Equitable Transport Magistrate Zhao Xing, No. 92 Granary City, Encountering a Fat Sheep

Fat sheep! (6k)

"Out already?" Long Xiao looked delightedly toward the pale blue vortex and saw a tall figure slowly fly out of it.

"Zhao Xing!" Long Xiao waved and shouted.

Zhao Xing nodded at Long Xiao, then bowed to Lu Bang. "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Lu."

"No need for formalities. You earned this yourself." Lu Bang smiled faintly, then pointed at Long Xiao. "This kid has been waiting anxiously. Go on."

Zhao Xing clasped his hands, then swiftly flew out of the Great Granary Institute with Long Xiao.

"Zhao Xing, you seem different." Long Xiao studied Zhao Xing. Though he looked the same, his temperament was completely different from how he had been in Cloud City. Back then, Zhao Xing had possessed a fierce, razor-sharp aura, like an unsheathed sword, with heavy killing intent.

Now, however, he seemed detached from the mundane world. His aura was entirely restrained, yet upon close inspection, Long Xiao could sense the astonishing vitality within him, like a volcano poised to erupt.

"There have been some changes." Zhao Xing nodded. He understood it clearly himself. Having just entered the Earth Fiend Realm, neither his physical body and seven souls nor his vital energy had fully refined away the fiendish aura, so he naturally gave off a fierce and sharp impression.

Yet after more than a month of tempering and comprehending the Dao, especially after emerging from the Primordial Dao Field, he could now fully control that fiendish aura and integrate it perfectly.

The hidden danger caused by leveling up too quickly had finally been resolved.

"Lu Bang said you were comprehending the Dao. What exactly did you comprehend? You spent so long on it." Long Xiao asked curiously.

"A high-level spell of the True Self Faction: Fleeting Origin."

"How come I've never heard of it?"

"It belongs to the high-level essence-analysis arts. Not many people know it." Zhao Xing explained, "It can allow plant life to break through its limits of growth."

Long Xiao nodded, half understanding. "I hope that spell of yours is really impressive. You delayed quite a while for it. The Pacifying Barbarians Merit List has already been open for over half a month!"

"No rush." Zhao Xing smiled. "Sharpening the axe does not delay the cutting of firewood. How far could things advance in half a month?"

Wars below the fifth rank lasted years. Missing half a month would not matter at all.

"How far could they advance? Heh, you really underestimate Great Zhou's strength."

"The fifty-thousand-li boundary line has advanced across the board. In half a month, the front has already pushed forward ten thousand li. Even the section closer to the boundary line has advanced four thousand li." Long Xiao said. "South of the Azure Wave River, excluding Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture, more than three thousand new cities have already been built!"

"By territory alone, they have already seized land equal to five Yingyuan Prefectures!"

Long Xiao had expected him to become anxious, but Zhao Xing showed no reaction.

A distance of ten thousand li had indeed seemed immense when he had first entered the ninth rank, but now Zhao Xing's mobility had greatly increased. Naturally, he knew that ten thousand li was not very far.

Besides, those three thousand-plus cities were purely "Jing Emperor-style reporting."

The reports could not be called false. The figures were certainly real.

The craftsmen could build cities quickly, but Zhao Xing estimated that most of those three thousand cities were granary cities and logistical strongholds used for supplies, or cities seized from the Southern Barbarian royal courts.

For the Pacifying Barbarians War, such gains could only be called a bit of added excitement.

It was not yet time for Zhao Xing to worry.

If sixth- and seventh-rank cultivators were suffering large-scale casualties, then he really would need to panic, because that would mean the window for earning merit was about to close.

"Where was I assigned?" Zhao Xing asked. "What is my new appointment?"

"You were in seclusion. How could they assign you anywhere?" Long Xiao said. "The Marquis did not have anyone disturb you. He said to wait until you came out."

"Now that every camp's combat formation has been assigned, there are not many posts suitable for your seventh-rank official rank left. The Nine Section Commander positions are all full. I reckon you will not have much chance to fight."

