Mei Qing was left speechless by Zhao Jingli’s words. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “So this is acceptable? Isn’t this practically kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even if our inner unit has its peculiarities, we are still part of the Jinyiwei, right? It’s our duty to eliminate traitors and eradicate evil. Our methods might differ slightly, but our intentions are noble. Think about those corrupt officials and powerful bullies—they all have deep roots below and powerful patrons above. If we waited for the Da Ming Law to take action, we’d never get anything done. So we simply capture them directly, hand them over to the interrogation chamber to be ‘greeted’ by our colleagues, and then place them in the small prison for a couple of days. Guaranteed, they’ll confess willingly. Once they confess, the matter becomes simple enough, right? We’re doing this for their reform, not to kill them, so of course we don’t go too far. Therefore, we simply impose a fine and call it a day! It’s all transparent pricing, fair to all—money in hand, release the person. Everyone gets what they want and we all end up happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing had indeed been rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel proud. Leaning in closer, he lowered his voice and continued, “Then there are those wealthy merchants and gentry—do you really think any of them are decent people? Each one of them is a local tyrant, causing trouble in their regions. Especially those merchants—relying on their wealth, they oppress the good people and compete with the common folk for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned and interrupted, “Zhao Jingli, merchants running their businesses—how exactly is that competing with the people? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Hehe, well, you know what I mean. The rich are never benevolent, and no merchant is ever honest. So what we do is punish these bastards—it’s like robbing the rich to help the poor, upholding justice!”
Zhao Jingli grew more animated as he spoke, his voice rising unconsciously. He waved the teapot in his hand excitedly, his face flushed with enthusiasm, his small mustache twitching, and his eyes gleaming with pride. He looked like a heroic figure from Liangshan Marsh, like Song Jiang the Timely Rain, exuding loyalty and righteousness.
Upholding justice… now it had come to the Jinyiwei. Truly, as the saying goes, officials and bandits have always been of the same kind—how true indeed.
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was left utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this really acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, though our methods might differ slightly. Think about it—those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we were to rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to apprehend them, it would take a lifetime. Instead, we simply bring them in, let the interrogation room handle them for a bit, and then throw them into the small prison for a couple of days. They’ll confess without fail. Once they confess, it’s smooth sailing, isn’t it? We’re here to cure and save, not to destroy. So, it’s straightforward—pay the fine and be done with it! It’s all about transparency and fairness. Pay the money, release the person, everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, are there any good ones among them? They’re all bullies, wreaking havoc in their communities. Especially those merchants, flaunting their ill-gotten wealth, oppressing the good, and competing with the common folk for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Brother Zhao, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Heh, well, that’s the gist of it. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we’re doing is taking down these scoundrels, robbing the rich to help the poor, and executing heaven’s will!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder, his teapot waving in the air, his face flushed with excitement, his small mustache twitching, and his eyes darting around with the air of a righteous hero from the Water Margin.
Executing heaven’s will… in the Imperial Guards. Truly, since ancient times, officials and bandits have been one and the same.
“The first division is led by Lord Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Lord Mei, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Lord. As for the second division, they’re even more formidable—they specialize in arrests. Think about it—those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To extract these people from their homes, you need some serious skills. The second division is full of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, you name it. Usually, we brothers can handle things without their intervention. But when things get tough, these experts step in. The second division is directly managed by the Sixth Lord, and no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Given the importance of the internal division, it must have some hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; the second division’s role was surely more than just making arrests.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally a deputy, but he’s always assisted the Sixth Lord. However, the first and second divisions are directly managed by the Sixth Lord. As for the third and fourth divisions, they’re under Lord Lu’s jurisdiction. The third division oversees the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the imperial prison but is a separate section dedicated to new ‘guests.’ The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
Well-known, indeed. Mei Qing’s face showed a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s a living hell, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on how cooperative the person is. If they’re sensible and can afford to bribe, it’s like heaven—good food, good drink, and even some beautiful ladies to keep them company. Of course, the expenses eventually fall on the individual, heh… But if they’re not cooperative, then Ma Shiqing’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth division?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities, “What do we handle?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Heh, our fourth division is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it—when the internal division cracks down on corrupt officials, although fines are imposed as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay up—we just take it. Our fourth division guards the treasure vault, where all these confiscated items are stored. Of course, occasionally, we also take items as collateral from those who promise to pay fines but don’t follow through.”
Ah, so the internal division isn’t just about kidnapping; it’s also about outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform while looting—it seemed like a promising career.
“It’s not exactly robbery. They’ll have to pay the fines eventually, so it’s all the same. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we save them the hassle by collecting the fines ourselves. Think about it, Lord Mei. While the third division might get some small bribes from prisoners, it’s nothing compared to what we have in our hands. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, a treasure from a wealthy Arab merchant. Once it entered our vault, I thought to myself…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him. Realizing that Mei Qing was his superior and that some things shouldn’t be revealed, he quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Lord Mei, have you received your waist token and official uniform yet? Oh, you have the waist token? You see, I’m not saying this to criticize, but as a commander, it’s not appropriate to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, wearing the Feiyu uniform is the most convenient. It’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official attire. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it’ll work like a charm!”
“Absolutely! Absolutely!” Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be like this. No wonder Huang Fatso looked so envious. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined a completely different scenario. First, he was assigned to be an archivist, then a scribe, and now, he’s been assigned to be a warehouse keeper—a keeper of stolen goods, no less.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about arresting and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of fierce job. But after all this, he realized he’d been given such a mundane task. It did, however, align with the Sixth Lord’s words, “Keep an eye on him and don’t let him wander around.” With this job, Mei Qing couldn’t go anywhere even if he wanted to.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. All he wanted was to quickly master the Divine Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Without waiting for Mei Qing to move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu went ahead and fetched his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the experience department was a secretive place where no one wore official attire, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. As for Bi Zhen, it was even less of a concern. Although Bi Zhen held the title of deputy, he rarely participated in Imperial Guard affairs, remaining aloof and seldom interacting with others, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing had donned the Feiyu uniform and the embroidered spring sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and his cultivation had given him an extraordinary aura. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when handling official matters. Zhao Jingli then demonstrated a few steps, holding the sword hilt and walking with the swagger of a crab in autumn, exuding an air of authority.
After the demonstration, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to visit the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already dashed off to the treasury to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth division had about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a complicated task, the brothers here were carefully selected by their superiors for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, Mei Qing couldn’t see how Zhao Jingli matched any of these qualities.
“This is it, Lord Mei. Please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the commander!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion, calling out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. Instead, he saluted Mei Qing with a fist-and-palm gesture, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, at your service, Commander.” Another young guard beside him also saluted.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something when he saw Mei Qing nod and ask a few questions in a calm tone before walking past. He swallowed his words.
Though young, Mei Qing was born into a wealthy family and naturally carried an air of superiority. His cultivation had further enhanced his aloof and dignified demeanor. Although he didn’t realize it, when he wore that indifferent expression, even a seasoned operator like Zhao Jingli felt intimidated.
As a crucial treasury, the security was naturally tight. Even Mei Qing, as the supervisor, had to show his waist token to gain entry. Inside, there were several hidden surveillance points. Without Zhao Jingli pointing them out, even with his keen senses, Mei Qing wouldn’t have noticed them.
Inside the building, the rooms on either side served as the fourth division’s offices. A long corridor stretched forward, turning sharply to lead downward. After a few dozen steps, there was another large iron gate guarded by two soldiers. A man with a thick beard stepped forward, “Subordinate Qian San, hundred-commander of the fourth division of the Imperial Guards, at your service, Commander Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth division had never had a direct commander and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t a particularly demanding task. As long as the rules were set and shifts were arranged, regular inspections were sufficient. This was, after all, the renowned Imperial Guards. What thief would dare to steal from here?
Mei Qing nodded, thinking this finally made sense. If the inner unit was so important, it must have hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface—what the second group did was likely far more complex than just capturing people.
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was left utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this even allowed? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, but our methods are just a bit different from others. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. We simply capture them directly, hand them over to the interrogation room for some ‘processing,’ and then let them spend a couple of days in the small prison. They’ll confess without fail. Once they confess, everything becomes easier, doesn’t it? We’re here to cure and save, not to drive people to their deaths. So, it’s simple—just pay the fine! It’s all about clear pricing, fair and square. Pay the money, and we release the person. Everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed speechless after his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local magnates, are there any good ones among them? They all bully the common folk and exploit the people. Especially those merchants, flaunting their wealth, oppressing the good, and competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Ah, well, you get the idea. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we’re doing is taking down these scoundrels, robbing the rich to help the poor, and upholding justice!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder, and he even started waving his teapot around, his face glowing with excitement. His small mustache twitched, and his eyes darted around, giving him the air of a righteous hero from the Water Margin, like the legendary Song Jiang.
“Upholding justice… in the Imperial Guards. It’s true what they say—officials and bandits are one and the same.”
“The first group is led by Lord Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Lord. As for the second group, they’re even more formidable—they specialize in capturing people. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To extract these people from their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of eccentric characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, you name it. Usually, the brothers can handle things without them stepping in. But when things get tough, these ‘masters’ are called in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Lord, and no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Given the importance of the internal division, it must have some hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface, and the second group’s tasks were likely far more complex than just capturing people.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally the Deputy Commander, but he’s always been assisting the Sixth Lord. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Lord. As for the third and fourth groups, they’re under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group oversees the small prison within the internal division, which is actually part of the Imperial Prison but is designated specifically for new ‘guests.’ The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
“Known, indeed,” Mei Qing said with a nostalgic sigh. “Once you enter that small prison, it’s worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head. “It depends on how cooperative the person is. If they’re sensible and can pay, it’s like heaven—good food, good treatment, and even some beautiful ladies to keep you company. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, hehe… But if they’re not cooperative, then Ma Shiqing’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities. “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Hehe, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. You see, when the internal division cracks down on corrupt officials, they’re inevitably fined as punishment. But we can’t just sit around waiting for them to pay, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay—we take it directly. Our fourth group is in charge of guarding the treasure vault, where all these seized items are stored. Of course, sometimes we also take items as collateral from those who promise to pay but don’t. Those are also stored here.”
Ah, so the internal division isn’t just about kidnapping—it’s also about outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing the Feiyu uniform while looting—it seemed like a promising career.
