Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the courtyard in tranquility, with only the rhythmic footsteps of the patrolling brothers striking the bluestone slabs.

However, beneath the surface of calm, people's hearts were in turmoil as the events unfolded in the prefectural government office during the day.

The lights were on in the secret room in the backyard, which served as the central meeting place.

Lin Feng sat in the main seat, surrounded by Liu Sandao, Hou Qi, Chen Da, Zhao Hu, Qian Bao, Sun He, Zhou Wu, and several others. Everyone had a solemn expression on their faces, and their eyes were all focused on Lin Feng.

"Master Lin, what exactly does Lord Feng mean?" Liu Sandao's single eye gleamed, and he was the first to lose his composure. "He summoned you, said a few words that were neither warm nor cold, praising and admonishing you, and finally told you to 'run your business with peace of mind'... What's he up to?"

Hou Qi chimed in anxiously, "Yes, Master Lin, that old dog Zhou Wenyuan was there too, he's definitely up to no good! He sees through Lord Feng's attitude towards us perfectly well, he'll definitely try to trip us up even more in the future!"

Lin Feng picked up the cold, coarse tea on the table, took a sip, and the bitter taste melted on his tongue, making his mind even clearer.

He put down his teacup and slowly scanned the crowd.

"Feng Zhen's meaning is not hard to guess." His voice was calm and unhurried.

"When he first arrived in Qingzhou, he was completely clueless. Zhou Wenyuan was a local tyrant with deep roots, but his reputation was bad, and he was openly and covertly fighting with the Prince of Qi. Feng Zhen could not completely trust him. The Prince of Qi was a vassal king, and his identity was sensitive, so Feng Zhen had to be even more careful in dealing with him. He needed a pair of eyes and a knife to help him see through the quagmire of Qingzhou and to warn certain disobedient people."

"Eyes? Knife?" Chen Da asked thoughtfully. "Does Master Lin mean that Lord Feng wants to use us?"

"It's not about using, it's about observation, probing, and maybe... exploitation," Lin Feng corrected.

"Our 'Sanhe' gang is newly established, with shallow roots and no deep ties to Zhou Wenyuan or Prince Qi. Moreover, we have rules and strength, and have carved out a niche for ourselves in the 'muddy ground' and at the docks. In Feng Zhen's eyes, we are perhaps a relatively 'clean' and relatively easy-to-control force in this murky water. His praise of us is to set the tone for us as 'honest merchants,' letting us continue to fight against the canal gangs at the docks, stirring up this water for him, and seeing what kind of monsters and demons emerge. His warning to us is to tell us not to overstep our bounds and not to cause him trouble, otherwise he can deal with us at any time."

Zhao Hu licked his slightly chapped lips and said in a deep voice, "So... we're just going to use him as a pawn like this?"

"Whether it's worth using as a gun depends on whether it's worth it." A sharp glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes.

"Feng Zhen is an imperial envoy, wielding the imperial sword. If he truly intends to reorganize Qingzhou and eliminate its long-standing problems, it will be a tremendous opportunity for us! By leveraging his influence, we can legitimately expand our territory, suppress the canal gangs, and even... deal with Zhou Wenyuan and the Prince of Qi! But the prerequisite is that we must stand firm, let him see our value, and guard against him abandoning us after we've served our purpose."

He paused, his tone turning cold: "As for Zhou Wenyuan, he was present today, silent, but his eyes were hostile. Feng Zhen's attitude towards us both makes him wary and makes him even more eager to get rid of us as soon as possible. He will definitely make a move next. Hou Qi, send more men to keep a close watch on the Zhou residence, especially Zhou An. Also, don't let your guard down with the Qi Prince's residence and the Canal Gang."

"Yes!" Hou Qi nodded emphatically.

