Chapter 132 Zhao Kuangyin: Please allow me to reconsider.
Regardless of what the people in the court think, Django is having a blast!
Zhuge Liang's recruitment was absolutely worthwhile.
It wasn't just worth it; it was like finding a priceless treasure. Jiang Ge felt that being a county magistrate was easier than ever before, and he was more confident than ever before.
The Prime Minister not only did the work of a whole group of people, but also arranged everything perfectly. She can finally enjoy a life of leisure.
After the publication of the Minqilu, historical figures from Songyang County responded enthusiastically. Du Fu, Zhou Yu, and Zhuge Liang all published their works in it, and even Wei Zhongxian was eager to try his hand at it.
That day, Du Fu was busy selecting manuscripts for the next issue in the side office, his desk piled high with articles. Wei Zhongxian, his hands tucked in, smelling of perfume, strolled in, his eyes scanning the manuscripts. He casually picked one up, squinted at it for a moment, and then unconsciously pointed to a certain sentence with his finger, his lips moving slightly.
What does this say?
Wei Zhongxian scoffed, "It's not as good as what he wrote."
Du Fu looked up and happened to see this scene. He was surprised and blurted out, "Lord Wei? You... are you also interested in literature? I remember you said you couldn't read?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the air inside the side office seemed to freeze for a moment.
Wei Zhongxian's fingers, which were holding the paper, suddenly froze, and the smile on his face instantly vanished. He thought to himself, "Oh dear! I got carried away! How could I have forgotten about that!"
Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea; it's a place that devours people without spitting out their bones. If he were truly an illiterate commoner, how could he have climbed to such a position?
Wei Zhongxian was more than just literate; he was thoroughly familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as political intrigue and cunning. His ability to understand people's hearts and see through the smallest details was ingrained in his very being.
And how clever he is!
It's so easy to understand! (smug face emoji)
He could even serve as a eunuch until the age of nine thousand!
Otherwise, how could he have stirred up the storm in the treacherous Forbidden City and climbed to that perilous peak, second only to the emperor?
Last time, I pretended to be illiterate to avoid talking to Du Fu, but I didn't expect that it would backfire.
In the blink of an eye, Wei Zhongxian had returned to normal.
He awkwardly put down the manuscript, his face displaying just the right amount of embarrassment and a hint of panic at being exposed. He rubbed his hands together and laughed, "Oh dear, Mr. Du, please forgive my embarrassment! I... I was just anxious because everyone is working so hard on the 'Record of the People'! I can't read, but I just wanted to enjoy the show and touch this paper... Hmm, this paper is really nice, thick!" He awkwardly changed the subject, even giving the paper a good patina, as if he were genuinely appreciating its quality.
Du Fu noticed Wei Zhongxian's momentary panic, but didn't expose him. He simply smiled gently and said, "I see. You're very kind, Lord Wei. If you really want to know the contents, you can come to me anytime, and I will read it to you."
"That's great, that's great! Mr. Du, please go ahead with your work." Wei Zhongxian chuckled dryly and walked out as if fleeing in panic.
Wei Zhongxian's figure receded into the distance.
Zhou Yu happened to walk in and, seeing this scene, asked, "Why is Wei Zhongxian here?" This was a man who would never come to the temple without a reason.
"He came, flipped through the newspaper, and left." Du Fu didn't know why Wei Zhongxian had come, but he had a vague guess in his heart, though he wouldn't say it.
He simply sighed softly, his tone returning to its usual gentle and calm: "Perhaps, it's just curiosity."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu asked no further questions. He walked to the desk, casually picked up a proof, and glanced at it. The power of this newspaper was equivalent to that of a thousand troops.
"If our Eastern Wu had possessed such a thing back then, why would we have needed to rely solely on our naval strength to contend with Cao Cao and Liu Bei?" He imagined that if, during the turbulent Three Kingdoms period, there had been such a bustling printing workshop in Jianye City, the wealth of Jiangdong, the benevolence of the Sun family, the victory of Zhou Yu at the Battle of Red Cliffs, and even the loyalty and bravery of ordinary soldiers, all could have been transformed into texts that were circulated daily. "There would be no need for empty words or embellishments; simply printing and disseminating the prosperous city of Moling, the peaceful lives of the people, and the decrees of our lord in rewarding soldiers and caring for the elderly and orphans... would allow it to seep into all directions like a trickle."
