Chapter 173: Unexpectedly, Lord Zhao Has Such a Big Background

"Alright, let's go inside first," Zhao Xing said, deciding against an immediate outburst. He considered that there might be an underlying reason, and he didn't want to appear narrow-minded as the chief official.

Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian accompanied Zhao Xing into the Agricultural Bureau.

As soon as he stepped through the doorway, Zhao Xing frowned as he looked up at the sky.

Light snow was falling from the sky, drifting into the Agricultural Bureau's compound.

The Agricultural Bureau's internal formations should, by rights, prevent it from being affected by the weather. Moreover, with the agriculturists present, how could they allow snow to drift inside?

Seeing this, Zhang Zhong explained, "The Yuncheng Agricultural Bureau hasn't been renovated in twenty years. Our abilities are limited, so we cannot regulate the weather here. Therefore, whatever conditions prevail outside, similarly affect the inside..."

Zhao Xing's brows furrowed deeply, but he said nothing, simply pointing a finger toward the sky.

A golden light soared skyward, sweeping up the swirling snow, then reversed its flow back to the heavens.

The golden light spread, and a golden cloud swiftly expanded, soon encompassing the entire sky.

Following this, a gentle breeze swept across the ground, rapidly dissipating the frost.

Outside the main gate of the Agricultural Bureau, a touch of green even began to emerge.

Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian's eyebrows twitched in surprise.

He raised his hand, commanding clouds and devouring the snow, and in an instant, spring had arrived!

This new Lord Zhao is incredibly powerful!

"Let's go in," Zhao Xing commanded.

"Yes, sir," they responded.

The three men's attitudes grew even more respectful as they followed closely behind Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing was intimately familiar with the institutional structure of Agricultural Bureaus of all ranks.

Although it was his first time visiting the Yuncheng Agricultural Bureau, he navigated it as if he had been there countless times, quickly locating his designated office.

The Dushui Hall.

As the Dushui Commander, this was his official workplace.

Within the Agricultural Bureau, the department led by the highest-ranking official was considered the most important.

As a Dushui Commander of the seventh rank, Zhao Xing's department, the Dushui Bureau, consequently boasted the largest and most numerous buildings.

Zhang Zhong, the Dushui Internal Commander, was Zhao Xing's direct subordinate and also worked in water management. However, he was only of the upper eighth rank. By regulations, he should have at least three assistant officials: one of the upper eighth rank and two of the lower eighth rank.

Upon entering the Dushui Bureau, however, they saw only a dozen ninth-rank agriculturists in the process of changing shifts.

Jiang Xi, the Agricultural Supervisor, responsible for farming, was of the lower eighth rank.

He Fengnian, the Logistics Commander, was specifically in charge of transporting funds and provisions, moving collected tax grain to the prefecture city, and he held the upper eighth rank.

Zhao Xing could tell at a glance that the official ranks and capabilities of the three were quite ordinary.

Only Jiang Xi seemed to possess any substantial foundation.

Upon reaching the inner hall, Zhao Xing took the main seat, with Long Xiao standing by, sword in hand.

The three officials then formally paid their respects to Zhao Xing according to protocol.

However, Zhao Xing delayed in bidding them to rise.

Lord Zhao was genuinely somewhat displeased.

At least fifteen minutes had passed from the moment he arrived at the main gate until he reached the Dushui Bureau.

Such an elapsed time could not possibly be excused by claims of "being busy with official duties" or "not receiving notification."

Yet, even now, no one else had appeared.

"My Lords, the Yuncheng Agricultural Bureau's administrative standard is that of a lower-grade prefecture. Aside from myself, a seventh-rank official, each department should, by rights, have sixty-six eighth-rank agriculturist officials."

"It is now 6:30 AM, with day and night shifts on duty. There should be thirty-three eighth-rank officials working during the day."

"Even if today's official duties are demanding and everyone is on external patrol, regulations stipulate that at least nine of the thirty-three should be permanently stationed within the Bureau."

"Excluding the three of you, where are the others?"

"You can't possibly tell me that everyone is out on duty, can you?"

Zhao Xing's perception was remarkably acute. After he invoked the Cloud Law with the arrival of the Spring Equinox, he immediately sensed that there were no other eighth-rank officials within the Agricultural Bureau.

Either these individuals were habitually late for work, indicating a lazy and corrupt administration, or this was simply their usual practice.

Or they knew he was coming and deliberately stayed away to give him a cold reception.

In either scenario, Lord Zhao was not pleased.

The atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat oppressive, and Dushui Internal Commander Zhang Zhong bowed his head even lower.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, according to regulations, the Yuncheng Agricultural Bureau should indeed have sixty-six eighth-rank agriculturists."

"However, a contingent of officials, including the former chief, was transferred last month. Consequently, the Yuncheng Agricultural Bureau currently has only twenty-one active officials."

"Twelve work during the day, nine at night, with four officials permanently stationed within the Bureau for each shift."

"The remaining officials have all led teams to various towns to inspect weather and land conditions."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing almost laughed in exasperation.

Previously, he had worried about people hindering his work; now, ironically, there wasn't even anyone left to hinder him.

"My Lords, you may dispense with the formalities. Please, be seated," Zhao Xing said.

The situation was different from what he had imagined, and Zhao Xing couldn't vent his frustration on these three. Thus, he invited Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian to take their seats.

"You mentioned four permanent staff members for both day and night shifts. Where is the fourth person?"

Zhao Xing, noticing a potential discrepancy in their words, immediately asked.

Before Zhang Zhong could reply, a trembling voice echoed from outside the main hall.

"Your humble servant, Bao Wenshan, requests an audience with Lord Zhao."

Zhao Xing looked intently and saw a white-haired old man on the steps outside, bowing with the aid of a staff. He looked as if he was on his last breath.

Zhang Zhong quietly said, "Your Excellency, Bao Wenshan is the fourth permanent staff member."

Zhao Xing fell silent.

Once Bao Wenshan entered the hall, Zhao Xing gazed at the old man, speechless for a long moment.

He had indeed rejoiced too soon.

Yuncheng's current state was one where the old were decrepit, the weak were infirm, and those who could leave had already departed.

The third-ring mission from the Military Realm had granted him a seventh-rank official position, yet it felt as if he were a lone agriculturist with no supporting staff.

This seventh-rank position was not only temporary, but its authority and resources had also been severely curtailed.

With less than a third of the full complement of subordinate officials, how was he supposed to accomplish his duties?

Wouldn't he be worked to death?

Seeing Zhao Xing's prolonged silence, Bao Wenshan quickly bowed and said, "Your Excellency has traveled a great distance, and your humble servant failed to greet you appropriately. Please inflict punishment upon me."

"What punishment?" Zhao Xing thought. "Please, sit."

Zhao Xing had no inclination to dwell on the matter and bade Bao Wenshan take a seat. This man appeared on the verge of dying of old age in his post; Zhao Xing wondered how long he had served here.

The Military Realm's intelligence regarding Yuncheng's staffing did not provide specific details, so the challenge likely lay in this very aspect.

He wondered if reinforcements would be sent.

They should, shouldn't they?

Regardless, he would make the best of the situation. Zhao Xing quickly adjusted his mindset and continued to inquire about Yuncheng's conditions.

Since the Military Realm had not provided details, it was up to him to proactively understand the situation as part of his test.

He began by asking about the personnel.

"Zhang Zhong, do you know why such a large-scale transfer occurred?"

Zhang Zhong hesitated, but Bao Wenshan preempted him, saying, "Your Excellency, allow me to explain."

"Very well, then you may speak."

Bao Wenshan explained, "It's not merely this recent large-scale transfer; Yuncheng has historically always suffered from understaffing."

"Why is that the case?"

Bao Wenshan replied, "Yuncheng is a frontier city of the Nine Heavens Responding to Yuan Prefecture. For two hundred years, it has been frequently harassed by foreign tribes."

"Your humble servant has served as an official here for 136 years. Yuncheng has endured foreign invasions a total of 1,452 times."

"On twenty-five of those occasions, Yuncheng was completely overrun and fell into the hands of foreign tribes."

"Constant warfare and the inherent difficulty of holding a long-beleaguered position have meant that the Agricultural Bureau has always been understaffed."

Zhao Xing's brows subtly furrowed. He understood why Bao Wenshan spoke instead of Zhang Zhong; the old man no longer cared about his career prospects, so he had nothing to lose by speaking frankly.

Bao Wenshan's words suggested that the superiors were indifferent, viewing this place as constantly lost and reclaimed, and difficult to defend, so they had simply given up on it.

After all, the foreign tribes wouldn't permanently station themselves here; when they attacked, everyone would simply flee. Once the invaders departed, officials would be sent to govern and reclaim the territory.

There were many reasons why this was the case, but ultimately, it boiled down to a lack of incentive.

Successfully defending it was expected, yielding no significant merit or reward. Failing to defend it also didn't result in severe penalties, as this had always been the precedent.

Emperor Jing, having previously avoided major wars and focusing on dealing with aristocratic families, maintained a loose oversight from above, leading to caution from below. Who would dare to independently provoke border conflicts?

Therefore, the prevailing sentiment in this region was: I'd rather do nothing than make a mistake.

"Over time, no one was willing to serve as an official in Yuncheng; being assigned to a frontier city was widely seen as a form of exile."

"Even those who arrived would seek connections to transfer elsewhere."

"They would rather be demoted by one or even two ranks and transferred elsewhere than serve as an official here."

Zhao Xing waved a hand, interrupting Bao Wenshan.

Knowing the situation was sufficient. Further discussion would only lead to him, the superior, complaining alongside his subordinates, which would be detrimental to unity.

Seeing this, Bao Wenshan ceased speaking.

Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian, however, appeared disheartened.

"Gentlemen, you need not be troubled. From today onward, Yuncheng will be different."

Bao Wenshan, seemingly unafraid of repercussions, ventured, "Your humble servant dares to ask, how will it be different?"

Zhao Xing smiled slightly. "Because the imperial court will prioritize this location. You might not realize it yet, but this place is destined to become a crucial stronghold! Furthermore, the imperial court will continue its southern campaign, expanding its territory!"

"When that happens, Yuncheng will no longer be a mere border town, and you will no longer have to constantly worry about your personal safety or career prospects."

The vision Zhao Xing presented was indeed effective.

A flicker of hope immediately appeared in the eyes of Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian. "Is Your Excellency's statement true?" they asked.

Zhao Xing gave Long Xiao a subtle glance.

Long Xiao instantly understood. "How could it be false? Do you realize the background of the Dushui Commander standing before you?"

Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian craned their necks, eagerly awaiting the continuation.

Long Xiao prolonged the suspense, pondering for a moment before finally stating, "Lord Zhao is only twenty-one years old, the youngest and most talented Military Agriculturist from the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven!"

"The Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven—what sort of place is that? It's the encampment of the Great Zhou's most elite army!"

"And Lord Zhao is a Military Agriculturist who has distinguished himself from tens of thousands of others!"

"You also witnessed moments ago how he merely waved his hand and altered Yuncheng's weather. Could any of you accomplish that?"

Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian shook their heads.

Long Xiao stated proudly, "And this is merely the tip of the iceberg of Lord Zhao's power. You should all know how difficult it is to train a Military Agriculturist, let alone a rare genius among them. How could the imperial court transfer him here as a form of exile?"

Long Xiao patted the bamboo box, then lifted a corner.

The brilliant glow of a treasure became visible.

"See? The treasures bestowed upon Lord Zhao by the imperial court are all of the highest quality, and he even has a seventh-rank exotic beast accompanying him."

"If this were an exile, would he receive such treatment?"

"So, you can all rest assured!"

Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian were instantly revitalized.

They had never imagined that Lord Zhao's background was so significant!

Bao Wenshan, however, not having witnessed Zhao Xing's earlier spell, didn't fully grasp Zhao Xing's power.

Zhao Xing cast a sidelong glance at Long Xiao.

He was slightly embarrassed by Long Xiao's excessive flattery.

"I merely asked for your cooperation; I didn't realize you were such a master of exaggeration."

It seems he and Old Chen used to do this often.

Once Long Xiao finished, he raised an eyebrow at Zhao Xing, signaling that it was his turn.

Zhao Xing understood immediately and took over, saying, "This gentleman beside me is Long Xiao, the Valiant Commander of the Divine Might Army, and he holds the upper seventh rank!"

"Furthermore, Lord Long is also a sword cultivator!"

"Sword cultivators are the pinnacle of martial artists, a path few can master. Even if you don't know me, you should certainly be aware of the power an upper seventh-rank sword cultivator possesses."

"So, it's the Valiant Commander."

"Your humble servants greet Lord Long!"

"My apologies for the oversight."

Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, and He Fengnian quickly rose and bowed.

Long Xiao was secretly pleased, but he felt Zhao Xing hadn't quite done him justice. "I extolled your virtues at length, and you only mentioned me in a few sentences. Why didn't you bring up my heroic feat of slaying over a dozen Mysterious Heaven demons with a single sword in Gucheng?"

Zhao Xing said, "An opportunity now stands before you. You merely need to perform your duties diligently. Your steadfastness is recognized by both the imperial court and myself. You must not allow yourselves to become complacent and miss this chance."

"We respectfully heed Your Excellency's teachings."

Zhang Zhong, Jiang Xi, He Fengnian, and Bao Wenshan quickly rose and bowed once more.

Zhao Xing looked at Bao Wenshan. "Lord Bao, I observe an ailment within your internal organs. Have you sustained an injury previously?"

Bao Wenshan replied, "Your Excellency possesses keen insight. Your humble servant was indeed injured in a previous battle. However, Your Excellency need not worry; your humble servant can still fight for the people of Yuncheng for another ten years!"

Zhao Xing rose from the main seat and slowly descended the steps. "Lord Bao, please unbutton your tunic and allow me to examine you closely."

"I fear I might tarnish Your Excellency's discerning eyes," Bao Wenshan said.

"It's no matter," Zhao Xing replied.

Bao Wenshan then removed his upper garment.

Upon seeing it, Zhao Xing was profoundly moved.

Bao Wenshan's body was covered in countless wounds and scars. Logically, an eighth-rank agriculturist, even if their physical body wasn't as robust as a martial artist's, should possess decent regenerative capabilities.

Normally, an eighth-rank agriculturist would be expected to maintain a relatively healthy state, even until death.

However, Bao Wenshan, having served as an agriculturist in Yuncheng for over a century and experienced countless battles, had sustained an untold number of injuries.

Since losing the city brought no rewards but rather penalties, and defending it earned little merit, he had been unable to acquire valuable tonics for recovery after each battle.

Consequently, his internal Five Elements Qi was now nearly depleted, and his internal organs were in a state of semi-failure.

If it weren't for the imperial court's eighth-rank official position sustaining him, Bao Wenshan would likely have died long ago.

"Long Xiao, retrieve two Revitalization Pills and two Viscera-Nourishing Pills from the bamboo box."

"Understood." Long Xiao immediately tapped the bamboo box, and four low-grade fourth-tier pills flew out.

Bao Wenshan was greatly alarmed, grabbing Zhao Xing's wrist. "Your Excellency, you mustn't! How could an old man like me be worthy of such precious pills!"

Zhao Xing, however, clasped Bao Wenshan's hand in return, his feelings complex. This elderly agriculturist reminded him of Xue Wenzhong, who also worked diligently his entire life but never received the recognition he deserved.

Bao Wenshan, however, was even more unfortunate than Xue Wenzhong; he had steadfastly held his post here for over a century.

"Lord Bao, you are entirely worthy," Zhao Xing said, gripping his rough arm tightly. He channeled vital energy into Bao Wenshan's body, using the Yin-Yang True Self Scripture to regulate his internal qi. "These few small pills are nothing; even more would be well-deserved. Please believe me."

"Your Excellency," Bao Wenshan said, his lips trembling and eyes tearful. "To hear Your Excellency say that, this old man is already content. You need not waste any more precious pills."

"How can that be?" Zhao Xing smiled. "You are highly experienced, and I'm counting on you to help me govern Yuncheng. Consider it my selfish motive, that these few pills are simply my way of 'buying you off'."

Bao Wenshan paused, then a faint smile appeared on his wrinkled face. "Very well, this old man shall accept Your Excellency's 'bribe'."

He then opened his mouth and swallowed the pills. With Zhao Xing's vital energy regulation, his vitality visibly increased.