Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 287 - 254: Loving the People Like Children, Demonic Shadows in the City

Chapter 287: Chapter 254: Loving the People Like Children, Demonic Shadows in the City

"Brilliant, truly brilliant," the Green Lady was momentarily dazed, finally figuring out what was so clever about Zhou Ping’an’s approach.

She harbored a certain suspicion in her heart, which she hastily snuffed out the moment it surfaced.

’Perhaps I understand why his cultivation is growing so rapidly. As long as we survive this period, and the surge becomes stronger, Guangyun County will be powerless to resist.

No, not just in Guangyun, but possibly even in Jiangzhou and Yunzhou, this could create towering waves throughout the world.’

Thinking of the lost "Imagery of Fiery Red Lotus," the Green Lady sighed deeply in her heart, and her usually tranquil spirit suddenly became excited.

By following such a "heroic and ambitious" leader, could she dare to dream about reaching that elusive level of martial arts cultivation?

’I can set my goals even higher.’

The Green Lady, her mood lifted, eyebrows arching, felt her cultivation of the "Oblivion Melody" subtly progress.

Oblivion is not heartlessness.

And how can one be oblivious if they are heartless?

Not wanting to overthink it, she decided to just get on with it.

With many thoughts going through her mind, the Green Lady saw a future filled with brightness.

She turned to Lin Huaiyu and smiled, "Sister Huaiyu, have someone organize production—that’s the right word, isn’t it..."

She paused, giving Zhou Ping’an a curious glance, thinking to herself that not only was Ping’an Lang erudite, but he also had a way of coming up with surprisingly apt expressions that one couldn’t help but adopt.

"Yes, if Sister Huaiyu is too busy, my newly recruited team of a thousand thinkers can also assist.

We cannot let those fellows just talk all day and stand around without working."

Excellent, the Green Lady had grasped the principle of "charge with me" rather than "charge for me."

Her team was the first to be formed for the purpose of rooting out spies, maintaining order, and gathering intelligence.

Of course, we are currently short on recruiting and training people.

So far, we haven’t divided up the various job functions.

These things take time.

And as for Lin Huaiyu.

She would, of course, oversee personnel and arrange production...

While recruiting literate individuals to assist, her main role would be to assign tasks, choose locations, distribute farming tools, food, and clothing...

All manner of matters, piling up on the young shoulders of two women.

Logically, this might seem a bit inhumane.

But Zhou Ping’an strangely discovered.

Both Lin Huaiyu and the Green Lady.

Were enjoying it thoroughly.

Their elated joy was virtually impossible to hide.

Not just them.

Tang Lin’er felt the same.

She was appointed by Zhou Ping’an as the Vanguard General, commanding three thousand foot and cavalry troops.

Furthermore, she spread the word both inside and outside the city, that with generous terms, she sought to recruit the youth.

Martial Artists would be prioritized.

What kind of generous terms? Nothing much, just one: meat at every meal.

This alone was enough to attract almost eighty to ninety percent of the young men who had the courage and the strength to fight to the death.

Moreover, Zhou Ping’an added another condition.

Joining the army would increase the family’s grain ration by thirty percent, and they would be taught Basic Martial Arts.

For those who distinguished themselves, they could learn Advanced Martial Arts and receive further improved treatment.

A large number of Elixir Powders would also be given as rewards.

"With this, talents from all over the world will fall into my hands..." Zhou Ping’an thought to himself, Qingyang City might be small, but just like a sparrow, it too was complete with all its organs.

Isn’t this a time of revival?

Once the hunting teams make it through this period, and breeding farms, textile mills, and ironworks are all established,

This place will naturally become self-sufficient.

The Green Lady, with her qin on her back and her sword in hand, rolled up her sleeves excitedly, preparing to leave to get to work. After taking a few steps, she stopped and asked, "What if the surrounding villages don’t want to relocate or abandon their lands?

Moreover, what about those well-off families inside the city who are not worried about food or clothing, do we force them out to work?"

Indeed, that was a problem.

"There’s no need to force them. We still have to maintain our reputation as the ’Army of Benevolence and Righteousness’ and not coerce anyone.

Think about it, since Qingyang City has banned private trading and all materials are distributed per capita, working people get their share, and those who don’t work will have trouble even eating.

Alright, their families might have enough grain to last a long time, but what about meat? Where are they going to buy it? What if they need medical care, where will they go for that?"

Zhou Ping’an said with a smile, "All the generous treatments have nothing to do with them.

Even if bandits enter their houses, there will be no one to protect them; how long can they hold out?"

"As for the villages outside the city, those willing to receive protection should relocate here, building houses around the city walls.

The unwilling will naturally understand what to do when the Red Lotus Bandits attack."

I play the role of a leader who loves his people like his own children.

When the time comes, the Red Lotus Bandits will show people what it means to be unrestrained rebels—the true definition of ’extraction to the bone,’ squeezing people to death."

"Fang Buping has already led an army of thirty thousand to besiege Dongshan County...

If he succeeds, he’s likely to follow the river straight down to Qingyang. Should we set up an ambush first?"

The Green Lady has one good thing going for her.

She casts a wide net, lays many traps.

In both Dongshan and Pinghu regions, she has spread many informants.

That is precisely why Fierce Tiger Chang Yang wants to force her into submission.

In some respects, she could be considered a formidable local snake.

No news could be hidden from her.

