Xuanqing Guard-Chapter 76: Scent

Fengri City, East City Tavern.

Today was a rare rest day—all the officials in the Government Office, except for those required to stay behind, could finally relax and enjoy some free time.

As the department responsible for all population affairs within Fengri City’s jurisdiction of forty-three cities, the Population Department rarely enjoyed a day of collective rest like this.

And today was the appreciation banquet arranged by Chief Officer Zhan Wenlin.

Ten days ago, Zhan Wenlin’s mother-in-law passed away back in her hometown. Many people in the Government Office heard the news, and both his superiors and colleagues made time to visit, offer their condolences, and burn incense for the deceased.

This is a local custom in Jingxi, where one must host a thank-you banquet for the guests, usually within a month after the burial.

The superior’s appreciation banquet was held yesterday with just a single table, which was sufficient. But today Zhan Wenlin prepared two tables, all filled with colleagues from the Population Department.

"Sir, Zhao Chongwu said he wasn’t feeling well today, so he left early. You hadn’t returned to the Public Office before, so he asked me to apologize to you on his behalf."

Zhan Wenlin held the rank of Senior Sixth Grade, so his subordinates addressed him respectfully as "sir."

"Heh heh, Squad Leader Zhao isn’t coming? No matter, I’ll treat him to a drink next time. All of you, have a seat—the food and wine will be served soon."

After some polite exchanges, everyone in the private room tacitly took their seats according to status—two tables, seventeen people in all.

Zhan Wenlin sat at the head of the main table, flanked by Deputy Yang Kaishi to his left and Squad Leader Wang Da to his right. Just now, it was Wang Da who had apologized on behalf of the other squad leader, Zhao Chongwu.

"My elder recently passed, and my family cherishes the goodwill shown by everyone. I’ve prepared a humble banquet as a token of thanks. Allow me to offer the first toast!" Zhan Wenlin raised his cup, downed the wine in one gulp, and set the example. Their cups were small, a single cup holding five qian of wine.

After Zhan Wenlin made his toast, the rest rose as well, each lifting their cup and drinking in turn. Soon, the atmosphere in the room grew lively.

Unlike the other departments in the Government Office, the Population Department had only administrative and not direct enforcement power. Thus, it wasn’t a lucrative place—instead, it was considered rather "clean." However, perhaps because it was "clean water," those serving within were much more straightforward and unencumbered by tangled interests. In most circumstances, they handled things with an even temper.

With the wine flowing, conversation loosened. As tomorrow was also a rest day, no one worried about drinking too much and making mistakes; instead, with the drink’s encouragement, they touched on sensitive topics rarely mentioned during regular days.

"There’s been a lot of news about the Black Banner Battalion lately. Have you all heard?"

"Of course. I bet things are upside down in the Xuanqing Guard now. Every Small Banner Officer and above just got bumped up half a rank out of nowhere—how many will be jealous of that?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"And that’s not all. The Black Banner Battalion might be set up within the Xuanqing Guard, but they’ve made a clear distinction between ’internal’ and ’external’ jurisdictions. If you ask me, the Black Banner Battalion is like a Xuanqing Guard within the Xuanqing Guard."

"Ha! Well put—a Xuanqing Guard within the Xuanqing Guard! Exquisite! Let’s drink to that!"

"Also, have you heard? The Black Banner Battalion in Li City, which has been made a model recently, has really been in the limelight. They set up some kind of cabinet where anyone can submit petitions directly, and the reports go straight to the Black Banner Camp Commander! Isn’t that overstepping their authority a bit?"

"Shh! Watch what you say! Best not to talk about such things. And it’s not called a petition—it’s a ’report letter.’ I hear all the aggrieved folks are stuffing letters in, but do I believe their commander really reads each and every one? No, I do not."

The discussion naturally drifted toward the Black Banner Battalion in Li City. It wasn’t just among these men that the Black Banner Battalion was a heated topic; throughout every corner of Fengri City’s jurisdiction—among officials and upper-tier merchants alike—the Li City Black Banner Battalion was the gossip of the day behind closed doors.

"It’s hard to say. But speaking of Commander Shen, I really admire him. Who among you would dare butt heads directly with the Li Family? He not only wiped them out completely, but came through unscathed and even got promoted and wealthy."

Mentioning the Li Family, several people present turned noticeably uneasy and began to sweat. Back when the Li Family spread silver widely among the city’s officials, even the Population Department—a "clean" office rarely visited—received their attention. The men here were all on edge at the time, but in the end, the Black Banner Battalion clearly did not dig too deep; those who had accepted the Li Family’s silver coins were left untouched.

By that reasoning, many officials in Fengri City held the Li City Black Banner Battalion in rather good regard.

"Enough. Best not to discuss the Black Banner Battalion any further; those men aren’t known for being reasonable. Right now, the Black Banner Battalion is front and center—easier to court trouble. Everyone, let’s drink!" Zhan Wenlin smiled as he cut off the growingly boisterous debate. He felt it quite improper to talk so openly about the Xuanqing Guard in the tavern.

Moreover, the tavern runner pouring their wine had been in the room the entire time. Discussing so many sensitive matters before an outsider—hardly wise.

"Yes, sir, let’s drink!"

"That’s right, drink!"

"I propose we play a drinking game—one poem each. If you can’t come up with one or run out of time, you drink three cups as penalty. How about it?"

"Good!"

The crowd heartily agreed. Playing poetry drinking games was quite popular in many places; suddenly, the private room was ablaze with excitement, as lines of poetry—some fine, some poor—poured forth. Those with modest tolerance soon grew red-faced from the wine.

"Waiter, bring up two more jars of wine." Seeing the jars running low, Zhan Wenlin instructed the runner in attendance to fetch more.

"Yes, sir."

The drinking went deep into the night. Only then did the drunken officials from the Population Department wobble shoulder to shoulder out from the tavern, their faces flushed and swaying unsteadily as they walked.

Zhan Wenlin and Yang Kaishi both had family servants drive up to fetch them—these had been waiting by the door for quite some time. The others could only stumble home together; a few who were especially tipsy muttered about heading to a Flower House for a different style of entertainment.

...

No sooner had these drunken officials left than the very tavern runner who’d waited on them slipped out the back door, hurrying into a dark alleyway.

Standing at a corner in the alley was a burly man.

"Brother Feilong."

"Well? Did you find anything?"

"I did! Following your instructions, I sniffed each one closely while serving wine. Of the seventeen, five definitely carried distinct scents of General Spirit Stone—some strong, some faint."

"Five? Are you sure?"

"Of course! Brother Feilong, you know my nose is famous for its sensitivity. I even own a Hundred Beauty Disc, so I know the scent of General Spirit Stone by heart. The aroma lingers for three to five days if it gets on you; bathing and changing clothes won’t help. Ordinary people can’t smell it, but I can—no mistake!"

"Who are they?"

"Chief Officer Zhan Wenlin, Deputy Yang Kaishi, a squad leader named—right, Wang Da; then a Cheng Xu, and a Wang Jingci."

...