Chapter 67 - 66: The Water Patrol Bureau is Established

Chapter 67: Chapter 66: The Water Patrol Bureau is Established

Lu Jing’an’s only interaction with Lin Hong had been that one phone call.

However, for Lu Huaisan to entrust the transport of a Demon Beast carcass,

such a critical matter, to this man,

spoke volumes about his deep trust in Lin Hong.

And now, this call proved that Lin Hong was a mole, planted by someone else at Lu Huaisan’s side.

’The people you trust the most are often the ones you overlook.’

Lu Jing’an lamented internally.

Even though he knew there was a problem with Lin Hong’s identity,

Lu Jing’an had no intention of moving to arrest him immediately.

For one, the time wasn’t right. For another, he didn’t believe there was only one pawn on the board.

Keeping Lin Hong in place was the only way to follow the thread and unravel the larger web behind him.

’When the Water Patrol Bureau is officially established, I’ll give them a nice surprise.’

Outside the window, the night began to fade. The sky, like water-soaked parchment, slowly revealed layers of ashen blue.

An hour later, Lu Huaisan led seven or eight old boatmen into the side hall.

These men had dark, sun-beaten skin,

the lines on their faces seeming to hold the river’s wind and waves.

Their hands were thick with heavy calluses,

the marks of years spent gripping oars and pulling ropes.

Lu Jing’an had someone prepare paper and a pen for taking notes,

then he settled into his seat,

and one by one,

began to ask his questions, weaving an intricate net.

From where hidden reefs lay in the Canglan River, to which stretches of water had treacherous currents.

To the various powers entrenched at the docks on either bank, and the rules of the monthly "tributes."

And then to the creatures beneath the water that only the older generation spoke of, but had truly devoured men—Water Monkeys, Catfish Monsters, Piggy Dragons...

The old boatmen were reserved at first, but after a few sips of hot tea, their tongues loosened.

They chimed in one after another, waving their arms in excitement as they spoke,

as if the turbid, surging river water was right before their eyes.

The questioning only drew to a close when the dawn light filtered through the window paper, casting a pale white streak on the grey brick floor.

Lu Jing’an ordered each boatman to be rewarded with ten silver coins.

Amidst the crisp sound of Silver Coins falling into their palms, the men bowed out, thanking him profusely.

Lu Jing’an remained alone in the hall, using the growing dawn light

to flip through the stack of freshly-inked notes, page by page.

What was written on the pages was even more perilous than he had anticipated.

Along the three hundred li of the Canglan River, dozens of Water Bandit gangs, large and small, lurked like schools of carp.

Among them was the Black Shark Gang, which called itself the "Dragon King of the Canglan River."

With over a hundred boats and hundreds of men, they not only possessed firearms,

but they also supported Cultivators, making them the undisputed overlords of the water bandits.

Passing merchant ships all had to purchase their "Dragon King Banner" and pay fees monthly or per trip to ensure safe passage. Otherwise, they would lose both crew and cargo.

The Public Security Bureaus of the three counties had attempted to suppress them several times, but they always managed to escape using the reed marshes and complex waterways.

Failed attempts at suppression only invited even more vicious retaliation.

Eventually, the authorities could only turn a blind eye and let them run rampant.

As for what lay beneath the water, it was a domain teeming with demonic creatures.

Water Monkeys dragged people under, Catfish Monsters capsized boats, and Piggy Dragons shattered ships with a flick of their tails.

The old boatmen spoke with grim certainty; their words were lessons paid for with countless lives.

’No wonder the Li Family was so certain I couldn’t handle the Canglan River...’

Lu Jing’an closed the papers and let out a soft sigh.

A situation like this truly couldn’t be rectified by the strength of a single family.

Even if the three major families joined forces, they might not succeed completely.

But if it could be brought under control, the profits involved

would be enough for the Lu Family to surpass the other two families in one fell swoop.

To say nothing of anything else, just on this Canglan River,

the value of goods that passed through each year was well over tens of millions of silver coins.

Lu Jing’an temporarily pushed these thoughts aside. After all, this was just what he had read on paper.

To truly strategize, he needed to see the true face of the Canglan River with his own eyes.

By now, Lu Huaisan looked exhausted but was still forcing himself to stay alert.

"Third Uncle, have some breakfast before you go back," Lu Jing’an said gently.

