CHAPTER 662: 450. BLACK SHIP INTERCEPTION_2

Oh, a doer... that’s rare... Zhao Douan nodded with slight interest.

He had quite a good impression of officers who didn’t participate in political schemes, party disputes, nor care who the Emperor above their heads was, but focused solely on getting things done.

This time entering Jiancheng Road.

Zhao Douan had only three things to handle.

One was preparing for the Sealing, but this matter wasn’t urgent and could be postponed a bit until Zhenbao headed south and arrived at Jiancheng Road.

Secondly, it was to examine the local officials’ situation and the approximate strength of Prince Jing’s forces.

Thirdly, and most importantly, to assist the Shipping Governor in striking a blow against the local aristocratic families here, making them settle down, so that the incoming new local officials would face fewer obstacles, making it easier to implement the New Policy, and preventing the new officials from facing ineffectual orders or succumbing to enticing bribes.

However, this matter was still difficult to handle, so Zhao Douan was temporarily without a plan, intending to sneak into the city, meet with the Governor, understand the situation here, and then set a strategy.

"Sir, Eunuch, it’s time to eat."

At this moment, a subordinate’s call came from behind, and at the same time, the rich aroma of fish soup wafted from the ship’s kitchen.

Zhao Douan and Eunuch Hai stopped talking and turned to walk into the cabin.

In the corner of the deck, Lang Shiba stood up, took a few steps, and turned to look at Ji Yue, who was squatting by the ship’s side, hands shaped as a "telescope" against his eye sockets, craning his neck to gaze into the distance, curiously asking: "It’s time to eat. What are you looking at?"

Ji Yue didn’t move, maintaining his peculiar posture, saying: "Something’s... not right up ahead."

...

...

Splish splash...

The sound of the water waves slapped against the cabin; it was noon, and the vessels on the river gradually halted, with the boatmen resting to eat.

Feng Da carried a meal box from the ship’s kitchen and directly approached the few government officers standing guard on the deck, calling: "Don’t stand around, sit down and eat."

A few government officers didn’t move, and the leading one, an elderly soldier of about fifty, smiled: "Don’t disrupt the rules; you escorts eat first and then rotate with us for meals. Otherwise, if everyone aboard slacks off, and no one guards, a sudden raid by thieves could cost lives."

Feng Da put down the meal box, teasing: "I know old Xu is serious about having fought in battles in the southwestern border army, seen blood, and subsequently came to our Cao Yun Office, becoming Guardian Soldiers, with rich experience. If not for this, you wouldn’t still lead a team at such an age, chosen by the Shipping Governor specifically to escort Lady Ning... But where would there be thieves on this river? The Governor isn’t here, rest assured, the Lady asked me to send food to acknowledge your hard efforts."

Upon hearing, the few soldiers on guard duty who had long been inclined began smiling, eager to gather around the meal box.

Old Xu chided: "Did I let you move? Forgot the military discipline always spoken of?"

The young Guardian Soldiers awkwardly withdrew their hands.

Feng Da shook his head, smiling wryly, both admiring and thinking it a bit of an exaggeration.

Feng Da was a guard in the shipping governor Ning Zechen’s family.

But accurately, he was a guard in Ning Zechen’s wife’s household after Ning rose to prominence as a bridegroom, then his wife took her family’s handmaids and guards to leave her family and form a new "Xu family" with her husband.

Feng Da naturally became the chief guard in the Governor Mansion.

During the New Year, Lady Ning carried the young master and miss to visit her family in Linfeng, staying for a month; this time returning to Jianning Prefecture.

Along the way, besides family guards, Ning Zechen dispatched a platoon of elite Cao Soldiers for protection.

The Cao Transport Office’s influence was immense, with over two hundred civil and military generals under the governor, managing storage, shipbuilding, and Cao Soldiers nearing twenty thousand people.

If not for adhering to the court’s law, the Governor couldn’t mobilize soldiers at will, with escort specifications having limits; there would be even more government officers on the ship now.

However...

Feng Da felt this was already more than sufficient, equipped with military crossbows and armor, the elite sailors, and even a small simple cannon onboard.

Ordinary water bandits, not to mention daring to provoke Lady Ning, even if unintentionally, would face inevitable defeat.

"Well then, seeing we’re almost at Jianning Prefecture, upon returning and meeting the Governor, Lady Ning will surely commend you." Feng Da said with a smile.

Old Xu tightened his brows, staring ahead, whispering: "Something’s not right; stay alert!"

Feng Da was taken aback, looking forward, seeing a ship swiftly approaching them from afar, not at all looking like passing by, but with an intention of crashing straight into them!

"Raise the flag!" the old soldier shouted.

Immediately, a young government officer rushed into the cabin, carrying out a bright flag of the Cao Transport Office and waved it forcefully.

This was to declare identity; no vessel traveling the canal would fail to recognize the "Cao Transport Office" flag.

However, the distant ship didn’t slow down, nor respond with any "flag signals," continuing its rapid approach.

And at this distance, it was vaguely visible there were people standing on the deck of the other ship.

"Alert! It’s a Black Ship!"

The old soldier shouted.

What was known as a Black Ship originally referred to private vessels on rivers without government registration, later generally meant suspicious water bandit ships.

"Water bandits? Where do they come from, crazy? Not evading even seeing the Cao Platform’s flag?" Feng Da was both shocked and angry, also turning to summon the guards eating in the cabin outside.

In the blink of an eye, the deck was crowded with people, and those government officers each held military crossbows only used in the army, locking onto the suspicious vessel.