The Red Mansion.

Chapter 18 Water Bandits
The Grand Canal is an important waterway connecting the north and south of Daqing, and is also the key to maintaining the economic lifeline.

Although the imperial court took various measures to defend the Grand Canal, banditry on the Grand Canal was still rampant, with pirates occasionally robbing merchant ships, passenger ships and even official ships.

These pirates have complicated origins and different identities.

Some are gangsters who make a living by looting.

Some are fishermen who take risks.

Some of them are salt smugglers who not only smuggle salt but also work as pirates.

There were also some government officials who colluded with the pirates and even participated in the looting themselves.

Li Liu is a big bandit in Shandong. In the past year, he has led a group of bandits to stir up trouble on the Grand Canal several times and rob passing ships.

On this day, Li Liu led a dozen bandits, boarded two small boats disguised as ordinary passenger ships, and quietly sailed into a narrow section of the Grand Canal in Zaozhuang, waiting for an opportunity to act.

It was a cloudy day outside the boat, the sky was gloomy, and the gray clouds hung low. There was not much wind, and the river was relatively calm. Occasionally, a few water birds flew by, making a few low calls.

The fields and forests on both sides of the river appear dark under the cover of the cloudy sky, and the mountains in the distance are vague and looming, as if covered by a veil.

The air was filled with a damp smell, as if it would rain at any time.

Inside the cabin, Li Liu was smoking a pipe, the smoke swirling in the crowded cabin, intertwining with the dim light. The other gangsters in the cabin were silent, sitting or leaning in silence, most of them carrying a fierce aura.

A bandit, deliberately disguised as a scholar, hurried into the cabin and reported to Li Liu: "Boss, a large ship has arrived. It might be worth our while."

When Li Liu heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a sneer. He then stood up and walked out of the cabin, stood at the bow, and looked at a large ship slowly approaching in front.

He immediately recognized it as a large civilian passenger ship, somewhat luxurious. If it was rented, the rent would be quite high. Standing on the deck were two figures, who looked like an old servant and a boy...

"Most of those boats are occupied by wealthy families, either wealthy merchants or officials, and their defenses are often weak. Well, they are prime prey, worth a shot!"

Li Liu narrowed his eyes, made a guess in his heart, and made a decision.

"Brothers, get ready to take action!"

Li Liu's eyes were sinister, and he gave orders in a low and cold voice to the bandit who looked like a scholar beside him. He quickly extinguished the tobacco in his pipe and put away the pipe and pipe.

The scholar-looking bandit nodded in response, turned around and told the bandits in the small cabin, "The boss has given the order, get ready to act," and gestured towards a small boat behind.

For a moment, more than a dozen bandits in the two small boats were ready to launch a brutal water robbery with greed flashing in their eyes.

The water surface of this section of the Grand Canal is still relatively calm, and the river water has a gray luster against the backdrop of the cloudy sky, but the undercurrent is surging, and a bloody storm is about to break out.

……

...The big ship that Li Liu targeted was carrying the Xue family, including Aunt Xue, Xue Pan, Xue Baochai and a dozen servants.

At this time, two servants were standing on the deck, namely Xie Jixing and Li'er.

Xie Jixing is Xue Pan's wet father. He is fifty years old, thin, with slightly high cheekbones. His skin is slightly dark due to years of outdoor activities. There are several deep wrinkles on his face. He wears a navy blue robe, a dark belt around his waist, and a pair of thick-soled black cloth boots.

Li'er is Xue Pan's servant. He had previously accompanied Ji'er and Ru'er to monitor and follow Jiang Nian.

At this time, Xie Jixing was standing guard on the deck with Li'er.

Li'er suddenly said to Xie Jixing in a depressed tone, "Grandpa Xie, you know, Ji'er and I were both your servants, and we were named the same, Ji'er and Li'er, which together means 'Jili'. But now, you're only nice to Ji'er, not me. We've been on the ship for more than ten days, and I've been standing guard outside the cabin every day, while Ji'er has been drinking and gambling with you inside, having a great time. Ji'er, taking advantage of your favor, has become even more arrogant in front of me, treating me like his servant."

After hearing this, Xie Jixing just smiled faintly and did not respond.

Li Er continued, "What's so great about Ji Er? She's just a little whiter and prettier than me, and she got in touch with me, so I like her..."

"Shut up!" Xie Jixing suddenly interrupted, glaring at Li'er. "Have you lost your mind? How dare you say that? If grandma hears about this, even if she doesn't skin you alive, she'll definitely kick you out!"

Li Er pouted and muttered, "I'm just talking to you. You've always been kind and tight-lipped, so I dare to vent my grievances in front of you..."

Xie Jixing's tone slowed down a bit: "Some things should be kept to yourself and not spoken. You should be more careful with your words in the future."

Li'er turned around, glanced at the two small boats approaching in the distance, and asked Xie Jixing, "You've been keeping me on guard outside the cabin every day, exposed to the wind and sun, saying we're on guard against pirates. But it's been more than ten days, and we haven't seen a single pirate. I think the Grand Canal is pretty safe. How could pirates come and rob us?"

Xie Jixing said, "I told you before, there are often pirates on the Grand Canal. You are young and have seen little of the world. When our master was still alive, I once accompanied him to Beijing and witnessed pirates robbing on the Grand Canal with my own eyes. The ship they robbed was a government vessel."

Li'er curled his lips indifferently. "Even if there are pirates, it's a rare occurrence. How could we have such a chance to run into one? If you ask me, why don't we just stay back in the cabin and be comfortable? Why suffer this here?"

Xie Jixing suddenly fell silent, his expression suddenly tense, and his eyes were fixed on the two small boats in front.

He had noticed that a burly man suddenly emerged from a small boat and looked towards the Xue family's large ship. Immediately afterwards, two small boats sped up from the left and right, appearing menacing. Furthermore, a group of men seemed to have gathered inside both boats...

Xie Jixing's heart suddenly sank, and he whispered in alarm: "Oh no, the pirates are coming!"

Li'er was stunned at first, then followed Xie Jixing's gaze, looked towards the two small boats, and asked nervously, "Grandpa Xie, are you saying... those two small boats are full of pirates?"

Xie Jixing didn't have time to answer. He turned around and ran into the cabin, shouting, "Oh no! The pirates are coming! Hurry, men, grab your weapons and fight them off..."

Seeing Xie Jixing so panicked and serious, Li'er glanced at the two small boats that were getting closer and closer, and was so scared that his face turned pale and his legs went weak.

Next chapter, arrows coming!

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(End of this chapter)