The next day, people in Dangzhenwucheng walked out of their homes.
Suddenly there were many soldiers on the street.
The whole city is filled with the smell of blood.
I don’t know what happened last night.
However, some sharp-eyed people discovered that most of those arrogant aristocratic families and dignitaries closed their doors tightly, and no one showed up.
Just when they were wondering, a piece of news came.
The body of Xue Simo, the lord of Zhentian City, was hung on the city wall, with a notice posted below.
For a time, all the people who were unaware of the situation rushed over.
Under the city wall, there were many people surrounding it.
There were several menacing soldiers standing in front of a notice board with a piece of paper pasted on it.
"Little brother, I don't know the words. Can you help me read it?" An old man looked at a young man and said.
The young man did not hesitate and started reading directly.
"Xue Simo allowed his son to harm the people, and used "children" as prey, shooting them for fun. This act is unconscionable."
"Now, by His Majesty's order, Xue Simo Lingchi will be executed and hung high on the city wall for three days. His son Xue Changshan will be executed on the spot. The rest of the Xue family will be put into prison and await the Holy Judgment."
"Every official in the world must take this as a warning. Anyone who offends again will be killed without mercy."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the people were in an uproar and immediately showed their excitement.
"That's great. Xue Simo, the bad official, is finally dead. Your Majesty is wise."
"Xue Simo was cruel and unkind, and committed crimes. Countless people were brutally killed. Finally, someone cured him."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, and give justice to all the people in Wucheng."
"It turns out that our Qianwu country also has a clear master."
…
In a tea shop not far from the notice board.
Lin Xu sat at the table drinking tea.
He could hear that what these people said was from the bottom of their hearts, and he was even more sincerely happy.
Lin Xu looked at the tea shop owner and said, "Boss, I'm just a passerby. I don't know what Xue Simo did to make so many people hate him."
"My guest, you don't know something. Xue Simo relies on the fact that he has people in the court. He behaves arrogantly and does not take the people into consideration at all."
"There are countless things like killing people and robbing people's daughters. The most infuriating thing is that he secretly set up many exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, causing the people to suffer unspeakably."
"And among the dignitaries in the city, basically none of them are good."
When it comes to Xue Simo's crimes, the tea shop owner talks so much that he can't stop for a while.
How would they dare to say this in normal times? Now that Xue Simo has fallen into disgrace, these people who have been suppressed for a long time finally let out a breath of bad breath.
Lin Xu didn't interrupt and just listened quietly.
Sometimes, the words of the people are more useful than anything anyone else can say.
"Boss, if you were given a chance to talk to His Majesty, what would you most like to say to him?"
When the tea shop owner had almost said it, Lin Xu finally spoke up.
"If I could see His Majesty, I would definitely thank him for eliminating harm to the people. If possible, I sincerely hope that the taxes can be reduced."
"I know that the court needs a lot of money to support the army. But the people's life is too hard, and we ordinary people are not unreasonable people."
"As long as the taxes are reasonable, we will take the initiative to pay the taxes without the court's advice. After all, there is no army. When the war breaks out, we, the common people, will suffer."
"But if this tax can be a little more humane, people's lives may be much better, at least they won't lose all hope of living."
Listening to the tea shop owner's words, Lin Xu fell into thinking.
Taxation is indeed a big deal for people.
But it doesn’t mean that it can be reduced by lowering it.
When taxes fall and local officials' incomes decrease, they will take even more desperate risks, and it will be the people who will suffer.
But if they don't surrender, the people will never live a good life and will still be in dire straits.
"Thank you boss, here's the money, I'll leave first."
Lin Xu shook his head, put down a piece of silver and left directly.
A cup of tea only costs a few pennies, but what he left behind was ten taels, which was considered a consulting fee for the boss.
He led the people to the city lord's mansion. Zhu Lian had been waiting at the door for a long time. There was also a burly general beside him. His armor was stained with blood. He had killed an unknown number of people.
"Master!" Zhu Lian saluted respectfully.
Jiang Shan also saluted immediately.
"Go in first!"
Lin Xu nodded, walked directly in, and sat down at the main seat in the living room of the City Lord's Mansion.
"Your Majesty, long live my emperor." Walking inside, Zhu Lian and other guards finally stopped hiding and knelt on the ground to salute.
Although Jiang Shan had already suspected it, he couldn't help but feel shocked when he saw these people admit it personally.
Imperial power has truly returned.
But now His Majesty is actually just a young man who looks weak.
Jiang Shan didn't hesitate at all and immediately knelt down to salute.
"Flat body."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Lin Xu looked at Jiang Shan and chuckled: "This must be Jiang Shan, the commander of the Zhenwucheng City Guards!"
"Your Majesty, the last general is Jiang Shan, commanding the 50,000 city guards of Zhenwucheng." Jiang Shan said solemnly.
"Your Majesty, thanks to Commander Jiang's help, we were able to root out all of Xue Simo's gang members overnight."
Zhu Lian chuckled.
Jiang Shan looked happy and cast a grateful look at Zhu Lian. He did not expect that this adult would actually take the initiative to speak for him.
"Oh? Eliminate all Xue Simo's gangsters overnight?" Lin Xu looked at Jiang Shan and said with a smile, "General Jiang is quite capable."
"I don't dare. I am eating the king's salary and worrying about the king. I can no longer stand what Xue Simo has done. However, he has his back to the Xue family. I can't do anything to him. I can only compromise for the time being and listen to his orders."
"Thanks to His Majesty's sage for killing this rebellious minister and traitor and bringing justice to the people."
Jiang Shan looked sincere. Even though he looked like a rough guy, he was actually rough but subtle.
When Xue Simo was in power, he relied on his sharp tongue to gain his trust.
Because of this, he was able to clear out Xue Simo's gang members so quickly.
"Jiang Shan, in that case, I have a task I want to give you. I wonder if you are confident to complete it?"
Jiang Shan knelt directly on the ground and said sincerely: "Your Majesty, please just say that you will go through fire and water without hesitation."
"Okay. I order you to lead the Zhenwucheng City Guards to capture all the cities in the three counties of Wutong, Hongle, and Qingyang within three days, and eliminate all Xue Rong's gang members."
"What? Capture the three counties of the Imperial City?" Jiang Shan's body was shocked, surprised and happy.
I am happy that His Majesty actually entrusted him with such an important task, but I am surprised that he is not strong enough.
With just 50,000 people, it would be difficult for him to capture Wutongji County, let alone the other two counties.
"What, no confidence?" Lin Xu said with a smile.
Jiang Shan frowned, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't dare, but I'm afraid that I won't be strong enough to complete the task, and I will disappoint Your Majesty."
"I will send Dongchang to assist you. There are three thousand first-rate masters, three hundred innate masters, thirty grandmasters, and three great masters."
"Tell me now, do you have confidence?"
Lin Xu said calmly.
"Three thousand first-rate masters, three hundred innate masters, thirty grand masters, and three grand masters!?" Jiang Shan repeated, almost thinking that he heard wrongly.
"Your Majesty, are you really willing to send so many experts to me?" Jiang Shan said with some uncertainty.
"Sure. But one thing is, if you can't take these three counties within three days, then come and see us."
Lin Xu said calmly.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. The general will definitely fulfill your will." Jiang Shan was overjoyed. With so many experts helping him, it would be nothing to solve the three major counties.
