Before taking up his post, Ye Zhen planned to stir up some trouble for Xio Qiangu of the West Patrol, to keep him entangled and unable to leave Luoyi, at least not until Ye Zhen reached his fiefdom in North Sea County. This was a plan Ye Zhen had set long in advance.
However, once the plan was put into action, it would become exceedingly difficult for anyone to handle, with no clear way to strike.
Who exactly was Xio Qiangu of the West Patrol?
The head of spies, controlling a third of the forces of the Heavenly Patrol Department. These were just his overt forces; Jings Zhan of the Central Patrol even suspected that Xio Qiangu had infiltrated the ranks of the other four major patrol divisions — East, South, North, and Central.
Moreover, Xio Family had strong support from the Heavenly Temple and a web of complex relationships within the court that even Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long couldn't easily unravel.
How could a mere Viscount like Ye Zhen possibly contend with such a figure?
