Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 325 - 9: Mr. Zhao, what a great authority! (Bonus 1)_2

Chapter 325: Chapter 9: Mr. Zhao, what a great authority! (Bonus 1)_2

Long Xiao acted like a lackey, shouting loudly, his voice echoing throughout the Heavenly Workshop.

Within the Minister of Agriculture Supervision, Zhao Xing’s attitude was relatively mild, and he did not put on airs.

But externally, his official demeanor had to be impressive.

As the saying goes, "Words deceive the gentleman, but attire intimidates the petty man."

Displaying this official demeanor could avoid many unnecessary troubles.

That kind of incognito inspection, pretending to be weak to catch the strong, then revealing one’s identity, was purely looking for trouble, and indeed nauseating, completely unnecessary.

"A seventh-rank official has arrived?"

The person blocking the way, upon seeing Zhao Xing’s official attire, immediately panicked and quickly removed the Magic Array Barrier.

Another person hurriedly went to report.

It took just thirty minutes.

From within the workshop, fifty to sixty people came out in dark clusters.

Looking around, they were all of the eighth rank.

Ninth-rank officials were not qualified to come and could only wait from afar.

The leading Mechanical Master was named Ling Yuan.

A top-level eighth-rank.

He was just one rank below Zhao Xing, but the difference of one rank in officialdom could crush a person. At this moment, he had to respectfully salute, addressing him as Mr. Zhao, and invited Zhao Xing to descend from the sky.

Ling Yuan’s eyes were keen; the Martial Artist standing next to Zhao Xing was a Sword Cultivator. Although he wasn’t wearing official attire, he was at least seventh rank!

Simply having a seventh-rank Doushui Order was nothing, but having a bodyguard of seventh rank, and a Sword Cultivator no less?

That was significant!

For the installation of a seventh-rank principal official, the normal procedure was to beat gongs and drums; officials within the county should dispatch an honor guard to welcome them.

In Gucheng, when Ji Ming descended on Gucheng, Li Wenzheng went out three miles to greet him.

All officials of graded positions had to be present.

The Doushui Order in border towns, as principal officials, might not necessarily be inferior to the County Venerable; it all depended on the actual situation.

He might not be able to trouble the County Magistrate of Yun City, but Ling Yuan, the eighth-rank principal official of this workshop, could certainly be controlled.

"This humble official Ling Yuan, leading the various sub-officials and workers of the Heavenly Workshop of Cloud City, pays respect to Mr. Zhao."

Seeing that Zhao Xing was unmoved, Ling Yuan again bowed and said, "Please descend, Mr. Zhao, and inspect the Heavenly Workshop."

Zhao Xing still said nothing.

Ling Yuan felt helpless and led the sub-officials to bow again:

"We were unaware of the arrival of the Doushui Order and failed to welcome you outside the city. Please, Mr. Zhao, pardon us."

Three bows were about enough.

Zhao Xing put on a complete display of official authority before instructing Long Xiao to lower the Arrowfish Flying Boat onto the workshop square.

"Boom~"

The magic array of the Arrowfish Flying Boat extinguished, creating a tempest around it.

Descending directly inside instead of first landing outside and then walking in through the gate was a posture of calling to account.

Ling Yuan hurriedly ran up to stand beneath the flying boat, waiting.

The other officials, watching, felt that this Mr. Zhao had formidable official authority!

Seeing the other side being so tactful, Zhao Xing did not make things difficult for Ling Yuan for not coming earlier to greet him. He lightly cupped his hands in return, letting the matter pass.

"Mr. Ling, you are too polite."

"It was this humble official’s dereliction of duty." Ling Yuan, recognizing that he couldn’t afford to offend Zhao Xing, maintained a respectful posture, speaking with his back bent: "Please, Mr. Zhao, proceed to the inner hall to rest while this humble official freshens up and changes to formally pay his respects."

"No need to freshen up and change; I am here for serious matters to discuss."

"Please, Mr. Zhao, give your instructions." Ling Yuan obediently listened.

"All officials below eighth rank, continue with your duties. Eighth-rank officials, all those within the workshop, gather in the main hall for a meeting." Zhao Xing unceremoniously issued orders. "If any are resting at home, summon them as well. I will wait two quarters."

"Call everyone over?" Ling Yuan inwardly cried out, his control over the workshop was not that strong, after all, he was only an eighth-rank top official.

Normally, he should have been seventh rank. Now being merely an eighth-rank top in charge of the workshop was clearly problematic.

"Mr. Zhao, this might be a bit difficult." Ling Yuan said in a low voice, "Some of the sub-officials were reassigned by County Magistrate Jiao. Even if I wanted to call them, it would be difficult to gather them all at once."

"Difficult? Hmph." Zhao Xing immediately expressed his displeasure, and Long Xiao instantly wore a fierce look.

Ling Yuan trembled, "This humble official will do his best."

