Let the General Police Bureau try.
In other words, if it doesn’t work out, so be it.
Zhao Xu’s tone, in the eyes of Wen Yanbo and the others, was also filled with worry and lacked determination.
Little did they know that Zhao Xu was playing both sides – one hand open, one hand hidden.
After all, the power of Song Dynasty emperors was subject to many checks and balances. Above were the ancestral laws, below was the scholar-official class. It wasn’t the kind of absolute authority where one’s word was absolute law, yet Zhao Xu had particularly many things he wanted to accomplish.
So he had to use his power cautiously.
Regarding Wang Anshi’s reforms, he gave them his full support. No matter what the opposition said, he remained unmoved.
He was determined to reform.
This also ant that in his cooperation with Zhang Fei, he actually had little power left and couldn’t provide Zhang Fei with much support. He could only help Zhang Fei cover his back and provide so technical assistance.
Whether it was license plates or street encroachnt, he went with the flow, pushing along with the current, maintaining a very low profile.
If he gave full support to both sides, the ministers would all point their fingers at him.
If such a situation arose, he couldn’t withstand it either.
However, Zhao Xu’s soft attitude made the entire Chamber of State Affairs rather conservative in dealing with this matter.
Although Wang Anshi shouted fiercely, he wouldn’t exert too much effort on this issue – he just made so noise to express his position.
That was all.
He also had to preserve his strength at this ti.
But under the current system, the General Police Bureau was subordinate to the Chamber of State Affairs, and public order policies had to go through the Chamber of State Affairs.
After Wen Yanbo and the others deliberated, they issued a very conservative decree to the General Police Bureau.
Simply put, it was one sentence: your morial requires His Majesty’s permission.
They already held reservations about this matter, and with the emperor’s hesitant attitude, they had even less confidence. They were unwilling to take responsibility for this.
This morial was submitted by you, Cao Ping, so you should take responsibility for it.
We’re not supporting you – we’re supervising you.
In the end, it all ca down to execution, execution, and more damn execution!
Everyone was filled with doubt about the governnt’s ability to execute.
Including Cao Ping himself.
But there was one difference between Cao Ping and Wen Yanbo’s group: Cao Ping was an imperial relative. He had submitted this secret morial only to test Zhao Xu’s attitude.
Whether Zhao Xu’s attitude was weak or strong didn’t matter much to him. What he cared about was whether Zhao Xu supported it.
Now that Zhao Xu had expressed his position and supported doing this, Cao Ping would go all out.
But this was no small matter – not as simple as implenting license plates. Naturally, Cao Ping couldn’t approach it like before, working three days and slacking off for two, with an indifferent attitude.
He also began to treat the position of Police Commissioner seriously, starting to deploy his forces. He transferred his trusted subordinates from the Imperial Guard Infantry to serve as police captains at the General Police Bureau, then convened etings to discuss the matter.
In the main hall of the General Police Bureau sat a circle of military officers, with only one person standing – Zhang Fei, a re runner.
“If any of you can complete this task, I will promote you to Deputy Police Commissioner.”
Cao Ping didn’t play gas with these old subordinates, leading off with a substantial carrot.
Each officer sat upright with stern expressions, unmoved.
Not one of them said a word.
License plates were about money, but demolishing houses could cost lives!
This would offend so many people.
Sooner or later, they’d face retribution.
This was all within Cao Ping’s expectations. Finally, his gaze fell on Zhang Fei.
But Zhang Fei also remained unmoved.
Cao Ping was stunned. You little rascal, that’s not right – the idea was yours, so you should be responsible!
Zhang Fei thought to himself: I can’t beco Deputy Police Commissioner anyway.
Just then, soone outside the hall announced: “Reporting to the Police Commissioner, the Left District Police Captain requests an audience.”
This Left District Police Captain was Cao Dongdong.
Currently, the General Police Bureau had just been established, and positions hadn’t been properly divided yet. There were only two ranks: Police Commissioner and Police Captain, with one Police Captain for each precinct.
Cao Ping frowned upon hearing this and said reluctantly: “Let him in.”
Cao Dongdong entered the hall with his subordinate Ma Xiaoyi, cupped his hands and said: “This subordinate was delayed by urgent business and arrived late. I hope the Police Commissioner will forgive .”
Cao Ping looked at his “earnest and proper” son, his mouth twitching slightly. He now missed his foolish son imnsely.
Actually, he hadn’t notified Cao Dongdong at all, but he was too embarrassed to say so, and replied: “Sit down.”
“Thank you, Police Commissioner.”
After Cao Dongdong sat down, he asked soone beside him: “Second Brother Gao, what were you discussing?”
Gao Qiang imdiately said: “The Police Commissioner said whoever can complete the city reorganization task will be promoted to Deputy Police Commissioner.”
Cao Dongdong’s expression tightened. “Has anyone been decided upon?”
Gao Qiang imdiately shook his head: “No.”
Cao Dongdong breathed a sigh of relief and imdiately said to Cao Ping: “Commissioner, I believe aside from , no one can complete this task.”
