Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains-Chapter 580 - 269, Hexi changes_2

Of course, the population explosion brought many problems too!

At the forefront was crime.

Hou Yuduan furrowed his brow slightly and turned to look at Bai Yunfan beside him, asking, "Uncle Bai, how many homicides have occurred in the four counties up to now this month?"

Upon hearing this question, Bai Yunfan looked slightly nervous. Truthfully, compared to Hou Yuxiao, he was more intimidated by Hou Yuduan. Firstly, Hou Yuduan was actually the one in charge of most of the clan's affairs, and secondly, he had spent a lot of time in Hexi dealing with Hou Yuduan and knew that he couldn't tolerate the slightest fault, especially concerning the affairs of Hexi. He was utterly impartial and wouldn't spare even his commander if mistakes were made.

"In eight days, 352 cases, compared to 501 in the previous month's first eight days. It looks to have decreased quite a bit. Your iron decree has been effective."

Thinking about it, Bai Yunfan still felt some admiration. Crime surged with the increase in destitute people, involving those who truly couldn't survive, those who bullied the good under the strength of their power, and even some martial artists. This increased the difficulty of law enforcement and governance for the Hou Clan.

Originally, these matters should have been managed by him as the commander of the Xuanting Bureau, but unfortunately, he hadn't been able to reduce the crime rate over several months. Moreover, as the population grew, the crime rate had begun to rise. Consequently, Hou Yuduan could no longer stand by and intervened.

Hou Yuduan enacted a harsh decree that prescribed the death penalty for even trivial misconduct. There was no room for leniency; slight misconduct led to death, a bit larger misconduct involved accomplices also receiving the death penalty, and for even larger misconduct, those who sheltered perpetrators, failed to report knowledge of crimes, watched crimes happen without intervening despite having the ability to, were all sentenced to death. When this decree was issued, it amazed everyone, even Bai Yunfan, the commander.

Such strict laws clearly seemed to be driving people away. With such laws in place, who would dare to come to Hexi in the future?

Countless people urged Hou Yuduan to revoke the decree, including Bai Yunfan, but Hou Yuduan simply wouldn't listen. Hou Yujie, Hou Yuling, and Hou Yucheng all deeply trusted Hou Yuduan and didn't interfere in these matters, so they could only watch as Hou Yuduan stubbornly implemented this harsh law.

Initially, when the law was enforced, just as they had anticipated, many immediately criticized the Hou Clan for regressive actions, implementing a tyrannical and harsh regime, arguing that Hexi would soon be left in desolate conditions. Indeed, for a time, a number of people did leave Hexi, mostly moving westward.

But as time passed, the situation started to seem unusual. Leaving other things aside, at least for two consecutive months, the crime rate continuously dropped, of course, accompanied by the effective implementation and enforcement of the law.

Public safety truly improved. The living conditions of ordinary citizens, especially those who were good, really ameliorated. That's when people realized that those who had fled were all harboring ill-intentions or were inclined to commit crimes.

In subsequent times, the situation kept improving daily, especially during a case that involved two prominent families. It ultimately revealed the involvement of two Warriors of the Gang Qi Realm from the Hou Clan. Hou Yuduan personally intervened and declared that Hou Family Warriors who broke the law should be severely punished. Eventually, he ordered the execution of those two men. This not only deterred everyone in the Hexi Four Counties but also won over the hearts of more than ten million people there.

As long as you strictly abide by Hexi's laws, on this land, you are the safest. Conversely, only if you could challenge the Hou Clan should you ever breach those laws, otherwise the Hou Clan can't do anything about you.

There is no shortage of Warriors of the Gang Qi Realm among the destitutes, but the problem is, mere Warriors of the Gang Qi Realm count for little in Hexi, and they are even less significant to the Hou Clan. Didn't you see Hou Yuduan personally ordering executions? Those were their own people. If you, a stranger, oppose the Hous in Hexi, even a Grandmaster might be courting death.

In the beginning, the entire Hexi region would have more than three thousand homicides a month. After Hou Yuduan's law was enacted, it plummeted by nearly twenty percent to only about two thousand four hundred in the first month. By last month, it dropped another thirty percent to just over seventeen hundred, and this month in the first eight days alone, there were just over three hundred, indicating a likely total of around twelve hundred for the entire month.

