Chapter 11: The Calamity of Grain-Eating Birds!
Above the public fields of Gu City, amidst low-lying clouds, a [Flowing Cloud Flying Boat] hovers.
A burly man stands at the prow, dressed in light green official robes embroidered with clouds and wheat sheaves, his waist cinched with a copper seal and silver cords, and by his feet, a bamboo woven cage rests.
The cage, seemingly no more than a meter in dimension, continuously releases black birds that dive towards the fields below.
Beside the cage stand two middle-aged men in similar official robes, distinguished only by the green cords at their waists.
These three individuals are the chief official of Gu City's Agricultural Bureau, Chen Shijie, of ninth rank; the deputies in charge of land registration and equal distribution, Gao Linong and Tang Wanchun, also of ninth rank.
Behind them is a minor clerk from Gu City County, equipped with an iron ruler, sent by the county magistrate Li Wenzheng to record the entire monthly assessment, a perfect tool person.
As the last of the black birds fly out of the cage, the county clerk starts his routine, bowing and asking, "May I ask Lord Chen, what species are these black birds?"
Chen Shijie turns and returns the bow, "These birds are called ‘grain-eating birds,’ also known as 'condor birds,' commonly found in the north. I had them specifically transported from my hometown to assess the local agricultural officials."
The clerk further inquires, "What exactly is the content of the Minor Heat assessment?"
Chen explains, "During the Minor Heat, the yuan rice approaches maturity, which the grain-eating birds favor. This assessment is to see how the agricultural officials handle natural enemies of the crops."
Seemingly unfamiliar with these birds, the clerk cautiously asks, "Is it similar to a locust disaster?"
"It won’t be that dramatic, it’s just a regular assessment."
The clerk takes out paper and pen from his waist and asks, "Could Lord Chen provide detailed grading criteria?"
Chen points to the cage and says, "Gu City’s public fields have been set to the Major Heat period, unbearably hot, accelerating the depletion of the officials’ vitality. An hour later, when the grain-eating birds return to the cage, Lord Gao, Lord Tang, and I will grade the officials below."
"It depends on the extent of damage to the fields they are responsible for."
"Less than 10% damage qualifies for a grade A."
"Less than 20% damage qualifies for a grade B."
"Less than half damage, grade C."
"More than half damage, no grade is given, and they must replant using cultivation techniques to speed growth. If they can make up for it, they may receive a grade C."
The clerk quickly jots down the information and bows, "Thank you for the clarification, Lord. I shall not disturb the three examiners further."
With that, he heads into the cabin, waiting for the results to be finalized and reported back to the county office.
Below the public fields of Gu City, chaos reigns.
No one expected the exam question to come from the sky, and so abruptly!
A dense flock of birds hovers above each agricultural clerk's assigned field.
For now, the birds are just circling, not yet making a move, as Chen Shijie gives the clerks time to react.
Those who respond quickly have already begun to cast spells.
[Summon Cloud], [Summon Wind], [Call Thunder], [Summon Rain]—quite the spectacle.
Everyone’s trying to drive away these uninvited guests first.
"My god, I recognize them, these are the northern condor birds, they specifically feed on grains and are very hard to drive away!"
"That damn examiner, we don't even have these birds in the south, and he's using them for the exam?"
"Chen Shijie is from the north, could it be he specially had them brought over?!"
"The Minor Heat exam is about natural disasters, why aren't condor birds considered a disaster?"
"Ah! My just sprouting yuan rice! Get away, you stinky birds!"
...
Amidst the chaos, cursing, and crying, what was once a peacefully waiting public field now echoes with ghostly wails.
Zhao Xing recognizes the grain-eating birds immediately, too familiar with them!
In his past life as an agricultural official, he encountered this very question, and his territory frequently faced various 'natural disasters'; this type was particularly troublesome.
Though still less catastrophic than a 'locust disaster,' which could eat everything down to the roots.
