plumnovel Chapter 35 Rules
Chapter 35 Rules
Early morning, Moyuan training ground.
Lin Mo stood with his hands behind his back under the corridor, watching Han Li and Wang Ben drill their ever-growing force. After more than a month of reorganization, the abandoned manor had begun to take shape, but Lin Mo knew that its foundation was still shallow and hidden dangers remained.
The ledgers and intelligence delivered from the black market yesterday are now spread out on his desk in his room. The increase in profits is certainly gratifying, but what concerns him more are the undercurrents hidden beneath the numbers and words.
"Master Zhou." Mr. Zhou's voice sounded from behind, carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry. "Yesterday, three more stall owners said that the newly set commission rate was too high and they couldn't afford it. Also... those people from 'Snake Cave' have deliberately stirred up trouble during transactions for the third time this month. Although the arbitration committee suppressed it, the impact was very bad."
Lin Mo turned around, his expression calm. "Understood. Pass the word that at 3:45 PM, all those with fixed stalls in the black market, as well as the heads of all channels, large and small, should assemble in the open space in front of the management building."
Mr. Zhou was slightly taken aback, then bowed and said, "Yes, I'll arrange it right away."
The news spread like a pebble thrown into a still lake, quickly rippling through every corner of the black market. Some were curious, some were uneasy, and most adopted a wait-and-see attitude. Just past noon, a dense crowd had already gathered in the open space paved with bluestone slabs in front of the management building. Peddlers, wandering swordsmen, and even some well-dressed managers representing small factions were whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
At three-quarters past noon, Lin Mo appeared precisely on time. He was still dressed in a simple gray-blue cloth robe, his steps steady as he walked onto the makeshift wooden platform. The noisy crowd gradually quieted down, and all eyes were focused on this young but mysterious manor lord who already held the power of life and death over the black market in the south of the city.
Without exchanging pleasantries, Lin Mo got straight to the point, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears: "I have gathered you all here today to establish new rules."
His gaze swept over the various expressions on the faces of the audience below, and he continued, "The black market is a place where one seeks both wealth and security. The past chaos has bred injustice, with the strong running rampant and the weak being bullied. This is not a sustainable way. From today onwards, three new rules will be established, and I hope everyone will abide by them."
"Firstly, a fixed commission. All stalls and channels will be subject to a fixed commission based on the transaction amount, divided into three tiers. Details will be posted later. Private increases in commission are strictly prohibited, as is extortion. Violators will be expelled from the black market, their deposits will be confiscated, and they will be prosecuted according to the severity of the offense."
A low murmur arose from the audience, especially among those who had previously profited handsomely by exploiting the weak or colluding with local bullies; their faces immediately darkened. Most of the small stall owners, however, beamed with joy; the fixed quota meant stability, and they no longer had to worry about their livelihoods being uncertain.
"Secondly, arbitration takes precedence. Transaction disputes and buying and selling controversies must first be reported to the arbitration office for adjudication. Private fights and retaliation are strictly prohibited. Within the black market, anyone who uses violence will have their martial arts skills disabled; anyone who kills will pay with their life." Lin Mo's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable chill, causing several people who had been eyeing him with ulterior motives to feel a chill.
"Thirdly, safe zones and prohibited items. Two areas, east and west, are designated as absolute safe zones for temporary lodging and negotiations, where any form of armed threat is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, military crossbows, armor, large quantities of salt and iron, and... items involved in human trafficking, which are explicitly prohibited by the imperial court, are strictly forbidden from circulating on the black market. Violators will be executed without mercy."
The last three words, laced with chilling murderous intent, seemed to lower the temperature of the entire square. Some people who were secretly engaged in shady businesses turned deathly pale instantly.
"The new rules will take effect tomorrow," Lin Mo concluded. "If we follow the rules, we can make money together. If we break the rules..." He paused, not finishing his sentence, but the unspoken implication was more unsettling than any threat.
The gathering dispersed, and the crowd left, discussing the events with mixed feelings. The promulgation of the new regulations was like a huge boundary marker being thrown into the waters of the black market controlled by Lin Mo.
The effects were immediate. In the following days, the black market's order visibly improved. Bullying and monopolistic practices virtually disappeared, vendors could operate with peace of mind, and buyers were more willing to trade, resulting in an overall increase in activity. The arbitration office handled several minor disputes, all of which were resolved relatively fairly under the guidance of Mr. Zhou and others, earning considerable praise. The establishment of the safe zone also reassured those conducting large-scale or clandestine transactions.
However, the undercurrents beneath the surface also surged.
The first to launch an attack was "Snake Den," which originally controlled nearly 30% of the black market's small-scale trading. Its leader, "Black-banded Snake," was a sinister-looking middle-aged man skilled in poison, and he had gathered a group of desperados under his command. On the third day after the new regulations were implemented, his largest herbal medicine stall openly refused to pay its share of the commission according to the newly set grading, arguing that "the pricing is unfair and unbearable."
The black market butler responsible for collecting fees was pushed and verbally abused by "Black Snake's" subordinates, and they almost came to blows.
