Chapter 40: Evil Will Be Defeated by Evil (Part 2)
His method was simple and crude. He would have anyone he saw committing petty theft on the street caught and beaten up.
If someone started a fight, he wouldn't try to persuade them. It was impossible for him to persuade them. They were just effeminate. The women in Yanquan County didn't even talk when they fought; they just went right in and did it. So he couldn't persuade them. Whoever started a fight, he would fight back on their behalf.
As for those who collect protection money, Lu Chenyang said that Yanquan County only requires tax payment, and no one else is allowed to collect any money from merchants under any pretext. Anyone who dares to collect money is extortion.
Cao Sanda trembled with fear because that was what he did. Later, Lu Chenyang told him that he would compensate him and told him to stop doing this kind of thing.
Cao Sanda also wanted to know how Lu Chenyang would replenish him.
Lu Chenyang did not just look for Cao Sanda. Regardless of whether they had power or not, or even if they were fighting alone, as long as they came to the yamen to treat their injuries, he would use them all. He used Cao Sanda's rhetoric to get a bunch of free thugs.
After they had dealt with the people, Lu Chenyang had the garrison take them away and force them to do hard labor, some to build military defenses, and some to go mining.
Anyway, according to Lu Chenyang, if you have so much energy, you should use it in the right place.
No matter how vicious the criminals were, they had to behave themselves once they entered the military camp. For a time, all the criminals in Yanquan County were terrified.
The public security in the entire West District was immediately cleared up, and even if someone wanted to fight, they would not dare to come here.
For the first time, shops in the West District no longer had to go out to do business in fear, and they actually felt a sense of trance.
Then... Lu Chenyang issued an announcement.
Starting next year, all taxes paid by shops will be handed over to the government office. Those who paid before will be forgiven. If anyone comes to ask for protection money again, they can ask for protection from the "guards" on the street.
When the merchants saw the so-called "guards", they were all familiar faces, the same ones who had asked them for protection money in the past.
Lu Chenyang's move was to recruit the street gangsters and turn them into non-staff members working for the government. Previously, it was protection fees, but now it is taxation, which is reasonable.
Lu Chenyang collected taxes legally, and then used the money to distribute to people like Cao Sanda to legalize their identities.
The addition of the yamen link has effectively managed the chaotic public security.
Of course, there are also people who are unwilling to do so. They rob and loot freely, so why should they listen to the government and let the government make a profit from the difference?
Then Lu Chenyang asked the obedient people to beat them up.
Jianghu people have a fatal weakness: they are bold and daring, but they are loyal. If you say they are disloyal, heartless and ungrateful, that is worse than calling them "my mother".
The most important thing in life is loyalty. Lu Chenyang said that he saved them and treated their injuries, so it was only natural for him to repay the favor. He used them, not without paying them.
Moreover, Lu Chenyang is in charge. He said that as long as anyone is injured while maintaining public order, he will treat the injury free of charge if he comes to the yamen.
Anyway, merchants feel that the current situation is pretty good. Public security has improved and business has also improved a lot.
The gangsters thought... it was not bad. They couldn't really say what was good about it, but they thought it was pretty good anyway.
The public security management in the western district has been done very well, and Lu Chenyang plans to promote it throughout the county.
Lu Chenyang's influence in Yanquan County grew increasingly prominent, and the people began to adapt to the changes brought about by the county magistrate.
Lu Chenyang felt that the world was a beautiful place, the future was promising, and life was getting better.
Then Yan Xing came.
Yan Xing didn't come alone, he brought several people with him, and he was tied up.
Lu Chenyang entertained him happily, then looked at the people behind him curiously and asked puzzledly, "Who are they?"
Yan Xing said calmly, "Someone who wants to kill you."
Lu Chenyang was startled and trembling. What had he done to deserve so many people to kill him? He was just an ordinary county magistrate, why were they targeting him so much? Lu Chenyang asked in confusion, "Are they from the Shen family?"
"People from the Dongyi people." Yan Xing said in a deep voice.
Lu Chenyang was dissatisfied: "I wasn't the one who defeated them, why would you assassinate me? It's obvious that I'm a pushover!" Go find Yan Xing, why would you assassinate him?
Yan Xing: "...It's probably because of the medicine. Your antidote has a huge effect on them."
Lu Chenyang understood.
Yan Xing added, "But I asked for you, and it was someone from the Shen family who reminded them of this. The Shen family is not innocent either, and they all want your life."
Lu Chenyang: “…”
Hearing Yan Xing say that he wanted to kill him, as normal as eating and drinking water, Lu Chenyang inexplicably felt that he was in danger.
Lu Chenyang understood that the Shen family was trying to kill someone with a borrowed knife. However, the Dongyi people were not up to the task and were discovered by Yan Xing before they could even make a move.
The two sides were also temporary partners, and the killers sent by the Dongyi people immediately sold out the Shen family.
Lu Chenyang was deeply distressed. He was just an ordinary county magistrate. Why did the Shen family and the Dongyi people want him dead? What had he done wrong to deserve so many people's attention?
Lu Chenyang quickly regained his composure. He looked at the leading Dongyi people and said with a smile, "I also have a deal to discuss with you. How about you pass on a message for me?"
The Dongyi man looked at his smile and immediately replied, "Please speak, sir."
It was even more satisfying than Lu Chenyang had expected. This was good. Lu Chenyang liked people who knew the times.
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