Chapter 686: Chapter 686

After hearing Li Ma's words, Sang Tian's eyes widened in shock.

When Li Ma had arrived, his words were different, initially intending to persuade Haji's subordinates to defect to Hezhe.

But now, at the critical moment, Li Ma said he was an ally of Ding Fan, stating that if Ding Fan encountered any difficulties, General Hezhe would certainly help, and he also mentioned that Haji's subordinates who had already defected would be promptly dispersed by General Hezhe.

"Li Ma, are you mistaken…" Sang Tian said, looking at Li Ma beside him.

Anyone clever could see that now was the best time to takeover Peach Blossom Garden, and Sang Tian didn't believe that General Hezhe would really give up this opportunity.

"What I'm saying is the truth…" Li Ma said this and walked directly past Sang Tian to stand next to Huang Can.

"Mr. Huang Can, General Hezhe said that if you need help here, we will extend a helping hand immediately."

Li Ma's words were clear, so everyone present heard them loud and clear.

The leaders who had been observing initially soon made up their minds.

"Haji is unscrupulous, we won't seek revenge for such a man. We support Mr. Ding Fan…"

"Yes, we support General Ding Fan!" …

Huang Can watched these leaders who had been hesitant just moments before now clearly taking a stand. Huang Can didn't think this was his own doing.

Huang Can understood that things had turned out this way because of Ding Fan's efforts on the other side.

At that moment, Huang Can's admiration for Ding Fan grew even more.

Although Ding Fan was not here, the crisis was resolved because of him. Previously, these people were nearly swayed by Sang Tian to go to Hezhe, but now, they all chose to stay.

"Are you still planning to follow Sang Tian?" Huang Can coldly looked at those standing beside Sang Tian.

The people beside Sang Tian were merely attendants, only sticking around for a more comfortable future.

At this moment, all the leaders chose to support Ding Fan; how could these few minions continue to stand with Sang Tian against Huang Can?

Instantly, everyone on Sang Tian's side put down their guns.

At this point, Sang Tian realized that the situation was beyond salvation.

Previously, Sang Tian and Hezhe had discussed enticing people here to their side, after which Hezhe promised to give Sang Tian control of a region to govern as a minor Tusi.

Sang Tian's dream of becoming a Tusi had not materialized, and now he had become the target of everyone.

"Since Sang Tian has harbored thoughts of betrayal, I cannot tolerate you any longer," Huang Can finished saying and ordered his men, "Take Sang Tian down."

After Huang Can gave the order, several gunmen moved towards Sang Tian, pointing their guns directly at his head.

"Don't… don't… don't do this…" Sang Tian panicked a bit.

Having a gun pointed at your head definitely wasn't a pleasant feeling. Sang Tian was originally just a sleazy older man; having a gun pointed at his head was a first for him.

In that moment, Sang Tian's legs trembled uncontrollably.

"Li Ma, quickly speak up for me, save me…" Sang Tian pleaded with Li Ma standing nearby.

Li Ma glanced at Sang Tian, then shook his head slightly. "Sang Tian, General Hezhe said, you are a greedy person who would betray your own brothers just for a region to govern. Such a person is completely despised by General Hezhe…"

Sang Tian was no fool, and understood clearly from Li Ma's words that they had abandoned him.

"Li Ma, I came here to recruit people for you, and now that I am in trouble, you really won't help?" Sang Tian raised his voice as he spoke.

Li Ma shook his head slightly. "This is an internal affair for you; I am merely an envoy, I can't intervene in your matters," he replied.

Having said this, Li Ma formally turned to Huang Can. "Mr. Huang Can, I hope you won't hold the previous misunderstanding against me. I need to return to General Hezhe's side now, may I?" Google seaʀᴄh 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥

Huang Can knew exactly what misunderstanding Li Ma was referring to. Thinking back, if Ding Fan hadn't helped this time, it might have been himself with a gun to his head because of Li Ma's instigation.

Though Huang Can didn't have a good impression of Li Ma, he couldn't really act against him now.

With the cleanup of Peach Blossom Garden imminent, it wasn't a good time to create external enemies.

Immediately, Huang Can nodded, then arranged for someone to escort Li Ma away.

Watching Li Ma really walk away without intervening, Sang Tian cursed loudly; he hadn't expected such an outcome. He had come back to recruit people for Hezhe, but when he fell into peril, there was nobody by his side to help.

"Huang Can... I realize my mistake, please let me go…" By now, Sang Tian understood that no one could save him. The only one who could truly save him was himself.

"Send Sang Tian to work in the opium fields," Huang Can said, too lazy to even glance at Sang Tian again.

At this moment, Sang Tian went limp, collapsing directly to the ground, starting his life as a prisoner.

Sang Tian inwardly cursed himself for being a fool. Instead of being a leader, he had foolishly aspired to govern a region as a Tusi…

Didn't he know to wear pants that fit his size? Now, not only did he fail to become a Tusi, but he also ended up captured and imprisoned.

