Chapter 42 Security Fee

Leaving the stronghold and heading out of the mountainous region, Jiang Chenghai and Wang Guihe, along with their respective brothers—a troop totaling twenty men—slowly advanced toward the west.

Along the way, everyone chatted and laughed, their expressions relaxed. Had it not been for the rifles slung across their shoulders, one would never have guessed the purpose of their journey.

Jiang Xiaodao did not know how to ride a horse, so he had to squeeze onto the same mount with Jiang Chenghai.

"Dad, didn't you say you were done being a bandit?"

Jiang Chenghai nodded. "That's right, but since your Uncle Wang asked for a favor, it wouldn't be right for me to refuse. Besides, this trip of ours has no other purpose than to help him make a show of force."

"A show of force?" Jiang Xiaodao grinned. "Oh, I get it! You're just here to scare people, right? I can do that job!"

Although he was born with a reckless and stubborn streak of audacity, he was also quite willing to rely on the collective intimidation and prestige of the crowd to masquerade as a hero.

Seeing the smug expression plastered all over the kid's face, Jiang Chenghai couldn't help but chuckle. "Son, do you think scaring people is that easy?"

"What's so hard about it?" Jiang Xiaodao slapped his chest. "With a gun in my hand, who wouldn't tremble when they see me?"

"Not necessarily."

"Dad, I've killed a man! In the underworld, I've already paid my blood initiation due!"

"Then what if you didn't have a gun in your hand? What would you do then?"

"No gun?" Jiang Xiaodao thought about it for a moment, then backed down and admitted, "Then I'd honestly better play the obedient coward."

Upon hearing this, several of the uncles burst into loud laughter.

Jiang Xiaodao didn't feel like he had said anything wrong, so he raised his voice and argued, "What are you laughing at? Without a weapon in your hand, how are you supposed to scare anyone? I refuse to believe you could frighten someone to death just by staring at them with wide eyes!"

Hearing this, Guan Wei tugged at his reins, rode his horse closer, and said, "Xiaodao, if your dad wants to subdue people, he doesn't even need a gun. Just dropping the name 'Sea Eagle' is more than enough!"

"So what if he does? No matter how fierce a reputation is, it was earned by fighting with knives and guns in the past. How is that any different from what I said?"

Sensing Jiang Xiaodao's confusion, Jiang Chenghai lowered his head and said softly, "Son, remember one piece of advice from your dad whenever you roam the martial world: never make harsh threats that you cannot back up!"

"Does that have anything to do with whether you can scare people?" Jiang Xiaodao asked.

Jiang Chenghai smiled and replied, "Your dad is no bloodthirsty maniac! Making others fear you isn't about how many people you've killed; it's about saying you'll kill someone, and then definitely killing them!"

"A promise must be kept?"

"That's right! Keep your words few, but make them carry weight. If you say you're going to kill someone, you must kill him. Only then will others truly fear you. Even if you hack off that person's hands and feet, as long as he is still breathing, your words are nothing more than hot air! People will never genuinely fear you!"

"Hmph... That makes sense!"

Jiang Xiaodao nodded in agreement, trying hard to recall if he had uttered any harsh threats previously.

Finally, his gaze fell upon the Seventh Uncle.

Gong Baonan felt his skin crawl from being stared at so intently and couldn't help asking, "Your dad is talking to you, so why do you keep looking at me?"

"Hehe!"

Jiang Xiaodao grinned widely and offered no explanation.

He still remembered the slap Gong Baonan had given him, and he also remembered the fierce threat he had made earlier.

This matter—was far from over!

***

As noon approached, the group arrived at a village.

The spring warmth was gradually growing, and the ice and snow were slowly melting. In the farmlands awaiting spring cultivation, patches of mottled black soil were already exposed. Viewed from high above, the alternating patches of black and white resembled an unfinished game of chess.

In the fields, several children had originally been chasing each other and laughing, but the moment they caught sight of Wang Guihe and his men, they hastily tucked their tails and scurried home with looks of absolute panic.

Wang Guihe reined in his horse, pointed his riding crop at a two-story earthen building in the distance, and said, "Brother, this is the place I told you about—the one owned by the landlord surnamed Huang."

Jiang Chenghai murmured thoughtfully, "That earthen tower they built looks almost like a city gate tower. It seems they're truly terrified of being raided!"

Swishing his crop through the air in a wide circle, Wang Guihe cursed, "Nearly all the land in this Mountain Gate Village has been swallowed up by the Huang family. Within a radius of thirty miles, their family is the wealthiest. It's only right that they get targeted!"

In recent years, life beyond the Shanhai Pass had truly been difficult.

In the twenty-sixth year of the Guangxu reign, the massive army of Tsarist Russia marched southward.

