[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dao-lord-of-shennong":3,"chapter-dao-lord-of-shennong-shennong-dao-lord-chapter-153":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Shennong Dao Lord",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2219395,3971,"Chapter 153: The Tiger-Dragon Army is here to poach people too? I can","shennong-dao-lord-chapter-153",153,"\u003Cp>A fiefdom for a Third-Rank Marquis, and a choice of any of the ten elite battalions—these were the terms offered by the Blazing Sun Army to win him over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Zhao Xing didn't even hesitate; he refused them outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have received the grace of the Divine Might Army. Lord Helie, please return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helie Lie immediately understood Zhao Xing’s resolve. He didn't try to persuade him further and rose to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did it go?\" outside the Eighteen Pagoda Willow Courtyard, a Ritualist asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helie Lie shook his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He only had one sentence: 'I have received the grace of the Divine Might Army.' He didn't even want to offer an explanation; it’s clear there’s no room for negotiation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ritualist said, \"You should have let me go in to talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helie Lie shook his head again: \"Impossible. Ritualists have silver tongues, but this is talent recruitment, not a battle between enemies. How could the Ministry of Agriculture allow you inside?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sending me was about making a straightforward offer. If it works, it works; if not, there’s nothing to be done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a pity.\" The Ritualist surnamed Lei, the same one who had been with Helie Lie earlier, sighed. \"He is far stronger than Zhuo Li, and the average military agricultural official can't even compare to him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is a pity.\" Helie Lie recalled the files he had seen at the Ministry of Agriculture, which recorded Zhao Xing’s performance from the third month of the 16th year of the Jingxin calendar to the second month of the 17th year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Getting him would be better than getting Shi Yong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s go. We’ll go back and ask the Marquis if we can increase the offer.\" The Ritualist smiled. \"Zhao Xing alone is worth a hundred Zhuo Lis. I feel we can still try a bit harder to see if there’s anything that can move him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't let Zhuo Li hear that.\" Helie Lie said indifferently. \"The matter is what it is, but don't say it out loud.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think I don't know? I'm only saying it to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two spoke, they gradually walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Eighteen Pagoda Willow Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing smiled lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not a shred of sincerity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ten elite battalions of the Blazing Sun Army? Once his training was complete, he would inevitably enter the elite battalions of the Divine Might Army anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fiefdom for a Third-Rank Marquis? That was indeed decent. The standard for a Third-Rank Marquis's fief is at least one county, though usually, it would be a lower or middle-tier county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a top-tier county like Gu County, which possessed a Spirit Mountain, even a First-Rank Marquis would struggle to get it. The existence of Spirit Mountains and Spirit Lakes provided endless benefits, so they were generally not granted as fiefs to Marquises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A standard fief for a Third-Rank Marquis was quite rare even during the reign of Emperor Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fief of the Yangwu Marquis of the Blazing Sun Army only consisted of fifty counties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giving Zhao Xing a single county as a fief was indeed a significant stake, so why did he say the Yangwu Marquis lacked sincerity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this place was not within the Yangwu Marquis's fief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yangwu Marquis's fief was in Cuiyue Commandery of Qingling Prefecture, an inland, prosperous area consisting mostly of top-tier counties. Of course, the scale of the fief only occupied a small portion of Cuiyue Commandery, about one-tenth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were given a county in Cuiyue Commandery as a fief, he could indeed live in luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Yangwu Marquis was talking about the 'Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of place was the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an exclave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the reign of Emperor Wen to Emperor Jing, the Great Zhou's southern border had been in a constant tug-of-war along the Canglan River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the two emperors didn't engage in many major wars, there were constant skirmishes in the east and south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Primarily because the source of this river was in the Southern Barbarian lands, and the area east of Pinghai Province was originally part of the Vast Sea, requiring large armies to be stationed there to suppress the Sea Tribes and Barbarian Tribes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who had served as an agricultural official knew what it meant for the source of a great river to be in the hands of the Barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they tampered with the Canglan River at its source, the agricultural officials south of Pinghai Province would be worked to death dealing with various natural disasters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why not just attack them directly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, due to historical reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Founding Emperor pacified the nineteen provinces and fought ten thousand miles south of the Canglan River, but eventually retreated north of the river, using it as a boundary and agreeing to a ceasefire with the various Barbarian nations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he needed to focus on dealing with the Sea Tribes; the scourge of the Vast Sea was even worse than the Southern Barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the founding emperor couldn't achieve, later emperors found difficult to accomplish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Wen focused on recuperation and rest, basically avoiding major wars, with very few minor ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the reign of Emperor Jing, after the recuperation under Emperor Wen and enduring the centuries of Chengan and Yongan, Emperor Jing felt the national strength was flourishing and the national fortune was rising. Thus, he began to make moves regarding Pinghai Province, leading to constant skirmishes with the Southern Barbarian tribes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't until the Dingxin era that a piece of territory was finally conquered: the 'Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for nearly two hundred years since its development, the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture had never stabilized because the Southern Barbarian tribes resisted fiercely. If the territory conquered by Emperor Jing could be developed, it would become a bridgehead for attacks, constantly threatening the heartlands of the Southern Barbarian tribes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consequently, the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture had been plagued by war for two hundred years; the various commanderies would be Great Zhou's for ten years, only to be occupied by some Barbarian tribe the next decade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Jing was generous in granting fiefs in the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture, but it was a raw, undeveloped land. While it was large, what was the use if it couldn't be developed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Yangwu Marquis offered Zhao Xing such a piece of land, Zhao Xing naturally felt there was no sincerity. Of course, from the Yangwu Marquis's perspective, giving Zhao Xing a county was already a sign of high regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interior of the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture was relatively stable, and the area was large. Giving a Ninth-Rank official (Zhao Xing hadn't been officially promoted yet, his realm just exceeded the Ninth Rank) a county as a fief was a recruitment offer that already exceeded the 'market price.