bayedsolid Chapter 601: Rebuilding Order, the Will of the People
Chapter 601: Rebuilding Order, the Will of the People
After the initial military control, the takeover of Black Wind City quickly transitioned to a more detailed and complex phase of re-establishing order. The City Lord's Mansion, serving as temporary headquarters, became incredibly busy. Various orders were issued from here, and all kinds of information were gathered here. Zhao Xiaoxue's team, acting as the supreme commander on the scene, was kept busy. Meanwhile, Lin Wei's Falcon Squad was assigned a special and important mission: to assist the political work department, penetrate the community, engage with the people, understand their needs, soothe their emotions, and participate in maintaining grassroots order.
Lin Wei and her team were no strangers to this mission. They were not just combatants, but well-trained, multi-faceted soldiers. After changing into their relatively light combat uniforms, they left the makeshift headquarters and truly entered the capillaries of Black Wind City—the crisscrossing, dilapidated streets and courtyards.
Initially, the residents were wary and apprehensive of their arrival. Closed doors and windows, evasive glances, and whispered discussions defined the scene they were first exposed to. Years of Black Demon's brutal rule had deeply ingrained the image of "power" and "violence" in the minds of the people. This sudden appearance of an army, while under the banner of "liberation," seemed to ordinary people to be merely a change of rulers.
Lin Wei led Zhang Lan and Chen Jing into a seemingly "common" neighborhood. The streets were lined with low, crowded adobe and wooden houses. The air was filled with a complex odor—dust, low-quality fuel, and a faint hint of decay. A few ragged children hid in the corner, their large, bright eyes wide open, staring at them with curiosity and timidity.
"Captain, look over there." Chen Jing pointed to an old woman sitting at her doorstep not far away, her eyes dull. In front of her was a broken bowl, empty inside.
Lin Wei walked over, trying to make her expression look gentler, and spoke in a lower and slower voice: "Hello, old man."
The old woman raised her cloudy eyes, looked at Lin Wei, then quickly lowered her head and moved her lips, but no sound came out.
"We're here to help everyone," Lin Wei said patiently. "Heisha has been defeated, and he won't bully anyone anymore. Are you... okay? Is there anyone else at home?"
The old woman remained silent, but her shoulders moved slightly, as if she was crying silently.
At this time, a middle-aged woman holding a child poked her head out from the room next door. After hesitating for a moment, she finally came out and stood in front of the old woman. She looked at Lin Wei and the others warily: "What do you want to do? Don't bully the elderly!"
Her voice was trembling, but her eyes revealed a maternal love for her child.
Lin Wei understood; this was a typical stress reaction. Instead of getting angry, she gave the woman her best smile. "Don't be afraid, sister. We're from the military, and we're here to liberate Black Wind City. Heisha is dead, and his men have been captured. We won't hurt anyone. We just want to understand everyone's situation and see if there's anything we can do to help."
"Liberation?" The middle-aged woman was clearly unfamiliar with and skeptical of the term. "Heisha is dead? Is that true? Will you...be like him?"
"Of course not!" Zhang Lan couldn't help but speak, his tone firm, "We are the people's army, completely different from bullies like Heisha! We will protect everyone and find ways to make everyone live a good life!"
"Live a good life?" The middle-aged woman sneered, her eyes dim. "In Black Wind City, it's good enough to just survive. What's the point of talking about a good life..."
Her words spoke for many residents of Black Wind City. Long-term oppression and despair made it difficult for them to easily believe in beautiful promises.
Lin Wei understood their concerns. Building trust takes time and, more importantly, requires concrete action.