Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 320 - 7: Where is my Minister of Agriculture Supervision?

Chapter 320: Chapter 7: Where is my Minister of Agriculture Supervision?

The Arrowfish Flying Boat crossed the Canglan River, and the weather became noticeably chaotic.

The Anping Prefecture of Jiangbei had already passed the Jingzhe Seasonal Order, and the land was slightly green, with the signs of spring becoming apparent.

However, past the river, it was still a snowy, silver-clad scene.

Zhao Xing stood outside the flying boat and sensed the surroundings; it felt as if he was in the Great Cold Seasonal Order.

After flying for another hour, the areas they passed through exhibited four distinctly different seasonal patterns, Lesser Cold, Great Cold, Spring Equinox, and Grain Rain.

Not until half an hour later, when they left the great river and entered the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion’s territory, did the weather stabilize.

But still, it lagged behind the Jiangbei prefectures by one season, situated around the "Rain Water" Seasonal Order.

"First time traveling abroad, how does it feel?" Long Xiao asked with a smile, "Isn’t it very different?"

"Indeed, it is different," Zhao Xing said, "It’s gotten somewhat chaotic."

After leaving the Ten Suns Cave Heaven, his Third Transition of Knowledge Realm Seasonal Order could easily achieve large-scale changes in weather. This was because the Pocket World of Cave Heaven had chaotic weather, unlike the stability of the Nineteen States.

However, after leaving Pinghai State, the weather gradually became chaotic again, though not as severe as in the Ten Suns Cave Heaven. To ordinary people, the difference inside and outside Great Zhou was vast.

Without a rank, one could not reach the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion, unable to withstand the unpredictable weather.

"The alternation of cold and heat, the abrupt changes between inner and outer yin and yang, ordinary people simply can’t endure it. Only when entering the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion territory does the weather become more suitable."

"The geographical environment is also quite harsh; in the hour after we crossed the river, we witnessed three earthquakes, land cracks, and mountain shifts."

Walking along, and suddenly not recognizing the path ahead was secondary; walking along and suddenly falling into a ground fissure, or a mountain collapsing suddenly, ordinary people without a rank could hardly survive.

Of course, for Zhao Xing, this stretch of unstable region didn’t matter much. The Arrowfish Flying Boat crossed the river and within half an hour had entered the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion’s territory.

So why leave this stretch of unmanaged region? Why didn’t the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion include this part along the river?

There were many reasons: one was to combat smuggling and illegal crossing. The roads were unusable, making it difficult for those without a rank to cross, thus isolating many from smuggling and illegal crossing, raising the costs of such activities. If they used flying devices, they would be easier to detect.

Secondly, the Canglan River’s domain was unpredictable; being too close might result in being harmed by the water pulse, necessitating a buffer zone.

After all, the upstream was controlled by the Southern Barbarian tribes, who had witches that could communicate with the heavens and earth. If the water witch acted maliciously, it would be disastrous for the lower stream.

...

The Arrowfish Flying Boat continued flying over the Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion, during which many presences scanned the boat, and even patrolling flying boats intercepted, but upon seeing the Ten Suns Cave Heaven military flag and Zhao Xing’s Military Realm appointment document, they let them pass smoothly.

"Cloud City is a county-level jurisdiction, so I am now under the supervision of the Minister of Agriculture of Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion, my direct superior being Dantai Ming of the Doushui Bureau at the mansion level."

"Even if I am only temporarily appointed, I should pay a visit, not to mention he has ties with my teacher."

Tian Shan didn’t mention this to Zhao Xing; it was all detailed in the three letters and tokens Tian Shan had given him.

Tian Shan advised him to use these tokens only in times of great difficulty, but Mr. Zhao was no fool; how could he follow instructions blindly?

When the time came and he needed them, what if he panicked or accidentally offended the people in the letters or their families?

He wasn’t naive and figured it was better to know in advance. He might not use them right away, but he would be prepared.

To be fair, Tian Shan wasn’t exaggerating; Dantai Ming mentioned in the first letter was indeed his superior and the main reviewer of the third ring mission.

Centuries-old family favors were not to be taken lightly; Dantai Ming owed Tian Shan his life.

Two hundred years ago, when the Yingyuan Mansion was just being developed, Dantai Ming was only an eighth-grade official, suffering from a witch’s poison.

With his abilities, he couldn’t find an antidote, even if it existed, he couldn’t have used it.

It was Tian Shan who brought him the antidote; at that time, Dantai Ming was just the top of the Standard Eighth Rank, and now, two hundred years later, he was at the bottom of the Secondary Fourth Rank.

Tian Shan explained to Zhao Xing in the letter the extent to which this favor could be utilized.

Dantai Ming valued loyalty and could shoulder tasks Zhao Xing couldn’t handle or dangers Zhao Xing couldn’t face at critical moments.

The limit was that after Dantai Ming shouldered these tasks, he would be demoted by three ranks.

"Dantai Ming going from Secondary Fourth Rank to the top of the Secondary Fifth Rank, just how big of a mistake would I have to make?"

"Better not to use it if possible, as there will be significant cause and effect," Zhao Xing thought silently.

There were two more letters and tokens, and he estimated that their weight was similar.

Why would Tian Shan give them to him? It wasn’t just simple teacher-student affection but also an investment in the future.

Old Dantai was already three hundred and eighty-nine years old. If he couldn’t reach Standard Fourth Rank, under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t live past five hundred years.

If there were no unexpected events in this life, old Dantai would find it very difficult to advance to Standard Fourth Rank.

If Tian Shan were to use the favor, it would probably be shortly before he reached four hundred years old.

Otherwise, if delayed for decades, the value of the favor would diminish.

Why? Because by then, he wouldn’t be able to bear it. Asking a four-hundred-year-old Dantai for a favor would be akin to demanding his life. Nearing the end of lifespan, a demotion would be akin to a shortening of life!

Therefore, these three letters were timed perfectly for the optimal period for requesting a favor or transferring it.

If Zhao Xing used up the three letters, he would inherit the favors, and Zhao Xing, being still very young with limitless potential, exchanging three for one would not be a loss. Time would prove this investment to be worthwhile.