"Don’t bother with it, just focus on governing this plot of land. Keep an eye on that Red Lotus Army, and if they don’t attack us, we’ll pretend we don’t know about them."

Zhou Ping’an’s strategy was simple.

In a county with three hundred thousand residents and two hundred thousand refugees, the wellbeing of these five hundred thousand people was something he had yet to fully grasp.

Now was not a good time for expansion.

Besides, showing one’s edge prematurely was not something a wise man would do.

Displaying weakness as a tactic, when one’s own safety wasn’t involved, was an approach worth considering.

Defend but don’t attack, silently grow.

To avoid drawing too much attention...

It was one thing to attract Fang Buping’s notice, but quite another if the main force of the Red Lotus Sect from Guangyun County were to be drawn in.

He had not forgotten about overhearing Deputy Rudder Master Fierce Tiger Chang Yang’s remark.

He had heard that the Red Lotus Main Helm Yi Heavenly King had already turned his direction toward Guangyun County.

That person was a formidable figure who could exchange a blow with the Cloud Water Sect’s Law Enforcement Elder, Gu Qingqiu, without losing ground.

Clearly, he was not yet a match for someone of such a high level, with a Mortal Rank Ninth Refinement Intent, or even someone who had traveled far down the path of Martial Intent.

The Yi Heavenly King has come.

The Red Lotus Divine General, Ran Sifei, whom he had saved that day, was unlikely to stay away.

That was known, but what about the unknown? Could there be other formidable experts?

Their attention, in all logic, shouldn’t be fixed solely on Qingyang County, but there are always exceptions...

Zhou Ping’an had not forgotten that by annihilating the Qingyang Chen Family, he had thwarted the schemes of Cui Guangling.

If that man were to resort to some strategy and lure enemies to attack Qingyang, it was certainly not impossible.

Zhou Ping’an even suspected.

That County Magistrate Cui might have already sent people to exact revenge on him.

Information obtained from Green Lady indicated.

Cui Guangling was not a magnanimous person, and one should by no means have a high regard for his character.

He was sure to take revenge for even the smallest grievance.

It was only unknown by what means he would act?

This too must be guarded against.

...

Ten days passed, and Qingyang City gradually fell into order.

Handling the daily skirmishes of the Jianghu people had become routine work for the City Guards.

Zhou Ping’an took the field personally, and after several heavy-handed moves, such clashes that affected ordinary citizens began to wane.

The news of East Mountain City’s fall had reached Qingyang City.

As beaten troops drew near to Qingyang City, Zhou Ping’an had already sent messengers out to make contact, but news had not yet returned.

Whatever response came from those routed soldiers, Zhou Ping’an didn’t care much.

What he cared about was the likelihood that the Red Lotus Rebel Army, after recuperating, might send a detachment to attack Qingyang City.

This time it wouldn’t be a minor skirmish, but likely a bloody battle.

The specifics of how to respond would have to be decided later.

Apart from the Red Lotus Army, there was another matter weighing on him like a fishbone stuck in his throat that Zhou Ping’an couldn’t shake off.

"Is there still no news of Li Yuankang?"

He had searched Qingyang City several times over and had even sent out scouts in the wilderness.

But the son of the former County Magistrate, like a drop of water lost in the ocean, had not shown the slightest trace.

Not even Green Lady was able to locate him.

"It can be confirmed that the Green Frost Swordsman and the Solitary Goose Saber had very abnormal emotions during their fight, and their actions were exceedingly irrational, likely influenced by someone else."

"Moreover, the frenzy with which those two female disciples of the Lishan Sect slaughtered the civilians in the city can be basically confirmed to have been the work of someone acting in the shadows."

Green Lady frowned slightly and spoke in a grave tone, "When things are abnormal, there is often evil at play.

If their conflict was truly influenced by the Five Desires Evil Art, then the danger posed by Li Yuankang must be reassessed.

This person is capable of subtly affecting Martial Artists of the Five Viscera Realm; his Cultivation is probably not weak."

"He must be found as soon as possible."

Zhou Ping’an was more aware than anyone of the capabilities of the Five Desires Demon Art once it reached a certain level of proficiency.

It wasn’t just about triggering others’ emotions so simply.

Nor was it just about making the physical body extremely strong.

The most significant function was to conceal oneself.

While becoming physically stronger, one could finely adjust the shapes of skin and bones, and moreover, become invisible and inaudible to others.

If Li Yuankang intended to stay out of his sight, with further progress in his Cultivation, he could potentially cause tremendous destruction within the city.

No other actions would be needed.

Just at the critical moment, provoking those from the Jianghu who had secretly infiltrated the city into causing chaos could shatter the order of Qingyang City.

Not to mention, he could also stealthily assassinate some key figures on his own side.

This time, eighteen days since arriving in this world, the Broken Mirror on his wrist had already accumulated enough energy for a return at any moment.

Zhou Ping’an had yet to return, partly out of concern that the Red Lotus Army might attack at any time.

And of course, because of Li Yuankang.

’Could it be that this fellow has some kind of destiny upon him?

I always feel that his rate of increase in Cultivation and the improvement of his combat experience are not quite normal.’

’How can he be located?’

Zhou Ping’an felt the vast flow of True Qi converging in the newly opened "Chonglou Acupoint" and scratched his head slightly.

His Cultivation was improving every day, and his strength was indeed growing stronger.

But if the opponent refused to show himself, playing a game of hide and seek.

It was a bit awkward.

...