Chapter 477: Chapter 503: Rectification
Deputy Director of the Security Bureau.
Aside from Baiyu, the official leader, he held the most power here.
Over the years,
The Security Bureau has changed multiple directors.
Typically, after a few dozen days on the job, they would leave for various reasons.
Mountain City.
As a shelter connected to Villiduo.
Its population and scale rank among the top three shelters in the East Prosperity Imperial.
And the Security Bureau is one of the three major power institutions in Mountain City.
Such a position.
Is enough to make countless people envious to the point of red eyes.
Those who resigned or stepped down after just a few months, it’s clear, couldn’t survive in this position.
A large part of the reason for this.
Is likely due to Zhang Zhi’an.
Baiyu wasn’t very interested in these intricate matters.
He gave Zhang Zhi’an a cold glance and said to the people behind him, "Throw these people out."
People who don’t listen are useless to keep around.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Zhi’an quickly smiled and said, "Oh, Lord Bai, these commoners have lives like ants; even if they die, it’s of no consequence.
But if you drive them away today,
it might stir some tongues in the city.
You, as a count, wouldn’t want your reputation tainted by commoners. Let me handle it for you."
Baiyu frowned.
This Zhang Zhi’an is indeed pushing his luck.
Having stayed here too long, he’s become unbearably arrogant.
"Throw them out, and if anyone dares make a sound, they’ll roll out with them."
Baiyu gave Zhang Zhi’an a piercing look, leaving no room for doubt.
Clearly, he didn’t expect someone new, looking so young, would act against the norm!
Does he not care about public opinion at all?
It’s known.
A newcomer openly dismissing old staff will often see their reputation plummet miserably for a while.
Even when using people in the future, they won’t earn the trust of subordinates.
Doing so.
Who would dare risk their life for you?
"Truly a lucky young man who doesn’t understand a thing, yet comes here to throw his weight around."
Zhang Zhi’an sneered inwardly.
He’s unafraid of encountering such reckless youngsters; his concern is the old hands impervious to tricks.
These kinds of people.
With a little planning, can be swiftly driven out.
Those old-timers in the courtyard were just a greeting gift, or a display of power.
Of course,
there was an element of testing involved.
However, after probing.
This newcomer, Lord Earl, seems lacking in substance.
Even though according to the information he received.
The other side has strong backing.
But.
Guarding this turf, how could Zhang Zhi’an be without support in the background?
To put it mildly,
he absolutely won’t let go of the Security Bureau.
The powerful dragon cannot suppress the local snake.
Moreover, this one isn’t even close to being a strong dragon.
His methods and nature lag far behind those seasoned in noble circles.
Zhang Zhi’an is confident.
The people in the Security Bureau have been meticulously trained by him, giving no opportunity to exploit.
...
Baiyu, with Qiong Xue and two guards, walked straight into the Security Bureau’s hall.
The hall’s decoration was quite ordinary.
Baiyu sat on a wooden chair, turning to the two guards beside him:
"Call all the people from the Security Bureau to the courtyard.
Excluding those on missions, I only recognize those present today.
If anyone later claims to be from the Security Bureau, arrest them immediately."
Zhang Zhi’an furrowed his brows secretly.
What exactly is this reckless youth trying to do?
With the Security Bureau already low on personnel, and now such a large-scale purge, does he want the Security Bureau to collapse entirely?
It’s known.
These people are his trusted aides.
The Security Bureau can recruit up to a thousand people.
But he only maintained a few dozen under him.
Their wages are several times the original amount, truly a hefty expenditure.
If these people were fired,
it would genuinely be a blow to him.
Moreover.
Initially, he hadn’t anticipated that the young man’s actions would be so sweeping, leaving no room at all.
In an instant, Zhang Zhi’an could no longer remain seated.
He stepped forward with a concerned expression.
"Lord Earl, you..."
Before he could finish,
Baiyu looked at him coldly and laughed, "Are you trying to teach me how to do things?"
Instantly.
Zhang Zhi’an’s words lodged in his throat were swallowed back.
The other party’s gaze and tone clearly showed a readiness to turn hostile.
But now.
If he did turn hostile, the situation would not be favorable for him.
Zhang Zhi’an felt agitated internally, but he maintained a humble smile on his face, stepping back without speaking further.
Before long.
According to Baiyu’s instructions, the courtyard gathered sporadically around twenty to thirty people.
The extent of the search revealed such numbers hidden within a small Security Bureau.
But it was clear these were Zhang Zhi’an’s cultivated loyalists.
Even standing reluctantly in the yard,
they appeared slouched, dragging their feet.
Of course,
Baiyu didn’t mind this.
With the Security Bureau needing restoration, keeping these people served some purpose.
Firing them all to recruit new ones would also be troublesome.
"Is everyone here?"
When the two guards returned with a report,
Baiyu stepped out of the hall, looked at the lax crowd in the courtyard, and softly spoke, "You’re all old in the Security Bureau, do you not know what the Security Bureau is?"
The dozen people appeared listless.
One skinny young man responded:
"Of course, we know we’re overseeing Mountain City’s security.
Ha ha, it’s just that other departments don’t respect us.
The Lord Earl is imposing right from the start.
Looks like you’re here to reclaim the power of the Security Bureau that we’ve lost over the years?"
After his words fell,
the entire courtyard fell silent.
A few elders beside him made a show of pulling at him.
At this moment, Zhang Zhi’an came over, his face like a prune, and rebuked, "You fool, are you brain-dead?
Get out.
Right now, get out immediately!"
After saying this,
he turned, with a fawning face, towards Baiyu, nodding and bowing, "Lord Earl, don’t be angry, these idiots’ remarks..."
"Oh, no need, he’s speaking the truth."
Baiyu waved his hand.
Bang.
At the courtyard gate, two guards blocked the entrance.
The Security Bureau member who spoke showed a terrified expression, but quickly gritted his teeth and said, "Lord Earl, I am indeed telling the truth.
These years,
our Security Bureau hasn’t even been on par with the City Lord’s Mansion guards.
Our monthly wages are often delayed and docked by the City Lord’s Mansion."
After hearing his words,
Baiyu nodded, "I said, you’re right.
I am a person who reasons.
So today, by bringing you here, the first thing is to help you retrieve what’s rightfully yours."
With these words, everyone was collectively stunned.