He seemed to see how Liu Bei would be overwhelmed with the desire of the people of Jingzhou for Jiangdong, and how Cao Cao's official documents from Xudu would appear pale and powerless in comparison to the countless "factual records" of Jiangdong.
"Even if Liu Bei has a reputation for benevolence, how many newspapers can withstand daily analysis of his predicament of borrowing Jingzhou and not returning it? Even if Cao Cao can hold the emperor hostage to command the other lords, how can he block these pages of paper that are like a flood? I'm afraid they'll really have to rack their brains in their tents and cry out in vain."
Zhou Yu withdrew his gaze from his illusory reverie and refocused on the tangible proof of "Min Qi Lu" in his hands, his eyes becoming increasingly fervent and resolute.
This is a powerful weapon.
Fortunately, he was in charge of all the affairs of the paper mill, which was a good job.
To learn from... ah... no, to learn a thing or two.
——
These people led Songyang County through a well-organized process, with each historical figure playing their part.
Even Wei Zhongxian, who was always smiling and moving around everywhere, could not be denied the role he played. He managed the complicated and trivial affairs within the county government, the allocation and storage of various materials, and even the secret contacts with the outside world that were inconvenient to be discussed openly, all of which were handled properly and flawlessly.
He seems to have a natural talent for untangling the most tangled threads and solving seemingly difficult problems in the most unexpected ways.
Too.
Django sometimes chuckles when he thinks about this.
None of the figures who have left their mark on history are simple. Whether they are remembered for their good name or infamous for their bad name, those who have etched their names in the vast annals of history are all outstanding individuals, each possessing extraordinary talent and courage.
The afternoon sun was just the right warmth, casting dappled light onto the stone table through the gaps in the branches and leaves of the crabapple tree in the courtyard. Jiang Ge finally had some free time, setting aside all the documents and military reports at hand, and sat alone in the small courtyard, holding a cup of tea.
She leaned back slightly against the bamboo chair, closed her eyes, and savored the rare tranquility. A gentle breeze carried the faint sounds of watermills from the distant workshops and the shouts of soldiers training on the drill ground further away, but these sounds, far from being noisy, only served to highlight the precious serenity of the courtyard.
She didn't want to think about anything, not even military or political affairs or the court's reaction; all of that was now kept outside the courtyard walls.
Stealing half a day of leisure from a busy life.
This moment of relaxation was extremely precious to her.
She just wanted time to stand still, for the sunlight to lazily bathe her body, for the aroma of tea to slowly permeate the air, and for her to simply be herself.
She didn't want to be disturbed by anyone or anything.
However, this tranquility did not last long.
"Ding, a vacancy for a yamen runner in Songyang County has been detected. A recruitment list has been compiled, and one yamen runner can be recruited. A reward of 500 yuan will be given after the recruitment is completed."
Just as I wished for, the system assigned me a task. I had barely managed to steal a moment of peace when it came down to work.
Django browsed through the character resumes that popped up on the screen with mixed feelings, his brows furrowing more and more as he read:
"Come Junchen
Dynasty: Tang
Position: Vice Censor-in-Chief.
Django's eyelids twitched. This man was a notorious cruel official during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, the author of "The Art of Framing," specializing in torture and framing loyal officials. Let him work in the county government? The next day, the prisons of Songyang County would be overflowing with prisoners accused of fabricated crimes, and even Du Fu could be framed for writing poems that alluded to the court.
She lacks yamen runners, not the King of Hell.
If we're talking about the King of Hell, Bai Qi is enough.
She continued scrolling down.
Heshen
Dynasty: Qing
Position: Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Head of the Grand Council.
Jiang Ge looked at the name Heshen and couldn't help but facepalm. This top corrupt official of the Qianlong era, a man of immense wealth and shrewdness, was being put in charge of maintaining order in the county government?
This isn't suitable at all!
Moreover, she already has Wei Zhongxian, who is good at flattery; she doesn't need Heshen. If those two were together, they might just give her a headache every day.
This is so frustrating.
We can only keep reading.
Dong Zhuo
Dynasty: Han
Position: Prime Minister.
Jiang Ge nearly crushed his teacup when he saw the name Dong Zhuo.
