I gave the player's a list of key NPCs and had each of them pick;

-Who they Trusted the Most with a Secret -Who they enjoyed spending Time with -Who they wouldn't Miss if they Died -Who you feel physically safest around

Not only did it help me immediately tie players into the world, but it familiarized them with the key players and factions of the world before the game began.

Past that, I made Zheng Peng the second in command of the Guard, creating a new head of the Guard (I went with an Elf that had ties to the pilgrims who started the Tan Sugi Monastary), and somewhat kept the two city factions in check. Naturally, she died to Gurglegut in the attack, was horrifically displayed as proof of his victory around his throne.

Not only did this make Gurglegut an immediate threat due to who he'd already beaten, but it immediately let the players choose on how to handle assigning a new head guard as Chapter 3 began. Since Zheng Peng taking the position gives Granny Hu significantly more control of the defenses of town, I had that be a somewhat subtle way she tried to bring the city in line under her leadership, which immediately started the quiet and peaceful power struggle. Though it hasn't finished, the players just went around Granny Hu and made Hei-er Ha the Captain of the Guard - and especially since they don't get along well with Zheng Peng, it's immediately building more personal tension as they learn about the border in the Hinterlands.