“Qin Yu, for your ritorious service in capturing criminals, solving major cases, and ensuring the safety of the capital’s citizens; for your bravery and strategic acun, after joint review by the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Imperial Secretariat, you are hereby promoted to Warden of the Prison Departnt, holding the official rank of Fifth Grade!”
After reading the decree, Chen Bo’an, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, hands the appointnt order to Henwell.
Everyone offers their congratulations.
A Fifth Grade capital official, especially as head of a powerful departnt within the Court of Judicial Review, commands respect.
Ordinary provincial officials returning to the capital often show deference to such figures.
When capital officials are assigned to local posts, they usually receive a significant rank promotion.
If Henwell is later posted to the provinces, he could beco a Third Grade official.
So the crowd holds a certain respect for this man from the Western Regions.
Henwell remains humble and, in the na of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, invites everyone to celebrate at Yan Jun Mansion.
It’s been two months since the bait operation, and as the year-end approaches, the Court of Judicial Review finally establishes its own powerful departnt.
Nad the Prison Departnt, it holds certain law enforcent powers.
The Court deploys this departnt mainly to pursue fugitives on wanted lists, but it has an even more important role.
That is to arrest corrupt officials or mbers of influential families.
In such cases, the Court must coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, or other strong agencies.
Prisoners aren’t always held within the Court of Judicial Review, so the scope of authority in these cases is limited.
The Prison Departnt is still in its infancy, and how far it can develop depends entirely on Henwell’s abilities.
If he can build it into a force comparable to the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of War, the Minister of the Court promises to promote the Warden to Fourth Grade.
Upon taking office, Henwell issues his first order: all locksmiths must report to the capital’s Court of Judicial Review before the New Year.
Almost all the locksmiths have heard about the establishnt of the Prison Departnt, and they’ve caught wind of a rumor, that the Warden is so barbarian from the Western Regions.
Though they look down on him, curiosity drives them all to head toward the capital.
These locksmiths aren’t ordinary folk; most are skilled fighters, traveling swiftly.
By the ti the twelfth lunar month arrives, nearly every registered locksmith has reached the capital.
Henwell specifically rents several inns to provide food and lodging for them.
On the eighth day of the twelfth month, the locksmiths gather at the Court of Judicial Review to attend the inauguration of the new departnt’s office. It’s also a kind of first official eting for the Prison Departnt.
After a few formal words from the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Henwell takes the stage.
He scans the crowd, catching their curious, doubtful, and disdainful glances. “You may not respect now, but what I’m about to say will greatly affect your futures. Your fate might just change here today.”
The crowd quiets down, and Henwell continues.
“First, starting next year, the Prison Departnt will no longer provide a basic salary.”
An uproar breaks out. Imdiate protests follow.
Though the base pay isn’t much, it’s still money.
Everyone complains about the low amount but no one wants to lose that inco altogether.
Henwell shouts sharply, “Silence! Listen to !”
His voice thunders like a storm; so weaker locksmiths in the front row turn pale.
They realize Henwell is serious and not to be underestimated.
Once the room settles, Henwell goes on.
“Second, there will be no more assigned tasks to pursue fugitives every year. I know you’re used to a free and easy life; I won’t force you to run errands like common laborers. You can still take on wanted cases and earn rewards, and there will be additional benefits.”
“Everyone here is a warrior, seeking to advance in martial arts, but you lack the resources and opportunities. The Prison Departnt will provide you with what you need, combat techniques, weapons and armor, cultivation pills...”
Henwell signals, and his mute guards bring out three chests.
“Inside are fine weapons, secret martial arts manuals, and healing and cultivation pills. As long as you earn rit, you can exchange it for whatever you want here. This is a benefit Lord Chen fought hard to secure for you all. Don’t let him down.”
The locksmiths respond with a loud chorus of acknowledgnt, many expressing their thanks to Chen Bo’an.
Chen Bo’an is montarily taken aback but quickly recovers, smiling and offering a few encouraging words.
He did promise Henwell he’d secure so resources, but he knows there’s no way it’s as much as what’s laid out before them.
There’s only one explanation: Henwell must have paid out of his own pocket to provide these benefits.
Privately giving perks to subordinates can be seen as a way to win loyalty on a small scale.
On a larger scale, it borders on faction-building and favoritism.
But Henwell is cunning, he outright claims these are arrangents made by the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
He passes the goodwill up to his superior, while taking all the heat himself.
Subordinates may curse him, but they won’t do so in a way that jeopardizes his rank.
Leaders are different, they won’t openly criticize you, but if they dislike you, your future is over.
What a perfect subordinate!
Chen Bo’an finds himself increasingly impressed by Henwell, believing that he might actually succeed in expanding the Prison Departnt.
Next, Henwell delivers an even bigger announcent: “From now on, every year, each locksmith will receive Essence Cultivation Pills. Iron Locksmiths get two pills, Copper Locksmiths five, Silver Locksmiths ten, and Gold Locksmiths twenty.”
”These will be distributed at the Prison Departnt headquarters, with year-end settlents. Iron Locksmiths and above can even draw an advance, up to half their annual quota.”
The crowd freezes in place. Essence Cultivation Pills are essential supplents for martial training.
Each pill costs ten gold coins and requires special channels to obtain, these are tightly controlled resources of the dynasty, not available on the market.
For Second Rank Martial Warriors, this benefit is sowhat ordinary, but for Entry Rank or soon-to-be Entry Rank Martial Warriors, these pills are vital for their cultivation.
Amid the excited gazes, Henwell continues, “Next year, you’ll have a full year to solidify your foundations and train hard. Starting the year after next, assessnts will begin. Copper Locksmiths must be at least Entry Rank Martial Warriors.”
Then Henwell explains the organizational structure and authority within the Prison Departnt.
Below the Warden are five Soul Locksmiths, followed by locksmiths of various grades.
Except for the five Soul Locksmiths and Henwell himself, the other locksmiths have rank distinctions but no hierarchical command over one another.
Even Gold Locksmiths have no authority to command others, not even to direct locksmiths when carrying out tasks.
This remains a semi-loose organization, with only a few key managent figures.
Among them, including Lian Kai—the one who previously clashed with Henwell in the prison, there are five Second Rank Martial Warriors appointed as Soul Locksmiths, each holding a rank equivalent to Sixth Grade officials.
Of these five, only Lian Kai and two others are casual locksmiths.
The remaining two Soul Locksmiths are placed by two junior ministers of the Court of Judicial Review.
With this, the entire departnt is set up. Now it all depends on whether Henwell’s strategies will succeed.
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