CHAPTER 534: CHAPTER 228: HEADS ROLLING (SECOND UPDATE)

Don’t overlook that some reforms have yielded results; the first priority is to fill previous deficits and build the military.

In fact, the Grand Secretary also knows that funding for flood control is a bottomless pit.

With layer upon layer of corruption, there’s hardly any silver left to be used where it’s needed most.

Moreover, excessive funding might even provoke artificial flood disasters from below.

Xu Qing and his subordinates conduct field visits and inquire among disaster victims about the real situation of each scholar and aristocratic family.

He also has some data on hand, but it is necessary to verify it through field visits.

After his field visits concluded, Kong Yansheng’s fundraising efforts also came to an end.

Of course, the result was very unsuccessful.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing was quite satisfied, "Mr. Kong, thank you for this big help."

Kong Yansheng was taken aback: "Top Scorer sir, I merely ran some errands. And indeed, most of them really don’t want to cooperate with you."

Xu Qing smiled, "I’ve already said, if they don’t cooperate, then kill them. How simple."

Kong Yansheng did not expect that Xu Liushou was not joking; he was serious.

About ten days passed.

Three thousand Yunzhou troops entered Qingzhou, arriving with exceptional speed.

Once the troops were assembled, Xu Qing began to arrest people.

Of course, these aristocratic families and scholars resisted.

But because the Capital was hosting the world’s first Martial Arts Tournament, the truly capable martial artists from the local area had all gone to the Capital.

This can be said to be a rare martial arts gathering in a century.

Whether one gets a ranking doesn’t matter; just exchanging martial arts experiences is enough to bring them huge benefits.

Moreover, participating in such a grand event is a bragging right for every martial artist to recount to their descendants.

The aristocratic families and scholars of Qingzhou certainly would not deny their powerful tributors this small wish, and even provided travel expenses.

They did not expect that this also meant sending away their own life-saving talismans.

Without powerful martial artists, they had no capital left to preserve their lives.

Facing Xu Qing’s wife’s well-disciplined troops, they stood no chance.

The Guerrilla General leading the troops this time is Zhou Zhen, who was elevated during the last Yunzhou rebellion as a rebel leader, now reinstated to his post as an atonement for his crimes.

Besides, Zhou Zhen is a clan member of Taicang’s Zhou Family, and is considered a relative of Xu Qing.

At present, Zhou Family’s cousin is still residing at Xu Qing’s ancestral home in Jiangning, and the Taicang Zhou Family has even tacitly agreed that cousin Zhou will marry Xu Liushou as a secondary wife in the future.

This is fantastic news!

The aristocratic families and scholars in Qingzhou never imagined that Xu Liushou would not even negotiate a deal and directly ransack homes with his troops.

After all, according to convention, you offer a high price, then bargain on the spot.

Now, both the Qingzhou officialdom and the stewards and military households of the Canal Government Office were stunned.

The transport army are military households that rely on canal transport for a living.

Xu Qing gave a practical demonstration in Qingzhou of what a formidable strategy is—unerring, resourceful yet artless.

One force overpowers ten skills!

Some scholars and Scholars from the aristocratic families were infuriated and wanted to go to the Capital to lodge a complaint.

But a memorandum from Duke Yan Sheng arrived first.

Stating that the local scholars and aristocratic families were planning a rebellion, deliberately breaking dikes, and intentionally destroying people’s farmlands to achieve land annexation.

This memorandum was replete with supporting evidence, listed in detail.

The key is that it was sent directly to the Cabinet, without being intercepted halfway.

Between Duke Yan Sheng and common scholars, it is clear at a glance who is more trusted.

Moreover, the newly appointed Liang Grand Secretary directly intervened, urging the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Rites to strip the complaining scholars of their titles and credentials.

...

...

The nobles naturally wouldn’t sit idly even if their homes were ransacked; remnants would gather and attempt a rebellion.

