Iron Clothes Department

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Iron Clothes Department (铁衣司)
Affiliation	Zhao State; formally under the Six Ministries 30
Occupation/Role	Government law-enforcement and investigative body responsible for arrests, criminal cases, martial-artist registration, and espionage cases 30 53 79
Status	Active 301
First Appearance	Chapter 30

Background & History

The Iron Clothes Department is a Zhao State government office with authority across major cities and counties. Its jurisdiction covers lawbreakers and criminals, including members of major sects; however, local constables may avoid complicated sect disputes when they lack the rank or power to intervene. 30

Although it is not a Jianghu sect, it is regarded as a first-rate force. Its institutional strength does not always translate into the quality of every local office: during the Western Prince’s competition, its Seventh-Rank representatives were markedly outperformed by the elite disciples of the Western Great First-rate Sects. 37 129 131

The Department Master is credited with the organization’s formidable standing. The Department previously destroyed the Rong Tribe’s Heavenly Will Sect in less than half a month, later retaining the sect’s Heavenly Will Divine Saber technique as a departmental reward. 30 119

Authority & Jurisdiction

• Investigates crimes and conducts arrests throughout Zhao State’s cities and counties, including cases involving sect disciples. 30
• Holds special authority over Rong Tribe spies; this authority supersedes other jurisdictions and can justify action against otherwise protected local officials. 212
• Registers martial artists and maintains information accessible to the Iron Clothes Department and other government bureaus after registration. 53 79
• Licenses the Changhe Prefecture Martial Market, where martial artists trade weapons, pills, and other goods. 82
• Can deploy constables, powerful crossbows, and emergency measures when handling espionage cases. 230
• The Black List was created by senior figures within the Department. 30

Organization

Local Divisions

Each prefectural office includes three principal divisions: 68

Division	Documented responsibility
Anti-Theft Division	Pursues and arrests local bandits; described as the most important branch. 68
Public Security Division	Handles public-security matters and major local operations. Yang Ling later commanded Changhe Prefecture’s First and Third Branches concurrently. 199 200
Patrol Division	A prefectural division; Lin Yan sought the position of Master of Patrol Department Three. 68

The Changhe Prefecture Anti-Theft Division’s gathered branches and deputy constables numbered over one thousand, while its Public Security Division had roughly two to three hundred constables noted for stronger overall quality. 199

Capital Departments

The Capital’s Iron Clothes Department has additional higher-level branches beyond the three local divisions: 294

• Command Department
• Strategy Division
• Decapitation Division

Ranks & Advancement

The Department’s promotion system prioritizes martial ability and demonstrated merit rather than scholarly qualifications. A superior’s recommendation and a successful assessment are required for advancement. 30

Rank	Documented distinction	Evidence
Ninth-Rank Iron Clothes Constable	A common entry-level ranked post; Yang Ling received it for killing the Rong Tribe spy Wu Man and displaying talent in the Thief-Catching Saber Technique.	52 53
Eighth-Rank Iron Clothes Constable	Compared to becoming an inner disciple rather than an outer disciple; Eighth-Rank officers controlled Changhe Prefecture’s key points, with fewer than twelve known there.	36 83
Seventh-Rank Iron Clothes	Can hold major prefectural leadership. Yang Ling’s Seventh-Rank official saber granted Gather Momentum, usable only by an officer with Seventh-Rank status.	199 211
Sixth-Rank Iron Clothes	High-ranking members are expected to cultivate the Iron Clothes Divine Armor Scripture. Yang Ling’s assessment required enduring 100 moves against Lu Yunchen without exhausting Qi and Blood or leaving the arena.	194
Fifth-Rank Iron Clothes	A Capital-level post; Yun Buchuan served as Fifth-Rank Master of the Capital Public Security Division Third Branch.	294

Training, Techniques & Equipment

Thief-Catching Saber Technique

The Department’s standard saber art is issued to constables alongside their uniforms and official sabers. It is mandatory practice for constables, and exceptional proficiency can support promotion even when cultivation is weaker. 30

• Reaching Perfected Skill is required before seeking the Tiger Catching Saber Technique. 36
• A candidate must also be an Eighth-Rank Iron Clothes Constable and pass an additional assessment to receive Tiger Catching Saber Technique. 36
• Yang Ling reached First Glimpse of the Door within roughly ten days of joining, contributing to his Ninth-Rank promotion. 52

Iron Clothes Art and Divine Armor Scripture

The third-rate Iron Clothes Art is a foundation technique for developing into a core member; more advanced departmental techniques require it as a prerequisite. 99

