Chapter 134: Old dragon

Yu Kingdom military government assessment, once every three years.

Only high-level generals at the level of Regional Commander and Assistant Regional Commander need to accept the imperial court's assessment.

The lower Garrison Commanders, Guerrilla Generals, Platoon Leaders, etc., are all assessed by the guard stations themselves.

Doing so.

On one hand, it can ensure the imperial court's control over military officers, on the other hand, only assessing high-level military officers is also absorbing the experience of the previous dynasty, avoiding the situation of civil respect and military inferiority, leading to a great reduction in the army's combat effectiveness.

Every military government assessment means a change in official positions.

Early on, people were operating in the dark, hoping to plan a good position in the assessment.

Spring.

Morning.

Ning Zhongtian finished washing, dressed in outer clothes served by the maid, and prepared to go out.

He rubbed his temples.

The military government assessment is approaching, and the people coming to visit are almost breaking the threshold.

From ordinary soldiers, to eighth-rank, seventh-rank military officers.

Too many, he doesn't even necessarily remember the names, he naturally couldn't accept them all.

The key is to look at the person.

What kind of person?

The standards are all written on the notice of the military government assessment.

"Martial, Achievement, Integrity."

"Martial" naturally doesn't need to be said, if you don't have a seventh-rank, Ning Zhongtian doesn't dare to promote you to Platoon Leader even if he has heaven-reaching ability.

Don't talk about passing Cao Wei's level, even if reported up, it will finally be rejected by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel.

So martial is the foundation.

Without this, everything is in vain, being a civil official is still possible, being a military official is wishful thinking.

"Achievement" is also easy to understand, small merit, medium merit, major merit, each item is recorded by the pen of the civil clerk, at a glance, but this achievement besides real merit.

There is also the superior's score.

This item is crucial.

Otherwise, those people wouldn't have stepped on Ning Zhongtian's threshold.

Ning Zhongtian doesn't have the decision-making power, but the guard station has a total of a thousand people, whether it is Jiang Linxian or Cao Wei, they won't seriously understand everyone, so the suggestion power of the five Garrison Commanders seems very important.

Jiang Linxian and Cao Wei almost won't reject it.

Finally, there is "Integrity."

This "Integrity" has a lot of knowledge.

Let's just say it like this.

Officials who are promoted, integrity is almost full marks, officials who are demoted, integrity is poor.

Note.

It's not that integrity is poor, only then are they demoted, but they are already determined to be demoted, only then are they given poor marks.

This is almost the consensus of the Yu Kingdom officialdom.

"Integrity" is the last door to tear the face, most of the time no one will touch it.

If Ning Zhongtian gave an official a poor mark in "Integrity," that is a big enemy that cuts off people's future, affecting even more than one official, and also the backer behind them.

Ning Zhongtian took a sip of the warm tea served by the maid.

Rinsed his mouth.

He is still young, only thirty-five years old, no wife, no children, but there are quite a few pretty maids.

Concubines are naturally there.

But most of the time Ning Zhongtian is just to vent fire.

Compared to women, he is more obsessed with the martial path.

Just pushed open the door.

He saw Li Rui standing at the door.

"Li Rui?"

Ning Zhongtian looked at this little old man with some surprise.

"Something?"

He has a deep impression of this little old man Li Rui, not just because he brought him out of the Tiandi Alliance.

Tiandi Alliance he brought out more than ten people, Li Rui is just one of them.

Mainly because he borrowed a Qi circulation diagram from him last time.

A seventy-year-old man actually still thinking about cultivating Qi.

This matter is quite rare.

Li Rui chuckled: "I came to thank the Alliance Leader Ning."

"Thank?"

Ning Zhongtian raised his eyebrows.

During this period, there are quite a few people coming to thank him.

But in his view, the position of Grain Manager Li Rui is already quite good, no need to change.

Li Rui: "Before, if it weren't for the help of Alliance Leader Ning, I, an old man, wouldn't have been able to obtain the 'Flying Dragon in the Sky' diagram and dragon blood."

