The Embroidered Uniform Guard Office.
With his previous promotion behind him, handling the series of formalities was much easier this time.
Appointment papers in hand, Jia Huan went to see his immediate superior, Wang Zhenglun.
Hundred-Household Commander Wang was in his early fifties, with dark skin, two vertical creases on his forehead, and a tuft of goatee on his chin. The hand toying with his thumb ring was thick with calluses.
"Your subordinate pays his respects, Lord Wang!"
In the brightly lit office, Jia Huan bowed in greeting.
"No need for ceremony. Please sit." Wang Zhenglun looked amiable as he praised him:
"Young and accomplished, brimming with vigor. When I heard you had been assigned to my guard station, I was delighted to gain such a capable officer!"
As he spoke, he rose to pour tea, putting on none of a superior's airs.
"You flatter me, Lord Wang." Jia Huan had not expected him to be so approachable.
Wang Zhenglun pushed a fragrant cup of tea toward him and said with a smile:
"This is freshly picked Gusu Biluochun Tea. I'm a rough fellow and can't tell good tea from bad. I hear you're from a duke's household, so I imagine tea like this hardly merits your notice."
Knowing full well that the man was probing his background, Jia Huan answered truthfully:
"I haven't had it more than a few times myself."
Wang Zhenglun's smile remained unchanged, though a trace of regret entered his expression.
"It's a shame you're so young. Even with your merits, the Southern Commandant Office has held you back. You're a General Banner, yet you command only six Strongmen. You don't harbor any resentment, do you?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Jia Huan declared firmly. "Whatever our rank, we all serve the imperial throne. I will abide by all the Southern Office's arrangements."
Wang Zhenglun nodded and said with feigned nonchalance:
"Your courage is exceptional, and your talent for martial arts is outstanding. You're already a blazing sun rising among the Embroidered Uniform Guard across the realm. However..."
"Your shortcomings are equally obvious. You're young and hot-blooded. Our livelihood carries immense risks; one careless step can bring everything crashing down. If you could sheath your edge and keep a low profile, that would be ideal."
Jia Huan's expression did not change as he cupped his fists.
"Your subordinate will bear that in mind!"
He knew perfectly well that everything before had been polite window dressing. That last sentence was the real point.
Keep a low profile?
Crime and I cannot live beneath the same sky. How the hell am I supposed to keep a low profile?
Was he deliberately trying to suppress me to establish his authority?
"All right. If there's anything you don't understand in the future, you can come to me at any time."
Wang Zhenglun lifted his teacup.
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
Outside the Divine Capital, every General Banner at the Embroidered Uniform Guard stations in the various prefectures and commanderies commanded fifty Strongmen.
But the Capital was a place of special importance and had its own rules. The number of men under an Embroidered Uniform Guard General Banner varied, ranging from thirty-six to as few as three.
Since ancient times, the extent of one's power had depended less on rank than on how many people one directly commanded.
The influence of a General Banner with thirty-six direct subordinates spoke for itself.
Jia Huan, however, was a General Banner in name, with only six brothers he could deploy when investigating cases or handling disputes. That alone put him a head below the others.
"As long as I can get involved in bigger cases, I can overlook that. But to make the work easier, I still need my original six brothers."
Jia Huan returned to the office marked "Gui."
The six were bent over their desks working on dossiers. The moment they saw that familiar figure, they stood up.
"Congratulations on your promotion to General Banner, sir!"
Jia Huan waved a hand.
"A General Banner with an empty title and no real power. Fathead Fish, Skinny Monkey, Drunkard, Scholar, Twin Whips, Biaozi-are you willing to keep following me?"
At his words, the six answered almost in unison:
"We are!"
There was not the slightest hesitation.
Following their boss was hard work, but whenever they caught criminals and seized spoils, he was extremely generous.
Second, their boss always led from the front. Whenever there was danger, he never made his subordinates serve as human shields.
Third, their boss had boundless prospects. Following him meant sharing in his glory.
"Good." Jia Huan nodded in satisfaction.
"I'll go request the transfer orders in a bit."