For a population of over ten million in Hexi, twelve hundred homicides a month compared to other prefectural cities, is already considered extremely good, not to mention the general rise in crime rates everywhere else due to the influx of displaced persons.

"These laws are of course harsher than usual, but these are not usual times. Harsh laws must be applied in troubled times. These refugees leaving the north with their families didn't come here just for sustenance, what they desire most is safety and stability!"

"Harsh laws must be applied in troubled times, the Fifth Young Master really spoke truly."

Bai Yunfan was also getting on in years, and with his high experience and insight, when he heard Hou Yuduan's words, his eyes instantly lit up, especially mulling over those six words, revealing a look of respect and anticipation as he gazed at Hou Yuduan.

This inexplicable anticipation, Bai Yunfan himself was also quite vague about it.

But he was very clear, The World had changed!

The news of Great Yu's destruction had long been spread throughout the south. The Hou Clan was now fully aware of it. Unlike the already chaotic north, only Hedong was currently engaged in fierce battle in the south. However, an undercurrent was surging among all the Holy Lands and all major factions. Anyone with sense could see it clearly.

The Supreme Sovereign of The World had fallen. Did this mean that a new great war would soon begin in the Thirteen Provinces? Everyone knew what the war would be about. Although Bai Yunfan understood, he did not care. After all, he was just an aged Martial Artist whose strength wasn't top-notch, caring primarily about himself, his family, and those close to him.

Once the war erupted, it would surely result in calamity. He did not wish to see it, just like the refugees from the north. Although beneficial to the Hou Clan, what deserved attention was that no one wanted to make a long and difficult journey away from their hometown, especially the tragedies among the refugees, which one could see every day. In fact, the thousands of cases of fatal incidents each month were another manifestation of these tragedies.

The mindset of most people still yearned for peace and stability in The World.

Bai Yunfan felt the same!

From Hou Yuduan, he seemed to have seen a glimmer of hope for peace and stability. This might be the source of that inexplicable anticipation in his heart.

"What am I thinking about, how vast is The World, what can Hexi alone prove?"

Bai Yunfan mocked himself inwardly, lifted his head, and suddenly saw the outline of the eastern bank of the Tongtian River not far ahead, instantly invigorating his spirit.

"The Family Head's vessel should be arriving soon, right?"

Hou Yuduan nodded with a smile, "The messenger said that at the latest by the ninth of March. We've arrived a day early. We should be able to see big brother's warship coming soon."

In the Hexi Region, there were few occasions that could bring three Commanders together, and welcoming the Family Head, Hou Yuxiao, returning from the north, certainly counted as one. In fact, if Hou Yuxiao had not specifically instructed not to make it too grand, there would definitely have been more than these hundred or so people coming to meet him today.

"Big brother has only been gone for less than four months, right? Why does it feel like it's been several years!"

Hou Yujie also appeared slightly moved. Hou Yuxiao had left last November and today was the eighth of March, indeed just under four months. But for some reason, standing here felt thrilling. He repeatedly looked along the river, eager to see Hou Yuxiao's returning vessel, which was clearly apparent.

"It must be the worry, the north is not very peaceful. Big brother took so few people with him, these past months I've been on tenterhooks. Thankfully, the messenger said nothing had happened, as long as big brother returns safely, that's all that matters!"

Hou Yujie nodded gently, Old Fifth's words hit the nail on the head. Before the news of Great Yu's fall had returned, he hadn't felt much. But after that, he worried about Hou Yuxiao almost every day. Speaking of which, although the Hou Clan is currently thriving, Hou Yuxiao is still just a Great Grandmaster of the Fourth Realm. Tied to something like the fall of Great Yu, it's indeed hard not to be worried.

The group only waited for about three hours on the eastern bank, around the Xu hour, a not-so-large warship gradually appeared in their sights. Seeing the Lu Family banner hanging high on the warship, both Hou Yujie and Hou Yuduan's faces showed a trace of relief and smiles.

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"Big brother is back!"

.........