Xuanqing Guard

Actually, even Shen Hao, an outsider to military affairs, could figure it out after careful thought. Previously, the Barbarian Race colluded with Pseudo-Evil Sect cultivators, as well as pests in the Ministry of War, all through smuggling across Zhuo Huo Pass via the Ten Thousand Miles Bamboo Sea. This shows that traversing the Bamboo Sea between the two lands is feasible.

Of course, having a dozen or twenty people pass through the Bamboo Sea is entirely different from three thousand marching through it; the latter is dozens or hundreds of times more difficult. But only this possibility explains why the Border Army would gather thirty thousand troops at Xiaochuan and stockpile vast provisions.

How can thirty thousand make it through the peril-laden Bamboo Sea to reach the Barbarian Race? Shen Hao didn’t consider the specifics; he knew he couldn’t figure it out, but that didn’t stop him from speculating on some military strategies using the analysis from the Four Divisions.

Now, the Inspector network has basically settled in place. Every main combat unit of the Border Army has an Inspector shadowing the Military Supervisor, and also following the activity of each major unit.

This was something Shen Hao hadn’t considered before he came; now it looks like Inspectors are more direct and useful than the outside Secret Agents for intelligence collection.

Is it possible to manipulate this? Shen Hao unconsciously had this thought in his heart.

However, after sorting through the intelligence from the Inspector network, he quickly noticed something odd: in all the main combat units with Inspectors present, there was not a single piece of information about the Xiaochuan army gathering.

There’s only one explanation for this: the thirty thousand gathered at Xiaochuan are not in the main combat organization of the Border Army at all, not even close to it. Only this way could they assemble at Xiaochuan right under the Inspectors’ noses without being discovered.

The motivation is easy to explain: firstly, it’s obviously for secrecy. Whether there are other reasons, Shen Hao doesn’t have the ability to know for now.

So who belongs to non-main combat units? Aside from the soldiers sent by the Four-sided Army to train, all others are non-main combat units. For example, those soldiers who just completed combat drills at Hai Xia and Tanshi recently.

For instance, the kind of people led by Zhang Qian and Gan Lin.

"Hiss... If that’s the case, maybe Zhang Qian and Gan Lin have been secretly transferred?" Thinking of this, Shen Hao couldn’t help but worry for Zhang Qian and Gan Lin. If it’s just for secrecy, a command to assemble at Zhuo Huo Pass but actually gather at Xiaochuan would make sense logically.

He could only hope Zhang Qian and Gan Lin are not so unlucky. Because entering the Bamboo Sea from Xiaochuan and then crossing into Barbarian Land is far more dangerous than a head-on clash with the Barbarian Race from Jianchuan to Hu Zhu Yuan. Some say certain deathtraps in the Bamboo Sea can even swallow Profound Sea Realm cultivators, so for more than thirty thousand people, who knows how many will make it out alive.

"It seems Marshal Zuo isn’t planning to play the ’tit-for-tat’ game with the Barbarian Race along Jianchuan and Hu Zhu Yuan. If they can really open up a passage through the Bamboo Sea, the Barbarian Race will be in for quite a show."

But these are all but military strategies. Shen Hao, an outsider, is just analyzing the surface; he can’t figure out the inside story from these scraps of intelligence. Still, for the sake of ’understanding the big picture in the south,’ he needs to be aware of all this.

At the same time, this top-secret information wouldn’t just stop with Shen Hao. After further confirmation—once more direct moves at Xiaochuan prove Zuo Yuliang is indeed targeting the Bamboo Sea—this intelligence would be submitted to the Jingxi Governor, Jiang Cheng, and then Jiang Cheng would decide whether to report further to Commander Pang Ban.

This is what counts as results. The military and supervisory systems can’t be trusted; the Xuanqing Guard has to work their own intelligence network. Otherwise, they’d be left reading the censored summaries in official reports, and this delay would force the Xuanqing Guard leadership into passive decision-making.

After sorting all this out in his mind, Shen Hao prepared to start his daily cultivation.

He had cultivated calmly all the way from the Gathering Spirit Realm Sixth Layer to now the Eighth Layer, but still had some distance from his goal. His real plan was to maintain his cultivation intensity until year’s end, hoping to swiftly break through the barrier to the Primordial Pill Realm.

Unfortunately, chaos in the southern military affairs and being sent south to handle matters had thrown his plan into disarray. Still, Shen Hao tried to maximize his cultivation time despite all the distractions.

Fortunately, thanks to the Black Beast Tattoo, it was easy for Shen Hao to enter cultivation. Coming out of it was just as effortless, letting him use scattered bits of free time to complete his daily needs even amid his official duties.

Just as Lin Dashan had sensed before, Shen Hao’s cultivation now had reached the late stage of Gathering Spirit Realm Eighth Layer. Keeping up this pace, he should be looking at another breakthrough within a month.

But today seemed unusually busy. Shen Hao was just about to settle down for some focused cultivation when a knock interrupted him.

"My lord, a Deputy General requests a meeting, reporting himself as Wu Kai from Tanshi Garrison."

Shen Hao frowned. He’d been at Tanshi for days now and had an understanding with Wu Kai, so it shouldn’t have come to Wu Kai knocking on his door. What brings him here now?

"Take him to the side hall. I’ll be there soon."

"My lord, he also brought a gift list."

"Hm?" Shen Hao frowned, turning to the Guard who brought the message, "What kind of gift list?"

"A cart of local specialties and some wild game from the mountains. He said it was hunted last night, very fresh."

"Send it all back."

"Yes, sir."

The Guard went off to deliver the message and return the gift at the door. Meanwhile, Shen Hao sat with his tea, brows slightly furrowed.

Shen Hao had dealt with Wu Kai before—capable, ambitious, but scheming and hard to control. The southern situation was tense, so many old handles could not be used to pressure him now. But Wu Kai knew his boundaries and always kept a tacit understanding with Shen Hao, with no obvious "contact" between them.

But this time, making such a public visit and bringing ’gifts,’ and not just a little but two full carts... It was oddly suggestive.

After half an incense stick, Shen Hao met Wu Kai in the side hall, dressed in full military attire.

Wu Kai’s smile hadn’t changed, neither had the scar on his face, but his eyes were less gloomy and more spirited, as if a man in high spirits after joyous news.

Once seated, Wu Kai laughed: "It’s been many days since I last saw Lord Shen, and I’ve missed you dearly. Now that I’m about to depart, I thought to bring some local specialties and wild game I hunted myself. Please don’t take offense, Lord Shen."

"Food and drink I have plenty, neither gold nor game is appropriate for me to accept. Lord Wu, please take them back; your goodwill is more than enough..."

Shen Hao stayed cautious inside, but after two cups of tea, Wu Kai just chit-chatted, saying nothing substantial. In the end, he claimed to have come especially to bid Shen Hao farewell, and to thank him for previously gifting him elixirs to assist his cultivation.

It wasn’t until Wu Kai left, and Shen Hao, compelled by Wu Kai’s enthusiasm, saw him out the door, turned back to his study, and realized with a jolt: this guy was here to borrow his reputation!