desolation, reflecting in the pale green river water.
Several ships with raised white sails were docked at the shore, ready to set sail.
Such beautiful scenery made one linger and forget to return. This exquisite seaside town, however, was a den of iniquity, making Zhou Fugui, Li Qing, Suo Dacheng, Dongye Han, and others sigh in their hearts.
After speaking, Zhou Fugui glanced at Suo Dacheng, the Deputy General of the Snow Bear Army, the General who Suppressed Pirates, the Commander of the First Battalion’s Assault Camp of the Snow Bear Army, and the Commander of the Donghai Commandery Army Patrol.
“Great Commander, everything is ready! We await your command!” Suo Dacheng replied.
Today, the elite of the Snow Bear Army was fully deployed. Zhou Fugui personally led the army, all of them being from the Snow Bear Army. Not a single patrol officer or constable from Donghai Commandery was present. The reason was self-evident: Zhou Fugui feared that they had long been in league with the pirates.
This was indeed the actual situation.
Zhou Fugui then looked at Dongye Han.
“Great Commander, there are too few warships and too few naval officers and soldiers. I fear I cannot fulfill your important mission,” Dongye Han said, shaking his head slightly.
“Pengcheng…” Zhou Fugui patted Dongye Han’s shoulder and said, “I have no important mission for you. You only need to create a diversion. Never engage the enemy head-on. If there is an important mission, it is not to lose a single man or a single warship!”
Dongye Han, styled Pengcheng, cupped his hands and said, “Great Commander, your order is excellent!”