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Chapter 620: Everyone Has Arrived

The military officer, scared away by Bai Yuan, went back and started asking around. He questioned everyone he could find, eventually connecting with a few merchants who had done business at Qichuan Ferry. To his surprise, he actually got some clear answers.

Apparently, the Bai family of Shaanxi was merely a local militia instructor, a common gentry figure, frequently active at Qichuan Ferry. He was absolutely not some imperial censor.

The officer was incensed. How dare a mere local gentry lecture an official appointed by the imperial court? Was he inviting death?

"Damn you!" he fumed. "Just wait until I get my hands on you."

The officer gathered about a hundred government soldiers and set off once more towards the refugee camp in Hengshui Town.

Meanwhile...

Xiaolangdi, Eagle Beak Mountain, Yellow Turban Fortress.

This place, chosen by Bai Yuan and Jiang Cheng as a new naval base, coincidentally happened to be a hideout favored by a group of water bandits.

The water bandit who had previously attacked the high slope, nicknamed "Flipping Boat Dragon," was currently in the fortress, gathered with a large group of fellow bandit leaders, chatting.

Flipping Boat Dragon said, "Today, I've called you brothers here because I want to introduce you to a big opportunity."

The other leaders chuckled, "What big opportunity? We heard you've been taking advantage of the floods lately, raiding isolated disaster victims in the Mengjin region. What kind of big business is that? Just paltry sums unworthy of our attention."

Flipping Boat Dragon scoffed, "Heh heh, perhaps you don't know? Those isolated disaster victims have all been rescued by a gentry lord. He's gathered them in Hengshui Town and is providing them with food. If that's not a big opportunity, what is?"

One of the dumber-looking leaders asked, "How is that a big opportunity?"

Flipping Boat Dragon explained, "Are you thickheaded? That gentry lord is feeding over ten thousand refugees. How much grain do you think he's prepared? If we seize that grain, all our bandit camps will be set for food and drink for at least a year."

This statement suddenly enlightened everyone. *Right!* To be able to feed over ten thousand people—what incredible wealth! If they could pull off this raid, they would truly strike it rich.

Flipping Boat Dragon continued, "To be honest, that gentry lord is a bit formidable. His household guards have at least a dozen flintlock rifles. A few days ago, one skirmish left me utterly baffled. I don't think I can handle him alone, so I've invited you all to join forces. We'll storm Hengshui Town together, butcher that gentry lord, and seize his grain. Then we can all split it; grain for over ten thousand people will be enough for all of us leaders to get a good share."

These bandit leaders were hardened men who lived by the blade, accustomed to a life of illicit gain for many years. Upon hearing this, not a single one showed fear. Instead, they became wildly excited, shouting and howling, "Good! Then let's storm Hengshui Town together and butcher that gentry lord!"

Flipping Boat Dragon cautioned, "I must warn you, his ships are large, and his firearms are powerful."

The leaders all laughed. "What's there to be afraid of? It's not like we haven't fought merchants with large ships and firearms before!"

"Kill him!"

"Finish him off!"

"Nothing to worry about."

"How can so many of us lose?"

And so... the plan was happily settled...

Hengshui Town's straight-line land distance from Eagle Beak Mountain's Yellow Turban Fortress was sixteen li. However, the water bandits naturally wouldn't travel by land. Instead, they would sail north from Yellow Turban Fortress, enter the Yellow River, then proceed downstream, entering the Mengjin region, and then approach Hengshui Town.

In truth, Hengshui Town was originally not located on the riverbank, so it shouldn't have been attacked by water bandits.

However... after the Yellow River burst its banks, the waters spread for thousands of li, transforming Hengshui Town, which was originally several li from the water's edge, into a town now situated right by the water.

To the east of the town was a vast expanse of yellow water, stretching as far as the eye could see. Many isolated islands floated within the water, and occasionally a rooftop could be seen on the surface. No one knew how many more days this terrible flood would last before receding.

As dusk fell, over ten thousand refugees were lighting fires and preparing their evening meal.

Suddenly, a sentry on one of Gao Family Village's cargo ships docked by the shore shouted, "Government ships are coming!"

"Oh?" Bai Yuan put down his rice bowl and stood up.

Peering towards the east, he immediately spotted several government warships. The lead vessel was a medium-sized ship, without cannons, only a ship's tower. It was designed for close-quarters combat, likely relying on archery volleys before boarding enemy ships with its marines.

The other ships were all small, skiff-like warships.

The fleet drew closer and closer. On the prow of the medium-sized warship stood a military officer—the very one Bai Yuan had humiliated earlier. Many soldiers also stood on the ship's deck. It seemed that all the people on these ships combined numbered over a hundred.

They approached Hengshui Town with an air of aggression.

Seeing this, Bai Yuan was somewhat amused. "Well, it seems that fellow from last time is coming to cause trouble for me."

Jiang Cheng whispered, "Mr. Bai, you're still smiling in this situation? Isn't this quite serious?"

Bai Yuan replied, "Serious? Nonsense! If he speaks politely, I will too. But if he stirs up trouble, I'll teach him a good lesson. Anyway, we're not from around here. We'll just beat up the government soldiers and leave; no one can do anything about us."

The Heavenly Lord chuckled, "Heh heh heh, well said."

Jiang Cheng added, "Since the Heavenly Lord also says so, then it's certainly no problem."

The government warships continued to draw nearer, fast approaching the point where they would dock beside Hengshui Town.

However, several of Gao Family Village's large, flat-bottomed cargo ships were already moored there, completely occupying the shoreline. The government warships couldn't find a spot to dock immediately.

The military officer on the deck stomped his feet and cursed loudly, "Move those cargo ships aside! Are you blind?"

But the cargo ships had not received orders from Bai Yuan. Regardless of whether it was a government warship, they had no intention of moving and remained blocking the shore.

The warships circled repeatedly, unable to find a docking space. The officer on deck was so enraged he swore, "This is rebellion! Utter rebellion!"

Bai Yuan, having had enough fun, was just about to tell the cargo ships to make way.

Unexpectedly, at that very moment, the sentry shouted again, "More ships! So many ships!"

"Water bandits! It's water bandits! Prepare for battle!" The government soldiers' sentry simultaneously spotted the incoming ships and exclaimed in alarm, "So many water bandits! Damn it, how can there be so many? Over a hundred ships are coming!"

Bai Yuan glanced towards the northeast and was also amused. Indeed, there were countless small boats, densely packed, swarming like black ants across the yellow water.

The military officer, who had originally come to confront Bai Yuan, was utterly terrified by this sudden turn of events, completely paralyzed and unsure what to do.

His own marines were all cowardly soldiers, adept at oppressing ordinary citizens but useless in real combat. Seeing this situation, they immediately began rowing their boats, desperate to flee.

However, it was already too late to escape. The water bandits' small boats advanced in a mighty procession from the east, sealing off a large expanse of the waterway.

Leading the charge was a fierce bandit, the very one Bai Yuan had repelled last time. He stood on the prow of his ship, laughing wildly and utterly brazen.