Chapter 43: A Hair's Breadth Away

Everyone wants to be a benevolent and righteous lord; everyone wants to receive the praise of the people in their fief, rather than their condemnation.

This is correct.

However, benevolence and righteousness are a person's qualities, not a means of governance.

Facts have proven that abusing benevolence and righteousness—especially when the father and son of the Liu Family have just taken control of Yinzhou, a fief with chaotic order—is extremely dangerous from the very beginning.

Being benevolent to a portion of the people and being benevolent to the entire fief are two different things.

Therefore, since ancient times, wise rulers who were decisive in killing were not necessarily benevolent from the start. They would choose to be cruel first after conquering, and only then could they guarantee long-term benevolence.

Liu Zheng suddenly remembered a phrase.

"The severe situation, the brand-new homeland, makes my defenses strict and guards the entire country."

Indeed.

Yinzhou is not yet a country, but in this current age where Feudatory Kings stand like trees, the military and politics are already relatively independent. Therefore, the County Marquis Mansion is equivalent to the ruler.

A ruler must be cautious when trusting others or taking action.

Therefore.

Regarding the realistic problem of kindness and cruelty, it now lies before Liu Zheng.

Because of his transmigration, Liu Zheng has always had an extraordinary fondness for the farmers oppressed by the Powerful Clans, so for every policy, he deliberately suppressed the Powerful Clans and supported the farmers. Only then did he earn the name of "benevolent and righteous" in Yinzhou.

However, looking at it now, he was truly wrong.

Benevolence and righteousness make these farmers' hearts swell, no longer fearing the County Marquis Mansion; in this way, the binding power of the County Marquis Mansion will be like a mere formality. There are even more terrifying, bloody realities hidden behind it. Today you let these farmers eat their fill, and they are grateful to you, but tomorrow, if you let them go hungry, they will overthrow you. Because they will think that offending a kind ruler is less of a concern than offending a ruler they fear.

Therefore.

Liu Zheng suddenly realized.

In terms of ruling power alone, making people fear is actually more useful than kindness. However, this fear must not be excessive, or it becomes hatred. Making the people fear without hating is what makes a qualified ruler. This is not that difficult to achieve.

As long as the ruler does not plunder or occupy the people's property, wives, and daughters, this goal can be achieved.

This principle can be verified in the ancient Genghis Khan and Hannibal.

Both commanded huge armies, so they did not care about having a reputation for cruelty, and it was precisely because they possessed this reputation for being ruthless that their armies followed orders and prohibitions, capturing cities and seizing land.

This made them both respectable and fearsome in the hearts of their soldiers.

Simply put.

The question of being loved or being feared can be viewed this way: people loving a ruler depends on the people's own will, but fearing a ruler depends on the ruler's will!

Since ancient times, a wise ruler must be based on his own will, not be kidnapped by these people!

This is why Zheng Yue Ru would say.

"The kinder you are, the more arrogant they become!"

"Brother Liu, Brother Liu..."

Liu Zheng was lost in deep thought when Zheng Yue Ru's voice sounded again, which startled him into waking up. He gritted his teeth and said, "Miss Zheng, please return to the County Marquis Mansion and have Qin Zhangfeng bring one hundred Garrison troops here!"

"Alright!"

Zheng Yue Ru did not say another word; she ran to the temple, mounted a horse, and galloped back to the County Marquis Mansion.

At this moment, the situation over there made Liu Zheng's heart burn with anger again.

A group of big men were tearing at the clothes on the woman's body, not forgetting to punch and kick the landlord named Tao Cui. Many villagers heard the noise and gathered to watch, but they did not dare to breathe loudly.

Some pitied her, some joined in the kicking, some just watched the fun, and some were currying favor with Captain Wu.

The boy who slays the dragon eventually becomes the evil dragon!

Today, Liu Zheng saw a very ridiculous and very sorrowful history of the evolution of human nature.

"Alright, disperse, all of you! Bring her back for me!"

Captain Wu looked at so many people with an impatient face.

Several lackeys responded in unison, touching and grabbing the woman's body with evil smiles.

It would take some time for Zheng Yue Ru to go and return, and Liu Zheng felt anxious in his heart; if she were taken back by Captain Wu, would this woman still have a way to live?

Gritting his teeth hard, he shouted, "Stop!"

Everyone looked over; it was a stranger they did not recognize.

Captain Wu looked wary and shouted, "Who is the person coming, shouting and yelling in my Majiazhuang? What kind of behavior is this?"

That group of farmers also picked up the tools in their hands, looking like they were about to smash them over.

Liu Zheng endured the fear in his heart and walked over with an arrogant look: "You must be Captain Wu, right? I am Executive Liu from the County Marquis Mansion, here to read out a policy!"

Everyone was shocked.

Especially Captain Wu, who scrutinized Liu Zheng carefully. Seeing that his brocade clothes and temperament were indeed like those of a scholar, his tone softened slightly, and he laughed, "So it is Executive Liu, please, please! What policy is it this time? I will definitely convey it to the entire Majiazhuang!"

Seeing that his clever plan had succeeded, Liu Zheng deliberately coughed: "How is it, I have come to read a policy, and there is not even a cup of tea?"

How would Captain Wu dare to be negligent? He hurriedly winked at his lackeys, letting them handle the situation on the spot, and then laughed while walking arm-in-arm with Liu Zheng: "Executive, what are you saying? Please, please, please!"

"This Production Team policy is for the benefit of the people! Five Yinzhou Plows and four oxen have already arrived!"

"Executive, you must convey the voice of us people to the County Marquis!"

Captain Wu took the lead, and a group of farmers followed suit; looking at the scene, it was a harmonious atmosphere.

