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Chapter 400: I Saved Your Life

Tie Niaofei was already resigned to his fate!

Just then, a large ship in the distance opened fire.

"Boom!"

A single cannon blast reverberated for miles.

The rebel bandits attacking the city froze simultaneously, as did the militia guarding the dock.

Everyone shivered with fright at the thunderous roar of the cannon.

Then they saw a massive black iron cannonball arc across the sky and plunge into the midst of the rebel forces...

It didn't land directly on the front lines. Smoothbore cannons were notoriously unreliable, and the sailors on board feared friendly fire, so they aimed for the middle section of the rebel army. This ensured that a misfire wouldn't send the cannonball flying over the militia's heads.

This particular cannonball wasn't accurate. Using a smoothbore cannon to hit human targets was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito – impossible to aim precisely.

Then...

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The cannons roared continuously!

The ship had five cannons on one broadside, and they fired in quick succession. Four more cannonballs arced through the air, and this time, they were far less off-target. One cannonball landed precisely where the bandits were most densely packed, crushing one man to death with a sickening thud. It then rolled along the ground, shattering the legs of two other rebels.

Though it only struck their legs, the immense kinetic energy it carried was transmitted through their bones, shaking the two men to death.

The other three cannonballs also struck densely populated areas, instantly plunging the rebels into shrieking terror.

Old Zhang Fei, holding the line in the rear, witnessed this and was startled. "Damn it, the imperial navy is here! How in the blazes did the navy get all the way up the Yellow River?"

The fierce bandits spearheading the assault on the dock also believed the imperial navy had arrived. This was no small shock; although border troops and garrison soldiers were now mixed among the bandits, they still mostly lost when facing regular government forces. Victories were rare.

Imperial soldiers still seemed insurmountable to them.

The assault immediately faltered!

Tie Niaofei's twelve ferocious salt smugglers seized this opportunity. With a flurry of blades, they cut down several rebels who had clambered over the makeshift fence, shouting loudly, "Hold the line, everyone! Hold it firmly!"

A wave of panic swept through the rebels. They didn't know whether to press the attack or flee.

Many turned their heads to look at Old Zhang Fei's command banner...

They wanted to hear if their leader would order the drums to beat for advance or the gongs to sound for retreat.

But Old Zhang Fei was currently dazed himself, hesitating, unsure what to do.

Their hesitation bought Xing Honglang and her crew precious time.

Though the ship was enormous, it moved incredibly fast. In no time, it was several hundred paces away, even turning around on the river to bring its other broadside into position.

From the ship came another "Boom! Boom! Boom!" — five more cannon blasts!

Five cannonballs flew into the bandit horde simultaneously, once again sending the rebels into wails of terror.

Moreover, at several hundred paces, rifles could now be brought to bear. The Bai Family Fortress sailors, upholding their lord's excellent traditions, were not fighting alone this time. "Crack!" went a rifle, and a fierce bandit's head exploded, sending him tumbling down.

"Crack!"

Another shot rang out, and another fierce bandit fell.

Unlike the cannons, the snipers weren't afraid to target the front lines. They had confidence in the accuracy of their rifles, unafraid of accidental injury, and aimed specifically for the fierce bandits at the forefront. Several bandit leaders, on the verge of breaching the dock, were hit in quick succession.

At this, morale completely collapsed.

Old Zhang Fei, seeing the tide turn, roared, "Retreat! Retreat, retreat!"

The bandit army began sounding the gongs for retreat...

The rebel army, their courage already shattered by the cannons, receded like a crashing tide.

The merchants, artisans, fishermen, and farmers on the dock all erupted in cheers.

"I thought we were doomed! I never expected the imperial navy to show up!"

"Wonderful! We're saved."

"The imperial court is still formidable! Cannons and rifles right off the bat, so powerful!"

The common folk were overjoyed.

But Tie Niaofei was not.

Normally, he'd be fleeing miles away at the mere sight of the imperial navy, but this time, he couldn't. He certainly couldn't run off with the rebels, could he?

Even though the rebels had retreated, he dared not step half a pace outside the dock now.

Yet, remaining at the dock wasn't good either. When the imperial navy docked and came ashore, they'd interrogate everyone there, and a major salt smuggler like him would be dead for sure.

Tie Niaofei's twelve intact subordinates gathered around him. "Boss, what do we do?"

Tie Niaofei gritted his teeth. "What else *can* we do? If the imperial soldiers are careless and let us pass as ordinary militia, then all will be well. But if they find out about us, we'll just have to fight them."

Everyone: "..."

Tie Niaofei: "Just follow my lead."

And so, the group of salt smugglers anxiously watched the formidable cannon ship on the river. It slowly approached the dock, and from its side, a woman's face appeared. She had a somewhat rugged look, possessing the aura of a resolute man.

The woman waved at Tie Niaofei and burst into laughter. "Tie Niaofei, you idiot! Weren't you enjoying yourself, snatching business from this old gal? How come now I have to save your hide?"

Tie Niaofei gaped. "Huh? Xing Honglang of Yongji?"

Xing Honglang roared with laughter. "That's right, it's me, this old gal!"

Tie Niaofei looked utterly embarrassed. "This ship..."

Xing Honglang couldn't be bothered to explain the ship's origins, nor was it appropriate to do so in front of so many people at the dock. Word getting out would only cause trouble for Gao Family Village. So, she simply took credit for it herself, laughing boisterously. "This ship? I earned it by smuggling salt, this old gal did! How about that? Impressive, isn't it?"

Tie Niaofei exclaimed, "Holy hell! How much salt do you have to sell to earn a cannon ship this powerful?"

Xing Honglang shot back, "Is this really the time for questions? I just saved your life, this old gal did! What do you say?"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Tie Niaofei's face, but the rules of the outlaw world had to be observed, and one couldn't be petty. He quickly composed himself and performed a deep bow to Xing Honglang. "Tie Niaofei of Hedong, today I have received a life-saving grace from Xing Honglang of Yongji. From this day forward,

I, Tie Niaofei, will never again compete with Xing Honglang for business. If Xing Honglang ever needs my assistance, she only needs to speak the word, and I will brave mountains of blades and seas of fire without hesitation."

Xing Honglang burst into hearty laughter. "Now *that's* more like it! My saving your life wasn't in vain. You might be annoying in business, but at least you understand the rules of the outlaw world, unlike those unruly scoundrels."

Tie Niaofei was beyond embarrassed.

Xing Honglang's gaze swept across the dock. She saw hundreds of people, all wounded and disheveled. Many of them were old acquaintances she had done business with. Her heart sank slightly at the sight.

She quickly told her subordinates, "Bring out the trauma medicine and treat their wounds."