Chapter 417: Everything Under Control

The thirteen managers each returned to their own residences and handed over all the Gold Notes they had embezzled, contributing a total of twenty-three thousand taels of gold.

By auditing the year-end accounts, Wangchuan took in sixty thousand taels of gold in one stroke. Not only did he plug the hole owed to headquarters, he also netted a profit of fifty-three thousand taels of gold.

Lin Cunxin was dead.

Sanhe Commandery Hall now had an empty Deputy Hall Master position.

The thirteen managers had all been stripped of office.

That meant thirteen important posts had opened up.

More importantly, Wangchuan could now assign all of those posts to people from Sanjiang Studio, firmly bringing those territories and those men under his own control.

He had already decided:

The position of Deputy Hall Master would go to Wang Yuehui.

Wang Yuehui had independently run the Sanjiang Sub-Helm for nearly half a year and had accumulated more than enough experience. He would soon be fully capable of taking on the duties of Deputy Hall Master.

Hong Kaibao would take over Wang Yuehui’s former position.

As for the other thirteen managerial posts, those would be arranged gradually.

“Is Lin Cunxin’s death really not a problem?”

“Hall Master.”

After the fact, Chen Ergou came to the Hall Master’s courtyard and asked in a low voice, “He was, after all, one of Hall Master Yin’s confidants.”

“Correct.”

“He was Hall Master Yin’s confidant.”

Wangchuan nodded and replied with the same words Chen Ergou had used.

Chen Ergou froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.

“Hall Master Yin’s confidant, yet he controlled the finances of our Sanhe Commandery Hall. That... truly was a grave taboo! Hall Master, do you think Hall Master Yin was the one directing him from behind the scenes, bleeding our money pouch dry?”

“So... Hall Master had already intended from the start to get rid of Lin Cunxin?”

Chen Ergou had finally caught on.

Wangchuan shook his head and said,

“Originally, I could have spared his life. Unfortunately, Lin Cunxin’s greed was too ugly! So he himself pushed matters to the point of no return and forced me to kill him!”

A shortfall of more than fifty thousand taels of gold...

Even ten Lin Cunxins would have deserved to die.

Chen Ergou asked,

“If Hall Master Yin asks about it, how are we supposed to answer?”

“No need.”

“Before the end of the year, I intend to make a trip to the capital and fully secure my position as Hall Master of Sanhe Commandery. So I will report Lin Cunxin’s death myself. I will also take the chance to meet Seventh Master. With Seventh Master smoothing things over, there should be no problem.”

Wangchuan had already thought it through. At worst, he would send five thousand taels of gold each to Seventh Master and Hall Master Yin as support...

They were both short of money right now. One did not strike a smiling face.

This hurdle could be passed.

Though he could have simply reported the matter directly to the Gang Leader, secured the Hall Master position, and then recommended Wang Yuehui as Deputy Hall Master,

he truly did not want to tear things open with Yin Xingtian and Seventh Master.

“Hall Master is going to the capital in person?”

“Yes.”

“When do we leave?”

Chen Ergou was eager to go.

He had never been to the capital before. After hearing Captain Zhao talk about it, he had been full of anticipation.

Wangchuan poured a bucket of cold water over him at once.

“This trip to the capital, I will not be taking anyone with me. Going alone makes it easier to conceal myself and less likely that anyone will keep an eye on me. You stay here at the Hall and focus on your cultivation. We’re about to replace thirteen important managerial posts. Help me keep an eye on things.”

“Yes!”

Though disappointed, Chen Ergou still accepted the order respectfully.

“Hall Master.”

“This trip to the capital... headquarters should reward you with new martial manuals, shouldn’t it?”

Chen Ergou’s attention shifted very quickly.

“What?”

“You want to follow me there and mooch a martial manual?”

Wangchuan laughed.

“Do not worry. Once I am formally confirmed as Hall Master this time, I will ask headquarters to reward me with Fourth-Rank martial manuals.”

“Many thanks, Hall Master!”

Chen Ergou thanked him excitedly.

At that moment, Yang Feiyue came to the door.

“Hall Master.”

If Yang Feiyue had come personally, then it was definitely for something important.

