Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 173 - 143: Siege (Two-in-One)

Chapter 173: Chapter 143: Siege (Two-in-One)

In this world, martial status isn’t everything, but it can very much represent a person’s status.

A Third Grade Great Grandmaster might not amount to much in a place like the Imperial Capital, but in a small border town like this, they would definitely be considered a distinguished guest among distinguished guests.

And it was for this reason, thanks to Ran Qingmo’s blessing, Xu Yuan easily secured an appointment to see the highest military and administrative officer in Shengshan County.

Under the cover of night,

a young officer in his twenties led a young man and woman with neither humility nor arrogance towards the inner hall of the county government:

"Master Zhou, please, this way. General Wang is waiting for you inside."

As Xu Yuan walked, he observed everything within the county government.

This place looked less like an office for the officials and more like a military camp. Everyone in the government office was dressed in the standard military uniform of the Dayan Border Army.

The only other attire appeared to be that of the Tax Bureau.

However, looking at the thick calluses on the officials’ hands from the Tax Bureau, capable of sparking a fire, they were clearly just Border Army soldiers wrapped in a layer of Tax Bureau skin.

The entire Shengshan County was a border town completely controlled by the Border Army.

Even though they possessed great military and administrative power over the area, it seemed the Border Army’s days were not easy. There wasn’t a trace of Formation Patterns anywhere in the vast county government, not even the most basic Bright Pattern Lamp, with only firelight for illumination.

If compared to modern society, it would be akin to a government agency and military district so destitute that they had to use kerosene lamps for lighting.

It could be said they were extremely impoverished.

And all these matters of clothing, food, housing, and transportation were still secondary. The issue was that the Border Army’s saber was mostly common iron.

The reason why the Dayan Empire was so abundant in martial virtues was because Dayan’s military was full of cultivators and martial disciples.

Apart from some clerical roles, the regular army had virtually no ordinary people.

It was a simple logic: an ordinary human army could scarcely defeat a low-level cultivator like Xu Yuan by sheer numbers, but once they encountered a Great Grandmaster like Ran Qingmo, just one powerful sword technique was needed and all that remained was to watch the human troops flee.

But the cultivator army was completely different.

Because cultivators could form arrays.

According to the Saint’s Remnant Soul, the most important change from a world of Sects to one under imperial rule, apart from the changes in Origin Qi between heaven and earth, was largely due to the development of military Formations.

Xu Yuan had not yet witnessed large-scale military Formations, but according to discussions within the Prime Minister’s Mansion, it seemed that large military Formations were quite formidable.

Even a Third Grade Great Grandmaster would be instantly killed in the face of an army Formation of ten thousand soldiers.

Of course, a Third Grade expert wouldn’t be so foolish as to confront a military Formation head-on.

The military establishment of Shengshan County had two battalions, which could also be called a town. At full strength, it would amount to approximately ten thousand people, but given Shengshan’s current situation, it was certainly not at full strength.

Xu Yuan was not sure of the exact number of troops, but as he walked through, he could see that at least two-thirds of these soldiers were carrying common iron weaponry.

Cultivators using weapons of ordinary humans.

Ordinary iron could indeed kill, but its combat strength was at least halved.

Because wrought iron weapons could not bear Origin Qi.

In the Wuxuan Institute of the Jingjiang Xu Residence, the brawny fighters used weapons mixed with some "mysterious iron" or "fine iron" to ensure the strength of their weapons, but now it seemed the Imperial Court truly had no money.

The young officer leading the way seemed to have noticed Xu Yuan’s gaze:

"Master Zhou may find it amusing, but the silver taels allocated each year to Shengshan County by the Imperial Court are mostly used by General Wang to repair the walls and Formation Patterns. Against those beasts, wrought iron weapons are barely sufficient."

As he said this, the young officer pointed to the saber at his waist.

Xu Yuan glanced at the blade and smiled slightly:

"Making the blade thicker and more crude is a simple and brutish solution, but it is a solution nonetheless. However, once Shengshan’s trade routes open up, the situation should improve by next year."

The young officer grinned:

"That’s what General Wang also said. If nothing unexpected happens, next year our Shengshan army will be able to update some equipment, all thanks to Miss Xu’s formations..."

Speaking of Xu Xinyao, longing flashed in the young officer’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

The group stopped outside a door guarded by two Sixth Grade Integration Body soldiers, and the young officer gave Xu Yuan a fist salute:

"Master Zhou, General Wang is inside."

"....."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan glanced at the courtyard, sensing a rare fluctuation of Formation energy.

Soundproof Formation and Soul-avoiding Formation to prevent others from snooping—it seemed this was indeed the most important area within the county government.

"Open the door."

The young officer ordered the guards, who efficiently opened the room’s door for the three of them.

Upon entering the courtyard, they were greeted by what seemed to be a martial training ground, with blazing bonfires all around illuminating the entire training area. A broad avenue extended inwards, and at the far end of the courtyard sat a large hall where a group of people seemed to be discussing something.

Xu Yuan could see that they too were dressed in military apparel, and in contrast to the common soldiers they had just seen, those in the hall were clearly supposed to be officers.

The young officer explained in a low voice:

"General Wang should be discussing military and administrative affairs with Mr. Liu and the others right now. Master Zhou, please follow me to a side room to wait for a moment."

Xu Yuan wasn’t in a hurry and nodded his head.

After leading Xu Yuan and Ran Qingmo to a side room, the young officer left to notify others.

Once the officer had left, the side room fell into a quiet,

and Xu Yuan looked at Ran Qingmo, who had been silent the whole time, and laughed softly: