Chapter 24: Every Bandit Becomes a Governor

"So that is the case. What could that boy possibly be planning?" The magistrate wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked toward the assembled officials.

After some deliberation and discussion, an official spoke up: "My lord, could it be that Fang Han intends to emulate the previous Protector-General?"

At the mention of the former Protector-General, everyone’s expression turned pensive. It was common knowledge throughout the Southern Frontier that the previous Protector-General had defected to the Southern Barbarian King. It could even be said that the current state of the Southern Frontier was largely due to his efforts.

"He wants to defect to the Southern Barbarians? Then why hasn't he simply done so?"

"I understand now, my lord. This boy’s ambitions are vast. He intends to use the hands of the Southern Barbarians to pick us off one by one. Once that is done, he will take the entire Southern Frontier and defect to them!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked. To defect with the entire Southern Frontier would effectively make him the true King of the Southern Frontier.

An official frowned and said, "Fang Han is jealous of Fang Li coming to the Southern Frontier. Wouldn't defecting to the Southern Barbarians confirm that he is inferior to Fang Li? That doesn't seem right."

The situation fell into a stalemate once again, and the matter of appointing an Inspector remained unresolved.

Just then, a discordant voice suddenly piped up: "Could it be that he merely wants us to wash away the stigma of banditry? To avoid the reputation of being in collusion with bandits?"

Once spoken, this seemed reasonable from every perspective. However, the previous analysis was not without merit, so they dared not let their guard down.

Just as the officials were debating whether to accept or decline, a soldier sent to scout the capital arrived back in Xiyun County on a fast horse.

"Report!"

With a loud shout, the soldier burst into the county office. Seeing all the officials gathered, he did not know what was happening. However, he was on an urgent mission, and unless the magistrate ordered him to stand down, he was authorized to interrupt any situation.

"My lord, a martial arts tournament was held in Xiyun County. Commander Zhao fought three men at once and defeated three of the Protector-General's top generals. The Protector-General was enraged and ordered Commander Zhao’s execution."

"What?" The magistrate stood up abruptly, pointing at the soldier as he demanded, "What did you say? He dared to do that?"

The soldier caught his breath and reported everything else—from Zhao Hu defeating Fang Da, the commander of the City Defense Battalion, to kicking away Fang Yuan and forcing Fang Han’s personal guards off the stage, along with various intelligence gathered from the laborers.

After the soldier finished, he withdrew. The officials looked at one another, and then a burst of raucous laughter erupted.

"Hahahaha! I was wondering what he was up to; it turns out he’s nothing but a clown."

"We wasted our time guessing when that boy is truly just a reckless brute."

"Hahahaha, hahahaha!"

"My lord, we should spread this news. It might prevent Xiyun County from becoming a target for everyone else."

"Agreed, well said."

***

Information about Fang Han began to spread from Xiyun County, and within a single month, it had traveled throughout the entire Southern Frontier. Whether they were bandits or warlords, everyone now knew that the new Protector-General of the Southern Frontier was an incompetent fool.

Meanwhile, the capital was gradually regaining its vitality. Every day, Southern Barbarian merchants arrived to conduct business. The City Defense Battalion had even expanded to two thousand troops. As the weather cooled and land reclamation became difficult, many laborers had earned land and housing through their service, transitioning into soldiers.

In the government office, Su Zihuan, Chen Xingshi, and Li Zihong—the three acting as Commandery Governors—reported on the conditions within their respective jurisdictions. Because each jurisdiction was only the size of a county and they had sufficient officials, their administrative work was very thorough. This would allow them to stabilize the situation quickly when they eventually controlled an entire commandery.

Beyond that, the three often lectured Fang Han on how to act as a Protector-General. In their eyes, Fang Han was a novice in need of polishing, but they were unaware that this was all part of Fang Han's deliberate design. Now that his reputation was established, he had no further concerns about their guidance. It even served to prevent others from being intimidated should he suddenly reveal his true talent in the future.

Among the dozen elite soldiers, there was one named Fang Zheng. Fang Han had inadvertently discovered his political talent, so he was assigned to handle reception at the government office.

Fang Zheng walked into the office and said, "My lord, more people have come requesting the position of Inspector."

Ever since the news from Xiyun County spread, warlords from all over the region, unwilling to be left behind, flocked to request the status of Inspector. It was a perfect opportunity to legitimize themselves. Whether they intended to suppress rebellions or attack the Southern Barbarians in the future, they needed a formal title. Otherwise, they risked the displeasure of the Imperial Court and the arrival of a punitive expedition to wipe them out as bandits.

Little did they know that the requests of these bandits played directly into Fang Han’s hands. If everyone developed at the same pace, it meant no one was moving ahead. But Fang Han held the power of scientific technology; while others took one step, he could take ten. As long as there was enough time and sufficient grain, he could sweep away the rebellions at any moment.

"How many is this?" Fang Han asked.

"The seventeenth," Fang Zheng replied.

"Granted."

Seventeen—the number matched the intelligence Fang Yuan had secretly gathered. All the separatist forces had now become Inspectors. A few, like Xiyun County, controlled five counties, while the others governed two or three. With all these factions now installed as Inspectors, Fang Han prepared to initiate the next phase of his plan.

***

At night, Fang Yuan snuck into the Protector-General's mansion.

"How did the investigation go?"

"Thirty miles east of Farm No. 5, there is a Black Cloud Stronghold. There are over a hundred bandits, and the mountain fortress is easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"They will be the ones."

Fang Yuan received his orders and left. Fang Han’s mouth curled into a smile.

The show was about to begin.

Three days later, at the government office.

Several gaunt men, covered in dust and soot, knelt on the ground trembling. Fang Han looked at them and roared, "Audacious bandits! Drag them out and execute them!"

"My lord, we are innocent! We are innocent! It was all the Second-in-Command’s idea; it has nothing to do with us!"

"It was all the Second-in-Command who told us to do it!"

The men cried out in protest. Fang Han’s face was dark. Early that morning, he had received reports that bandits had come to raid the crops in the farmland and that several had been captured. He immediately held court to pass judgment.

"You still dare to lie? Give each of them fifty lashes!"

The soldiers nearby immediately stepped forward, flipped one of the men over, and began the beating. Before twenty lashes were dealt, the man’s eyes rolled back, he spat out a mouthful of blood, and died on the spot. The soldiers immediately flipped over another man and began the same punishment.

Seeing the miserable state of his companion, one man screamed, "My lord, I am willing to lead the way! I am willing to lead the way to destroy the stronghold!"

Hearing that the man was willing to guide them, Fang Han’s lips curled upward. "Very well. Pass on my order: let Zhao Hu take his men and go destroy the bandits."

When Zhao Hu received the news, he was reluctant, but they had agreed with Fang Han upon their arrival that their purpose was to protect the farmland from bandit interference. Now that bandits had appeared, he had no choice but to comply.

Zhao Hu set out to suppress the bandits. In a single battle, he wiped out over a hundred of them and seized a large amount of gold, silver, and jewels. However, the Xiyun County troops suffered nearly three hundred casualties.

Back at the government office, Fang Han distributed rewards based on merit.

"This victory is thanks to Commander Zhao for wiping out the bandits and removing a thorn in my side. I have decided to grant all the seized gold and silver to Commander Zhao."

After saying this, Fang Han changed his tone.

"I have long heard that banditry in the Southern Frontier was rampant, and today I see it is truly so. Pass on my order: send envoys to all prefectures. Command each Inspector to send three hundred troops to the capital. I intend to purge the Southern Frontier of all banditry once and for all!"