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Zhao Xing was clear about all this; the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture was absolutely not suitable as a fief, and it was barely acceptable even as a source of income.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture was also the main reason Emperor Jing was called stingy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granting fiefs to Marquises, with a small portion being in such garbage territory, was very frustrating. Although it was land, it wasn't stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One had to worry about the Southern Barbarians stealing their home at any moment; how could one be happy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Jing also felt unhappy, so after squeezing the aristocratic families dry, he ended the Dingxin era and adopted the name Jingxin, which was brewing a major war to pacify the Barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to complete what his grandfather hadn't, and thoroughly incorporate the important water vein of the Canglan River into the Great Zhou's territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The early stages went smoothly, with fruitful results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fighting deep in foreign lands, with the supply lines stretched thin, they began to suffer setbacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They even lost quite a few elite legions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suffering setbacks abroad, the aristocratic clans staged a comeback, a period even accompanied by such vexing matters as princes colluding with sects and the Southern Barbarians rebelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Jing had no choice but to order the pacification legions to retreat north of the Canglan River to avoid destroying the achievements made so far, but in the end, he still lost more than half of the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was equivalent to two hundred years of effort in the Dingxin era resulting in less than half the gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although this didn't hinder later generations' high evaluation of Emperor Jing, at the time, it made him feel deeply frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Jingxin calendar only lasted thirty-seven years before ending in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subsequent Dazhi and Yongzhi were just beautiful wishes. During these two periods, Emperor Jing didn't launch a single decent war, focusing instead on producing heirs and preparing to pass on the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no such thing as a prince waiting for hundreds of years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the lifespan limit for an emperor of a Fortune Dynasty was one thousand years; they would only produce heirs and pass on the throne at the end of their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princes born were not about quantity, but quality; such matters were completely controllable for an emperor of a Fortune Dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally speaking, an emperor would produce at most nine princes in the latter part of his life; as for princesses and commandery princesses, there was no count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just after Zhao Xing refused the lobbyist from the Blazing Sun Army, at the Ministry of Agriculture, in the Heavenly Time Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Captain accompanied a middle-aged scholar as they walked into the Cedar Seven Mountains Courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean? You want me and Old Cheng to be lobbyists for your Black Armor Army?\" Ge Jinsong’s cheeks twitched. \"Are you here to humiliate me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Ge Jinsong’s mind, he immediately reviewed Zhao Xing’s performance from last March to this February.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>March, reporting test, ranked twenty-ninth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>April, branch training, ranked at the top multiple times... that’s not even worth mentioning, eventually entering the Earthly Benefit Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>May, unable to train, revealed commanding talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>June, supply training, ranked second, even convincing Xia Jing and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>July, selection training began, Nine-Section Dojo, comprehended the Solar Term Order, broke through to the fourth turn of the Knowledge Realm, defeated Feng Qiu, a disciple of Cheng Qingming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tianning’s Straw Man Method training course, passed six levels of testing, the Straw Man Method stood out from the crowd, defeating a group of geniuses from the Great Granary Academy, taking the top spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His subsequent growth became increasingly unstoppable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>August, September, October.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pinghuai Academy’s flood control training, Zhao Xing’s experience in water control actually exceeded some agricultural masters. Although Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, and others surpassed Zhao Xing in individual spells, this test wasn't about individual spells, but a comprehensive test, a combination of theory and practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing, first!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavenly Time Academy’s natural disaster course, hosted by Mei Zhiru, assisted by Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming, this was another comprehensive training, forty-seven types of insect disasters, heavenly fire meteors, earth vein eruptions, and during this time, they had to feed the warriors, because this training had already begun to feature 'enemy troops,' simulating real combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xing was impeccable in both specific management and his overall view, and he actually had two more Solar Term Orders break through to the fourth turn of the Knowledge Realm. In the end, even Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming had to admit they had misjudged him; Zhao Xing was first again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intensity of the training kept increasing, many geniuses were complaining, some couldn't keep up with the progress, but Zhao Xing seemed to have no upper limit, still maintaining rapid growth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was certainly related to Zhao Xing obtaining a large number of points in the selection training, but his talent refreshed Ge Jinsong’s cognition time and time again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, selection training!