Chapter 365
Chapter 365
Su Nan was not overly ambitious at the moment. He only intended to seize the six southern commanderies and thirty cities of Tianshu Province, a total of about sixty thousand square kilometers.
Adding the two hundred thousand square kilometers of the State of Jiang's territory, it would be more than enough to establish a duchy.
'Ning Yuanxian, you are a man of great ambition but little talent. No matter how capable an administrator Zhang Chong is, or how cunning that scoundrel Shen Lang may be, did you truly believe those two alone could stop me from rebelling and seizing Tianshu Province? What a joke!'
“What of the State of Jiang? So much time has passed, yet Arutai has still not eliminated his defiant brothers?”
Su Dian replied to Su Nan's question.
“It will be over soon. My third sister and my niece have departed for the Snow Mountain Shrine to negotiate with the sons of the King of Jiang.”
Su Lin spoke.
“Uncle, I invited Shen Lang to a welcome banquet at the Prefect's residence tomorrow, and he accepted.”
“He will go. The fool completely trusts Li Qianqiu's protection, so he sleeps soundly, without a care for his life. He must be itching to put on a show in front of you.”
“Then I will kill him tomorrow.”
Su Nan gave his permission.
“Kill him, and slaughter everyone by his side. Especially that Big Dummy. Make sure you kill him, cut him into pieces, and send them to me.”
“Yes, sir!”
To Su Nan, Shen Lang was nothing more than a fly. He couldn't affect the grand scheme of things, but his incessant buzzing was infuriating. Su Nan continued.
“After you kill Shen Lang, skin him and send me his head.”
“Yes, sir!”
Su Lin replied and left the room.
'Shen Lang, you truly have some nerve. Zhenyuan City is the heart of our Su Clan's power, a veritable dragon's den. Yet you dared to walk right into it. Did you think bringing Big Dummy and Li Qianqiu would be enough to save your life? How naive. We've already laid a flawless trap. If someone as foolish as you isn't meant to die, who is? At tomorrow's deadly banquet, Shen Lang, you are a dead man. And yet, you calmly accepted. That fearlessness, at least, is commendable.'
* * *
After Shen Lang entered Zhenyuan City, the first battle began almost immediately.
Commander Wu Lie led several female warriors into a shop to buy provisions, while Han Nu took another group of female warriors into an inn to buy water.
But without exception, both were refused, and arguments quickly escalated into physical confrontations.
As the Lord of Zhenyuan City, Shen Lang entered the shop.
The shopkeeper was from the State of Suo in the Western Regions, yet he spoke the language of Yue with remarkable fluency.
Dozens of armed servants were inside, tightly surrounding Wu Lie and her party.
Among them were men from both the State of Yue and the State of Jiang.
Shen Lang walked into the large shop, a broad smile on his face.
“Shopkeeper, I wish you great prosperity. I am the lord of this city. It may be out of season, but allow me to offer you New Year's greetings.”
*New Year's greetings? The Spring Festival was half a year ago.*
The merchant from the Western Regions returned the greeting with cupped hands.
Shen Lang asked him,
“Your shop clearly has grain and meat. Why won't you sell to us?”
“We do not accept gold coins from the State of Yue.”
Shen Lang continued.
“Then will you take gold coins from the State of Chu? I'll buy all the rice, wheat, and grain in this establishment at double the price.”
The merchant asked.
“And who might you be?”
“As I said. I am Shen Lang, the new Lord of Zhenyuan City.”
“I hear you're a live-in son-in-law, Master Shen. Is that true?”
“It is.”
“Then I am deeply sorry, but in my State of Suo, a live-in son-in-law is a most despicable creature. Lower even than a slave. We do not do business with such men.”
“I am the lord of this city. Its highest official.”
“Good heavens! A live-in son-in-law can become an official in your country? In my State of Suo, if we catch one, we brand the words 'runaway slave' on his face, clap him in irons, and work him to death. If he's a pretty one, we send him to the army camps to be... used by the soldiers until he breaks. To think a live-in son-in-law can be an official in your country... the world is truly full of wonders.
Men! Hang a sign outside. Write it clearly: 'No Dogs or Sons-in-law Allowed.'”
A moment later, a large sign was hung outside the shop.
*No Dogs or Sons-in-law Allowed.*
As if on cue, within minutes, nearly every shop and storefront on the street had hung up an identical sign.
*No Dogs or Sons-in-law Allowed.*
The merchant from the Western Regions bowed with a smile.
“My apologies, my lord. This is the law of my kingdom, decreed by my king. A humble man like myself cannot change it. I must ask you to leave.”
“I had no idea. To think your kingdom has such a law. How remarkable.”
The merchant's smile widened as he bowed deeply.
“My sincerest apologies.”
Shen Lang said,
“If that is the law of your kingdom, then as lord of this city, I cannot break it. An official who cannot stand with the people might as well be in his grave. Wu Lie, you are my warriors. You must remember to respect the customs of other nations.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Shen Lang cupped his hands.
“Shopkeeper, this humble official will take his leave. I wish you great fortune! Allow me to offer my New Year's greetings in advance. Have a joyous Spring Festival, and may all your endeavors be successful.”
“Yes, yes, please be on your way!”
The merchant bowed, his attitude exceedingly polite as he ushered Shen Lang out.
Behind him, dozens of warriors followed closely, their presence a silent threat.
Shen Lang led Wu Lie out of the shop.
*Slam! Slam! Slam!*
The great doors of the shop slammed shut, and the merchant's voice echoed from within.
