On the commander's platform at the Siping Garrison Regiment station, He Rui signaled Xu Chengfeng. Xu Chengfeng pulled the trigger, and the light machine gun spewed a long tongue of fire. Bullets whistled over the heads of the garrison crowd, punching a long row of bullet holes into the courtyard wall. Amidst the flying dust, the officers and soldiers in the open space instinctively crouched down; some hid directly under the tables.

He Rui raised his hand, and the machine gun fire stopped abruptly. The officers and soldiers below looked terrified. After a brief pause, He Rui smiled. "Today, I have prepared two things for everyone: one is bullets, the other is silver dollars. Choose for yourselves!"

Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Several officers and soldiers retreated slightly into the crowd, wanting to slip away, but were forced back by cultural instructors who had already surrounded them with rifles. They raised their hands and returned to the crowd. He Rui asked loudly from the platform, "Where do you want to go?"

One of them was so scared he knelt on the ground. "Governor He, I want to go home."

He Rui pointed to the piles of shiny silver dollars at his feet. "Going home is fine. Let's make a register, press a thumbprint, take the money, and then go."

How could the soldier dare to take it? In the end, he was forced to a small table by a cultural instructor with a gun. Two cultural instructors had already taken the roster and were registering names one by one. After verification and fingerprinting, the soldier carefully put two silver dollars into his pocket. Then He Rui ordered someone to escort him to the barracks to get his luggage and release him from the station.

One after another, the soldiers of the Garrison Regiment were lined up in a long queue, registering and handling "discharge procedures" one by one. The camp was busy and tense but orderly; no one dared to act rashly. Unknowingly, night was approaching. Fortunately, it was summer, so the night wasn't very cold.

Before nightfall, He Rui finally disbanded the soldiers of the Garrison Regiment. Officers of company rank and above, along with Commander Song, were locked in the rear camp area under house arrest. Only a dozen or so soldiers, even under gunpoint, knelt and begged, saying they were outsiders with no home to return to and didn't know how to make a living if driven away.

He Rui had them guarded in an empty house, temporarily settling the matter.

Everyone had been busy all day, both tense and excited. Now that they relaxed, they suddenly felt exhausted and weak all over. But He Rui was in high spirits and vigorous. He checked the roster and said to everyone, "Comrades, it's not time to rest yet. Please persist a little longer." He issued an order to send people to invite those local prominent figures to come for another meeting according to the daytime list.

Xu Chengfeng looked exhausted, forcing himself to stay alert as he asked, "Commander, what if they don't come?"

He Rui lit a cigarette and laughed. "Ha! Everyone take guns to invite them; they probably won't be able to refuse!"

Xu Chengfeng smiled knowingly and immediately led men into the city.

***

At past eleven o'clock at night, the prominent figures of Siping gathered before He Rui again. However, this time the venue was simply decorated, and there was no fine wine or delicacies; only some tea was set out in the regimental headquarters.

Xu Chengfeng led the way, allowing the local officials and gentry to visit Commander Song and his group. Looking through the window, they saw the Garrison Regiment officers all huddled inside, looking dispirited. Several officers addicted to opium were crying and sniffling, yawning one after another.

He Rui sighed deeply. "To be honest with Mayor Peng and you gentlemen, Commander Song told me today that the hustle and bustle of Siping, with its complex mix of forces, annoyed him greatly. He has long been physically and mentally exhausted over the decades. So, Commander Song disbanded the Garrison Regiment and left the weapons and equipment to me. Commander Song and his brothers are preparing to continue their studies at the military academy in my army. I tried hard to persuade him to stay, but alas, Commander Song's mind was made up. Even as a superior, I couldn't force him against his will. It's a pity, a pity. Commander Song is experienced in military affairs and familiar with the locality; he is a rare talent. I feel deeply reluctant to part with him, but having just arrived and facing such major events, I had to accede to Commander Song's wishes."

The crowd was dumbfounded, looking at each other in silence.

He Rui raised his voice and smiled at Peng Minsheng. "But this is also good. Commander Song can rest and study. Once he recovers, he can better serve the locality and protect his hometown later! What does Mayor Peng think?!"

Peng Minsheng shuddered and immediately bowed. "What Governor He says is extremely true. This subordinate will follow the Governor's lead!"

"What do you gentlemen think?!"

The group of officials and gentry jumped up, bowing one after another. "We dare not disobey any command from Marshal He!"

He Rui waved his hand and said modestly, "Gentlemen, you exaggerate. This is the Republic of China, not the former Qing. Now we stress equality for all, sincere unity, and serving the country; where is there high and low status? As you have all seen, I am a rough man and do not understand how to govern people's livelihood. Being ordered by the central government and Marshal Zhang to come down to the locality this time, I feel the matters are thorny and I am without a strategy. That is why I invited you all to come late at night to discuss what should be done. I ask you all to teach me."

