Chapter 329

Jia Jing took over Ning Guo Fu, and from early morning the personal troops began moving things into Ning Guo Fu.

Since everything had been sorted yesterday afternoon and there were enough hands, the move went quickly; by late morning, everything was already neatly arranged.

The main hall of Ning Guo Fu had also replaced its plaque; the old "Ning'an Hall" plaque had been taken down.

The newly made "Jingming Hall" three characters hung above the doorway, black lacquer with gold lettering, strong and vigorous brushwork, inscribed by Emperor Jing Sheng Di that morning and sent by a palace attendant.

The two characters "Jingming" carry deep meaning.

Jia Jing guessed it perhaps came from the phrase "spring and bright scenery," implying an open and bright outlook; its meaning likely refers to the political clarity of the Da Han Empire and a bright future for him, Duke of Jingguo Jia Jing.

The late morning sunlight slanted in from the eastern window into Jingming Hall, spreading a bright gleam across the blue‑brick floor.

The hall was spotless; the sandalwood tables and chairs were polished to a shine, their armrests giving off a dark, oily luster.

In the boshan furnace, agarwood incense burned, sending up thin blue smoke that condensed into a light mist in the air, only to be gently dispersed by a cross‑draft.

On the north wall hung a map, the full territorial map of the Da Han Empire, with several places circled in vermilion; bows and swords were hung on either side of the map, glinting coldly in the sunlight.

Jia Jing sat in the chief seat of the hall, wearing a dark‑colored everyday robe, a silk sash around his waist, his hair tied with a white jade pin, neat and tidy.

Xuanwu stood in the middle of the hall, a faint blue shadow under his eyes.

He had barely slept last night; the move, settling the personal troops, and organizing some intelligence Jia Jing needed to review today all had to be prepared in advance, every item requiring his close attention, with no room for negligence.

Now Zhu Que holds the rank of marquis and concurrently serves in a high court post, making it impossible for him to attend Jia Jing constantly at his side.

Considering Zhu Que's busy duties, Jia Jing assigned him chiefly to oversee the military affairs of the Twelve Regiment Camp, while most of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intelligence work and household matters were handed to Xuanwu.

At this moment Xuanwu respectfully reported to Jia Jing:

My lord! Most of the old servants of Ning Guo Fu have been dismissed; the entire mansion is now tightly guarded by personal troops and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ensuring safety.

The concubines, secondary wives, and some made‑up maidservants of Jia Zhen, altogether over twenty people, have all been sent away.

Those sold to officials were returned to their native places, while a few from good families were given silver and allowed to return to their parents' homes.

Furthermore, dishonest female servants and maids who could be sold were sold, and those who could be dismissed were dismissed.

The few remaining were carefully selected and retained; they are absolutely pure and reliable!

Since Jia Jing has taken over Ning Guo Fu, some of the old staff are naturally no longer fit to be used!

Ning Guo Fu is unlike Rong Guo Fu, which he had thoroughly overhauled from top to bottom; with a master like Jia Zhen, the quality of the servants in the mansion can be imagined.

Saying the place is a mix of fish and dragons, hiding filth and corruption, is an understatement; who knows what spies might be lurking among the servants!

Liu Xianglian once said: "Only the two stone lions outside Ning Guo Fu's gate are clean!"

Jia Jing fell silent for a moment, then nodded and said:

Hmm! The personnel in the mansion must be strictly screened to guarantee absolute loyalty and reliability!

Those who are dismissed should be given some silver according to custom, and we must not leave them without a means of livelihood.

Furthermore, we should also purchase from outside some maidservants and maids of unblemished background.

Such a huge mansion certainly cannot lack laundresses, cooks, cleaners, and guards; while personal troops can handle defense, the miscellaneous chores still need servants to do them!

Xuanwu clasped his hands and said:

My lord, rest assured! Every person entering the mansion will be strictly vetted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard; we will absolutely not let anyone with ulterior motives slip in!

I have also selected from the Embroidered Uniform Guard a few women skilled in martial arts and good at managing servants; they will surely keep the mansion's staff in good order for you, my lord.

Jia Jing heard this and gave a slight nod.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard has now grown strong; besides the original five hundred occupying core positions,

among the later recruits, the able‑bodied make up the vast majority, while a small number possess various skills, including some women.

Of course, regardless of who they are, the most important requirement is that their origins be clear and verifiable, and they must undergo a lengthy loyalty test.

As for why we recruit women, it is naturally to better supervise places like the inner quarters where men find it inconvenient to enter.

Hmm! Take care of the mansion's affairs! Zhu Que is to command the Twelve Regiment Camp, where the 180,000 troops are of great importance and cannot afford any loss!

You also need to share more of the burden concerning the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the two mansions." Jia Jing thought for a moment, then said.

He still trusts most Zhu Que, Xuanwu, and Qin Qiong, these absolutely reliable confidants. After many trials, Xuanwu is now nearly capable of standing on his own!

Upon hearing this, Xuanwu's face flushed slightly, and he responded resolutely:

My lord, rest assured! I will firmly manage the Embroidered Uniform Guard and guard the two mansions!

Jia Jing said:

The Embroidered Uniform Guard bears great responsibility; I urge you to strive!

Having said that, Jia Jing paused, pondered a moment, turned his gaze to the map on the north wall, and asked in a low voice:

How much of the martial merit intelligence in Shenjing City has been organized so far?

Xuanwu composed his expression, clasped his hands, and said:

I have only roughly compiled a file on the intelligence gathered earlier about the founding lineage's martial merit; the rest is still being organized.

However, I have already arranged for the brothers below to intensively investigate their situation!

The martial merit factions in Shenjing City roughly fall into three camps: first, the founding‑era enfeoffed martial merit lineage, mainly the descendants of the Four Kings, Eight Dukes, and Twelve Marquises.

Second, the lineage enfeoffed during the Chengzu Jingnan campaign, mainly the Four Dukes and Eight Marquises.

Third, a batch of newly ennobled martial merit nobles after the Jingnan campaign, such as Nian Gengyao, Yue Zhongqi, etc.

While speaking, Xuanwu took out a document from his bosom and handed it to Jia Jing, simultaneously reporting:

Among the Four Kings of the founding lineage, the Prince of Northern Peace and the Prince of Southern Safety still participate in court affairs, while the Prince of Eastern Peace and the Prince of Western Ning no longer do so much.

Including your several promotions, my lord, the Prince of Eastern Peace has not sent anyone to congratulate you!

Moreover, the Prince of Southern Safety has recently grown close to the Jingnan lineage's Duke Cao Guo, and seems to harbor some hostility toward you, Marquis!

Among the Eight Dukes, aside from the Dukes of Ning and Rong,

the remaining six houses— the Dukedom of Niu, the Dukedom of Li, and the Dukedom of Xiu—still hold military ranks, and they are three families that are relatively close to you, my lord.

Furthermore, the Chen family of the Duke of Qi, the Ma family of the Duke of Governance, and the Shi family of the Duke of Repairs have all lost their military ranks; they are basically defunct, much like the former state of the Rong and Ning mansions.