Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Assistance

A joint order from the Chief Officer of the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office and the Households Officer of the Black Banner Battalion?

Shen Hao had received one during the Jingxi Action previously; this was the second time, and he understood the weight of such an order.

However, unlike the last time during the Jingxi Action, this time the wording used wasn’t "investigation," but "assistance." It demanded Shen Hao immediately begin assisting in the Tu Kui City incident investigation, but without interfering with other Xuanqing Guard actions.

At first glance, it looked like an order to send Shen Hao as Wu Changhe’s assistant. Yet Shen Hao could perceive deeper implications within.

"Immediately begin" meant Shen Hao needn’t wait for any further instructions, and could even disregard Wu Changhe’s previous directive excluding Black Banner Battalion from the Tu Kui City incident. Because now Black Banner Battalion had received a higher-level order, Shen Hao’s journey to Tu Kui City would be unimpeachable on paper.

Additionally, though it said "assist," it also said "must not interfere with other Xuanqing Guard operations." This seemed contradictory, but was really opening the door for Shen Hao to bypass Wu Changhe’s command and conduct the investigation on an alternate path.

Jiang Cheng even had Xue Houxuan, the Black Banner Battalion Households Officer mockingly dubbed "the vase" by Prince Shou, co-sign this order. This was to silence Wu Changhe—since Xue Houxuan was nominally Shen Hao’s direct superior, the order was both legitimate and proper.

The intent in this order revealed that Jiang Cheng had little confidence in Wu Changhe’s ability to manage this crisis; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dispatched Shen Hao to Tu Kui City.

Perhaps in Jiang Cheng’s eyes, his own disciple was far more capable than Wu Changhe, the gilded bureaucrat sent from above.

Half an hour later, Shen Hao personally led his team, departing from Fengri City fully equipped, heading with two hundred Black Banner Battalion troops toward Tu Kui City.

Just out of the Teleportation Array, a young Small Banner Officer approached. Upon loudly reporting his identity, he was permitted to stand before Shen Hao.

This man was Yang Ming, currently the only remaining Small Banner Officer of Tu Kui City’s Black Banner Battalion. He had handled previous contact with the Thousand Households Station.

"Lord Shen, the upheaval in the early morning was abrupt and totally unforeseeable. Those swept in included not just Xuanqing Guard personnel, but nearly a thousand garrison soldiers. The garrison is now in a panic—two Deputy Thousand Households have arrived, and the original twenty-li perimeter has been extended to thirty li with more checkpoints.

Additionally, Households Commander Wu arrived in the morning. He’s now stationed at the front line, and seemingly tried to test that restriction layer himself, but the outcome is still unknown."

"How many troops remain in the garrison?"

"There’s still a Little Banner Battalion, the Hundred Households Guard left on station."

Shen Hao nodded; with someone guarding the garrison, he had no need to leave anyone there. After leaving the Teleportation Array, he had Yang Ming lead the way directly toward Caiyuan Village.

In the early afternoon at 3:00 p.m., Shen Hao saw the outermost ring of the blockade.

All garrison soldiers. Upon seeing Shen Hao’s party, they didn’t immediately make way, but checked waist tokens and orders before letting them pass. Few garrison units dared to be so tough in front of the Xuanqing Guard.

"Do you know which two Deputy Thousand Households the Fengri City garrison sent this time?" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

"I heard one surnamed Zhang, the other Gan."

Shen Hao nearly laughed aloud; among the four Deputy Thousand Households in Fengri City, each had a unique surname—so Zhang and Gan could only be Zhang Qian and Gan Lin. He didn’t expect to run into these two in an official capacity here.

"Let’s report to Households Commander Wu first."

"Yes, Lord, Households Commander Wu is still ahead."

"Ahead? Didn’t they say that restriction is unstable? Why not retreat behind the blockade?"

"Well..." Yang Ming really didn’t know how to answer Shen Hao’s question. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Shen Hao patted his shoulder and didn’t pursue it further; he was anxious, and a Small Banner Officer couldn’t have answers for such matters.

But Wu Changhe’s inexplicable forward action left him utterly puzzled. So many people had already vanished—still no lesson learned? Even if you wanted to show off, must all Xuanqing Guards be deployed at the front line? Staggering deployments wouldn’t work?

Describing Wu Changhe as "seeming fine in peacetime, but a complete flop in crisis" couldn’t be more accurate.

In Shen Hao’s eyes, Wu Changhe’s competence this time was basically negative. From start to finish, this Households Officer had made mistake after mistake, laughably so.

Shen Hao left the Black Banner Battalion troops behind; he didn’t bring Wang Yiming, only Yang Ming. After crossing the blockade, he forged onward ten more li before seeing Xuanqing Guard personnel. This put him right by the restriction. If it suddenly expanded again, all those pressed forward here would be swept away once more.

"Lord, just behind that wooden sign is the restriction. Invisible, untouchable—but cross the marked line, and you’ll be pulled in, with outsiders witnessing people vanish abruptly.

Moreover, the restriction has no blind spots; both air and underground are equally covered."

Yang Ming’s position was insignificant in such circumstances; he knew little, able only to give Shen Hao a rough overview of the restriction.

Shen Hao did not rush to find Wu Changhe, but paused before the distinctive marker, focusing his perception to the utmost but unable to sense anything abnormal. He threw a stone forward—nothing unusual happened, as if all were ordinary.

This situation left Shen Hao tongue-tied. He thought: no wonder so many people were swept in—there’s simply no way to detect it!

Shen Hao’s arrival drew sidelong glances from Xuanqing Guard at the front line; they hadn’t been notified of Black Banner Battalion reinforcements.

"Why are you here?"

Shen Hao hadn’t hurried to find Wu Changhe, but Wu Changhe, upon receiving the news, came first, face sour. He never expected Shen Hao would dare come to Tu Kui City without a proper transfer order.

But when Shen Hao presented the order from the Governor’s Office, Wu Changhe’s expression became even uglier. Having a troublemaker like Shen Hao—disobedient and out of his control—was headache enough; now the Governor’s Office was plainly supporting him, making things worse. He felt as if someone had gouged a hole in his side.

"Lord, I’m here mainly to patch up gaps in the investigation and provide you some outside support."

"Lord Shen, do as you wish." Wu Changhe, stifled, had no desire to speak further; he returned the order and waved a hand to turn away.

Shen Hao hastily called out, unable to hold back: "Lord, this place is dangerous, unfit for lingering. Shouldn’t we retreat a bit for safety’s sake?"

Wu Changhe halted, turned to look deeply at Shen Hao, and snorted: "Are you here to tell me how to do my job, Lord Shen?"

"I wouldn’t dare, just..."

"Lord Shen, please do as you wish. Affairs here do not require the talents of someone as distinguished as yourself."