Chapter 300: Chapter 158: Celestial Star Force, Frenzied Killing Intent
"Are we not pursuing them?"
Han Xiaoru finished applying the medicine, waved her hand, and a group of soldiers followed. She rode ahead to investigate for a while, then returned, frowning tightly.
"Those people have insiders within the city, hidden well. Despite the extensive searches and rectifications in the city these days, we haven’t uncovered them. Should we impose a curfew to flush them out?"
This shows that Han Xiaoru has indeed grown much.
Some people grow up in an instant.
The key is responsibility.
If it were the old Han Xiaoru, she couldn’t even take care of herself, would be ambushed and kidnapped while walking on the street, and her skills were of no use.
The current Han Xiaoru is already trying to help Chen Ping manage the city, fill gaps, and has learned to analyze the intentions and plans of others. Compared to before, it’s a world of difference.
"No need, senior sister."
Chen Ping smiled and said, "Rarely are the citizens in the city so joyful these days. Let’s let them enjoy it. A curfew only restrains gentlemen but not villains; it’s not very effective against those skilled Jianghu figures.
The most important thing is, as we are newly in charge of Xingqing Prefecture, now is the time to give people confidence. We mustn’t preventively barricade ourselves, which would make us look scared.
Once we show fear, many will think we’re incapable, becoming undecided, inside colluding with outside enemies. This would be worse."
Why has Xingqing Prefecture seemed to change drastically in others’ eyes in just seven days?
Chen Ping has put much thought into it.
Of course, Yuo Qiu, this master planner of governance, showed great initiative, and his enthusiastic work also deeply satisfied Chen Ping.
Not to mention relying on martial force to gather resources from various noble families; nor the confiscation of Jinghai Prince’s Mansion and annihilation of Deputy Magistrate Wu’s family. Just discussing the slight adjustments to various policies has brought immense change.
For example, the elimination of bizarre taxes like charcoal tax, river levy, land tax, head tax, and others.
Establishing over twenty public medical halls, regulating medication prices, spending extravagantly to invite doctors and medicine hall clerks, and promising various protective measures to ease their minds.
Offering free medical consultations and prescriptions, mainly letting the populace feel not only the absence of hunger but also the upper levels’ care for the grassroots.
Additionally, further regulation of literary halls and martial halls, broadcasting Xingqing Prefecture’s new policies.
This seemingly small move gives hope to the populace.
Especially now, in times of uncertainty and rising fears, creating channels for advancement...
Allowing those with skills, literary talent, and martial arts to secure positions.
While enriching local positions, calming the chaotic minds at a rapid pace.
Of course, here, one can’t overlook the separation of military and government, establishing a clear promotion system.
Now, as recruitment is gradually expanded, without needing to recruit externally, Chen Ping already has four thousand troops, who aren’t just training formations and martial arts daily but spending half the day training and the other half working...
In a short time, Xingqing Prefecture, including but not limited to repairing official roads, clearing bandits, refurbishing city walls, inspecting hazardous buildings, planning streets, and more.
This is just beginning, and now it’s under intense construction.
The transformation of Xingqing Prefecture’s main city won’t need even a month’s time.
As for the surrounding thirteen counties, Chen Ping has currently issued an order, not yet able to care for them.
In his plans, after handling the Hexi Cui family’s counterattack or directly deploying troops to strike Hexi County, whether submitting or extinguishing the Cui family’s power, acquiring vast farmlands, shops, mulberry fields, mines, tea estates, and other properties, only then can further nourish troops and people.
The assets of a millennium-old noble family are more than enough to sustain ten thousand soldiers.
Not many others may know this, but Chen Ping himself, as well as the Cui family, understands it well.
Since their battle that day, both sides have been locked in a fight to the death, with no room for reconciliation.
Today’s peace is merely a brief calm before the storm, Chen Ping is preparing, and the Cui family surely is too.
If they intend not to disappoint the Hu people, they certainly will act before the Hu people’s Rushing Wolf Cavalry arrives.
Chen Ping won’t miscalculate this.
Of course, among all the changes, the largest is Chen Ping’s untiring, radical governance of the behaviors of the hundreds of thousands within the main city, roughly mobilizing his thousands of troops and all the constables in the Arresting Officer’s Room.
Wrongdoers, executed.
Those who oppress the people with cruelty, executed.
Those who are rich and unkind, executed.
Just five days spent, causing Xingqing Prefecture to be terrified.
Besides more than twenty wealthy households preparing to leave the city, everyone else is trembling with fear, obedient as rabbits, no longer daring to resist.
Of course, strong measures of suppression in chaotic times are not to be frequently used.
Next, once Chen Ping passes the initial chaos, he plans to earnestly recruit impoverished scholars, recognize talents in the wilderness, and aim to clarify the judiciary, increase execution strength, doing his utmost for fairness and justice.
This is the next planned action.
"These days, too many heads have rolled. Although cheers resound within the city, there’s daily alarm, many have even become bloodthirsty, which isn’t ideal.
As for Xu Yanzong, Nengba, and Xiao Chengyun, though they still harbor rebellious hearts, initially wanting to seize the Azure Dragon Seal, after this event, surely they lack the courage.