This tyrannical warlord of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, who deposed and installed emperors, burned Luoyang, and defiled the palace, was practically synonymous with a demon king of a chaotic era. To appoint him to guard the county government office?
Funny, right?
What she wants is an SSR that can maintain public order, not one that "destroys and destroys homes." With Grand Tutor Dong's arrival, Songyang County will likely fast-forward to a state of "bones exposed in the wilderness, and not a rooster crowing for a thousand miles."
It's unacceptable.
I don't know why the quality of this episode is so bad. I'm not asking for SSR civil officials or SSR military generals, I just want an SR.
Who knew that none of those who were exposed were normal people?
She sighed, hoping the next one would be more normal.
Just then, a name suddenly entered her field of vision, causing her fingers, which were swiping the screen, to stop instantly.
Zhao Kuangyin
Dynasty: Song
Identity: Emperor.
Jiang Ge stared at the three words and the brief introduction that followed, blinked, and even wondered if the system had a bug.
An emperor? A founding emperor at that? Here to apply for a job as a yamen runner?
This is the first time.
This is the first time I've seen an emperor appear on the system.
A series of keywords flashed through her mind: "Chenqiao Mutiny," "donning the yellow robe," and "releasing military power over a cup of wine." This man was the one who ended the chaos of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and single-handedly laid the foundation for the Song Dynasty. His civil and military achievements, his vision and strategy, were all top-tier imperial abilities.
To have an emperor serve as a yamen runner?
The thought was too beautiful for her to bear. Could it be that they felt Zhuge Liang's domestic administration abilities were too strong, and needed to find an emperor to serve as his subordinate to balance things out?
But then I thought about it again. The previous ones were a cruel official, a tyrant in a chaotic world, and a corrupt official. This one, although an emperor, was at least a great ruler. His ability to govern the country, manage people, and handle affairs was ingrained in his bones.
Governing a county would probably be a piece of cake for him.
Moreover, his "releasing military power over a cup of wine" operation fully demonstrates that he is an expert who is extremely adept at resolving internal conflicts and achieving strategic goals through peaceful means.
Songyang County is currently a mixed bag, with talented people from all walks of life gathering there. It needs this kind of political wisdom with high emotional intelligence to smooth things over and reconcile them.
“Tsk, a mere yamen runner’s position has attracted an emperor…” Jiang Ge couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “This level of prestige is truly unmatched.”
Who cares? There's no choice between the first two anyway. An emperor it is, she's never hired an emperor before, might as well try it out.
She tapped her finger and pressed the "Send Employment Letter" button.
"Never mind, I'll go to sleep first."
The Great Song Dynasty, Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital city, within the imperial palace.
It was late at night, but the imperial study was still brightly lit by candlelight. Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, who had just finished a long discussion with Chancellor Zhao Pu, rubbed his temples wearily. He dismissed his attendants and stood alone by the window, gazing at the deep night and distant silhouettes.
His thoughts were still preoccupied with the unrest among the regional warlords, the threat from the Khitan in the north, and how to completely eradicate the chaos that had plagued the Five Dynasties period, where "whoever had the strongest army and the most powerful horses became emperor."
Just as he was deep in thought, without warning, a very thin piece of "paper" with a peculiar texture appeared out of thin air and silently floated down onto the sandalwood imperial desk in front of him, landing right on top of the open "Pacifying the Borders Strategy".
Zhao Kuangyin's pupils suddenly contracted, and his muscles tensed instantly. He subconsciously reached for the sword at his waist—although he usually no longer carried a sword after entering the palace, his instincts honed through years of battlefield experience made him react at this moment.
The sudden appearance of the paper means someone is in the room!
"Who goes there?!"
He gave a low shout, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings like lightning.
The guards outside the palace remained silent, and the doors and windows were tightly closed. No one could sneak into the innermost study of the palace without making a sound, let alone deliver something to him without him noticing.
Not an assassin.
He relaxed slightly, but his vigilance only increased. He stared intently at the object: it was neither silk nor paper, but exceptionally smooth, and it even had clear and neat handwriting on it, in a format he had never heard of before.
