Mo Yunxuan followed Chen Wei into the Council Hall. The generals had thoughtfully cleaned the seat of honor and given it to him.
Naturally, Mo Yunxuan took it without hesitation. He surveyed the generals as they took their seats and said:
"Generals, my father's death was unexpected, and I can only say I've been entrusted with this post in a time of crisis. Please introduce yourselves so I can get to know you."
As soon as Mo Yunxuan finished speaking, Chen Wei, seated at the lower left, rose obligingly and said:
"Duke, I'm Chen Wei, deputy general of the Imperial City Imperial Guard and Commander of Left Xiao Guard. I'm at the late stage of Spirit Transformation, command fifty thousand soldiers, and am responsible for defending East City Gate and South City Gate."
"Duke, I'm Zhang Tong, deputy general of the Imperial City Imperial Guard and Commander of You Xiao Guard. I'm at the late stage of Spirit Transformation, command fifty thousand soldiers, and am responsible for defending West City Gate and North City Gate."
[Name: Zhang Tong] [Identity: Commander of You Xiao Guard, Imperial City Imperial Guard of the Dagan Dynasty] [Cultivation: Spirit Transformation, late stage] [Cultivation Method: Blood Battle Scripture] [Loyalty: 91]
"Duke, I'm Fang Liang, deputy general of the Imperial City Imperial Guard and Commander of Left Wei Guard. I'm at the middle stage of Spirit Transformation, command fifty thousand soldiers, and am responsible for patrolling the city."
[Name: Fang Liang] [Identity: Commander of Left Wei Guard, Imperial City Imperial Guard of the Dagan Dynasty] [Cultivation: Spirit Transformation, middle stage] [Cultivation Method: Blood Battle Scripture] [Loyalty: 62]
"Duke, I'm Meng Qianxue, deputy general of the Imperial City Imperial Guard and Commander of Right Wei Guard. I'm at the middle stage of Spirit Transformation, command fifty thousand soldiers, and am responsible for patrolling the city."
[Name: Meng Qianxue] [Identity: Commander of Right Wei Guard, Imperial City Imperial Guard of the Dagan Dynasty] [Cultivation: Spirit Transformation, middle stage] [Cultivation Method: Blood Battle Scripture] [Loyalty: 98]
After Chen Wei introduced himself, the other generals followed suit. Everything proceeded in orderly fashion, giving Mo Yunxuan a much better understanding of the Imperial City's two hundred thousand guards.
Zhang Tong, Commander of You Xiao Guard, was a dark-skinned, brutish-looking man with a face full of meaty jowls—the sort who could scare a child's parents to tears just by running off with the kid's candy.
As for Meng Qianxue, Commander of Right Wei Guard, Mo Yunxuan knew her. According to his memories, when he was very young, the Old Duke had arranged for Meng Qianxue to become his fiancée.
They'd been close since childhood, but after Meng Qianxue joined the army, they gradually saw less of each other.
Watching Meng Qianxue wink at him again and again, her spirited yet playful manner was truly exciting!
Fang Liang, Commander of Left Wei Guard, had delicate features. Like today's Child of Destiny, he was the sort of man who grew more appealing the longer you looked at him.
According to the information Mo Yunxuan had seen earlier, Fang Liang didn't seem very old. But his strength and ability were outstanding, so the Old Duke had promoted him to Commander of Left Wei Guard ahead of schedule.
Yet with only sixty-two points of loyalty on his panel, it seemed that the slightest temptation would be enough to make him betray Mo Yunxuan for personal gain.
Especially since the Empress had only recently ascended the throne. Her cultivation might dominate the entire Dagan Dynasty,
but to claim that the Empress had no desire to seize control of the Wei State Duke Mansion's two hundred thousand Imperial City guards would be sheer nonsense.
Unfortunately, although the Wei State Duke Mansion was known as home to a Loyal Minister of the State, its loyalty had always been to the Dagan Dynasty.
It had also remained neutral at the Imperial Court, rarely voicing public support for the Empress's decisions.
If the Empress discovered that Fang Liang, a man of wavering loyalties, was among the Imperial City guards, she would stop at nothing to bring him over to her side.
Then she could use Fang Liang to fracture the Imperial City Imperial Guard and turn Left Wei Guard into her own personal force.
Given Fang Liang's position as Commander of Left Wei Guard, even if an attempt to split the Imperial City Imperial Guard ultimately failed, it would still cause a great deal of needless trouble.
Looks like I'll have to find a chance to make Fang Liang show his true colors, then get rid of him while I'm at it, Mo Yunxuan thought.
On the surface, though, he showed not the slightest hint of anything amiss. He simply continued smiling at the other generals.
They'd only just met, and their strengths and potential varied, but their loyalty scores—
Not one was below eighty, and many were above eighty-five. It seemed the Imperial City Imperial Guard's mid- and high-ranking officers really were quite dependable.
Once the introductions were over, Mo Yunxuan said, "Generals, I've only just arrived, and I still don't have a complete grasp of military affairs. Please forgive me for any shortcomings."
With that, he stood and bowed to them. The generals promptly rose and returned the courtesy.
After they finished exchanging bows, Mo Yunxuan sat back in the seat of honor. Looking at the four commanders, he said solemnly:
"I need a detailed roster of the Imperial City Imperial Guard. The Wei State Duke Mansion's Imperial Guard will also investigate and verify the Imperial City Imperial Guard within the next month. I hope you'll cooperate."
Chen Wei answered first on everyone's behalf. "Please rest assured, Duke. Once we return, we'll promptly arrange for the roster to be compiled and make sure there are no ghost soldiers or soldiers being bled dry in the ranks."
Zhang Tong and Meng Qianxue nodded in agreement.
Only Fang Liang, Commander of Left Wei Guard, looked impatient. He snorted. "Duke, does this mean you don't trust us?"
Chen Wei and the other two hadn't expected Fang Liang to challenge the New Duke of Wei on an occasion like this. The surrounding generals also frowned.
Zhang Tong, the hot-tempered Commander of You Xiao Guard, cursed him outright:
"Fang Liang! The Duke is only sending the Imperial Guard to oversee the Imperial City Imperial Guard as per custom. What the hell is that attitude? Think I won't beat you up?"
Young and hotheaded, Fang Liang couldn't take that provocation. He slapped the table, sprang to his feet, and glared straight at Zhang Tong.
He roared, "Zhang Tong! Don't push it! You're Commander of You Xiao Guard, and I'm Commander of Left Wei Guard. I may be weaker than you, but my military rank is no lower than yours. Go ahead and try hitting me!"
The generals from the various guards watched Fang Liang's furious yet cowardly display and couldn't help scoffing as they muttered among themselves.
"General Fang looks so fierce, I'm shaking in my boots!"
"He deserves a beating for disrespecting the Duke."
"Exactly. The Duke may still be weak, but he's young. Who does Fang Liang think he is, running his mouth like that?"
"Fang Liang's a real ingrate. Everyone saw how much the Old Duke valued him back in the day. He never lacked for resources."
"Now that the Old Duke's gone, he dares swagger in front of the young Duke. He's less than a beast."
Though the generals spoke in deliberately lowered voices, everyone present except Mo Yunxuan—
was a powerful cultivator at the Nascent Soul Late Stage or higher. Not a single word escaped anyone's ears.
The other officers of Left Wei Guard, especially, flushed red. Their eyes fixed on Fang Liang, brimming with discontent.
In an instant, Fang Liang was left without support, the target of every general's hostility.
The sudden turn of events left Fang Liang, who was used to being fawned over, at a loss.
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