Volume One, Chapter 13: The Gang's Internal War

In the southern commercial district, the area was divided into three zones, with a total of fifty-eight offices managing various affairs.

Within the Star-Picking Pavilion on Zhanhua Street in the Changkong Zone, Su Ming sat quietly, listening to Liu Lecheng deftly calculating profits with his abacus. Since Chen Dao was dead, his assets could not be wasted. Liu Lecheng was quite skilled at such matters.

He had gathered his brothers and moved everything from Chen Dao’s home—gold, silver, jewels, banknotes, antiques—cleaned it out completely.

“Boss, after tallying it all up, selling off Chen Dao’s assets can fetch about ten thousand taels of silver. Adding the dividends from the shopkeepers at the end of the month, we have roughly thirty thousand taels in total,” Liu Lecheng reported.

“Have you already sent ten thousand taels to Third Master Hu, as I instructed? What did he say?” Su Ming asked.

“Yes, the money was delivered. Third Master Hu replied that as long as we don’t provoke him, Qi Wei won’t cause us any trouble openly,” Liu Lecheng responded.

“Hm,” Su Ming nodded faintly.

Chen Dao had been an old shopkeeper on Zhanhua Street, with some assets accumulated over the years. But Su Ming couldn’t possibly keep all that money to himself. There was the imperial court on the surface and the threats of Third Master Hu and Qi Wei behind the scenes, so he had to make some compromises.

All ten thousand taels just received were sent to Third Master Hu to shield against Qi Wei.

This was Su Ming’s decision and his reluctant choice.

After all, with his current strength, he was no match for Qi Wei.

Su Ming calculated quietly in his mind: about half a month had passed. Even after unifying Zhanhua Street for reform, the gap to the system-issued target of one hundred thousand taels was still vast.

At this rate, after three months, they might only reach about sixty thousand taels—far from completing the system’s task. He had to find another way to raise funds.

Just then, a gang member rushed in anxiously, saying, “Boss Su, bad news! Pang Yong from the neighboring street has attacked Zhanhua Street!”

Su Ming frowned upon hearing this. Pang Yong, nicknamed Third Knife Pang, had also been with the Hehai Gang for years and was now a minor leader in charge of Zilin Slope adjacent to Zhanhua Street. Su Ming had some knowledge of him when he rose to minor leader rank, but they had never crossed paths.

“What happened?” Su Ming asked.

“I’m not sure. The brothers were just patrolling normally when Third Knife Pang and his gang charged in from the west side of Zhanhua Street, smashing everything in sight. The newly built spots were wrecked, and the customers all fled,” the gang member hurriedly explained.

Liu Lecheng frowned and said, “Boss Su, Third Knife Pang is under Qi Wei’s wing. Could this be related? After all, it hasn’t been long since the Chen Dao incident…”

Su Ming stood up and picked up the long sword beside him. “Go see for yourself.”

The two immediately nodded and followed him toward the door. But just as they reached the entrance, a figure clad in black and red appeared before them.

“Where are you all heading?”

A man with a goatee wearing a black gauze hat, dark red robe, and black shoes blocked their way with a smiling face.

Liu Lecheng greeted him with a slight groan and a forced smile, “Lord Yan, what wind blows you here? If you had given us a heads-up, I would have prepared some wine and food to welcome you properly.”

Su Ming recognized him as an official from the imperial court but wasn’t sure of his rank.

Liu Lecheng explained, “Boss Su, allow me to introduce: this is Lord Yan Yu, the chief constable in charge of Zhanhua Street and the surrounding three streets.”

Su Ming cupped his fists in greeting. It was best to maintain good relations with such a person. “Lord Yan, I’ve heard much of your fame.”

Yan Yu returned the smile, eyes gleaming with meaning. “I say, Boss Su, you’re the truly famous one. Why don’t we go inside and talk?”

Su Ming and the others stiffened. Third Knife Pang was still wreaking havoc on the west side of Zhanhua Street. There was no time for chatting. The shopkeepers were nearly hoarse from shouting. If this wasn’t resolved quickly, their financial lifeline would be completely cut off.

After three months, there would be no need to wait for system punishment; Su Ming could just hang himself.

“Lord Yan, I’m tied up with some matters now. Let’s talk another day. I promise I’ll prepare a proper feast for you,” Su Ming hesitated but replied.

“No discussion. We talk now,” Yan Yu said with a smile, though his tone was firm and unyielding.

“Talk about what?” Su Ming frowned.

“About you killing the Chen family’s shopkeeper without cause and embezzling his property. If you won’t talk today, I’ll have my men bring you to the magistrate’s office for a chat. How’s that?” Yan Yu’s smile grew colder.

Su Ming snorted coldly. “Lord Yan, you’ve put a heavy accusation on me. As far as I know, someone has already confessed to the magistrate regarding Chen Dao’s matter. If you slander me like this, aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to the imperial court?”

“Oh ho ho,” Yan Yu clicked his tongue. “Boss Su, you’ve got quite the mouth. But you should stop those childish tricks. If I want, I have a hundred ways to make your men inside talk. Just don’t know if you trust your own brothers. If you’re really that righteous.”

Su Ming fell silent. Paying others to take the blame was a common trick.

But if the brothers who took the fall were tortured, Su Ming wasn’t so sure he could keep his resolve.

“Bring it on,” Su Ming stepped aside and gestured them forward.

“That’s what I like to hear, my Boss Su,” Yan Yu grinned, swaggering into the Star-Picking Pavilion.

Inside the upper chamber, only three people were present. Liu Lecheng stood guard at the door to prevent eavesdropping. The rest had been sent out to hold back Third Knife Pang.

Suppressing his anger, Su Ming poured tea and spoke, “What brings you here, Lord Yan?”

“Good tea,” Yan Yu sipped lightly before continuing, “You guys know how to enjoy yourselves—living in the finest inn on Zhanhua Street, sipping premium tea. Ah, if only I could join you someday—eat, drink, and wield power. What a life that would be.”

Su Ming ignored the mockery and asked, “As far as I know, Liu Lecheng has taken care of all the factions. I assume he hasn’t forgotten you, Lord Yan?”

“Mm, mm, it’s all taken care of,” Yan Yu nodded hurriedly, spitting tea leaves onto the table, “One hundred taels of silver—that’s more than a year’s salary for me. Boss Su really knows how to spend. Even a small chief constable like me gets a hundred taels. Impressive, impressive.”

Su Ming caught the implication and refilled the tea calmly. “I understand now. This was my oversight. Please don’t take offense, Lord Yan. I hear your seventieth birthday approaches. I will have Liu Lecheng deliver five hundred taels on an auspicious day as a token of respect.”

“Lord Yan, what do you think?”