"Recently, the Marquis Wu’an has been responsible for matters regarding the civil examination, where would he find the time to care about a mere disappearance?" Su Guanying remarked with an air of indifference, "The case Commander Shi mentioned, as far as this governor knows, is under investigation. However, the civil examination has tied up too many official resources, and progress won’t be quick."

Shi Mingcheng’s expression was stern, "This is no small matter, Governor Su should take it seriously. If the son of the magistrate of a prominent area cannot be guaranteed safety, and he remains missing for five days without a trace, how can you assure the people of the South Border peace of mind?"

Su Guanying said, "Life is of utmost importance, certainly it’s a major issue. But the magistrate’s son is not special. The South Border spans thousands of miles, with billions of people. Every day, every hour, there are births, aging, sickness, and death. How can we be concerned with each one? Can the military governor care for them all? The Court has its regulations, the Department of Penalty has its responsibilities, and operates independently. What we, who steer the helm, should do is ensure the overall stability of the South Border, focusing now on the civil examination. Once the examination concludes smoothly, governance is clarified, and both internal and external affairs are aligned, we can then address security issues—it is a natural progression."

Shi Mingcheng turned his large hand, pulling out two dossiers, tossing them in front of Su Guanying and Jiang Wang’s desk respectively.

"On July fifteenth, the only son of the Jiangyong magistrate disappeared. On July sixteenth, the brother-in-law of the Shunye magistrate was killed on the street, the killer remains at large. On July seventeenth, the sister of the City Lord of Ximing City disappeared..."

Shi Mingcheng’s eyes were like two oil lamps, ready to burst into rage fire at any moment: "In just five short days, no fewer than six families of officials across the South Border have encountered incidents. In Jiangyong alone, disappearance cases exceed the annual average by almost half. These records are shocking! Could just saying ’the Court has its regulations’ be enough to set it aside?"

"When it concerns the safety of our Daqi citizens, how can it be set aside? The Governor’s Mansion has never set it aside. Commander Shi’s words, I do not understand," Su Guanying replied without a trace of emotion. "The South Border was only established early this year, with governance merely half a year old, and manpower is severely lacking in various areas, particularly in the Department of Penalty. A clever woman can’t cook without rice. Deploying soldiers for a moment requires nurturing them for a thousand days, doesn’t Commander Shi understand this reasoning?

Why does the Governor’s Mansion hold civil examinations, and why invite the Marquis Wu’an to supervise? Is it not to supplement officials, reorganize governance, to seek soldiers who can be used?

We, obeying the command of the Son of Heaven, govern South Xia, and indeed must consider problems pragmatically, but the vision shouldn’t be restricted to the lower aspects, we still need to confront societal issues from broader perspectives. Doesn’t Commander Shi think so? Is it truly reasonable to have the mighty military governor of South Xia investigate the disappearance of the Jiangyong magistrate’s sole heir?"

The two eminent figures seemed to have completely disregarded the presence of Jiang Wang by their side, engaging in a sharp exchange. Their expressions remained calm, but their voices increasingly unfriendly, and their accusations towards each other grew ever sharper.

Jiang Wang was contemplating whether to flee soon, or perhaps flee immediately, or even directly pat his backside and return to Old Mountain, and wait until they had finished before speaking.

With Shi Mingcheng’s fierce appearance, as long as he wasn’t smiling, he looked angry, and when he did smile, his anger carried a threatening edge.

At this moment, he had this half-smiling expression, slowly saying: "Since the Department of Penalty is understaffed, then we must first solve the problem of understaffing. Below are just a mere three hundred candidates, even if all were admitted, it wouldn’t quench the thirst for governing the thousand miles of the South Border. As I see it, we should recruit another batch of soldiers, specifically for criminal matters. With such military and governmental synergy, how can the South Border not be stable? How would prisoners dare act recklessly?"

A disappearance case, Jiang Wang didn’t understand why it was necessary to discuss it in such a setting.

Now he understood.

The Nanxia Governor’s Mansion has its penal system, while Shi Mingcheng wants to establish his voice within, to govern penal power through the military office!

This is a struggle for the authority of the Nanxia Governor’s Mansion.

And could this process have started so easily?

Jiang Wang’s understanding of power struggles is seeing the large through the small, noticing the significant through the minor, where the two adversaries engage in a you-go-I-come tussle across multiple dimensions—quietly affecting elements, as it were. How did Shi Mingcheng and Su Guanying suddenly lapse into a confrontational state amidst their conversation, without any need to avoid confronting Jiang Someone’s presence?

He was silent and somewhat baffled. He just wants to stand guard in the final phase, ensuring this civil examination proceeds successfully under fair conditions. He doesn’t want to act as a mediator nor inadvertently get involved in any factional disputes.

Shi Mingcheng used the disappearance of Jiangyong magistrate’s sole heir and other cases to make trouble, raising the banner of reorganizing the South Border’s security, proposing to establish a separate Department of Penalty, creating a strong pressure difficult to sidestep.

But Su Guanying merely said lightly: "The military for military, the penal for penal. The Soldier Home has always differed from the Legalists, ancient and modern alike. Is Commander Shi planning to break new ground in South Xia, emulating the Northwestern Military Court?"

This was a soul-searching question!

"When did I say that?" Shi Mingcheng responded with surprise, "What I meant was that the current Department of Penalty is clearly unable to fulfill its function and stabilizing the South Border’s security necessitates change! Governor Su wants to manage livelihood, govern South Xia, and make all businesses prosper, while I must ensure the safety of the four borders and deter any threats. Neither of us can fully disengage. Why not recruit another batch of soldiers, specifically for criminal matters, assign them with dedicated personnel, and thereby purge the mountain rivers? I find the Marquis Wu’an quite suitable! We join forces in military governance, supporting the Marquis Wu’an together—in this way, South Xia will undoubtedly prosper. Is this not the great fortune of South Xia’s millions of people?"

Jiang Wang almost sprang up.

He never expected that this topic would come full circle back to him.

Su Guanying guarded so skillfully.

Shi Mingcheng couldn’t seize the power of the Department of Penalty, so he drew his sword and thrust it to Jiang Wang! Is this not remarkably similar to when Su Guanying handed the position of chief examiner to Jiang Wang earlier?