You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

Under the scorching July sun, Lin Feng, at the security regiment's post, was looking at a copy of the Zhejiang Provincial Daily, his brows slightly furrowed.

Newspaper reports on the Pingjin Campaign dominated the front page, but the matter of the raid on the Wang family in Qing County was only mentioned briefly as a "local security incident," without any details.

"Young master, something's not right."

The speaker was Lin Peiji, the second steward who had just arrived from his hometown.

He was wearing a faded long gown and holding a purple clay teapot in his hands, but his eyes revealed a sense of experience and shrewdness.

"What do you mean?" Lin Feng put down his newspaper.

"The Wang family is a local power after all. Although the person is dead, a centipede doesn't die easily. The so-called 'under investigation' in the province is just a bellwether."

Lin Peiji took a sip of tea and said slowly, "The attitude of the higher-ups is unclear right now. If we just wait and wait, what if someone throws dirty water on us and says that we are maliciously framing someone and trying to kill for money? Then the label of 'traitor' will not be applied to us."

Lin Feng's eyes sharpened.

Older gingers are more spicy.

He had only thought of breaking the deadlock with violence, but he overlooked the subtle power of public opinion.

"Uncle Pei-ki, what do you think?"

"Build momentum." Lin Peiji put down the teapot and uttered two words decisively. "Young Master, you now have witnesses and physical evidence, this is an ironclad case. We can't wait for the higher-ups to determine the nature of the case, we have to get the people to determine it first."

"We must publicize the fact that the Wang family colluded with the Japanese, intended to let the enemy in, and slaughtered the villagers. We must let everyone in the county and the province know that you, Commander Lin, are eliminating a scourge for the people and protecting our country."

Lin Feng's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh: "Okay, let's do it this way."

That afternoon, the streets and alleys of Qingxian County became lively.

The propaganda team of the security regiment was actually just Zhao Yushu leading a few loud-voiced militiamen, banging gongs and drums as they posted notices throughout the city.

Not only did Lin Feng post notices, but he also had people put up an "evidence exhibition" in the square in the center of the county town, displaying the captured Japanese equipment: Type 38 rifles, Type 91 machine guns, grenade launchers, and even photos of the corpses dressed as ronin.

"Fellow villagers, come and see! This is irrefutable evidence of the Wang family's collusion with the Japanese devils."

Zhao Yushu stood on the platform, holding a megaphone made of rolled-up sheet metal, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"What were those Japanese ronin planning, hiding in the Wang family's villa with guns and cannons? They wanted to massacre our Qing County under cover of night! If it weren't for our Commander Lin's brilliant and courageous leadership, who foresaw their plot and led his men in a desperate battle, would we still be standing here talking now?"

"That old dog Wang Fuhai abandoned his ancestors to become a traitor. Our Commander Lin is acting on behalf of Heaven."

The onlookers, who had been angry but dared not speak out against the Wang family's usual oppression, were now ignited by the evidence of real guns and bullets, and Zhao Yushu's incitement.

"Down with the traitor Wang Fuhai."

"Commander Lin is a good man."

"I was wondering why there was so much gunfire that night; it turns out it was Commander Lin fighting the Japanese."

Public opinion shifted dramatically in an instant.

-----

Meanwhile, in a classroom at Qingxian Middle School.

Dozens of students were sitting together, their emotions running high.

On the table was a donation box, which was already filled with copper coins, legal tender, and even silver dollars.

"Fellow students, on the front lines of the Pingjin border, the soldiers of the 29th Army are shedding blood and sacrificing their lives. Although we cannot go to the battlefield, we should contribute money and strength as much as we can."

A male student wearing glasses waved his fist and shouted loudly.

"But...who should we donate this money to?" a female student asked timidly. "Send it to Nanjing? Or to Beiping? It's so far away, what if..."

"Yes, I heard that a lot of donations have been squandered by corrupt officials."

The students discussed amongst themselves, their faces showing unease.

At this moment, a burly young man stood up:

"I think we should donate it to our Qingxian Security Corps."

"Security regiment?" someone hesitated. "Isn't that... Lin Feng's playboy team?"

"That's old news." The burly boy glared. "Didn't you see the exhibit in the square? Are those Japanese machine guns and corpses fake? Commander Lin really led his men in a battle against the Japanese, and he even wiped out the notorious traitor Wang family."

The whole country is calling for resistance against Japan, but how many of them have actually killed Japanese soldiers? Our Commander Lin killed Japanese soldiers right under our noses, so who else should we give the money to if not him?

"Yes, give it to Commander Lin."

