On December 26th, the north wind whistled through the mountainous areas of Qufu. On the road, a group of shackled prisoners were repairing the road. Seeing trucks pass by, the prisoners moved to the roadside, watching the truckloads of supplies and the National Defense Force soldiers escorting them. Their expressions were complex.

The "Sounding Horses" (mounted bandits) of Shandong were even worse than the "Beards" of the Northeast. Decades of destitution, with people landless and displaced, had provided ample recruits for the Shandong bandits. Various bandit groups ran rampant in Shandong, daring even to fight against government troops.

When the National Defense Force entered Shandong, the bandits knew that this army had defeated the Japanese, so they chose to avoid its spearhead. After all, when the Japanese army entered Shandong years ago, they had ruthlessly attacked any bandits they encountered; the bandits had suffered heavy losses and learned to be obedient.

Unexpectedly, the National Defense Force stationed a battalion—about 600 men—in every county. These troops all carried artillery and launched encirclement campaigns against the bandits. Those small cannons looked insignificant, but the mountainous terrain where the bandits hid and the strongholds they built couldn't withstand them at all. Some shells even seemed to fall from the sky, rendering the bandits' advantage of familiar terrain completely null.

In less than a month, the bandits were swept clean. The leaders and those who had committed murder were all subjected to public trials, endured the angry curses of the common people, and were then executed according to the law. The others were sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment. Fortunately, the National Defense Force did not kill prisoners; those sentenced to imprisonment who were uninjured began to repair roads.

Seeing large quantities of supplies being trucked into Qufu, most of the bandits were filled with regret. How could they have been so blind as to think that as long as they didn't provoke the National Defense Force, the National Defense Force would let them off? Even if just for the safety of these truckloads of supplies, the National Defense Force couldn't possibly rest easy.

The bandits had overthought it. The first item in the government's work plan was to take over local governments, and the second was to thoroughly exterminate bandits and restore social security, especially travel safety. The existence of bandits was itself a threat. Regardless of their understanding of "being sensible," anyone who did not actively surrender within the time fixed by the announcement would be wiped out.

When the supplies arrived in Qufu, the Director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative came to receive the trucks. Seeing so many supplies, the Director's face blossomed with a smile. "Great, great! Thank you, comrades! As soon as the goods arrive, the Supply and Marketing Cooperative will have things to sell!"

The automobile captain had traveled to many places these past few days and couldn't help but be somewhat surprised. "You guys are doing pretty well here. I thought the Kong family would put up a stubborn resistance."

"Stubborn resistance my ass! Where would the Kong family get the guts to resist? They're currently dragging their feet at the cemetery. The Mayor has spoken, telling them to hurry up and prepare to accept the land measurement. It should be finished in a few days."

Seeing there was no drama to watch, the automobile captain turned the topic back to the present. "So many things, who bought them all?"

The Director laughed. "The landlords bought them. They got our money and came to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy things. They almost bought the Cooperative empty. They haven't come much these past few days; if they do, it's to ask about farm tools and shoes. A while ago, they came every day to look, thinking we were lying to them and that money couldn't buy goods."

Hearing this, the automobile captain couldn't help but complain, "Shandong's broken roads are really killing me. These people claim to be scholars, but I'm afraid what they truly believe is 'Murder and arson earn a golden belt; repairing bridges and paving roads leaves no corpse.'"

They chatted for a while longer. Seeing that the unloading wasn't very fast, the captain went into the room to rest for a bit. Compared to the roads in the Northeast, Shandong's dirt roads were almost a different world. Though if comparing dirt road to dirt road, they were about the same. However, the Northeast had built many highways in recent years; driving on the highways of the Northeast Plain was truly relaxing and comfortable. Driving on Shandong's roads reminded the captain of his experience driving in Korea.

Not long after he entered the room, someone strode in. The captain didn't recognize him but felt he must be a cadre from a military background. Sure enough, this person introduced himself: "I am Liang Tianqi, Mayor of Qufu. Captain, don't leave today. You might need to transport a batch of people back to the provincial capital tomorrow."

Although the other party was the Mayor, the captain didn't feel he was anything special. He stood up and asked, "Mayor Liang, you served in the troops, right?"

"Mn. I was in the 7th Army when I fought," Mayor Liang answered readily.

Sure enough, a comrade from the troops. The captain quickly said, "I transported comrades from the 7th Army back then too. Maybe you even rode in my truck."

