Chapter 2188 - 2173: The Grand Celestial Official’s Reward

Chapter 2188: Chapter 2173: The Grand Celestial Official’s Reward

"Grand Marshal, the military merit exchange this time has yielded a total of six commander-level spirit boats, twenty general-level spirit boats, one hundred Sky-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Crossbows, and one thousand Flame Spirit Burst Demon Crossbows, all have been inspected and received," Niu Er reported to Ye Zhen at the first opportunity upon return.

Ye Zhen’s brow furrowed, "No gain from the first additional condition?" ℴ

"Grand Marshal, that’s exactly what I wanted to report! Not a single special elixir like the Beast Blood Demon Spirit Pill has been collected.

However, in the first transaction, a batch of pills capable of directly enhancing cultivation by a small realm has been received.

There are two hundred pills for elevating the Dark Palace Realm by a small realm, three thousand pills for the Divine Communication Realm, and thirty thousand pills for increasing cultivation in the Entering Dao Realm!" Niu Er reported.

Though dissatisfied with the result, Ye Zhen had no choice but to accept it.

After all, pills like the Beast Blood Demon Spirit Pill that can rapidly convert soldiers into Demon Spirit Soldiers are not easily obtainable.

Ye Zhen’s first additional condition in this military merit trade was special elixirs akin to the Beast Spirit Demon Spirit Pill.

Any who possessed such elixirs would not only have priority in exchanging military merits but could also enjoy certain discounts.

Unfortunately, there was no yield.

Nevertheless, the substantial number of pills that enhance a small realm, though not ideal, are better than nothing and can boost the strength of the soldiers by a small margin.

"Distribute all pills for the Dark Palace Realm to the Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters to enhance their strength."

"Additionally, contact Liuu Feng’s personnel to distribute the Divine Communication Realm and Entering Dao Realm enhancement pills to the entire army. Prioritize based on high merit in battle, then level the field according to rank, years of service, and distribute in order.

Moreover, generals and soldiers using these cultivation enhancement pills must be placed at the back of the queue during the next group merit distribution."

The calculation and distribution of military merits are incredibly complex and troublesome.

Behind Liuu Feng, who handles this matter, is a team of over a hundred administrative staff specifically dedicated to this task, constantly monitoring it.

Matters like these can greatly affect troop morale, so they must be handled with caution.

"Yes, sir!"

....

With the retreat of the Seventh Crown Prince of the Demon Emperor Congyun’s army, the garrison at Blood River Fortress received an incredibly rare and precious opportunity to rest.

As Marshal, Ye Zhen began his tour, boosting morale one site at a time.

The first stop was naturally Blood River Fortress.

As soon as Ye Zhen arrived at the Commander Mansion of Blood River Fortress, Liuu Feng hurried to kneel before Ye Zhen solemnly.

"Thank you, Grand Marshal, for fulfilling my wish, allowing Liuu Feng to achieve a noble title in this lifetime, and in the future to return home in glory!" Liuu Feng bowed deeply.

When Liuu Feng left with Gu Tieqi and Ye Zhen, it was a choice made out of necessity.

The family’s title was not inheritable, placing him in a rather awkward position.

Of course, with parental care, living would not be a problem.

But he refused to live a muddled existence through life.

A man of ambition seeks to establish achievements.

Driven by a moment of fervor at the time, he joined Gu Tieqi, who’s in the same situation, in following Ye Zhen to North Sea County.

At that time, it was merely to seek a minor official position and gain some experience.

He never dreamed of earning a noble title!

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, countless young men aspire for noble titles on the battlefield and returning home dressed in fine clothes.

But earning a noble title or even a Mid-grade commendation is not easy.

On the battlefield, the Demon Clan are not so easily bested.

Even when defeated, the military merits might not fully come into one’s possession.

As for high-grade commendations and noble titles, they are even rarer.

Yet now, already conferred as a first-class Baron!

Though merely a Baron, it is a real and tangible noble title, a noble of the Great Zhou Empire!

"Actually, with the military merits reported this time, as long as I agree, you could have been conferred with a Marquis title with two Demon Clan Dao Realm heads.

But you were only awarded a first-class Baron; you do not begrudge me for it, do you?" Ye Zhen slowly helped Liuu Feng up.

Liuu Feng blushed deeply, "Grand Marshal, what words are these? Who does not know who really slew those Dao Realm individuals?

