The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

As autumn deepens in Lin Yuan City, the two large red lanterns in front of the "Fu Gui Tang" gambling den in the West Market still emit an ambiguous yet intense light, illuminating the expressions of greed, excitement, and despair on the faces of the gamblers coming and going.

This is one of the biggest dens of iniquity in Lin Yuan City, bustling day and night, with gold and silver flowing like water.

Rumor has it that behind this "Fu Gui Tang" (Hall of Wealth and Prosperity) stands a powerful and influential figure, which is why, over the years, no matter how big or small the gamblers' losses or the government's routine inspections, they have always managed to get through unscathed.

At this moment, in a secluded private room on the second floor of the casino, the charcoal fire was warm and cozy, separating the room from the noise outside.

Pang Xiaopan rubbed her slightly frozen hands, sat in a cushioned rosewood armchair, seemingly leisurely sipping her tea, but her ears were picking up every sound coming from downstairs.

His current identity is "Third Master Pang," a wealthy medicinal herb merchant from the south. He will be staying in Linyuan for several months due to a big business deal. He is generous with his money and has a particular fondness for gambling.

Sitting opposite him was the manager of "Fu Gui Tang," surnamed Hu, a man in his forties with a round face. When he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits, but his eyes always flashed with the shrewdness of a businessman and the ruthlessness of a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world).

"Third Master Pang, your luck has been phenomenal these past few days!" Steward Hu poured tea himself, his tone warm and friendly. "I heard you hit 'Big' seven times in a row at the dice table a few days ago, almost winning the dealer's entire fortune? Haha!"

Pang Xiaopan put down his teacup, a simple yet smug smile spreading across his chubby face: "Luck, it's all luck. Your place has good feng shui, bringing me good fortune. That's why I'm here today, itching to get my hands dirty, and bothering Manager Hu again."

"What are you saying, Third Master Pang! We couldn't possibly invite a VIP like you even if we tried!" Steward Hu's eyes narrowed further. "I wonder what game Third Master would like to play today? Pai Gow? Dice? Or perhaps the newly arrived foreign leaf game?"

Pang Xiaopan waved his hand, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of mystery, "Manager Hu, to be honest, I've traveled all over the country and seen many casinos. This Fugui Hall is indeed grand, and it has a full range of games, but... I always feel that it's lacking a bit of 'excitement'."

"Oh? What does Master Pang mean?" Steward Hu's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Not big enough, not fast enough." Pang Xiaopan rubbed his fingers together. "I've recently had some spare cash and am looking for... more exciting games. I've heard that your place occasionally has some 'special' games? Like... games with higher limits and more 'refined' skills?"

Manager Hu's heart skipped a beat. This was a real big fish! And it sounded like he wasn't opposed to "exquisite" methods, perhaps even looking forward to it?

This type of greedy and arrogant high roller is the type that gambling dens love most.

"Third Master Pang is truly an expert!" Manager Hu's smile deepened. "To be honest, our Fu Gui Tang does have some 'VIP rooms' that ordinary people can't access. The games... are naturally more 'exquisite.' It's just that the entry barrier..."

"Money is no problem," Pang Xiaopan interrupted him, taking out a 1,000-tael silver note from her bosom and gently placing it on the table. "This is the deposit. I know the rules: 30% if we win, and if we lose... it's on me. How about it?"

Manager Hu looked at the brand-new silver note with its intricate markings and his breath hitched slightly.

Huitong Trading Company is a newly established name in Linyuan with an excellent reputation. A deposit of one thousand taels is quite substantial.

"Third Master Pang is so generous!" Steward Hu no longer hesitated, put away the silver notes, "Since Third Master is interested, then let's make the arrangements. Tomorrow night at midnight, the 'Heaven' room on the third floor will have some 'exquisite' entertainment to offer. However... this matter must be kept secret, and all those who come in and out must be reliable."

"I understand." Pang Xiaopan stood up, cupped her hands in greeting, and said, "Then I'll be troubling you tomorrow night."

