Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Shen Lang replied with a solemn expression and sincere eyes.
"Father-in-law, I understand your intentions. But if I don't personally take revenge on Tian Heng, the Xu Clan, and the Lin Clan, it won't be true vengeance. I would live the rest of my life with resentment and bitterness in my heart. I am already greatly indebted to you just for being accepted into the Count's Estate."
Shen Lang paused for a moment before continuing.
"I have yet to contribute anything to the Count's Estate, so I have no right to waste even the smallest of its resources, especially its political capital. If you were to avenge me on my behalf, I would be unworthy of being Mulan's husband and would be better off quietly returning home."
Hearing his words, the Count was both pleased and comforted. He felt that this was the first time Shen Lang had truly opened his heart to him.
"I quite like your way of thinking. But you truly cannot defeat them. My boy, Xuanwu City is not within our estate's sphere of influence right now; it is in the hands of Liu Chengyan and Zhang Jin. Both of these men are Tian Heng's backers, and you won't be able to overcome them with your strength alone."
"Then I might be killed or beaten to within an inch of my life by them."
The Count's voice turned cold.
"Who would dare harm you? While we cannot stir up unnecessary trouble, our family still commands two to three thousand troops. If anyone were to harm a member of the Count's Estate, our army would not stand idly by."
Shen Lang bowed low and said, "Father-in-law, I swear to you here and now. I will make Tian Heng cut off his own arm and ruin his reputation, all within the bounds of the law. And I will not give them any leverage against me. So please, trust me."
"Sigh… Very well. Then I'd like to hear what plan you have in mind."
"That is difficult to say."
In truth, Shen Lang didn't dare to speak, for fear his father-in-law would strike him.
"Do you know the consequences if you lose?"
"My reputation will be in tatters, and from this day forward, I will be mocked by everyone every time I set foot in Xuanwu City."
The Count hesitated for a very long time, then suddenly grit his teeth and said, "You are a clever and bright child. If you are so determined to go, then I will no longer stop you."
"Thank you, Father-in-law."
"You must remember, do not break the laws of the land. Don't worry about winning or losing. You are still young, and a single defeat does not mean you are utterly defeated. It doesn't matter if your reputation suffers or if you are embarrassed."
Shen Lang bowed once more and said, "I will respectfully heed your teachings, Father-in-law. And I will definitely win. Even with the City Lord's Manor and the Prefect's Office as his backers, Tian Heng will not escape my grasp. I will bring you only good news."
When the sun rose, he boarded a carriage and left the Count's Estate for Xuanwu City.
* * *
What kind of method should one use against a scoundrel like Tian Heng? To be honest, it was an incredibly difficult problem. Even the Count had said it would be nearly impossible to bring down Tian Heng without breaking the law or leaving oneself vulnerable.
As the leader of the Black Clothes Gang, Tian Heng had committed countless crimes and killed more people than one could count. These crimes alone were enough to send him to the executioner's block.
However, Tian Heng had the Xuanwu City Lord as his backer, and punishing or judging him was the City Lord's exclusive right. The Count's Estate could not interfere in local governance and had no authority to punish or judge him privately. If Tian Heng had committed his crimes within the fief of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, it would have been a different story, but he was not so foolish.
That was why the Count believed Shen Lang could not win against Tian Heng. To defeat him, one would have to simultaneously confront and overcome the towering mountains that were the Xuanwu City Lord and Zhang Jin.
Shen Lang had considered many methods and schemes, devising various brilliant and terrifying plans that he could execute from his position. Some were so outlandish and unrealistic they felt like Zhuge Liang's divine calculations and devilish schemes from *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. But all these methods were useless.
The more complex the scheme or conspiracy, the higher the chance of failure. So, what method would work best? In situations like this, a simple and crude approach was often the most effective. Having finally organized his thoughts, Shen Lang prepared his method for dealing with Tian Heng. It was a very simple, crude, and shameless scheme.
* * *
Tian Heng ran several businesses, including gambling dens, brothels, and usury. Among them, the business that brought him the most profit was, without a doubt, his gambling dens. They generated immense income daily, which was used entirely to fund Tian Heng and the operations of the Black Clothes Gang. It could be said that his lavish lifestyle and his ability to command several hundred underlings were solely thanks to the profits from his gambling dens.
Tian Heng held a monopoly on five gambling dens throughout Xuanwu City. This was because the City Lord's Manor had only legally sanctioned the gambling business for Tian Heng's Black Clothes Gang. If anyone else opened a gambling den without permission, men from the City Lord's Manor would be the first to arrive and shut it down.
Prosperity Parlor was one of Tian Heng's five gambling dens. It was magnificently and lavishly decorated. Inside the three-story building, one could find everything—food, drink, entertainment, and more. There was even a pawnshop and a brothel.
Shen Lang's plan was simple. Win, and keep winning, at his gambling den! If he could win and take enough money to push the gambling den past its breaking point, then the funds Tian Heng used to pay off and support his backers would end up in Shen Lang's pockets.
For a man like Tian Heng, what was most important? Loyalty?! Don't be ridiculous. Money was the most important thing! With money, he could bribe the City Lord's Manor and the garrison. With money, he had backers; without money, his backers would disappear.
