Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 698 - 15: Re-entering the Dream Palace, Ultra Ninth Rank Giant Puppet Divine Weapon!

Chapter 698: Chapter 15: Re-entering the Dream Palace, Ultra Ninth Rank Giant Puppet Divine Weapon!

There was a small squad stationed on the Twin Islands, coming from the Recovery Army, with just around five hundred men.

Leading them was a military officer named Jiang Tian, at the Standard Fifth Rank, with eight Sixth-Rank deputy generals, and the rest were Seventh-Rank.

They were not summoned by Zhao Xing but were stationed there based on Sun Shizhao’s report to Chongming Prefecture, requesting the garrison.

Initially, Zhao Xing disagreed with deploying troops to the Twin Islands.

Because the open strength of the island, the weaker it was, the less likely anyone would bother to attack, thus naturally safeguarding it.

What was the use of having an extra five hundred soldiers?

Previously, He Wu of the Wuluo Army and Fang Ze of the Jiujiang Army both mentioned they could send a five-hundred-man squad led by a Fifth-Rank officer for defense.

But Zhao Xing had refused.

Still, he repeated, it was useless.

If trouble really arose, even an additional fifteen hundred men would not make much of a difference.

It might even draw more attention.

If it were Fourth-Rank, that would be useful, but the configuration of a Fourth-Rank commander, Fifth-Rank deputies, and Sixth-Rank soldiers... could a mere Twin County deserve such protection?

So, Zhao Xing did not agree to station troops there, at least not for his Land Island.

But he couldn’t resist Sun Shizhao’s persistent requests.

These past few years, Sun Shizhao had indeed been somewhat on edge, as several other islands had suffered attacks to varying degrees.

Some county magistrates had been decapitated, sacrificed in the line of duty, while others had been demoted for failing to protect the populace.

Holding an official position at sea offered great promotion opportunities, but it was also risky, something Sun Shizhao was mentally prepared for.

However, he had arrived at a bad time, serving as an official for twenty years, coinciding with the Great Battle against the Barbarians, making the East Sea far less stable than before.

Because the administrative evaluations of the entire Pinghai State had become increasingly stringent.

If not for the arrival of Marquis Yuan Rang nine years ago, he would have had to return inland to hold office, even if demoted to Secondary Fifth-Rank.

With Zhao Xing’s arrival, he felt his luck had finally turned, and promotion seemed within reach.

However, in these recent years since the commencement of the Middle-Grade Battle, the dangers in the East Sea had only grown year by year.

Sun Shizhao could not understand how, with the Eastern Sea Army and formidable forces like Bai Yunwu’s Water Clan Tribal Army defending the outer seas, such trivial "pirates" could not be thoroughly eradicated.

They claimed it was spies from long-hidden Outer Sect factions surfacing, but despite years of purging, there seemed to be no substantial results. Despite numerous changes to coastal defense plans, it still had gaps like a sieve.

Serving as an official at Sun Shizhao’s level brought significant frustrations.

With evil sects outside and traitors inside, while the court was conducting anti-rebellion efforts, the evil sects were carrying out terrorist attacks.

When he tried to achieve something, he discovered that he, the top official, had no real control.

When he applied to Chongming Prefecture for the deployment of garrison troops, the prefecture governor surprisingly asked for Zhao Xing, the Left Deputy’s opinion.

The reason given was that the garrison’s expenses had to come from the Minister of Agriculture Supervision, hence Zhao Xing had to be consulted first.

Sun Shizhao understood that he had no real authority.

Because the prefecture’s reason was rather flimsy, even according to the response from above, the one to ask should be Fang Anmin, the Fifth-Rank Supervisor of the Twin Island Minister of Agriculture Supervision, who was the head of county finances.

Why ask the Dragon Horse Supervisor?

Alright, Marquis Yuan Rang was powerful and well-connected, so asking him was no harm.

But why wouldn’t he agree to send more strong troops to protect the Twin Islands?

Having mingled in official circles for many years, Sun Shizhao couldn’t grasp the situation anymore.

Zhao Xing saw Sun Shizhao’s multiple requests over the years and to ease Sun Shizhao’s mind, he agreed to let the Recovery Army’s five hundred men be stationed there.

With the protection of an army, Sun Shizhao felt a little relieved, but these past few days, his eyelids had started twitching again.

His heart also pounded.

Feeling uneasy, he went to find Jiang Tian, but Jiang Tian had no such feeling.

He planned to head to the Dragon Horse Guard on Land Island to report to Zhao Xing but feared annoying Zhao Xing.

Tense, too tense, Sun Shizhao had considered applying for a transfer multiple times, but as he approached ten years of meritorious service, just six months away, he was unwilling to give up this opportunity.

Stress, tiredness, Sun Shizhao had never felt so exhausted before.

When he saw no hope, he was willing to bet everything on Zhao Xing leading the Twin Islands to flourish.

However, years later, his mindset had considerably declined.

People often become anxious when they are close to success.

Sun Shizhao just wanted to quickly finish the twenty-ninth year of the Jingxin Calendar, quickly receive the excellent evaluation from Chongming Prefecture, and quickly...

"Mr. Sun, quickly activate the city’s defense array! Organize the people into the city, hurry!"

"What?" Sun Shizhao instantly snapped to attention, standing up immediately. He recognized it as Jiang Tian’s voice.

"General, what has happened?"

Jiang Tian was not there in person, using the Thousand-Mile Token instead, "The sentry I left in the east of the island is dead, and a patrol’s code doesn’t match!"

"I pretended not to know to buy some time, but you must act immediately!"

"Got it!"

Jiang Tian immediately relayed the message to various departments in the county.

"Heavenly Craft Department, activate the Gate Defense Array immediately!"

"Inspection Bureau Luo Yong, take your men to assist with city defense, anyone who can’t enter the city is definitely a spy, kill them on the spot!"

"Also, assign a portion to the Minister of Agriculture Supervision to assist them in deploying all floored ships and flying boats to bring the people outside the city back."

"Priest Li of the divine temple, send a message to Chongming Prefecture immediately, informing them that we are under an unknown attack."

"All temple priests, deploy the roaming spirits to coordinate with the Inspection Bureau and Minister of Agriculture Supervision outside the city immediately..."

Before the incident, he had been on edge, but now that it was actually happening, Sun Shizhao was no longer as afraid.

He deployed methodically, demonstrating the qualities a competent official should have.

After giving these orders, he immediately took out a talisman and activated it. Flames burst forth, revealing a human face.

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