"What kind of bird is this, why can't the wind blow it away, nor the rain stop it, even the thunder doesn't scare it? Brother Zhao, Qian Dong, how should we respond... Brother Zhao?"
Chen Ziyu looks down to find Zhao Xing's figure, but discovers he's already run towards the straw stack area.
Leaving only his voice carried by the wind: "Don't just stand there, hurry back to your own fields and think of something, if all else fails, do it yourself, save as much as you can!"
Hearing Zhao Xing’s voice, Qian Dong and Chen Ziyu also spring into action.
At this moment, there’s no time for anything else; it’s a race against time.
Zhao Xing is very thankful that he didn't slack off on practicing the strawman puppet technique these past few days.
Because right now, the strawman puppet is the most efficient method available.
[You crafted a Returning Strawman Puppet] [Returning Strawman Puppet]
[Skill Level: 854/9999]
[Effect: Executes orders, cycles repeatedly.]
[Grass Soldiers Skill Level +1]
[You crafted a Returning Strawman Puppet] [Returning Strawman Puppet]
[Skill Level: 864/9999]
[Effect: Executes orders, cycles repeatedly.]
[Grass Soldiers Skill Level +2]
The skill level cap for basic spells is 9999, and every 1000 skill levels represent an 'Advancement', indicating an increase in power.
Because Zhao Xing practices the [Willow Transmission Method], his skill levels for strawman puppets are quite high, though not yet at the 'First Advancement'.
However, the need now is for quantity, not quality.
"Hurry, hurry, even faster..."
Zhao Xing’s hands move almost to the point of blurring; since taking the [Dao Embryo Pill], his vitality has grown daily, and his physique has much improved. Before long, the pile of straw in front of him visibly diminishes as one puppet after another dashes towards their target.
One, two, ten, fifteen...
A quarter hour passes, and the circling black birds swoop down to begin devouring the yuan rice.
Seeing this, Zhao Xing’s face changes.
His assigned field covers five mu, about half the size of a soccer field, and there aren’t enough strawmen yet.
"Summon Cloud!"
His fingers shine with a golden light, targeting directly above his field, the clouds low and enveloping it.
At this moment, Zhao Xing isn't as he was a month ago; the range of [Summon Cloud] almost covers the entire five mu.
The effect of the clouds slightly hinders the grain-eating birds but only just.
"Call Thunder!"
Zhao Xing casts another spell, the clouds shift from white to gray, thunder booms, and purple lightning flashes.
The falling grain-eating birds scatter once more, soaring higher.
But they still refuse to leave, circling above, as if looking for an opening to dive again, or perhaps waiting for the thunder to cease.
Zhao Xing hesitates no longer, speeding up his movements, knowing this can only hold them off temporarily.
The Minor Heat assessment, meant to select the outstanding from over five hundred candidates, is bound to last a while.
At most, only twenty might score an A.
"My best score previously was just a B-, mostly C+ or C, just passing. The upcoming assessments are few, and each is crucial for me."
Thinking this, Zhao Xing reaches out, only to grasp at air, the pile of straw in front of him now empty.
He rushes to another straw pile, pulling grass to weave, but suddenly several figures also run to his straw pile, vying for 'material' with him.
Not just Zhao Xing finds the strawman puppet technique useful; many clerks have come to the same realization.
"Get lost, I saw it first!"
"What do you mean it’s yours, this is public grass..."
"Are you leaving or not?!" Zhao Xing picks up a rock and hurls it at the other, his expression fierce, his eyes ruthless, the deep-rooted gamer nature from his past life inadvertently showing.
"You... you're unreasonable..." The man, startled, jumps back to dodge, about to curse in anger but seeing Zhao Xing's fierce face, holding a sickle, he realizes this is not someone to mess with and runs off.
Seeing this, others also steer clear, not willing to clash with someone who resorts to violence so readily over straw.
Zhao Xing then continues to busily craft strawmen.
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