142

Having left the Inspectorate,

Chen Mu's attire, the white gown of the Demon-Slaying Office, had been replaced by a black brocade robe embroidered with herons, which was the official uniform of a Metropolitan Commander of the Inspectorate, symbolizing status and position as a Sixth Grade official.

Moreover, the Inspectorate was different from the Demon-Slaying Office. The Demon-Slaying Office often followed the rule of 'seeing an official half a grade higher,' but the power exercised by the Inspectorate was often even greater. During the prosperous times of the Da Xuan Dynasty, a Sixth Grade officer of the Inspectorate could supervise and control the local Prefectural Governors. Although the laws of the Imperial Court were now in disarray, the Inspectorate sub-division established in Yu County was personally overseen by Yan Jingqing, the Inspector, whose actual powers were immense.