Chapter 1395: Chapter 1395: 1380: The Crucial List
Capítulo 1395: Chapter 1380: The Crucial List
Ye Zhen casually scanned the surroundings, discovering more than thirty martial artists emitting the aura of the Realm King Realm, and over a hundred martial artists in the Middle Late Stage of the Dark Palace Realm.
This was merely within Ye Zhen’s line of sight, as the divine soul power faintly sensed.
Beyond his vision, there were even more hidden and powerful auras. At such a critical life-and-death moment, Ye Zhen didn’t dare to divide his attention; otherwise, his divine soul power could have sensed everything clearly.
As Chii Jingshan, the West Patrol Official, knelt down, those powerful auras in the distance quickly vanished.
Not only Ye Zhen, but within those brief moments of three to four breaths, Fengg Jiumo, the Heavenly Patrol Divine General, and the eight elite-level Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters waiting outside the West Patrol Office for Ye Zhen all broke out in cold sweat.
In that instant of chaos within the West Patrol Office, each of them felt like they were locked onto by at least ten snake-like auras.
If they dared to make any move, those auras would likely launch a deadly attack immediately.
Especially Fengg Jiumo, who was locked onto by seven terrifying auras, almost instinctively entered the void if not for a shred of rationality.
Now that those auras had suddenly vanished, Fengg Jiumo and the others were drenched in sweat.
In truth, before they had arrived, they knew this journey was perilous, but they had no choice.
Ye Zhen had already controlled their divine souls, holding their lives in his hands.
If Ye Zhen died, they too would perish.
Almost simultaneously, Ye Zhen opened the imperial decree and began to read aloud.
“Receiving the Primordial Era, ruling over the Ten Thousand Worlds, the Heavenly Destiny Saint decrees:……the West Patrol Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy is to be rebuilt, granted a period of five years for reconstruction…”
The decree from the Holy Son of Heaven of the Great Zhou was rather ornate, filled with words, but most people could understand it.
The meaning was simple: the decree issued a special edict to the West Patrol Office, instructing that the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, nearly abolished before, be fully rebuilt by Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy Ye Zhen, allowing a special five-year period for reconstruction.
Within these five years, Ye Zhen, as the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, only needed to manage the affairs within his jurisdiction, and unless it involved matters crucial to the survival of the nation, the West Patrol Office couldn’t impose any duties.
Within these five years, Ye Zhen, as the West Patrol Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, would not obey calls or summons, focusing solely on rebuilding the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy. Meanwhile, the West Patrol Office was ordered to cooperate to accelerate the reconstruction process!
In summary, within these five years, Ye Zhen’s role as the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy was an independent office directly under Luoyi, and the West Patrol had no authority to interfere, and furthermore, was required to offer a certain degree of cooperation.
This was precisely the secret decree Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long gave Ye Zhen for his protection. Without this life-saving decree, Ye Zhen would have thought about fleeing to cultivate in hiding.
Relative to the West Patrol, Ye Zhen was like a sheep entering a wolf pack, without some means of self-preservation, he would be sent to his death.
Simultaneously, the significant risk Ye Zhen took by coming to the West Patrol Office was to ensure the proclamation of this secret decree.
If this secret decree wasn’t publicly announced and accepted by the West Patrol Office, its effectiveness would significantly diminish.
To activate this decree, Ye Zhen started preparations even before leaving Luoyi.
It can be said that the shocking theft case Ye Zhen orchestrated in Luoyi was directly related to this matter and was the first and most crucial arrangement.
If Xio Qiangu were presiding in the West Patrol Office, given his astuteness, Ye Zhen estimated that even if he presented the imperial decree, it might not be accepted.
Ye Zhen might not even have the opportunity to present the decree.
Even if presented, Xio Qiangu had many ways to render it ineffective, and with his skills and influence in the West Patrol, he could certainly achieve this.
However, if Xio Qiangu was absent from the West Patrol, then there weren’t many within the office who dared to defy the imperial decree.
“We humbly accept the decree……”
Amidst the roaring voices, Chii Jingshan, the West Patrol Official, stood up with a sullen expression, reaching out to receive the decree.
“Official Chii, this decree is a special edict. You may view it, but it must remain in my possession!”
Saying this, Ye Zhen ignored Chii Jingshan’s grim look, displaying the decree before the subordinates of the West Patrol for them to read carefully.
Even the Chief of Inner Affairs Bureau, who was moaning miserably with half his body burned by Ye Zhen’s Heavenly Thunder Spirit Fire, had to obediently nod in agreement.
Actually, when Ye Zhen targeted the Chief of the West Patrol’s Inner Affairs Bureau to establish authority, there was a reason.
Currently, the Junior Director of Inner Affairs Bureau, **** Jin, was Ye Zhen’s ally. Without the removal of the Director, **** Jin had no opportunities.
Now that the Director was gravely injured, under current circumstances, recovering would take several years, as the lower dantian had been burned to nothingness by Ye Zhen’s Heavenly Thunder Spirit Fire.
