It was late at night when Li Tianrui returned to the Duke's Mansion. While eating dinner, he hurriedly called a briefing with the main responsible persons.
According to the feedback from various battalions and companies, the occupation and takeover work went smoothly. It seemed that neither Duke Parsa nor Baron Bocas played any tricks. But Green Forest City was a big city after all, and the guards still encountered some troubles after taking over.
Wang Zifeng, the battalion commander in charge of the regiment, said: "First of all, the nobles and merchants in the city are unstable. Rumors are flying all over the city. I don't know who spread the rumors. It is said that the Chinese will execute all the noble patriarchs. Some people say that they will confiscate the property of all merchants. Some people say that all people related to the royal family will be sold into slavery, or even used as materials for magic experiments.
Most of the noble merchant families are extremely nervous. The door of the temporary government liaison office we set up in the Duke's Palace is almost broken by the crowds. "
Cao Lu, the person in charge of the liaison office, said: "These desperate guys have come up with many ways to get information and build closer relationships. Not only have they offered gold and silver treasures, they have even sent beautiful women to Captain Wang."
Second Battalion Commander Xu Tianle asked, "Where's the beauty?"
"Of course I returned it. Why, do you still want to stay overnight?" Cao Lu said.
"Oh, Wang Zifeng has a young widow as his girlfriend, but I, Xu Tianle, don't."
"It's not your turn to stay. We haven't found a leader yet." Cao Lu said.
"Stop talking nonsense. What I want is free love, and I don't want you dog-headed military advisors to interfere." Li Tianrui scolded with a smile, "You don't have to worry too much. As long as these guys don't take risks, you don't have to worry about them."
"But we returned their money, but they were still unwilling to take it back," said Cao Lu.
"It's okay. If they come again tomorrow, tell them that we will accept this money as a donation to public welfare. But make two points clear to them. First, this money cannot atone for the crimes of those who are guilty. Second, we have a record of who contributes to the public welfare of Green Forest City. Anyone who supports us will definitely be given priority support in future development and growth work."
Cao Lu nodded and said, "I understand. If there are more beauties tomorrow..."
"Stop, stop, stop." Li Tianrui waved his hands hurriedly, "Hurry up and get down to business. Do you have any other questions?"
The third battalion commander, Mareno, said, "There are still some problems with the public security in Green Forest City. After we sent the city guards back to the barracks, some places in the city became empty, and the bad guys couldn't hold back. As far as we know, there have been three murders and seven or eight robberies since we entered the city. As for thefts... we haven't counted them clearly yet, but they are no less than the previous two."
Li Tianrui pondered for a moment and said, "Two aspects. The first is to deal with these criminals seriously and quickly. We can't wait to set up a court to try them later, so we will directly use the military court to try them and execute the results immediately. Tomorrow I want to see those damned people hanged on the main road of Green Forest City.
Second, I asked some active members of the City Guard to join several patrol teams, and the effect was quite good. Tomorrow you can go to the City Guard barracks to recruit some smart locals, which should be helpful. "
"Yes, Captain!" said Mareno.
The leader of the Dark Elf Battalion is the Dark Elf Mage Kasa. She reported: "Captain, we have discovered that the sanitary conditions in the city are very worrying. We encountered a lot of patients in the slums today. It is summer now, which is the peak season for epidemics. If not handled properly, a plague may break out."
Li Tianrui asked Ackley, "Is the plague common here?"
Ackley said, "Captain Kasha is right. Every summer, there are epidemics of varying sizes in Green Forest City. In previous years, we would invite people from the Southwest Branch of the Temple of Nature or the Red Lotus Tower to come here for treatment. They would also cast some magic in the city, which is said to reduce the occurrence of epidemics. However, the situation is unstable now, so that's out."
Wang Zifeng said, "I've read some information on this. According to my understanding, it's actually about using magic to eliminate germs. I think we can assign some magicians to go to those places tomorrow to take a look. It's nothing more than dealing with those people and objects that are contaminated with pathogens, isolating those that need to be isolated, and burning those that need to be burned."
Li Tianrui said: "Let's handle it this way."
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While Li Tianrui was holding a meeting with his men, Baron Bocas was sitting on the edge of the bed in a room upstairs, in a daze.
While he was in a daze, he was muttering something.
"... Great God of Nature, please forgive me. I love them, although not even one ten-thousandth of the way you love us. But I still love them sincerely and genuinely. However, for a true knight, there is no more valuable virtue in the world than loyalty. I am not only loyal to Lord Parsa, but also to the place they represent. We have tried our best, we really have tried our best. But I can't do it, I can't compete with these people. The power they represent is so terrible, Baron O'Farrell failed, Matos failed, Earl Green failed, and Lord Arusta also failed. How can the Duke and I guarantee that we can win? So we can only do this, please forgive me, please forgive me..."
Baron Bocas repeated these words several times, then took out a small crystal bottle from his arms. The bottle was only as big as a thumb and was filled with a jar of black liquid.
Baron Bocas stared at the bottle, holding it toward the glowing crystal in the room, as if he wanted to see through the contents of the bottle.
However, the black color in the jar revealed an evil aura.
Baron Bocas looked at it for a while, but couldn't figure out what it was, and finally made up his mind.
He opened the bottle and put it to his mouth. The opening of the bottle was against his lips, and his hands and mouth were shaking. I don't know how long this scene lasted, he finally raised his head, poured the whole bottle of potion into his mouth, and then threw the crystal bottle far away on the ground.
Baron Bocas slowly lay back, and when he was completely flat, he fumbled out a badge from his pocket, exactly the same as the one the Duke had given him. He held the badge in his hands and placed it on his chest, then slowly closed his eyes.
Gradually, all kinds of uncomfortable feelings came from his body. He felt hot all over and lost strength. Then darkness came like rolling sea water, slowly sinking him to the bottom of the sea.