Chapter 589: Opinions

Chapter 589: Chapter 589: Opinions

On the second day after Shen Hao sent out the copper rod detailing the situation of the border army, Jiang Chengjiu, far away in the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office of the Imperial City, received it. After a brief consideration, he brought the copper rod to the Commander’s Office to present it to Pang Ban.

Pang Ban put down the copper rod, rubbed his temples, his face showing a hint of fatigue. Even as a Profound Sea Realm Cultivator, under the current circumstances, prolonged lack of proper rest and a hectic schedule still brought exhaustion. He remained silent for a moment before speaking: "How many reports have we received this month?"

"The eleventh." Jiang Cheng stood respectfully in the Public Office, his head slightly bowed. He could feel Pang Ban’s aura growing gloomier these days, so he became even more cautious.

"Looks like Shen Hao is doing well among the Southern Border Army. He’s bold and decisive, but not reckless; everything operates within the authority granted by Your Majesty, leaving the civil servants with grievances they cannot voice. He’s handling things appropriately. And judging by these reports... he linked the previous Black Water Plan with his role as Inspector, didn’t he?"

"You see through everything, my lord. Indeed, Shen Hao believes that relying solely on the Black Water Secret Agents moving through the Carriage and Horse Shop might not yield optimal results, so he combined the reach of the Inspector role with the Black Water Plan. It seems to be working very well now. Of course, due to the unique nature of the Black Water Plan, the Inspector side will not come in contact with it; they simply serve as intelligence gatherers and will not participate in subsequent analysis or utilization."

Pang Ban nodded with satisfaction, smiled, and said: "This is fitting. Inspector remains Inspector, Black Water Plan stays as Black Water Plan; there can be intersections, but never interference. Best if Shen Hao is the sole intersection, which avoids future trouble. Moreover, this reminds us that an intelligence network should not be singular. In this area, I’ve found Shen Hao possesses remarkable talent. You’ve truly found a rare talent for Xuanqing Guard."

This is what people mean by recommendation merit; even if Jiang Cheng did nothing, he could often enjoy much credit thanks to Shen Hao’s outstanding performance.

"My lord praises too highly. Shen Hao merely does what is required of him. But the intelligence returned this time looks troubling. If it turns out as he predicts, Zuo Yuliang may lead his troops southward, shifting his focus forward, and Shen Hao will follow, which may change the Inspector’s role. Should we make some adjustments?"

"Adjustments? What kind of adjustments?"

"Sending some veterans from Fengri City to assist him. That way, Shen Hao would be more adept when facing special situations." Jiang Cheng’s concern was not unfounded. When everything’s calm, new environments and subordinates are fine; he believes Shen Hao can handle them. But when crises loom, some established prestige is needed to control the situation—if everyone around is new, execution may suffer.

Isn’t there a saying that you don’t go to battle without your father’s soldiers? Jiang Cheng hopes Shen Hao can have more reliable personnel at his side, to avoid unexpected trouble.

But Pang Ban clearly disagreed. He waved his hand and said, "That’s not suitable. The proportion of Inspectors in the army cannot be changed; this was decided long ago, and it can’t be altered just because Shen Hao is your disciple. Besides, this is a valuable opportunity for growth. If Shen Hao can make it through this great war without a mistake, steadily holding on to the end, the rewards for him will be enough for us to entrust him with greater responsibilities, eliminating any future doubts or gossip."

As he spoke, Pang Ban stood up from his chair, walked to Jiang Cheng’s side, and patted his shoulder.

"Governor Jiang, you have a clear sense of yourself, but you lack insight into your disciple. What he needs is not constant protection, but exposure to hardship. He is not like you; you have little room left to climb, but his potential has no visible limit.

Heh, perhaps you don’t know yet—Shen Hao is about to break through again?"

Jiang Cheng’s hand trembled at those words, the bewilderment in his eyes impossible to hide: "Ah? Isn’t he just at Gathering Spirit Realm Eighth Layer? He’s breaking through so soon?!"

"Yes. The three Guards I assigned to him already sent word back—Shen Hao has True Qi surging within him, showing obvious signs of an imminent breakthrough. If he’s fast, it’ll be in a few days; slow, no more than ten. And judging by Shen Hao’s potential, this minor realm advancement won’t cause him any trouble."

So you understand my point now? He’s far more capable than you realize."

How could Pang Ban not know Jiang Cheng’s underlying thoughts? He simply hopes Shen Hao climbs steadily step by step, so that when Jiang Cheng leaves the Jingxi Governor’s post, things won’t go cold with his departure. As long as Shen Hao sits at a high position in Xuanqing Guard, most of the turbulence won’t affect Jiang Cheng or those on his ship, and might even grow stronger as Shen Hao rises.

Yet while Jiang Cheng’s ideas largely align with Pang Ban, many details differ. Pang Ban sees not only the potential for Shen Hao to become the backbone of a small group, but believes he deserves a much greater stage. Thus, necessary tempering is indispensable.

"I was inconsiderate."

"Enough. This military affair won’t be simple, nor will it end quickly. Tell Shen Hao to settle down and follow Zuo Yuliang closely—he can learn something and avoid a lot of trouble."

"My lord, you don’t have confidence in the situation in the south?" Jiang Cheng detected the nuance in Pang Ban’s words and instinctively probed further.

"Hmph. You came from the military yourself—what do you think of the southern situation? Do you actually believe, as the rumors outside claim, that we can win easily?"

"Well... In terms of combat power, our army can definitely crush the Barbarian Race; I’ve always believed that. But the terrain in the south is unfavorable—which greatly reduces our advantage and magnifies certain... weaknesses."

"Correct! Now Zuo Yuliang is riding a tiger; in order to maintain broad control over the Barbarian Territory in the south and prevent them from regaining the most fertile lands, we must push the front lines forward, anchoring at Jianchuan, White Head Gorge, and Hu Zhu Yuan. This means giving up the vast strategic advantage of Zhuo Huo Pass, and facing a tremendously long supply line."

The supply line is the lifeline—the longer it is, the less secure; a single misstep can cause crippling losses. Also, these lengthy supply lines put multiples of strain on logistics."

The intelligence Shen Hao returned indicates that the southern front is under considerable pressure. This shows the Barbarian Race has targeted our weakness; after their first sudden attack failed, they’ve launched high-intensity counterattacks, aiming to disrupt our deployment early or collapse our immature supply lines."

This war will not be easily won!"