Chapter 216 Promoted to Assistant Commissioner
Xiao Wuji had made himself very clear.
He wanted to promote Cheng Yu, but there were no vacancies left in the Jinyiwei.
Once one reached the position of Assistant Commissioner and above, every level had a limited number of posts. If one person went up, another had to come down.
The expression on Lu Zhi’s face instantly stiffened, as though he had eaten something filthy.
Although the Jinyiwei was under the control of his Lu Family, it was still far from becoming his one-man domain.
Xiao Wuji was the one who truly decided everything.
If he wanted Cheng Yu to rise, then someone had to come down and vacate a position. If no other unrelated people were to be dragged into this.
The only choices left were Lu Zhi and his son, who had made mistakes.
If that happened.
After all of Lu Zhi’s maneuvering, he would be punished, his son would be heavily injured, and in the end, he would still have to make room for Cheng Yu.
This was truly too much of a loss!
He gritted his teeth and ultimately decided to try persuading Xiao Wuji.
“Commandant Cheng has rendered outstanding merit and naturally deserves a reward. However, this humble subject believes that with the world in turmoil, stability should be sought. Given his relationship with the Jianghu, I fear Elder Grand Secretary Qi and the others will not agree...”
“Moreover, he has already been promoted several ranks in just a few short months. This is something that has never happened since the founding of the dynasty. Is it not somewhat against the rules?”
These words were actually not entirely selfish. They also contained consideration for the Great Qian Court.
Cheng Yu was an extremely sharp blade. If used well, he could make the world tremble and compel all to submit, but the price behind that also had to be borne.
His relationship with the Jianghu was truly too poor!
When he was in Jiangnan, he had raided and destroyed Jianghu forces and slaughtered Jianghu martial artists, causing the Jianghu people under heaven to hate him to the bone.
If Xiao Wuji promoted Cheng Yu too urgently, it would convey a hostile attitude toward the Jianghu.
It would not only be unfavorable to the stability of the general situation, but people in the court such as Qi Han would also oppose it.
Xiao Wuji immediately raised his brows, revealing a displeased expression.
This Commander, Lu Zhi, did not seem very obedient. He actually wanted to teach him, the Emperor, how to handle matters.
“I have considered all of what you said. However, I would like to ask you one question in return. Is this Great Qian my Great Qian, or the Jianghu’s Great Qian?”
Lu Zhi widened his eyes and immediately kowtowed in panic. “Of course it is Yours, Your Majesty!”
“Then what does my choice of whom to use have to do with them?!”
Xiao Wuji shouted coldly.
Looking at the other party’s disloyal appearance, he had already made up his mind to place Cheng Yu in an important position.
The state of the world looked stable on the surface. In reality, undercurrents were surging. The strength of the Jianghu side would only grow larger and larger, and if this were delayed any longer, there would be no good result.
He had to use Cheng Yu, this fierce medicine, to carve out a bloody path!
“As for your claim that it is against the rules, I must ask you another question. You people have guarded the rules for twenty years, but have you ever rendered even one merit like destroying Sword-Forging Manor to save my people, or suppressing Prince Qing’s Remnants to raise national prestige?”
“N-no...”
“Today, Cheng Yu also uprooted Duke Dingguo. The merits that you rule-abiding people could not achieve in decades, he has rendered three times in succession. Are you even qualified to mention rules?”
“This subject is guilty!”
Lu Zhi had not expected His Majesty to be this determined, and he buried his head deeply against the ground.
Xiao Wuji’s attitude was very clear.
Cheng Yu’s merits had already completely exceeded the expectations of these so-called rules.
How could rotten rules be used to consider him?
Under Lu Zhi’s incomparably fearful gaze, Xiao Wuji bent down and picked up the Dragon-Patterned Xiuchun Saber from the ground, but he did not return it to Lu Zhi.
“I have already made my decision. Beloved Subject Lu, you are temporarily unsuited to command the Jinyiwei. You may as well remain by my side and take charge of the palace Shadow Guards. The position of Commander will be temporarily managed by Beloved Subject Fang Xiaolin for a period of time...”
“Lu Ming is heavily injured, so it would not be proper for me to trouble him further. He should properly recover from his wounds. As for the position of Deputy Commander he vacated, Ai Peng will fill it. Cheng Yu will be promoted to Assistant Commissioner.”
