204: The Demon Suppression Guards were restructured and expanded to 10,000 troops.

Demon Suppression Hall.

Chu Jiang sat in the main seat.

Below, Fu Yunxuan, Wang Chao, Zhao Hu, and others stood on both sides. There were also Zuo Qiuming and twelve other General Flag Officers, along with twenty-eight Vice General Flag Officers. Elders from various halls also attended: Li Zhibai from Pill Hall, Li Bubai from the Mission Hall, Shi Dao Kui from Qi Hall, and Huangfu Chen from the Scripture Pavilion.

These were the true high-level figures of the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division, his elite combat power. No one in the entire Yun Province was above him; the Yunzhou Thirteen Prefectures truly rested on his shoulders.

Those who could reach the Grandmaster Realm were basically not mediocre; as long as resources were sufficient, he couldn't boast about the Transcendent Realm.

Breaking through to the Peerless Grandmaster Realm was not an issue.

As for the Peerless Grandmaster, that depended on luck.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be so few Peerless Grandmasters in Yun Province.

As for the Transcendent Realm.

Under his command, only Fu Yunxuan, Zuo Qiuming, Shen Tian, Wang Chao, Zhao Hu, and a few Grandmaster Realm Elders had some possibility.

The others would find it very difficult.

This was not a Realm that could be reached by simply accumulating resources; it also required talent.

Unless there were a large number of Nine Revolutions Golden Pills.

But the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill, such a rare treasure, probably wouldn't even have a few in the Tai Xuan Secret Realm.

Wang Chao stepped forward and said, “Pacification Envoy, currently, after expansion, the total number of Demon Suppression Guards in Yun Province has exceeded five thousand.”

“Among them, there are 4,200 Innate Realm cultivators, 70% of whom are at the Xiantian Peak; 900 Vajra Realm cultivators; 58 Grandmaster Realm cultivators; six Peak Great Grandmasters; and two Peerless Grandmasters.”

“This is the detailed situation. Please review it, Pacification Envoy!”

After speaking.

Wang Chao stepped forward and handed the personnel statistics in his hand to Chu Jiang.

Whoosh!

Chu Jiang opened the booklet, which recorded the current strength of the Demon Suppression Division at various levels. It also contained rough information on every expert above the Grandmaster level.

Three of the twelve General Flag Officers had broken through to the Peak Great Grandmaster Realm.

Elder Li Zhibai of the Pill Hall had broken through to the Peerless Grandmaster Realm.

It also marked all promising talents under forty years old with a D-grade or higher talent.

There were over thirty D-grade talents, five C-grade, and two B-grade.

Of course, these were all judgments based on experience; the exact potential could only be known after challenging the Demon Suppression Tower.

In fact, a few months ago, the strength of the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division was less than half of what it is now. Since Chu Jiang raided the three major sects and the demon lairs in Yun Province, acquiring a large amount of resources, the strength of the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division rapidly surged.

“Very good, but this is still far from enough!”

Chu Jiang closed the booklet, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

Not enough?

The pupils of Zuo Qiuming, Shen Tian, Sun Chengkong, and others constricted.

The current strength of the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division had already far surpassed that of the neighboring Si Province, and even Kui Province was inferior to them. For a remote province like Yun Province, this had already reached a height that no previous Pacification Envoy had achieved.

Did he want all members to reach the Vajra Realm?

Was this an attack on powerful provincial demon lairs across provinces?

As for Fu Yunxuan, Wang Chao, and others, they appeared much calmer.

Their Lord had long ago told them about the future vision for the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division. If they were to realize the vision in his Lord's heart.

The current strength of the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division was indeed very strained.

“The Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division needs to expand to ten thousand people to cope with future crises!”

“Every prefecture, every county, needs Demon Suppression Guards to be stationed. The Demon Suppression Guards will directly take over the county yamen's Demon Hunting Division, extending their influence to the grassroots government…”

Chu Jiang told everyone his vision and also mentioned some details and additions he hadn't shared with Fu Yunxuan and others last time.

Chu Jiang's words shocked all the high-ranking officials present.

Huangfu Chen also looked sideways.

If this were truly implemented, the entire Yunzhou Thirteen Prefectures would be firmly in Chu Jiang's hands.

Orders would be issued and implemented without obstruction.

In the past, the Demon Suppression Division operated on a mission basis, generally not staying in the lower regions. Once a mission was completed, they immediately returned to the Demon Suppression Division.

Firstly, there was insufficient manpower; one person sometimes had to do the work of two or three. Secondly, this would completely offend the major aristocratic families, local powerful clans, and powerful sects in Yun Province, threatening their fundamental interests.

It would lead to fierce resistance.

It was acceptable for your Demon Suppression Division to occasionally extend its reach into the grassroots.

But if it was full-scale, permanent stationing, that would not do.

After all.

He and Ye Lingkong came from the imperial capital, so they naturally understood that the Demon Suppression Division was severely weakened in the battle eight hundred years ago.

A large number of high-ranking officials had fallen, and now they could only barely maintain the situation.

The Demon Suppression Division was no longer the Demon Suppression Division that had shaken the world a thousand years ago.

They lacked the confidence to do so.

They also lacked a strong figure who was not afraid of offending people and could suppress everyone; only then could it be achieved.

But today, none of this was a problem.

