Chapter 1004: and translation of chapter title

The achievements of this brigade are truly too dazzling—so dazzling that Chen Wuji suspects his lord might be a bit blind.

Such an outstanding brigade wasn't discovered until today.

At the same time, there is also some doubt.

Can a brigade really produce so many officers in just over a year?

If it's true, then this brigade deserves the highest reward.

If it's false, then it's also a huge case of military merit fraud.

Shi Yi Shu, send someone to verify this brigade's military merit, find reliable people! Chen Wuji ordered, "If the verification is fine, bring this brigade over; I want to see them myself."

Yes!

Chen Li stared intently at those words and gave an acknowledgment, then murmured, "This brigade, the more I look at it, the more familiar it seems, as if I had someone verify it before… I think… it must be when that military candidate Meng Qingchen was promoted; back then it seemed… it was precisely because of this military merit."

Chen Li pointed to a military merit record of Meng Qingchen from the ninth day of the winter month last year.

In that battle, Meng Qingchen, serving as brigade commander, slew 122 enemy soldiers.

His unit recorded killing 617 enemies, capturing over 2,000, and destroying two Qiang tribes. The remark on this military merit also notes that all captives were executed, not counted as enemy kills.

What was the situation when it was verified back then? Chen Wuji asked.

That time, Chen Wuyu personally led people to verify it; there was no problem with the military merit. I also had him go through the military merit of all units in passing, because at that time we were at the final stage of the counteroffensive against the Qiang, and the units were withdrawing troops, so I took care of this as well. Chen Li said.

Let's check again. Chen Wuji thought, then ordered, "In that case, since some functions in the central command are rather chaotic, let's conveniently establish an Investigations Office to oversee military discipline, verify military merit, and handle corruption and fraud in the army, reporting directly to me."

Although there have always been dedicated clerks handling these matters, the person in charge each time is temporarily drawn from the central command, which is quite troublesome.

Chen Li nodded, "Indeed, we seem to need such an office; our army is growing larger and larger, and just checking military merit each time requires pulling two or three hundred people to help."

Each trip takes one or two months; sending experienced hands is fine, but the inexperienced need the clerks to teach them for a few days before they can start.

We've always been learning while doing, doing while learning; discover a problem, solve it—that's enough. Chen Wuji laughed, "After all, we're just country bumpkins from Xishan Village; some things we do aren't professional, but nobody can laugh at us for that."

Chen Li shook his head, "I don't mean that."

The Investigations Office is important; Shi Yi Shu, do you have any candidates in mind?

Chen Li shook his head, "Family Head, I think I should avoid involvement in choosing personnel for the Investigations Office."

That's enough, I still don't know you.

However, I really can't think of any candidates either.

Kong Fang, who was frantically moving his wrists, looked left and right, then said quietly, "My lord, I happen to have a candidate here—versed in both civil and military affairs, with literary talent of eight dou, a fellow student of mine from my youth; now he farms and cultivates Dao in the mountains, and I previously wrote to him, and he has agreed to come serve before your command."

I can guarantee this person with my life; he is extremely capable. Even if I, Jia Yujing, and Zhao Chen were bound together, we still wouldn't match him.

Chen Wuji became interested, "Oh, you even put your own life on the line—really that outstanding?"

Extremely outstanding! Kong Fang said, spraying spit.

How should I describe this person? Before, I was somewhat dissatisfied, but later I couldn't help it. It seems nothing could stop him; when we studied together for the exams, he just flipped through a book casually and passed, while we needed several years.

What's most hateful is that he could have entered officialdom earlier, but instead he chose to wait for us few, saying it's nice to hang out together, he's willing to waste time waiting. He says life is vast, decades long; one should seek a true heart, and everything else is external; fame, profit, and status are far less interesting than a soulmate in life.

During that period, we few hung our heads from beams and pricked our thighs with awls every day, while he roamed mountains and rivers, already becoming a guest prefect's seat, daily discussing winds and moons with the prefect, talking about the world's scenery.

Chen Wuji's interest instantly rose, "How did he gain the prefect's appreciation?"

This story is a bit convoluted: he first got to know an old acquaintance and a coroner in the government office, then helped solve a few cases, catching the county magistrate's eye; he also helped the magistrate gain the prefect's appreciation, thus entering the prefect's sight; later he helped the prefect accomplish several major achievements with great political merit, and thus went from being appreciated by the prefect to becoming a guest at the prefect's seat. Kong Fang said.

Chen Wuji realized this guy seems to have truly grabbed the protagonist's script.

His life path is really too protagonist-like.

In contrast, this transmigrant of his has to rely on fists and knives to solve problems wherever he goes.

Comparing people to people, one really deserves to die!

If that's the case, his official career should have been smooth sailing; why then did he go to the mountains to farm and cultivate Dao? Chen Wuji asked curiously.

Kong Fang's expression suddenly turned odd, "He doesn't know when he became interested in the Dao, and once he did, it was unstoppable; when we were preparing to go to the capital for the exams, he suddenly advised us not to obsess over entering officialdom, to go home, tidy up our grain and property, and hide in the mountains."

Even to this day, I regret not listening to him.

Chen Wuji patted Kong Fang's shoulder, "You have already avenged your great grudge; past matters should be let go, letting them weigh on your heart only brings anxiety, no benefit. Now what you should do is carry on the family line, bring glory to your ancestors; otherwise, when you're old, you'll likely get a beating."

Kong Fang grinned, "My lord, I've now let it go, though I feel some regret for my stubbornness. Back then I genuinely admired Chu Xiu, yet when he said those words I still instinctively doubted him, thinking he'd gone mad."

Not just me; we all thought that way back then, and we all suffered great losses! The only friend among us who entered officialdom now seems to be serving as a lackey for Yan Yan.

Right, my friend's name is Chu Xiu; he practices ancient martial arts, which are the schools of the former qi-practitioners; I'm not exactly sure of the details.

Chen Wuji nodded, "When the person arrives, if he truly is as you say, the Investigations Office will keep a place for him, but he cannot be the chief; he can serve as deputy. You two should think again about who can bear the main responsibility of the Investigations Office."

Kong Fang furrowed his brows, and Chen Li also fell into deep thought.

An office that investigates the entire army—its person in charge must at least have some deterrent power, able to hold the field.