He glanced at the two people beside Supervisor Sun, perceiving the subtlety of the situation.
A situation within a situation, and was it a blatant plot against Supervisor Sun?
Under the watchful eyes of the public.
Three main examiners, surrounded by armored soldiers, arrived at the Martial Arts Arena's high platform, seated themselves, and began to arrange for personnel to investigate with Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger's main generals joining the inquiry.
Sun Xiangzong stared ahead, his face expressing the indescribable: "Do you also think that the investigation should be public and conducted in front of everyone?"
"Investigate, we must investigate thoroughly!"
Mr. Hou angrily said, "What audacity, Mr. Chen is a general personally appointed by the Emperor, to dare to act so brazenly, it's utterly lawless."
Governor Liu added, "Mr. Hou is right, we need to clarify this."
Supervisor Sun sighed, "I was saying, let's quickly finish the investigation and not delay Selected Point's time. I never expected you two to have such an upright side, insisting on making me investigate in front of hundreds of thousands of people."
Governor Liu, with an air of an incorruptible judge, said: "If we don't clarify, it will be hard to calm people's hearts."
"Yes, Supervisor Sun."
Mr. Hou continued, "After two years, when the Selected Point is held again, it will be presided over by us. If a scandal about Selected Point leaks out now, it won't be good for either of us. I hope the Supervisor can set a final example for us."
"I am relieved you think this way."
Sun Xiangzong, like an old man waiting for death in the sun at the village gate, said weakly, "Alright, then let's do it as you both wish, investigate publicly and resolve it on the spot."
Just moments ago, Governor Liu and Mr. Hou, who were hurling insults and nearly coming to blows, had suddenly united.
The atmosphere was a bit subtle.
Bu Qi felt something was off, "Shouldn't this matter be resolved quickly, the culprits caught swiftly to continue the Selected Point? Why make such a big scene?"
Fang Qingyun said softly, "They want to make it impossible for our master to step down."
Since their arrival in Liangzhou, the court had appointed a governor and a supervisor, also switching the commanders of three of the Eight Camps to court-affiliated people.
What was the purpose?
Nothing but to divide and ultimately control the Eight Camps.
But to truly achieve this, substantial prestige was needed.
Not only did the prestige of the governor and the supervisor of the army need to be significant, but they also had to weaken Supervisor Sun's prestige. Only through this relative decrease and increase could further power be seized.
Unconsciously, whether this case of corruption could be well managed had become pivotal, significantly impacting the Eight Camps' future influence!
The instigator behind the scenes held a very high position.
Under the gaze of thousands, should Sun Xiangzong fail to manage this situation well, his already declining prestige due to his age would further diminish, leading to an irretrievable loss of power.
Following that, even if there were indeed an expansion of the army, the Supervisor, the army's supervisor, and the governor, possibly along with more people, would share authority, no longer dictated by any single person.
Once Sun Xiangzong retired and returned to his hometown, the transition would be smooth with absolutely no turmoil, and the Eight Camps would legitimately become the elite of the court.
Bu Qi was shocked, "What should we do then, is my dad really going along with them, becoming truly senile?"
Even his own son felt unconfident.
Over the years, the old man had allowed them to share power without a word, and recently had even agreed to transfer the last few brothers, fully preparing to retire from military life.
"Watch, Bu Qi, you've been protected too well from childhood, making you indolent and naive. I hope today's events will motivate you."
Fang Qingyun said nothing more: "I've been named to go investigate the case."
Bu Qi looked utterly perplexed.
He tried to seek advice from other brothers, but soon discovered that his second and seventh brothers, who had been nearby just moments ago, had vanished without a trace, leaving only his fifth brother Meng Guangxin still present.
Thirty-some officers and soldiers were escorted beneath the high platform, kneeling down.
"Master, Governor Liu, Mr. Hou."
Fang Qingyun, sitting in a wheelchair, greeted with a bow: "The overall situation has been clearly investigated. These men were temporarily drafted to cooperate with the Nine Palace Eight Diagram Formation."
Each of the Eight Camps had more than ten thousand men, but the Nine Palace Eight Diagram Formation required at least forty thousand to be deployed, naturally necessitating the drafting of additional personnel from each camp to handle parts of the formation.
"Among them, the Refining Organ Generals hidden within Du Gate, each a Hundred Captain, were responsible for commanding and arranging their actions, currently presided over by Thousand Captain Zou Gengdao; these people..."
Fang Qingyun paused briefly before continuing, "are all from Cloud Camp, under the direct command of General Ning Changqun."
Currently, there were two Martial Saints, one being Supervisor Sun's eldest disciple, Lu Ji, and the other was Ning Changqun, appointed by the Emperor as Martial Arts Top Scholar thirty years ago.
Originally serving as the Main General in the Emperor's personal army outside the capital, Ning Changqun was transferred to Liangzhou three years ago to take command of Cloud Camp and Sky Wolf Camp.
When it comes to individual combat prowess, he was among the top three in the entire state of Liangzhou!
On the surface, Governor Liu and Mr. Hou seemed dispatched by the court to oversee Sun Xiangzong, but in reality, Ning Changqun was the true hand controlling military power!