Chapter 507: Speculation

Chapter 507: Chapter 507: Speculation

Shen Hao truly didn’t understand. He wasn’t stupid, but compared with someone like Jiang Cheng, who had spent decades in the upper ranks of the Xuanqing Guard, he was indeed still green. Some things can’t be seen through with brains alone; you need experience.

Jiang Cheng gulped down three bowls in a row. Even with his drinking capacity, his face was starting to flush. Wiping the corner of his mouth, he asked: "If you found a piece of rotten flesh on your body, what do you think is the best thing to do?"

"Rotten flesh?... Cut it off?"

"That’s right!" Jiang Cheng nodded heavily. While fishing out slices of meat from the pot into his bowl, he continued, "Right now, the Black Banner Battalion in the Xuanqing Guard system is like a piece of rotten meat. Originally, the Black Banner Battalion was set up to respond to the civil officials’ calls for accountability, to set up internal oversight, and to achieve long-term internal purging. But as I just told you, the Black Banner Battalion has fallen far short of these goals.

In fact, only the Black Banner Battalion in Fengri City’s jurisdiction could be considered a pleasant surprise. But do you think what you’ve accomplished in Fengri City can simply be copied elsewhere with the same effect?"

Without waiting for Shen Hao’s answer, Jiang Cheng supplied it himself: "Impossible. Just in terms of jurisdiction, other places don’t have your kind of audacity and means; they simply can’t break through the deadlock, let alone make improvements. So becoming ’rotten flesh’ is unavoidable."

Shen Hao: "You mean Lord Pang is planning to abolish the Black Banner Battalion?"

This was certainly not good news. Right now, all Shen Hao’s prospects were staked on the Black Banner Battalion, and his reputation within the Xuanqing Guard wasn’t exactly stellar. With his "lone wolf" style, he had only a couple of friends. If he fell from favor, there’d probably be a line of people waiting to kick him while he’s down.

So Shen Hao didn’t need to guess to know that once he left his post in the Black Banner Battalion, his career would definitely take a heavy hit—it might even be stomped into the mud.

That was enough to set Shen Hao on edge.

But Jiang Cheng, while dipping his meat slices thoroughly in sauce and eating contentedly, only drank another half bowl of liquor before smiling: "You don’t need to worry. With your capabilities, you’ll eat well wherever you go. Besides, even if the Black Banner Battalion is now ’rotten flesh’, what you’ve accomplished under your command in Fengri City is drawing attention—doesn’t it shine even brighter?"

"Sir, can you please stop keeping me guessing? My heart is all over the place."

"Hahaha..." It was a rare sight for Jiang Cheng to see Shen Hao this anxious. Usually, his disciple always acted like he was firmly in control, steadier than men two decades older. Seeing some real emotion for once struck him as quite funny.

Getting laughed at made Shen Hao feel a little awkward, and he touched his nose, unsure how to answer.

After Jiang Cheng had laughed enough, he said, "Even if most of the Black Banner Battalion has gone bad, how could we slap ourselves in the face? Besides, the Battalion was created with good intentions—intentions the Xuanqing Guard still needs. And you’ve done a great job with it. So, I think even if a cut must be made, it probably won’t be thrown away easily."

Shen Hao reacted quickly and followed up, "Are you saying the Black Banner Battalion might break off from the Xuanqing Guard’s structure?"

"It won’t leave the Xuanqing Guard’s system, but it will likely sever ties with the current Cultivation System and become directly overseen by the Commander’s Office."

Shen Hao’s nervousness was now mixed with confusion. He fully understood Jiang Cheng’s words but still found it hard to believe. Combined with everything Jiang Cheng had said earlier about Pang Ban’s ’admiration’ and ’high hopes’, was Jiang Cheng hinting that if the Black Banner Battalion was cut out from the old Xuanqing Guard system, Shen Hao would become the leader Pang Ban favored?

Suddenly, Shen Hao understood what Jiang Cheng meant by the "big move."

Seeing Shen Hao’s expression shift again and again, Jiang Cheng found it just as amusing, and said nothing more, only smiling as he swept all the remaining meat slices from the plate into the pot—these "old meat slices" tasted better the longer they were cooked.

"Sir, do you really think things will change like that? Then I..."

"You already know what I mean, so why ask? Just be mentally prepared. Make time to calculate your own situation carefully."

"What about the timing?"

"How can things like this ever have a definite time? It depends on the opportunity. It definitely won’t be soon—the South is in turmoil, and we can’t afford to be distracted. I suppose as soon as things stabilize down South, Lord Pang will make his move."

"But, sir, I’m not qualified enough to take the lead, am I? Isn’t this all too hasty?"

"What’s hasty about it? You’re already Deputy Thousand Households, corresponding to Junior Fifth Grade rank. If the Black Banner Battalion is carved out as I suspect and becomes just a Thousand Households Station, at most you’ll get promoted by one more grade, or even just hung out there at that rank—what’s the harm? Mainly it’s the credit you’ve built up, and Lord Pang’s trust in you."

At this, Jiang Cheng raised his bowl for a toast with Shen Hao, then smiled kindly, "If you soar high in the future, don’t forget your teacher here."

Shen Hao held his bowl in both hands and said solemnly, "Sir, as your formally accepted disciple, no matter what fate I meet in the future, I’ll always be your disciple—until death, I’ll never change." With that, he drained his bowl, refilled two more, knocked the last one with Jiang Cheng, and swallowed it down.

"Life is full of forces beyond our control. Our cultivation was supposed to be for transcendence, but limited by our talent, the Great Dao remains hidden, so all we can do is struggle through the mortal world. Your potential, abilities, and fortune mean your current position is only the beginning—just never forget your original intent, and then outside evils won’t sway you."

The two of them drank a five-kilogram jar of Wuliangye. Shen Hao handled it fine, just a bit flushed. Jiang Cheng’s face was crimson, but his speech was still clear.

The hot pot meal lasted until early 1:00 p.m. Jiang Cheng returned to the Governor’s Office, while Shen Hao also had to hurry back to Fengri City. But his mind was replaying Jiang Cheng’s final, seemingly philosophical words—they seemed to be hinting at something.

What exactly did he mean by "outside evils"?

The day after returning to Fengri City, Shen Hao saw the sea arrest warrant posted by the Local Government Office, with Qin Xiuyuan’s portrait and name, as well as height and build, marked. There was a big red "Vicious" character scrawled across it, showing he was deemed "extremely wicked and dangerous," and anyone who spotted him should report immediately.

Was Qin Xiuyuan really "extremely wicked and dangerous"? Hardly, but that red character signaled the Local Government Office’s official attitude. But whether that attitude was voluntary is another matter—Shen Hao guessed it was more likely forced.

Of course, they’d never catch anyone with that warrant—it was just a weather vane, a gesture for the Civil Servant Group and for Prince Shou to see.