"Support the security regiment, support the soldiers from our hometown."

"We not only want to donate money, but also visit and comfort the heroes, giving them eggs and cloth shoes."

Once the passion of young people is ignited, it becomes a prairie fire.

That evening, Lin Feng looked at the several large baskets of eggs and cloth shoes that Zhao Yushu had brought back, as well as the heavy donation box.

He remained silent for a long time, then solemnly saluted those things.

-----

However, the public outcry did not immediately affect the officialdom.

On July 14, the special envoy sent by the provincial government finally arrived, albeit belatedly.

The special envoy, surnamed Wu, was in his forties, dressed in a dark blue Zhongshan suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He put on airs as soon as he got out of the car.

The atmosphere inside the county government hall was somber.

County Magistrate Chen sat at the lower end of the table with a forced smile, while Special Envoy Wu sat imposingly at the head of the table, staring at Lin Feng with a sinister look in his eyes.

"Commander Lin, you're so impressive!"

Special Envoy Wu's opening remarks carried an air of accusation:

"Without the approval of the provincial government, they arbitrarily mobilized troops to attack the residences of gentry, set up private courts, and confiscated their property. In addition, they arbitrarily killed foreign merchants, causing a diplomatic dispute."

Any one of these charges would be enough to send you to a military court.

County Magistrate Chen stood to the side, hunching his shoulders and looking down at his nose, as if to say, "I know nothing."

He dares not offend either side, so he can only play dead.

Lin Feng remained completely calm.

He was dressed today in a smart woolen military uniform, with riding boots on his feet, and his back was ramrod straight.

"You flatter me, Special Envoy," Lin Feng said with a faint smile. "I'm suppressing bandits and arresting traitors. The evidence of the Wang family's collusion with the Japanese invaders is irrefutable, and the entire county has witnessed it. As for those so-called 'foreign businessmen'..."

Lin Feng stepped forward, his voice righteous and resolute: "Those are Japanese ronin with guns and cannons, intending to massacre the people of Qing County. If I don't kill them, am I supposed to wait for them to kill me? To kill the people of Qing County?"

"presumptuous."

Special Envoy Wu slammed his fist on the table, his fat face jiggling: "Whether someone is a traitor or a vagrant, the provincial government will make its own judgment. Who are you, a mere security regiment commander, to decide? Do you have any respect for the law? Do you have any respect for the Party and the state?"

His purpose in coming here was actually twofold: to put Lin Feng in a bad light and to make money.

The Wang family's vast fortune was confiscated, and many people in the province were envious. They sent him here hoping to get a share of the spoils.

As for whether the Wang family are traitors, that depends on whether they were paid enough.

Lin Feng looked at Special Envoy Wu's blustering yet cowardly appearance and sneered inwardly.

He understood the character of these bureaucrats from the Republic of China all too well.

"Please calm down, Special Envoy."

Lin Feng suddenly put on a smiling face and waved his hand.

Zhao Dashan, who was behind him, immediately came up with an exquisite mahogany box and placed it on the table next to Special Envoy Wu.

"What is this?" Special Envoy Wu's eyelids twitched.

"Let the special envoy try some local specialties from Qing County to cool him down," Lin Feng said meaningfully.

Special Envoy Wu suspiciously opened the box a crack.

Golden light.

A dazzling golden light.

Ten "large yellow croakers" were neatly arranged inside.

In the past few days, Lin Feng sent people to seal up all the shops, mines, and warehouses belonging to the Wang family around the county town, and they also looted tens of thousands of silver dollars and even more supplies.

County Chief Chen dared not take responsibility, so all the valuables naturally ended up in Lin Feng's system space.

At Lin Peiji's suggestion, Lin Feng understood that the special envoy had to answer correctly, so he specially brought out these ten local specialties.

At current market prices, that's three or four thousand silver dollars.

"Ahem..." Special Envoy Wu's eyes darted around, and he quickly closed the lid. The anger on his face dissipated almost completely, but he still maintained a businesslike expression.

"Commander Lin, as you know, this matter is very complicated. I need to conduct further on-site investigations. I can't just accept whatever you say, right?"

Special Commissioner Wu was also waiting for the higher-ups' decision. If the White Party leadership wanted to implement the policy of "pacifying the country before resisting foreign aggression" and negotiate with the Japanese, wouldn't it be troublesome for the higher-ups to label the Wang family as traitors?

Lin Feng cursed inwardly: Damn it. They're heartless! They took my money and didn't even do the job.

Forget it, wait until July 17th, when that speech comes out, I don't believe Special Envoy Wu won't compromise.