[Time: autumn of the 27th year of the Daqian reign; the morning after the assassination.]
The study in the Governor's Mansion. The atmosphere was heavier and more oppressive than the depths of winter.
Drenched in cold sweat, the Commander of the Black-Clad Guards knelt on the ground and reported the assassination attempt of the previous night, as well as Xiao Wuchen's final display of 'traceless' movement and the frost-covered marks left by the broken stone.
'He didn't kill anyone, Governor. But his words and the broken stone were a clear intimidation tactic.'
The Left Governor sat in a black tiger-skin chair, his face terrifyingly grim. He gripped a jade paperweight tightly in his hand until his knuckles turned white, then finally slammed it onto the table with a loud smack.
'Utter waste! A group of well-trained 'Dragon-Binding' agents couldn't even subdue a mere eunuch!' His voice wasn't loud, but it resonated like thunder, sending chills down one's spine.
He had originally planned this operation to subjugate and uncover the truth with extreme efficiency. The result was:
Unknown Background: Xiao Wuchen displayed extraordinary agility and chilling internal energy, but his martial arts style and lineage remained a mystery.
Exposure of Power: Forcing Xiao Wuchen to reveal all his abilities, which surpassed those of ordinary masters, instantly increased his threat level.
Passive Deterrence: The Black-Clad Guards were instead intimidated by their opponent's confidence and power.
"He's threatening me, the Grand Commandant?" The Left Grand Commandant sneered, his killing intent almost tangible. 'A mere eunuch dares to threaten the Grand Commandant of the court!'
He took a deep breath to calm his anger and regain his composure.
'Issue the order to temporarily halt all military operations against Xiao Wuchen.'
The Commander looked up in astonishment. "Grand Commandant?"
'Since he chose deterrence, it means he doesn't want to completely sever relations just yet. He's already a member of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, so any rash act would be counterproductive.
The Left Commander-in-Chief's eyes lit up as he changed his strategy.
'Infiltration and surveillance. 'Activate all the spies in the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Eastern Depot. I need to know everything Xiao Wuchen says and does, who he contacts, what memorials he handles and how much water he drinks at night. Everything must be recorded in detail.'
Investigation of Origins: 'Increase manpower to trace his background back ten years. From before he entered the palace until now, everyone he has contacted and every experience he has had must be unearthed. I don't believe he appeared out of thin air.'
Information Control: 'All matters concerning his official duties and confidential reports must be verified twice by the Commander-in-Chief's Office. I want to weave an invisible net around him in terms of information.'
'Tell everyone that Xiao Wuchen is now the most dangerous pawn. Using force will only allow him to break free. What we need to do is use information and power to trap him within the confines of the Directorate of Ceremonial.'
A covert war, shifting from armed confrontation to a battle of power and information, has officially begun.
At that moment, Xiao Wuchen was calmly processing documents in his office at the Directorate of Ceremonies, as if the previous night's life-or-death struggle had never happened.
He knew he had bought time.
The assassination attempt had not been intended to kill him, but to subdue him. His successful counterattack had protected his secrets and sent a strong signal to the Left Military Governor's Office: Don't provoke me lightly.
Now, he needed to use this precious 'deterrence period' to quickly monetise his power as a scribe and build his own protective network.
Sorting out core information: As a court scribe, he now had access to secrets that were previously beyond his wildest dreams:
- Drafts of cabinet proposals: - Understanding the Grand Secretaries' true views on government affairs.
Reports from border garrisons. Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the Ming Dynasty's border defences and deployments.
The finances and personnel of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel: Investigating promotion trends for officials in the capital and the financial situation in various regions.
He categorised this information and used his exceptional memory to internalise it, forming a clear understanding of the entire empire's operations.
Cultivating connections and dividing opportunities
Xiao Wuchen knew he couldn't afford to be isolated.
Head of the Imperial Household, Wang Dehai: He became even more respectful and cautious, giving all the credit to Wang Dehai, thus gaining his deeper trust.
Former members of the Eastern Depot: He secretly established connections with some of the Eastern Depot's subordinates who favoured him. He used the Directorate of Ceremonial's information network to provide them with useful intelligence and maintain this potential alliance.
Neutral eunuchs: He began cultivating relationships with those in the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Inner Palace who did not have a clear allegiance, using his authority to solve minor problems for them and build a network of connections.
Thanks to his precise and efficient work, it quickly became clear to everyone that not only was Xiao Wuchen Wang Dehai's favourite, he was also an indispensable source of information within the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Sitting in his office, Xiao Wuchen finished reviewing a memorial regarding the reorganization of the Grand Canal, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
'Left Governor, you will soon discover that information and power are more difficult to deal with than martial arts.'
He was no longer content with passive defence. He intended to utilise the Black-Clad Guards' infiltration of his information, deliberately planting seemingly harmless but actually destructive 'tips' in the handling of government affairs — plots that would shake the foundations of the Left Governor's power.
Like a patient spider, he waited quietly on the vast web of power for the Left Governor's office to step willingly into the trap he had laid.