Chapter 103

In Bailing Anan Prefecture, pavilions and terraces were scattered like stars, the streets thronged with pedestrians, and the setting sun blended into a single scene atop the city walls.

As the capital of Yunzhou.

At the very center, of course, was the Prefectural Office.

It occupied three hundred mu, housing three halls and six bureaus, along with white servants and artisans, totaling no fewer than a thousand people.

Inside the Prefectural Office, everyone worked in orderly fashion.

Rumor had it that the Yunzhou Prefect loved to climb high and gaze afar, yet disliked traveling far.

Even climbing the city walls was forbidden.

Thus, within a three-li radius of the Prefectural Office, no building could exceed two stories.

Only two li east of the Prefectural Office stood a nine-story tower, strikingly prominent, its upturned eaves and carved beams painted in brilliant hues—this was the Anan Regional Commander’s Mansion.

“Make way!”

“All of you, clear the way!”

A rapid clatter of hooves rang out.

“It’s the Flying Eagle Riders!”

A cry of alarm sent the crowd scrambling aside to clear a path.

The Flying Eagle Riders galloped on armored white horses, leaving a trail of dust, and pulled their reins to a halt before the Anan Regional Commander’s Mansion just as the sun dipped below the horizon; one of the squad leaders leapt from his mount and bounded up the ten steps in three strides.

The guards at the gate dared not stop him and immediately flung open the massive doors.

Inside the Commander’s Mansion, a single candle flickered to life.

An elderly, robust man took the letter from the squad leader, squinted at the words “Immediate Express Delivery,” and frowned.

“Eight thousand li express.”

The Emperor of Yu had diligently reformed the realm, establishing courier stations across the land for rapid communication; Yunzhou lay eight thousand li from the imperial capital, Longting, and couriers normally required at least half a month to deliver messages, with rest stops along the way.

But if a letter bore the words “Immediate Express Delivery,” the stations were obligated to use specially bred demonic horses, changing both rider and mount at every station, day and night without pause.

It could reach Yunzhou from Longting in just three days.

“Quickly summon Master Han, Lei Yong, and Dai Yu.”

Moments later, two armored officers and an elderly Confucian scholar entered the room.

"The Emperor’s edict: the Ghost Cult has committed countless atrocities, its crimes too numerous to record, and it endangers the people—it must be exterminated!"

“Have a look.”

Regional Commander Xue Gui tossed the letter; a faint current of qi lifted it and landed precisely in the hands of one of the officers.

After passing it around, all three raised their eyebrows in unison.

The Emperor’s handwritten edict!

Ancient emperors had various ways to command their subjects.

The most widely known was, of course, the famed imperial decree: typically dictated by the emperor, then written and reviewed by the Grand Secretariat, approved by the emperor, and sealed by the Director of the Office of Eunuch Supervisors before being sent out of the imperial palace.

This entire process took at least ten days to half a month, and many emperors found it too cumbersome and avoided it.

Thus came the imperial directive.

Imperial directives were usually remarks made during court sessions or important occasions.

They bypassed formal procedures but still carried high authority.

The phrase “the sovereign’s word is never jest” referred precisely to imperial directives.

Any emperor knew that many matters could not be spoken of openly, hence the emergence of handwritten edicts and verbal orders.

These were the emperor’s preferred methods.

Of course, if you carried out an order only to find the emperor denied it—or claimed the edict was forged—

Of course, if you carry out the task and then find the emperor denies it, or that the imperial decree is forged.

You became the scapegoat.

The three exchanged glances.

Regional Commander Xue Gui snorted: “Speak up—how do we handle this?”

Since it was the emperor’s will, it must be done.

The Ghost Cult had long been an imperial scourge, but until now it had lurked in the shadows, and the court had ignored it.

Assistant Regional Commander Lei Yong subtly sneered.

"Is this about the Ghost Cult killing civilians?"

Is this about the Ghost Sect killing innocent civilians?

“Or at least, not merely that.”

“I heard these demonic cultists dared to intercept official riverboats and seize imperial property.”

“What’s in the official boats?”

"They carry imperial goods—in other words, the emperor’s own possessions. If the Ghost Cult stole your money, wouldn’t you crush them?"

All this was Lei Yong’s speculation.

But the truth was likely not far off.

Xue Gui, seeing the three were silent as fish, was about to explode.

But Lei Yong chuckled and spoke up: "Commander Xue, the Ghost Cult is most active in Qinghe within Yunzhou. I’ve noticed Anan Prefecture has always been under-defended. Why not petition the court to establish a new guard battalion—call it Anan Battalion—and station it in Qinghe?"

Xue Gui’s eyes lit up, and he nodded.

“That’s a sound idea.”

The founding emperor of Yu had seized the realm on horseback, founding the state on military might, and established thirty-two military garrisons to oversee the realm.

Otherwise, with so many martial sects in Yu, the civil government alone could never stand against them.

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These garrisons were military outposts, meant to pacify and stabilize.

Yunzhou was mountainous and strategically vital, hence the Anan Garrison was established.

Xue Gui, as Regional Commander, oversaw Yunzhou and three surrounding provinces, commanding seventeen battalions to guard Anan Prefecture.

Advisor Han Zhen stroked his goatee: “General Lei, you’ve shown quick thinking—I agree entirely.”

The court had ordered the suppression of bandits.

It had been a hot potato.

Fine, you tell me to suppress bandits, but our Anan troops are understaffed—surely you’ll make some concession?

Establish a new battalion.

On the surface, it was just one guard battalion; in reality, it meant one Assistant Regional Commander, several Garrison Commanders, and a host of Platoon Leaders and Squad Leaders.

The interests involved would be substantial.

The politics behind it were deep indeed!

The situation instantly transformed into a great advantage.

Seeing no objections from the three, Xue Gui made his decision:

“Proceed as Lei Yong suggests. Master Han, draft a memorial to the emperor, clearly explaining our Anan troops’ difficulties.”

Han Zhen smiled:

“Yes, Commander Xue.”

Advisors were the most peculiar group in the Anan Army—they held no official rank, their status determined solely by their standing in Xue Gui’s favor.

He had risen above all other advisors.

His strength lay in his exceptional literary skill.

Memorials penned by him were almost always approved, rarely rejected.

If one counted:

Had his ancestors not committed crimes that barred him from the imperial examinations, Han Zhen might now have held at least a seventh-rank County Magistrate’s post.

Fate is truly unpredictable.

Everyone was pleased.

With one major matter resolved, Xue Gui was in high spirits.

At that moment, Lei Yong flattered: “Commander Xue, I have a younger brother, Ning Zhongtian—he’s capable, from Qinghe, honest, and familiar with the region.”

Upon hearing Lei Yong’s words,

Han Zhen and Dai Yu both glared.

“That fat Lei is utterly shameless—how fast did he strike!”

Both silently cursed themselves.

[

His skin was still too thin; he had wanted to slowly maneuver the next step, but now Lei Zhen had beaten him to it.

Xue Gui glared at the brazen Lei Yong and cursed with a laugh: “Damn it, get lost.”

“Alright.”

Lei Yong’s face lit up with joy.

If anyone else had said that, Xue Gui would have been annoyed.

But coming from him, it was fine.

“Who else but me is Xue Ye’s right-hand man?”

Although Xue Gui hadn’t directly agreed, knowing him as he did, this was almost certainly settled.

Now they just waited for someone from the capital to arrive.

(End of chapter)