Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 327 Killing is the fastest way to solve problems

three days later.

The open space in front of the General's Mansion has been cleared clean, and fresh soil has been turned over to cover the bloodstains underneath.

The square has been restored to its original state, with bluestone paving stones repaved.

People set up their stalls and opened their shops as usual, showing no signs of the tens of thousands of deaths that occurred here just three days ago.

But it's different outside the city.

Zheng Zhitong's head was hung at the city gate, along with thirty-seven other heads, all belonging to generals and officials who had colluded with him.

A row of heads hung on the barbican, exposed to the wind and sun, and crows were already circling above them.

Further away, the bodies of the bandits were piled up like small mountains.

Zheng Zhitong had seven bandit groups, totaling more than 10,000 men, which were wiped out by the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry three days ago.

The corpses were piled up in a ditch three miles outside the city, doused with oil, and burned for three days and three nights.

Thick smoke blotted out the sky and could be seen from ten miles away.

The townspeople watched the smoke from afar, discussing it animatedly.

At the tea stall, several old men gathered together, drinking tea and chatting.

"Have you heard? Those bandits are all in cahoots with Zheng Zhitong. Zheng Zhitong tipped them off, and they give half of what they steal to Zheng Zhitong."

"No wonder we haven't been able to eradicate them all these years; it turns out they were raised by our own people!"

"The Prince of Zhenbei is truly... ruthless. He has killed nearly 50,000 people in just three days."

"Ruthless? How many people did those bandits kill? How many caravans did they rob? How many families were ruined? How much did that corrupt official Zheng Zhitong embezzle? He should have died long ago!"

The speaker was a gaunt old man, slamming his fist on the table, spitting as he spoke:

"Let me tell you, the Prince of Zhenbei did a great job killing this time!"

"That was satisfying! Look what these bastards have done to Xi'an all these years!"

Several people nearby nodded in agreement.

An uncle selling pancakes chimed in, "That's right."

My cousin was a merchant. Two years ago, he was robbed by bandits on the road. He was gone, and his goods were gone too.

His wife and children were crying their eyes out at home, but now everything's alright. The bandits are gone, and he can finally trade with peace of mind.

Another old man lowered his voice:

"I heard that the Prince of Zhenbei killed more than 8,000 people with a single slap! Eight thousand people! With just one slap! What kind of method is that?"

The tea stall owner leaned over, looking rather mysterious:

"Let me tell you, the Prince of Zhenbei is a god descended to earth, I've heard..."

The group got more and more excited as they talked, and the tea got cold but no one drank it.

……

On the city wall.

Lin Chen stood behind the battlements, looking at the distant firelight, his face expressionless.

Thick smoke billowed on the horizon, obscuring half of the setting sun.

Blue Phoenix stood beside him, also looking in that direction.

After a moment of silence, she asked softly:

"Husband, isn't this a bit too cruel?"

"Cruel?" Lin Chen glanced at Lan Fenghuang and smiled.

"Do you know how many merchants those bandits have killed over the years? How much cargo they've stolen? How many families they've ruined?"

Blue Phoenix didn't speak.

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and continued to look at the distant firelight:

"Phoenix, sometimes, killing is the fastest way to solve problems."

Can you reason with bandits?

"If you arrest them, lock them up, release them in a few years, and they'll just keep robbing. It's better to wipe them out completely than to keep them around to cause harm."

Lin Chen paused, then said:

"There are not many perfect solutions in this world. If you want to save people, you have to kill people. If you want to be clean, you have to have dirty hands."

Lan Fenghuang nodded and said nothing more.

She wasn't unaware of this principle, but seeing those corpses piled up like mountains made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

But she knew that Lin Chen was right.

The two stood on the city wall for a while until it got dark.

……

The next day.

The fire finally stopped, and the sky brightened considerably.

The wind carried a slightly burnt smell, but it had faded considerably.

Lin Chen went out on the street with several women.

The markets in Xijing were much more bustling than those in the capital.

Shops lined both sides of the street, selling silk, tea, porcelain, spices and gems, one after another.

The people on the street were a diverse bunch: Dayan people, people from the Western Regions, Loulan people, and a few blond-haired, blue-eyed people, weaving through the crowd.

Yao Yao pulled Liu Sheng Piaopiao along at the front, finding everything new and exciting.

