The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in at the start in Beijing

Besides monitoring officials, the Imperial City Guard was also very helpful to the emperor's life, such as ensuring his safety.

In addition to their regular monthly salary, these people also received subsidies from the emperor's private treasury. The selection process involved several steps to ensure their loyalty to the emperor.

For example, when Emperor Huizong of Song went out to meet Li Shishi in secret, the soldiers of the Imperial City Guard cleared a path for him.

In short, both the ruler and his ministers were satisfied.

Regarding the first Imperial City Envoy, Liu Mu still couldn't think of a suitable candidate. Liu Xin was the General of the Capital Region, who needed to command three thousand Imperial Guards, and he wasn't very bright.

Don't let the mouse in the dark get caught and instead bring in the enemy assassin.

"My esteemed ministers, does the Imperial City Envoy have any recommendations?"

Upon hearing this, Li Guangdi and Zhou Peigong immediately shut up. The suggestion of the Imperial City Envoy could not be made by a civil official, as it would easily arouse the emperor's suspicion.

Even if Liu Mu didn't have that intention.

We should also take preventative measures in advance.

Liu Weiqing, however, was undeterred and stepped forward directly.

"Your Majesty, the one who discovered the Eight Banners bondsers this time, and the one who captured the Japanese samurai last time, is my centurion named Pan Feng. He was originally supposed to be taken on this expedition, and he would temporarily serve as a chiliarch!"

"I see that this man is quick-witted and loyal; he would have no problem being appointed as a seventh-rank Imperial City Envoy!"

Pan Feng?

Liu Mu had a deep impression of that name!

He's tall and handsome, and most importantly, he has a great physique. He'd be perfect as the face of the Imperial City Guard. The fact that he's encountered this kind of thing twice shows that he's destined for greatness.

Thinking of this, Liu Mu immediately gave the order!

"Then promote Pan Feng to Imperial City Envoy, responsible for the safety of officials in and around the Imperial City. As for the seventh rank, it's too low; give him a fifth-rank military officer position!"

"He is also ordered to be executed by slow slicing tomorrow at noon!"

Thus, the first semi-espionage agency of the Great Han was established, while its first commander, Pan Feng, was completely unaware of it and was being scolded at his mother-in-law's house.

In a small noodle shop in an alley near Zhengyangmen, an elderly woman, nearly fifty years old, was skillfully rolling out dough with a rolling pin.

Pan Feng was kneeling on the ground, while the chubby boy next to her was even more unlucky, not only kneeling but also balancing a teacup on his head.

A young woman of about sixteen was watching anxiously, stamping her feet in frustration. Finally, she stepped forward and snatched the old woman's rolling pin.

"Mother, what are you doing? Brother Pan Feng is a centurion of the soldiers. What's wrong with him arresting rebels?"

"Maybe he'll even get a promotion!"

"Why are you suddenly objecting to the marriage? This was arranged by my father when we were little!"

The old woman, having her rolling pin snatched away, immediately pulled out a pipe, lit it, and took several deep drags, her demeanor no less impressive than a man's.

"Promotion? What promotion can he possibly get? Even if he gets promoted, he'll never become a general. He'll just be a common soldier. What if he dies on the battlefield like your father? Are you going to end up a widow like your mother?"

"My dear daughter, I'm doing this for your own good. You're so beautiful, you could like anyone. This big, simple-minded fellow is all alone. Besides being a centurion in the army, he has no other merits. Besides, I've already made arrangements with Master Wang in the inner city. He owns a thousand acres of land in Shanxi and a general store in the capital. Isn't that wonderful!"

To everyone's surprise, the woman's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this.

"That young master Wang is quite the womanizer. Last time he came to our shop, he even tried to grope us. Our daughter won't marry him!"

Pan Feng was also depressed upon hearing this. He instinctively wanted to stand up. As a man, he had his dignity. Kneeling down to marry a wife was already the limit. Now that his wife was about to be sold, why should he put up with it?

