“This time, if Old Tang hadn’t risked his life to warn us, Mulán and I would have walked straight into the bandits’ ambush.
If the hunter hadn’t tipped off Old Zheng, we might never have known the bandits had already slipped down from Tiger Head Mountain and Double Camel Peak.”
Jin Feng said, “Both times we got lucky, but we can’t keep relying on luck. We must build our own intelligence network, otherwise we’ll be like blind men, far too passive.”
“You’re right, sir.”
Zhang Liang agreed, “When an army marches, scouts go ahead. Our business is growing bigger by the day, and more people will covet it. We really should take precautions.”
“I’m putting the two of you in charge of this. What do you think?” Jin Feng asked.
“Us?”
Zhang Liang and Xiaoyu exchanged a glance, both surprised.
Xiaoyu hadn’t expected Jin Feng to hand her something so important.
Zhang Liang was already busy training the veterans and managing the escort bureau. He truly hadn’t thought Jin Feng would give him yet another task.
“Intelligence work has to be handled by the people I trust most, and you two are the ones I trust completely.”
Jin Feng continued, “Besides, placing informants outside will use the chamber of commerce and the escort bureau as perfect cover. Brother Liang, there’s no way you can avoid this one.
You can hand veteran training over to Tie Niu for now, and the escort bureau to Tie Chui.”
“Fine, then.”
Since Jin Feng had put it that way, Zhang Liang could only nod. “I’m just afraid I won’t do it well.”
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Zhang Liang had shown real talent for training soldiers and leading battles. He was born for warfare.
But intelligence work required smoothness and flexibility. Zhang Liang’s personality was too serious. He really wasn’t suited to it.
“Here is the intelligence work outline I’ve written. Take it, study it, and we’ll add to it later.”
Jin Feng handed Zhang Liang a small booklet. “I’m also giving you Han Feng to help. He’s perfect material for intelligence work.”
Han Feng and Tang Fei had both discovered the bandits planning to ambush Jin Feng. Tang Fei had risked coming down the mountain to warn him directly, while Han Feng had sung mountain songs to distract the bandits, then rushed to West River Bay to bring reinforcements.
Both incidents proved Han Feng’s boldness, attention to detail, and calm head. He was the ideal candidate for intelligence.
But intelligence was Jin Feng’s eyes and ears. It was vital. Jin Feng didn’t know Han Feng well enough yet to hand him such critical work outright.
“I understand.”
Having followed Jin Feng for so long, Zhang Liang immediately grasped his meaning. “I’ll watch Han Feng closely.”
“Sir, with Brother Liang and Brother Han already on it, why do you need me?” Xiaoyu asked curiously.
Instead of answering, Jin Feng countered, “Xiaoyu, do you know who the most powerful informants in the world are?”
“No idea.”
Xiaoyu shook her head.
“The most powerful informants are ordinary people.”
Jin Feng said, “Common folk are everywhere. Nothing in the world can be hidden from their eyes!
Brother Liang and Old Han will mainly use the chamber and escort bureau to gather external intelligence. Your job is to rally a group of women, root out any lowlifes hiding among us, and keep an eye on every little movement in Jin Chuan, so something like this never happens again.”
In his previous life, the Chaoyang masses had left a deep impression on Jin Feng. Countless celebrities had escaped the police only to fall into their hands.
That was why Jin Feng believed ordinary people were the sharpest informants.
Back in the village, Xiaoyu had been the natural leader among the women. No gossip escaped her, and all the women listened to her.
She was the perfect choice to lead a women’s brigade.
Xiaoyu was clearly thrilled by the task. Her eyes lit up.
After a brief hesitation, she asked, “What about the women’s militia?”
“I’ll speak to Mulán. From now on, you don’t need to report or train with them.”
Jin Feng said, “You can recruit and train your own people here. They’ll assist you and handle emergency arrests when needed.”
“Great!”
Hearing this, Xiaoyu grew even happier.
“Get moving quickly. Pay special attention to that Mr Feng and the Double Camel Peak bandits. Find their trail as soon as possible,” Jin Feng reminded them.
Back at the county office, he had thought Mr Feng was just one of Master Peng’s minor lackeys and hadn’t paid him much attention.
Only now did he realise the barking dog doesn’t bite. Mr Feng’s methods and courage far surpassed Master Peng’s. He was the truly difficult opponent.
After the Long Snake Gully battle, Zheng Fang had sent men to track the bandits, but Mr Feng had prepared well. He escaped with the Double Camel Peak bandits by water, and Zheng Fang’s men lost them.
“By the way, sir, the chamber and escort bureau both have names. Why not give us one too? Otherwise it’ll be awkward to refer to later,” Xiaoyu said.
“Call it Zhong Ming. It means the alarm bell rings forever. Never lose your sense of crisis.”
Jin Feng said, “Brother Liang will lead Zhong Ming Group One. Xiaoyu, you lead Group Two.”
“Yes, sir!”
Xiaoyu and Zhang Liang nodded together.
“Oh, sir, what about the bandits on Cat Cat Mountain?”
Zhang Liang asked, “We can’t keep feeding so many people forever, can we?”
The bandits who ambushed Jin Feng and those captured from Tiger Head Mountain at Long Snake Gully were all temporarily locked up on Cat Cat Mountain. The daily food costs were no small sum.
“Speaking of that, Brother Liang, before the escorts return to the prefecture city, take Black Water Gully as fast as you can. Then send all these bandits to dig coal.”
Jin Feng said.
Both Tiger Head Mountain and Double Camel Peak had small paths down, but Black Water Gully was a canyon with sheer cliffs on both sides. Escape was impossible.
That was the Black Water Gully bandits’ confidence. They were Jin Chuan’s biggest bandit group, backed by the prefectural troops’ county lieutenant. They never imagined anyone could corner them.
Now Jin Feng had them completely trapped.
“The Black Water Gully bandits are numerous. A direct assault would cost us dearly.”
Zhang Liang asked, “Sir, do you still have any of those flash bombs? Could you spare some?”
“Go to Man Cang later. He’ll give you two crates.”
Jin Feng nodded. “Xiaoyu, prepare yourself. Once Brother Liang takes Black Water Gully, release a notice across Jin Chuan. From now on, anyone who spots bandits can report to us at West River Bay. We’ll not only wipe them out, we’ll reward the informant.”
“Got it!” Xiaoyu nodded.
Jin Feng gave a few more detailed instructions about intelligence work, then let them go.
“Looks like I need to develop new weapons again.”
Watching Zhang Liang and Xiaoyu leave, Jin Feng rubbed his forehead helplessly.
Equip one generation, stockpile one generation, research one generation. That was how every country armed itself in his previous life.
Jin Feng planned to do the same.
The veterans were currently equipped mainly with heavy crossbows and catapults. Flash bombs were his stocked trump card.
Few people knew about them yet, but they had been revealed. So Jin Feng needed to develop new weapons to handle any future surprises.