“Well, it’s not exactly robbery. They’ll have to pay the fine sooner or later, so it’s all the same. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we save them the hassle of paying by taking it ourselves. Think about it, Mei Qianhu, while the third group may get some small bribes from prisoners, it’s nothing compared to what we have in our hands. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, a treasure from a wealthy Arab merchant’s home. When it came to our vault, I thought…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him. Realizing that Mei Qing was his superior and that some things shouldn’t be revealed, he quickly changed the subject. “Ah, right, Mei Qianhu, have you received your waist token and official uniform yet? Oh, you have the waist token? Well, I must say, as a Qianhu, it’s not appropriate for you to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, the Feiyu uniform is the most convenient and impressive. No matter where you go, as long as you’re wearing this outfit and show your waist token, it’ll work like a charm!”
“Absolutely! Absolutely!” Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Huang Pangzi looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined it would be a certain kind of experience. But first, he was assigned to be a file clerk, then a scribe, and now—a warehouse keeper, and one who specializes in storing stolen goods at that.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about capturing and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it would be a thrilling job. But after all this circling around, he ended up with such a mundane task. Well, it did align with the Sixth Lord’s words, “Keep an eye on him and don’t let him run around.” With this job, Mei Qing wouldn’t be able to go anywhere even if he wanted to.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. After all, his main goal was to quickly master the Shenxiao Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Before Mei Qing could even move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu had already gone to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Division was a secretive place where no one wore uniforms, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. And when it came to Bi Zhen, it was even less of a concern. Although Bi Zhen held the title of Deputy Commander, he rarely got involved in Imperial Guard affairs, remaining aloof and rarely interacting with others, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing had worn the Feiyu uniform and carried the Xiuchun sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and his cultivation had given him an extraordinary aura. Wearing the uniform made him look even more dashing. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when dealing with official matters. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated how to walk with authority, holding the sword hilt and striding like a crab in autumn, exuding an air of dominance.
After the demonstration, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to visit the treasure vault for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already dashed off to the vault to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a more leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group consisted of about a dozen people. Since guarding the vault wasn’t a particularly complex task, the brothers here were carefully selected by their superiors for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel that Zhao Jingli didn’t quite fit any of these criteria.
“This is it, Mei Qianhu, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the Qianhu!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion. He called out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi frowned slightly, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the Qianhu.” Another young guard beside him also saluted.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something when he saw Mei Qing nod calmly, ask a few questions, and then walk past. He had no choice but to swallow his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he came from a privileged background and naturally carried himself with an air of authority. His cultivation had also given him a certain aloofness that commanded respect. Even Zhao Jingli, a seasoned veteran, felt somewhat intimidated by Mei Qing’s calm demeanor.
As the treasure vault was a heavily guarded area, even Mei Qing, as the supervisor, had to show his waist token to gain entry. Inside, there were several hidden surveillance points that Zhao Jingli pointed out. Without his guidance, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been difficult to spot them.
Inside the building, the rooms on either side served as the fourth group’s offices. A long corridor led forward, turning sharply before descending into a large iron door guarded by two soldiers. A man with a thick beard stepped forward and said, “Subordinate Qian San, Baihu of the Imperial Guards’ fourth group, greets Mei Qianhu.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the vault wasn’t considered a particularly demanding task. As long as the rules were set and shifts were arranged, regular inspections were sufficient. This was, after all, the famous Imperial Guards—what thief would dare to steal from here?
Zhao Jingli spoke with obvious disdain when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
“I know, too well,” Mei Qing replied with a nostalgic sigh. “Once someone enters that small prison, life is probably worse than death.”
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was left utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this really acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, it’s just that our methods are a bit different from others. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we were to rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime to get anything done. By directly apprehending them, taking them to the interrogation room for a bit of ‘persuasion,’ and then letting them spend a couple of days in the small prison, we can ensure they confess willingly. Once they confess, everything becomes much easier, doesn’t it? We’re doing this to cure and save people, not to drive them to their deaths. So, it’s simple—just pay the fine! It’s all about clear pricing, fair and square, pay the money, release the person, everyone gets what they want, and everyone is happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, do you think any of them are good people? They all bully the common folk and exploit the people for their own gain. Especially those merchants, flaunting their ill-gotten wealth, oppressing the good and honest, competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Heh, well, you get the idea. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we need to do is deal with these scoundrels, rob the rich to help the poor, and carry out the will of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder without him realizing it. He waved his teapot around, his face glowing with excitement, his small mustache twitching, and his eyes squinting with a look of self-importance, as if he were some righteous hero from the Water Margin.
Carrying out the will of heaven… in the Imperial Guards. Truly, since ancient times, officials and bandits have been one and the same.
“The first group is led by Lord Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Lord. Speaking of the first group, the second group is even more impressive—they specialize in arrests. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have strange and extraordinary individuals by their side. To dig these people out of their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, you name it. Usually, we brothers can handle things without them needing to step in. But when we encounter a tough nut, these ‘masters’ have to step in. The second group is personally managed by the Sixth Lord, and no one else has a say in it,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; what the second group did was definitely not as simple as just making arrests.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally the Deputy Commander, but he has always assisted the Sixth Lord. However, the first and second groups are personally managed by the Sixth Lord. As for the third and fourth groups, they are under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group oversees the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the Imperial Prison, but it’s a separate section dedicated to ‘serving’ our new guests. The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
Well known, indeed. Mei Qing’s face showed a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s probably worse than death.”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on whether the person understands the situation. If they are reasonable and can ‘take care of things,’ it’s like heaven—good food, good drink, and good company. You can even have a few beautiful ladies to keep you company. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, heh… But if they don’t understand the situation, then our Lord Ma’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities, “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Heh, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps away corrupt officials, although they are inevitably fined as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting for them to pay, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay—we just take it directly. Our fourth group is in charge of guarding the treasure vault, where we keep all the things we’ve taken. Of course, occasionally, we also take items as collateral to prevent those cunning individuals from promising to pay the fine but not actually doing so. These items are also stored here.”
Ah, so our internal division not only engages in kidnapping but also outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform to rob homes—it seems this job has quite a future.
“It’s not exactly robbery. After all, they would have to pay the fine sooner or later, so it’s all the same. Besides, they’ve already been through a lot with the lawsuit, so we save them the trouble of paying the fine and just take care of it ourselves. Think about it, Qianhu, although the third group oversees the prisoners and inevitably receives some ‘gifts,’ it’s just small change compared to what we have in the fourth group—real, tangible items. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy Arab merchant’s home. When it arrived in our vault, I thought to myself…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him. He quickly realized that Mei Qing was his superior and that some things shouldn’t be shared with him. He quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Lord Mei, have you received your waist token and official uniform since you arrived here? Oh… you have the waist token? Let me tell you, since you are a Qianhu, it’s not appropriate for you to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the Feiyu uniform—it’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official attire. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it will definitely work!”
“Definitely! Definitely!” Xiao Jiu nodded vigorously in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Huang Pangzi looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined it to be a certain way. First, he was assigned to be a file clerk, then a document copier, and now, he was directly assigned to be a warehouse keeper—and a keeper of stolen goods at that.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about arresting and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of tough job. But after all this circling around, he ended up with such a position. Well, it did align with what the Sixth Lord said about “keeping an eye on him and not letting him run around.” With this job, it’s not like he could go out and run around even if he wanted to.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. After all, what he really wanted was to quickly practice the Divine Thunder Technique to break through the restrictions and find a way to reunite with Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Before Mei Qing could even move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu had already gone to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Division was a secretive place, and no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. When he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of an issue. Although Bi Zhen held the title of Deputy Commander, he rarely participated in Imperial Guard affairs, staying aloof and having little interaction, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing had worn the Feiyu uniform and carried the Xiuchun sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and since he started cultivating, his demeanor had become even more extraordinary. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing and impressive. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when out on missions. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated for Mei Qing, holding the sword hilt and walking a few steps with a swagger, like a crab strutting around in autumn, quite imposing.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to move to the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already rushed ahead to the treasury to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group consisted of about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a particularly complicated task, the brothers here were specially chosen by the higher-ups for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, no matter how Mei Qing looked at it, Zhao Jingli didn’t seem to fit any of these criteria.
“This is it, Lord Mei, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the lord!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion. He called out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi just frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the lord.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet Mei Qing.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something when he saw Mei Qing nod and ask a few questions in a calm manner before walking past. He had no choice but to swallow his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he came from a wealthy family and naturally had the demeanor of someone of higher status. Especially since he started cultivating, he had developed an air of aloofness that made others look up to him. Although he didn’t realize it himself, when he showed that calm and indifferent expression, even a seasoned veteran like Zhao Jingli felt a bit intimidated.
Being a treasury, it was naturally heavily guarded. Even Mei Qing, as the person in charge, had to show his waist token to gain entry. Inside, there were several hidden surveillance points. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been difficult to spot them.
Inside the building, the rooms on either side were the offices of the fourth group. After a long corridor and a sharp turn, the path led downward. After a few dozen steps, there was another large iron door. Two soldiers stood guard here, and a man with a thick beard came forward, “Subordinate Qian San, Hundred Household of the Internal Fourth Group of the Imperial Guards, greets Lord Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t considered a particularly demanding task. As long as the rules were set and the shifts were arranged, with regular inspections, everything would be fine. This was, after all, the famous Imperial Guards—what thief would dare to steal from here?
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing had been listening for so long without knowing which group he was assigned to. “What exactly do we do?”
At this question, Zhao Jingli’s narrow eyes gleamed with excitement. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Hehe, our fourth group is the plumpest position in the inner unit. You see, while we do punish corrupt officials with fines, we can’t just sit around waiting for them to pay. When we get accurate intelligence and the timing is right, we don’t need them to pay voluntarily—we just take it directly. Our fourth group is in charge of guarding the treasure vault, safeguarding all the items we ‘acquire.’ Occasionally, we also take items as collateral in advance to prevent those cunning types from promising fines and then refusing to pay.”
Ah? So the inner unit doesn’t just kidnap—they also rob when the opportunity arises. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing a Feiyu uniform while looting and plundering—this business seemed quite promising indeed.
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was left utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this really acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, though our methods might differ slightly. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we were to rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to apprehend them, it would take a lifetime. Instead, we capture them directly, take them to the interrogation room for a bit of ‘persuasion,’ and then let them spend a couple of days in the small prison. They’ll confess in no time. Once they confess, it’s all straightforward, isn’t it? We’re here to cure and save, not to destroy. So, it’s simple—just pay a fine! It’s all about transparency and fairness. Pay the money, and we release the person. Everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, are there any good ones among them? They’re all bullies, oppressing the common folk and competing for profits. Especially those merchants, flaunting their wealth and exploiting the innocent…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people? Aren’t they part of the people too?”
