Chapter 25: A Feast of Fish and Wine

Chen Tong returned to the city once more. Leveraging his status as a scholar, he meticulously organized a banquet, inviting all the city’s officials, high and low, to a brothel.

On the day of the feast, Chen Tong arrived early, dressed in a pristine, elegant robe, and waited. As the officials arrived one by one, he greeted them at the entrance with a beaming smile and humble, courteous respect.

"Magistrate Li, it is truly an honor to have you here today. Please, come in."

"Magistrate Zhang, how have you been? I have long heard of your remarkable achievements in local administration; I look forward to learning from you today."

Chen Tong’s words were filled with such reverence that the officials were thoroughly gratified, nodding and smiling as they stepped into the establishment. Once inside, their expressions shifted to anticipation and excitement. They strolled through the halls, casting lingering, lustful glances at the brightly dressed courtesans. Chen Tong, however, remained calm, entirely indifferent to the scene.

The madam of the house swayed toward them, her face wreathed in smiles as she greeted the group with enthusiasm. "Oh my, esteemed sirs, we have been waiting for you!" she chirped. "We have prepared our finest rooms and our most beautiful ladies to serve you!" She then directed a group of women to usher the officials toward the banquet hall.

Inside, the officials were surrounded by carefully selected courtesans. The women giggled and flirted, pouring wine and teasing the men. The officials, embracing the women and laughing heartily, filled the room with a boisterous din. Chen Tong looked on with silent disdain, though he kept a smile plastered on his face as he navigated among them.

Throughout the meal, he toasted the officials repeatedly, showering them with flattery. "Magistrate Wang, your sharp intellect and excellent governance are a true blessing to our people!" he exclaimed. "I toast to your continued success and steady promotion!"

"Magistrate Zhao, I heard of the case you handled recently—your methods were brilliant; the people are singing your praises! I toast to you and wish to learn from your wisdom!"

After several rounds of drinking, Chen Tong sensed the time was right. He rose, cleared his throat, and addressed the room. "Esteemed sirs, it is a great honor to gather with you all today. I have a small matter for which I humbly request your assistance."

The officials paused, turning their attention toward him. A portly official, flushed with drink, laughed and said, "Scholar Xie, speak your mind. As long as it is not an unreasonable request, we shall certainly help."

Chen Tong bowed respectfully and replied, "I heard that a certain landlord’s estate was confiscated and his land is being auctioned. I intend to purchase a portion of it, and I hope for your kind facilitation in this matter."

The officials exchanged glances, a look of mutual understanding passing between them. A higher-ranking official with a thin mustache took a slow sip of wine and said, "Is that all? Rest assured, Scholar Xie, we will keep an eye on it for you."

Chen Tong understood immediately. With a grateful smile, he calmly retrieved a heavy purse from his robes and placed it gently on the table. "Rest assured, sirs, I know the customs. Please accept this as a token for your tea money."

The officials’ eyes fixated on the purse, glinting with greed. They reached out to weigh the gold, their faces beaming with satisfaction. "Scholar Xie, you are truly a sensible man!" they chimed in, one after another, praising his tact.

Having secured their superficial promise, Chen Tong knew the matter was far from settled. Returning to Black Wind Fortress, he entered the meeting hall with a solemn expression. The others were already waiting, their gazes fixed on him.

"Brothers, we are one step closer to a stable life, but the final, crucial step remains: raising the funds to buy the land," Chen Tong said, his voice steady and powerful. "It is a significant sum. After much thought, I believe the copper coins we have accumulated from our raids can be put to great use."

Tie Niu stood up instantly, thumping his chest. "Brother Xie, we follow your lead! The coins we’ve raided may not be much, but they can help. I am willing to turn them all over!"

"I’ll turn mine in too!" "We all will!"

The hall erupted in a surge of morale. Wang Hu grumbled as he searched his pack, "These coins were earned with our lives. I never thought they’d be good for anything, but who knew they could save our Black Wind Fortress?"

"Indeed," Ah Feng added, dumping his hidden stash of coins into the center of the room. "We’ve lived as outlaws, always looking over our shoulders. Now that we have a chance to change our fate, we must seize it."

Soon, a small "mountain" of copper coins rose in the center of the hall. Moved, Chen Tong felt his eyes grow moist. He took a deep breath and said, "Brothers, with you by my side, there is no obstacle Black Wind Fortress cannot overcome!"

He then used the system to convert the coins into system currency, and subsequently into silver.

[Ding!]
[Authenticating...]
[...]

As the silver grew in his hands, Chen Tong felt a mix of excitement and tension. In the days that followed, he traveled to the city frequently, armed with the silver, always approaching the officials with a warm smile and perfect etiquette.

"Magistrate Li, thanks to your care last time, I have brought you some premium tea to sample," Chen Tong said, presenting an exquisitely prepared gift box.

"Scholar Xie, you are a thoughtful young man," Magistrate Li said, accepting the gift with a satisfied grin.

Sensing the moment, Chen Tong added, "Magistrate, to be honest, regarding that confiscated land, I still hope you might be able to facilitate a better price. I wish to bring the local villagers together to develop it and contribute to our region’s prosperity."

Magistrate Li frowned. "Scholar Xie, the price is already quite favorable. It is prime land, and many are eyeing it."

"I am well aware of the competition, Magistrate, but I am determined to have it," Chen Tong replied firmly. "To show my sincerity, I have brought another small gift." He produced an even more generous offering.

After several rounds of difficult negotiation, Magistrate Li finally relented. "Very well, very well. Given your sincerity, I will lower the price further. But you must act quickly; do not drag this out."

Overjoyed, Chen Tong thanked him profusely. "Your kindness is etched in my heart, Magistrate. I will complete the procedures immediately and will not fail your trust."

Finally, after a series of tedious formalities, Chen Tong successfully purchased the land. When he returned to Black Wind Fortress with the deed, the entire stronghold erupted. The men cheered, surrounding him in jubilation.

Xie Qingshuang, his eyes shining with excitement, said, "Brother Xie, this is wonderful! We finally have our own land! We will never have to live a life of hiding again."

Tie Niu jumped for joy, shouting, "I’m going to plant this land full of crops so everyone can eat their fill!"

Chen Tong held the deed high and declared, "Brothers, from today on, Black Wind Fortress begins a brand new journey!"