met free 64. Adding fuel to the fire
64. Adding fuel to the fire
In the western district of Jiangzhou, a silk warehouse under the Sihai Chamber of Commerce had long since turned off its lights. Only two flickering lanterns hanging at the entrance swayed gently in the night breeze, casting a dim yellow glow. Two night watchmen, arms crossed, leaned against the pillars of the porch, dozing off.
Suddenly, a series of hurried, chaotic footsteps broke the silence of the night as they approached. Seven or eight dark figures darted out of the alleyway like ghosts; each masked and wielding a steel knife, they moved swiftly and silently toward the warehouse gate.
"Who goes there!" A startled night watchman shouted, only to be struck on the neck with the back of a knife, collapsing to the ground without a sound. Another man, terrified, tried to turn and run, but was also swiftly taken down.
The leader of the men in black gave a hand signal, and the others immediately sprang into action. Some kicked open the door, while others quickly poured kerosene; their movements were practiced and their teamwork seamless. In no time, a raging fire broke out inside the warehouse, billowing thick smoke.
"Retreat!" the leader shouted in a low, hoarse voice.
The group quickly withdrew, as silently as they had arrived. In the chaos, a wooden plaque carved with wave patterns "accidentally" fell from one of the men in black, landing conspicuously near the threshold of the warehouse. That wave mark was the symbol of identity for a core member of the Raging Waves Gang.
Almost simultaneously, the back door of a quiet residence in the south of the city was also violently smashed open. This was the residence of a concubine favored by Li, the head of the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner's office. Four or five burly men, also masked, barged in, attacking people and smashing things without a word. They were very careful, only injuring the skin and not taking lives, but the damage and panic they caused were no less significant.
The screams, cries, and shattering of objects from the maids and servants filled the air. In the chaos, a heavy money bag was deliberately left in the courtyard. Embroidered on the bag was an inconspicuous golden dragon pattern, a design commonly used by members of the Golden Dragon Gang.
After doing all this, the attackers quickly disappeared into the night, leaving behind two chaotic scenes and people still in shock.
……
Moyu Manor, underground secret chamber.
Lin Mo stood with his hands behind his back, facing three men with calm demeanor and sharp eyes. These three were the best guards in his manor and the key figures in carrying out tonight's "ignition" mission.
"Master, the West City warehouse has been burned down as planned, and the wooden plaque has been left behind," the leader of the men in black, named Mo Yuan, reported in a deep voice.
"The mansion in the south of the city has also been disturbed, and the Golden Dragon Money Bag has been properly placed," another person added.
Lin Mo nodded slightly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger: "Did you leave any loose ends?"
Mo Yuan said confidently, "Don't worry, Master. We all wore black masks, changed our usual weapons and methods of exertion, and disguised our voices. We used common kerosene for the arson, and we didn't use the manor's signature martial arts when attacking the residence. Even if they investigate, there's absolutely no way they can directly contact our Moyu Manor."
"Very good," Lin Mo praised, then his tone turned cold. "But this is just the beginning. What follows is the real turning of the tide."
He walked to the table in the center of the secret room, on which was spread a detailed map of Jiangzhou City. The main strongholds, industries, and residences of important figures of the Golden Dragon Gang and the Raging Wave Gang were marked with vermilion ink.
"Mo Yuan, you take a group of men, disguised as constables from the Grand Canal Transport Office, and go to 'Drunken Immortal Pavilion' tomorrow at noon to cause trouble. It's a stronghold frequented by an important leader of the Golden Dragon Gang. Remember, be arrogant and imply that you're acting on orders from Steward Li to specifically provoke the Golden Dragon Gang. You don't need to actually fight, but make a scene so everyone sees that the 'government' is targeting the Golden Dragon Gang."
"Understood!" A hint of excitement flashed in Mo Yuan's eyes as he accepted the order.
"Mo Ying," Lin Mo said, turning to another person, "take a few men and disguise them as guards of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce. The day after tomorrow morning, in the third district of the docks, 'accidentally' collide with a group of people from the Raging Waves Gang escorting goods. Then, use this as an excuse to accuse them of ramming the Chamber of Commerce's convoy and damaging the goods. Be firm in your stance, and it would be best if you could seize a few of their truckloads of goods on the spot, creating the illusion that the Chamber of Commerce is about to take action against the Raging Waves Gang."