“Heh, well, you get the idea. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are cunning. What we’re doing is essentially robbing the rich to help the poor, carrying out the will of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder, his teapot waving in the air, his face glowing with excitement, his small mustache twitching, and his eyes gleaming with the righteous fervor of a hero from the Water Margin.
Carrying out the will of heaven… in the Imperial Guards. It’s true what they say—officials and bandits are one and the same.
“The first group is led by Master Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Master. As for the second group, they’re even more formidable—they specialize in capturing people. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To extract these people from their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas—you name it. Usually, we can handle things without their involvement, but when things get tough, these experts step in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Master, and no one else has a say in it,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Given the importance of the internal division, it must have some hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; the second group’s role was likely far more complex than just capturing people.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally the Deputy Commander, but he’s always been assisting the Sixth Master. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Master. As for the third and fourth groups, they’re under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group oversees the internal prison, which is actually part of the Imperial Prison but is designated specifically for new ‘guests.’ The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
Well-known, indeed. Mei Qing’s face showed a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on how cooperative the person is. If they’re reasonable and willing to pay, it’s like heaven—good food, good treatment, and even some beautiful companions if you want. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, heh… But if they’re uncooperative, then Ma Shiqing’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities, “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Heh, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. You see, when we crack down on corrupt officials, we inevitably impose fines as punishment, but we can’t just sit around waiting for them to pay, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay—we take it directly. Our fourth group is in charge of guarding the treasure vault, where all the confiscated items are stored. Of course, occasionally we also take items as collateral to prevent those cunning individuals from reneging on their fines.”
Ah, so our internal division isn’t just about kidnapping; we’re also into outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform while looting—this business seems quite promising.
“It’s not exactly robbery. After all, they’ll have to pay the fine sooner or later, so what’s the difference? Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we’re just saving them the hassle by collecting the fine ourselves. Think about it, while the third group might get some small benefits from the prisoners, it’s nothing compared to what we have in our hands. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy Arab merchant, and when it came to our vault, I thought…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him. Realizing that Mei Qing was his superior and that some things shouldn’t be revealed, he quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Lord Mei, have you received your badge and official uniform yet? Oh, you have the badge? Let me tell you, since you’re a Commander, it’s not appropriate for you to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, you should wear the Feiyu uniform—it’s much more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official robes. Wherever you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your badge, it’ll work wonders!”
“Wonders indeed!” Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement.
Mei Qing wasn’t paying much attention to these two clowns. He sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated. He never imagined that the internal division would be such a place. No wonder Huang the Fatty looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had envisioned a completely different scenario. First, he was assigned to be an archive manager, then a document copier, and now, he’s been assigned to be a warehouse keeper—a keeper of stolen goods, no less.
Initially, when Zhao Jingli boasted about capturing and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it would be some thrilling job. But after all this, he ended up with such a mundane task. Well, it does align with the Sixth Master’s words, “Keep an eye on him and don’t let him run around.” With this job, Mei Qing wouldn’t be able to go anywhere even if he wanted to.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. After all, what Mei Qing really wanted was to quickly master the Shenxiao Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Before Mei Qing could even move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu had already gone to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Division was a secretive place where no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. And when he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of a concern. Bi Zhen, though nominally a Deputy Commander, was largely detached from the Imperial Guards’ affairs and didn’t care about uniforms. So, this was the first time Mei Qing had worn the Feiyu uniform and carried the Xiuchun sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and his cultivation had given him an extraordinary aura. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed for official duties. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated a few moves, holding the sword hilt and striding forward like a crab in autumn, exuding an air of authority.
After the demonstration, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to visit the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already dashed off to the treasury to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group consisted of about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a complicated task, the members here were carefully selected by their superiors for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel that Zhao Jingli didn’t fit any of these criteria.
“This is it, Lord Mei, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the Commander!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion. He called out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the Commander.” Another young guard beside him also saluted.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something when he saw Mei Qing nod and ask a few questions before walking past. He swallowed his words.
Though young, Mei Qing had the demeanor of a nobleman, especially after his cultivation, which gave him an air of aloofness. Though he didn’t realize it himself, when he wore that calm expression, even a seasoned veteran like Zhao Jingli felt intimidated.
As a heavily guarded treasury, even Mei Qing, as the supervisor, had to show his badge to enter. Inside, there were several hidden sentry points. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, he might not have noticed them.
Inside the building, the rooms on either side were the offices of the fourth group. A long corridor led forward, turning sharply to descend into a large iron door guarded by two soldiers. A man with a thick beard stepped forward and said, “Subordinate Qian San, Hundred Commander of the Internal Fourth Group of the Imperial Guards, greets Commander Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Commander and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t considered a demanding task. As long as the rules were set and shifts were arranged, regular inspections were sufficient. This was, after all, the famous Imperial Guards. What thief would dare to steal from here?
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was left utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this really acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, but our methods are just a bit different from others. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. We simply capture them directly, take them to the interrogation room for some ‘treatment,’ and then let them spend a couple of days in the small prison. They’ll confess without fail. Once they confess, it’s easy to handle, isn’t it? We’re here to cure and save, not to drive people to their deaths. So, it’s simple—just pay a fine! It’s all about clear pricing, fair to all, one hand pays, the other releases, everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowered his voice, and said, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, are there any good people among them? They all bully the common folk and exploit the people. Especially those merchants, flaunting their wealth, oppressing the good and competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned and said, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Hehe, you get the idea. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we need to do is deal with these scoundrels, rob the rich to help the poor, and act on behalf of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder without realizing it, and he even started waving his teapot around. His face was flushed with excitement, his small mustache twitching, and his eyes squinting with a look of great righteousness, as if he were the legendary hero Song Jiang from the Water Margin.
“Acting on behalf of heaven… and it’s come to the Imperial Guards. It’s true what they say—officials and bandits are one and the same.”
“Our first group is led by Lord Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Lord Mei, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Lord. As for the second group, they’re even more formidable—they specialize in capturing people. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To dig these people out of their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, you name it. Usually, we brothers can handle things without them needing to step in. But when we encounter tough nuts, it’s these big shots who come into play. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Lord, and no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; what the second group did was definitely not just about capturing people.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally the Vice Commander, but he has always assisted the Sixth Lord. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Lord. As for the third and fourth groups, they are under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group manages the small prison within the internal division, which is actually part of the imperial prison but is a separate section dedicated to ‘serving’ new guests. The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
“Known, indeed,” Mei Qing said with a look of nostalgia. “Once you enter that small prison, it’s worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head. “It depends on whether the person understands the situation. If they’re reasonable and can ‘take care of things,’ it’s like heaven—good food, good drinks, and even some beautiful ladies to keep them company. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, hehe… But if they don’t understand, then Lord Ma’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities. “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Hehe, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps up corrupt officials, although they are eventually fined as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay—we just take it directly. Our fourth group is in charge of guarding the treasure vault, where all these seized items are stored. Of course, occasionally we also take some items as collateral to prevent those cunning individuals from reneging on their fines.”
Ah, so our internal division isn’t just about kidnapping; we’re also into outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform while looting and plundering—this business seems quite promising.
“You can’t really call it robbery. After all, they’ll have to pay the fine sooner or later, so what’s the difference? Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we save them the hassle and just take care of it ourselves. Think about it, Lord Mei, although the third group has to deal with prisoners and inevitably gets some ‘gifts,’ it’s just small change compared to what we have in our hands. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy merchant’s house. When it came to our vault, I thought…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him. Realizing that Mei Qing was his superior and that some things shouldn’t be mentioned in front of him, he quickly changed the subject. “By the way, Lord Mei, have you received your waist token and official uniform since you arrived here? Oh, you already have the waist token? See, I told you, since you’re a commander, it’s not appropriate to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, no matter what rank you hold, it’s best to wear the Feiyu uniform—it’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official robes. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it’ll definitely work!”
“It works! It works!” Xiao Jiu nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Huang the Fatty looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined a completely different scenario. First, he was assigned to be an archive manager, then a document copier, and now, he’s been assigned to be a warehouse keeper—and not just any warehouse, but one that stores stolen goods.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about capturing and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of fierce job. But after all this, he realized he had been given such a mundane task. But then again, it did align with what the Sixth Lord said about “keeping an eye on him and not letting him run around.” With this job, it would be impossible for him to go anywhere.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. After all, what he really wanted was to quickly master the Divine Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Without waiting for Mei Qing to move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu went ahead and fetched his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Department was a secretive place where no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. And when he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of an issue. Although Bi Zhen held the title of Vice Commander, he rarely got involved in the Imperial Guards’ affairs, remaining aloof and rarely interacting with others, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing had worn the Feiyu uniform and carried the Xiuchun sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and since he started cultivating, his demeanor had become even more refined. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing and impressive. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when dealing with official matters. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated for Mei Qing, holding the sword hilt and walking a few steps with a commanding posture, like a crab strutting around after autumn, exuding an air of authority.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to visit the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already dashed off to the treasury to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing as they walked over slowly.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group had about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a complicated job, the brothers here were specially selected by their superiors for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, no matter how Mei Qing looked at it, Zhao Jingli didn’t seem to fit any of these criteria.
“This is it, Lord Mei, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the Lord!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways and arrived at a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion. He called out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi just frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the Lord.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet Mei Qing.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something when he saw Mei Qing nod and ask a few questions before walking past, so he swallowed his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he was born into a wealthy family and naturally had the demeanor of someone of high status. Especially since he started cultivating, he had developed an air of aloofness that made others look up to him. Although he didn’t realize it himself, when he had that indifferent expression on his face, even a seasoned person like Zhao Jingli felt somewhat intimidated.
Since this was the treasury, it was naturally heavily guarded. Even Mei Qing, as the person in charge, had to show his waist token to gain entry. There were also several hidden sentries monitoring the area, and if Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been hard to spot them.
Inside the building, the rooms on both sides were the offices of the fourth group. After a long corridor and a sharp turn, the path led downward, and after a few dozen steps, there was another large iron gate. Here, two soldiers stood guard, and a man with a thick beard came forward and said, “Subordinate Qian San, a centurion of the fourth group of the Imperial Guards, greets Lord Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct commander and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t a particularly demanding job; as long as the rules were set, the shifts were arranged, and regular inspections were conducted, everything would be fine. This wasn’t just any place—it was the famous Imperial Guards. What petty thief would dare to steal from here?
“Works great! Works great!” Xiao Jiu nodded enthusiastically beside him.
