Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Not to Act
Shen Hao never had any obsession with position, nor did he believe that everyone working in the court’s organizations was a good person. He had his own measure of right and wrong.
At the same time, Shen Hao firmly believed in one saying: No matter how evil something is, the ones most likely to do it are people.
Colluding with evil cultivators? Honestly, it’s not impossible!
Of course, everything needs to wait for more investigative information to come back before reaching any conclusions.
But before that, Shen Hao couldn’t just sit and wait. He needed to adjust his own plans as well, to quickly patch up some possible omissions that might impact the future.
Right after Flying Dragon left, that noon, Shen Hao skipped lunch and went straight to the Fengri City Thousand Households Station.
He arrived right at lunchtime. Shen Hao wasn’t shy and headed directly to the station’s dining hall, naturally sliding into Jiang Cheng’s private kitchen and bumming a meal. This seemingly abrupt action didn’t provoke any displeasure from Jiang Cheng. Instead, he smiled and urged Shen Hao to eat more, even saying that at Shen Hao’s age, his own appetite had been bigger.
Is Jiang Cheng just broad-minded? No, it’s simply because Jiang Cheng once served in the military. Eating together with subordinates from a shared pot was the norm, especially during wartime, and he was already used to it. It was precisely for this reason that Shen Hao "rudely" went to bum a meal—he’d thought it through.
Jiang Cheng and Shen Hao sat down and focused on eating, with little time for chit-chat. Neither was particularly interested in talking business while eating.
Even though this wasn’t a deep exchange, that simple lunch was still noticed by observant onlookers.
When did Households Commander Jiang ever treat anyone so cordially? And judging by the uniform, that one looked like a Flag Officer?
Someone chimed in: Don’t know? That’s Shen Hao, the Black Banner Camp Commander from Li City.
This is how gossip spreads—previously just idle talk after meals, but now the person himself appears, drawing even more attention.
He really is so young!
In his twenties, already sitting in a Flag Officer’s position, with the rank of Junior Sixth-Grade Trial Hundred Households. Tsk, tsk. The key point is that people say he’s a loose cultivator without any backing—look at how the rest of us are struggling. Heaven’s unfair.
Loose cultivator, my ass! Did you see his relationship with Households Commander Jiang? He’s got powerful patrons!
After lunch, back in Jiang Cheng’s public office, Shen Hao laid out his thoughts and gave a rough update on the case progress and intended investigation directions. The situation had forced him to speed things up, and it involved local government offices, even ones above his own authority level.
If he wanted to investigate legitimately and avoid future criticism, gaining Jiang Cheng’s support was essential.
"Local government offices... Population Department... Hmph, just pay attention to your methods, don’t be too blunt, for the rest you can go ahead with the investigation as you wish. But, you still need to consult Hundred Households Chen over there, you understand all this, right?"
"Understood. I also want to ask Hundred Households Chen for some support."
"Good, you’re quick-witted, much more so than most, and you’re lucky as well. If this case goes well, you might make a name for yourself again."
Shen Hao didn’t quite understand that comment, but Jiang Cheng clearly had no intention of explaining further, so he just let it go.
Leaving Jiang Cheng’s public office, Shen Hao headed to Chen Yiyun’s place.
"Subordinate Shen Hao, greets Hundred Households Chen." The standard bow and clasped hands, not even a hint of carelessness. Shen Hao knew that with Jiang Cheng, a military man, he could be casual, but with the noble young master Chen Yiyun, that wouldn’t do.
"No need for so much ceremony, Commander Shen. I already heard you’ve arrived—ate with Households Commander Jiang, didn’t you? Haha, looks like Commander Jiang values you highly!"
"That’s Commander Jiang being generous. Any achievements I have are only thanks to the guidance of the esteemed lords."
"Hey, Shen Hao, I’ve been in Xuanqing Guard for five years, and you’re the smoothest talker I’ve ever seen. Alright, spill it—you must have come here for something."
From Chen Yiyun’s words, Shen Hao could sense that the other party wasn’t eager to get entangled with him, but also didn’t want to completely cut ties. Very intriguing.
"Sir, I’m here to report the case..."
As Shen Hao spoke, Chen Yiyun’s expression changed—no longer so calm. He hadn’t expected that this case Shen Hao had caught might not only involve evil cultivators, but also the major matter of local government offices colluding with them.
Compared to Jiang Cheng, Chen Yiyun was less composed, or rather, not as deep in his city. He couldn’t sit still, getting up and pacing around his public office.
After a long time, Chen Yiyun finally asked: "Who knows about this right now?"
"Only you, Lord Jiang, and myself know everything. The others are just lines I arranged, who only know bits and pieces."
"That’s good. You did right—not spreading the case until there’s solid evidence. Did you come here for a legitimate warrant?"
"Yes, sir. Just a ’discretionary action’ warrant will do, nothing that’ll make things difficult for you. Also, I heard you promoted the copper cabinet in other districts. I’d like to see the letters reported in those."
Once again, Chen Yiyun internally admired Shen Hao’s meticulous thinking. A ’discretionary action’ warrant would indeed save him a lot of trouble. But what does Shen Hao want with the copper cabinet letters from other districts?
Ever since Shen Hao last came to Fengri City to report the case, Chen Yiyun had thought the copper cabinet idea was quite good and ordered other districts in Fengri City to follow suit. Recently, he’d indeed received some reports from various places, but unlike Li City, those cabinets hadn’t gotten much attention from their local Black Banner Battalions.
"You want to see the copper cabinet letters from other places? What are you looking for?"
"I want to find similar cases. The missing persons in this type of case are all children under thirteen with yin-yang blood and qi. They’re easy to spot. If such distinctive cases popped up elsewhere, then by linking the criminals’ information sources, it would confirm the issue lies with the Population Department here in Fengri City."
Chen Yiyun replied ambiguously: "You mean you want the Black Banner Battalions in other districts to help with your investigation?"
"No, to support you, sir. You’re the commander of this investigation."
"Commander? With Households Commander Jiang backing you, I can’t sit steady in that role. But Shen Hao, let me ask you something—can you be frank?"
"Ask away, sir. I’ll speak without reserve!"
"As a smart man, you surely know that once you reach into the local government offices, regardless of right or wrong, you won’t be seen as a good guy in their eyes. Aren’t you afraid someday they’ll kick you when you’re down?"
Chen Yiyun was genuinely curious. Shen Hao, right from his first action, didn’t give the Jingxi Noble Circle any face, now he’s reaching for the local government offices, so unabashedly making enemies—what was he thinking? He thought Shen Hao would lay low after the Li Family case, maybe just play with some ’copper cabinet’ gimmick. But apparently not.
Shen Hao hadn’t expected the question. He thought for a moment, clasped his hands, and said, "I didn’t think too much, sir. I just believe in doing what should be done and not doing what shouldn’t."
