Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

"but……"

Wang Yu changed the subject and spoke in a cautious tone, "Lord Li's concerns are not entirely unfounded."

"Desperate dogs will jump over the wall. We must also be on guard against those remnants who are desperate and reckless."

He looked at Li Bi and suggested, "To be on the safe side, Lord Li can immediately mobilize some reliable Chu soldiers under the pretext of stabilizing order in the city and preventing remnants of the previous dynasty from inciting unrest. Under the guise of strengthening security, secretly deploy additional troops around our residences to conduct key defenses and patrols."

"At the same time, strict orders have been issued to strengthen security within the palace and minimize unnecessary outings by family members in the near future. With this two-pronged approach, we should be safe."

After hearing Wang Yu's analysis of the overall situation and specific preventive measures, the last bit of hesitation in Li Bi's heart was finally dispelled.

Zhang Tao and Zhao Ming also nodded, thinking that this plan was feasible.

Li Bi took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. He slammed his palm on the desk, causing the threatening letter to jump.

"Okay! Let's follow your plan, brother!"

His eyes became firm again, even with a hint of desperate ruthlessness.

"Early tomorrow morning, we will jointly issue a notice announcing the official implementation of the Equal Land Distribution Order decreed by His Majesty!"

"At the same time, the recruitment of soldiers, which is in charge of Mr. Zhang, and the allocation of money and grain, which is in charge of Mr. Zhao, have also been initiated!"

He glanced at the three of them and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, we are now in the same boat. We rise together and fall together!"

"Only by working together and overcoming difficulties together can we fight for a future for ourselves and our family in these troubled times!"

"I will follow Lord Li's orders!"

Wang Yu, Zhang Tao, and Zhao Ming responded in unison, their eyes flashing with the same determination and calculations for the future.

The crisis seems to have temporarily found a way to deal with it.

However, the remnants of the Han people hiding in the dark will never give up.

The undercurrent in Chang'an City will become more turbulent with the decision made by Li Bi and others.

The next day, at dawn, Chang'an City woke up from a night of silence.

However, unlike in the past, an atmosphere of restlessness and a hint of secret expectation has already quietly spread among the people.

When the first ray of sunlight shone on the streets that still stank of blood and burnt smells, teams of yamen runners holding buckets of paste and large notices, escorted by a small number of Chu soldiers, appeared in front of the bulletin boards at the main intersections, markets, and neighborhoods of Chang'an City.

"Dang-dang-dang-!"

The clear sound of the gong attracted the attention of the people who got up early to make a living or were still worried.

"Official notice! Official notice! Come and see, come and listen!"

The yamen runners were posting new notices that still smelled of ink and shouting at the top of their lungs.

Soon, crowds of people gathered in front of the bulletin boards.

People stood on tiptoe and stretched their necks, trying hard to see the content of the notice clearly.

Some literate people were surrounded by the crowd, stumbling and reading aloud the words on the notice with excitement.

The content of the notice is divided into two parts. The first part is the "Equal Field System" that has been rumored for a long time and has touched the hearts of countless people!

"In compliance with the Imperial decree of His Majesty the Great Chu Emperor, to ensure the safety of the people and strengthen the foundation of the nation, effective immediately, the policy of equal distribution of land will be implemented throughout the Han territory!"

"All those who have no land or little land can register with the local neighborhood chief or village head. After the government has uniformly measured and verified their land, they will be allocated land according to the law..."

"The land is being divided! The land is really being divided!"

"Thank goodness! We have seven people in our family, and we rely on two acres of thin land to survive. Now we are saved!"

"Is it true? Will those masters' fields really be divided among us?"

"It's written in black and white on the notice! And it even has the official seal! It can't be fake!"

A huge discussion broke out in the crowd, with surprise, doubt, excitement, anticipation...all kinds of emotions intertwined.

For the lower-class people struggling to make ends meet, land is their most fundamental desire.

Although people still feared the rule of the Xin Dynasty, the two words "equal distribution of land" were like a beacon in the darkness, instantly illuminating the gloomy lives of many people and bringing real hope.

Many people wiped away their tears with excitement on the spot, or couldn't wait to go home and tell their loved ones this great news.

However, what made the crowd even more excited was the second part of the notice - the recruitment order!

"To protect the country and its people and eliminate the remnants of the previous dynasty, we are recruiting soldiers! Any able-bodied man between the ages of sixteen and forty who wishes to join the army will have his family's taxes waived for the year upon recruitment!"

When this was read, the crowd was already in an uproar. One year of tax exemption!

This is a huge temptation for any ordinary family, as it means that the hard-earned money for a year can remain entirely in their own hands!

The person reading the notice took a deep breath and shouted out the last and most important item with all his might: "If you fight bravely in the army and make great achievements, your family will be exempted from taxes for three years based on your military achievements!"

"Three years of exemption!"

"Oh my god! No taxes for three years!"

"Join the army! Let my boy go to the army!"

"Although I'm a bit older, I still have some strength. I want to give it a try!"

If equal distribution of land is a long-term hope, then the tax reductions brought about by this recruitment order are immediate and huge benefits!

In an era of heavy taxes, exempting one year of taxes is enough to make a family breathe a sigh of relief, but exempting three years of taxes is simply unthinkable!

For many young and middle-aged people, this is not only a way out, but also a shortcut to changing the fate of their family!

The news spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Chang'an City at an astonishing speed.

The streets, which had originally seemed deserted and desolate due to war and purges, were instantly flooded with people.

People rushed to tell each other, their faces filled with excitement and excitement that had not been seen in a long time.

Soon, the recruitment office located in the square outside the former Jingzhao Yin Yamen became the most lively place in the city.

The square was packed with people, and the noise reached the sky.

Young and middle-aged men poured in from all directions like a tide, filling the huge square to the brim.

There were poor peasants in rags who were eager to change their fate by joining the army.

The smart-eyed young man saw an opportunity to make a name for himself.

There were even some impoverished young men who had some martial arts skills and wanted to use this opportunity to restore their family's reputation.

The line stretched from the recruiting point to the edge of the square, and continued to extend, winding and twisting like a restless dragon.

The soldiers who were maintaining order had to hold hands, form a human wall, and shout at the top of their lungs to barely control the situation.

"Don't push! Line up! Come one by one!"

"You! You're over the age limit, no!"

"You are too frail, next!"

"Name? Place of origin? Have you ever practiced martial arts?"

The clerks in charge of registration were so busy that they were sweating profusely and writing so fast that they didn't even have time to look up.

Zhang Tao was personally in charge, looking at the hot scene in front of him, with a satisfied smile on his face.

He continued to issue instructions, adding registration points and speeding up the process.

The entire Chang'an City seemed to be revitalized by this notice.

The gloom shrouded by the collapse of the dynasty and the bloody purge seemed to be dispelled a lot by the desire to survive and the enthusiasm to change one's destiny.

Li Bi and others stood on a tall building in the distance, overlooking the boiling scene. They felt a little relieved and their determination to move forward became stronger.

They knew that the fire had been lit, and the next step was to control it carefully, not letting the flame burn them, and certainly not letting it be used by enemies in the dark.