The nights in Liaoyang after the Black Wolf Gang’s disappearance were pure chaos.

With the Black Wolf Gang destroyed by the Inspection Corps and most opium dens shut down, those addicted to opium were immediately arrested, tried, and sent to open-pit mines near Aoji and Muxun.

Though called open-pit mines, one had to dig at least ten jang deep to extract proper minerals, and the convicted criminals were assigned to the most dangerous tunnel excavation work.

While this seemed to resolve Liaoyang’s problems, the chaos was just beginning.

With the collapse of the Black Wolf Gang that had controlled Liaoyang’s underworld, various miscreants began vying for power.

The problem stemmed from Liaoyang being significantly smaller than major cities like Beijing and Nanjing.

Being smaller in both size and economic scale, there were no martial factions that could rival the Black Wolf Gang.

Moreover, with the area surrounded by notoriously fierce Jurchen people, Liaoyang had few self-proclaimed righteous martial artists.

In this situation, the Black Wolf Gang’s disappearance left Liaoyang’s nights up for grabs.

Those who wished to become masters of Liaoyang’s nights were numerous.

The owners of large taverns who had previously paid tribute to the Black Wolf Gang began eyeing the position, usurers joined the competition, and those who had supplied opium to the Black Wolf Gang also participated.

These participants in what would surely be a bloody competition had just one motivation: money, money, and more money.

The large tavern owners’ thinking was simple:

-If we monopolize by controlling all other taverns, we can make even more profit!

-If we can bring the usurers who were connected to the Black Wolf Gang under our control, we can solve both funding issues and the procurement of women for the taverns in one stroke!

For the usurers, their income had greatly decreased since the Military Government Office began applying imperial law, restricting interest rates, and subjecting them to frequent tax investigations by National Tax Service officials.

-We need to find another source of income! The red-light district is perfect for that!

The opium suppliers joined because the opium dens they had protected through the Black Wolf Gang had collapsed.

Though many addicts had been arrested, a significant number still remained.

-Taverns are the best place for these addicts to safely smoke opium!

-By controlling alcohol, women, opium, and the high-interest loans needed to purchase opium, we can create a perfect cycle!

They dove into the bloody competition dreaming of the rosy future awaiting the victor.

Even amid this bloodbath, competitors kept one eye and one ear on the Secret Guards’ pleasure house situated in the entertainment district.

Having seen it quickly rebuild to its previous scale just days after the fight with the Black Wolf Gang, competitors avoided targeting the Secret Guards’ establishment.

They calculated that any losses from confronting them would only benefit other competitors.

“A foolish judgment, wouldn’t you say?”

The strike team captain nodded at the branch director’s analysis of the situation.

Their choice was actually optimal for the Secret Guards.

The more they weakened themselves fighting each other, the easier it would be for the Secret Guards to deal with them.

“Those fellows must understand such risks. But they can’t join forces to attack us either, can they? They never know when they might get stabbed in the back. That’s why they’re fighting so desperately now. They probably plan to deal with us after quickly settling the current situation.”

The branch director responded to the strike team captain’s words with a cold smile:

“Thanks to them, we’re enjoying an interesting show, and the Liaoyang Inspection Corps commander is overjoyed with his mounting achievements.”

As competition for Liaoyang’s nights intensified, the Secret Guards were busy moving.

Already experienced in covert operations, Secret Guards agents moved throughout Liaoyang, probing competitors’ weaknesses.

The branch director organized this intelligence and passed it to the Inspection Corps commander, who used it to arrest the competitors.

They raided illegal alcohol trading at taverns and human trafficking operations. During this process, they arrested usurers for illegal high-interest loans and forcing self-sale[1]. They also arrested opium dealers for drug trafficking and human trafficking while rounding up remaining addicts.

Additionally, the empire confiscated all their assets as criminal proceeds.

Thanks to this, the Liaoyang Inspection Corps commander accumulated impressive achievements, earning commendations and decorations from both the military and the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

“Thank you! While I’m here, you’ll have my full cooperation!”

The branch director responded to the Inspection Corps commander’s words with a slight smile:

“Then we’re the grateful ones.”

After about a month and a half of bloody fighting and the Inspection Corps’ arrest spree, the branch director and strike team captain rose from their seats.

“Well then, shall we make our move?”

“My muscles have been itching – finally time to stretch them out.”

Just three days after the Secret Guards, who had been quietly observing until then, began moving, Liaoyang’s nights fell under their control.

Once the Secret Guards took control of Liaoyang’s nights, many things began to change.

First, most of Liaoyang’s taverns had to contract with the liquor supply association created by the Secret Guards.

Then, the Secret Guards’ liquor supply association announced bids for merchant groups to supply baiju for the taverns.

Many merchant groups responded to the announcement, and two were selected for contracts.

The contracted merchant groups imported various grades of baiju of higher quality than previously available in Liaoyang. The Secret Guards’ liquor supply association sold these to taverns and civilians at reasonable prices.

Through this process, the Secret Guards could profit twice from the taverns alone.

Once when selling alcohol to the taverns, and again from the taverns’ profits.

Even during the fierce competition, the pleasure house established by the Secret Guards continued to prosper. While various forces fought to control Liaoyang’s nights, residents sought out the safety of the Secret Guards’ establishment.

The wealthy enjoyed music and dance in private rooms while drinking premium soju, while common folk sipped soju sitting around tables in the tavern courtyard.

Those who developed a taste for imperial soju became regulars, increasing the establishment’s sales.

This wasn’t all.

One of the Secret Guards’ front companies, a lending business, moved into the void left by the usurers crushed by the Inspection Corps.

Though their lending criteria were strict, residents of Liaoyang and surrounding areas soon wore down the threshold of this lending company that charged only legally permitted interest rates.

Eventually, the branch director had to urgently write to Sinuiju requesting support:

-Send all available smart people good with calculations!

-Note: Those with pleasant appearances only!

After sending the message, the branch director sighed deeply.

“Business is doing better than expected… sigh. But at least these funds allow the families of our fallen comrades to live without worry… sigh“

Sighing while reviewing documents, the branch director muttered while looking south:

“This really shows how remarkable His Majesty and the Situation are.”

Both the lending company and liquor supply business were ventures created by Sejong and Hyang during the economic reforms.

The national bank and lending companies had pushed out usurious moneylenders who had extracted bloody tears from the people, while the liquor supply business had transformed the people’s haphazard homebrew production into a systematic and legal industry.

What had become commonplace for imperial citizens had become a heaven-sent lifeline for the northern territory’s residents.

However, not everyone benefited from Liaoyang’s nights becoming more stable.

These were people involved with opium.

Though opium could bring in more money than alcohol, the Secret Guards’ response was resolute:

-This is something His Majesty has forbidden as poison to the empire! How could we who protect the empire and follow His Majesty’s commands ignore this!

Following this decision, the Secret Guards immediately reported opium addicts and dens to the Inspection Corps, while killing opium dealers on sight. When cleanup was occasionally inadequate, the branch director would secretly visit the Inspection Corps commander with assassination permits and reports.

“These bastards… making extra work with their sloppy handling…”

At such times, the branch director would grumble while moving about, and Secret Guards agents would face harsh criticism.

As Liaoyang’s nights stabilized, the city and surrounding areas began to show vitality.

Merchant groups entering to supply alcohol to the liquor supply association soon began releasing other goods into the market.

As shops selling goods brought by imperial merchant groups increased, the market gradually grew more vibrant and expanded, while nearby residents visited Liaoyang more frequently and in greater numbers than before.

As floating population increased, restaurants and taverns of various sizes began appearing to serve them. And Secret Guards agents stayed busy managing these newly emerging taverns.

Then one day, a Secret Guards field agent reported to the branch director:

“Branch Director, I have a report about a tavern that opened a few days ago.”

“There are plenty of taverns, aren’t there?”

“No, I mean that tavern packed with only men?”

“Ah? That place?”

The branch director acknowledged the agent’s clarification.

“Surely it’s not a place for male prostitution?”

“It’s not that kind of place, but everyone working there seems suspicious.”

The branch director’s expression turned serious at the agent’s words.

“Suspicious? Ming forces?”

“No, sir. They seem to be imperial troops by all appearances.”

“What?”

After the reporting agent left, the branch director stroked his chin while muttering:

“Military… Can’t say it’s impossible. Hmm…”

After brief consideration, the branch director began writing a report.

“Better submit a report first, then pay them a visit.”

Two days later, the branch director visited the tavern in question with his security detail.

“Beautiful Wine[2]? Are they confident about their alcohol? Come to think of it, this place hasn’t contracted with us, has it?”

One of his subordinates immediately answered:

“Yes, sir. We found they registered with the Military Government Office as both tavern and brewery.”

“Hmm…”

Stroking his chin, the branch director soon stepped inside.

“Welcome!”

Loud voices erupted from various corners as the branch director entered.

Momentarily startled by the boisterous greeting, the branch director soon took a seat and surveyed his surroundings. After carefully examining the tavern’s interior, he smiled wryly.

“How does a tavern feel like military barracks? Though everything from furnishings on is clearly a tavern, it feels military…”

As he noted, all the tavern’s furnishings were arranged in perfect rows and columns.

Watching this, the branch director shook his head slightly and muttered internally:

If this is really a military front operation, they’ve failed from the start.