Chapter 483
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 483
Chapter Title: Cavalry General, Du Huan!
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The establishment of the Imperial City Division was like tossing a stone into a calm lake for the Dao Court, instantly stirring up ripples throughout Tianwu City.
The Imperial City Division completely bypassed the Dao Court's official rank system. Without an official rank, it naturally wouldn't be constrained by the department heads and superiors from various ministries. Moreover, bolstered by the Incense Fire Divine Path, its strongest members could reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, no weaker than a first-rank official. This made many harbor deep wariness.
More importantly, the duties of the Imperial City Division.
In a word, it was responsible for security within Tianwu City, bans on entry and exit to the palace city, all matters of the Zhou Lu宿卫, and the opening and closing of palace gates—all under its jurisdiction.
This was no small matter.
These had originally been the Capital Heaven Department's responsibilities. Now they belonged to the Imperial City Division, stripping away those duties and the corresponding authority.
How could the Capital Heaven Department accept this?
Tianwu City, Grand Protector's Mansion.
"His Majesty clearly doesn't trust the Capital Heaven Department!"
Ning Haohe, the current Capital Heaven Department Commander, slammed the table in fury. "What Imperial City Division? Those stinking foreigners from overseas have come begging in our Jiangdong!"
"That Du Huan got the position by currying favor and claiming a few minor merits to please His Majesty. Grand Protector, we can't ignore this! How can we let overseas demon cultivators take over in our Jiangdong Dao? The nation will fall into chaos!"
At the head seat, an elderly man sat with eyes closed, silent.
At first glance, he seemed an ordinary old man. But when he opened his eyes, the impression flipped dramatically.
Like a serpent transforming into a dragon.
His every breath drew upon the omnipresent Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws of Jiangdong, resonating and cooperating with them, draping infinite mighty power upon his form.
He was the Grand Protector of the court, Hu Zhichun.
Wielding Level Ground Wood, commanding the Heavenly Pillar Supreme Ultimate Cavern Heaven. Ning Haohe, his disciple, had been recommended by him for the position of Capital Heaven Department Commander.
"His Majesty is dissatisfied."
Hu Zhichun's expression remained calm. "The Capital Heaven Department has always been directly under the Son of Heaven. Now that you lead it, it's only natural for His Majesty to establish a new organ."
Ning Haohe's appointment as Capital Heaven Department Commander indeed involved backroom deals between the Three Dukes and Emperor Jiayou. After all, Emperor Jiayou, at mid-Golden Core, needed to refine the three elements to break through to late-stage, which required the Three Dukes' aid. The Capital Heaven Department was merely one bargaining chip in the exchange.
Yet clearly, Emperor Jiayou harbored resentment over this.
Thus, he established the Imperial City Division on the foundation of the Incense Fire Divine Path and specifically promoted a member of the True Dragon Clan with no roots in the Dao Court to head it.
More crucially, the source of the Incense Fire Divine Path lay solely in Emperor Jiayou's hands.
In this setup, the Imperial City Division would heed only Emperor Jiayou's commands, uninfluenced by the hundred officials. This thoroughly disrupted the Dao Court's conventions.
"Tai'an, what do you think?"
Hu Zhichun turned his gaze to a young man beside him. The man had handsome features, and every gesture exuded noble elegance.
This was the Young Protector of the court, Li Tai'an.
In time, when Hu Zhichun's lifespan ended and he reincarnated, with the cavern heaven falling, Li Tai'an would hoist it anew—a testament to his pivotal status.
"In response to milord, this official believes we should meet change with constancy."
Li Tai'an cupped his hands and spoke gravely. "The Imperial City Division's creation is His Majesty's will. He likely wishes to gauge the ministers' attitudes through this."
"If we feign compliance while secretly obstructing, and His Majesty notices, he'll only resort to harsher measures. Better to yield a step, let His Majesty vent his spleen. Afterward, we can impose restrictions. His Majesty ultimately relies on you, milord. Give him a way out, and he won't press the issue."
"And if His Majesty remains unsatisfied?" Hu Zhichun asked deeply.
Li Tai'an's expression turned solemn at once. "Then His Majesty has been hoodwinked by villains. We must submit a blood-weeping memorial, petitioning the execution of the demon clan traitors to rectify the court!"
