Chapter 44: Then let them see what true imperial hounds look like

The Tang family was considered a major clan in the city. Their patriarch, Tang Wenshang, served as a County Vice Magistrate in Jiulin County, a seventh-rank civil official.

The Tang family also operated two merchant caravans and owned numerous storefronts within the clan, as well as vast tracts of land outside the city.

Zhang Yuan knew of the Tang family because he had once done business with their caravans.

When he had taken on the persona of the Red Fox and led the Red Fox Caravan in border trade, a Tang family caravan had attempted to play dirty, intending to swallow the Red Fox Caravan whole.

During that encounter, Zhang Yuan had killed over twenty members of the Tang family. The Tang family's top expert, the second master Tang Wenwu—a late-stage Houtian realm cultivator—had died under Zhang Yuan's blade.

Between the loss of their strongest expert and the depletion of their caravan, the Tang family had not recovered for two years.

Zhang Yuan had later had the Black Ice Platform investigate them, discovering that the Tang caravans were highly suspected of colluding with the Northern Yan.

However, because of their heavy losses, the Tang family had retreated into seclusion, relinquishing their border trade, and the Black Ice Platform had subsequently lost interest.

He had not expected that this time, Chen Wu would be the one to clash with the Tang family disciples.

"People came by this morning. The Magistrate just sought me out and demanded that Chen Wu visit them to apologize; otherwise, he is to remain in prison indefinitely."

"That fellow Chen Wu hasn't uttered a single word in jail," the Sergeant said, shaking his head with a look of headache. "You know the Tang family—they have wealth and connections. Why fight them?"

"Even I have to be polite when I meet Tang Wenshang."

"If this turns into a stalemate, they could strip Chen Wu of his uniform and drive him into bankruptcy."

With a low sigh, the Sergeant looked at Zhang Yuan. "If I were still in Luyang Prefecture, I would keep a close eye on things. Now that I'm gone, there's no telling what underhanded tactics they might use..."

Zhang Yuan nodded and spoke. "I will take him to the Tang family to apologize."

A look of joy appeared on the Sergeant's face, but then Zhang Yuan's voice rang out again: "Chen Wu is not suited to be a Zao-yi Guard. It would be better to strip him of this black dog skin. Sir, please write a dismissal notice."

The smile froze on the Sergeant's face.

"You... what do you mean by this, kid?"

"Are you intentionally helping him quit?"

Zhang Yuan shook his head, his expression solemn. "Sir, I intend to have Chen Wu leave the Martial Guard Office to gain experience in the frontier army."

The frontier army?

Sergeant Qian Mu knew of Zhang Yuan's other identity and was aware of his connections to the frontier army.

Hearing Zhang Yuan say he wanted to send Chen Wu to the frontier, he hurriedly said, "The frontier is perilous. How can it compare to the stability of the Martial Guard Office—"

Before he could finish, Zhang Yuan interrupted, "If Chen Wu stays in the Martial Guard Office, he likely has no hope of reaching the Xiantian realm. If he trains in the frontier for a few years, he might actually have a chance to step into the Xiantian realm."

Xiantian.

Qian Mu opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

He himself was only at the late stage of the Houtian realm, and even then, his path to advancement was severed.

The Xiantian realm was something one could only hope for, something one wouldn't even dare to dream of in daily life.

Only someone like Chen Wu, a mid-stage Houtian cultivator at twenty years old, would have a chance to strive for it.

If Chen Wu truly managed to step into the Xiantian realm, he would become one of the top experts in the entire Luyang Prefecture.

If Zhang Yuan had offered any other reason, Qian Mu might have argued.

But this concerned Chen Wu's cultivation path and the Xiantian realm—this was a matter of his entire future.

Such a decision could only be made by Zhang Yuan, who had been supporting and nurturing Chen Wu all along.

