Town Martial Division

Biodata

Organization

Duties and Regulations

• The division handles cases involving martial artists who commit crimes. The Government Office generally investigates first, while the Town Martial Division carries out arrests; major cases may be handled jointly 16 30.
• Its prison has two levels:
  • Upper level — holds martial artists guilty of lesser offenses.
  • Underground level — holds serious criminals, all at least in the Bone Forging Realm; several are ranked martial artists 6.
• Both clerks and unregistered bailiffs may receive one unranked martial art upon joining. Manuals cannot be privately taught, sold, or lost without compensation 2.
• Recruits are granted half a month to study and cultivate their assigned martial art before beginning regular duties 2.
• Attacking fellow division members is punishable by forfeiture of cultivation and expulsion 29.

Political Control and Internal Corruption

The Town Martial Division was historically aligned with the Xu Family, while the County Government was associated with the Wu Family. The Meng Family controlled Fangcheng's martial arts halls, creating a three-sided balance of power in the city 11.

This balance was undermined by Meng Family influence within the division. Meng Cao held a clerk position and used it to threaten He An's family, manipulate assignments, and arrange an attempt on He An's life during a bandit-capture mission 1 16. After a Salvation Cult operation was seemingly leaked in advance, Wei Yangyun and He Ping suspected that the division contained a high-ranking mole, though they lacked proof 10.

Gu Chong's conduct later deepened these suspicions. Although associated with the Xu Family, he allowed Meng Cao to retain his clerkship and eventually enabled the Meng Family to dominate the division by transferring or sidelining personnel linked to the Wu and Xu families 77 100. He An confronted Gu with evidence of his connection to both the Meng Family and the Salvation Cult 102.

Leadership of He An

After Gu Chong's death, the Wu and Xu families jointly backed He An as the new commander of the Fangcheng Town Martial Division, granting him authority to select its clerks and reorganize its personnel 105. He formally assumed office as Captain and hundred-household officer in Chapter 106 106.

He An immediately forced Meng Yuan and many Meng Family personnel out of the division. Wei Yangyun and Xu He publicly recognized his authority, while Sun Wangxian was appointed third clerk 107 108.

Under He An, the division dismantled gangs that harmed Fangcheng residents, killed resisting criminals, compensated victims, and distributed part of seized wealth as rewards to its personnel. These measures improved both discipline within the division and its reputation among the public 110.

Major Operations

Notable Personnel

• He An — Current Captain and hundred-household officer; expelled Meng Family personnel, appointed Sun Wangxian as clerk, and directed the division's gang crackdown 106 108 110.
• Gu Chong — Former Captain whose actions enabled Meng Family control over the division; implicated in dealings with the Meng Family and Salvation Cult 100 102.
• Wei Yangyun — Clerk who handled He An's entry into the division, enforced its rule against members attacking one another, and supported He An during the leadership conflict 2 29 101.
• Xu He — Clerk and stern division leader who supported He An against Meng Yuan and participated in the He Yao Village campaign 72 101.
• Sun Wangxian — Veteran clerk and former team leader, promoted to third clerk by He An. He warned personnel against attacking their own during the mountain operation 16 108.
• Wang Zheng — Clerk who guided He An through the Armory and defended him against Zhang Yongda's threats 2.
• Meng Cao — Former Meng Family clerk who abused his authority, attempted to eliminate He An, and was ultimately killed by him 16 94 96.
• Meng Yuan — Meng Family clerk who briefly held influence after Meng Cao's death; he was expelled during He An's reorganization 100 107.