Promise

The air in the council hall froze.

The subtext of these words could not be any clearer: if the Grand Secretariat did not contribute personnel, they shouldn't expect a share of the spoils.

If it were any other official, they wouldn't even have the right to bargain, let alone bypass the chain of command to report directly to the top.

No matter how prestigious the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was, he was ultimately just an official of the Six Ministries, while the Grand Secretariat was the central hub above them all.

According to the rules, all memorials and documents had to be submitted to the Grand Secretariat for review first, and then presented to the Emperor by the Grand Secretariat.

This was an ironclad rule.

But unfortunately, the person sitting here right now was Gu Chengyin.

He was truly capable of delivering his memorials directly to Emperor Luo's desk.

He might not even need to go through Luo Zhao.

A complex gleam flashed across Cui Shifan's eyes. He looked at Hu Juzheng in the left seat and suddenly asked, "Juzheng, I remember the Qingjian Sect is in Hongnong Commandery, right?"

The question was abrupt and seemed completely unrelated to their previous topic.

But Hu Juzheng instantly understood Cui Shifan's intention and slowly nodded. "Exactly. In Qingjian City of Hongnong Commandery. The Qingjian Sect is located on Qingjian Mountain, thirty miles outside the city."

Cui Shifan continued, "Let's do this, Juzheng. Communicate with the Ministry of War and have the local garrisons along the way take turns escorting them."

Gu Chengyin's heart stirred.

A deployment order from the Ministry of War, with local garrisons taking turns to escort them along the way—this was solid military support.

Although their combat power might not match a Golden Core cultivator, the army represented the majesty of the imperial court and the power of the state.

With the army escorting them along the way, any immortal cultivation sects that wanted to make a move would have to carefully weigh whether they truly wanted an all-out war with the Great Luo.

Hu Juzheng nodded to show his understanding. "I will personally go and communicate with the Ministry of War."

The Ministry of War held a special status. Although it was under the jurisdiction of the Grand Secretariat, the military power ultimately rested in the hands of Emperor Luo.

And while the Minister of War nominally answered to the Grand Secretariat, he basically only listened to Emperor Luo.

To mobilize troops, a Grand Secretary often had to personally communicate and report to Emperor Luo for approval before any action could be taken.

Cui Shifan looked at Gu Chengyin again. Before he even had time to speak, Gu Chengyin decisively chimed in:

"Then again, His Majesty is busy with state affairs every day and cares for the whole world. If we bother him with every little thing, it would be a failure on our part as subjects."

"After much thought, this junior feels it is better to submit it to the Grand Secretariat first."

His face changed faster than flipping the page of a book, leaving even Cui Shifan momentarily at a loss for words.

He opened his mouth, eventually shaking his head in exasperation. "Junior Preceptor Gu, you know the situation with the Ministry of War."

"Ultimately, it still depends on His Majesty's approval. If His Majesty does not approve, the Grand Secretariat has no authority to mobilize troops."

This was the truth.

The military power of the Great Luo was highly concentrated in Emperor Luo's hands. Although having local garrisons take turns escorting them wasn't a large-scale troop mobilization, it still required an official dispatch from the Ministry of War.

And for any dispatch from the Ministry of War, there had to be an explicit decree from Emperor Luo.

Gu Chengyin naturally understood this logic, but his eyes darted around, and he said with a beaming smile:

"That is natural. However, Grand Secretary Cui, I heard... the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate also have quite a few experts, right?"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the council hall changed once more.

Cui Shifan was speechless.

He couldn't help but massage his forehead, feeling his temples throbbing.

This Gu Chengyin really seized every single opportunity and climbed every pole he saw.

After fleecing the Ministry of War, he immediately turned his sights on the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate.

"The Ministry of Justice and the Censorate certainly have experts," Cui Shifan said helplessly. "But what does that have to do with the Ministry of Rites' inspection tour?"

