Chapter 636: Alarm Bell

Chapter 636: Chapter 636: Alarm Bell

Jianchuan’s great victory!

Over twenty thousand enemies annihilated! The siege of Jianchuan was thoroughly lifted, dramatically reversing the situation in the South.

The Ministry of War naturally received this triumph report first, and it was personally written by Cheng Jinhou, the commander of the Upper Military Camp of Jianchuan, then jointly signed by Shen Wanlin, the main commander of Jianchuan’s defense zone.

Xuanqing Guard also received the report almost at the same time. Currently, thanks to the Inspector and the intelligence channels he built, Xuanqing Guard’s information transmission is actually a bit faster than the Ministry of War. However, in many details, their reports are far less clear than those from the Ministry of War.

"Looks like the Ministry of War fought a brilliant battle. The situation in the South will be much improved from now on." Pang Ban, for once, set out a simple table at home: three meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, one soup, and two jars of wine.

"Yes, this news is spreading everywhere on the streets—people are delighted. The wealthy households are even contacting brokerages already, inquiring about the purchase price of Barbarian Race slaves to follow."

Pang Ban invited only one person to the banquet—Jingxi Governor Jiang Cheng. This made Jiang Cheng a little flattered; as far as he knew, this was the first time Pang Ban had ever invited anyone to his house for a meal.

Jiang Cheng didn’t dare show up empty-handed, nor bring anything lavish, so he brought two jars of Wuliangye, said to be brewed for two years—these were the very jars set on the table.

After a few bites and two bowls of wine, Pang Ban naturally started discussing the hottest topic in the Imperial City lately: Jianchuan’s great victory.

"Heh, the common folk just enjoy the good news; but to truly reap benefits is a long way off. By my estimation, although Jianchuan’s victory is important, it’s just a step forward in the greater battle of the South, hardly a decisive win. So everything is still far from settled.

By the way, I looked through the award list sent from Jianchuan, Shen Hao is ranked very high. He hasn’t shamed our Xuanqing Guard. Are you preparing any special reward for him?"

Jiang Cheng didn’t know Pang Ban’s intentions, so he didn’t dare answer directly. He only said: "That’s the Ministry of War’s award list—the merit is issued directly by them. Here, we have only received the bereavement allowance slips for the fallen soldiers, and no petitions for merits. So for now, no extra reward has been prepared."

Pang Ban shook his head and smiled, "Great merits ought to be rewarded. Draft a special award list; run it through the Commander’s Office, so others know Xuanqing Guard’s attitude."

Only then did Jiang Cheng agree.

After a few exchanges, Pang Ban praised the wine as excellent. He also laughed, "I heard your old boss came to ask you for wine a couple days ago? Apparently left displeased, didn’t get his fill and stormed off?"

"Lord, you know about this as well?"

"Heh, after Liao Chengfeng left, he said you were thankless and pretentious. I rarely go out, but even I have heard of it. By rights, Jiang Cheng, you’re not a stingy man. I bet Shen Hao sends you a lot of this good Wuliangye, right? Couldn’t bear to let Liao Chengfeng have a taste?"

The banter was clear—Jiang Cheng understood this was Pang Ban giving him a chance to explain.

"Lord, if Lord Liao just wanted some wine, that would be easy enough. I don’t lack Wuliangye. But what he sought wasn’t merely wine—it was something else. I couldn’t agree, so I drew Lord Liao’s ire, and now he thinks I’m thankless and arrogant. That’s truly unfair to me."

Pang Ban took a bite, not urging, waiting for Jiang Cheng to go on.

"This matter shouldn’t be brought before you, but since you asked, I’ll report it." Jiang Cheng paused, then continued, "Days ago, Lord Liao came seeking me to have a few people placed in the Southern Border Army. I deflected by saying Inspector’s matters in the Southern Border Army are now handled by Shen Hao. After several failed exchanges, Lord Liao got angry and left in a huff."

Pang Ban already knew the gist; he simply wanted to hear Jiang Cheng’s account.

After Jiang Cheng finished, seeing Pang Ban lift his wine bowl, he quickly clinked bowls and drained it, then proactively poured more wine.

"Liao Chengfeng is the Jingnan Governor; the Inspector in the Southern Border Army used to be one of his men. Only now is it transferred to you in Jingxi. So what—he wanted to plant people earlier but didn’t, and now he’s thinking of it? What’s the angle?"

"I only learned about it later—the people Lord Liao tried to place were Guest Elders from the Third Prince’s Mansion. You had previously instructed not to get entangled with any of the princes, so I didn’t dare entertain Lord Liao’s request."

Jiang Cheng indeed served under Liao Chengfeng for a long time. But that didn’t mean he was a die-hard from Liao Chengfeng’s faction. Previously, Jiang Cheng and Liao Chengfeng had major disagreements about the Black Banner Battalion; later, Jiang Cheng supported Shen Hao in handling several major cases with decisive action, and after gaining exposure, replaced Liao Chengfeng as Jingxi Governor during Xuanqing Guard’s internal purge, while Liao Chengfeng moved to Jingnan. Since then, their relations had grown distant.

But for Liao Chengfeng to suddenly seek to plant people, Jiang Cheng was not easy to sway—especially as he learned these were the Third Prince’s Guest Elders, so he refused flatly.

Liao Chengfeng probably didn’t expect that Jiang Cheng, once merely a subordinate, now dared to snub him so openly, so he was furious, and after returning, spread rumors about Jiang Cheng’s ’thanklessness.’

From Liao Chengfeng’s perspective, Jiang Cheng was indeed lacking in fellowship. But Jiang Cheng wasn’t a fool; should he just accept anything?

As expected, after Jiang Cheng finished, Pang Ban put down his chopsticks. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a look of disgust.

"Liao Chengfeng is growing ever more brazen."

Jiang Cheng did not reply. But he’d heard as much—Liao Chengfeng had been currying favor with the Third Prince, even rumored to have ties with Ye Lansheng. The Liao Family is a major household in the Jingjiu Dynasty, with several marital alliances with the Cultivation Race, tangled together—one touch sets the whole network shaking. Plus with the Third Prince’s influence, Pang Ban always allowed Liao Chengfeng some leeway.

"Now the Ministry of Revenue’s tightening measures have been issued—only reported at court, with no follow-up. It also hasn’t fallen within the usual scope of Lord Bai Changqing at the Ministry of Revenue, but has been retained by Your Majesty, not made public. The intention is clearly to select one of the princes to shoulder this burden."

"You still believe the Seventh Prince will be favored?"

"That is certain. And it’s not just my opinion; others think likewise. In the end, Your Majesty will surely bring the Seventh Prince forward. Otherwise, if there’s no balance of strengths, the contest wouldn’t be fair.

But as a result, the other princes become passive. Direct confrontation yields no result; so they must seek alternatives. That’s why the Third Prince wants to plant his Guest Elders in the Southern Border Army.

Shen Hao has no roots, only you—a teacher—as backing, and now he’s at the frontlines, so few will try to use him. Approaching you is easier. The Third Prince is just the beginning; soon you’ll find yourself, as Jingxi Governor, the hottest commodity in town."