Farn and Falken looked at the man on the raised platform ahead with pride and gratification.
Right, Farn's horse was gone.
But today he had one again.
Su Qin stood in Gulltown's central square, flanked by a squad of twenty soldiers, regular troops under Yaron's command-the [Spear Guards].
Although they were unfamiliar with Su Qin, they had heard about his brutality.
But now they were Su Qin's personal guards.
Su Qin surveyed the noisy crowd below and nodded to the guards beside him. Two guards walked over to the bell and pulled hard on the rope.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
They rang it for a full minute before the crowd quieted down.
Among the crowd were farmers, merchants, craftsmen, children, vagrants, fishermen...
Su Qin looked out over the sea of people and the Earl's [Spear Guards] surrounding the crowd at the edges of the square, roughly three hundred strong.
Some soldiers had gone to Keir Keep to guard against Wickenden.
Earl Yaron had not left yet. He was watching from a distance! But today, Su Qin was Gulltown's main attraction.
Su Qin cleared his throat and waved both hands.
"Quiet, everyone. Please allow me to introduce myself!"
Su Qin spotted Yaron's party, and Yaron nodded to him.
Standing on the platform, Su Qin declared loudly, "My name is Su Qin, and I come from the East. Yesterday, I had the honor of fighting for Earl Yaron Runestone of Runestone Territory, killing a total of forty-seven attackers and protecting Gulltown!"
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd below.
"What? He killed forty-seven attackers? He's that strong?"
A group of young men below the platform began muttering.
"Not only did he kill forty-seven attackers, he also saved the Earl's life. And he saved the owner of the Redstone Tavern and some of the girls from Zhiyin House, too!"
Another person answered.
"Lord Su Qin is that impressive? I love the cheap Redstone ale most of all."
Suddenly, someone beside him tugged his sleeve. He looked up to find Su Qin's stern gaze sweeping toward him, bringing a chill with it.
Everyone was too frightened to keep muttering.
Outside the square, the Earl of Runestone said to the knight beside him, "Well, Baron Boris? The lad has presence, doesn't he?"
Boris nodded slowly. "He commands respect without showing anger. Interesting."
Su Qin silenced everyone with his gaze.
Then he said, "As the Earl of Runestone's knight and the master of Gulltown, I will now announce three decrees to you."
Su Qin swept his gaze around. Everyone listened closely; the decrees concerned every one of them.
Su Qin pointed to a row of tables and chairs. "First: Gulltown residents who own residential or commercial property must register their household information. All information about your family members must be recorded. Once my men have verified the registrations, each household will receive thirty jin of grain!"
In these times, thirty jin of grain could feed two people for a month.
People below covered their mouths, their faces filled with delight! Who didn't like free stuff?
Suddenly, a young man sitting on the ground asked, "Master Su Qin, can refugees like us register too?"
Su Qin looked at the commoner in tattered clothes, a slight ache in his heart.
Su Qin pointed toward the refugee area and said, "Refugees will register by household. Each household will also receive thirty jin of grain."
It was very little grain, but Su Qin only needed a formality for now. The refugees needed him to find employment opportunities for them.
Even after receiving the grain, they would not live together as households, because there were no ties between them.
But Su Qin merely wanted to conduct a simple survey of the residents' actual circumstances.
After another brief hesitation, Su Qin spoke.
"Refugees must form groups of five to register as a household. Anyone unable to form a group, and minors without either parent, should register of their own accord. I will assign you to groups at random. Each household will also receive thirty jin of grain!"
Looking over the people below, Su Qin said, "Do you have any objections to the first decree?"
Everyone cheered quietly to one another, until someone shouted, "Lord Su Qin!"
Then the crowd below began cheering, "Lord Su Qin! Lord Su Qin!"
Su Qin nodded. He had backing now; he could afford this grain.
He shouted, "Quiet, please!"
The crowd below immediately fell utterly silent.
Su Qin continued, "Of course, we must also thank my lord, Lord Yaron Runestone! He has provided me with funds and is willing to offer everyone some compensation! Naturally, under Earl Yaron's leadership, I will also introduce a series of decrees that benefit everyone!"
"My lord Earl! My lord Earl!" The crowd below began cheering.
In these times, commoners cheered simply by calling out someone's name!
Once the crowd quieted down, Su Qin glanced in Yaron's direction.
Yaron nodded to him.
