Brokerage Guild

Biodata

History

The Great River Gang began as the Brokerage Guild's private guard force before separating into an independent organization. The gang continued to operate around Eight-Zhang Street, collecting protection and river fees, supporting merchants, and taking paid combat work 4.

The guild's martial operations were tied to Veteran's Trade House, a century-old property ultimately maintained by the Zhou family. Its facilities included shops, rear courtyards, warehouses, a third-floor reception area, and a dedicated martial training yard 6 9 10.

Following heavy Great River Gang casualties, the guild recruited promising guards and apprentices into its martial inheritance system. Zhou Tianxiong personally assessed candidates, transmitted Golden Ape Fist, and bound recruits through strict service contracts 7 8.

A coordinated night raid devastated Veteran's Trade House and the surrounding warehouse complex. The public account blamed the Peaceful Heaven Sect; survivors suspected that the Lu Family had a role, but lacked proof 17 20. Of 155 people present, nearly all were killed, including much of the guild's fighting strength 20.

After the disaster, Zhou Yingjun announced the dissolution of the Great River Gang and the temporary closure of Veteran's Trade House. Guild attendants received their indentures and one month of compensation, while selected survivors became the founding members of the White Ape Martial Academy 21 22.

Organization

Operations

• Commercial premises — Operated guild shops and the Veteran's Trade House complex on Eight-Zhang Street 6.
• Guard services — Its former guard arm, the Great River Gang, protected merchants, collected local fees, and accepted paid combat assignments 4.
• Martial training — Maintained a walled training yard with stone locks, wooden posts, sandbags, and other equipment for apprentices and martial artists 9 10.
• Martial inheritance control — Held the Ninth-Rank True Art Golden Ape Fist and only disclosed its stages according to a disciple's standing 8.
• Resource distribution — Sold or controlled access to Qi-Replenishing Pills, which were subject to Martial Dao Bureau regulation 10 34.
• Labor contracts — Used apprenticeship and service contracts to secure long-term loyalty in exchange for martial instruction, stipends, promotion, and housing incentives 7.

Martial Inheritance

Golden Ape Fist

The Brokerage Guild's principal documented inheritance was the Ninth-Rank True Art Golden Ape Fist, which could lead to the peak of the Ninth Rank 8.

The guild forbade disciples from publicly demonstrating the inheritance, teaching it without permission, or altering the True Art Scroll. Violations could result in execution and extermination of the offender's clan 7 29.

Facilities

• Veteran's Trade House — A lavish, century-old Zhou family property connected to the guild's Eight-Zhang Street operations; its upper floors housed leadership and recruitment meetings 6 7.
• Rear training courtyard — A secured practice area used by guild apprentices and advanced young martial artists 9 10.
• Great River Gang warehouse — The guard unit's nearby base, connected to the guild's rear courtyard and weapons storage 16 18.
• Narcissus Street warehouse — A former Brokerage Guild property later converted into White Ape Martial Academy's new site 22 23.

Relationships

• Great River Gang — Originally the guild's private guard force; later separated but remained tied to its trade-house operations and martial recruitment 4 9.
• Veteran's Trade House — Zhou Tianxiong-owned trade house associated with the guild's headquarters, training, and leadership 6 7.
• Zhou family — The family that remained in control of Veteran's Trade House after its original founders died or departed 6.
• White Ape Martial Academy — Successor martial institution formed from selected guild and gang survivors after the Eight-Zhang Street disaster 21 22.
• Martial Dao Bureau — Regulated martial resources and pill distribution; Veteran's Trade House lost its Bureau status after its collapse 22 34.
• Peaceful Heaven Sect — Publicly blamed for the raid that destroyed the guild's main premises and killed most personnel 17 20.
• Lu Family — Suspected by surviving leadership of involvement in the attack, though the survivors could not substantiate the accusation 20.

Destruction and Reorganization

The raid began with infiltration, Soul-Confusing Incense, and assassinations inside the Great River Gang warehouse. Armed attackers simultaneously assaulted the Brokerage Guild's rear courtyard, where higher-ranked martial artists were believed to be the main targets 17 18.

The attack reduced the guild building and warehouse base to ruins. Officials removed bodies and debris while the Martial Dao Bureau Security Office, county yamen, and Lu Family guards sealed Eight-Zhang Street 20.

Zhou Yingjun subsequently closed Veteran's Trade House, disbanded the Great River Gang, compensated employees, and released their indentures 21. He retained a smaller group of trained survivors, abandoning most ordinary businesses in favor of martial-focused operations such as pharmacies, mines, and martial schools 22.

The resulting White Ape Martial Academy inherited the surviving personnel, Golden Ape Fist lineage, and former Brokerage Guild warehouse on Narcissus Street 22 23.