Chapter 14

Li Xian looked at the people who were tied up, their faces pale, and sneered, "Everyone, is what Xie Jun said true?"

"Please spare us, sir, we don't want the silver anymore." In an instant, all nine of them knelt down, truly terrified; although kneeling was not common in the Immortal Realm, this time they had no choice but to kneel.

If you escape for a month, you will be conscripted into the army, but if you escape for ten years, you will lose your head!

"Sir, sir, it's not that we wanted to escape, but the team leader Guo Hong dismissed us so he could take our salaries."

"Yes, yes..."

Suddenly, everyone started to cry out for justice.

"I know!" Li Xian's voice was stern and commanding, "So, I won't pursue it too much. However, escaping for ten years privately still deserves punishment. Fifty strokes of the cane for each person. Right here."

Song Xing and the others took the wooden canes and did not hold back, the sound of the canes hitting flesh filled the air. Even with some cultivation, the fifty strokes were too much for them to bear; their skin was torn and bruised, and it was clear they wouldn't be able to walk for three to five days.

But despite being beaten, the nine people were grateful to Li Xian—being caned meant that their past crimes were forgiven, and they no longer had to fear being pursued. Li Xian's use of the carrot and stick strategy was nearly perfect.

"Song Xing, go notify their families to come and collect them. Report back in three days."

The next morning, Song Xing and the others started to get busy, posting laws on the newly repaired walls of the yamen—laws that Song Xing and the others had copied and proofread overnight. Next to the laws, copper rods wrapped in silk were set up, giving the scene a sense of strict law and order.

Song Xing, leading the way, saw many onlookers and immediately shouted, "Listen up, everyone! The lord has ordered that from today, the security in the northern district will be restored. The specific laws are posted here, and to prevent anyone from not knowing, I will read them out.

First, from the end of the Dog Hour (9 PM) to the end of the Tiger Hour (5 AM), there is a curfew in the inner city.

Second, no riding horses on the streets that could injure people.

Third, no gathering to fight.

Fourth..."

He read out over thirty laws, covering almost all daily norms.

Finally, Song Xing announced a shocking piece of news: "The former team leader Guo Hong, after embezzling money, fled to avoid punishment. A wanted notice is now issued, and anyone who captures Guo Hong alive will be rewarded with 100 taels of gold!"

Where is Guo Hong? Guo Hong did not flee to avoid punishment; he was already working as a guard for the Wang family, even as a captain, while still receiving the salary of a military officer. But Li Xian did not play by the rules; more accurately, his strategist Xu Ren did not play by the rules.

To establish authority, it must be known by all! So, issuing a wanted notice and a reward for Guo Hong directly targeted the Wang family!

By placing Guo Hong in the Wang family, you make people feel disheartened. If you don't, you are harboring a wanted criminal—a crime punishable by death! A wanted criminal, not just any criminal! And Guo Hong's actions were indeed worthy of a wanted notice.

The moment the wanted notice was issued, the entire Wuyang was excited, looking forward to the drama!

But the Wang family didn't care. When the head of the family, Wang Chuan, heard about it, he didn't even lift his head, "Let Guo Hong change his name."

Old ginger is indeed spicier. Wang Chuan's casual words not only protected Guo Hong but also mocked Li Xian—Li Xian, others fear you, but the Wang family doesn't even give you a second glance.

The Wang family not only produced the Empress Huagui, but the head of the family, Wang Chuan, was also a Second Rank Minister of Rites, just half a rank below Li Xian's father, Li Yulong. Additionally, Wang Chuan's younger brother, Wang Yuhe, was a Third Rank Minister of State, and there were dozens of other family members in official positions.

Such a Wang family naturally looked down on Li Yulong, the nouveau riche and great villain.

When the Li family and the Wang family clashed, the happiest person was the Chancellor "Ouyang Wubing." Ouyang Wubing patted his son Ouyang Qing on the shoulder, "Watch this, dog bites dog, neither of them is a good person."

The reactions of other related people were varied; when the emperor heard about it, he actually laughed happily.

"Sir, this... seems to have failed... why are you so happy?" As everyone was discussing, Li Xian looked at the smiling Xu Ren, feeling a bit confused.

"Master, this is called success. Haven't you heard the saying, 'military defeat, political victory'?"

"But I don't seem to have a political victory either."

"You do, how can you not! Think about it, you issued a wanted notice, and the Wang family openly defied it. How will the emperor feel? How will the people feel? How will the Wang family feel?"

"Oh, the emperor will definitely have some doubts. The people will think the Wang family is arrogant. And the Wang family will look down on me even more."

"Exactly. So, the wanted notice for Guo Hong is just a bait. The real big fish will soon be hooked."

"The real big fish?"

"Be patient; for the next few days, we will act weak." Xu Ren was confident.

Li Xian suddenly smiled, "Sir, I think you are missing something, something essential for a strategist."

"Hmm? What is it?" Xu Ren was caught off guard by Li Xian's sudden change.

"Keep it a secret, I'll give it to you when I'm done. Ha ha..." Li Xian was quite pleased.

Five days passed in the midst of the chaos, and those who had been beaten happily reported back. Late one night, a young man, drunk, staggered out of a brothel, singing loudly and arrogantly on the empty inner city street.

Song Xing and the others, who were patrolling, shouted, "Arrest him!"

The drunk man was furious, "You dare to arrest me? Do you know who I am?"

Song Xing suddenly drew his long sword, "Arrest him."

"You dare!" The drunk man fought back, and he was actually at the ninth level of the Qi Condensation stage. Poor Song Xing and the others were no match for him, and despite their weapons, they were quickly overpowered, groaning in pain.

"Hmph! A bunch of dogs!" The fight sobered the drunk man up by seventy percent, and he was about to leave.

But a voice came from behind, it was Xu Ren, "How dare you! Not only did you violate the curfew and sing loudly on the street, but you also assaulted the yamen officers and openly defied the law. You really don't respect the law."

"The law? Ha, the law has long been a mere formality, only you still take it seriously!"

"I was waiting for you to say that!" Xu Ren was delighted, "You are really cooperative!"

Then, Xu Ren said nothing more, and he subdued the man. He sealed the man's true essence and threw him in front of Song Xing and the others, "Tie him up."

Xu Ren, at the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment, made it almost impossible for the man to resist.

"Yes." Song Xing and the others, who had been beaten, were angry and tied the man up with great force, making his arms crack.

"Ah... it hurts. Let me go, or I'll kill you. I am Wang Ming, the son of Minister of State Wang Yuhe, a member of the Wang family!"

Xu Ren shouted, "Impudent! Does being from the Wang family mean you don't have to follow the law! Take him back to the yamen!"

"Yes!" Song Xing and the others grabbed Wang Ming and quickly returned to the nearby yamen.

Li Xian, who had been waiting for days, clenched his teeth and finally shouted, "Court is in session!"