Chapter 398: Establishing Laws of Order

Everyone was stunned.

"What? This city lord actually has an eldest daughter?"

"I've never heard of it before."

"This doesn't seem surprising. After all, the City Lord came here fifteen years ago. Who can come to Baise City without experiencing some troubles along the way? It's common for family members to get lost."

"That's right. I have a brother. After all these years, I still don't know whether he is dead or alive."

"Yes, most of the people who come to Baise City are refugees. Very few families can make it here intact."

Then someone took the lead and stood up.

"Congratulations, Lord City Lord, congratulations, Lord City Lord, and greetings to the Young City Lord."

Su Hanchu was dressed in gorgeous clothes and stood beside Ruan Yifeng with an elegant temperament.

She looked around and spoke with a firm and confident look.

"Thank you all for attending the banquet at the City Lord's Mansion today. As everyone here knows, Baise City enjoys a unique geographical location, sandwiched between many nations, even serving as a vital barrier to the Great Yan, Jiang Kingdom, and Tianyuan. To safeguard this peace, I, as the eldest daughter, pledge today to assist my father in protecting Baise City!"

Su Hanchu's voice was clear and loud, echoing in the banquet hall.

There was a burst of applause.

Su Hanchu continued to look at the crowd, and the look in his eyes became a little more majestic.

"As the saying goes, there is no order without rules. Today, I'm taking advantage of the joy of my family reunion to gather you all here. Leveraging my status as the Young City Lord, I'm going to be a bit more generous and announce a few things regarding Baise City."

Everyone looked at each other in confusion when they heard this, and some talked in low voices.

"What does this returning young lady want to do?"

"I don't know, will you try to gain power?"

"It's possible. After all, Miss Ruan Yanluo from the City Lord's Mansion was the most distinguished one."

Soon Su Hanchu's majestic voice came.

"Bai Se City has always been independent of any nation, standing tall among all nations thanks to its unique geographical location. Today, as the Young City Lord, I hereby declare that since Bai Se City is independent, it stands on equal footing with all other nations. From this day forward, the City Lord and Young City Lord will call themselves Gu."

Then he gave Ping'er a look, and soon Ping'er brought people to distribute a copy of the law written by Su Hanchu and Jun Moye to everyone present.

Amidst everyone's puzzled gazes and whispers, Su Hanchu continued to speak.

"Next, I have an announcement regarding changes to Baise City. First, the high entrance fees will be abolished, and criminals will only be subject to punitive labor. Second, tolls for traveling merchants will be reduced. Individually-owned shops and stalls with annual profits below two hundred taels of silver will not be required to pay taxes. Furthermore, no one or any force in Baise City is allowed to collect any protection fees.

Third, no one in Baise City is allowed to cause trouble, fight, or bully the weak. Women and children are free to leave their homes. The laws of Baise City can protect the safety of Baise City's citizens. From now on, Baise City will plan villages, towns, and counties for management, and establish government offices. If Baise City's citizens are wronged, they can go to the government office to file a complaint. The administrators will investigate the matter and convict the troublemaker. In the future, killing someone in Baise City will be punished with death. Fourth..."

Listening to Su Hanchu announce a series of unprecedented policies and looking at the thick tome of laws in his hands, everyone's eyes were filled with surprise, and their hearts were even more shocked. What kind of person was this young city lord who had been brought back? He had actually created such a complete set of laws. Among them were people from other major powers who had come to live in Baise City. Naturally, they could see that these laws were formulated by a major power.

As Su Hanchu announced dozens of policies.

Some people also raised their own doubts.

"Young City Lord, with the laws of order, the lives of ordinary people in Baise City will naturally be better. However, it is easier said than done to establish laws and have them obeyed. After all, Baise City has been accustomed to chaos for so many years."

"That's right, Young City Lord. We've all been living this way for so many years. Furthermore, there are bandits causing chaos outside the city. If we want to establish order, don't we need to suppress them? After all, with so many bandits around, the city can't even maintain basic stability."

The voice behind even had a hint of provocation. Su Hanchu was not surprised. Once these orders were established, it would naturally harm the interests of many people, but he was not here to discuss it with them.

"I understand everyone's reminders, but I am the one sitting in the position of Young City Lord now. I am informing everyone in Baise City to abide by the order, rules and laws of Baise City instead of negotiating with anyone. As for the problem of bandits outside Baise City, people outside the city are already recruiting soldiers.

I recently returned to Baise City and need some guards around me. Baise City also needs more soldiers to protect it, so I'm planning to establish the Baise Army. Anyone in Baise City, regardless of their previous status, who signs up to join the Baise Army within the next month and submits to military training will receive a monthly salary, and I'll provide meals, including meat every three days.

As soon as Bai Sejun said a few words, Ruan Yifeng and Ruan Yanluo on the side were stunned. Then the father and daughter exchanged glances, and Ruan Yanluo hurriedly spoke innocently.

"Sister, we already have the Black Armor Army, so we need to recruit them..."