The Water Patrol Team is a yamen under the Beijing Police Department, with over 100 guns, three small steamboats and several flat-bottomed boats. It is responsible for waterborne security in the Beijing area. In the past, this was a lucrative position. Goods such as rice and grain from Jiangnan all had to be transported through the Grand Canal. Without mentioning the practice of "geese plucking hair", one could at least make a decent living, with food and money aplenty.

  Nowadays, the railway is developed, and there are railways connecting Beijing to Tianjin Wei, Shanhai Pass, Zhangjiakou, and Hankou. Trains are much more convenient and faster than boats, and the business on the canal has declined sharply, leaving only some cargo ships transporting large quantities of goods and some small fishing boats. The water police also have a hard time, with only seven yuan in monthly salary and hardly any other income.

  Recently, the Director-General of Police, Wu Bingxiang, made a personnel adjustment, transferring the original head of the Outer City Police Station, Xu Guotong, to the Water Police Team as its leader. Xu Guotong knew that this was Li Dingbang secretly plotting against him and hated it so much that his teeth itched, but he had no way out and could only spend his days on a small steamer fishing to pass the time, fantasizing about one day returning to the city and getting promoted and rich.

  Opportunity soon fell on Xu Guodong's head. When the patrol boat was patrolling in the waters near the mouth of the Yongding River, someone on the shore shouted and called out, as if something big had happened. Although land matters were not under the jurisdiction of the water police, Xu Guodong, who was bored at the time, somehow got his wires crossed and sent a small boat to bring that person aboard.

  The man was about forty years old, dressed in shabby clothes. Xu Guodong thought it was just a trivial matter of neighborhood disputes and lazily lay on the chair, took a sip of tea, and said: "What's the matter? Speak up."

  That man, with a fist clenched, had a robust and spirited appearance, like a martial artist. "Your Honor, there's a big case - the daughter of Deputy Minister Yao from the Ministry of Transportation has been kidnapped by bandits! I've been tracking them down to this place, but lost their trail. The bandits should have gone downstream. As I'm alone and lack manpower, please dispatch troops to pursue and capture the bandits!"

  Xu Guodong spat out the tea he had just drunk, and the small teapot almost fell from his hand. The young lady of the Yao Zichang family was kidnapped! This is a shocking case! He didn't dare to delay, and hurriedly asked for details. That person recounted it in this way, Xu Guodong took a deep breath, and a voice echoed in his mind: Xu Guodong, your chance has come!

  "Light the fire, full speed ahead, after him!" Xu Guotong jumped up and gave the order, then bowed to the middle-aged man and asked: "What should I call you?"

  The middle-aged man said: "My surname is Xia, and I'm a performer at Tianqiao. My daughter and I went to Xiangshan Temple to worship Buddha when we encountered this matter. We can't ignore it, my daughter has gone ahead to track down the culprit, leaving behind a secret note on the riverbank. I think the thief is fierce, so I need to ask the government to intervene, that's why I disturbed the official."

  Xu Guodong stood up respectfully: "So Master Xia is a rivers and lakes person, I apologize for my disrespect. I am Xu Guodong, the captain of the water police team. Please, after you, Master Xia."

  "Captain Xu, please." Xia Shifu's eyes gleamed brightly as he made a welcoming gesture.

  Two men came to the bow of the ship, standing shoulder to shoulder. The sailor took off his jacket and swung a large shovel, scooping high-quality anthracite coal into the boiler. A fierce fire crackled, and black smoke billowed out. Xu Guodong shouted at the top of his lungs: "Brothers, I'm Xu, newly appointed, we're not familiar with each other yet. I've got one good thing about me - I can't bear to see brothers go hungry or suffer. Now there's a big case, the Transportation Minister's daughter, Yao, has been kidnapped by bandits!"

  The river police were at a loss, their long and dull life had made them lose all their sharpness, where was the courage to face the bandits?

  "Brothers, the opportunity for us water police to show off our prowess has arrived! If we wipe out the kidnappers and rescue Miss Yao, I guarantee that everyone will be heavily rewarded - at least this much!"

  He said, stretching out five fingers and waving them around.

  "Did you say fifty?"

  Xu Guodong glared at him: "What do you take Yao Cichang for? He's a big rich man, 500! Do you know that? 500 silver dollars, not a penny more or less."

  The police officers' eyes widened, 500 yuan in cash, what a concept!

  An ordinary patrolman earns seven dollars a month, after deducting three dollars and fifty cents for food expenses, only three dollars and fifty cents are left to support a family, this life can be imagined. Five hundred dollars is equivalent to ten years' salary!

  Xu Guodong saw the eyes of the water police starting to gleam, and continued to instigate: "What's so great about bandits? They're just a head and two arms, and they'll still die if they get shot. We have twenty brothers on this boat, with knives and guns, what are we afraid of? If we rescue Miss Yao, each of us will get at least 500 yuan, enough to buy a house and marry a wife, it's all up to you. Whoever doesn't want to do it, I won't force them, I'll just let them off the boat. Brothers, what do you say, you decide!"

  "That's right! Captain Xu is absolutely right!"

  "Down with them!"

  "Save Miss Yao, earn big bucks!"

  The emotions of the water police were mobilized, waving their rifles and shouting loudly. Xu Guodong smiled with satisfaction, not only effectively boosting morale, but also establishing his own prestige.

