Shen Feng and his group arrived at the city gate in the northwest corner, only to find Chang Jianyi leading a large welcoming party. Especially on the city walls, people were scattering colorful paper downwards. Many others stood along the roadside, watching. Soldiers were present, holding guns and maintaining order.
The falling colorful paper resembled a shower of colored rain. The returning group appeared amidst this paper rain, and the adoring gazes of the people were cast upon them. Bathed in such a scene, a sense of pride naturally arose.
Shen Feng stopped the car and walked forward, saying to his senior, "I'm back."
Chang Jianyi stepped forward, punched Shen Feng's chest twice, then embraced him and whispered, "You've been away for almost a month. You're finally back! Let's get into the city quickly."
Shen Feng spun Chang Jianyi around in his arms and turned to instruct his subordinate soldiers, "Enter the city. We have returned victorious!"
However, at this moment, Chang Jianyi pointed to the top of the city gate. Shen Feng looked up and saw two characters written there: "Jiangyang." It turned out that Luzhou had been successfully renamed. From now on, this place would be Jiangyang, and the City Lord's Mansion had also been renamed the Jiangyang City Lord's Mansion.
Shen Feng shook his head helplessly and said, "What a shame, I missed the ribbon-cutting ceremony. But, this is a minor matter. From now on, I am the City Lord of Jiangyang!"
Chang Jianyi had countless things she wanted to tell Shen Feng, but it was clearly not the time for whispered conversations. Thus, Chang Jianyi suppressed her words, intending to tell Shen Feng when a suitable opportunity arose. For now, she took out a mask and handed it to Shen Feng.
Shen Feng looked around and then noticed that many of the welcoming people were wearing masks. It seemed the plague in Luzhou had not yet disappeared.
The soldiers also put on masks and followed behind, entering the city. Colorful paper continued to be scattered from the city walls, the vibrant paper fluttering in the air like butterflies. The soldiers entered the city bathed in this paper rain, all feeling a sense of honor because they had returned victorious and become heroes of Jiangyang!
However, at this moment, Shen Feng saw Chang Haojie flying in the sky, riding a cloud. He was holding a flower basket and scattering colorful paper downwards, appearing very happy.
Chang Jianyi had not wanted her brother to do such menial work, but Chang Haojie found it fun and insisted on scattering paper from the sky. Chang Jianyi reluctantly acquiesced to her brother's behavior, as it was no big deal. Children should be happy.
Witnessing this scene, Shen Feng couldn't help but sigh. He hadn't expected that Chang Haojie had also become an ability user. A lot had happened in the month he had been away from Jiangyang! Fortunately, he had brought enough medicine, and the plague in Jiangyang should be easily resolved.
Shen Feng returned to the military camp with the soldiers, who then went home to visit their families in an orderly fashion. The important supplies were stored in the warehouse before he went to his office.
Shen Feng walked into the office and stepped onto the dog-skin carpet, feeling quite good. He had been away for a long time, and now that he was finally home, it was incredibly comfortable.
"Senior, are there many people in the city infected with the plague?" Shen Feng asked.
Chang Jianyi poured Shen Feng a cup of tea and said softly, "Not many people are infected with the plague, only a few hundred. But other matters are more troublesome. If you hadn't brought your people back, the city might have experienced bloodshed!"
Shen Feng was startled by this statement and asked incredulously, "Bloodshed? That exaggerated?"
At this moment, Shen Feng found it hard to believe what he had heard. It had only been about a month since he left, and Jiangyang had already changed so much. If bloodshed occurred, it would indeed be very tricky.
Chang Jianyi sat down beside Shen Feng and whispered, "Guess how many people are in Jiangyang now?"
Shen Feng pondered the question for a moment and said, "About two hundred thousand? Eighty to ninety thousand from Luzhou, and over a hundred thousand refugees from Yuzhou and other places."
Chang Jianyi gently shook her head and said sternly, "No! There are four hundred thousand people! So many people are eating and drinking in Luzhou, consuming a large amount of grain, not to mention the considerable dangers they bring. Many people have privately banded together to form gangs, and they even resort to force to seize territory. Although these people dare not confront the City Lord's Mansion, the threat they pose is very real!"