The news quickly reached Lin Mo's ears.
"Master, 'Black-tailed Snake' is blatantly provoking us!" Wang Ben, hot-tempered, immediately volunteered for battle. "Let me take a few brothers, smash his stall, and see if he dares to cause trouble again!"
Han Li remained relatively calm and pondered for a moment before saying, "'Black Snake' is a cunning man with many desperate followers and is also in league with several bandit groups outside the city. The fact that he dared to be the first to jump out suggests that he has someone backing him up, or perhaps he is trying to test your bottom line, Master."
Lin Mo sat behind his desk, his fingers lightly tapping the black market layout map on the table. "It's good that they've come out. It'll show everyone the consequences of breaking the rules." He looked at Wang Ben. "Wang Ben, you take a team, with my warrant, and shut down that stall that refused to hand over the goods. Confiscate the goods, and... remove the person from the black market. If there's resistance," his eyes turned cold, "kill them without mercy."
"Understood!" Wang Ben excitedly rubbed his hands together and immediately gathered ten skilled men, all of whom were either former members of the Canal Gang who followed him or refugees he had taken in later. They headed straight for the "Snake Cave" stall.
The outcome of the conflict was almost a foregone conclusion. Wang Ben and his men, like wolves and tigers, gave the "Black Snake" henchmen no chance to ramble on, and immediately began to close the stall. The "Black Snake" henchmen naturally refused, and the two sides immediately started fighting. However, how could these ragtag thugs be a match for Wang Ben and his men, who had received preliminary training from Han Li and were eager to show off? In no time, the stall was smashed to pieces, the goods were confiscated, and several thugs who resisted were killed on the spot, their blood staining the bluestone slabs. The rest fled in panic.
Wang Ben, holding a blood-dripping knife, stood amidst the chaos, surveying the trembling onlookers. His voice boomed, "See? This is what happens when you disobey Master Lin's rules!"
The "Snake Den" stalls were swiftly and decisively razed, like a thunderclap that shook the entire black market. Those forces that had harbored illusions or secretly colluded with the "Black-banded Snake" immediately became much more restrained. For the first time, the authority of the new regulations was established with bloodshed.
However, the matter did not end there.
A few nights later, Lin Mo was studying the incomplete "Records of the Netherworld" in the quiet room of Mo Garden, trying to further understand the mysteries related to his meridian abnormalities when Mr. Zhou hurriedly requested an audience, his face showing a hint of anxiety.
"Master, something terrible has happened. A shipment of medicinal herbs we were transporting to the west of the city was robbed while passing through Blackwater Ravine! Five of our escorts were killed or wounded, and most of the goods were lost."
Lin Mo put down his book and looked up: "Do you know who did this?"
"This was left at the scene." Mr. Zhou handed over a black, snake-shaped dart with tiny scale patterns engraved on its end. "It's the mark of 'Snake Cave.' Moreover... some of the brothers who escaped injured said that the person who did it was ruthless, not entirely like the style of 'Snake Cave.' There seemed to be a few skilled scimitar users mixed in, like... members of 'Sand Scorpion.'"
"Sand Scorpion" is a local thug active in another area in the south of the city. Its leader is named Xie Scorpion, who wields a curved knife that is unpredictable and difficult to defend against. Its power is comparable to that of the previous "Black Snake".
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed slightly. "Black-tailed Snake" and "Scorpion Xie" had joined forces? That wasn't surprising. The new regulations harmed the interests of all the local bullies, so their united resistance was inevitable. He just hadn't expected it to happen so quickly, and with such ruthlessness from the start—directly robbing goods and killing people.
This was retaliation, and even more so, a further provocation, to see how Lin Mo would respond.
"Understood." Lin Mo's tone remained calm. "Provide generous compensation to the fallen brothers. Strengthen security along important cargo routes. Also, summon Han Li to see me."
Mr. Zhou acknowledged and withdrew. A short while later, Han Li strode in.
"Master of the Manor".
"Investigate." Lin Mo said succinctly, "The hideouts of 'Black-tailed Snake' and 'Scorpion Xie,' their frequented strongholds, the movements of their core members, and which other forces they might be colluding with besides each other. I need to know everything about them."
A glint flashed in Han Li's eyes, and he bowed, saying, "Your subordinate understands. The brothers in the intelligence network have already been keeping an eye on them, but they haven't been able to go deep into the territory before without the Master's order. Give me three days."
Lin Mo nodded: "Go ahead."
Han Li accepted the order and left. Lin Mo picked up "The Record of the Netherworld" again, but his gaze did not fall on the pages. The implementation of the new regulations had indeed touched the bottom line of the vested interests, and the backlash was swift and fierce. This was just the beginning. "Snake Cave" and "Sand Scorpion" were merely two pawns that had jumped out on the surface. In the shadows, who knew how many eyes were watching, and how many forces were weighing and coordinating.
The rules have been set; the next step is to make everyone understand the consequences of challenging them.
Now that this black market has fallen into his hands, it must operate according to his will.
Any stumbling block in your path will only have one fate.
Shattered to pieces.