CHAPTER 428: 336. SMOKE GRENADE

Beneath the triple eaves of the Bell and Drum Tower, the Bell and Drum Officer watched the hourglass nearing its end, holding a vermillion pen while standing next to the desk, his eyes fixed steadily on the hourglass.

As the last drop of water in the hourglass fell, he circled ’Mao Time’ in the Day and Night Book with the vermillion pen, while two other Bell and Drum Officers lifted a giant wooden hammer, striking the 8,000-pound copper bell.

Dong.

The sound waves of the copper bell surged outward like an iron plow, marking the start of the day.

Chen Ji walked through the gate, and seeing him enter, Li Xuan inquired on the training field, "What important thing did you forget that you had to go back for it?"

Chen Ji replied, "I forgot the silver."

Qi Zhenzhuo, while fastening his arm armor, sighed and said, "Master, you should have told me earlier. I could have lent you some, and you wouldn’t have needed to return specifically for it."

Chen Ji explained with a smile, "I don’t like owing favors, fetching it isn’t much trouble."

Li Xuan, concerned, asked, "You didn’t run into any serious trouble, did you? If there’s a problem, you can tell us, and we can all put our heads together to help."

Chen Ji felt a chill in his heart, realizing that Li Xuan, with his keen senses surpassing the average soldier, had noticed something off when he left earlier.

He shook his head, "No problem, we’ve just been promoted, what could possibly go wrong? I’m going to get armored."

Worried about saying too much and revealing flaws, Chen Ji entered the Yulin Army Commander’s Mansion before Qi Zhenzhuo could speak again, signed, and collected his silver armor from the armory.

When he returned, Li Xuan was watching the Yulin Army lined up on the field, now reduced to 241 men, a far cry from the peak of 5,000 troops.

The recently promoted Yulin Army members were radiant, their silver armor polished bright, and their helmets adorned with fresh, white pheasant tails.

Common Household leaders wore a single long white pheasant tail on top of their helmets, Household leaders wore one long and one short pheasant tail, Commanders wore one long and two short pheasant tails, and Li Xuan’s helmet now featured a unique white tassel.

In contrast, the demoted Yulin Army soldiers appeared downtrodden, their helmets stripped of the white pheasant tails, allowed to wear them only for major ceremonial occasions, for uniformity’s sake.

Qi Zhenzhuo happily touched the white pheasant tail on his head.

Chen Ji’s thoughts were elsewhere; he joined the ranks, contemplating how to deliver the wooden case to the Huitong Hall secretary.

The simplest way, theoretically, was to let Jin Zhu do it.

Jin Zhu was aware of his previous acts of breaking the inner prison and bombing Yun Yang Jiao Tu; they were on the same side now. If something happened to him, Jin Zhu’s official door would be without hope, so there was no fear of betrayal from Jin Zhu before reaching the Seeking Dao Realm.

But this was a loyalty test by Si Caogui. If the Military Intelligence Department discovered his identity within the Spy Department, there might be complications.

He must deliver it himself.

At this point, Li Xuan addressed the crowd slowly, "From today onward, as Commander, I’ll be in charge of the Yulin Army. No one is to miss their duties without reason, and daily training..."

Before he could finish, a middle-aged man with a stately gait entered through the gate.

The man had a square face with sharp features, dressed in a blue official robe adorned with a bear and leopard patch on the chest, a golden lychee leather belt around his waist, and black satin boots—a fifth-rank military officer.

Considering his imperial-granted golden lychee belt, he was a formidable figure, having accomplished significant feats and received accolades before the Emperor.

As he walked past the ranks of the Yulin Army, his sharp gaze swept across them like a sharp blade scraping across each face.

He saluted Li Xuan with clenched fists, "This humble official, Wu Xuange, greets Lord Li."

Li Xuan, steady and composed, said, "I’ve long heard of Wu Daren’s great reputation in the Longevity Army, no need for formalities."

"I wouldn’t dare," Wu Xuange handed a document to Li Xuan, "This is a document from the Ministry of War appointing me as the Yulin Army Commander; from today I will command the Left Brave Guard."

Li Xuan glanced at the document, showing proper respect, "We shall be colleagues from now on. Brother Xuange, please wait a moment, I still have some things to..."

However, Wu Xuange interrupted Li Xuan, saying sternly, "Apologies, Lord Li, since I am here under the Ministry of War’s orders, I must first review my assigned troops."

Not waiting for Li Xuan’s response, he turned and raised another document to the Yulin Army, "Step forward when named, Zhuang Wen!"

The Yulin Army members looked at each other, not knowing whether to step forward.

Wu Xuange sneered, "Can’t even follow orders? You clearly lack discipline and spirit. If nobody else dares to take you in hand, I will. I’ll call again: if you don’t step forward, you can go home to your mothers. Zhuang Wen!"

A soldier stepped out of the ranks, and Wu Xuange strode over, slapping him on both sides of his face, "Did you learn your lesson?"

Zhuang Wen lowered his head, "Yes, sir."

Wu Xuange shouted, "Head up! The Daning Dynasty has no kneeling soldiers!"

Zhuang Wen lifted his head, "Yes, sir!"

Wu Xuange pointed to another person with his document, "Yuan Xi!"

Yuan Xi quickly stepped forward, "Here!"

Under the solemn roll call, Li Xuan’s face darkened.

Chen Ji whispered to Qi Zhenzhuo beside him, "Who is this person?"

Qi Zhenzhuo explained, "He is a household leader with the Longevity Army. In the 21st year of Jianing, he encountered the Jing Dynasty’s Tiger and Leopard Cavalry vanguard outside Chongli Pass. He captured a banner and was commended by Your Majesty, awarded a golden lychee leather belt... The key is, he is Wu Xiu’s cousin. Wu Xiu emerged from the Inner Court and caught the Emperor’s attention partly because of this merit, first becoming the Chief Eunuch and then the Chief Eunuch Bingbi of the Ritual Supervision."

Dobao chimed in, "Wu Xiu’s rise to Chief Eunuch Bingbi wasn’t solely due to Wu Xuange; he also has considerable skill. Furthermore, the Wu family has a Wu Xuanyi, currently serving as the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner’s Transport Commissioner, a third-rank official. Since his appointment four years ago, salt tax revenue has increased by 20%, making him highly valued by the Emperor."