Chapter 255
Chapter 255
Hwang Dong had always been plump, but after rushing about everywhere, he had become rail-thin. Shen Lang had thought he might become handsome if he lost weight, but to his surprise, he only grew uglier, shattering any illusions Shen Lang had harbored about him. It was clear there was a reason Hwang Dong and Hwang Bong were siblings. In any case, the construction of Leizhou Island and Raging Tide City was proceeding at a furious pace. Of course, it would still take another two or three years to see the fruits of their labor.
After acquiring Raging Tide City, the Count of Xuanwu's Estate had not actually reaped any significant profits or gained anything tangible; instead, they were saddled with a massive debt of two million gold taels. Some might ask:
“You brought down Qiu Tianwei's fortress, so surely there must have been money there? Aren't pirates usually rich? Don't tell me Qiu Tianwei didn't have a single secret vault?”
Indeed, there was a secret vault. After taking Raging Tide City, the first thing Shen Lang did was inspect Qiu Tianwei's secret vault. But in the end, the vault contained only three hundred thousand gold taels. Shen Lang knew that Qiu Tianwei had paid his pirate crew a huge sum in gold as an expeditionary fund when preparing to attack Wang'ai Island. Even so, it was hard to believe a man who called himself the Pirate King had so little money. Shen Lang was sure Qiu Tianwei must have had another secret vault, but a man named An Zaetian mercilessly crushed his hopes, confirming there were no others.
Qiu Tianwei truly had only that much. He had to support ten thousand Red-Tide pirates, and all the money he had saved up had been poured into building this immense, sturdy fortress. Shen Lang was puzzled.
‘Raging Tide City is a hub of trade, with opportunities to make money everywhere. Just collecting taxes should bring in a fortune...’
Only after a detailed investigation into this question did Shen Lang learn the truth. It was because while Qiu Tianwei took a share of the profits from all business conducted in Raging Tide City, he held no actual control. All control was in the hands of the Hidden Yuan Society.
The fact that they couldn't turn a profit from Raging Tide City anytime soon was true enough, but there were even more daunting problems. Wang'ai Island, the site of the fierce battle with the Pirate King, was completely devastated. The great mine pit was filled with seawater and countless corpses. It would take over half a month of cleanup just to recover all the bodies, and then the massive pit would have to be filled. Furthermore, the explosion in the great mine had blocked all the water channels, meaning they had to wait for the seawater to evaporate and dry up—who knew how much more time that would take.
Although the devastated Wang'ai Island could no longer produce salt and iron as it once did, the Count of Xuanwu's Estate now fortunately had Jinshan Island. The iron ore produced on Jinshan Island was of high quality, so all of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate's smelting workshops were moved there.
* * *
Xu Qianqian returned home and began the arduous journey of rebuilding her family's business. She had nothing. No money, no workshops; even all the shops owned by the Xu Clan had been forcibly sold to pay off their remaining debts. The Xu Clan's mansion was mostly burned down, and all the servants had fled. Eventually, she went to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate again.
This time, however, she sought not Shen Lang, but Jin Mulan. Her purpose was simple: to borrow money. To be honest, the Count of Xuanwu's Estate was currently poorer than she was. Xu Qianqian was merely broke, but the Count of Xuanwu's Estate was nearly two million gold taels in debt.
Of course, the Heavenly Path Society had already started the mirror business, but the glass mirrors were still in the introductory phase and needed more time to become coveted luxury items and gain a competitive edge. A few mirrors, however, did fetch absolutely astonishing prices at auction. The wealthy bid the prices of glass mirrors sky-high simply to show off. But no matter how high the price for a single mirror, the Jin Clan only received the money from selling the glass itself.
Although the Jin Clan received a great deal of money for the glass, their expenses were even greater. They had to train soldiers and maintain a naval escort to protect their trade ships from pirates preying on the sea routes, which incurred unavoidable expenses. On top of that, they had to relocate citizens, so money poured out like water from a bottomless pot. But despite her family's financial situation, Jin Mulan lent Xu Qianqian the money. A full fifty thousand gold taels!
* * *
The King's edict had yet to arrive, and Zhang Chong was still imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review. It seemed the King had completely forgotten about the existence of Raging Tide City. But without an edict from the King enfeoffing Raging Tide City to the Jin Clan, they could not legitimately rule it.
Even a conservative man like Count Xuanwu could no longer bear it and came to Shen Lang to discuss the matter. In the meantime, envoys from the State of Wu had come and gone more than a dozen times, their offers growing higher with each visit.
“To relay their words, they offered to dispatch troops to help us eliminate Qiu Hu and seize the Leizhou Archipelago on our behalf. Furthermore, if we were to occupy the Leizhou Archipelago and betray the State of Yue, the King of Wu would enfeoff me as the Marquis of Xuanwu.”
Count Xuanwu, of course, was not suggesting they betray the State of Yue. He was merely asking Shen Lang whether they should leak the news—spread rumors that the Jin Clan was negotiating with the State of Wu—to force the King of Yue to stop ignoring Raging Tide City and the Jin Clan, and to create a sense of urgency.
“No. That is a last resort. It's a card we should never play unless we have no other choice.”
If the Count of Xuanwu's Estate were to voluntarily spread such rumors, they would be accused of betraying the State of Yue.
