"Betting on boxing matches. People would wager on which fighter would win, and we'd act as the house, so we'd be sure to profit without taking a loss. Once we made a name for ourselves and drew more spectators, more and more people would bet on the matches. There might even be some enormous wagers."
Wu Shuangren spoke with great confidence.
Mo Zhenglin looked at Mo Zhengxing, who sank into thought.
A moment later, he looked at Wu Shuangren and asked, "How would we recruit fighters?"
"With money. There are always people in the jianghu who need it. Tell them they'll be paid just for getting in the ring, with an extra bonus if they win."
"Why boxing? Why not have them compete with weapons?"
"Not only would weapons be forbidden, the fighters would have to wear boxing gloves and protective gear. That way, we could protect them as much as possible, keep their injuries to a minimum, and let them fight more matches. Otherwise, they might be seriously injured after just one or two matches, which wouldn't be good for doing business in the long run."
"How would the winner be decided?"
"We'd establish a set of rules. For example, a hit to the head or chest could count as one point, and knocking an opponent down could count as three. Whoever had the most points within the allotted time would win. Of course, if a fighter beat the other man until he couldn't stand, he'd win outright."
"...Wouldn't fighting like that look like a performance? Would the spectators buy it?"
"To martial artists, fighting that way might seem too flashy and insubstantial, but ordinary people who don't know martial arts would surely prefer watching it. If the winner were decided in two or three moves, ordinary people wouldn't get their fill and might not buy it."
"..."
Mo Zhengxing raised many questions, including plenty about the details, and Wu Shuangren answered every one without hesitation.
He was a true professional!
The more Mo Zhengxing asked, the more surprised he became. Mo Zhenglin, too, wore a look of astonishment.
It was one thing for Militia Commander Wu to be a martial arts prodigy, but how could he also be so gifted at business?!
Liao Yu and Wu Dongrong exchanged a glance at the side, both smiling.
They had experienced the same astonishment themselves yesterday.
If Wu Shuangren hadn't convinced them on every point, they wouldn't have come to the Mo Family with him today.
Mo Zhengxing spent some time thinking over what Wu Shuangren had said. The more he thought, the more ingenious he found the business methods behind it!
Perhaps there really was a business opportunity here!
"Where does Militia Commander Wu intend to hold these boxing matches?"
Mo Zhengxing asked.
Wu Shuangren answered without hesitation. "West River Market."
He had learned about the place from Hong Fan.
Hong Fan had said that the Mist Hidden Temple also had business there. If they went over, they might even be able to cut off some of the Mist Hidden Temple's tentacles reaching out from its base!
Mo Zhengxing's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Indeed, West River Market is a suitable place."
West River Market was near the border between Xi Province and Yi Province. An official road ran beside it, and the West River flowed nearby, with a dock on its bank.
Because of the heavy flow of people, many merchants had opened shops there. It had grown larger and larger, eventually becoming a major marketplace with more than thirty thousand permanent residents-more than the population of Bo County's seat.
Passing caravans and travelers, cargo boats docking at the pier, heroes of the jianghu, outlaws of the greenwood, and people from all walks of life stopped at West River Market.
Cargo transport, smuggling, fencing stolen goods-many of the shady dealings in Yi Province and Xi Province also took place at West River Market.
Mo Zhengxing had visited West River Market a few years ago and knew that the strongest factions there were much more powerful than the Mo Family!
"Holding boxing matches at West River Market is indeed a workable plan."
After thinking for a while, Mo Zhengxing spoke slowly. "But all sorts of factions are mixed together there, and we have no foothold at all. Even if we do get the boxing business going, I'm afraid it will be hard to hold on to it."
The truly difficult thing in this world wasn't finding a way to make money, but holding on to it.
Wu Shuangren met his gaze and said each word distinctly, "Is the Mo Family willing to stay cooped up in little Bo County for the rest of its life?"
"..."
The question left Mo Zhengxing silent.
It was precisely because he hadn't been willing to accept that that he had taken the risk of expanding the illicit salt business.
Wu Shuangren said, "Sooner or later, we'll have to take this step. Going to West River Market is safer than charging straight into Yi Prefecture City now. Only by building up our strength elsewhere first will we have a chance to confront the Mist Hidden Temple head-on in the future!"
