Chapter 35: Simple and Rough Methods

The viscount's gaze softened as he spoke solemnly, "Lang, you cannot do it. Times have changed, under the new policies, we old aristocrats are facing uncertainties, fearing that any mistake will be used against us. In the past three years, three noble families have been deprived of their fiefdoms, stripped of their titles, and even one person lost their life."

At this point, the viscount looked mournful.

He only wanted to preserve the ancestral heritage. What's wrong with that?

He continued, "In the past, dealing with someone like Tian Hang would have been easy for me. But now, even I would find it difficult to get rid of him in one fell swoop. After all, he holds an official position appointed by the court, and nobles are not allowed to interfere in local affairs. Once one violates the rules, the consequences are unimaginable."

At this moment, Shen Lang deeply felt the helplessness in the viscount's heart.

Regardless of whether the new policies were good or bad for the Yue Kingdom, they were definitely against Shen Lang's interests, which made them bad.

The viscount earnestly said, "Lang, I promise you, I will bring down Tian Hang within half a year and seek justice for you!"

With the power in the hands of the viscount, it would be relatively easy to eliminate Tian Hang.

The difficulty lies in adhering to the national law and not giving anyone a handle. This is extremely challenging.

But the viscount still promised Shen Lang.

Shen Lang's expression turned serious, and he spoke earnestly, "Father-in-law, Tian Hang, the Xu family, the Lin family, and I have a vendetta. I must personally avenge this grudge, otherwise, I will never be able to hold my head up for the rest of my life. By marrying into the viscount's family, making these three families not dare to even harm me is already a great advantage."

After a slight pause, Shen Lang continued, "I have not accomplished anything for the viscount's family, so I am not qualified to waste any of the family's resources, especially political resources. If my grudges have to be avenged by you, then I am not worthy to be Mulan's husband and should just obediently return home to rely on my parents."

Upon hearing this, the viscount felt relieved.

He felt that Shen Lang had truly opened up to him for the first time.

"I appreciate your thoughts," the viscount said. "But you really can't compete against them. Child, Xuanwu City is no longer our territory. It belongs to the court now, to Liu Wuyan and Zhang Jin, who are Tian Hang's backers. You can't surpass them."

Shen Lang asked, "But will they dare to kill me? Dare to attack me?"

"Who dares?" the viscount said sternly. "Now, we cannot stir up trouble, but we still have two or three thousand soldiers in our family. If anyone from the viscount's mansion is harmed, they will have to face the annihilation by our family's army."

Shen Lang bowed and said, "Father-in-law, I assure you that I will make Tian Hang suffer a just defeat within legal bounds and without leaving any handles. Please believe in me."

The viscount asked, "What's your plan?"

"I can't say, it's not good to say," Shen Lang responded. "Some things can only be done, not said."

In truth, Shen Lang was afraid to say, fearing his father-in-law's anger.

The viscount hesitated for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, "You are a thoughtful person, and if you insist on going, I cannot stop you."

"Thank you, father-in-law," Shen Lang said.

The viscount urged, "Remember, absolutely do not violate the national law, and do not leave any handles. Winning or losing doesn't matter. Even if you at your young age lose once, it's fine if your reputation is tarnished."

Shen Lang once again bowed and said, "I will heed your teachings, and besides... I will definitely win. Even if Tian Hang has the City Lord's Mansion and the Magistrate's Mansion as his backers, I will make sure he suffers a complete defeat."

"Depart, son-in-law," Shen Lang said.

As the sun rose, he left the viscount's mansion in a carriage and headed to Xuanwu City.

...

Dealing with a person like Tian Hang, what method should I use? What strategy?

To be honest, it's very difficult!

As the viscount said, it is very difficult to defeat Tian Hang within the boundaries of the law and without leaving any handles.

Certainly, Tian Hang has a long list of crimes, enough to send him to the gallows. However, the viscount's mansion cannot interfere in local politics.

Arresting Tian Hang, judging Tian Hang, these are all within the authority of the Xuanwu City Lord.

Unless Tian Hong commits a crime within the Marquis of Xuanwu's fief, it would be a piece of cake to take him down.

But he's not that stupid.

So the marquis said that Shen Lang couldn't win, couldn't compete with Tian Hong, because he has the lord of Xuanwu City and Zhang Jin behind him.

Shen Lang has come up with many strategies and schemes - intricate and mysterious, some even as magnificent as Zhuge Liang in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," giving a nearly magical feeling of intelligence.

However, they were all useless.

The more complicated the plan, the higher the chance of failure.

What's the best plan to use?

The most straightforward one!

And Shen Lang's plan to deal with Tian Hong is simple enough, even shameless!

...

Tian Hong has managed many businesses - gambling houses, brothels, lending, and so on.

Which one is the most profitable?

Of course, it's the gambling houses, easily making a fortune and accounting for more than sixty percent of his income.

His extravagant lifestyle and his hundreds of men depend to some extent on the income from the gambling houses.

