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

Bai Fu frowned: "I can't see him! Can't you see the gang leader is in a meeting?"

"No, they said... that they were asked by someone to meet with Chief Jiang and deliver a letter with a few words. They are from over there."

Jiang Zhen raised an eyebrow.

"Please come in," Jiang Zhen said.

Five minutes later, an elderly man in a black Zhongshan suit led several generals with stars adorning their shoulders into the office.

The old man showed no signs of aura, indicating he was not an extraordinary person. However, his eyes were exceptionally bright, revealing a serene and resolute quality born from extensive reading.

Despite the hostile stares from his gang, the old man remained calm, took out a letter wrapped in brown paper from his pocket, and handed it to Jiang Zhen with both hands.

"Chief Jiang's sudden arrival today has caused quite a disturbance."

"It's alright, please have a seat."

"I have long admired Chief Jiang's name, and seeing him today, I can confirm that he is indeed exceptionally brave and valiant." The old man's voice was approachable.

"That person wrote this letter in his own hand and asked me to pass on a few words to Chief Jiang."

"What?"

"That person said he had heard of Chief Jiang's great prowess in Nanjing and knew that Chief Jiang cared about the common people. He wanted to be friends with Chief Jiang. Matters concerning Shanghai and the canal and waterway are all negotiable."

Jiang Zhen's heart skipped a beat.

He straightened his posture and slowly took the letter with both hands. The letter felt incredibly heavy in his hands. He didn't open it immediately.

He looked solemnly at the old man and said, "Please go back and tell that person. I'm just a transporter, but I know the water level better than anyone. The road is still there. As long as it's a road for the people, I will not only give way but also help protect them."

The group bowed deeply to Jiang Zhen and then turned to leave.

After they left, the atmosphere in the office became even more eerie.

"Boss, are you really going to make way for them?" Zhao Yuan asked through gritted teeth.

Jiang Zhen did not reply, but solemnly placed the letter in his bosom.

"Alright, stop looking so dejected. Zhao Yuan, pass down the order: all the brothers who were originally stationed on the river should withdraw to the dock. There should be no obstruction on the Yangtze River."

"Also, inform Ben and tell him to change his mind. I don't want those cheap guns that kill people; I want cannons that can be mounted on ships! And ships that can sail long distances."

"Cannons mounted on a ship? A ship capable of long-distance voyages?"

The crowd was puzzled, but they didn't ask any further questions. After all, the gang leader only asked them to wait for half a year, so half a year was fine. It didn't matter if it took a little more time, as long as the gang leader could understand.

They had absolute confidence in Jiang Zhen's abilities; what difference would it make if they gave the people there a year, let alone six months?

Chapter 91 Heading North to Attend the Ceremony

After Jiang Zhen gave the senior executives a six-month ultimatum in his office, the tense and menacing atmosphere that had been hanging over the Yangtze River did indeed dissipate considerably on the surface.

Following Jiang Zhen's instructions, the group also reduced the number of armed forces deployed along key sections of the Yangtze River.

However, they couldn't just sit idly by, so they left people at key locations.

Zhao Yuan and Master Feng pulled their fists back, but did not let go.

At several key outposts guarding the vital points of the river defense, elite personnel remain on high alert.

Sometimes, even the slightest clues about troop movements would reach Jiang Zhen's ears "just in time," the meaning clear: Boss, we've withdrawn the troops and listened to their instructions. But if there's no explanation after six months, these clenched fists will only pound harder.

This made Jiang Zhen even more determined that he absolutely could not leave them here, otherwise his life would truly be over.

The internal mutiny within the Grand Canal Gang and its subsequent strange retreat could not escape the notice of outsiders.

The situation in the world was already clear, but every move of the behemoth that was the Grand Canal Gang caused extreme anxiety among the forces that were within its sphere of influence or relied on the Grand Canal Gang for survival.

"Is Jiang Zhen going to do it or not?"

"Can't you just give me a straight answer?!"

If you choose neither side, you'll end up in serious trouble on both. Ultimately, it's best to wait and see. Adding flowers to brocade isn't as helpful as providing charcoal in the snow, but at least it won't mean your whole family will be wiped out.

Prepare two flags first, and plant the flag for whoever comes.

While outsiders kept trying to find out more, Jiang Zhen, who was in the headquarters building, had been quite depressed lately.

During the day, he defied public opinion and poured vast amounts of resources into research institutes and shipyards, issuing approvals one after another.

At night, this man, who was known throughout the land as the "Shaking River Dragon," the leader of the Canal Gang, and the Pillar of the East Sea, engaged in clandestine activities.

Under the cover of night, he stealthily infiltrated the gang's dormitory area.

With his vibration sensors fully activated, he searched for the tattered robe that these bastards revered as a sacred object—the ground, the ceiling, the abandoned ventilation ducts—that was a menace to them.

But he had absolutely no idea where they could be hiding; he couldn't find them even if he tried. No matter how hard he searched, the robe seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Clearly, Zhao Yuan and his gang were well-prepared. These rough men were incredibly meticulous in this matter, probably rotating the thing among different people every night, or even hiding it in some sewer he would never have imagined.

