Chapter 471: Power and Interests, Managing the Outer City, Part 3

Chapter 471: Chapter 380: Power and Interests, Managing the Outer City, Part 3

When Chen Ping’an addressed Yan Wu, he used his name directly. But when addressing the other man, he called him Commander Lin. Such a form of address, while seemingly respectful, actually created a great deal of distance.

While addressing colleagues by their official titles was common practice at the Garrison Commandant’s Office, doing so in a semi-private setting carried a different weight. The implications were undoubtedly worth careful consideration.

Chen Ping’an, for his part, didn’t care what those two were thinking about his recent actions.

As the saying goes, a new official has to make a strong first impression. While he didn’t necessarily have to go on a warpath, a bit of disciplinary action was essential. His responsibilities were growing, as was the number of people under his command. He could no longer rely purely on sentiment and camaraderie to lead.

Otherwise, it would be a case of your men pledging their undying loyalty to your face while plotting against you behind your back.

If he wanted to save himself trouble down the road, he had to put in the effort now. Otherwise, things would only grow more complicated later on.

Besides such disciplinary measures, other methods were also essential—a carrot-and-stick approach, and binding everyone’s interests together!

Lost in thought, Chen Ping’an found he had delved quite deep into the matter.

‘I’m overthinking things! The Art of Governing Subordinates is just a trivial matter. The most important thing is my Martial Arts Realm! Cultivation! I must cultivate!’

With a shift in his thoughts, Chen Ping’an began to run a Circulation, cultivating the Dragon Elephant Dominating Body Technique.

At his current Realm, as long as he intentionally concealed it, no one outside would discover he was cultivating, even if they walked right up to his door.

Although he had reported for his new post these past few days, his cultivation speed hadn’t slowed in the slightest. In fact, he even had ample leisure time while meditating.

At his current rank, there was almost nothing that required his personal attention. For most matters, he only needed to give the word, and his subordinates would take care of it. And they wouldn’t just take care of it; they would rack their brains to ensure the task was handled perfectly and with the utmost care.

Then again, that wasn’t entirely true.

Chen Ping’an enjoyed such freedom because he had no family entanglements or interest groups tying him down. In most things, he only needed to stay true to himself and could largely do as he pleased.

If he were like Liu Yuanhua, deeply entangled with various interest groups, he wouldn’t have nearly as much freedom. Even the smallest action would require him to consider the repercussions, the complex web of relationships, and the conflicting interests involved. He would be forced to constantly engage in trade-offs and political games, snared by worldly affairs, completely unable to break free.

It was an utterly draining and miserable existence, taxing both mind and spirit.

Generally, anyone who reached such a position would inevitably have a massive coalition of interests behind them. Even if they started without one, such a group would gradually form as they solidified their power.

With so many constraints, acting freely was next to impossible.

Chen Ping’an, however, didn’t feel this pressure for two reasons. First, aside from his younger sister, he had no other attachments and no family backing. Second, he had been promoted so quickly that just as an interest group began to coalesce around him, he would break through to an even higher position.

Thus, in the entire Weishui Garrison, Chen Ping’an was the only one who enjoyed such freedom. Even the Commander-in-Chief, Fan Zheng Heng, was caught in the game, unable to act as he pleased.

In fact, such an interest group was now beginning to form behind Chen Ping’an. In the eyes of outsiders, the Gu Family had elevated him to this position, which meant he represented the Gu Family’s interests.

If he failed to protect the Gu Family’s interests in the future, he probably wouldn’t hold his position for long. The Gu Family could raise him up, and they could just as easily cast him down.

This perception would only grow clearer with time, and the bond of dependency between them would become even more firmly established.

However, that was how it worked for other people—not for Chen Ping’an.

Anyone else trying to secure this position would have to rely on the Gu Family’s power. To be a supplicant is to be subservient. Over time, they would have to consider the Gu Family’s interests in all matters, and all their schemes and power plays would be in service to them.

And that was precisely what the Gu Family wanted.

But as for Chen Ping’an, he didn’t need to rely on the Gu Family to secure his position. He could rely on his own fists—a power that far surpassed any political authority he currently held.

In a place like this, what obstacle could a Grandmaster not shatter with force?

Just as Chen Ping’an was cultivating, a timid voice called from outside his office.

“Lord Chen, there’s an urgent letter for you!”

…

PS: Today’s update is late. I wrote an extra 600 words as a small token of my apology.