Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 1280 - 5: Since You Have Met the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Why Do You Not Bow?

"Cough cough, Lao Meng, don't be so impulsive," Zhao Xing appeased. "We still need to clarify things first. If you lead the army over, it might easily incite rebellion."

It's only a tax collection, there's no need for violent enforcement.

"Beichen King Qin Feng is, after all, a well-known sealed king. Let me first ask His Majesty and see what his attitude is," Zhao Xing said.

...

Imperial Palace Inner Court.

"Of the fifteen Grotto Heavens and seventy Blessed Lands in Lingyuan State, three important Grotto Heavens and five precious resource-producing Blessed Lands are all in Beichen Country."

"Beichen King was a king sealed by the late Emperor. The late Emperor assessed Beichen King as an honest and sincere person, meticulous in his work, capable of stabilizing Lingyuan State."

"So, in the Tenth Year of Yuan Shou, I also conferred upon him the title 'Lingyuan Sky Official,' allowing him to appoint and dismiss talents below the third rank in the sixteen prefectures of Lingyuan State. For talents above the third rank that he recommended, I basically approved all of them."

"However, since the 32nd year of Yuan Shou, when he broke through to the Early Rule Realm, he seems to have changed somewhat," Ji Che sneered. "The last time I summoned him to Dao Yuan Continent to witness your debate battle with Liu Tianning, he didn't come."

"The 32nd year of Yuan Shou? That was precisely when he delayed the 'Golden Fragrance Medicine Tax,'" Zhao Xing said, "Your Majesty, it seems that Beichen King has become a bit conceited."

Unless Emperor Jing had misjudged initially, it might be that Beichen King Qin Feng got extraordinarily lucky during this Primordial Qi Tide, gained enormous benefits, broke through to the Rule Realm, and then developed other thoughts.

People do change. A person who was originally honest and sincere might, after breaking through to the Rule Realm and gaining immense personal power, start to conceive the notion that "the mountains are high and the Emperor is far away."

"Your Majesty, I just happen to be on my way back from the Extreme North. I can take a detour to Beichen Country and see what the situation with Beichen King is."

"But if we do find something, please instruct me clearly on what should be done," Zhao Xing demanded a stance from Ji Che, on whether to investigate Beichen King alone, Beichen Country alone, or both. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

A stringent investigation has its ways, including but not limited to mobilizing the army to kill Beichen King, stripping his kingdom and exterminating his nine clans.

Usually, sealed kings have some exemption rights, like Zhao Xing has a Death Exemption Token.

However, whether this thing is effective depends on the Emperor's words.

If he truly wants to kill, even ten thousand Death Exemption Tokens won't be of any use.

Ji Che pondered for a moment and set the tone: "If there are no acts of treason, then just a mild warning will suffice."

"If it involves a major crime of treason, then it is unforgivable."

"Yes, I understand," Zhao Xing nodded.

A part of him received orders at the Imperial Palace.

The main body stopped over Lingyuan State, unfolding the Earth Mirror in his palm to reveal a map.

"Beichen Country occupies half of Mingyuan Prefecture. In terms of administrative region, his fiefdom is half smaller than mine. However, Beichen Country produces more valuable materials, Upper County and Upper County's scale is considerably larger than my fiefdom."

"Golden Fragrance Medicine Tax is a tax on three types of treasures, specifically Golden Yew Fruit, Hundred Spirit Fragrance, and Spirit Ginseng series of medicinal materials."

"Shua~"

Zhao Xing performed 'As Far as a Foot,' swiftly moving through the clouds in the sky.

Within just two days, he arrived above Beichen Country's Royal City.

"Beichen King should not be in the Royal City but patrolling within the Cave Heaven Blessed Land."

"To save face for him, I won't conduct an incognito visit." Zhao Xing immediately took out the ministerial attire from the Qiankun Bag, retrieving the Five Grains Tower Ship, the Grand Minister of Agriculture's vehicle.

The Grand Minister of Agriculture, originally had only two commonly used tower ships, one being the Wind Breath Ship, the other being the Earth Piercing Divine Ship.

The Five Grains Divine Ship was added at Mr. Zhao's request.

He intended to unify the Three Sects, enjoying the Heavenly Time, Earth Advantage, and his true self, of course starting with the finer details of life.

"Whoosh~"

Zhao Xing pointed a finger, and the [Heavenly Thunder Drum], [Big Wind Drum], and [Cloud Swallowing Drum] on the ship's bow immediately resounded.

"Woohoo~"

"Boom~"

Above the Royal City, a violent wind arose, and thunderclouds gathered densely.

Fifteen minutes later, after the first drumbeat, there was still no one to greet him from above the Royal City.

Zhao Xing furrowed his brows slightly, but considering the extent of his spell's range, it might have been overlooked inadvertently.

So he beat the second drum, lowering the spell's power significantly.

"Woohoo~"

"Boom crash!"

...

After the second drum, there was still no one passing through the Gang Wind Layer to greet him.

Zhao Xing's eyes gathered with thunderclouds, his face turning cold.

He confirmed that his drum surely should have been detected by the Royal City Agriculture Supervisor, but they pretended not to hear.

Of course, another possibility could be that the Royal City Agriculture Supervision truly didn't hear it, a scenario even worse.

How rotten must it be that the thunder resounds above the Royal City, and they don't detect anything abnormal?

"This is beyond outrageous!"

"For me as the Grand Minister of Agriculture, and yet no one greets me? Am I serving in vain?"

Zhao Xing wouldn't demean himself to beat a third drum; instead, he lowered the tower ship, directly crashing toward the city's barrier formation.

"Boom boom boom~"

"Roar roar roar!"

The gale howled, and thunder erupted.

The dark clouds pressed down on the city, seemingly about to destroy it!

The entire sky darkened.

As the Five Grains Tower Ship descended to a thousand meters, a grotesque dragon-headed ram projected immediately.

Seemingly sensing something.

The four god barrier protecting the Royal City instantly lit up, with four golden-armor, spear-holding deities emerging from the four corners of the city.

Yet upon discerning the tower ship's appearance, these four deities were startled and retreated immediately.

"Bang!"

The Royal City's transparent barrier cracked like glass, and shattered in less than a second.

The entire Royal City trembled.

The inhabitants of the Royal City looked up at that moment to see the sky seemingly collapsing.

"Who?! Who is attacking the Royal City?!"

Immediately, a gold-armored military officer flew up with a squad riding Heavenly Horses, charging towards the sky.

"Is, is it the Five Grains Tower Ship of the Grand Minister of Agriculture?" The gold-armored military officer exclaimed, stunned on the spot.

Zhao Xing stood proudly at the ship's bow, overlooking below: "Having seen the Grand Minister of Agriculture, why not bow?"