Chapter 22 The Second Believer

Chapter 22 The Second Follower

Outside Fengtian Hall, the officials gradually dispersed down the long staircase.

Chu Jiubian looked at Xiao Huaiguan, discerning no emotion from the other's unreadable eyes.

"Minister Xiao, why have you stopped?" he asked.

The gentle smile on Xiao Huaiguan's face remained unchanged as he resumed walking to keep pace with Chu Jiubian. "My legs aren't what they used to be at my age. Grand Tutor must be amused."

In just a few sentences, his address to Chu Jiubian had shifted from "Ninth Young Master" to "Grand Tutor."

If earlier he had presented himself as a kind and benevolent elder, he now fully positioned himself as Chu Jiubian's equal.

They were not a high-ranking official and a subordinate to be recruited; both were first-rank ministers with substantial power in the court.

Sensing the shift in the other's attitude, a faint smile touched Chu Jiubian's lips. "It's not that you're getting on in years, Minister, but that your experience is profound, and your insight into human nature is especially keen. There is much I still need to learn from you."

"Minister Chu is a young talent with a clear perspective. It is I, with my failing eyesight, who should seek your counsel."

Chu Jiubian replied, "You flatter me, Minister."

Their words were layered with meaning, and both wore expressions of ease and familiarity, giving outsiders the impression of a harmonious conversation.

But only they themselves knew the true dynamics at play.

Chu Jiubian slowed his pace to match Xiao Huaiguan's, his eyelids drooping slightly.

It seemed his guess was correct: the mastermind behind yesterday's incident was none other than Minister Xiao.

As the Minister of Personnel, he was Zhao Qianhe's direct superior and the person Zhao had the most contact with.

From just these few exchanges, Chu Jiubian could tell that this man was exceptionally deceptive.

He was adept at using his age to lull targets into lowering their guard, then misleading them with a gentle and benevolent exterior, supplemented by superficial gestures of care for younger colleagues, ultimately guiding and using them to benefit his own family.

Zhao Qianhe was not particularly cautious or clever to begin with; otherwise, he would not have left so many vulnerabilities for others to exploit.

Over time, fearing he would be crushed in the power struggles, he had likely considered aligning himself with a faction.

The Xiao family, with Xiao Huaiguan at its helm, had clearly become his best option.

He had probably already done many things for the Xiao family, hoping to gain their protection, but bargaining with a tiger would only lead to his own downfall.

Lost in thought, he soon arrived at Shenwu Gate with Xiao Huaiguan.

Through the wide-open palace gate, Chu Jiubian spotted several sedan chairs outside, with attendants and bearers standing quietly to the side, heads bowed.

Not far off, a few officials in crimson or navy blue robes were conversing.

One of them Chu Jiubian recognized: Deputy Censor-in-chief Qi Zhili, who had previously denounced Prince Huguang and Prince Pingxi in court.

"This Deputy Censor-in-chief Qi is quite a figure," Xiao Huaiguan remarked.

Chu Jiubian turned to him. "How so?"

"Minister Chu may not know this, but the Qi family was the wealthiest in Jiangnan during Emperor Wu's reign. When Emperor Wu was building his empire, it was the Qi family who provided the funds and grain, enabling him to conquer this vast territory."

Chu Jiubian had heard about the era of Emperor Wu from Xiao Xiangzi a couple of days earlier. An emperor who earned the title "Martial" undoubtedly possessed exceptional abilities.

It was said that during the previous dynasty, regions like Nanjiang and Sichuan had been ceded to several Jurchen tribes. After the founding emperor overthrew the tyrannical rule of the previous dynasty, he was determined to reclaim these lost territories.

It was not until Emperor Wu ascended the throne that these lands were recovered through his outstanding military prowess, expanding the territory of Great Ning by nearly a third.

To better deter the watchful Jurchen tribe, Emperor Wu also moved the capital from Nan Zhili to the present-day Bei Zhili, creating a situation akin to "the Son of Heaven guarding the nation's gate."