"Four hundred thousand people? How can there be so many?" Shen Feng was also startled. He had thought that Jiangyang's population of two hundred thousand was already about right, considering that nine-tenths of the population had died during the apocalypse. He didn't expect so many people to gather here, but now, with a population of four hundred thousand in Jiangyang, it was incredibly exaggerated!
Chang Jianyi gave Shen Feng a look and said helplessly, "Do you think the situation in Jiangyang is simple? Yuzhou has now become a dead city, overrun by plague and mutated beasts. Countless people have come with their families, and we cannot refuse to take them in, so the pressure is increasing day by day. Furthermore, robbery and murder are also common occurrences in the city. It's truly a disaster."
Shen Feng frowned and asked, "What about the food? Is there enough?"
Chang Jianyi shrugged helplessly and said, "It can only last until next year's planting season. Winter is approaching, and the food will only allow us to barely get through the winter. If we cannot get any food supplements by then, we will have to work the land."
Shen Feng suddenly felt a headache. He muttered to himself, "I should have traded for food instead of antibiotics when we were exchanging goods. Now we can't trade anymore!"
Hearing Shen Feng's words, Chang Jianyi suddenly remembered something and quickly said to Luo Qing beside her, "Go and call Lin Yue over. Tell him the City Lord wants to see him."
Luo Qing quickly went to find Lin Yue.
Chang Jianyi introduced, "Let me introduce you to a talented person. He's a young man from Yuzhou, about seventeen years old. He previously suggested that we produce penicillin using traditional methods, which helped control the plague in the city. However, he has always wanted to find his enemies for revenge. I think we can utilize him."
Shen Feng nodded, preparing to meet Lin Yue. However, he suddenly realized that he had expected to rest for a while after returning home, but it seemed that Jiangyang had countless issues to resolve. The plague was not the biggest problem. The most serious issue was the outsiders at the lower levels. These people had armed themselves, and if they rebelled, they would have to be suppressed by force!
Lin Yue soon arrived at Shen Feng's office. Upon seeing the City Lord, he immediately presented a document he was holding. This document was simple and only stated one thing: to establish his own intelligence department, specifically to monitor those who wanted to rebel!
Lin Yue said solemnly, "City Lord, the forty thousand people in Jiangyang are a mixed bag. On the surface, it appears peaceful, but in reality, the common people are divided into factions. Locals are one faction, and outsiders form several gangs. They often engage in fights and territorial disputes. If not restrained, it will inevitably shake the foundation, especially in these chaotic times where criminals are countless. If low-level criminals are not strictly investigated, it will lead to widespread unrest among the populace. Therefore, an intelligence department is essential!"
Shen Feng listened to this explanation and deeply agreed. When Rongcheng faced the threat of zombies, some people within the city took the opportunity to rob and set fires, causing thousands of deaths and nearly breaching the outer defenses. Fortunately, the army from Guanzhong arrived at that time, stabilizing the situation.
However, Shen Feng became curious at this moment and asked, "You seem very enthusiastic about this matter. Why?"
Upon hearing this question, Lin Yue's expression immediately turned hateful. He gritted his teeth and said, "My girlfriend was killed. She was murdered. I suspect that during the zombie siege, these people took the opportunity to act! I want revenge!"
Lin Yue did not hide his hatred. He still remembered that the woman he deeply loved was gone overnight. If she had died at the hands of zombies, he would have felt slightly better, but dying at the hands of their own people was something he could not tolerate.
Shen Feng was unexpectedly touched by such a sad story and had to shake his head helplessly, saying, "I hope you find the murderer soon and also step out of the shadows."
Lin Yue continued to ask, "What about this matter?"
Shen Feng nodded and beckoned Lin Yue over. Shen Feng whispered in Lin Yue's ear, "Besides observing the people below, you also need to help me observe others and see if there are any spies from other forces who have entered Jiangyang!"
