Documents and reports from various urban areas came in almost every day, piling up on Chen Ping'an's desk.
"Renjing, you handle these matters first! If you don't understand something, you can ask Dan Qiwang!"
Chen Ping'an gave a few instructions and then handed these matters over to Cheng Renjing.
"Sir..." Looking at Chen Ping'an, Cheng Renjing hesitated to speak. After thinking for a moment, he finally couldn't hold back and spoke.
"Currently, the targeting by various factions is very obvious, and they've even set their sights on the Zhenfu Division's properties. One after another, with various methods, if our Zhenfu Division doesn't retaliate and show them some color, I'm afraid we'll fall into an extremely passive situation!"
"You mean?" Chen Ping'an looked up at Cheng Renjing.
Cheng Renjing's expression brightened as he said, "We should conduct targeted drills and exercises to put some pressure on the various forces. Additionally, we need to strengthen our patrol forces and regularly inspect our properties..."
Cheng Renjing answered these questions extremely fluently, without any hesitation, indicating that he had clearly thought them through deeply.
Chen Ping'an shook his head, not agreeing with Cheng Renjing's suggestion.
From an operational perspective, it would indeed be somewhat helpful for the current situation. It's just a pity... these past few days, Chen Ping'an didn't want to invest any energy into these matters.
Rather than engaging in back-and-forth struggles that drain his energy, it would be better to find an opportunity later to settle everything with one decisive blow!
Currently, for him, the top priority was still to quickly advance his Indestructible Divine Skill to the Minor Achievement Realm.
Looking at Chen Ping'an, Cheng Renjing felt disappointed.
Two months ago, when Chen Ping'an first arrived in Baishi City, he was decisive and assertive. He originally thought that after Chen Ping'an became Commander, he would maintain this style, actively expand, and suppress the situation. But as it turned out, he had been keeping a low profile these days, staying in his office all day long, busy with who knows what, and his decisions were extremely conservative.
Facing the increasingly severe provocations from forces like the Shaxie Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang, he had thought that even with a conservative approach, Chen Ping'an would at least react and retaliate a little. But he didn't expect him to completely ignore it.
The combined forces of several factions were indeed difficult to deal with, but the Zhenfu Division held the moral high ground. If they were to truly take it seriously, they were not entirely powerless to resist. But now...
Cheng Renjing sighed inwardly, remaining still for a moment.
"Is there anything else?" Chen Ping'an looked up at Cheng Renjing with a puzzled expression.
"No," Cheng Renjing replied, regaining his composure.
"Renjing, don't worry too much. For now, focus all your efforts on defensive contraction. As for what comes next, the boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge!"
Chen Ping'an's smile was gentle as he offered Cheng Renjing a few words of comfort.
Although his smile was gentle, in Cheng Renjing's eyes, it seemed somewhat jarring.
After leaving the office, Cheng Renjing was filled with worry.
The targeting by the Shaxie Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang was overt, while the support from the three major clans and the Chamber of Commerce Alliance was covert. With the overt and covert intertwined, the Zhenfu Division's situation had become extremely passive.
Some of the Yamen Runners below were severely affected, and with the Zhenfu Division's prolonged inaction, there was already a tendency for morale to dissipate.
Cheng Renjing kept all these matters in his heart. However, he was helpless; he couldn't influence Chen Ping'an's decision.
Under normal circumstances, there would also be a Deputy Commander to appropriately share some of the Commander's authority. But now, due to various incidents, the Baishi City Garrison Command had not yet decided on a candidate for Deputy Commander. The entire Zhenfu Division was undoubtedly Chen Ping'an's sole domain.
"Full defensive contraction... If we truly respond like this, I'm afraid these forces like the Shaxie Alliance will become even more aggressive! They'll further erode the Zhenfu Division's interests..."
Cheng Renjing was deeply worried.
But Chen Ping'an had already made his decision, and he could only grit his teeth and carry it out.
As the plans for full contraction were announced, the Yamen Runners within the Zhenfu Division became restless and agitated.
"Full defensive contraction? Did I mishear?"
"What the hell! Who exactly is the Zhenfu Division!"
"It's already affecting our families, and the Zhenfu Division still isn't doing anything!"
"......"
In the days following the release of the strategy, Chief Warrant Officers from various urban areas came to see Chen Ping'an one after another. However, the strategy of full defensive contraction remained unchanged.
In fact, Chen Ping'an also understood the thoughts of those below him. Taking a strong stance at this time could somewhat alleviate internal conflicts.
It's just that...
Those in positions of power plan for results, not for reputation!
Attacking at this time would undoubtedly consume too much of his energy. Moreover, it could easily lead to unexpected complications. Rather than doing so, it would be better to wait until his strength improved further, then he could display more of his power and settle everything with one decisive blow!
......
Shaxie Alliance.
"The Zhenfu Division has started to fully contract?"
"They can endure even this? I think he's a turtle!"
"When Chen Ping'an first arrived, he really bluffed me. Now it seems he's just a wimp!"
"I said it before, the speed of erosion was too slow! We could have adopted a more aggressive approach! While the Weishui Town Pacification Bureau is under pressure, we should quickly seize these interests and make them a fait accompli!"
"That makes sense! Opportunity knocks but once! If the Weishui Town Pacification Bureau frees up their hands, it'll be difficult to find such an opportunity again!"
"Hmm, but with the Zhenfu Division fully contracting, it's hard for us to bite off this hard bone all at once."
"Simple! Just make the Zhenfu Division reveal its own flaws, won't that be good enough!"
"How so?"
"I heard Chen Ping'an has a younger sister. I think perhaps... hehe!"
"Good idea! If it succeeds, we can use his sister as a bargaining chip. If it fails, we can simply pick a fight and accelerate the process. We can't lose either way, so let's do it! What do you all think?"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"......"
Inside the Righteousness Hall of the Shaxie Alliance, the Inner Qi Realm experts sitting on the nine high chairs all expressed their opinions and made their choices.
"Hehe, my hands have been itching for a long time! Alliance Leader, if Chen Ping'an really jumps up later, I'll deal with him!" Hearing the discussions of his brothers, Lu Hongxian sneered.
He was a person who couldn't stand idleness. He was happiest when there was a fight.
"Good! I'll leave it to you!"
Luan Xiong assented, then turned to look at his brothers, thinking about the excellent situation they were in, and his heart swelled with pride.
"Within half a month, we will swallow the Zhenfu Division's properties! Here, I toast to all my brothers!"
"To the Alliance Leader!" Everyone shouted in unison.
Inside the Righteousness Hall, laughter and conversation filled the air, and the atmosphere was lively.
At this moment, the Baishi City Garrison Command was not even in their eyes.
It wasn't that they were overly complacent, but rather that the various forces within Baishi City had united, forming a combined force. How could the Zhenfu Division possibly contend with such immense power?
Similar scenes were also taking place within the Iron Fist Gang.
In the following two days, the Shaxie Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang's encroachment became even more aggressive. Their reach extended further and further. Although the Zhenfu Division's people were extremely unwilling, they were helpless. They could only watch as their interests continuously slipped away.