Who knew Xu Qing, after ransacking, directly began relief works through employment.

And he did so transparently, paying wages on a daily basis.

However, the biggest problem with daily wage payments is the enormous human and material cost it demands.

But Xu Qing didn’t use the local Qingzhou officials, instead directly deploying his own people to distribute the wages, with Red Flower Society members supervising.

It’s not entirely fail-safe.

But there was indeed much less embezzlement.

Xu Qing didn’t let the Qingzhou officials idle either.

He himself labored on the embankment and left other officials no choice but to join in.

In terms of physical labor, who could surpass him, a Martial Arts Grandmaster?

If Xu Qing returned to his past life, with his strength alone, he could have amassed wealth just by laying bricks!

Even the most foxy, slippery officials were exhausted by being taken to work daily by Xu Qing and lacked the energy to conspire privately.

Moreover, Xu Qing occasionally executed a nobleman and displayed the head on the embankment as an offering to the River God.

This made the officials who had intended to cause trouble so apprehensive that they didn’t dare to slack off any longer.

Xu Liushou, no, Xu Shaving truly kills.

Now Xu Qing had unlocked a new nickname, called "Xu Shaving."

Xu Qing, upon hearing this, could only smile.

Finally, it’s not a short-lived alias.

Could this be a good omen?

But excessive killing also has its side effects.

The border troops in Yunzhou also privately embezzled some silver in the process.

There was no choice; even with his father-in-law’s army reforms, not taking a penny was impossible.

The nobles whose homes were ransacked surely included good and wrongly accused people.

Many advised Xu Qing not to overcorrect.

To which Xu Qing could only say, "If someone was wrongly killed, the sin is mine to bear."

He even didn’t stop the rumors about him being the reincarnation of the Demon King from spreading.

Human hearts are like mirrors, they reflect what they see.

Could he refrain from doing these things because others slandered him?

Well, many are not slanders either.

This time, he killed ten people; perhaps one or two were good, another three to five were neither wholly good nor bad, while two or three were truly evil.

And these two or three individuals had committed almost ninety percent of the evil deeds or led the not-so-evil ones to participate.

If he had the time, he would certainly handle it slowly.

But with time pressing, Xu Qing could only swiftly deal with matters.

...

...

"Young Master, someone has poisoned the food," Su Lianqing looked equally weary.

Killing people is merely the simplest task in flood control.

The remaining tasks are numerous and complex.

Even though Su Lianqing had exhausted much effort in managing other matters, she found her life more meaningful.

However, she was weary, she felt like this work was healing, and she gained a profound understanding even of Luo Sect’s teachings about universal salvation.

Luo Sect indeed has a unique foundation, one that retains so many ordinary followers.

The biggest advantage of working with Xu Qing is he takes on the greatest burden and protects her.

In fact, she felt bad for the young master.

Because the actions in Qingzhou were too harsh this time, even though the court suppressed slander against Xu Qing, the surrounding aristocratic families and nobles couldn’t possibly be unaware of what happened in Qingzhou.

And the level of defamation against Xu Qing in the scholarly world was mounting.

The latest rumor was that Xu Qing is the illegitimate child of the Demon King...

It’s already difficult enough to deal with Xu Qing, not to mention if the Heavenly Demon Star was re-incarnated...

Even if he’s actually the incarnation of the Wenqu Star, as some rumors suggest, intended to blacken him, it’s not easy to do so.

But Xu Qing was unfazed by these rumors; he simply laughed.

"Son, someone has poisoned the rations," she said.

"It should be the Water Demon," Xu Qing responded slowly.

Given the state of the grain, the remaining aristocrats could hardly possess the capability.

Xu Qing nodded slowly; it was time to put this matter to rest.

By mobilizing workers for payment, the accumulated Qi Fortune was beginning to reinforce the seal.

This has also been the Court’s long-standing method of strengthening the Water Demon’s seal.