Chapter 563: Taking Up the Post

Chapter 563: Chapter 563: Taking Up the Post

Along with the notification, there was also a formal order delivered—for Shen Hao, as well as for the Fengri City Thousand Households Station. Because, in terms of direct subordination, Shen Hao’s immediate superior was actually Kuang Shengyuan, the Households Officer of Fengri City Thousand Households Station.

Kuang Shengyuan received the order with a look of utter confusion, not understanding why such an important matter had reached him, the Chief Officer, so late. It seemed several parties had deliberately chosen to overlook his existence.

Feeling furious inside but helpless, he looked down at the order, seeing the joint signatures of the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office and the Commander’s Office. All his dissatisfaction could only be swallowed and buried deep in his stomach.

"Lord Shen, rest assured. If Fengri City needs any assistance, have Wang Yiming come directly to me!" Kuang Shengyuan signed off on Shen Hao’s paperwork with a broad smile. With this, Shen Hao could officially leave Fengri City and proceed to the Southern Border Army.

Despite his inner displeasure, his words were candid. Ever since he had messed up with that "grand arena" and become a laughingstock, Kuang Shengyuan would never put on airs in front of Shen Hao again. He understood—matters of face, once figured out, were no big deal. With Shen’s posture, his future prospects were unlimited; keeping ties stable was best—what’s the point in stirring things up?

"Thank you, Lord Kuang. I will do my utmost to fulfill the task entrusted to me by Commander Lord Pang and Governor Lord Jiang, then promptly return to await your further instructions, my lord." Shen Hao bowed respectfully and received the paperwork handed over.

Yet the pleasantries and formalities from Shen Hao sounded prickly in Kuang Shengyuan’s ears. Await instructions? Come now, Lord Shen is practically the "master" in this Fengri City Thousand Households Station—who could command him, really!

Kuang Shengyuan himself could not tell if having such a sharp, fast-moving subordinate was good fortune or bad.

With the order in hand, there was no "take your time" nonsense; according to Jingjiu Dynasty regulations, places like the Xuanqing Guard that follow military procedures, the "immediate" wording on the order means right away, no delay—any procrastination is a capital offense.

So, after obtaining the paperwork, Shen Hao hurried home, took two large boxes from Xia Nu, whose eyes were glistening with tears, then stored them in his Storage Bag. He stared at Xia Nu for a moment, pinched her pointed ear, said nothing, and turned to leave.

"My lord."

Outside the house, thirty people waited. These were Shen Hao’s Personal Guard, those permitted to accompany him. All were fully equipped, standing orderly, waiting for Shen Hao’s command.

"Move out."

This time, Shen Hao did not take a carriage, but rode a horse straight toward the Teleportation Array.

First to Tu Kui City, then riding to Shuangshi Town, using the military’s Teleportation Array to transfer directly to Hai Xia.

As Shen Hao stepped out from the Array, he saw a group of Black Robe Xuanqing Guard had been waiting—they were from the Southern Border Army, sent by the Inspectorate, including two Deputy Thousand Households, six Hundred Households, plus some soldiers.

"Subordinate greets Lord Shen!"

All knelt on one knee. Shen Hao had never seen such a display; something invisible seemed to pluck at a chord within him. He raised his hand, "No need for excessive ceremony, rise and speak."

Shen Hao had already reviewed the personnel files and dossiers for the Inspectorate here, including the main figures. Before him now were two Deputy Thousand Households: Li Jiang, age fifty-seven, a veteran of the Xuanqing Guard, and Zhang Ye, age thirty-nine, recently promoted.

Even by age alone, it was clear these two Deputy Thousand Households were not cut from the same cloth. One had spent most of his life crawling up to Deputy Thousand Households; the other reached it before forty. Clearly, their respective backings were not equally matched.

Li Jiang, this was Shen Hao’s first meeting. But Zhang Ye he’d met before—during the interrogation of Zhou Qing at Beach Stone, Zhang Ye was still a Hundred Households Officer. Clearly, his promotion had ridden the "Ma San Case" as a windfall.

Of course, whether Zhang Ye or Li Jiang, both were "getting on in years" compared to Shen Hao; yet neither dared show the slightest negligence before him, striving to uphold whatever rules Shen Hao would soon lay down.

At the entrance to the Teleportation Array, a brief introduction was made. A nod sufficed as greeting; Shen Hao declined a ride in the carriage, mounting his horse again and following them to the Inspectorate’s station in Hai Xia.

The Hundred Households Officers were stationed in the outer hall. Shen Hao didn’t let them leave—no one dared move, even if pressed by the urge to urinate, they forced themselves to hold it in. Lord Shen’s reputation was hardly of the kind who was easygoing or indulgent. Just now, in person, the Evil Qi emanating from him truly lived up to his "Evil Star" moniker.

All were curious what Lord Shen and the two Deputy Thousand Households were discussing inside. Their feelings right now were extremely complicated.

Being sent to the army as Inspector was never a favored post. To call it a "retirement" assignment wouldn’t be an overstatement. Some took advantage of lacking staff to spend a few years for promotions; the rest simply passed their days, marking time.

No loafing wasn’t an option: Xuanqing Guard didn’t care for them, the military didn’t welcome them, the Military Supervisor looked down on them, their authority long since drowned in the gutter. One new regulation after another, all aimed at sidelining the Inspectorate.

But now, one order had sent shockwaves through the moribund Inspectorate.

What? Subordination had shifted from Jingdong Governor to Jingxi?! And to a Black Banner Battalion in Fengri City under Jingxi?!

What sort of maneuvering was this? The Black Banner Battalion in Fengri City, even as a "pilot," was only a Deputy Thousand Households unit. The Inspectorate in the Southern Border Army was a Thousand Households unit! How were they to be subordinated? How would the subordinate Hundred Households be organized?

Like unwanted children, now without a stable home, how could they not be anxious or fearful?

But everything hinged on the decisions of Lord Shen, this "Upper Hanging Chief Officer" holding a Deputy Thousand Households position.

In the outer hall, people waited anxiously; within the inner chamber, Li Jiang and Zhang Ye’s feelings were even more tangled.

"Please, both of you take your seats. Today, let us get acquainted; I’ll be relying greatly on you in times ahead." Shen Hao said this with a polite gesture of respect; the other two quickly stood and returned his courtesy.

"You’ve seen the order, haven’t you? The Dynasty’s adjustment to the Inspectorate concerns not the military, but those Military Supervisors within it. What are your views? Speak freely, so I can understand the situation." Shen Hao’s smile seemed genial, but the Evil Qi about him did not lessen; in fact, the hidden blade behind his smile made him all the more dangerous.

"My lord, with you here in charge, honestly it puts us at ease." Zhang Ye smiled warmly—after all, flattery never hurts, so he went for it first.

Li Jiang sneered, then answered solemnly, "My lord, the matter of the Military Supervisors is complex, especially over the last half-month as their internal regulations have been frequently adjusted. At this point, there are hardly any loopholes left; trying to get at them is extremely difficult."

Shen Hao ignored Zhang Ye and turned to Li Jiang: "Get at them? Why must we get at them? The Inspectorate’s new mandate is ’supervision,’ not simply ’discipline.’ If they want to make themselves airtight, that’s their business—we’re not watching them, but what they’re doing..."