Chapter 35: The True Face of the Merchant

Night fell over Sishui Village. Li Chuan and his core members gathered in a seaside house, maps and supply manifests seized from enemy vessels spread out before them. This was a secret consultation—one that concerned not only the future of the fishing village but also the true identity of the mysterious Central Plains merchant pulling the strings behind the Japanese pirates.

Zhang Dahai stood before the map, pointing to several marked locations. "These are transit hubs along the coastal trade route. We managed to extract information from the prisoners; the Central Plains merchant's goods are frequently transshipped here."

"What is his background, really?" Chen Ahu asked, his brow furrowed. "How does a merchant from the Central Plains have the power to collude with pirates and target coastal villages?"

Li Chuan stared at a portrait seized from the ship. It depicted a man with a shrewd, cunning gaze. "According to intelligence our people retrieved from the Nanyang region, this man is Yang Tianxing. On the surface, he is the largest merchant in Nanyang, but in the shadows, he is involved in arms smuggling and the exploitation of villagers. He uses the pirates to suppress our coastal villages, seizing control of fishing resources and goods to resell them overseas at exorbitant prices."

"So he is a two-faced snake!" Huang Youdao roared in fury. "A man like that deserves to be torn to pieces!"

Zhang Dahai nodded. "He is not just a greedy merchant; he is a master of manipulation. I hear he once incited conflict between villages in Nanyang just to clear the way for his own influence."

"This is no simple pirate problem," Li Chuan said, his tone heavy. "Our true enemy is Yang Tianxing. His goal is not just the wealth of our coast, but perhaps control over the entire sea."

Chen Ahu clenched his fists. "Brother Chuan, what is our next move? Yang Tianxing’s influence spans the entire coast. With our small numbers, can we really stand against him?"

Li Chuan gave a cold smile. "Numbers do not guarantee victory. Yang Tianxing’s greatest weakness is his reliance on these specific logistics routes." He picked up the map and pointed to several coastal points. "Our coastline is complex, with deep harbors and hidden reefs. These are the paths his fleet must take. If we secure these points and cut off his supplies, his influence will collapse."

Zhang Dahai slammed the table. "Good idea! We can set an ambush near these reefs; once we spot his ships, we seize the cargo!"

Huang Youdao frowned. "Dahai, you are oversimplifying this. To become a great Nanyang merchant, Yang Tianxing must have many skilled fighters under his command. If we act rashly, we will be the ones to suffer."

"Uncle Huang is right," Li Chuan agreed. "We cannot rely solely on brute force. Beyond ambushing his ships, we must find a way to learn his shipment schedules and routes."

"That will not be easy," Chen Ahu said, scratching his head. "How many people should we send for reconnaissance?"

Li Chuan’s lips curled into a smirk. "We do not need many. One person is enough."

The others were stunned. Zhang Dahai asked tentatively, "Brother Chuan, are you saying..."

"Yes," Li Chuan said, his gaze resolute. "I will go myself."

The next day, Li Chuan disguised himself as an ordinary fisherman and took a small boat to one of the transit hubs on the map. It was a bustling port, with merchant ships coming and going and cargo piled high like mountains.

He stood by the pier, observing for a long time, until he locked eyes on a vessel loaded with weapons. Several laborers were unloading the cargo, one of whom stood out—a tall man with a tattoo of a coiling black snake on his arm.

*That is Black Snake Zhang, Yang Tianxing’s right-hand man,* Li Chuan thought to himself. He lowered his hat and slowly approached.

Black Snake Zhang was barking orders at the workers. "Hurry up! If the master is unhappy because of a delay, all you idiots will lose your heads!"

Li Chuan picked up a tattered burlap sack and joined the crowd of laborers.

"Hey! Are you new?" Black Snake Zhang suddenly glared at Li Chuan.

Li Chuan paused, then lowered his head. "Yes, I just came from the countryside."

"The countryside?" Black Snake Zhang looked him up and down. "With those scrawny arms and legs, what can you do?"