The resources invested and efforts made by the Grand Marshal to defeat the Demon Clan are well-known to Liuu Feng, and how could I harbor such greed?"

"Moreover, Liuu Feng’s current cultivation was entirely acquired with the Grand Marshal’s efforts. With a Baron position and this cultivation, Liuu Feng is already contented," Liuu Feng expressed.

Ye Zhen firmly patted Liuu Feng’s shoulder, "Don’t worry, the Baron is merely the beginning of your noble journey!"

"How is the army’s condition, and how is the matter I tasked you with progressing?" Ye Zhen inquired.

"Reporting to Grand Marshal, the army has entered a state of rest; at most three more days, injuries will be ninety percent healed. Additionally, through consecutive battles, new recruits have transformed into veterans, and veterans into elites, hence combat power will surely increase!"

"Moreover, the matter that the Grand Marshal entrusted me with has been fully completed in terms of documentation, and under someone’s care, all military registration documents withstand scrutiny.

The Imperial Court’s noble title decrees have been dispatched, but on that day, I specifically used Flower Spirit Stones to deal with the heralds, not letting them publicly announce the entire noble title list," Liuu Feng stated.

After speaking, Liuu Feng handed over a storage ring inscribed with various sealing elements, "This was given by someone after the matter was completed, to be handed to the Grand Marshal, said to represent the wishes of the Grand Celestial Official."

Receiving the storage ring, a move of Divine Sense broke the seal, and the contents of the storage ring lay open to Ye Zhen’s view.

Five Heavenly Patrol Divine General Blood Refining Martial Soul Beads, Middle Stage of Realm King Realm, and a hundred Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunter Blood Refining Martial Soul Beads, Late Stage Dark Palace Realm.

This is a token of gratitude from Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu.

With these Blood Refining Martial Soul Beads, Ye Zhen’s number of Heavenly Patrol Divine Generals could reach twenty-five, and the Divine Hunters could increase by a hundred.

For Ye Zhen, who is currently in need of elite scouts, this is indeed a timely solution.

"Immediately select suitable candidates from the Heavenly Patrol Guard to refine these Martial Soul Beads, and ensure they are deployed to the battlefield in the shortest time!" Ye Zhen commanded.

This opportunity was gained as Ye Zhen received a secret letter from Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu before reporting detailed military merits.

The Grand Celestial Official expressed he needed Ye Zhen to arrange certain military merits for three individuals, Viscount title being the most suitable, but the military merits must meet the condition for granting a fiefdom.

Ye Zhen naturally complied with the Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu’s requests, given past favors, Ye Zhen had to take care of this matter.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, such matters are not unusual.

Many high-ranking officials and nobles, for their beloved sons and grandsons, would use such methods to pave their future.

Ye Zhen is sure that among the three individuals mentioned by Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu, at least one must be Wu Yu’s progeny.

A Demon Clan Dao Realm head grants a Marquis title but without a fiefdom.

To obtain a Viscount title with a fiefdom, one must accomplish the primary merit for killing a Demon Clan Dao Realm member and collect dozens of Demon Clan Realm King heads.

Ye Zhen entrusted all these arrangements to Liuu Feng without raising any requirements, thus repaying past favors to Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu.

Nevertheless, the Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu is impeccable in conduct; after granting titles, he delivered a substantial gift, alleviating Ye Zhen’s immediate concerns.

"How is the situation with increasing troop numbers; is coordination progressing?" Ye Zhen asked again.

In response, Liuu Feng shook his head, "Grand Marshal, over there at the Military Department, they stated that the Heavenly Wave Army of North Sea has not reduced personnel by half, therefore they will not grant movement for military tokens and orders, leaving us unable to supplement troops from North Sea County."

"Damn inflexible lot!"

Ye Zhen suddenly let out a discontented cold snort.

Faced with insufficient troops, Ye Zhen first thought of increasing forces from North Sea County, even if they were soldiers of the Vein Forging Realm, as long as they could operate the Wind-Fire Crossbow, they could greatly contribute to city defense.

With ten thousand Wind-Fire Crossbows defending, Ye Zhen’s pressures would be greatly reduced.

But transferring troops from North Sea County requires military orders and tokens from the Military Department; without these, County Soldiers cannot move an inch.

Now that the Military Department disagrees, Ye Zhen’s plan has been abruptly thwarted.

"And concerning Dock Castle?" Ye Zhen asked.

Mentioning Dock Castle only made Liuu Feng’s expression darker!