Zhao Xing said, "Very well, then gather as many as you can."

"Yes." Ling Yuan immediately began instructing people to send notifications, then accompanied Zhao Xing to the main hall.

He invited Zhao Xing to sit at the principal seat.

Ling Yuan stood by the left side of the first desk in front.

Since Zhao Xing had not granted permission to sit, he dared not sit.

The few eighth-rank officials who arrived sporadically, seeing Ling Yuan like this, could only stand and wait.

Two quarters later.

In the workshop hall, only thirteen people had arrived. Including Ling Yuan, the top eighth-rank principal official, there were only fourteen people.

"Indeed, far below the full complement."

The number of sub-officials needed in the workshop was large, much greater than in the Minister of Agriculture Supervision, because a Minister of Agriculture, with one spell, could take care of a vast area.

But Mechanical Masters, many heavy and large items required multiple people to collaboratively craft.

The number of people needed was greater, in terms of numbers they were just slightly fewer than the three departments of Martial Artists.

"Are all the people here?" Zhao Xing asked.

"This humble official has called everyone that could be gathered." Ling Yuan braced himself to reply.

"Then, all be seated."

"Yes."

Ling Yuan sat at the first desk on the left.

"I have come today for matters concerning the disaster prevention and hydraulic engineering of Cloud City."

"This is within the duties of the Heavenly Workshop."

Actually, this should have been a joint responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture Supervision and the Heavenly Workshop.

But Zhao Xing’s opening remarks shifted the entire responsibility to the Heavenly Workshop.

It was mainly for setting the stage for the next step.

"Mr. Ling, according to the hydraulic system regulations and agricultural machinery fabrication regulations for a county at the prefecture level, do you know the expected quantity of hydraulic machinery Cloud City should have for disaster prevention and flood control projects?"

Ling Yuan stood up and replied, "Reporting to Mr. Zhao, according to past specifications, the hydraulic machinery used in agriculture amounted to fifty-four thousand seven hundred and more items. The flood control projects included four storage lakes, seven channels in Pingjiang, and thirty-two dams."

Zhao Xing glanced at Ling Yuan; this person was evading the main point, answering with past specifications of Cloud City instead of the prefecture-level county regulations Zhao Xing asked about.

It sounded similar but was actually completely different.

Zhao Xing immediately pointed this out: "Mr. Ling, I spoke of the prefecture-level county regulations, but you talked about past specifications of Cloud City. Is it that I didn’t make myself clear, or did you mishear?"

"Or do you think you can easily fool me?"

Ling Yuan felt deeply troubled. Cloud City was Cloud City, a prefecture-level county was a prefecture-level county; although it bore the name of a prefecture-level county, it never received such materials. Moreover, years of warfare led to construction and destruction repeatedly. To strictly follow the regulations would mean beheading everyone!

How was he to answer?

But there was no way to explain it because Zhao Xing was using regulations to press; if he explained the actual situation?

Opening his mouth meant offending people, more so criticizing higher-ups for inaction.

Ling Yuan wasn’t Bao Wenshan, he hadn’t lived enough yet.

But if he didn’t answer Zhao Xing’s question, it would prove his dereliction of duty as a principal official, and going into details, as Zhao Xing said, ten heads wouldn’t be enough to cut off.

The new Doushui Order wasn’t an easy character... Ling Yuan’s forehead broke out in sweat.

Just as he was in a dilemma, Zhao Xing spoke:

"Very well, let’s discuss based on past specifications of Cloud City, as you said."

Ling Yuan and the other officials just breathed a sigh of relief.

But unexpectedly, Zhao Xing changed his tone: "Then, Mr. Ling and other officials, based on past specifications, how much has actually been implemented? Mr. Ling, think carefully before answering; before coming, I checked with the Minister of Agriculture Supervision. Zhang Zhong, Bao Wenshan, and others all told me everything they knew."

Ling Yuan’s heart tightened again.

Knowing he could not avoid it, he stood up and bowed to Zhao Xing: "Reporting to Mr. Zhao, based on past specifications of Cloud City, the actual implemented hydraulic machinery used in agriculture numbered only twenty-three thousand six hundred-plus items. For flood control projects: one storage lake, three channels in Pingjiang, twelve dams, the rest have fallen into disrepair."

This figure fell far short of the numbers to be constructed or repaired; in essence, less than half the agricultural machinery and projects that should have been delivered to the Minister of Agriculture Supervision were actually fulfilled!

Ling Yuan was already prepared to face Zhao Xing’s questioning but was surprised that Zhao Xing remained expressionless, simply extending his hand and saying: "Mr. Ling, gentlemen, what you mentioned are the lowest specifications of Cloud City over the past ten years. There have been no major wars over these ten years."

"I will give you a number. If you can meet it within three months, all past discrepancies will be forgiven."

"You have declined me thrice already, I don’t wish for a fourth time."