As soon as the constabulary's announcement was made, the entire Qingyuan County was in an uproar.
Especially the constables who were expelled from the constabulary - there were over 50 of them - became immediately unsettled.
The constabulary's constables had no other skills and relied on their salaries to support their families.
Now that they were dismissed, they suddenly had no income, so they started to panic.
"Let's go find the captains and see if they have any solutions," one constable suggested.
"Yes, let's go to the captains!" another agreed.
With that, a group of constables immediately responded and gathered at the county office's quarters to consult with the three main captains.
After all, they had followed the orders of the three captains not to assemble at the constabulary, so now they could only turn to the three captains for advice.
At this time In the quarters, the three main captains appeared very angry. They hadn't expected Su Hao to actually expel all of them from the constabulary and even post an announcement.
"This Su Hao, he really expelled us all from the constabulary. It's too much!" Captain Chen Xuan angrily slammed the table in front of him.
The teacups on the table rattled under his palm.
"Anger is useless. Since he expelled us, let's take a good rest for a while. I'd like to see how Su Hao manages the constabulary and Qingyuan County during this time," Captain Wu Xun said calmly, picking up a teacup from the table and taking a sip.
"Brother Wu, we can rest without problems, but the men below us all rely on the constabulary's salary to support their families. Now that they're all dismissed, they have no income. It'll be hard to keep them in check," Lin Meng said with a grave expression.
The three of them could manage, but the constables below them wouldn't be able to hold on.
"I think they'll come to us soon. We need to discuss how to pacify them first!" Lin Meng said.
"First, let's give them some silver to stay at home quietly for a while. I'd like to see how Su Hao maintains order in Qingyuan County without constables!" Wu Xun said, taking out two 100-tael silver notes from his pocket and placing them on the table.
"Let's do as Brother Wu suggests for now," Lin Meng and Chen Xuan thought for a moment and also took out two silver notes each. The three combined had 600 taels.
The constables following them could each get more than 10 taels of silver, enough to live on for a while.
"Gentlemen, Qingyuan County's public order is a bit too good. We should have a chat with the three major gangs in the county and let them become active," Wu Xun said in a deep voice, ignoring the silver notes on the table.
"I'll handle this matter," Chen Xuan said, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
He wanted to show Su Hao that with just over ten constables in the constabulary, he couldn't possibly manage Qingyuan County.
At this moment
Outside the quarters, a clamor arose as the constables who came to find them gathered outside. "They're here. Let's go out," Wu Xun glanced out the window and took the lead in walking out of the quarters, with the other two following behind.
"Captain Lin, the constabulary has dismissed us. What should we do now?" a middle-aged constable under Lin Meng asked in a deep voice.
"The County Magistrate has arrangements for this matter. We have 600 taels of silver here. Everyone split it first. Once we get through this period, things should be fine. Don't worry!" Lin Meng handed out the silver he had brought from the table.
"Everyone take the silver and stay at home. No matter what happens in the county, don't come out!" Lin Meng said in a stern voice.
"Understood. You can rest assured, sirs. We know what to do," the constables who received the silver felt relieved and shouted.
"Not good!" At this moment, a constable ran in from outside.
"What happened? Why so panicked?" Lin Meng asked the incoming constable.
"Captain, the people left in the constabulary are extensively contacting martial artists in the county, inviting them to join the constabulary."
"I heard that for introducing a Human Realm Third Level martial artist who joins the constabulary, the introducer can get 5 taels of silver. For Human Realm Fourth Level, it seems to be 10 taels, and for higher realms, the rewards are even more. Now many martial artists are tempted. I think in about 3 days, the constabulary should be fully staffed."
The constable said urgently.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Hearing this news, the constables who had just calmed down suddenly felt a chill. They looked towards Lin Meng and the others.
Once the constabulary was fully staffed, their rice bowls would truly be lost.
"I didn't expect Su Hao to have such a method!" Wu Xun's face immediately darkened upon hearing the constable's words. Looking at the constables staring at them, he also felt troubled.
"Within 2 days, we'll handle this matter. There's no need to worry. Go back home for now. You should know that we have the County Magistrate backing us!" Wu Xun said calmly, even mentioning the County Magistrate.
"Right, we have the County Magistrate behind us. What are we afraid of? We'll wait at home for news from you, captains!" The group of constables became excited upon hearing about the County Magistrate. With his support, what did they have to fear from the constabulary?
After the constables left!
"Time is of the essence. The three of us should split up to find the three major gangs and have them start moving now. I want to see how this Su Hao handles things without us constables."
"Let's go!"
Lin Meng and Chen Xuan also knew the urgency of the situation and immediately left the county office.
After they left!
Three blurry figures appeared on the rooftop, watching the direction the three had left. These three figures quickly followed.
When Su Hao learned that the three captains were at the county office today, he summoned the three lower-rank ninjas.
He had them keep an eye on the three captains at the county office.
These lower-rank ninjas weren't very powerful, but monitoring Lin Meng and the others was no problem at all.
In the evening.
In Su Hao's room.
A ninja appeared before him.
"What were their movements today?"
"Reporting to master, the three captains separately contacted Qingyuan County's three major gangs: the Sea Sand Gang, the Road Gang, and the Fist Dao Hall. They asked them to cause trouble in Qingyuan County. The leaders of the three major gangs have all agreed!"
"Moreover, all three captains are County Magistrate Li Nantian's men."
The ninja added, also informing Su Hao of what happened in the county office.
"The County Magistrate? I've already arrived, yet he still wants to control the constabulary. He really doesn't take me, a Su family member, seriously. Well then, let's deal with the three major gangs and the three captains first!"
Su Hao said softly.
"Continue to keep an eye on them. Report back to me immediately if there's any development!"
Su Hao instructed.
"Yes!"
The three ninjas quickly left Su Hao's room.
"The three major gangs? If you behave yourselves, I might let you continue to exist. But if you dare to jump out, then I'll have no choice but to crush you!"
Su Hao let out a cold laugh.
The Sea Sand Gang, the Road Gang, and the Fist Dao Hall were the three strongest gangs in Qingyuan County. The Sea Sand Gang controlled river transport and docks in Qingyuan County, the Road Gang controlled road transportation, and the Fist Dao Hall managed street shops and collected protection fees.
"Su Yuan, go call Captain Wu over. I have something to instruct you all!"
Su Hao called out to the door.
"Yes, young master. I'll go right away!"
Su Yuan replied from outside the room.
Soon after Su Yuan brought Captain Wu to Su Hao.
"Chief, what instructions do you have?"
Captain Wu bowed and said.
"In a while, I'll have Su Yuan visit the Sea Sand Gang, Land Gang, and Fist Dao Hall to inform their leaders that I'm inviting them to a banquet at the Yingchun Tower tonight."
Su Hao said softly.
Hearing this, Captain Wu didn't understand the purpose, so he asked,
"Then Chief, what do you need me to do?"
"Captain Wu, you've been in Qingyuan County for many years. You should know which individuals in these three gangs have ambitions. Go invite them to the Yingchun Tower in the name of me, the Su family's Third Young Master."
Su Hao said coldly.
Captain Wu's expression changed, and his heart sank.
Although Third Young Master Su was young, his methods were extraordinary, and this was also a test for him.
"This subordinate will not fail Chief's trust!"
Captain Wu bowed and nodded, then retreated from the room along with Su Yuan.