It was during this time that the Four Great Families relocated from their ancestral homes to the new capital, aiming to be closer to the center of power.

Xiao Huaiguan seemed to be in a talkative mood and added a few more details: "The Qi family had rendered great service, so Emperor Wu made an exception for their descendants, allowing them to enter officialdom as merchants. Through the family's efforts, many Qi descendants later joined the bureaucracy.

However, after all these years, only Qi Zhili has reached the center of power."

"Then this Deputy Censor-in-chief Qi must be exceptionally capable," Chu Jiubian remarked, watching as Qi Zhili bid farewell to two colleagues and entered a sedan chair.

"Indeed, he is," Xiao Huaiguan said, his eyes darkening slightly. "But what he relies on is not just his talent and ability but also his cousin."

Cousin?

Chu Jiubian's interest was piqued.

"Minister Chu," Xiao Huaiguan said, stopping there. He cupped his hands in salute. "I have some matters to attend to and won’t be going to the Ministry of Personnel for now. When you arrive, have Attendant Wang show you around and help you get familiar with the place."

Chu Jiubian returned the salute. "Safe travels, Minister Xiao."

Xiao Huaiguan turned with a smile, slightly hunched, and exited Shenwu Gate.

Outside the gate, the Xiao family's sedan chair was already waiting. An attendant rushed forward to support him upon seeing him and carefully helped him into the sedan.

Xiao Xiangzi, who had been waiting to the side inside the gate, finally dared to approach. He cupped his hands in salute to Chu Jiubian, beaming. "Congratulations, Young Master, on securing another prestigious position."

"You’re quite well-informed," Chu Jiubian said, amused.

"This humble servant overheard other officials talking about it while standing here," Xiao Xiangzi said sheepishly, scratching his head. He added, "Young Master, last night, the master ordered me to prepare a sedan chair for you. The bearers were arranged by Commander An—they’re strong and skilled in martial arts. This will ensure your safety when traveling between the palace and outside for your duties."

Chu Jiubian had already noticed the sedan chair.

It was made of sturdy wood, with dark embroidered curtains and bright yellow tassels hanging from the edges, exuding elegance. It even appeared more refined than Xiao Huaiguan’s.

The bearers, as Xiao Xiangzi had said, were four strapping young men.

Qin Xiao was, as always, thoughtful in such matters.

What surprised him was that the sedan chair had been prepared the previous day and was already waiting at the palace gate today.

This Qin Xiao must have known yesterday that Chu Jiubian would voluntarily take on the role of Vice Minister of Personnel.

...Impressive.

Chu Jiubian entered the sedan chair. Xiao Xiangzi did not follow him out of the palace but remained inside Shenwu Gate, watching from afar as he departed.

Outside Shenwu Gate, three main streets stretched out. To the south was Shenwu Avenue, which passed through the second and third rings of the capital. This area was primarily residential, housing the city’s high-ranking officials and nobility.

The estates of the Four Great Families were all located on this street, though not adjacent to one another, with considerable distance between them.

Further out, beyond the third ring, were the residences of ordinary citizens.

However, even among the common people, there were distinctions of wealth and poverty. With Shenwu Avenue as the central line, the western side was mostly inhabited by wealthy households. The bustling West Market was located here, as were Brocade Lane, where the ice-selling Jinxiu Fang was situated, and Teagreen Street, home to the Treasure Pavilion.

The eastern side was primarily occupied by ordinary citizens. The shops and stalls in the East Market offered simpler and more affordable goods.

This is Shenwu Avenue stretching south, and upon exiting Shenwu Gate, there are also long streets running east and west.

The eastern street is named Chang'an Street, where the Six Ministries' offices are located.

The western street is named Changning Street, which houses other government offices besides the Six Ministries, such as the Dali Temple and the Censorate.

The palanquin bearers carried the soft palanquin toward Chang'an Street. Their steps were steady, with almost no jostling.