  A small steamer, belching black smoke, was careening wildly in the Yongding River. All passing boats gave it a wide berth. Before long, they spotted a wooden boat moored by the riverbank, its cabin smashed to smithereens, with bloodstains everywhere.

  Xia Shifu's heart hung up, he was worried not about the safety of the hostages, but about his daughter's safety. His daughter had a quick temper and acted rashly, if something bad happened to her, how could he face her mother who had passed away?

  The small patrol boat slowly approached the wooden ship, and the police officers cocked their guns with a loud click, as if facing a formidable enemy. Xu Guodong held a gun in one hand and a megaphone made of foreign metal in the other, shouting loudly: "Come out quickly and surrender, or we'll open fire!"

  Dead silence, no one answered.

  "Captain, look!" A water police officer pointed at the river surface and shouted.

  A dwarf's corpse was floating in the river.

  Xia Shifu's heart skipped a beat, and according to Ah Fu's account, there was indeed a dwarf among the kidnappers. His heart aching for his daughter, he sprang into action and flew onto the opponent's boat with a beautiful display of lightness that left the water police in awe.

  After searching around on the boat and failing to find his daughter, Xia Shifu shouted at the small steamer: "There's no more air left, come over here!"

  The coast guards then swam over to search and found five blood-soaked corpses, as well as a hold full of ocean and banknotes.

  "Captain, there's another one alive." A marine policeman discovered the barely breathing old man.

  Xu Guodong went up to check and ordered someone to bandage the old smoker's wound. He also encouraged the water police, "Brothers, we can't let the duck that has been caught fly away. If you have the guts, follow me ashore to rescue people."

  "Save them, save them!" The water police saw that the bandits were heavily wounded and dead, and they felt even more confident of victory.

  "Little Wang, you immediately return to the team department and call Police Chief Wu to report that our marine police team discovered the kidnappers, after a fierce gun battle, killed five bandits, captured one alive, and are currently pursuing them ashore."

  "Yes!" Little Wang brought two policemen and intercepted a passing boat, heading north.

  Xu Guodong left a few more police on the boat to guard it, and led the rest of his men, with bullets loaded and bayonets drawn, in hot pursuit.

  ……

  The sky gradually darkened, and Black Wind rode on horseback, his mind dazed and confused, the scene in front of him becoming increasingly blurred. That one kick from the horse's hoof had severely injured him, causing him to cough up blood nonstop, almost meeting King Yan.

  The military advisor was also seriously injured, with a gunshot wound to the foot and blood soaking through his shoes. His arm had been bitten by Miss Yao, and the pain was excruciating.

  "This woman is really something! She's a real bitch!" The military advisor cursed in a low voice.

  Miss Yao was no better off, her clothes were tattered and worn out, her face was bruised and swollen, with a big lump on her forehead, looking like a refugee. At this moment, her hands were tied behind her back, riding on the horse, staring angrily at the two bandits.

  "What are you looking at? Do you believe I'll dig out your eyes?" The military advisor threatened her in a low voice.

  Miss Yao sneered: "You're not that kind of person."

  "Well then, tell me, what kind of person am I?" The military advisor said with a cold smile.

  "Even if a scholar were to rebel, it would take three years for him to succeed. You are just a useless scholar." Yao Yile said.

  This remark struck a sore spot for the military advisor, his face turned cold and he stopped paying attention to her.

  "I know you're a good person, let me go and I promise not to pursue your responsibility, and I'll even give you a reward, as much as you want. How about it?" Yao Yirei took the opportunity to divide and disintegrate them, knowing that the kidnapper was currently in a very difficult situation, and this was the perfect time to disrupt their formation.

  The military advisor couldn't help but turn his head to take a glance at the eldest son, Hei Feng was sitting on the horse, swaying precariously, with bloodstains covering his eyes, completely unaware of their conversation.

  "Hmph, I'm a man of principle and won't betray my brothers. Spare me the effort." The military advisor firmly refused Miss Yao, but Yao Yilei detected a hint of wavering in his eyes.

  "Master Da, are you alright?" The military advisor rode his horse up beside Hei Feng and asked.

  "Hei Feng lifted his head, his voice hoarse: 'I was kicked by this beast and it hurts a lot.'"

  "Where to go now?" The military advisor looked around cautiously and said in a low voice, they were all injured and did not dare to take the main road. At this moment, I don't know where we have arrived. In the distance, there are farmland and villages, sheep grazing on the mountain slope, a beautiful rural scenery.

  "I'm afraid I won't be able to go home, I have to see Mother one last time." Heikaze spat out a mouthful of blood, his voice weak.

  "What about this little girl?" the military advisor asked.

  "With her by my side, even if I die, there must be a woman accompanying me in the underworld." Hei Feng took out several gold bars from his bosom and handed them to the military advisor.

  "Qingyan, big brother owes you an apology. You were a scholar by birth, yet followed me into the green woods to become outlaws. I'm not a good leader, my actions are rough and reckless, causing our brothers to lose their lives. If I die, don't avenge my death, take the money to Tianjin, to Hankou, do some small business, and stop walking the dark path."

  "Great master, you won't die, I'll help you find a doctor." The military advisor choked out.

  "Hei Feng weakly waved his hand: 'Don't delay, go home, I miss Mother.'"

  The military advisor nodded with tears in his eyes.

  "Don't let her get away." Hei Feng nodded his head.

  The military advisor turned his head and saw that Yao Yile had rolled off the horse at some point and was now running wildly.