Chapter 372: This Official Has Claimed the Top Merit This Time

Xu Wenjun calmed down, and as if something crossed his mind, he suddenly burst out laughing.

His laughter grew louder and louder, alarming even Hong Ruohai and the others outside.

A few breaths later, Xu Wenjun wiped the smile from his face, as if he had once again become that confident, lofty Director of the Third Division of the Command Division.

"Director Zhao, you sent the letter via Gray Eagle, correct?"

"Within three days at most, word from the Capital will arrive."

"Let's just wait."

With that, Xu Wenjun clasped his hands behind his back and walked away slowly.

Lu Yunchen looked at Zhao Chonghong with a strange expression:

"Director Zhao, this matter..."

"It will probably go just as he said. There's nothing we can do about it."

Zhao Chonghong smiled and rose to his feet:

"But I'll say it again, as long as we've done what needed to be done, that's enough."

Watching Zhao Chonghong leave, Lu Yunchen and Yang Ling stared at each other in the hall, both at a loss.

After a long moment, Lu Yunchen let out a sigh:

"Director Yang, although this case has been resolved this time, I suspect we won't come out of this looking good."

"You've just been promoted to Sixth-Rank Ironclad. By the rules, there's no way they'll demote you to Seventh-Rank that quickly."

"But I'd wager the position of Director of the First Division, Public Security Department at the Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department is about to be vacated..."

He paused for a moment. "And my position at the Yunwen Provincial Capital will likely be vacated as well."

"The Ironclad Department is affected by this too? What about the Department Head?"

Yang Ling's expression turned strange.

Lu Yunchen: "We're actually managed by the Ministry of Personnel. Even internal promotions within the Ironclad Department have to go through them..."

Yang Ling suddenly thought of something and glanced outside:

"Director Xu was that distraught just now, is it because..."

"Yeah, he claimed the top merit this time, so the position of Director of the Third Division, Command Division is as good as gone."

Lu Yunchen couldn't help but laugh out loud:

"I recall that the position of Director of the First Division, Bandit Apprehension Division at the Capital Ironclad Department is vacant. He'll probably be sent to sit there."

"How can you be so sure, Director Lu?"

Yang Ling was somewhat curious.

Lu Yunchen murmured to himself:

"I know the tactics of those civil officials all too well..."

Yang Ling nodded thoughtfully.

No wonder Xu Wenjun had been so distraught.

Clearly, he also understood the ways of those civil officials all too well.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

A Gray Eagle arrived at Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital carrying a letter.

At the Ironclad Department, over a thousand constables had all gathered.

Their gazes fell squarely on the letter in Xu Wenjun's hand.

The letter was bright yellow, indicating it had been issued from the royal palace in the Capital.

Looking at the letter in his hand, Xu Wenjun said expressionlessly:

"Word has come from the Capital, commending the Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department for its efficiency in handling the case.

In a single day, a major case was uncovered."

Over a thousand constables turned their gazes toward Yang Ling.

In the past few days, they had already learned that something had happened at the Wangzhi Medicinal Shop.

They also knew that the Special Task Force's investigation had reached its conclusion.

They just didn't know the details.

Now that a letter of commendation had arrived from the Capital, it meant the rumors were true!

"This Director Yang truly solves cases like a god! He cracked a case like this in just one day?"

"Who exactly killed Director Kong? What kind of audacious criminal would dare such a thing?"

The constables looked on with eager eyes, hoping to hear what came next in the letter.

"Wang Zhi, Big Shopkeeper of the Wangzhi Medicinal Shop, was found to have secretly kept Blood Hand Scholar, a fugitive on the Black List. He is to be executed immediately upon receipt of this letter."

"All other implicated individuals are also to be executed without delay. No need to wait until after autumn."

"..."

The constables exchanged bewildered looks. Even the three Directors of the Bandit Apprehension Division and the three Directors of the Inspection Department wore expressions of shock.

Wang Zhi, the big shot of the Pharmacy Guild in Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital, was going to be executed just like that?

"Next, here is the transfer order from the Ministry of Personnel."

