Qi Zhangwu's decision to let Han Zheng take charge of Jing'an Guard sparked discontent among many senior mbers of the Demon Cleansing Bureau.
Among those present from the top ranks of the Demon Cleansing Bureau, only He Tianxiong could be said to have grievances with Han Zheng, as everyone else had heard Han Zheng's na for the first ti today.
Their discontent was purely due to the feeling that Qi Zhangwu had disrupted established rules.
These senior mbers of the Demon Cleansing Bureau, each of whom had endured countless rigorous trials and achieved nurous rits, risking their lives to reach their current positions, were now being equated with a young Xuanjia Guard who had just arrived in the Capital City from the Southern Mountain and lacked both experience and strength in the Council Hall.
It would indeed be strange if this group could feel balanced in such circumstances.
"Grand Commander, even if the Thirteen Guards is short-staffed, you can't just fill it with any Tom, Dick, or Harry, can you?"
"Indeed, our Demon Cleansing Bureau has a strict promotion process, and even when there are exceptional promotions, it is because the individual has achieved extraordinary rits. What kind of remarkable rits has Han Zheng achieved?"
"I ask the Grand Commander to reconsider, as this opening should not be allowed."
Qi Zhangwu remained silent, but he stared intently at whoever spoke, making the speaker so uncomfortable that they dared not say another word.
Monts later, the entire Council Hall fell silent.
Qi Zhangwu scanned the room and in a calm voice said, "First, you need to understand one thing: my decision to let Han Zheng take charge of Jing'an Guard is not a request for your opinions but rely a notification to you."
The expression of the people present changed slightly, but even the most disgruntled, like He Tianxiong, did not dare to argue further.
They had not forgotten the ferocity with which Qi Zhangwu had cleansed the Demon Departnt in the past.
Although Qi Zhangwu had beco more discreet due to injuries over the years, his ruthlessness was ingrained in him.
"Moreover, the Arsenal case I ntioned to you several days ago — none of you wanted to take it on, each claiming to be too busy.
You can be busy; even as Grand Commander, I can't force you to investigate a case.
So now, when I finally find a young hero willing to tackle the case, you oppose it.
If you can handle it, why don't you step up?"
Apart from He Tianxiong, the expressions of the other five commanders changed.
They knew about the case and had intentionally avoided it.
The matter involved the Imperial Armory, which could potentially cause trouble. Investigating the case might even implicate themselves.
While the Demon Cleansing Bureau is theoretically supposed to remain independent, high-ranking officials like the commanders always have so connections with eminent characters within the Court.
If the investigation leads to them, will they investigate or not?
Investigating could lead to problems, and not investigating would implicate themselves.
So they've always avoided such cases whenever possible.
Now, with the Grand Commander wanting Han Zheng to tackle such a tricky case, whether this lad is fortunate or unfortunate is unknown.
If that's the case, they seed to have no reason to oppose it.
"Grand Commander, I assure you, we truly lack the ti and manpower to investigate the Arsenal case. Since the Grand Commander has found such insight to give Han Zheng the task, naturally, we won't oppose."
"The Grand Commander's ability to recognize and promote talent regardless of conventional norms — Han Zheng, though young, must indeed be an extraordinary person to earn the Grand Commander's favor."
The crowd quickly changed their stance, with no dissenting voices.
Even He Tianxiong, with a gloomy face, sat silently without a word.
A bunch of opportunists!
Qi Zhangwu waved his hand: "Go and hand over the Thirteen Guards' insignia to Han Zheng. The Arsenal case is formally assigned to him for investigation."
No one dared to say another word this ti, and the council eting ended under this bizarre atmosphere.
Due to Han Zheng's promotion to the Grand Steward of the Thirteen Guards, a set of Profound Gold Swallowing Lion Armor had been sent to him the previous day.
However, this set of Profound Gold Swallowing Lion Armor was different from the usual Garrison Captain's armor, as the lion head on the chest had two ruby inlays, giving it a vividly fierce aura.
