Becoming a god by following the natural order and seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.

Chapter 47: Slow and methodical suppression.
"We will do as you say!"

After a brief moment of contemplation, Wu Kuang made a decisive decision.

He secretly praised him, thinking that his special trip to wait for Chen Sheng to emerge from seclusion was worthwhile. Every word the boy spoke hit the nail on the head, and his plan was exactly what he wanted.

He was increasingly grateful that he had promoted Chen Sheng properly. Although he had initially accepted some money, after realizing Chen Sheng's outstanding abilities and commendable loyalty, he had already returned it in another way and continued to support him all the way.

In retrospect, it was indeed a wise choice.

"My lord, you possess great strategic acumen and are adept at planning and execution. I have only done my utmost and dare not claim credit for anything," Chen Sheng said humbly.

"You're still so cautious..."

Wu Kuang shook his head and chuckled. Before he could finish speaking, a commotion arose outside the hall. County Magistrate Lin Shou had sent someone to invite him, saying that he needed to personally address the public opinion.

"Let's go, come with me to meet these people. You will be in charge of answering their questions."

Wu Kuang straightened his official robes, stood up and said that this move was intended to establish Chen Sheng's prestige and let everyone present know that this man was his most trusted confidant.

Chen Sheng understood immediately, nodded in agreement, and followed Wu Kuang into the council hall.

……

As soon as Fang Yi stepped into the lobby, the previously noisy atmosphere immediately quieted down.

Everyone in the hall, regardless of whether they were officials, gentry, or merchants, turned their gazes toward Wu Kuang and bowed respectfully.

Even the county magistrate, Lin Shou, rose to greet him, solemnly inviting him to sit in the main seat. The core of today's discussion was the suppression of bandits, which was within the jurisdiction of the county lieutenant. Lin Shou was happy to hand over this hot potato to Wu Kuang to handle.

Wu Kuang did not refuse and sat calmly in the main seat, with Chen Shi standing beside him, his eyes sharp as he slowly swept over everyone in the hall.

This was indeed a grand affair, with more than ten influential merchant representatives present, and a large number of important officials from the county government also gathered there—the county magistrate, the county assistant magistrate, the registrar, the head constable, and even Chu Yueshan, the commander of the military battalion.

When Chu Yueshan saw Chen Sheng's gaze sweep over him, he even offered a seemingly friendly smile.

If Chen Sheng hadn't already discerned the truth about their collusion with local powerful figures through the Heavenly Book, he might have been genuinely misled.

As soon as everyone was seated, the merchant representatives who were prepared couldn't wait to speak up and petition.

"County Commandant Wu, when will the government send troops to suppress the bandits?"

"Your Honor, our stolen goods are still in the hands of the bandits, and we have suffered heavy losses. The government cannot stand idly by!"

"Please give us a definite answer, so that we can be at ease and not have to run around in fear all day long."

"Without eliminating the river bandits, how can Changshan County ever enjoy peace?"

Apart from the elders sent by the Huang, Gao, and Yang families who remained calm and observed the situation, the other merchants present spoke almost in unison, their words earnest and even tinged with grief and indignation.

Although those three families did not speak out directly, their very existence was a form of invisible pressure.

Wu Kuang remained expressionless, raising his hand in a gesture of silence to quiet the commotion. He didn't directly respond to the merchants, but instead turned his gaze to the other side of the official ranks, asking in a deep voice:
What are your thoughts on this matter?

“Your Excellency,” the County Magistrate stepped forward first, cupping his hands in greeting, and said, “In my opinion, the matter of suppressing bandits concerns the stability of the people’s livelihood and the prestige of the government. It should be done sooner rather than later. If it is delayed for too long, there is a risk that something else will happen in the city and the people’s hearts will be unsettled.”

"I second that opinion."

The registrar followed up: "The bandits of Qinglin River have been a scourge for a long time. It is time to wipe them out with lightning speed to restore peace to the people and demonstrate the might of the imperial court."

"This humble official... dares not speak presumptuously; everything is left to the magistrate's discretion." Some cautious individuals, however, spoke ambiguously.

However, the vast majority of officials expressed their support for immediately suppressing the bandits.

Wu Kuang sneered inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face. He then turned to Chu Yueshan, who had remained silent, and asked, "Commander Chu, as the commander of the Armed Forces Battalion, in charge of the troops, what are your thoughts on this?"

Chu Yueshan immediately stood up, clasped his hands and bowed, his tone exceptionally respectful and loyal: "Your subordinate will obey all orders, sir. If you command us to attack, I will immediately prepare the troops for battle without hesitation!"

Although Wu Kuang felt that this man's change of attitude today was somewhat abrupt, he was pleased to see him express his support, thinking that this fellow had finally become more sensible.