They moved quickly, and before long, the palanquin had already been carried to the entrance of the Ministry of Personnel.

Chu Jiubian stepped out of the palanquin. The duty attendant at the office greeted him and then led the bearers to a designated waiting area, ensuring they would be readily available whenever Chu Jiubian needed the palanquin again.

"Where is Director Wang?" Chu Jiubian asked another attendant.

The attendant hurriedly replied, "Sir, after receiving word from Minister Xiao, I sent someone to inform Director Wang. He should be arriving soon."

Sure enough, shortly after he spoke, a middle-aged man in a scarlet official robe emerged from the inner courtyard, walking hurriedly.

From a distance, upon seeing Chu Jiubian, the man’s expression grew even more anxious. Yet, despite this, he kept his composure, his steps steady and his demeanor proper.

This was typical of the Wang family—always maintaining proper decorum, no matter the circumstances.

Chu Jiubian walked toward him. As they drew closer, Director Wang immediately bowed and made his apologies, "I came as soon as I received the message, but I still arrived late. Please forgive me, Sir."

"It's fine."

After all, his four palanquin bearers had moved unusually fast.

"Thank you, Sir." Director Wang bowed again. "Please, come inside."

Chu Jiubian followed him into the courtyard of the office, a six-courtyard complex nearly five times larger than the Yaotai Residence where he lived.

"Sir, the Ministry of Personnel is divided into four departments," Director Wang explained. "The first four courtyards house the Appointments Office, the Evaluations Office, the Titles Office, and the Honors Office, respectively. Each has one director, two assistant directors, and around twenty other officials."

Looking around the courtyard, one could see numerous officials of various ranks carrying bamboo scrolls back and forth.

Everyone knew Director Wang’s status, and seeing him treat Chu Jiubian with such respect, they recognized Chu Jiubian as a superior official. Thus, whenever they crossed paths, the officials would bow in respect.

After passing through the first four courtyards, they reached the fifth.

This courtyard was significantly quieter than the previous ones, with only a few scattered attendants and officials.

"The innermost courtyard is the Minister's office. Usually, no one goes there unless required," Director Wang said, referring to the sixth courtyard.

Chu Jiubian nodded.

The boss's office, in other words.

Director Wang gave him a detailed tour of the fifth courtyard, as this would be Chu Jiubian’s future place of work.

The Da Ning Dynasty had only one Vice Minister per ministry, making Chu Jiubian the undisputed second-in-command of the Ministry of Personnel.

He had a personal office for his work, located in the eastern hall of the courtyard.

It was arranged in inner and outer rooms: the outer room served as a study, while the inner room contained a bed and other furnishings, allowing him to stay there if work kept him late or during busy periods.

Aside from his office, the main hall in the courtyard housed the Archives, essentially a "records room."

Inside, countless bamboo scrolls were stacked on rows of wooden shelves, and the distinct smell of bamboo could be detected even from outside the door.

The western hall functioned as a sort of meeting room, where the Minister and Vice Minister would summon subordinates for discussions when necessary.

After touring the area, Chu Jiubian entered the Archives.

"Most of the official documents are stored here, organized by prefecture on different shelves. From top to bottom, the more recent documents are placed lower," Director Wang explained.

Chu Jiubian nodded. The setup was clear and systematic, similar to a library, though the bamboo scrolls seemed bulky and space-consuming. It would be better if they were replaced with paper copies.

"Is there a list of officials?" Chu Jiubian asked.

"Yes, I will have someone bring it to you shortly."

Chu Jiubian had a good impression of Director Wang—truly courteous and nothing like Wang Huanzhi, the head of the Wang family.

"Very well, you may return to your duties."

"Yes." Without another word, Director Wang obediently took his leave.

Chu Jiubian returned to the east hall. The room was fully equipped, and everything appeared newly set up, with no trace of Zhao Qianhe’s previous use.

It seemed that as soon as news of Zhao Qianhe’s downfall spread, the attendants at the Ministry of Personnel had cleared it out.

Chu Jiubian sat in the chair, looking around the clean and tidy room.

Eleven years in office, yet it took only fifteen minutes to erase all traces of his predecessor’s presence.

Before long, someone brought Chu Jiubian a paper copy of the roster.

It seemed that only materials requiring comprehensive compilation were converted into paper form.

Chu Jiubian opened it and began reading.

The ledger recorded all currently serving officials.

From capital officials to local officials, from the First-Rank Minister to the lowest ninth-grade local officials.

After briefly reviewing the section on capital officials, Chu Jiubian had already figured out the current balance of power among the heads of the Six Ministries.

Apart from Su Sheng, the Minister of Revenue, and Jian Hongzhuo, the Minister of Works, the ministers of the other four ministries—Personnel, Rites, War, and Justice—were controlled by members of the Four Great Families: the Xiao family of Lin'an, the Wang family of Langya, the Lu family of Wuwei, and the Qiu family of Yanmen.

With vice ministers and directors also included, the balance of power among the great families was almost evenly matched.

But upon closer reflection, it became clear that, with the Grand Empress Dowager in the palace and Prince Jiannan, the Xiao family actually held more influence.

Moreover, Xiao Yao, the head of the Xiao family, was extremely shrewd. Chu Jiubian intuitively felt that he would be even more difficult to handle than Xiao Huaiguan.

The Four Great Families.

These people openly dominated the court. Qin Xiao’s remark about having no capable subordinates was truly not an understatement.

So, in the original story, how did he manage to break through these constraints with Baili Hong?

Chu Jiubian was growing increasingly curious about Qin Xiao’s abilities and methods.

Yet, he couldn't help feeling that Qin Xiao’s approach seemed somewhat cautious, as if he were always holding himself back due to some caution.

Whatever it was, it made him hesitant and overly cautious, and if this continued, he would remain constantly manipulated.

Chu Jiubian thought it over but couldn't figure it out, so he decided not to rack his brain anymore.

He continued poring over the roster and soon confirmed his suspicions.

That Zhongcheng Qi was indeed Jiang Shuoye's first cousin on his mother's side!

Jiang Shuoye commanded the eighty-thousand-strong Northern Desert Army and was one of the top-ranking military officials—no wonder Qi Zhili spoke so sharply in court; he truly had someone powerful backing him.

Thinking of Jiang Shuoye, Chu Jiubian’s mind began to wander.

It had been several days since he handed over the stirrup and saddle designs to him—he wondered if they'd been made yet?

The first time he contacted Jiang Shuoye was during his afternoon nap, so it seemed he had a habit of napping.

After returning to the palace at noon, he figured he'd send someone to the Divine Realm to check on the progress.

Chu Jiubian now had enough Faith Points to invite another follower and had originally planned to do a card draw at noon anyway, so contacting Jiang Shuoye again would kill two birds with one stone.

Court officials typically got off work around noon, around 11:30 a.m., and resumed work around 2 p.m.

However, this applied mainly to ordinary officials. For someone like Chu Jiubian, a first-rank Grand Tutor who also temporarily served as the second-rank Vice Minister of Personnel, he wasn't expected to show up daily.

For instance, Minister Xiao headed straight elsewhere after court, and nobody batted an eye.

After all, there were plenty of people in the offices, and if something truly required his attention, someone would surely come to inform him.

Chu Jiubian thought that in the future, after morning court, he would simply swing by the office for a brief visit before returning to the palace.

Since Qin Xiao and Baili Hong were both in the palace, and important memorials were all delivered to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, it made more sense for him to stay by Baili Hong’s side as Grand Tutor rather than twiddling his thumbs in the office. This way, he could get his hands on critical documents and news more quickly.

Recently, with few official transfers and the annual performance reviews still some time away, the Ministry of Personnel’s workload wasn't particularly busy.

There were even fewer documents requiring Chu Jiubian’s attention as Vice Minister, and he could knock them out by noon.