"One does not need to be a Nine Section Commander to earn merit." Zhao Xing was quite open-minded about it. This Pacifying Barbarians War had no shortage of opportunities to distinguish oneself.

Taking Aotian Meow with them, Zhao Xing and Long Xiao boarded an Arrowfish Flying Boat and hurried toward Xier City, the Divine Might Army's garrison.

Zhao Xing now belonged to the Divine Might Army. He was heading there to pay respects to Yang An.

Six hours later, the two arrived at Xier City.

Yang An's residence in Xier City was named Bo Ping Residence.

Bo Ping Residence was heavily guarded, with spears standing like a forest. The two arrived at the Military Affairs Hall, where the commanding general usually handled military matters.

Outside the hall was a training ground, its surroundings densely lined with blades, spears, swords, halberds, and other weapons. Every soldier wore armor and battle robes, iron helmets on their heads and solemn expressions on their faces.

On the steps outside the hall, Jia Pu held a treasured sword. Gems were set into its hilt, emitting a dim gleam beneath the sunlight.

He stood motionless like a statue. Whenever passing soldiers glanced at him, they could not help examining the entrance.

They knew that the military advisor was waiting for an Agriculture Official named Zhao Xing, and that he had already waited three hours in advance.

They did not know what Zhao Xing was capable of to receive such treatment.

"They're here." Jia Pu suddenly raised his head. Long Xiao and Zhao Xing appeared at the entrance.

He immediately descended the steps.

By the time Zhao Xing and Long Xiao approached, Jia Pu had reached the foot of the stairs.

"Greetings, Divine Might General." Upon seeing Jia Pu, Zhao Xing immediately clasped his hands in salute. Since Yang An had demoted himself to an ordinary soldier, the person temporarily acting as commander-in-chief of the Divine Might Army was the man before him.

"Zhao Xing." Jia Pu smiled and made a gesture to raise him. "No need for such courtesy. You have been in seclusion for many days. Did you gain anything?"

"Reporting to the General, I achieved a minor success."

"Good." Jia Pu said, "The Marquis is currently not in Xier County, so I will issue your appointment on his behalf. Is there anywhere you wish to go?"

"I will follow the General's orders." Zhao Xing said. "Wherever the General sends me, I will go."

"The Marquis specifically instructed me that Zhao Xing was an all-round talent in Ten Suns Grotto Heaven, able both to fight and to farm, so I had to hear your thoughts first." Jia Pu took a Mirage Pearl from his robes. "It records the camps of our Divine Might Army throughout the Southern Wilderness. You may choose whichever you wish."

Choose freely? Long Xiao muttered to himself. The combat formations were clearly full. Were they going to establish another camp specifically for Zhao Xing?

Seeing this, Zhao Xing no longer stood on ceremony and began examining it carefully.

The Divine Might Army currently had quite a few sixth-rank cultivators fighting on the front lines, while also building cities in the Southern Wilderness for supply and recuperation.

The one advancing fastest was a Commandant named Liao Rulong. He commanded eight camp units, including Five Elements, Divine Mechanism, and Nine Section, totaling twelve thousand men. Chen Shijie, including Long Xiao, all served under Liao Rulong.

At present, Liao Rulong was recuperating in a place called Machang City. He had already penetrated more than six thousand li into the Southern Wilderness and was fighting the Wolf God Tribe under the Golden Feather Royal Court, because Machang City had originally been Wolf God Tribe territory.

"Reporting to the General, I wish to serve under Commandant Liao Rulong." Zhao Xing gave his answer. If he was going, he would naturally join a stronger unit. Old Chen and Long Xiao were both there, and having acquaintances was naturally much better than entering a completely unfamiliar unit.

"Among the seventh-rank martial officer posts under Liao Rulong, only Equitable Transport Magistrate remains. Under the other commandants, there are still Nine Section Commander posts available." Jia Pu said. "If you wish to command a camp yourself, I can also arrange for you to become its commanding general."