After searching for two or three months, Jiang Zhen still hadn't found a single gold thread.

However, the only place that brought Jiang Zhen peace and quiet was Fang Dongtian.

The only good thing during this period was that Fang Dongtian hadn't come to check his homework recently.

Ever since he was caught in the act that night, this senior disciple of the Quanzhen Sect was utterly terrified. Now, whenever he sees Jiang Zhen from afar, he runs away like a mouse seeing a cat.

Fang Dongtian was genuinely terrified, terrified that Jiang Zhen would ask him "what's your opinion?" again. He didn't dare listen to a single word of such a potentially fatal opinion.

As for running away? He wouldn't dare.

However, having cultivated this habit over such a long period at Jingfang Cave, Jiang Zhen had already taken the initiative to read books, even without supervision, and could quickly enter a meditative state to experience the wisdom of the Taoist sages.

Time passed day by day.

The so-called "six-month period" has suddenly come to an end, with only one month remaining.

The previously suppressed restlessness began to spread again like wildfire. Zhao Yuan, Master Feng, and the others started "passing by" Jiang Zhen's office every few days, pacing back and forth without knocking. Their heavy footsteps were a silent urging.

Just as the powder keg was about to be ignited, the arrival of the other party broke the deadlock.

A formal, bright red invitation from Beiping was delivered to Jiang Zhen's desk.

Invite him to come north to attend the ceremony.

The news caused an uproar among the high-ranking members of the Grand Canal Gang.

"No! Absolutely not!" Master Feng slammed his hand on the table with a deafening roar, veins bulging on his neck. "Boss, that's their territory! What is your status now? You shouldn't go, and you absolutely cannot go!"

"That's right, Chief! We absolutely can't go!" Zhao Yuan was also anxious.

Bai Fu nodded frantically beside him: "Chief, think it over! The situation is so sensitive right now. If you leave the city, trouble could break out the moment you step out! You are the backbone, you can't be moved!"

A room full of old buddies surrounded Jiang Zhen, spitting as they spoke, all conveying the same message: You're not allowed to go! We won't let you step out of Shanghai!

Jiang Zhen looked at his red-faced, throbbing subordinates, irritably slapped his hand down, and when no one paid him any attention, he finally snapped.

"Shut up!"

The moment those two words were uttered, a powerful aura suddenly swept out. The office, which had been as noisy as a marketplace, fell into a deathly silence; you could hear a pin drop.

"They've extended an invitation openly and honestly, so why can't I go?"

Jiang Zhen's gaze swept over the crowd like a knife. "Where I go is my own business. Aren't you all being too nosy?"

Everyone quickly bowed their heads and clasped their hands, saying, "Your subordinates dare not!"

Jiang Zhen stood up, his gaze sweeping over Fifth Master Feng and Zhao Yuan. "There's no room for discussion on this matter. I have to go!"

He walked to the window, his back to everyone, and his voice softened slightly: "When I return from Beiping, I will give you a final explanation. But until then, during my absence from Shanghai, if anyone dares to do anything underhanded behind my back, I will cripple them without a second thought!"

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Despite their reluctance, they could only swallow their words and lower their heads in the face of Jiang Zhen's attitude.

A few days later, Jiang Zhen led a well-trained convoy northward.

He was greeted with an unprecedentedly high-level reception.

The next day, early in the morning.

Jiang Zhen stood at the very front of the stage, among those invited to witness the ceremony. The autumn wind whistled across the square. As the bright red flag slowly rose before the eyes of millions, a voice rang out...

"........."

And that sentence that stirred Jiang Zhen's heart:

"...He stood up!"

In that instant, Jiang Zhen felt all the blood rushing to his head.

Worth it.

The day after the ceremony.

Jiang Zhen was taken to a quaint courtyard.

There were no attendants, only two rattan chairs and two cups of tea.

...the two talked a lot

No one knows what they discussed.

From morning until afternoon.

Finally, Jiang Zhen, holding several signed papers and a few photos, was seen off at the gate with light steps.

When he returned to Shanghai, almost the entire headquarters of the Canal Gang mobilized to welcome him at the train station.

Master Feng, Bai Fu, Zhao Yuan, and their group were all dressed neatly, their eyes revealing anxiety and anticipation.

Jiang Zhen stepped off the train, clutching a delicate mahogany box tightly in his hand.

The convoy returned to headquarters, and the gates closed. The question that had been suppressed for more than half a year could no longer be contained.

"Boss! What do you mean?" Fifth Master Feng spoke first, his voice hoarse.

Zhao Yuan stepped forward, his eyes fixed intently on Jiang Zhen: "The brothers are all ready, we can move at any time!"

Jiang Zhen did not speak immediately. Instead, he walked behind the table, solemnly opened the wooden box, took out a plain white sheet of Xuan paper, smoothed it with his palm, and laid it flat on the table.

"The explanation you want is right here."

Everyone was stunned and looked down in unison.

On the pristine white Xuan paper, there was only one line of vigorous and powerful calligraphy: