inspire-indiana Chapter 44 Zhenwu Guard, 3 Armies and 3 Guards
Chapter 44 Zhenwu Guard, 3 Armies and 3 Guards
Zhang Yuan suppressed the turmoil in his heart caused by the hidden pattern on Wang Wei's cuff, and remained calm on the surface. He simply clasped his hands respectfully to Wang Wei again and said, "Chief镖头 (Chief Escort) are too kind. Qingyang is always at your service. Thank you for your help today. Farewell."
He said no more and turned to walk toward Chen Wenyuan's carriage.
Wang Wei chuckled as he watched his retreating figure.
Since his mount had been killed, Chen Wenyuan invited Zhang Yuan to ride with him.
Zheng Chaoyang displayed formidable strength, attracting everyone's attention. He did not ride the black-maned horse but sat in the carriage as well.
The wheels rolled, crushing the muddy post-war land, heading towards Fengming County.
The air inside the carriage was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, but it couldn't mask the faint smell of blood and gunpowder emanating from the three people.
Zhang Yuan leaned against the car wall, seemingly resting with his eyes closed, but his mind was churning like boiling water.
The fleeting glimpse of the character "镇" (zhen, meaning town/suppress) on Wang Wei's cuff was etched into his mind like a brand.
"Zhenwu Guard..."
He was silent.
This name, which Chen Wenyuan described as a pillar of the Great Yu Dynasty, combined with the Black Scale Army on the battlefield today, which crushed all resistance like a black torrent.
And Wang Wei's seemingly incomprehensible demeanor as a镖头 (bodyguard/escort), a fragment of memory about the internal structure of Zhenwu Guard, emerged from Chen Wenyuan's usual scattered guidance.
According to the teacher, the Great Yu Town Martial Guard is a vast and complex system with immense power.
Its structure is divided into two lines, one light and one dark, which are interdependent and together maintain the crumbling order of the dynasty.
The visible line represents the three armies.
The Blackscale Army is the iron cavalry we see today, clad in black scale armor and exuding a chilling aura.
They were like sharp blades drawn from their sheaths, dedicated to suppressing local rebellions and eliminating bandits and outlaws.
They are "cleaners" who move between the martial arts world and local forces, carrying out bloody purges with absolute force.
Where the black scales pass, not a blade of grass remains.
The Xuanjia Army was stationed in Yujing and key prefectures, guarding the central government like a rock.
They were not only a shield for the imperial city, but also a sword hanging over the heads of powerful local governors and aristocratic families, responsible for intimidating the court and suppressing any forces that dared to openly challenge the authority of the court.
Its very existence is a form of invisible deterrence.
The Crimson Flame Army, as its name suggests, is a blazing fire burning on the frontier.
They fought bloody battles with the Southern Zhao, Northern Qi, and various foreign enemies for many years, making them the strongest shield and the sharpest spear of the Great Yu on its borders.
They used their flesh and blood to resist foreign aggression and maintain the fragile balance of the Three Kingdoms.
Zhenwu Guard has three visible armies, while its hidden forces consist of three secret guards hidden underground, whose methods are even more mysterious and unpredictable.
The Heavenly Guard is like an invisible net, deeply embedded among the court officials, powerful families, and noble clans.
They were ubiquitous, specializing in monitoring the court's movements, collecting the secrets of officials, and uncovering plots of rebellion. They were the emperor's eyes and ears, hidden deep behind the ranks of his officials.
The Earth Network Guards are densely distributed throughout the martial arts world, the streets and alleys, and the sects and gangs.
They take on countless forms, from tavern owners to laborers and merchants to bodyguards and doctors, weaving a massive underground intelligence network that covers the entire martial arts world.
They monitored any martial arts forces or unusual activities among the common people that might threaten the stability of the imperial court, and also bore the heavy responsibility of spying on the martial arts intelligence of enemy countries.
The Shadowless Guards are the most mysterious and terrifying.
They are daggers in the darkness, specializing in assassination.
Whether it's a general from an enemy country, a rebel leader, a powerful figure in the martial arts world, or a target deemed necessary to be eliminated by the imperial court.
As long as the Zhenwu Guard's higher-ups give the order, the Shadowless Guard will be like a persistent, intractable disease, relentless until the very end.
They are the sharpest claws of Zhenwuwei, carrying out the dirtiest tasks.
These six forces, both overt and covert, constitute the vast and rigorous system of Zhenwu Guard, whose tentacles extend into every corner of the Great Yu and even the intersection of the Three Kingdoms.
