Though it was called a collective morning meeting and everyone was present, the attendees were really all from Shen Tang's original staff, with at most two military officers transferred over from Chu Jie's side. None of the officials who had originally served in Longwu Commandery had been invited. Until she had completely rooted out the hidden dangers, she could use those people, but she couldn't trust them. There was no way she'd let them attend a meeting involving secrets. Who knew who might have bought them off?
She had made too many enemies lately.
Over the past few days, Shen Tang had ordered people to aggressively investigate tenant farmers who weren't registered in the household records. This move had undoubtedly struck at the vital interests of the local gentry and powerful landowners. Their conflict had grown so sharp that it could no longer be reconciled, making armed clashes inevitable. As a ruthless sort, Shen Tang had seized the initiative and had no qualms about being merciless. She'd gone all the way from ransacking their homes to meting out punishment—the bloody, brutal scene could be summed up in four words: heads rolling everywhere.
The Prefectural Government's original staff had been deeply infiltrated.
Better safe than sorry.
That said—
The crowd was still quite sizable.
The civil and military groups formed two orderly lines of their own accord. As for where everyone sat... they had an unspoken understanding, and the hall was orderly.
Before the meeting officially began, the Literary Scholars either stood with their hands tucked into their sleeves, eyes closed as they rested, or sat with their brows tightly furrowed. The Martial Gall Warriors, by contrast, were far more relaxed. Their conversation mostly revolved around how much they'd eaten and drunk at last night's farewell banquet...
The two military officers