Shen Feng had not forgotten the note left by Yu Renshu. He knew there was a hidden reason for Yu Renshu's departure, but it was impossible to investigate further. The note left by Yu Renshu also stated that there were spies around him, so Shen Feng was very cautious. He had to find the hidden spies, otherwise, many important messages from Jiangyang might be discovered.
Lin Yue immediately understood. It seemed the City Lord had agreed to his suggestion. He immediately knelt down and lowered his head, saying, "City Lord, please rest assured, I will establish the intelligence organization, and I will investigate all the information thoroughly!"
Then, Lin Yue suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "By the way, City Lord, I have a classmate named Qi Lingshan. He has been cleaning the prison for a month. He asked me to apologize to you. He said he knows he made a mistake and will never dare to do it again."
"Qi Lingshan?" Shen Feng frowned and thought for a moment, not remembering anyone by that name.
Chang Jianyi had a better memory and directly said, "That's the kid who led the troublemakers when entering the city. He became much more obedient after being scared. Recently, the prison has been getting more inmates, so he's probably suffered a lot in there."
Shen Feng remembered such a person after hearing the introduction, but it had only been a month. Did he really know his mistake?
"That guy, didn't he used to talk to me about human rights and freedom? Does he still talk about these things?" Shen Feng asked with a smile.
Lin Yue quickly shook his head and said sincerely, "He said he was brainwashed by the rhetoric of other countries and couldn't see the situation clearly, so he made a big mistake. He hopes for your forgiveness. If not, please transfer him to another place."
Shen Feng shrugged indifferently and said, "Then let him work under you. As long as he knows he was wrong, I don't want to pursue it. I am a kind-hearted person and don't like killing people."
Lin Yue quickly thanked him and then withdrew.
At this moment, Shen Feng leaned back in his office chair, feeling a headache from the problems he was facing. Originally, Luzhou wouldn't have so many issues, but the large influx of outsiders had led to them seizing the resources of the locals. Shen Feng had no idea how to handle these disputes. No matter which side he favored, it would cause dissatisfaction, and pretending not to know was also not an option, as the conflict would eventually erupt.
Chang Jianyi also knew that this matter was difficult to handle. Seeing Shen Feng so anxious, she could only patiently comfort him, "It'll be alright. When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a road. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally cross."
...
Late at night, Lin Yue, carrying the dispatch order from the City Lord's Mansion, went to the prison and took Qi Lingshan away.
Upon seeing Lin Yue, Qi Lingshan acted as if he had seen a relative and rushed to embrace him, excitedly saying, "You're a good brother! I knew you'd find a way. I really don't want to work in prison anymore!"
Recalling the various scenes in prison, Qi Lingshan was filled with dread. The prisoners were all sorts of people, and murderers were countless. After being caught, they would be given a good meal, and then the next day they would be taken to a crowded place and shot. Dozens of people had been executed during this period!
What frightened Qi Lingshan the most was a prisoner named Ren Jing in the depths of the prison, whose flesh was cut off every day. Even though his arms were severed, he still had to endure such torture, which was simply inhumane.
Suddenly, Qi Lingshan noticed that someone was missing beside Lin Yue, so he asked, "By the way, where did Fu Ya go? Why don't I see her?"
A hint of sadness appeared on Lin Yue's face, and then he said faintly, "She's dead. She was killed by the murderer. From now on, you will join me in establishing the intelligence department. One of its tasks will be to catch the murderer! I will make them pay blood for blood."
Qi Lingshan was stunned upon hearing this, "Killed? How?"
Lin Yue gritted his teeth and said, "It's true! A week ago, on the night of the decisive battle with the zombies, someone took the opportunity to cause trouble and killed Fu Ya."
"...My condolences." Qi Lingshan didn't expect to hear such news and could only comfort his old classmate. Speaking of which, out of the fifty people in their class, only the three of them had survived. When they first came to Jiangyang, Lin Yue and Fu Ya had been close, but unexpectedly, Fu Ya had died within half a month.
At this moment, Lin Yue looked at Qi Lingshan and said softly, "I don't want condolences right now. I only want revenge. Do you know why I'm helping you? Of course, it's because of your identity! Next, you need to join some gangs and secretly gather information!"