"Then I shall write the notice," Qian Mu said, a look of disappointment crossing his face as he clicked his tongue. "How did this turn into such a mess? It feels like our Martial Guard Office is the one losing out..."

Looking up at Zhang Yuan, a glint appeared in Qian Mu's eyes.

"Writing a dismissal notice isn't out of the question, but don't you think you can run away this time, kid."

"Come, follow me to see the Magistrate."

...

Luyang Prefecture was a frontier prefectural city. The fifth-rank Magistrate of the prefecture, who managed military affairs, also served as the Recording Adjutant, wielding power no less than a fifth-rank civil Prefect.

Qian Mu and Zhang Yuan arrived at the main hall of the yamen and notified the soldiers guarding the entrance. Shortly after, the soldiers led them to meet He Jin, the Magistrate of Luyang Prefecture.

"Greetings, Magistrate."

Both Qian Mu and Zhang Yuan cupped their fists and bowed.

He Jin appeared to be in his early fifties, but he was actually past sixty.

Wearing a cyan patterned military robe, the white-haired He Jin was one of the three great experts of Luyang Prefecture, having stepped into the Xiantian realm twenty years ago.

Without the cultivation of the Xiantian realm, he would not have been able to hold the position of the head of all military officials in the city.

"Zhang Yuan, Zhang Erhe," He Jin said, a hint of a smile appearing upon seeing Zhang Yuan. "What is it? Has Sergeant Qian caught you in some trouble?"

He Jin had met Zhang Yuan before; he had summoned him five years ago when Zhang Yuan returned from Fengtian County.

As a Martial Guard who had returned from the bloody battles of Fengtian, He Jin, as the head of military officials in Luyang, naturally wanted to see him.

He Jin had even provided guidance for Zhang Yuan's martial cultivation a few times in the past.

In the last two years, Zhang Yuan had been traveling frequently, and as trade in Luyang Prefecture increased, He Jin had been too busy with affairs to see him.

"You could say that, Sir. We really did catch this kid's tail this time," Qian Mu grinned, stepping forward to whisper a few words to He Jin.

He Jin first frowned, then his expression shifted as he looked at Zhang Yuan.

"To let a twenty-year-old mid-stage Houtian cultivator go... it's a bit of a waste..."

After a moment of contemplation, He Jin said, "Someone, bring the military merit register of the Martial Guard Office."

The soldier at the door responded, and moments later, a clerk carrying a register entered and bowed to He Jin.

"See how many military merits Zhang Yuan has accumulated over these years," He Jin commanded with a wave of his hand.

"Reporting to the Magistrate, since joining the Martial Guard Office, Zhang Yuan has accumulated a total of one hundred and twelve levels of military merit, both large and small. This was only registered yesterday; I remember it clearly, your subordinate."

The clerk looked up at Zhang Yuan with an expression of admiration. "Since the establishment of the Luyang Martial Guard Office hundreds of years ago, there have been fewer than five people with over a hundred merits. Zhang Yuan ranks third."

The highest position in the Martial Guard Office was only a seventh-rank Martial Guard Leader; the commanding officers above them, the Sergeants, were already officials of the prefectural yamen.

True experts capable of personally taking down thirty or fifty levels of merit were usually transferred directly and could not remain in the Martial Guard Office for long.

The Martial Guard Office was not highly regarded precisely because it lacked true masters.

"Over a hundred levels already..." He Jin showed a hint of surprise as he looked at Zhang Yuan.

This fellow had returned from the three-month bloody battle in Fengtian with a very heavy killing intent, though it was skillfully hidden beneath his reputation for extreme righteousness, making it unknown to outsiders.

When he had guided Zhang Yuan's cultivation in the past, he had noticed that Zhang Yuan's saber techniques were filled with intense hostility, though it had been cleverly concealed.

Waving the clerk away, He Jin looked at Zhang Yuan with a solemn expression.