"Yes, Master!" Mo Ying bowed.
"Mohen," Lin Mo instructed the last person, "your task is the most crucial. I need you to spread several rumors throughout the dock area within two days. To the lower levels of the Golden Dragon Gang, spread the message that 'the Transport Commissioner's Office has reached an agreement with the Garrison Battalion to join forces with the Raging Waves Gang in three days to completely wipe out the Golden Dragon Gang's headquarters under the guise of bandit suppression'; to the members of the Raging Waves Gang, say that 'the "Black Fiends" duo, hired by the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce at great expense, have secretly arrived in Jiangzhou and may behead Gang Leader Han tonight.'"
Mohen's expression was grave: "Master, are the rumors too sensational? They might arouse suspicion."
Lin Mo said calmly, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Both sides have been fighting for so long, suffering heavy casualties, and are already on edge. The more sensational the news, the more easily they will believe it given their suspicious nature. Remember, spreading rumors requires skill. It should be done through 'middlemen' who seem to have no direct connection to either side, but who have influence at the grassroots level, such as casino dealers, tavern waiters, and dockworker leaders."
"Understood, Your Highness. I will certainly not disappoint you!"
The three accepted the order and quietly left the secret room.
Lin Mo remained alone in the secret room, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. He knew that the pieces he had laid out were like drops of water thrown into boiling oil, bound to provoke a violent reaction. The fabricated conflicts and carefully crafted rumors would be like invisible whips, constantly lashing the already taut nerves of the Golden Dragon Gang and the Raging Wave Gang, destroying their last shred of reason and restraint.
He didn't need these tricks to fool everyone, nor did he need them to remain unexposed forever. He only needed to buy enough time for these two trapped beasts, driven by fear and rage, to engage in their final, all-out battle ahead of schedule.
When the elite forces of both sides are exhausted in the decisive battle, and when a power vacuum appears in the dock area, that will be the time for Moyu Manor to make its grand entrance in the name of "stabilizing order" and "restoring the canal transport".
As expected, trouble broke out in the Jiangzhou City dock area over the next two days.
Following the "Drunken Immortal Pavilion" incident, the Golden Dragon Gang was filled with indignation, generally believing that the government had completely sided with the Raging Waves Gang and that the talk of their annihilation was not unfounded. Although the gang leader, Shen Jiao, harbored doubts, he had no choice but to intensify his preparations for war amidst the surging public sentiment and repeated "provocations," and regarded the dissemination of "bandit suppression" rhetoric as a formal declaration of war from the government.
Meanwhile, on the Raging Waves Gang's side, after several truckloads of important goods were "seized" by the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, and upon hearing that a master of the "Black Fiend" had infiltrated Jiangzhou to assassinate their leader, Han Che, the gang leader, was furious. He believed that the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce and the Golden Flood Dragon Gang had joined forces to kill him. On one hand, he strengthened his own security, and on the other hand, he began to plan a preemptive strike, preparing to concentrate all his strength to launch a fatal blow against the Golden Flood Dragon Gang.
Meanwhile, rumors spread like wildfire among the lower echelons of both gangs that the other side was about to launch a full-scale attack and that the forces behind it had already taken drastic measures. Panic, suspicion, and hatred continued to accumulate and fester, creating a suffocating atmosphere on the docks where even minor skirmishes could escalate into bloody conflicts.
Both sides are redeploying their troops, consolidating their peripheral forces, and continuously concentrating their elite forces at the main headquarters and core docks. The swords are drawn, the bows are taut, and a fierce battle that will sweep across the entire canal terminal and determine its ultimate fate seems inevitable.
Inside the study of Moyu Manor, Lin Mo listened calmly to Uncle Fu's report on the latest developments in the dock area.
"Master, according to observations, the core forces of the Golden Dragon Gang have basically gathered at the headquarters and the first and second docks. The Raging Waves Gang's forces are concentrated at the third dock and several important strongholds in the surrounding area. There have been more than ten small-scale probing and skirmishes between the two sides today, with casualties on both sides." Uncle Fu's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement. "Judging from the situation, a major battle is just around the corner in the next day or two."
Lin Mo walked to the window and looked towards the dock. Although it was far away, he could almost smell the stench of blood that was about to spread.
"Pass down the order to have our men prepare." Lin Mo's voice was not loud, but it carried a sense of decisiveness. "Once they make their move, that's when we'll step in."