Great Shang Dragon Guard

The previous dynasty was plagued by harsh taxes and tyrannical rule, with a foolish and incompetent emperor leading to widespread suffering among the populace. Compounded by continuous natural disasters and man-made calamities, people resorted to cannibalism, their bones littering the fields, leaving the Central Plains with only one in ten households remaining.

The Martial Emperor rose from this chaos, conquering rivals and sweeping away feudal lords. Blessed by Heaven and Earth, he received the Mandate of Heaven, establishing the Great Shang dynasty and building his capital at Chaoge. He divided the realm into thirty-six prefectures, fostering peace and prosperity through culture and military strength, and this has now continued for six hundred and thirty-five years.

In Chaoge City, within Yongxing Ward, a courtyard of a moderately sized Western-style residence, a young man with a tall, straight build, sharply defined features, and eyes like deep, dark jade pools was practicing martial arts with powerful punches.

His fists moved like the wind, his qi chillingly cold. Golden morning sunlight bathed him, causing wisps of mist to rise, resembling a hazy ball of cotton.

A woman, around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, dressed in a black martial uniform with blue embroidered patterns, emerged from the eastern room.

She had a pointed face and long, slender eyebrows, possessing great beauty. However, her gaze held a mixture of stubbornness and ferocity. "Shuang'er, today is the day you've applied for the Captain assessment. Go to the yamen early to clock in!"

The young man's name was Qin Shuang. Qin Shuang's ancestors had followed the Martial Emperor in expanding the empire and establishing the nation. As descendants of meritorious officials, the younger generation of the Qin family inherited the hereditary position of Great Shang's Dragon Guard, continuing to serve the country.

The Dragon Guard was first established by the Martial Emperor after founding the nation. They served Heaven, taking orders only from the emperor; they fought for victory; and they operated in the shadows, serving the night.

Their main headquarters was located in Ghostly Night City, with their operational yamen situated south of the Imperial City in the capital, hence their nickname "Southern Guard." They were as renowned as the Eastern Investigation Bureau, Western Investigation Bureau, and Imperial Guards in the Great Shang Dynasty, collectively known as the "Two Eastern Bureaus, Two Southern Guards." They were a special organization directly subordinate to the emperor, not subject to any court department.

In addition to their powers of monitoring officials, maintaining public order, investigating and arresting criminals, and conducting interrogations and executions—similar to the Eastern and Western Bureaus and the Imperial Guards—the Dragon Guard also held the authority to represent the court and oversee all matters within the martial arts world.

Their organizational structure followed a military system, with one Grand Commander who also served as the Lord of Ghostly Night City. Below him were eight camps designated by the characters Tian, Di, Xuan, Huang, Yu, Zhou, Hong, and Huang. Each camp had a leader (Colonel) who assisted the Grand Commander in managing the Dragon Guard's affairs. Each camp was further divided into several departments based on actual needs, with each department headed by a Commander (Military Commander). Each department was divided into two companies, with each company having a Captain. Each company was divided into five platoons, with each platoon having a Platoon Leader. Each platoon was divided into two squads, with each squad having a Squad Leader, and each squad was divided into five tens, with each ten having a Ten Leader.

Qin Shuang had returned from his studies at sixteen and had been serving in the Dragon Guard for two years. Hearing his mother, he retracted his stance and gathered his qi. "Okay, Mom!"

"If you encounter any difficulties, send someone to tell me!" As she spoke, a maid had already brought a fine horse to the gate. With agile grace, he mounted the horse and galloped away!

Qin Hongmian, nicknamed "Asura Blade," was a subordinate Platoon Leader of the Zhou-character camp of the Dragon Guard, holding a rank of sixth grade.

"Aunt Hong, good morning!" A clear and melodious voice sounded from outside the gate. In a flash, a slender, yet handsome and dashingly free-spirited young man entered. "Brother Shuang, have you eaten breakfast yet?"

