Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 303 - 52: The Tiger Flood Dragon Army is Here to Snatch People? Can’t Sit Still!_2

Chapter 303: Chapter 52: The Tiger Flood Dragon Army is Here to Snatch People? Can’t Sit Still!_2

What joy could there be when you have to worry about Southern Barbarians invading home at any time?

Emperor Jing didn’t feel any joy either. So after exhausting the major families, he ended the Dingxin era, naming it Jingxin, and started preparing for a major campaign against the barbarians.

He wanted to accomplish what even his grandfather failed to do, completely incorporating the vital Canglan River into Great Zhou’s territory.

Initially, everything went smoothly, and the results were fruitful.

But as the battles went deeper into foreign lands and the front lines stretched, they started facing setbacks.

They even lost quite a few elite corps.

Being defeated abroad, the family’s forces made a comeback, and during this period, there were even heart-wrenching incidents such as princes allying with sects and Southern Barbarians rebelling.

Emperor Jing had no choice but to order the Pacifying Barbarian Army to retreat to the north of Canglan River, lest all the previous achievements be wasted in this battle. Yet, they still ended up losing more than half of Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion.

In effect, only less than half of the efforts from the past two hundred Dingxin years were preserved.

Although this didn’t affect the high evaluations Emperor Jing received from future generations, at the time, it left him deeply frustrated.

Thus, the Jingxin era lasted only thirty-seven years before it hastily ended.

The subsequent Da Zhi and Yongzhi eras were filled with nothing but beautiful wishes. During these two eras, Emperor Jing didn’t initiate a single proper war, solely focusing on producing offspring and preparing to pass on the throne.

There was no situation where a crown prince occupied the position for hundreds of years.

Because the lifespan limit of the emperor of the Fortune Dynasty was one thousand years, they only produced offspring and passed on the throne at the end of their life.

Moreover, the number of princes born was not plenty but focused on quality, and this was entirely controllable by the emperor of the Fortune Dynasty.

Usually, in the later stages of the emperor’s life, a maximum of nine princes would be born, with no fixed number for princesses or commandery princesses.

.....

Right after Zhao Xing rejected the envoy from the Fierce Sun Army, within the Minister of Agriculture Supervision in Yang City, a colonel accompanied a middle-aged scholar into the Cedar Seven Mountains Academy.

"What do you mean by asking Old Cheng and me to be spokesmen for your Xuanjia Army?" Ge Jingsong’s cheeks twitched, "Are you here to humiliate me?"

Scenes of Zhao Xing’s performance from last March to this February flashed through Ge Jingsong’s mind.

March, entering the competition, ranking nineteen.

April, the training at the sub-academy, multiple top rankings... let’s not mention, he eventually entered the Geography Institute.

May, unable to train, displayed his talent for leadership.

June, supply training, ranked second, even earning the respect of Xia Jing and others.

In July, the selective training began at the Nine-Section Dojo, grasped the Seasonal Order, broke through to the Fourth Transition of Knowledge Realm, and defeated Cheng Qingming’s disciple, Feng Qiu.

In Liu Tianning’s Grassman Skill training class, Zhao Xing passed six tests, his Grassman Skill outshining the crowd, defeating numerous geniuses from the Taicang Institute, and taking the lead.

Thereafter, his growth became unstoppable.

August, September, October.

During the water control training at Pinghuai Institute, Zhao Xing’s experience in water management surprisingly surpassed some Agricultural Masters. Although Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, and others outshined Zhao Xing in individual spells, the challenge was a comprehensive test—a fusion of theory and practice.

Zhao Xing, first place!

In the disaster management course at the Heavenly Time Institute, presided over by Mei Zhiru with assistance from Ge Jingsong and Cheng Qingming, there was another comprehensive training—forty-seven types of insect disasters, heavenly fire meteors, earth veins eruption—and they had to feed the martial artists, as this training simulated real combat scenarios with "enemy armies" appearing now.

Zhao Xing displayed flawless management and strategic vision, and he even broke through to the Fourth Transition of Knowledge Realm with two more Seasonal Orders, finally compelling even Ge Jingsong and Cheng Qingming to admit their misjudgment. Zhao Xing, first place again!

As the training intensity increased, many geniuses groaned about the pressure, some falling behind, but Zhao Xing seemed to have no limits, continuing his rapid growth!

This was undoubtedly linked to the vast scores Zhao Xing obtained in selective training, but his talent repeatedly defied Ge Jingsong’s understanding.

Ah, the selective training!

