The Embroidered Uniform Guard had two ways to report a case: one was to report to one's immediate superior, namely Hundred-Household Commander Wang Zhenglun; the other was to approach the Southern Commandant Office, which handled internal investigations and evaluations.
Jia Huan chose the latter without hesitation.
With a complete chain of evidence, why give Commander Wang a chance to steal the credit?
He went alone to the familiar government office and found the unsmiling official. The last time Jia Zhen and his son had reported him, this same man had torn up their letter of accusation.
The official asked:
"What is it?"
Jia Huan cupped his hands in greeting, then spoke plainly:
"Lord Guo, I led the six strongmen under my command in solving a major case. I request that the responsible office issue an Arrest Warrant and an Approval Seal. I wish to arrest the chief culprit personally."
"An imperial official?" Officer Guo asked curiously.
He knew the Embroidered Uniform Guard's ways all too well. They swaggered about, executing first and reporting afterward. Why would they need an Approval Seal unless they had encountered an imperial official-and a high-ranking one at that?
Jia Huan enunciated every word:
"Right Vice Minister of Works, Yuan Yong!"
Officer Guo sprang to his feet, disbelief written all over his face, and shouted angrily:
"Utter nonsense! How dare a mere General Banner like you overstep your authority to investigate a dignified Third Rank, Lower Class official? Jia Huan, are you trying to get that uniform stripped off your back? The Southern Office could dismiss you on these grounds alone!"
He appreciated talent, but this young man's audacity truly reached the heavens!
Jia Huan's expression did not change. His procedure was certainly unlawful. If his evidence fell even slightly short, never mind bringing down Yuan Yong-he himself would end up behind bars.
But his chain of evidence was overwhelmingly complete!
"Lord Guo, please have a look."
Jia Huan took out the secret letter, the signed confessions, and, most importantly, the copied documents. Their dates matched.
He added respectfully:
"The witnesses are also in my custody."
Officer Guo remained silent for a while, but ultimately decided to examine the evidence first.
He read it carefully.
Perhaps he had spent too long in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and grown accustomed to the shameless conduct of high court officials. Having seen every sort of crime that provoked Heaven's wrath and the people's resentment, he showed no anger, merely examining each piece of evidence closely.
After a long while, Officer Guo set down the documents and studied the young man before him.
A mere General Banner, yet he had the courage and resolve to draw his blade against the Right Vice Minister of Works!
"I see ambition in your eyes-a fiercely burning hunger. The Embroidered Uniform Guard needs ambition, and imperial authority needs domineering, fearless hawks and hounds even more."
"Your future knows no bounds!"
With that, Officer Guo slammed the desk and declared decisively:
"Wait here. I'll apply for the Approval Seal!"
Then he left the office.
Jia Huan leaned back in his chair, finally able to rest properly for a while.
The Arrest Warrant was straightforward. Once the Southern Office gave the word, it would be issued.
But obtaining an Approval Seal to arrest and interrogate a high-ranking imperial official was exceedingly difficult. The Censorate had to issue a document, which then went to the Directorate of Ceremonial for stamping before the Approval Seal could finally be granted.
This was also a checkpoint against the expansion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's power. Otherwise, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Office really could arrest anyone it disliked, wielding unchecked power over court and country.
Once the Approval Seal was issued, however, whether the target was a grand chancellor, a minister of the six ministries, or even an imperial relative, the Embroidered Uniform Guard could handle them as it pleased.
A full six hours passed. By the afternoon, Lord Guo still had not returned to the office.
Jia Huan was in no hurry. He knew perfectly well that Lord Guo could not obtain the Approval Seal on his own. He would have to seek instructions from above and have his superiors secure it.
The evidence stood like an iron mountain. No one could overturn it!
Unless some high court official was willing to defy universal condemnation and ruin his own reputation to protect a pawn like Yuan Yong. But that was almost impossible. Neither the Grand Secretariat, the six ministries, nor the Directorate of Ceremonial had anyone capable of covering the sky with one hand to that extent.
Another hour passed.
Officer Guo returned, panting, with the Arrest Warrant and an Approval Seal in his hands, every required stamp in place.
He said only one brief sentence:
"The order from above is to execute him directly. Don't let him drag anyone else into it."
Jia Huan cupped his hands:
"Yes, sir. I take my leave!"
He turned to go.
"Wait." Officer Guo smiled and nodded.
"Good news is close at hand."
Jia Huan understood perfectly.
The post of Hundred-Household Commander was nailed down!
The Southern Office could no longer concern itself with seniority. A Third Rank, Lower Class official and the second-in-command of a prefectural city—the merit was simply too great!
Something occurred to Jia Huan, and he asked:
"Lord Guo, there is also Liu Strongman's death benefit, and the commendation for his family."
Officer Guo nodded:
"Rest assured. The responsible office will make the arrangements."
After handing the witnesses over to the Southern Commandant Office, Jia Huan headed alone to the Ministry of Works.
It was almost time to leave for the day. The corridors and offices bustled with noise as officials and clerks from the various departments absentmindedly tidied their files and documents.
"Vice Minister Yuan Yong, get out here."
A cold voice suddenly sounded at the office entrance.
Jia Huan stood there quietly, not bothering to go inside and search.
The entire office fell deathly silent.
Jia Zheng, who had returned to the office that afternoon, heard his concubine-born son's voice and hurried outside.
One official saw this and rebuked him:
"Well, this is an eye-opener! How dare a petty General Banner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard shout and bluster at the Ministry of Works?"
Jia Huan ignored him and pronounced each word distinctly:
"Yuan Yong, get out here!"