He cautiously avoided touching it directly with his hands, instead using a paperweight to gently push it aside. By the bright candlelight, he could see what was written on it. At the top were three large characters:
Job posting
Below are lines of smaller text:
To: Emperor Zhao Kuangyin, the Founding Emperor of the Song Dynasty
Position: Yamen runner in Songyang County
Reporting to superiors: County Magistrate Jiang Ge
Work location: Songyang County Government Office
Salary: 500
The signature is a strange square pattern, along with a fancy signature of the name "Django".
quiet.
A deathly silence.
Zhao Kuangyin's expression shifted from initial wariness to astonishment, then to unbelievable absurdity, and finally to an extremely complex expression that was almost impossible to suppress, a mixture of laughter and anger.
five hundred?
Are you trying to get rid of a beggar?
Songyang County? A yamen runner? Reporting to a county magistrate he'd never even heard of?
He, Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, who had just "released military power over a cup of wine" and eliminated a major threat to the world, actually received a document... offering him a position as the lowest-ranking official.
They only gave him 500 coins, as if he were Zhu Yuanzhang begging for food, easily dismissed.
This is absolutely absurd!
"Heh..." A soft, ambiguous laugh escaped from his throat.
Just by looking at it, you can tell that the material and the writing are far from what of this world. Is it the work of immortals? The work of a demon? Or... some kind of opportunity he cannot comprehend?
His gaze swept over the words "Reporting to superiors: County Magistrate Jiang Ge" again, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
She wants me to become her subordinate?
Who is this Django? What a boastful tone!
The moment his fingertips touched that strange material, a sudden change occurred!
A series of bizarre and incomprehensible images and concepts rushed into his mind like a flood bursting its banks!
"Three yuan... available for exchange..."
—A crystal-clear glass bottle filled with amber-colored, bubbly, sweet water, labeled with something like "Fat Otaku's Happy Water".
—A bag of spotless, pure white salt.
—A bag of seeds that can yield a thousand catties per mu.
—A fine knife that can cut through iron like mud.
"Five hundred yuan in wages..."
These images were incredibly lifelike, possessing a futuristic quality he couldn't comprehend. Though he didn't know their names or their meaning, he could intuitively feel their "value" and "wonder." The impact was far stronger than any written description of "three pieces" or "five pieces"!
Zhao Kuangyin released his grip as if electrocuted, and the letter of appointment fluttered back onto the table. He took a step back abruptly, his breathing slightly rapid, his eyes filled with unprecedented shock and horror!
This is either divine magic or sorcery!
Moreover, it was a form of sorcery that was completely beyond his imagination and comprehension!
What those five hundred yuan represented wasn't the copper coins he knew, but these... these bizarre and unheard-of "divine objects"?!
At that moment, the weight of the appointment letter suddenly changed in his heart. The sense of absurdity still existed, but it was covered by a huge, unfathomable sense of mystery and crisis.
But Zhao Kuangyin was Zhao Kuangyin after all. After a moment of absurdity, his deep-rooted composure, curiosity, and keen sense of never missing any possible opportunity began to prevail.
He suppressed the slight offense he felt and began to seriously consider the information hidden behind this incomprehensible strange event. The ability to transcend time and space and deliver such a document so precisely to him meant an unimaginable amount of power.
Where exactly is this "Songyang County"?
Could it be another world?
Jiang Ge's ability to mobilize such recruitment methods suggests he has ambitious plans. A mere yamen runner's position? It's likely just a smokescreen.
He walked to the window, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the land that belonged to him. The chaos of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms had just ended, and the world was beginning to be at peace, but it was far from a time to rest easy. Any unknown variable could bring threats, or it could... bring opportunities.
Go become a yamen runner?
The idea of a dignified founding emperor becoming a lowly, unranked yamen runner was something he found laughable.
But on the other hand, if we could take this opportunity to glimpse the reality of another world, understand a completely different governance model, and perhaps even... find new possibilities for the Song Dynasty?
The risks were immense, but the potential rewards could be beyond imagination. Zhao Kuangyin, who rose to power through a high-stakes gamble, never lacked the courage to take risks. He was never afraid.
He picked up the letter of appointment again, his gaze lingering on the last signature.
In the end, he didn't sign it immediately. Instead, he carefully folded the contract from another world and tucked it into his bosom, whispering to himself:
"This matter... I will give it my thrice."
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Author's Note: I've been working hard to update more chapters these past few days, just to repay your loving support! [Let me see][Let me see][Let me see] Please, my darlings, add my new story to your favorites! [Please][Please][Please]
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