The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 362: Chapter 356: Imperial Inspection Office

The Imperial Inspection Office was pure and prestigious. This prestige was reflected not only in its compensation but also in its location.

It was in the first row on the left side of Black Tortoise Great Path, even ahead of the Ministry of Personnel.

This alone was enough to represent the status of the Imperial Inspection Office.

Of course, it was only status. If one wanted to use their position in the Imperial Inspection Office to gain benefits for their family, they would likely be the first to be beheaded by the Emperor. Otherwise, the great families would have been scrambling over each other to get in.

The scions who could enter the Imperial Inspection Office were never from a poor background, but they were also never the most valued members of their families.

Bai Yuan arrived early at the entrance of the Imperial Inspection Office.

As he walked along Black Tortoise Great Path, he happened to run into Senior Vice Minister Guo Yingru.

However, Senior Vice Minister Guo’s attitude toward him seemed to have cooled.

’Then again, who likes the Imperial Inspection Office anyway?’

Bai Yuan thought as he strode through the magnificent gates of the Imperial Inspection Office.

The Imperial Inspection Office was vast, and it was filled with people.

There were no fewer than a hundred Imperial Censors alone. Besides the Ministry of Revenue, no other Government Office could compare in size.

"Lord Bai."

Just as he stepped through the gates of the Imperial Inspection Office, a young man with a beaming smile was waiting for him at the entrance.

"And you are?"

"This humble one is Wang Yang, an administrator from the Experience Department."

"Mm."

Bai Yuan gave a casual nod.

The head of the Imperial Inspection Hall, to put it simply, was the office director, primarily responsible for the Imperial Inspection Office’s internal affairs and documents.

As a major Government Office, the Imperial Inspection Office naturally had no shortage of official posts.

Besides the highest-ranking Left and Right Imperial Envoys, there were also the Left and Right Deputy Imperial Envoys and the Left and Right Assistant Chief Imperial Censors.

Inspector Imperial Censors were also stationed throughout Xuan Yang. These Imperial Censors were not assigned one to a state; they often supervised several states at once.

The Imperial Censor supervising Ling Province was based in Yu State; Bai Yuan had met him once when he was a General.

’And now I’ve become that Inspector Imperial Censor’s superior.’

"Lord Bai, would you like to see Lord Zhang first?"

Bai Yuan considered it for a moment.

"Yes."

This Lord Zhang was, of course, the Imperial Inspection Office’s Right Chief Imperial Censor, Zhang Songtao.

When Du Qinghui was still the Left Imperial Envoy at the Imperial Inspection Office, Zhang Songtao was the Right Chief Imperial Censor. The two had been partners for decades.

Bai Yuan’s official title was Left Deputy Chief Imperial Censor. In theory, he was Lord Zhang’s subordinate. It was natural to meet the Chief Official first on his first day.

Wang Yang, the administrator from the Experience Department, led Bai Yuan through a series of courtyard walls.

Along the way, they encountered many young Imperial Censors who worked in the Imperial Inspection Office. These young men cast curious glances at Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan paid them no mind.

Before long, Wang Yang led Bai Yuan to one of the two largest buildings in the Imperial Inspection Office.

’No doubt about it, this must be where the Left and Right Chief Imperial Censors work.’

However, compared to the building in front of Bai Yuan, the other one seemed much more deserted.

"Lord Zhang is inside."

Wang Yang gestured slightly to Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan strode over the threshold and into the room.

The room was very large, but sparsely furnished, giving it an empty feeling. In the vast space sat an old man with a warm, gentle smile.

"We meet again."

Bai Yuan looked at the old man.

’This must be the Right Chief Imperial Censor, Zhang Songtao.’

He then recalled that yesterday in Taihe Hall, Zhang Songtao had been standing in the second row of Civil Servants, behind the Grand Tutor.

"Your subordinate, Bai Yuan, greets Lord Zhang."

Zhang Songtao chuckled and waved his hand. "Very good. If there’s nothing else, you may go."

"Er..."

Bai Yuan blinked.

He had been inside for less than ten breaths before Zhang Songtao dismissed him.