Ning Zhongtian smiled lightly: "I said why Wei Ming suddenly wanted dragon blood, so it was in your hands."

"This old man didn't fail Alliance Leader Ning's painstaking efforts, I have already cultivated a wisp of true Qi."

"What?!"

This time it was Ning Zhongtian's turn to be surprised.

He was just playing for fun at the time, never thought Li Rui actually succeeded!

Li Rui didn't explain.

He merely extended his right index finger and exerted a slight force, and a faint green glow appeared at his fingertip.

Ning Zhongtian narrowed his eyes and looked for a long time.

Finally exhaled:

"Brother Li's perseverance is truly admirable."

Confirmed without doubt.

It is true Qi.

Cultivating Qi is equivalent to becoming a seventh-rank.

In less than half a year, two Vice Helmsmen brought by him from the Qinghe branch both broke through.

"Is my eye good?"

"Or is the Anning Guard's feng shui good?"

Ning Zhongtian was amused.

Then domineeringly said: "Good, very good."

"I am the Garrison Commander of the Anning Guard, but also the Alliance Leader of the Tiandi Alliance; since Brother Li is a person of my Tiandi Alliance, I can't treat you badly."

"Rest assured, I will surely plan a good job for Brother Li and Brother Ge."

Even if Li Rui broke through to Willow Sinew by relying on the "Flying Dragon in the Sky" diagram and dragon blood, his blood and Qi will definitely be weaker than a normal seventh-rank.

But seventh-rank is seventh-rank, this is unquestionable, so he should be reused.

"Many thanks, Alliance Leader Ning."

Li Rui could see that Ning Zhongtian was truly happy.

He and Ge Hong breaking through one after another, strengthening not only the faction in the Anning Guard, but also the Tiandi Alliance.

Like Wei Ming and these people, although they are also Ning Zhongtian's right-hand men. But no matter how strong they are, essentially they are also people of the imperial court.

If you want them to exert effort for the Tiandi Alliance, it is almost impossible.

Even if Ning Zhongtian suppresses them, they will just do the work without effort.

So Ning Zhongtian hopes more to see people brought from the Tiandi Alliance grow up.

Own people and subordinates, there is still a fundamental difference.

Ning Zhongtian laughed loudly, striding towards the General's Mansion.

Li Rui looked at Ning Zhongtian's back.

Thoughtful. 【134

He was empty-handed and did not carry heavy gifts like the others who came to visit.

Young man, that is not how you give gifts.

Giving early is a gesture of sentiment; giving only when the assessment hurdle arrives—is this an attempt to bribe Lord Ning?

Ning Zhongtian, as a Garrison Commander.

=9+Shu_ba

He doesn't look down on ordinary things, and the people giving gifts likely can't afford good things.

So, what is sought is loyalty.

But what is the best loyalty?

It is not fawning, but aligned interests.

Li Rui and these old-timers of the Tiandi Alliance are undoubtedly the group most deeply bound to Ning Zhongtian's interests, but Ning Zhongtian has always been hindered by their average strength and unable to promote them.

"As for other matters, Ning Zhongtian should be able to handle them for me."

Li Rui thought to himself.

It must be said that Ning Zhongtian is a man of considerable means; as an enemy, he is a headache, but as a superior, he is very reassuring.

Seeking out Ning Zhongtian today was, of course, a long-premeditated plan.

There are still more than ten days until the military and political assessment; the time is neither too much nor too little.

Breaking through in the last few days of the assessment.

It is hard not to arouse suspicion; half a month is just right.

Both the Flying Dragon in the Sky Chart and the Jiao blood came from Ning Zhongtian's hands, so there is no need for verification.

A seventy-year-old man painstakingly obtained a Qi-Circulation Chart and Jiao blood that could help condense the Dragon-Form, and by chance, cultivated a wisp of true qi.

Although this story is bizarre.

Every step was completed within the Anning Guard, and everything can be traced; there were no miraculous encounters. If one insists on calling it a miraculous encounter, it is Li Rui's own good fortune.

It will not arouse the covetousness of others.

