Chapter 65

Where there is oppression, there is resistance; this saying holds true everywhere.

Under Sha Yuandong's management, which place in Yonglefang was the most oppressed? Naturally, it was the merchants.

Merchants seek profit, money is everything to them. Taking their money is like killing their parents, and now Sha Yuandong was undoubtedly destroying their entire families.

Sha Yuandong's direct subordinates numbered no more than a hundred. These people had always been under Sha Feiying's command, trained in martial arts, and guarding the hall.

These people did not have much actual power before. Although their monthly pay was higher than that of the followers under other major heads, they did not have as many gray incomes as the others.

Moreover, their monthly pay was far less than that of the combat disciples who fought in actual battles, with a maximum of two taels of silver per month.

Therefore, after being assigned to Sha Yuandong, these people immediately began to extort without restraint, their methods so ruthless that even the old hands of the Feiying Gang were ashamed.

They were the direct subordinates of the gang leader, naturally bolder than other gang members, unafraid of the gang's punishment. After Sha Yuandong openly protected them once, these people became even more rampant.

Dongsheng Wine House, one of the top ten wine houses in Changning Prefecture, was one of the places most severely extorted by these people.

Dongsheng Wine House usually served high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants, with each dish being a delicacy and wine starting at ten taels of silver per jar. Even such a place was targeted by the hungry wolves under Sha Yuandong from the beginning.

At first, they ate and drank for free at Dongsheng Wine House, ordering the most expensive dishes and wine, which cost hundreds of taels of silver per meal.

When asked for money, they brazenly said, "It's an honor for you to have us eat at your place, and you dare to ask for money?"

Not paying for meals was one thing, but they also drank and played drinking games in the wine house, turning the elegantly decorated Dongsheng Wine House into a chaotic mess. Other customers were displeased, and the wine house lost many customers, with business even worse than half of what it used to be.

The owner, Fang, could not stand it and joined several other merchants who were also severely oppressed by the gang members to complain to Sha Yuandong. Unexpectedly, they were slapped and driven out. The next day, these people came and turned their freeloading into outright extortion!

They claimed to have found a cockroach in the food and demanded one thousand taels of silver from Fang, threatening to smash his shop otherwise.

Fang gritted his teeth and paid. The next day, they came again, ate and drank lavishly, and produced another dead cockroach, continuing their extortion. After a few rounds, Fang could no longer bear it. If this continued, his Dongsheng Wine House would have to close for good!

When people are pushed to the brink, they will do anything, and these merchants, who appeared to value harmony and profit, were not easy to deal with.

A month later, seeing that the wine house had lost tens of thousands of taels of silver and its reputation was completely ruined, Fang finally made up his mind.

If Sha Yuandong's men were going to force him to death, he would not let them off either! If it came to it, they would all perish together!

So that night, Fang gathered over ten other bosses who were also suffering under Sha Yuandong's men and laid out his plan.

"Gentlemen, you have seen the situation in Yonglefang. Sha Yuandong is clearly giving us no way out. If we continue to sit and wait, we will either have to sell our assets cheaply and leave Yonglefang, or wait for our assets to be extorted away!" Fang said through gritted teeth.

One of them sighed, "When Su Lao was in charge, we thought his protection money was too high, but he could control his subordinates.

But Sha Yuandong is different. He doesn't distinguish right from wrong, and Yonglefang will be destroyed in his hands!"

Hearing someone mention Su Xin, someone immediately agreed, "Yes, when Su Lao was in charge, the streets were not so chaotic. Even Huang Ye and Li Ye under Su Lao never took a single tael of silver from us.

Why don't we join forces to protest to the Feiying Gang and welcome Su Lao back? What do you think?"

Fang sneered, "Are you an idiot? Don't you know how Su Xin fell? This involves power struggles within the Feiying Gang. Can you afford to get involved?

If you dare to go to the Feiying Gang headquarters and talk nonsense, you will lose not just money but possibly your lives!"

"What do you suggest, Fang? You called us here, so you must have a plan. Don't keep us in suspense."

"Alright, I'll get to the point. My plan is simple. Since Sha Yuandong is not righteous, don't blame me for being unrighteous! If he doesn't give us a way out, we will make it impossible for him to stay in Yonglefang!"

Fang said coldly, "When the Qingzhu Gang controlled Yonglefang, Deputy Leader Chen Hong was a regular at my Dongsheng Wine House. I can still talk to him.

