Wu Changhe looked at the case file in his hand, his brows furrowing slightly. Only after turning to the last page did he raise his head to look at Shen Hao across from him.

"These are all the charges?"

"Yes. For now, the only ones with conclusive evidence are these. However, based on my judgment, Zhao Tianyang definitely has more issues that warrant further investigation."

"But privately purchasing and trafficking elixirs and magical artifacts are not crimes punishable by death, are they? I’ve heard you locked up Zhao Tianyang in the Li City Black Banner Battalion’s dungeon and subjected him to daily severe interrogation—isn’t that going too far?"

Shen Hao bowed and explained, "Sir, you are absolutely right. Zhao Tianyang’s crimes alone wouldn’t warrant death—at most, removal from office and some prison time. But at the critical moment, he resisted arrest and attempted to escape, and given his rank—a man of the law breaking the law—the seriousness increases by three degrees. Now, it’s enough for a beheading."

Not kill Zhao Tianyang? Shen Hao couldn’t swallow that. And Wu Changhe really was too self-important—what made him think that just because he opened his mouth, Shen Hao would have to give him face and let Zhao Tianyang off?

"Hmph! But Ping Shun City Black Banner Camp Commander can’t stay vacant for long, can it?"

"In my opinion, it’s best to leave it vacant for now. It’s a good time to use this opportunity to address all the problems in Ping Shun City that used to be overlooked. Once everything is sorted out, then we’ll assign someone to assume the role."

"I hope it won’t be delayed for too long."

"Rest assured, sir. I will complete the internal clean-up as soon as possible and keep you updated on all developments."

"Very well. You may go."

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

If this were an ordinary appointment or removal, Wu Changhe could make a direct decision. But when it came to the Black Banner Battalion’s establishment, it wasn’t so simple. Appointing or removing officers from the Black Banner Battalion required unanimous consent from both the Thousand Households and the Black Banner Battalion’s Hundred Households Officer. If there was disagreement, the matter could be taken up to the Governor’s Office for a final decision. But Wu Changhe didn’t even need to think to know who the Governor’s Office would favor.

Three days later, four case files arrived on Shen Hao’s desk almost simultaneously.

He picked up the one submitted by Wang Yiming first. As Shen Hao expected, since Chen Tianwen had cleaned up his loose ends in advance, the Li City Black Banner Battalion only had a few trivial little problems that didn’t amount to any legal breaches. The file was simple—so simple that Wang Yiming went out of his way to heap praise on Li City Black Banner Battalion in every aspect, his flattery smooth and unforced.

As for Wang Yiming, Shen Hao didn’t dare to use him lightly. He could only observe his character slowly, step by step. If he noticed even a hint of something off, he wouldn’t let this man stay by his side. The same went for all the Black Banner Battalion soldiers in the Thousand Households Station; trust would require a process.

Setting aside Wang Yiming’s report, he picked up Chen Tianwen’s. Just the thickness alone showed that Chen Tianwen had understood Shen Hao’s intentions this time. Not to say it was a complete purge, but at the very least, the investigation in Ping Shun City was enough to turn the Guard Station’s Black Banner Battalion inside out.

Zhao Tianyang was dead for sure, and if his subordinate Small Banner Officers were dirty, they would be wiped out as well. If the issues were serious, they’d be thrown straight into the dungeon to die. Chen Tianwen led an entire group, fully armed; if anyone dared resist, they were killed on the spot. But the Hundred Households in Ping Shun City weren’t so stupid; they kept their men in line and made a show of cooperation, so there was no obstruction to Chen Tianwen’s investigation.

Of course, Chen Tianwen’s focus was only on the Ping Shun City Black Banner Battalion. He had no intention of involving himself elsewhere.

Next, he picked up Xu Zhe’s report on Tu Kui City. As expected, it was all flowery praise, but all the details were slapdash—plainly written without any real investigation, just putting on a show. Xu Zhe really was covering for Liu Kuan. Pathetic—stupid is as stupid does; he was already betrayed but still didn’t know it.

Finally came Liu Kuan’s case file, which was exactly what Shen Hao had been looking forward to the most.

As he flipped through the first two pages, a smile tugged at Shen Hao’s lips. He thought to himself that Liu Kuan was indeed a clever scoundrel. The earlier warning had scared him properly, and this time, his work was flawless.

While Xu Zhe’s actions in Tu Kui City were sloppy and transparent, he was earnestly covering for Liu Kuan. But Liu Kuan had already sold out Xu Zhe. After running off to Tan City, he appeared to be making things easy for everyone on the surface, but secretly, he had thoroughly investigated all the hidden issues in Tan City’s Black Banner Battalion and reported them all to Shen Hao. Say what you will, but Liu Kuan’s ability to get things done was impressive.

What Shen Hao wanted were these trivial details that weren’t necessarily fatal but enough to keep Xu Zhe under his thumb.

"Someone, send an order to Xu Zhe—tell him to see me first thing tomorrow morning."

The guards outside responded at once to carry out the order.

When Xu Zhe received the order, he was a bundle of nerves. All he could think about was Zhao Tianyang’s previous fate. To be honest, he wanted to run, because he didn’t know if Shen Hao now held anything on him. If Shen meant to root them all out, wouldn’t he be walking into the trap by going?

But even if he ran, where could he go? If it wasn’t a matter of certain death, Xu Zhe wouldn’t dare to bolt. So early the next morning, he waited at the entrance to the Fengri City Thousand Households Station.

When Xu Zhe saw Shen Hao, he nearly bowed so low his head hit the floor, his heart pounding, sure that today was his unlucky day.

"Take a look." Shen Hao led Xu Zhe into the Public Office, saying nothing more as he threw Liu Kuan’s report—delivered just yesterday—onto the table in front of him.

"Compared to Zhao Tianyang, your conduct in Tan City isn’t much better. Just that matter with embezzling from the money shop would be enough to strip you of your post and throw you in prison. Not to mention you even helped the Tan City merchant convoys forge ’military supply slips’ to get them exempted from taxes. Add it all up—how many years do you think you’d get? And if we include the punishment for knowing the law and breaking it, do you think it’s enough to have your head chopped off?"

Xu Zhe was stunned, blurting out curses, "That damn Liu Kuan! Slander! This is pure slander! Sir, your subordinate may have been careless with the little things, but I’d never do something like this..."

"Enough! Both witness and material evidence are here—what leg do you have to stand on?"

It was over! Xu Zhe felt as if a sledgehammer had crashed into his skull; he wanted to talk his way out of it, but his mouth just hung open, unable to utter a word.

With a thud, he fell to his knees, bowing like a pecking chicken, pitifully begging for mercy. Outsiders only knew that the Xuanqing Guard’s dungeon was terrifying, but people like Xu Zhe, insiders, knew it was beyond terrifying—if you went in, you’d be skinned alive three times before dying. Leave alive? Dream on!

Shen Hao shook his head and let his hand drop from the hilt at his waist. Zhao Tianyang had at least had the guts to try to escape; Xu Zhe only knew to beg for his life on his knees—truly contemptible.

"But now is precisely when I need people. Taking down Zhao Tianyang earlier was to establish authority—if I deal with you too, it might be too much; people will say I’m being excessively domineering."

"Sir, your subordinate knows his mistakes! I know I was wrong! From now on, I will follow your lead and never again harbor divided intentions. Please, sir, give your subordinate another chance!"

Shen Hao was silent a long time. Seeing the blood seeping from Xu Zhe’s forehead where he’d been kowtowing, he finally spoke, slow and deliberate: "Rise. Go back to Tan City. Clean up everything that must be cleaned. If there’s a next time, it won’t be so easy."