A Pawn's Passage

Since Sun Heyu failed to capture Chen Jianqiu, the effort to convict Chen Jianchou should have stalled. With the crucial evidence missing, even if one wanted to keep him detained, it would no longer be possible.

Qi Xuansu thought the matter would end there, but to his surprise, new developments arose.

This Wu Burong truly withstood the pressure and stubbornly refused to release Chen Jianchou, forcing Qi Xuansu to take action personally.

To put it bluntly, since she refused to accept goodwill and insisted on making things ugly, Qi Xuansu could hardly be blamed. After all, Zheng Jiaohe was already dead, and Lin Tianhe had already fled. Qi Xuansu was no longer afraid of bad optics.

Thus, Qi Xuansu convened a meeting. Those attending included many Chief Superintendents from the branch halls, as well as Li Changge representing the Beichen Hall. Li Zhuyu was still in Lion City handling interrogations and could not make it back, so Li Changge took charge on the Thanglong Prefecture side.

The meeting was once again held in the small conference room adjoining Qi Xuansu’s office. Since the Daoist Order had abolished many kneeling rites and outwardly emphasized equality, many older layouts and furnishings of a Confucian hierarchy were no longer suitable. Thus, some of the current arrangements had been influenced by Western styles.

This small conference room had a long table running north to south, with one chair each at the ends and a row of chairs on both the east and west sides.

When Qi Xuansu entered the conference room, everyone was already present. The main seat at the north was empty, clearly reserved for him. Li Changge sat opposite that seat across the table, while the others were seated along the east and west sides.

Qi Xuansu took the main seat and swept his gaze around the room. “Since everyone’s here, we’ll begin the meeting now.”

Ke Qingqing entered together with Qi Xuansu. This was not a formal council session, so it was relatively relaxed. Her job was to sit beside him and take notes as a precaution against future disputes.

Except for Li Changge, everyone else instinctively straightened their posture.

Qi Xuansu opened the case file and went straight to the point. “Today, we’ll mainly discuss two matters. The first is still the issue of the Beichen Hall local branch violating rules and procedures. I already addressed this at the Daoist Mansion Council and originally didn’t wish to revisit it. However, the Beichen Hall local branch has neither released Chen Jianchou nor provided a reasonable explanation, forcing me to bring it up again. Brother Yong Yan, please tell me honestly. Has Beichen Hall received new instructions?”

Li Changge replied, “There is indeed a possibility that the Beichen Hall headquarters commissions subordinate branches to conduct secret investigations that sometimes even the Deputy Hall Masters are not privy to. However, only the Hall Master, the Chief Deputy Hall Master, or the Second Deputy Hall Master has the authority to issue such commissions, and they must concern major cases, such as investigations targeting the upper echelons of a local Daoist Mansion. In my view, the investigation into Chen Jianchou neither complies with the regulations for secret investigations nor meets the required level, unless the true target of the Beichen Hall headquarters is you, Brother Tian Yuan.

“But I made a point of making inquiries about whether it involves you. I can answer with absolute certainty that the Hall Master, Chief Deputy, and Second Deputy Hall Masters had issued such an order. Thus, instructions from the Beichen Hall headquarters simply do not exist.”

This response was well within Qi Xuansu’s expectations. He tapped the tabletop and said, “If the Beichen Hall local branch did not receive such an order, then whose order was it?”

The Chief Superintendent of the Fengxian Hall local branch spoke up. “Local branches are under the dual leadership of the headquarters in Jade Capital and the local Daoist Mansion. Is it possible that the order came from the Poluo Daoist Mansion?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “The Daoist Mansion does not belong to any single person. This was made very clear at the last assembly. The Daoist Mansion’s stance has been consistent and explicit. What we can now be certain of is that neither the headquarters nor the Daoist Mansion issued any such order.”

One of the Deputy Mansion Masters said, “Then it can only be the order of some major figure.”

Qi Xuansu said sternly, “If it truly was the order of some major figure, yet it bypassed both the Daoist Mansion and the headquarters, it raises a grave issue. Does the Beichen Hall local branch belong to the Daoist Order or some individual?”

Li Changge suggested, “In response to this situation, I propose that we directly dispatch a task group to be stationed at the Beichen Hall local branch to investigate the matter thoroughly, especially the power entanglements involved behind it.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “I think this is a good proposal. Great Sage Jiang mentioned at the Daoist Mansion Council that a comprehensive review of the Daoist Mansion should be conducted. We might as well start with the Beichen Hall branch. Brother Yong Yan, who do you think would be suitable to serve as the convener?”

Li Changge replied, “Since it involves the Beichen Hall, I will act as the convener. What do you think of this, Brother Tian Yuan?”

Qi Xuansu agreed after only a brief moment of consideration. “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Yong Yan.”

In this meeting, there were only two key figures: Qi Xuansu and Li Changge. As long as the two of them reached an agreement, the matter was essentially settled, and it was unlikely that anyone else would object.

Qi Xuansu cast a glance at the Chief Superintendent of the Fengxian Hall local branch.

