The Tigron Army Is Here to Poach Him Too? They Can't Sit Still Anymore!

The conditions offered by the Blazing Sun Army to win over the Lieyang Army included a fiefdom of a third-class earl and the option to choose from ten elite battalions.

However, Zhao Xing refused without hesitation.

"I have received the grace of the Divine Might Army, Lord Helian, please return."

Helian Lie immediately understood Zhao Xing's determination, and without further persuasion, got up and left.

"How is it?" asked a man of Ritual Cultivator outside the Eighteen Locust Willow Courtyard.

Helian Lie shook his head slightly.

"He only said, 'I am grateful to the Divine Might Army,' which means he didn't even want to explain further, and it's clear that there's nothing to discuss."

Ritual Cultivator, "You should let me in to talk."

Helian Lie shook his head again. "Impossible. Ritual Cultivator a smooth talker. This is about recruiting talent, not fighting against an enemy. How could the Agricultural Supervisorate allow you to enter?"

"Let me do it. I'll just state the terms directly. If it works out, great; if not, there's nothing I can do."

"What a pity." Lei, the Ritual Cultivator who was with Helian Lie back then, sighed. "He is far superior to Zhuo Li, and ordinary Military Sima Nong are no match for him."

"It's a pity." Helian Lie recalled the documents he had seen at the Agricultural Supervisorate, which recorded Zhao Xing's performance from March of the sixteenth year of the Jingxin Calendar to February of the seventeenth year of the Jingxin Calendar.

"Having him is better than having Shi Yong."

"Let's go back and ask the Marquis if we can raise the price a bit more," Ritual Cultivator said with a smile. "Zhao Xing is worth a hundred Zhuo Li. I feel we can still try and see if there's anything that can sway him."

"Don't let Zhuo Li hear this," Helian Lie said calmly. "That's the gist of it, but don't say anything more."

"Don't I understand? I'll just explain it to you."

The two talked as they walked away.

Eighteen Locust Willow Courtyard.

Zhao Xing simply smiled.

"There's absolutely no sincerity involved."

The Elite Tenth Battalion of the Blazing Sun? After completing my training, I will inevitably join the elite battalion of the Divine Might Army.

A third-class earl's fief? That's quite good. The minimum standard for a third-class earl's fief is a county, though it's usually a lower or middle-class county.

In a superior county like Valley County, which possesses Spirit Mountain, even a first-class earl would be hard to come by. The main reason is that the existence of the Spirit Mountain and the Spirit Lake brings immense benefits, so it is generally not granted to earls as fiefs.

Even during the reign of Emperor Jing, the standard fiefdom of a third-class earl was quite rare.

The Martial Marquis Yang of the Blazing Sun Army had a fiefdom of no more than fifty counties.

Giving Zhao Xing a county as a fief is indeed a considerable sum, so why is it said that Martial Marquis Yang lacked sincerity?

Because this place is not within the fiefdom of Martial Marquis Yang.

The Marquis of Martial Marquis Yang's fiefdom was in Emerald Peak County of Green Ridge Prefecture, a prosperous inland area consisting mostly of top-tier counties. Of course, the size of the fiefdom only occupied a small portion of Emerald Peak County, roughly one-tenth.

If one were to have a county as their fief in Emerald Peak County, they could indeed eat their fill of delicious food.

However, Martial Marquis Yang referred to it as the "Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture".

What kind of place is Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture?

That's an enclave!

During the reigns of Wen Emperor and Emperor Jing, the Great Zhou repeatedly stretched its southern border along the Canglan River.

Although the two emperors did not engage in many major battles, they fought numerous smaller skirmishes in the east and south.

The main reason is that the source of this river is in the Southern Barbarian Lands, and the area east of Pinghai Province was originally part of the Vast Sea, so it was necessary to station a large army here to suppress the sea tribes and barbarian tribes.

Anyone who has ever Agricultural Official knows what the source of the great river meant to the barbarians.