Chen Ergou withdrew to stand guard outside.

Wangchuan asked,

“Old Yang, what is it?”

“Congratulations, Hall Master. This time, you successfully got rid of Lin Cunxin and cleaned up the Hall. From now on, every institution under Sanhe Commandery Hall is completely under your control.”

Yang Feiyue smiled as he offered his congratulations.

“Every remnant of Yin Xingtian’s faction has now left the important positions. From here on, this truly is your era.”

To be honest, Yang Feiyue had been surprised as well. Wangchuan’s move this time had been like thunder from the heavens, sealing off every possible retreat for Lin Cunxin and pinning him down completely.

Lin Cunxin had not even been given a chance to struggle or resist...

Yang Feiyue now had an even clearer understanding of Wangchuan’s methods.

He could not read him at all.

He truly could not read him at all.

“Old Yang, do you want to pick one of those thirteen positions and really stretch your legs?”

“Me? No, I’m not suited for that.”

Yang Feiyue waved the offer away.

Wangchuan smiled.

“I know exactly what you are capable of. I would be at ease putting you in any one of those posts... How about the Main Helm? It’s close by and easy to support.”

The moment Wangchuan made his offer, it was the richest and most lucrative vacancy among all of them.

Yang Feiyue gritted his teeth, then shook his head.

“Hall Master, forget it. Right now, I am Yang Fusheng. If I show my face too much and get recognized, I can still run. But if I actually take up a formal position, then even if the monk runs, the temple stays behind. It would too easily bring trouble to you, Hall Master. I’d rather honestly remain a transparent figure.”

Wangchuan did not force the matter. After a moment’s thought, he said,

“Very well.”

“Fei Zai’s Qingfeng Escort Agency has already been established in the prefectural city. Are you interested in that?”

“I’ve spent my whole life making my living off the water, so I’m not going to suffer that kind of hardship on land. If Hall Master truly wants to give me something to do, let me work together with Li Xiangyang instead.”

Yang Feiyue knew that Li Xiangyang had recently been scouting and recruiting Hall disciples who were skilled in 《Short Dagger Assassination Art》.

Hall Master’s intentions were very clear.

In addition to fully controlling every Caobang stronghold, territory, and body of men within Sanhe Commandery, centralizing both finances and manpower, and at the same time developing Qingfeng Escort Agency to control overland routes and expand their influence over other counties and major towns, he was also preparing to cultivate a batch of hidden-line assassins.

This was one of the methods Yin Xingtian had used back in the day.

Li Xiangyang, in truth, was equivalent to the old Seventh Master under Hall Master Yin.

Yang Feiyue was not suited to stand openly in any visible position, but he could remain buried in the shadows.

Li Xiangyang, at present, did not yet have that level of awareness.

And Li Xiangyang was still only a Second-Rank Martial Artist.

If Yang Feiyue wanted to compete for that role, his advantage was enormous.

A thoughtful look flashed through Wangchuan’s eyes.

He did not agree to Yang Feiyue’s request right away.

That was true.

His control over Sanhe Commandery was growing stronger and stronger. The manpower and foundation in his hands were rising rapidly.

But the assassinations involving Elder Zheng, the Beggar Sect Branch Altar in Kuaiji County, and the Five Poisons Sect’s temporary stronghold had all been unavoidable.

Occasionally going in person, or hiring outside people to do the work, was fine.

But!

There would always be certain matters that required someone more professional to handle them.

Li Xiangyang was someone he intended to cultivate into an assassin.

If he built up a Dark Hall within Sanhe Commandery Hall and developed several dozen Second- and Third-Rank Martial Artists...

then so long as they were well equipped, that force would be more than capable of surrounding and killing a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist.

Yang Feiyue wanted to join the Dark Hall...

That was not impossible.

“Fine!”

“Since Old Yang has that in mind, then just so happens—you can recruit a batch of brothers skilled in underwater work and form another squad responsible for matters on the waterways.”

Wangchuan made his decision:

Li Xiangyang would handle land operations;

Yang Feiyue would handle water operations.

Yang Feiyue smiled and cupped his fists.

“This subordinate obeys!”