Chapter 559: Standing Out

Chapter 559: Chapter 559: Standing Out

Jiang Cheng knew that his prized disciple, Shen Hao, was once an overlooked talent in cultivation—a rare genius who would achieve greatness late in life. By chance he experienced enlightenment that greatly increased his potential, and was noticed early by Lord Commander, who secretly offered his protection.

But Jiang Cheng never imagined that once Shen Hao’s cultivation talent awakened, it would be this outrageous.

In just a few months, he broke through a small realm; in less than three years, he climbed forcibly from the Middle Stage of Qi Refining all the way to the Post-God-Gathering Realm. That alone was enough to astonish the world, yet even that wasn’t the end. This time, he actually leaped from the Gathering Spirit Realm Seventh Layer to the Eighth Layer in just a single month! And it was not the kind of forced promotion via elixirs, but a steady, natural breakthrough...

Like most who heard the news, Jiang Cheng could only think: Since when has cultivation become this easy?

"Lord, after Shen Hao set aside the ’Qin Xiuyuan murder case,’ he returned to Fengri City, and lately has only corresponded by official paperwork—he has not come to the Governor’s Office, so I was unaware of the progress in his cultivation these days." Jiang Cheng carefully stored away the copper rod and returned it, pleased at his disciple’s rapid improvement in cultivation, but unable to guess at Pang Ban’s true purpose for calling him here today.

"Did you sound him out about the matter I mentioned earlier?"

"I did. I didn’t say it outright, but he should have grasped the general meaning. I only mentioned timing vaguely, more or less saying it’d be after the southern situation stabilizes."

Pang Ban rose from his chair, hands clasped behind his back, moved to the window, and opened it; a wave of river scent surged in. Today, the Imperial City was drenched in heavy rain. The temperature had dropped a little, but it was still stifling hot.

"Mm." Pang Ban grunted, then fell silent for a long time before saying, "The situation in the south has shifted again. Last month, His Majesty issued a decree to adjust the powers of the Xuanqing Guard Inspectors stationed in the army, moving the duty of supervising the Military Supervisors under the Inspectors’ purview."

"Supervise the Military Supervisors?!" Jiang Cheng’s brow twitched, a flame flashing through his eyes before he composed himself. He knew Pang Ban certainly had more to say, so he dared not interrupt rashly.

"That’s right. The decision was made after the conclusion of the Qin Xiuyuan murder case was reported up to His Majesty. It then took five days in the Ministry of War, and after being stuck between the Ministry of War and the Left Minister’s Office for over half a month, the document stamped by both offices arrived on my desk only yesterday.

Once we stamp it with our Xuanqing Guard seal, it will take immediate effect. Still, I want to hear your opinion."

In Jiang Cheng’s eyes, Lord Commander had never spoken pointless words. First, he brought up the news of Shen Hao’s astonishing cultivation. Now, he shifted abruptly to an important change regarding the Southern Border Army and the Xuanqing Guard. And in the end, he asked his opinion? He was only the Jingxi Governor—what opinion could he have? Even if someone had an opinion, shouldn’t it be raised by the Jingnan Garrison Commander’s Office? What did it have to do with him?

"In my humble view, this is a good thing. It will amplify the Xuanqing Guard’s voice within the military, and also effectively offset the power of the Civil Servant Group in controlling the army. As long as we hold this responsibility firmly, then the Xuanqing Guard’s status in the Dynasty will rise accordingly."

He couldn’t say nothing, so Jiang Cheng offered some surface-level opinions in line with Pang Ban’s words.

"You’re not wrong, and you’ve gotten to the heart of it. It is indeed a good thing for us Xuanqing Guard, but holding onto this task is the key.

This time, the Left Minister’s Office dragged the Ministry of War for more than half a month; their sluggishness is a sign of their preparations. What is needed now is a breakthrough point to open the situation."

"You mean the south?"

"Exactly. Right now, military power in the south is rising; the Military Supervisors in the Border Army wield massive authority and have long lacked restraint. If we can firmly control the Military Supervisors in the Southern Border Army, then it will be natural to implement the supervisory duty across the entire Dynasty.

But our Xuanqing Guard is long plagued by old ailments. You know this well—when we can’t even straighten out our own mess, how will we wrestle with those military supervisors under the civil officials’ control? I fear it won’t be long before we’re smeared and accused, humiliated before His Majesty in a way that is hard to recover from."

Jiang Cheng did not know how to respond. Though he knew Pang Ban was speaking the truth, criticizing one’s colleagues in front of a superior was never wise. He could only remain silent.

Pang Ban had put it quite mildly. The Xuanqing Guard had always stationed Inspectors in every army, but in reality, they were mere figureheads. This wasn’t a matter of individual incompetence, but pointed to the fact that when dealing with external turmoil, the Xuanqing Guard generally lacked broad perspective and adaptability. Used to acting in direct, heavy-handed ways, they struggled when forced to play intrigue, remain vigilant at every turn, and scheme against others while judging the right moment and measure. It was a tall order.

Furthermore, the army was mixed with the forces of the Military Supervisors—a civil official system, making the scene even more complicated. A single careless step would see them squeezed to the fringes, unable to enter the inner circle. The Inspectors, now the laughing stock of all the armies, had been gradually marginalized by the collusion of the army and the Military Supervisors.

Lessons from the past ought to guide the future. The treatment of the former Inspectors could be called a ’humiliation.’ Pang Ban did not speak of this openly, but he clearly brooded over it and remained indignant. Now, after years of enduring until the clouds parted and the moon shone through, if they repeated the same humiliation, it would truly be a cosmic joke.

So...

"People. The old structure of the Xuanqing Guard is unsuitable; there is no one appropriate to play the vanguard among the current personnel in the Jingnan Garrison Commander’s Office." Pang Ban paused here to lift his tea and take a sip, deliberately leaving a moment of silence for Jiang Cheng to react.

Personnel? After so much circling about, it came down to the same question. Jiang Cheng felt a bit sour; after all, that was his own disciple, his most capable officer. The Lord Commander commanded the Xuanqing Guard of the entire realm—how could talent be lacking? Why always try to poach from his Jingxi?

"Lord, do you mean the Black Banner Battalion?"

Jiang Cheng had to answer, but left himself a way out, mentioning the Black Banner Battalion without naming the Shen Hao whom Pang Ban had so long implied. It made all the difference whether one spoke first or second.

Pang Ban nodded, still smiling with inscrutable expression. He said, "Correct. To escape the Xuanqing Guard’s old framework and sickness, only the Black Banner Battalion will do. Or rather, only the Black Banner Battalion in your Fengri City—let’s not even mention the battalions elsewhere.

So the purpose of calling you here is just to hear your thoughts. Does your disciple have the ability to handle the southern affairs properly?"

Unlike Jiang Cheng, Pang Ban had no such misgivings. If he cared at all, it was only for Jiang Cheng’s status as Shen Hao’s superior and teacher. Yet with this question spoken, he had left Jiang Cheng with little room to maneuver.