Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 611 - 611 610 Many Turtles in a Shallow Pond

611: Chapter 610: Many Turtles in a Shallow Pond 611: Chapter 610: Many Turtles in a Shallow Pond Hou Niao’s first order of business upon arriving at the Capital Commandant’s mansion was to get a close understanding of his future subordinates, starting with Su Lingyun.

Having ascended to a higher position, one couldn’t just charge into battle bare-chested, barking orders and calling for attacks at every turn; this too was an aspect of cultivation.

“I won’t stay here for too long, Zhongqing City is but a pitstop in my life, not the destination; if Brother Su knows even a little about me, he should understand that my words are not false.”

Hou Niao genuinely wanted to win people over with virtue.

He didn’t want to waste too much time on internal strife, nor did he want to rely excessively on forces from outside Pingliang State, such as the Lizhi Sea Pirate Group or the part of the possessed sword cultivators under Yu Zhengxing’s command.

Relying on these people, he could perhaps achieve his goals swiftly, but what would happen after he left?

Would he just allow things to slowly revert to their old state?

He was well aware of the reason Li Chuping had sent him here; it wasn’t just to play whack-a-mole, treating the head when the head ached and the foot when the foot hurt, but to eradicate the problem at its root.

Since the root of the problem had to be addressed, Hou Niao could only depend on those currently in the Capital Commandant’s mansion, for only they might remain here indefinitely and implement long-term plans, rather than turning the place into a superficial project.

Su Lingyun remained silent.

He wasn’t a three-year-old child who would be easily swayed by promises.

Of course, he wouldn’t reject them either.

He was waiting to see Hou Niao’s actions, which would be the basis for determining his own direction.

Hou Niao continued, “I won’t strip you of your personnel authority, but I will hold the power of action; you pick the people, but if things go awry, I will look to you.

Brother, are you confident?”

Su Lingyun was an old hand in the cultivation political sphere, slick and smooth, but lacking boldness, spending years in various state Capital Commandant’s mansions without making waves.

Because his cultivation was not slow, he managed to rise from a mere Criminal Investigation officer to a position where he could now lead on his own.

But to truly stand on his own, he had yet to prove himself, so even if his realm was sufficient, he had the connections, and had people in Jade Capital speaking for him, to truly establish his authority, there was still something missing, something that didn’t quite inspire others’ trust.

However, this man was also unbuyable, because, like other cultivators who have held posts in different places, he shared a common trait: they were slippery and never left any openings, at most being accused of insufficient ability, a lack of courage, and a tendency to coast along, simply going with the flow.

Su Lingyun nodded, “If there’s a problem with personnel, it’s my responsibility; if there’s a problem with action, you take charge.”

Hou Niao had grasped the key point; for someone like Su Lingyun, what mattered most was his own power, especially personnel powers, which is the sweetest part of the poison that is authority.

Hou Niao didn’t need this kind of power because, in his view, such powers were ludicrous, monstrosities of secularization.

When the Heaven and Earth Chains unravel, such powers become a joke.

There was no need to elaborate; different positions, different perspectives, different ambitions all ensured that they had no common language in this regard.

It was best to just take what each needed; eagles have their skies, and mice have their worlds, there was no need to conquer each other.

He had no interest in assessing each of the dozens of people in the Capital Commandant’s mansion individually; that would be foolish.

Cultivators should have their own way of doing things, named by the Dao, established by the sword.

These petty schemes were useless; in the face of genuine swords and Dao, everything else was illusory.

“There are fifty-seven people in the Capital Commandant’s mansion, yet fifty-three turned out to welcome me; isn’t that ratio a bit too high?

Does everyone here treat this place as an office where they just coast along, waiting for death?

When I was in Jin City, the staff at the Capital Commandant’s mansion never exceeded thirty percent at the mansion, and in Jade Capital’s Sikong Mansion, less than ten percent of the cultivators stayed behind.

Brother, you’ve served in many state mansions, so you surely know I’m speaking truthfully.

How has Zhongqing City’s Capital Commandant’s mansion become a place for retirement?”

Su Lingyun felt embarrassed.

What could he say?

Could he say the garrison command didn’t heed supervision, and the so-called oversight was merely for show, a name without substance?

It wasn’t his fault, after all; the previous Capital Commandant had muddled along just the same, and he simply hadn’t made any changes.

“I want to know what the purpose is behind the staff audit proposed by the Garrison Command and Central Military Command this time.

Don’t try to use the pretext of undisclosed tax revenue as an excuse.

I also want to know just how deeply the Wu Sect has infiltrated Zhongqing City’s cultivation sphere over time?

Who or which forces are merely preserving the traditions of the old Langzhong Country?

And who has ulterior motives?

Even the blind and deaf, after spending enough time here, could figure out quite a bit, let alone cultivators who are all keen of hearing and sight.

Just let them know, whoever satisfies me, I’ll satisfy them; whoever displeases me, I’ll send them to the Northwest to outwit the undead.

I mean what I say.”

Standing up, “Moreover, immediately cease the whole city staff audit control.

In the Shan Sect system, only the Capital Commandant’s mansion under the Sikong System is entitled to such power.

Since when is it the prerogative of those two mansions?”

…In the days that followed, nearly every cultivator in the Capital Commandant’s mansion was instructed to write a comprehensive report on the intricate relationships between the various powers in Zhongqing City, big and small.

At the same time, the Capital Commandant’s Criminal Investigation officers were sent out to forcefully correct any issues with the audit.

The Capital Commandant took his place at the center, eager to see who would dare to criticize or direct the Capital Commandant’s mansion’s actions.

Perhaps even provoke a direct conflict?

But, no one is foolish.

The Garrison Command and Central Military Command dutifully withdrew their prior orders, no longer pursuing the audit, and officially apologized to the Capital Commandant’s mansion, conceding their lack of careful consideration and failure to take discreet actions, accepting their responsibility.

They also invited the Capital Commandant to an evening banquet at Zhongqing City’s largest and most luxurious restaurant, the Langzhong Tower, as a gesture of welcome and to dust off the road.

After this set of skillful moves, full of the spirit of Daoist Sect cultivators with the same modus operandi, they gave face while also giving you a way out, leaving it to you to choose.

“Langzhong Tower?

I seem to recall seeing it in midair, a middle-sky tower, divided into three floors, all reserved by the two commands – that’s quite the gesture.”

Su Lingyun sighed in his heart, rightly concluding that people always tailor their treatment based on who you are.

Ever since he took over as the acting Capital Commandant, the local cultivation powers had never shown him such respect.

It was merely a simple congratulatory note, light and weightless gifts, some casual words of congratulations…

and that was it.

Clearly, these people were not unfamiliar with the structure of the Shan Sect.

They knew very well that a Sword Master who had parachuted down from Jade Capital was far more important than someone like him, who had drifted from post to post across various states.

“Not only is Langzhong Tower the largest restaurant in Zhongqing City, but it is also the largest building, ingeniously designed and capable of accommodating a thousand people.

Those attending the welcome banquet will not only include cultivators from the three commands but also nearly a thousand influential figures from all walks of life within the city.

To be honest, Zhongqing City hasn’t seen such a large gathering in a long time.

It’s only because the Capital Commandant has come; not just anyone would receive such respect.”