• At Perfected Skill, Iron Clothes Art can add 20 points each to Strength and Agility. 80
• The second-rate Iron Clothes Divine Armor Scripture is an internal cultivation method used by high-ranking Department members. 194
• Rong Tribe agent Nangong Yue infiltrated the Department deeply enough to hold Seventh-Rank status while practicing both the Divine Armor Scripture and Dragon Catching Saber Technique. 148

Official Issue

• Common Constable Uniform — standard constable attire. 30
• Iron Clothes Department Official Saber — entry issue; Strength +3 and Attack 20. 30
• Ninth-Rank Iron Clothes — Health Points +100. 53
• Ninth-Rank Official Saber — Strength +5 and Attack Power 25. 53
• Seventh-Rank Iron Clothes — Health Points +300. 211
• Seventh-Rank Official Saber — Strength +10, Agility +10, Attack Power +100, and the exclusive skill Gather Momentum. 211
• Sixth-Rank Official Saber — reportedly forged with Hundred Refined Qilin Iron. 257

Notable Personnel

• Department Master — unnamed head whose methods underpin the Department’s authority; personally led the campaign that destroyed the Heavenly Will Sect. 30 119
• Shi Xin — Iron Clothes Minister in Changhe Prefecture; promoted Yang Ling to Ninth Rank and later became acting First Branch Chief before his transfer to Xiangfeng Prefecture. 52 119 199
• Lu Yunchen — Sixth-Rank steward of the Yunwen Provincial Capital yamen; conducted Yang Ling’s Sixth-Rank assessment and defended the Department’s actions against Star Gazing Academy. 121 140 194
• Sun Biao — Upper Eighth-Rank martial artist and former Changhe Public Security Division First Branch Chief; transferred to Yunwen Provincial Capital. 80 199
• Yun Ruo — Steward of Changhe Prefecture’s Second Division; successfully represented the Department in the Western Prince’s competition and commanded Yang Ling’s special crackdown operation. 125 129 200
• Yang Ling — rapidly promoted constable who became Changhe Prefecture Public Security Division First and Third Branch Master concurrently. 52 199 200
• Zhao Xun — Fifth-Rank Iron Clothes official and collateral member of the royal family; brought intelligence concerning a high-level Rong Tribe spy. 187
• Yun Buchuan — Fifth-Rank Master of the Capital Public Security Division Third Branch. 294

Relations & Conflicts

• Major sects — The Department possesses legal authority over sect members, but sect-related matters remain politically sensitive. The Mountain River Sect’s elders reacted uneasily upon learning Yang Ling was a ranked Iron Clothes constable. 30 61
• Western Great First-rate Sects — Competed against the Department during the Western Prince’s martial contest. Yang Ling and Yun Ruo were the only Iron Clothes representatives to successfully defend their places in the early rounds. 131
• Mine Gang — The Mine Gang lost control of several valuable mineral veins to the Department after its member He Dongfeng was exposed as a Rong Tribe spy. 157
• Heavenly Wolf Guard — A Rong Tribe espionage organization that has infiltrated Zhao State and the Department itself. It countered a Department operation against a Second-Rank Human Immortal spy, producing a stalemate. 148 187
• Prefectural offices — Local prefects and the Iron Clothes Department have longstanding friction. Prefectural authorities may resist Department investigations, particularly when local powerholders are implicated. 212 230

Major Operations

• Wu Que and Wu Man investigation — Investigated Rong Tribe infiltration in Qingshan City; Yang Ling’s killing of Wu Man became the basis for his Ninth-Rank promotion. 52 53
• He Dongfeng case — Pursued the exposure of He Dongfeng, a Giant Spirit Sect member and Rong Tribe spy operating in Changhe Prefecture. 108 157
• Western Prince protection mission — Sent thirty Seventh-Rank experts to protect the Western Prince on the journey to Water Qilin Cave. 124
• Star Gazing Academy incident — Defended the killing of Zhang Ning, presenting witness testimony that he had attacked and killed Iron Clothes constables. 140
• Immortal God Cult crackdown — Prepared a state-wide eradication effort after identifying the cult’s Rong Tribe origins; Yang Ling later organized a special crackdown in Changhe Prefecture. 188 200
• Tingjiang City Commander’s Yamen siege — Sealed the yamen during a Rong Tribe spy case, refusing entry to prefectural forces without authorization from a superior Iron Clothes official. 230