Embroidered Uniform Guard

Biodata

Background / History

Founding and East Depot Dominance

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was established during the Hongwu Emperor’s reign. Its standing declined after the East Depot appeared. Under Wei Zhongxian, it became so thoroughly subordinated that even officer appointments and dismissals depended on the East Depot’s approval 6.

Conditions improved under Wan Yulou, whose methods were less formidable than Wei Zhongxian’s, while the emperor deliberately restrained the East Depot. Nevertheless, the Guard remained under its influence and suffered from corruption, bribery, and abuses of the law. Although it possessed capable martial artists, it lacked a Grandmaster strong enough to anchor an independent challenge to the East Depot 6.

East Depot Succession Conflict

After Wan Yulou’s death, Zhao Jingzhong sought Lu Wenzhao’s assistance in eliminating Li Zhong and securing the East Depot directorship. Lu Wenzhao and four other Guards joined the attack; all five were Xiantian practitioners 5 7.

Their intervention brought them into the struggle involving Liu Xi and Yu Huatian. While observing the fighting, Yu Huatian praised the Guards’ martial skills and specifically instructed Ma Jinliang to spare Shen Lian 8.

West Depot Takeover

When Cao Zhengchun became the East Depot’s new governor, Yu Huatian avoided an immediate confrontation with him. Instead, he ordered Tan Luzi to bring the Embroidered Uniform Guard under West Depot control before Cao could consolidate his position 15.

Tan Luzi secured transfer orders bearing Northern Office commissioner Wang Yi’s handwriting and official seal. West Depot agents then personally approached the commanders remaining in the capital, preventing them from evading the orders by sending token contingents. Intimidation, inducements, and lethal force secured their compliance: Ma Jinliang killed Sixth Guardian Jing Tianluo, while Ding Xiu overpowered Eleventh Guardian Jiang Yifan 17.

Six surviving Northern Office Guardians assembled for Yu Huatian’s northwestern expedition. Cao Zhengchun recognized the takeover as the loss of the East Depot’s principal source of manpower, but refused a proposal to assassinate the commanders and replace them. Yu Huatian had used valid transfer orders, and an unauthorized counterattack would violate the emperor’s rules 18.

Emperor Tianqi tacitly approved the change in control. He regarded the two Depots and the Guard as instruments of imperial power and would not protect the East Depot from a rival that outmaneuvered it within the rules 19.

Northwestern Desert Expedition

The six commanders secretly moved troops beyond Dragon Gate Pass. Yu Huatian initially operated separately with Zhao Tong and Ding Xiu, while Ma Jinliang and Ji Xueyong held the West Depot and Guard experts outside the pass awaiting orders 21 22.

At the treasure-site battle, the combined force attacked the assembled martial factions according to Yu Huatian’s advance instructions. It distinguished neither orthodox nor demonic sects: anyone outside its own side was a target. Emotionless struck arriving court fighters with hidden weapons, and the battle became a three-way melee between the court, orthodox sects, and demonic factions 31 32.

The Guard suffered substantial casualties, including Third Guardian Qian Chaofeng, who was reportedly surrounded and killed by Bright Moon Cult members. Yu Huatian promised to report his death in the line of duty and ensure his family received its full compensation. Other fallen Guards’ families were granted an additional ten taels each, paid by the West Depot, beyond their court compensation. This treatment strengthened the survivors’ loyalty to him 35 38.

Blackwater City and Return

The Guard accompanied Yu Huatian back into the desert and helped defeat the remaining Dragon Gate Inn treasure hunters at Blackwater City. During the confrontation with Zhao Min and Helian Tieshu, members of the combined force were poisoned and immobilized. Jiang Yan’s soldiers carried them out of the palace while another group removed the gold 38 42 43 44 45.

On the return voyage, Guards secured the fleet’s sailboats under West Depot supervision. Back in the capital, the accompanying commanders pledged to follow Yu Huatian’s lead. Lu Wenzhao’s allegiance remained suspect: Yu Huatian and Ma Jinliang suspected a connection between him and the emperor’s fall into the water, and Ding Xiu was sent to follow him 48 50.

Organization and Authority

Imperial Position

• Direct imperial command: Alongside the East and West Depots, the Guard is one of the emperor’s personal forces and falls outside other court institutions’ jurisdiction 13.
• Law-enforcement powers: It investigates crimes, pursues criminals, and holds authority to execute first and report afterward 31.
• Court-controlled senior appointments: The Northern and Southern Pacification Office commissioner positions are decided by the court, rather than appointed by the East Depot 8.
• Powerful field commanders: Thousand-household commanders possess their own personnel, influence, and sometimes external backing, making a commissioner’s written order insufficient to guarantee genuine cooperation 17.
• Military oversight: Guards secretly monitor the Dragon Gate Pass commanding general to prevent him from turning the garrison into an independent power base 21.

Divisions

Thirteen Guardians

The Northern Office’s thirteen thousand-household commanders are called the Thirteen Guardians, numbered by the seniority of their promotions rather than martial strength. Most are normally away handling cases, with a commander remaining at headquarters 17.

Six other Guardians were away on assignments when the West Depot secured the capital’s commanders 18.

Other Notable Personnel

• Wang Yi — Northern Office pacification commissioner. His willingness to accommodate the stronger faction allowed Tan Luzi to obtain the transfer orders used in the takeover 17 18.
• Lu Jianxing — Hereditary hundred-household commander under Lu Wenzhao; Shen Lian’s superior and the eldest of three sworn brothers. Wields a winged-goose saber 8.
• Shen Lian — Platoon commander under Lu Wenzhao and the second sworn brother. Noted for case-solving ability; wields an Embroidery Spring Saber 8 17.
• Jin Yichuan — Squad commander under Shen Lian and the youngest sworn brother. Actually Ding Xian, Ding Xiu’s junior martial brother, who killed a pursuing Guard and assumed his identity 8 11.

Abilities & Skills

Investigation and Pursuit

• Members are generally selected or trained for proficiency in tracking, investigation, and martial arts 38.
• Lu Jianxing and Shen Lian are specifically recognized as talented case-solvers 17.
• Field assignments routinely take Northern Office commanders away from the capital 17.

Martial Combat

• Lu Wenzhao’s contingent includes several Xiantian experts capable of suppressing Li Zhong’s fighters 7.
• The Guard can operate alongside West Depot experts in coordinated assaults, encirclements, and protective formations 32 39 42.
• Its crossbow squad fires a volley at Dongfang Bubai, but fails to prevent his escape 35.
• The combined expeditionary force is described as strong enough to destroy a first-rate martial sect; this assessment concerns the West Depot and Guard together, not the Guard alone 38.

Security and Surveillance

• Guards help secure Golden Phoenix Tower after Yu Huatian’s identity becomes public 38.
• During the return voyage, armed Guard squads maintain tight security aboard the fleet while West Depot agents supervise and patrol 48.
• Frontier surveillance gives the institution influence over military positions such as Dragon Gate Pass 21.

Uniforms and Equipment

• Flying Fish Uniforms — Distinctive official clothing repeatedly identifying Guard personnel 6 7 17 48.
• Embroidery Spring Sabers — Commonly carried weapons, including those used by Shen Lian and Jiang Yifan 8 38 48.
• Specialized weapons — Individual officers use Imperial Guard Sabers, twin Flying Swallows blades, winged-goose sabers, spears, swords, and nine-ring sabers 8 11 17 18 38.
• Crossbows — Issued to a squad deployed against Dongfang Bubai 35.
• Official transfer orders — Documents bearing the Northern Office commissioner’s handwriting and seal provide the procedural basis for mobilizing its commanders 17 18.