Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 350: Chapter 350: The Beginning

Shen Hao walked into the Thousand Households Station early in the morning and immediately sensed that today, everyone seemed to be unusually friendly toward him. The usual looks of distance mixed with awe in some people’s eyes were almost nowhere to be seen.

What’s going on?

Shen Hao smiled and greeted those who called out to him one by one, but secretly he was baffled. It wasn’t until Wang Yiming came in right after him to the Public Office and knocked on the door that things became clear.

"Lord, just now the Governor’s Office delivered this year’s first-quarter allocation. It’s at the station entrance, waiting for your signature. What do you think..."

"The goods are here? Let’s go and have a look."

"Yes, sir."

Shen Hao finally understood why so many people had been so friendly when he entered the Jinwei Guard Station. Wasn’t it for these "benefits"? Even if they can’t enjoy them just yet, who knows when the chance will come? Better to grin now, so it’ll be easier to ask for something later, right?

At the station entrance, there were fifteen large carts, plus over twenty cultivators, among them five Gathering Spirit Realm and a leading figure whose cultivation Shen Hao couldn’t discern—most likely at the Primordial Pill Realm. This could be called heavy escort.

The carts were mainly loaded with medicinal herbs, all packaged in sealed bags with special mixes. The stuff was meant for bathing.

Truly meant for bathing.

This thing had a name: "Peiyuan Pill Formula," reportedly named so because it originated from the nourishing yuan pill formula and was specially made for ordinary people who hadn’t yet reached the threshold of becoming cultivators. It could enhance one’s sensitivity to True Qi, regulate the body, strengthen and stimulate potential—a very effective preliminary auxiliary medicine.

Reportedly, this "Peiyuan Pill Formula" can raise a normal person’s chances of entry by twenty to thirty percent.

Of course, the "Peiyuan Pill Formula" wasn’t as rare as the Nourishing Yuan Pill, but it was still considered something of the cultivation realm—not something ordinary folks could afford.

"Lord Shen, here’s the inventory list, please take a look." The leading cultivator handed Shen Hao the material list as soon as he arrived. All the truly precious items were still sealed in his storage bag; only after Shen Hao reviewed the list would he bring them out.

"Mm, alright, hand it over to me." Shen Hao scanned it quickly.

"Alright, these are the elixirs for the first quarter. From now on, they’ll always be escorted here separately. You can assign someone to be responsible for receiving them. As for distribution further down, Black Banner Battalion of Fengri City will handle it on its own. Any questions, Lord Shen?"

"What about the handover schedule?"

"The time will be notified separately, but it’ll always be toward the end of the first month of each quarter."

Shen Hao nodded, confirmed the handover, and took a big square box—two feet on each side—from the man. Wang Yiming quickly moved in to help carry it.

After the team thoroughly checked all items against the list, the handover was complete. The escorting cultivators refused Wang Yiming’s invitation to a banquet and left directly.

"Sir, these are—there are so many of them!" Wang Yiming, with the list in hand—even as a highborn lad "under the Imperial City"—had a tremble in his voice. And this was just the first quarter; there would still be the second, third, and fourth to come...

Shen Hao, on the other hand, appeared quite calm. He hadn’t even bothered to look at the elixirs.

What’s the big deal? The only thing I’m worried about these days is cultivating too fast. Elixirs? So what? I don’t even like eating them anymore.

"Everything goes into the Black Banner Battalion’s private records. Each item, listed and logged clearly. Hmm... Store them right next to the Records Room, assign extra guards. Also, go to the Thousand Households Station’s arsenal and ask if we can set up two more defensive arrays. If there are any procedures, report them in according to regulations immediately."

"Yes, Lord, I’ll get on it right away."

"Report back to me once everything is settled."

"Understood, sir."

By noon that day, the efficient Wang Yiming had already sorted everything into categories and stored them. He had also applied for the two new defense arrays, and although the procedures were complete, the arrays wouldn’t be installed for another three days.

Returning to report, Wang Yiming received a "Distribution Plan" from Shen Hao.

"Read it through first, then tell me your thoughts." Shen Hao leaned back in his chair, sipping hot tea. He had drafted this plan at the time of the pilot program, then revised it many times; this version was his choice for now. Still, he liked to get others’ opinions before implementing. As for whether he’d make further changes, that’d be up to him.

Wang Yiming replied, then proceeded to read it word for word, nodding and humming quietly now and then. By the end, excitement was clear in his eyes.

"Lord, your foresight is truly admirable! I can’t begin to describe my respect!" Wang Yiming was utterly sincere. Seeing this "Distribution Plan" together with the previous list, he felt everything was marvelously fitting. Just reading it, he could already foresee the Black Banner Battalion’s strength would soon transform dramatically.

"What do you think?"

"Sir, I think this plan couldn’t be more suitable. But, my lord, it looks like there’s a shortfall in the total. This part..."

"The withheld portion will be given a different purpose, officially as an ’emergency reserve.’ That’s not for you to know right now. In due time, Wang Jian will handle the handover with you. Just check the numbers and procedures when the time comes."

"I understand."

As for Wang Jian, Wang Yiming knew very well that Wang Jian was Lord Shen’s confidant, handling secret tasks behind the scenes. Upon hearing that Wang Jian would come, Wang Yiming got the message immediately.

Of course, it was possible Shen Hao was just using the excuse of Wang Jian to squirrel away resources for himself. But Wang Yiming had neither the curiosity nor the guts to dig deeper; one misstep and the price was more than he could afford. His political career would end in a flash, and with bad luck, he might even get accused of "prying into secrets with ill intent" and lose his life.

Afterward, Shen Hao still didn’t issue the full "Distribution Plan," only the first part—he intended to wait for interim results before considering further adjustments.

Thus, a version of the plan—trimmed by Shen Hao himself—was swiftly formalized as official orders from the Fengri City Thousand Households Station’s Black Banner Battalion to the four subordinate Hundred Households Stations.

The scheme wasn’t just about "how much to distribute," but "how to distribute," "classification of distribution," and included precise details on "oversight and accountability."

If any problems occur in practice, they can be reported and will be handled accordingly, but in general, modifications to the distribution plan are prohibited. Any violation will be punished severely.

Additionally, distribution of resources and supplies would be carried out by Black Banner Battalion of the Thousand Households Station, who would also conduct inspections of prior allocations.

The details were plentiful—even extremely rigid and cumbersome in places. But no matter how much hassle it entailed, nothing could dampen the excitement of each Hundred Households Station upon receiving the plan.

The Black Banner Battalion of Fengri City was truly about to be turned upside down!