Lu Huaisan waved his hand, his voice hoarse. "No, I can’t. There’s a pile of things waiting for me at the company."

Lu Jing’an hesitated for a moment before revealing the matter of Lin Hong to him in a low voice.

After listening, a vein throbbed on Lu Huaisan’s temple, and his eyes instantly flooded with the furious shock of betrayal.

"Lin Hong, that treacherous bastard! He was freezing to death back then.

I was the one who gave him food to eat and clothes to wear, and now he dares to bite back!"

He clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.

"I’m going back right now to skin him alive!"

"Third Uncle."

Lu Jing’an raised a hand and placed it on his uncle’s arm. His voice was steady, yet held a force that brooked no argument.

"I’m telling you this so you’ll be on your guard. I still need him to bait the hook.

Besides, he’s someone for my Water Patrol Bureau to arrest."

Lu Huaisan’s chest heaved a few times. Finally, he gritted his teeth and nodded. "Fine. I’ll leave him to you."

"Third Uncle, when you get back, be careful not to tip them off," Lu Jing’an added.

"Don’t worry."

Lu Huaisan sneered.

"I’ll have him manage the south district branch office. Get him far away so I don’t have to get annoyed just by looking at him."

With that matter settled for the time being, for the next half-month,

Lu Jing’an continued his daily cultivation without fail, using his spare time to employ the art of [Cause and Effect Following Sound] to listen in on movements in the shadows.

Lu Jing’an would not let the Water Patrol Bureau interrupt his cultivation.

Ultimately, this was a chaotic world where only strength guaranteed survival.

It wasn’t just about the strength of one’s subordinates, but also one’s own personal power.

Lu Jing’an had little desire for power and authority.

Instead, he placed far more importance on improving his own personal strength.

As for the establishment of the Water Patrol Bureau, his father, Lu Huaiqian, was handling it all.

Recruiting personnel, allocating firearms, purchasing boats...

Lu Huaiqian used nearly every connection he had.

To form a force as quickly as possible, he went through channels in the Provincial City to purchase two diesel-powered ironclad patrol boats at a high price.

Diesel was incredibly precious in this era, and a single Ironclad Ship was worth fifty thousand silver coins.

Two ships, plus outfitting them with weapons, recruiting crew, and providing uniforms and pay silver—all in all, nearly three hundred thousand silver coins had already been sunk into the project.

And this was only the beginning.

From here on, money would flow out like water.

As for the provincial government, there would naturally be some funding allocated in silver coins.

But that was just a drop in the bucket.

If they really wanted to get the Water Patrol Bureau up and running, they would have to rely on their own financial resources.

However, Lu Jing’an knew even more clearly that even with such an investment,

it was still a drop in the bucket when faced with the complex dangers of the three-hundred-li Canglan River.

On the matter of funding alone, if they couldn’t see quick returns,

it would be enough to drag the Lu Family down.

This was an open conspiracy, one the Lu Family had no choice but to accept.

But since he had already accepted the challenge, Lu Jing’an would choose to face any difficulty head-on.

「Half a month later.」

The day of the Water Patrol Bureau’s official inauguration arrived. The province sent a special commissioner by the name of Zhou to present the official appointment, and he brought along several reporters from the provincial papers.

The bluestone slabs in front of the Government Office were swept clean. Red silk ribbons were tied to the two stone lions, and the armed and armored team members stood ramrod straight under the banner.

Sunlight shone on the brand-new plaque, making the name "Canglan River Patrol Bureau" gleam with fresh lacquer.

Special Commissioner Zhou, smiling, handed the Appointment Letter to Lu Jing’an with both hands.

Below, camera flashes flickered, capturing this "grand" moment.

After a round of photos, it was time for the reporters’ questions.

However, this question-and-answer session was a true verbal battlefield.

These reporters had clearly been arranged in advance.

Every single question was incredibly sharp and pointed.

For example, one reporter immediately questioned Lu Jing’an’s qualifications and abilities on the spot,

suggesting Lu Jing’an was incapable of managing the Canglan River and would instead make life even more miserable for the people on its banks.

Another reporter directly asked Lu Jing’an when he planned to eradicate the bandits and restore peace to the Canglan River.

Yet another reporter went so far as to present Lu Jing’an with a "ten-thousand-name petition" on behalf of the people.