The organizational structure had been set up before entering the city, and the main cadres had been identified. After Liu Xiang distributed the indigenous personnel he received, the organization construction was basically completed.
There was noisy registration in front of them for haircuts, but Liu Xiang couldn't care less and hurriedly came down and entered the office - Lin Baiguang was already waiting for him.
"The army is about to enter the city. It's a bit urgent. It's all up to you." Liu Xiang was not polite and went straight to the point.
The 4th Battalion and the National Army, who were responsible for the occupation of Guangzhou Prefecture, entered the city on the day it opened. What is about to enter the city now is the main force of the South China Army participating in the Guangdong Raiders. From a military point of view, there is no need for these troops to enter the city, but the elders all believe that it is necessary to use this opportunity to promote "We are Wu Weiyang" so that the locals can fully understand the military power of the Fubo Army and fully deter the resistance. molecular. So it was decided that the army, fully armed, would pass through the city.
"This matter is really difficult to handle." Lin Baiguang spread out the map of Guangzhou he brought. This map is the hard work of the Ministry of Urban Engineering over the past few years. However, the Ministry of Urban Industry is only a secret agency after all, and has no authority to send surveying and mapping personnel into various buildings for on-site surveying and mapping. Therefore, the details are not very meticulous, and the main street network and building groups in Guangzhou are roughly drawn to scale.
"Although it is not a military parade, it is actually the same thing as a military parade." Lin Baiguang said, "As far as I know, the most suitable route is to enter the city from the South Gate, walk north on Chengxuan Street, and pass at the bottom of the double gate. Finally, leave the city through the Big North Gate or the Small North Gate - just across the whole city."
Chengxuan Street is the Beijing Road of modern time and space. Throughout the dynasties, Beijing Road has been the north-south central axis of Guangzhou City, and its transportation status is very important. There are a large number of official offices, academies and temples on both sides of the street, and it is also an important commercial area. Armed parades here can achieve the best results.
"...The key is that this street is wide enough and has a stone road." Lin Baiguang pointed at the map, "You must have seen the streets in Guangzhou."
Liu Xiang nodded: "It's narrow and the road surface is uneven. It's mostly a mixture of mud and gravel."
"The mixed gravel roads are pretty good, and most of them are dirt roads with no stones at all." Lin Baiguang said, "But that's not the difficulty."
"Where is it?" Liu Xiang was a little confused.
"It's not clear here. It's better for us to go and have a look." Lin Baiguang smiled slightly, "I think you should work more on-site to understand the difficulty of managing a big city."
"I accept this opinion." Liu Xiang nodded, "One more thing. I wonder if you can temporarily serve as the chief of the Guangzhou Police Department?"
"This is inappropriate. The national police and our civil affairs department are two different systems. Besides, Ran Yao still has someone in his pocket. He hasn't mentioned the candidate yet just to balance the internal affairs - let's wait until the formal appointment comes. "
"You can work part-time for now. I'll send you a letter of appointment later. It won't be too late for you to handle the transfer when the official director comes. There are a lot of things to do in police affairs. And the sooner the better. Besides, you, the director of the Comprehensive Management Office, how can you do it without a gun?" Liu Xiang shook his head, "Although I am the director of the Military Control Commission. I have the power to control the army and civilians. I have the authority to command both the army and the police, but you have so many things to do. I don’t necessarily have to come here every time to file a report and apply..."
"Isn't there a detective team you recruited?" Lin Baiguang said with a smile, "These people are very easy to use."
Liu Xiang and Lin Baiguang left the city hall, neither taking a car nor taking a sedan, and took more than a dozen guards with them. Lin Baiguang also called the office secretary and several poster and detective team members. Let's go to Chengxuan Street together.
Chengxuan Street is not far from the government office - historically it has been the political and cultural center of Guangzhou. There are many government offices, academies and temples here, so the surrounding houses and streets are quite neat and tidy. It’s just that most of the streets are winding and the paths are narrow and not straight. The road surface is even more muddy - sewage facilities here are almost non-existent, not to mention domestic sewage flowing across the road, and it will take a long time for the accumulated water after rain to dry up. Liu Xiang thought to himself that luckily he listened to Lin Baiguang's reminder and put on long oilskin boots when he came out. Otherwise it will be difficult to walk.
"It's pretty good here. Because it's close to the government offices and the main business district, the residents are relatively wealthy, and the road surface is still a mixture of mud and gravel. If you get down to the back streets, the mud won't have time to dry out."
"I originally thought Guangzhou would be better than Lingao and Qiongshan, but it seems to be about the same." Liu Xiang said with a wry smile. "Given the sanitary situation like this, it would be strange if there are no infectious diseases in summer."
“In ancient society, there was no concept of urban planning and management.”
They walked all the way, closing the gate at every alley they passed. There are various styles of street gates, including decent gate towers. There are also those that just have a door opening in the wall across the street and a fence gate. The simplest one is just a bamboo horse, which seals the entrance to the alley at night and moves aside during the day.