By now, the sun was high in the sky, and quitting time was approaching.

Chu Jiubian placed the roster in a drawer, planning to continue reading it the next day, and then headed out.

His attendant had already called for the sedan chair carriers in advance. As soon as Chu Jiubian left the office, he got into the sedan chair and headed toward the palace.

Not everyone was permitted to use a sedan within the palace grounds, so shortly after entering Shenwu Gate, Chu Jiubian disembarked and made his familiar way toward Yaotai Residence.

The weather was rather hot today, and Chu Jiubian worked up a light sweat during the walk.

The courtyard was bustling.

Xiao Xiangzi said to everyone, "Today is the Young Master’s first day at his post. He’ll surely want something nourishing for lunch when he returns. You two, please keep an eye on the kitchen. It’s also quite hot today—the Young Master will want to clean up when he’s back. Xiao Jinzi and Xiao Yinzi, have the hot water ready. He’ll need it as soon as he returns."

Everyone acknowledged the instructions.

After giving these orders, Xiao Xiangzi headed out of the courtyard. The Young Master would be finishing his duties soon, and he intended to wait for him at the palace gate.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped outside, he saw Chu Jiubian.

"Young Master?" he said in surprise, quickly stepping forward. "You're back early! I was just about to go to the palace gate to meet you."

"Nothing much going on, so I came back early," Chu Jiubian replied. "In the future, I’ll return on my own. There’s no need for you to come and meet me."

"Understood," Xiao Xiangzi replied. "Would you like to clean up now, Young Master? Lunch is being prepared—it’s the egg flower soup and stewed vegetables you like."

It wasn’t that Chu Jiubian particularly liked these dishes, but compared to the weird meat pastes and strange soups, they were at least acceptable.

"Get me some hot water first," Chu Jiubian said.

"Right on it."

Chu Jiubian entered the inner room. Xiao Jinzi and Xiao Yinzi soon brought in a basin and two large buckets of hot water, along with clean undergarments and a brand-new pure white robe, which they placed on the clothes rack before stepping out to the outer room.

Chu Jiubian glanced at the new robe.

Over the past few days, Qin Xiao had sent him dozens of sets of inner and outer garments, all made from fine materials and excellent craftsmanship.

In terms of clothing, food, lodging, and transportation, he'd been treated quite well.

Was this what they called "courting talented people"?

Qin Xiao certainly had done everything right.

Chu Jiubian removed his outer and inner garments, leaving only his undergarments.

While dressed, he appeared slender, but without his outer robe, a layer of well-defined muscle could be seen on his body.

He casually tossed his official robe onto a nearby chair and walked over to the basin.

The waistband of his undergarments hung loosely on his hips, the lines of his Adonis belt disappearing beneath the fabric—mysterious and sensual.

But what was most striking was not this, but the scars of various sizes scattered across his body.

The scars crisscrossed haphazardly, marring what should have been smooth, unblemished skin.

Chu Jiubian dampened a cloth and cleaned himself up from head to toe.

He walked to the clothes rack and picked up his inner garments, catching a glimpse of his blurred reflection in the bronze mirror.

Pausing for a moment, he turned and examined himself closely in the mirror.

After a long while.

He raised his hand, his pale fingertips gently pressing against the faint marks on his chest.

......

Xiao Jinzi and the others tidied the room. Knowing that Chu Jiubian would not be returning to his duties in the afternoon, they took his discarded official robe to be washed.

"Young Master, the Imperial Wardrobe Department is currently sewing a second official robe for you. Once it’s ready, it’ll be easier to alternate for washing," Xiao Xiangzi said.

Chu Jiubian grunted in acknowledgment. "I’m not hungry right now. I’ll take a nap first and eat after I wake up."

"Then I’ll bring in the ice for you," Xiao Xiangzi said, carrying a large basin of ice from the outer room and placing it a few feet from the bed.

