Stronger by Killing

Chapter 438: Chapter 290: Enemy of the Martial World and the Full Scope of the Death Spy Plan (15,000-Word Extended Chapter) (Part 5)

At that moment,

a guard entered from outside the courtyard, cupping his hands and saying, "Reporting to the Gang Leader, Director Qin You of the Astronomical Bureau has arrived."

Gu Zhan and Nangong Weiyang exchanged a glance.

Nangong Weiyang furrowed her brow and said, "Lord, why would Qin You show up at a time like this?"

Gu Zhan raised his eyebrows and said, "We’ll know once we meet him."

Soon,

Gu Zhan arrived outside a grand hall.

As soon as he stepped in, he saw Qin You seated within, accompanied by Vice Director Yang Ge of the Astronomical Bureau.

Gu Zhan cupped his hands and said, "Director Qin, Vice Director Yang, what brings you to Yunxi? Has the rebellion in Yundong been quelled?"

The two of them stood up and returned the courtesy.

Qin You smiled and said, "Yundong is important, but so is Yunxi. Upon hearing that Lord Gu has stirred up Yunxi into chaos, causing no small trouble, in view of our alliance, we came to lend you a hand."

Gu Zhan ordered the servants to serve tea, then slowly sat down, gazing at Qin You with a slight smile. "So, Lord Qin, are you planning to help me fight?"

"Why not!" Qin You replied, "This time, the Astronomical Bureau has brought two Supreme Grandmasters, eight Grandmasters, and thirteen Grandmasters. We came light and fast; if Lord Gu needs help in a fight, just say the word—I’ll take the field myself!"

Gu Zhan was momentarily stunned. He’d only meant to tease Qin You, never expecting the other to answer so seriously. But he didn’t believe a word about some so-called alliance, nor that they’d come all this way just to help him fight.

"Enough," Gu Zhan waved it off. "Director Qin, our cooperation has gone smoothly so far, no need to beat around the bush. Just say it—what’s your purpose here in Yunxi this time?"

Qin You chuckled and said, "Truly, we’ve come to help you fight, Lord Gu."

Gu Zhan smiled, but said nothing.

Qin You shook his head helplessly and said, "Makes sense you wouldn’t believe it. I’ve actually brought you a gift this time—once you see it, you’ll believe me."

As he spoke, Qin You took a tray from Yang Ge, lifted the red cloth on it, revealing two imperial decrees, then stood up and declared, "Lord Gu, please receive the decree!"

Gu Zhan lifted his eyebrows, a bit surprised, but still stood and bowed.

The Great Xia, much like most dynasties in Gu Zhan’s former world, did not favor kneeling; anyone holding rank or office, even before the Emperor, need not kneel.

Of course, those who forced kneeling at every turn—

even in his past life, only that Dynasty of Whips invented it, purely to enslave people’s minds.

As Gu Zhan performed the formal salute,

Qin You intoned in a loud voice, "By imperial edict: Inspector of Canglan Dao, Gu Zhan, brave and skilled in battle... Hmm, forget it, Lord Gu, better read it for yourself!"

Gu Zhan, puzzled, took the decree and read it.

Soon, with a look of utter bafflement, he’d finished both decrees.

Within these two decrees,

he had been named the great hero who, as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, helped the Court defend Yunxi against the White Lotus Sect’s invasion—repeatedly uncovering their plots against Yunxi,

and that the battle on Danyang Mountain was recorded as various sects under Lu Yuan Dao conspiring with the White Lotus Sect to rebel, only for him to discover and thwart them in time.

His journey from Yundong to Yunxi was reinterpreted as bearing humiliation for the greater good—countless merits and achievements all attributed to him.

In the end, the Emperor, moved by his labor and exploits, conferred upon him the title Marquis Yun, with Canglan City as his fief, also appointed him as Second Grade Grand General of the Army, responsible for the defense of Yunzhou.

Gu Zhan looked at the two decrees, completely baffled.

A marquis and a Grand General of the Army—

one a noble title, the other a military command—the appointments were so high, it made him an actual marquis with real power, one of the highest-ranked aristocrats in Xia Kingdom.

Gu Zhan’s brows knitted tighter.

He began to suspect Qin You had forged the decrees to trick him for some reason.

Conferring a marquisate was already much, but to use "Yun" of Yunzhou as the canon, the implication was enormous—essentially naming Gu Zhan the governor of Yunzhou, a pivotal post. With this status, he could involve himself in all Yunzhou affairs, whether official or martial; even over Shuntian Prefecture, he could call the shots, and the Yunzhou Prefect would have no choice but to show a smiling face.

The position of Grand General of the Army was even more terrifying,

If the marquisate was a status, the generalship was real authority—

If it were just a marquis, others could still pay lip service and act against him, but as Grand General of the Army, that was the true authority, a Governor with military command, entrusted with an entire military garrison, and according to Xia Kingdom’s military system, a Grand General of the Army commands three hundred thousand troops.

These three hundred thousand troops were nothing like the few thousand under the Military Garrison Office in Canglan Dao—these were fully organized soldiers, entitled to yearly stipends, pay, and military provisions from the Court—real, regular troops.

The marquisate fief was Canglan City, and the military headquarters was also set in Yunxi.

Staring at the two imperial decrees,

the more Gu Zhan pondered, the more puzzled he became.

Such appointments, if made in peaceful times, would be as good as directly handing over Yunxi to him.

So what is the Court after with this?

If the point was to use him to reclaim Yunxi, this was too generous; if they were truly so willing, why not give it directly to Sword King City? With the Sword King City’s clout, Yunxi would have been won back long ago, and wouldn’t be the utter mess it is now.

Moreover, the strength he’d revealed so far was far from enough to pacify all of Yunxi.

Qin You noted Gu Zhan’s confusion and said, "Marquis Gu, the imperial decrees are delivered; as for the silver coin rewards and such, they’ve all been sent to Canglan City. The Astronomical Bureau’s team I’ve brought is stationed in Yu City—ready for your orders at any time.