"That's right!"
Mo Zhenglin made the decision. "I think it's feasible. We can try it at West River Market."
He went on to tell them how the Mist Hidden Temple had cut off the Mo Family's supply of illicit salt. "By doing this, the Mist Hidden Temple probably won't use force against us directly in the near future. Otherwise, there'd be no need to waste money suppressing us. This is just the chance we need to find another way forward and strengthen ourselves!"
Wu Shuangren's eyes lit up when he heard this.
He had been worried that if he took the militia elsewhere, someone might take advantage of their absence to attack Bo County.
Now he didn't have to worry so much.
Mo Zhengxing smiled wryly. "Elder brother, Militia Commander Wu, doing business isn't that simple. Even if we get these boxing matches going and make them big, others can still follow our lead and hold the same kind of matches. How can we be sure we'll be able to compete with those local powers?"
The business Wu Shuangren had proposed didn't depend on any secret technique. Once it grew big, others were bound to imitate it.
"That's simple."
Wu Shuangren had already prepared for this.
"Oh?"
Mo Zhengxing leaned forward. "What brilliant idea does Militia Commander Wu have?"
Wu Shuangren said, "As long as we make sure the strongest fighters are always with us, and the matches we hold are the best and of the highest standard, we won't need to worry about others copying us."
Mo Zhenglin couldn't help asking, "How can we guarantee that?"
"We can."
Wu Shuangren said confidently, "I'm the strongest fighter!"
60 West River Market
On the tenth day after the ambush on the Mist Hidden Temple cavalry.
Mo Zhengxing set out from Bo County with more than twenty people, traveled over a hundred li, and entered Xi Province.
The paddy fields on either side of the official road gave way to dry fields. Crops grew much more sparsely, replaced by stretches of wild land overgrown with weeds. Farther ahead, a broad, muddy river could be seen winding through the distance. Boats traveled back and forth on the water, while the dock on the bank was packed with people, hawkers' cries and work chants rising and falling.
This was West River Dock.
Less than a li farther west lay West River Market.
Mo Zhengxing and the others continued down the official road. As they passed a fork, they saw the words "West River Market" carved in large characters on a rock beside the road.
The group turned onto the smaller road and, after walking for about a quarter of an hour, finally arrived at West River Market.
Riding on horseback, Mo Zhengxing looked around. The place was livelier than when he had visited a few years ago.
A main street stretched straight in from the entrance, shops packed tightly along both sides and wine-shop banners fluttering overhead. Food vendors shouted themselves hoarse, caravans driving mules and horses crowded by the roadside to rest, and jianghu men in groups of three or five swaggered through the street with swords and sabers at their waists.
"Come on, let's go in."
Mo Zhengxing called to the others.
Wu Shuangren hadn't come with them this time. The initial preparations had been left to Mo Zhengxing, a veteran accustomed to doing business.
Mo Zhengxing had brought ten Mo Family guards, including Bai Jinhuan, the chief guard, as well as a dozen or so helpers.
The group entered the market without attracting much attention.
Large groups arrived here every day. A party of twenty-odd people and a few horses seemed ordinary, even with swords and sabers.
Mo Zhengxing led his people around the market, looking for a site suitable for boxing matches.
One possibility was an open space in the center of the market. It was large enough and had plenty of foot traffic, but local powers had long since claimed it for various events.
He also looked at two abandoned warehouses, but they were too small and had fallen into disrepair. Converting them would take too much time and effort.
As the sky began to darken, Mo Zhengxing was about to find an inn for the night and resume the search tomorrow when one of the helpers came running back. "Third Master, there's a theater for sale at the eastern end of the market."
Mo Zhengxing perked up, had the helper lead the way, and hurried over.
The theater stood on the outskirts of the market. It wasn't in the busiest location, but it wasn't too remote either.
It was an old building of blue brick and gray tile, with a fairly imposing facade. A yellowing notice pasted by the entrance bore the large words "Fine property for sale."
Mo Zhengxing pushed the door open and went straight in. The theater was larger inside than it looked from outside. Directly ahead stood a stage half a person's height, its surface laid with thick wooden boards. Though somewhat worn, the structure was still sturdy overall.