According to the rules, once he left his position as Great Banner, he had no right to take his former subordinates with him.
But he had been shortchanged: a full-fledged General Banner commanding only six Strongmen. The Southern Office certainly would not refuse such a modest request.
Jia Huan declared in a deep voice:
"Work hard under me, everyone, and I, Jia Huan, will never let you down!"
The others answered with ringing conviction:
"We will obey the boss's orders without question!"
The Embroidered Uniform Guard Office was like a maze. Jia Huan and his men searched for an hour before finally finding the office marked "Geng" in the Celestial Pivot Office.
The General Banner's office was bright and spacious, sunlight spilling through its windows. Inside stood a rosewood desk, a landscape-painted screen, and a Capital Map. Various bows and crossbows hung on the walls, along with dozens of specially made Signal Arrows. When a Signal Arrow was fired, fellow guards within ten li would see it and come running.
"General Banner Jia!"
Before he had even warmed his seat, a fair-skinned fat man appeared at the door. He was in his early thirties, and his smile had an endearingly simple air.
"Boss, that's General Banner Qian," Scholar reminded him quietly. He had already asked around about the situation in the Celestial Pivot Office.
"Heroes truly do emerge from the young! At your age, General Banner Jia, I knew nothing of the world and spent my days cockfighting and chasing hounds. I feel ashamed just thinking about it!"
Fatty Qian acted as though they were already old friends. He walked into the office, took out a silver ingot, and said with a smile:
"Have a round of drinks on me, everyone. Don't stand on ceremony."
"General Banner Jia, you're short-handed. If you ever need help with a case, just say the word!"
"I'm overwhelmed by your kindness." Jia Huan's expression remained unchanged. The man's enthusiasm was a little excessive.
"General Banner Jia." Fatty Qian stepped closer, smiling like the Laughing Buddha. "As colleagues, we ought to help one another. You're all still getting familiar with the office, so I won't disturb you any longer."
With that, he left, his belly jutting out before him.
Jia Huan looked at Scholar. "What did you find out?"
Scholar lowered his voice.
"Hundred-Household Commander Wang Zhenglun is over fifty. The Southern Commandant Office has issued transfer orders. At the end of October, he'll head south to Jinling and take a nominal post as Deputy Thousand-Household Commander-retirement, as it's commonly called. General Banner Zhao and General Banner Qian of the Celestial Pivot Office are both determined to secure the Hundred-Household Commander position. These past few months, their men have competed fiercely, even fighting with weapons and spilling blood. I suspect General Banner Qian wants to draw you to his side, boss. After all, you have shallow roots here and little backing, so you pose no threat."
Understanding dawned on Jia Huan.
No wonder Hundred-Household Commander Wang had told him to sheath his edge and keep a low profile.
For Hundred-Household Commander Wang, merits and faults always traveled together. Avoiding faults was itself a merit. Reaching the end of October without trouble was his highest priority.
As they were speaking, another man came into the office.
"General Banner Jia."
The man had only one eye and a prominent, hooked nose. When he spoke, his nostrils and facial muscles twitched, as though a snake were slithering beneath his skin.
"General Banner Zhao." Jia Huan went to greet him.
General Banner Zhao was a man of few words. He handed over the dossier he carried, sparing every syllable:
"I have the gall to ask you to share my caseload."
Compared with Fatty Qian, he was undoubtedly far more astute. He had analyzed Jia Huan's way of doing things and recognized his obsession with investigating cases and apprehending criminals.
"No trouble." Jia Huan accepted the case files, his smile deepening.
"I'm off." General Banner Zhao left as briskly as he had arrived.
Jia Huan returned to his seat, leaned back, and closed his eyes to rest.
This Celestial Pivot Office really is interesting. Stir things up, go on, stir away. How wonderful it would be if you stirred things up until everyone was screaming for blood.
Only when the snipe and clam fight can the fisherman reap the spoils!
Below Hundred-Household Commander, everyone was merely a clerk. Only Hundred-Household Commanders and those above them were officials.
Most importantly, a Hundred-Household Commander could enter the Archive of All Under Heaven!
"No one is going to stand in the way of my advancement!"
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