For two consecutive days, Su Hao secluded himself within the Constable Bureau.
Since the idea of utilizing the bandit gangs in the Azure Cloud Mountain Range had struck him, he'd had all the information regarding these bandits brought to his quarters.
He hadn't realized the sheer number of these gangs. The Azure Cloud Mountain Range was home to a staggering thirty-six bandit groups, both large and small.
"Thirty-six! Even if I could handle two or three a day, it would still take me half a month. That's quite a while," Su Hao muttered, a headache forming.
He couldn't involve the Su family in dealing with these bandits. It had to be his own doing, as he couldn't risk exposing the Su family's interest in the gold mine.
"I'll start by subduing one of these gangs and then use them to control the remaining thirty-five," Su Hao decided, his gaze sweeping across the documents spread out on his desk.
With the Three Corpse Brain Gu, controlling these bandits shouldn't pose much of a problem.
"Chief, the newly appointed Magistrate, Tang Mu, is here to see you," Liu Bin announced from the doorway.
"The new Magistrate? Show him to the main hall. I'll join him shortly," Su Hao instructed.
Tang Mu was appointed by his second uncle, Su Hong. As such, a formal introduction was in order.
Inside the Constable Bureau's main hall...
The damage from the recent battle had been repaired, and the hall had undergone a complete renovation. It was now more imposing than ever before.
Liu Bin escorted a middle-aged man dressed in a magistrate's official attire into the hall. He didn't exude any martial aura, suggesting he was a civilian official.
To ensure Su Hao's control over Qingyuan County, Su Hong had deliberately chosen a magistrate with no martial prowess. This would make him more reliant on Su Hao.
"Magistrate Tang, Chief Su will be with you shortly. Please, have a seat. Let me prepare some tea," Liu Bin said, gesturing for Tang Mu to make himself comfortable.
The new magistrate, his face devoid of any emotion, chose a chair and sat down. He had been instructed by Su Hong to offer Su Hao his full cooperation. In essence, Su Hao was the true authority in Qingyuan County.
A short while later, Su Hao strode into the hall. Tang Mu immediately rose to his feet.
"Magistrate Tang, I apologize for not greeting you upon your arrival. It is I who should have paid you a visit," Su Hao said, his tone apologetic.
"Chief Su, you are too kind. We are of equal rank. It is only natural for me to pay my respects. Before my arrival, Magistrate Su advised me to follow your lead in all matters concerning Qingyuan County," Tang Mu replied, bowing slightly. He made his position clear: Su Hao was in charge.
Liu Bin, who had been standing discreetly to the side, felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing the new magistrate's words. He hadn't expected Tang Mu to be so deferential to Su Hao. It seemed he would have to be even more respectful towards the chief in the future. He was grateful that he and his master had chosen to side with Su Hao earlier. Otherwise, they might still be languishing in a prison cell.
"Magistrate Tang, you are a trusted associate of my second uncle. Our interests are aligned. I still need your expertise in governing Qingyuan County. The Constable Bureau will offer you its full support," Su Hao said sincerely.
Managing an entire county was a daunting task, one that Su Hao had no intention of undertaking.
Tang Mu breathed a sigh of relief. Although the prefect had instructed him to defer to Su Hao, he still harbored ambitions of making his mark. He had heard rumors of Su Hao's纨绔(idle and dissolute) nature and had been apprehensive about working with him. However, after meeting Su Hao in person, he found him to be surprisingly humble and devoid of the arrogance he had expected.
"Thank you, Chief Su."
"Magistrate Tang, if you require anything, send someone directly to the Constable Bureau and ask for Liu Bin. Liu Bin, you are to prioritize Magistrate Tang's requests," Su Hao instructed, turning to Liu Bin.
"Understood, Chief!" Liu Bin responded promptly.
Eager to address the situation in the Azure Cloud Mountain Range, Su Hao didn't linger. Tang Mu, aware of his priorities, excused himself after a brief exchange, citing urgent matters at the county government office.
After Tang Mu's departure, Su Hao summoned Su Yuan, Su Neng, and Constable Wu. He informed them of his impending absence and instructed them to assist Tang Mu in maintaining order in Qingyuan County.
Soon after, Su Hao, dressed in plain clothes, departed Qingyuan County and made his way towards the Azure Cloud Mountain Range.
The Azure Cloud Mountain Range was a sprawling expanse, encompassing over fifty peaks.
The thirty-six bandit gangs occupied the most strategically advantageous peaks.
Azure Cloud Stronghold had been one of them until its destruction by the Su family. The nearby Tiger Head Stronghold, led by Huang Cheng, had set its sights on the now-vacant territory.
Tiger Head Stronghold was the fifth most powerful among the bandit gangs, having ascended from sixth place after Azure Cloud Stronghold's downfall. Huang Cheng, a sixth-level Earth Realm expert, commanded four lieutenants, each at the fifth level of the Earth Realm.
After observing the abandoned Azure Cloud Stronghold for several days and confirming that no one intended to claim it, they swiftly moved in, renaming it Tiger Head Stronghold.
As night fell and a cool breeze swept through the mountains, Tiger Head Stronghold was illuminated by countless lanterns.
Su Hao, familiar with the layout from his previous visit, stealthily infiltrated the stronghold.
Inside, bandits reveled and caroused, oblivious to his presence. Su Hao surveyed the scene before making his way to the kitchens.
A hive of activity, the kitchens were filled with cooks preparing the evening meal.
Su Hao observed their movements, identifying which dishes and wines were destined for the main hall, where the bandit leaders feasted. With precision, he planted Three Corpse Brain Gu eggs into the designated wine jars and food platters.
In the main hall...
The five leaders of Tiger Head Stronghold were indulging in a hearty meal.
"Brother, who do you think Azure Cloud Stronghold offended to suffer such a fate? Eradicated overnight," a burly man with a shaved head asked, raising his wine bowl.
"Second Brother, I've made some discreet inquiries. It was the Su family who wiped out Azure Cloud Stronghold. What were they thinking, provoking the Su family?" a broad-chested man beside him exclaimed.
"Third Brother, be careful what you say. Regardless of how Azure Cloud Stronghold offended the Su family, it's not our place to discuss such matters. We now occupy their former territory. This will undoubtedly elevate our Tiger Head Stronghold's standing," Huang Cheng, the leader, interjected, silencing his subordinate.
Huang Cheng was a cautious man. He knew that certain topics were best left untouched, especially for a bandit gang like theirs. Discussing the Su family's affairs could have dire consequences. He couldn't allow Tiger Head Stronghold to suffer the same fate as Azure Cloud Stronghold.
"I heard that Dugu Fan, the former leader of Azure Cloud Stronghold, is still alive. Do you think he'll return?" another lieutenant asked, his voice laced with worry.
Dugu Fan rarely involved himself in their affairs, but rumors of his seventh-level Earth Realm cultivation were widespread.
"Brothers, there's no need to worry. Even if Dugu Fan resurfaces, the Su family will deal with him. We won't have to lift a finger. Besides, if he dares to show his face here, we'll join forces and eliminate him," a cold voice said. The speaker was a middle-aged man clad in black robes.
"Enough, let's drink. From this day forward, we will fully absorb Azure Cloud Stronghold's territory and assets," Huang Cheng declared, raising his bowl.