Shen Hao awoke, feeling not the slightest fatigue from last night’s venting; instead, his body felt light and refreshed.

After washing up, attended by the maid, he left a silver note by the pillow and departed Hong’en Hall. On the way, he bought two roasted sweet potatoes for breakfast. While buying them, Shen Hao noticed a group of ragged refugees gathered not far from the stall, staring at the sweet potatoes in his hand but not daring to approach.

He ate as he walked, all the way into the Thousand Households Station, drawing sidelong glances from many inside. Apparently, no one had seen a Lord Hundred Households eating as he walked. Only when Shen Hao moved off did they whisper to each other, oh, so this is the newly appointed Hundred Households Officer of the Black Banner Battalion?

At the hour of Si, Shen Hao entered the council chamber, where four General Flag Officers dressed in Junior Sixth Grade black robes rose in unison.

"Subordinates greet Lord Shen!"

Bowing, cupping their hands, and raising their voices in salute, these men kept the formalities steady for a first meeting, their faces strict and unsmiling, displaying the bearing of military men. This was the safest approach; after all, rumor held that Lord Shen was a disciple of Governor Jiang, and now part of the Military Series, so he would likely appreciate such conduct. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Of course, Chen Tianwen was among them, going through the motions with the rest.

"Hm, sit." Shen Hao took the chief seat, then waved his hand and continued, "I called you today mainly for three matters.

First, I wanted us to get acquainted, meet each other—hereafter, we’re brothers eating out of the same bowl. Whatever arises, lay it on the table, no need to hide anything.

Second, I hope, after returning, each of you will launch a review of unresolved cases within your own Hundred Households Station, sorting them by time and influence. Of course, this is just the prep work; I’ll issue orders for the specific details later.

Lastly, starting today, I expect a monthly written case summary from each of you. Every case that passes through your hands must be recorded.

Have you all understood?"

"Subordinates understand!" The response was loud and respectful. Yet no one could know what each of their lowered heads was thinking.

"That’s all, then—return now." Shen Hao rose and left, seeming to have no wish for further conversation.

Tsk tsk, this new Lord Hundred Households is awfully cold. Not easy to get along with, eh.

That was probably the first impression Shen Hao left on these four men. It could be said that it was not good, but Shen Hao did not care. Among them, except Chen Tianwen, he could tell the others were merely outwardly respectful. How could such men be easily led by someone of low cultivation and young age like him?

This required a process, and Shen Hao knew it well—once he sorted things out, these men might not even keep their current positions. There was no need to win them over now.

In the afternoon, Wang Yiming knocked at the door to say Wu Changhe had returned.

Shen Hao immediately put down his work and went to pay respects, eager to see what style this parachuted Households Commander brought.

"Knock knock knock."

"Come in."

"Subordinate Shen Hao greets Lord Wu!"

"No need for formalities. Sit."

"Thank you, Lord!"

Shen Hao straightened, seeing before him a middle-aged man whose hair was grizzled, looking fifty-something or perhaps over sixty—a strange aura, robust build, with a scar crossing half his face from the nose, eyes sharp as though a dagger was hidden, staring so intensely as to make one’s back prickle.

Moreover, rumor had it that Households Commander Wu’s cultivation was much like Jiang Cheng’s—both at around Primordial Pill Realm Fifth Layer—among the highest in cultivation of Xuanqing Guard’s Households Officers.

"Earlier, I visited the Black Banner Battalions in the other three cities, but Li City alone remained. Mainly because there was a change in the Hundred Households Officer, and now is not an appropriate time. Also, Li City’s Black Banner Battalion has performed notably in construction over the past year. I wanted to hear your account first before going over."

"You overrate me, Lord; your subordinate will answer everything without reservation."

"Good. Tell me about your time in the Li City Black Banner Battalion, whatever comes to mind. Focus on what you consider important."

"Yes, Lord. In my opinion, the reason Li City Black Banner Battalion stands out from its peers is mainly because it shed old habits, unlike Xuanqing Guard’s traditional focus on ’special cases,’ and instead magnified minor problems in the city and analyzed them, finding neglected breakthroughs..."

These were all things Shen Hao had done himself in Li City. When he spoke of them, he was clear and logical. Wu Changhe asked about details now and then, nodding along, his gaze seeming to follow Shen Hao’s account in thought.

"I’d heard Lord Jiang mention you before, said you can get things done. Looking at you now, it’s so. Heard you first wiped out a General Flag’s family in the Garrison, then recently crossed the Wen Family and raided them all at once. You’re quite resolute—aren’t you afraid that, over time, you’ll have enemies on all sides?"

That was a common perception. To put it plainly, it was a "stance" question.

"Your subordinate is unconcerned. Carrying the Black Banner Battalion’s bowl means being worthy of the trust from one’s superiors, and protecting the people within one’s power. As for external restraints, your subordinate believes they needn’t be minded; the Court will drop an axe to cut them down for me."

Such questions demanded "steadiness, conciseness, correctness." Don’t aim for novelty—just be practical, succinct, and keep the right attitude to avoid mistakes.

Besides, Shen Hao’s achievements in Li City were plain for all to see; he need not boast.

Wu Changhe smiled, not pursuing the subject, but asked, "I hear you gathered the Black Banner Camp Commanders beneath you for a council today? Is there some new plan? Speak your mind."

A seemingly casual question that made Shen Hao focus—there was depth within.

In terms of organization, the Black Banner Battalion was still subordinate to the various Garrisons—for instance, Shen Hao’s current superior was Wu Changhe, right in front of him. Yet the Black Banner Battalion followed a dual subordination: also reporting to the Black Banner Battalion Households Officer in the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office.

On his second day, it was Wu Changhe’s first time seeing Shen Hao. As for the superior with the Black Banner Battalion in the Town Governor’s Office, Shen Hao knew even less.

Now, Wu Changhe’s question about future plans was a probe—testing whether Shen Hao would depend on his side, a bit of a show of authority. Perhaps Wu Changhe sensed the importance of the Black Banner Battalion and didn’t wish to yield it to the Town Governor’s Office.

Shen Hao privately rated Wu Changhe down a notch—too reckless, and too hasty. He should’ve known Shen Hao was Jiang Cheng’s disciple. Yet pushing him to pick sides? On what grounds?

"Certainly, your subordinate will first reorganize the Black Banner Battalion, then promote several schemes from Li City. But I haven’t worked out the details yet; today was just a reminder to them, and later I’ll adjust while implementing."

Clearly, Wu Changhe was dissatisfied with Shen Hao’s terse summary—his brows creased faintly. But Shen Hao showed no intention to elaborate further.