“Men! Rip up every floor tile that filth stepped on and throw them in the latrine! What did he touch? The tables? The chairs? Chop them all to pieces and burn them! A son-in-law is bad luck, and he was in our shop for a full quarter-hour! We must invite a high priest from the temple to come and chant scriptures to cleanse this place of his foul presence!”
Hearing this, Wu Lie and her warriors yanked their swords free. Simultaneously, the street echoed with the sound of hundreds of other blades being drawn.
*Shing! Shing! Shing!*
Though separated by walls, they could feel the pressure of countless cold stares.
Every shop on this street housed dozens of warriors.
They were called shops, but in truth, they were fronts for much larger operations.
Most of the black-market trade between the State of Yue, the State of Suo, and the various nations of the Western Regions was conducted through these establishments.
The merchants of the Western Regions and the Su Clan were, for all intents and purposes, a single entity bound by profit.
On this street alone, there were at least several hundred warriors belonging to the merchant guilds.
The moment Shen Lang saw Wu Lie and her warriors draw their blades, he rebuked them in a cold voice.
“What do you think you're doing? We are the city's garrison, and I am its lord. An official who doesn't side with the people should just go home and sell sweet potatoes. These merchants, regardless of their origins, do business in Zhenyuan City. They are like our parents, providing us with food and clothing. Whatever their trade—be it smuggling or selling slaves—they pay taxes to us. As such, they make a great contribution to our State of Yue. And you would draw your swords against them? Is that not a breach of principle? Sheathe your weapons at once!”
Instantly, Wu Lie and her party sheathed their swords.
Seeing Shen Lang's actions, all the merchants breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Inwardly, their contempt for him knew no bounds.
*'This pretty boy from Yue is a complete fool. No wonder he's a live-in son-in-law—the man has no spine. He must be terrified of us. Why would the King of Yue send such an imbecile to Zhenyuan City? Is he blind?'*
Reassured by Shen Lang's meekness, the merchants from the Western Regions completely cast aside their fear.
The powerfully built female commander, Han Nu, whose waist was as thick as a barrel, had also taken several warriors to an inn to buy water, a large bucket slung over her back.
Han Nu offered half a tael of gold for a single bucket, but the innkeeper simply shook his head. Just like the other merchant, he bowed deeply, his manner impeccably polite.
But he still refused to sell them any water.
Just then, having overheard Shen Lang's speech outside, one of the Western Region warriors sneered.
“Listen up, you dogs from Yue! We'd sooner give this water to pigs than sell a single drop to you. You can all just die of thirst for all we care!”
Han Nu retorted,
“The ground you're standing on is the territory of the State of Yue.”
The warrior sneered back.
“Who says? This land belongs to the Su Clan, and soon, it will be the State of Su. And in the State of Su, we men of the Western Regions hold a high station. You want to buy water? How about I give you some myself? Nice and warm.”
With that, the warrior unfastened his belt, pulled out his member, and began to urinate.
The dozen other warriors around him followed suit, all pulling themselves out and letting loose a stream.
“Hey, fatty! Come and get it while it's hot! Your pretty boy lord outside must be thirsty too. Tell him to come get his fill. We'll only charge half a tael of gold. But if you don't take this offer, the price is going up!”
Han Nu was about to explode with rage, but she remembered Shen Lang's orders: do not fight, no matter the humiliation.
Seething, she stormed back outside.
The dozen warriors inside roared with laughter and followed her out.
They chased her to the doorway and began pissing onto the street.
In an instant, the street reeked of piss.
“My lord, didn't you want to buy some water? We've prepared some warm water for you! Send someone to fetch it! Or if you prefer, you can drink it straight from the source! Hahahaha!”
The dozen warriors howled with laughter as they pissed.
From the shops on both sides of the street, hundreds of other hidden warriors joined in the laughter.
With their piss, the authority of the new city lord, Shen Lang, was flushed down the latrine and trampled underfoot.
Shen Lang simply cupped his hands toward them and said,
“Such incomparable bravery from you warriors. This official is truly impressed.”
One of the warriors shouted,
“We're naturally braver than you dogs of Yue, aren't we? The women of Yue love our bravery. Their own men can't satisfy them, so you might as well hand them over to us. My lord, are you able to satisfy your wife? Or would you like us to help?”
*Slam, slam, slam, slam.*
In an instant, the doors of dozens of shops on both sides of the street flew open. From within, hundreds of warriors from the Western Regions emerged, pulling out their members and spraying streams onto the street.
“My lord, buy some water! Everyone, let it flow! Here, it's nice and hot! My lord, buy your water! Why aren't you all drinking up?”
The scene was truly a spectacle.
Shen Lang smiled and replied,
“I never expected to find such a bold and valiant group in the city I govern. Excellent, truly excellent! Warriors, piss to your hearts' content. This humble official will now return to the manor. Let's go!”
Shen Lang gave the order to return to the manor, and the hundreds of warriors erupted in thunderous laughter.
“Don't go, my lord! You haven't had your drink!”
“Did your wife come with you, my lord? Tell her to come out and see the sights! She needs to learn that only we men from the Western Regions are real men, doesn't she?”
“You're so pretty, my lord. I bet you'd look even more beautiful in a dress.”
The moment he stepped inside the City Lord's manor, Shen Lang took out a twisted, demonic mask.
He ordered the two hundred female warriors behind him to don their own, and the dozens of warriors from the Jin Clan did the same, putting on the masks they had prepared in advance.