Ge Jingsong couldn’t help but sigh once more in his heart.

In the Ritual Repairer’s mental training, Dumbing-down Skill, and the Challenge Skill, Zhao Xing seized multiple first places, and even when not first, he was within the top three.

In the Witchcraft training of the Southern Barbarians’ tribes, focused on their unique magic techniques and mechanical knowledge, mostly theory classes with some physical training. Operating in foreign territories inevitably requires using enemy weapons. Even in this unknown system, Zhao Xing excelled over others.

In the doctor’s training, pharmacist exams, ghost identification, and deity invitation training... he even dominated the Mechanical School’s divine weapon application training, and he was the best at piloting the flying boat!

Are there still heavenly principles? Are there still laws?!

I’ve been humiliated so many times, and you two bastards still want me to be your spokesperson? Are you trampling on my face on purpose?

I painstakingly waited until he completed the final major combined training to restore my reputation when he takes an actual position.

Now you want to press me into the ground again?!

"How dare you insult me like this! Get out!" Ge Jingsong was filled with grief and anger. Did I not just misjudge once? Is it that serious?

"Mr. Ge, please don’t misunderstand!" the Ritual Repairer quickly cast a calming spell, seeing Ge Jingsong so agitated, "We came today to relieve your worries."

"If you miss this chance, you will regret it later!"

"Hmph!" Ge Jingsong wasn’t swayed, sneering: "A strategist’s mouth is full of lies. You’re used to these tricks. I won’t listen. You may leave!"

The Ritual Repairer stood up, cupping his hands: "If Mr. Ge doesn’t wish to know why Mr. Cheng agreed, we shall leave. Many others can take our place."

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

Ge Jingsong was stunned, seeing the Ritual Repairer and the soldier about to leave, he immediately shouted: "Wait!"

"You just said, Cheng Qingming agreed to be a spokesperson for the Xuanjia Army?"

The Ritual Repairer’s lips curled into a smile, then composed himself, turned around, and sat down swiftly, even faster than the nearby general who still stood dumbfounded: "Exactly, Mr. Ge, please hear me out."

"The world is fickle, and changes happen in an instant."

"You two indeed suffered much misunderstanding this year."

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

"The more outstanding he becomes, the more he will attribute his success to your recommendation to the Xuanjia Army."

"Over time, who will remember the minor matters at the sub-academy? After all, it occupies a very small portion of time. Even if remembered, it will be regarded as a beautiful story, as you two guided him into our Xuanjia Army, showing your discerning eyes for talent."

"The future time is what matters most!"

The Ritual Repairer’s words successfully moved Ge Jingsong, yes, what did those minor issues matter? If he recommended Zhao Xing into the Xuanjia Army.

And Zhao Xing was later promoted within the Xuanjia Army, what now seemed like a disgraceful history could turn into a testament to his discerning eye for talent. It could indeed become a beautiful legend!

"Alright, I’ll give it a try." Ge Jingsong nodded.

...

Ge Jingsong and Cheng Qingming hadn’t yet reached the Eighteen Locust and Willow Courtyard.

Many others had arrived at the Minister of Agriculture Supervision in Yang City to act as spokespersons.

At the Divine Might Army’s base in Yang City.

Captain Huang Chengzhi was squatting on the ground, burning paper offerings to a row of divine statues.

He was burning letters, addressed to Xier County.

"Report! Commander! Urgent report!"

A soldier suddenly barged in.

"Speak quickly!" Huang Chengzhi said: "What’s the situation?"

"Another three groups are heading to the Eighteen Locust and Willow Courtyard! Among them is a Capital Commandant of the Tiger Flood Dragon Army!"

"What?" Huang Chengzhi stood up anxiously, "Even the Tiger Flood Dragon Army is coming to snatch people? Keep an eye on them! Report immediately if there are any developments!"

"Yes, sir!"

Following this, Huang Chengzhi squatted down again to burn paper offerings to the divine statues.

"Bastard, stop burning!" The Divine Movement Dai Zong’s statue suddenly opened its eyes, "You’ve already burnt the ’hurry up and march order’ four times today!"

"The letter has reached Xier County, don’t burn another one for this deity!"

With that, the statue closed its eyes, and all the candles in front of the row of divine statues extinguished, even the letter papers were spit out.

Huang Chengzhi saluted the statue with a smile on his face, murmuring: "It’s already arrived? That’s good, that’s good."

"Old Chen, Long Xiao, you must come quickly, the rank of spokespersons is getting higher and higher, the pressure is increasing, I can’t handle it alone."