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Chapter 371: A Principled Enforcer is Needed

Li Daoxuan clutched a jasmine latte, gazing down from his celestial perch at Heyang County. A knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach; he genuinely worried his own militia, his "little people," might fall into the trap of bullying the Heyang County residents.

This was the Gao Family Village militia’s maiden venture into a settlement teeming with "unaffiliated little people." The risk of power-tripping and intimidation was unsettlingly high.

It was a crucial trial for the Gao Family Village militia, a true test of their integrity and conduct.

He knew himself to be fiercely protective of his own. If his "little people" were to exploit or mistreat the locals, what then? Indulgence was out of the question, yet the thought of harsh punishment filled him with an uncomfortable reluctance.

Such a dilemma.

In that moment, he gained a profound insight into the roots of corruption, the mechanisms of eunuchs seizing power, and the proliferation of deceitful ministers in this world.

It all stemmed from a "supreme leader’s" inherent favoritism towards "their own."

Favoritism inevitably bred exceptions, and exceptions, in turn, eroded the very foundations of law and order.

You might know it’s wrong, but how many can truly stand firm when their own loved ones, in desperation, resort to tears, tantrums, and even threats of self-harm?

If your closest comrade-in-arms slashed someone with a blade, would you escort him to the constabulary, or provide him with funds and a boat ticket to flee?

You might effortlessly type "Justice above all" on a divine mirror, proclaiming yourself a paragon of righteousness. Yet, when faced with such choices in reality, the decision weighs far heavier than words on a screen.

Li Daoxuan silently ruminated on the matter. It became clear that establishing a dedicated "enforcement agency" was essential. If he himself couldn’t wield an iron fist, then he would entrust that power to someone who could.

While his influence wasn’t yet boundless, there was still time to forge such an institution.

But who would fill this pivotal role?

This individual had to be utterly uncompromising!

They needed to prioritize law and principle over personal sentiment, to value justice above all else. To truly embody righteousness, they would even have to confront him, correcting his "favoritism and exceptions," much like the renowned Tang Dynasty official Wei Zheng, who dared to speak truth to power and highlight the emperor's flaws.

Was there such a person among his "little people"?

His mind awash with these swirling thoughts, he anxiously observed the activities of his "little people."

Mercifully, years of ideological training had instilled remarkable discipline in the Gao Family Village militia. A squad of soldiers approached a noodle stall, grinning as they addressed the owner: "Shopkeeper, how much for a bowl of your famous knife-shaved noodles?"

The shopkeeper, intimidated by their armor, nervously stammered, "Ten copper coins."

The soldiers exclaimed, "Wow, that’s rather steep!

"Back in Gao Family Village, a bowl of hand-pulled noodles is only three copper coins.

"I suppose the grain prices here must be higher."

"The Heavenly Lord's blessings have only recently extended to this county. Their grain harvest isn’t yet as bountiful as ours in Gao Family Village.

"Ah, that makes perfect sense then."

"One bowl for me!"

"And one for me too!"

The shopkeeper's heart fluttered with apprehension. Five bowls amounted to fifty copper coins – if these soldiers decided not to pay, he’d be ruined!

However, a quick glance at their formidable armor and weapons meant he dared not refuse them service. Gritting his teeth, he reluctantly began to shave the noodles.

But his fears were unwarranted. Before the shopkeeper could even finish preparing the noodles, the soldiers produced a chunk of broken silver, roughly equivalent to fifty copper coins. They set the gleaming piece before him, urging, "Chop faster, we’re famished!"

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened with delight. He swiftly swept the silver into his drawer, his noodle-shaving movements accelerating with renewed vigor. His mood, too, soared.

Similar scenes unfolded across Heyang County. The thousand-strong Gao Family Village militia, augmented by three hundred cavalry, instantly transformed several streets in the county seat into bustling thoroughfares.

The people of Gao Family Village were prosperous, but the militia and cavalry troops were even more affluent than ordinary citizens. Their dangerous work, after all, could cost them their lives, and the Heavenly Lord paid them handsomely, far more than regular laborers.

Their purchasing power was immense.

The knife-shaved noodle shop quickly filled to capacity, as did the local Heyang _Chu_ noodle establishment. The fresh _hele_ noodle shop, meanwhile, was positively swarming with customers.

Heyang County’s shopkeepers beamed, their faces alight with joy.

This surge of business was, without a doubt, immensely gratifying.

Their only minor irritation was the constant, infuriating chatter they overheard from these patrons. For instance, a soldier enjoying his fresh _hele_ noodles remarked, "Goodness, this Heyang County is truly impoverished!"

Another chimed in, "It’s dreadfully poor, utterly incomparable to our Gao Family Village."

The shopkeeper’s mustache quivered with indignation. "Calling us Heyang folk poor? I’ll bash your head with a ladle, see if I don’t!" he fumed internally. Then, catching sight of the bows on their backs and the blades at their hips, he swiftly reconsidered. "Perhaps not," he thought.

But a thought struck him. He recalled the three young women who’d eaten fresh _hele_ noodles here last time. They, too, had urged him to open a shop in Gao Family Village, insisting that the people there were rich and he could earn far more.

The shopkeeper surveyed his crowded shop, brimming with Gao Family Village folk. "These people genuinely appear quite prosperous," he mused. "When those three young women mentioned it before, I merely humored them. But now... now it seems Gao Family Village might indeed be worth the journey."

Concurrently...

To the east of the city, a mutton _hupo_ shop hummed with equally boisterous activity.

Mutton _hupo_, a rich and delicious dish, was a legacy from the Yuan Dynasty, introduced when the Mongols swept into Heyang County. Its sole drawback was the need for mutton, making it rather costly.

In this year of devastating drought, how many households could even afford to raise a single sheep?

Furthermore, after years of turmoil brought by Gao Jie, finding a live sheep in Heyang County had become a rarity. This particular shop, backed by Squire Zhang of Xiazhuang, managed to source a small quantity of mutton, allowing it to operate. Typically, its clientele comprised the most respected individuals in Heyang County.

Today, however, a table of Gao Family Village militia soldiers occupied the mutton _hupo_ shop. Leading them was Zheng Daniu, who strode boldly in with five grenadiers from the Armored Grenadier Battalion.

The shopkeeper, taking them for mere common soldiers, assumed they couldn't afford his prices. To his astonishment, after he quoted what he believed to be an exorbitant sum, Zheng Daniu roared with laughter. "This shop has mutton? Ha! That’s a rare find! Brothers, take a seat, I’m treating today! Shopkeeper, six bowls of mutton _hupo_... extra mutton, and hold the _hupo_!"

The shopkeeper stared, speechless.

The six hulking soldiers settled around the table. One of them ventured, "Brother Daniu, 'hold the _hupo_' seems a bit... peculiar. The _hupo_ is the essence of the dish, isn't it? The mutton is just a flavorful addition."

Zheng Daniu blinked. "Oh? Is that how it works?"

The shopkeeper, caught between amusement and exasperation, confirmed, "Indeed, a bowl of mutton _hupo_ contains only a few slivers of meat; the _hupo_ itself is the main component."