Just then, two subordinates arrived and without further ado, dragged Sang Tian away.

"Now, let's discuss the reorganization of the military," Huang Can said at that moment.

With Sang Tian taken away, the entire atmosphere in the villa had changed.

All the leaders, big and small, could now feel that things were serious this time; thus, by now, everyone was sitting properly in their places, no longer daring to waste another word.

Huang Can continued, "Let's start with the military re-equipment..."

When Ding Fan left General Hezhe's villa, General Hezhe was personally leading people to see him off.

Ding Fan had only stayed in the meeting room for an hour, but for General Hezhe and his men, it had felt almost like a century.

The formidable presence that Ding Fan exhibited had completely exceeded their expectations, and his powerful actions deeply intimidated General Hezhe and his subordinates.

Moreover, Ding Fan had not only used physical force as a deterrent; he also invoked the name of the Red Spider.

The Red Spider already had a substantial reputation in Yahuan State, and recently, the Sankou Group had suffered successive defeats at the Red Spider's hands. Now, the Red Spider was indeed at the height of its power.

Ding Fan, however, did not claim to be the boss behind Red Spider; he merely stated that he had many connections with the Red Spider and that he would provide much support in many matters.

General Hezhe had not the slightest distrust of Ding Fan's words.

A man who could move instantaneously and embed a dagger into a solid wood coffee table, hilt-deep, with bare hands...

How could such a person possibly be a liar?

After being completely intimidated by Ding Fan, the remaining matters became much simpler; the conditions that Ding Fan set forth were exactly those Li Ma had mentioned inside Haji's Villa.

Afterward, General Hezhe even made promises to ensure that he would absolutely not dare have any foul intentions toward Ding Fan's jurisdiction.

In fact, General Hezhe really had no malicious intentions left toward Ding Fan's territories, as Ding Fan's combat power was too overwhelming. If someone could enter a villa guarded by dozens of men, and if they genuinely harbored lethal intentions, then they wouldn't even know how they died.

After leaving General Hezhe, Ding Fan directly returned to Peach Blossom Garden.

Upon returning to Peach Blossom Garden, Huang Can came over and shared some plans regarding the military reorganization with Ding Fan.

After hearing these plans, Ding Fan felt that this Huang Can was indeed a rare military talent. At this point, Ding Fan even felt a bit sorry for Haji.

If Haji had employed Huang Can earlier, he might have had greater glory on Mali Island.

In the following days, Ding Fan did not leave, because he still needed to support Huang Can in maintaining control.

Since Ding Fan was optimistic about Mali Island, he had to take control of it. Now, with the situation just beginning to stabilize, Ding Fan planned to wait until everything was on track before leaving the place.

During these few days, General Hezhe's men indeed did not come over to cause trouble; in fact, upon seeing people from Peach Blossom Garden, General Hezhe's men now avoided them.

As for the other Tusi still maintaining a wait-and-see attitude, they also abandoned their plans to attack Ding Fan.

If General Hezhe's numerous forces did not dare to provoke Ding Fan lightly, how could they dare take the risk?

However, not everything was going smoothly. On the third day of Ding Fan's stay, people from Japan did show up.

The visitors were naturally from the Sankou Group.

While Huang Can was adequate at restructuring the military, he was stretched thin when it came to dealing with such situations.

Since Ding Fan was already on Mali Island and since the old adversaries of the Sankou Group had sought him out, he decided to meet them in person.

He chose Haji's former villa as the place to meet the Sankou Group.

After a discussion, Ding Fan discovered their intentions were clear - they hoped he would release all members of the Sankou Group in Mali and return all assets collected from Ronin Bar.

But Ding Fan had no intention of complying.

After all, Japan's rise had occurred through a series of aggressive wars. Besides, once Ding Fan had taken something, he had no intention of giving it back.

The representatives of the Sankou Group, having been definitively refused by Ding Fan, had no choice but to return early.

Ding Fan knew this matter would not simply be let go. In the future, he would no doubt clash fiercely with the Sankou Group again.

However, Ding Fan wasn't particularly concerned. He had already killed the leader of the Sankou Group; facing them in battle again, he wasn't particularly apprehensive.

In a villa somewhere in Huaxia Country,

Bian Zhimu stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, staring blankly in an unknown direction, wondering what he was thinking about.

"Young master, the gang forces in Yahuan State are almost all pessimistic about us... The Sankou Group has sent another communique today, declaring a complete severance of ties with you and has proactively communicated with the Red Spider, claiming to want peace talks," said a middle-aged man in a suit, looking concerned.

Bian Zhimu snorted lightly. "The Sankou Group is just a pawn. Initially, I wanted to use the Sankou Group to devour Red Spider to intimidate other powers and then consolidate these forces for my use. But now that all has come to nothing, we might as well find another way."

The man in the suit nodded. "There's another piece of news, young master. Shortly after you left Mali, Ronin Bar was raided, and it's said that many of the Sankou Group's people fell there..."