This was true. During the large-scale maneuvering of the troops back then, there were too many people going up and down. At that time, it was 'people rest, trucks don't,' doing everything possible to transport troops to the designated positions.

Mayor Liang smiled. He didn't object to chatting with comrades-in-arms. However, being a mayor meant he really had no time. After just two sentences with the captain, he said, "I can't talk much today. I still have to go *dou dizhu* (struggle against landlords). Let's drink when there's time."

The captain initially thought that perhaps Liang, having become an official, might have become arrogant. Hearing that the mayor was going to "struggle against landlords," he understood immediately. Fighting enemies was tense and exhausting work, so he smilingly saw the mayor out.

Mayor Liang mounted his horse and led the troops straight to their destination. Although the Kong family was the largest in Qufu, they weren't the only landlords. That the Kong family was sensible didn't mean other landlords were equally sensible. After all, the Kong family was a big target and had seen much of the world; with every change of dynasty, they would bow their heads in submission. Only thus had they preserved their lives until now.

The views of other landlords were very different. For example, the landlord they were visiting this time was also surnamed Kong. He was of the Kong lineage, but a distant relative.

Arriving at this family's gate with the troops, Landlord Kong did not shut his doors or play any games of stubborn resistance. News of the battles between the National Defense Force and Japan had long spread throughout the country; Landlord Kong knew very well his courtyard couldn't stop them.

When Liang Tianqi entered the courtyard, Landlord Kong came out to greet him. Before he could speak, Liang Tianqi's face darkened, and he ordered, "Let me speak first!"

Landlord Kong looked at Liang Tianqi and saw a man less than thirty years old, wearing a plush winter hat often worn by officials of the new government. There was a scar on his right cheek. The wound had long healed, but the scar remained. Judging by the size of the scar, one could feel that blood must have poured out at the time.

However, this scar did not make Mayor Liang Tianqi look fiendish; combined with his sharp gaze and serious expression, it gave Liang Tianqi a solemn and killing aura.

As Liang Tianqi finished speaking, someone behind him brought over two boxes. The one on the left was opened first, full to the brim with Northeast *Fengpiao*. Liang Tianqi pointed at the box. "Brother Kong, this is the redemption money. I advise you to take the money and quickly get things done. Once you take the money, how you curse at home is your business. Don't delay the government's work progress."

Seeing this young lad being so impolite, Landlord Kong initially wanted to beg a little, but anger surged up. He asked, "May I ask Mayor Liang, what is in that box?"

Liang Tianqi made a gesture. The box on the right was opened; inside was rope. Liang Tianqi smiled. "If Brother Kong is unwilling to redeem, then I'm sorry. We will tie up those in your family who refuse redemption and send them to the provincial capital. Whether it's prison or being paraded through the streets, that will be the province's arrangement. I will continue land reform in Qufu. Once the land distribution is finished, we will release you. Rest assured, we will distribute the redemption money and the land that should be allocated to your family according to policy. You have no blood debts, so we won't lock you in prison."

Hearing such a barbaric approach, Landlord Kong was both shocked and angry. But Liang Tianqi continued, "Brother Kong, don't blame me for being impolite. Honestly, tying you up and parading you through the streets of Qufu would be fine, but it would hurt your face. Our convoy is ready to send those who refuse land reform to the provincial capital. This can be considered saving your face. I brought people here today. Where you go from here... I'll give you ten more minutes. If you don't agree, I'll deal with you according to the 'refusal' method. Alright, let's begin."

As Liang finished, a staff member had already set a customized alarm clock for ten minutes and held it in his hand for Landlord Kong to see.

Landlord Kong's blood surged; his face turned red then white. He asked with a trembling voice, "Mayor Liang, I'm afraid your family doesn't have land in the Northeast, right?"

Liang Tianqi raised an eyebrow. "No land? Before Chairman He arrived in the Northeast, my family didn't have much land there. Less than two thousand *mu*. But our Northeast has black soil; the crops grow vigorously, yielding at least sixty percent more than in Shandong. When we had land reform in the Northeast, there was no redemption; the government just took it. Aren't we living just fine? What are you chattering about here? Speak quickly—do you agree or not?"

Hearing Liang Tianqi say this, Landlord Kong didn't know whether to believe it. But since Liang Tianqi had already said so, Landlord Kong simply said loudly, "Throughout the dynasties, who has ever seen it done this way? This violates the Way of the Sage!"

"Way of the Sage? This Sage you speak of, is it Sage Confucius?" Liang Tianqi asked, a look of mockery appearing on his face.

