Another Roadblock

Another Roadblock

Zheng Haihan shook his head helplessly.

He had originally wanted to persuade Bai Yan to change his temperament, keep a lower profile, and stop being so arrogant. He wanted him to understand that an excess of hardness was bound to break.

But judging by Bai Yan's appearance, it seemed that temperament of his couldn't be changed.

After spending this period of time together, Zheng Haihan had gained some understanding of Bai Yan's personality.

In daily life, Bai Yan treated people kindly, was easy to get along with, and had no airs about him.

But once someone provoked him, Bai Yan would show no mercy when he struck.

Beating someone until they were injured or crippled was merely the basics.

People like Bai Yan could be described favorably as being born with an unyielding spirit and wild, untamable nature.

Put less kindly, they took revenge over the slightest grudge and had no idea how to compromise or be flexible.

But that was a good thing too. Bai Yan would never play at honeyed words masking a sword or hiding a dagger behind a smile. Instead, that made Zheng Haihan value him even more.

People with this kind of temperament were worth cultivating. They wouldn't be corrupted by money and power, and they were more worthy of trust.

Zheng Haihan gazed at Bai Yan, and for a moment, it was as if he were seeing his former self.

After all, he too had once possessed that same inborn pride and untamable nature.

As the old saying went, only mediocrities escaped envy. Without edges and corners, there could be no sharpness.

"Forget it. Have it your way."

Zheng Haihan rubbed his brow and waved a hand.

"Go on. There are no missions lately. When you have nothing to do, investigate the Demonic Cult's traces."

"The Demonic Cult is the Imperial Court's greatest enemy, and also your best opportunity to earn merit."

"As long as the merit you earn is substantial enough, Wang Zheng won't dare lay a hand on you."

Bai Yan cupped his hands in salute.

"Yes, sir. I understand. This subordinate will take his leave."

With that, Bai Yan turned and strode away.

After Bai Yan left, a voice sounded from behind Zheng Haihan.

"This Captain Bai is truly something else. He's completely different from his father, Bai Lizheng. I can't help wondering whether he's really Bai Lizheng's son."

Zheng Haihan watched Bai Yan's back and spoke thoughtfully.

"As long as he isn't a Demonic Cult spy or one of Wang Qingquan's people, everything else is irrelevant."

"Oh? You want to make use of him?"

"What do you mean, 'make use'? That sounds so unpleasant. I'm cultivating him."

Zheng Haihan's smile faded, and his tone grew solemn.

"The Wang Clan's power has grown too great these past few years, and its reach has extended too far."

"They've embezzled and perverted the law, lined their own pockets, and even framed loyal ministers and valiant generals on a grand scale, weakening the nation's strength considerably."

"If this continues, the Great Yu Dynasty will inevitably fall into decline."

The voice spoke again.

"But what can be done?"

"Wang Qingquan's power was granted by His Majesty. He's His Majesty's favored minister."

"As long as His Majesty doesn't speak, no one can do anything to him."

Zheng Haihan sighed and shook his head helplessly.

"Alas, how could I not know that?"

"But as subjects of Great Yu, we should naturally ease our sovereign's worries and serve our country."

"Wang Qingquan is a treacherous minister who is throwing the nation into chaos. One day, sooner or later, His Majesty will settle accounts with him. What we have to do is accumulate strength before that day arrives and ensure that we can completely suppress the Wang Clan when it comes."

"These past few years, Wang Qingquan has extensively formed alliances with civil and military officials. Several commanders on the frontier have also been bought off by him, and he has even recruited many martial arts experts. If the Imperial Guard wants to stand against Wang Qingquan, it must cultivate more people who can be put to use."

The voice held a trace more astonishment.

"Could it be that you want to cultivate Bai Yan and have him succeed to the position of one of the Thirteen Imperial Guards in the future?"

"Correct. Whether you look at his talent, temperament, or His Majesty's attitude, he is highly suitable."

