Xuanqing Guard

Ultimately, it all comes down to Shen Hao’s shallow seniority. From being a Junior Seventh Grade Small Banner Officer to now being a Junior Fifth Grade Hundred Households Officer, it’s been less than three years—this rate of promotion outpaces even the scions of high-ranking families, and can truly be called unprecedented.

If Shen Hao didn’t have real, ironclad achievements in his hands, he would have been impeached into oblivion by the civil servants in the temple hall long ago. Jiang Cheng, the Governor, wouldn’t have escaped either, and even Pang Ban would have been hammered by everyone.

Now, it seems calm as if no one cares about Shen Hao’s extraordinary rise, but in reality countless pairs of eyes are watching in sly silence, just waiting for Shen Hao to make a mistake. As soon as he does, they’ll seize the opportunity to make a fuss about Jiang Cheng, the Jingxi Governor, "appointing only his favorites."

So, where Shen Hao isn’t aware, Jiang Cheng carries immense pressure. Pang Ban also bears a great deal of strain.

One could even say that Jiang Cheng and Pang Ban are both gambling—betting that Shen Hao is a promising talent who can deliver results but won’t stir up trouble.

At least so far, Shen Hao’s meteoric ascent hasn’t disappointed those who support him.

"Too cautious. Since the Fengri City Black Banner Battalion is being used as a pilot, just let go of the reins a bit, take bigger steps. Don’t move his rank, just keep him as Junior Fifth Grade—that’s where seniority truly matters. But you can specially appoint him to an actual Deputy Thousand Households post." Pang Ban disagreed with Jiang Cheng’s arrangement for Shen Hao, believing that promoting rank is more likely to provoke sensitive civil servants above. Better to just openly promote the position.

Seeing Jiang Cheng about to speak, Pang Ban waved his hand, interrupting, and continued: "I know what you’re going to say—nothing more than that Fengri City currently can’t spare Shen Hao, and that there’s no vacancy for Deputy Thousand Households there, right?"

Jiang Cheng nodded; Pang Ban had voiced his exact concern, since there wasn’t a position for Shen Hao to hold as Deputy Thousand Households.

"Ah, if there’s no Deputy Thousand Households vacancy, why not make a new one? It’s a ’pilot’ project, so why can’t a new post be created? Just raise the Hundred Households structure of the Fengri City Black Banner Battalion by half a level, convert it to a Deputy Thousand Households post, isn’t that enough?"

"Lord, is—Is that really okay?" Jiang Cheng realized his thinking had been rather rigid; he’d never considered playing it this way before.

"Why wouldn’t it? After you leave, send me a note and I’ll approve it. A special arrangement, that’s all. Once Shen Hao’s position is elevated, others who want to target him will have more scruples, and it’ll be easier for you to give him more authority. Tsk, I have to admit, that kid’s clever—came up with a ’pilot project’ himself. Otherwise, he’d have to stay honestly as Hundred Households for at least five years."

What else could Jiang Cheng say? With the Xuanqing Guard’s top official saying so much, he naturally followed along.

"Then I’ll thank you on Shen Hao’s behalf for your nurturing, Lord." With his own disciple benefiting, Jiang Cheng was duty-bound to help express gratitude.

"Enough. Go prepare. This matter needs to be handled quickly, must be completed before results come from the ’Ma San case,’ otherwise, if it fails, there will be endless complications."

"Yes! I’ll send up the note as soon as I return."

Jiang Cheng took his leave, Pang Ban rose from his chair, walked to the window, and pushed it open. Outside, dusk had already fallen. Tonight, the operation would begin. Whether success or failure, Pang Ban felt no hesitation—as regardless of the outcome, after this, the Ministry of War was destined for a major shake-up.

"Restructuring on the eve of battle may hurt morale, but it’s absolutely beneficial for the course of war ahead. Only by clearing out the rotten worms can we wholeheartedly deal with the enemy." Pang Ban muttered to himself, as if cheering himself on.

...

If Jiang Cheng and Pang Ban were already thinking of what comes after, Shen Hao cared only for the present, and could only see the present.

That afternoon, Shen Hao hurried back to Fengri City and immediately ordered Wang Yiming to start assembling manpower, matching each person on the list individually and confirming their current location.

Thirty-seven people, all from the military ranks—some from the Ministry of War, some from the Jingxi Army and Border Army. Even though they’d started preparing yesterday, achieving the conditions for arrest wasn’t immediate, and couldn’t be rushed.

This time, the operation involved one hundred Fengri City Black Banner Battalion soldiers plus one hundred more drawn from various locales, all without military backgrounds. Though the numbers seemed less than last time, when they ambushed Ma San Kui at Xiaochuan, Shen Hao felt it was enough. Capturing people isn’t an ambush, and methods won’t be forceful; that could easily provoke hotheads in the military, and if trouble breaks out it would be hard to contain.

"Make your identity clear, present arrest documents and permits, enter the barracks through proper channels to seize suspects. Be mindful of your methods, be polite, use ’please’ liberally. If asked about the reason, just say it’s confidential. Have their superiors or peers act as witnesses. If there’s desperate resistance, show Your Majesty’s ’directive’ and request the military officers’ assistance in capturing them alive. Our people should avoid force if possible.

For those not in the military, just use the planned covert operation to take them down in a night raid. Be careful not to kill anyone. If the garrison comes, similarly show your credentials and documents, and request their assistance in escorting detainees.

Anyway—find witnesses where you can, so no one has grounds for complaint. Make sure you explain this thoroughly to everyone under you, understand?"

Wang Yiming memorized every word, bowed to accept the order, then asked, "Lord, what about after the arrests? What’s the interrogation procedure?"

"What procedure? Once the detainees are brought in, interrogate them however needed. Surely you don’t think saying ’please’ means you have to chat politely with them? Be courteous during the arrest, but once they’re in, I have one demand: get us the intelligence we need as fast as possible!"

"Yes!"

Now Wang Yiming understood everything, and left.

Shen Hao didn’t personally lead the arrests at the front lines. On one hand he wanted to see if Wang Yiming could truly handle things, and whether his loyalty was absolute. On the other hand, it was easier to command the whole operation from the center than to lead a squad himself, making for smoother coordination.

Truth be told, this was Shen Hao’s first time directing a synchronized, multi-threaded arrest operation. But, fortunately, he wasn’t planning alone; backing him was a think tank led by Wang Jian—the ’Little Ghosts, Ghost Gate, and Judges,’ three factions—helping him weigh the details and quickly analyze unforeseen situations. It was like a hidden brain trust providing assistance from the shadows.

In the drill yard at the base, Shen Hao watched the fully assembled soldiers, nodded, and with a wave of his hand, the teams, each with assigned targets, swiftly exited through the rear gate of the Black Banner Battalion base.

June seventeenth, night, mid-midnight—the Fengri City Xuanqing Guard Black Banner Battalion, two hundred-plus soldiers, officially launched the closing net for the ’Ma San Case.’