Chapter 1621: Chapter Seventy-Three: Good Business

“Despicable!”

“Loathsome!”

Who are seated in the council?

The honourable gentlemen bred from three hundred years of Xiling’s prosperity, who are modest and self-reflective, compassionate towards the weak.

Suddenly hearing Gong Liang’s suggestion to transform their city of light into a gambling den and brothel island, how could they not be enraged?

And Gong Liang, who had already anticipated the reaction of these gentlemen, had never hoped for their support from the start. From the moment he spoke, his eyes were fixed on “Mr. Dean”.

Should he detect even a hint of impatience or disdain in Tang Luo’s eyes, he would instantly stop talking, but even as the honourable gentlemen stood up to criticize, he saw no such negative emotions in the other’s gaze.

Gong Liang felt he had made the right wager!

In fact, this wasn’t the first time he had proposed a solution to save Unparalleled City, but it was rejected every time. Privately, the three elders of the Du Family supported him, but because this involved making exceptions in the Unparalleled Code, their attitude was somewhat ambiguous.

This made Gong Liang always feel unappreciated. Being the righteous son of Righteous Gang leader Gong Zheng, and his chief advisor, he always felt that he had to achieve something significant to not let down Gong Zheng who placed him in such an important position.

And the appearance of this unfamiliar “Mr. Dean” was another big gamble for Gong Liang.

At such a critical moment, little care could be paid to the niceties!

“Farming, prostitution, soldiers, bandits!”

Gong Liang said in a loud voice, “These are the three ancient professions of the Human Race, where does the distinction of high and low come from!?”

“Absurd!”

Shen Dafa, with a flushed face, shouted angrily, “Prostitution is the lowest of the low among the inferior, don’t forget, this city is the Void Grandmaster’s Unparalleled City. Accepting wandering prostitutes and soliciting clientele, have you considered the face of the Grandmaster!?”

“Of course Gong Liang has!”

The well-prepared young man spoke confidently to the crowd: “Precisely because Unparalleled City is the Grandmaster’s spiritual ground, this is why we must operate flower boats, letting the fluttering prostitutes stay on the river! Not entering the city, how would it stain the Grandmaster’s esteemed name!”

“This…”

Shen Dafa was momentarily at a loss for words but still retorted vehemently: “That’s still unacceptable, outsiders don’t care whether it’s inside or outside the city, anything near Unparalleled City will be blamed on the Grandmaster!”

“Mr. Shen, that’s unreasonable, is the reputation of Unparalleled City really to live under the spit and slander of fools and brutes!?”

Directly pointing out the flaws in Shen Dafa’s arguments, Gong Liang continued, “Don’t look down upon operating flower boats as unworthy. This could truly stimulate the entire industry of Red Cloud Mountain. First of all, to have flower boats, we need ships, right? If we count by the thousands, then the shipyards of Unparalleled City could receive orders for thousands of small boats just like that. With this alone, those shipyards on the brink of starvation could be revived, and the dockworkers wouldn’t be idle, ensuring three years of worry-free living.”

“And also, once the reputation of the flower boats spreads, the number of visiting merchants will increase. As long as they come to trade at Lingjiang, they will surely wish to visit us. Not everyone can stay on the flower boats, right? Thus, naturally, some will need to find a lodge and an inn, wouldn’t this also revive the city’s taverns?”

“That’s not even the main point!”

Gong Liang became more excited as he spoke, almost to the point of standing on the council table: “The main point lies in the gambling dens! Since ancient times, prostitution and gambling have been inseparable. Maybe Gong Liang has limited experience and isn’t afraid of being laughed at, but in all the trades I’ve seen, there’s none more profitable than gambling dens!”

“It’s just that most gambling dens are unable to protect their earnings, either robbed by thugs or swindled away by cheats!”

“But what place is our Unparalleled City? We have the Void Grandmaster to intimidate, and the lords of the Marshal Star Pavilion to sit in authority, who would dare to cause trouble, who would dare to act rashly!?”

“As long as fair play is upheld and the reputation is good, let alone sustaining one Unparalleled Academy, even if we were to sustain three or five, what effort would it take!?”

All this time, Gong Liang, due to his status and seniority, was present in the council of Unparalleled City but not taken seriously, always had to be cautious and tread lightly.

Yet to everyone’s surprise, today he was like a completely different person, not only standing his ground against Shen Dafa, but also painting a brilliant future for everyone with the prospects of flower boats and gambling houses.

Although the honourable gentlemen still looked down on his ideas, they could only mutter sour words like “despicable” and “shameless”.

Gong Liang was pleased with this reaction, still fixing his bright gaze on “Mr. Dean,” believing that if this official nodded in agreement, it would be a great victory.

And then, whether it was managing the flower boats or the gambling houses, naturally, he would take the lead, and at that time, this pillar sent by Gong Zheng would truly establish himself on Red Cloud Mountain!

‘Agree quickly, what are you hesitating for!? This is the only way to save Unparalleled City now!’

After a long while, unable to read any emotions in the dean’s face as calm as Pinghu, Gong Liang was getting anxious, prompting in his mind.

And Shen Dafa and the others were also staring fixedly at Tang Luo’s face, fearful that this unfamiliar dean might just agree to Gong Liang’s strategy in a moment of confusion, feeling utterly on edge.

After what seemed like an eternity, Tang Luo, seated at the head, finally spoke:

“The idea for the flower boats is good, and the plan for the gambling dens is also feasible…”

The very first sentence startled the honourable gentlemen and filled Gong Liang with ecstatic joy.

“Mr. Dean, you mustn’t! Once we start this, Unparalleled City will lose all its virtue and attract only the riffraff of the lower echelons, with no hope of redeeming itself!”

Shen Dafa, eyes red with urgency, leaned over the council table, “There must be other ways, there must be! Even if we resort to selling swords and armors, I’ll find the money to support the Academy. Please reconsider, Mr. Dean!”