Chapter 163: Tiger Jiao Army Comes to Snatch People? Can't Sit Still Anymore

The Blazing Sun Army offered enticing terms: a fiefdom befitting a third-class count and a choice of any of their ten elite camps. However, Zhao Xing refused immediately, without a moment's hesitation.

"I am indebted to the Divine Might Army," he stated, "Sir Helian, please go back."

Helian Lie instantly understood Zhao Xing's resolve. Without further persuasion, he rose and departed.

"Well?" a Rite Cultivator asked from outside the Eighteen Pagoda Tree Courtyard.

Helian Lie shook his head slightly. "He simply said, 'I am indebted to the Divine Might Army.' He didn't even want to offer further explanation, so clearly there's nothing more to discuss."

The Rite Cultivator remarked, "You should have let me go in and speak with him."

Helian Lie shook his head again. "Impossible. Rite Cultivators are renowned for their persuasive tongues. This is about recruiting talent, not a hostile negotiation. How could the Ministry of Agriculture allow you inside? My approach is to state the terms directly. If he agrees, great; if not, there's nothing to be done."

"What a shame," sighed the Rite Cultivator named Lei, who had accompanied Helian Lie earlier. "He is far superior to Zhuo Li, and average military agricultural officials simply cannot compare to him."

"It is a pity," Helian Lie agreed, recalling the records he had seen at the Ministry of Agriculture. Those documents detailed Zhao Xing's performance from March of the sixteenth year of Jingxin to February of the seventeenth year. "Acquiring him would be even better than securing Shi Yong."

"Let's go," the Rite Cultivator chuckled. "We should return and ask the Marquis if we can raise the offer. Zhao Xing alone is worth a hundred men like Zhuo Li. I believe we can still try harder to find something that might sway him."

"Don't let Zhuo Li hear that," Helian Lie said flatly. "It's true, but it's better left unsaid."

"Do you think I don't know that? I'm only saying it to you."

The two continued their conversation as they gradually walked away.

Inside the Eighteen Pagoda Tree Courtyard, Zhao Xing smiled faintly. "There's no sincerity in their offer."

The Blazing Sun Elite Ten Camps? Once he finished his training, he was guaranteed a place in the Divine Might Army's own elite camps. A third-class count's fiefdom? That was indeed attractive. The standard for a third-class count's fiefdom was at least one county, typically a lower or middle-tier one. A top-tier county like Gu County, with its spiritual mountains, would be difficult to obtain even for a first-class count. The presence of spiritual mountains and lakes offered endless benefits, so such territories were rarely granted as fiefdoms to counts. Even a standard third-class count's fiefdom was quite rare during Emperor Jing's reign. The Yangwu Marquis of the Blazing Sun Army himself held a territory of merely fifty counties.

Granting Zhao Xing a single county as a fiefdom was, by itself, a considerable offer. So why did Zhao Xing feel the Yangwu Marquis lacked sincerity? The reason was simple: the proposed territory was not part of the Yangwu Marquis's existing fiefdom. The Yangwu Marquis's fiefdom was located in Cuiyue Commandery, Qingling Prefecture—a prosperous inland region primarily composed of top-tier counties. However, his granted territory covered only a small fraction, perhaps a tenth, of Cuiyue Commandery. Had the offer been a county within Cuiyue Commandery, Zhao Xing would indeed have reaped immense benefits. Instead, the Yangwu Marquis spoke of "Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture."

What kind of place was Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture? It was an exclave!

From the reign of Emperor Wen to Emperor Jing, the Great Zhou's southern border had been a contested zone, constantly shifting along the Canglan River. Although neither emperor engaged in many large-scale conflicts, minor battles were ceaseless on both the eastern and southern fronts. The primary reason was that the river's source lay within the Southern Barbarian territories, and the area east of Pinghai Prefecture had once been part of the Canghai Sea. Therefore, a large army was required to be stationed there to suppress both sea creatures and barbarian tribes. Any former Ministry of Agriculture official understood the implications of a major river's source being controlled by barbarian tribes. If the barbarians controlled the Canglan River at its source and tampered with it, agricultural officials south of Pinghai Prefecture would be forced to work tirelessly to mitigate a constant barrage of natural disasters.