"Brother Liu, the pressure on the canal gangs at the docks can't stop, but we need to change our methods." Lin Feng looked at Liu Sandao. "Since Feng Zhen told us to 'operate with peace of mind,' then let's become 'honest merchants.' On the surface, everything will be done according to the rules; we can lower the freight rates a bit more, and the service must be even better. Secretly, let Zhao Hu and Qian Bao's 'labor team,' along with the few clever lads Zhou Wu brought, specifically deal with those lowlifes from the canal gangs who cause trouble. Remember, catch them in the act, hand them over to the authorities, and say it's to maintain order at the docks and cooperate with the imperial envoy in rectifying the local situation. Let's make this public and let Feng Zhen see who's disrupting people's livelihoods and who's abiding by the law!"

"Brilliant!" Liu Sandao's one eye lit up. "We're in the right, and we're acting under the guise of cooperating with the imperial envoy. If the canal gang dares to make a move, it'll be a slap in the face to the imperial envoy! That old bastard Huang San is in deep trouble now!"

"Furthermore," Lin Feng said, looking at Chen Da and Chen Er, "the waterways at the dock are our foundation, and also our escape route. You brothers should take the time to familiarize yourselves with the waterways, undercurrents, and places where boats can hide near the West Wharf. If necessary, our people, goods, and even... that thing, may have to be transported by water."

The "thing" he mentioned was naturally the secret records of the "Mysterious Scale Guard." Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, knowing that the matter was of great importance.

"Don't worry, Master Lin, leave the matters in the water to us brothers!" Chen Da replied in a deep voice.

"And Sun He," Lin Feng looked at Sun He, who had been silent and wiping his crossbow, "how's your crossbow practice going? Can you teach others?"

Sun He raised his head, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes: "Within eighty paces, eight or nine out of ten shots hit. I can teach you the simple steps of cocking, aiming, and firing."

"Alright. Starting tomorrow, pick ten men from the labor team and your brothers—men with sharp eyes, steady hands, and tight tongues—to form a 'crossbow squad.' Don't expect them to be as accurate as you, but they should at least be able to create a certain long-range deterrent for a short time. Guys… I'll figure something out." A cold glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. Crossbows are military weapons, and private possession is a serious crime. But in this chaotic world, without a weapon for self-defense, one is a lamb to the slaughter. Feng Zhen's arrival might be an opportunity…

After the assignments were given, everyone accepted their tasks and prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute." Lin Feng called out to them, his gaze sweeping over their faces, some resolute, some sharp, and some composed.

"Brothers, it hasn't been easy for us to get to where we are today. We're surrounded by wolves in front, tigers behind, and imperial envoys watching us from above. But it's precisely in times like these that we must unite as one! Remember our 'Three Harmonies' rules—no bullying the weak, no betrayal of brothers, and absolute obedience! As long as we don't cause trouble ourselves, those demons and monsters outside can't do anything to us! Following me, Lin Feng, I can't guarantee everyone will become rich and powerful, but I guarantee that as long as I have food to eat, my brothers will never go hungry! How long the 'Three Harmonies' flag can fly determines how far our brothers' future will go!"

"We swear to follow Master Lin to the death! We swear to be loyal to 'Sanhe' to the death!" The crowd responded in a loud voice, their voices not loud, but filled with unwavering determination.

After this period of adjustment and life-or-death struggle, they have come to wholeheartedly admire and be completely devoted to their young leader.

After everyone dispersed, only Lin Feng remained in the secret room. He walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and gazed intently at the lights still shining in the direction of the prefectural government office.

Feng Zhen, Zhou Wenyuan, Prince Qi, the Canal Gang, the Xuanlin Guard... and the other golden dragon token and the "Jingnan Relics" hidden somewhere... a huge, intricate net has already enveloped him.

But he felt no fear, only a burning fighting spirit and a sense of urgency.

"Time is running out..." he muttered to himself. Feng Zhen would not stay in Qingzhou for long. He had to maximize his own strength and gain leverage while this imperial envoy was in charge. At the same time, he also had to protect Chen tide and the others, and try to find out the secrets of the "Mysterious Scale Guard" and the Golden Dragon Token.

Just then, three very faint sounds, similar to the call of a partridge, suddenly came from outside the window: two short and one long, followed by a short pause.