Chapter 281: Boarding the Ship

Chapter 281: Boarding the Ship

Cheng Ge didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

He hoped to leverage the Lin family's influence and connections in the area to investigate the link between the Canal Gang and the illegal iron ore smuggling operation.

Specifically, he wanted to track the canal boats marked with a red triangle that sailed at certain times each month.

After hearing Cheng Ge's account, the stewards were momentarily stunned and instinctively exchanged glances.

Private iron mining and collusion with the Canal Gang were undoubtedly huge deals with far-reaching implications.

They'd been working here for years and weren't completely clueless, but they hadn't expected Cheng Ge to show up for that.

Still, the brief shock was quickly suppressed, and the lead steward regained his composure.

He stood up, bowed deeply to Cheng Ge again, and said in a resolute tone, "Don't worry, sir. We'll do everything we can."

The Lin family's efficiency was indeed remarkable. Within just two days, a secret report was quietly delivered to Cheng Ge's hidden lodgings.

The information on the paper was astonishingly detailed: a Canal Gang fleet was set to depart at 11:45 PM tonight, the target vessel being the *Liyue*.

It was moored on the east side of Pier Three, with a dark red triangle embroidered in the lower left corner of its sail, escorted by about eight to ten men, all skilled members of the gang.

"Tonight's the night." Cheng Ge rolled the paper between his fingers, the candlelight flickering in his eyes.

As the Zi hour approached, the Wei River dock was shrouded in heavy darkness and mist, with only a few lanterns swaying in the wind, casting patches of dim yellow light.

Cheng Ge, Wufeng, and Jiyue, wearing dark clothes, used the cargo piles and bollards for cover to silently approach the *Liyue*.

Figures moved about on the ship, and they could hear muffled conversation and the dull thuds of cargo being moved.

Wufeng pressed himself against the hull like a gecko, listened for a moment, then gave Cheng Ge an all-clear signal.

He drew a dagger as thin as a willow leaf and precisely inserted it into the gap of the old cabin door.

With a slight twist of his wrist, a soft *click* sounded, and the lock bolt sprang open.

The three of them slipped like eels into the dark cargo hold, which was filled with the smells of tung oil and moldy goods.

Inside, tall wooden crates were stacked, roughly scrawled with labels like "Yuanzhou Raw Silk" and "Chuanyun Medicinal Herbs."

Wufeng stepped forward and pried up a corner of one crate's lid with his dagger.

What he found wasn't silk but rough, dark iron ingots.

"Just as we thought!" Cheng Ge's eyes flashed coldly as he reached out to touch the cold metal.

Just then, clear footsteps and voices came from outside the cabin, heading straight for the hold.

"Hide quickly..." Cheng Ge glanced at the other two and whispered a warning to them.

Reacting swiftly, the three of them ducked into the gaps between taller stacks of crates, holding their breath and melding fully into the shadows.

The cabin door creaked open, and two figures entered, carrying lanterns.

The dim yellow light swayed inside, outlining the contours of the piled goods.

"Move it! Third Master ordered that this batch of 'hard goods' must be shipped out tonight. The clients up north and down south are waiting!"

said a man with a hoarse voice, casually kicking a crate of iron ingots, which gave a dull thud.

A younger, sucking-up voice responded, "Don't worry, Boss Ma. We've greased the water route—smooth sailing all the way.

I hear the Wolf Mountain Tribe and Blackwater Cave are in a real hurry?"

"Hmph, wouldn't they be? War needs iron, doesn't it?" Boss Ma snorted, lowering his voice.

"If anything goes wrong with this shipment, it's not just us—even Third Master wouldn't be able to handle it!

The higher-ups said to mark it clearly. Once it gets to Ming City, the old ghost takes over. That part's not for us to know."

"Understood, understood. No problem, it's foolproof."

The two casually walked around inspecting the hold, their lantern light sweeping past the hiding spot of Cheng Ge and his companions several times, close enough that they could smell their sweat.

Cheng Ge could even see the twisted, ferocious scar on Boss Ma's face in the lamplight.

They all had their hearts in their throats as they pressed against the cold crates, muscles tensed, barely breathing.

Fortunately, the men didn't check the dark corners thoroughly. After a quick look, they seemed satisfied.

"Alright, lock the door and check elsewhere. Set sail at exactly 11:45 PM. If you miss the time, watch your backs!" Boss Ma ordered sternly.

"Yes, sir, you got it, boss."

As the footsteps faded, the cabin door was closed again, and the sound of the lock clicking shut came from outside.

In the darkness, Cheng Ge and the others slowly exhaled, exchanging knowing looks.

Wolf Mountain Tribe...? If Cheng Ge remembered correctly, that was one of the Northern Di tribes.

"Let's see if we can find any clues..." Cheng Ge whispered. A big operation like this has to have detailed records and behind-the-scenes orders.

Wufeng got to work, using his experience to search the hold. Soon, he discovered a hidden compartment behind a low cabinet.

With steady hands, he opened it to reveal a thick ledger wrapped in oilcloth, along with several letters sealed with wax.

Cheng Ge grabbed them and flipped through them quickly by the faint light filtering through the cracks.

The ledger recorded the quantities of iron ore from Falling Eagle Ridge, Blackwater Gully, and other places, along with the smelting process and how they disguised the shipments.

Most importantly, it listed the transactions with the Northern Di's Wolf Mountain Tribe and the Southern barbarians' Blackwater Cave.

The letters contained specific handover codes, delivery locations, and vague orders from above.

The amounts were staggering, making his temples throb. These people were insane.

Shaking off his shock, Cheng Ge carefully stashed the ledger and letters in his waterproof oilcloth bag.

But just as they were about to find a way to open the cabin door and escape, urgent footsteps came from outside again.

"Damn it! I think I left my money pouch in there!" came Boss Ma's annoyed voice.

The clear sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the silent hold, piercingly loud.

Cheng Ge and the others went pale, their hearts sinking. They knew they were in trouble!

No time to get back to their hiding spot. The second he came in, they'd be caught red-handed!

The hatch was pushed open violently, and Ma Tou'er stepped in carrying a lantern.

The light instantly flooded the cabin, revealing Cheng Ge and the others who were standing in the middle and didn't have time to fully conceal themselves!

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Damn! Thieves!" Ma Tou'er's pupils constricted abruptly; he reacted instantly, his scarred face twisting as he roared fiercely.

At the same time, he drew his waist sword with a clang, "Someone! Thieves in the cargo hold! Arm yourselves!"

This shout was like a thunderclap, instantly exploding across the entire dock.

"They've found us! Rush out, into the water!" Cheng Ge knew their luck had run out; he acted without hesitation and drew his short blade.