Compared to the "Jinyiwei" of Southern Zhao, which specializes in infiltration and surveillance, and the "Jiange" of Northern Qi, which advocates extreme martial prowess and is full of sword cultivators, the Zhenwuwei system of Great Yu is undoubtedly more complex and comprehensive.
This also better reflects the current chaotic situation of Dayu, which is beset by internal and external troubles and local separatism.
It is both a vital national asset and a sword hanging over the heads of countless people.
"Wang Wei, Chief Escort of Weiyuan Escort Agency..."
In Zhang Yuan's mind, the image of that man with a warm smile, who precisely thwarted Chen Wenyuan's attempt to recruit him at a crucial moment, and whose sleeves concealed the Zhenwu Guard's markings, flashed through his mind once more.
"The Blackscale Army has already shown up today, so he is clearly not them. The Xuanjia and Chiyan factions both have their fixed duties and territories, so they are unlikely to be so secretive and disguised."
"So... the Heavenly Net Guard monitors the imperial court, and the Earthly Net Guard monitors the martial arts world..."
With this thought in mind, Zhang Yuan had a clear guess.
This person is very likely a member of the "Ground Network Guard"!
Using the escort agency as a perfect cover, they moved among the Jianghu forces in Fengming County and the surrounding areas, monitoring the movements of local gangs and gathering intelligence.
And at crucial moments, like today, ensure that the threat of local defeated troops is completely eliminated, rather than being absorbed and strengthened by local forces.
Zhang Yuan had no intention of asking Chen Wenyuan or Zheng Chaoyang.
The internal affairs of Zhenwu Guard, especially those involving the identities of secret guards, were not something an eight-year-old child should be curiously inquiring about.
Pointing it out rashly could not only arouse suspicion, but also disrupt a delicate balance.
He simply buried this speculation deep in his heart, like hiding a crucial piece in a game of chess.
In the future, as I travel in Fengming County and even further afield, my understanding of this identity may bring unexpected turning points.
Wang Wei's apparent interest in him might be something that could be taken advantage of.
After a brief silence in the carriage, Chen Wenyuan's voice broke the tranquility, carrying a profound understanding of the world.
"These defeated soldiers today were originally a part of the 'Black Wind Army' from the northern frontier. Their commander was greedy for merit and advanced recklessly, falling into the Northern Qi's ambush, resulting in the complete defeat of the army."
"They were recruited as soldiers by the neighboring Pingyang Prefecture, but later mutinied and scattered..."
"That Liu Heita is just a centurion, yet he dares to amass troops and wreak havoc on the local area."
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming grave, "Qingyang, do you know why these defeated soldiers could cause such unrest in several counties?"
Zhang Yuan opened his mouth, but did not answer.
This is not an answer a child of eight years old should be able to give.
Although he guessed that this was a turmoil in the world, that the Zhenwu Guard was deliberately indulging it, that it was a clash between martial arts, immortal arts, and even demonic forces...
Prosperity brings suffering to the people.
When the country falls, the people suffer.
It's not that ordinary people have it hard, but rather that the weak in this world have always been like ants.
Seeing Zhang Yuan remain silent, Chen Wenyuan gently shook his head: "Not only because of his ferocity, but also because the world is no longer a place where the imperial court's word is law."
Zhang Yuan listened intently, knowing that his teacher was about to reveal a deeper picture of the world to him.
"The twenty-one prefectures of the Great Yu Dynasty, though seemingly vast, were in reality so that the emperor's majesty could not be extended beyond the capital."
"Local governors, powerful clans, influential martial arts families, and even some local strongmen all wielded military power and recruited numerous retainers, effectively turning themselves into states within a state."
"What they rely on is nothing more than having powerful experts at the Profound Realm or even higher!"
Indeed, this is a world where the strong rule.
Even emperors cannot restrain true power.
A sharp glint flashed in Chen Wenyuan's eyes.
He took a deep breath and clenched his fists inside his wide sleeves.
"For example, Li Wujiu, the 'Crimson Flame Blade' of the Southern Frontier, is at the peak of the Vajra Realm. He guards the Southern Prefecture with only his blade. Any imperial decrees that want to enter the Southern Prefecture must first pass through him!"
"For example, Han Qianxue, the sect leader of the 'Ice Soul Sect' in the North, is a powerful expert at the Dragon Elephant Realm. Her sect's influence is deeply rooted and far exceeds that of the prefecture."
"Even more so, there is the King of Xiliang, Yuwen Tuo, who is said to have reached the realm of enlightenment. He controls three prefectures and has countless elite troops and generals under his command. As for Yujing City... hehe, he only pays homage to it on the surface."