A Long River Myth

Nighttime, ten miles south of the Cangjiang River.

In the reed marshes, firelight and starlight shone as nearly a hundred figures gradually gathered.

The officials dressed in dark blue river patrol uniforms met up with the third patrol team of the patrol office.

Surrounded by torches, the two sides met to investigate the case. Jiang Tao led three inspectors, including Liu Ming, to meet with the chief envoy of the River Bureau.

The men below, in groups of three or five, inspected their equipment and weapons.

As Liu Ming left the crowd, Li Hong was now the leader of his patrol team.

He was carrying a seven-foot-long spear, and his official uniform had been changed into a light blue-gray robe.

The spacious leader's outfit already had some embellishments, including a cowhide belt with a copper cloud pattern on the front buckle.

Although he was only given the rank and benefits of a deputy envoy on temporary assignment, he had already been issued the appropriate attire for a deputy inspector.

He stood solemnly, bathed in the dim light of the torch, exuding an air of extraordinary bearing.

Before long, Jiang Tao and the others seemed to have finalized their plan with the River Commissioner and returned to the patrol and inspection team.

Behind him were more than a dozen He Sifang figures.

Jiang Tao waved his hand and gave the order. The three patrol inspectors and several deputy inspectors, including Li Hong, were all summoned and surrounded.

The firelight cast flickering shadows on the faces of the people in the circle.

There were more than a dozen people from the River Bureau. The leader, a water constable, was hidden in the darkness, but the light illuminated his red silk breastplate and the neat and tidy official uniform of the river constable.

Jiang Tao, standing in the center, waved past the burly figure in front of the dozen or so men from the River Division and introduced them:

"This is Zhou, the constable of the River Division. Liu Ming, you and your brothers from the River Division will lie in ambush on the south and north banks. After Meng Chong intercepts the bandits, you will work together to lock down the riverbanks!"

"Yes, sir." Liu Ming bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

After a detailed plan, Jiang Tao led the other two teams from the Patrol Division to catch up with the River Division members.

Both banks of the Xia Cangjiang River are shallow shoals, and the river narrows here.

Choosing this location to intercept the river pirates, along with a small warship like Mengchong, demonstrates the shrewdness of their strategic planning.

Just as Jiang Tao left.

Then, a dozen or so people from the river bureau walked into the firelight, and the leader revealed a square face.

It was Zhou Tingshan?

Li Hong, standing at the front of the line, narrowed his eyes. He had been secretly pondering this since he heard that the water catcher's surname was Zhou.

At that moment, he was right beside Liu Ming and could see it clearly.

Zhou Tingshan approached and smiled slightly, "Envoy Liu, how about I go to the north bank?"

Liu Ming hadn't had much contact with the Hebei authorities, but he had heard a little about Zhou Shuibu.

The two parties will work together, with the River Management Division taking the lead and the Inspection Division assisting.

The slightly younger Liu Ming replied, "Today, the brothers of the River Bureau are putting on a grand show, while we, the patrol officers, are merely guest actors. We will follow Brother Zhou's instructions."

Zhou Tingshan nodded slightly and said modestly with a smile, "Not at all, we're all brothers, and we're all working together without distinction between host and guest."

Then, he glanced at Liu Ming's side and smiled knowingly:

"I've long heard that the Patrol Inspection Division is full of talented people... and this young fellow is already a deputy envoy?"

Liu Ming turned his head and smiled calmly, giving up half a body space, his meaning quite clear.

Li Hong was no dull person either. He clasped his hands in greeting and said in a calm tone, "Li Hong greets Constable Zhou."

"Hey... if you don't mind calling me 'brother,' that would be an honor."

Zhou Tingshan quickly waved his hand, saying that such a young internal martial artist was already a deputy envoy, and his future was limitless.

He wouldn't be overly friendly, but he also wouldn't put on airs.

The two teams set up a signal to coordinate their movements, and Zhou Tingshan led a team of river fishermen in small boats to the north bank.

Beside him, Deputy River Constable Zhang Yang leaned forward and asked, "Boss Zhou, why does that young deputy envoy from the Patrol Division seem to know you?"

After crossing the river, Zhou Tingshan, whose brows were already slightly furrowed, was pondering this matter.

