After exchanging information with Zhu Shou, Shen Hao returned to the Thousand Households Station without delay and immediately wrote Zhu Shou’s request into a memo, reporting it through the Black Banner Battalion’s top-secret channel.

This was a new channel set up specifically for the security of the Black Water Plan, managed by the Black Banner Battalion under the Governor’s Office. Of course, Xue Houxuan, the Thousand Households of the Black Banner Battalion at the Governor’s Office, was just a "figurehead"; the real controller was Jiang Cheng.

In Shen Hao’s view, the superiors would very likely approve Zhu Shou’s request, and once the operation began, there would certainly be a way to place Zhu Shou into the position of Master.

Although Zhu Shou was initially dragged onboard by Shen Hao’s scheme, he’d quickly adapted to his role, neither shirking his responsibilities nor meddling in matters beyond him. Even Liu Meng said that Zhu Shou was discerning, measured, and easy to get along with.

Once Zhu Shou sat in the Master position of the Fengri City brokerage, it would be much easier to plant secret agents throughout the Fengri City jurisdiction. Moreover, Zhu Shou could serve as a "model of cooperation with the Black Banner Battalion," playing an important role at critical moments.

"Dong dong dong."

"Come in."

Wang Jian walked in, holding a stack of organized files and dossiers in his hand.

"Sir, here’s a summary of all types of transactions in the black market over the past half month."

Shen Hao carefully read through it after receiving it. The main issue remained those bulk controlled goods transactions—glaring and prominent.

"Sit. There is something I want your opinion on."

Putting aside the files, Shen Hao motioned for Wang Jian, who had been standing opposite him, to take a seat. Yesterday, he’d received an Order from the Governor’s Office, and there were matters that required the perspective of frontline personnel like Wang Jian.

"Sir, may I ask what it concerns?"

"The data cross-check from earlier has come in; the situation is even more severe than we initially anticipated. It’s not just us in Fengri City relying on the Baijiang River System to smuggle various goods to the Barbarian Race—entire swathes of Jingxi are getting wealthy off this route. The situation is already urgent.

Therefore, the Governor’s Office is prepared to take strong measures against these parasites and ensure their complete eradication. However, the exact strategy still needs input from frontline personnel—so I’d like to hear your thoughts."

Wang Jian’s heart leaped. He understood that Shen Hao was giving him a chance to distinguish himself.

"To be frank, sir, I’ve mentally considered ways to deal with these bastards. If I say anything inappropriate, I ask your guidance." Wang Jian paused and continued, "First, we cannot overlook the sources of leaks for these tightly controlled goods. Only by choking them off at the source can we truly stop the hemorrhaging.

Next are the local agencies and government offices overseeing transport. It’s precisely their dereliction of duty that’s emboldened the smugglers, creating a conflagration.

The border army must also be held accountable. Hai Xia is a crucial military post, and Beach Stone is even a veritable fortress cluster—by rights, these should be impenetrable. Yet, the defense along the southeastern Ten Thousand Miles Bamboo Sea is so lax that even a few dozen barbarians can swagger through the bamboo sea and enter our borders. In wartime, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Furthermore, regarding those mysterious middlemen who coordinate everything behind the scenes, I think they should be investigated in separate files. This group is clearly not in it for a pittance of commission; they’re organized, sizeable, and every major deal is protected by dozens of cultivators. Their aims are not small.

The above are my proposed targets for this operation."

Wang Jian spoke in a methodical, logical manner, then continued, "If we move, I believe we must lay out the net first, and then act everywhere simultaneously. We must not leave them a moment to escape or scheme their way out.

Afterwards, the main checkpoints should be placed under strict control, and only after the government offices in each locale have been cleansed of corruption can we relax oversight. Ideally, patrols at the roadblocks should be institutionalized as a long-term norm."

Wang Jian’s approach was simple and direct: first identify targets, then set up surveillance, and finally move in everywhere at a prearranged time to make the arrests.

This was consistent with the thinking at the Governor’s Office. But the real focus of the operation wasn’t catching people—it was purging. The smuggling soil in Jingxi had to be eradicated; otherwise, as the saying goes, "wildfire never quite consumes it—the spring breeze brings it to life again."

"Submit a detailed report by tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes, sir."

"Additionally, I remember you set up an Impermanence Department in the black market, specifically to handle intelligence gathering and combat, correct?"

"Yes, sir. At your prior suggestion, I established the Impermanence Department to form the closed loop on intelligence that you envisioned."

Investigating, filtering, storing, utilizing, and even directly dealing with information themselves—this was the closed loop Shen Hao referred to. Now, Wang Jian had made a start, but it was still far from being fully developed. Shen Hao was planning to reinforce him at this time.

"This operation requires precise tracking of numerous targets’ movements. For confidentiality’s sake, I want your newly founded Impermanence Department to be responsible for setting up the net."

"What about making arrests?"

"The local Xuanqing Guard will handle the arrests. Ha, don’t be upset—you know full well how many will need to be taken down. Even having your Impermanence Department handle the surveillance is already stretching your manpower. You can’t manage the arrests. So, make it a priority to cultivate more personnel as quickly as possible."

Wang Jian, wearing a thick skin, said, "Sir, training our own people is slow and arduous, and loyalty is the biggest concern—results come too slowly. Would it be possible to transfer some from the garrisons to fill out our numbers? The Impermanence Department offers much better treatment than equivalent positions at the garrison."

"Hahaha!" Shen Hao burst out laughing. "You’re actually bargaining with me over benefits? We’ll see. If an opportunity arises, I’ll consider your side. All right, go get ready. The report must be finished by tomorrow afternoon."

"I will deliver it on time, sir."

Wang Jian left. Shen Hao also began to put his own ideas onto paper.

In truth, Shen Hao still thought the Governor’s Office was being a bit hasty with this large-scale operation. Internal issues could be resolved at any time—if the sole aim was to stop the bleeding, they could simply find an excuse to choke off all the border routes. Claiming a temporary military dispatch as cover would suffice, and as long as the border army itself isn’t rotten, it wouldn’t be detected.

What really concerned Shen Hao wasn’t the smuggling cases themselves, but the mysterious intermediaries who linked the smuggling with the Barbarians. These people didn’t behave like scattered rabble; they were organized, disciplined, and powerful.

This sort of group, operating secretly, posed the greatest threat. It called to mind for Shen Hao a group that had always existed but was never confronted directly: the Evil Cultivators.

It was entirely possible. Evil Cultivators tended to be highly skilled, and, being reviled and ostracized, were more inclined to band together for warmth. Moreover, to them, undermining the Jingjiu Dynasty would be a welcome outcome, and they had a natural alliance with the Barbarians.

Still, such speculations remain just that—for lack of proof, Shen Hao didn’t bring it up directly. He simply noted in the files that identifying this group of mysterious people should be treated as a priority, rather than ignored.