Chapter 450

Chapter 450: The Jinyi Manor

In the following days, Xu Ming successively found Xiong Haizi, Guang Yin, and Li Han, among others. He hoped they would join the Jinyi Guard and serve as commanders of a thousand households.

At first, after careful consideration, Xu Ming didn’t want to approach them, but ultimately decided it was better to include them.

In any power structure, the upper echelons are always the most prone to downfall. For example, the Commander of the Jinyi Guard and the two Deputy Commanders.

However, those below this level often become the objects of favor from the majority.

Even if Xu Ming were to face a reckoning, unless there’s substantial evidence against the various captains and lieutenants of the Jinyi Guard, it would be extremely difficult to remove them.

This is because captains and lieutenants are the ones doing the work and are closely connected with the “Jinyi grassroots.”

You can meddle with the interests of the upper levels since you need their benefits too.

But you’d best not interfere with the interests of the middle and lower ranks.

Because when the middle and lower ranks align with you, they also become your assets.

Thus, as long as Li Han and the others act wisely, Xu Ming felt that even if he were to fail, it wouldn’t matter much.

After all, since Xu Ming had already invited these old comrades to help him, he was confident in protecting them.

Besides, Xu Ming believed that if he were purged, the court ministers would surely aim for total eradication. Of his former comrades-in-arms, aside from Wu Yanhan, who has had a good outcome?

Since that’s the case, let them hold some power to protect themselves.

As for Xu Pengda, honestly, Xu Ming thought Pengda wasn’t cut out for this line of work.

Xu Pengda was more suited to navigating the straightforward political arena; the Jinyi Guard, a violent system, definitely wasn’t appropriate for him.

Moreover, Xu Ming had been avoiding inserting family members into the Jinyi Guard. He could bring in colleagues and close friends, but absolutely not anyone related by blood.

Facing Xu Ming’s invitation, Li Han, Guang Yin, and the others all accepted.

After all, a captain in the Jinyi Guard is no small position—it’s equivalent to a sixth-rank official. It would take them at least a decade or more, perhaps even never, to reach such a rank on their own.

Yet now, under the promotion of their brother, they had attained a sixth-rank post.

For a moment, they were all somewhat dazed.

However, they did not lose themselves in sudden success.

On the contrary, they knew that being promoted so directly would certainly attract many watchful eyes!

They needed to be cautious, not only working diligently but also ensuring they did things well, absolutely not causing trouble for their brother.

It was right after Xu Ming appointed Guang Yin and the others that Yu Ping’an came to the Jinyi Manor, expressing his willingness to join the Jinyi Guard.

To reassure Xu Ming, Yu Ping’an emphasized that his decision to join was entirely his own.

Since Yu Ping’an had said that, Xu Ming naturally couldn’t object.

Xu Ming welcomed Yu Ping’an’s participation.

And Xu Ming needed Yu Ping’an’s involvement.

He even thought that once he left the Wu Kingdom, he would hand over the position of Commander of the Jinyi Guard to Yu Ping’an.

Yu Ping’an would serve as Deputy Commander, while Li Han, Guang Yin, and Xiong Haizi would serve as three captains.

There were still positions for one more Deputy Commander and five more captains.

Xu Ming directly submitted these six positions to His Majesty for determination.

He also copied down the names of Yu Ping’an and others, leaving it to Emperor Wu to decide. Although Xu Ming had the authority to make decisions, regardless, his immediate superior was Emperor Wu. Even if it’s just a formality, you must consult your superior’s opinion.

Naturally, Emperor Wu agreed with Xu Ming’s nominations.

Since Xu Ming showed such tactfulness, Emperor Wu naturally couldn’t refuse.

However, Emperor Wu didn’t hesitate to appoint someone else as Deputy Commander and four others as captains.

As for the last captain position, Emperor Wu stated there was currently no suitable candidate on his side, so it would temporarily be held by Queen Wu Yanhan.

Among the hundred subordinates and other members of the Jinyi Guard, fifty percent would be drawn from Blood Floating Pagoda, thirty percent from the Imperial Army, ten percent from the Jingzhao Prefecture, and ten percent from the Ministry of Justice.

What Xu Ming didn’t expect was that Emperor Wu selected a woman to serve as Deputy Commander of the Jinyi Guard.

This woman wasn’t particularly beautiful—she could only be described as having a delicate appearance. She always wore a cold expression, as if everyone owed her a hundred taels of gold.

From the start of Xu Ming formally establishing the Jinyi Guard until its completion, it took five days.

The Jinyi Guard’s office was located in the Jinyi Manor.

Hence, ordinary officials referred to the Jinyi Guard as the Jinyi Manor.

Though the Jinyi Guard more often refers to individuals, the Jinyi Manor represents an entity.

On the day the Jinyi Manor was established, civil and military officials all came to congratulate, without exception.

Emperor Wu even sent a plaque inscribed with the words—”Dedicated to the Nation.”

Then Xu Ming very dutifully placed these four words at the beginning of the “Jinyi Rules”—”Loyalty to the Sovereign.”

The main message was—”My heart is solely for Your Majesty; I only wish to advance.” From then on, even if civil and military officials were unfamiliar with the “Jinyi Rules,” they knew the three bottom-line principles of the Jinyi Manor—

First, loyalty to the sovereign, with no second thoughts.

Second, dedication to the people, fearless of nobility.

Third, non-participation in factional struggles, adherence to one’s duties.

The uniforms of the Jinyi Manor were personally designed by Xu Ming and finalized by Emperor Wu.

All members of the Jinyi Manor wore flying fish robes, carried Tang horizontal swords, and hung jade plaques of the Jinyi Guard.

The Jinyi Guard established two departments—”Arrest Department” and “Internal Affairs Department,” headed respectively by two Deputy Commanders of the Jinyi Guard.

Yu Ping’an served as Director of the Internal Affairs Department, and Zhao Feiyan as Director of the Arrest Department.

As for logistical support, it was entirely handled by the Imperial Palace, so the Jinyi Manor had no worries, and thus Xu Ming didn’t set up a living department.

The first task undertaken by the Jinyi Manor was to purge remnants of the previous dynasty within the capital.

Since the Jinyi Manor initially lacked resources, most materials were provided by Tingfeng Pavilion.

Furthermore, Emperor Wu stipulated that Tingfeng Pavilion and the Jinyi Guard would frequently exchange personnel.

Regarding this, Xu Ming had no objections.

It was merely Emperor Wu’s method of controlling two power institutions—one an intelligence agency, the other a violent one.

By controlling these two institutions, Emperor Wu’s influence over the court would increase significantly.

And just as the Jinyi Manor was integrating and operating, Xu Ming received word from the Xu Mansion.

The ancestral rites were about to begin, and no matter how busy Xu Ming was, he would have to request a few days off.

Xu Ming promised the old lady that during those days of the ancestral rites, he would definitely return.