They manipulated the Canglan River at its source, forcing the Agriculture Official south of Pinghai Province to work themselves to the bone dealing with all sorts of natural disasters.

Why not just attack them directly?

It's still due to historical reasons.

Grand Ancestor pacified Nineteen Provinces and marched thousands of miles south of the Canglan River, but eventually retreated to the north of the Canglan River, using it as a boundary to agree to a truce with the barbarian states.

Because he needed to focus on dealing with the sea creatures, whose threat from the Vast Sea was even greater than that of the Southern Barbarians.

What the founding emperors couldn't accomplish, later emperors also found it difficult to achieve.

Emperor Wen Emperor focused on recuperation and development, and there were basically no major battles, and even minor battles were rare.

During Emperor Jing's reign, after Wen Emperor's period of recuperation and the hundreds of years of peace and prosperity under Emperors Cheng'an Era and Eternal Peace Era, Emperor Jing felt that the country was strong and its fortunes were on the rise. So he began to focus on pacifying Pinghai Province, which led to constant small-scale wars with the Southern Barbarians tribes.

During the reign of Renewal Era, they finally conquered a territory, which became known as the "Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture".

However, the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture, despite nearly two hundred years of development, has never been stable because the various southern Southern Barbarians tribes have been fiercely resisting. If the territory expanded by Emperor Jing is allowed to develop, it can become a bridgehead for attacks, continuously sending troops to threaten the heartland of the Southern Barbarians tribes.

Thus, for two hundred years, the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture was plagued by constant warfare. The lands of various prefectures were repeatedly divided, with the Great Zhou ruling for one decade only to be occupied by some barbarian tribe in the next.

Emperor Jing was generous in bestowing land upon Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture, but it was a barren land. Although it was large enough, what good was it if it couldn't be developed?

Martial Marquis Yang's offer of such a small piece of land was naturally seen as a lack of sincerity by Zhao Xing. Of course, in Martial Marquis Yang's view, giving Zhao Xing even a county was already a sign of great favor.

The internal situation of Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture is relatively stable, and the area is large. Giving a county as a fief to a Ninth Grade official (Zhao Xing has not yet been officially promoted, but his realm has exceeded the Ninth Grade) is already a poaching offer that exceeds the "market price".

However, Zhao Xing knew all about these things. Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture was absolutely not a suitable fiefdom; it wouldn't even be suitable as a place of residence.

The Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture is also the main reason why Emperor Jing is said to be stingy.

The practice of bestowing titles and lands has resulted in a small portion of these being granted such desolate territories, which is extremely displeasing. Although it is still land, it is ultimately unstable.

How can you enjoy yourself if you're constantly worried about the Southern Barbarians raiding your base?

Emperor Jing was also unhappy, so after squeezing the Noble Families almost to the point of exhaustion, he ended the Renewal Era name and renamed it New Splendor Era, which was a prelude to a Pacifying Barbarians War.

He wanted to accomplish what his grandfather had failed to do: to completely incorporate the important Canglan River into the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The initial phase went smoothly, with significant results achieved.

However, as they fought deep into foreign lands and the battle lines stretched out, they began to suffer repeated setbacks.

They even lost a significant number of their elite troops.

After suffering setbacks abroad, Noble Families clans made a comeback, accompanied by upsetting events such as the enfeoffment of kings, the alliance of sects, and the rebellion of the Southern Barbarians.

Emperor Jing could only order the Pacify Barbarian Legion to retreat north of the Canglan River to avoid ruining all the achievements made before in this battle, but in the end, they still lost more than half of the Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture.

This means that less than half of the results of two hundred years of Renewal Era work have been retained.

Although this did not prevent later generations from having a high opinion of Emperor Jing, it still caused Emperor Jing great frustration at the time.

Thus, the Jingxin Calendar only lasted for thirty-seven years before it came to an abrupt end.

The subsequent Great Governance Era and Eternal Governance Era were merely wishful thinking. During these two periods, Di Yi significant war, focusing instead on procreation and preparing for his succession.