The crowd didn't dare to agree with *that*. They flattered and supported him with all their might, though most of them had wandering eyes and were calculating in their hearts. The current situation had progressed too fast, and many people's minds couldn't keep up at all. It wasn't that they wanted to deliberately oppose him; they just never expected He Rui to act so cleanly and efficiently, disposing of the Garrison Regiment immediately after establishing his authority. For a moment, everyone was a bit at a loss.

Two Chamber of Commerce Presidents were even scared enough to consider using the armed forces in their hands for self-protection. But after a little thought, they felt it was inappropriate. Although this man in front of them didn't have many men right now, his background was too deep and hard. Could they afford to provoke Marshal Zhang or the Japanese? With the little capital they had, even if they gained a small advantage in Siping, if he slapped back, they would die without a burial place.

Thinking of this, the two Chamber of Commerce Presidents said tremblingly, "Governor He, we don't know how your military funding is, but we are willing to contribute wholeheartedly!"

"That is not the urgent matter. I invited everyone here today to ask how to govern Siping!" He Rui glanced at the officials, put away his smile, turned his face cold, and spoke sternly, word by word.

Siping Mayor Peng Minsheng finally reacted. He tried his best to speak without a trembling voice, "Please instruct us, Governor! As long as there is a military order, this subordinate will definitely go through water and fire!"

"Although I don't understand city governance, some young men under me are very interested. So I want to send a few brothers to learn from Mayor Peng, Chief Duan, and the gentlemen of the Tax Bureau. As for whether they can become talented, that depends on their own fortune. I imagine gentlemen of high morals and reputation like you shouldn't be stingy in cultivating the younger generation."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone's hearts grew heavier. Governor He's intention was blatantly revealed; he not only wanted to seize military power but wouldn't let go of political power either.

Seeing that the Garrison Regiment had been disbanded by He Rui, and Governor He obviously came prepared having managed everything above and below, the trend in Siping was gone. The crowd could only agree.

Police Chief Duan Changgui rolled his eyes and stood at attention, saluting He Rui. "Report to Governor He. From now on, I, Duan Changgui, am Governor He's man. Whatever Governor He asks Duan Changgui to do, Duan Changgui will do. Through water or fire, I will follow to the death!!"

He Rui looked at him in surprise and smiled. "Chief Duan is thoughtful. I wonder if you have any suggestions?"

Duan Changgui was apprehensive, but seeing He Rui respond, his heart settled. He answered loudly, "This subordinate believes that in a city, security should be the priority. This subordinate's ability is meager, and there are over two hundred police officers in Siping. Therefore, I ask the Governor to send more capable brothers to clean up the ranks with me, so as to benefit the locality and serve the Marshal!"

"Oh?!" He Rui laughed loudly and patted Duan Changgui on the shoulder. "Oh my, Brother Duan's talent is truly amazing. I misjudged you before; my sin, my sin!"

"Thank you for the Marshal's praise! This subordinate will definitely do his best!" Duan Changgui responded loudly.

At this moment, the situation was largely settled. The military and police matters were all clear. The hearts of the Siping officials and gentry sank. Looking up, they saw He Rui in military uniform by the light of the torches, his expression cold and stern, looking exceptionally tall and mighty in the dark night.

Peng Minsheng was experienced in the ways of the world and shifted with the wind. "What Governor He said is extremely true. I suggest that from today on, Siping City establishes positions for Assistant Mayor, Assistant Police Chief, and Assistant Tax Bureau Chief. Everyone should unite sincerely to serve Marshal He!"

The remaining officials and gentry immediately agreed enthusiastically. Such a good method only being proposed today was truly a blessing for the people of Siping.

When everyone had expressed their stance, He Rui waved his hand and said with satisfaction, "Gentlemen, it was inappropriate to disturb everyone so late. The night is deep. Everyone stay here tonight; I will send people to escort you back tomorrow."

Everyone knew they couldn't leave, so they could only express their gratitude one after another. They were then taken away by He Rui's subordinates.

He Rui forced himself to stay awake to continue working. Those who tracked the disbanded Garrison Regiment soldiers sent back news.

Local soldiers had gone home. Soldiers whose homes were nearby left in groups. Some soldiers, perhaps because their homes were far away or for other reasons, gathered together and slept in the open on some vacant lots.

So far, there had been no incidents of disbanded soldiers gathering to cause trouble or plotting mischief.

Compared to inside the pass, Siping, at a higher latitude, had very long days and short nights in summer. It was just past the Summer Solstice. At 4:30 AM, the sky was filled with myriad rays of rosy light, and a sliver of the red sun had already begun to emerge on the horizon.

He Rui walked out of the house and woke up Xu Chengfeng, Cheng Ruofan, and the others who were dozing off in a daze. In the splendid sunrise, he handed them a scroll of documents printed in Tianjin.

Xu Chengfeng rubbed his eyes and yawned. Cheng Ruofan opened the scroll and saw four large characters written at the top: **Notice to Reassure the People** (*Anmin Gaoshi*).

Before Cheng Ruofan could ask, He Rui smiled. "Go! Post these notices. Let the people of Siping know that a new era has begun!"