The next day, the sun rose in the east.
At the Embroidered Uniform Guard offices.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Lord Jia!"
He Liang bowed with his fists clasped. Envy inevitably showed in his eyes, but there was no jealousy.
To be promoted on his second day of service took ability, luck, and courage. Not one could be missing.
Had it been him, he would certainly have followed the principle that one less trouble was better than one more. He would never have pursued that infant-eating bald monk alone, much less imagined that the victim had ties to a newly successful imperial examination candidate.
What was more, Jia Huan had captured the bald monk alive. His martial prowess was unfathomable!
He had earned his promotion through merit, and He Liang accepted it wholeheartedly.
"I'll come have a drink with you another day, Uncle He."
Jia Huan returned the clasped-fist salute, took his Identification Plaque, and left the office where he had spent only a single day. Then he went to the Southern Commandant Office to complete the paperwork.
In the early years of Great Qian, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had a streamlined hierarchy. Below the Hundred-Household Commanders, there were only Small Banners and General Banners.
Since ancient times, every dynasty's offices had become bloated with superfluous officials and personnel in its middle and later years. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was no exception. After a large-scale expansion, it had introduced the rank of "Great Banner," with an annual salary of thirty-six taels of silver.
Unlike a Small Banner, a Great Banner possessed a Book of Impermanence.
It was precisely the black booklet Jia Huan had just collected.
The Book of Impermanence was like the Black and White Impermanence spirits coming to claim a life. It granted sweeping power over ordinary people's lives and deaths!
Once someone caught their attention, they would record that person's words in the book. To put it bluntly, both pen and book were in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's hands. Wasn't whatever went into it entirely up to them?
Of course, that applied only to ordinary people. Against anyone with even a little backing, the Book of Impermanence alone was not enough.
"My goal is Hundred-Household Commander-and a silver-white Flying Fish Uniform!"
Jia Huan made up his mind. He had to earn merit and rise to Hundred-Household Commander as quickly as possible.
Only a Hundred-Household Commander had permission to enter the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Case File Archive and select his own cases.
Whether Small Banner, Great Banner, or General Banner, all depended on cases assigned from above. Cases offering great merit would certainly never fall to the underlings at the bottom. They could only rely on luck.
Documents in hand, Jia Huan found the office marked "Gui."
The moment he crossed the threshold, the noisy office fell deathly silent. Six Embroidered Uniform Guard Strongmen acted as though nothing had happened, not even bothering to stand.
He said in a low voice:
"I am Jia Huan, your immediate superior."
No one responded.
The atmosphere was as rigid as iron.
After a long silence.
Jia Huan suddenly smiled, walked over, and tossed his Identification Plaque onto the table.
"Trying to put me in my place, gentlemen? Unhappy about having a superior dropped on you from above?"
An Embroidered Uniform Guard Strongman, thin as a rake and looking like a crafty monkey, abruptly stood and snapped:
"You're a boy with the milk still wet on your lips! Why should we obey you? Even my son is older than you!"
The words had barely left his mouth when a black shadow flashed past.
Thud!
A lightning-fast whip kick slammed into his face. Before Skinny Monkey could shield it, he was knocked to the floor, blood streaming without cease.
Expressionless, Jia Huan picked up a stool and walked toward him.
"Monkey!"
An Embroidered Uniform Guard Strongman with an oversized head charged over, his face twisted with fury. Power gathered in his left fist, brimming with internal force, and his punch came like an iron hammer.
Jia Huan remained utterly unruffled. Without even looking, he opened his other hand and met it with his palm.
Thud!
The big-headed Strongman's punch felt as though it had struck cotton. All the force drained from his arm, leaving it hanging limp, unable even to straighten.
"How is that possible?!" His eyes filled with horror.
Crash!
Jia Huan sprang up and unleashed a savage kick, sending the big-headed Strongman flying. He planted the sole of his boot on the man's face and hurled the stool in his left hand backward.
Unable to dodge, Skinny Monkey took the stool squarely in the chest and immediately vomited a mouthful of blood.
The big-headed Strongman fared even worse. That kick had carried tremendous internal force, nearly knocking his organs out of place. His whole body convulsed uncontrollably.
"My name is Jia Huan, your immediate superior," Jia Huan repeated coldly.
In an instant.
