With wives as numerous as clouds and soldiers as numerous as a million, you say he's a useless

The night was cool and the wind was cold; dark clouds obscured the moon.

However, it could not extinguish the flame in the hearts of the millions of people in Tongchuan City.

They followed behind Ye Cheng'an, their gazes resolute and their spirits high, their eyes shining with a light they had never seen before.

Even though they had been guarding the execution ground for an entire day to kill Xie Yuandao and his nephew, they felt no fatigue whatsoever. On the contrary, they were full of energy and eager to bring down more corrupt officials who persecuted the people.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, today will be the most glorious moment of their lives!

This will also become their biggest topic of conversation for the rest of their lives!

The entire city turned out and flocked to the official residence.

At this moment, in the Tongchuan County government office, the county magistrate and county commandant were frowning as they discussed some matters.

"County Magistrate Li, what do you mean? The county magistrate has been imprisoned by the eldest son, and all the affairs of Tongchuan City are now on our shoulders. The Prince is also urgently collecting taxes. What are we going to do?" the county constable asked.

The county magistrate sighed softly, "I am also troubled by this matter. Tongchuan City was already hit by a locust plague this year. Although the eldest son's locust control was swift and effective, and the people did not suffer a complete crop failure, they still suffered damage. In previous years, the taxes were heavy enough for them, let alone this year?"

"I simply cannot bear to force you to collect taxes..."

The county constable sighed heavily, "But if we can't collect the taxes, what about the royal court... We two don't want to get involved in factional strife, and if that person finds something to hold against us, we'll definitely be dismissed."

As the two were talking, a constable suddenly ran up in a panic, shouting, "My lords, something terrible has happened! Something horrible has occurred!"

"What's the matter that you're so panicked?" the county magistrate asked, puzzled.

The constable said, "Young Master, the Young Master is leading all the soldiers and civilians of the city toward the county government office. They have already arrived outside the county government office. Moreover, it is said that today the Young Master summoned all the people of the city and wrote a petition to the people, exposing the crimes of the county magistrate and his nephew one by one, and ordered them all to be executed..."

"Young Master, your arrival is surely ill-intentioned!"

The county magistrate and the county assistant exchanged a glance, then suddenly laughed.

As local officials of Tongchuan City, they had witnessed Xie Yuandao and his nephew commit many unjust acts over the years and had frequently impeached and reported them to higher authorities. However, the prince had connections, and no matter how many letters of accusation they wrote, they could not reach him.

This led to Xie Yuandao and his nephew becoming local tyrants in Tongchuan City, acting recklessly and without anyone being able to control them. Now, the eldest son's actions have actually done a good thing.

From then on, the two of them could act without being restricted.

"What's there to be afraid of? Xie Yuandao and his nephew were killed because they committed many injustices. The young master is upholding justice for the people. We two have a clear conscience, so why should we fear the trial?" Magistrate Li sneered, then invited the county constable, "Lord Zhang, let's go and welcome our young master together."

After saying this, the two men, carrying the account books of Tongchuan City, went out of the county government office to greet him.

"Your humble servants, Li Siming and Zhang Zhongliang, greet the eldest son!"

Seeing the two men brazenly stepping out to greet him, Ye Cheng'an's eyes flashed with a hint of calculation. "Do you two know why I'm here?"

Li Siming said, "Of course I know, the eldest young master has come to uphold justice for the people."

"So you two still dare to come out? Aren't you afraid that this overwhelming public opinion will tear you to shreds?" Ye Chengan asked.

Li Siming laughed, "A clear conscience fears no accusation. During our time in office, we never participated in factional struggles or harmed any region. We have a clear conscience and are naturally willing to accept the judgment of the eldest son."

"These are all the account books and records of Tongchuan City over the years, as well as case files. Xie Yuandao and his nephew committed many evil deeds during their tenure and have long since altered the truth. The ones in my and Lord Zhang's hands are the most authentic and valid."

Ye Cheng'an took the papers and glanced at them, still somewhat suspicious of the two men. "But if you are truly innocent and good officials, why didn't you report or expose the misdeeds of Xie Yuandao and his nephew over the years?"

Li Siming countered, "Does the eldest son think reporting it will be useful? Is there necessarily justice in the royal court?"

"If that's the case, why would the eldest young master come to Liuzhou?"

Li Siming's fearless words not only made Zhang Zhongliang, who was standing beside him, gasp, but also made the common people who came with Ye Chengan look at him with surprise.

Even if this county magistrate was truly innocent and without remorse, he shouldn't have said such things, reopening the wounds of the eldest son.

Who doesn't know that Su Wanrou and her son are in power in the Northern Court, and that's why the eldest son was forced to come here?

Isn't he afraid of angering the eldest son and being punished as a result?