Because so of the Grand Stewards of the Thirteen Guards were at the Half-step Yang God Realm, the Demon Departnt specifically made this special Profound Gold Swallowing Lion Armor for distinction.
This made Han Zheng muse that the headquarters knew how to put on a good front — indeed, impressive decorum.
Moreover, the treatnt at the Capital Demon Suppression Departnt was quite exceptional.
Han Zheng was directly assigned a spacious residence with three entrances and exits, and people from logistics brought all sorts of cultivation materials, advance salary in gold and silver, even household items, all complete.
They even told Han Zheng, if he needed any maids or servants, although not officially allowed, as long as he registered and filed the purchased servants and maids and they passed the Demon Cleansing Bureau's identity checks, they could still be brought into the Bureau.
Now Han Zheng understood why local Demon Cleansing Bureau mbers would rack their brains to enter the Capital Bureau — the treatnt was indeed different.
At this mont, the courtyard door was knocked, and when Han Zheng opened it, it turned out to be Chu Xinghe and the five young Demon Sweeping Captains who had accompanied him for training on the Southern Mountain.
"Brother Han, no, now we should call you Lord Han."
"Lord Fang inford that from now on, we will be joining the Jing'an Guard under your command."
The other five young Demon Sweeping Captains also smiled and saluted, "Greetings, Lord Han!"
When they were on the Southern Mountain with Han Zheng to annihilate the Bai Family, they had witnessed Han Zheng's sharp and decisive thods, very different from serving under a Patrol Envoy, quite awe-inspiring.
So when they learned that Chu Xinghe would serve under Han Zheng, they also requested to be transferred to Han Zheng's command through Fang Henge.
Though their family backgrounds couldn't compare to Chu Xinghe's, they were still aristocratic clans within the Demon Departnt, and their ancestors had been high-ranking officials within the Bureau, making them truly born from red roots.
Serving under a Patrol Envoy was for training, but serving under Han Zheng was also training, so Fang Henge did not keep them and simply handed them all to Han Zheng.
"We know each other, no need for formalities."
Han Zheng returned the salute, showing no resistance to guiding these young Demon Sweeping Captains who had little experience in the Martial World.
In the Capital Demon Suppression Departnt, he didn't have a team of his own, making his work sowhat inconvenient.
Although Chu Xinghe and the others lacked martial experience, their advantage lay in their pure and genuine nature, free from the Capital Bureau's unsavory habits.
"Lord Han, here is the insignia given by the Grand Commander, along with the dossier for the Arsenal case.
The Grand Commander said that although the case is urgent, he won't set a deadline for you to solve it as you are new to the Capital.
However, the longer such a case drags on, the harder it becos, so it's best to resolve it quickly."
Han Zheng took a look at the insignia. In addition to the characters for 'Demon Cleansing Bureau', it also had the gilt characters for 'Jing'an Guard'.
He took the dossier, but it was only two thin pages, which Han Zheng finished reading in no ti, but he frowned slightly.
No wonder He Tianxiong and the other six commanders didn't take this case — it certainly is tricky.
Three days ago, while Han Zheng was still in seclusion, a small fire broke out in the Great Zhou's Arsenal storing weapons, which was quickly extinguished.
Initially a minor incident, but among those who ca to extinguish the fire were not only the Arsenal's guards but also the patrolling soldiers and even personnel from the Demon Cleansing Bureau.
Upon entering the Arsenal, they discovered that the weapons and armor, which should have been piled high, were only lightly covering a hollow interior.
Just as the Demon Cleansing Bureau people were about to question the Director of the Weapon Departnt, Tan Fang, responsible for the Arsenal, they found Tan Fang had committed suicide at ho, leaving behind a note.
The note stated that his parents were being threatened by the Sll Fragrance Sect, and to protect his parents' lives, he secretly delivered the Arsenal's weapons to the Sll Fragrance Sect.
In committing such disloyal and unjust acts for the sake of filial piety, he felt ashad of the Court's cultivation and favor, and had no face to et the sovereign and master, so he hanged himself.
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