Hu Zhichun nodded in satisfaction. "Good."
He then turned to Ning Haohe. "You heard all that? The Imperial City Division is His Majesty's decree. His Majesty bids you cooperate, so cooperate properly."
At that moment, footsteps sounded from outside.
"Milord, bad news, milord!" A Capital Heaven Department enforcer rushed in, face pale with alarm. "That Du Huan of the Imperial City Division has brought men to our Capital Heaven Department yamen!"
"What?"
Ning Haohe shot to his feet, then sought leave to depart. With Hu Zhichun's approval, he hurried from the Grand Protector's Mansion, mounting an escaping light to fly forth.
Soon, he arrived at the Capital Heaven Department yamen.
But at first sight, all he saw was soaring Incense Fire divine radiance, and in the center, like stars cupping the moon, a tall, upright figure.
"Capital Heaven Department Banner Officer Wang Xie, embezzling the salaries of thirteen banner camp enforcers under his command. Evidence irrefutable—execute on the spot!"
"Capital Heaven Department Banner Officer Chen Dao—"
Amid resounding proclamations, Capital Heaven Department officials were dragged out one by one, forced to kneel. Their once ruddy faces had turned ashen white.
Seeing this, Ning Haohe hurriedly sent a voice transmission:
"Stay the execution."
"Clang clang!"
Almost the instant his voice arrived, the executioners' blades fell, severing the heads of the kneeling officials.
"You bastards!"
Witnessing this, Ning Haohe flew into a true rage!
Yet facing Ning Haohe's fury, the Imperial City Division cultivators carrying out the executions paid it no mind. After all, they weren't eating your family's rice.
Why should they listen to you?
Not to mention most were demon cultivators who already despised Ning Haohe.
Even the human cultivators, after drawing full salaries from Lu Yang for two hundred years, would heed only Lu Yang and the Son of Heaven's commands!
Ning Haohe's anger blazed hotter. He shoved his official cap atop his head, revealing the Capital Heaven Department Commander's rank. A divine ability rose like the morning sun:
[Rising Sun Earth]!
This was an Xu Earth divine ability. Xu, the storehouse of the flood furnace, the soil of scorched plains, land shunned by nobles—it held offensive marvels and could erode destiny!
But the next instant, a massive hand formed entirely of Incense Fire Qi thrust in from the side, blocking between Ning Haohe and the executioners. Rolling Incense Fire surged like tides; one wave refined away, another rushed forth. Like snuffing a candle, it crushed Ning Haohe's divine ability outright!
"How is this possible?"
The sight doused Ning Haohe like cold water, extinguishing his rage and jolting him awake.
The next moment, a black-robed demon cultivator strode forth with head held high.
"Oh, if it isn't Lord Ning."
Xiao Shan was brimming with smug satisfaction. As one of the earliest demon cultivators to pledge to Lu Yang, an elder of the One Heart Society, he naturally received Lu Yang's favor.
Beyond salary, it was the Incense Fire divine rank.
Lu Yang was lavish with it. Of the freshly established Incense Fire for the Imperial City Division, fully a third was allocated to him, granting him peak Foundation Establishment divine rank!
With such empowerment, Xiao Shan now viewed Ning Haohe—who had once seemed unattainable, whose mansion gatekeepers dared snub him—as nothing special. A third-rank Capital Heaven Department Commander wasn't even a late-stage great cultivator!
'As expected, only by following Lord Du Huan do we demon cultivators have a future.'
Xiao Shan's conviction deepened.
On the other side, Ning Haohe forced a smile onto his face. Unable to win a fight, he couldn't muster a superior's dignity.
"You... what exactly do you intend?"
"Intend?"
Xiao Shan sneered coldly. "His Majesty has issued a decree, appointing Lord Du Huan as Cavalry General, commanding the Imperial City Division to purge embezzlement in the Capital Heaven Department!"
"In a word: what the Capital Heaven Department can manage, the Imperial City Division will manage; what it can't, the Imperial City Division will manage even more! Execute first, report later—special imperial prerogative."
"Does Lord Ning understand?"
(End of chapter)