A moment later, a tall, scholarly-looking official slowly emerged, his face dark with anger. He felt his reputation was all but ruined, insulted before everyone by a lowly member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
"Insolence! Do you have no respect for rank? Summon the Imperial City Golden Guards and have him shot dead at once!"
The words had barely left his mouth.
Jia Huan tossed out the Arrest Warrant.
Then he raised the Approval Seal.
He smiled:
"Am I qualified now?"
Instantly, the officials and clerks throughout the office backed away, none daring to meddle blindly.
He even had an Approval Seal. Had Vice Minister Yuan really committed a crime?
The Minister of Works, who had just been about to step forward and restore order, quietly retreated half a step as well. Once an Approval Seal appeared, no one but the emperor could stop the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The anger on Yuan Yong's face vanished without a trace, replaced by boundless terror. His lips trembled as he frantically protested:
"Who has falsely accused me before the Embroidered Uniform Guard? What villain is throwing mud at my name? I am upright and impartial, scrupulous in observing the rules! I have never committed the slightest offense!"
Suddenly.
Smack!
Jia Huan raised his hand and, under countless watching eyes, slapped Yuan Yong straight across the face.
The sharp crack rang out.
Smack!
Another slap.
Yuan Yong was knocked to the ground, his face swollen like a pig's head.
Jia Huan stood with his hands behind his back, feeling thoroughly satisfied.
What a thrill!
Who besides the Embroidered Uniform Guard would dare beat a Third Rank, Lower Class imperial official like this, and before everyone's eyes at that?
Yet he had struck openly and legitimately, without having to bear the slightest responsibility.
If not for the consideration that bloodshed was inappropriate in the imperial city, he could have stabbed Yuan Yong to death without consequence.
To briefly hold the power of life and death over the court's corrupt curs could feel this wonderful!
"You lawless brute!" Swallowing his immense humiliation, Yuan Yong was about to scream for help.
"Xinchang Dam."
Having said that, Jia Huan dragged him away from the Ministry of Works like a dog.
Yuan Yong's pupils contracted sharply. He shuddered, despair flooding every organ in his body.
How was it exposed...
He had received no warning at all.
He had not even had time to pull strings or call in favors!!
In an instant, Yuan Yong burst into tears. A dignified Third Rank, Lower Class minister sobbed openly at the office.
He knew that once the Approval Seal arrived, not only his career but his life was finished.
Jia Zheng watched the scene, his gaze growing dazed as he looked at that young figure.
Was this his son?
At home, he was quiet and reserved, scarcely bothering to acknowledge him as his father.
Yet on duty, he was so domineering and arrogant that Jia Zheng was left dumbstruck!
He possessed an indescribable presence!
"That worthless, wayward son of mine has made a spectacle of himself before you all."
Jia Zheng stroked his beard and deliberately sighed.
At his words, the officials and clerks hurried over to surround him. Even the Minister of Works and the Left Vice Minister came to his side.
Minister Zhuge said with a cheerful smile:
"You're too modest, Cunzhou. If your son counts as worthless, there can hardly be any outstanding young men left under heaven."
Jia Zheng felt a jumble of emotions. For the first time at the Ministry of Works, he found himself receiving all manner of envious looks.
"Cunzhou, what exactly happened?" Minister Zhuge asked.
Jia Zheng looked around and said unhurriedly:
"The story begins with the Xinchang Prefecture office..."
Yuan Yong was thrown into the Imperial Prison.
At the sight of the blood and filth covering the floor, Yuan Yong trembled all over. Tears streamed down his face as he prostrated himself and begged ceaselessly for mercy.
Stripped of his official robes, this supposedly mighty Third Rank, Lower Class minister was no different from an ordinary man—if anything, he was even more craven.
Jia Huan said coldly:
"What use is begging me? To embezzle silver, you thought nothing of destroying the dam. You sat in your office and moved your lips, and how many people in Xinchang Prefecture died in the flood? You have cast aside all conscience and humanity. Even in the underworld, the souls you wronged will haunt you, and you will never escape to be reborn!"
With that, he drew his Embroidered Spring Saber.
Terrified beyond measure, Yuan Yong seemed desperate to clutch at a life-saving straw. Eager to redeem his crimes with a meritorious disclosure, he shouted:
"The embezzled silver was to pay respects to..."
He got only halfway through before a cold gleam flashed.
The lofty Right Vice Minister of Works lost his head, which rolled to the ground.
Jia Huan sheathed his saber, expressionless.
He remembered Lord Guo's order well: execute him swiftly and do not let him implicate anyone else.
There were certainly even more despicable high officials behind Yuan Yong, perhaps even factional struggles involved.
But Jia Huan knew his limits. With his current power and influence insufficient, pursuing the investigation would bring not merit, but a monstrous crime upon his head.
Once he had greater authority and enough strength of his own, who under heaven could he not arrest?
Even the King of Heaven himself would have to kneel beneath his executioner's blade!
"Twin Whips, go to the Southern Office and bring Su Chongshan here."
"Yes, sir!" Outside the cell, Twin Whips accepted the order and left.
Half an hour later, Su Chongshan knelt in the prison, weeping.
Jia Huan swung his saber and split his skull.
The two masterminds behind the destruction of Xinchang Dam were dead.
As for the negligent prefect, the grain merchant Shopkeeper Sun, and the Zhoulong Escort Agency, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would deal with them. Those who deserved dismissal would be dismissed, those who deserved execution would be executed, and those who deserved exile would be exiled.
In an instant, portraits of two more people appeared on the panel in Jia Huan's mind.
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