Chapter 14: Establishing

Li Xian looked at the bound individuals with ashen faces and sneered, "Everyone, is what Xie Jun said correct?"

"Please spare us, sir, we don't want the silver," all nine immediately knelt, truly frightened. Although kneeling wasn't customary in the Immortal Domain, they had no choice but to do so this time.

If fleeing for a month meant military service, what about fleeing for ten years? Surely, they'd be executed!

"Sir, sir, we didn’t want to escape. It was the team leader Guo Hong who dismissed us so he could pocket our salaries," they pleaded.

"Yes, yes..." 

The crowd began to voice their grievances.

"I understand!" Li Xian's authority was unshakeable, "So, I won’t pursue the matter too harshly. However, fleeing for ten years still warrants punishment. Each person will receive fifty strokes of the rod.

"Carry it out here."

Song Xing and the others took up wooden rods and, not daring to hold back, began to administer the punishment. After fifty strokes, even those with some cultivation could not endure it, and all were left with severe wounds. It was clear they wouldn’t be able to walk for three to five days.

Despite the beating, the nine were actually grateful to Li Xian. The punishment meant their past offenses had been forgiven, and they no longer had to fear future repercussions. Li Xian’s use of the carrot-and-stick approach was masterful.

"Song Xing, inform their families to come and collect them. They should report back in three days."

By the following morning, Song Xing and the other four were busy. They had posted the laws on the recently repaired yamen walls—this had been done overnight, with Song Xing and the others copying and proofreading the texts. Copper rods wrapped in silk ribbons stood beside the laws, giving a stern appearance of authority.

Leading the way, Song Xing saw many onlookers and immediately shouted, "Attention, villagers! The master has issued an order. From today onwards, the law and order in the northern district will be restored. The specific laws and regulations have been publicly posted. To ensure everyone knows, I will read them out.

First, the inner city is under curfew from the hour of Xu (9 PM) to the hour of Yin (5 AM).

Second, no riding horses and injuring people on the streets.

Third, no gathering to fight.

Fourth, …”

Each regulation was read aloud, totaling over thirty items, covering almost all daily norms.

Finally, Song Xing announced a shocking piece of news: "The former team leader Guo Hong, who is greedy and has fled in fear of punishment, is now officially wanted. Anyone who captures Guo Hong alive will be rewarded with 100 taels of gold!"

Guo Hong, where is he? Guo Hong has not fled in fear of punishment. He has been receiving all the salaries as a Wei Officer while already serving as a guard in the Wang family and even became the team leader. But Li Xian wasn’t following the usual protocols; more precisely, it was Xu Ren, the strategist, who wasn’t following the rules.

To establish authority, it must be widely known! Thus, a warrant and reward for Guo Hong were issued, directly targeting the Wang family!

If you let Guo Hong stay with the Wang family, it would dishearten people. If you don't, it’s harboring a wanted criminal—a crime punishable by death! Wanted criminals are not just ordinary offenders! And Guo Hong’s actions indeed warranted a warrant.

The warrant stirred excitement throughout Wuyang; people were eager to see what would unfold!

But the Wang family didn’t care at all. The head of the Wang family, Wang Chuan, upon hearing this, didn’t even look up. "Let Guo Hong change his name."

Indeed, Wang Chuan, with his calm response, not only saved Guo Hong but also mocked Li Xian. Li Xian, others might fear you, but the Wang family doesn’t even regard you.

The Wang family didn’t just produce a glamorous concubine; the head of the family, Wang Chuan, was a second-rank Minister of Rites, only one rank below Li Xian’s father, Li Yulong. Additionally, Wang Chuan’s brother, Wang Yuhe, was a third-rank Minister of the Interior, and the family had dozens of other members holding official positions.

Such a Wang family, of course, looked down on Li Yulong, the nouveau riche and great villain.

The one most delighted by the clash between the Li and Wang families was none other than the Prime Minister, Ouyang Wubi. Ouyang Wubi patted his son Ouyang Qing on the shoulder and said, "See, dogs biting dogs. None of them are good."

The reactions of other relevant people varied; the Emperor, upon hearing this, even smiled with pleasure.

"Sir, this... seems like a failure... why are you still so happy?" Amidst the discussions, Li Xian looked at the smiling Xu Ren, feeling somewhat confused.

"Young master, this is success. Haven’t you heard the saying, 'Military failure, political victory'?"

"Yet I don't seem to have had any political victories."

"Yes, you have! Think about it: you issued a warrant, and the Wang family openly defied it. What will His Majesty think internally? What will the public think? And the Wang family?"

"Oh, His Majesty will definitely have some reservations. The public will see the Wang family as arrogant. And the Wang family will look down on me even more."

"Exactly. So the warrant for Guo Hong is just a bait; the real big catch is about to be hooked soon."

"The real big catch?"

"Just be patient; for now, let's pretend to be weak." Xu Ren was confident.

Li Xian suddenly smiled, "Sir, I think you're missing one essential item, something a strategist must have."

"Hmm? Missing what?" Xu Ren was caught off guard by Li Xian's sudden shift.

"That's a secret; I'll give it to you once it's ready. Haha..." Li Xian looked quite smug.

After five days of turmoil, those who had been beaten returned happily to report. That night, a young man, heavily drunk, staggered out from a brothel and began singing loudly and arrogantly on the deserted inner city streets.

The patrolling officers, including Song Xing, shouted, "Arrest him!"

The drunkard, enraged, said, "Do you dare to arrest me? Do you know who I am?"

Song Xing swiftly drew his long blade and commanded, "Arrest him."

"You dare!" The drunkard fought back furiously and turned out to be at the ninth level of Qi Refining. Unfortunately, Song Xing and his men were no match for him. Despite having weapons, they were quickly overpowered and left groaning.

"Humph! A bunch of dog lackeys!" After this battle, the drunkard sobered up to some extent and was about to leave.

Just then, a voice came from behind—Xu Ren's voice: "How bold of you, blatantly defying the curfew order, singing wildly in the streets, and even assaulting officials and openly resisting the law. You truly have no regard for the king’s laws."

"The king’s laws? Ha, the king’s laws have long been a mere formality. Only you still take them seriously!" This was indeed a case of speaking one's mind while drunk—a brutally honest remark.

"That's exactly what I was waiting for!" Xu Ren was greatly pleased; you’re really cooperating well!

Then, Xu Ren stopped speaking and went up to subdue the man. After sealing the man's true essence, he tossed him in front of Song Xing and the others. "Bind him."

Xu Ren was at the mid-stage of Foundation Building, and the man had little resistance left.

"Yes." Song Xing and the others, who had been beaten up, were fuming. They really bound the man tightly, and his arms creaked from the pressure.

"Ahh... It hurts so much. Let me go, or I'll kill you. This young master is Wang Ming, the son of Minister Wang Yu and a member of the Wang family!"

Xu Ren roared, "Nonsense! Does being from the Wang family mean you don’t have to follow the king’s laws? Take him back to the yamen!"

"Yes!" Song Xing and the others grabbed Wang Ming and hurried back to the nearby yamen.

Li Xian, who had been waiting for days, heard that a member of the Wang family had been captured. He gritted his teeth and finally shouted, "Court is now in session!”

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