Chu Jiang's deterrent power was already enough to subdue everyone. Even if there was resistance, it would be suppressed with Ironblood, unable to cause a major stir.

After annihilating the three major sects and the demon lairs, the people were in an uproar, and Chu Jiang's prestige had reached an unprecedented height.

Only he could do it in the entire Yun Province.

If he didn't do it, it would be even more impossible for his successors to complete.

“Draft a plan as soon as possible. Within three days, it should be circulated throughout the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division. First, start pilot programs in Annan Prefecture, Canglan County, Purple Flame Prefecture, Yang Prefecture, Yunze County, and other prefectures. Once the number of Demon Suppression Guards is sufficient, it will be implemented throughout the province!”

Chu Jiang said in a deep voice. He knew that some people did not support his approach, but he was not discussing it with these high-ranking officials. Even if there was resistance, he would still do it.

If he worried about this and that, then no reform could ever begin, let alone succeed.

“Pacification Envoy, please leave this matter to your subordinate!” Shen Tian volunteered, cupping his hands to Chu Jiang.

“Alright!”

“Let Sun Commander be your deputy. The two of you will work together to implement this. If there is resistance, or troublemakers, no need for instructions, kill without mercy!”

“If any major sect or aristocratic family secretly incites the common people to cause trouble, confiscate their property and exterminate their clan. The common people will be flogged fifty times!”

Chu Jiang said coldly.

He was well aware of the inherent flaws of some common people at the bottom. While those in high positions sought benefits for them, their narrow-mindedness prevented them from seeing far ahead.

Moreover, they were easily brainwashed by aristocratic families to resist policies from above.

Therefore, it was necessary to establish authority and deter them.

To prevent a widespread conflagration.

To achieve great things, one's heart must be ruthless, just like the saying that a compassionate general cannot command an army. The principle that an incompetent general can ruin an army has been proven countless times.

“Your subordinate obeys!”

Shen Tian and Sun Chengkong said, feeling their blood boiling. If successfully implemented, it would be a great achievement.

Chu Jiang's words gave them peace of mind. This reform was undoubtedly for the benefit of the common people, to protect them from demon calamities. But if the common people resisted, should they suppress them or not?

You are for the people, yet you suppress the people.

The aristocratic families would surely publicize it widely.

After all.

The Dynasty's influence could only reach the provincial level; below that, it was their territory.

Their words sometimes held more sway than decrees issued by the imperial court.

In the past, the Dynasty's many reforms failed because aristocratic families incited ignorant common people to fiercely resist, ultimately leading to nothing.

With Chu Jiang's words, the two of them would not be constrained.

Thinking of this.

The two were filled with emotion. In just a few months, Chu Jiang had been promoted from General Flag Officer to Yun Province Pacification Envoy. It all felt like it was just yesterday.

Chu Jiang was still the spirited young talent who had just stepped out of the Demon Suppression Tower. In their eyes, he was still an excellent junior, a promising talent, but in the blink of an eye, he had become their direct superior.

“From now on, the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division will be divided into nine battalions, each equipped with one thousand Demon Suppression Guards. Every three battalions will form an army. As for the two thousand people who originally followed me, they will serve as personal guards and will not be included in the nine-battalion structure!”

The two hundred Demon Suppression Guards who originally followed him were his old core, plus new recruits from the Heavens Pride Gathering.

The talents of these people were all good.

They would be Key training.

In the future, they would serve as the ace army of the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division.

Li Zhibai's eyes widened in awe. Looking at this setup, there would be more than three armies in the future. Expanding the Demon Suppression Guards to over ten thousand people had already far exceeded the maximum quota set by the imperial capital for Yun Province.

If they were to continue expanding in the future, he couldn't even imagine what that scene would be like.

If he didn't understand Chu Jiang well enough, he would have thought Chu Jiang wanted to carve out a territory and become a local emperor in Yun Province.

When the people in the imperial capital found out, it would surely cause a storm.

However, when the sky falls, the tallest person bears the burden. Now, the tallest person had become Chu Jiang.

As long as he could withstand the pressure, the people below just needed to do their job.

“The Pacification Envoy's vision perfectly aligns with the future development prospects of Yun Province.”

“Your Lord is brilliant!”

Everyone bowed and shouted.

Not a single person dared to stand out and sing a different tune, unless he didn't want his official position.

Chu Jiang now held absolute authority; no one dared to say no to his words. This was not just because he held the identity of Yun Province Pacification Envoy, but also because of the peerless aura he had forged by killing his way through countless people.

Chu Jiang sat in the main seat, looking at the many high-ranking officials below.

This was power, supreme power. Your words were the ultimate imperial decree, to be executed by those below.

It was truly captivating.

No wonder those people in ancient times would spare no effort, exploit the common people, give gifts to their superiors, and desperately climb the ranks.

Stay steady.

Waking up to wield power over the world, falling asleep in the embrace of a beauty.

A solid foundation was needed.

He was building an eternal foundation.

This was just the beginning; he couldn't be reckless yet.

He composed himself and continued:

“Next, there’s a small matter that needs all of you to handle!”

Everyone was startled, still more?

Today's meeting had too much information; the previous content hadn't been fully digested, and new orders were about to be issued.

But, who told him he was the Pacification Envoy?

The high-ranking officials could only cup their hands and say:

“Pacification Envoy, please speak. We will go through fire and water for you, and we will strike wherever you point!”