As a result, the chubby boy next to him suddenly stood up and smashed the bowl on his head with a loud thud.

"Don't you dare speak ill of my brother Pan Feng! Today, he killed a traitor with a single stroke, and all the other traitors were terrified!"

"He's a great hero, he's my brother-in-law!"

The old woman was trembling with anger. She rushed forward to pick up the fat boy, but found he was too heavy. She then grabbed her pipe and started pounding his buttocks.

"You brat, I'll show you what a hero is!"

"This is outrageous!"

The old woman rolled out dough every day and had quite a strong hand. She beat the chubby boy until he screamed. Pan Feng, who was standing nearby, immediately lost her temper. She snatched the old woman's pipe, broke it in half with a forceful blow, and then stomped on it twice, still not satisfied.

"I, Pan Feng, a dignified centurion of the Han Dynasty, am in no way inferior to the Wang family. Who says I can't become a great general?"

Pan Feng was 1.85 meters tall, while the old woman was only a little over 1.5 meters tall. Pan Feng's imposing manner caused the old woman to sit down on the ground and immediately start throwing a tantrum.

"Murder! Robbers have murdered him!"

"They don't want to marry off their daughter and then try to forcibly take her away—it's outrageous!"

Faced with the old woman's tantrum, Pan Feng was at a loss for what to do.

Just then, an official from the Ministry of Personnel, accompanied by two yamen runners, strode into the noodle shop and frowned upon seeing the scene.

When the woman saw the official arrive, she immediately rushed forward and hugged the leg of the official from the Ministry of Personnel, bursting into tears.

"Sir, this rogue soldier is trying to abduct an innocent woman! Arrest him and take him to jail immediately! Don't let him out!"

The woman standing nearby, upon hearing this, hurriedly stepped forward to explain, "No, this is my elder brother Pan Feng, a centurion in the Beijing Garrison, and my fiancé!"

Just when the old woman thought the official would help her arrest Pan Feng, since this was his shop, the official from the Ministry of Personnel smiled and directly pulled out a document.

"Are you Centurion Pan?"

"I've been looking for this for ages!"

"His Majesty the Emperor has issued a decree; please accept it!"

Pan Feng was still dazed, but fortunately, the woman next to her kicked her calf, and Pan Feng immediately came to her senses and knelt down with a thud.

"Pan Feng, centurion of the Beijing garrison, receives the imperial decree!"

This was the first time the officials in the Ministry of Personnel had done this, since in the Qing Dynasty it was usually the eunuchs who did the work, so they simply handed the document over to Pan Feng.

"By imperial decree, Centurion Pan Feng, for his meritorious service in capturing the traitor, is hereby promoted to the first Commander of the Imperial City Guard, a fifth-rank military officer!"

A fifth-rank official, which is already equivalent to a lieutenant general!

What are some Imperial City Guards?

Pan Fengdu suspected that his ears were broken, and only after being kicked twice by the woman did he regain his senses and immediately kowtow.

"Your subject, Pan Feng, kowtows in gratitude to Your Majesty!"

Entering the ranks of lieutenant generals also counts as a general, and one can refer to oneself as "your subject" or "your humble general" in public. Previously, centurions could only refer to themselves as "your humble servant" and had to announce their affiliation and position!

"His Majesty also issued an imperial edict that if anyone has any questions about the Imperial City Guard, they should go to the Ministry of War and consult the Minister of War!"

"Also, tomorrow you will preside over the execution by slow slicing at the Meridian Gate!"

After the official from the Ministry of Personnel finished speaking, he turned and left, whether he forgot or was unaware that there was a gift of money when delivering an imperial edict!

"Cuihua, I've become a general! A lieutenant general receives a hundred taels of silver a year. Soon, I, Pan Feng, will be able to buy a house in the inner city of the capital!"

At this moment, the old woman's face was filled with a smile, her wrinkles crinkling together, and she had almost completely forgotten her previous unpleasantness.

"Your aunt has always known you'd amount to something!"