Chapter 1129

Shangfang Commandery and Jiannan Commandery seemed to have been swept by a gust of wild wind, everyone shouting and calling out, craning their necks to watch a grand and lively spectacle, not yet having tasted whether it was salty, bland, sweet, or spicy, when they opened their eyes again, the dust had already settled.

The voices of doubt that had existed before instantly fell silent, too afraid to utter even a hint of sour resentment, fearing they would be dragged out by the soldiers within the city, whose bodies were wrapped in killing aura, and used as sacrifices to heaven as rebels.

The people of the two commanderies, in a daze, accepted the fact that they were now subjects under Marquis Zhenyuan, shrinking their necks as they observed for several days, for some unknown reason, the treatment of the people of Nan Jun and Nanyue Jun began to spread among the populace of the two commanderies.

The people instantly stopped observing and were no longer afraid.

Their gazes became fervent and frenzied, looking upon the Nan Jun soldiers patrolling within the city with affection.

They directed their suspicion and investigation toward the wealthy aristocrats inside and outside the city, countless people forming groups to begin measuring the estates of the rich, sneaking about to investigate the misdeeds these people had once committed.

The local officials had not yet taken office, but the complaint documents within the government office had already piled up like a mountain.

How could the military officers responsible for garrisoning the locality dare to easily accept such matters? The people's complaint documents were received in full, then all were sealed and stored.

There were those who secretly searched for evidence and submitted complaint documents to the government office.

Naturally, there was no shortage of radicals who directly stormed into the homes of the wealthy to smash, loot, and plunder.

It is unknown where their information came from, but the people firmly believed that as soon as Marquis Zhenyuan Chen Wuji arrived, he would certainly distribute the estates of the wealthy aristocrats to them.

When these messages reached Chen Wuji's desk, his brows instantly furrowed like ravines.

In just a few short days, over ten cities experienced the same phenomenon, resulting in thousands of casualties.

Such rumors dealt a fatal blow to his reputation.

What was harmed was the people's hearts, and the most direct impact was that it was unfavorable for local governance.

"Are they fighting too fast, forgetting to issue the pacification proclamation?" Chen Wuji asked.

Attending below the desk was Cui Jiuzi, who came from Shangfang Commandery.

"My lord, I sent people to investigate, and the pacification proclamation is written clearly, but the people overlooked this matter, firmly believing that you would help them seize the property and estates of the local wealthy aristocrats and distribute them. It seems someone is secretly fanning the flames; I request permission to order the Spy Camp to conduct a thorough investigation!" Cui Jiuzi said.

"Approved!" Chen Wuji said in a deep voice, "Furthermore, order the garrison troops of all regions to strictly investigate this matter; those who participated in burning, killing, and looting the wealthy aristocrats, the ringleaders shall be beheaded, and their families exiled to Hu Lao Wei for farming. Accomplices shall be punished according to the severity of their crimes, and their families shall all be exiled to Hu Lao Wei for farming."

"Affirmation!"

"Are there any other matters?"

Cui Jiuzi immediately produced another memorial submission and handed it up, "The reports from garrison troops across regions regarding cities, treasuries, and government offices show that most have suffered damage, especially the treasuries and granaries... few remain intact. During the conflicts among local lords, when repairing and adding furnishings to government offices and mansions in the city, they were relatively meticulous, but the treasuries and granaries were treated roughly."

Chen Wuji dipped his vermilion brush into cinnabar powder, and as the brush tip was about to touch the paper, he paused, "The grain reserves reported from all regions are still decent, yet they destroyed the granaries?"

"Indeed..." Cui Jiuzi replied, speechless.

"I also do not know what these people were thinking; this group destroyed the treasuries and granaries, yet hid the grain in various places along the city walls and in mansions both inside and outside the city."

"Moreover, it is not just one or two people doing this, but a group. Jiannan Commandery is somewhat better, with only a few cities showing this situation, while Shangfang Commandery has over seventy percent of its regions like this. They are like rats, after occupying a city, the minor leaders first plundered the local wealthy aristocrats, then divided the treasury and granaries, and then seized women."

"In the mansions of Shangfang Commandery's seventy percent of regions, nearly every one hides large amounts of gold, silver, treasures, grain, weapons, and... women."

Chen Wuji's expression was dark and unclear, "Could this be the case of one land nurturing one people?"

"Not all those who rose in Shangfang Commandery are like Xu Song, the mountain bandit; many are like Puyan, who originally held power in their hands, and they should not be so clueless?"

"Could it be that they all popularly use this method to reward their subordinates, in order to win over the people's hearts?"

"It seems likely."

"Some rough fellows indeed greatly enjoy, after capturing a city, leaving two or three days for their subordinates to kill and plunder, to amass a private treasury for themselves."

"A group of short-sighted creatures."

"Take three-tenths from the seized goods across regions, repair what needs repair." Chen Wuji picked up his brush, issuing the order while telling Cui Jiuzi, "Furthermore, urge all regions to reserve emergency grain, then, according to their capacity, transport the surplus grain and fodder to Huzhou."

"In this matter, you must also keep watch, matching the reported treasury and grain reserves from all regions with the transported quantities, to prevent others from imitating these short-sighted things and causing trouble in secret."

"Affirmation!" Cui Jiuzi obeyed the order.

Chen Wuji stretched, feeling increasingly at ease after his promotion to Martial Artist, though sitting for long periods also brought some discomfort in his old waist, "Is it over now?"

"Hmm... there is still more."

Cui Jiuzi silently pulled out the memorial submission pressed beneath, and handed it to Chen Wuji with both hands.

Chen Wuji glanced at the tall stack of memorial submissions in his arms, "Will these things grow on their own? I remember I had already nearly finished approving a stack this thick, why is it never completed?"

"My lord, this is the second-to-last one; it will be done soon!"

Chen Wuji nodded, "What is this matter then?"

Since he stationed himself in Hezhou, such days have already lasted for a full several days.

It is not that he is especially tired, but boredom is real.

"In the two commanderies, several Jianghu sects have suddenly begun massively recruiting disciples and followers in the name of Divine Immortals, their teachings varied and numerous, roughly stating that the great chaos has descended upon the world, and only by worshipping the Divine Child they enshrine can one avoid the chaos and have a chance to ascend." Cui Jiuzi said.

"Their recruitment speed is fast; reports from all regions indicate an approximate number, with tens of thousands of people already deluded, and currently... still increasing."

Chen Wuji, already irritable from the high-pressure work of these past few days, upon hearing this, felt his anger rise instantly, "Do these Jianghu sects not even take me seriously?"

"It seems they all have grand masters..."

Chen Wuji chuckled, his smile cold as the ancestral horizontal saber passed down in his family.

Not long ago, he had discussed this matter with his subordinates, never expecting to see the foundation of the southern Jianghu so quickly, indeed quite refreshing, and actually, at the critical juncture of his great victory, they gave him eye drops.

"Too beautiful!"

"Summon, please invite the two grand masters of the Lu Family, and also... bring over that woman Yu Shi Mei." Chen Wuji commanded.

"Affirmation!"

Outside, Chen Wushuang's responding voice echoed.