Mei Qing wasn’t really listening to the two of them babbling. He sat there, torn between laughter and frustration. He hadn’t expected the inner unit to be like this—no wonder that fat Huang looked so envious. Thinking back to when he first joined the Jinyiwei, he’d imagined it to be something grand. But first he was assigned to be a records administrator, then a scribe, and now this—directly assigned to be a warehouse keeper. And not just any warehouse keeper—a keeper of stolen goods.
At first, when Zhao Jingli was boasting about capturing and killing at will, he’d thought it was some thrilling job. But it turned out to be this kind of assignment. Come to think of it, it did fit what the six master had said: “Make sure he doesn’t run around.” With such a position, he wouldn’t even have the chance to go anywhere.
Thinking further, he realized it wasn’t so bad. After all, what he wanted most was to cultivate the Divine Thunder Technique of the Shenxiao Sect as soon as possible, to break through his restrictions and then search for Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one disturbed him, it might actually be a good position.
Before Mei Qing could even stand up, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu had already rushed off to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Jinyiwei for some time, the Jinglishi office was considered a secret location where no one wore uniforms, so he hadn’t thought much about it. As for Bi Zhen’s place, it went without saying—though she held the title of Tongzhi, she rarely participated in Jinyiwei affairs and was practically independent, so she didn’t care much about uniforms either. Thus, this was truly the first time he had ever worn the Feiyu uniform and the Xiuchun sword.
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this even acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, but our methods are just a bit different from others. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. We simply capture them directly, take them to the interrogation room to be dealt with, then throw them into the small prison for a couple of days, and they’ll confess obediently. Once they confess, it’s easy to handle, isn’t it? We’re also trying to cure and save people, not drive them to death. So, it’s simple: just pay a fine! We’re all about transparency and fairness—pay the money, release the person, everyone gets what they want, and everyone is happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowered his voice, and said, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, are there any good people among them? They all bully the common folk and exploit the people. Especially those merchants, flaunting their wealth, oppressing the good and competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned and said, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Hehe, well, that’s the general idea. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we need to do is deal with these scoundrels, which is essentially robbing the rich to help the poor and upholding justice!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder without him realizing it, and he even started waving his teapot around. His face was flushed with excitement, his small mustache twitching, and his eyes squinting, giving off the air of a righteous hero from the Liangshan Marsh, like the legendary Song Jiang.
“Upholding justice… in the Imperial Guards. It’s true what they say: officials and bandits are one and the same.”
“Our first group is led by Lord Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Lord. As for the second group, they’re even more formidable—they specialize in capturing people. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To dig these people out of their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of all sorts of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, you name it. Usually, we brothers can handle things without them having to step in. But when we encounter tough opponents, these ‘masters’ have to step in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Lord, and no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have some hidden strength. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface, and the second group’s role was definitely not just about capturing people.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally the Vice Commander, but he has always been assisting the Sixth Lord. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Lord. As for the third and fourth groups, they are under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group manages the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the imperial prison but is a separate section dedicated to serving our new ‘guests.’ The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
“Known, indeed,” Mei Qing said with a look of reminiscence. “Once you enter that small prison, it’s worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head. “It depends on whether the person knows how to behave. If they understand the situation and can grease the wheels, it’s like heaven—good food, good drinks, and even some beautiful ladies to keep them company. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, hehe… But if they don’t know how to behave, then Lord Ma’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities. “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Hehe, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps away corrupt officials, although they are eventually fined as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay voluntarily—we just take it directly. Our fourth group is in charge of guarding the treasure vault, where all these seized items are stored. Of course, occasionally we also take some items as collateral to prevent those cunning individuals from reneging on their fines.”
“Ah? So our internal division not only kidnaps but also robs?” Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform while looting—it seemed like a very promising career.
“Well, it’s not exactly robbery. They’ll have to pay the fines sooner or later, so it’s all the same. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we’re just saving them the hassle by collecting the fines ourselves. Think about it, Mei Qianhu, although the third group has some perks from managing prisoners, it’s just small change compared to what we have in our hands. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy merchant’s home. When it came to our vault, I thought…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him. Realizing that Mei Qing was his superior and that some things shouldn’t be revealed, he quickly changed the subject. “Oh, right, Mei Qianhu, have you received your waist token and official uniform yet? Oh… you have the waist token? You see, I’m not saying this to criticize you, but as a Qianhu, it’s not appropriate for you to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the Feiyu uniform—it’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official attire. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it will definitely work!”
“Definitely! Definitely!” Xiao Jiu nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Huang Fatso looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined a completely different scenario. First, he was assigned to be an archivist, then a scribe, and now, he was directly assigned to be a warehouse keeper—and a keeper of stolen goods at that.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about capturing and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of fierce job. But after all the twists and turns, he ended up with such a position. It did, however, align with the Sixth Lord’s words: “Keep an eye on him and don’t let him run around.” With this job, it would be impossible for him to go anywhere.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. All he wanted was to quickly practice the Divine Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Without waiting for Mei Qing to move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu went to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Division was a secretive place where no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing had never thought about it. When he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of a concern. Although Bi Zhen held the title of Vice Commander, he rarely participated in the affairs of the Imperial Guards, remaining aloof and rarely interacting with others, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing had put on the Feiyu uniform and the embroidered spring sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and since he started cultivating, his demeanor had become even more extraordinary. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing and upright. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when handling official matters. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated for Mei Qing, holding the sword hilt and walking a few steps with a swagger, like a crab in autumn, exuding an air of authority.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to move to the vault for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already scurried off to the vault to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing as they walked over slowly.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group had about a dozen people. Since guarding the vault wasn’t a particularly complicated task, the brothers here were specially selected by the higher-ups for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, Mei Qing couldn’t see how Zhao Jingli matched any of these qualities.
“This is it, Mei Qianhu, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the Qianhu!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways and arrived at a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion. He called out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi just frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the Qianhu.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet Mei Qing.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something, but seeing that Mei Qing had already nodded and asked the two a few questions before walking past, he swallowed his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he came from a wealthy family and naturally had the demeanor of someone of high status. Especially since he started cultivating, he had an air of aloofness that made others look up to him. Although he didn’t realize it himself, when he had that indifferent expression on his face, even a seasoned person like Zhao Jingli felt a bit intimidated.
Since this was a heavily guarded vault, even Mei Qing, as the person in charge, had to show his waist token to gain entry. Inside, there were several hidden sentry points. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been hard to spot them.
Inside the building, the rooms on either side were the offices of the fourth group. After a long corridor and a sharp turn, the path led downward, and after a few dozen steps, there was another large iron door. Here, two soldiers stood guard, and a man with a thick beard came forward and said, “Subordinate Qian San, Baihu of the fourth group of the Imperial Guards, greets Mei Qianhu.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu and had always been managed by Lord Lu. In everyone’s mind, guarding the vault wasn’t a particularly demanding task—just set the rules, arrange the shifts, and conduct regular inspections. After all, this was the famous Imperial Guards. What thief would dare to steal from here?
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this even allowed? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, but our methods are just a bit different from others. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. Instead, we simply capture them directly, take them to the interrogation room for some ‘persuasion,’ and then let them spend a couple of days in the small prison. They’ll confess soon enough. Once they confess, it’s easy to handle, right? We’re here to cure and save, not to kill. So, it’s simple—just pay a fine! It’s all about transparency and fairness. Pay the money, and we release the person. Everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed speechless after his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local magnates, are there any good ones among them? They all exploit the common people and cause chaos in the regions. Especially those merchants, flaunting their wealth, oppressing the good, and competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Hehe, you get the idea. The rich are often unscrupulous, and merchants are often deceitful. What we’re doing is taking down these scoundrels, which is essentially robbing the rich to help the poor, and carrying out justice on behalf of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder without him realizing it. He even started waving his teapot around, his face glowing with excitement, his small mustache twitching, and his eyes darting around, exuding the aura of a righteous hero from the Water Margin.
“Carrying out justice on behalf of heaven… and it’s the Imperial Guards doing it. Truly, officials and bandits have been one family since ancient times. It’s no lie.”
“The first group is led by Master Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Master. As for the second group, they’re even more formidable—they specialize in capturing people. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some might even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To extract these people from their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, you name it. Usually, we brothers can handle things without them needing to step in. But when we encounter tough nuts, these experts are called in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Master, and no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; what the second group did was definitely not just about capturing people.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally the Vice Commander, but he’s always been assisting the Sixth Master. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Master. As for the third and fourth groups, they’re under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group manages the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the imperial prison but is designated specifically for new ‘guests.’ The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
“Known, indeed,” Mei Qing said with a wistful expression, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s probably worse than death.”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on whether the person understands the situation. If they’re sensible and can pay, it’s like heaven—good food, good drinks, and even some beautiful ladies to keep them company. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, hehe… But if they’re not sensible, then Ma Shiqing’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities, “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Hehe, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps through corrupt officials, although they’re eventually fined as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay—we just take it directly. Our fourth group is in charge of guarding the back treasury, where all these seized items are stored. Of course, occasionally, we also take some items as collateral to prevent those cunning individuals from reneging on their fines. These items are also stored here.”
Ah, so our internal division isn’t just about kidnapping; we’re also into outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this flying fish uniform while looting and plundering—it seemed like a promising career.
“We can’t exactly call it robbery. After all, they’ll have to pay the fine sooner or later, so it’s all the same. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we’re just saving them the hassle by collecting the fine ourselves. Think about it, Mei Qianhu, although the third group deals with prisoners and might get some small benefits, it’s nothing compared to our fourth group, where we handle real goods. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy Arab merchant’s home. When it arrived in our treasury, I thought to myself…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him. He quickly realized that Mei Qing was his superior, and some things shouldn’t be mentioned in front of him. He quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Mei Qianhu, have you received your waist token and official uniform since you arrived here? Oh… you have the waist token? Let me tell you, since you’re a Qianhu, it’s not appropriate for you to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the flying fish uniform—it’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official attire. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it’ll definitely work!”
“Definitely! Definitely!” Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement from the side.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place. No wonder Huang Pangzi looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined it would be something grand. Instead, he was first assigned to be an archive manager, then a document copier, and now—a warehouse keeper, and one who specialized in storing stolen goods at that.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about capturing and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it would be some fierce and exciting job. But after all this, he realized he had been given such a mundane task. But then again, it did align with the Sixth Master’s words, “Keep an eye on him and don’t let him run around.” With this job, it would be hard for him to go anywhere.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. After all, his main goal was to quickly master the Shenxiao Thunder Technique to break through the restrictions and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Before Mei Qing could even move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu had already gone to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Department was a secretive place, and no one wore official uniforms there, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. And when he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of an issue. Although Bi Zhen held the title of Vice Commander, he rarely participated in Imperial Guard affairs, remaining aloof and rarely interacting with others, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing had donned the flying fish uniform and the embroidered spring sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and since he started cultivating, his demeanor had become even more extraordinary. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing and impressive. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when dealing with official matters. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated a few steps for Mei Qing, holding the sword hilt and walking with a commanding posture, like a crab strutting around after autumn, exuding an air of authority.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to move to the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already dashed off to the treasury to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a slower pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group consisted of about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a particularly complex task, the brothers here were specially selected by the higher-ups for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, no matter how Mei Qing looked at it, Zhao Jingli didn’t seem to fit any of these criteria.