"I don't have much strength, but I'm fast on my feet," Li Chuan said, putting on a naive smile. "If there are any urgent matters, I can run errands for you."

Black Snake Zhang snorted. "Run errands? Fine. Go to the pier and fetch me a letter. Be quick about it!"

Li Chuan took the envelope, memorizing the address written on it. A surge of joy went through him: *This is my chance.*

That night, Li Chuan returned safely to Sishui Village with the intelligence. He gathered everyone and revealed the information obtained from the letter.

"Yang Tianxing’s next shipment will pass through South Bay in three days. The time and route are all here," Li Chuan said, spreading out the letter. "We cannot miss this opportunity."

"Brother Chuan, do we have enough men?" Zhang Dahai asked.

"We do not need many for this," Li Chuan replied. "We will just send a few small boats to lie in wait near the reefs. Once they let their guard down, we strike."

Huang Youdao worriedly added, "But what if they have experts with them? We must remain cautious."

"That is why we must prepare in advance," Li Chuan said to the group. "Our goal is not to clash head-on, but to sever their logistics line, leaving Yang Tianxing with no goods to transport."

"Understood!" Chen Ahu clenched his fist. "Count me in, Brother Chuan!"

Meanwhile, Yang Tianxing received the letter from Black Snake Zhang and his face darkened.

"It seems there is quite a stir in Sishui Village," Yang Tianxing said with a cold laugh. "They dare to plot against me. They truly do not know death when they see it."

The steward standing nearby whispered, "Master, shall I send men to eliminate them?"

"Eliminate them?" Yang Tianxing shook his head. "No need for blades and guns. Tell Black Snake to spread the word that Li Chuan is annexing surrounding villages to monopolize the sea for himself."

The steward nodded. "Understood."

Yang Tianxing’s mouth curled into a cruel sneer. "There is nothing more entertaining than watching dogs bite each other."

The sea breeze in Sishui Village carried a chill, but the village entrance was filled with a clamor. Yang Tianxing’s conspiracy had quietly taken effect; representatives from nearby fishing villages arrived, fueled by suspicion and anger, accusing Li Chuan of having ulterior motives.

An elderly representative stood before the crowd, his tone icy. "Li Chuan, you keep shouting about a joint defense, but we heard that your Sishui Village actually intends to annex us and become the overlord of the coast!"

"Exactly!" another representative chimed in. "Why should we hand over our defense lines to you? Once you have total control, what are we supposed to do?"

The villagers of Sishui erupted in outrage. Many were furious. "Nonsense! Brother Chuan has risked his life for everyone. When has he ever thought about annexing you?"

"Enough!" Li Chuan shouted, and the crowd fell silent instantly. He stepped forward, sweeping his gaze across the group. "Everyone, stay calm. Who told you these things?"

The elderly representative frowned. "The news came from the sea. They say it was spread by Yang Tianxing’s men."

Li Chuan laughed softly. "Yang Tianxing’s men are spouting nonsense, and you believe them? Do not forget, he is our common enemy!"

Another representative sneered. "Enemy? Perhaps you have already colluded with Yang Tianxing in secret, intending to use us small villages as shields!"

At these words, the surrounding villagers began to whisper, and the atmosphere of suspicion grew heavier.

Li Chuan remained silent for a moment, then spoke loudly. "Fine. If you cannot trust me, I will give you a clear explanation. Dahai, bring the items here!"

Zhang Dahai took a map and spread it on the ground. He pointed to several marks and said loudly, "This is intelligence we seized from Yang Tianxing’s ships. It details their trade routes and strongholds. If Li Chuan truly wanted to annex you, would he share this critical information with you?"

The village representatives looked down at the map, their expressions becoming complex.

"Yang Tianxing’s plan is to use the pirates and our internal strife to make us kill each other while he reaps the rewards," Li Chuan continued. "Right now, your mutual suspicion is exactly what he wants!"

The elderly representative asked hesitantly, "Then how can you prove that your Sishui Village has no other intentions?"