After Xiao Xiangzi left, Chu Jiubian lay down on the bed wearing his pure white inner garments.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in the mist-veiled Divine Realm, seated upon the wide white jade throne on the high platform, the giant shadowy figure resembling him already manifesting behind him.

Accompanied by the occasional dragon’s roar and shifting dark shadows within the mist, adding to the mysterious atmosphere.

If anyone were to wander in here unintentionally, they would surely think it was a celestial realm.

Chu Jiubian cut to the chase: "System, I want to draw a card."

"Understood, host. The system detects that you have sufficient points and has prepared keyword cards for you. Please proceed with the draw."

Six blank cards appeared before him again, including the previously drawn "Armed" card.

This meant Chu Jiubian might end up drawing the Armed card again this time, but he didn’t want armed forces for the moment. All he wanted was to bring many ideas in his mind to life and cash in on them.

Chu Jiubian’s luck was usually pretty lousy, but without hesitation, he went with his gut and drew one card.

After the other five cards vanished, this card revealed two words: Wealth.

Be careful what you wish for! Chu Jiubian was genuinely surprised.

Judging by Jiang Shuoye’s "Armed" keyword earlier, the person behind this "Wealth" card must either possess substantial financial resources or great business sense.

Chu Jiubian had many ideas he could cash in on, but he didn't have the right people working for him. He couldn’t keep working with Qin Xiao forever.

After all, they might eventually end up facing each other as enemies. If all his cards were shown to the other party, he would be at a huge disadvantage.

Chu Jiubian was determined to build up his own forces. Whether it was funding Jiang Shuoye to raise more troops or training civil and military officials in the future, he'd need serious cash.

This "Wealth Card" had arrived just in time.

Feeling good, he prompted the system to select the right people.

After about half a minute, the system finally spoke: "A suitable believer card has been selected for the host. Please choose to summon."

This time, there were only three possible believers to choose from, one fewer than last time.

At a glance, Chu Jiubian’s gaze settled on the familiar identity card on the far right.

"Prince Ning, Qin Xiao, 25 years old. Upper-middle wealth, top-tier money-making ability. (Not recommended!)"

Chu Jiubian: "..."

Damn, why him again?

And what's up with the system? If he’s not recommended, why does it keep putting him in the mix? Is there some kind of bug?

"Host, rest assured, the system is operating normally."

The semi-smart system chose now to be helpful.

Chu Jiubian decisively skipped Qin Xiao and looked at the other two cards.

"Qi Zhili, male, 31 years old, Deputy Censor-in-chief, head of the Qi family. Top-tier wealth, lower-middle money-making ability."

"Situ Zhaoling, female, 16 years old, Southern Frontier Princess, legitimate daughter of the Southern Frontier King. Upper-middle wealth, top-tier money-making ability. (Comes with a special surprise.)"

Earlier that morning, Chu Jiubian had just heard that the Qi family was wealthy, and now he had drawn one of them.

However, Qi Zhili and Jiang Shuoye were cousins. Even if Chu Jiubian didn’t draw him, he might still benefit from the Qi family’s influence through Jiang Shuoye later on.

Moreover, Qi Zhili’s money-making ability was only lower-middle, which didn't really fit Chu Jiubian’s future plans to get rich.

That left only the last one—Southern Frontier Princess Situ Zhaoling.

"System, what is the special surprise?" Chu Jiubian asked.

"Host, confirm selecting this believer card? Yes/No"

Chu Jiubian pondered for a moment. Since it was a surprise, it's probably good. After all, the system had never deceived him from the start.

So he said, "This one."

"Okay." After a short, celebratory background sound, the system’s voice returned to its calm tone.

"Congratulations, host, for drawing a special card. Believer information has been updated for you."

The original card was completely transformed, with two additional paragraphs added to the existing text.

"Southern Frontier Princess Situ Zhaoling has a special status and comes with an additional believer."

