Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 6, Third in Command

After entering the Hongze Water Fort, there is a large area of buildings with floating bridges everywhere, connecting several scattered islands nearby. There are also many defensive measures such as arrow towers, artillery batteries, tower ships, and diamond locks.

Further inside, there were villages where people lived and paddy fields were cultivated for crops. Judging from the population, there were no less than 20,000 or 30,000 people, which shocked Fang Yong.

I still remember that when I first met Gan Ba, he said he was from the lake. At that time, I thought it was an excuse to cover up. Only after seeing this today did I realize that it was true.

This is not a water fortress at all, it's just a small city.

After entering the village, Gan Ba first sent someone to settle the old man, and then personally introduced Fang Yong to the village chief Wang Lun.

After Wang Lun heard about Fang Yong's situation, he summoned all the commanders and arranged for him to meet Fang Yong in the Juyi Hall.

Fang Yong walked straight into the Juyi Hall, where he saw two chairs. One of the chairs was occupied by the village chief Wang Lun, who had a slanted face and wore a white robe. He held a folding fan in his hand and had a sinister temperament. He did not blend in well with the surrounding bandits.

As for the other chair, it was occupied by the second in command, Gan Ba.

In addition, there were seven small chairs on the side, each with a seat for seven water bandit leaders. When these seven people saw Gan Ba, they all stood up and saluted respectfully, which showed that Gan Ba had an extraordinary status in the water stronghold.

Wang Lun, who was standing above, looked even more sinister when he saw the commanders paying respect to Gan Ba.

Fang Yong took in everyone's performance and made some judgments in his mind.

He first bowed to Wang Lun and said in a loud voice: "Fang Yong greets the boss!" Fang Yong then explained to Wang Lun the injustice he had suffered. After listening to it, several commanders below felt the same way and responded with approving looks at Fang Yong.

Fang Yong bowed deeply and said, "I beg you to take me in, Boss."

Wang Lun above looked at Fang Yong in silence.

Seeing this, Gan Ba interrupted and said:
"Boss, Brother Fang's ability is no less than that of a dragon. The nearly three-meter-long python I hunted before was obtained with the help of Brother Fang. Our village cannot afford to lose such a talent!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the commanders below responded in amazement.

"That python was actually helped by Brother Fang!"

"The person that Second Brother has chosen is indeed extraordinary."

“I didn’t expect that this brother, who looks so fair, could have such extraordinary abilities?”

"Hey, Ma Laohei, you are dark-skinned, and your abilities don't seem that great, do you?"

The commander called Ma Laohei was a fat black man. Because he was born with an ugly appearance, he cared a lot about his abilities. When he heard the other party belittle his abilities, Ma Laohei immediately became angry.

"Xue the Cripple, you are talking nonsense. If you have the ability, go out and practice."

Xue Da Lame was wearing a yellow rat fur coat and looked like a businessman. He was not angry when the other party called him Lame. Instead, he smiled and said:

"Heh, what's the point of bullying a cripple? If you have the ability, why don't you practice with Brother Fang?"

"Me! I won't fall for your trick. If you want to go, go ahead. Even my second brother praised Brother Fang's skills. I'm not stupid, so I won't go!"

Wang Lun on the stage looked at this scene and his face became even gloomier.

This Gan Ba was originally from the navy. After being defeated in a battle, he fled here with his subordinates. Seeing that he had some abilities, the emperor kindly took him in.

Unexpectedly, in just a few years, this Gan Ba took control of the entire water fort. He trained the bandits in the water fort like a military unit, built defense lines, and rewarded and punished those who did good deeds and punished those who did wrong. Now, among the seven existing commanders in the fort, seven were promoted by Gan Ba. He deserves to die!
Now Gan Ba is not satisfied with this and wants to place his own people in the village. What is he going to do? Is he going to rebel?

Wang Lun suppressed his anger and pretended to ask Gan Ba:
"Brother, in your opinion, what position should Fang Yong be given?"

Gan Ba said unawarely:

"Chief, Brother Fang is a martial arts expert and a filial man. He not only gave me the python, but also killed an official to protect his father. If we talk about martial arts, I'm afraid he is even better than me. Such a hero, in my opinion, should sit in the third seat."