An open space spread out below the stage. Mo Zhenglin estimated that it could seat more than two hundred people to watch the matches. There were also second-story viewing galleries on either side that could be made into private boxes for distinguished guests.
"This place..."
Mo Zhengxing stood in the center of the stage and looked around. The more he saw, the more satisfied he became.
The stage was big enough to become a fighting ring with a few alterations. Long benches in the open space below would make seating for the spectators, while the galleries on either side could be reserved for honored guests who could afford the price.
As he was thinking, a stout middle-aged man emerged from the back hall and looked Mo Zhengxing up and down. "Sir, are you here to look at the place?"
"Are you the owner of this theater?"
"I'm with the opera troupe. I stayed behind to handle this sale."
The fat man put on a broad smile. "My humble surname is Liu. This theater is where our troupe used to perform. A few days ago, our troupe leader received an invitation to take us to perform in the city in Xi Province, so this place will be left empty. If it suits you, we can discuss the price."
Mo Zhengxing wasted no words. "Manager Liu, please name your price."
Manager Liu smiled and held up three fingers. "Three hundred taels."
"Three hundred taels?"
Mo Zhengxing smiled. "Manager Liu, this theater has been empty for at least half a year, hasn't it? I noticed signs of leaks in several places on the roof, and the railing on the second floor is loose. Repairs alone will cost quite a bit of silver."
Manager Liu bowed slightly. "Sir, this is West River Market, the liveliest place for a hundred li around! Ask anyone. There isn't a shop in this market that sells for less than a hundred taels. Our theater is so large, and there are several rooms and a courtyard out back. Three hundred taels is truly a sincere price."
Mo Zhengxing shook his head. "Manager Liu, I did business here a few years ago. I know the going prices. However you look at it, this property isn't worth three hundred taels. For that much, I could buy a large residence in the city in Xi Province."
Manager Liu's expression changed slightly, but he kept smiling. "Then, sir, why don't you name a price?"
"One hundred and fifty taels."
"One hundred and fifty? That's far too harsh!"
Manager Liu waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no. If I sold it for that, the troupe leader would beat me to death when I got back!"
"Then I'll look elsewhere."
With that, Mo Zhengxing turned and left, ignoring the other man's attempts to make him stay.
Over the next two days, he haggled with him repeatedly and finally bought the theater for 212 taels of silver.
A property of comparable size in Bo County could be bought for fifty taels of silver at most. At West River Market, the price was more than four times higher!
But there was no helping it. If he wanted to do business here, he had to pay that price.
Mo Zhengxing had brought only three hundred taels of silver with him this time, and he had already spent more than half. There was still more to pay for-
Over the next few days, he and his people set about the renovations at a frantic pace. They reinforced the stage, laid new wooden boards, and then, as Wu Shuangren had instructed, strung thick ropes around it as a barrier.
They set out rows of long benches below the stage, enough to seat around two hundred people. The railings of the galleries on both sides were repaired, and the private boxes were redecorated.
The main entrance received new door panels, and a black-lacquered sign bearing the words "Boxing Hall" was hung above it.
A couplet was hung on either side of the entrance-
Fists split heaven and earth, meeting all the heroes under heaven.
Feet steady the universe, displaying the true mettle of men.
Once everything was ready, Mo Zhengxing began recruiting fighters.
He had word spread: the West River Market boxing ring was opening. Anyone who fought a match would receive one hundred wen, win or lose, with another hundred wen as a bonus for winning. There would be matches every night.
The news passed from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred. Jianghu men short of money, down-and-out martial artists, and some who simply loved a spectacle came flocking to the door.
Mo Zhengxing screened them, weeding out desperate men of unknown background who might have criminal records.
He also turned away some whose fighting skills were ordinary and who were clearly just looking for a free meal.
In the end, he recruited eight fighters.
Meanwhile, publicity was proceeding at a frantic pace. Mo Zhengxing had notices posted all along the official road, at the docks and ferry crossings, and at the entrances to the market. Following Wu Shuangren's advice, he also had flyers handed out to passersby in the market, with special emphasis on the word "free."
The flyers showed two burly men swinging punches at each other. Beside the picture were the words: "West River Market boxing ring. Real kung fu, real men, every punch hits flesh! Watch for free!"