“This is it, Mei Qianhu. Please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the Qianhu!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways until they reached a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion. He called out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi just frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the Qianhu.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet Mei Qing.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something when he saw Mei Qing nod and ask a few casual questions before walking past. He had no choice but to swallow his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he came from a wealthy family and naturally carried himself with an air of superiority. Especially since he started cultivating, he had developed a certain aloofness that made people look up to him. Although he didn’t realize it himself, when he wore that indifferent expression, even a seasoned man like Zhao Jingli felt somewhat intimidated.
Being a treasury, it was naturally heavily guarded. Even Mei Qing, as the person in charge, had to show his waist token to gain entry. Inside, there were several hidden surveillance points. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been hard to spot them.
Inside the building, the rooms on either side were the offices of the fourth group. A long corridor stretched forward, turning sharply after a while, leading down a flight of stairs to a large iron door. Two soldiers stood guard there, and a man with a thick beard came forward, “Subordinate Qian San, Hundred Household of the Internal Fourth Group, greets Mei Qianhu.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu in charge; it had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t considered a particularly demanding task. As long as the rules were set and shifts were arranged, regular inspections were enough. This was, after all, the famous Imperial Guards. What thief would dare to steal from here?
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this really acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, though our methods might differ slightly. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we were to rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. We simply bring them in, let the interrogation room handle them for a bit, then throw them into the small prison for a couple of days, and they’ll confess willingly. Once they confess, it’s easy to handle, right? We’re here to cure and save, not to drive people to their deaths. So, it’s simple—just pay the fine! It’s all about transparency and fairness. Pay the money, release the person, everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, are there any good people among them? They all bully the common folk and exploit the people. Especially those merchants, flaunting their ill-gotten wealth, oppressing the good and competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Brother Zhao, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Heh, you get the idea. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we need to do is deal with these scoundrels, rob the rich to help the poor, and carry out justice on behalf of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder, his teapot waving in the air, his face glowing with excitement, his mustache twitching, and his small eyes darting around, exuding the aura of a righteous hero from the Water Margin.
“Carrying out justice on behalf of heaven… in the Imperial Guards. It’s true what they say—officials and bandits are one and the same.”
“The first group is led by Master Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Master. The second group is even more formidable—they specialize in arrests. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some might even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To dig these people out of their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of oddballs—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, you name it. Usually, we brothers can handle things without them lifting a finger. But when we encounter tough nuts, these guys step in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Master, and no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; the second group’s tasks were surely more complex than just making arrests.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally the Vice Commander, but he has always assisted the Sixth Master. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Master. As for the third and fourth groups, they are under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group oversees the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the imperial prison but is a separate section dedicated to serving our new guests. The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
“Known, indeed,” Mei Qing said with a wistful expression, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s worse than death.”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on whether the person understands the situation. If they are reasonable and can afford to grease the wheels, it’s like heaven—good food, good drink, and good company. You can even have a few pretty girls to keep you company. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, heh… But if they don’t understand the situation, then Ma Shiqing’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities, “What do we handle?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Heh, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps through corrupt officials, although they are eventually fined as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay up—we just take it directly. Our fourth group guards the treasure vault, specifically overseeing the items we’ve taken. Of course, occasionally, to prevent those cunning individuals from promising to pay the fine and then reneging, we take some items as collateral, which are also stored here.”
Ah, so our internal division not only kidnaps but also engages in outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform while looting—it seemed like a promising career.
“Can’t really call it robbery. They’ll have to pay the fine sooner or later, so it’s all the same. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we save them the hassle and just take care of it ourselves. Think about it, Qianhu, although the third group oversees the prisoners and inevitably gets some bribes, it’s just small change compared to what we have in our hands. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy Arab merchant’s home. Once it entered our vault, I thought to myself…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him, reminding him that Mei Qing was his superior and that some things shouldn’t be mentioned. He quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Lord Mei, have you received your waist token and official uniform since you arrived here? Oh… you have the waist token? You see, I’m not just saying this, but as a Qianhu, it’s not appropriate for you to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the Feiyu uniform—it’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official attire. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it’s guaranteed to work!”
“Guaranteed! Guaranteed!” Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Fatty Huang looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined a completely different scenario. First, he was assigned to be an archivist, then a scribe, and now, he was directly assigned to be a warehouse keeper—a keeper of stolen goods, no less.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about arresting and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of fierce job. But after all the twists and turns, he ended up with such a position. It did, however, align with the Sixth Master’s words, “Keep an eye on him and don’t let him run around.” With this job, it was impossible for him to go anywhere.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. After all, his main goal was to quickly master the Shenxiao Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bijin. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Without waiting for Mei Qing to move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu went ahead and fetched his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Division was a secretive place where no one wore official attire, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. As for Bijin, it was even more so. Although Bijin held the title of Vice Commander, he rarely participated in Imperial Guard affairs, remaining aloof and rarely interacting with others, so there was no need for formal attire. Therefore, this was the first time Mei Qing had worn the Feiyu uniform and carried the Xiuchun sword.
Forcing Mei Qing to dress up, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu both cheered loudly. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and since he started cultivating, his demeanor had become even more extraordinary. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing and impressive. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when handling official matters. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated for Mei Qing, holding the sword hilt and walking a few steps with a swagger, like a crab in autumn, exuding an air of authority.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to move to the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already dashed off to the treasury to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group consisted of about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a complicated task, the brothers here were specially selected by their superiors for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, Mei Qing couldn’t see how Zhao Jingli matched any of these qualities.
“This is it, Lord Mei, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the lord!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion, calling out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the lord.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet Mei Qing.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to speak up when he saw Mei Qing nod slightly, ask a few questions, and then walk past, so he swallowed his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he came from a wealthy family and naturally had the demeanor of someone of high status. Especially since he started cultivating, he had an air of aloofness that made people look up to him. Although he didn’t realize it himself, when he wore that indifferent expression, even Zhao Jingli, a seasoned veteran, felt somewhat intimidated.
As the treasury was a heavily guarded place, even Mei Qing, as the person in charge, had to show his waist token to gain entry. Inside, there were several hidden sentry points. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been difficult to spot them.
Inside the building, the rooms on either side were the offices of the fourth group. A long corridor stretched forward, turning a sharp corner, and then descended into a large iron door guarded by two soldiers. A man with a thick beard stepped forward and said, “Subordinate Qian San, Hundred Household of the Internal Fourth Group of the Imperial Guards, greets Lord Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t considered a particularly demanding task. As long as the rules were set and the shifts were arranged, regular inspections were sufficient. This was, after all, the famous Imperial Guards—what thief would dare to steal from here?
Xiao Jiu had already rushed ahead to prepare, while Zhao Jingli escorted Mei Qing slowly behind.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group had around a dozen members. Since guarding the warehouse wasn’t a particularly complex task, the members were specially selected for their honesty, loyalty, and meticulousness.
However, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel that Zhao Jingli didn’t seem to match any of those qualities.
Mei Qing was left speechless by Zhao Jingli’s words, staring in astonishment before finally saying, “Is this really acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we’re still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, it’s just that our methods differ slightly. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we relied solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. By directly capturing them, taking them to the interrogation room for some ‘persuasion,’ and then letting them stew in the small prison for a couple of days, they’ll confess without fail. Once they confess, it’s straightforward, isn’t it? We’re here to cure and save, not to drive people to their deaths. So, it’s simple: pay the fine and be done with it! It’s all about clear pricing, fair to all, pay the money, release the person, everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, are there any good ones among them? They all bully the common folk and exploit the people. Especially those merchants, flaunting their wealth, oppressing the good, and competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit harsh to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Heh, that’s just the way it is. The rich are unkind, and no merchant is honest. What we need to do is deal with these scoundrels, rob the rich to help the poor, and act on behalf of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice inadvertently growing louder, and he even waved his teapot around, his face glowing with excitement, his small mustache twitching, and his small eyes darting around, resembling the heroic and righteous Song Jiang from the Water Margin.
Acting on behalf of heaven… in the Imperial Guards, it truly shows that officials and bandits are one and the same, as the saying goes.
“Our first group is led by Master Wu Bing, I wonder if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu? He’s a close confidant of the Sixth Master. Speaking of the first group, the second group is even more formidable, specializing in arrests. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some might even have extraordinary individuals by their side. To dig these people out from their homes, you need some real skills. The second group is full of odd characters, monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, all sorts of people. Usually, we brothers can handle things without them needing to step in. But when we encounter tough cases, these ‘masters’ have to step in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Master, no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; the second team’s tasks were surely not just about making arrests.
“Our Lu Daren is nominally a deputy, but he’s always assisted the Sixth Master. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Master. As for the third and fourth groups, they’re under Lu Daren’s responsibility. The third group manages the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the imperial prison, but it’s a separate section dedicated to serving our new ‘guests.’ The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
Known, indeed. Mei Qing’s face showed a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s probably worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on whether the person understands the situation. If they’re sensible and can manage things, it’s like heaven, with good food, good drink, and good company. Even having a few beautiful ladies accompany you isn’t difficult. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, heh… If they’re not sensible, then Ma Daren’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” After all this, Mei Qing still didn’t know what he was in charge of, “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled, and he took a big sip from his teapot, wiping his mouth, “Heh, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps up corrupt officials, although they’re eventually fined as punishment, we can’t just sit and wait, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay; we just take it directly. Our fourth group guards the treasure vault, specifically watching over these seized items. Of course, occasionally, to prevent those cunning individuals from promising to pay the fine but not doing so, we take some items as collateral, which are also stored here.”
Ah? So our internal division not only kidnaps but also engages in outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform to rob homes—it seems this business has a bright future.
