The pirates, as it turned out, were extremely loyal to their ancestral craft.
They were far better at running away than fighting.
The moment their courage collapsed, the smaller pirate boats scattered like a flock of startled birds. Hundreds of sampans fled eastward in a chaotic rush, disappearing into the vast yellow waters of the flooded Yellow River in the blink of an eye.
The Gao Family Village flat-bottomed ships were few in number. There was no way to pursue everyone.
So they chose wisely.
They locked onto one single target.
The pirate flagship.
That ship had once been an imperial warship—medium-sized, sturdy, freshly seized from the government forces. Fan Zhoulong had barely had time to enjoy his brief fantasy of being a "grand naval commander" before he saw a flat-bottomed cargo ship pivot, align, and charge straight toward him at terrifying speed.
Fan Zhoulong nearly screamed himself hoarse.
"Don't come over here!"
A subordinate beside him howled in panic, "Boss! Abandon ship! Take a small boat and run!"
That shout snapped Fan Zhoulong back to reality.
This warship was too big.
Too conspicuous.
Too slow.
It was impossible to escape in it.
Without hesitation, he abandoned the vessel, leaping onto a nearby skiff and rowing like a madman, face pale, posture pathetic. As he fled, he watched helplessly as the flat-bottomed ship slid up beside the abandoned warship and reclaimed it with effortless ease.
Fan Zhoulong could only grind his teeth and curse under his breath as he vanished into the distance.
Not long after, the river surface grew calm again.
The pirates had come like a storm—and vanished just as suddenly, leaving no trace behind.
The flat-bottomed ships of Gao Family Village slowly returned to shore, towing the recovered warship and hauling back a large number of captured sampans.
The moment they docked, Hengshui Town exploded into cheers.
"So powerful!"
"Master Bai's men are unbelievable!"
"They beat the pirates!"
"Those beasts finally got what they deserved!"
"Those scoundrels robbed me on that island a few days ago—took everything I had!"
"They violated the Zhang family's daughter and slaughtered her whole household!"
"My daughter…"
"My daughter's vengeance… does this count as revenge?"
Joy and grief mixed together.
There was relief—because the pirates had been driven off.
And sorrow—because the dead would never come back.
From the golden image resting against Bai Yuan's chest came a quiet sigh.
Even Dao Xuan Tianzun was moved.
"Bai Yuan," he said softly, "take this chance. Bring the common folk with us. Have them help build a water stronghold."
Bai Yuan's eyes lit up.
"Understood."
He stepped forward, climbed onto a high rooftop overlooking the refugee camp, pulled out a tin megaphone, and raised it to his lips.
"Ahem… hello? Hello? Can you hear me?"
For reasons unknown, those words were always spoken first into a megaphone.
The refugee camp answered in unison.
"We can hear you!"
Bai Yuan raised one hand.
The entire crowd fell silent.
Between the porridge that had saved their lives and the battle that had driven off the pirates, Bai Yuan had already earned their trust twice over. At this moment, not a single person dared speak while he stood there.
Bai Yuan spoke loudly.
"My friends, that group of pirates just now—did they rob you of everything you had?"
"Yes!"
"Those bastards!"
"I wish I could eat their flesh!"
"A pack of shameless thieves!"
Anger surged like a tide.
Bai Yuan raised both hands. It took some effort before the noise died down.
He continued calmly.
"Your homes have been swallowed by the Yellow River. No one knows when the floodwaters will recede. And even if they do, your land will not be usable for a very long time."
The crowd fell silent again.
They all knew this was true.
Once land was submerged by the Yellow River, it became part of the dreaded Yellow Flood Zone. The soil would be ruined. Crops wouldn't grow. Plagues would follow.
Worse still—when the Yellow River abandoned its channel, it became a river without bounds.
A wandering water dragon.
It would roam the plains at will.
Which meant the flood zone itself would keep shifting.
For years to come, returning home would be impossible.
Bai Yuan asked quietly, "No homes. No money. How will you live from now on?"
No one answered.
Not a single person.
Bai Yuan nodded.
"I have a solution."
Heads lifted instantly.
Eyes filled with desperate hope locked onto him.
"The pirates took your money," Bai Yuan said evenly.
"So why don't you take it back?"
The crowd stirred.
"We'll seize their water stronghold," he continued.
"And then—we'll live there ourselves."
"Wouldn't that be a fine life?"
Murmurs rippled through the refugees.
"That… actually makes sense."
"That's right! They stole my money—it's only right I take it back!"
"Once the pirates are gone, their stronghold will be empty. We'll have homes again!"
"But how will we live after that?"
"We can fish."
"I don't know how."
"Neither do I—but we can learn."
"There's no farmland left anyway."
"The Yellow Flood Zone won't support crops for years."
"And even then, the officials will still come to collect taxes!"
The discussion grew heated.
Bai Yuan smiled faintly.
"Don't forget," he said, "I'm here."
"I'll help you settle down in the water stronghold."
Then he asked clearly:
"How many of you are willing to follow me to Xiaolangdi—to the pirate stronghold?"
"I am!"
"Our whole family will go!"
"I'll go too!"
At first, only a handful stepped forward.
Then more.
Once over half the crowd agreed, momentum took over. Those who hesitated found themselves swept along, unwilling to be left behind.
In truth…
This was coercion.
What Bai Yuan was doing resembled the tactics of roving bandits.
But the difference lay in intent.
Bandits forced people into becoming tools.
Li Daoxuan forced them to survive.
Bai Yuan announced,
"Tonight, rest well."
"Tomorrow morning, eat your fill."
"We'll march by land to Eagle Beak Mountain—"
"And seize the pirates' Yellow Turban Fortress!"
"Good!"
"Let's wipe out those thieves!"
"We're attacking a pirate stronghold—why does that sound so exciting?!"
"I won't be able to sleep tonight! I'll bring my hoe!"
"My hoe's gone—flood took it. I'll grab a stick instead!"
Hearing this, Bai Yuan burst out laughing, half amused, half exasperated.
"What are you all excited for?" he said helplessly.
"My men will handle the fighting."
"You just need to cheer from behind."
"There's no need for you to fight at all."