The Peerless Emperor

The content that appeared on the Array barrier in front of the City Lord Mansion was astonishingly a declaration of tax exemption for three years, for recovery and recuperation, with normal taxation to resume after three years.

Furthermore, the tax rates to be reinstated in Yushui City were unbelievably light compared to the heavy taxes of the previous Qin Dynasty.

To the citizens of Yushui City, the difference between the Qin Dynasty and the Huaxia Empire was just too vast—the latter was almost too good to be true.

All throughout Yushui City there was an atmosphere of jubilation, and that very night the entire city was decked out in lanterns and streamers as if celebrating a grand festival.

Indeed, for the citizens of Yushui City, everything that happened today truly felt like a festival.

Lin Qian strolled through Yushui City, observing the city immersed in joy, his face revealing a satisfied smile.

All this was but a small effort for Lin Qian, as the Huaxia Empire was his empire, and he could do as he pleased with just a thought.

Yet, it was this benevolence towards his citizens that prepared the people of Yushui City for a night of unrestrained revelry.

As long as the subjects of his empire lived well, that was enough. Lin Qian had no way to concern himself with the well-being of people under other powers.

He was no saint, after all. Since Yushui City had become part of the Huaxia Empire, it was only right to treat these citizens well.

As for the people under other powers, well, let's wait until their places of residence become part of the Huaxia Empire's territories.

Gradually, a full ten days had passed since Lin Qian arrived in Yushui City, and the city's inhabitants were still acclimating to their new way of life, which was so much better than before.

The distribution from the City Lord Mansion's treasury ensured that no one had to worry about food or clothing, and the filthy and chaotic alleyways of the poor district were completely flattened. Under the hands of skilled craftsmen, beautiful buildings were swiftly erected.

Even though these dwellings were not very luxurious, and each household's house wasn't particularly large, compared to their past conditions, they were practically mansions.

Knowing that these houses were built for them, the citizens of Yushui City volunteered to help the craftsmen.

Moreover, they were astonished to find that the strength of these craftsmen was at the Nirvana Realm; no wonder the construction of the houses was so rapid.

And these Nirvana Realm craftsmen had no airs about them and were all smiles and laughter with everyone.

The patrolling soldiers of the Imperial Army within the city were also a subject of keen interest for the people.

Though these men had expressionless faces and icy stares, they strictly followed their patrol routes, guarded the city's condition, and never harmed a hair on the citizens.

Even when playful children who climbed too high fell, passing Imperial Army soldiers would rush to catch them securely, and after carefully setting them back on the ground, they'd return cold-faced to their patrols.

If children running around in the streets bumped into these soldiers and fell, the soldiers didn't get upset or angry; they would simply help the child up with the same cold demeanor and continue their patrol.

If it had been the previous city guards, they would have only smiled and watched a child fall from a height, debating whether the fall would kill or cripple them.

And if bumped by a child, they might have kicked them away without a second thought, leaving it to luck whether the child would survive.

Furthermore, many goods within Yushui City were brought in from surrounding towns and villages.

The people from the towns and villages were endlessly grateful to the Imperial Army because they had troops stationed to protect them.

They cleared the surrounding Soul Beasts, so they no longer worried about beasts charging out of the forests and attacking them.

Moreover, they were even constructing roads, ensuring safety for anyone traveling to the city.

In the past, the City Guard of the Dynasty merely existed to protect the city and the citizens, but in reality?

"Pah!" An old man spat disdainfully, pointing at the patrolling Imperial Army and shouting to those around him, "Look, the soldiers of the Huaxia Empire are our true guardian deities!"

A one-armed middle-aged man standing nearby nodded in agreement. His right arm had been chopped off by the City Guard: "Being a citizen of the Huaxia Empire is truly wonderful…"

Hearing the middle-aged man's words, the surrounding citizens of Yushui City also nodded approvingly, evidently agreeing with his sentiment.

"Hey, you can go get your Huaxia Empire identification now, if you want to become a real citizen of the Huaxia Empire, you must get it—hurry up and go." Suddenly, a young man ran over from a distance, shouting to everyone.

Upon hearing the young man's words, everyone showed an ecstatic expression and hurriedly returned to their new homes to retrieve their old Dynasty's credentials, rushing outside in fear of being late.

In just a few short days, the citizens of Yushui City had fully experienced how the Huaxia Empire treated them, and each person was full of anticipation for their future life.

The will of the people was what Lin Qian hoped to see in his Empire.

As he had said, the Huaxia Empire must strive to excel in every aspect.

As for Yunshui City and Bishui City, Lei Qian and Gao Benli also followed Lin Qian's orders, soothing the public sentiment. They too were grateful and very willing to become citizens of the Huaxia Empire.

In the regions behind such as Feng State, Lianshan State, Qi Province, Diao Shun State, and Nanying State, the people living there also dutifully became citizens of the Huaxia Empire.

The treatment of the citizens by the Huaxia Empire was unexpectedly good, after all, Lin Qian was not a man of this world and his ideas differed from those of this world's powerhouses.

He would not ignore the life and death of the weak tribes after becoming powerful.

In the sky far from Yushui City, suddenly many figures were seen fleeing from afar. As they neared, the cannons on the battleships docked near Yushui City made a clicking noise, and half a cannon barrel emerged, aiming at the approaching people.

"Stop!" A voice called out from among the group of people who were flying over, and they abruptly halted, revealing their figures.

The newcomers were none other than Fang Shuiwen, Zhou Yian, and Yang Guixiang, the three Elders, along with the current leaders of the three powers: Fang Yiping, Li Xiaotian, and Yang Yifan.

Following them were all the Elders from the three powers, totaling more than two hundred people.

It could be said that the peak battle power of the three forces was all present here.

Lin Qian had once said that ordinary people from the three forces would only cause chaos, and that the Huaxia Empire only needed the help of those in the Awakening Realm.

Now, the three Elders had brought over all the strong ones in the Awakening Realm.

The Elders from the three forces who had stopped all looked up at the battleship, their eyes filled with awe and shock in their hearts.

They had seen Cloud Boats before, but they had never seen one as colossal as this.

Furthermore, the aura exuded by this giant vessel was immensely fierce, especially the dark cannon barrels, which emitted an aura of ferocity.