“Can’t really call it robbery, since they’ll have to pay the fine eventually, sooner or later, it’s the same thing. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so collecting the fine saves them the trouble, and we just handle it ourselves. Think about it, Qianhu Daren, although the third group guards prisoners and inevitably receives some ‘gifts,’ it’s just small benefits. It can’t compare to our fourth group, holding the real items. Not to mention, the other day there was a foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a Persian merchant’s home, ended up in our vault. Old Zhao here thought…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him, reminding him that Mei Qing was his superior and some things shouldn’t be revealed. He quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Mei Daren, have you received your waist token and official uniform since you arrived here? Oh… you have the waist token? See, I told you, since you’re a Qianhu, it’s not convenient to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the Feiyu uniform, it’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official attire. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it’s guaranteed to work!”
“Works! Works!” Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement from the side.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on, sitting there feeling both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Huang Pangzi looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined a completely different scenario. First, he was assigned to be an archive manager, then a document copier, and now, he’s been assigned to be a warehouse keeper—a keeper of stolen goods, no less.
Initially, when Zhao Jingli boasted about arresting and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some fierce job. But after all this, he ended up with such a position. It’s no wonder the Sixth Master said, “Keep an eye on him, don’t let him run around.” With this job, it’s impossible for him to go anywhere.
On second thought, this isn’t so bad. All he wanted was to quickly practice the Shenxiao Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothers him, it’s actually a pretty good position.
Without waiting for Mei Qing to move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu went to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Division was a secret place where no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing never thought about it. When he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of an issue. Although Bi Zhen held the title of deputy, he rarely participated in Imperial Guard affairs, staying aloof and having little interaction, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing wore the Feiyu uniform and carried the Xiuchun sword.
Forcing Mei Qing to dress up, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu both cheered loudly. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and since he started cultivating, his demeanor had become even more refined. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air, which made him look good but lacked the intimidating presence needed when handling official matters. He needed to be more imposing. With that, Zhao Jingli demonstrated, holding the sword hilt and walking a few steps, strutting like a crab in autumn, quite imposing.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to move to the treasure vault for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already rushed ahead to the vault to prepare, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group had about a dozen people. Since guarding the vault wasn’t a complicated task, the brothers here were specially selected by the higher-ups for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, no matter how Mei Qing looked at it, Zhao Jingli didn’t seem to fit any of these criteria.
“This is it, Mei Daren, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and greet the Daren!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion, calling out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi just frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the Daren.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed, about to say something, but seeing Mei Qing nod and ask a few questions before walking past, he swallowed his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he came from a wealthy family and naturally had an air of superiority. Especially since he started cultivating, he had an even more aloof demeanor. Although he didn’t realize it, when he showed that indifferent expression, even a seasoned man like Zhao Jingli felt a bit intimidated.
Being a treasure vault, it was naturally heavily guarded. Even Mei Qing, as the supervisor, had to show his waist token to enter. Inside, there were several hidden surveillance points, which Zhao Jingli pointed out to him. Even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been hard to notice them.
Inside the building, the rooms on both sides were the fourth group’s offices. A long corridor led forward, turning a large corner, and then descended dozens of steps to a large iron door. Here, two soldiers stood guard, and a man with a thick beard came forward, “Subordinate Qian San, Hundred Household of the Internal Fourth Group of the Imperial Guards, greets Mei Daren.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu, always managed by Lu Daren. In everyone’s mind, guarding the vault wasn’t a demanding task; it just required setting rules, arranging shifts, and regular inspections. This was the famous Imperial Guards; what petty thief would dare to steal from here?
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was utterly stunned, speechless for a long while before finally managing to say, “Is this even possible? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we’re still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, it’s just that our methods differ slightly. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we were to rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. We simply capture them directly, first take them to the interrogation room to be dealt with, then let them spend a couple of days in the small prison, ensuring they confess willingly. Once they confess, it’s all straightforward, isn’t it? We’re also trying to cure and save people, not drive them to their deaths. So, it’s simple, just impose a fine! It’s all about clear pricing, fair to all, one hand pays the money, the other releases the person, everyone gets what they want, and everyone is happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, are there any good ones among them? Each one surely tyrannizes the countryside, bringing disaster to the area. Especially those merchants, relying on their ill-gotten wealth, each one oppresses the good and competes with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned upon hearing this, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit of a stretch to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Hehe, that’s just the gist of it. The rich are unkind, and no merchant is without deceit. What we need to do is deal with these scoundrels, it’s like robbing the rich to help the poor, carrying out justice on behalf of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice inadvertently growing louder, his teapot waving in his hand, his face glowing with excitement, his small mustache twitching, his small eyes darting around, exuding the aura of a righteous hero from the Water Margin, Song Jiang, the Timely Rain.
Carrying out justice on behalf of heaven… coming to the Imperial Guards, it’s true that officials and bandits have always been one family, as the saying goes.
“The first group is led by Lord Wu Bing, I wonder if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu, he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Lord. Speaking of the first group, the second group is even more formidable, specializing in capturing people. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have extraordinary individuals by their side. To dig these people out from their homes, you need some serious skills, otherwise, how can you handle such delicate tasks? The second group is full of peculiar characters, monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, all sorts of people from various sects and walks of life. Usually, the brothers can handle things without them needing to intervene. But when things get tough, these masters have to step in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Lord, no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; what the second team did was definitely not as simple as just capturing people.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally a co-leader, but he has always assisted the Sixth Lord. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Lord. As for the third and fourth groups, they are under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group manages the small prison of the internal division, which is actually part of the imperial prison, but it’s a separate section specifically for new arrivals. The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his face showing a hint of disdain when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
Known, too well known. Mei Qing’s face showed a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s probably worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on whether the person understands the situation. If they are reasonable and can manage things, it’s like heaven, with good food, good drinks, and good treatment. Even having a few beautiful ladies accompany you isn’t difficult. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, hehe… If they don’t understand the situation, then our Lord Ma’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” After talking for so long, Mei Qing still didn’t know what he was in charge of, “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Hehe, our fourth group is the most lucrative area in the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps away corrupt officials, although we impose fines as punishment afterwards, we can’t just sit and wait, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay voluntarily, we just take it directly. Our fourth group guards the treasure vault in the backyard, specifically watching over these seized items. Of course, occasionally we also take some items as collateral to prevent those cunning individuals from promising to pay the fine but not delivering. These items are also stored here.”
Ah? So our internal division not only kidnaps but also engages in outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this flying fish uniform to rob homes—it seems this line of work has a bright future.
“You can’t call it robbery, after all, they will have to pay the fine sooner or later, it’s all the same. Besides, they’ve already had a hard time with the lawsuit, collecting the fine saves them the trouble, we just do it ourselves. Think about it, Qianhu, although the third group guards the prisoners and inevitably receives some bribes, it’s just some small benefits, nothing compared to our fourth group, which holds real items. Not to mention, the other day there was a foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy merchant’s home, ended up in our vault. Old Zhao here thought…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him, reminding him that Mei Qing was his superior and some things shouldn’t be revealed. He quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Lord Mei, have you received your waist token and official uniform since you arrived here? Oh… you have the waist token? Look, I’m not saying this to you, but since you are a Qianhu, it’s not convenient for you to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the flying fish uniform, it’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth rank official uniforms. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it will definitely work!”
“It works! It works!” Xiao Jiu nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, truly at a loss for words. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Huang Fatso looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined a completely different scenario. First, he was assigned to be a file manager, then a clerk, and now, he’s been assigned to be a warehouse keeper—and a keeper of stolen goods at that.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about capturing and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of fierce job. But after all this, it turned out to be such a task. It really fits what the Sixth Lord said, “Keep an eye on him, don’t let him run around.” With this job, it’s impossible for him to go anywhere.
On second thought, this isn’t so bad. After all, what he really wants is to quickly practice the Divine Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothers him, it’s actually a pretty good position.
Without waiting for Mei Qing to move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu went to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Division was a secret place where no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. When he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of an issue. Although Bi Zhen held the title of co-leader, he was basically uninvolved in the Imperial Guards’ affairs, staying aloof and rarely interacting, so there was no need for formal attire. Therefore, this was the first time Mei Qing had worn the flying fish uniform and carried the embroidered spring knife.
Forcing Mei Qing to dress up, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu both cheered loudly. Mei Qing was naturally handsome and had an extraordinary demeanor, especially after his cultivation. Wearing this uniform made him look even more dashing. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air, which made him look good but lacked the intimidating presence needed when handling official matters. He needed to be more imposing. With that, Zhao Jingli demonstrated for Mei Qing, holding the knife handle and walking a few steps with a swagger, like a crab strutting around after autumn, quite imposing.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to move to the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already run ahead to the treasury to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group had about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a complicated task, the brothers here were specially selected by the higher-ups for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, no matter how Mei Qing looked at it, he couldn’t see how Zhao Jingli matched any of these qualities.
“This is it, Lord Mei, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the lord!” Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion, calling out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi just frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the lord.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet him.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed, about to scold him, but seeing Mei Qing nod and ask a few questions before walking past, he swallowed his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he was born into a wealthy family and naturally had the demeanor of someone above others. Especially after his cultivation, he had an even more aloof and imposing aura. Although he didn’t realize it himself, when he showed that indifferent expression, even a seasoned person like Zhao Jingli felt a bit intimidated.
Being a treasury, it was naturally heavily guarded. Even Mei Qing, as the person in charge, had to show his waist token to enter. There were also several hidden surveillance points inside, which Zhao Jingli pointed out to him. Although Mei Qing had keen senses, he wouldn’t have noticed them otherwise.
Inside the building, the rooms on both sides were the offices of the fourth group. After a long corridor and a big turn, the passage extended downward, leading to a large iron door after several dozen steps. Here, two soldiers stood guard, and a man with a thick beard came forward, “Subordinate Qian San, Hundred Household of the Internal Fourth Group of the Imperial Guards, greets Lord Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu, it had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t a complicated task, just set the rules, arrange the shifts, and check regularly. This wasn’t just any place, it was the famous Imperial Guards. What petty thief would dare to steal from here?
Zhao Jingli looked slightly embarrassed but was about to scold when Mei Qing had already nodded slightly, asking the two a few brief questions before walking ahead. He swallowed his words.
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is that even allowed? Isn’t that… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, but our methods are just a bit different from others. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. We simply bring them in, let the interrogation room handle them for a bit, then throw them into the small prison for a couple of days, and they’ll confess without a fuss. Once they confess, it’s easy, isn’t it? We’re here to cure and save, not to destroy. So, it’s simple—just pay a fine! It’s all about transparency and fairness. Pay the money, and we release the person. Everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local magnates, are there any good ones among them? They all exploit the common folk and cause chaos in their regions. Especially those merchants, flaunting their wealth, oppressing the good and competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t the business of merchants also part of the people’s livelihood? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Heh, well, you get the idea. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we need to do is deal with these scoundrels, rob the rich to help the poor, and carry out justice!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder, and he even waved his teapot around, his face glowing with excitement, his mustache twitching, and his small eyes darting around, exuding the aura of a righteous hero from the Water Margin.
