Under One Person: The Sea Emperor Who Shattered Heaven and Earth

Bai Fu added, "They're probably terrified. They know that no matter how many people they bring, they're just easy prey in front of our leader, so they're just putting on a show of sincerity."

Jiang Zhen didn't speak, but simply watched the figure approach from afar.

Upon seeing Jiang Zhen, Zhao Yuan suddenly quickened his pace.

He lacked the poise expected of someone meeting a powerful figure; instead, he seemed like an old steward meeting his master, jogging over. Mud splattered onto his trousers, but he didn't even flinch. His old face, etched with wrinkles, wore a bright, almost humble, smile.

"Chief! Oh dear, Chief Jiang!"

Zhao Yuan, panting heavily, stopped abruptly three steps in front of Jiang Zhen. Ignoring his status as a veteran of the Canal Gang, he first bowed deeply, his waist almost parallel to the ground, his posture extremely humble.

"It has been more than three months since we parted ways at the Demon Capital Hall. Seeing you again today, the leader's aura... tsk tsk, a true dragon in the abyss, his charm is even greater than before! My dog ​​eyes have finally seen a true god again today!"

Zhao Yuan looked up, his expression a mixture of flattery and genuine fear. He felt the suppressed unease emanating from Jiang Zhen, and his heart pounded in his chest.

Jiang Zhen looked down at him, a faint smile playing on his lips, and asked meaningfully, "Uncle Zhao, the ground is covered in mud, there's not even a place to sit. You've come all this way, surely not just to walk a few steps, catch up with me, and praise my 'charm'?"

"Oh dear, Boss, you're really flattering me!"

Zhao Yuan immediately adopted a serious expression, even showing a hint of fear and grievance, "I have come here today specifically to respond to the gang leader's call for 'merging and rebuilding'! I have also come to ask the gang leader for punishment!"

Zhao Yuan took a deep breath, a look of deep regret on his face.

"To be honest, Chief, the day I left the Demon Capital Hall, I was really blinded by greed. I thought I had spent half my life on the Grand Canal, that I had some influence, and that my army was strong and well-equipped. I harbored a bit of petty resentment towards your foresight, Chief. But after a few days, I saw the light!"

As he spoke, he slapped his thigh, lamenting, "Our leader is a hero among men, a great man with the bearing of a true dragon! Our canal gang has been scattered like sand in this chaotic world for so long, it's long overdue for a leader. I've thought it over and over, in this world, besides you, leader, who else has such extraordinary abilities? Who else can find a real way for our canal gang to survive?"

“The reason I’m late…” Zhao Yuan carefully took out a thick stack of documents wrapped tightly in oil paper from his pocket and handed them to Jiang Zhen with both hands, “is because I have been personally taking stock of the Grand Canal’s assets. These days, I have compiled all the warehouses, fleets, money exchange transactions, and businesses along the Grand Canal into a book.”

"This is the list; there are too many specific details to trouble you."

Zhao held the stack of documents above his head, his tone resolute: "Today, Zhao Yuan of the Grand Canal, along with two thousand gang members, eight large warehouses, three hundred fast boats, and a quantity of weapons, will hand them all over to the gang leader! From this day forward, there will be no more Zhao Yuan on the Grand Canal, only the gang leader's henchmen!"

Jiang Zhen took the stack of documents and lightly traced a line on the oiled paper with his fingertip. He could sense that Zhao Yuan had truly bled this time. This stack of papers represented the lifeblood of the Grand Canal.

“Uncle Zhao is truly righteous,” Jiang Zhen said calmly, his tone softening. “If those two had your insight, the river… wouldn’t have turned this red.”

Zhao Yuan's body visibly trembled at the mention of "those two," Qian Laofei and Sun Dayantong.

He glanced at the still-uncollected limbs and torsos in the distance, then at the corpse of the Japanese assailant hanging on the flagpole, and two lines of tears actually forced onto his face.

"Yes! Who would have thought that those two idiots, Qian Laofei and Sun Dayantong, would be so out of touch with reality!"

While wiping away his tears, Zhao Yuan beat his chest and stamped his feet, "Chief, my heart is aching! If I were closer, and kept an eye on the news outside while organizing the data, I guarantee I would have been the first to lead men over and help the chief wipe out these two traitors who betrayed us! Especially that Sun the opium pipe, who actually colluded with the Japanese, he is utterly depraved and a disgrace to our ancestors!"

Overcome with emotion, Zhao Yuan's knees buckled, and he instinctively knelt down on the muddy ground.

