Xuanqing Guard
Chapter 223: Jingxi
Every few days, Liu Meng would send over an update on the sisters’ training progress, always through a separate intelligence channel. Coupled with the Black Market’s communication route, Shen Hao now possessed two information pipelines. There was some overlap, so he was considering whether to find an opportunity to unify these channels under a single management in the future—or perhaps just merge them into Wang Jian’s Four Divisions?
Thinking of Wang Jian, a faint smile appeared on Shen Hao’s face.
That kid truly is competent—quick-witted, resourceful, with excellent hands-on skills, and impressive adaptability. He established the Black Market’s Four Divisions; their division of labor is clear, efficiency is high, and within Fengri City’s jurisdiction, the black market’s affairs are now largely well-organized. Some prototypes of a "closed intelligence loop" are even becoming visible.
Amusingly, the Four Divisions Wang Jian set up are called Little Ghost, Ghost Gate, Judge, and Impermanence... all names Shen Hao had mentioned long ago in stories to Wang Jian. Wang Jian, both fond of these stories and adept at flattery, brought them into reality—a real-life simplified version of the Underworld, is it?
Since the start of August, Wang Jian has expanded his Impermanence Department severalfold. Its members now include not only desperados but also some loose cultivators; the core, however, is still Zhang Lie and the governor’s personal guards under his lead.
In addition, there are hordes of vagrants, beggars, and street gangs spread throughout the cities. Controlled by either drugs or silver, they have no idea who they’re working for, but infest every street and alley, omnipresent. Any hint of trouble, and they rush to their contact for a reward. These people are, in fact, the main force behind the surveillance and control. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
The Jingxi Governor’s Office’s orders had officially arrived—the operation was codenamed "Jingxi." The entire plan was divided into three steps.
Step one: The Fengri City Black Banner Battalion takes the lead, deploying surveillance against all those involved in large-scale controlled goods smuggling within Fengri City’s jurisdiction.
Step two: Fengri City makes the arrests, while the Jingxi Governor’s Office seals off the central section of the Bai River and closes all the riverside water gates.
Final step: Using the captured targets and the ships and cargo seized on the waterways, conduct reverse investigation, with the scope limited to Jingxi Territory.
The three steps are simple, brutal, and direct—a method akin to cutting the knot with a sharp blade.
In a flash, they would sever the main transportation routes from Jingxi to Barbarian Territory—akin to clamping a bleeding wound with forceps. Then, the reverse investigations would be like excising the diseased tissue inside the body.
The entire process is tightly controlled in scope—all within Jingxi Territory, with no intention of spreading further. At least, outwardly, that’s how it appears. In practice, however, if problems involving other locales emerge, there’s no way they’ll be let off easily.
Even within Jingxi itself, the crackdown is not absolute. The first round of deployments and arrests only target those involved within Fengri City’s jurisdiction; suspects elsewhere in Jingxi still have some time to react—enough perhaps to save their own skins, if they’re lucky.
Why leave these Dynasty-bred pests a buffer?
Why not be thorough to the very end, eradicating them completely?
Shen Hao found these oversights in the plan incomprehensible. He didn’t believe the people above him would miss such obvious loopholes. The only explanation: it was intentional. But what for?
What’s more, there was another directive specifically for the Fengri City Black Banner Battalion: when executing step two, personnel from each city must be cross-assigned for arrests, and the subsequent detention must also be in a different location. This is to block every possible escape route for those captured—completely different from the "looser" handling outside of Fengri City.
Does this mean Fengri City is a zone of strict enforcement?
Although Shen Hao still had many doubts about this plan, his position dictated his thinking; he had no choice but to follow orders step by step.
August 12th, deep night, torrential rain.
The sultry weather made the indoors even hotter than outside. Cultivators could rely on their True Qi Shields for some coolness, but ordinary people could only sweat through their clothes and fan themselves with palm-leaf fans for some relief.
Nevertheless, despite the downpour and the late hour, the four Black Banner Camp Flag Officers had still arrived early at the Thousand Households Station’s Council Hall. They sat upright, each waiting with patience and discipline.
The four were all veterans in the Xuanqing Guard—they’d seen much, and knew that being summoned for a meeting at midnight meant something major was afoot.
"Lord Hundred Households is here!" Wang Yiming’s voice rang from outside the council chamber, and the four inside instantly stood to attention in unison.
"Subordinates pay their respects, my lord!"
As they bowed with cupped hands, Shen Hao strode in swiftly from outside. Wang Yiming waved, and several Black Banner Battalion soldiers promptly shut the council hall doors and stood guard outside, making it clear no outsiders were to approach.
"Be seated. Did calling everyone here so late make you all sleepy?"
Shen Hao smiled pleasantly as if joking, but everyone present knew better and shook their heads, declaring themselves wide awake, not the least bit drowsy.
"It’s quieter at night, with fewer prying eyes and ears—ideal for these arrangements. Lord Hundred Households, distribute the materials."
At his command, Wang Yiming handed out the four action plans he’d brought in to the four Flag Officers present.
Shen Hao continued, "This mission is by order of Jingxi Governor’s Office, codenamed ’Jingxi.’ You may not know the bigger picture, but what’s assigned to you, you must commit to memory."
"Each of you has different documents, but the goal is the same: take the targets alive as the top priority, and the requirements are ’swift, precise, and ruthless.’ Not a single one is to escape. Remember, unless absolutely necessary, no killing of the targets."
"After arrest, the targets are not to be detained locally, but swiftly brought to the Black Banner Battalion prison under Fengri City Thousand Households Station. You’ll get a handover receipt as proof at the time."
"From the moment you receive your lists, the mission is officially in effect. Top secret classification—whichever link goes wrong, I’ll have that man live or die by it."
"Is that all clear?"
The four rose in unison, "Subordinates obey the order!"
While Shen Hao had been speaking, the four Black Banner Flag Officers had quickly skimmed the plans in their hands—each was astounded.
For instance, Liu Kuan’s dossier explicitly read: "There are a total of twenty-one people from Xiaoshan Tielu Manor in Li City." How many core managers does one Tielu Manor have? This is almost the entire lot!
Meanwhile, Chen Tianwen’s list tallied thirty-six individuals, from top to bottom, all managing the Official Granary in Tu Kui City Government Office!
The other two Flag Officers’ lists were similar—all well-known figures from various regions. Even if there were no personal ties, they’d at least heard of them.
Linking this with the operation’s name—"Jingxi"—its sinister implication was obvious: the entire Jingxi Territory was about to quake.
"Additionally, for each of your safety, I’ll assign two experts to protect you personally. I hope you’ll cooperate with them and proceed cautiously."
Protection?
"Thank you, my lord!"