Zhao Xing shook his head. "This subordinate's abilities are shallow. It would be more appropriate to first familiarize myself with the environment."

Old Chen and the others had advanced too deeply. Though the Military Sima Nong could grow grain, that was only enough for temporary consumption. Much of their supplies still could not be quickly grown in such harsh conditions.

That was why the Military Realm built cities in the Southern Wilderness. The Equitable Transport Magistrate's duty was to produce vital treasures needed by the army, such as medicinal herbs, crafting materials for artisan equipment, and restorative supplements, then organize personnel to deliver them to where the army was stationed.

This post was extremely important. The Southern Wilderness had withdrawn on a large scale because it wanted to stretch Great Zhou's battle lines and wear it down.

The Equitable Transport Magistrate had countless opportunities to earn merit, perhaps even more than those fighting at the front, because the various Southern Wilderness tribes would occasionally raid supply cities.

Furthermore, Zhao Xing was going to serve as Chen Shijie's support because he wanted to prevent that fellow from dying in the Southern Wilderness.

"Since that is so, follow me!"

Jia Pu led Zhao Xing into the hall, where a divine statue stood upright.

"Zhao Xing, receive the order!"

"This subordinate is here!"

"By decree of the Military Realm, you are appointed Equitable Transport Magistrate under Liao Rulong of the Divine Might Army, in charge of Divine Might Army No. 92 Granary City! You will be responsible for the army's provisions and supplies. This appointment takes effect immediately!" Jia Pu beckoned, and a gleaming golden document emerged from the brazier beneath the divine statue. Jia Pu then stamped it with the commander-in-chief's seal of the Divine Might Army.

"This subordinate obeys!" Zhao Xing knelt and bowed to the divine statue, respectfully accepting the document.

Any transfer involving a seventh-rank military official required approval from the Military Realm. If an order was too outrageous, such as sending a seventh-rank martial officer to assault the main camp of the Golden Feather Royal Court, the Military Realm's Yin Gods would question whether the order was reasonable.

Of course, under normal circumstances, the Military Realm would not interfere.

Once the formalities were complete, Jia Pu said solemnly:

"Zhao Xing, Long Xiao, when you go to the Southern Wilderness, do not tarnish the name of the Divine Might Army."

"Yes."

On the twentieth of June, they arrived in Xier County to receive their appointments. That very day, Zhao Xing and Long Xiao crossed the river with their orders.

"Cloud City has now become part of the interior of Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture."

The Arrowfish Flying Boat sped through the skies as Zhao Xing looked down below.

He had been in seclusion for one month and twenty days, and the Pacifying Barbarians Merit List had been open for eighteen days. The changes had indeed been substantial.

Cloud City had originally been a frontier city of Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture.

But now, one hundred and twenty mountain cities had been newly established south of Cloud City, and experts had altered the surrounding weather patterns.

It seemed they intended to turn this land into settled territory.

"Six counties' worth of land has been marked out south of Cloud City. This is no minor operation. They have already moved the boundary markers and begun constructing county-level divine temples."

When Great Zhou opened up territory, whether land was raw or settled depended on whether divine temples had been established!

If no divine temple had been built, or if the temple built was of insufficient status, that meant it was raw land. It meant the territory might still change hands, be easily captured, or prove too hostile to inhabit, and might be abandoned in the future.

"Of those three thousand-plus cities, thirty percent are in settled territory, and they are still expanding rapidly." Zhao Xing thought. "The Southern Wilderness wants to lure us in deep and stretch our battle lines, while Great Zhou builds cities step by step to swallow up the land and shorten supply lines. No one is stupid."

"Let's look at the merit list."

Zhao Xing took out his Earth Mirror and opened the merit rankings.

Divine Might Army Zhao Xing: Official Seventh Rank, Lower

Merit: 0

Rank: 5,518,712

The merit list updated in real time. The next moment, Zhao Xing dropped several hundred places.

