Chapter 1076: Chapter 899: Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkey
Xiao Yeyang did not hesitate to order the binding of Xia Jianren, surprising everyone present.
Xia Jianren was greatly shocked and shouted, “Lord Xiao, what is the aning of this?”
Xiao Yeyang glanced indifferently at Xia Jianren, then at Defu behind him. Defu imdiately handed several letters to the officials present for inspection and circulation.
Xia Jianren’s complexion changed dramatically upon seeing the letter. How did the letter he wrote to Lord Wei end up in Xiao Yeyang’s hands?
After reading the letters, officials such as Fan Tong looked at Xia Jianren with a changed expression.
Once everyone had seen the letters, Xiao Yeyang spoke, “Concerning , you might be more focused on my identity as a mber of the Imperial Family, possibly overlooking one thing. Before coming to Xiliang, I was a co-cognizance commander of the Jinling Guard.”
“Gathering intelligence, arresting spies and infiltrators is sothing I’m adept at,” said Xiao Yeyang as he grabbed the letters and threw them in front of Xia Jianren.
“Lord Xia, do you know what your actions amount to?”
Xia Jianren felt tight inside but mustered up his courage, “I… I was rely reporting the situation of the Gan State Guard to Lord Wei. The Commandant Office oversees all guards, I did nothing wrong.”
With a sneer, Xiao Yeyang replied, “The situation of the Gan State Guard, even if it needs to be reported to the Commandant Office, should be done by . What right do you have to overstep?”
“Reporting in detail to outsiders about the happenings of the Gan State Guard, you seem more like a spy lurking here.”
Not daring to admit to being a spy, Xia Jianren quickly said, “I am not a spy; do not slander , Xiao Yeyang.”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression remained tranquil, “Rest assured, I always value evidence in my actions. I have already written to Lord Wei asking if he tasked you to report the affairs of the Gan State Guard.”
“If he says yes, then I will have you sent to Liangdu. If not, you’ve committed the cri of leaking secrets.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Jianren’s complexion turned pale; Lord Wei would never admit he had asked him to report on the Gan State Guard.
What to do?
At this mont, Xia Jianren realized that Xiao Yeyang intended to make an example of him to establish his authority!
Xiao Yeyang scanned the officials present, “The guards are under military administration, anything here can be regarded as military intelligence. Yet, Lord Xia leaked military intelligence to the exterior. If this were a ti of war, it would be a capital offense punishable by decapitation.”
“Take Xia Jianren away, sentence him to fifty military floggings. As of today, he is stripped of his position as a co-cognizance commander.”
As soon as he finished, two trusted aides promptly carried the man out before Xia Jianren could resist.
Seeing this, Fan Tong moved his lips as if wanting to plead for rcy.
Xiao Yeyang looked toward Fan Tong, “Lord Fan, do you have any objections to my handling?”
Feeling the overwhelming pressure from Xiao Yeyang’s calm eyes, Fan Tong subconsciously shook his head, “I have none.”
Xiao Yeyang withdrew his gaze and addressed the others, “What about you, any objections?”
Everyone shook their heads in turn.
Xiao Yeyang’s lips curved slightly, his expression softened a bit, “I am aware that everyone present has their own connections behind the scenes, and you may not all be fully convinced by .”
“Let’s be clear today, since we’re all here. Those willing to follow and continue serving in the Gan State Guard, I’ll no longer pursue past issues. If you wish to seek other opportunities, I will not stop you.”
At these words, the officials present exhibited fluctuations in their expressions.
After scanning their reactions, Xiao Yeyang lifted his cup of tea from the table, took a sip, and waited. After seeing no one ca forward, he directly pointed out several officials who had dealings with the Commandant Office.
“None of you wish to leave? If you stay, from now on, you’ll need to follow my rules. If anyone, like Xia Jianren, leaks guard affairs at will, they will be treated as spies.”
The officials called out tensed up, while those not nad also looked solemn.
