Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 662 - 9: Zhao Xing Was Shocked, A Fourth-grade Emperor Crocodile Is Just a Bigger Fish? (Da Zhang)_3

Chapter 662: Chapter 9: Zhao Xing Was Shocked, A Fourth-grade Emperor Crocodile Is Just a Bigger Fish? (Da Zhang)_3

Ji An smiled and said, "Mr. Zhao, you’re right. Do you know where you will be staying on the island? After I finish paying the fine, I will visit you to express my gratitude."

Zhao Xing turned his head to look at Tao Anchun, who had a troubled expression and whispered, "Sir, our Twin Islands haven’t participated in the arena for many years. This time, it is a specially approved spot; Tianjing Island has not arranged accommodations in advance. We still need to find a place ourselves..."

Zhao Xing nodded and said to Ji An, "Mr. Ji, I apologize, but we have not found a place to stay yet."

Ji An was quite surprised. Wasn’t Zhao Xing a strong Minister of Agriculture Official in charge of a medium-sized island? How come Tianjing Island didn’t arrange lodging?

Despite his surprise, Ji An did not give up his intention to thank him. "If Mr. Zhao doesn’t mind, Seven Star Island does have an exclusive venue where we can arrange accommodations for you."

Zhao Xing thought for a moment and said, "Alright, then I will trouble you."

"Hahaha, it is my first time welcoming a guest while wearing shackles. Mr. Zhao, please don’t take offense." Ji An laughed heartily. "Mr. Zhao, please wait here. I’ll be right back."

After Ji An finished speaking, he left the ship with Liang Hongyu.

"Sir, this person is quite straightforward. Seven Star Island is a medium-sized island, so we don’t need to rent a place." Tao Anchun laughed as he watched Ji An’s departing figure.

The government inns were already full. To find a place to stay, it would require renting or even buying a piece of land.

On Tianjing Island, every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. At this time, whether buying or renting, it would be a considerable expense.

For decades, Seven Star Island had never failed the preliminary selections. Naturally, they had their own place on the island and did not need to squeeze in with others.

Indeed, as Tao Anchun had guessed, when Ji An returned after paying the fine and chatted with Zhao Xing, he learned that Ji An had bought a manor in Tianjing City, and it was quite large, covering a thousand acres.

"A thousand acres? Mr. Ji, that is really extravagant." Tao Anchun could not help but exclaim.

"Haha, actually, I also benefited from the previous County Magistrate’s arrangements." Ji An laughed. "Before I took office, Kaiyang County had already acquired public property here."

"Mr. Ji, you are really lucky." Zhao Xing sighed, "To encounter such a good deal, my previous Supervisor didn’t leave us anything."

Ji An waved his hand and said, "It’s not about luck. The previous County Magistrate of Kaiyang County is my elder brother."

Tao Anchun: "..."

Dammit, there are connections everywhere.

Zhao Xing was accustomed to this as he himself was also a connection.

In fact, this was not uncommon in the East Sea Islands. It was quite usual for a grandfather to be the County Magistrate, followed by the son, and then the grandson.

Because many islands in the East Sea implemented a system similar to the Tusi system.

The person Long Xiao was involved with, Bai Ling, her grandfather Bai Yunwu, was one of the largest Tusi in the East Sea.

Of course, Ji An’s situation was different. He was neither of mixed blood nor from the Water Clan; it was purely political maneuvering.

"Times are tough these years." As the conversation continued, Ji An suddenly sighed.

"Why do you say that, Mr. Ji?" Zhao Xing inquired.

"Since the Great Barbarian War began, policies in the East Sea have been tightening. In the past, I didn’t even need to participate in the preliminary rounds. I could directly secure a spot in the group stage in the western part of Zixiao through some maneuvering." Ji An said, "But now, even the preliminary rounds have to be contested."

"Especially after Prince Liang came to power, the exploitation of the East Sea has been excessive. When my brother was in office in Kaiyang County, he only needed to raise ten fifth-grade war beasts every three years. But now, we have to raise fifteen every year!"

"If we can’t complete it in one year, we have to cut back, not just on people’s salaries, but also on the provisions for the beasts."

"If this continues for another ten years, I fear we won’t even be able to afford to hire tamers and feeders." Ji An sighed.

"Mr. Ji, aren’t you a tamer yourself?"

Ji An was stunned and countered, "How about you, Mr. Zhao? Are you yourself a tamer?"

Zhao Xing nodded, "Yes, I am a tamer."

Tao Anchun was puzzled, "Is hiring tamers very common?"

Ji An nodded, "Of course. The Dragon Horse Guard only raises the beasts; the tamers are highly valued and hired separately. We can’t rely on the Minister of Agriculture Officials from Chenghua Bureau to go into battle. The Minister of Agriculture Officials from Chenghua Bureau are useless and can only assist during rituals for fun."

Dong Yuanqiu felt a bit embarrassed because he was a Director at Chenghua Bureau.

Ji An was also puzzled because he noticed that although Zhao Xing was quite powerful, his subordinates seemed unfamiliar with these rules and conventions.

Clearly, they didn’t look like a strong team.

Mr. Zhao naturally understood these matters, "Not only tamers but also veterinarians, Ministers of Agriculture, dance masters, musicians, priests, and martial artists are sometimes hired at great expense."

Tao Anchun was surprised, "Do they need to hire so many people?"

"Certainly," Ji An said. "For instance, on Yalong Island, the Medical Department and the Ministers of Agriculture only recruit military doctors and Military Minister of Agriculture Officers who have retired from the army or Doctors of Governance retired from the Daoist Academy."

"The competition among war beasts is extremely fierce and lasts for a long time. An injury today must be healed for battle again tomorrow. Only military doctors can restore a war beast’s combat ability in such a short time."

"Similarly, Military Minister of Agriculture Officers are also necessary. War beasts must adapt to different Heavenly Times and Earth Advantages for combat because the ultimate goal of the Beast Taming Competition is to venture into Dragon Court Ancient Land."

"The environment inside is more complex and survival there is even tougher."

"Therefore, the training intensity of war beasts is very high. Today, the training environment might be Great Cold, and tomorrow it might be Great Heat."

"Ordinary Literary Minister of Agriculture Officials don’t have this kind of ability. Even if they can reverse the seasons, they can’t sustain it for long."

"And then there’s the matter of food. Carnivorous beasts are fine, but herbivorous war beasts require carefully selected nutritional combinations."

"Herbivorous exotic beasts are usually very large, and the amount of fine food they require is enormous."