Chapter Nineteen: The Destruction of the Fish Gang

At the entrance of the Fish Gang headquarters, Mo Dun and Ding Jiang faced each other, each inwardly anxious. Mo Dun worried that something might go awry during the rescue, but he had overestimated the Fish Gang; these were merely a ragtag group, far inferior to the seasoned veterans of Mo Family Village. Ding Jiang, too, felt a flicker of anxiety—so much time had passed, yet Fish Er had not been brought forth.

“There’s a thief!” Suddenly, commotion erupted from the Fish Gang’s backyard.

“Don’t let him escape!” someone shouted.

“You must have eaten the heart of a tiger—you dare try the old trick of luring the tiger away from its den? You dare toy with me!” Ding Jiang cried out in alarm, his expression twisting as he glared viciously at Mo Dun and his group.

Mo Dun’s face darkened. “Chief Ding, what is the meaning of this? Mo Family Village came in earnest to make an exchange; your internal matters are irrelevant to us.”

He was secretly anxious, desperately trying to buy more time for Master Yu and the others.

“Bad news! Fish Er has escaped!” A bloodied accomplice staggered out, shouting.

Ding Jiang erupted in fury, his fish-cleaver pointed at Mo Dun as he bellowed, “You deceived me! Since Fish Er has run, you’ll remain here!”

Instantly analyzing the situation, Ding Jiang realized he had lost the initiative. Now, there was only one path left: seize the water cart! If he could obtain the secret of keeping live fish, he would achieve a great accomplishment, and there would naturally be someone to protect him.

“Let’s see who dares!” The water cart exploded with a crash, and a figure burst forth with a roar.

“Iron An!” Ding Jiang exclaimed.

He recognized the man emerging from the fish cart as Mo Family Village’s foremost enforcer, Iron An, but Iron An now appeared utterly monstrous—clad in full armor, shield in one hand and long blade in the other. Like a human beast, Iron An raised his shield to withstand the attacks of more than ten Fish Gang enforcers, his blade cleaving their fish spears and cleavers in two, felling several gang members in one sweep. He seemed a god of slaughter, the heavy scent of blood driving the Fish Gang members back in terror.

“You—you dare use military weapons in Chang’an? Are you plotting treason? Do you not fear death?” Ding Jiang shouted at Iron An in disbelief.

The Fish Gang was, after all, merely a gang, accustomed to using sticks and fish spears; even in desperate times, they wielded cleavers and axes at most. Never had they witnessed the use of armor and shields—military-grade weaponry.

“Ridiculous! I am the Count of the founding county, and Iron An is my retainer. Not only Iron An, but even Fish Er whom you abducted is my retainer. This is imperial territory—how dare you openly seize imperial soldiers, Ding Jiang? Do you have enough heads for the executioner?” Mo Dun retorted.

“Today, Mo Family Village seeks only to punish the chief culprit. Resist, and do not blame my men for showing no mercy,” Iron An’s cold voice echoed from his armor, adding a chilling air of severity.

“You’re all fools! They only have three men, while we are dozens. Capture that young master! Once he’s in our hands, Mo Family Village will have to submit!” Ding Jiang bellowed, leading his trusted aides to circumvent Iron An and seize Mo Dun.

Mo Dun was alarmed, and together with Li Xin, wielded planks from the water cart to barely defend themselves.

“Get out of my way!” Iron An fought fiercely to protect Mo Dun, but the enemy’s numbers were overwhelming. Forced to retreat, Iron An could not protect everyone; their space shrank, and soon it seemed they could barely hold out.

“Why aren’t they here yet!” Mo Dun worried inwardly. According to their plan, once Mo Family Village rescued Fish Er, they would immediately sweep away the Fish Gang. Had something gone wrong?

Indeed, something had gone wrong.

Li Yi’s face was grim, his eyes locked on the slyly grinning Chi Zhiyong ahead. He had not expected Manager Wang to be so ruthless, arranging for Chi Zhiyong to patrol the city and ambush him here. He had truly underestimated his opponent.

“Bold bandits! You dare conceal military weapons in Chang’an, wielding blades and arms—are you plotting rebellion?” Chi Zhiyong declared venomously, accusing Li Yi and his group of being outlaws and seeking to destroy Mo Family Village.

Li Yi seethed with hatred. Today, to rescue Fish Er, only Iron An, Master Yu, and Uncle Fu from Mo Family Village had brought weapons; the rest carried only wooden clubs. Yet, in Chi Zhiyong’s mouth, they were lawless criminals.

“General Chi, this must be a misunderstanding. Mo Family Village received a large order and came to sell fish; we are not bandits!” Li Yi protested.

“Whether you’re bandits or not is not up to you! Men, seize these outlaws!” Chi Zhiyong snarled. Instantly, a squad of soldiers surged forth.

The situation deteriorated rapidly; Mo Family Village stood at the brink of life and death.

“Wait!” A loud shout rang out, and another group appeared, blocking the city gate guards.

“Constable Cao!” Chi Zhiyong’s eyes widened in fury. He had not expected the Wannian County office to intervene at such a critical moment. Leading the group was none other than Constable Cao Li.

“Constable Cao, what is the meaning of this? Why are you obstructing my capture of criminals?” Chi Zhiyong barked.

“As it happens, I am here today to apprehend criminals as well,” Cao Li replied. “And the people you wish to seize are actually the victims.”

If Chi Zhiyong did not understand now, he would be a fool. Manager Wang had stationed him with the Fish Gang to ensure everything went smoothly, and to eliminate Mo Family Village, their greatest competitor. Yet Mo Family Village had prepared in advance, inviting Constable Cao to assist them.

“Are you sure you want to intervene? Are you not afraid of those backing me?” Chi Zhiyong threatened.

Cao Li’s expression remained unchanged. He produced a token and flashed it before Chi Zhiyong’s eyes. “Are you not afraid of those backing Mo Family Village?”

Seeing the token, Chi Zhiyong’s face turned pale, cold sweat streaming down. The token bore the inscription: Duke of Yi.

“General Qin?” Chi Zhiyong whispered.

Cao Li nodded. “Matters of great men are beyond us. Perhaps we should simply observe.”

Chi Zhiyong reluctantly lowered his weapon, and the city gate guards likewise stood down.

With a sweeping gesture, Cao Li led Mo Family Village’s people toward the Fish Gang’s headquarters to rescue Mo Dun.

From afar, Mo Family Village saw Iron An shielding Mo Dun and Li Xin, fighting while retreating. Were it not for Iron An’s ferocity, the Fish Gang would have pressed harder, and Mo Dun’s group would have already succumbed.

“Charge!” Li Yi shouted, rushing in first.

With the reinforcement of Mo Family Village’s fresh troops, the tide turned instantly. Escorting Mo Dun to safety, Iron An was finally able to unleash his full strength. Like a tiger descending the mountain, wherever he went, Fish Gang members were sent sprawling.

Within two or three rounds, the Fish Gang collapsed into chaos. Ding Jiang was furious and bewildered; he could not understand why Chi Zhiyong failed to stop Mo Family Village.

Watching his disciples fall one by one, Ding Jiang’s heart was bitter. He knew that after today, the Fish Gang might never exist again.

He wished to escape, but Iron An’s gaze pinned him down. As his trusted aides fell to Iron An’s blade, soon Ding Jiang stood alone.

“I’ll fight you to the death!”

With nowhere left to run, Ding Jiang charged Iron An in vain, only to be felled by a single blow.

Thus, the Fish Gang, once rampant in Chang’an, was utterly destroyed.