Chapter 564: Understanding

Chapter 564: Chapter 564: Understanding

The simplest truths are often overlooked, and the years of accumulated grievances have made many instinctively feel that the new Inspector and the Military Supervisor are irreconcilable, utterly opposed. Yet in Shen Hao’s eyes, this is not the case.

Li Jiang and Zhang Ye were both taken aback for a moment, then thoughtful expressions appeared on their faces—they were clearly enlightened by Shen Hao’s earlier question: "Why target them?"

Indeed, after the reorganization, the Inspector’s duties have increased to "supervising the Military Supervisors," not to stand in opposition to them. Their secret maneuvers are pointless; all that’s needed is to keep a close watch on them.

"The military is like a flock of sheep, the Military Supervisors are the sheepdogs, and what we are to do is serve as the leash in His Majesty’s hand, keeping the dogs in line. Do you understand?"

The army may be wolves to outsiders, not sheep, but in the eyes of the civil officials, they are nothing but sheep. Since that’s the case, what’s wrong with comparing the Military Supervisors, who constrain the flock, to sheepdogs? In fact, it’s quite apt. And what the Emperor wants now is nothing less than to put those sheepdogs on a leash, isn’t it?

Does Shen Hao mind being that leash? It hardly matters—what matters is that if he fails to do his job as the leash, he won’t live to see another day.

After briefly communicating with Li Jiang and Zhang Ye—though without getting into any concrete deployments—Shen Hao simply laid out some of his own thoughts to the two of them. Afterwards, back in the main hall, Shen Hao addressed the Hundred Households Officers with encouraging words and formalities. And on the key issues, he gave his word.

"For organization, this Inspector’s body will continue to follow the previous staffing structure. For the time being, you’ll report to me at Fengri City Black Banner Battalion, but the roles are distinct and will not interfere with each other’s duties. Above that is naturally the Jingxi Governor’s Office. So, everyone, you are now transferred from the Jingdong Xuanqing Guard structure to Jingxi. Please be clear about this."

The core issue, and everyone’s main concern, was their organizational ties. After all, Fengri City Black Banner Battalion is merely a so-called "pilot Deputy Thousand Households structure," even lower than the Inspector’s position in the Southern Border Army. If transferred there, you’d be demoted half a level or a whole level automatically—an absolute disaster.

Fortunately, for the Hundred Households present as well as Li Jiang and Zhang Ye, this pronouncement was a weight off their chests. The way they looked at Shen Hao was a little less uneasy. At least, for now, all the news brought by this Evil Star had been good.

Shen Hao stayed at the Inspector’s post in Hai Xia for an hour, then used the teleportation array from Hai Xia to reach Beach Stone, where the Inspector’s Chief Officer’s residence was located.

Arrangements for quarters would be properly handled by his attendant, Xiaoma. Shen Hao then took his people straight to his Public Office.

Compared to the Fengri City Thousand Households Station, the Public Office here was much more rudimentary. The ventilation inside was poor and the heat forced Shen Hao to take out a fan and cool himself down.

Sitting down and taking a sip of cold tea, he asked, "Was the note for Marshal Zuo sent out?"

Zhang Ye and Li Jiang stood at their subordinate’s place. Zhang Ye replied first: "Lord, it has already been delivered. By now, it should have reached the Daoxing Chief’s Office."

The two Deputy Thousand Households were now Shen Hao’s left and right hands at the Border Army Inspector’s post. Zhang Ye was in charge of Beach Stone and Hai Xia areas, while Li Jiang was responsible for Zhuo Huo Pass and the regions outside the border. In the past, Zhang Ye’s position was considered cushier, but now Li Jiang’s post was the more important one.

"I’ve looked over your dossiers. Households Commander Zhang has been here for six years, Households Commander Li for eleven. You both count as veterans in this place. Tell me about Marshal Zuo, so I’ll have some idea before I meet him."

This time it was Li Jiang who spoke first. Regarding Zuo Yuliang, he naturally felt he was better qualified than "the unreliable lucky riser" Zhang Ye to speak.

"My lord, Marshal Zuo is upright and strong, but more refined than most military men—he’s one of those rare men of both martial and literary accomplishments in the army, much like yourself." After a modest bit of flattery, he continued, "When it comes to military strategy, Marshal Zuo is unyielding. He’s always saying, ’The battlefield is ever-changing, how can one stick to a single method?’ He’s always scoffed at the Military Supervisors’ habit of making plans in advance and executing them blindly."

"That’s why it’s common to hear of clashes between Marshal Zuo and the Military Supervisors."

Zhang Ye spoke up as well: "Although the Military Supervisors are often unhappy with Marshal Zuo, they can never do anything to him directly, so they target the officers under him instead. For the sake of protecting his men, Marshal Zuo has had to compromise again and again. However, since the recent major upheaval in the Ministry of War, Marshal Zuo has been much more forceful. Half a month ago, a Military Supervisor who entered the central army tent without being announced was flogged to death on the spot with eighty army sticks. The matter is still causing an uproar now."

"Also, I’ve heard Marshal Zuo and the new Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, Lord Wen, are from the same hometown and have a very close relationship—they even served together in the army."

The latter was more of a rumor. Previously, Shen Hao hadn’t heard that Zuo Yuliang and Wen Mingju had any personal ties, though indeed the two had spent some time serving in the same place. But that overlap had only lasted about a year, if that? Still, if the Southern Border Army was circulating such gossip, perhaps there was some truth to it?

"Tell me about Marshal Zuo’s flogging of the Military Supervisor—give me the details."

"Yes, my lord. Many people witnessed it personally, for Marshal Zuo meant it as a public warning and had the man dragged to the parade ground for punishment. It’s said the victim died after around forty lashes, but all eighty were still delivered, and his corpse was a ruined mess."

"It all began because a Military Supervisor entered the central army tent without waiting for the guards to announce his name. According to military law, this is insubordination, which carries a death sentence, but Marshal Zuo, calling it a first offense, spared his head and ordered eighty strokes so he’d remember the lesson. The other Military Supervisors interceded but to no avail."

Good lord, Shen Hao narrowed his eyes, silently noting that Zuo Yuliang was indeed a ruthless man. Eighty strokes with the rod meant death regardless of whether the Military Supervisor had no Cultivation or was at Qi Refining First or Second Layer; it was much more painful than beheading. Yet this could be described as "lenient for a first offense"—as if to say "I’ve spared your life, but you couldn’t endure army discipline, so your death is your own fault."

"Military regulations are strict. If a Military Supervisor entered the central tent without authorization and died for it, he got what he deserved. Why all the uproar?"

"My lord, you may not know. In the past, Military Supervisors could come and go in the central army tent as they wished—no one was ever punished for not being announced by the guards. To have someone flogged to death for this at the very start is not just a blow to their morale, but to their authority, so they are making a big fuss."

This exchange gave Shen Hao deeper insight not only into Zuo Yuliang’s methods but also a better understanding of his two deputies.

By dusk, Shen Hao received an order from the Southern Military Affairs and Road Supervision Office, instructing him at Marshal Zuo’s command to head immediately to Zhuo Huo Pass central army tent. ℴℴ𝘮

Not daring to delay, Shen Hao brought several Personal Guards, and under the guidance of Zhang Ye and Li Jiang, left the official residence, then headed to the Beach Stone Transmission Array for Zhuo Huo Pass.

Passing through the Beach Stone Transmission Array, Shen Hao encountered Wu Kai—a familiar face who was still stationed there—but the two exchanged only a glance and did not converse further.