"Street gates are an important element of public security in Guangzhou. They are locked after dark. There are significant limits on criminal activities at night. In an era without street lighting, this was considered the most effective means of urban security management."
"It's like we have a curfew now."
"That's what it means. In fact, night walking here used to be prohibited. There are also government officials patrolling the streets every night, and anyone who sees you walking at night will be questioned. If he thinks you are acting suspiciously, he will be reprimanded by Master Dianshi and slapped with twenty sticks. , you have to stay in the prison cell for one night and be released on bail the next day. Of course, if you are a gentry or have some money to bribe in time, you won't have to suffer this physical pain."
"Really *****." Liu Xiang said.
"The police are still useful," Lin Baiguang said. "They are very familiar with the criminal gangs and beggar gangs in the city. If you want to improve public security, you have to rely on them - at least for now."
Liu Xiang saw a small gray brick house with a similar appearance next to each street gate. Although most of them were dilapidated and had incomplete doors and windows, they used gray tube tiles that were only used in government buildings. He suddenly became curious and just wanted to walk over and take a look. , a person posted a note next to it: "Sir, this is the official residence where the street watcher lives. It's very dirty inside..."
It was indeed very dirty. There were urine stains on the walls, and there were several urine buckets placed against the wall, exuding a strong stench. There is also a large notice posted on the wall above the urine bucket. It is the "Advertisement to Guangzhou Citizens" that he instructed the Comprehensive Management Office to post throughout the city yesterday.
Unexpectedly, it was posted here, and Liu Xiang smiled bitterly, but people who come to urinate like this will definitely see it.
"A street watcher?"
"Yes, sir."
Lin Baiguang saw that he was confused and explained that the so-called street watchers were the people responsible for opening and closing the street gates and keeping watch at night. They were usually beggars. They were also responsible for carrying the ownerless corpses that had fallen on the road.
"It's ridiculous to rely on beggars for public security." Liu Xiang shook his head. He already understood that these houses are actually the "police booths" of modern society. Although there may not be police officers in the police booths in the 21st century, at least there are security guards. A beggar is actually used here.
"How much do you pay him a month?"
"How much you give is a matter on the street. The Yamen doesn't care." The clerk said cautiously.
Liu Xiang almost cried because of this weird idea of city management. A detective team member thought that Liu Xiang wanted to see the watchman, so he walked to the door, kicked open the reed curtain blocking the door and shouted: "Come out! Prefect The Lord wants to see you!"
A man in a patched uniform came out from inside. He knelt down in front of Liu Xiang and said, "Kowtow, sir."
Liu Xiang saw that he looked quite clean, except that his clothes were covered in patches, and said, "Get up and talk."
"Yes, sir."
Liu Xiang asked: "How much rice do you get on the street every month when you work here?"
The watchman didn't dare to raise his head, so he lowered his head and said, "Sir, I don't have any money or rice."
Liu Xiang said: "Without money and rice, what do you do for a living?"
"I rely on the neighbors to take care of me and give me some leftover rice and porridge. I can still survive."
Liu Xiang suddenly turned around and asked the book office: "Don't you give money and rice to watchmen on the street?"
The clerk's name is Jia Jue, because he is considered "conscientious" on weekdays. He does not blackmail or deceive people, and he never makes things difficult when getting paid. He is a clerk with a good reputation. So it was not liquidated this time. Hearing Liu Xiang's question, he did not dare to neglect and said: "Actually, there is a gain..."
"Who embezzled it?"
"Money and food are all given to the big bones everywhere." Jia Jue said. He said that the "big bone" is the beggar's head.
Liu Xiang nodded, thinking how could I forget this? Beggars also have gangs. However, watchmen were an important security force in ancient cities. Their night watch not only tells the time, but also scares and disturbs criminals. It can be organized and utilized now.
A group of people walked onto Chengxuan Street. This street is indeed "big", with a width of more than 9 meters according to visual inspection. It is a rare wide street in Guangzhou. The most important thing is that the road is paved with bluestone slabs - although the slabs are cracked and missing to varying degrees, and water accumulates in many places.
"The average road width is about 9.2 meters. Our people measured it." Lin Baiguang said.
"It's as wide as a two-lane road. It can't hold a serious military parade. A six-column march won't be a problem. Artillery carriages and baggage trucks can also run around."
"Haha, so I want to invite you to take a look. It's not what you think." Lin Baiguang smiled, "Materials are often unreliable."
Chengxuan Street is a very lively and bustling main road and commercial street in Guangzhou, with many shops on both sides. Although the city has just changed hands, many shops are closed due to concerns about safety, and most vendors have not left their stalls. There are still many businesses operating on the streets. The appearance of their group immediately caused a commotion. People knew from their attire that they must be high-ranking Australian officials. Some well-informed people already knew that this was the "Australian Prime Minister" and hid on both sides of the street with a roar. The guy who shouted so enthusiastically also became mute. The originally lively streets suddenly became deserted. (To be continued.)
