Xia Chen followed Qin Mu, threading slowly through the barracks to the general's tent!
The Feathered Forest Guard formed a segment of the Imperial Guard, with a roster of 3,000 men, led by a Leader of Court Gentlemen—a proper Fourth-Rank position.
Beneath this general were three commandants, each overseeing a thousand guards. Qin Mu, one of these commandants, served as Xia Chen's direct superior.
Below the commandants were the commanders, each managing two companies, totaling two hundred men.
Under the commanders came the brigade commanders, each in charge of a single company. The prior Company A, previously overseen by Zhao Yu, had been the group gambling with word cards in the tent.
Xia Chen had already met Qin Mu. To his surprise, despite being his superior, Qin Mu treated him with considerable courtesy.
A moment's reflection made the reason clear.
"Commandant, sir, may I ask why the Leader of Court Gentlemen has summoned this subordinate?"
Xia Chen stepped closer to Qin Mu, speaking in a low voice.
"I don't know—you'll find out once you're inside!"
Qin Mu shook his head with a smile. "But I'd wager it's nothing major. Today's your first day on duty, and by protocol, you should have come to see the Leader of Court Gentlemen first!"
Qin Mu glanced at Xia Chen, noting his gentle demeanor—devoid of the ferocity he'd shown Zhao Yu—and added a word of explanation.
Xia Chen pondered this. Indeed, he'd overlooked that step. When the gate guard led him in earlier, he'd assumed it was to meet the general, only to be taken straight to the barracks instead.
His eyes narrowed slightly. How could he not see it now? This had all been orchestrated.
As he mulled this over, a soldier emerged from the tall, spacious tent.
"Commander, sir, the general requests your presence!"
Xia Chen nodded, maintaining an air of calm confidence—neither servile nor overbearing—and stepped inside.
Upon entering, he saw a middle-aged general seated within the tent.
"Greetings, General!"
Xia Chen promptly clasped his fists, offering a respectful military salute.
In the barracks, everything hinged on rank; personal backgrounds were a matter for private discussion.
Subordinates were bound to show respect to their superiors—it was a fundamental rule.
Thus, regardless of the circumstances, a subordinate defying a superior was a grave offense in the military. This was precisely why Xia Chen had the authority to banish Zhao Yu outright.
Even if the matter escalated, Zhao Yu would bear the blame.
"No need for such formalities!"
Li Wenzhong said with a hearty chuckle, gesturing for Xia Chen to take a seat and personally pouring him a cup of tea.
"There's no grand reason for calling you here—just wanted to meet you, get acquainted, haha!"
Li Wenzhong carried none of the airs of a superior as he continued.
"We're both sons of martial lineage—practically family. Besides, my clan has deep ties with the Marquis of Zhendong's household. Two hundred years ago, my ancestor marched alongside that generation's Marquis of Zhendong, earning great merit on the battlefield. Serving as a vanguard in the army, he secured a marquisate for our Li family.
"Though that marquisate isn't hereditary, it still earned us a place among the martial elite, which is why I'm able to sit in this Leader of Court Gentlemen's position today. So, if you don't mind, feel free to call me Uncle Li!"
Li Wenzhong looked at Xia Chen, taking the initiative to close the distance between them.
"Uncle Li!"
Xia Chen didn't hesitate, responding with a smile.
Yet inwardly, his mind remained tranquil as he swiftly analyzed the situation. The dossier sent by his Uncle Xia Qián yesterday had included a detailed rundown on Li Wenzhong.
The Li family was indeed part of the martial nobility, but across Dawu's 800-year history, countless martial clans had risen and fallen. Over those centuries, the landscape had shifted dramatically—only three of the original founding martial houses remained intact.
Emperor Wuzong, who reclaimed the realm, could well be considered a second founder of the dynasty. Back then, he'd rewarded innumerable vassals for their contributions.
Yet today, only six of those houses endured; the rest had faded into obscurity. The current backbone of the martial nobility consisted largely of families ennobled within the last one or two centuries through military merit.
The Li family was among them.
However, the Li family's marquisate had long since lapsed. By the time of Li Wenzhong's father's generation, the family had begun its decline. Their fate should have mirrored that of most martial clans—gradually waning until they vanished from the historical stage.
But just as their downfall seemed imminent, a sudden resurgence emerged, like a dying ember flaring back to life. Li Wenzhong rose sharply through the ranks of the Imperial Guard, ascending swiftly to the position of Leader of Court Gentlemen, taking command of the Feathered Forest Guard.
This revival breathed new life into the Li family in recent years, granting them a growing voice within the martial nobility.
"He's the Emperor's man!"
Though Xia Qián's dossier hadn't stated it explicitly, Xia Chen quickly reached this conclusion.
Such a rapid climb within the Imperial Guard could only mean one thing—he had earned the Emperor's favor.
Otherwise, a pivotal role like the head of the Feathered Forest Guard wouldn't be entrusted to just anyone.
"He's so warm toward me—it seems my title as Imperial Son-in-Law isn't as trivial as I thought. In the Imperial Guard especially, this status carries real weight!"
From the various clues, Xia Chen soon grasped why both Qin Mu and Li Wenzhong treated him with such deference.
His lineage from the Marquis of Zhendong's household was one factor, but the true root likely lay in his role as the Imperial Son-in-Law.
If the imperial family were likened to a household, the Imperial Guard was undoubtedly its private force. As the Imperial Son-in-Law, he was, in a sense, half a master here. Until the higher-ups clarified their stance toward him, those below naturally wouldn't dare slight him.
With this realization, Xia Chen's demeanor grew even more composed. Before Li Wenzhong, he remained courteous without overstepping, neither groveling nor arrogant. The two sipped tea and chatted, their rapport deepening. Soon, they were calling each other "Uncle Li" and "nephew" with familiarity.
…
Xia Chen stepped out of Li Wenzhong's tent, a smile spreading across his face. This beginning outstripped his expectations.
The influence he could wield in the Imperial Guard might surpass what he'd initially envisioned.
Returning to his own camp, Xia Qian hurried over.
"Commander, General Li didn't give you a hard time, did he?"
"Use ranks in the barracks—no more 'Young Master' from now on!"
Xia Chen waved him off, adding, "No, I got along splendidly with General Li."
He briefly recounted the encounter to Xia Qian and the three house guards.
The trio accompanying him to the barracks were Xia Hui, Xia Xiao, and Xia Kang.
All were seasoned warriors who'd seen real combat. Among them, Xia Hui stood out, having reached the Seventh-Rank Spirit Refining Realm.
In the military, that caliber could easily qualify him for a commander's post—or even a commandant's.
As Xia Chen conversed with the four, a voice sounded outside the tent.
"Subordinate Qian Nan requests an audience with Commander, sir!"
Xia Chen received his other brigade commander inside. Qian Nan entered, saluted sharply, and promptly pledged his loyalty—evidently well-informed of Zhao Yu's fate.
Truth be told, cold sweat had already begun to bead on his back. Yesterday, Zhao Yu had approached him, proposing they team up to give the new commander a rude welcome.
Fortunately, he'd been out patrolling the streets this morning and missed the debacle. Otherwise, he'd likely be banished from the guard by now too.
Relief surged within him!