Several times, Captain Wu wanted to see the policy, but how could Liu Zheng produce it?

He deliberately dragged out the time, saying he wanted to walk around the village, and Captain Wu did not suspect anything, so he took Liu Zheng around. The village, the farmland, the farmers' homes—Liu Zheng was like a leader coming to inspect, and he also took the opportunity to understand the hardships of the people.

Poor!

Still poor!

Liu Zheng shook his head as he looked.

Then, arriving at Captain Wu's home, he sneered in his heart.

It had only been a few days... having just become a captain, the house was already a large mansion; it seemed it was either snatched from the landlord or seized from the Village Chief.

As soon as Liu Zheng entered the large courtyard, he saw several Yinzhou Plows and four oxen placed inside, and he immediately frowned and asked, "Captain Wu, why are the tools of the Production Team all in your home?"

Captain Wu's expression changed slightly, and he gave a hollow laugh: "Executive Liu, you don't know, the farmers of Majiazhuang are mostly unruly people. Ever since the Production Team was established, people have come every day to fight over these Yinzhou Plows. To be safe, I can only keep them here temporarily."

Unruly people?

Liu Zheng was left speechless, unable to laugh or cry; could there be anyone here more unruly than you?

But he could not say anything on the surface, so he could only nod and say: "These tools should belong to the Production Team; no one is allowed to handle or distribute them privately!"

Captain Wu hurriedly agreed.

"Has the order for the use of spring plowing tools been prepared?"

Liu Zheng asked.

Captain Wu's expression changed slightly, and he stammered: "Not yet started."

"What about the labor allocation?"

"Not yet settled..."

"Bang!"

Liu Zheng was so angry that he slammed the table hard; this was not faked. It was because the situation before his eyes was actually just as Zheng Yue Ru had guessed... Seeing that spring plowing was about to begin and these things had not yet been implemented, how could he not be angry? Just as Zheng Yue Ru said, the promulgation of this Production Team policy might even affect spring plowing!

Previously, Liu Zheng felt this guess was a bit excessive, but looking at the situation before him, this guess was not excessive at all!

"Ah, this..."

"Executive Liu, we..."

Seeing Liu Zheng's attitude, Captain Wu was immediately so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

Where would they have the time to do these things? Ever since they overthrew those landlords, they had been too busy enjoying themselves. Seeing that spring plowing was about to begin, Captain Wu was actually anxious too.

However...

Looking at the lackeys around him who followed him to flaunt their power, who among them knew how to do these things?

I am afraid there were not even a few who were literate!

Not a single person could handle such paperwork and forms!

"Truly a bunch of trash; when I return, I will certainly report this truthfully to the County Marquis!"

Liu Zheng was furious at this moment; this was equivalent to slapping his own face!

Captain Wu's expression changed instantly.

Several of his lackeys also glared fiercely.

"Executive Liu, where is the government decree you mentioned?"

Captain Wu suddenly remembered this matter and looked at Liu Zheng coldly.

"Do you have the official documents from the County Marquis Mansion?"

Another question followed.

Liu Zheng's expression changed slightly.

At this moment, the few lackeys finally realized, and they stood up abruptly: "Good, so you are a fake!"

"Speak, where exactly are you a spy from?"

"The County Marquis Mansion cares for the people; how could there be such an aggressive person?"

"This must be a fake!"

Liu Zheng saw a ferocious look flash in Captain Wu's eyes and immediately felt that things were bad. This fellow probably knew that he would not have a good outcome if he went back to report for duty, and he had developed evil intentions.

"How dare you!"

Liu Zheng shouted angrily.

But these unruly people were just unruly; if they had even a little bit of legal restraint in their hearts, they would not have inflated to their current state. Captain Wu scolded: "This must be a spy from an enemy state. Brothers, capture him for me; if he resists, kill him without mercy!"

Upon hearing this, the few lackeys responded in unison, drew their swords and blades, and pounced toward Liu Zheng. Liu Zheng had never seen such a formation; he was so scared that he dove under the table. When the blades struck, he flipped the table to block them and scrambled to escape.

"Chase him!"

Captain Wu had made up his mind to keep this guy in Majiazhuang. Although he did not know who this person was, he had witnessed him forcibly seizing a woman today. If this matter reached the County Marquis Mansion, he would definitely not be able to cover it up. It would be better to kill him and destroy the body. In this remote place, who would know? When people from the County Marquis Mansion came to ask, he would just pretend not to know.

Thinking this, Liu Zheng had already run into the village.

Captain Wu shouted several times, and a group of farmers began to search for Liu Zheng's tracks, blocking his path from all directions.

Seeing there was no escape, Liu Zheng steeled his heart, jumped onto a mound of earth, and shouted loudly: "I am the County Marquis's son, Liu Zheng; let's see who dares to touch me?"

The group of people fell into a commotion.

The County Marquis's son?

In the hearts of the people, this was a "benevolent ruler"!

Captain Wu roared with a dark face: "He is just a spy, yet he dares to impersonate Young Master Liu; kill him without mercy!"

The group of people were caught in a dilemma.

Captain Wu was anxious and angry; he raised the long blade in his hand and slashed terrifyingly toward Liu Zheng's head.

Just at this moment, war horses galloped, and the entire village seemed to shake along with them.

The crowd looked on in horror, only to see a group of cavalry attacking.

"You are bold!"

"Qin Zhangfeng is here; who dares to harm my Young Master?"

Seeing Liu Zheng trapped, Qin Zhangfeng let out an angry roar and threw the long spear in his hand with force; it seemed to carry the momentum of thunder as it flew toward Captain Wu.

Bang!

The blade in Captain Wu's hand was terrifyingly knocked away by Qin Zhangfeng.