"Without earning even an inch of merit, I'm at the very bottom." Zhao Xing thought. "Even an ordinary soldier ranks above me. But once I reach No. 92 Granary City, I will rise quickly."

His starting point was Equitable Transport Magistrate at the seventh rank. As long as he began carrying out his daily military duties, he could easily rise several hundred thousand places in a day.

"Let's see who ranks first."

Zhao Xing flipped to the top.

First on the Merit List: Divine Thunder Army Lu Yuanwei; Official Sixth Rank, Upper; Merit: 1,041,015

"He already has over a million merit points?" Zhao Xing clicked his tongue inwardly. That was fast. "The name Lu Yuanwei sounds somewhat familiar. Divine Thunder Army... a descendant of Lüliang Province's nobility?"

"Long Xiao." Zhao Xing pointed to the first place on the merit list. "Do you know who this Lu Yuanwei is?"

"Doesn't it say right there? He's from the Divine Thunder Army."

"..."

What an enlightening answer.

"Is he from Lüliang Province?"

"How would I know? I don't pay attention to such things." Long Xiao shook his head. "Probably. The Divine Thunder Army ranked one hundred and sixteenth in the last Military Realm martial exercise. Being a commandant in such a powerful army is no simple matter."

"Fine, go pet the cat." Zhao Xing knew there was no point asking further, so he started looking himself.

He skipped over the sixth-rank cultivators and looked directly at the classification list for seventh-rank martial officers.

In the end, official promotions followed the rankings, selecting the best performers.

Thus, as long as Zhao Xing could rank among the best of the seventh rank, he could advance to the sixth rank during the periodic rewards.

The same applied to every other rank.

Besides that, military merit also involved rewards of land, nobility titles, honorary ranks, and various other honors.

For those at the seventh rank and above who achieved exceptional merit, even their family members would be rewarded.

For example, if Zhao Xing took first place on the seventh-rank list, his wife or mother could, according to the rank of titled lady, be granted the title of Seventh-Rank Wu Hua Lady.

Such appointments could also increase lifespan and fortune, grant the right to cultivate, and even help raise one's vital energy gathering rank.

The imperial ladies of the first through fifth ranks were also extremely formidable in battle, because their rank followed that of their husbands.

"There are actually so many unfamiliar names among the seventh rank?"

"Xia Jing has actually fallen beyond two thousandth place."

Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised.

Xia Jing was now also Official Seventh Rank, Lower, but he ranked somewhere beyond twenty-eight hundred on the merit list.

However, Xia Jing was rising extremely quickly. In the blink of an eye, he climbed three positions.

"The competition is fierce."

"The new generation of seventh-rankers and veteran seventh-rankers are all competing together."

Zhao Xing looked at Long Xiao and immediately understood.

Long Xiao ranked five hundred places higher than Xia Jing. He was a Valiant Commandant of Official Seventh Rank, Upper.

Moreover, combat strength and the merit list were not entirely the same thing. Someone might have poorer luck and be assigned a hard target, making it entirely possible to gain not a shred of merit for more than ten days.

Military merit also did not only increase.

If one lost a battle or suffered excessive casualties, merit would be deducted.

"The Military Realm stipulates that whenever casualties exceed half during a battle, no merit will be awarded. Merit will be reduced according to the circumstances, except in special cases."

Zhao Xing then looked at the top ten of the seventh-rank list.

Beyond the top fifty, the rankings changed rather frequently.

But the top twenty were comparatively stable. Their positions might not change for days.

Merit List (Seventh Rank):

1: Beginning Origin Army, Qi Yuan Army, Official Seventh Rank, Upper, Merit 272,142

2: Primal Glory Army, Yi Yue, Official Seventh Rank, Upper, Merit 250,145

3: Illusory Nether Army, Nangong Ye, Official Seventh Rank, Upper, Merit 242,514

4: Beginning Origin Army, Pang Zheng, Official Seventh Rank, Upper, Merit 240,211

5: Primal Glory Army...

