"It seems you've all made your decision.
Was this your idea, or someone else's?"
Lu Ming slowly picked up his chopsticks, rubbed the two ends together to sharpen them.
"My lord, this is the plea of your humble servant and the people! Please, Your Highness, intervene and save the people!"
Prefect Huang Ruo lowered his head, not daring to look at Lu Ming. He felt a murderous intent spreading through him.
He had only heard rumors of Lu Ming's killings in the Guanzhong region, but that didn't mean it was true; it was just hearsay. If the killings were real, who would rule?
Lu Ming hated being forced, and he hated people who couldn't see reality.
They thought that even after arriving, they would need to rely on them to rule Yizhou.
Would he become blind without these powerful families?
Whoosh!
With a flick of his wrist, the chopstick plunged directly into Huang Ruo's forehead, embedding itself deep in his brain. The shockwave pulverized his brain!
The sudden killing occurred without a single warning; it was done abruptly, without any indication.
Bang!
The cup slammed to the ground. The axemen lying in ambush outside immediately rushed in. At Lu Ming's command, they began hacking at anyone they saw, indiscriminately killing anyone dressed elegantly.
Lu Ming sat at the head of the table, while Lin Lianhua beside him also went on a killing spree. Anyone who tried to fight back was instantly cleaved in two.
The stench of blood and carnage lingered, nauseatingly strong.
Hu Sanniang raised an eyebrow, also taking up her twin swords to protect him. After felling several crazed family heads, she was now fully engaged in combat.
After a while, the once grand hall was a mess. Tables were overturned, and fruits and dishes were scattered all over the floor.
Blood flowed across the floor, and some who weren't dead were still convulsing and screaming.
Axes and knives were used to finish them off one by one, ensuring each one was thoroughly dead, beyond any doubt!
Lu Ming remained seated, drinking wine, waiting for a long time.
Footsteps sounded outside. Wei Yan came to report, "Reporting to my lord, the four major families in the city have been wiped out, and the city gates are under control."
"Good. Make sure to send people to guard the area. Let some people rest well; there's still work to be done tomorrow."
Lu Ming nodded. He looked at the map; many small and medium-sized families still existed there, all harboring hostility towards him.
If they refused to relinquish power, then he wouldn't hesitate to be ruthless. Many powerful figures were dependent on the four major families; they had become accustomed to this life of wielding great power.
Even the governor was chosen from among the four great families; Yizhou was practically theirs.
Lu Ming didn't know how Liu Yan had reclaimed Yizhou, but he was certain he had made compromises.
He wouldn't use such a method of silencing witnesses…
And he wouldn't leave himself any future trouble, so these opponents had to die!
He took Hu Sanniang to his room for the night, and soon Hu Sanniang's moans and gasps filled the air, continuing until late into the night.
Two days later, outside Chengdu.
A man with a face as dark as charcoal was riding a horse, accompanied by a civil official and a military officer.
It was Bao Zheng, Gongsun Ce, and Zhan Zhao.
They had been recruited to Yizhou by Lu Ming. Now that Yizhou was newly pacified, everything needed to be overhauled and rebuilt, so someone with Bao Zheng's iron-fisted methods was necessary to facilitate things.
At the same time, it was also a time to recruit talented people and appoint those suppressed by the four great families.
With absolute power, opposition is inevitable.
And what Lu Ming needed were these opponents, and he wanted them to spread the word widely.
He would publicize the four great families' infamy: kidnapping women, horses galloping through the streets—these were minor offenses. He'd fabricate tales of filial impiety, beating parents, incestuous relationships with daughters-in-law, father-daughter incest—all the filthy, the foul, regardless of veracity.
Simultaneously, he'd bribe and recruit the city's wandering ruffians to form the City Defense Force, essentially a menial operation.
He'd continue clearing street drains, ensuring fire prevention and sanitation, while also sending the wandering ruffians back to spread the news. Their families were the gossipy women of the city, always spreading rumors in their daily lives…
The marketplace was the most fundamental territory, the place with the highest foot traffic. Spreading the news there would make it known throughout the city in just a few days.
The families of disgraced officials were gathered into the Jiaosifang (a type of administrative unit) for reform, their property confiscated and their families exterminated; their wealth was used for public welfare. They mined crystals, repaired roads and bridges, provided relief to refugees, and reclaimed farmland.
Simultaneously, they took control of farmland, workshops, and other infrastructure to ensure the situation wouldn't descend into chaos.
Hundreds of thousands of orders of grain were seized from the four major families.
This grain was enough to feed the entire population of Yizhou for two years.
Some of it was already starting to mold, yet they continued to embezzle, even going so far as to burn down granaries and armories.
If they weren't guilty, why did they wait until Lu Ming's army was approaching before starting the fires?
They were afraid of being investigated, so they burned everything down.
They wanted to ensure there were no witnesses; without evidence, they couldn't be apprehended.
What was unexpected was that Lu Ming never followed the script. He didn't act first and report later, intending to kill them and then find a reason to exonerate himself.
Negotiation?
He had already given them a chance; if they didn't cherish it, then he couldn't be blamed. If opening the city gates and surrendering was a test, then their half-month delay in deciding was inexcusable.
Using local forces to oppose imperial officials was tantamount to rebellion.
Furthermore, after burning the granaries, their attempt to use bandits and refugees to coerce him into relinquishing power was suicidal.
Perhaps this was merely a display of power by the local faction, proving that Yizhou's functioning was indeed precarious without them.
However, the world continues to function even without certain individuals.
Therefore, they overestimated themselves. Their presence or absence was unimportant; their absence was crucial to Lu Ming.
Cracking down on officials, recruiting talent, conducting peaceful exercises, and suppressing bandits.
There was still much to be done. Fortunately, this was Yizhou, free from interference from other warlords, so the suppression was only a matter of time.
Once Chengdu was captured, the Shu region would essentially be conquered; the rest was just a matter of time.