There's no such thing as a crown prince for hundreds of years.

Because the emperors of Dynasty of Fate have a lifespan of up to a thousand years, they will only create a successor to the throne at the end of their lives.

The birth of princes was not about quantity, but quality, which was entirely within the control of the emperors of the Dynasty of Fate.

Generally speaking, an emperor will only have a maximum of nine sons in the later stages of his life, and as for princesses and noblewomen, the number is unknown.

Just after Zhao Xing rejected the Blazing Sun Army's envoy, in the Agricultural Supervisorate, at the Celestial Timing Academy.

A captain accompanied a middle-aged scholar into the Snow Pine Seven Mountains Courtyard.

"What do you mean? You want me and Lao Cheng to be your Black Armor Army's mouthpieces?" Ge Jinsong's cheeks twitched. "Are you here to humiliate me?"

In his mind, Ge Jinsong immediately recalled Zhao Xing's performance from March of last year to February of this year.

In March, the report tested the waters, ranking twenty-ninth.

In April, during the branch training, I ranked among the top students many times... Let's not go into details, and eventually I entered the Earthly Advantage Institute.

In May, Lawless Training, he displayed his talent as a commander.

In June, Supply Training, they ranked second, which impressed Xia Jing and the others.

The selection and training began in July. The Nine Sections Dojo were used to comprehend the Solar Terms Decree, break through the Fourth-Turn of the Knowing Realm, and defeat Cheng Qingming's disciple Feng Qiu.

Liu Tianning's Straw Man Art Training Course passed six tests, Straw Man Art stood out from the crowd, defeating a group of geniuses from Great Granary Institute and taking the top spot.

His subsequent growth became increasingly uncontrollable.

August, September, October.

In the flood control training at the Tranquil Flood Academy, Zhao Xing's experience in flood control was so profound that it even surpassed that of some Agricultural Master. Although Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, and others were better than Zhao Xing in individual magical skills, this test was not a test of individual magical skills, but a comprehensive test that combined theory and practice.

Zhao Xing, number one!

The Celestial Timing Academy's Disaster Course, presided over by Mei Zhiru and assisted by Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming, is another comprehensive training program. It includes forty-seven kinds of insect plagues, Heavenly Fire showers, and Earth Vein eruptions. During this time, the martial artists also need to be fed, because "enemy forces" have begun to appear in this training, and it is starting to simulate real combat.

Zhao Xing was impeccable in both specific governance and overall perspective. Moreover, he even broke through to the Fourth-Turn of the Knowing Realm with two more Solar Terms Decree. In the end, even Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming had to admit that they had misjudged him. Zhao Xing was number one again that time!

The intensity of the training was constantly increasing, and many geniuses complained bitterly, some even falling behind. But Zhao Xing seemed to have no upper limit, continuing to grow rapidly!

While Zhao Xing's high score in the selection training certainly contributed to this, his talent has repeatedly surprised Ge Jinsong.

Oh, right, elective training!

Thinking of this, Ge Jinsong couldn't help but sigh in his heart once again.

Ritual Cultivator's mental training, including Intelligence Reduction Method and Provocation Method, resulted in Zhao Xing winning first place several times, and even when he didn't win first place, he was always in the top three.

The witchcraft training of the various tribes of the Southern Barbarians involves learning about their unique methods and equipment. Most of the training consists of theoretical lessons, with a small portion being practical training. When fighting in foreign lands, it is inevitable to use enemy weapons, but he is still better than others in this completely unfamiliar system.

Physician training, pharmacist tests, ghost identification, Invoking the Gods training courses... even in the application training of Engineer School machinery Divine Soldier, this kid is number one in flying boats!

Is there no justice left? Is there no law left?!

I've been whipped so many times, and you two bastards still want me to be your advocate? Are you going to jump in my face right now?

I finally managed to save face after he completed his last large-scale joint training exercise, and I planned to pick it up again when he took up his post in the field.

You want to humiliate me again?!