Landlord Kong felt he had finally found an area of superiority and immediately said, "It is the Great and Venerable Teacher, the Sage!"

Liang Tianqi put away his smile and recited clearly, word by word: "*When a country is well-governed, poverty and a mean condition are things to be ashamed of. When a country is ill-governed, riches and honor are things to be ashamed of!*"

Landlord Kong prided himself on being a descendant of Confucius and actually looked down on 'soldier boys' in his heart. He hadn't expected the other party to recite a passage of classical Chinese aloud. Landlord Kong was stunned for a moment and couldn't immediately recall where this passage came from.

Liang Tianqi finished reciting and waited for a moment, then asked, "Brother Kong, don't you know which chapter of the Four Books and Five Classics this comes from?"

Landlord Kong wanted to blindly guess *The Analects*, but hearing the other party mention the 'Four Books and Five Classics,' he didn't dare answer recklessly. However, he knew that the people of the new government were not like those bandit-like warlord troops and did not commit evil deeds; he was actually safe. So he pretended and asked, "I do not know where it is from."

Liang Tianqi looked at Landlord Kong, mockery surfacing on his face. "It is from *The Analects: Tai Bo*."

Now Landlord Kong was flushed red. Seeing the young man opposite him with a face full of mockery, he shouted angrily, "You are insulting a scholar!"

"A scholar? Good! Since you are a scholar, you presumably consider yourself a *shi* (gentleman/officer). *The Analects: Zi Lu* says: '*He who in his conduct of himself maintains a sense of shame, and when sent to any quarter will not disgrace his prince's commission, deserves to be called a shi. Next to him, there is he who is praised by his relatives for his filial piety and by his villagers for his fraternal affection. The lowest class is he who insists on his word getting believed and his actions getting results—an obstinate little man! Yet he may be considered the next class below!*' Brother Kong, I only use the lowest class of *shi* to require you. Give me a straight answer; do not waste everyone's time."

As soon as his voice fell, the alarm clock rang. Liang Tianqi saw the time was up. Opposite him, Landlord Kong had a face full of shock and anger. Liang shouted to the comrades, "Ask them one by one! Those willing to accept land reform, and those unwilling—tie up the unwilling ones and take them away!"

After speaking, Liang Tianqi ignored Landlord Kong's pleading, turned, and left. There were too many hypocritical people in the local area; Liang Tianqi still had several families to visit.

The next day, when the automobile convoy left, they took away a dozen or so people bound with ropes—all stubborn characters.

These people were transported to the provincial capital and thrown into prison. By this time, the prison had replaced all its jailers. The new prison system was built according to formal models like detention centers and prisons, and the scale was several times larger than before. With the temporarily transferred personnel added, the scale was more than twenty times larger than in the past. Manpower was still somewhat tight.

After all, the banditry accumulated over the past decades, as well as the various local tyrants and evil gentry, were too numerous. The new government needed to handle cases seriously, so the accumulated prisoners were just too many.

Even so, after receiving the report, Provincial Governor Han Haitao still told Provincial Party Secretary Chen Deli about Liang Tianqi's handling method while they were eating.

After listening, Chen Deli was amused. "This method is actually quite good!"

Han Haitao already thought it was good and laughed. "Yes. When it's time to scare, you have to scare."

***

Chen Deli was an old cadre who had joined the revolutionary team when He Rui arrived in Tianjin, but at this moment, he had his own worries. "Governor Han, the goods in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative have been selling too fast recently. Should we urgently add a batch?"

"I don't think so," Han Haitao answered.

Han Haitao had served as the Director of the Price Bureau for several years and was an expert on commodity flow. Chen Deli wanted to hear Han Haitao's opinion, so he asked, "Why?"

"I looked at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative's bills. The landlords initially got our Fengpiao and immediately went to the Cooperative to sweep up goods, buying whatever they saw. They were worried the Fengpiao was waste paper. After emptying the Cooperative twice, what they bought afterward were commodities not available locally. After all, our Cooperative's goods are cheap. At this stage, the credit of the Fengpiao has been established. There shouldn't be a situation where they buy a lot of things anymore. After all, the masses who received land are poor and have no money to buy goods. They also don't understand what has happened right now; having obtained land use rights, the money in their pockets will naturally be hidden as tightly as possible."

Hearing Han Haitao's thorough analysis, Chen Deli praised, "Governor Han, you really have experience!"

Han Haitao smiled slightly, but he was still somewhat worried in his heart. If the situation in Shandong did not conform to common logic, he would lose face.