“What on earth is the King thinking? It has been nearly two months since he delayed the enfeoffment.”
“First, he is waiting to see how the war with the Southern Ou Kingdom unfolds. Second, he is waiting for our reaction.”
* * *
Two days later.
Astounding news arrived from the capital, which had long been silent. After two months of deliberation, the treason of the Count of Jinhai's Estate was confirmed. The Tang Clan had over seven hundred members in total; of them, three hundred fifty-eight were beheaded in public, and three hundred eighty-five were demoted to the status of slaves and exiled. Tang Lun, the former Count of Jinhai, was sentenced to execution by waist chop! At the capital's execution grounds, blood literally flowed like a river, and heads rolled everywhere. The commoners who had gathered to watch were initially fascinated, but later retreated to vomit. Some even thrashed in their sleep, plagued by nightmares.
Just hearing the rumors of how brutally the King had executed people sent a chill down everyone's spine. Finally, an edict was delivered to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. However, it was not an edict to promote Count Xuanwu to Marquis, nor was it one to enfeoff Raging Tide City to the Jin Clan.
“The Leizhou Archipelago shall be incorporated into the Lu River Commandery. Raging Tide City and Tianfeng City are to be placed under its administration, and Jin Shiying is hereby appointed as the Lord of Raging Tide City. Respect this!”
Previously, the King had never included the two words 'Respect this!' in any edict sent to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. But this time, the edict appointing Jin Shiying contained those two words. And there was another edict, to be delivered to Tianfeng Island, appointing Qiu Hu as the Lord of Tianfeng City. Upon seeing the edict, Count Xuanwu, Jin Zhuo, was first stunned, then erupted in fury.
‘King, what is the meaning of this? Jin Shiying is clearly a vassal of my house, yet you appoint him Lord of Raging Tide City? Is this not an attempt to sow discord and drive us apart?’
After the Count of Xuanwu's Estate received the edict, Jin Shiying rushed back and swore an oath to the heavens. He declared that he would never accept the edict or the position of Lord of Raging Tide City, and that he would even commit suicide to prove his resolve. But Count Xuanwu would not let Jin Shiying kill himself. Now, two paths lay before him: obey the edict or defy it. In the end, the Count chose to accept it. This was because Shen Lang had nodded his assent. And so, Raging Tide City and Tianfeng City were formally incorporated into the territory of the State of Yue, becoming two cities under the jurisdiction of the Lu River Commandery.
Jin Shiying's position skyrocketed from a chiliarch of the Count of Xuanwu's private army to the Lord of Raging Tide City. That night, Jin Shiying knelt before Shen Lang.
“I, Jin Shiying, am an orphan, raised by the Jin Clan since childhood. I have always regarded Count Xuanwu as a father. I adored Lady Mulan so much that I have remained unmarried to this day. When you, Master Shen Lang, married her, I could not accept it in my heart and even resented you for it. But the grace I have received from the Count is a debt I can never repay in a lifetime, and my loyalty to the Jin Clan remains unchanged. From this day forward, I will follow only your commands. Count Xuanwu is my lord, and you and Young Master Jin Mucong are my young masters.
Jin Shiying greets the young master. From now on, whatever you command, I, Jin Shiying, will leap into fire and would not so much as frown at death. If I break this vow, may I become like this sword.”
Jin Shiying snapped the sword in his hand with all his might, and in that instant, fresh blood streamed from his palm.
* * *
After accepting the edict and allowing Jin Shiying to become the Lord of Raging Tide City, the Count of Xuanwu's Estate quietly awaited the King's reaction.
‘Now he will surely enfeoff Raging Tide City to our Jin Clan and promote Count Jin Zhuo. The final piece of the puzzle will soon fall into place!’
Of course, Shen Lang's final picture was indeed complete. Mulan, catching her breath, praised him with a pleased look.
“My husband, you are truly amazing. I feel completely exhausted from our back-and-forth.”
Shen Lang knew his wife was just flattering him, but it was hard to deny it. He had truly given his all. Mulan was like a wild mare, incredibly difficult to control and ride. In terms of stamina alone, Mulan could have bested Shen Lang ten times over in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, however, she loved Shen Lang so much that each time her passion soared, they could just barely battle on equal footing.
Shen Lang regretfully inhaled the fragrance of his wife's hair and said in a soft voice,
“My love, I will be so sad to leave your side.”
Mulan sat up in surprise.
“Leave me? No, I won't allow it.”
“If my predictions are correct, I will have to go to the capital very soon.”
* * *
The next day.
Another of the King's edicts was delivered to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate.
“Shen Lang is commanded to enter the capital for an audience with the King. Depart at once. There shall be no delay!”
* * *
‘My vassal's vassal is not my vassal.’
This is a famous saying in Western feudalism, but it held no sway in the Eastern world. The Great Yan Dynasty had its own ways. Even so, for the King of Yue to bypass the Count of Xuanwu's Estate and appoint its vassal, Jin Shiying, as the Lord of Raging Tide City was a blatant disregard for the estate itself, a trampling of its authority. Of course, with the implementation of the new policies, all the rules established by previous kings had been shattered, and it was an era where old laws no longer applied. Still, no matter how one looked at it, the King's recent actions could be seen as extremely radical. But after Count Xuanwu, on Shen Lang's advice, endured the situation, yet another edict had arrived.