If you agree to my plan, we will gather some silver to find Deputy Leader Chen and have the Qingzhu Gang attack Yonglefang. We will work together to drive the Feiying Gang out of here!"

The merchants were shocked by Fang's plan.

They were merchants, and while they were skilled in business tactics, they were not used to such violent actions.

Someone hesitated, "But will this work? Even if you can get the Qingzhu Gang to act, they were defeated by the Feiying Gang before. Can they defeat the Feiying Gang now?"

Fang said, "Don't forget, the Feiying Gang's success in capturing Yonglefang was all due to Su Xin. He killed Dai Chong and captured Yonglefang.

Now that Su Xin has been stripped of all his power and influence, what do we have to fear?"

After some thought, the plan seemed feasible. They were desperate, and even though they knew the plan was risky, they all agreed.

These merchants had large businesses and at least tens of thousands of taels of silver in working capital. They gritted their teeth and pooled together 300,000 taels to give to Fang to take to the Qingzhu Gang.

When Chen Hong of the Qingzhu Gang received the news, he was overjoyed and immediately called Ma Qingyuan to discuss it.

"Ha ha ha! The Feiying Gang is destroying itself. This is not our fault!" Chen Hong laughed, feeling extremely pleased.

Although they had successfully marginalized the gang leader Wei Feng in the last battle, they had lost Yonglefang to the Feiying Gang, which created a sense of crisis.

Even if they became the gang leader, what use would it be without territory?

So after marginalizing Wei Feng, they temporarily put aside their power struggles and focused on developing the Qingzhu Gang.

Unfortunately, such things do not show results overnight, but they did not expect such good news from Yonglefang today.

Ma Qingyuan was skeptical, "Is this a trap? What if we attack Yonglefang and the Feiying Gang is lying in wait?"

Chen Hong confidently said, "Don't worry, it's definitely true. I know the situation in Yonglefang very well, and it matches exactly what Fang said."

"You have someone in Yonglefang?" Ma Qingyuan realized.

Chen Hong nodded proudly, "We have been operating in Yonglefang for decades. How could the Feiying Gang easily take it over? This time, I will make them spit it all out!"

Without Su Xin, Chen Hong did not take the Feiying Gang seriously.

They had seen Su Xin's power when he killed Li Zhonghe on the stage. He was worth more than all the major heads of the Feiying Gang combined.

But now that Sha Feiying had destroyed his own strength by stripping Su Xin of his power and sending him to retire in Kuailelin, it was the perfect opportunity for the Qingzhu Gang to rise again!

After discussing with Fang, Chen Hong decided to act that night.

As the saying goes, the longer you wait, the more things can go wrong. He had spies in the Feiying Gang, but he did not know if the Feiying Gang had spies in the Qingzhu Gang. Therefore, the plan must be executed immediately.

After returning to Yonglefang, Fang immediately gathered the other merchants and called in reliable employees from their homes.

He did not intend to fight the Feiying Gang; they did not have the courage. Their task was to set fire to the hall.

As the saying goes, take advantage of the chaos. As soon as they set fire to the hall, the Qingzhu Gang would see the flames and immediately attack, taking advantage of the chaos to strike.

Late at night, Fang and a few loyal employees carried kerosene to the hall in Yonglefang.

The hall was right next to the training hall, saving them time.

The night was very quiet, with all the shops closed and not even a lantern on the street.

In the past, even at night, Yonglefang had many brothels and wine houses open, though not as lively as Kuailelin, the nightlife was still rich.

But since Sha Yuandong arrived, the street ruffians and petty thieves had emerged, making customers feel unsafe and preferring to go to Kuailelin. This lack of business made everyone close early, providing convenience for Fang and his group.

Fang had expected the hall to be guarded, but to his surprise, there was no one there, making his diversion plan unnecessary.

In fact, the hall should have been guarded at night, but Sha Yuandong's subordinates were undisciplined. Who would want to stand guard in the cold at night? As long as they estimated that Sha Yuandong was asleep, they would find a place to rest, giving Fang and his group the opportunity.

PS: Thank you to the readers: Wang Dazhi, Dong oTo Fang, Ling Ye, Bailing Touzi, Fengsheng Zhengsheng, Shuyou 160418124514862, Sa Adi, Qima Shataijian, Yuluo Weihen, Ye Meng Qian Nian, Gao Chengguang, and Wuqing Dashen 1999 for your support.