Central Linjiang Prefecture.
The mountains were steep, their ridges rising and falling in an unbroken chain. Millions of years of scouring by the Yudai River had carved out a treacherous natural gorge.
The gorge stretched roughly ten li, with torrential currents within and perilous terrain on either bank. It was the vital throat connecting the counties upstream and downstream in Linjiang Prefecture.
This was Twin Dragon Gorge, and also the site of the Canal Gang Headquarters.
An enormous fortified river camp had been built against the mountainside, packed with houses. Hundreds upon hundreds of people moved among them, each attending to their duties.
At its heart stood a fortress constructed from hardwood and massive stones, where the Canal Gang's important figures gathered.
It occupied a broad stretch of level ground midway through the gorge, nearly two zhang above the water, with sheer cliffs at its back and a commanding view of the entire river channel.
Rumble!
Waves churned and surged, sending spray exploding up in layer after layer.
Amid the dark reefs at the center of the seething current, a head silently emerged.
Hong Yuan narrowed his eyes and surveyed his surroundings, paying particular attention to the central fortress.
All the trees and weeds around the fortress had been cleared away, leaving the ground bare and exposed to anyone's gaze.
Beyond that, eight watchtowers five zhang tall stood around the fortress. Several baskets also hung down from the sheer cliffs on both banks, with lookouts standing inside to survey the surrounding terrain.
Even without those lookouts, guards were stationed every few steps within the fortress, and patrols were tight. Anyone entering or leaving even had to have their waist token checked.
It might not have been so strict before, but that had changed since the bodies of Chen Jiulang and