“Yes!”
The man stood up and quickly recounted his experiences over the past few days.
The details were largely the same as those in the pigeon message.
After they arrived at the East Sea, they had been searching for traces of the water bandits, but the weather had recently turned too cold, and few fishermen were going out to sea, making it impossible to gather any information.
The ocean was vast. Without intelligence, sailing a cargo ship out to sea to search would truly be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
So the company commander in charge ordered the main force to camp in this coastal area and prepare a thorough search for the bandits.
Then, on the third day at dawn, they were ambushed by the water bandits.
“About a hundred li east from here, there is a place called Crab Pincer Island. I asked around, and it is shaped like a crab’s claw, with mountains on three sides and only one entrance.”
The man continued, “It is said that the island once belonged to a band of pirates, but a few months ago those pirates went out to the open sea to plunder, encountered a violent storm, and almost all perished at sea. Crab Pincer Island then fell into the hands of the Mangdang River water bandits.”
“Encountered a violent storm…”
Jin Feng nodded slightly.
This year was a La Niña year, with frequent typhoons in summer. It was not surprising that pirates had run into one.
“Company Commander and the others are being held on Crab Pincer Island. The water bandits said they would hang them outside in the wind for several hours each day… Sir, this is an insult to the company commander, an insult to our Zhenyuan Escort Agency…”
At this point, the man could no longer continue.
Hanging captured escorts outside in the wind for hours every day was worse than simply killing them.
It was indeed a provocation against the Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
“I will rescue them as soon as possible.”
Jin Feng patted the man on the shoulder. “Old Han, take the brother to rest properly, then find a few local fishermen familiar with the nearby waters and bring them here.”
“Yes!”
Han Feng led the man out.
Jin Feng took out the sea chart again and marked the location of Crab Pincer Island based on what the man had said.
“These water bandits certainly know how to pick a spot.”
Surrounded by mountains on three sides with only one exit, it was a natural sheltered harbour.
Afterwards, Jin Feng questioned the fishermen Han Feng had brought in, and they confirmed this.
Crab Pincer Island was indeed a sheltered harbour. In the past, fishermen would take refuge there during storms.
But since it had been occupied by water bandits decades ago, it had become a bandit lair.
“This place is going to be tricky!”
According to the fishermen, the cliffs on the three mountain sides of Crab Pincer Island were extremely steep and difficult to climb.
The only way in was through that single opening.
The water bandits would certainly have sailed the cargo ships seized from the escorts into Crab Pincer Island, and those cargo ships were equipped with catapults and heavy crossbows.
That meant their side had already lost the advantage of long-range strikes.
“We are not as familiar with the surrounding waters as the water bandits, our swimming skills are not as good, and we have lost the advantage of heavy crossbows and catapults. It is indeed quite troublesome.”
Da Zhuang, standing to one side, scratched his head. “If this were in the mountains, I would have chopped off their leader’s head long ago!”
“If it were in the mountains, would there be any need for sir to make this trip personally?”
Han Feng glanced at Da Zhuang. “Sir, how about I first find a fast boat locally, then hire a few fishermen to go and scout?”
“Hearing is believing, seeing is believing. Going to scout in person is fine.”
Jin Feng said, “Do not be afraid to spend money, but make sure they are reliable. Do not end up paying only to hire someone planted by the water bandits and walk into a trap.”
“I understand.”
Han Feng nodded and went out to find people.
This summer, typhoons had been constant, and life had been hard for the fishermen. Many had worked all year yet earned barely enough silver to cover taxes.
Although they knew approaching Crab Pincer Island could cost them their lives, when they learned Han Feng was offering three taels of silver to each man, fishermen still came forward in an endless stream.
Han Feng selected five of the fastest rowers, bought a swift boat, and quietly set out to sea in the middle of the night the following day.
They had expected the trip to involve a chase with the water bandits at sea, but to Han Feng’s surprise, the bandits’ vigilance was extremely poor.
They reached the vicinity of Crab Pincer Island without encountering any obstruction.
By the time they arrived, daylight had broken, yet the bandit sentries saw only a small fishing boat and paid no attention, allowing Han Feng and his men to circle the island freely.
The group openly sailed all the way around Crab Pincer Island, then openly sailed away again.
“Could they be playing a trick?”
Upon receiving Han Feng’s report, Jin Feng’s first thought was that it might be a ruse.
“That possibility cannot be ruled out.” Han Feng nodded.
“Sir, Old Han, I think you are both overthinking it. They are just a band of water bandits. What trick could they have?”
Da Zhuang said, “Water bandits are really no different from mountain bandits. I know them too well. They are all lazy good-for-nothings who stop moving once their bellies are full. How could they have so many schemes?”
“Da Zhuang, remember this: even a lion uses full strength when hunting a rabbit. On the battlefield, you must never underestimate any opponent.”
Jin Feng said, “Take this time for example. You might be right. Perhaps Old Han and I are overthinking it, and we might end up worrying for nothing.
But what if we are correct? If we sail straight to Crab Pincer Island and fall into an enemy ambush, there will be no chance to regret it then!”
“I understand!” Da Zhuang nodded thoughtfully.
Jin Feng was about to continue when Da Liu lifted the tent flap and entered.
“Sir, Miss Caiwei has sent someone with news that there is an emergency in Xichuan.”
“An emergency?” Jin Feng frowned slightly. “Bring the person in!”
The messenger escort was waiting just outside the door. With Da Liu’s permission, he immediately entered the tent.
He looked utterly exhausted.
They had left only three days after Jin Feng, travelling by fast boat, and had expected to catch up quickly. Instead, they encountered water bandits several times along the way.
Tang Xiaobei was purchasing grain in Jiangnan, mainly in the Two Lakes plain, and had not ventured too far down the Yangtze.
Going too far would greatly increase the cost of transporting grain back.
Thus, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency had built its reputation in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze, but its deterrent power in the lower reaches was somewhat lacking.
The water bandits did not dare touch Jin Feng’s fleet, yet they dared to rob the fast boat carrying the messengers.
This greatly slowed the messengers’ progress, and only today did they finally deliver the letter.
“What happened in Xichuan?” Jin Feng asked.
“Miss Caiwei only said there was an emergency in Xichuan and told me to catch up with sir as quickly as possible, but I do not know the details.”
The escort took a letter from his breast pocket and presented it to Jin Feng with both hands. “Sir, this is the letter from Miss Caiwei.”
Jin Feng took the envelope, checked the wax seal, confirmed it was intact, and then opened it.
Yuan Caiwei explained in the letter what had happened in Xichuan and had also enclosed the note carried by the pigeon.
“Everyone is bloody starving to death, and that dog emperor is still causing what kind of nonsense?!”
Jin Feng slammed the letter onto the table, his chest heaving with anger.
Publicly insulting the emperor was a capital offence.
Han Feng shot Da Liu a look, and Da Liu quickly ran out to station trusted guards tightly around the tent.
The others inside the tent all lowered their heads, pretending they had not heard Jin Feng curse.
Jin Feng realised he had spoken out of turn, took several deep breaths, and forced himself to calm down.
His mind also raced, sorting through the entire sequence of events.
A moment later, Jin Feng punched the table and murmured to himself,
“I was wrong. I was wrong from beginning to end!”
