A moment later.
Guardian Dragon walked over with his head lowered, respectfully presenting a document as he said, "King, the situation has been thoroughly investigated."
Yang Yu took the information Guardian Dragon had presented and began reading it carefully.
However, after finishing the report, Yang Yu put it away, handed it back to Guardian Dragon, and fixed his gaze on the Minister of Public Security. "I give you three days. If you cannot deal with those matters across the country, you can figure out what to do with yourself."
In an instant.
The Minister of Public Security felt as if his hair had stood on end.
How had the importance of the problem suddenly fallen on him?
And what exactly was he supposed to deal with?
Next.
Yang Yu's gaze fell on the group of farmhands. "Don't worry. If you haven't received your wages within three days, you may go to the Imperial Guards outside the palace and have them handle this matter for you."
"Thank you, King! Thank you, King!"
Hearing this, the dozen or so farmhands kowtowed to the King in thanks.
Yang Yu's gaze immediately turned cold. "Have you forgotten what I said? Kneel to Heaven, kneel to Earth, and kneel to your parents."
"King, we understand that we should kneel to Heaven, Earth, and our parents."
"But King, you are our sovereign father. Kneeling to you is the same as kneeling to our parents!"
The farmhands had attended school for a few days, after all, and one of them said, "The King is the sovereign father of all the people under Heaven, and our sovereign father as well. It is only right that we kneel and pay respects to our sovereign father."
"Enough, enough."
Yang Yu waved his hand slightly and returned to the palace under the escort of the Imperial Guards.
The hearts of all the ministers of the cabinet skipped a beat, but no one stopped him.
The King must have been angry.
Thus, the inspection of the unfinished work was ended ahead of schedule.
Upon returning to the palace.
Yang Yu once again read through the intelligence and reports Guardian Dragon had presented. "How wonderful! Faction-building, gradually forming criminal forces? Preying on the common people? Is this still my Star Ancient Dynasty?"
"Select two people and establish the National Inspectors. They are to have the authority to mobilize a thousand soldiers from any region."
"Investigate those people thoroughly for me."
"Yes."
Having received the sovereign's order, Guardian Dragon naturally understood whom he meant.
They were the beasts who had gradually banded together to oppress and prey on the common people.
After Guardian Dragon left.
Yang Yu's eyes flickered. "Assist them in secret. If anyone tries to stop the National Inspectors from handling their cases, especially those holding power, kill them if they obstruct the investigation. Leave neither man nor beast alive."
"Yes."
A cold voice rang out from the darkness, then vanished without a trace.
Under his rule.
He absolutely would not allow such things to exist.
Daring to harm his people meant provoking his interests.
If they did so, he would leave no survivors.
Do not tell him that only those who wielded privilege should be punished, and ask why their families should be implicated.
When people who wielded privilege committed crimes, their families had openly and secretly enjoyed the benefits of their protection as well. Were they truly innocent?
No, they were not.
Next.
The imperial court began a massive purge.
The public security offices in the various commanderies and counties launched large-scale operations, delivering heavy blows to those who had openly or secretly violated the laws of the imperial court, as well as those who wielded privilege.
This was because of a message from the core of the imperial court.
If you do not deal with those who violate the laws of the imperial court, then we will deal with you first.
At the same time.
The cabinet also implemented a personnel-transfer policy.
Locals were not permitted to govern or handle official affairs in their native regions, and they had to be transferred every three years. If they could not produce achievements that advanced local development, they would be allowed to retire and return home to enjoy their twilight years.
This wave was a devastating, overwhelming blow to the officials of the Star Ancient Dynasty.
At the end of Year 370 of the Era.
After two years of intense crackdowns.
Many family businesses that had originally withheld migrant workers' wages were driven from the stage of history, never to recover.
Many people who had colluded with merchants and wielded privilege were beheaded, no matter how powerful their family backgrounds were.
It was truly misery piled upon misery.
These two years were two years in which the Star Ancient Dynasty had sent countless heads rolling.
However.
The people at the top did not want to concern themselves with any of it.
They knew only one saying.
Let others die, so long as I survive.
In spring of Year 371.
South County suffered a flood disaster, leaving tens of thousands of households homeless.
The Star Ancient Dynasty launched its first fundraising campaign, donating goods and funds to the disaster area to help South County overcome the calamity. Under the supervision of the Nightfall Organization, no one dared to abuse their authority for personal gain, and all the relief funds flowed to the tens of thousands of displaced households.
In early summer of Year 371.
The earth rolled over on a massive scale in the Shu Region, leaving many families homeless. Under the imperial court's publicity campaign, news of it spread across the realm at incredible speed.
The common people donated money one after another, hoping only that the Shu Region could overcome the crisis as soon as possible.
The people of South County, who had just rebuilt their homes and settled down, also took all the money in their households and donated their strength to the Shu Region.
They were all citizens of the Star Ancient Dynasty. When disaster had struck them, others had donated daily necessities and even money to them. Why should they stand by and watch when disaster struck others?
At the same time, the Shu Region was also an important area under the jurisdiction of Yi Province.
As the earthquakes in the Shu Region ended.
A great drought struck the realm in succession.
The crops were scorched to death beneath the vicious sun, leaving the dynasty's people with not a single grain harvested.
Just as the people worried that they would not have enough grain to pay their taxes during the drought, the cabinet was already engaged in a heated debate.
"This year is the most difficult year our Star Ancient Dynasty has faced, and the hardest year in history."
"I suggest that we cancel this year's taxes and let all the people under Heaven have a peaceful New Year."
The Prime Minister looked at the assembled ministers and said, "First came the flood in South County, then the earth turning over in the Shu Region, and now the great drought across the realm. These disasters have left many people without a harvest at all..."
"But if we exempt the taxes this year, it will have a tremendous impact on the operation of the entire imperial court."
The Minister of Finance frowned. "It will also place a heavy burden on and have a major impact on next year's military expenditures and various construction projects."
"What impact could it have?"
"Have you ever heard the King say this? Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it?"
"Are you trying to force the people under Heaven to rise up in rebellion?"
The Prime Minister said solemnly, "The imperial court is like a boat on the water, while the people are the water carrying us. When the waters are calm, we can float upon them. But if the wind and waves rise, the water will surge as well. Small waves can be quelled, but what about huge waves? When the great waves arrive, this little boat could capsize at any moment."
"I know what you want to say: that after paying their taxes, the people will still be able to live until the end of next year."
"But what if—this official is only saying what if—what if a natural disaster strikes next year as well?"
"Do you want to force the people to rebel?"
Just then.
A figure walked in from outside the cabinet palace, swept his gaze over everyone present, cleared his throat, and said, "The King has ordered that all taxes be exempted across the country this year. If next year is also like this year, the taxes will likewise be exempted."
"As for finances, the Minister of Finance is ordered to handle the market turmoil properly. If the prices of grain or any daily necessities fluctuate by more than ten percent from their original levels, the Minister of Finance is to retire and return home to enjoy his twilight years."
Before you continue