So why not just launch a direct offensive? It was due to historical reasons. The Grand Ancestor had pacified nineteen provinces and advanced thousands of miles south of the Canglan River. However, he eventually retreated to the north of the river, establishing it as the border and negotiating a ceasefire with the various barbarian states. He needed to concentrate on dealing with the sea tribes, as the threat from the Canghai Sea was far more severe than that posed by the Southern Barbarians. What the founding emperor couldn't accomplish, later emperors found equally challenging.

Emperor Wen primarily focused on recuperation, initiating few major wars and even fewer minor conflicts. During Emperor Jing's reign, after Emperor Wen's period of recuperation and centuries of enduring the reigns of Cheng'an and Yong'an, Emperor Jing felt the nation's power was robust and its destiny flourishing. He began to leverage Pinghai Prefecture strategically, resulting in ongoing skirmishes with the various Southern Barbarian tribes. It was not until the Dingxin era that a territory was finally conquered: Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture.

However, despite nearly two centuries of expansion, Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture never stabilized due to the fierce resistance of the Southern Barbarian tribes. Had this territory, carved out by Emperor Jing, been allowed to fully develop, it would have become a formidable bridgehead, allowing for a continuous stream of troops to threaten the Southern Barbarian heartland. Consequently, Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture was plagued by constant warfare for two centuries. Its various commanderies changed hands repeatedly; one decade they belonged to the Great Zhou, the next to a barbarian tribe. Emperor Jing was generous in granting fiefdoms within Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture, but it was an undeveloped, contested territory. Though vast, what purpose did it serve if it couldn't be properly developed?

When the Yangwu Marquis offered such a territory, Zhao Xing naturally felt it lacked sincerity. From the Marquis's perspective, however, granting Zhao Xing an entire county was already an exceptional show of regard. The interior of Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture was relatively stable, and the territory was extensive. Granting a ninth-rank official—Zhao Xing hadn't been officially promoted yet, though his cultivation level surpassed the ninth rank—a county as a fiefdom was a poaching offer that far exceeded the "market rate."

But Zhao Xing was well-versed in all these matters. Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture was utterly unsuitable as a true fiefdom, and barely acceptable as a mere sustenance territory. Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture was also a primary reason Emperor Jing was labeled parsimonious. Enfeoffing nobles with land, even if a small portion was in such undesirable territories, was highly dissatisfying. While technically land, it was fundamentally unstable. Constantly worrying about Southern Barbarian raids, how could anyone truly find peace there?

Emperor Jing himself felt frustrated. After thoroughly pressuring the aristocratic families, he concluded the Dingxin era and named the new era Jingxin, signaling his preparation for a major war to pacify the barbarians. He intended to accomplish what even his grandfather had failed to do: fully integrate the Canglan River, a crucial waterway, into the Great Zhou's domain. The initial phase was quite successful, yielding significant military gains. However, as the campaign pushed deeper into foreign territory and supply lines stretched, setbacks became frequent. Many elite legions were even annihilated. With foreign reversals, aristocratic factions resurged, and adding to the frustration were internal issues such as feudal kings aligning with various sects and Southern Barbarian uprisings. Emperor Jing was forced to order the barbarian-pacifying legions to retreat north of the Canglan River, to prevent their prior achievements from being undone by this war. Ultimately, however, he still lost more than half of Jiutian Yingyuan Prefecture. This meant that less than half of the accomplishments from two centuries of effort during the Dingxin era were preserved. While this didn't hinder later generations from holding Emperor Jing in high regard, at the time, it caused him considerable frustration. Consequently, the Jingxin era lasted a mere thirty-seven years before its hasty conclusion.

The subsequent eras of Dazhi and Yongzhi were merely hopeful aspirations. During these two periods, Emperor Jing did not launch a single substantial war, instead dedicating himself to producing heirs and preparing for his succession. There was also no phenomenon of a crown prince waiting for centuries to ascend. Emperors of Qi Luck Dynasties had a lifespan limit of one thousand years, and only produced heirs for succession towards the very end of their lives. The imperial princes born were not numerous; quality was prioritized. Such matters were entirely controllable for emperors of Qi Luck Dynasties. Typically, an emperor would sire at most nine imperial princes in his later life, while the number of princesses and commandery princesses was indeterminate.

Shortly after Zhao Xing declined the Blazing Sun Army's emissary, inside the Heavenly Timeliness Institute at the Ministry of Agriculture, a captain, accompanied by a middle-aged scholar, entered the Seven Pines Mountain Courtyard.

"What is the meaning of this? You want Old Cheng and me to act as persuaders for your Black Armored Army?" Ge Jinsong's cheek twitched. "Are you here to humiliate me?"

Ge Jinsong's mind immediately replayed Zhao Xing's performance from March of the previous year to February of the current one. In March, during the assessment, he ranked twenty-ninth. In April, during branch training, he frequently ranked among the top performers—though it's almost unnecessary to mention it—and eventually entered the Earthly Advantage Institute. In May, despite being unable to train, he displayed exceptional commanding talent. In June, during supply training, he placed second, earning the respect of even Xia Jing and others.

July marked the start of specialized training. At the Nine Sections Dao Field, he comprehended the Jieqi Command, advanced to the fourth turn of the Knowing Realm, and defeated Feng Qiu, Cheng Qingming's disciple. In Liu Tianning's Scarecrow Art training, after six stages of trials, his mastery of the Scarecrow Art surpassed everyone, defeating numerous talents from Taicang Institute and securing the top position. His subsequent development became increasingly formidable.

August, September, October.

During the Pinghuai Institute's flood management training, Zhao Xing's expertise in hydraulic engineering was so seasoned that he even outshone some Agricultural Masters. While Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, and others surpassed Zhao Xing in individual magical techniques, this assessment was a comprehensive test combining theory and practice, not a measure of single spell mastery. Zhao Xing took first place!

The Heavenly Timeliness Institute's natural disaster course, led by Mei Zhiru and assisted by Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming, was another comprehensive training. It simulated forty-seven types of insect plagues, heavenly fire meteors, and earth vein eruptions, all while requiring participants to sustain warriors, as 'enemy forces' were introduced to simulate real combat scenarios. Zhao Xing proved flawless in both specific management and strategic overview. Furthermore, he even managed to advance two more Jieqi Commands to the fourth turn of the Knowing Realm. Ultimately, even Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming had to admit they had completely misjudged him; Zhao Xing had once again secured first place!

The training intensity continuously escalated, causing many geniuses to struggle and fall behind. Yet, Zhao Xing seemed to have no upper limit, maintaining his rapid growth. While Zhao Xing's extensive points accumulated during the selection training certainly played a role, his sheer talent repeatedly astonished Ge Jinsong. And then there was the selection training! At this thought, Ge Jinsong couldn't help but sigh once more to himself.

In the Rite Cultivator's spiritual training, encompassing methods like the intelligence-debilitating technique and the taunt-and-inspire technique, Zhao Xing consistently secured first place multiple times. Even when he wasn't first, he was always within the top three. The Southern Barbarian tribes' witchcraft training primarily involved learning unique methods and understanding the equipment of various Southern Barbarian tribes. The curriculum was mostly theoretical, with a small portion dedicated to practical training. When operating in foreign lands, one might inevitably use enemy weaponry, yet even within this entirely unfamiliar system, Zhao Xing still outperformed everyone else. Physician training, pharmacist assessments, ghost identification, spirit-summoning courses... Even in the application training for artisan-crafted divine weaponry and machinery, that young man ranked first, even in piloting flying boats!

"Is there any justice left? Any common decency?!"

"How many times have I been shamed? You two scoundrels, you want me to be your persuader and openly insult me like this? My old reputation barely survived until he completed his final major joint training, and I was just planning to salvage it once he received his field assignment. Now you want to drag my name through the mud again?! How dare you humiliate me like this! Get out!" Ge Jinsong exclaimed, filled with indignation. "Did I not just make one minor misjudgment? Why is this necessary?"

"Brother Ge, please don't misunderstand!" The Rite Cultivator, seeing Ge Jinsong so agitated, quickly cast a calming spell. "We are here precisely to alleviate your concerns, Brother Ge. If you miss this opportunity, Brother, you will regret it immensely!"

"Hmph!" Ge Jinsong sneered, completely unmoved. "A strategist's mouth is a deceitful devil; you are accustomed to such tricks. I refuse to listen. You two may leave!"

The Rite Cultivator cupped his hands and stood. "If Brother Ge truly doesn't wish to know why Brother Cheng agreed, and insists on our departure, then we shall go. There are plenty of other intermediaries."

"Hm? Cheng Qingming agreed? How could he possibly agree?"

Ge Jinsong froze. Seeing the Rite Cultivator and the officer about to exit, he immediately called out, "Wait! Did you just say Cheng Qingming has already agreed to be a persuader for the Black Armored Army?"

A smile briefly flickered across the Rite Cultivator's lips before he composed himself. He turned and sat down with such swiftness that the general beside him didn't even react, remaining foolishly standing. "Indeed, Brother Ge. Please hear me out. The world is unpredictable, and fortunes can turn in an instant. This past year, you two were indeed greatly misunderstood. But if you two recommend him, promoting Zhao Xing from the Divine Might Army's less formidable ranks to our powerful Black Armored Army... The more exceptional he proves in the future, your names will certainly appear in the Black Armored Army's commendation documents. In the long run, who will remember the initial branch assignment? After all, that period occupied only a very small fraction of his time. Even if remembered, it would be seen as a charming anecdote. Ultimately, it would be known that you two brought him into our Black Armored Army—that is true foresight in recognizing talent. The future is what truly matters!"

The Rite Cultivator's words successfully swayed Ge Jinsong. Indeed, what did those minor past incidents truly matter? If Zhao Xing joined the Black Armored Army through his recommendation, and if the Black Armored Army promoted him in the future, wouldn't what was now considered an embarrassment become a mere "minor hiccup" on the path of discerning true talent? It might even evolve into a remarkable story!

"Very well, this old man will try," Ge Jinsong nodded.

Before Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming could even reach the Eighteen Pagoda Tree Courtyard, many more individuals arrived at the Yangcheng Ministry of Agriculture, all prepared to act as persuaders.

At the Divine Might Army garrison in Yangcheng, Nine Sections Captain Huang Chengzhi was squatting on the ground, burning paper offerings before a row of divine statues. He was burning correspondence paper, intended for Xier Commandery.

"Report! Commander! Urgent report!"

Suddenly, a soldier burst in from outside.

"Speak quickly!" Huang Chengzhi urged. "What's the situation?"

"Another three groups of people are heading towards the Eighteen Pagoda Tree Courtyard! One of them is a Captain from the Tiger Jiao Army!"

"What?" Huang Chengzhi rose in alarm. "Damn it, even the Tiger Jiao Army is trying to poach him? Go keep an eye on things! Report back immediately if you get any news!"

"Understood!"

Huang Chengzhi then crouched down again to burn more paper for the divine statues.

"Fool! Stop burning!" The statue of Divine Wanderer Dai Zong suddenly opened its eyes. "You've already burned four urgent military summons today! The message has already reached Xier Commandery! Stop burning things for this deity!"

With that, the divine statue closed its eyes. The candles before the row of statues below them all extinguished, and even the letter paper was expelled.

Huang Chengzhi cupped his hands towards the statue, a look of delight spreading across his face. He murmured, "It's arrived? That's excellent, truly excellent. Old Chen, Long Xiao, you must hurry! The level of persuaders is getting higher, and the pressure is mounting. I can't hold out much longer on my own."