"Husband, look! Why is this sugar figurine colorful?"

She pointed to a small stall with more than a dozen sugar figurines on it, in red, green and yellow, made into various shapes.

Lin Chen walked over and took a look: "It's dyed. Buy it if you want to eat it."

Yao Yao cheered and picked out a rabbit-shaped one, and then picked out a flower-shaped one for Liu Sheng Piaopiao.

She hadn't walked far when she slipped into a fabric shop, her eyes lighting up as she touched a bolt of soft satin.

"Husband, look! This fabric is so soft!"

Lin Chen glanced at it and said, "Buy it if you like it."

Yao Yao clung to the cloth tightly, refusing to let go, and then looked at the things next to her.

Liu Sheng Piaopiao was being pulled along by her, her little face flushed and her eyes shining.

She used to have trouble speaking properly, but now, with Yao Yao leading the way, she dares to look around.

Passing by a stall selling hair accessories, she stopped and picked up a hairpin to examine it.

It's a white jade hairpin, carved with a small orchid, quite simple and elegant.

She glanced at it twice, then put it down.

Yao Yao leaned closer: "Do you like it?"

Liu Sheng Piaopiao shook his head and pulled her forward.

Lin Chen followed behind, walked over, picked up the hairpin, and took a look.

It's made of white jade, the color is average, but the carving is decent.

He asked the stall owner, "How much?"

The stall owner, a middle-aged woman, glanced at Lin Chen's clothes and quickly said:

"Sir, two taels of silver."

Lin Chen threw down a piece of silver, picked up the hairpin, took two quick steps to catch up with Liu Sheng Piaopiao, and stuffed it into her hand.

Liu Sheng Piaopiao was stunned.

Lin Chen didn't stop, and said without turning his head, "Take it."

Liu Sheng Piaopiao looked down at the hairpin in her hand, her face flushed instantly, and she whispered:

"Brother-in-law, I..."

Lin Chen had already walked far away.

Yao Yao leaned closer, winking at her, "Piaopiao, your brother-in-law gave this to you!"

Liu Sheng Piaopiao's face turned even redder, and she gripped the hairpin tightly, her fingers burning hot.

Lan Fenghuang watched this scene from behind, a smile curving her lips as she turned to look at Liu Shengxue.

Yagyu Yuki remained expressionless, but there was a faint smile in her eyes.

……

After wandering around all morning, Lin Chen found a restaurant and booked a private room.

When the food was served, Yao Yao was already starving. She grabbed her chopsticks and started eating, her cheeks bulging out like a little hamster.

Lan Fenghuang ate slowly and deliberately, glancing at Lin Chen every now and then.

Liu Shengxue remained aloof, taking small bites of food.

Liu Sheng Piaopiao sat next to Lin Chen, head down, ears red, and didn't touch her chopsticks for a long time.

Lin Chen glanced at her: "Why aren't you eating? Is it not to your liking?"

Liu Sheng Piao Piao shook her head and whispered, "No...no."

She picked up her chopsticks, took a small bite of food, and savored it slowly.

Lin Chen smiled and ignored her.

After finishing his meal, Lin Chen put down his chopsticks and stood up:

"You guys go back first, I have something to take care of."

Yao Yao blinked: "What do you need me to do?"

Lin Chen said with a serious expression, "It's important business."

Yao Yao wanted to ask more, but Lan Fenghuang stopped her.

Lan Fenghuang laughed and said, "Alright, stop asking. My husband has his own things to do."

Yao Yao was full of curiosity, but she still obediently followed Lan Fenghuang.

Liu Sheng Piaopiao got up, walked to the door, glanced back at Lin Chen, and then quickly lowered her head.

Liu Shengxue walked at the back, her gaze lingering on Lin Chen's face for a moment, then she turned and left without saying a word.

……

Lin Chen left the restaurant and turned into an alley.

The alley was quite deep, with high walls on both sides and bluestone slabs on the ground that made a thumping sound when you walked on them.

After turning two corners, a pavilion appeared at the end of the alley, with red lanterns hanging on it. Two Hu women stood at the entrance, wearing thin veils that revealed their navels.

The plaque above the door reads four large characters: Heaven and Earth.

Lin Chen looked up and smiled.

Brothel/Goulan.

It's been a long time since I've been here.