"Most importantly, His Majesty favors him greatly. The last time he went to meet His Majesty, His Majesty even specifically asked about him."

There were thirteen Imperial Guards in total, which was why they were also called the Imperial Guard's Thirteen Imperial Guards. Each of them was a Battalion Commander.

But the Thirteen Imperial Guards were different from the other Battalion Commanders.

Although they all belonged to the Pacification Bureau's Battalion Commanders, they stood independently outside the Northern and Southern Pacification Bureaus and obeyed only the direct orders of the Imperial Guard Commander and the Emperor.

Even the Imperial Guard Deputy Commander and Assistant Commander had no authority to mobilize the Thirteen Imperial Guards.

Moreover, in a certain sense, the Thirteen Imperial Guards' authority was even greater than that of the Deputy Commander and Assistant Commander.

Once someone became one of the Thirteen Imperial Guards, it was equivalent to bearing the Emperor's mark. They were the true personal guards of the Son of Heaven.

The Thirteen Imperial Guards were the Emperor's most trusted people, destined to become the sharpest blades in his hand.

Although they could intimidate the civil and military officials, they were also destined to incur the hatred of those same officials.

If the civil and military officials' loathing for ordinary Imperial Guards was a hundred, then their loathing for the Thirteen Imperial Guards was ten thousand.

At the slightest misstep, they would meet a fate of being smashed to pieces.

The Thirteen Imperial Guards were lone loyalists. No one would try to win them over. Even Chief Grand Secretary Wang Qingquan didn't dare touch that line.

Winning over the people most trusted by the Emperor—what exactly did you mean by that?

Were you trying to probe the sovereign's authority, or plant spies?

Emperor Shunying might tolerate Wang Qingquan forming cliques for personal gain and lining his own pockets, but he would absolutely never allow anyone to test the sovereign's authority. This was every emperor's forbidden scale.

Once that line was crossed, anyone would die without leaving an intact corpse!

"Greetings, sir."

Bai Yan walked out of the Battalion Commander's Office, where Ren Hong and Li Kaiyao, who had been waiting outside, immediately came forward and bowed respectfully.

Bai Yan nodded.

"Let's go to the archive room."

"Yes, sir."

The three of them hurried toward the archive room.

Along the way, quite a few Imperial Guards saw the three of them, and their expressions turned somewhat peculiar.

When several Captains saw Bai Yan, naked envy seeped from their eyes.

By now, the news that Bai Yan had captured Demonic Cult rebels and earned great merit had spread throughout the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau.

Everyone knew that Bai Yan had been heavily rewarded by the Emperor.

If not for his insufficient seniority, he would already have been qualified to serve as a Deputy Battalion Commander.

He had spent less than two months in the Imperial Guard, yet Bai Yan had already walked a path that took others more than a decade. How could that not make people envious, jealous, and resentful?

Bai Yan completely ignored their envious gazes. He didn't put them in his eyes at all.

Look however you want. That's your business. I can't be bothered with you anyway.

What? Not convinced?

If you're not convinced, come up here and bite me!

I'll blast you apart with one punch and scatter your ashes to the winds!

What use was snide mockery? If you wanted to rise, you still had to rely on your fists!

Because Bai Yan's fists were hard enough, his confidence was naturally abundant!

"Captain Bai, please wait!"

Just after he left the Battalion Commander's Office grounds, someone suddenly appeared ahead and blocked his path.

Bai Yan looked up and saw that the newcomer was a middle-aged Captain, at least over forty years old.

The surrounding Imperial Guards immediately put on expressions of watching a good show, and the scene seemed strangely familiar.

After all, the last Captain who had come looking for Bai Yan was already lying in bed.

Bai Yan looked at the newcomer and asked coldly,

"What is it?"

The man smiled.

"My name is Liu Fengshan, and I am a Captain under Battalion Commander Wang Zheng."

"This time, I have come by order to invite Captain Bai to pay a visit to Battalion Commander Wang. Please accompany me, Captain Bai."