Lord Xiao dared to call them out by na, clearly showing his deep understanding of their situations.
This realization extinguished any hope or luck the officials might have harbored.
After a while, the nad officials beca restless, and one stood up: “Sir Xiao, my father at ho is seriously ill, please allow to resign and return ho to care for him.”
Xiao Yeyang: “Granted.”
With one taking the lead, several of the nad officials quickly resigned their positions using various excuses.
Xiao Yeyang readily approved their requests.
After the people had left, Xiao Yeyang had De Fu call in the already selected replacent officials: “Alright, now let’s talk about the financial issues of Gan State Guard.”
“The finances of the guard mainly rely on tax revenue. I’ve looked over the accounts of Gan State Guard in recent years and noticed that apart from the grain delivered from the military fields, there’s almost no other inco.”
Hearing this, the Investigator spoke up: “Sir Xiao, Gan State Guard is barren, and indeed we have no other sources of inco on this side.”
Xiao Yeyang: “I haven’t been in Gan State Guard for less than a year, yet I discovered a coal mine. Have none of you made any discoveries in all your years of service here?”
Upon hearing this, so of the officials present changed their expressions.
Xiao Yeyang: “The coal mine and other minerals can be mined, but taxes must be paid in accordance with Imperial Court regulations. I don’t care about what was not reported before, but from now on, I will have people register and record at each hundred and thousand household offices, and I hope everyone will cooperate.”
Having said that, he paused.
“To tell you frankly, I find it surprisingly enjoyable to confiscate others’ properties after becoming a Jinling Guard, having confiscated several Duke Residences and Marquis Residences in Beijing, and looking at the seized silver is particularly exhilarating.”
“Having a lot of silver is a good thing, but the premise is that you must be able to protect it.”
“All of you stationed in Gan State Guard are ritorious. I will spare you the surplus words. My Madam has prepared so food, and if you won’t disdain it, please co to my residence for lunch later.”
After finishing, Xiao Yeyang stood up and left the hall.
Once he was gone, the others all breathed a sigh of relief and then started to discuss among themselves.
Fan Tong felt a bit uneasy, hesitated for a mont, and still went to find Xiao Yeyang.
“Sir Fan, is there sothing you need?”
Xiao Yeyang was not surprised that Fan Tong ca to him and looked at him with a smile.
Fan Tong was a forthright person, and looking at Xiao Yeyang directly, he asked, “I was also promoted by Sir Wei, why didn’t you send away?”
Xiao Yeyang: “Would you divulge the affairs here in Gan State Guard to Sir Wei?”
Fan Tong shook his head: “No!”
Xiao Yeyang smiled: “You understand the rules, hold firm to your stance, and still care for the people. As long as you achieve these points, you can continue to serve as the Deputy Commander.”
The Wei Family has operated in Xiliang for several generations. A large part of the officials in Xiliang are sowhat connected to the Wei Family. To eliminate all of them would be to halt Xiliang’s functioning.
“Alright, continue to do well as the Deputy Commander. Your military training is quite good. The drills for the guard’s military households must not stop.”
Fan Tong looked at Xiao Yeyang and earnestly replied: “I will train the guard’s military households well.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, and just then, Dong Yuanxuan walked in with the accounts of the coal mine factory. Fan Tong nodded to Dong Yuanxuan then left.
Due to the real shortage of hands, Xiao Yeyang reported Dong Jiancheng and his son Dong Yuanxuan’s situation to the Emperor and, with the Emperor’s approval, both were now eighth-grade officials in the guard.
On the guard’s square, looking at Xia Jianren who had been beaten with fifty military rods, the officials all harbored a sense of dread towards Xiao Yeyang.
It was after this crackdown that Xiao Yeyang truly took control of Gan State Guard.
…
It was only with the arrival of the Emperor’s imperial edict that the officials of Xiliang realized that Xiao Yeyang had not only recaptured the Dan River but also built three strategic military towns on the defense line of Ganzhou.
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