Generally speaking, to ensure the stability of a small city of over forty thousand people, in the presence of firearms and remote support, only five to eight hundred people are needed.

However, in a setting like Sheepback City with an ancient societal style, closed minds, and most strong individual powers being restricted, the required number can be even lower.

This is because the city's residents are mostly subdued to the point of not daring to resist, with over 70% of the population only seeking basic sustenance.

Yet, in this situation, rather than reducing the number of personnel, Longxing River actually increased it a bit.

The entire process emphasized the word "stability".

Soon, several Wei Family cultivators led the group into the city.

After assigning tasks to various units, Longxing River took Political Commissar Fang Ping to find Lin Ziming:

"Old Lin, we have thoroughly controlled the situation in Sheepback City. I'll let Lao Fang brief you on the details."

Lin Ziming nodded, saluted Fang Ping, and said:

"Political Commissar Fang, I'll trouble you then."

Unlike the tough-guy appearance of Longxing River, Fang Ping was a tall and thin middle-aged man, seemingly frail, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

He resembled the type who could cosplay Kong Yiji by putting on a long robe.

Of course, unlike the petty and poor scholar Kong Yiji, Fang Ping was a thoughtful and positive figure.

At this moment, Fang Ping was holding a piece of temporary printed material, reporting:

"Old Lin, the infantry combat module of our department's two combat units has entirely entered Sheepback City, with 2,177 personnel approved.

Aside from occupying the high points and defense fortifications within the city, the rest of the warriors are divided into four action modules:

The first part is responsible for containing the members of the city's cultivator clans, including but not limited to the Mo Family, Qian Family, etc.

They will also preliminarily distinguish these cultivators, classifying them based on basic public identification and mutual reporting into pending zones, criminal zones, and war criminal zones, in addition to taking charge of interrogating these target personnel.

Since this involves intelligence gathering, Comrade Du Jinlong will be in charge of this project.

The second part is the search team, which will thoroughly screen the already determined heinous big three families, namely the Mo Family, Qian Family, and Lin Family mansions.

They will also sort and appraise the seized goods—this part will be assisted by President Wei Qiangsheng.

The third part is the pursuit module, which is the only segment with some risk, and they are responsible for capturing the fleeing members of the Mo Family.

This is specifically divided into in-city searches and out-of-city pursuits, aside from non-ground channels like tunnels. We've confirmed that there are 233 fleeing members of the Mo Family.

The last part is the propaganda team, all coming from the propaganda end.

They are primarily responsible for collecting evidence of the Mo Family's crimes and soothing the residents' emotions. Many members are temporarily seconded from Captain Yan's side, having participated in the initial pacification work in Chixian City, so they are relatively experienced."

After listening to Fang Ping's report, Lin Ziming nodded and continued to ask:

"Engineer Fang, what about the iron mine?"

Fang Ping flipped a page of the document he held and said:

"Based on the information we have, the iron mine is approximately twenty kilometers west of Sheepback City.

Currently, Patriarch Wei has already led a team to the iron mine. According to our latest interrogation information, there is only one Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer cultivator stationed at the iron mine, so the problem should not be significant.

Additionally, Lei Wenjun and Director Lei's team are also on their way here. They will be responsible for calculating the scale and reserves of the iron mine, which is their expertise.

As for the placement of the miners in the iron mine, this still requires on-site data collection and consolidation before discussion. In any case, our combat supplies and field hospital are ready to be on standby."

Lin Ziming nodded, indeed Fang Ping is a meticulous cadre, arranging everything in an orderly manner.

It's important to note that due to uncertain specifics of the situation within the city before, the command center only formulated the operational plan. Subsequent actions heavily relied on the on-ground command staff's coordination abilities.

After Fang Ping completed his report, Longxing River hesitated for a few seconds and said:

"Old Lin, there's something I'd like to consult with you about. I wonder if it would be convenient for you to help Lao Fang and me clear up some confusion?"

Lin Ziming glanced at Longxing River.

Due to different frontlines, he and Longxing River were not well-acquainted, but they had once cooperated in the previous Xiaolianzi Mountain campaign, so they had some rapport. He courteously said:

"Feel free to ask."

Longxing River pondered for a moment and asked:

"Old Lin, our combat troops moved near Sheepback City two days ago. At that time, we only received combat tasks and were not too clear about the arrangements after entering the city.

Now, since Sheepback City is under our control...

I was wondering... how does the organization plan to handle the members of the Mo Family?

I mean, the ordinary clansmen such as women and children who haven't had the opportunity to commit crimes. In a family of three to four hundred people, though not many are innocent, there are still some on an individual level."

Longxing River asked this question because some of his subordinate instructors reported that some warriors raised related questions during their task execution.

This kind of doubt is quite normal, or one could say it's a question most people would consider.

From a family perspective, the Mo Family indeed committed grave sins, and the number of lives lost to the Mo Family is unknown.

At the iron mine, calculating based on four to five thousand vagrants dying annually, several tens of thousands have died since mining began.

Overall, not to mention since the foundation of the city, just within the last thirty to forty years, no less than eighty thousand vagrants have directly or indirectly died at the hands of the Mo Family.

But a family is a family; it does not mean every member deserves death upon closer scrutiny.

For example, there was a clansman named Mo Anting who, displeased with the Mo Family's contribution system, hadn't completed a single clan task in twenty years and often helped some poor city residents, enjoying a good reputation.

According to the reports received by Longxing River.

In just half an hour, over ten batches of city residents came to plead on his behalf.

As for other women and children, it's even more so, for instance, their fathers (husbands) might be evildoers, but they have not committed or don't have the capability to commit evil acts.

In such cases, should we apply guilt by association or consider them innocent?

Facing Fang Ping's query, Lin Ziming smiled and explained:

"Engineer Fang, rest assured, the command center has already formulated a series of arrangements, which I was just about to share with you.

There's definitely no such thing as guilt by association, as that wouldn't align with our ethics.

However, outright innocent release is also impossible; we are not that magnanimous.

According to the plan discussed by the command center, those Mo Family members guilty of minor or even no crimes will be watched independently in a particular area—possibly Chixian City or elsewhere.

They will also be provided with some electronic devices, but cultivation won't be permitted in the short term—as for any cultivation time lost by children, that is beyond our considerations.

This stage will likely last a few years, and after a few years, depending on the circumstances, a batch may be released.

With our current development progress, there is no concern they will become unstable factors in the future."

Upon hearing this, Fang Ping exchanged a glance with Longxing River, both visibly relieved.

Finally, Longxing River said:

"As long as there is a plan from the command center... Old Lin, can I disseminate this information?"

Lin Ziming nodded and said:

"Of course, if conditions permit, you may convey it to those Mo Family members as well.

Perhaps after knowing they are not in mortal danger, they may even disclose some information."

Longxing River nodded and said:

"No problem, I'll handle it right away."

Du du du——

Just as Lin Ziming and Longxing River were conversing, a helicopter approached from afar again.

Lei Wenjun's team had arrived.

....

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