Shen Lang was certain that the source of the funds Tian Heng used to support the Xuanwu City Lord and even the Prefect of Nujiang Commandery came from the gambling dens he operated. Even if the amount of money Shen Lang won was beyond imagination, Tian Heng would be powerless to stop him. In the past, Shen Lang would have had his limbs broken and been thrown into the river before he could win even a hundred gold coins. But now, protected by his status as the Count's son-in-law, he could win as much as he wanted in Xuanwu City without issue. Shen Lang's only concern was his father-in-law's scolding and discipline.
* * *
The Count sent his personal guards to protect Shen Lang. Shen Lang deliberately adorned himself in splendid silk robes and a jade crown. The moment he entered the city, he immediately drew the attention of many within its walls. Countless people saw him and began to whisper.
Shen Lang had already become a legendary figure in Xuanwu City. A notorious reputation, but legendary nonetheless. A useless man with no proper learning or talent first became the live-in son-in-law of a great merchant clan like the Xus, only to be kicked out and, not even three days later, become the son-in-law of the Count's Estate? Did that even make sense? Shen Lang was the protagonist of a legend who had turned his life around in a single step.
"Look at that arrogance. Does he think he can act so high and mighty just because he's the Count's son-in-law?"
"Exactly. The clothes that bum is wearing could feed my family for three years."
"The Count must have been blind to take in a fool like that as his son-in-law."
"Just you wait. It won't be more than half a month before that bum gets kicked out of the Count's Estate too. He's far too arrogant!"
Hearing such words, Shen Lang remained completely unfazed. In fact, he leaned back in the carriage in an even more relaxed posture.
* * *
After arriving at the entrance of Prosperity Parlor, Shen Lang dismounted from his carriage and walked into the gambling den. The expressions of the Count's guards behind him changed.
Those who frequented gambling dens were mostly foolish men who had either squandered their fortunes or were hoping to strike it rich. As the son-in-law of the Count's Estate, Shen Lang was expected to act with caution in even the smallest matters, to be vigilant in all things, and to behave with propriety and diligence. Yet, not only was he strutting about in silk robes, but he was also openly entering a gambling den. His actions were nothing short of scandalous.
However, the guards of the Count's Estate only had the authority to protect Shen Lang, not to reprimand him. And they had no desire to offer him any advice.
‘How on earth did a useless bum like Shen Lang become Lady Mulan's husband? He's digging his own grave, so why should we stop him? If he wants to die, let him die! Maybe he'll come to his senses after he loses a fortune and the Count breaks both his legs before kicking him out of the family.’
Most of the guards from the Count's Estate believed that only their captain, Jin Shiying, was a worthy match for Jin Mulan. As such, this incompetent and foolish son-in-law was nothing but a thorn in their side.
* * *
The man guarding the Prosperity Parlor was Tian Nineteen, one of Tian Heng's favored subordinates. When he saw Shen Lang walk in, his initial surprise quickly turned into a look of manic delight. What kind of place was a gambling den? It was a den of devils! How could he not be thrilled that Shen Lang had dared to walk into the devil's den of his own accord?
Tian Nineteen said, "Well, if it isn't Young Master Shen of the Count's Estate? Welcome, welcome! Someone! Bring tea—no, bring the finest tea."
A servant quickly brought a pot of tea brewed with the best leaves. Shen Lang sat properly and slowly sipped his tea.
"Young Master Shen, are you here to look around? Or perhaps to play a few rounds?"
"Why else would one come to a gambling den? Since I'm here, I'll naturally play a few rounds."
Tian Nineteen grew even more excited.
"Excellent!"
Their leader, Tian Heng, held a grudge against Shen Lang but had been vexed by his inability to find a way to kill him. The man was the son-in-law of the Count's Estate; who would dare touch him? But unexpectedly, Shen Lang had come seeking his own demise.
If they could make him lose tens of thousands of gold coins and then send the IOUs to the Count's Estate, Shen Lang would be completely finished.
The possibility of Shen Lang winning? Tian Nineteen didn't even consider it. This was his gambling den, his turf. No matter who came, there was no way he could lose.
‘This is a gift from the heavens!’
Tian Nineteen, the manager of Prosperity Parlor, felt that good fortune had come his way. He gestured to a subordinate, and the man immediately ran off to deliver the good news to Tian Heng, who happened to be in Xuanwu City discussing matters with the head of the Xu Clan.
Shen Lang asked, "I suddenly felt like playing a few rounds, so I don't have any money on me. Can I borrow some?"
Tian Nineteen's excitement grew.
"Of course, of course."
In fact, Tian Nineteen had been worried Shen Lang wouldn't borrow money. He hoped he would borrow a large sum, perhaps ten thousand gold coins. Then Tian Heng could go to the Count's Estate to demand repayment, and Shen Lang would be beaten to death by the Count.
"Then I'd like to borrow a thousand gold coins first. What's the interest?"
"For an esteemed guest of your status, we'll charge ten percent a year. That's the lowest interest I can possibly offer."
The interest was very low. But Tian Nineteen would have gladly lent the money to Shen Lang even if it were ten percent, or no interest at all, or even if he had to pay the interest himself. How else could he ensnare him? The borrowed money would never leave the gambling den anyway, and as long as the money didn't leave, it was all good.
"Alright, I'll write an IOU. Be sure to detail the interest and everything."
"Excellent. As you wish."
After the IOU was written, a thousand gold coins were placed before Shen Lang. Without a second word, he exchanged them all for gambling chips. Tian Nineteen asked obsequiously, "Young Master Shen, what would you like to play?"
"Which is the simplest?"
"The simplest game is guessing whether the dice roll is high or low."
"Alright, let's play that!"