Chapter 50 Preparing to Return to the Capital

Along with the imperial decree came a letter from Qin Yong, which detailed the alliance between the Northern Barbarians and the Western Rong, as well as the various goings-on in the court. At the end, it asked whether he had any countermeasures in mind.

While flogging the envoy of the Northern Barbarians, Xiao Zhi had already formulated a countermeasure—or rather, it was the follow-up to that ruthless plan to bomb the Northern Barbarian royal court.

Finally, Qin Yong demanded that Xiao Zhi return to the capital, implying that he had other arrangements in store for him.

After some thought, Xiao Zhi planned out his itinerary. Only after he had settled everything in his mind did he go to find Mu Weihu.

"I am returning to the capital."

Mu Weihu let out a long breath and sighed.

He had known it would be like this. The moment Xiao Zhi submitted that memorial to the Emperor, troubles were bound to follow.

"When do you set off?"

Xiao Zhi replied, "Tomorrow. But I am not in a rush to return this time; I will be delayed on the road for quite a while. As for the affairs here, continue with them."

Mu Weihu sighed one last time. Xiao Zhi smiled and said, "When I entered the Imperial City Bureau, I didn't even hold a proper title, yet you remained a Garrison General. Surely you understand what this means?"

Initially, Qin Yong had merely given Xiao Zhi a sinecure. If he could manage to accomplish a little something with the Imperial City Bureau, all the better; if he achieved nothing, the Great Chu dynasty wouldn't miss the bit of salary he was paid.

Who could have guessed that on his very first day at the Imperial City Bureau, Xiao Zhi would ransack an official's estate?

Things were different now. Throughout the Imperial City Bureau, they were now the sharpest blade in the Emperor's hand, and their importance went without saying.

To the Imperial City Bureau, Xiao Zhi was a towering banner and a powerful backing.

Without Xiao Zhi, Mu Weihu and the others certainly wouldn't dare to raid estates so casually.

Xiao Zhi said, "You all stay in Shandong and continue your work. Once things are more or less wrapped up here, head over to Jiangsu and pull off a few more jobs. No matter when it is, I am a man of the Imperial City Bureau. No one is permitted to take action against you casually—not even the Emperor."

If anyone else had spoken those words, Mu Weihu might not have believed them. But coming from Xiao Zhi, every word carried the weight of a nailed-down promise; at least up to now, everything Xiao Zhi said had been fulfilled.

However, Xiao Zhi hadn't finished yet. "Don't get too excited just yet, and there's no need to thank me. My three chapters of covenant and the rules of the Imperial City Bureau still stand forever. As long as you abide by the rules, feel free to raid the estate of any corrupt official that catches your eye. But if you break my rules, Mu Weihu, no one will be able to protect you."

When he uttered this final sentence, Xiao Zhi's tone turned exceptionally chilling.

Mu Weihu's gaze burned with fervor. He cupped his fists, dropped to one knee, and solemnly declared, "In this life, I, Mu Weihu, recognize only the Halberd-Wielding Langjun as the true master of the Imperial City Bureau!"

Such words bordered heavily on lese-majeste.

Yet, there were no outsiders present, so Xiao Zhi paid it no mind.

Mu Weihu continued, "My Lord, there is a matter on which this subordinate wishes to hear your thoughts."

"You must be referring to the expansion of the Imperial City Bureau, right?"

Originally, the Imperial City Bureau consisted of little more than a hundred men.

This time, while traveling incognito to Shandong, the scout detachment was expanded under Xiao Zhi's tacit instruction.

However, the numbers were far from sufficient; the Imperial City Bureau couldn't possibly mobilize its entire force every single time.

Moreover, Xiao Zhi's vision was to forge the Imperial City Bureau into a true intelligence agency for the Great Chu.

He wanted it to genuinely fulfill the function of supervising the entire realm. Branches needed to be established not only in the capital, but across every province, prefecture, and even among the neighboring barbarian states.

This was not the first time Mu Weihu had brought this up, but Xiao Zhi had always suppressed the idea.

To have agents of the Imperial City Bureau in every province, prefecture, and even every county—what a colossal organization that would be.

If expansion happened too quickly, numerous problems would arise. What Xiao Zhi wanted was quality over quantity, preferring vacancies to shoddy selections.

Right now, however, Xiao Zhi would likely find it difficult to continue placing restrictions. Qin Yong would arrange other tasks for him to handle, and future affairs of the Imperial City Bureau, big and small, would have to rely on Mu Weihu.