In the torchlight, when he got closer, he felt as if he had seen that junior envoy somewhere before; they seemed somewhat familiar.

But I just can't remember where I've seen it before.

Now, his old friend Zhang Yang's words have only intensified his suspicions.

"I do feel like I recognize him a little, but I just can't remember where I'm looking."

Zhou Tingshan relaxed his brow and stopped thinking about it. The important matter at hand was more important than he could afford to be distracted.

"Old Zhang, remember to ask around after you finish your job tonight."

"Um."

............

South bank.

Li Hong and more than a dozen other inspectors followed Liu Ming into the reeds, where they were now far apart.

Looking down, the layout resembles a giant pocket, firmly embracing this stretch of shallow water that is several hundred meters long.

According to the plan, He Simengchong would run into the river pirates on this section of the river.

If the main force can resolve the battle on the river, then they will be spared any trouble and can enjoy the credit for nothing.

However, judging from the arrangements made by the River Bureau and their humble approach to borrowing personnel from the Patrol Bureau,

The probability of such a good thing is probably extremely low.

Li Hong had already made preparations. He had a spear in hand, and he had personally sharpened the spearhead for a while that afternoon, so that it emitted a faint, cold light.

Since I have been valued and promoted, I must do my part to repay your kindness.

The Patrol and Inspection Office has been a positive feedback loop ever since he entered the government.

Moreover, he still owes a lot of favors.

Not far away, Liu Ming was wiping his goose-feather saber, the occasional reflection of which sent chills down his spine.

During their casual conversation, Li Hong learned from him the reason behind tonight's major river case.

According to the information Liu Ming brought back, they might be facing quite a few thieves.

Leaving aside the leaders of the water fortresses at Wave Lake.

According to confirmed information, there is also the notorious Jianghe bandit gang.

Water Snake Bai Qi, Iron Tower Han Gang, and Double Axe Dragon Zheng Meng are all well-known names, and they are all fierce bandits along the Shangcang River.

Today we're going together to transport black medicinal herbs, passing through the Muyang County waterway.

He Si had already obtained intelligence, but fearing to alert the enemy, he had kept it in the dark for more than half a year.

Tonight is the perfect opportunity to catch them all.

Li Hong had been working in the patrol and inspection department for several months, and his experience had changed.

They naturally knew that these river bandits were far superior to the gangs and individual thieves in the outer city.

The aforementioned bandit leaders were all highly skilled individuals who had trained for many years. Roughly counting, there were more than a dozen of them, and none of them were easy to deal with.

Despite having gathered a force of nearly a hundred people.

This trip may not be so simple.

Li Hong silently tightened his breathing, remaining motionless and listening intently to detect even the slightest movement on the river surface...

........

An hour later, it was nearly midnight.

The river surface was as black as lacquer, and the cold moon fell into the water, shattering into silver spots.

The wind rustled the grass on both sides of the shallow water, and all was silent.

Gradually, seven shallow-water cargo ships, without lights or fire, silently appeared on this section of the river.

The seven boats are arranged in a triangular formation, several hundred meters apart, like a centipede skimming the water, and are sailing downstream.

The water level was high, and the container was full.

Following the flow of the river, we soon approached this section of the river flanked by shallows.

As the first exploration vessel approached, its deck was filled with a dark mass of people, seemingly observing and on guard.

Just as the exploration ship was about to leave the shoal, suddenly, torches lit up the shoal!

Under the cover of night, nearly twenty Mengchong wolves, each having already chosen their targets, moved like a pack of wolves.

"Rush!"

The oarsmen inside the boat all roared angrily, and in an instant, they erupted, shaking the oars like centipedes running for their lives.

Unaffected by the wind, Mengchong moved like a swift arrow released from a bow, flying back and forth and darting away!

Beyond the shallows, a buzzing sound!

Suddenly, a barrage of rockets rose from the night sky, forming a network of fire that rained down upon them!

The seven shallow-water boats were completely surrounded and caught off guard by the ambush, but they all reacted quickly.

Each ship was armed with arrows to retaliate; they were prepared in advance.

Unfortunately, the Mengchong boat was extremely fast on this shallow river, and before the second volley of arrows could be fired, they were already close in.

Boom!

Two or three ships had already boarded after the collision, and the sudden shouts of battle were deafening!

.............