"It's my fault, I've caused you, sir, so much trouble! I failed to persuade them, and I failed to come to their aid. I deserve to die, I truly deserve to die!"

Hearing Zhao Yuan's words, Jiang Zhen was utterly shocked by his shamelessness.

Looking at Zhao Yuan now, Jiang Zhen understood that while military force was the foundation for unifying the canal gang, an old hand like Zhao Yuan was an indispensable lubricant to keep this massive machine running.

So Jiang Zhen went all out with his act. Just as Zhao Yuan's knees were about to touch the ground, he moved slightly and instantly appeared in front of Zhao Yuan, firmly supporting the old hand's arm with both hands.

"Uncle Zhao, please get up quickly, what is the matter?"

Jiang Zhen's voice was clear and gentle, carrying an undeniable strength as he helped him up. "From now on, we're all family. With a respected senior like you joining us, our canal gang's unity has truly gained a soul. As for the remaining scattered branches, with you leading the way, they should know which way the wind is blowing."

Zhao Yuan stood up and replied repeatedly, "Yes, yes, we're all family! The leader is so magnanimous, I'll give my life for you!"

After Zhao Yuan stopped, he looked around. He lowered his voice, and a glint of cunning, like that of an old viper, flashed in his eyes.

"Boss, there's something I feel I can't hide from you."

He took a step closer, his tone turning somber, "On my way to the Yangtze River, quite a few hall masters actually contacted me. These people usually have no real skills, but now they're all incredibly ruthless."

"Oh?" Jiang Zhen feigned curiosity.

"They want me to represent them and 'negotiate' with you, Boss!"

Zhao Yuan spat angrily, "They said they would submit, but the gang leader had to agree to keep their territory and exempt them from their annual tribute, so they could continue to be the local tyrants of this river. This is clearly a case of wanting to obey orders but not follow commands! They are simply ignorant of their own mortality, not even realizing they are about to die!"

As Zhao Yuan cursed, he observed Jiang Zhen's expression. He then patted his chest and loudly declared:

"Chief, I was shocked and furious when I heard that! Who do they think they are? How dare they negotiate with you? But I was afraid that taking action would damage the harmony within the gang, so I could only feign compliance and appease them. Now that I'm here, I'd like to ask you for a word!"

A ruthless glint appeared in his eyes, a ruthlessness that:

"As long as the leader gives the order, I'm willing to be the vanguard! I'll immediately lead men back to the helm to gather manpower and personally wipe them out, removing the last stumbling block to your unification of the canal gang!"

Upon hearing Zhao Yuan's words, Jiang Zhen instantly understood.

This guy wasn't just "surprised and angry"; he was eager to make a name for himself!

Would anyone else dare to negotiate after seeing Jiang Zhen's imposing presence? Aside from the truly brain-dead—after all, such people do exist—most would definitely be terrified by him.

Zhao Yuan was shrewd. He knew that as a "former bigwig," even though he had brought his family fortune to surrender, he was ultimately not as trusted as his direct subordinates like Bai Fu and Master Feng. To maintain his position in Jiang Zhen's new canal gang, he had to pay a hefty "blood price."

Those gang leaders who once called him brothers have become stepping stones for him, Uncle Zhao, to advance his career.

Using the deaths of teammates from the old era to secure one's position in the new era is a worthwhile trade-off.

Uncle Feng and Bai Fu exchanged a glance, both amazed. This old man was really dark-skinned.

Jiang Zhen pondered for a moment.

He really needs a knife like that right now.

Although he possesses the power to destroy the Yangtze River Gang, if he has to personally deliver a punch to every branch in the future, then he would be demeaning himself as the gang leader.

“Since Uncle Zhao has this intention, I can’t let you down.”

Jiang Zhen reached out and patted Zhao Yuan's shoulder heavily. The pat, with a slight aftershock, made half of Zhao Yuan's body go numb, startling him so much that he immediately lowered his head.

"Since those hall masters are ungrateful, then I'll trouble you, Uncle Zhao, to make the trip."

Jiang Zhen's eyes turned deep and cold. "Remember, I don't want a pile of corpses. If there are any who surrender, I'll accept them. Don't commit indiscriminate killings."

"I will have someone go with you."

Jiang Zhen warned him, "I've given you the chance, but don't try to use this as an excuse to kill innocent people and claim credit for it."

Zhao Yuan was overjoyed upon hearing this; the ecstasy of being "accepted" overshadowed his fear, and he bowed deeply once more.