Therefore, as a parting word, Xiao Zhi left Mu Weihu with this: "The Imperial City Bureau is in your hands now. Handle it as you see fit."

Leading out a fast horse, Mu Weihu arranged a squad of men to escort Xiao Zhi to the stronghold in Tai'an.

Watching Xiao Zhi disappear into the twilight, a wonderful curve formed at the corner of Mu Weihu's mouth.

Xiao Zhi's return to the capital this time was undoubtedly destined for other arrangements.

From this moment on, the Imperial City Bureau would still revere him, the Garrison General, as supreme.

Before Xiao Zhi arrived at the Imperial City Bureau, Mu Weihu had been an awkward general three ranks lower than any visiting official, possessing neither money nor influence.

How long had it been? Mu Weihu felt as though he were floating on air; he had transformed into someone three ranks higher than ordinary officials, wielding both power and authority.

Even when meeting first- or second-rank dignitaries—such as the Three Dukes, the Three Solitary Ministers, the Left and Right Commanders, or the Ministers of the Six Ministries—Mu Weihu wouldn't feel the slightest trace of intimidation.

If anyone dared to bristle at him, he would simply lead his men and ransack their estate.

Execute first, report later—a privilege granted by imperial authority. Got a problem? Go take it up with the Halberd-Wielding Langjun.

All of this had been brought to him by Xiao Zhi. He had gained both prestige and substance.

Upon returning to the Tai'an stronghold, Xiao Zhi immediately arranged for someone to prepare a carriage.

He had no intention of riding a fast horse on a hurried dash back to the capital.

Although Xiao Zhi was a subject, he couldn't simply come scurrying like a puppy the moment the Emperor issued a summons; doing so would make him seem far too cheap.

Xiao Zhi intended to make the Emperor wait, because many things could not be done without him. The more anxious the Emperor grew, the more he would realize Xiao Zhi's indispensability.

Even if the Emperor crumbled under the pressure and decided on a strategy dictated by the civil and military officials of the court, Xiao Zhi was confident he could steer things back onto the right course.

Already, a plan was forming in his mind—a flawless plan.

Qin Yong would have to agree to this plan, because once implemented, Great Chu's standing among the surrounding nations would soar straight upward. To describe the future Great Chu as receiving tribute from ten thousand nations would scarcely be an exaggeration.

Xiao Zhi wrote a memorial, the gist of which was that he could not leave his current post immediately and would depart a few days later. The Northern Barbarians and Western Rong were of no concern; even if they wished to fight, they would not make a move until autumn or winter anyway.

Xiao Zhi told Qin Yong to wait; the moment he returned to the capital, he would produce a complete strategy to deal with the Northern Barbarians.

Having finished the memorial, Xiao Zhi picked up his brush, intending to write a letter to the Grand Princess of Changping, but after much thought, he felt a sense of writer's block.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed his carbon pencil aside and instructed He Qing to pack their belongings ahead of time in preparation for the return to the capital.

Early the next morning, a carriage, escorted by two hundred-household commanders and four military officers, set out onto the imperial highway leading toward the capital.

Xiao Zhi rested his head on He Qing's lap, holding a vernacular storybook in his hands, reading and laughing by turns.

The popular literature of this era lacked so many rigid conventions, and depictions of romance and passion were exceptionally explicit.

He Qing gently massaged Xiao Zhi's shoulders. Although the angle was somewhat straining, she felt deeply comfortable and blissful, and a smile lingered at the corners of her mouth as well.

"Can you understand it?" Xiao Zhi tilted his head up to gaze at He Qing.

"There are some characters I don't recognize."

He Qing had been a maid in a prominent household; ever since she could remember, she had played alongside her young mistress, and as she grew older, she had accompanied her young mistress in reading and writing, so naturally, she was literate.

"Which part do you find interesting?"

"He Qing hasn't been looking at the book in Young Master's hands."

Confused, Xiao Zhi asked, "Then what on earth are you so happy about?"

He Qing pressed her lips together and said, "He Qing feels happy."

Happiness—what was happiness?

The question plunged Xiao Zhi into deep contemplation.

In his previous life, Xiao Zhi's idea of happiness was swindling money; with money, he could live carefree, traveling through mountains and rivers.

He had once thought that if he had enough money, he would find some place where no one knew him, live a stable and peaceful life, and marry a woman he loved. If possible, he could even keep a mistress on the side.

Yet now, that kind of happiness was within arm's reach, and yet Xiao Zhi didn't feel happy at all.