Just when everyone was on tenterhooks, sweating bullets for him, Ye Cheng'an suddenly laughed, "Not bad, you have sharp ears and eyes, and you see the situation in the Northern Border very clearly."

"In that case, is there anyone who wants to report or accuse Lord Li and Lord Zhang? Are they like the Xie uncle and nephew, abusing their power and acting without benevolence as officials?"

Ye Cheng'an's gaze swept over the accompanying commoners one by one.

However, no one among the common people spoke up. After a long silence, one person spoke up, "Lord Li is a good man. I was framed before and almost beheaded by Xie Yuandao. It was Lord Li who spoke up for me and saved me..."

"I have also received favors from Lord Li. When the royal court forcibly levied taxes, my family was unable to pay and was threatened with being beaten and killed. It was Lord Li who paid for it out of his own pocket!"

"And Lord Zhang, Lord Zhang is also a good man..."

"Please, young master, be sure to investigate thoroughly and not wrongly accuse these two good officials because of the actions of Xie Yuandao and his nephew!"

The people knelt down one after another, their cries for help echoing through the heavens.

See? If you truly care about the people, they will know whether you are loyal or treacherous.

The people's hearts will never side with a bad person; they will always know who is truly in their best interest.

Ye Cheng'an looked at Li Siming and Zhang Zhongliang with satisfaction, "Alright, since the people are here to testify for you two, I believe you."

"With Xie Yuandao and his nephew dead, Tongchuan City cannot be without a commander for even a day. It will take some time for the royal court to send someone. Therefore, I have taken the initiative to appoint Li Siming as the commander of Tongchuan City and Zhang Zhongliang as the deputy commander!"

"I hope that you will all diligently perform your duties and work for the benefit of the people!"

Ye Cheng'an admired Li Siming, who was bolder than Zhang Zhongliang.

Upon seeing this, the people shouted, "The eldest son is mighty! The eldest son is mighty!"

Immediately, the shouts of the people echoed throughout the entire city of Tongchuan.

Li Siming never expected that he would be promoted!

He had served as the county magistrate of Tongchuan for many years without being promoted, but the eldest son's arrival... how could he not be excited?

"Young Master, it is getting late. Now that the matter is over, would you like to stay overnight in Tongchuan City? I will have someone prepare wine, food and a room..." Li Siming said.

Ye Cheng'an glanced at the bright moon revealed after the dark clouds dispersed and said, "The food and wine are fine; we've been traveling all day and haven't eaten anything yet. But we don't need a room."

"It's dawn in Tongchuan City, but other places are still shrouded in darkness. I have to race against time to break through this darkness quickly, otherwise, who knows how many people will suffer bullying, persecution, and all sorts of injustices."

Upon hearing this, Li Siming looked at Ye Cheng'an with even greater respect. It was rumored within the Northern Kingdom that the eldest son was a good person, but unfortunately too soft in his dealings. However, after meeting him today, he realized that this was not the case.

Could it be that the eldest young master was persecuted to this extent by Su Wanrou and her son, which is why he suddenly realized the truth?

Li Siming immediately ordered that fine wine and food be prepared and invited Ye Chengan into the county government office.

As for his troops, they were originally supposed to be warmly entertained by Li Siming, but the people of the city spontaneously invited and robbed them, saying, "Lord Li, the young master has done so many good things for us, we should also express our gratitude. You have already taken the young master away, so we should leave these soldiers under his command to entertain him!"

"Rest assured, we will certainly serve you the best food from our home."

The soldiers of the Tiger Roar Camp were strictly ordered not to eat food from the people for free, but today was different. Li Tieshan and the others did not want to spoil the fun of the people, so they had no choice but to agree.

Even though it was already night, Tongchuan City was still bustling with activity, with chickens and sheep being slaughtered and a grand feast being held.

This grand feast is specially prepared to entertain heroes!

Such a harmonious scene between the military and the people was something that even Li Tieshan, Li Siming, Zhang Zhongliang, and others had never seen before, which shows how popular the eldest son's actions were.

It seems that things are about to change in Liuzhou sooner or later.

As Li Siming toasted Ye Cheng'an, tears welled in his eyes. "It is truly a blessing for the people and officials of Liuzhou that you, Young Master, have come to Liuzhou. On behalf of all the people of Liuzhou, I thank you, Young Master!"

Zhang Zhongliang also raised his cup and said, "On behalf of the countless people of Liuzhou, I thank Young Master for upholding justice!"

Ye Cheng'an raised his cup, about to drink, when a messenger suddenly came to report, "Young Master, Your Excellencies, Zhao Kuo, the current commander of the garrison in Tongchuan City, is outside with his entire army requesting an audience with you..."

coming!

The person he truly wanted to subdue had finally arrived! Ye Cheng'an's eyes sharpened.