By the time he returned home, it was already night. As Shen Hao passed the ward gate, he saw several governmental officials on night patrol kicking and beating a few raggedly dressed people. When the Guard went up to inquire, he learned they were refugees. Even Ci’an Hall could barely take them in these days; there were more of them in every major city of Man Jingxi than ever before.

If a refugee was willing to work, that was fine—some way to make a living could always be found. But some were just useless, good-for-nothing, drifting about all day long, relying on congee relief from Ci’an Hall to get by. Such refugees were most despised by others.

"Were these the ones who stole from that family earlier?"

"I’m not sure. The governmental officials are investigating. If you’re worried, we can take over the case."

"Forget it. Best not to meddle in local matters. Let’s go back."

After eating a bowl of handmade noodles cooked by Xia Nu, Shen Hao sat in his study and opened the dossier, but found himself unable to put pen to paper.

The first part of the plan had gone smoothly. Using Flying Dragon, a familiar face in the black market, and covertly cooperating with the Li City Black Banner Battalion, they quickly seized the brokerage shares in more than forty sub-cities under Fengri City, ensuring that all transactions would go through Flying Dragon’s channels.

Of course, this was Shen Hao’s ultimate vision. By then, all illicit dealings and the flow of silver coins within Fengri City’s jurisdiction would be under the watchful eye of the Black Banner Battalion. If this system was set up properly, it would bring earthshaking changes to control within the Xuanqing Guard. This was also the original reason Jiang Cheng supported Shen Hao.

This was the first step of the plan.

The second step was to shift the Black Banner Battalion’s focus upward, trying to infiltrate those high-walled noble households. This was Shen Hao’s tentative suggestion, one that carried great risk, and even he hadn’t expected Jiang Cheng to agree to it outright—after all, such a move was taboo.

The original plan was to complete the first step and see initial results before using them as leverage to gradually push forward with the second step. But Jiang Cheng’s directive forced Shen Hao to move faster.

"The brokerage... it does seem like a good entry point." Shen Hao tapped the desk, mentally weighing Jiang Cheng’s earlier words. But the gateway to the brokerage was not easy to open.

Speaking of the brokerage, it was an especially unique semi-official institution in the Jingjiu Dynasty. The people inside were officials, but deeply entangled with civilian organizations, like the various large slave trading firms in the Jingjiu Dynasty.

Behind these slave firms were not just the shadows of the military, but also those of the Nobles. In fact, every major slave trading firm served as a tool for the most powerful segment of the Jingjiu Dynasty.

Therefore, the brokerage usually kept a low profile and did not attract attention. No one dared to provoke them, let alone attempt to draw them into their own faction, for the organization was too complex—impossible to control.

Early the next morning, Shen Hao summoned Wang Yiming to the Public Office.

"Do you know anyone in the brokerage?"

"I know a few Stewards, but not the Chief Officers."

"Look into those Stewards you know." Shen Hao suddenly said this lightly, following Wang Yiming’s gaze.

"...Which aspect do you mean?" Wang Yiming was taken aback, but quickly responded; he was just unsure what Shen Hao meant by "look into."

"See if there’s any dirt under their asses—preferably something worth losing their heads over. Do you understand?"

"But, the brokerage..."

Before Wang Yiming could finish, Shen Hao cut him off: "Can you investigate or not?"

"I can do it."

"I’m giving you five days. I want to see the dossier. Keep this confidential. Things are busy for Households Commander Wu, so don’t bother him. Within the Black Banner Battalion, keep things quiet; understand what I mean?"

"Yes, sir. I won’t let you down."

"Good. Go. I’ll be waiting for your results."

Wang Yiming withdrew with a cupped fist salute, but his heart was inexplicably racing; it took a while before he calmed down. He knew this task was Shen Hao testing him. If he did well, he’d earn Shen Hao’s favor—and perhaps would slowly be given real power in the future.

But... investigating the brokerage? That was thorny!

Wang Yiming was from the Imperial City, born into a noble family, and knew a lot about the brokerage. He understood it was an implicit power no weaker than the Xuanqing Guard. Its strength lay outside the system—a profit-sharing community solidified by immense business interests.

No one begrudges making money; crossing the brokerage meant cutting off people’s livelihood, making deadly enemies. He still didn’t know why they suddenly had to investigate the brokerage.

Wang Yiming was puzzled. He recalled that the Hundred Households of Shen’s record had nothing to do with the brokerage—had someone provoked him?

But doubt aside, Wang Yiming still hoped to continue working in the Black Banner Battalion, not be shunted aside by Shen Hao for some excuse. So, he had to do this well.

Truthfully, Wang Yiming had long awaited such a chance. Back when Chen Yiyun was around, Wang had been trusted and had his own men. After returning to his Public Office, Wang Yiming began delegating the investigation, focusing on a Steward he believed most likely to have a fatal weakness hidden.

...

After finishing his duties, Shen Hao rode home, looking out from the carriage. There seemed to be even more vagrants on the road, especially at the soup relief station not far from the ward gate, crowded with at least thirty or forty people.

This was not normal.

So many refugees and vagrants meant some disaster had struck, but up to now, only rumors circled the streets of troubles to the east—nothing official reported after so long. If it was a minor calamity, it couldn’t possibly have forced so many to flee their homes.

"Go fetch a refugee. I have questions."

The Guard quickly went to the soup station and brought back a tall, thin man with an anxious face. He seemed only thirty, but his skin was dark and coarse, his eyes sunken and bloodshot—a picture of hardship and misery.

"This small one greets the officer." He obediently stopped a pace from the carriage, head down, not daring to look directly.

"What’s your name? Where are you from?"

"My name is Wang Wu, from Shi Pan Town."

"Shi Pan Town? Where is that?"

"Oh, oh—it’s more than sixty li north of Wan River."

Shen Hao got out of the carriage, walked to Wang Wu, and smiled: "Don’t be afraid. After I’m done, I’ll treat you to some roast chicken." He paused and continued, "Wan River’s over by Pingshun City—how’d you end up in Fengri City? That’s a long way."

"Sir, we were struck by disaster—we had no choice. The local Government Offices couldn’t take in so many people. Only Fengri City is big enough. Coming here, at least we can get a bite to eat."

"What disaster? From your tone, it sounds like you couldn’t stay there."

"People are dying village by village! No one dares stay. Except those who simply can’t move, anyone who can has left."

"Dying?" Shen Hao was surprised—not a crop failure, as he’d thought.

"Yes, sir—lots of people have died. Everyone says... they say..."

"Say what?"

"Saying an epidemic has broken out."

An epidemic? Plague?!