372: Chapter 372 The Kind-hearted Zhao Fusu

Inside the Imperial Study in Xianyang, Zhao Fusu, Li Si, and General Wang Jian were all present.

"Good!"

After seeing the victory report that the Yunmengze Water Bandits had been completely wiped out, a smile appeared on Zhao Fusu's face.

"His Majesty the Head of State."

Li Si asked, "There are now more than three thousand captured Yunmengze Water Bandits. I wonder how they should be handled?"

"Should they be executed? Disbanded? Or are there other arrangements?"

Zhao Fusu said without hesitation, "Send them to mine coal, of course."

"Currently, our Great Qin is flourishing, and steam trains are racing day and night on various railways. For these steam trains to operate, they require a vast amount of coal for power."

"Steelmaking is the foundation of a powerful nation. The steelmaking blast furnaces cannot stop for a moment, and they also require coal to provide high temperatures."

"Furthermore, the common people cannot do without coal for the winter. That warm fire in the stove allows countless families to withstand the winter's chill."

"Even many people of Great Qin have begun using coal for cooking. This convenience in life makes coal increasingly indispensable."

"Due to all these factors, Great Qin's demand for coal is constantly increasing, which requires a large amount of manpower for mining."

Zhao Fusu turned around, looked at Li Si, and said with a serious expression, "Now that we have captured more than three thousand Yunmengze Water Bandits, this is a significant amount of manpower."

"It would be such a pity if we didn't send them to mine coal!"

"Letting them labor in the mines allows them to contribute to the development of Great Qin and serves as a chance for them to turn over a new leaf."

Zhao Fusu felt that he was truly far too kind.

Logically, bandits who burn, kill, and pillage like this should all be executed by firing squad. Yet, he was only sending them to mine coal, giving them a way to live; he really was far too kind.

Zhao Fusu reminded him, "Make the arrangements; whichever coal mine has the highest danger rating, prioritize sending them there."

"Understood!"

Li Si nodded in response.

"As for those who surrendered voluntarily..."

Zhao Fusu said, "We must provide the preferential treatment they deserve and publicize it vigorously. Otherwise, who would dare to voluntarily surrender to our Great Qin in the future!"

"Understood!"

After hearing Zhao Fusu say this, Li Si responded once again.

Looking at the battle report, Zhao Fusu's brow soon furrowed again.

Zhang Liang had escaped!

This was definitely not good news.

He had deployed his forces so meticulously this time specifically to capture Zhang Liang.

As it turned out, he didn't get his wish, and Zhang Liang, the Sage of Strategy, still managed to escape.

On second thought, if Zhang Liang, the Sage of Strategy, were that easy to catch, then his title as the Sage of Strategy would be quite overstated.

A complex look flashed in Zhao Fusu's eyes, containing both resentment over Zhang Liang's escape and worry about the potential threat he posed.

Zhao Fusu knew well that Zhang Liang was highly intelligent. Having someone with such a high IQ hiding in the shadows to cause destruction was truly a hidden danger.

Now that Zhang Liang had escaped, it was like a bomb had been planted that could explode at any time. Zhao Fusu knew that given Zhang Liang's character and abilities, he would certainly not let things rest and would continue to cause trouble in the shadows.

He couldn't give Zhang Liang and the Anti-Qin Forces the capital to rebel.

Besides ensuring the people lived and worked in peace, maintaining social stability, and minimizing the number of idle people, he also needed to unite the populace and bring them over to Great Qin's side.

This war of public opinion was extremely important.

The Great Qin Empire Weekly was the important weapon Zhao Fusu used to launch this war of public opinion.

He requested that the news of Great Qin wiping out the Yunmengze Water Bandits, who had plagued Nan Commandery for years, be published on the front page.

He wanted to thoroughly intimidate the bandit gangs that intended to attack the trains.

Even characters as difficult to deal with as the Yunmengze Water Bandits were destroyed because they attacked a train.

If they dared to touch a train, Great Qin would inevitably send troops to suppress them!

It had to be said that Great Qin's destruction of the Yunmengze Water Bandits with thunderous methods had indeed served as a significant deterrent.

Many bandits who had planned to rob trains abandoned those intentions.

Besides the war of public opinion, the propaganda war was also very important.

Zhao Fusu had always had a plan in mind, and it was finally time to implement it.