Chapter 88

However, just as Zhou Chong was preparing to return home for the New Year, on the southeastern side of the northern port of Shuangyu, several men dressed in Japanese attire, carrying large bundles on their backs, were slowly making their way along a rugged mountain path. The cliffs here were covered with strange rocks, and the area was rarely visited by people. Below the cliffs was a sea full of reefs, making it impossible for ships to navigate. Therefore, it was difficult to approach this place from either land or sea. It was unclear why this group of Japanese had come here.

All the Japanese men were in their twenties or thirties, each carrying a Japanese sword, exuding a fierce and violent aura. The leader, unlike the others who carried bundles and weapons, walked empty-handed, dressed in Ming clothing. If not for his unusually short stature and the peculiar hairstyle, he might have been mistaken for a Ming person.

The group walked halfway down the cliff, then passed through a thicket and followed a very hidden mountain path to the bottom of the cliff. They then walked forward for several dozen meters along the uneven rocks, finally arriving at a relatively flat area at the base of the cliff. The leader took out a strange whistle from his chest and blew three long and three short signals, then looked up.

About two zhang (about 6.6 meters) above where the group stood, there was a cave entrance in the cliff wall, large enough for a person to enter. Upon hearing the signal, someone inside the cave poked their head out to look down, then lowered a large basket suspended by a rope. The Japanese men first placed their bundles in the basket and hoisted them up, then they themselves climbed up in the basket to the cave entrance on the cliff wall.

Although the cave entrance was small, once inside, it was evident that the space was quite large. The cave was about two zhang high and at least five or six zhang deep. In the center of the cave, a circle of quilts and mattresses was laid out, and several Japanese men were sitting there, idly polishing their swords.

"Mr. Uesugi, it's been a while. How have you been?" The leader of the Japanese men, dressed in Ming clothing, smiled as he entered the cave and greeted one of the men sitting there.

The man called "Mr. Uesugi" was a robust figure with a large, flat face, thick eyebrows, and a broad, muscular build, clearly not a good person. Indeed, this Uesugi was none other than Uesugi Koji, the leader of the Uesugi Guild who had escaped during the chaos when Zhou Chong and his group destroyed the guild.

After escaping, Uesugi Koji had hidden in this cave he had prepared long ago. Zhou Chong and his group had searched the coast for many days, and some people had even come to this area, but because the cave's location was too hidden and invisible from the cliff, no one had discovered it.

Uesugi Koji, with his broad, muscular face, coldly snorted when he saw the Japanese man dressed in Ming clothing enter. "So it's you, Mr. Ise. Didn't you say last time that you would only help me once and didn't want to see me again? Why are you here today?"

The Japanese man dressed in Ming clothing was named Ise Takanori, the leader of the Ise Guild in the northern port. Initially, he, along with Uesugi Koji and Park Won-gang of the Jeolla Guild, had forced San Niang and Uncle Tu, thinking they could take a big bite out of the declining Nanyang Guild. However, when Zhou Chong appeared, he quickly destroyed the Jeolla and Uesugi Guilds. Fortunately, Ise Takanori had not been involved in human trafficking, so he escaped unscathed.

Uesugi Koji had waited in the cave until the heat died down, then secretly sent someone to find Ise Takanori, hoping to use his power for revenge, especially against Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun, who had initiated the destruction of the Uesugi Guild. However, Ise Takanori, seeing the strength of the Nanyang Guild and the Xie family, was unwilling to provoke them. He only reluctantly helped a little out of old friendship and hoped Uesugi Koji would not bother him again, which made Uesugi Koji very dissatisfied.

Seeing that Uesugi Koji did not seem to welcome him, Ise Takanori was not bothered. Instead, he smiled and sat down next to him. "Mr. Uesugi, we are old friends of over ten years. Last time, I lent you a ship to send the situation back to Japan, so I have fulfilled my duty as a friend."

Ise Takanori gestured to the people behind him, and they immediately opened their bundles, taking out wine and food and placing them in front of the two men. Ise Takanori personally poured a cup of wine for Uesugi Koji. "Mr. Uesugi, the reason I refused your request for revenge last time was due to the difficult circumstances. After all, the Nanyang Guild, the Xie family, and the Hong family are so powerful that even the strongest Ashikaga Guild would not dare to provoke them. I hope you can understand."

