54: Conquer Xia Qifei and build a Jiangnan water stronghold!

Chapter 54: Subduing Xia Qifei, Laying Out the Jiangnan Water Fortress!

Xia Qifei was unaware that the original bandit leader of the Jiangnan Water Fortress admired him.

Therefore, in his eyes, the Jiangnan Water Fortress had captured him and would hand him over to Ming Qingda next.

Seeing the several severed heads on the offering table, Xia Qifei was somewhat confused.

On the bandit leader's main seat sat a young Young Master in brocade robes. The middle-aged man behind the Young Master had a gloomy expression and was clearly a master of hidden depths.

Xia Qifei's mind raced, and he immediately knelt down in obeisance, "This fallen man, Xia Qifei, greets the leader!"

Xing Yusen stood before Xia Qifei, his expression serious, exuding the prestige of a great constable.

"Prince Yong's Residence has been ordered to suppress martial arts. The leader of the Jiangnan Water Fortress has already been executed."

"Who are you, and why were you imprisoned in the dungeon? You'd best confess truthfully. Any deception will be considered complicity!"

Xia Qifei had heard of Prince Yong's Residence, which was ordered to suppress martial arts. These people killed without blinking, specifically eliminating Gangs that defied the imperial court.

The Shadow Guard under Prince Yong was a shadow over the Jianghu of Great Qing, and no one dared to provoke it.

The Shadow Guard was rumored to cling like maggots and follow like shadows, striking fear into countless Jianghu heroes!

Upon hearing the name 'ordered to suppress martial arts,' sweat began to bead on Xia Qifei's forehead.

These people were even more troublesome than the bandits of the Water Fortress; they could kill easily, and killing was not against the law!

Xia Qifei bowed down again, kowtowing three times with resounding thuds, "This commoner, Xia Qifei, greets all the esteemed sirs of the Shadow Guard!"

"This commoner's real name is Ming Qingcheng, the seventh-ranked illegitimate son of the Ming Family, which manages the Imperial Treasury's sales."

"My mother died young, and the Eldest Young Master of the Ming Family began to abuse me when I was a child. The scars on my body are proof!"

"This commoner does not know what kind of mental illness Ming Qingda, the esteemed Eldest Young Master of the Ming Family, suffers from, to actually torment this commoner."

Old Madam Ming was strict and power-hungry, which had somewhat warped Ming Qingda.

When speaking of Ming Qingda, Xia Qifei's voice trembled noticeably, clearly indicating profound fear and hatred.

"After the Ming Family's Old Master passed away, his will left this commoner significant benefits. Ming Qingda was unwilling and refused to share these great benefits with this commoner."

"Therefore, he used the excuse of an illegitimate son shaming the Ming Family to hunt this commoner everywhere, even paying a hefty sum to the Jiangnan Water Fortress to capture this commoner."

Xia Qifei was not lying, and Li Chang'an was very satisfied with this. "The Shadow Guard only concerns itself with Jianghu matters; we cannot interfere with internal Ming Family affairs."

"However, regarding what you said, the Shadow Guard does know some information. You didn't lie, and that's good."

Hearing Li Chang'an's words, Xia Qifei's back broke out in a cold sweat. Government officials were indeed well-informed. Fortunately, he hadn't tried to be clever.

Li Chang'an continued, "Xia Qifei, I ask you, how do you intend to respond to the Ming Family treating you this way?"

Xia Qifei's mind raced. The Ming Family was The Eldest Princess's glove, and Prince Yong was The Eldest Princess's brother. What did Prince Yong's men mean by asking this?

Answering this question incorrectly could cost him his life. Xia Qifei was almost drenched in sweat and dared not answer rashly.

A person's fear largely stems from a lack of information. Xia Qifei did not know the relationship between Prince Yong and The Eldest Princess, and whether they would help the Ming Family kill him incidentally.

But he quickly calmed down. If that were truly the case, he would be killed no matter how he answered.

It was better to speak the truth; there might still be a glimmer of hope for survival.