Li Chuan smiled. "It is simple. We can make copies of this map for every village. As for the joint defense force, I will not fill it with only people from Sishui; each village can send representatives to supervise. As long as we work together, Yang Tianxing’s conspiracy will never succeed!"

The representatives discussed it in hushed tones, until one finally spoke up. "Fine. We will trust you for now. But if we find you have other ideas, do not blame us for being merciless!"

"Rest assured," Li Chuan nodded slightly. "The goal of our joint defense system is singular: to protect our homes!"

The elderly representative sighed. "Sigh, if Yang Tianxing had not pushed us into a corner, who would want to doubt their neighbors? Li Chuan, if you truly can keep everyone safe this time, we all owe you a debt."

Li Chuan nodded solemnly. "I understand everyone's feelings. Since we have formed an alliance, we are family, and we must stand together."

These words won over much of the trust, and the atmosphere of suspicion gradually dissipated. The representatives sat down to seriously discuss the layout of the defense lines and follow-up action plans.

However, even as the villagers stood united, Yang Tianxing’s men had quietly infiltrated Sishui Village. Disguised as refugees, they hid in the village, attempting to dismantle Li Chuan’s team from within.

At night, the light at a village sentry post was dim. Two villagers on watch were dozing off when they suddenly heard a slight movement nearby.

"What was that sound?" one asked, waking up abruptly.

"Probably just the wind," the other yawned.

Just then, an arrow pierced the night, striking one of them directly in the throat!

Before the other could react, a shadow lunged from behind and subdued him.

"Sentry post cleared," the shadow whispered.

In the distance, a tall man walked over slowly—it was Black Snake Zhang. He sneered at the bound guards. "A tiny village dares to oppose us; they truly do not know their own strength."

However, just as Black Snake Zhang was gloating, countless torches suddenly flared to life in the darkness nearby.

"Fire!" At Li Chuan’s command, arrows rained down like a storm upon Black Snake Zhang and his men.

Black Snake Zhang was shocked. "An ambush! Retreat!"

But it was too late. The lurking fishermen had long since surrounded them.

Li Chuan, holding a long blade, walked slowly toward Black Snake Zhang. He sneered, "You thought you could sneak into the village unnoticed? Too bad, I knew about your plan all along."

"You..." Black Snake Zhang gritted his teeth. "How did you know we were coming?"

Li Chuan waved his hand, and several prisoners were brought forward—the very men who had infiltrated the village.

"They sold you out," Li Chuan said coldly. "Your Boss Yang’s little tricks are not worth looking at."

Black Snake Zhang roared and charged at Li Chuan with his blade. However, Li Chuan was prepared; he dodged to the side, the blade grazing his face. Taking advantage of Black Snake Zhang losing his balance, Li Chuan struck quickly, kicking him to the ground.

"Speak. What are Yang Tianxing’s next plans?"

Li Chuan looked down at Black Snake Zhang, his voice as cold as ice.

Black Snake Zhang struggled to climb up, but was held down by the villagers with long spears. He gritted his teeth and said, "If you have the guts, kill me!"

"Kill you?" Li Chuan gave a cold laugh. "Don't be so impatient. I will let you watch with your own eyes how Yang Tianxing falls."

The next day, Li Chuan gathered his core members and adjusted the action plan based on the intelligence extracted from Black Snake Zhang and the prisoners.

"Yang Tianxing has begun infiltrating our villages, but his goal is to incite internal conflict," Li Chuan said, pointing to the map. "Since he wants to divide us, we will use this opportunity to do the opposite."

Zhang Dahai asked, confused, "Brother Chuan, what do you mean?"

"We will send someone to pretend to defect to Yang Tianxing, disguised as a representative of a fishing village willing to cooperate," Li Chuan said, his eyes sharp. "We will use this chance to infiltrate his ranks and obtain more critical intelligence."

"But what if he finds out?" Huang Youdao worried.

"That is why we need the cleverest person for this," Li Chuan looked at Chen Ahu. "Ahu, do you dare to take this mission?"

Chen Ahu patted his chest. "Brother Chuan, just watch me!"