In the twenty-seventh year of the Guangxu reign, a massive flood struck the Taizi River in Liaoyang.

For two consecutive years, natural and man-made disasters intertwined. Not only were green-forest bandits running rampant, but even ordinary, law-abiding commoners joined in on the smashing, looting, and pillaging everywhere.

Landlords feared bandits, but they feared starving refugees even more.

Although bearded bandits were cold-blooded and ruthless, to these wealthy masters, they weren't irreconcilable enemies; if they actually crossed paths, there was always room for negotiation.

Starving refugees, however, were a different story.

People driven mad by hunger knew no reason. Furthermore, most of them were landless tenant farmers who called the landlords "master" to their faces, but deep down, hatred was already engraved in their bones. Once an uprising broke out, it was a matter of either you die or I live.

Consequently, many landlords colluded secretly with bandits, paying them to shoot and kill the starving refugees who came begging for food.

However, inviting a god in was easy, but sending him away was hard.

Bandits were not hired seasonal guards; once a security relationship was established, it wasn't something you could just terminate whenever you wanted.

Master Huang was repairing walls and building earthen towers at home, which clearly showed he intended to develop his own armed force for self-preservation. To Wang Guihe, this was equivalent to eating the food and then cursing the cook; naturally, he had to step in and teach him a lesson, which was why he invited Jiang Chenghai and the others to help make a show of force and flex their muscles.

"Lads, pull the bolts! We'll be having lunch at Master Huang's place today!"

"Got it!"

The men roared with laughter in unison, the crisp clatter of bolts sliding home echoing out as they closed in on the earthen tower.

Master Huang's family had long since caught wind of the news, but lacking sufficient manpower and daring not to openly burn bridges, he had no choice but to bring his eldest son and come out to welcome them personally.

The old master was dressed in an indigo-blue long gown wrapped in a fox-fur overcoat. With a face full of ingratiating smiles, he trotted along with hurried little steps until he reached the group.

The young master of the Huang family, looking quite the scholar with a jade pendant hanging from his waist and lifting the hem of his long gown, hurried closely behind him.

Approaching the group, Master Huang swept his gaze across them. When his eyes landed on Jiang Chenghai and the others, his heart skipped a beat—it appeared Wang Guihe's faction had recruited even more men and horses.

"Brother Guihe, you've arrived so early! Look at you, you didn't even send word beforehand. I've failed to welcome you from afar, I've failed to welcome you!"

"Spare me the useless talk!" Wang Guihe didn't dismount, instead pressing them urgently. "Hurry up and have three tables of food and wine prepared! The brothers are starving!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Master Huang immediately turned back and instructed, "Chengyun, hurry back and tell the household to prepare everything immediately!"

Huang Chengyun nodded silently, casting a sidelong glance at Wang Guihe, looking thoroughly resentful and unwilling.

Afterward, Master Huang personally led Wang Guihe's horse and guided them into the interior of the earthen tower.

This was Jiang Xiaodao's first time stepping inside a landlord's home, so he curiously looked around. He discovered that aside from having more rooms, livestock, and granaries, there was nothing particularly special about the place; compared to Wang Yucai's estate in the South City, it still lacked a certain grandeur.

However, this earthen tower was built rather properly. The gatehouse not only featured battlements, but right inside the entrance, there was even an open space resembling a barbican—it was essentially a miniature fortified city.

Wang Guihe feigned casual observation while actually assessing the defensive layout and true strength of the earthen tower.

"Master Huang, not bad at all! You've built this little earthen tower quite handsomely. I just wonder if it's meant to keep out unruly commoners or to guard against us brothers?"

Master Huang's expression stiffened as he hurriedly accompanied him with a smile. "Brother Guihe, you're mocking me! These few broken bricks and tiles of mine could never stop you and your brothers! I just did it for peace of mind, to guard against the Russians."

"Good enough, good enough."

As he spoke, Wang Guihe deliberately raised the barrel of his rifle and swept it aimlessly around, startling Master Huang into scurrying aside.

This scene was no different from a monkey show.

The men burst into gales of laughter.

Wang Guihe lowered his rifle and smiled, "Master Huang, what are you afraid of? You're my patron benefactor, you're my father! Do you understand? Dad, the New Year is here, your son is going to kowtow to you!"

"No, no, no, Brother Guihe, you—you're going to shave years off my life!" Master Huang scrambled forward in utter wretchedness to support him.

To his surprise, Wang Guihe's expression changed abruptly. He shoved Master Huang's hands away, flipping his face faster than turning the page of a book.

"Enough, stop dawdling, damn it! Spring is almost here, it's time to pay this year's security fee!"