We eagerly await your arrival!

Leaving Fugui Hall and getting into the sedan chair waiting at the alley entrance, Pang Xiaopan's ostentatious smile vanished instantly, replaced by her usual shrewdness and composure.

He lifted a corner of the sedan curtain and whispered to one of the accompanying men, "Notify Night Owl that the fish has taken the bait. Room 'Tian' (天) for tomorrow night at midnight. Have his men prepare and proceed according to plan."

"Yes, Master Pang."

The sedan chair quietly disappeared into the night, merging into the hazy lights of Lin Yuan City.

At the same time, in the abandoned warehouse in the south of the city, now known as the "Hidden Abode" by insiders.

Su Che was listening to Grey Falcon's report.

"Sir, things are going well with Pang Xiaopan. Manager Hu has taken the bait and will be in the game tomorrow night. Night Owl has already arranged his men, including two math experts we brought from Blackwater Town who are proficient in probability and card counting."

The other man is a seasoned con artist, skilled in observation and psychological pressure. The dealer in the "Heaven" room of the Fu Gui Tang, upon investigation, is a distant cousin of Manager Hu. His skills are passable, but he's a heavy drinker and a lecher. Night Owl has already arranged for someone to get close to him; tonight, they'll find a way to make him "have his fill."

Su Che nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: "Have you investigated the financial statements of Fuguitang?"

"It's been investigated." Grey Falcon handed over a secret report. "The daily net turnover is between three and five thousand taels, but the gambling den has complicated relationships behind it and needs to be bribed from all sides. The actual amount that ends up in the Crown Prince's private treasury is about 1,500 taels per day."

Based on information pieced together from several informants we've bribed, their treasury reserves should be around 50,000 taels, but some of that is in antiques and land deeds that are difficult to liquidate immediately. Their daily cash reserves are approximately 20,000 taels.

"Twenty thousand taels..." Su Che pondered. "That's enough. Tell Pang Xiaopan to enter the game tomorrow night. For the first three days, make small losses and big wins, making sure they think we're easy prey relying on luck and courage. Gradually raise the upper limit of the bets. From the fourth day onwards, start reaping the rewards. The key isn't how much you win, but disrupting their cash flow and causing internal suspicion."

"Understood." Grey Falcon noted it down and added, "In addition, we have also found someone to spread rumors and incite gamblers to cause trouble. There is a penniless man named Chen Asi who lost all his ancestral home deeds at the Fugui Hall a few days ago. His wife ran away with someone else, and he is full of resentment. He can be used. We have arranged for someone to contact him and given him ten taels of silver and a promise."

"Yes. The rumors need to be timely. First, spread them among the lower-level gamblers and the common people, saying things like, 'Fu Gui Tang has been on an unlucky streak lately, they might have cheated,' or 'a high roller has been swindled out of his fortune.' Mix the truth with the lies. The timing for the disturbance will be when we start to reap the rewards, when their cash flow is at its tightest."

Su Che laid out his plan with a clear mind.

"Yes. There's one more thing," Grey Falcon lowered his voice, "At the First Prince's residence, Mr. Jia seems to be paying attention to the recent 'excitement' at Fu Gui Tang. He sent someone to ask Steward Hu about it. To show off his competence, Steward Hu reported on the matter of Pang Xiaopan, this 'big fish,' and Mr. Jia seems... quite interested. He might be secretly keeping an eye on the situation tomorrow night."

A cold glint flashed in Su Che's eyes: "It's better to keep an eye on him. Let him see with his own eyes how his money flows out. Tell Night Owl to write down every possible spying gaze inside and outside the 'Sky' room tomorrow night. Especially the people Mr. Jia sent."

"yes!"

An economic war targeting "Fuguitang" quietly began in the shadows, unknown to anyone. This was not just about making money, but also a multi-pronged operation to test Su Che's team's operational capabilities in Lin Yuan, to crack down on the Crown Prince's illicit financial resources, and to establish a covert intelligence network.

……