Chapter 1018: Aftermath (Part Two)

Officers like Feng Hongde, who led the group, were arrested; those who followed under coercion could redeem themselves by contributing to the cause.

All assets and land seized were transferred to military colonies and distributed to soldier households whose garrison farmland had been seized or whose land was insufficient.

If the land was insufficient for distribution, a portion of the seized gold, silver, and jewels was used, according to the ledgers, to repurchase garrison farmland forcibly sold within the past five years.

This was one reason Xue Shao did not allow the military colonies to fully dispose of these illicit funds—local gentry, along with Cao Rong and Feng Hongde, had colluded to buy much garrison farmland at low prices.

To repurchase this garrison farmland, the local county offices had to mediate.

Xue Shao was a good official and wanted the county magistrates to gather these gentry for ideological education; Pan Yun, however, directly ordered An Chen to seek out the prefects and magistrates of each prefecture: "Tell them they have three days to return the land they bought from the military colonies—otherwise, do you really need me to explain what punishment awaits for bribing officials and embezzling military land?"

"If your household lacks the Great Proclamation, I won't mind sending you a copy."

An Chen immediately went to bookstores and bought out every copy of the Great Proclamation, then delivered them to prefects across the region, relayed Pan Yun's words, and added: "Our Embroidered Uniform Guard has far less patience than Commissioner Xue—would you like a tour of the Imperial Prison?"

Within days, other Embroidered Uniform Guard units arrived; An Chen now had ample manpower and, with help from local victimized soldier households, found arresting and interrogating suspects easy.

Upon receiving the Great Proclamation, prefects silently passed them to county magistrates, who then delivered them to the gentry.

An Chen deliberately over-delivered, so the magistrates, after hesitation, sent copies not only to gentry on the list but also to some not on it, and repeated An Chen's warning.

Soldier households watching them immediately reported back to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

An Chen snorted: "Just as Commissioner Xue said—there are still some who slipped through."

"Boss, should we investigate?"

An Chen: "No need. If we catch evidence, we fine them and beat them—it's enough to scare them into returning the stolen funds themselves."

As proven, Pan Yun's threats and An Chen's methods worked: within three days, Xue Shao received back many plots of land—without spending a single coin.

Xue Shao fell silent, realizing the Embroidered Uniform Guard could still terrify people effectively.

He looked toward Pan Yun, still invisible, and asked: "When will you reveal yourself?"

Pan Yun snapped her head toward him, alert: "What are you planning?"

Xue Shao rubbed his forehead: "What could I possibly plan? Aren't you trying to accumulate merit? This is perfect merit—if made public, every soldier and civilian in Guangdong will worship you as a deity."

Pan Yun: "But you're a Censor. If you bring this up yourself, I get the feeling I'm walking into a trap."

Xue Shao: "We're friends. I ensure your interests outside work—isn't that mutually beneficial?"

Pan Yun looked skeptical: "Really?"

Xue Shao nodded firmly: "Yes."

Pan Yun thought for a moment, found no trap, and hesitantly nodded: "Shen Boxiu knows my identity—it's already spread among the Chaozhou soldier households. Soon, those in Guangzhou will know too. No need for special promotion."

Xue Shao: "Not enough."

"What?"

Xue Shao said: "You're the State Preceptor. How can you remain hidden, letting rumors drift in shadows? You must appear openly, dramatically."

Pan Yun: "..."

She leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, and asked lazily: "Come on, tell me—how exactly do you want me to make a dramatic entrance?"

Xue Shao said: "I've used the seized funds to buy grain, farming tools, and seeds. I've compiled the list of victims. I plan to distribute land, winter rations, tools, and seeds to all wronged soldier households outside the city gate in two days. Will you appear then?"

Pan Yun: "Is it Song Hao refusing to cooperate, or Jiao Tong disagreeing with you?"

Xue Shao's lips curled slightly: "Nothing escapes you."

"The actual seized assets don't match the ledgers, nor do they align with their usual bribes, embezzled military pay, or seized garrison farmland. Prefect Song has colluded with Commissioner Jiao to block me from using the remaining illicit funds and demands I hand over hidden ones."

Pan Yun clucked her tongue: "You're this far along and still won't reveal me?"

Xue Shao: "Since you must appear anyway, why not do it in broad daylight? I clear my name, and you gain merit."

"Merit is public trust. If you conspire with me, collude with me, aren't you afraid the civil officials and moral purists in court will condemn you?"

Xue Shao: "Many civil officials and moral purists in court admire you—after all, you're favored, which is far better than some eunuch being favored."

Pan Yun snorted softly and stopped objecting.

Xue Shao immediately prepared, ordering a tall platform built outside the city gate.

Jiao Tong frowned and muttered to Song Hao: "I'm losing sight of him."

Song Hao said: "Such a public spectacle looks like he's buying public favor."

"Master's virtue inspires reverence. Xue Xuan may be too rigid, but he's admirable. I thought my nephew was like Xue Xuan—yet first the seized funds don't add up, now he's openly buying favor..." Jiao Tong shook his head and sighed: "Will Master's lifelong reputation be ruined by this boy?"

Song Hao whispered: "My lord, why not privately advise him? Cao Rong secretly sent word through a jailer—his lost gold, silver, and jewels were worth ten times the value of three storehouses. So far, we've only recovered ledgers for two storehouses; the treasure vault and third storehouse's contents remain missing."

Jiao Tong clenched his lips.

Song Hao stole a glance at him, paused, then whispered further: "My lord, besides Cao Rong, Feng Hongde and others also lost some household assets. Commissioner Xue interrogated them as if he held all the evidence—he clearly already possessed proof. If he could obtain such critical evidence, wouldn't quietly transferring part of the illicit funds be easy?"

Jiao Tong: "So much money—you think it's all banknotes? With constant comings and goings, how could there be no trace? I've always had doubts..."

Jiao Tong recalled rumors he'd heard from his master and fellow disciples—could Xue Shao truly have taken up the Dao and achieved cultivation?

He'd heard cultivators could truly hold entire worlds in their sleeves—the State Preceptor had achieved cultivation, so she certainly could.

And Xue Shao was her close friend.

Jiao Tong kept his suspicions to himself, choosing to bury them.

He planned to find an opportunity to test Xue Shao.

Jiao Tong never imagined he'd never get the chance—Xue Shao gave him his answer before he could act.

On the fifth day of the ninth month, the sky was clear and crisp; Guangzhou's soldier households gathered outside Guangzhou City.

Beneath the high platform, before all eyes, Pan Yun descended from the heavens, standing atop a cauldron; sunlight glinted off its surface, blinding the crowd with dazzling light, making their eyes water and nearly blinding them. (End of Chapter)