After occupying this city, Lin Qin did not immediately reach out. He knew that only when the roots are deep can the tree grow taller. Dragon Rock Stronghold's team is a group of fierce bandits. Managing a village and governing a city are two different things.
morning exercise
It was just dawn, and the school grounds were already full of people.
The training is no longer simple bouldering. The team is divided into small teams, holding wooden shields and wooden knives, to compete. Lin Qin's requirements are very simple: those who fall, practice for half an hour; those who win, get extra meals in the evening.
"Flankers! Press up!" Hosen was wearing leather armor and yelling in the field. He is now the chief of the War Hall and is in charge of nearly 500 people.
In the field, a small team was blocked by the opponent with a shield, and the formation was a bit scattered. Lin Qin walked over and didn't say anything. He just pointed at a man on the flank who was huddled behind. The man blushed, roared, and pushed forward.
"On the battlefield, take a step back, and the brother behind you will die." Lin Qin's voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, "If you don't want to die, let the person opposite you die first."
The shouts on the training ground were a little louder.
Lin Qin looked at it and knew what was going on. These people had a weak foundation, but the fierceness of Chaos Territory's struggle to survive was still there. With a little training, they would be good soldiers. He dispersed the people brought by Hosen and the old soldiers, mixed them together, and promoted a few hard-trained and quick-thinking commanders and team leaders. A simple hierarchy was established, and orders were transmitted much more smoothly.
General affairs
After the morning drill, Lin Qin moved to the slums in the west of the city.
There used to be sewage flowing everywhere here, and the stench was overwhelming. Internal Affairs Hall Director Old Jack followed him and reported, "According to your wishes, the tax has been reduced by 30%, and manpower has been organized to clean the ditches. Those gangsters who bullied the market, Punishment Hall Ke'er, have dealt with it, and hanged the two leaders."
Lin Qin looked at the civilians who were looking around in the low shacks, with fear and a hint of curiosity in their eyes, and nodded. He didn't know any profound ways of governance, he only knew that if you can make people live and see some hope, they will recognize you.
Back at the City Lord's Mansion, the affairs were complicated. Tax accounts, security patrol logic, material allocation...Lin Qin didn't talk much. He listened to the reports from Old Jack and several former officials from the City Lord's Mansion, occasionally asked a question or two, and then made a decision.
"The commercial tax will be as per the old rules, and the city entry fee will be reduced by half."
"Set up a patrol team and work in three shifts. If you find a robber or adulterer, Ke'er can deal with it directly."
"The old leather armor in the warehouse will be repaired and distributed to new recruits."
The order was simple and direct. At first, several powerful families in the city wanted to test it, sending people to send gifts and trying to win over them. Lin Qin asked Old Jack to return Immovable intact, and only said one sentence, "Abide by my rules and keep you safe."
Some people do not believe in evil. A grain merchant named Qian, believing that he was connected to a certain force outside the city, secretly hoarded grain and instigated several small merchants to go on strike. Three days later, the heads of shopkeeper Qian and his two sons were hung on the city gate, with charges attached next to them: Collaboration with the enemy. Their property was confiscated and their wives and daughters were demoted to slavery. The merchants who made the trouble together were fined and confiscated half of their property.
Since then, no one in Black Wind City dared to question the authority of Lin Qin.
Ten days later, trouble started.
It was not the main force of the Crimson Flame Alliance, but the two cottages under his command, "Grey Wolf" and "Vulture", who gathered more than 300 people and fled to the village north of Black Wind City to plunder.
When the news came, Lin Qin was instructing Ke'er in a corner of the school grounds. After Ke'er lost his right arm, he was depressed for a while. At this moment, he was sweating profusely and practicing thrusting with a knife in his left hand, using very tricky movements.
"Hosen." Lin Qin called.
"Here!" Hosen stepped forward immediately.
"Call a hundred veterans and fifty cavalry. You will lead the team, and Ke'er will be your deputy. Eat these people and bring back the leader's head."
"Yes!" Hosen's eyes flashed with excitement. This was the first time he had led an army independently since joining the army.
The team was quickly assembled. Hosen got on his horse, glanced at the silent Ke'er beside him, and grinned. "Old Ke'er, who can chop more?"
Ke'er held the handle of the knife tightly with his remaining left hand, said nothing, and just nodded.
There was no suspense in the battle. Hosen used sophisticated troops, frontal containment, and cavalry flanking attacks. Ke'er led a team of swordsmen like wedges, inserted directly into the opponent's center, and personally chopped the leader of the "Grey Wolf" village under his horse. The 300-strong mob instantly collapsed, most of them were killed, and the rest surrendered.
When they returned from victory, the setting sun stretched their shadows. Two bloody heads were thrown on the stone steps in front of the city lord's mansion. Hosen and Ke'er had a strong smell of blood on their bodies. Although the soldiers behind them were tired, their eyes were as sharp as knives.
The entire Black Wind City was quiet for a moment, and then, some kind of invisible restlessness subsided. The followers felt more at ease, and the eyes watching in the dark became a little more real fear.