With the position of the Chief of Inner Affairs Bureau vacant, **** Yujin now has an opportunity.
The opportunity has been created for **** Yujin by Ye Zhen; the rest is up to **** Yujin’s abilities.
After Official Chii Jingshan read the special decree in Ye Zhen’s hand, he said sternly, “Since there is a decree from His Majesty, Commander Ye, strive to build the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy as soon as possible to avoid disappointing His Majesty’s great expectations. However, regarding the incident of you beating a superior officer today, before you leave, you must give our West Patrol Office an explanation.”
At this point, Chii Jingshan could only say this, having lost face, he could only try to regain some dignity now.
Originally, they had several plans to deal with Ye Zhen.
Insulting Ye Zhen to anger him and then taking the opportunity to eliminate him was just one plan. Even if Ye Zhen played by the rules, they would immediately assign him a deadly high-failure-rate mission.
Even if Ye Zhen had extraordinary luck and survived, without completing the task, he would still be subject to military law.
So, in their plan, no matter how Ye Zhen acted, he was destined to die.
But they never expected that Ye Zhen would have such a special decree.
The most fatal aspect was that Ye Zhen publicly announced this decree, leaving them no choice but to accept it.
In other words, from today on, within five years, unless they rebel, the entire West Patrol Office, even if Xio Qiangu himself came, couldn’t do anything officially.
This matter happened within the West Patrol Office, so his dignity as an official was completely lost; now he could only try to regain some face.
Unexpectedly, Ye Zhen just smiled slightly, “May I ask Official Chii, why did your West Patrol Office guards sneak attack me from behind?”
“That was not a sneak attack; it was because you disrespected your superior・・・・・・”
Before Chii Jingshan could finish his words, Ye Zhen took out his Viscount Seal and waved it, “According to Great Zhou rules, those with a title need not bow to officials below the rank of Prince.”
Official Chii Jingshan’s face turned so dark it looked like it could drip water; he had actually forgotten this point.
Yet Ye Zhen, in a magnanimous manner, smiled, “As the saying goes, ignorance is not a crime, and that man was just trying to uphold your authority, so this Viscount won’t dwell on it. However, there is one matter that will require the assistance of Official Chii!”
Chii Jingshan sneered coldly, “There is a special decree from His Majesty which prohibits adding duties within five years. I fear I can’t be of any assistance!”
Right off, Chii Jingshan blocked all possibilities.
Ye Zhen held the rolled-up decree in one hand, lightly shook it, and said, “Official Chii, the decree clearly states that the West Patrol Office should provide numerous conveniences and cooperation for our rebuilding of the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy. Does the official intend to defy the decree?”
Ye Zhen took such a big risk, setting a huge trap for Xio Qiangu, successfully forcing the West Patrol Office to publicly accept the decree. If he only achieved the benefits stated in the decree, he wouldn’t be Ye Zhen.
The loss suffered by the West Patrol Office today is just the beginning.
Upon hearing the words ‘defy the decree,’ Official Chii Jingshan felt so frustrated he almost wanted to vomit blood; it turned out this person surnamed Ye had taken that sentence about cooperation seriously, treating the carrot as a big stick.
But then again, they’ve already accepted the decree; if they don’t cooperate, it truly would be defying the decree!
So, even if Chii Jingshan was so frustrated he wished to vomit blood, he could only helplessly speak in an official tone, “Defy the decree? Impossible! State your requests, but this official must declare beforehand that the patrolled regions of the West Patrol are extremely tight on manpower and finances, so assistance for the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy will be very limited.”
“Rest assured, Official Chii, I absolutely will not make unreasonable demands!” Ye Zhen said.
Chii Jingshan gestured for Ye Zhen to continue.
“Official Chii, under the original Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, there were over 500 Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters, nearly 2,000 Wind Scouts, over 3,000 Shadow Spies, and tens of thousands of secret agents and spies inserted in various places, with over a thousand secret bases. I am here to ask Official Chii for that list,” Ye Zhen said.
Upon hearing this request, Official Chii Jingshan’s expression changed to slightly unnatural.
This list is critically important.
You could say, even if the main forces of the Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters, Wind Scouts, and Shadow Spies of the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy were wiped out, the intelligence operations in the regions under the Second Route would still be controlled by the West Patrol Office.
The main reason is that the tens of thousands of bottom-level spies mentioned in the list are still operational.
These low-level spies and secret agents only recognize their direct superiors and are only loyal to the Great Zhou Empire and their top West Patrol commanding officers. Once Ye Zhen takes over, he can immediately utilize them.
With this list, Ye Zhen can quickly gain control over the regions patrolled by the Second Route Patrol Envoy and swiftly operationalize the entire Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy.
Therefore, upon hearing Ye Zhen’s request, Official Chii Jingshan hurriedly said, “These are all controlled by the late Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy Wangg Ling. With Wangg Ling’s death, our West Patrol Office is also unaware of their details!”
With this statement, Chii Jingshan completely shirked the responsibility for the crucial list!