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Ge Jinsong couldn't help but sigh in his heart once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ritualist mental training, intelligence-lowering methods, provocation methods, Zhao Xing took first place several times, and when he wasn't first, he was always in the top three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Southern Barbarian witchcraft training, mainly about learning some unique methods and equipment knowledge of the Southern Barbarian tribes, most of which were theory classes, with a small part being physical training. Going abroad to fight, it was inevitable to use the enemy's weapons, but in this completely unfamiliar system, he was still stronger than others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physician training, pharmacist testing, ghost identification, god-inviting training course... even the application training of the Artisan family's divine weapons, this kid was even first in flying the flying boats!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was there any justice left? Was there any law?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve already been whipped by him so many times, and you two scoundrels still want me to be your lobbyist, jumping in my face?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally managed to wait until he finished his last large-scale joint training, planning to pick up my old face once he went to his field post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And you want to rub me on the ground again?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can you humiliate me like this! Get out!\" Ge Jinsong was full of grief and indignation. I just misjudged him once, how could it come to this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Ge, don't misunderstand!\" The Ritualist saw Ge Jinsong so excited and hurriedly cast a spell to soothe him. \"We came here this time precisely to solve Brother Ge’s worries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you miss this opportunity, brother, you will regret it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph!\" Ge Jinsong was not affected and sneered: \"A strategist’s mouth, a liar’s ghost, you are accustomed to using such tricks. I won't listen, you should go back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ritualist rose and bowed: \"If Brother Ge doesn't want to know why Brother Cheng agreed, and insists on us leaving, we will leave. There are plenty of middlemen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm? Cheng Qingming agreed? What face does he have to agree?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Jinsong was stunned, seeing the Ritualist and the soldier about to leave, he immediately shouted: \"Wait!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You just said, Cheng Qingming has already agreed to be a lobbyist for the Black Armor Army?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile appeared on the Ritualist’s lips, which he finally restrained, turning around to sit down. This speed was so fast that even the general beside him couldn't react, still standing there foolishly: \"That is correct, Brother Ge, please listen to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worldly affairs are unpredictable, and changes happen in a single thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This year, the two of you have indeed been misunderstood too much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if you two recommend him, promoting Zhao Xing from the weak Divine Might Army to my strong Black Armor Army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The more outstanding he becomes in the future, the Black Armor Army’s commendation documents will surely have both of your names.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As time goes by, who will remember the previous branch division matter? After all, it only occupied a very small part of the time. Even if remembered, it will be a beautiful story. After all, it was the two of you who brought him into my Black Armor Army, which is the wisdom to recognize talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The time ahead is the most important!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ritualist’s words successfully moved Ge Jinsong. Yes, what did that little matter before count for? If Zhao Xing entered the Black Armor Army through his recommendation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, when promoted by the Black Armor Army, wouldn't what is now considered an embarrassing matter become a 'small setback' on the road to recognizing talent? It might not necessarily become a beautiful story!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, I'll try.\" Ge Jinsong nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Jinsong and Cheng Qingming hadn't arrived at the Eighteen Pagoda Willow Courtyard yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many others had already come to the Yangcheng Ministry of Agriculture, preparing to be lobbyists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Might Army station in Yangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nine-Section Captain Huang Chengzhi was squatting on the ground, burning paper for a row of statues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he was burning were letters, leading to Xier Commandery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Report! Commander! Urgent report!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soldier suddenly broke in from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak quickly!\" Huang Chengzhi said: \"How is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three more groups of people have headed towards the Eighteen Pagoda Willow Courtyard! One of them includes a Commandant from the Tiger-Dragon Army!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" Huang Chengzhi stood up anxiously. \"Damn it, even the Tiger-Dragon Army is here to poach people? You go down and keep an eye on it! As soon as there is news, report it immediately!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, Huang Chengzhi squatted down again to burn paper for the statues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Scoundrel, stop burning!\" The statue of the God of Travel, Dai Zong, suddenly opened its eyes. \"You have already burned four urgent march orders today!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The letter has already reached Xier Commandery, don't burn for this god anymore!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, the statue closed its eyes, the candles in front of the row of statues below all went out, and even the letter paper was spat out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Chengzhi bowed to the statue, his face showing joy, muttering to himself: \"It has already arrived? That's good, that's good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Chen, Long Xiao, you must come quickly, the level of lobbyists is getting higher and higher, the pressure is getting bigger and bigger, I can't carry it alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This chapter is a review, there is no need to write the training courses in too much detail, because the following half-year internship will show them, and I think it is more appropriate to reflect them in actual combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There will definitely be a second and third update today, as for the specific time, the author writes more than ten thousand words a day, it is impossible to be specific about the time point of release. I can only say that I am working very hard on coding. \u003C\u002Fp>",2942,"2026-06-17T16:13:07.318Z","2026-06-18T03:34:23.509Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","3c183e74d011e4e34f1c9f0f350d09b45fea6284d1f2d79d6a2decbc3f130b76","shennong-dao-lord-chapter-154","shennong-dao-lord-chapter-152",666,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshennong-dao-lord-cover.jpg"]