Moreover, after the two forms merged, Li Rui's strength is not something an ordinary Willow Sinew martial artist can compare to.

This was already verified when he killed the Ghost Demon Zhang Hao with one slash.

Only then did he dare to reveal his strength.

Seven parts—that is already the limit of what he reveals to the outside world.

As for showing off in some grand competition, that is an extremely stupid approach.

Ning Zhongtian is a smart man; telling him first.

Can both show loyalty and let him help minimize the impact.

Li Rui arrived at the Armory as if nothing had happened.

By midday.

Ge Hong and Wei Ming rushed into his room in the Armory, both staring with wide eyes: "Brother Li, did you really break through?"

Breathing like an ox.

Clearly, they had run all the way here, and at full speed.

Li Rui chuckled: "By luck, I cultivated a wisp of true qi."

Ge Hong and the other gasped.

What is called a genius?

This is a genius!

Who decreed that only seventeen or eighteen-year-old youths are allowed to be called geniuses? A seventy-year-old is also a genius.

Ge Hong and Wei Ming both knew Li Rui's background.

Everything could be verified.

They had reason to suspect that Li Rui might have already achieved something in his Wu Gong when he was a groom at the Zhu family; otherwise, breaking through three ranks in three years is too terrifying.

But if that were really the case, Li Rui's depth of character is extraordinary.

At the very least, the two of them could not bring themselves to be willing to act as lowly grooms for others even after becoming martial artists.

Ge Hong admired Li Rui from the bottom of his heart.

He also came from a humble background; if he hadn't been valued by his Wu Gong master, he might have wasted his whole life.

For the lower class, just staying alive is very difficult.

If one reveals even a little strength, one will be envied by others, and one might be plotted against if not careful.

Hiding one's strength is very necessary.

But it is easier said than done; how many people can really do it?

"Brother Li was born at the wrong time; otherwise, his achievements would surely be higher."

Ge Hong's regret was sincere.

The Flying Dragon in the Sky Chart and the Jiao blood were external forces; the key was Li Rui's own terrifying talent. If he could have obtained a famous teacher in his early years, he might already be a big shot in Anning Prefecture, or even Yunzhou.

Wei Ming also understood the crux of the matter.

He was also regretful.

He said: "Brother Li has broken through, his lifespan has greatly increased; perhaps he can achieve great things in the future."

Not many people would be wary of an eighty-year-old Eighth-Rank.

There is almost no potential.

But a seventy-year-old Seventh-Rank—that is a different story.

A Seventh-Rank Willow Sinew lives for one hundred and fifty years; at seventy, he has only lived half his life. Although his potential is limited, the hope for a breakthrough is much greater than before.

Wei Ming looked at this little old man, who had always had a good temper, with respect for the first time.

Li Rui smiled and waved his hand: "Don't you two raise me up; cultivating Qi this time was just a stroke of great luck. I won't have such good luck in the future."

Wei Ming corrected him: "Brother Li, luck is also a part of strength."

Some people just have more moments of sudden enlightenment than others, and can run into experts giving pointers while walking.

While others spend their whole lives frustrated and unappreciated; even if they have high talent, if no one helps them, they will still be buried.

Thousand-li horses are common, but Bole is not.

Isn't that the truth?

If one must blame something, blame bad fate.

So this makes Li Rui's preciousness even more apparent—persisting until seventy without giving up; it is precisely this persistent spirit that has led to today's achievements.

If a person does not abandon themselves, Heaven will not abandon them either.

"What a great 'Heaven rewards diligence'!"

Wei Ming exclaimed.

Li Rui laughed: "I originally thought about telling you two after my shift; did Lord Ning tell you?"

Ge Hong nodded: "Lord Ning should tell Lord Jiang; Brother Li, just wait for your promotion."

Li Rui was not coy: "I think all three of us should be promoted. I've booked a private room at the Drunken Immortal Tower tonight; why not invite Lord Ning and celebrate?"

"Excellent!"

Ge Hong and Wei Ming both agreed in unison.

(End of chapter)