The seated officers imdiately looked at Cao Dongdong with full approval.
Truly, heroes erge young since ancient tis!
Cao Ping’s mouth twitched as he said: “You still have to be busy with the license plate matter, where would you find ti to handle this?”
Cao Dongdong replied: “The license plate matter has been mostly handled. Soone just needs to keep an eye on it.”
“I am willing to keep watch for Captain Cao.”
All the captains said in unison.
Cao Dongdong was startled and quickly said: “There’s no need for so many people to keep watch.”
Cao Ping said through gritted teeth: “Your experience is still shallow.”
Cao Dongdong replied: “Speaking of police captains, my experience is more extensive than anyone seated here.”
The officers all nodded in agreent again.
Cao Ping continued: “This task is extrely arduous!”
“I enjoy a challenges. If it weren’t I wouldn’t have much interest,” Cao Dongdong said with casual confidence.
“Truly heroes erge young since ancient tis. Captain Cao is a model for our generation.”
“This really proves there are no weak sons from strong families. Congratulations to the Commissioner for gaining such a talented son.”
“Congratulations, congratulations.”
This barrage of flattery made Cao Dongdong feel as if he were floating on clouds, but it made Cao Ping suffer terribly.
You bastards are pushing my son into a fire pit!
But having co this far, if he didn’t agree, even fewer people would be willing to do this job. Helplessly he said: “Very well! This task will be handed over to Captain Cao for full authority.”
“This subordinate will certainly not fail in this mission.” Cao Dongdong imdiately cupped his hands.
Cao Ping shot him a concealed glare, then got up and left.
Once he left, those officers imdiately stood up to congratulate Cao Dongdong, each one drenched in sweat, having been terrified just monts before of being assigned this task.
They were all veterans and knew full well the dangers involved.
anwhile, Zhang Fei was quietly called to the back hall by Cao Ping.
“You little brat, the idea was yours, yet you let Dong’er do the work? This is absolutely outrageous.”
Upon seeing Zhang Fei, Cao Ping unleashed a furious tirade.
Zhang Fei smiled bitterly: “Commissioner, I’m rely a runner. I don’t have the authority to take charge.”
Cao Ping said: “I could promote you to Captain!”
Zhang Fei replied sheepishly: “I’m just here to serve my corvee service.”
Cao Ping retorted: “You’re serving your corvee service yet stirring up so much trouble?”
Zhang Fei said: “Didn’t we already discuss this issue last ti?”
Cao Ping snorted angrily: “Are you here to take revenge on them, or to take revenge on ?”
Zhang Fei replied: “Commissioner, you submitted the morial. Even if the young master weren’t responsible, would those people let you off?”
Upon hearing this, Cao Ping said very angrily: “You created this ss, yet the responsibility falls on us father and son to bear. You’re really quite shrewd, aren’t you?”
Zhang Fei said: “But the credit also belongs to you and the young master, and has nothing to do with . Moreover, I believe that having the young master take responsibility is actually beneficial for the Cao family. If the young master can complete the task excellently, then no one would dare object to him succeeding to the position of Police Commissioner in the future.”
Cao Ping blinked, his expression softening slightly, and said with a cold smile: “You’re quite considerate of my Cao family!”
Zhang Fei smiled: “The young master and I are like brothers. This is nothing.”
Cao Ping asked: “Are you really confident?”
Zhang Fei replied: “Please rest assured, Commissioner. I absolutely will not let them off easily.”
With him saying this, Cao Ping actually felt much more at ease.
If Zhang Fei had claid he was doing this for the country and the people, who would believe that!
But when he said he wanted revenge, Cao Ping imdiately believed him sowhat.
Zhang Fei continued: “Commissioner, there are plenty of people who want dead. If sothing goes wrong, you need only push all responsibility onto , and they will be very happy to accept this arrangent.”
Cao Ping smiled. “You may go.”
“Your subordinate takes his leave.”
Returning to the main hall, those military officers had already left. He saw Cao Dongdong slumped in his chair, as if after a climax, with a look of lingering satisfaction on his face!
But seeing Zhang Fei arrive, Cao Dongdong perked up, then said anxiously: “Zhang San, this whole matter depends entirely on you.”
Zhang Fei smiled: “Don’t worry, we’ve planned this so thoroughly that nothing will go wrong.”
Then he turned to Ma Xiaoyi: “Little Ma, how are you doing with finding those shills—oh no, finding those people I asked you to find?”
Ma Xiaoyi replied: “Brother San, rest assured, everything is deployed and ready, just waiting for Brother San’s command.”
“Ahem!”
Cao Dongdong glanced at Ma Xiaoyi.
Ma Xiaoyi imdiately said: “Just waiting for Big Brother’s command.”
Cao Dongdong said: “Then let’s get started.”
In military terms, provisions must move before troops march.
But in political terms, propaganda should precede troop movents.
This was how Zhang Fei had operated before.
However, this ti Zhang Fei took a different approach. They didn’t let the newspapers lead the charge, but chose to move the troops first.
