Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 304 - 53: Meeting in Huai Liu Courtyard, Future Changes

Chapter 304: Chapter 53: Meeting in Huai Liu Courtyard, Future Changes

The Minister of Agriculture Reserve had always been a prime target for poaching by various armies.

In local battles, the role of the Military Minister of Agriculture Officer was not so pronounced; after all, each state, each prefecture, and each county had a Transportation Department responsible for the supply of provisions, and various places had Changping warehouses for official and civilian food supplies.

But once beyond the borders of Great Zhou and into foreign lands, the role of the Military Minister of Agriculture Officer was infinitely magnified.

When soldiers went to war, they could fight without the best weapons, using bare hands or inferior arms, and still win battles.

They might live poorly, dress insufficiently warm, and engage in combat under harsh conditions, yet victories under such circumstances were countless.

But they could absolutely not fight on an empty stomach.

Being well-fed was the primary task; otherwise, everything else was negotiable.

"In ordinary local armies, at the same rank, one Minister of Agriculture Officer had to ensure wartime supplies for five people, the minimum standard."

"Within the Ten Suns Cave Heaven’s nine stationed armies, despite their varying ranks, the training standard was that one Minister of Agriculture Officer had to support thirty people in wartime supplies to be qualified."

"Judging solely by supply capabilities, Zhao Xing, Shi Yong, and Zhuang Ziqing, all top-tier talents, could each supply five hundred people."

"Top-tier talents, a bit weaker, could achieve supplies for a hundred people of the same rank."

"But this was just training. On an actual battlefield, obtaining supplies as a Minister of Agriculture Officer was far more complex."

"From this year’s training, Zhao Xing’s performance in actual combat was the most outstanding, surpassing the other top-tier talents."

"If we could poach him to the Tiger Flood Dragon Army, it would be worth paying a price." A Minister of Agriculture Officer, dressed in cloud-patterned attire, was flying on clouds, introducing to the person next to him. "General Wei, Zhao Xing, is definitely worth your personal visit."

Alongside the clouds stood another person, clad in battle armor, holding a green scepter inscribed with intricate symbols, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, with a Tiger Flood Dragon head carved at the top.

Wei Yuan, one of the ten Capital Commandants of the Tiger Flood Dragon Army, and the highest-ranking Military Minister of Agriculture Officer in the Tiger Flood Dragon Army, was the top-ranked among the ten generals under the Marquis Mingwu’s command. Because he could fight and cultivate, he often changed the climate first during battles to create the most favorable environment for the Tiger Flood Dragon Army.

The combat effectiveness of the Tiger Flood Dragon Army was significantly different with or without Wei Yuan.

People often said that if there hadn’t been any major wars, Wei Yuan might have already been ennobled.

Wei Yuan, burly and honest-looking, smiled upon hearing the base commander’s introduction: "I also read his records, and indeed, as you said, that’s why I came."

Wei Yuan had originally been at the front lines of the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion but hurried back upon receiving news from the Grotto Heaven.

Besides the military affairs within the Grotto Heaven, his most important task was to poach talent from the Divine Might Army.

Zhao Xing’s individual spell wasn’t particularly impressive, at least to Wei Yuan. There were even people in the Nine-Section Dojo who could match or surpass Zhao Xing.

But in large-scale actual combat, especially in more complex training scenarios, Zhao Xing’s performance stood out from the other talents, including Shi Yong and Zhuang Ziqing.

One might even single out Zhao Xing as a separate tier.

Such talent, the Tiger Flood Dragon Army could definitely not afford to miss.

He was from the Divine Might Army? What did it matter?

The Tiger Flood Dragon Army was much stronger than the Divine Might Army. The Ten Suns Cave Heaven was won by the Tiger Flood Dragon Army, with the Marquis Mingwu’s Tiger Flood Dragon Army taking the main credit.

The Divine Might Army and other armies benefited from the Marquis Mingwu’s achievements, allowing them to share the gains in the Ten Suns Cave Heaven.

So Wei Yuan was quite confident in this poaching mission.

Besides the Tiger Flood Dragon Army, no one else could offer better treatment.

....

In the Eighteen locust and willow courtyard, Zhao Xing opened the door and invited the Tiger Flood Dragon Army officers inside.

There was no choice but to invite them in.

He was just a new recruit, not even officially part of the Divine Might Army, with no right to refuse these big shots.

If he dared to turn them away? Then he’d be done for here.

"Divine Might Army Zhao Xing, greetings to General Wei! Please, General, take the seat of honor."

Zhao Xing saluted the fifth-rank Military Minister of Agriculture Officer, respectfully inviting him to the main hall’s seat of honor, while he stood respectfully.

He knew very well why they were there; this was appreciation. Even if he planned to refuse, he couldn’t offend them.

"Zhao Xing, there’s no need to be so formal. You may sit and speak." Wei Yuan said, waving his hand after taking a seat.

"Yes." Zhao Xing immediately sat upright.

"There’s no need to say you are Zhao Xing of the Divine Might Army." Wei Yuan smiled, "You haven’t yet truly joined the Divine Might Army; they just selected you. Strictly speaking, you currently belong to the Agricultural Supervision Reserve Minister of Agriculture Officer of the Geography Institute under the Military Department of Yang City in the Ten Suns Cave Heaven."

"The General is right."

Zhao Xing did not refute, because by the system, it was indeed so. The Military Department was the largest, so these reserve Military Ministers of Agriculture were considered nurtured by the Military Department and still had no ties to any army.

Their eventual assignment to each army was also decided by the Military Department, which issued the documents for the transfer of certain officers to certain armies; the official procedure was like this.

"It was not Marquis Boping who granted you your military position, but the court, and you must understand the difference."

"Yes, I will heed the General’s teachings." Zhao Xing stood up and cupped his hands.

Even though princes had the right to select people, the lawful and official documents had to go through the central authority.

Of course, it was said that the person selected generally still belonged to the one who chose them.

One had to admit, Wei Yuan, despite being a Military Minister of Agriculture Officer, had negotiation skills that rivaled those of a strategist.