Chapter 64: Collecting Debts

Cai Cong animatedly recounted amusing stories from the barracks to Zhangsun—how the big oaf was toyed with by the nimble Skinny Monkey during a contest, how the main squad was nearly wiped out in a surprise attack—leaving Zhangsun doubled over with laughter. Life in the palace was dreadfully dull, and listening to such tales was a welcome relief from the monotony.

Just as their conversation was at its liveliest, the sound of cats mewling drifted up from beneath the window. Zhangsun frowned. Her close maid leaned in and whispered, “The Crown Prince and Lord Jia Du are under the window, pretending to be cats. Princess Changle is hiding in the shade of the trees, too timid to show herself. They’re all here to see Lord Chang’an.”

Zhangsun raised her brows and couldn’t help but laugh. “Someone, fetch me those two tabby cats and the nightingale under the tree.”

Before long, the three culprits stood before Zhangsun, crestfallen as if frostbitten.

Feigning sorrow, Zhangsun sighed, “Alas, children grow up and no longer heed their mother. The three of you come to see me, yet you sneak about and do not even greet me. My heart—oh, it is broken!”

Cai Cong rolled his eyes. Could she not act more sincerely? She was supposed to be an award-winning actress; just because the audience was a group of children didn’t mean she should be so perfunctory.

The three, oblivious to the ruse, hurried forward with sweet words and flattery, which left Zhangsun swaying with satisfaction. Turning back, she smacked Cai Cong lightly on the back of his head. “Were you scoffing at my words just now? Did you dare roll your eyes at me?”

“My lady, I would never! I was just looking down on the Crown Prince, the Duke, and the Princess. They’re so naughty. Look at me: whenever I have something delicious or fun, I always bring it to my mother first, and I visit whenever I’m free. But look at them—hiding away like that. They deserve a good scolding!”

Cai Cong declared this righteously, but before he could finish, Li Chengqian and Li Tai pounced on him, knocking him to the ground, and Changle even snuck over to give him a quick kick before dashing back to Zhangsun’s side, her little face flushed with excitement.

Zhangsun’s laughter was so hearty her teeth barely showed. Such scenes delighted her no end. Cai Cong pushed the plump child off him, complaining that he really ought to lose weight—he could barely move with that weight on him. Their playfulness lasted a while longer before the four finally took their leave from Zhangsun.

Once they exited the Palace of Pure Peace in solemn form, Cai Cong was immediately cornered by the three.

“How much money do you have?” Li Chengqian demanded fiercely. Li Tai’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and even Changle was sweating nervously.

“Look at you three—you’re nothing like royal heirs, more like common bullies extorting someone,” Cai Cong grumbled, feeling their obsession with money had gone a bit mad.

“Never mind that. Tell us, or I’ll give you a beating,” Li Tai threatened, rolling up his sleeves.

“Oh, really? If it hadn’t been for Her Highness being present, I’d have had you bawling just now,” Cai Cong replied disdainfully, then added, “You three could only scrape together a thousand strings of coins, but fifteen times that is fifteen thousand. Still not enough for you?”

“Wow, that’s a lot of money! I’ve never seen so much in my life! How many people could we hire with that?” Changle exclaimed, money holding little meaning for her except as a means to get things done.

“It sounds like a lot, but you mustn’t forget how vast Dian’nan is. Last month, my family’s steward spent more than that just sending out men—and if they hadn’t brought back some goods to offset the cost, we’d be in the red,” Cai Cong said.

At his words, all three faces fell. Fifteen thousand strings of coins barely covered a month’s expenses, and their combined stipends didn’t even come close.

“Don’t be so glum. If you’re broke, I’m not. I bet twenty thousand taels on myself to win—that’s three hundred thousand taels! Not only could we comb all of Dian’nan, but we could turn the place upside down and still have money left. Didn’t you wonder why I cursed so loudly when the odds dropped from twenty to fifteen? That cut cost me a hundred thousand taels outright.”

After much haggling, the three finally let Cai Cong go. Why should I have to buy you gifts just because I’m rich? Always asking for jewels or rouge! If it weren’t for your parents’ sakes, I’d teach you a lesson, Cai Cong thought, grinning to himself.

Back in the camp, everyone gazed at Cai Cong with feverish anticipation. The fifteenfold reward was one thing, but what truly mattered was that they had defeated the Xuanjia Army—the foremost force of Great Tang. Cai Cong had not exaggerated: one day, these men would be the pride of the empire.

“I can see you’re all pleased. Did I deliver on my promise?” Cai Cong asked with a wide smile.

“You did!” the men shouted with all their might.

But Cai Cong scolded them, “But you lot haven’t kept your promise to me. Now tell me, who among you can recognize a thousand characters? Raise your hand.”

There was silence. They could fight to the death, but writing with delicate brushes was more daunting than lifting logs.

“If you can’t answer, then all leaves are canceled. You’ll stay in camp to study and learn your characters.”

His words were met with groans, as if someone had died.

“My lord, please! I was hoping to take the neighbor’s Xiaohua to the West Market on leave!”

“I made plans to drink—I can’t break my word!”

Their wailing continued, but Cai Cong rolled his eyes, annoyed. “This is for your own good. After our victory, the people of Chang’an have suffered enough from our wagers. If you go to the city now, you’ll be lucky to escape with your lives.”

“After we collect our winnings, you’ll stay in camp. Third and fourth squads, gear up and come with me to collect. Xu Jie, you have the list, right? Haven’t lost it, I hope?”

“Heh, as if I’d dare lose it! The others would kill me if I did—it’s all here!” Xu Jie replied, grinning slyly. Of all the men, he was the most literate and was entrusted with all the gambling slips.

Of course, two hundred armored men couldn’t just march into Chang’an—you’d have the imperial guards on you instantly. So they left their weapons behind, grabbed wooden staves, and marched into the city with bravado nonetheless.

“First, to the Auspicious Gambling House. How much do they owe? Last time the Thousand Ox Guards didn’t smash the place up—after we collect, wreck the place. Understood?”

“Understood!”

“My lord, I checked—the Auspicious owes three thousand taels. The owner is a cousin of Minister Zhang, and he’s notorious for his arrogance,” Xu Jie said, flipping through his ledger, which also detailed the illegal activities of Zhang’s kin.

The gambling house wasn’t far, and inside, the clamor of betting, cursing, and laughter filled the air, setting every gambler’s blood alight. Xu Jie went in to collect their winnings, but was soon chased out, black-eyed from a beating. No one was about to pay up willingly; they all hoped to cheat their way out.

“Go in and beat them—just don’t kill anyone. And bring me the owner,” Cai Cong ordered from his carriage with an air of superiority. Gan Xinda immediately led his men in, striking down anyone in their path, especially the gambling house staff.

Xu Jie, rubbing his bruised eye, was having his fingers massaged back into place by a burly man. If the brute hadn’t grabbed him, he wouldn’t have been hit in the eye at all.

Inside, the gambling house erupted in chaos and wailing, but Cai Cong remained unmoved. The onlookers were thrilled—many had lost everything to these dens and now cheered at their comeuppance.

After a while, a skinny scholar, his clothes disheveled, was dragged over by Old Meng. Spotting Cai Cong on the carriage, he shouted, “Who are you to cause trouble in my Auspicious Gambling House? Do you know who my uncle is? He’ll have you killed!”

“Slap him.”