A few days later, the messenger from the Crimson Flame Alliance arrived.
The visitor was wearing a silk robe and a gemstone ring on his finger. He was followed by four powerful guards and walked into the hall with his head held high.
"Sir Lin Qin," the envoy casually bowed his hand and glanced at the slightly shabby hall, "I am here on behalf of the alliance leader Crimson Flame Alliance. Black Wind City was originally a territory belonging to our alliance. Your Excellency occupied it, which is unreasonable. The alliance leader is generous. As long as you are willing to join, turn over 50% of your income every year, and obey the alliance's dispatch, this city will be yours to control."
Lin Qin was sitting at the top, wiping the sword blade of Heavy Sword Without Edge with a piece of coarse cloth without raising his head.
"Finished?"
The messenger was stunned and his face darkened. "Master Lin, this is the last chance! I Crimson Flame Alliance have tens of thousands of troops, and Saint Realm have more than one strong man. You cannot compete with me! Don't make a mistake!"
Lin Qin put down the cloth and raised his eyes to look at him. His eyes were calm, but the next words of the messenger got stuck in his throat.
"Tell your leader," Lin Qin said, "Black Wind City, it's mine now. If you want it, you have to trade it with your life."
The messenger's face was ashen and his fingers were trembling. "You... you are so brave! Do you really want to start a war?!"
"Send off guests." Lin Qin picked up the cloth again and stopped looking at him.
The envoy was "invited" out by two Dragon Rock Stronghold soldiers, looking miserable.
Hosen walked out from the side with a worried look on his face. "Sir, Crimson Flame Alliance is not weak. We have just stood firm..."
"Afraid?" Lin Qin asked.
"It's not that I'm afraid!" Hosen puffed up his chest, "I just think we should be more prepared."
"They are testing." Lin Qin said in a calm tone, "If you give in, they will immediately pounce on you and bite you. If you are tough, they will weigh the cost. Send the order, strengthen the city defense, and send out scouts for fifty miles to monitor the movements in the north day and night."
"Yes!"
Crimson Flame Alliance has been silent for the time being and seems to be re-evaluating.
Lin Qin used this breathing period to start sorting out the internal affairs. He formally established three principal positions:
War Hall, led by Hosen, is responsible for battles, city defense, and training.
Internal Affairs Hall, managed by Old Jack, handles money, taxes, civil affairs, and materials.
Punishment Hall, headed by Ke'er, specializes in military discipline and law, and has the power to kill first and report later.
The structure was initially decided, everyone performed their duties, and the operation gradually became smoother. As the reputation of Dragon Rock Stronghold spread, more people came to seek refuge. They were no longer just outlaws, but also refugees who could not survive, small businessmen seeking asylum, and even two low-level magicians who had failed elsewhere came to rely on them.
Lin Qin is strictly selected, but those who pass the test will be given placement. He met the two magicians in person. The older ones are called Feren, Fire Element level four, the younger ones are called Aiven, Wind Element level three, and they know some healing spells.
"What do you think needs to be changed in this city?" Lin Qin asked.
Feren hesitated for a moment, then spoke, "Sir, many of the defensive runes on the city wall are in disrepair and are ineffective. If I have the materials, I can try to repair some of them."
Aiven added, "The slums in the west of the city... have poor sanitation and may cause plague in the long run. I know some cleaning techniques, or I can lead people to clean them up, and set up a simple medical center to deal with minor injuries and illnesses."
"Accurate." Lin Qin nodded, "If you need anything, make a list to Old Jack. Aiven. You will be in charge of the medical center and ask Internal Affairs Hall to arrange the manpower."
When the two people left, their faces were filled with light. They were not taken seriously in the past, but here they have a place to play.
Lin Qin went to see the blacksmith shop in the city again. The former city manager exploited and exploited, and the blacksmiths were passive and slow in their work. Lin Qin replaced the housekeeper and set new rules: make ordnance according to quality and quantity, and there will be rewards. Within a few days, the clanging sound in the blacksmith shop became louder, day and night.
Black Wind City, this city that was originally lifeless and only knew about exploitation, under the simple but effective management of Dragon Rock Stronghold, it actually glowed with rough vitality bit by bit.
Late at night a month later.
In the city lord's mansion Cultivation Ground, Lin Qin is sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, Heavy Sword is lying across his knees, and the breath of his whole body is faintly connected with the earth under his feet. Pallas's voice directly sounded in his mind:
"Master, fifty miles north, there is a large group of people moving, more than a thousand people, under the Crimson Flame flag. Among them, there are three Saint Realm primary energy reactions."
Lin Qin slowly stopped and opened his eyes. There was no wave in the dark eyes.
What was supposed to come has finally come.
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the dark night in the north. The cold air was breathed into his lungs, carrying the smell of an approaching rain.
"Send the order," his voice was calm, but it reached the ears of the soldiers on duty outside the door clearly, "The entire army must assemble."