Zhao Xing sat down on the cushion before the statue, relaxed his body, closed his eyes, and emptied his mind.
Before long, a breeze brushed his face, accompanied by peals of thunder.
Then he felt himself standing within a primeval forest, danger lurking on every side.
The Ceremonial Official guarding the hall sensed something and looked toward the statue of True Lord Cao Xi before shifting his gaze to Zhao Xing's back. "He learned quite quickly."
When all the strange phenomena faded, Zhao Xing opened his eyes. Three spells' worth of knowledge had appeared in his mind.
They were: Raise Wind, Thunderclap, and Every Blade of Grass a Soldier.
The first two belonged to the Agrarian School's Celestial Timing Faction and were prerequisite minor skills for the Solar Terms Decree. The latter could be classified under the True Self Faction's All Things Growth Chart.
In his previous life, he had learned spells simply by slapping a skill book, but now he had to comprehend genuine knowledge and study it deeply. From that perspective, players were all absurdly gifted geniuses.
After sitting for a while, he found that the mysterious sensation had vanished. Knowing that this was all he could learn for now, he rose and bowed. "Thank you, True Lord, for bestowing these spells."
Raise Wind: Beginner Spell Progress: (0/9999) Effect: Summons a powerful gust of wind. Thunderclap: Beginner Spell Progress: (0/9999) Effect: With Cloudcalling as a prerequisite, thunder may resound within the clouds. Every Blade of Grass a Soldier: Beginner Spell Progress: (0/9999) Effect: Uses plants as soldiers to launch attacks.
Raise Wind was an independent spell, but Thunderclap required Cloudcalling to be cast first.
Before changing professions, this skill only produced noise and had no offensive power. At most, it could give someone a fright.
The spell that truly possessed offensive power was Guiding Thunder, which could draw lightning from Cloudcalling to attack.
The beginner version of Every Blade of Grass a Soldier also sounded more intimidating than it was.
For now, Zhao Xing could only use specially prepared plant materials to make grass soldiers. To cast without external materials, waving a hand and turning every blade of grass and tree around him into soldiers, he would need to continuously advance the spell.
Since he had not cast them yet, their proficiency was still at zero.
Most places within the city prohibited spellcasting, lest it disturb the residents.
Especially for minor clerks like them. If they accidentally blew away some old man or old woman's drying underwear, or soaked someone's grain seeds, they could just wait for their pay to be docked! What? You still wanted to become a full official? Go cool off somewhere else!
To practice, he either had to leave the city or go to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture had the Earth Treasury Return to Origin Formation. Minor clerks like them could wreak havoc there as they pleased.
Past the Ministry of Agriculture's gate arch stood a Wind and Rain Tower Ship five or six meters tall. Its ram bore a dragon's head, and the Flying Dragon spat water that could nourish land for a thousand li. Yujing was embroidered upon its sails, capable of whipping up fierce winds. It was one of the classic treasures of the Minister of Agriculture profession.
Naturally, tiny Gucheng did not possess such an advanced treasure. This was merely a model; the real thing could only be found in a Ministry of Agriculture at the commandery level or above.
Still, the county-level Ministry of Agriculture had plenty of good things. In the treasure vault at the northeast corner sat treasures such as the Flowing Cloud Flying Boat, Return to Origin Waterwheel, Golden Raincoat, and Hundred Flowers Hat.
Zhao Xing knew the place like the back of his hand because Great Zhou's government buildings all followed standardized layouts. Memorizing one was essentially the same as memorizing them all.
Furthermore, he had often joined groups to raid county towns in his previous life. Every time they entered a city, they rushed straight for the Ministry of Agriculture. Zhao Xing even knew exactly where to trigger the mechanisms and take the hidden passages.
"Stop! This is the treasure vault. Entry is forbidden!" A voice suddenly shouted at Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing looked around and realized that he had unknowingly wandered near the treasure vault. Judging by the gatekeeper's scrutinizing gaze, he knew his expression must have looked awfully suspicious.