After hearing this, Wang Lun's face turned frighteningly sinister.

He refused instinctively:
"My dear brother, this is not a good idea. Fang Yongchu was given the position of the third leader when he first arrived at our village. I am afraid that many brothers in the village will not accept it."

Gan Badao:
"Don't worry, village chief. When I was training the soldiers for the water village, I said that the capable ones would be on top. If any officers in the village are dissatisfied, they can compete with Brother Fang in public. Brother Fang, what do you think?"

Gan Ba asked Fang Yong for his opinion. Fang Yong had no objection, and said, "It's up to you, brother!"

Gan Ba laughed loudly and looked at Wang Lun, waiting for what to say next.

Wang Lun's back teeth were almost broken. He glanced at the seven commanders below, only to find that they were all as firm as bronze bells, not moving at all, and had no intention of questioning Fang Yong at all.

"Niu Jin, I know that you are an excellent martial artist. Are you willing to compete with Fang Yong?"

Upon hearing this, Niu Jin stood up and responded.

This was a two-meter-tall sturdy man with a strong physique and a ruddy complexion. He was wearing a dark red silk shirt. Although he had a rough build, his clothes were very clean and he looked like a man who paid attention to his appearance.

"Village leader, although I, Old Niu, have some rudimentary martial arts skills, I am definitely no match for Second Brother. Even Second Brother said that Brother Fang's skills are better than his, so I, Old Niu, will not embarrass myself!"

Wang Lun clenched his fists, forced a smile, and said:
"In that case, Commander Niu Jin will take the first seat. Is there anyone else who wants to test Brother Fang Yong's abilities?"

……

There was deathly silence on the field, and one could even hear breathing.

Fang Yong watched this scene with his eyes on the nose and his nose on the heart. If he wanted to gain Wang Lun's favor, he might take the initiative to propose to practice martial arts, as a way to give Wang Lun a way out, but Fang Yong did not do so.

After all, the person he defected to was Gan Ba, and he was born a member of Gan Ba's camp. Even if he took the initiative to show his goodwill to Wang Lun, he might not be accepted by Wang Lun. Why should he create trouble for himself?
Wang Lun waited for a long time, but no general responded to him. He could only say to himself in embarrassment:

"From this, do all the commanders recognize Brother Fang Yong's ability?"

The seven commanders said in unison:
"Yes!"

Listening to the neat voice, Wang Lun felt extremely depressed.

But there was no way out. Everyone agreed, and even if he was the boss, he couldn't object at will.

If that happened, he was worried that he would lose his position.

"Then I'll do as you say and give Brother Fang Yong the third seat in command!"

Wang Lun said weakly.

Everybody burst into laughter.

Soon, someone carried a chair into the Juyi Hall, and someone else brought fine wine, good meat, incense and candles.

Bandits of all sizes came to witness. Fang Yong drank blood wine with everyone, worshiped heaven and earth, and officially took the seat of the third in command.

Everyone gathered together, drinking and eating meat, having a great time.

Fang Yong didn't dare drink too much. He still had something to do, so he didn't dare to get drunk.

After three rounds of drinking, he found an opportunity and asked Gan Ba:
"Brother, I have something to ask of you."

Upon hearing this, Gan Ba put down his wine glass and said, "Third brother, please speak!"

Fang Yong said, "I have a wife who has not yet married me. I am alone and weak, so I cannot bring her with me. Please send me some brothers and a small boat so that I can bring her here."

Gan Ba heard this and said:
"Even if it's my brother's wife, I should go with my third brother in person, only then I can feel at ease!"

Fang Yonglian said:

"I dare not trouble you to go there in person. I will take a few people with me and go there quickly. I will come back and drink with you before dark!"

Gan Ba heard this and said:
"Well, Third Brother, please come back soon."

After saying that, Gan Ba glanced down and saw that Ma Laohei was sober, so he ordered:
"Ma Laohei, take 20 elite soldiers and my third brother to bring my sister-in-law back. There must be no mistakes!"

Ma Laohei took the order and took twenty elite soldiers with him, boarded two medium-sized canoes, and followed Fang Yong towards Lian Jie'er's home.

(End of this chapter)