183 Tactics (1/2)

Merchants in Jade City sought protection from different forces.

Only a few of them were directly protected by the Golden Roc Fort and the Meng family. These merchants had to pay the two powerful families at least tens of thousands of taels of silver a month in exchange for their protection.

The majority of merchants in Jade City sought protection from young masters of Golden Roc Fort and several other gangs, which were affiliated with the Shangguan or Meng families.

As for remaining small vendors and business owners in the city, they all had their own protectors on the streets as well. Most of these protectors could only be considered as middlemen. They collected money from various small vendors and business owners and used it in turn to pay for the protection of the gangs or the young masters of Golden Roc Fort.

Some protectors, such as Tie Hanfeng and Tuo Nengya, worked independently. These independent protectors did not have their own gangs, but they were in close touch with the Shangguan or Meng family. Sometimes, such an independent protector with connections could be called upon to solve a sticky problem rather than an ordinary gang.

Gu Shenwei spent quite a few days probing into the current situation of South City. Xu Yanwei and Xu Xiaoyi helped him a lot during this process. This investigation revealed that gaining a firm footing and collecting protection money in South City was not an easy job at all.

Traditionally, young masters of Golden Roc Fort had to undergo a one-year probationary period when they turned 13. During this probationary period, they would establish their own gangs and expand their own business in South City. They would return to work in the Stone Castle after finishing their probation. After which, they would assist their father in managing the Golden Roc Fort and partake in the assassination tasks. If a young master performed well at his job, after working two to three years inside the fort, he would be permitted by the Supreme King to strike out on his own outside the fort. As for the young masters who failed to gain their father' recognition within this period of time, they would have to work inside the fort for a longer while, or possibly even spend their whole life inside it.

Usually, the Supreme King would send a young master who had won his approval to another kingdom in the Western Region. The young master and his killers would be stationed in the capital of this kingdom, providing armed escort and mercenary services for the country. One of the Golden Roc Fort's main sources of income was from such activities.

In many kingdoms of Western Region, the nobles and the people in power liked to hire these professional killers to work as their body guards, for fear of being assassinated. They were unable to sleep well at night without some Golden Roc Fort killers standing guard outside their bedrooms.

The young masters could earn a lot of money from their activities in the foreign countries. Compared to that, their business in South City was nothing. However, none of them would easily abandon their gangs and networks in the city.

All the young masters were well aware that their power came from their father, the Supreme King. They needed to plant some loyal servants in the city, who could keep tabs on the Supreme King and update them with the latest news from the city and the fort.

”Lady Meng just sent a maid to give me this task, as if occupying territory and collecting protection money in South City were just a piece of cake for us. Maybe she has no idea how important this city is for the other young masters. Or maybe she just wants to test my ability,” Gu Shenwei thought to himself.

Anyhow, he was determined to wage war against the other young masters inside South City. He could not wait to create more conflicts within the Shangguan family.

To achieve that goal, firstly, he had to cheer Shangguan Ru up. Shangguan Yushi's betrayal broke her heart and made her lose interest in gaining control over South City. She still behaved like a child and considered the gang wars as games. She had enjoyed playing this game with her best friend in the past, but now she did not want any part in it after her friend was gone.

Gu Shenwei was a little disappointed. He had once firmly believed that he himself would have become Master Ru's best friend after the death of Master Yu. Beyond his expectations, Master Ru treated him coldly after Master Yu's death. Gu Shenwei was a bright boy, but he really had no idea what Shangguan Ru was thinking now.

Given that, he sent Maid Lotus to help Shangguan Ru overcome her sadness. Shangguan Ru already trusted Maid Lotus very much, and as Maid Lotus was now spending a lot of time accompanying her, she began gradually to treat her like a friend. Soon enough, they began to live and eat together.

Gu Shenwei was amazed by that and could not help wondering, ”Will Maid Lotus become another Master Yu?”

Maid Lotus dispelled his doubts by explaining Master Ru's thoughts to him. ”What hurt Master Ru most wasn't the collapse of the Kun Society or the fact that Master Yu fell in love with Fifth Young Master Meng. She was particularly saddened by the fact that Master Yu lied to her.”

”Are you saying that she feels hurt because Master Yu betrayed her?”

Maid Lotus smiled and shook her head helplessly. She was a little surprised that even a clever boy like Slave Huan could not understand a girl's heart. ”No, I'm saying that Master Ru felt hurt because Master Yu lied to her about Mr. Meng Mingshi. Master Ru never despised Master Yu on account of her humble origin. She respected her wholeheartedly and looked upon her as her best friend. She hoped that Master Yu could treat her in the same way. If Master Yu had completely trusted Master Ru and told her the truth in the beginning, Master Ru would've been very happy. She would've even tried her best to help get them married.”

Upon hearing that, Gu Shenwei thought of the night when he had come to ask Shangguan Ru for help before casting the rope down the cliff for the Barren Sect. ”I had no choice but to trust Master Ru at that time, and she did take my request seriously. After that incident, she seemed to trust me even more. I guess that Maid Lotus does have a point there,” Gu Shenwei thought to himself.