Chapter 276
Indeed, there were no bandits in the Qinchuan area because the bandits were the officials, and the officials were bandits.
After Mo Mingmi surrendered, he became the commander guarding Qinchuan Pass and attracted all the local bandits and robbers to his side as well. Mo Mingmi appointed eighteen of them as colonels all at once. Some looked after the roads and some controlled the waterways, each person in charge of a distinct area.
Whoever did business had to pay a certain protection fee to pass their roads. The contraband like private salt, tea, iron wares, and such, were entirely monopolized by them.
The Dragon in the Clouds was one of the eighteen colonels who had an area under his control. This is why he tried to rob Gao Feibao's goods along the road he monitored. Thanks to Gao Feibao, who had been swift to act, Cheng Dalei had the chance to meet him.
"Appointing eighteen all at once..." Cheng Dalei sneered, "Look at this illiterate move."
