Chapter 560: Overbearing

Chapter 560: Chapter 560: Overbearing

Jiang Cheng quickly organized his words, then probed, "Lord Pang, right now, only the Black Banner Battalion under Fengri City’s jurisdiction more or less matches your original intention, deserving to be called Xuanqing Guard’s own set of pincers for catching pests.

But to speak frankly, over seventy percent of Fengri City’s Black Banner Battalion’s outstanding performance can be attributed to Shen Hao. Without Shen Hao, the Fengri City Black Banner Battalion would be as stagnant and lifeless as elsewhere, showing no sign of progress.

Besides, Fengri City has already become a pilot, and with the Black Water Plan being carried out more broadly, his leadership is all the more indispensable. If he’s transferred to the South... I fear it will be a loss outweighing the gain."

Whenever facing Pang Ban, there was always a sharp pressure emanating from him. Even though Jiang Cheng’s cultivation wasn’t low, he still struggled to adapt. Moreover, whenever he met Pang Ban alone, Pang Ban never restrained that oppressive air, almost as if deliberately pressing him down. Thus, Jiang Cheng rarely gave any contradicting opinions before Pang Ban. But this time, he had no choice but to ask directly, for it wasn’t just about his disciple, but himself as well.

But Pang Ban only shook his head, displeasure in his gaze undisguised. The smile vanished as he spoke, "The dilemma of the Black Banner Battalion is that it forever hovers in-between, unable to break through. You ought to understand the reasons. First is the intractability of Chen Ji, second, our Xuanqing Guard lacks a force of true destruction.

Your disciple always jumps outside the fixed frameworks of Xuanqing Guard, with means fierce and ever-changing, and his manner is both slippery and ruthless. The only things he lacks are experience, worldliness, cultivation, and a following.

I planned to wait until the southern situation was clear to transfer the Jingxi Black Banner Battalion’s banner wholly into his hands. Doesn’t he like ’pilot’ projects? Let Jingxi serve as his trial, to see if he can continue his past performance. This would also build his experience and following. At the same time, greater power would let him carry out the plan he leads more effectively.

But plans can’t keep up with changes. Now His Majesty has granted this opportunity, which can be seen as both compensation to our Xuanqing Guard for the previous ’Qin Xiuyuan case’ and a chance to, by our hand, give the civil officials a severe lesson. This matter allows for neither failure nor refusal.

I can’t trust others with it, and they’re not suitable. Instead, Shen Hao can use this opportunity to join the southern cutting edge, and so his accumulation of experience and followers will be even swifter than I previously arranged.

Heh, and with the cultivation breakthrough and talent he’s recently shown, tell me, if he doesn’t die young, would there not be a place for him in the Xuanqing Guard in days to come?"

This so-called ’place’—Jiang Cheng understood its real meaning. It was not a trifling Deputy Thousand Households or Thousand Households post. It was the future ’Black Banner Battalion’ system in Pang Ban’s designs—born from Xuanqing Guard, yet attached to Xuanqing Guard. If everything went well, the future Black Banner Battalion was to be commanded by Shen Hao.

It sounded like raising Shen Hao up, but in his heart, Jiang Cheng was a thousand times unwilling for his own disciple to be the one to stand out.

What good is it to stand out? It’s the bird whose head is high that gets shot—a death sentence waiting to happen.

This is an old saying, and the longer one lives, the more its truth dawns: a warning for those who come after. Jiang Cheng felt it deeply.

"My lord, Shen Hao is still too young, his actions impulsive. The cause of this Qin Xiuyuan case, while there was instigation from the Qin family, at the root, it still relates to his temperament. If he’d been more adaptable, the outcome might have been different. That’s why I judge that sending him to the south to take on the Inspector’s role and break open the situation for Xuanqing Guard is not appropriate."

Jiang Cheng bowed formally, expressing his opinion. Today, he was determined not to comply with Pang Ban in everything—a matter of doing one’s best and leaving the rest to fate. Of course, he did not hold much hope of changing Pang Ban’s mind.

Pang Ban put down his teacup and sat back in his chair, but the open window remained as it was, letting the damp air flow in. Soon, the room was suffused with the scent of summer rain, just like the heavy downpour outside.

"They say that summers in the Imperial City are hard to bear, eagerly awaiting rain. But in these eighth and ninth months, for farmers it’s a precious time for drying the grain. Too much rain is ill fortune, affecting preparations for storing the harvest. People are the same; outsiders’ praise or scorn is not as important as what one thinks for himself.

Opportunity and circumstance always affect each other. It’s not easy being the standout bird, but if you do it well, you can soar.

Jiang Cheng, your disciple is not the kind to be content with staying put. He’s daring, willing to fight and think, and has ambition. This matter—I will assign him to take over. Go explain to him in advance; once the appointment papers arrive, let him go try the waters first."

Asking for his opinion was, in truth, just notification—and a check on his attitude. That’s Pang Ban’s style. Jiang Cheng knew it well and dared not go against him.

"My lord is absolutely right. It is this subordinate who showed weakness."

Pang Ban’s smile returned, as ever without warmth. He said, "No need to worry too much. I hear Shen Hao’s ability to command subordinates is impressive. Fengri City’s Black Banner Battalion is managed by him with perfect order. Lately, since he’s focused on cultivation, most matters have been delegated to others. Isn’t that good? He only needs to steer the ship, and needn’t waste too much effort. In this way, he can tend to the south as well.

By then, it will in fact be your Jingxi Governor’s Office that benefits."

Jiang Cheng could only smile awkwardly, not knowing how to reply. His temper was straightforward. If saying something would only do harm, he’d rather keep his mouth shut.

Before leaving, Jiang Cheng remembered Pang Ban’s instructions and collected a "Qi Suppressing Pill" from the Commander’s Office’s Alchemy Room. Pang Ban said it was a gift for Shen Hao, to congratulate his advancement in cultivation.

This matter could not be delayed or postponed, so after returning to the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office, Jiang Cheng immediately sent an urgent order to Fengri City, summoning Shen Hao to the Imperial City at once.

It was pouring rain and past the hour for Lower Emissaries, yet Jiang Cheng still waited in the Public Office, until Shen Hao arrived, soaked with rain, and knocked on his door.

"My lord." Shen Hao looked well, the breakthrough in cultivation making him seem sharper and even more imposing. Whether that evil qi came from too many cases or something else was hard to say.

"Sit. Here, this is a Treasure Pill Lord Pang entrusted to me for you—a Qi Suppressing Pill. It should be just what you need most at the moment." There was no small talk; Jiang Cheng directly placed Pang Ban’s pill before Shen Hao, observing his expression, intentionally or otherwise.

"Qi Suppressing Pill?" Shen Hao was first startled, then delighted, but soon after doubt and faint wariness colored his face. Through it all, he didn’t reach for the pill box on the table.

He then asked, "My lord, can this pill be returned? I fear accepting it would be inappropriate."

This reply caught Jiang Cheng completely off guard. He’d imagined many reactions from Shen Hao, but not that he wouldn’t even glance at it and want to return it.

"Do you know what the Qi Suppressing Pill does? You don’t want it?"