Xu Wenjun shifted the topic:

"Lu Yunchen, Director of the First Division, Public Security Department at the Yunwen Provincial Capital Ironclad Department, hear the decree."

"This subordinate is present."

Lu Yunchen stepped out from the crowd and gave a cupped fist salute.

"You have rendered meritorious service this time. The Ministry of Personnel orders you to relinquish your position as Director of the First Division, Public Security Department at the Yunwen Provincial Capital Ironclad Department, and report to the Capital for duty immediately."

Lu Yunchen was not surprised in the least and accepted the order on the spot.

The constables who didn't know the truth cast envious glances his way.

Once he went to the Capital, he was bound to rise to greatness!

He would very likely be promoted to Fifth-Rank Ironclad!

Only Yun Ruo, Shi Xin, and the like vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

Zhao Qing also saw through it but didn't dare make a sound, terrified that his own name might be called next.

"Yang Ling, Director of the First Division and concurrently Director of the Third Division, Public Security Department at the Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department, hear the decree."

Xu Wenjun said calmly.

Yang Ling: "This subordinate is present."

Xu Wenjun glanced at him:

"You have also rendered meritorious service this time. Effective immediately, you are to relinquish your positions as Director at the Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department and report to the Capital for duty along with Lu Yunchen."

"Understood."

"Alright, hand over your official seals, both of you."

Xu Wenjun said.

Yang Ling and Lu Yunchen immediately produced their official seals and handed them over.

From this moment on, although they were still Sixth-Rank Ironclad, they no longer held any official positions and had lost most of their power.

Until they received new official seals, they had no authority to deploy Ironclad agents.

Nor were they qualified to issue permit letters to various establishments.

Previously, when purchasing the Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold throwing daggers, Yang Ling had issued the permit letter to himself. Now, he couldn't do that anymore.

"No experience points at all. That confirms this is indeed a punishment, not a reward."

Yang Ling muttered inwardly.

"Oh, speaking of this official."

Xu Wenjun continued reading the letter and smiled:

"This official has claimed the top merit this time. However, due to negligence in handling matters some time ago, a Rong Tribe spy managed to escape, and two Sixth-Rank Ironclad agents lost their lives.

With merits offset by faults, this official is also to relinquish the position of Director of the Third Division, Command Division, and be transferred to the First Division of the Bandit Apprehension Division at the Capital Ironclad Department, serving as Director."

Yang Ling and Lu Yunchen exchanged a glance, and he could see in the other's eyes that look of "See? Didn't I tell you?"

The courtyard of the Public Security Division fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Even a fool could now see that something was off.

A Director of the Third Division, Command Division, being transferred to serve as Director of the First Division, Bandit Apprehension Division... wasn't that a demotion?

And why was a case from the Capital being lumped together with this one?

"Director Xu!?"

Hong Ruohai and the others were thrown into confusion.

"This is my official seal. It says these three seals are to be kept by you and brought back to the Capital."

Xu Wenjun took out his own official seal and handed it to Hong Ruohai along with the other two.

Hong Ruohai accepted the three seals with a dazed expression, but his mind was in turmoil!

How had his own Director fallen from power just like that!?

"That was all the transfer orders from the Ministry of Personnel. This official has now read them out publicly."

After speaking, Xu Wenjun smiled at Yang Ling and Lu Yunchen:

"You two, come to the Capital with me."

Yang Ling was beginning to understand the power and methods of the civil official faction.

Xu Wenjun had announced his own situation publicly as well, likely because the letter had emphasized that he should be made to lose face in front of everyone.

Even an Upper Fifth-Rank master, the son of a Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme, a Director of the Third Division, Command Division, had been forced to expose his own shame...

"They're really that formidable? Then I need to raise my strength quickly, or I won't be able to stand against these people..."

Yang Ling mused, pondering how he could raise his Vital Qi faster.

He had to break through to Lower Fifth-Rank!

Even if his martial cultivation couldn't reach Fourth-Rank Grandmaster in the short term, he hoped to at least possess Fourth-Rank combat power through equipment and skills!