Chapter 772: and translation of chapter title

If not for Lu Chuan's report today, Chen Wuji would have almost forgotten this group of Rivers and Lakes people.

Back when those Rivers and Lakes people assassinated the scout, blocking the scout from leaving the camp to scout, Chen Wuji decided to trample the Rivers and Lakes, putting a tight spell on the Rivers and Lakes people of Nan Jun.

But later when the war started, this matter was put aside.

He had almost forgotten, yet this group of Rivers and Lakes people still harbored thief's hearts to this day.

Then don't blame him for striking hard!

Chen Wuji listed several orders, ordering Chen Li to hand this outline to Xu Zengyi, letting him refine it further. This series of orders will be the guideline for future governance of the Rivers and Lakes.

In Nan Jun, the Rivers and Lakes exist between black and white, with mixed forces and enormous numbers.

Due to political reasons of the Lingnan Six Commanderies, these people have historically been scarcely supervised.

Even in some places, they could stand equal to the local government; on their turf, officials couldn't reach in, and to get anything done one had to negotiate with them politely.

These matters, starting today, must be reversed!

Chen Wuji calmed his mind, reopened the military manual, hadn't yet had a chance to look, when Xu Zengyi rushed in holding the many orders Chen Wuji had just written.

"My lord, are you going to trample the Rivers and Lakes?" Xu Zengyi said as soon as he entered, getting straight to the point.

Chen Wuji had no choice but to close the military manual again, giving a faint hum.

"My lord, the Rivers and Lakes forces in Nan Jun are extremely mixed; once these orders are issued, the local government may not withstand the Rivers and Lakes people's backlash!" Xu Zengyi said worriedly.

"If we drive them to desperation, provoking them to leap over walls like a cornered dog, they will destroy the local government and then flee elsewhere, leaving us unable to do anything."

Chen Wuji had just been full of ambition, but in less than a moment he was met with a bucket of cold water.

Was Xu Zengyi's worry correct?

Quite right!

The Rivers and Lakes forces in Nan Jun are varied, but it cannot be denied that they are a very powerful force lurking in the shadows of Nan Jun.

These people come and go swiftly; if they assassinated local officials and then fled, Chen Wuji would truly be unable to deal with them.

Thus, the recently stabilized situation in Nan Jun might instantly plunge into chaos.

To stabilize the region, Chen Wuji did not spare effort in cultivating talent.

"I will order the Ciji Zhai and Lu Jia Village to assist!" Chen Wuji said.

"No matter the method, the Rivers and Lakes of Nan Jun must be rectified; this is beyond doubt. Local governments report the Rivers and Lakes forces within counties and prefectures; in small places, they can let the Ciji Zhai and Lu Jia Village people assist; in large places, if the officials are still worried, dispatch troops!"

"This matter must be done. This bunch of damned things are really bullying people too much; I can't free my hands, yet they actually think I, Chen Wuji, am made of mud, and even dare to climb on my nose."

Xu Zengyi's expression changed slightly: "My lord, but what has happened again?"

"Lu Chuan just reported that the Rivers and Lakes people have regrouped in Zhuque City, intending to assassinate me!" Chen Wuji said coldly.

Bang!

Xu Zengyi suddenly slammed his fist on the desk: "A bunch of clueless things."

"My lord, this should not be too blatant; better to order local governments to covertly investigate and sort out the details of the Rivers and Lakes sects. Those who do evil, dispatch troops to treat them as bandits, exterminate them all. Those who have done no evil, conscript them to serve as vanguards in the upcoming suppression of the Rivers and Lakes."

"First eliminate the local tyrants; after the battlefield is mostly cleared, then issue regulations to restrict these Rivers and Lakes sects."

Chen Wuji nodded: "Just follow your advice, Sir; issue orders to all prefectures to carry it out as soon as possible!"

"Deploy troops nearby, don't stint on manpower; for those Rivers and Lakes forces that do evil, stand equal to the government, disobey orders, and carve out self‑ruled territories, seal the cities, seal the mountains; if you can't beat them, don't fight—just burn them down and send them to the western heavens."

"Rivers and Lakes forces tied to Bu Yi Alley, regardless of rank or quality, are all placed on the wanted list; each disciple who brings in a head trophy receives fifty taels of silver, and those holding status or position receive two hundred taels!"

Xu Zengyi could see that Chen Wuji was truly angry this time.

The Rivers and Lakes of Nan Jun are about to undergo a complete upheaval.

However, he was pleased with this result.

Apart from worrying about the turmoil that Rivers and Lakes backlash might cause, he approved all the other clauses, even feeling that Chen Wuji's methods were somewhat lenient.

Those Rivers and Lakes forces ought to be completely eradicated; no need to distinguish good from bad.

People can change; at this moment they may be good, the next moment they could easily turn to killing and arson.

Such Rivers and Lakes forces, unbound by the government, who kill and then flee, ought to be completely exterminated, leaving no chance for a dying ember to reignite.

But Xu Zengyi also knew that his lord always had clear bottom lines; even when angry, indiscriminate slaughter of the innocent was absolutely impossible, and as long as the other side had not broken the law or committed indiscriminate slaughter, he would certainly not act against them.

After Xu Zengyi left Chen Wuji's study for an hour, an urgent order was swiftly issued to the prefectures of Nan Jun, then passed down to the counties, landing in the hands of each county magistrate.

Chen Wuji proclaimed his ferocity to the Qiang People and to the whole world with a series of splendid victories.

Nan Jun has eleven prefectures and forty‑eight counties. These forty‑eight county magistrates and eleven prefects could not possibly be wholly loyal to Chen Wuji, but now they dare not harbor any disloyalty.

When one is merely strong, there are scoffers, onlookers, and also confident approvers.

But when one is absolutely strong, everyone's attitude will certainly be unified.

Even those who harbor disloyalty will hide it honestly, never revealing it at this time.

Those capable of becoming county magistrates and prefects include fools, but they are truly few.

Thus, almost as soon as Chen Wuji's order was issued, the county magistrates swiftly organized personnel to conduct a sweeping covert survey of all Rivers and Lakes forces within their jurisdiction numbering over ten people.

Subsequently, they quickly organized personnel to compile this information into a volume and send it to Songzhou.

Meanwhile, some perceptive prefects and county magistrates had already begun preparing personnel for the extermination of the Rivers and Lakes forces.

The news reached Chen Wuji fastest from Qingzhou.

Having once been the prefectural seat of Nan Jun, this place had been the political, economic, and cultural center of Nan Jun, and still retains its advantages in all aspects.

For these reasons, Nan Jun is also a place where Rivers and Lakes forces congregate.

Rivers and Lakes forces with over a hundred members number more than a hundred, and those with over a thousand even exceed ten.

After examining the detailed report sent by Wang Ce, Chen Wuji ordered Lü Ji to personally lead troops forward, joining forces with Wu Bu Yong's Qingzhou garrison to completely purge the Qingzhou Rivers and Lakes.

Thus, the frenzy of Bu Yi Alley opened the curtain on the decline of the entire Nan Jun Rivers and Lakes.

When the killing, comparable to felling virtue and smashing temples, directly severed their foundations began, the Rivers and Lakes people were dumbfounded.

Piece by piece, the news flew all over the sky, directly causing people's hearts to tremble with anxiety.

Countless people flocked to the most well-informed intelligence forces and various merchant caravans, trying to find out exactly what had happened, but the rough information they received only made them more devastated.