“Carry out justice… in the Imperial Guards. It’s true what they say, officials and bandits are one and the same.”
“Our first group is led by Master Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Master. As for the second group, they’re even more formidable, specializing in arrests. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To dig these people out of their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, you name it. Usually, we brothers can handle things without them lifting a finger. But when things get tough, these big shots step in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Master, and no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; what the second group did was definitely not just about making arrests.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally a deputy, but he has always assisted the Sixth Master. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Master. As for the third and fourth groups, they are under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group manages the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the imperial prison but is a separate section dedicated to new ‘guests.’ The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
“Known, indeed,” Mei Qing said with a nostalgic and melancholic expression, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on whether the person understands the situation. If they’re sensible and can pay, it’s like heaven—good food, good treatment, and even some beautiful ladies to keep them company. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, heh… But if they’re not sensible, then our Master Ma’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities, “What do we manage?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled, and he took a big sip from his teapot, wiping his mouth, “Heh, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. You see, when our internal division sweeps up corrupt officials, although they are eventually fined as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay; we take it directly. Our fourth group guards the treasure vault, specifically watching over these seized items. Of course, occasionally, we also take items as collateral from those who promise to pay fines but don’t, and these are also stored here.”
Ah, so our internal division not only kidnaps but also robs. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform to rob and plunder—it seems this job has quite a future.
“Can’t really call it robbery. They’ll have to pay the fines sooner or later, so it’s all the same. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we save them the hassle by collecting the fines ourselves. Think about it, Qianhu, although the third group guards prisoners and gets some benefits, it’s just small change compared to what we have in our hands. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, originally a treasure of a wealthy merchant. When it came to our vault, I thought…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him, reminding him that Mei Qing was his superior and that some things shouldn’t be mentioned. He quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Master Mei, have you received your waist badge and official uniform yet? Oh… you have the waist badge? Look, I’m not saying this to criticize you, but as a Qianhu, it’s not appropriate to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the Feiyu uniform. It’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official uniforms. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist badge, it’ll work wonders!”
“Works wonders! Works wonders!” Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Huang Fatso looked so envious. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined a completely different scenario. First, he was assigned to be a file manager, then a document copier, and now, he’s been assigned to be a warehouse keeper—and a keeper of stolen goods at that.
Initially, when Zhao Jingli boasted about arresting and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of fierce job. But after all this, he ended up with such a position. It does, however, align with the Sixth Master’s words, “Keep an eye on him and don’t let him run around.” With this job, it’s impossible for him to go anywhere.
On second thought, it’s not so bad. All he wanted was to quickly practice the Shenxiao Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothers him, it’s actually a pretty good position.
Before Mei Qing could move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu had already gone to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Department was a secretive place, and no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. When he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of an issue. Although Bi Zhen held the title of deputy, he rarely participated in Imperial Guard affairs, staying aloof and rarely interacting, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing had worn the Feiyu uniform and carried the Xiuchun sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and his cultivation had given him an extraordinary aura. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when handling official matters. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated for Mei Qing, holding the sword hilt and walking a few steps, strutting like a crab in autumn, quite imposing.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to visit the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already rushed ahead to prepare, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group had about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a complicated task, the brothers here were specially chosen by the higher-ups for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, Mei Qing couldn’t see how Zhao Jingli matched any of these qualities.
“This is it, Master Mei, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the master!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doors to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion, calling out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the master.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed, about to scold, but seeing Mei Qing nod and ask a few questions before walking past, he swallowed his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he was born into a wealthy family and naturally carried an air of superiority. Especially after his cultivation, he had an even more aloof and detached demeanor. Although he didn’t realize it, when he showed that indifferent expression, even a seasoned veteran like Zhao Jingli felt a bit intimidated.
As a treasury, it was naturally heavily guarded. Even Mei Qing, as the supervisor, had to show his waist badge to enter. Inside, there were several hidden surveillance points. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been hard to spot them.
Inside the building, the rooms on both sides were the offices of the fourth group. A long corridor led forward, turning a sharp bend, and then descended several steps to a large iron door. Two soldiers guarded it, and a man with a thick beard stepped forward, “Subordinate Qian San, a Baihu of the Imperial Guards’ internal fourth group, greets Master Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t a demanding task. As long as the rules were set and shifts were arranged, regular inspections were enough. This was the famous Imperial Guards; what thief would dare to steal from here?
Since it was a crucial warehouse, the security was naturally tight. Even as the supervisor, Mei Qing had to present his badge to enter. Inside, there were also several hidden watchtowers. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t explained them one by one, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been difficult to spot them.
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was left utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this really acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, it’s just that our methods are a bit different from others. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. We simply arrest them directly, take them to the interrogation room to be dealt with, and then let them serve a couple of days in the small prison. They’ll confess soon enough. Once they confess, it’s easy to handle, right? We’re here to cure and save, not to kill. So, it’s simple—just pay a fine! It’s all about clear pricing, fair to all, pay the money, release the person, everyone gets what they want, and everyone is happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, “And those wealthy merchants and local gentry, are there any good people among them? They all bully the common folk and exploit the people. Especially those merchants, with their filthy money, they oppress the good and compete with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Ha, whatever, the point is, the rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we need to do is deal with these scoundrels, it’s like robbing the rich to help the poor, carrying out justice on behalf of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice inadvertently growing louder, and he even started waving his teapot around, his face glowing with excitement, his small mustache twitching, and his small eyes darting around, exuding the aura of a righteous hero from the Water Margin.
Carrying out justice on behalf of heaven… and it’s come to the Imperial Guards. Truly, since ancient times, officials and bandits have been one and the same, as the saying goes.
“Our first group is led by Master Wu Bing, I wonder if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu? He’s a close confidant of the Sixth Master. Speaking of the first group, the second group is even more formidable, specializing in arrests. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some might even have strange and unusual individuals by their side. To dig these people out of their homes, you need some serious skills. The second group is full of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas, all sorts of people from various walks of life. Usually, the brothers can handle things without them needing to step in. But when we encounter tough cases, these masters have to step in. The second group is directly managed by the Sixth Master, no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface; what the second team did was definitely not just about making arrests.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally a co-leader, but he has always assisted the Sixth Master. However, the first and second groups are directly managed by the Sixth Master. As for the third and fourth groups, they are under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third group manages the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the imperial prison, but it’s a separate section dedicated to serving new ‘guests’. The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, with a dismissive expression when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
Well-known, indeed. Mei Qing’s face showed a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, “Once you enter that small prison, it’s probably worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head, “It depends on whether the person understands the situation. If they are reasonable and can manage things, it’s like heaven—good food, good drinks, good treatment. You can even have a few beautiful ladies accompany you if you want. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, heh… But if they don’t understand the situation, then our Lord Ma’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth group?” After all this talk, Mei Qing still didn’t know what he was in charge of, “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Heh, our fourth group is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps away corrupt officials, although they are eventually fined as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay voluntarily, we just take it directly. Our fourth group is in charge of guarding the treasure vault, specifically watching over these seized items. Of course, occasionally, to prevent those cunning individuals from promising to pay the fine but not doing so, we take some items as collateral, which are also stored here.”
What? So our internal division not only engages in kidnapping but also outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform to rob homes—it seems this business has a bright future.
“It’s not exactly robbery, since they’ll have to pay the fine sooner or later, it’s all the same. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we save them the hassle by collecting the fine ourselves. Think about it, Qianhu, although the third group oversees prisoners and inevitably receives some bribes, it’s just small change compared to our fourth group, which holds the real goods. Not to mention, the other day there was a foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy Arab merchant’s home, and when it came to our vault, I thought…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him, reminding him that Mei Qing was his superior and some things shouldn’t be mentioned in front of him. He quickly changed the subject, “By the way, Lord Mei, have you received your waist token and official uniform since you arrived here? Oh… you have the waist token? Let me tell you, since you’re a Qianhu, it’s not appropriate to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the Feiyu uniform—it’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official uniforms. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it will definitely work!”
“Definitely! Definitely!” Xiao Jiu nodded in agreement from the side.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place, no wonder Huang Fatso looked so envious when he heard about it. Thinking back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, he had imagined it to be a certain way. First, he was assigned to be an archive manager, then a document copyist, and now, he’s been assigned to be a warehouse keeper—a keeper of stolen goods, no less.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about arresting and killing at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of tough job. But after all this, it turned out he was given such a position. But then again, it did align with the Sixth Master’s words, “Keep an eye on him, don’t let him run around.” With this job, it’s impossible for him to run around.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. After all, what he really wanted was to quickly practice the Shenxiao Thunder Technique to break through the restrictions and find a way to reunite with Bi Zhen. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Before Mei Qing could move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu had already gone to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Department was a secretive place, and no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. When he was with Bi Zhen, it was even less of an issue. Although Bi Zhen held the title of co-leader, he was mostly detached from the Imperial Guards’ affairs, rarely interacted with others, and didn’t care about uniforms. So, this was the first time Mei Qing had worn the Feiyu uniform and carried the Xiuchun sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and since he started cultivating, his demeanor had become even more extraordinary. Wearing this uniform, he looked even more dashing. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when handling official matters. He needed to be more imposing. With that, Zhao Jingli demonstrated a few steps, holding the sword hilt and walking with a commanding presence, like a crab in autumn, exuding authority.
After demonstrating the steps, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to visit the treasury for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already rushed ahead to the treasury to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth group had about a dozen people. Since guarding the treasury wasn’t a complicated task, the brothers here were specially selected by the higher-ups for their honesty, integrity, and meticulousness.
However, no matter how Mei Qing looked at it, Zhao Jingli didn’t seem to fit any of these criteria.
“This is it, Lord Mei, please come this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing there for? Come and greet the lord!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion, calling out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi just frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the lord.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to greet him.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to say something when he saw Mei Qing nod and ask a few questions before walking past, so he swallowed his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he came from a wealthy family and naturally had an air of superiority. Especially since he started cultivating, he had an even more aloof demeanor. Although he didn’t realize it himself, when he showed that indifferent expression, even an old hand like Zhao Jingli felt a bit intimidated.
As the treasury was a heavily guarded place, even Mei Qing, as the person in charge, had to show his waist token to gain entry. Inside, there were several hidden surveillance points. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, it would have been hard to spot them.
