Black Water Gang

In the afternoon, Ren Yan returned with information about the Black Water Gang.

Ren Yan's efficiency had always satisfied Chen Mu.

This was one of the reasons he kept him around.

After all, Chen Mu always needed someone to do things for him, and Ren Yan was also very sensible. Since discovering Chen Mu's changes, he had become honest and well-behaved, and hadn't done anything out of line since.

Such a person wasn't suitable as a confidant, but was very suitable to be used.

"Second Master, the Black Water Gang is a small gang on East Forest Street. They occupy four streets there, with about thirty people. They extort a lot of silver on a daily basis, but most of it is used for bribes, which is why the Five Cities Garrison has turned a blind eye to them for so many years."

Ren Yan didn't ask Chen Mu why he wanted him to inquire about these things, only relaying the information he had gathered one by one.

As a servant of the Xuanguo Estate, he naturally had his own circle for gathering information among servants. He didn't use it much normally, but now that Chen Mu had instructed him, he naturally put his heart and soul into inquiring. Most of the information he gathered was accurate.

"Does the Black Water Gang collude with the Five Cities Garrison?"

Chen Mu asked calmly as he listened to Ren Yan's description.

The Five Cities Garrison was responsible for the security of Kyoto, divided into five commanderies: East, South, West, North, and Central. The commanders of the East, South, West, and North commanderies were all Sixth Rank, and the deputy commanders were Seventh Rank.

The Central commandery was a rank higher, with the overall commander being a Fifth Rank official, which was a considerably high position.

Upon hearing Chen Mu's words, Ren Yan immediately sneered and said, "A mere Black Water Gang, how could they be worthy of colluding with the Five Cities Garrison? At most, it's just that their leader, Zhang Hai, sent some women and silver to some deputy commander and built a good relationship."

There was also a hierarchy of contempt among the lower classes. Servants from a ducal estate like Ren Yan were very disdainful of chaotic gangs like the Black Water Gang. Half of the reason for this contempt stemmed from jealousy.

As a servant of a ducal estate, he had status when he went out, and everyone in the Black Water Gang would be polite to him, but he couldn't spend his days wandering the streets and playing with women like the members of the Black Water Gang.

"Then I overestimated them."

Chen Mu withdrew his gaze.

For him now, even if the Black Water Gang had some connection with the Five Cities Garrison, destroying them would still be a matter of a wave of his hand, just slightly more troublesome.

In that case, there was no need to think too much.

"You may leave."

Chen Mu waved his hand, signaling Ren Yan to withdraw, and then began to ponder.

East Forest Street, he didn't have a very deep impression of it, because Kyoto was too large, with countless crisscrossing streets. He had rarely gone out before, and was basically unfamiliar with some of the more remote streets.

According to Ren Yan's description, East Forest Street was on the outermost edge of the outer city of Kyoto, considered one of the most remote districts, and undoubtedly the most chaotic place.

The closer to the center of Kyoto, the better the security. In places like Apricot Flower House, many nearby streets were patrolled almost daily, just in case a rich young master got into trouble and caused a big problem.

In remote areas, it was almost impossible for rich young masters, or even descendants of dukes and marquises, to go there. Any trouble caused by a few commoners was a small issue, so naturally there were no guards patrolling.

This was also one of the reasons why small gangs like the Black Water Gang could survive.

Mainly because no one cared!

After pondering for a while, Chen Mu stood up.

East Forest Street.

Compared to the wide road in front of the Xuanguo Estate, this place was much narrower and more chaotic. The road surface was damaged in many places, with mud pits everywhere.

Most of the residents walking here had visible patches on their clothes, and many were stained with mud and water. They spoke little to each other, just hurrying along.

Suddenly.

A commotion broke out.

In front of a low house, several men were forcibly dragging a woman out of the room, completely ignoring her cries.

From inside the house, a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, wearing a worn cotton jacket, rushed out and desperately tried to pull the men away, shouting loudly.

"Stop! Let go of my sister!"

The commotion here immediately attracted the attention of many people on the street.

"Get lost!"

One of the men roared and shoved the boy hard, knocking him to the ground.

Noticing the many people watching, Liu San sneered and said, "Your family has owed us money for almost a year now. Our gang leader is kind and allowed you to delay again and again, yet you don't know how to be grateful and have been defaulting until now."

"Now our gang leader has spoken, and he wants the money back. Originally, we planned to sell your sister to a brothel, but our gang leader is benevolent. As long as your sister becomes a concubine, your family's debt will be waived. Yet you're still here arguing with me, not knowing what's good for you!"

As these words were shouted out, the onlookers nearby exchanged glances.

For so many years, who didn't know the Black Water Gang's character? But firstly, no one dared to offend the Black Water Gang easily, and secondly, the other party claimed they were owed money and were in the right, making it even harder to argue.

Many people shook their heads and turned to leave.

Some older people sighed and looked sympathetically at the struggling woman.

"Nonsense!"

Ji Fang, who had been pushed into the mud, struggled to get up, gritting his teeth and saying, "We only owed three taels of silver! How can it be that even after paying ten taels, it's still not paid off!"

Liu San sneered, completely ignoring him, and dragged the woman away with his two subordinates.

Ji Fang, his eyes red, lunged forward and grabbed Liu San, pulling hard. He didn't manage to pull Liu San, but he did tear half of Liu San's sleeve.

"Bastard!"

Seeing this, Liu San was furious. He let go of Ji Fang's sister and kicked him.

Ji Fang struggled to resist, but his small frame was no match for Liu San. In just a few moves, Liu San kicked him to the ground and started beating him violently. After a few blows, blood began to flow.

"No, stop hitting him."

Seeing this, Ji Fang's sister, Ji Lan, cried out, "Stop! I'll go with you..."

"Hmph!"

"Doesn't know what's good for you!"

Liu San snorted coldly and delivered another kick before stopping.

Ji Lan wanted to go and check on Ji Fang, but before she could, she was dragged away by Liu San and the others. She could only cry and look back at Ji Fang, who was lying in the mud, with every step.

Ji Fang lay there in the mud. After a while, he shook his head and slowly propped himself up, looking completely lost, but more than that, defeated.

He watched blankly in the direction Ji Lan was dragged away, then slowly clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face. He bit his lip and choked out, "Sister... Sister..."

Dusk was falling.

The few scattered people nearby, seeing Ji Fang stand up, quietly dispersed. Only one old man sighed, "Ji Fang is a good child," and then returned to his own courtyard.

But just then, a voice quietly came from behind.

"Were those people from the Black Water Gang?"