If he hadn’t known of this Lord Zhang’s temperament, he would have surely thought he had somehow offended the Right Chief Imperial Censor.

"Yes."

Bai Yuan bowed again and exited the room.

Seeing that Bai Yuan had spent less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn in Zhang Songtao’s room, Wang Yang was already used to it.

Who in the Imperial Inspection Office didn’t know that Lord Old Zhang was reaching the age of retirement and no longer managed the office’s affairs, only participating in matters of extreme importance?

"Lord Bai, don’t overthink it. Lord Zhang is like this with everyone."

Wang Yang said in a low voice.

He was just a minor administrator from the Experience Department, a mere seventh-grade official.

In the Capital City, a seventh-grade official didn’t even live as well as some wealthy merchants, to say nothing of being in a "clear water" Government Office like the Imperial Inspection Office.

Wang Yang wanted to advance his career.

Therefore, trying to curry favor with Bai Yuan while he was still unfamiliar with the Imperial Inspection Office was undoubtedly an excellent idea.

Bai Yuan said, "Tell me more."

The information he had received was all from Yue Xiaobai; ultimately, it couldn’t be as accurate as what he’d hear from someone inside the Imperial Inspection Office.

Wang Yang was overjoyed. He cleared his throat and said, "Lord Bai, since you’ve just arrived, you may not know this, but we have a saying in the Imperial Inspection Office: ’The Left is strict, the Right is lenient.’ This refers to how the Lord Left Chief Imperial Censor is always impartial and favors heavy punishments—the previous Imperial Censor Du was just like that—while the Right Chief Imperial Censor is more moderate and often mediates."

Bai Yuan nodded.

He quickly figured out the reason. It was simply a matter of one playing the good cop and the other playing the bad cop.

Although the work of the Imperial Inspection Office was all about offending people, they couldn’t afford to offend everyone to death. Therefore, the Left and Right Chief Imperial Censors needed to coordinate with each other.

The Left Chief Imperial Censor was responsible for arresting people, and the Right Chief Imperial Censor was responsible for placating them.

Otherwise, if things became too tense, they might not even be able to hold onto their official posts.

Wang Yang continued, "Ever since Lord Du left the Imperial Inspection Office, Lord Old Zhang hasn’t been managing things much. All the cases in the office are now handled by the Vice Right Imperial Inspector, Lord Feng."

"I see," Bai Yuan said, then immediately added, "You’re very capable."

Hearing praise from his new superior, Wang Yang was ecstatic.

Although the Imperial Inspection Office was a "clear water" Government Office, that didn’t mean there were no good positions.

For most young officials, the posts of Inspector Imperial Censors in the various regions were top-tier assignments.

Not only did they offer a high degree of freedom and significant authority in the local regions, but they also came with opportunities for extra income. It was basically a dream job for an official.

These young officials in the Imperial Inspection Office toiled day and night, all for a chance at an external assignment.

Of course, this was a good path for an ordinary official.

But for a major figure like Bai Yuan, the Imperial Inspection Office would be a liability.

This was also why everyone was so astonished when Bai Yuan had proposed going to the Imperial Inspection Office.

With Bai Yuan’s status on the Latent Dragon List, even if he couldn’t become the Commander of the Imperial Guard, securing a position as a Vice Minister in one of the Six Ministries would have been no problem.

The three ranked above him on the Latent Dragon List were the best examples.

Spurred on by Bai Yuan’s praise, Wang Yang’s enthusiasm grew. "Lord Bai, should we go to Imperial Censor Feng’s room now?"

Bai Yuan shook his head. "No need."

Paying a visit to Zhang Songtao was a matter of official courtesy, as Zhang Songtao was his superior.

But that Imperial Censor Feng was his equal in rank. Rushing to pay him a visit right after taking office would be a bit demeaning.

At least, with Bai Yuan’s power and status, he had no need to curry favor like that.

He was now an Imperial Censor of the Imperial Inspection Office; they would have a chance to meet sooner or later.

There was no rush.

"Come, take me to see the Black Prison... I mean, the cases."

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