“From the six rounds of betting I witnessed today, the first was wagered on whether Cloud Treader or Gale Wind would win. I asked around afterward, and apart from the small private pools they were running among themselves, the racetrack also runs its own large pool, and outside the racetrack there are independent bookmakers sitting on the operation. It’s hard to fathom how vast an interest chain a single horse race is pulling.”
And this interest chain had an unknown number of people bound to it. Moving against it would be no simple matter. If the Chaoli tribe was the force manipulating this network of interests from behind the scenes, then the Chaoli tribe’s true reach and power would have to be multiplied at least twofold from her current assessment — perhaps even more.
And even if the Chaoli tribe had no hand in it, it was no small matter regardless. The net they had woven was simply too large.
“The pools outside the racetrack are aimed at everyone who can’t get inside,” Yu Mu said, relaying what he had investigated. “Anyone at all can place a bet, and no one is cheated — not the old, not the young.”
Hua Zhi nearly broke into laughter. They had apparently made gambling into something with its own code of conduct.
And yet she couldn’t quite laugh. It was as though someone had their hand around her throat, pressing her face down.
This was a great prefectural city. Every conceivable thing could be wagered on, and gambling was regarded as entirely ordinary — woven into the fabric of daily life. In another era, a place like this might have been developed as a regional specialty attraction. But in a nation with a population of fewer than forty million, that simply would not do.
Liu Zi’s expression had also darkened. “Tomorrow I’ll keep staying close to Zeng Han.”
Hua Zhi nodded. “Watch, listen, remember — and do nothing beyond that. Even if you were to reveal your identity openly right now, it wouldn’t solve anything; it would more likely bring greater danger. Don’t harbor any wishful thinking.”
Liu Zi agreed repeatedly. Even if he had no fear for his own life, he could not drag Elder Sister Hua Zhi down with him.
“Jia Yang — stay close to Liu Zi tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Hua Zhi took a sip of tea and looked up. “Tell me what you’ve found.”
“Yes.” Yu Mu gathered his thoughts and began. “The Seven Lodges Bureau has traced Jinyang’s turning point to six years ago. Before that, Jinyang was no different from anywhere else — gambling dens were seen as places of ill repute, and most people would never set foot in one. It was in that year that the gambling den changed hands. The new owner not only voluntarily cleared all the old debts but also instituted rules capping how much could be borrowed. Shortly afterward, two young gentlemen of the Li and Wu families in Jinyang came to blows over the star performer at the Red Joy Pavilion. The tension between the two families grew until it threatened lives. The gambling den then brokered a connection with both men, settled their grievance through a single wager, and openly ran a bookmaking operation on their quarrel for the public — profiting handsomely, and not just the once.”
Yu Mu paused and continued. “The two families merely resolved their life-or-death feud; they did not bury the hatchet entirely. They continued to compete on all manner of things afterward — who the Red Joy Pavilion’s star performer favored, who was first to obtain the season’s most talked-about story booklet, and so on. The gambling den ran a book on every one of these disputes. The Seven Lodges Bureau has confirmed that during this period, both families received substantial dividends from the gambling den.”
“You are saying that the rivalry between the Li and Wu families was in fact a scheme staged by the gambling den?”
“Yes. Afterward, the two families extended their competition into horse racing, and the establishment of the racetrack followed naturally.”
Hua Zhi gave a slight nod. She was beginning to understand what had happened — it was nothing more than the old trick of slowly boiling a frog in water, and they had boiled the entire city of Jinyang in the pot.
“Did no one see through the scheme? Or did everyone who saw through it simply take their share of the profit?”
“Yes — they all took a share.”
Not surprising in the least. Hua Zhi asked further. “Was the gambling den’s backer the Zhu family from the very beginning? Does Yuan Shifang have any connection to this?”
“Yuan Shifang was one of those who received a share. I investigated him specifically — he genuinely only took his dividends and nothing more. At the outset, the Zhu family were the same as everyone else, taking only a share of the profits. At that time the gambling den’s backer was the previous assistant prefect, and only after he was arrested and charged did the Zhu family’s opportunity arise.”
“Was the previous assistant prefect investigated? Was there anything irregular?”
Yu Mu seemed to give a small smile. “There is no official who can withstand scrutiny. The charges against the previous assistant prefect were genuine.”
Hua Zhi instantly understood the implication. Of course — no official had entirely clean hands. Pinning a charge on someone was the simplest thing imaginable; they would leave no loose ends that could be traced back. “What is the gambling den owner’s background?”
“His name is Zheng Xing. He was once the leader of a gang of street toughs in Jinyang. Later, after his gang was defeated and driven out in a clash with a rival faction, the Seven Lodges Bureau has confirmed that he traveled to the capital and sought out a former associate there. He had real ability, and built himself up considerably in those parts. Eleven years later — that is, six years ago — he returned to Jinyang, in what might be called a triumphant homecoming of sorts.”
“All of this has been verified?”
“Yes.”
“A solid and well-rooted history indeed.” Hua Zhi lowered her head to take a sip of tea and asked, “What was his reputation in the capital? Did he conduct himself with the same kind of… ethics and discipline?”
Yu Mu paused. “That was not investigated. I will go at once…”
“There is no urgency.” Hua Zhi cut him off. “Send a letter to Gu Yanxi — tell him to return quickly.”
“Yes.”
This matter, apart from Gu Yanxi, no one among them had the ability to touch it. And even Gu Yanxi would need to plan carefully before making any move.
The Gu Yanxi who was now being thought of had reached Yinshan Pass just as the last sliver of daylight faded from the sky. The moment he entered the city, something felt off. He rode through the southern half of the city — now a residential area for the common people — and spurred his horse directly toward the northern half.
Compared to the southern half, which held only a mild tension, the atmosphere in the northern half was noticeably more taut. Yet judging from the fact that everything was still proceeding in an orderly fashion, whatever fighting had occurred was most likely a minor skirmish.
He produced the imperially bestowed command token, and was quickly brought before the unshaven Wu Yong.
“I recall that winter is a ceasefire period.”
“That is what I thought as well. Had it not been that we have been drilling new recruits these past days and no one has let their guard down, we might truly have been caught completely off guard.” Seeing that Gu Yanxi was forgoing the airs of both the Shizi and the Seven Lodges Bureau, Wu Yong returned only a casual cupped-hand bow in greeting, then asked with studied nonchalance, “The young lady and Shao Yao didn’t come?”
“I assumed you already knew.”
Wu Yong looked at him.
Gu Yanxi settled himself casually into a seat. “The Elder Master Hua told her not to come.”
Wu Yong rubbed his forehead. Of course — Elder Master Hua had sent a letter through his hands. So that was what it was about: he had told Hua Zhi not to come. And rightly so — with Yinshan Pass’s situation still unclear, what would be the point of her coming? Best if no one came at all.
“There was nearly half a year of drought this year. Our Great Qing exempted taxes, and the common people could tighten their belts and endure. But it was another matter out on the steppe — this winter will not be quiet.”
“A city wall has been breached?”
“We held it. After this, it won’t be easy for them to break through again.” Wu Yong rose to his feet. “Come — I have something worth showing you.”
When they arrived at the base of the city wall, Gu Yanxi saw a number of soldiers passing by carrying buckets — some full, some empty.
Wu Yong offered no explanation. He simply led the way up to the battlements. The filled buckets were set against the wall; soldiers collected the empty ones and left. At that moment, someone was ladling water with a scoop and slowly pouring it down the face of the wall. Gu Yanxi’s mind flashed with sudden understanding. He strode forward and looked — and yes, exactly as he had suspected.