"How dare you humiliate me like this! Get out!" Ge Jinsong cried out indignantly. "I only misjudged you once, why is it like this?"

"Brother Ge, please don't misunderstand!" Seeing Ge Jinsong so agitated, Ritual Cultivator quickly used magic to soothe him. "We have come here to relieve Brother Ge's worries."

"If you miss this opportunity, you'll regret it!"

"Hmph!" Ge Jinsong remained unaffected, sneering, "A strategist's words are just that—deceptive tricks. You're always using such tactics. I won't listen. You may all return!"

Ritual Cultivator cupped his hands and stood up. "If Brother Ge doesn't want to know why Brother Cheng agreed, and insists that we leave, then we will leave. There are plenty of people to mediate."

Huh? Cheng Qingming agreed? What right does he have to agree?

Ge Jinsong was taken aback. Ritual Cultivator and the soldiers were about to leave, he immediately shouted, "Wait!"

"You just said that Cheng Qingming has agreed to be the Black Armor Army's envoy?"

A smile appeared on Ritual Cultivator's lips, but he quickly suppressed it, turned around and sat down. The speed was so fast that even the general next to him couldn't react and was still standing there dumbfounded. "That's right, Brother Ge, please listen to me."

"Life is unpredictable; change can happen in the blink of an eye."

"This year, you two have indeed been misunderstood far too much."

"But if you two recommend him, you can promote Zhao Xing from the weak Divine Might Army to our strong Xuanjia Army."

"The more outstanding he becomes in the future, the names of both of them will surely appear in the commendation documents of our Black Armor Army."

"In the long run, who will remember the matter of the previous division? After all, it only took up a small part of the time. Even if they do remember, it's still a good story. After all, it was you two who brought him into our Black Armor Army, which shows your discerning eye for talent."

"The time ahead is the most important!"

Ritual Cultivator's words successfully persuaded Ge Jinsong. Yes, what did those little things matter? If Zhao Xing himself recommended him to join the Black Armor Army.

Later, the Black Armor Army publicized this incident, and what is now considered an embarrassing moment has become a "minor setback" on the road to recognizing talent. It might even become a beautiful story!

"Alright, I'll give it a try," Ge Jinsong nodded.

Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming had not yet arrived at the Eighteen Locust Willow Courtyard.

Many more people came to the Yang City Ministry of Agriculture, ready to act as persuaders.

The Divine Might Army's garrison in Yang City.

Huang Chengzhi, Nine Section Commandant, was squatting on the ground, burning paper money for a row of statues of gods.

What was being burned was a letter, addressed to Xier County.

"Report! Commander! Urgent report!"

Suddenly a soldier burst in.

"Tell me quickly!" Huang Chengzhi said, "How did it go?"

"Three more groups of people headed towards the Eighteen Locust Willow Courtyard! Among them was a captain from the Tigron Army!"

"What?!" Huang Chengzhi stood up anxiously. "Those bastards even sent the Tigron Army to snatch people? Go and keep watch! Report back immediately if there's any news!"

"Yes!"

Huang Chengzhi then squatted down to burn paper money for the statue of the deity.

"Damn it, stop burning them!" The image of the Swift Travel Dai Zong suddenly opened his eyes. "You've already burned four forced march orders today!"

"The letter has already arrived in Xier County, don't burn it for me anymore!"

After saying this, the statue closed its eyes, and all the candles in front of the row of statues below went out, even spitting out the letter.

Huang Chengzhi bowed to the statue, his face beaming with joy, and murmured to himself, "We've arrived? That's good, that's good."

"Old Chen, Long Xiao, you two need to hurry up and get here. The lobbyists are getting more and more sophisticated, and the pressure is increasing. I can't handle it alone."

This chapter is a review. There's no need to go into too much detail about those training courses, because they will be demonstrated in the six-month internship that follows. I think it's more appropriate to put them into practice.

There will definitely be a second and third update today. As for the specific time, I write over 10,000 words a day, so it's impossible to specify a exact time. I can only say that I'm working very hard to write.