Early that morning, a squad of patrol police arrived at First Perfu Lane, setting up warning signs at both ends of the main street, strictly prohibiting passage.
This quickly drew crowds of onlookers.
What was happening?
Suddenly there was a thunderous crash, and they saw the remaining ward walls being completely demolished, with clouds of dust rising from the ground, blocking out the sky and sun.
After the dust settled.
They saw so patrol police setting up bamboo barriers where the ward walls had collapsed.
“The area within the barriers will henceforth belong to you as private residential land. If you want to open a shop here, you just need to take your deed to Police Headquarters and pay ten strings of cash, but if you’re building a residence, you only need to pay one hundred coins.”
A patrol officer said this to a peddler.
Hearing this, the peddler was stunned. Am I dreaming?
Waking up to find an extra plot of land this size for free.
There was still distance between the ward walls and the houses, and this area was not small—one could directly build a shed and set up a small tea house.
In Bianjing, for such a large plot of land, even ten strings of cash was practically giving it away for free!
At Second Perfu Lane.
“This small house of yours used to be part of the ward wall, right?”
“Yes, yes, I won’t trouble you patrol officers—I demolished it myself earlier.”
“Since this doesn’t obstruct traffic, you just need to take your property deed to Police Headquarters and pay one hundred coins, and this land can belong to you as private residential property.”
“Only one hundred coins?”
“That’s right.”
“Ah! I’ll go right away.”
“I know, I know, go to Police Headquarters to pay one hundred coins and exchange the property deed. I’ll go imdiately.”
“You need to pay ten strings of cash.”
“Why? The neighbor next to is the sa as —why does he only need to pay one hundred coins while I need ten strings?”
“His is residential, yours is comrcial. If you use it for residential purposes, you also only need to pay one hundred coins.”
“Why?”
“Our reform this ti primarily aims to improve civilian residential housing. Secondly, comrcial shops cause far more trouble for public areas than residential land. Finally, street-front comrcial properties are worth more. If you’re dissatisfied, you can file a complaint against . My badge number is 218.”
“Oh my! How could I! Ten strings is ten strings—I’ll go pay tomorrow.”
These rchants naturally knew about the Spring Breeze Ten Li lawsuit, and they felt quite anxious inside. They never expected that ten strings of cash would settle the matter, and they would even obtain legal property deeds. The profits from future buying and selling of these shops would be far more than ten strings!
The speed of the patrol police’s actions also greatly surprised the court ministers.
They had acted directly without revealing any hint beforehand.
This truly caught them completely off guard—they had been preparing to raise so objections.
Wen Yanbo and Sima Guang also hurried out to inspect the situation.
“I thought the General Police Bureau would follow the sa approach as when they issued license plates—first using newspapers for publicity. I never expected that this ti they would send people to tear down the ward walls first.”
“What does Lord Wen think is their reason for doing this?” Sima Guang asked.
Wen Yanbo stroked his beard. “Tearing down the ward walls will only win the people’s hearts. No matter what they do in the future, those citizens who benefit from this will certainly support them wholeheartedly. But if they had first published the reform details in the gazette, it would inevitably have provoked considerable opposition.”
Sima Guang nodded. “I think the sa way. As long as the General Police Bureau doesn’t announce the details for now, even if court officials fan the flas, the panic they could stir up would be very limited. After all, everyone is more willing to believe what they see with their own eyes.”
Wen Yanbo said, “The key still lies in how well they execute what cos next.”
Even a fool could accomplish just gifting benefits to people.
Thump, thump, thump!
Thump, thump, thump!
Suddenly, a series of rhythmic sounds caught their attention. They looked up and realized they had arrived at Bian River Street.
Following the sound, they saw a crowd gathered in front of a shop across the way. Curious, the two n walked over.
They saw a patrol officer hamring a wooden plaque into the wall.
Wen Yanbo asked one of the onlookers, “What is he doing?”
“I heard he’s hanging up house numbers.”
“House numbers?”
“They say that since the ward walls have been torn down, they’re setting up these house numbers for future managent.”
Soone nearby added, “It’s just like those license plates, except these are hung on the door walls.”
“But it’s different—license plates cost money, while these house numbers don’t charge anything.”
“Who says they don’t cost money? There’s still a ten coin handicraft fee.”
“That’s practically nothing—it’s like not charging at all.”
Sima Guang stood on his tiptoes and craned his neck to look. He saw “Bian 8058” written on the house number plaque and asked in surprise, “They’ve already done over eight thousand households?”
Soone laughed. “It’s not over eight thousand households—it’s the fifty-eighth one. Any number starting with 6 or 8 indicates comrcial shops. Those starting with 1 are all governnt offices. Those starting with 2 are all public rental housing, and the rest are all private residences. The character at the front is the first character of the street na.”
“I see.”
Sima Guang nodded slightly.
Wen Yanbo stroked his beard. “These symbols beco more ingenious the more I look at them!”
Sima Guang nodded. “If they had written several characters on them, most people wouldn’t be able to read them. But with these few symbols, even those who can’t read a single character would recognize them all. These house numbers are indeed very beneficial for managent.”
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