Seeing Ise Takanori offer him wine and apologize, Uesugi Koji realized that Ise Takanori must have something to discuss with him. He suppressed his dissatisfaction, picked up the wine cup, and drank it in one gulp. "Alright, Mr. Ise, just say what you want. I don't like beating around the bush."

Ise Takanori understood Uesugi Koji's personality. Seeing that he was willing to drink, he was pleased and got straight to the point. "Good, Mr. Uesugi is still as straightforward as ever. I came here today on someone's behalf to discuss a major matter with you. If you agree, I can guarantee that you will have a place in Shuangyu Port in the future."

"Shuangyu Port?" Uesugi Koji laughed coldly. "I have not only offended the Nanyang Guild but am also being hunted by almost all the Ming guilds. Now, all I can do is wait for a ship from Japan to take me away. I will either starve to death in Japan or become a pirate and wander around. How can I possibly return to Shuangyu Port?"

Uesugi Koji was very clear about his situation. Human trafficking had made him an enemy of most Ming smugglers, and he could no longer stay in Shuangyu Port. He had even been considering where to become a pirate.

"Of course it's possible. Although the Ming merchants are currently the most powerful in Shuangyu Port, the key is the Nanyang Guild, the Xie family, and the Hong family. They are unfriendly to us Japanese, and with their leadership, it's easy to unite the Ming merchants and force us to follow their rules. But if we can eliminate these three, the Ming merchants will be leaderless, and with their tendency to fight among themselves, plus our support, who will care about Mr. Uesugi's affairs?" Ise Takanori explained with a smile.

"Eliminate the Nanyang Guild, the Xie family, and the Hong family? With us?" Uesugi Koji, though fierce and rough, was not stupid. Hearing Ise Takanori's plan to eliminate three of the four major guilds in Shuangyu Port, he naturally did not believe it and looked at Ise Takanori as if he were a fool.

However, Ise Takanori was not angry. He picked up the wine jug, refilled the cups for Uesugi Koji and himself, and then sat up straight. "Of course, we are not a match for the Nanyang Guild in a direct confrontation. But you know, the Nanyang Guild was originally scattered. It was Zhou Chong, the son of Zhou Hai, who brought it back together. He was the key figure in destroying the Jeolla and Uesugi Guilds. If we can eliminate him, not only can you take revenge, but the Nanyang Guild will also fall into disarray again."

Hearing Ise Takanori finally reveal his true intentions, Uesugi Koji laughed coldly. "So that's it. Mr. Ise, you came to see me today just to use me as a tool to eliminate Zhou Chong, your greatest threat!"

Seeing Uesugi Koji's sharp insight, Ise Takanori did not even blush. He continued to smile. "Mr. Uesugi, don't put it so harshly. We all have our own interests. We will help you take revenge and help you regain a foothold in Shuangyu Port. All you need to do is eliminate Zhou Chong. It's a very good deal."

Uesugi Koji knew he could not refuse Ise Takanori's request. First, he had nothing left, and the conditions offered were impossible to refuse. Second, he was hiding like a rat, and the Nanyang Guild was still hunting him. If he refused, and Ise Takanori betrayed him, his fate would be tragic.

Thinking about this, Uesugi Koji finally gritted his teeth, his facial muscles twitching. He finally said, "Alright! I'll do it. But I want to know, you keep saying 'we.' Who else is involved besides you?"

Uesugi Koji knew Ise Takanori well. If he did not have a powerful backer, he would not have come to him. Uesugi Koji wanted to know who was behind Ise Takanori and whether they had the power to fulfill their promises.

Ise Takanori smiled lightly. "The Ming merchants are united against outsiders. For us Japanese to survive in Shuangyu Port, we cannot just fight among ourselves. Although we had different positions before, which led to some conflicts, under the pressure of the Ming merchants, we must put aside our differences and unite to defeat the powerful Ming merchants."

Although Ise Takanori did not directly answer, Uesugi Koji understood. He pointed at Ise Takanori in shock. "You... you are actually allied with the Ashikaga Guild?"

"Mr. Uesugi, for the sake of interests, enemies can become friends. Zhou Chong is ruthless, and we cannot let him live. If we have the chance, we cannot let the clever Miss Xie live either," Ise Takanori's eyes flashed with a cold light, looking like a hungry wolf ready to pounce.