At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

The small boat navigated through layers of reeds, twisting and turning, and traveled for most of the hour through the dense, impenetrable reeds.

The reeds on both banks grew taller and taller, some even taller than a person by two heads, so dense that they resembled a natural green wall.

After traveling some distance, the water ahead suddenly opened up.

A wide lake appeared before us.

In the middle of the lake is a small island, but it is covered with lush trees. Several wooden buildings are built against the mountain, scattered in a pleasing manner, giving it a secluded paradise-like feel from a distance.

A dozen or so boats of all sizes, including speedboats, fishing boats, and cargo ships, were moored around the island, their masts standing tall and their ropes crisscrossing.

On the shore, rows of wooden houses are scattered along the hillside.

A bluestone path winds its way up to the largest building in the center of the island.

The mountain gate is a gatehouse made of rough wood, with a mottled wooden plaque hanging above the lintel, on which are engraved three large characters: "Qianlong Village".

The brothers on guard outside the village gate spotted Ye Qingzhou immediately and quickly came to greet him.

He was a young man in his early twenties, with a dark complexion, thick eyebrows, and a harpoon in his hand, his face showing a hint of wariness.

"Third Master! You're back!"

He looked Ye Qingzhou up and down, and his expression changed when he saw the bloodstains on his body and his disheveled clothes.

"You're injured? And...who are these people...?"

He then saw the Three Fiends of Cold Water tied up behind him, and his eyes widened in shock.

"This...this isn't the Three Fiends of Cold Water from Thousand Waves Fortress? Third Master, you captured all three of them by yourself?"

Ye Qingzhou laughed and said, "How could I have such great abilities? It was these friends who helped me."

"Don't ask so many questions yet. Quickly go and tell the chief that I've brought some distinguished guests, and have him gather the brothers at the Hidden Dragon Hall!"

The man paused for a moment, but didn't ask any more questions. He turned around and ran towards the island.

……

Inside the Hidden Dragon Hall, the important figures of the Hidden Dragon Village were discussing matters.

In the hall was a huge wooden table, on which lay a hand-drawn map.

The map marks the locations of Henghe River, Yushui River, reed marshes, Qianlongzhai, as well as the locations of coastal cities along the East China Sea such as Haizhou City, Ninghai City, and Wanhu City.

Chieftain Chu Tianba sat in the main seat, broad-shouldered and burly, with a resolute face, staring intently at the map in front of him.

Beside him sat Wei Honglie, who was thin, fair-skinned, with three long wisps of beard, wearing a worn blue robe, and holding a folding fan. He looked more like a schoolteacher than a bandit.

His gaze was steady, and he occasionally pointed to the map.

On either side of the hall, dozens of brothers, their faces grave, were engaged in a heated discussion…

"Boss, the Dongyi people have already occupied Ninghai City. If they take Haizhou City as well, our reed marshes won't be safe!"

"What are you afraid of? We know the waterways well. When they come, we'll hide deep in the reeds, and they won't be able to find us!"

"Hide? You can't hide forever! Those Eastern barbarian bandits are incredibly brutal; they kill even unarmed civilians. If we don't do something, something bad will happen sooner or later!"

"If you ask me, why don't we take advantage of their attack on Haizhou City and launch a surprise attack from behind, burning their warships!"

"A sneak attack? What makes you think you can launch a sneak attack? We only have a few dozen men, while they have tens of thousands. Do you think you're General Su, the war god of the North?"

"This won't work, that won't work, what should we do?"

At this moment, Chu Tianba raised his hand, silencing the clamor of the crowd, his voice low and steady.

"Brothers, don't worry. In the years I, Chu Tianba, have been an outlaw, although I'm known as a 'water bandit,' we only rob corrupt officials and plunder clerks. We never harm the common people."

"Now that the Eastern Yi bandits have come to our doorstep, even if we cannot defend Haizhou City, we must protect this reed marshland and prevent the Eastern Yi people from harming our fellow villagers in the reed marshland."

Wei Honglie nodded, closed his folding fan, and replied:

"The boss is right."

"Although our Qianlong Village only has about a hundred people, we are familiar with this area. No matter how good the Dongyi people are at swimming, they are not as good as our brothers who have grown up in the water."

"If all else fails, we'll play guerrilla warfare with them in the reeds, letting them know that they don't have the right to control the waters of this Henghe River!"

"good!"

"The strategist is right!"

"Let's fight them!"

The brothers in the hall cheered, rubbing their hands together, their morale soaring.

Just then, the young man who had been on guard duty earlier rushed into Qianlong Hall, panting, and excitedly said:

"Boss... Boss! The Third Boss is back! And he brought several people with him! They said... they said they are distinguished guests!"

Chu Tianba frowned.

"Qingzhou is back? Wasn't he supposed to be checking on Qianlang Fort's movements?"

"How many people did you bring? Who are these distinguished guests?"

The young man scratched his head.

"I don't know either. The third leader didn't say, but judging from his expression... he's very happy!"

"Oh, and he also brought back the Three Fiends of Cold Water from Thousand Waves Fortress!"

The hall erupted in uproar.