...

10: Tigron Army Wei Hong, Official Seventh Rank, Upper, Merit 215,475

20: Blazing Sun Army Helian Lie, Official Seventh Rank, Upper, Merit 172,451

It was not until tenth place that Zhao Xing saw a familiar name.

"Wei Hong is Wei Yuan's fourth son. He is also in the Tigron Army."

"Helian Lie and Wei Yuan both tried to recruit me before."

Zhao Xing remembered the two. Wei Yuan was an old friend of his teacher Tian Yan, so Zhao Xing naturally knew something about him. Wei Hong was Wei Yuan's fourth son.

His first three sons had all died in battle during the early expansion of Nine Heavens Responding Origin Prefecture.

"The armies from the other four Grotto Heavens all rank above the eight armies of Ten Suns Grotto Heaven. Only the Tigron Army can stand alongside the powerful armies of the other Four Great Grotto Heavens. The Black Armor Army, Blazing Sun Army, and Sea Pacifying Army all rank somewhat lower."

"Shi Yong and Zhuang Ziqing are doing fairly well in the Tigron Army too. They are nearly within the top ten thousand of the seventh-rank list." Zhao Xing thought.

"Compared to the sixth rank, there are more seventh-rankers. Being in the top ten thousand is already quite good."

As for the sixth rank, judging from the total number of sixth-rank participants from the Five Great Grotto Heavens, there were probably only around fifty thousand sixth-rank cultivators in total, including both principal and subordinate ranks.

The main reason was that powerful armies had more subordinate sixth-rank officers. In weaker armies, a subordinate sixth-ranker could hold command authority in this campaign. Yet in powerful armies, there had even been cases of sixth-rankers serving as commanders. In the Divine Might Army, for instance, eighth-rankers generally served at the commander level.

After crossing the river, the Arrowfish Flying Boat continued forward at tremendous speed.

Because the Pacify Barbarian Legion was advancing across the board, the Military Realm was in no rush. The entire front was being pushed forward in unison.

The four thousand li south of Cloud City was basically safe.

The areas beyond four thousand li carried some danger.

The various armies advanced at different rates. The Four Great Royal Courts of the Southern Wilderness might very well bypass the stronger armies and break through the weaker armies' defenses one point at a time.

After roughly four hours, Zhao Xing had crossed the four-thousand-li safety line.

The weather began to turn unpredictable.

Long Xiao also emerged from the cabin. "Anything?"

"Nothing for now."

Zhao Xing shook his head.

"If something comes up, stop for a while," Long Xiao said. "I delayed several days just to come find you. If we run into a small group of enemies, don't let them get away. Those are real military merits."

"Don't worry. I'll keep watch for you." Zhao Xing smiled.

With Zhao Xing and Long Xiao working together, even if they encountered a force entirely composed of Seventh Grade Earthly Fiend Realm cultivators, they could crush them as long as there were fewer than five hundred enemies.

Of course, it would be another matter if the Opposite Side had geniuses as well.

But that was unlikely to happen along the front between four thousand and eight thousand li.

After all, the Southern Wilderness's current overall strategy was to fight while retreating. The Four Great Royal Courts were unlikely to send out geniuses chosen from ten thousand, since losing one would be painful indeed.

They safely flew another thousand li.

By then, Zhao Xing had lowered the Arrowfish Flying Boat to low altitude, below three thousand meters.

Above three thousand meters, fierce gale winds periodically raged. It was difficult for Seventh Grade Earthly Fiend Realm cultivators to fight in such an environment.

The harsh environment of the Southern Wilderness was not entirely natural. The Heavenly Shamans of the Southern Wilderness had also deliberately cast spells to disrupt the weather, turning it into a defensive barrier that hindered Great Zhou's advance.

The Arrowfish Flying Boat was a lower-grade fifth-rank warship. Flying through gale winds would slow it down and cause its core propulsion materials to be consumed faster.