Lu Zhi only felt his Dao Heart become unstable, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He had taken risks and worked painstakingly for so long, paying such a heavy price. Yet he had never expected the result to be that both father and son were almost stripped to the bottom.
“This humble subject... thanks Your Majesty for your great grace...”
...
The Jinyiwei Command Office.
A group of Jinyiwei gathered outside the main hall where discussions were taking place. Every one of them had fallen into utter shock.
Only now did they learn.
Duke Dingguo had colluded with Prince Chu. A dignified Duke had colluded with a person who had already practically been defined as a rebel.
This was a grave crime of rebellion!
Although Great Qian’s power had weakened, the Great Qian Capital had at least long been peaceful and rarely seen disturbances. It had been many years since such a major case had appeared.
What terrified them even more was this.
The Jinyiwei had clearly uncovered such a case, but the role they played in the matter did not look good at all.
Lu Zhi had handled matters poorly, Lu Ming had suffered severe injuries, and the Lu Family had lost enormous face. Even the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Jinyiwei had been stripped away.
The entire structure of the Great Qian Jinyiwei had undergone stormy upheaval in this moment.
The Lu Family was no longer dominant alone, because an incomparably dazzling new star had appeared: Cheng Yu.
Young and promising, he had repeatedly rendered great merit.
This time, he had personally pursued and arrested Duke Dingguo, allowing the Great Qian Emperor to properly vent his anger.
As for the handling of this matter.
The Jinyiwei only knew that, as punishment, Lu Zhi would leave the position of Commander-in-Chief and remain as a guard in the palace.
Meanwhile, Lu Ming’s injuries were extremely severe, and he could no longer continue serving as Deputy Commander.
Exactly how the personnel would be changed concerned whether every Jinyiwei’s future days would be easy or difficult.
“I wonder which lord will temporarily take the position of Commander, and how the vacancies of Deputy Commander and Assistant Commissioner will be filled?”
“Judging from seniority and status, it must be Assistant Commissioner Zhang Fen who fills the position. The two brothers occupying both Deputy Commander positions together would be unprecedented!”
“I do not think so. When Ning Dingyuan, that rebel, raided the prison, he watched helplessly as the man left!”
Amid the discussion.
The doors of the meeting hall opened, and the Jinyiwei higher-ups walked out with Fang Xiaolin at their head.
When the Jinyiwei saw this, their eyes widened, and they were somewhat shocked. So it was Lord Fang who would temporarily act as Commander.
Fang Xiaolin was famous for handling matters strictly and seriously, and his requirements for his subordinates were extremely high.
If he managed the Jinyiwei, then everyone’s good days of indulgence and revelry would be gone.
Fang Xiaolin swept his eyes over the Jinyiwei. Wherever his gaze passed, everyone avoided looking at him.
“You have time to come watch the excitement. Are you all very idle? If you are this idle, why not arrange for you to go into the Jianghu and gather intelligence?”
As soon as these words came out.
The Jinyiwei lowered their heads and scattered on their own. Working as spies and dealing with Jianghu people was a job with the highest casualty rate!
“Hmph. A group of gutless wastes.”
Fang Xiaolin became even more displeased. He shook his head and left with his hands behind his back.
The Jinyiwei gathered again. Some of the people under the Zhang Brothers ran up to Zhang Fen.
“Greetings, Lord Zhang. Was it you who filled the Deputy Commander position?”
“Get lost! Do not annoy me!”
Zhang Fen was already unhappy, and when he heard this, he cursed loudly, flung his sleeve, and left in anger.
Was it not Zhang Fen?
Doubt rose in the Jinyiwei’s hearts. Then who had been promoted to Deputy Commander?
At this moment.
Cheng Yu’s figure appeared. The silver identity token at his waist swayed back and forth.
This represented the rank of Assistant Commissioner!
He had been promoted again!
He had risen several ranks in just one short month!
The Jinyiwei hurriedly made way, with none of the dissatisfaction toward Cheng Yu that they had shown before. Their faces were filled with awe.
This lord was far too domineering. He simply could not be provoked!
He could even slaughter a Duke at the Ninth-Rank Realm!