"Cough cough..."

At this moment, Magistrate Lin Shou coughed twice, attracting everyone's attention. He looked around the room and slowly concluded: "The matter of suppressing bandits is indeed a major concern for Changshan County, which is related to the people's livelihood and the country. It cannot be taken lightly, nor can it be rushed."

However, I believe that with Wu County Lieutenant's seasoned military talent and skillful command, coupled with his ability to cultivate a young and outstanding talent like Commander Chen, he must possess extraordinary abilities. Perhaps we can expect a swift and successful annihilation of the bandits. Of course, the specifics of the operation still require Wu County Lieutenant's careful consideration and meticulous planning.” These words, though grand and eloquent, were in reality empty rhetoric, but the core message remained one of favoring the dispatch of troops to suppress the bandits. Upon hearing this, the merchants below immediately began to clamor again, petitioning fervently.

Wu Kuang looked thoughtful, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, but in reality, he secretly gave Chen Sheng a wink.

Chen Sheng understood, immediately stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, and said loudly:

"The county magistrate already understands what you all mean and has his own plans."

"So, should we suppress these bandits or not?"

The elder from the Gao family suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, carrying a hint of interrogation.

Chen Sheng glanced at him sharply, his voice steady and powerful, brooking no argument:
"Suppress them! The Qinglin River bandits are rampant on the waterways, robbing merchants and harming the people. How can such a malignant tumor be allowed to exist? These bandits must be suppressed! Suppressing them is the only way to appease the people and uphold the authority of the officials!"

"Commander Chen is absolutely right!"

Immediately, someone echoed loudly, attempting to confirm the matter: "I was eating and drinking on the boat when I was suddenly robbed by river pirates. They completely disregard the authority of the government."

However, Chen Sheng abruptly changed the subject, raising his voice slightly:
"but--"

He paused deliberately, waiting until everyone's attention was drawn before continuing:
"However, suppressing bandits is a major military and national matter, concerning the lives of many soldiers and the safety of Changshan County. We must not be hasty or reckless. Otherwise, if we fail to plan properly and suffer setbacks, we will lose soldiers and generals, and the banditry will become even more rampant. It will be too late to salvage the situation then."

So, should we suppress them or not?

Some people were confused by this turn of events and couldn't help but ask further questions.

"Suppress them! Of course we must suppress them!"

Chen Sheng spoke with unwavering resolve, and then elaborated on his strategy: "However, the way to suppress bandits lies in careful planning before taking action. Therefore, this time, we cannot seek speed, but rather stability. We must suppress them slowly, deliberately, and with quality. We must suppress them rhythmically and step by step, and we must also have thorough planning and complete preparations."

Only in this way can we accumulate our full strength, strike decisively, and truly wipe out the bandit stronghold, eliminating future troubles forever!

"This……"

Upon hearing this, the people below the hall looked at each other and began to whisper among themselves.

I feel like there's some truth to what they're saying, but something seems off, though I can't quite put my finger on it.

Chu Yueshan, however, had a glint in his eyes, as if he had seen through Chen Sheng's delaying tactics.

He feigned a serious and confused expression and asked, "According to Commander Chen, does the County Lieutenant ultimately intend to suppress them?"

"Commander Chu's words are the key point."

Chen Sheng immediately took over the conversation, his gaze sweeping over the merchants present: "Suppression is inevitable, however, as you may have heard, in recent years the military equipment camp has become lax, the equipment is old and damaged, the soldiers are not well trained, and their combat effectiveness is worrying."

To quickly build up an army and create a fighting force, a dedicated 'bandit suppression fund' is indispensable. However… the county treasury is currently empty, and we are truly stretched thin, unable to continue.”

Chen Sheng looked troubled and spoke in a heavy tone.

Upon hearing this, Lin Shou frowned slightly and couldn't help but look at Wu Kuang.

Wu Kuang remained calm and subtly made a hand gesture behind his sleeve. Lin Shou's eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, he finally nodded almost imperceptibly, tacitly approving of the matter.

"Bandit suppression silver?"

The merchants below immediately erupted in uproar, "Does the government intend for us to pay this money?"

"How can this be allowed?"

"Yes, we already pay a lot of taxes every day, it's really an unbearable burden!"

The merchants discussed amongst themselves, their faces showing reluctance and unease.

Upon seeing this, Chen Sheng's expression suddenly darkened, his brows furrowing with displeasure, and his voice turned colder:

"If you don't pay this bandit suppression money, do you expect the county government to pay it? You all need to understand that this money is not for the county government; it is for bandit suppression and to ensure your safety."

(End of this chapter)