"Don't worry, Chief! I'll go back and prepare right away! From now on, there will only be one voice in this gang, and that will be your voice, Chief!"

When Zhao Yuan left, he walked very fast, even stirring up a gust of wind.

He was rushing off to reap his "credits".

Jiang Zhen stood beside the broken flagpole, watching Zhao Yuan's departing figure.

"Xiao Zhen, we need to be careful around Zhao Yuan," said Fifth Master Feng as he approached.

"I know." Jiang Zhen turned around and looked at the last rays of the setting sun slowly sinking into the river.

"But he dared not. Because he had seen with his own eyes how the river had turned over."

Jiang Zhen raised his right hand, his five fingers loosely clenched, and a slight ripple appeared on the distant river surface.

"Fifth Master, Master Bai. Notify our men that while Zhao Yuan is making his move, we shouldn't be idle. Send men to follow him while we hurry up and incorporate the two thousand scattered soldiers left behind by Sun Dayantong."

Chapter 35 Unifying the Canal Gangs, Ten Thousand Ships Converge in the Magic City (4000)

Meanwhile, on the other side.

The group was caught in a strange state of anxiety and anticipation.

"Why hasn't Grandpa Zhao sent any news yet? It's been several days!" someone muttered as they paced back and forth. This had become their catchphrase lately.

"Could something have happened to them...?"

Inside a guild hall located downstream of the canal, several guild leaders sat around a round mahogany table, surrounded by swirling smoke. The head seat was empty, reserved for Zhao Yuan, who had gone to "negotiate."

"What's the rush? Who is Uncle Zhao? He's the pillar of our canal gang, the Grand Master."

"But what if?" someone worried.

"What if? If something really happens, let's pack our things and run away right now!"

"Who knows, Jiang Zhen might be on his way to take our heads right now."

"Whether you cower or stick your neck out, you'll get cut."

A gang leader with a mustache nonchalantly blew a smoke ring. "Actually, there's no need to worry too much. Think about it carefully. Even if Jiang Zhen is powerful, his current goal is to integrate the Canal Gang. He can't just kill us all, can he? If he kills us all, what will he integrate?"

"An empty shell is worthless."

“That’s right,” another person chimed in. “When Uncle Zhao goes this time, he’ll definitely be able to secure some benefits for us. At that time, we’ll still be the local tyrants on this water. At most, we’ll just acknowledge him as our leader and send him some silver every year to keep him in line. If he really wants to mobilize us, we’ll just have to contribute our manpower and effort as needed.”

"And if you think about it from another angle, this is also a good thing for us. Look at Jiang Zhen's terrifying martial arts skills. With him protecting us, who will dare to disrespect our Cao Gang in the future? If we can't handle it, we'll just call him over to be our henchman."

"As the gang leader, he can't just stand by and do nothing while we're being bullied, otherwise who will respect him in the future?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the more they discussed it, the more they felt a bright future was beckoning them. They were even starting to plan how to celebrate this "victory in another form" once Zhao Yuan brought back good news.

A few days later, at dawn, an eerie mist began to spread across the river.

This immediately made everyone feel uncertain again.

"Didn't I hear that Grandpa Zhao has come out of Jiang Zhen's place unharmed? Why isn't he here yet?"

"Don't worry, my scouts said that Old Master Zhao came out of Jiang Zhen's place with a smile, but it seems that he went back to his own base first."

"Everyone, please wait a little longer, please wait a little longer..."

Just then, they suddenly heard the familiar sound of a boat gliding in the distance. Everyone reacted immediately and rushed out in a swarm.

In the thin mist on the river, a boat was slowly approaching them, and Zhao Yuan was standing on the bow, smiling and waving at them.

"They're here! It's Grandpa Zhao, it's Grandpa Zhao's boat!" someone shouted excitedly.

As Zhao Yuan's boat slowly approached, the thin mist on the river began to dissipate, revealing the scene behind Zhao Yuan's boat. The view gradually became clearer, showing one, two, three boats... densely packed together.

Zhao Yuan really went all out this time, bringing out all the ships under his control at the Grand Canal.

When this unprecedentedly large fleet was fully revealed, everyone's expectant smiles froze on their faces.

This doesn't look like good news at all.

Dozens of fast ships spread out in battle formation on both sides, the heavy machine guns on their bows gleaming coldly in the morning light. On the flagship at the very front, the flag that originally represented Zhao Yuan, the captain of the Grand Canal, was gone, replaced by a large, black flag fluttering in the wind.

The flag has only one large silver character "震" on it.