"Situ Zhaoyao, male, 16 years old, Southern Frontier Little Prince, legitimate son of the Southern Frontier King, twin brother of Situ Zhaoling. Special ability: Invention and creation."

Twin siblings, huh? No wonder drawing one came with another.

For Chu Jiubian, this was an enormous surprise.

A special talent skilled in invention and creation was a rare find in this era.

With him, Chu Jiubian wouldn’t have to figure out everything himself. He could simply teach him the blueprints and principles, and the other would figure out the rest.

Moreover, this Southern Frontier Princess had top-tier money-making abilities. This was perfect.

With this sibling duo working together, Chu Jiubian could already envision money rolling in.

"Heads up: Summoning an additional believer into the Divine Realm requires deducting 200 Faith Points from the host. Would you like to activate this service?"

Chu Jiubian: "..."

Here we go again.

"Not activating," he said decisively.

Situ Zhaoling alone would suffice. If needed, he could hand any blueprints or requests to her and have her pass them on to her brother.

"Can I summon her now?" Chu Jiubian asked.

He still wanted to meet his second believer and quickly get the wealth-building plan started.

"Host, the believer you selected is not in a state of sleep and cannot be summoned."

Chu Jiubian wasn’t surprised. Not everyone took naps at this hour. He would just have to wait until evening.

"Summon Jiang Shuoye."

"Host, this believer is also not in a state of sleep."

"Then show me what he’s doing."

For believers who hadn’t yet entered the Divine Realm, if they weren’t preparing to sleep, the card’s visual function couldn’t be used. For someone like Situ Zhaoling, Chu Jiubian couldn’t see her.

But Jiang Shuoye had already been here, so Chu Jiubian could check on him anytime.

Jiang Shuoye’s card appeared, enlarged, and the image shifted, revealing the vast Gobi desert.

Sand and dust blew around as Chu Jiubian saw a ten-by-ten cavalry formation.

These cavalrymen were part of the once ragtag soldiers, but unlike before, they were now equipped with stirrups and saddles, sitting high in their saddles.

They all sat straight, holding reins and spears, looking impressive and entirely different from before!

After getting the blueprints, Jiang Shuoye immediately had his deputy seek out over a dozen trusted blacksmiths they'd worked with before.

These blacksmiths had been forging weapons for them and were entirely reliable.

As experts, the blacksmiths quickly figured out how to make them after a brief study and could already picture how tough the cavalry would be once equipped with these new tools.

Excited, they asked if they could see the cavalry’s impressive show on the day the equipment was deployed.

Such a small ask was naturally agreed to by Jiang Shuoye.

The blacksmiths worked with relentless effort, working around the clock, and finally made a hundred sets of equipment by early morning. They had just finished getting all the cavalry equipped with them.

Having tested the gear himself, Jiang Shuoye knew it was effective, but he remained a little nervous about how the other soldiers would perform with it.

Seeing the cavalrymen standing firm and steady, not wobbling like before, put half his mind at ease.

Now, it all depended on how they would perform in motion.

He tensed his body slightly, ready to give the order, when he once again sensed a faint, barely-there watching upon him.

He immediately looked toward the source but saw nothing except dust blowing around.

Previously, he wouldn’t have understood what it was, but now he knew—it was the High Priest’s doing. As a deity, the High Priest naturally had ways to watch him from anywhere.

For the past few days, the High Priest had not entered his dreams, nor had he felt this kind of surveillance.

But now, just as he had equipped the cavalry, the High Priest came to watch—it must have been timed perfectly!

Though aware of the High Priest’s capabilities, Jiang Shuoye still felt a rush of feelings.

It was the awe that mortals feel when witnessing divine power and the reverence toward the unknown.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

What if his cavalry performed poorly? Wouldn’t that be really embarrassing?

Suppressing his mixed emotions, he nodded to the centurion.

Following the order, the hundred-cavalry formation roared thunderously, and a hundred warhorses charged forward, hooves kicking up clouds of yellow sand. The wind whistled sharply, and their momentum was unstoppable!