"The Three Fiends of the Cold Waters? Those three ruthless characters who have been terrorizing the waters for years? One of the Third Master's men captured them?"

"Has the third leader's skills improved again?"

"Let's go, let's go take a look!"

The crowd surged out of Qianlong Hall and headed towards the mountain gate.

Before long, Ye Qingzhou led Su Mu and his group onto the bluestone path, through the wooden gatehouse, and into the open space in front of the Qianlong Hall.

Chu Tianba was the first to come forward, and his expression changed when he saw the bloodstains and wounds on Ye Qingzhou's body.

"Third brother, you're injured? What happened?"

Ye Qingzhou waved his hand and grinned, "Big brother, I'm fine! Just some superficial injuries! I encountered the Three Fiends of the Cold Water on the Henghe River today. If it weren't for a benefactor saving me, I would have lost my life!"

Chu Tianba's gaze passed over Ye Qingzhou and landed on the people behind him.

His gaze lingered on Su Mu for a moment.

With white hair, a thin frame, and a face full of wrinkles, he wore a gray robe and looked no different from any other ordinary old man on the street.

But his intuition told him that this old man was not simple.

"Qingzhou, who are these people...?"

Ye Qingzhou took a deep breath, turned around, and faced the hundreds of brothers gathered in front of the hall. His voice was loud and clear, filled with an irrepressible excitement.

"Brothers! I've brought back a distinguished guest today! This distinguished guest is the one we've been longing for and deeply admire..."

He stepped aside and pointed at Su Mu with both hands.

"The War God of the Northern Frontier, Duke of Zhenbei, General Su Mu!"

There was a moment of silence in the open space.

Then, things exploded like a pot boiling over.

"What? General Su?"

"A centenarian war god? What's he doing here?!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianba's pupils constricted, and he gasped.

He turned to look at Ye Qingzhou, his voice extremely low: "Qingzhou, are you mistaken? General Su is in the capital, how could he be here? How could he possibly come to our Qianlong Village?"

Ye Qingzhou smiled and shook his head: "Brother, I've already confirmed it! This is indeed General Su! He was ordered to lead the eastern expedition and was traveling by water to Haizhou City when he happened to meet me! And..."

"Those three bound Cold Water Fiends were captured by General Su!"

A look of shock flashed across Chu Tianba's eyes, which then turned into ecstasy.

He turned around, strode up to Su Mu, clasped his hands in a fist salute, knelt on one knee, and said in a loud voice, "This humble subject, Chu Tianba, pays his respects to General Su!"

The brothers from Qianlong Village behind him looked at each other, then knelt down in unison.

Dozens of people knelt down, their voices echoing through the mountains: "Greetings, General Su!"

Su Mu stepped forward and took Chu Tianba's arm.

"Please rise, everyone! What honor or ability do I possess to deserve such kneeling before me!"

Chu Tianba stood up, his excitement barely concealed.

Ye Qingzhou stepped forward and came to Chu Tianba.

"Brother! I brought Elder Su here because I wanted to create an opportunity for the brothers to join Elder Su's army and follow him to the East China Sea to fight for our country!"

"Brother, haven't you always wanted to find a wise ruler and make a name for yourself? Now that Elder Su has arrived, it's a godsend!"

Chu Tianba's gaze fell on Wei Honglie, and his voice was solemn: "Strategist, what is your opinion?"

"Brother, isn't this exactly what we've always dreamed of?"

"Now that we have the opportunity to realize it, why should we hesitate?"

Wei Honglie stepped out from the crowd, his expression serious, and said to Su Mu:

"General Su was renowned throughout the world for his bravery, recovering the northern border and beheading the Northern Di King. His contributions to the nation are significant, and his name will be remembered in history."

"Although we have become outlaws, we have never forgotten the greater good of our country. If General Su does not despise us, we are willing to follow him to the death!"

Chu Tianba nodded, turned to face Su Mu, knelt on one knee again, and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"General Su! All 127 brothers of Qianlong Village are willing to follow you to Haizhou City to fight the enemy, serve our country, and achieve great deeds! We are ready to die for you!"

Behind him, his brothers shouted in unison, "We are willing to follow General Su! We would die a thousand deaths for him!"

Looking at the young faces in front of him, Su Mu felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Without hesitation, he slightly raised his hand and bowed deeply to the crowd before him.

"My heroes, it is truly commendable that you have stepped forward when the nation is facing a crisis."

"I am here on behalf of the people of the Great Qian Dynasty to thank you for your courage."

"From this day forward, you will be the soldiers of my Great Qian, the soldiers of this old man."

"I will stand with you through thick and thin."

Chu Tianba suddenly stood up, turned around and waved to his brothers behind him, his voice full of excitement.

"OK!"

"OK!"

"Old Su has agreed to take us in."

"Brothers, slaughter the sheep and cattle! Prepare wine and meat!"

"Tonight, let's celebrate properly. Tomorrow, we'll follow General Su to Haizhou City!"

"To exterminate the Eastern barbarian bandits, protect our homes and country, and achieve great deeds."

"good!!"

The cheers were deafening.

Su Mu stood in the crowd, his eyes filled with surprise.

He knew that in this battle in the East China Sea, he had gained a new naval force.