Su Qin continued, "But hidden among us are people who wish to murder Lord Yaron. I will now issue the second decree!"
"Any household that reports a household or person who has recently acted suspiciously or harbored suspicious individuals will receive thirty jin of grain and one silver coin per person reported! I will investigate those reported one by one. Anyone making false accusations will also be punished."
As soon as he finished, someone shouted, "Lord Su Qin, I report Kelun, the timber merchant! A few days ago, he led a group of people into the lumberyard carrying axes, saying they were going to fell trees in Redwood Forest.
"But I saw them sneaking into an alley very early yesterday morning. My parents and I can testify. We have to get up early to claim a fishing spot."
A commoner standing near the front pointed at someone among the merchants as he spoke.
Looking over, Su Qin saw the merchants around that man immediately move away, successfully isolating him.
Kelun's face was filled with panic. He had been reported.
Kelun put on a hat and tried to run into the crowd, but the merchants pushed him back together.
Two spear-wielding guards immediately went over and seized him.
Pointing fearfully at several merchants behind him, he said, "You were involved too! I want to report them! I want to report Mark and Donner! They were involved too! Don't just arrest me!"
Su Qin gave a crooked smile. He had not expected a confession without even asking. Several spear-wielding guards seized the other two men, whom the merchants had pushed out.
Perfect timing.
Su Qin had them bring all three up.
Lifting Kelun with one hand, he addressed the crowd fiercely. "Since Kelun has confessed of his own accord and rendered service to atone for his crimes, I will spare him death, but confiscate his property in Gulltown."
Su Qin pointed at the other two.
"But these two committed the crime of plotting to murder Lord Yaron and refused to turn themselves in. Their crimes are heinous! I ask Lord Yaron's permission to behead them here as a public warning!"
From a distance, Sir Yaron said, "Proceed as you see fit, Sir Su Qin!"
Su Qin nodded.
Then Su Qin ordered the spear-wielding guards to escort Mark and Donner to the execution block and hold them down.
The execution block stood a dozen or so meters from Su Qin!
Suddenly, both men spoke in panic. "My lord, I want to report someone too! I want to report someone too!"
Su Qin flung Kelun, whom he was still holding, onto the ground.
Su Qin ignored their offers. One person was enough.
Besides, he needed to establish his authority!
At his command, two heads rolled to the ground.
The crowd first glanced fearfully at Su Qin, then cheered again.
Because Su Qin continued, "Those who reported someone, come up now to collect your silver coin-one silver coin. As for the grain I promised, it will be distributed to everyone in due course."
Su Qin glared at Kelun again. It was a warning! Su Qin had a new way to deal with him.
Kelun lay prostrate on the ground in fear, staring at the two heads on the ground and the blood spraying out.
His face showed terror, but also relief at his good fortune.
Su Qin had, in fact, achieved his aim.
Su Qin turned and returned to the speaking platform, then said to Kelun, "Kelun, lead the guards and arrest every accomplice you recognize. The better you do, the easier I can make things for you. I might even pardon your crimes!"
Make him a grand promise first!
But it worked very well.
Soon, Kelun was leading a squad of Yaron's own personal guards through the crowd, arresting people. The residents moved aside of their own accord to make way. Naturally, disturbances broke out too!
But they quickly subsided. Several hundred regular soldiers surrounded the crowd, enough to suppress any unrest. As for the arrests, let the crowd handle those themselves!
Many people helped catch the traitors. After all, these were people who had intended to massacre the residents!
They hated them so much their teeth ached!
Before long, the commoners had pushed thirty-four people out of the crowd. Su Qin ordered his men to escort them to the dungeon of the lord's castle for now!
They would be beheaded on another day!
Blood needed to be spilled on the day he took office, but not too much, or it would frighten the crowd!
Meanwhile, beside the square, Yaron spoke delightedly to Boris beside him.
"Boris, what do you think of Su Qin?"
Looking in Su Qin's direction, Boris said evenly, "A fine display of beating the mountain to frighten the tiger, combining favor with force! My lord, you may have found yourself a treasure!"
"He'll likely root out quite a few people!"
Boris was Yaron's Master of Coin!
Hearing this, Yaron laughed heartily and left the square with the several knights around him. He was no longer needed here.
That evening, he left Gulltown. He needed to return to Runestone to investigate a few things. He did not believe Runestone had no traitors!