Chapter 611: Anticipation

Chapter 611: Chapter 611: Anticipation

Wang Jian had recently been keeping a close eye on the developments on the Black Water side, so he was the first to see the news sent back by the Xu Family Sisters.

Ever since Lord Shen was transferred to the South, Wang Yiming had taken over the daily affairs of the Black Banner Battalion in Fengri City, while Wang Jian, as a confidant, single-handedly managed every aspect of the Black Water Plan.

In the past, all matters great and small in the Black Water Plan required Lord Shen’s decision. Wang Jian handled the relatively detailed or basic tasks. But now, he could truly be said to be "bearing the entire responsibility alone."

Other professions, during the time of war and flames, would more or less suffer setbacks, but intelligence work was quite the opposite: the more tumultuous the times, the easier it was to avoid the usual restraints and to flourish rapidly. In this respect, it shared a common trait with the increasingly booming Black Market.

Ever since the Emperor determined the military policy for the South, intelligence from all over the realm had poured into the Four Divisions like snowflakes. Fortunately, the Document Library had already been established beforehand, so the vast influx and extraction of information did not affect the operation as a whole. Instead, the supplementation of many reports made the Document Library of the Four Divisions even more precise.

"My lord, according to the intelligence provided by the Xu Family Sisters in recent times, Bai Changqing has already begun planning the details of the upcoming austerity measures. This matches the rumors filtering down from the Temple Hall. However, based on Bai Changqing’s recent activities, he has not met privately with anyone; apart from court sessions and public emissary duties, he has stayed at home. This is somewhat unusual."

"What’s so unusual about that? The man’s been married for less than a year, and it’s a double win—gray hair and a youthful beauty—liking to go home is perfectly normal, isn’t it? What’s your conclusion?"

Wang Jian put down the intelligence briefing in his hand. This was the seventh report sent by the Xu Family Sisters, carrying the case number assigned by the Four Divisions, enabling its placement on the timeline to cross-reference with outside intelligence for integrated analysis.

"Within the Temple Hall and among the upper echelon of the Imperial City, the rumor has long been that Bai Changqing is ’afraid of his wife’—and that this timidity came in his later years; people gossip in private that he dotes so much on his two young wives that it’s become a joke. But according to the information returned by the Xu Family Sisters, Bai Changqing is actually not ’afraid of his wife,’ nor has marrying two young wives made him lax or distracted by lust. At home, he spends most of his time in the study, ruminating on official business. This is completely at odds with the external perception of Bai Changqing.

According to information in the Document Library, whenever there’s been a major event at court, the officials of the Imperial City generally meet secretly and often, but not in the usual teahouses or restaurants; they choose their own residences, with gatherings limited to three to five people. We even judge that many of the influential remonstrations in the Temple Hall originated and were refined in such private meetings between these top officials."

After such analysis from his subordinate, Wang Jian’s brows furrowed slightly; he seemed to have caught a whiff of something.

The intelligence from the Xu Family Sisters, when considered alone, showed no particular highlights, but if combined with other reports received by Black Water in the Imperial City and interpreted from a targeted perspective, new things could be uncovered. Lastly, if one factored in the Four Divisions’ assessment of Bai Changqing’s character, further deductions could be made about what the surface intelligence did not reveal.

"Go on."

"Yes, my lord. From our analysis, Bai Changqing is intentionally letting others believe he is ’afraid of his wife.’ This makes it easier for him to refuse invitations, and can even help him fend off invitations from those who are not close relations. On this point, we have seventy percent certainty."

The Four Divisions’ so-called "seventy percent certainty" already amounted to near-certainty.

But the deductions from the Four Divisions did not stop there. The subordinate continued, "According to the wind from the Temple Hall, the Civil Servants are now weak and no longer have a chance to regain past influence. Nevertheless, many high-ranking officials continue to gather in private; among them, Left Minister Ye Lansheng is the most active. But Bai Changqing, who has always been allied with Ye Lansheng, now acts so very ’afraid of his wife and devoted to his family’—which is rather telling.

We believe Bai Changqing is intentionally avoiding the senior figures in the Civil Servant Group led by Ye Lansheng."

This conclusion made Wang Jian’s expression turn even more curious.

In the past, among the Six Ministries at court, aside from the Ministry of War, the other five ministries could practically be said to "wear the same pair of pants." This was why the Civil Servant Group could suppress and even bully the military: their power was simply too great.

And the Ministry of Revenue, as the key to controlling the "money bag," had always been one of the core ministries of the Civil Servant Group, with Bai Changqing holding a position of immense significance within their ranks.

In some gatherings, Bai Changqing would even attend as the right-hand man of Left Minister Ye Lansheng; their relationship should by rights be extremely close.

But now the Four Divisions’ analysis asserted that Bai Changqing was proactively distancing himself from Ye Lansheng. Why is that?

The subordinate continued, "Bai Changqing is a man who adheres to principle, which is evident from his policies over many years in the Ministry of Revenue and his prior resume. He is adept at factional struggle and quite lucky; in terms of cultivation, he stands out among the Civil Servants. Moreover, his family has served as officials for three generations, has heritage and connections—truly a typical upper-tier elite figure.

Such a man, choosing to distance himself from the present Left Minister Ye Lansheng, can even be seen as deliberately alienating himself from the most active upper officials in the Civil Servant Group. The only explanation for this may be: Bai Changqing senses danger, and is subconsciously moving away out of self-preservation."

"Danger? What could Bai Changqing sense that frightens him so much he would ignore appearances just to distance himself from Ye Lansheng and the others?"

"We don’t know yet. However, judging from Bai Changqing’s tactic of ’self-discrediting,’ the danger he senses is probably just a sign, not fully manifested. Otherwise, he wouldn’t resort to ’self-discrediting’ to give himself a way out. We estimate that only after the Ministry of Revenue announces its austerity policies regarding money and grain will some clues begin to emerge."

"So in your view, the Ministry of Revenue’s upcoming policies on funds and grain will spark major troubles?"

"Yes, my lord. According to our filtering of the Dynasty’s internal strategies during past wars against the Barbarian Race, we unanimously believe the wartime fiscal policies of the Ministry of Revenue are most critical and impactful. There is always turbulence. This time is likely to be the same."

Wang Jian nodded, then left his signature on the approval submitted by the subordinate, saying, "I can give you the materials, but you must act quickly. Just as you said just now—attach all analyses and evidence. I’ll give you two days. Is that enough?"

"Rest assured, my lord. We only need one day—we will certainly deliver something to your satisfaction!"

"Very good. Then I’ll wait for your news. Go, attend to your work." Wang Jian handed over the approved document with his seal. The recipient accepted it with both hands, bowed, and withdrew.

The man who left was a Deacon from the Judicial Department, with no cultivation and no martial arts. His only redeeming quality was having served in eight separate administrative posts—even acted as a public academy instructor, with a stomach full of sly cunning. Now, in the Judicial Department, he was like a fish in water, commanding the first seat for deductions and analysis.