The Chief Superintendent of the Fengxian Hall local branch understood instantly. After all, he was the one responsible for investigating Wu Burong, so he would have to report his findings to Li Changge and assist him in bringing Wu Burong down.

“The second matter concerns the Nanyang United Trading Company.” Qi Xuansu turned to the main point. “Over the past few days, Deputy Hall Master Dan Jin has made significant progress, prying open the mouths of many former senior executives of the Nanyang United Trading Company. The money and power dealings involved are truly shocking. To put it bluntly, the reason the Nanyang United Trading Company has been so arrogant is due to their backers.”

Everyone knew that the Sun family and the Wang family were backing the Nanyang United Trading Company. However, Qi Xuansu had deliberately refrained from acting and had not directly linked the company to the Wang family in the past. Now that Qi Xuansu had finally mentioned the figures backing the company, he had already sent an extremely clear signal.

Qi Xuansu was already fully aware that Wang Jiaohe was instigating and authorizing Chen Jianchou’s arrest, with the real target being Qi Xuansu himself. Thus, Qi Xuansu no longer intended to merely defend himself and decided to launch a counterattack, confronting Wang Jiaohe head-on and tearing away all pretense.

“In situations like this, the Daoist Order’s stance has always been consistent. There will be no leniency,” Qi Xuansu continued. “I believe this case should be combined with the Daoist Mansion’s investigative review advocated by Great Sage Jiang and pursued thoroughly to the very end.”

Since Li Changge had taken the initiative to assume responsibility for the Beichen Hall local branch, this case would be personally commanded by Qi Xuansu himself.

Qi Xuansu proposed, “A task group should likewise be established for this case to identify exactly who was involved in the power-money transactions of the Nanyang United Trading Company. This group will not report to the Fengxian Hall local branch, nor to the Duzhi Hall or Shibo Hall local branches. It will report directly to me. If there are any issues, bring them straight to me. If anyone interferes with or obstructs the investigation, report that to me as well.

“I will be the convener of this task group, while Superintendent Lu and Superintendent Han will serve as executive conveners. All of you Chief Superintendents and Deputy Superintendents present here will participate by seconding elite core personnel from your respective branches to take part in a comprehensive investigation of this case.”

Thus, a task group personally overseen by Qi Xuansu was formally established. Qi Xuansu’s ability to so quickly grasp control of the Daoist Mansion was due to Great Sage Jiang’s support. Without that backing, it would not have been so easy for a Chief Deputy Mansion Master to contend with a Mansion Master. After all, the Great Sage of the Daoist Mansion governed military power.

After the meeting concluded, Lu Yuting and Han Yongfeng immediately took action. Several more superintendents fell from power and were taken away by the Fengxian Hall local branch for investigation. Those paying close attention noticed that among these were many who were directly subordinate to Mansion Master Wang Jiaohe.

The key point was that Wang Jiaohe found it difficult to retaliate in kind. Qi Xuansu, as Chief Deputy Mansion Master, had inherited superintendents who were mostly former subordinates of Chen Shuhua, but they had already been purged once. Those remaining were largely unproblematic yet not trusted by Qi Xuansu. Any important matters were assigned to Qi Xuansu’s own confidants, Lu Yuting and Han Yongfeng, both of whom had no entanglements in Poluo.

This was precisely why the Golden Tower Council consistently chose new appointments from Jade Capital when dealing with local Daoist Mansions. Without vested interests or entanglements in the region, they would not collude with local factions and were far less likely to have leverage used against them.

On the other front, Li Changge moved at the same pace. Rather, this Junior Imperial Preceptor was exceptionally decisive. He immediately arrested Wu Burong with the relevant materials provided by the Chief Superintendent of the Fengxian Hall local branch.

Li Changge then took over the Beichen Hall local branch, and no one dared to voice even the slightest objection.

This was also by Qi Xuansu’s deliberate design. With Li Changge’s reputation as the Junior Imperial Preceptor and Sage Qingwei as the Beichen Hall Master, who within Beichen Hall would dare oppose Li Changge?

At this moment, Li Changge was like a sharp blade, unstoppable wherever he pointed.

The reason Li Changge had proactively taken on this task was that Sun Jiaofeng had died at his hands, which was undeniably bad optics. Thus, he needed another achievement to make amends and recover his public image.

The Daoist Order was not like the Imperial Court, in which succession to the highest position depended solely on bloodline. Power had to be fought for. Beyond cultivation level, merit, and capability, personal image also mattered greatly. Qi Xuansu’s series of actions in Poluo had significantly elevated his image. Many now praised him for having both civil and martial excellence. His achievements in Fenglin were martial, while those in Poluo were civil, and he was beginning to overshadow the Three Prodigies.

The most direct display of this was Qi Xuansu taking the lead in Poluo, while the Three Prodigies were reduced to supporting roles. This was unprecedented in history.

For the Three Prodigies, it was also a dangerous signal, because this scene closely resembled three Deputy Grand Masters assisting a Grand Master. If this impression were allowed to solidify among the people, it would be extremely unfavorable to the three prestigious families behind the Three Prodigies.