After half an hour, Zhao Xing descended again, dropping to an altitude of one thousand meters.

They had now reached the front more than five thousand five hundred li out.

Originally, Zhao Xing had been able to see quite a few Great Zhou cities during the flight.

But now, the number of cities had dwindled. Even following the map, it took a long time to spot one.

Just as Zhao Xing thought they were about to reach No. 92 Granary City without incident—

"Hmm?"

Zhao Xing's heart suddenly stirred, and he looked toward the distant sky ahead.

"Long Xiao, get out here!"

"Whoosh—"

Long Xiao immediately rushed out.

"Something happened?"

"Yes."

Zhao Xing pointed in a certain direction.

"Look southeast. Raise your gaze a hundred meters. There are signs of the enemy."

Long Xiao looked up, but saw absolutely nothing.

Zhao Xing offered no explanation. He immediately turned the flying boat southeast and sped forward ten li. Then he raised their altitude by a hundred meters, reaching the gale layer.

"Whoosh—"

Zhao Xing cast a cloud art, forming a narrow trail of cloud that clung to a certain patch of sky.

"Change!"

Zhao Xing turned the cloud art blood-red—this was Blood Cloud Mimicry from the Devouring Cloud Art.

"See it now?"

Long Xiao grew excited. "I see it. It's the wake of a Netherflame Warship."

"Correct." Zhao Xing nodded. "The Netherflame Warships of the Southern Wilderness are crafted entirely in imitation of Great Zhou's Raging Flame Warships. Their Sunwind Sails, Firecloud Sails, and Five Elements Banners can conceal the ship's trail, allowing them to travel stealthily even amid gale winds."

"But the Southern Wilderness uses Netherrock as its material, and it has a flaw. It leaves behind a faint mist of cloud at the ship's rear. It's like a boat sailing through water—the water behind it gets pushed aside, creating quite a disturbance."

"Although the Southern Wilderness has improved it many times and disguised the traces well, leaving only a twenty-meter-wide wake now, it can still be detected within an hour."

"If more than an hour passes, even I won't be able to notice anything unusual in this gale layer, because the gale winds will quickly scatter it."

Long Xiao had fought alongside Chen Shijie many times, so he understood as soon as Zhao Xing explained. "In other words, an alien warship passed by here less than an hour ago?"

Zhao Xing studied the long wake and pondered. "Judging by the width and density of the spreading mist, it should have passed through only half an hour ago."

Long Xiao immediately pulled out a map, his finger sliding over it. "Within three hundred li to the southeast, there's a military city used for supplies. It belongs to the Sea Pacifying Army."

"Eight hundred li ahead, there are three supply cities in total, belonging to the Sea Pacifying Army and the Black Armor Army."

"Damn, the ranks of these supply cities aren't low. We've run into a big catch!"

Zhao Xing nodded. "That's right. If they dare attack these three cities, they must have Seventh Grade cultivators leading them. A Netherflame Warship is a top-grade fifth-rank vessel. It can carry three thousand-man battalions and transport massive city-breaking divine weapons... Long Xiao, are we doing this?"

Long Xiao laughed. "Your ship is already flying like crazy, and you're still asking me? Of course we're doing it! But can we catch up?"

Zhao Xing said, "The Arrowfish Flying Boat is a light model. Speed is its strength. To conceal its trail, the Netherflame Warship definitely can't travel too fast. In half an hour, I should be able to catch them when they reach the Sea Pacifying Army's city."

At the side, Long Aotian threw back its head and roared, "Meow—"

Long Xiao pulled the greatsword from his back. "Hahaha, look, even Aotian wants us to charge! Hurry, hurry! Don't save money at a time like this. Taking them down will be a huge merit! Quick, push the warship's speed to the limit!"

There was a lot going on during the holiday, and I was too busy during the day. This chapter only has six thousand characters, so tomorrow's update will have ten thousand characters.