His words made sense. The Ministry of Justice was in charge of judicial affairs and prisons, while the Censorate was in charge of supervising all officials. Neither had anything to do with the Ministry of Rites inspecting cultivation sects.

But Gu Chengyin put on a serious face, straightened his back, and spoke with righteous indignation:

"Grand Secretary, you can't say that!"

"Although the targets of the Ministry of Rites' inspection are immortal cultivation sects, these sects are also on the land of our Great Luo!"

"Since they are on the land of the Great Luo, they are the subjects of our Great Luo!"

"Since they are subjects of our Great Luo, they must abide by the laws of our Great Luo!"

A series of parallel sentences, delivered with immense momentum.

"Since they fall within the scope of the Great Luo's laws," Gu Chengyin continued, "then it is perfectly reasonable for the Ministry of Justice to send people on a trip to see if these sects have committed any crimes, or if they have oppressed the common people, set up private tribunals, and so on!"

Gu Chengyin spoke with such self-assurance, as if it would be a dereliction of duty for the Ministry of Justice not to investigate.

Cui Shifan was momentarily speechless.

Hu Juzheng and Yuan Zhengqing's faces stiffened.

Even Shangguan Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, couldn't help but open his eyes to look at Gu Chengyin, as if to say: That works too?

Gu Chengyin continued, "As for the Censorate..."

He looked at Yuan Zhengqing in the right seat, a wide smile piling onto his face:

"According to custom, they inspect the officials of various commanderies and cities every month to monitor local governance."

"And this junior heard that the Censorate's next inspection target just so happens to be Qingjian City in Hongnong Commandery."

Gu Chengyin dragged out his final syllables, then slapped his thigh and said in an exaggerated tone:

"What a coincidence! Since we are all going there, why not travel together? It would also save expenses for the imperial court."

"Don't you agree, Grand Secretary Yuan?"

This "Grand Secretary Yuan" was called out with extreme affection, as if the two were old friends of many years.

Hearing Gu Chengyin call out to him, the smile on Yuan Zhengqing's face became somewhat forced.

He glanced at Gu Chengyin, then at Lin Qingyan, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, his mind racing.

The Censorate indeed had an inspection plan; this was decided long ago.

But as for the specific itinerary... they really hadn't decided that the next stop would be Qingjian City.

But since Gu Chengyin had said so, he was clearly dragging the Censorate into the mud with him.

Yuan Zhengqing remained silent for a moment, ultimately sighing with a hint of helplessness in his tone:

"The Censorate indeed has an inspection plan, but the specific itinerary... is still being drafted."

He glanced at Cui Shifan and Hu Juzheng, and seeing that neither intended to object, he continued:

"However, if we can coincidentally travel together, it would indeed save expenses for the imperial court."

"Carriages, guards, clerks, and the like can all be shared. It truly kills two birds with one stone."

These words were spoken very diplomatically.

"That's wonderful!" Gu Chengyin immediately took advantage of the situation. "Grand Secretary Yuan is deeply principled. This junior is full of admiration."

Saying that, he looked at Cui Shifan again, his eyes eager:

"Grand Secretary Cui, regarding the Ministry of Justice..."

Cui Shifan took a deep breath, feeling that today's Grand Secretariat meeting was even more exhausting than reporting to Emperor Luo.

He looked at Hu Juzheng, then at Yuan Zhengqing, and finally said slowly:

"As for the Ministry of Justice... Juzheng, you can communicate with them as well."

This was an agreement.

At this point, Gu Chengyin's goals for this trip to the Grand Secretariat were basically all achieved.

Logically speaking, everything that needed to be discussed had been discussed.

The Grand Secretaries exchanged glances and prepared to stand up and leave. Government affairs were busy, and everyone had a pile of tasks to handle.

But when they stood up, they found that Gu Chengyin was still sitting firmly in his seat, showing no intention of leaving.

He even picked up the teacup at hand and took a slow, unhurried sip, his posture as leisurely as if he were in his own study.