Inside the building, the rooms on both sides were the offices of the fourth group. After a long corridor and a big turn, the path led downward, and after a few dozen steps, there was another large iron door. Here, two soldiers stood guard, and a man with a thick beard came forward, “Subordinate Qian San, Hundred Household of the Internal Fourth Group of the Imperial Guards, greets Lord Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth group had never had a direct Qianhu and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the treasury wasn’t a particularly demanding task. As long as the rules were set, shifts were arranged, and regular inspections were conducted, everything would be fine. This was, after all, the famous Imperial Guards. What thief would dare to steal from here?
Upon hearing Zhao Jingli’s words, Mei Qing was utterly dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Is this really acceptable? Isn’t this… kidnapping?”
Zhao Jingli shook his head repeatedly and said, “How can you say that? Even though our internal division is somewhat special, we are still part of the Imperial Guards, aren’t we? Eliminating traitors and eradicating evil is our duty, but our methods are just a bit different from others. Think about it, those corrupt officials and local tyrants, don’t they all have deep roots and powerful backers? If we rely solely on the ‘Great Ming Code’ to arrest them, it would take a lifetime. We simply capture them directly, take them to the interrogation room to be dealt with, and then throw them into the small prison for a couple of days. They’ll confess without fail. Once they confess, it’s easy to handle, isn’t it? We’re also here to cure and save people, not to drive them to death. So, it’s simple—just pay a fine! We’re all about transparency and fairness. Pay the money, and we’ll release the person. Everyone gets what they want, and everyone’s happy!”
Seeing that Mei Qing was indeed rendered speechless by his explanation, Zhao Jingli couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself. He leaned in closer, lowered his voice, and said, “And those wealthy merchants and local magnates, are there any good people among them? They’re all bullies who oppress the common folk and exploit the people. Especially those merchants, flaunting their ill-gotten wealth, they’re all about exploiting the weak and competing with the people for profit…”
Mei Qing frowned and said, “Zhao Jingli, isn’t it a bit unfair to say that merchants are competing with the people for profit? Aren’t they also part of the people?”
“Hehe, well, that’s the general idea. The rich are heartless, and all merchants are deceitful. What we’re doing is cleaning up these scoundrels, which is like robbing the rich to help the poor—acting on behalf of heaven!”
Zhao Jingli got carried away, his voice growing louder, and he even started waving his teapot around. His face was flushed with excitement, his mustache twitching, and his small eyes gleaming with a sense of righteousness, as if he were some heroic figure from the Water Margin.
“Acting on behalf of heaven… in the Imperial Guards. It’s true what they say—officials and bandits are one and the same.”
“The first division is led by Lord Wu Bing. I don’t know if you’ve met him, Mei Qianhu, but he’s a close confidant of the Sixth Lord. The second division is even more impressive—they specialize in capturing people. Think about it, those corrupt officials and wealthy merchants, don’t they all have bodyguards and entourages? Some even have strange and powerful individuals by their side. To dig these people out of their homes, you need some serious skills. The second division is full of odd characters—monks, Taoists, nuns, lamas—you name it. Usually, we brothers can handle things without them having to lift a finger. But when things get tough, these experts step in. The second division is directly managed by the Sixth Lord, and no one else can interfere,” Zhao Jingli said mysteriously.
Mei Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this made sense. Since the internal division was such an important place, it must have its own hidden strengths. Zhao Jingli probably only saw the surface, but the second division’s role was definitely not just about capturing people.
“Our Lord Lu is nominally the Vice Commander, but he’s always been assisting the Sixth Lord. However, the first and second divisions are directly managed by the Sixth Lord. As for the third and fourth divisions, they’re under Lord Lu’s responsibility. The third division oversees the internal division’s small prison, which is actually part of the Imperial Prison but is a separate section dedicated to serving our new guests. The leader, Ma Shiqing, is quite well-known,” Zhao Jingli said, his tone dismissive when mentioning Ma Shiqing.
“Known, indeed. Too well-known,” Mei Qing said with a wistful expression. “Once you enter that small prison, it’s worse than death, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily,” Zhao Jingli shook his head. “It depends on whether the person knows how to behave. If they’re sensible and can grease the wheels, it’s like heaven—good food, good drink, and even some beautiful ladies to keep them company. Of course, the expenses will eventually fall on the individual, hehe… But if they’re not sensible, then Lord Ma’s reputation isn’t for nothing.”
“What about our fourth division?” Mei Qing asked after a while, still unsure of his own responsibilities. “What do we do?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhao Jingli’s eyes lit up. He took a big sip from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, “Hehe, our fourth division is the most lucrative part of the internal division. Think about it, when our internal division sweeps up corrupt officials, although they’re eventually fined as punishment, we can’t just sit around waiting, can we? When we have accurate information and the right timing, we don’t wait for them to pay up—we just take it directly. Our fourth division is in charge of guarding the back treasure vault, where we keep all the things we’ve taken. Of course, occasionally, we also take items as collateral from those who promise to pay but don’t. Those are also stored here.”
Ah, so our internal division isn’t just about kidnapping—we’re also into outright robbery. Mei Qing was even more impressed. Wearing this Feiyu uniform while looting—it seemed like a promising career.
“It’s not exactly robbery. They’ll have to pay the fine sooner or later, so it’s all the same. Besides, they’re already in trouble, so we’re just saving them the hassle by taking the fine ourselves. Think about it, Qianhu. Although the third division has its perks from dealing with prisoners, it’s just small change compared to what we have in our hands in the fourth division. Just the other day, there was this foreign glass horse, originally a treasure from a wealthy Arab merchant. Once it entered our vault, I thought to myself…”
Just as Zhao Jingli was getting carried away with his story, he suddenly heard Xiao Jiu coughing loudly beside him. He quickly realized that Mei Qing was his superior, and some things shouldn’t be revealed to him. He quickly changed the subject and said, “By the way, Lord Mei, have you received your waist token and official uniform yet? Oh… you have the waist token? You see, I’m not just saying this, but as a Qianhu, it’s not convenient for you to go around in casual clothes. In my opinion, regardless of your rank, it’s best to wear the Feiyu uniform. It’s more impressive than the fourth or fifth-rank official uniforms. No matter where you go, as long as you’re dressed like this and show your waist token, it’ll work wonders!”
“Works wonders! Works wonders!” Xiao Jiu nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Mei Qing had no interest in listening to these two clowns ramble on. He sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated. He never expected the internal division to be such a place. No wonder Huang Pangzi looked so envious when he heard about it. He thought back to when he first joined the Imperial Guards, imagining what it would be like. First, he was assigned to be a file clerk, then a scribe, and now, he’s been assigned to be a warehouse keeper—a keeper of stolen goods, no less.
At first, when Zhao Jingli boasted about capturing and killing people at will, Mei Qing thought it was some kind of tough job. But after all this, he realized he’d been given such a mundane task. But then again, it did align with the Sixth Lord’s words: “Keep an eye on him and don’t let him run around.” With this job, he wouldn’t be able to go anywhere even if he wanted to.
On second thought, this wasn’t so bad. All he wanted was to quickly practice the Shenxiao Thunder Technique to break the seal and find Bijin. As for this warehouse keeper job, as long as no one bothered him, it was actually a pretty good position.
Before Mei Qing could even move, Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu had already gone to fetch his official uniform. Although Mei Qing had been in the Imperial Guards for some time, the Experience Bureau was a secretive place, and no one wore official uniforms, so Mei Qing hadn’t thought about it. And when it came to Bijin, it was even less of a concern. Although Bijin held the title of Vice Commander, he rarely participated in Imperial Guard affairs, remaining aloof and rarely interacting with others, so there was no need for formal attire. Thus, this was the first time Mei Qing had donned the Feiyu uniform and the Xiuchun sword.
Forced to dress up, Mei Qing received loud cheers from Zhao Jingli and Xiao Jiu. Mei Qing was naturally handsome, and his cultivation had given him an extraordinary aura. Wearing this uniform made him look even more dashing. However, as Zhao Jingli pointed out, Mei Qing still had a scholarly air about him. While he looked good, he lacked the intimidating presence needed when dealing with official matters. Zhao Jingli even demonstrated how to carry oneself with authority, holding the sword hilt and walking with a commanding stride, like a crab in autumn, exuding an air of dominance.
After demonstrating the proper stance, Zhao Jingli invited Mei Qing to visit the treasure vault for an on-site inspection.
Xiao Jiu had already dashed off to the vault to make preparations, while Zhao Jingli accompanied Mei Qing at a leisurely pace.
According to Zhao Jingli, the fourth division had about a dozen people. Since guarding the vault wasn’t a complicated task, the brothers here were specially chosen by their superiors for their honesty, clean backgrounds, and meticulousness.
However, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel that Zhao Jingli didn’t fit any of these criteria.
“This is it, Lord Mei. Please, this way. Hey, Yaozi, what are you standing around for? Come and greet the lord!” Zhao Jingli led Mei Qing through several doorways to a building that was neither a tower nor a pavilion. He called out to a sturdy man at the entrance.
The man named Yaozi just frowned, glanced at Zhao Jingli, and ignored him. When Mei Qing approached, he clasped his fists and said, “Subordinate Yao Dingguo, greets the lord.” Another young guard beside him also came forward to pay his respects.
Zhao Jingli looked somewhat embarrassed and was about to scold them when he saw Mei Qing nod and calmly ask them a few questions before walking past. He had no choice but to swallow his words.
Although Mei Qing was young, he had been born into a wealthy family and naturally carried himself with an air of superiority. Especially after his cultivation, he had developed a certain aloofness that made people look up to him. Although he didn’t realize it himself, when he wore that expression of calm indifference, even a seasoned operator like Zhao Jingli felt a bit intimidated.
As a heavily guarded treasure vault, security was naturally tight. Even Mei Qing, as the person in charge, had to show his waist token to gain entry. Inside, there were several hidden surveillance points. If Zhao Jingli hadn’t pointed them out, even with Mei Qing’s keen senses, he wouldn’t have noticed them.
Inside the building, the rooms on either side were the offices of the fourth division. A long corridor stretched forward, turning sharply to lead downward. After a few dozen steps, there was another large iron gate guarded by two soldiers. A man with a thick beard stepped forward and said, “Subordinate Qian San, Hundred Household of the Internal Fourth Division of the Imperial Guards, greets Lord Mei.”
It turned out that the fourth division had never had a direct Qianhu in charge and had always been managed by Lord Lu. After all, guarding the vault wasn’t a particularly demanding task. As long as the rules were set and shifts were arranged, regular inspections were enough. This was, after all, the famous Imperial Guards. What thief would dare to steal from here?
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