Exiled to the Frontier, He Became the Empire’s Most Powerful Lord - Chapter 22

For many years, the Green Dragon Gang, a local gang, has truly controlled these two major industries.

This gang is powerful, with members who are all prominent figures in the area, including members of the three major families.

The various factions have divided the spoils here, which is why the situation has been maintained to this day.

Rumor has it that the leader of the Azure Dragon Gang is a peak fourth-rank martial artist, a ruthless character who was exiled from the army several years ago.

“Your Highness, these are the contracts for all the brothels and gambling dens in Mangcheng. We have come to present them to you!”

The three of them readily presented the receipts to Zhou Lingfeng upon seeing him.

“But these are industries… we’ve never been able to get involved in.”

They knew that Zhou Lingfeng had treated them well, even granting them shares in new sources of income like cement and fruit wine.

Brothels and gambling dens may seem like lucrative opportunities, but the three major families are like chicken bones – they can’t control them, and no one dares to cut off their source of income. Even if the three families join forces, they are afraid of incurring public outrage.

“If Your Highness wishes to rectify the situation, offering amnesty is the best course of action.”

Lei Xingmie wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and said softly.

They knew that this group’s backer was most likely the Lord of Funing City.

Ordinary feudal lords, having received the majority of the profits, were unlikely to disrupt the status quo, since those shady deals were where the real money was.

“I have always preferred to deal with intelligent people. The Azure Dragon Gang has committed countless evil deeds. I will not offer them amnesty, but rather eradicate them outright.”

Zhou Lingfeng slammed the teacup down.

Although he had already received 100,000 taels of silver from the Green Dragon Gang as a tribute, along with a promise of future profit sharing.

But he understood even more clearly that this money was soaked in the blood and tears of the people.

“Your Highness, you may be new to this place and unaware of the depths of the Green Dragon Gang.”

“The businesses of these brothels and gambling dens are extraordinary; they are not something that just anyone can manage…”

Lei Xingmie said with great difficulty.

The Green Dragon Gang, while collecting protection money, manages to maintain a delicate balance between the legitimate and criminal worlds.

If we truly break off relations, we will inevitably face endless assassination attempts.

As the saying goes, it’s easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.

Moreover, the leader of the Azure Dragon Gang is a peak fourth-rank expert who is about to step into the third-rank Grandmaster realm!

“Gentlemen, let’s wait and see! The crackdown on organized crime has officially begun!”

Zhou Lingfeng didn’t offer much explanation.

In everyone’s eyes, the Green Dragon Gang knows how to distribute profits.

Even a prince has no reason to throw away his own money bag, let alone put his life in danger.

However, in Zhou Lingfeng’s eyes, this kind of evil-doing force was no different from the gangsters of the present world.

At this moment, in a cloth shop in Mangcheng, old Zhang, with his white beard, paced back and forth, looking very uneasy.

According to the rules, today is the day to pay protection money to the Green Dragon Gang.

But how could this small shop, barely making ends meet, withstand such exploitation?

The Green Dragon Gang members are fierce and ruthless, not to be trifled with. If you don’t obediently hand over the money, then the only thing waiting for you is closure.

If anyone dares to resist, someone will definitely die.

Even if you report it to the authorities, it won’t do any good. Because those officials are basically the financial backers of the Green Dragon Gang.

Since the barbarian king entered the city and re-established the government and system, he has also promulgated many new rules!

It is said that a cabinet was also established, under which there were six departments.

In fact, ordinary people don’t really understand these things and think it’s just for show.

However, the new Barbarian King has a good reputation among everyone, which is why there is some expectation.

In the past few days, the newly established Public Security Bureau has announced a decree stating that protection fees will no longer be required.

But that sounds like a fantasy.

Which of these officials isn’t a backer of the Green Dragon Gang?

“Old Zhang, it’s time to pay!”

At that moment, several burly men dressed in the uniform of the Green Dragon Gang walked in.

They were holding standardized fee receipts, which suggests that the gang leader’s management was quite effective.

“The police came yesterday and apparently said we don’t need to pay anymore!”

Old Zhang looked at the group and said in a trembling voice.

“The Public Security Bureau? Bah, what’s that?”

“Never even heard of them! Would they dare interfere with the affairs of our Green Dragon Gang?”

Several men from the Green Dragon Gang suddenly burst into laughter, spitting all over Old Zhang’s face.

“This is one of the six departments established by the Barbarian King! The Security Department is the agency responsible for maintaining order and cracking down on petty criminals. They are in charge of everything from street brawls to bandit raids!”

“It seems they also handle this protection fee issue!”

Old Zhang repeated what the person from the Public Security Bureau had said.

“What utter nonsense! Old Zhang, you just don’t want to pay!”

“Your monthly allowance is five hundred cash. If you’re short even one cash, we’ll burn your shop down.”

“What kind of damn Public Security Bureau is this? They dare to block the Green Dragon Gang’s path to wealth? I’ll chop them all up!”

Old Zhang’s words directly angered these thugs from the Green Dragon Gang.

Over the years, the Green Dragon Gang’s practice of collecting protection money has become an unwritten rule.

They kicked Old Zhang aside and were about to start smashing things.

“To commit violence in broad daylight and extort money from shopkeepers on the street—what audacity!”

“The police officers from the Public Security Bureau are investigating; take them all away!”

At that moment, several merchants in the shop tore off their outer robes, revealing their black official uniforms.

“They really are from the Public Security Bureau. It seems this time it’s for real.”

Upon seeing these disguised officials, the crowd suddenly erupted in uproar.

Who would have thought that this newly established Security Bureau of the new prince would actually dare to touch the people of the Azure Dragon Gate?

This is a scene that no one could have imagined for many years.

At the same time, similar scenes were playing out in multiple shops throughout the city.

The elite police force of the Public Security Bureau, which had been lying in ambush for a long time, came out in full force and took away all the members of the Green Dragon Gang.

Those who tried to resist were all killed on the spot, their blood splattering everywhere.

“That’s wonderful! Your Highness is truly a just and upright official!”

The people who had suffered under the bullying of the Green Dragon Gang were moved to tears by what they saw, while others cheered.

They had finally waited for this day.

At the same time, Yang Wufeng, the military and political official, personally led a team of over a thousand men to surround all the brothels and gambling dens in the city.

Gambling dens must be shut down; they can bankrupt people. As for brothels, they need reform; forcing women into prostitution must not be tolerated.

In fact, such a small matter did not require his personal involvement or so many people.

However, Zhou Lingfeng also wanted to establish his authority and have Yang Wufeng make an appearance so that he could better manage the army after winning the hearts of the people.