"This commoner wishes to reclaim the property due to him as stated in the will, manage the Imperial Treasury's sales for the imperial court, and contribute to the nation!"

Li Chang'an nodded, "You have courage and insight. I believe that day will come."

At this moment, Xing Yusen tapped the ground with his scabbard, "Why don't you greet His Highness Prince Yong!"

Xia Qifei, who had been startled, suddenly looked up, glanced at the young Prince Yong, then quickly lowered his head and bowed again.

"This commoner greets His Highness Prince Yong, and thanks Your Highness for the great kindness of saving my life!"

Xing Yusen then said, "The reason we asked you so many questions just now was for His Highness to see if you were as unyielding as rumored in the Jianghu."

Xia Qifei's mind was like lightning; he instantly understood the implication of Xing Yusen's words. If Prince Yong was examining his character, it meant there was a place where he could be useful.

"If Your Highness has any commands, this commoner will brave fire and water to repay this great kindness of saving my life!"

Li Chang'an stood up and walked over to Xia Qifei, "You may rise."

"This Prince wants you to be the Prince Yong's Residence's secret agent in Jiangnan. You can take over this Jiangnan Water Fortress tonight."

After Li Chang'an spoke, Xing Yusen recounted the events of the night to Xia Qifei in full detail.

Ever since Li Chang'an revealed his identity, Xia Qifei's emotional value had soared, now reaching eighty.

Firstly, he had escaped from a desperate situation, surviving a great calamity, and Li Chang'an had saved his life.

Secondly, Xia Qifei had an obsession: to become a person of the imperial court. Being a secret agent for Prince Yong's Residence, by no means was he truly a commoner.

Hearing Li Chang'an's words, Xia Qifei knelt down excitedly again, "What virtue or ability does this commoner possess? I fear I cannot properly handle what Your Highness has entrusted."

Li Chang'an said coldly, "According to the rules of Prince Yong's Residence, if you fail, bring your head to me."

"You have nowhere else to go anyway, so why not settle down here, and then monitor the Jianghu Schools of Jiangnan Road for this Prince?"

"If you perform well in the future, this Prince will grant you an official position. Even without an official position now, you are still carrying out duties by imperial decree."

Xia Qifei's usefulness extends beyond this. He will also be used later to forge connections with the navy and raise troops in the Water Fortress.

He might even be used, leveraging his identity, to manage the Imperial Treasury for himself, though this depends on the situation, as Li Chang'an doesn't particularly need the Imperial Treasury.

Of course, there's no rush to explain all these matters at once. They will be arranged as Xia Qifei develops step by step.

As Xia Qifei grows stronger, Li Chang'an will gradually bind the Jiangnan Water Fortress with the Net and the Wanshan Merchant Guild, making the Jiangnan Water Fortress truly Li Chang'an's force.

Now, all that's needed is to plant the seeds and set up the plan. The Jiangnan Net will also keep an eye on this place.

After making detailed arrangements for Xia Qifei, Li Chang'an left with the Shadow Guard, feeling assured.

Once the Net's support and military threat are in place, Xia Qifei will surely become loyal very quickly.

A few days later, Tianqiong Villa outside Suzhou City.

This was the stronghold of the Jiangnan Net. In the large courtyard of the villa, over three hundred people were gathered.

They were all talents Li Chang'an had discovered in Jiangnan, each possessing a certain talent in the top three ranks.

Politics, martial arts, business, carpentry, brewing, and so on, were all represented. They would gradually grow under the screening and training of the Jiangnan Net.

These people were all from the lower class. They would be told they had joined a mutual aid Gang.

Only the core members ultimately selected would be informed about the Net.

Even the core members did not know that Li Chang'an was the ultimate leader of the Net.

Because Li Chang'an was a prince of Great Qing, he had to be separated from the Net. The leader of the Net was Zhao Gao.

Among these people, Li Chang'an singled out Fan Wujiu.

In a secret room of the Jiangnan Net, Li Chang'an got straight to the point.

"Fan Wujiu, do you want to participate in the imperial examinations?"