Ning’an Prefecture, Military Preparation Army camp, inside the main tent.
A charcoal fire burned silently, dispelling the chill of early winter.
General Ning’an, Li Qianzhou, sat at the head of the tent. Dressed in a brocade robe, his handso features weathered by experience, he was focused on reviewing a docunt forwarded from the Prefecture Governnt Office.
The docunt concerned the commander of a Military Preparation Camp in a subordinate county.
The man’s na was Chen Sheng. He originally served in the Rebel Suppression Army before being transferred to Changshan County, a region under Ning’an Prefecture’s jurisdiction, alongside County Captain Wu Kuang.
Since assuming his post, he had accomplished one remarkable feat after another. He first assisted Wu Kuang in swiftly and decisively eliminating the two dominant local clans, the Gaos and the Huangs. Afterward, he personally led troops to annihilate several groups of water bandits that had been plaguing the Qinglin River.
What was even more remarkable was that the man had successfully broken through to the Innate Realm.
The Prefecture Governnt Office’s opinion was clear: the young man’s rits were outstanding and his potential was considerable. He should be transferred to the Prefecture City and placed in a position of importance, with the specific assignnt left to the discretion of General Ning’an himself.
"Changshan County... Chen Sheng..."
Li Qianzhou’s fingertips tapped lightly on the desk as he murmured the na, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.
He had no impression of this person, but he did have so recollection of his superior, Wu Kuang.
The man was thodical and had co to pay his respects upon first arriving in Ning’an Prefecture. At the ti, Li Qianzhou had even given him his blessing to eliminate the Changshan Water Bandits. He knew Wu Kuang had perford well in Changshan since then, but Ning’an Prefecture governed nearly twenty counties. With his heavy workload, it was impossible for him to keep a close watch on every single one.
He never would have thought that an Innate Martial Master would quietly erge from under Wu Kuang’s command.
This was a genuine surprise.
Moreover, judging from the wording in the docunt from the Prefecture Governnt Office, their evaluation of the man was quite high. It used phrases like "decisive, brave, and with outstanding achievents," which piqued his interest even more.
After a mont of contemplation, Li Qianzhou made his decision. He picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and prepared to approve the man’s transfer into the Military Preparation Army, granting him the rank of Captain. This would be a good use of his talents.
"General, Envoy Nie from the Jingwu Bureau is outside and requests an audience."
Before the brush tip could touch the paper, the voice of a personal guard ca from outside the tent. Li Qianzhou’s movent paused, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
’This newly appointed Governor of the Jingwu Bureau and I have never had any dealings with each other. Why has he suddenly co to my door today?’
’Could it be that the Jingwu Bureau has found an important clue about the Taiping Dao rebels and needs the military’s cooperation?’
At this thought, Li Qianzhou dared not delay. He imdiately put down his brush and called out:
"Show him in at once!"
With that, Li Qianzhou personally rose and walked outside the tent to welco his guest.
The Jingwu Bureau wielded special authority, and its power had grown substantially in recent years. It oversaw the local territories and even possessed a degree of supervisory power over the military. Even as the highest-ranking military official in Ning’an Prefecture, he had to show this Envoy Nie a asure of respect.
...
A mont later, Li Qianzhou stood outside the main tent, his gaze deep as he watched the figure flying away into the distance.
In his hand, he now held a jade box, cool to the touch. Inside was a Spirit dicine with a dicinal age of twenty years.
He had never imagined that Envoy Nie’s personal visit was for Chen Sheng—the subordinate who had just co to his attention. The envoy had directly stated his desire to have Chen Sheng transferred to the Jingwu Bureau, offering this rather precious Ice Heart Orchid as compensation.
Weighing his options, Li Qianzhou had agreed.
For one, Envoy Nie had made the request in person; that was a favor he could not refuse.
After all, there were certain aspects of the Jingwu Bureau’s power that even he had to be wary of.
Second, although Chen Sheng was already an Innate expert, he ultimately ca from a re county. His foundation was shallow, and his aptitude was likely limited. He wasn’t the sort of peerless, uncut gem worth nurturing with all his might, let alone fighting the Jingwu Bureau over.
Thus, trading a minor Innate Realm Martial Master he had yet to even et for a favor from an influential Governor and a precious Spirit dicine seed like a profitable exchange from any angle.
After a mont of contemplation, Li Qianzhou gave a carefree smile and turned back to his tent.
"General, another docunt has arrived from the Prefecture Governnt Office."
"Hm?"
Just as Li Qianzhou re-entered his tent, a soldier hurried over.
"Present it."
Li Qianzhou beckoned with his hand, and the docunt flew swiftly into his grasp. However, his expression changed slightly as he opened it and read the contents. The report was, once again, about Chen Sheng.
This one, however, was from the Changshan County Governnt Office, requesting comndation for his successful annihilation of the Changshan Water Bandits, who had been a nace for years. What truly made Li Qianzhou take notice, however, was the claim that Chen Sheng had slain an Innate Martial Master!
The previous docunt, he recalled, had clearly stated that Chen Sheng had only just reached the Innate Realm.
Li Qianzhou knew exactly what it ant for soone who had just reached the Innate Realm to be able to slay a fellow master. He instantly grew angry and demanded:
"Why wasn’t a docunt like this reported sooner?"
"Please calm your anger, General. The docunt encountered... so setbacks on its way here."
’Setbacks?’
Hearing this, Li Qianzhou glanced at the Spirit dicine in his hand, and realization suddenly dawned.
’Damn it, I’ve been had!’
’That bastard Nie traded a single Spirit dicine for a Martial Dao genius!’
Only now did Li Qianzhou finally understand why Envoy Nie would make a special trip to transfer soone from under his command. It was clear that he had received this comndation report ahead of ti.
He had been played.
If he wasn’t mistaken, these "setbacks" were clearly the Jingwu Bureau’s doing.
’What a huge loss!’
His face imdiately darkened at the thought.
...
「Several days had passed since the annihilation of the water bandits.」
In these few days, Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang had reaped quite a bountiful harvest.
Tributes from the various powers within Changshan County flooded in like a tidal wave. Gold, silver, jewels, antiques, and paintings piled up like mountains. A rough estimate placed their value at no less than tens of thousands of taels of Silver. These were the dividends of absolute strength and power.
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