Ah, his occupational habit had acted up again.
"My apologies. I was distracted." Zhao Xing cupped his hands, suppressed the urge in his heart, and turned to leave.
"Don't rush. Once I make it ashore, I'll have everything."
After comforting himself, Zhao Xing passed through the herb garden and arrived at the courtyard area where the official staff lived.
There was only one Ninth Grade Minister of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture.
There were several Sub-Ninth Rank Ministers of Agriculture, overseeing storage, the iron market, the State Farmlands Office, price stabilization, and the Equalization Office.
Border cities also appointed Military Sima Nongs, who specifically accompanied the army into the field and created favorable conditions for the troops.
The Ninth Grade Minister of Agriculture was the chief official of the Agricultural Inspectorate and generally did not bother instructing minor clerks, unless those clerks had influence and connections.
Sub-Ninth Rank Ministers of Agriculture, on the other hand, had an obligation to provide internal instruction.
Gucheng had nine Sub-Ninth Rank Ministers of Agriculture when fully staffed, but currently had only seven.
Each had a certain number of minor clerks under him, who were both subordinates and students.
"Brother, brother, wait for us!" As Zhao Xing walked along the covered corridor, a familiar voice called out from behind him.
He turned and stopped. It was Chen Ziyu and Qian Dong, both carrying baskets on their backs.
"Why did you two come so early as well?"
"Isn't brother the same?" Chen Ziyu said with a smile.
Qian Dong put on a profound expression. "Zi Yu, look. I told you I was right. Brother has indeed been secretly working hard behind our backs lately, coming so early to pay respects to Teacher Xue. Eh? Brother's complexion looks much better than it did a few days ago..."
Zhao Xing's mouth twitched. Could they stop bringing up his complexion?
"Enough nonsense. Hurry up."
Zhao Xing's superior and teacher was named Xue Wenzhong. He had more minor clerks under him than anyone else.
It was not because he was particularly capable. Xue Wenzhong was simply the Ministry of Agriculture's perennial nice guy.
Other Ministers of Agriculture chose their minor clerks carefully. They valued their time and refused to take too many, and for the sake of political achievements, they considered family background and aptitude when selecting them, taking all the promising seedlings for themselves. If a subordinate became a full official, it counted toward their achievements.
Xue Wenzhong was kind and simple-hearted. He only knew how to work and never asked about prospects. When his colleagues refused those of low birth and mediocre aptitude, he took the task upon himself. Of the Ministry of Agriculture's more than five hundred minor clerks, an astonishing two hundred and four studied under Xue Wenzhong!
Even though Old Sima Nong worked conscientiously, he had too many students to teach them all properly. The attention allotted to each person naturally dwindled. In contrast, wealthy youths like Li Chengfeng progressed rapidly under careful guidance.
By the time they reached Xue Wenzhong's courtyard, forty or fifty people were already waiting before the hall.
Old Sima Nong was lecturing from the high platform on the Hundred Explanations of Celestial Timing. Everyone listened intently. Even those who occasionally walked in or out did so on tiptoe, bent over with their heads lowered.
A Sub-Ninth Rank Minister of Agriculture already possessed extraordinary abilities. It was now the Start of Summer, yet peach blossoms still bloomed throughout the courtyard, warm as spring.
Only the occasional coughing proved that Old Sima Nong seemed somewhat advanced in years.
"Minister Xue is already ninety-eight, and his health is not very good. During the Emperor Jing's reign, officials did not receive many benefits. Receiving life-extending blessings twice at Sub-Ninth Rank was already the limit. Who knows how much longer he can live," Zhao Xing thought.
"Old Sima Nong, please don't die this year. If you kick the bucket, I'll be short one superior to recommend me. Where am I supposed to find that final push? It'll only cause more trouble."
Perhaps his prayer had worked. Xue Wenzhong indeed stopped coughing, then raised his head.
Oh, the lecture had ended. It was time for free questions.
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