The young man who entered was Jiang Xiaoyu. The Jiang family was also one of the two hundred and sixteen hereditary families serving in the Great Shang Dynasty's Dragon Guard. However, Jiang Xiaoyu's lineage was from a concubine. Years ago, his parents met with misfortune, leading to him being fostered in his uncle Jiang Biehe's home since childhood.

Despite living under someone else's roof, Jiang Xiaoyu never gave up. Instead, he strived to improve himself and, through his own efforts, successfully passed the assessment to join the Dragon Guard.

The Dragon Guard recruited new members through four channels: hereditary succession, recruitment, assessment, and training. The Xuan-character camp of the Dragon Guard was specifically responsible for this.

Hereditary succession was a welfare benefit granted by the court to descendants of meritorious officials. They started at the lowest level. If such individuals were unmotivated and content to just coast by, the court would naturally support them. However, if they were capable, diligent, and performed in accordance with the emperor's wishes, their promotion would undoubtedly be the fastest. This group was undoubtedly the most loyal to the Great Shang Dynasty and the most trusted by the emperor.

Recruited individuals were generally those actively sought out by the Dragon Guard, either for their exceptional martial arts skills or unique abilities. Therefore, they held a relatively high status within the Dragon Guard, starting at least at the level of Platoon Leader or Squad Leader.

Assessments involved recommendations from incumbent Dragon Guard members each year, followed by an assessment and selection process for the recommended individuals, bringing in a fresh batch of talent. Every person who passed the assessment undoubtedly possessed extraordinary qualities. Therefore, although their starting positions might be low, once they rose to prominence, they were bound to be powerful figures.

Trainees entered Ghostly Night City from a young age and were cultivated by the Lin department of the Xuan-character camp of the Dragon Guard. After the age of sixteen, they participated in assessments and trials, with only the best being selected. This group represented the strongest and most hidden force within the Dragon Guard.

"Haven't eaten yet. I just finished a round of boxing and was about to head out," Qin Shuang replied, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Then it's perfect, let's go together," Jiang Xiaoyu said with a smile.

"Alright!" Qin Shuang agreed. After tidying himself up a bit, he left with Jiang Xiaoyu.

The Dragon Guard held immense authority, leading to a complex internal structure with numerous departments. Each of the eight camps had its own subdivisions. Qin Shuang and Jiang Xiaoyu belonged to the Shen department under the Yu-character camp, specifically responsible for investigation, apprehension, interrogation, and case handling.

"Brother Shuang, I heard you signed up for the Captain assessment?"

As soon as they entered the yamen, a tall, broad-shouldered man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, wearing a black Imperial Guard uniform and familiar with Qin Shuang, approached them.

A key distinguishing feature of the Dragon Guard was their martial uniform, woven from pure black cloud brocade. Different official ranks were indicated by embroidered borders of various colors.

A Squad Leader of the seventh rank had blue embroidery on their ordinary black uniform. A Ten Leader of the seventh rank had green embroidery. A Captain of the sixth rank had orange embroidery. A Platoon Leader of the sixth rank had blue embroidery. A Company Commander of the fifth rank had purple embroidery. A Military Commander of the fifth rank had red embroidery. A Colonel of the eighth camp had silver embroidery. A Grand Commander of the third rank had gold embroidery.

"Ah, my family is pushing me hard. You know my mother!" Qin Shuang spread his hands.

"Aunt Hong has always been sharp-tongued but kind-hearted."

"Guo Jing, what about you? When are you planning to apply?" Qin Shuang asked in return.

Guo Jing chuckled sheepishly and scratched his head. "Me? I'll pass. I know my own limitations. I'm content to just do my job diligently under the Squad Leader. Handling a team alone and solving cases... I'm not cut out for that."

"Don't underestimate yourself. Your fundamental skills are the most solid among our group," Qin Shuang said, patting Guo Jing on the shoulder encouragingly.

In the main hall of the Shen department, Yu-character camp of the Dragon Guard yamen, the Military Commander Yang Yuncong, wearing a red-bordered black brocade uniform, sat imposingly at his desk, perusing documents and scrolls.

"Uncle Yang!" Qin Shuang entered the hall and called out affectionately.