Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Whitewashing

I have to admit, Shen Hao’s series of deductions is indeed logically possible. Even if it’s just a ’possibility,’ it has made Jiang Cheng realize the gravity of the problem.

This is far more terrifying than the previous issue of ’losing sixty-one carts of grain.’ In fact, exchanging sixty-one carts of grain for such an important piece of intelligence could even be considered a bargain.

The Jingxi Army is one of the Four Major Armies of the Jingjiu Dynasty, and the Border Army is a frontline unit composed of troops drawn from various armies, fighting in place of training. Both hold significant positions within the Jingjiu Dynasty.

According to Shen Hao’s deductions, just speaking of Shuangshi Town alone, using the small Teleportation Array there would at least require a full set of paperwork and credentials that could withstand the scrutiny of the Jingxi Army. At the very least, it would need the stamp and seal of the Jingxi Military Governor’s Mansion, wouldn’t it?

Upon arrival at Beach Stone, one would equally need to present all documentation and credentials, as well as have the Border Army’s records in place.

So, if Shen Hao’s deduction is correct, then neither the Jingxi Army nor the Southern Border Army can escape involvement.

"Are you suggesting that the Jingxi Army and the Border Army are the hidden hands colluding with the Evil Cultivators and the Barbarian Race?" The problem was sprawling and grave, and further, it implicated the military ranks that had, until now, maintained somewhat amicable relations with the Xuanqing Guard. Even with Jiang Cheng’s disposition, he now found himself restless.

"Sir, this subordinate believes that, while there must be people within the Jingxi Army and the Southern Border Army who have played a dishonorable role, bringing them up specifically and alone is, in my view, inappropriate."

"Why is it inappropriate?"

"Coordination would be extremely troublesome. Only if the Jingxi Army and the Southern Border Army maintained absolute and consistent cooperation could things remain so calm and free of disturbance as they do now."

Jiang Cheng did not quite understand, so he paused in his pacing and looked at Shen Hao: "Speak plainly. Say whatever it is you have in mind and stop hiding half of it from me."

"Yes, sir. What I mean is that such tacit and seamless cooperation between the Jingxi Army and the Southern Border Army cannot possibly be the result of their acting independently. These armies are not mutually subordinate and would require command to move in unison. Therefore, I believe there is someone or a force above both the Jingxi Army and the Southern Border Army intervening in this matter."

A force or a person who can command both the Jingxi Army and the Southern Border Army?

Jiang Cheng pointed at Shen Hao and sighed: "You certainly dare to think big!"

Shen Hao’s expression was stone-cold: "This subordinate is fearful."

Jiang Cheng had just told Shen Hao to speak frankly, but Shen Hao still left himself an out. The only entity capable of commanding both the Jingxi Army and the Southern Border Army was the Ministry of War, and the Minister of War was the top-ranked military official, the National Pillar General Yang Yansi.

To speak truthfully, Jiang Cheng did not wish to implicate the Ministry of War or the National Pillar General. He himself was from the military ranks, and naturally felt a fondness for the Ministry of War. Moreover, Yang Yansi was the object of admiration for all those of military background; the title of War God in the army was not just an empty saying. The mere fact that he, in the current difficult circumstances, had propped up the military by his own efforts and kept it from being reduced to a plaything of the Civil Servant Group, was reason enough for all those in the military to feel grateful.

Furthermore, Yang Yansi’s loyalty to the Jingjiu Dynasty had been forged through blood and war, and was beyond question. He was also deeply trusted by Your Majesty. Otherwise, with Yang Yansi’s immense prestige in the military, it would have been impossible for him to occupy the practical post of Minister of War.

After a long while, Jiang Cheng finally spoke again: "Have you shared this idea with anyone else?"

"Xiaoqi Wang Jian, who is in charge of the Black Water Plan and is directly handling the investigation of this case, also knows."

"Tell him not to leak a word of it. What you need to do now is to secretly develop your deduction further. Do not just stay at the level of speculation and conjecture. You must have solid and reliable evidence to support your claims. Do you understand?"

"This subordinate understands!"

"Remember this well. I will not suppress you in this matter, but you must be incomparably cautious. Whether outwardly or internally, you must strictly limit how many people are informed. Do you understand my meaning?"

"Yes, sir. I will not allow another mistake."

Jiang Cheng sat back down in his chair. Shen Hao hurriedly picked up the water kettle from the stove at the side and refilled Jiang Cheng’s cup, then stood by to await further instructions.

"Since you have formed an idea, you must also have your target. Where are you going to start?"

"Storage bags. I believe the most suitable entry point is those storage bags that Ma San and his group brought. Over twenty storage bags—those couldn’t even be scraped together by a Thousand Households Station, and would require requisition from higher military supply units. Furthermore, storage bags are valuable and scarce magical artifacts. Their circulation and transfer must be carefully recorded. I think this aspect is worth investigating.

If we can confirm the origins of these storage bags, then the rest of the matter can be unraveled by following the thread."

"That batch of grain—how do you intend to handle it?"

"This subordinate intends to process the accounts through the Black Water Plan, cycle them several times, and let them be absorbed quietly."

Shen Hao was well aware that, if his suspicions were correct, the batch of grain taken by Ma San was unlikely to be recovered. Today was already the fourth day; for all he knew, Ma San and his party might already be flying toward Xiaochuan from Beach Stone, far beyond interception. The only option was to minimize the negative consequences.

"You... never mind. Handle it as you see fit. Don’t let me see any untimely memos."

"Please rest assured, sir."

The matter of the grain was by no means minor. Though the silver Ma San paid far exceeded the value of the sixty-one carts of grain, once it ended up in the hands of the Barbarian Race, the reputations of Shen Hao, Jiang Cheng, and even the Black Banner Battalion could all be affected. If the grain could not be retrieved, then the error must be rewritten as part of a "premeditated and controllable bait operation."

So long as a large enough fish could be caught, no one would care how much bait the fish consumed while biting.

...

It was only mid-7 a.m. when Shen Hao walked out of the Governor’s Office.

But his mood now was nothing like when he had entered earlier.

What gave him the worst headache was the flaw with the grain, which would affect the records not just for Shen Hao but for everyone on this line. No one worked this job purely for its own sake—chasing after money and power was the root desire for nearly everyone under these black robes. Having lost the bet and suffered the loss, he would accept it, but would still do his utmost to cover up this mishap.

As long as Jiang Cheng had no complaints, then Shen Hao could safely and properly polish this flaw until it left no negative repercussions, freeing up his hands to continue digging deep into the case.

But the trouble was that this business involved the military—a tough place to make any move.

That day, after returning to Fengri City, Shen Hao summoned Wang Jian to the Public Office and instructed him how to redecorate the account records of the lost grain. Wang Jian immediately understood and went to carry out the orders.

Afterward, Shen Hao sat, emotionless, in the Public Office until the Lower Emissary time, pen in hand but without writing a single word.

The military is different from the Local Government Office. It is a true force of violence, where unity and strict obedience to orders are paramount. Even after the Civil Servant Group forced a ’Military Supervisor’ upon them, it was not an institution that storms could easily infiltrate.

The Xuanqing Guard also had personnel in the army, but all were marginalized and had only the power of supervision but not of control—far less than the Military Supervisor.

"To investigate the military from the outside is much too difficult."