"Zhang Yuan, the Luyang Martial Guard Office is about to undergo expansion. At that time, it will be under my direct command. Simultaneously, a Captain will be assigned, and five Captaincies will be reorganized."

"You do not hold an official rank, so you cannot be directly promoted to Captain. However, the prefectural yamen can arrange for you to serve as a seventh-rank Zao-yi Guard, acting as the Acting Captain Commander."

"Once you pass the military assessment in the commandery capital, you will be formally commissioned."

This was the condition for letting Chen Wu go to the frontier: Chen Wu could leave, but Zhang Yuan would stay behind to serve as the Acting Captain Commander of the Martial Guard Office.

In truth, if Zhang Yuan had sought official advancement, there would have been plenty of opportunities.

The Red Scale Army had invited him more than once, and Bai Shaoting had even stated directly that if Zhang Yuan joined, he could serve as his deputy.

For years, Zhang Yuan had focused solely on his own cultivation, never placing his mind on court officialdom.

However, after discovering that the opportunity to enter the Grandmaster realm lay in treasures of the Sarira level, his thinking had changed.

Simply being an ordinary Zao-yi Guard in Luyang Prefecture meant he would never encounter information regarding treasures of that level in his lifetime.

Furthermore, the merits on that piece of hemp cloth were nearly paid off; it was time for him to consider his future.

"I can serve as this Acting Captain, but I have one condition."

Zhang Yuan cupped his fists, looked at He Jin, and spoke clearly.

"Speak," He Jin chuckled.

As long as Zhang Yuan agreed to be the Acting Captain, a few conditions were not impossible to grant.

"I wonder how much you know about the Tang family, Sir?"

Zhang Yuan's voice rang out.

He Jin and the standing Sergeant, Qian Mu, were both stunned.

What did he mean by that?

"I have met the Tang family patriarch, Tang Wenshang, a few times. He serves as a County Vice Magistrate in Jiulin County. Recently, Jiulin has been somewhat chaotic, and there is an intention within the prefecture to replace the Jiulin County Magistrate and have Tang Wenshang take over."

"There should already be rumors about this, shouldn't there?"

As Qian Mu had just mentioned, Zhang Yuan had agreed to take Chen Wu to the Tang family to apologize.

He Jin frowned, looking at Zhang Yuan. "This matter between Chen Wu and the Tang disciples is merely a clash of youthful tempers; it is nothing. If it weren't for your insistence on letting him leave—"

"Sir, disrespecting the Martial Guard Office and treating us Zao-yi Guards as mere hunting dogs and lapdogs is not a clash of tempers," Zhang Yuan's voice interrupted He Jin.

"If this matter is not handled properly, the reputation of the Martial Guard Office will be utterly destroyed. Even with the expansion, we will be unable to deter the various factions and will only waste money and grain."

He Jin was about to speak again when Zhang Yuan looked up, his expression grave. "Sir, do not forget, Chen Wu is a twenty-year-old late-stage Houtian cultivator. If even such an elite of the Martial Guard Office is forced to leave by the Tang family, what prestige will the Martial Guard Office have left in the eyes of the people of Luyang?"

Beside them, Qian Mu opened his mouth but could not find the words.

*Wasn't it you who insisted on Chen Wu leaving the Martial Guard Office?*

He Jin's brow furrowed slightly, and his aura stilled.

Zhang Yuan's reasoning was somewhat forced.

He was essentially framing his own arrangement for Chen Wu to go to the frontier as being coerced by the Tang family.

But this was the condition Zhang Yuan had proposed for taking the position of Acting Captain.

And just as Zhang Yuan said, if news of this incident spread, the prestige of the Martial Guard Office would indeed suffer greatly.

"What do you want to do?" He Jin asked in a low voice, looking at Zhang Yuan.

"Since the Tang disciples called us Zao-yi Guards 'imperial hunting dogs,' then let them see what true imperial hunting dogs look like." Zhang Yuan's face was calm, but a flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes.