Chapter 883: Chapter 44: The Heavenly Destiny List and Creation Plate, Interception!
"Apprentice grandson, how did you manage to get these two to obey your orders?" Tianyang True Monarch was quite curious.
At this moment, Zhao Xing had two tokens in his hand.
One had Sima Yunhai’s name engraved on the front and Xuantian Academy on the back.
The other had Pang Yuanzhen’s name on the front and Shangluo Academy on the back.
"Sima Yunhai is a typical Heavenly Time Sect Minister of Agriculture, with a heart for the world, taking the livelihood of all as his responsibility. As long as it’s a good plan for the people, he doesn’t mind if he isn’t the one in charge."
"Apprentice grandson arrived before him and prepared the prevention scheme earlier; he thought mine was better, so he ceded authority to me."
"Pang Yuanzhen is eager to learn; Apprentice grandson wrote a grand treatise for him to see, and he found it reasonable, so he decided to cooperate well."
Tianyang True Monarch lit an incense stick, took a deep breath: "Don’t just talk about their strengths, tell me about their weaknesses."
"Apprentice grandson is reluctant to speak ill of others behind their backs."
Tianyang True Monarch laughed: "That’s easy, I’ll call the two of them over, and you can tell them in person?"
Zhao Xing: "..."
Why are you like this?
Zhao Xing had to say: "Sima Yunhai has the strengths of a Heavenly Time Sect Minister of Agriculture, but his shortcomings also stem from this. He takes the livelihood of all as his responsibility, and he looks down somewhat on the other two sects, having significant sectarian bias."
Tianyang True Monarch nodded: "And how about Pang?"
"Pang Yuanzhen is eager on pursuing the Dao, with an excessive admiration for strength. When he arrived at Bright Moon Prefecture, he immediately sought me out, placing the rescue as a secondary task. Clearly, in his heart, the rescue mission is politically motivated, hoping to earn more resources from Shangluo Academy."
"His agreement to listen to my orders is mostly due to my teacher Liu Tianning."
Tianyang True Monarch finished the incense, then lit another: "So how do you view their weaknesses?"
Zhao Xing said, "A gentleman speaks of deeds, not hearts. Hardly anyone is perfect in this world."
Tianyang True Monarch nodded with a smile: "You can get these two to obey you; your master ancestor is very pleased."
"I mentioned earlier that I would give you a gift. Once the Pinghai State matter is resolved, take some time to visit Tianyong State Fengjing."
Fengjing is one of the capitals of the Great Zhou.
What kind of gift requires going to the capital to receive? Zhao Xing was a bit puzzled.
"You must come early; if Li Boqian dies and you haven’t arrived at Fengjing, the authority I hold in the underworld will have to be transferred to him."
"Thank you, Master Ancestor." Zhao Xing cupped his hands.
"Go now, do your work well. Disaster prevention and control is a tough task, so you don’t need to come here to chat with me in the coming days."
"Yes, apprentice grandson takes his leave."
...
The people brought by Sima Yunhai were elites drawn from various branches of Pinghai State, consisting of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six fourth-rank Ministers of Agriculture.
The fourth-rank Ministers of Agriculture brought by Pang numbered one hundred twenty-nine.
Judging by the numbers, the Heavenly Time Sect Ministers of Agriculture outnumbered the Self Sect by more than ten times.
This was the same for the fourth-rank and fifth-rank.
Sima Yunhai brought over sixteen thousand fifth-rank Ministers of Agriculture.
Pang Yuanzhen brought only one thousand and twenty fifth-rank Ministers of Agriculture.
As for the sixth-rank Ministers of Agriculture, neither Sima Yunhai nor Pang Yuanzhen brought any.
Bringing a few sixth-ranks would be useless, akin to deploying a classic martial formation; cooperation of Ministers of Agriculture with the Nong Family’s mechanisms and arrays can layer increases, enhancing the spells of the powerful Ministers in the main array.
Since Sima Yunhai is third-rank, bringing sixth-rank would not offer much benefit due to small numbers, and too many would slow down action speed.
For Pang Yuanzhen, it’s useless to bring them, as Pure Essence Soil hasn’t even been birthed yet for sixth-rank Ministers of Agriculture.
Moreover, Shangluo Academy has only eight branches in Pinghai State, with three located in enemy territory, drawn from Dao Yuan Continent.
Formally commencing action, Zhao Xing first went to find Bright Moon Prefecture Master Ye Yuxong.
"Please approve this petition, Prefecture Lord."
"What is this for?"
"Preventing and controlling disasters is arduous work, requiring significant consumption of Primordial Energy. Even if shifts are arranged, the work intensity is significant."
"This petition is for overtime payment for all levels of officials in Bright Moon Prefecture now."
"As long as there’s a system to rely on, Prefecture Lord can reward accordingly." Zhao Xing explained.
"Oh, oh, it’s necessary, it’s necessary." Ye Yuxong didn’t even look and just stamped his seal on it.
After stamping one, Zhao Xing submitted another.
"What is this for?" Ye Yuxong asked.
"Please open the Taigu, Taiping, Changping, and Ganquan warehouses, Prefecture Lord."
"There will definitely be a poor harvest this year in Bright Moon Prefecture, with prices soaring. Opening these four warehouses will stabilize prices of grains, commonly used herbs, clothing materials, or many people won’t be able to afford food or winter clothing."
"I see." Ye Yuxong stamped it with a thud.
After stamping, Zhao Xing submitted another.
Ye Yuxong looked at Zhao Xing.
"Please order each county to expand temporary shelters, Prefecture Lord. The Tower Ship Department officials must quickly act when a disaster happens, transferring disaster-affected people to shelters, facilitating our disaster prevention and control."
"Thud!"
"Please, Prefecture Lord, let the Mingyue, Li Fire, Bishui, Divine Travel four academies within Bright Moon Prefecture, open convenient channels for officials of grade six and above, facilitating their fast travel to each county."
"Thud!"
"Please approve this petition, Prefecture Lord..."
"Thud!"
"Please, Prefecture Lord..."
"Thud!"
...
Ye Yuxong’s hand stamping produced almost phantom-like traces.
After stamping for a whole two hours, only then did the desk clear.
Zhao Xing no longer submitted any documents.
"No more?" Ye Yuxong looked at Zhao Xing.
"No more for this morning." Zhao Xing nodded.
"???"
Ye Yuxong was a bit numb.
So I busied myself for two hours, only to finish a morning’s work?
"Can’t you let the people below approve it?"