The other four, their minds reeling, lowered their heads and clasped their fists with utmost respect.
"Greetings, Lord Jia!"
Skinny Monkey struggled to his feet. Without even wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he said fearfully:
"This subordinate greets Lord Jia."
The big-headed Strongman caught his breath and forced himself onto his knees, his voice trembling.
"G-greetings, Lord Jia. I... I... I shall follow your every command."
Jia Huan nodded, strolled to the seat of honor, and began leafing through the case files on his own.
"My lord, I am..."
The six introduced themselves in turn.
The one beaten half to death had a particularly large head and went by Fathead Fish.
Another was called Skinny Monkey.
The remaining four were called Scholar, Twin Whips, Biaozi, and Drunkard.
Jia Huan surveyed the six and said mildly:
"As a newly appointed official, I am not yet familiar with affairs inside or outside this office. If you gentlemen have time, I will treat you to songs at a brothel, and you can give me a detailed account of everything."
"Thank you, Lord Jia!" Drunkard grinned, and the other five echoed him.
"Let's go."
The seven changed into ordinary clothes and left their office. Before they had even passed out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's main compound, Jia Huan spotted a familiar figure outside, dressed in light furs, a jeweled belt, fine robes, and an ornate cap. Handsome but scrawny, he was that fellow Jia Rong from Ningguo Mansion.
Although older than Jia Huan, he was his nephew by family seniority.
"Uncle, over here..." Jia Rong rose onto his toes.
"Wait here!" Jia Huan told the others before walking toward him. Usually, the fellow addressed him directly by name. Now he was calling him Uncle.
"Quite the entourage, Third Uncle Huan." Seeing the display, Jia Rong could not help feeling envious. His uncle had once tagged along with him in pursuit of pleasure, but now he certainly looked the part.
"I've been waiting ages. I didn't even dare ask anyone to go in and call you." Jia Rong spoke with an air of affection. Though he belonged to a noble family that dined from rows of bronze vessels, even he lost his nerve at the Embroidered Uniform Guard's fearsome reputation.
"What is it?" Jia Huan stared at him.
Jia Rong said angrily:
"Yesterday, that gambling house lost money to me and refused to pay! It sent my rage soaring thirty feet high. I heard you're in charge of a few Embroidered Uniform Guards now, Uncle. Do your nephew a favor: send your men to shut down the gambling den, give that mangy dog a few good slaps, and kick his heart and liver to pieces! The bastard dared welch on a debt to the Jia Family!"
Jia Huan grew impatient. "So the emperor's personal guard, renowned throughout the land, has become a gang of street thugs? Where would I find the time for these chicken-feather-and-garlic-skin trifles of yours?"
"Uncle, you've forgotten our old friendship!" Jia Rong's expression soured. "If you won't help me get my dignity back, don't come looking for me again!"
Jia Huan studied that face hollowed out by drink and lust, then suddenly asked:
"Aren't you getting married in another two months? To the adopted daughter of Qin Bangye, the construction official? I hear she's a beauty without equal?"
At that, a hint of smugness appeared on Jia Rong's face.
"Qin Keqing, your nephew's bride-to-be. I haven't even met her yet. Her younger brother Qin Zhong says Ke Qing's beauty could topple cities and kingdoms."
Jia Huan nodded. "Taking such a beauty home-I'm truly envious."
He intended to find a way to steal the bride.
He had transmigrated into this life with martial strength and ambition. If he did not indulge himself a few times, wouldn't he have lived it for nothing?
Besides, in the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, Qin Keqing, its foremost beauty, had withered and died only a few years after marrying into Ningguo Mansion. Jia Rong was scarcely different from a beast.
Out of morality and kindness, as an Embroidered Uniform Guard charged with upholding justice, he, Jia Huan, ought to step in and rescue her.
"What are you bringing all that up for? Are you helping or not?" Jia Rong urged.
"Wait!" Jia Huan walked over to his subordinates.
Shutting down the gambling house would at least net them the gambling money. They could turn in forty percent and pocket sixty, winning the men over so they would work hard.
He gave them a few instructions.
"Yes, sir!"
Twin Whips, Drunkard, and Biaozi went back to change into their Flying Fish Uniforms.
"Thanks, Third Uncle Huan." Jia Rong beamed.
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