Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 205 - 42 Careful Probing

Chapter 205: Chapter 42 Careful Probing

“Mr. Cai is older than me; if he holds me in esteem, he need only call me Tianbao.”

With a bow, Cai Qian didn’t decline, “Tianbao is so straightforward, how can I not agree? ‘Mr. Cai’ also sounds too formal, so how about you call me Big Brother Cai?”

“Ha, then I shall respectfully comply,”

Li Yan smiled and first scanned the hall below, where several top leaders of the Red Flag Gang sat. Then he glanced at Cai Qian, who stood alone, with his guards waiting at the pier, and went on:

“However, the words Big Brother Cai just now were quite alarmist.”

Li Yan paused: “The British only have several dozen large ships and a few thousand men in the South Seas, and although their ships are sturdy and their cannons formidable, it won’t be so easy to eradicate Zhang He, who has been entrenched in An Nan for so long.”

...

“A few thousand isn’t enough? When Clive led his troops to land on the Ganges, they captured Bengal in one fell swoop, and they only had a mere nine hundred men.”

Cai Qian said indifferently.

[Wrath] The scene of artillery fire steaming up the sea surface flashed before Li Yan’s eyes.

Li Yan lifted his teacup noncommittally, “Big Brother Cai indeed has insight.”

Cai Qian smiled slightly, “I’m not entirely clear why the British are making such a fuss, but it’s a sure thing that the Demon Thief has been greatly weakened this time.”

Li Yan spread his hands, “The Demon Thief and the British dogs are biting each other; what does that have to do with you and me? I’d like Big Brother Cai to enlighten me.”

“To be frank, I’ve come here with a grand present for Brother Tianbao.”

“What grand present?”

“The Taiping Document of the Demon Thief, Zhang He.”

As soon as Cai Qian said this, the room erupted with noise.

The Taiping Document, the magical classic that made Zhang He famous. At just eight years old, Zhang He had some sort of lucky break, by a fluke obtained a gilded paper impervious to fire and water, which was the Taiping Document.

In a little over a decade, Zhang He went from a fisherman’s son to a formidable outlaw chieftain. Even Mrs. Shi had coveted the Taiping Document, targeting the Demon Thief several times in the hope of obtaining it.

For people like Tianbao and those of the Chaoyi, they were even more aware that Mrs. Shi had been so eager to get her hands on the Taiping Document because among the forty-eight thousand verses, there might be a method to eliminate the side effects of the Defying Skill. Had Mrs. Shi acquired the Taiping Document earlier, she might not have died.

“Where is the Taiping Document now?”

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Li Yan’s voice deliberately rose a few notches.

“Naturally, it’s still with the Demon Thief, Zhang He.”

Li Yan’s face showed displeasure, “Is Big Brother Cai jesting at my expense?”

“Of course not.” Cai Qian heaved a sigh, speaking bluntly, “In An Nan, I have twelve mines, and ever since Zhang He became the Protector of An Nan, life at the mines has gotten harder with each passing day. My dock business too has been hindered and harassed by Zhang He’s interference. This opportunity is rare, and I intend to dispatch troops, wipe out the forces of the Demon Thief Zhang He; once that’s done, the Taiping Document will naturally fall into my hands.”

“What makes you think you can hand over such a treasure to me?”

“It’s naturally because the Red Flag and I deploy troops together. I owe it to Tianbao for his support.”

Li Yan’s heart tightened.

“Your gang is famous for only plundering foreign ships and goods. For the vessels of the Thirteen Brokerages, you have always turned a blind eye. I’ve reciprocated with peaches for plums, the Red Flag’s goods are always traded through my Thirteen Hongs, we benefit mutually from our close relationship. With this foundation, we have the basis for cooperation.”

He moved closer to Li Yan and spoke as if they were chatting about everyday matters, appearing amiable and simple: “While the British are making their move, let us both have a hand in quelling the Demon Thief. Apart from the Taiping Document, the rest we split fifty-fifty.”

Li Yan’s eyebrows twitched, “Is Brother Cai so generous?”

Cai Qian sighed and slapped his thigh, “To grease the wheels every year in An Nan, I have to spend hundreds of thousands of taels. Now that there’s a once-and-for-all solution, why be greedy for more?”

He changed the subject: “The Red Flag Gang’s longstanding grudge with the Demon Thief goes way back. Madam Shi was obsessed with Zhang He’s Taiping Document.”

Li Yan lowered his head upon hearing this, pretending to ponder: “Right now, there’s unrest within the Five Flags. I’ve just become the Dragon Head of the Red Flag; I can’t rashly wage war, not to mention compensation. I also have to be responsible for the lives of my brothers.”

Cai Qian glanced at Li Yan, “Tianbao, forgive my offense, but with Madam Shi’s earth-shattering Defying Skill, I wonder who in your gang still has such capability?”

Li Yan sighed and remained silent.

“If I may be so bold as to ask another question, each of the Gaoli ghosts from the Five Flags were brave enough to take on a hundred men. Can you still train such warriors nowadays?”

Li Yan’s expression darkened: “Brother Cai, speak plainly. There’s no need to beat around the bush.”

His impatience allowing Cai Qian a faint smile within. He said deliberately: “With access to the Taiping Document, it won’t be long before Tianbao’s powers rival those of Madam Shi. Pass a few documents to the Red Flag brothers, and the Gaoli ghosts will be augmented. It will be a simple task to enhance the glory of the Red Flag Gang.”

Li Yan snorted coldly, “I’m just afraid I won’t get the goods and will end up being used as a pawn instead.”

“Brother, in this world, what grand achievement can be accomplished without taking risks? The Demon Thief and the Red Flag are natural enemies. Even without my involvement, would the Red Flag Gang not be tempted?”

He turned to the leaders at the hall, who, led by Chaoyi, had remained silent.

“Are you not tempted?”

Many revealed thoughtful expressions, and though Cai Qian’s words were temptingly persuasive, the hall fell silent. Yet, Chaoyi frowned deeply, clearly reluctant to agree. He opened his mouth several times but something held him back, and he didn’t dare to speak.

Li Yan caught all of this in the corner of his eye and sighed inwardly that Chaoyi really shouldn’t be killed – there weren’t many on Lantau Island with his intellect. His face, however, showed a visage of being caught in a dilemma.

“Ahem, Tianbao.”

In the end, Chaoyi couldn’t hold back, but before he could say more, Li Yan raised his hand to interrupt him. Facing Cai Qian, he spoke earnestly, “The Taiping Document is indeed precious, and I covet the Demon Thief’s estate too. But I’m afraid I cannot accept Brother Cai’s offer.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust Brother Cai, but I’m still unclear why the Red Haired Devils are attacking An Nan. The Five Flagsi Alliance has always been at odds with the Red Haired Devils. It’s only natural to fight upon meeting. It could end in chaos, making unnecessary enemies.”

Li Yan glanced over his own lieutenants: “Right now, I’m holding hostages from the Three Flags, and who knows when they’ll come attacking. Just a few days ago, to avenge Mrs. Shi, I attacked Humen, and now the officialdom sees our Red Flag as a thorn in their side. Brother Cai, pardon my frankness, but I truly lack the ability and the courage to provoke the British and the Demon Thief at such a time.”