Hurt my loved ones? I'm not guarding this country's borders anymore!

Previous Chapter Recap: Xuanwu was given a day to find the location of the "Shadow Tower," determined to first cut off one of Anle King's henchmen.

Before dawn the next day, the entire Cangcheng was ignited from a period of oppressive silence.

Hundreds of soldiers from the Military Command appeared in the streets and alleys, posting notices bearing the official seal of "Dragon Marshal's Mansion" all over the city's bulletin boards.

"New regulations for Cangcheng?"

"Look! Lord Dragon has issued a new decree!"

Countless early risers and trembling vendors gathered around.

The notice was simple and direct, divided into two main parts: "Prestige" and "Kindness".

Wei has three aspects:

First, all private fights are strictly prohibited within the city. All gangs must disband immediately, and their members must register with the Military Command within three days. Otherwise, they will be executed without mercy!

Secondly, all shops and properties must be re-registered and taxed in accordance with the law. If any concealment is found, the property will be confiscated!

Thirdly, anyone who shields the old party members or resists the new regulations will have their entire family implicated and punished, up to three generations, once discovered!

These three lines, each one sharp and decisive, severed all the dark roots of the old era.

The part about "gratitude" elicited cheers from the onlookers.

. .

Firstly, starting immediately, the granaries will be opened and grain will be distributed. All registered poor households can receive a month's worth of grain rations free of charge upon presentation of their household registration.

Secondly, Baicaotang will be set up as a free clinic, funded by the Dragon Marshal's Mansion, to provide free medical care for all citizens of the city, with discounts or exemptions for those with serious illnesses.

Thirdly, the silver confiscated from the four major families will be used to repair city defenses, dredge waterways, recruit laborers, and provide work relief!

For a time, the entire city of Cangcheng was in turmoil.

The people spread the news with great joy, shouting "The Dragon Lord is wise!" Meanwhile, those merchants and thugs who had once been affiliated with the four great families and had shady dealings were devastated and lived in constant fear.

Some of them gathered together, wanting to discuss countermeasures, but fearing that the walls might overhear them. Others, however, had wicked thoughts and secretly sent people to contact Princess Huimin, who had also just arrived in Cangcheng, hoping to find a new patron.

Just as these undercurrents were brewing, someone no one expected made the quickest choice.

In the south of the city, Manager Li of the largest silk shop, "Jinxiu Pavilion," neither made any connections nor went to observe the situation.

He closed the shop door, packed all the land deeds, account books, and a "generous gift" that he had prepared overnight into a wooden box, then put on the simplest long robe and knelt down alone in the direction of the Dragon General's Mansion.

Yes, they knelt all the way through.

When this portly shopkeeper, who was quite prestigious in Cangcheng's business circles, crawled a hundred meters on his knees and finally knelt down at the entrance of the Dragon Marshal's Mansion, it immediately caused a sensation.

"Commander Long, that man is Li Jinfu, a notorious smiling tiger in the south of the city. He used to be a lackey of the Zheng family."

Inside the mansion, Zhuque reported to Shen Jinglong.

"Let him in."

Shen Jinglong was wiping his black dragon spear without looking up.

When Manager Li was led into the hall, his legs went weak. He dared not look at the menacing figure in the main seat, and knelt down again as soon as he entered, kowtowing repeatedly.

"The sinner...the sinner Li Jinfu pays respects to Your Majesty the Dragon Lord!"

"What is it?" Shen Jinglong's voice was very calm.

"Lord Dragon Lord, I was blind and ignorant before, aiding and abetting evil, and deserve to die!" Li Jinfu said, raising the wooden box high above his head. "This contains... all my possessions, and... some unclean people and things, as a pledge of allegiance to Lord Dragon Lord!"

Qinglong stepped forward and opened the wooden box.

Inside, besides a thick stack of land deeds and banknotes, there was also a roll of parchment.

Qinglong unfolded it, his expression changed slightly, and then handed it to Shen Jinglong.

Shen Jinglong glanced at it.

This Manager Li is indeed a smart man.

This "pledge of allegiance" clearly lists three things:

First, there are still a dozen or so troublemakers in the city who haven't given up and are secretly making connections, spreading rumors and their hiding places.

Secondly, there is a detailed map of an underground palace treasury that the four major families secretly built in a mass grave on the outskirts of the city as a precaution. It is said that the gold and silver treasures inside are enough to rebuild Cangcheng.

Third, and most valuable, are the detailed records of which chamber of commerce leaders the people from Princess Huimin's residence had secretly contacted yesterday.

"That's interesting."

Shen Jinglong sneered inwardly; this princess was truly restless.

"Since you want to gamble, I'll give you a chance to place a bet."

He looked at Li Jinfu, who was trembling below, and suddenly spoke:

"Raise your head."

Li Jinfu looked up cautiously.

"Starting today, a new Chamber of Commerce will be established in Cangcheng to oversee all commerce in the city. You will be the interim president."

"What?"

Li Jinfu was completely stunned; he thought he had misheard.

He's a criminal, and it's already a miracle he hasn't been purged. Now... he's actually going to be given an important position?

"What, you don't want to?"

"I am willing! I am willing! This sinner is willing to go through fire and water for Lord Dragon Lord, even unto death!"

Li Jinfu came to his senses and kowtowed again, this time with excitement and ecstasy!

The gamble paid off! This Dragon Lord doesn't want money, he wants order and loyalty! The true beginning of the Li family's wealth and power starts today!

"As for your things..."

Shen Jinglong pushed the land deeds and silver notes back. "I don't need them. What I need is a stable and prosperous Cangcheng. Do your job well, and you'll be rewarded with wealth in the future."

"Thank you, Dragon Lord! Thank you, Dragon Lord!"

Shen Jinglong waved his hand, indicating that he could leave. Then, he tossed the list to Zhuque.

"You know how to deal with these people upstairs, right?"

A cold glint flashed in Suzaku's eyes: "Understood!"

Half an hour later.

In the central square of Cangcheng, on the high platform that had just been erected yesterday, more than a dozen wooden stakes have been erected again.

A dozen or so troublemakers, led by Wang Laohu's remaining followers, were brought to the stage, bound hand and foot, before they could even react from the dinner table in the secret room.

One of the newly arrested leaders, seeing the sea of ​​people below and the gleaming steel knives, was so terrified he wet himself, and kept shouting:

"I'm innocent! I don't know anything! I... I can still try to argue..."

Suzaku had no interest in listening to his nonsense.

"Those who violate the new rules will be killed!"

Knife up and down.

More than a dozen heads rolled on the ground.

Li Jinfu, who had just been appointed as the president of the chamber of commerce, stood below the stage and watched this scene. His legs trembled with fear, but he felt more at ease than ever before.

On one side are high-ranking officials and generous salaries, on the other side are heads rolling.

This stark contrast was like two heavy hammer blows, striking the hearts of all the remaining forces in Cangcheng.

Those who were still hesitating and observing had completely lost their temper.

They rushed to the military headquarters to register, disband their gangs, and hand over their assets, fearing that if they were a step too late, they would be the next to be hung on the platform.

In the baptism of blood and fire, Cangcheng quickly restored order at an astonishing pace.

Shen Jinglong stood on the top floor of the Dragon Marshal's Mansion, watching all of this.

He knew that this city had completely fallen under the Shen family's control.

Blood is the most effective means of quelling chaos. Cangcheng is now pacified, King Anle... Next, it's your turn, "Shadow Tower."