In the whole Xuanwu City, Tian Hong has opened five gambling houses, completely monopolizing the industry.

Others want to open gambling houses? Before Tian Hong's men even have a chance to act, the lord's officials would come to confiscate them.

Fugui Fang is the name of Tian Hong's gambling house.

It's luxuriously decorated, occupying three whole floors where one can eat, drink, and play. There are even pawn shops and brothels inside the gambling house.

So Shen Lang's way of dealing with Tian Hong is very simple - to go to his gambling house and win, keep winning, and keep winning!

Win until it far exceeds Tian Hong's bottom line, exceeding the endurance of his backers.

For people like Tian Hong, what's most important?

Loyalty?!

Don't joke around. Of course, it's money!

Only money can allow him to buy off the lord's officials and the garrison.

With money, there's support; without money, no support.

Shen Lang dares to assert that the lord of Xuanwu City and even the governor of the Nu River have taken money from Tian Hong's gambling house.

Once Shen Lang's winnings exceed the psychological threshold of these big shots, everything will be out of Tian Hong's control.

Previously, if Shen Lang hadn't won a hundred gold coins, he would have had his limbs broken and thrown into the river to drown.

But now with the status of the marquis's son-in-law, winning as much money as he wants inside Xuanwu City is not a problem.

The only thing to worry about is getting a beating from his father-in-law.

Of course, what Shen Lang needs to do is not just win money. What's more important is the performance after winning - checking the box for everyone.

...

The marquis has dispatched four bodyguards to protect Shen Lang.

Clad in splendid brocade, adorned with a jade crown, he became the focus of everyone's attention as soon as he entered the city.

Countless people pointed and gossiped about him.

In Xuanwu City, Shen Lang had already become a legendary figure, notorious but still legendary.

A good-for-nothing who, first became the son-in-law of the Xu family's wealthy patriarch, was then kicked out, and within three days became the marquis's son-in-law?

Incredible, right?

So seeing the richly dressed Shen Lang, countless people felt blood boil with envy, and then turned away and spat curses!

"This good-for-nothing is so arrogant. Just married into the marquis's house and already strutting around like this."

"Yeah, look at the clothes he's wearing. Enough to feed my family for three years."

"It's shameless, utterly shameless. Not studying, not farming, just trying to freeload and cling to powerful thighs. The marquis must be blind to pick such a good-for-nothing as his son-in-law."

"Mark my words, within half a month, he'll be chased out of the marquis's residence. Too arrogant!"

Despite the words, Shen Lang remained indifferent, even settling into a more comfortable position inside the carriage.

...

Arriving at the gates of Fugui Fang, Shen Lang disembarked and entered the gambling house.

The four marquis's bodyguards behind him couldn't help but change their expressions.

Their young master is going to gamble?

How could this be?

The marquis's household has strict rules. Even the heir such as themselves wouldn't dare to step foot in a gambling house, or else they would be crippled.

Who does go into the gambling house?

A prodigal son!

And Shen Lang, just the son-in-law of the marquis's family, should have been cautious, living a proper and upright life. But instead, he wears luxury and parades about, entering a gambling house openly.

However, the four marquis's bodyguards merely have the authority to protect Shen Lang, not advise him.

Moreover, they don't even want to advise him.

A waste like Shen Lang, how is he worthy of Miss Mulan?

Since he wants to court death, they will let him!

It's best to make him lose miserably, then have him have his legs broken by the Count and kicked out.

In the minds of these warriors, only Lord Jin Shiying is the best husband for Miss Mulan.

Because Lord Jin Shiying is their idol, and also the adopted son of the Count.

...

At this moment, Tian Nineteen, one of Tian Heng's adopted sons, is watching the scene at the Fugui Fang Casino.

Seeing Shen Lang come in, Tian Nineteen was first startled, then overjoyed!

What is a gambling den?

It's a den of evil!

Shen Lang actually willingly entered the den of the Black Cloth Gang, isn't he asking for death?

"Oh, isn't this Master Shen from the Count's Mansion? Welcome, welcome!" Tian Nineteen said, "Someone, bring tea, bring the best tea."

Soon, a pot of the finest tea was brought in by a servant.

Shen Lang sat down and slowly savored the tea.

"Master Shen, are you here to visit, or do you want to play a few rounds?" Tian Nineteen asked.

Shen Lang said, "Since I'm here, of course I want to play a few rounds."

"Welcome, welcome!" Tian Nineteen was extremely excited.

Shen Lang and his adoptive father Tian Heng have already become enemies. He was just worrying about how to kill Shen Lang. He's the son-in-law of the Count, who would dare to act?

He never expected Shen Lang to willingly come to his death!

Make him lose tens of thousands of gold coins, then deliver the IOU to the Count's Mansion, and Shen Lang would be finished, either being kicked out of the Count's Mansion or having his legs broken before being kicked out.

As for the possibility that Shen Lang might win?!

Tian Nineteen never even considered this possibility.

This is his casino, his territory, even if the King himself came, he must lose!