Chapter 235

The Great Qian Compendium is nearing completion, drawing the attention of all civil and military officials in the court.

Everyone knows that once it is completed, Emperor Jingwu will surely reward those who contributed with generous gifts.

As the chief and deputy chief editors, Huang Liangzhong and Zhang Jian have, in a short time, become the focus of many civil and military officials in the court.

Especially Deputy Chief Editor Zhang Jian Zhang Daosheng, who has long been a close attendant of the emperor, his influence growing steadily over the years; many senior officials treat him with three parts of respect, and now, having contributed to the compilation of the Great Qian Compendium, his rank is likely to rise by one or two grades in the near future.

He will soon discard his blue robe and don a red one.

If sent to a local post, he still has the potential to rise two more grades.

Truly, his status is now comparable to that of princes and marquises.

……

Three days later, in the court, Huang Liangzhong, as chief editor, reported to Emperor Jingwu and earnestly presented the results of over a decade of painstaking work on the Great Qian Compendium.

The Great Qian Compendium encompasses all things, containing not only various classics, histories, philosophical works, and collections, but also numerous classics on arts, agriculture, industry, and commerce, with even more categories of crafts and arts.

Upon its completion, it has paved the way for the Great Qian to unify the thoughts of the hundred schools.

This is also the ultimate purpose Emperor Jingwu sought in compiling the book: not only to surpass his ancestors in civil governance and military prowess, but also to use this opportunity to abolish, alter, or destroy certain ancient texts and ideas detrimental to Great Qian's rule, striking at the root of the aristocratic clans' status.

It is also to break the aristocratic clans' monopoly on knowledge.

Emperor Jingwu likewise uses this method to manifest to countless scholars from humble origins the grandeur of the Great Qian's literary Dao.

Seated on the throne, Emperor Jingwu listened with growing delight; he had always been deeply concerned about the progress of compiling the Great Qian Compendium, to the extent that much of its content had undergone his personal inspection.

Emperor Jingwu's dragon heart was greatly pleased; in court, he immediately discussed rewards and punishments, and with a stroke of his imperial brush, all officials who directly participated in compiling the Great Qian Compendium were promoted one grade above their original posts, while the remaining indirectly involved or meritorious hundreds of officials received either imperial gold and silver, silk, or imperial objects—all generous rewards.

Furthermore, the leading dozens were separately bestowed with generous enfeoffments; Huang Liangzhong, originally appointed as Grand Scholar of the Literary Arts Academy, was promoted to Minister of the Temple of Heaven, a position only one step away from the Nine Ministers, situated just below the Minister of Sacrifices.

Holding the rank of Regular Third Grade, he leapt from Regular Fourth Grade directly to Regular Third Grade, bypassing both Regular Fourth Grade and Deputy Third Grade.

As for Deputy Chief Editor Zhang Jian, Emperor Jingwu also promoted him to Grand Scholar of the Left and Right Spring Bureau of the Directorate of Education.

In the previous dynasty, the Directorate of Education originally oversaw the education of the crown prince, but in the Great Qian it has been abandoned and now serves merely as a transit post for officials of the Literary Arts Academy.

Above the rank of Deputy Fourth Grade Left and Right Spring Bureau Grand Scholar are only the Regular Fourth Grade Junior Director of Education and the Regular Third Grade Director of Education.

As for the primary office, another appointment will be made separately.

Subsequently, many core compiling officials all received imperial favors.

In the court, Zhang Jian stood beside Huang Liangzhong and could see hundreds of gazes falling upon him and Huang Liangzhong, with even more directed at him.

This year he is only twenty-two, not yet twenty-three, yet he is already a Regular Fourth Grade official—truly limitless in his prospects, with hopes of one day ranking among the Three Dukes, being ennobled and appointed as prime minister.

Yet Zhang Jian paid little heed to this; he sensed that as his rank rose further, the Great Qian dragon vein's封禁 of the state's cosmic灵机 was further opened to him, and vast spiritual power circulated within his body.

His cultivation speed increased further.

Standing in the crowd, Zhang Jian saw Chen Xiuming and several other fellow lodgers from the academy behind him, all wearing expressions of joy.

With the completion of the Great Qian Compendium, Chen Xiuming, who had long remained lodged in the Literary Arts Academy as the top scholar, finally achieved smooth promotion, advancing from Regular Sixth Grade to Regular Fifth Grade, and also received an opportunity for external posting.

……

The grand court assembly of the twelfth year of Emperor Jingwu's reign in the Great Qian concluded in great splendor; afterward, civil and military officials summarized that in this assembly, the number of officials who received ennoblement, promotion, or rewards was no less than two hundred, making it a benchmark event of civil prosperity, and also revealing the Great Qian's emphasis on literary and educational customs in the court.

After his promotion, Zhang Jian simply followed routine to collect his new uniform from the Directorate of the Treasury, then proceeded into the city.

Zhang Jian prepared to offer sacrifices to his ancestors.

For these two years he had suppressed his urge to go to the ancestral shrine to "shear wool," for he realized that ordinary heavenly treasures and earthly riches were of limited use to him.

Including the previous occasion when he had liberated the dragon vein's countless resentful spirits and taken the dragon soul—he had forcibly restrained himself, waiting until now, when the Great Qian Compendium's compilation succeeded and he became famous throughout the world in a single stroke.

Now he can also openly and honorably offer sacrifices to his ancestors.

This act can truly be called bringing glory to his lineage and ancestors.

Zhang Jian, at this moment, did not conceal his actions; he directly summoned more than ten attendants from the Zhuangyuan Manor and went to the paper horse shop west of the city to make large purchases.

Moreover, he had in advance commissioned a special Netherworld Ancient Mirror.

This is Zhang Jian's first time commissioning such a "custom-made" service; he does not know its function, but he believes it should work.

After all, regardless of the material, the essence of his ancestral sacrifice—passing through his hands, offering to the ancestors within the ancestral shrine—remains unchanged.

However, for this custom-made ancient mirror, Zhang Jian also sought perfection; after gathering the necessary materials, he personally carved upon it a portion of nearly natural patterns, including some runes he himself had devised, integrating them into the mirror.

If this proves feasible, then next time he can skip purchasing this eye-catching component and directly carve it himself.

He will become his own carving master!

……

In the Zhang ancestral shrine, incense smoke curled lightly and faintly.

The Zhang clan members were already extremely familiar with this scene.

Qi Yuhua led Zhang Yi, Zhang Zhao, and Zhang Chang'an, three children, standing to one side.

At this moment, the eldest son Zhang Yi appeared like a half-grown boy; in reality he was only six years old, but looked as if twelve or thirteen.

Compared to the five-year-old Zhang Zhao, who was much thinner and weaker.

And the two-and-a-half-year-old eldest daughter Zhang Chang'an was still held in Qi Yuhua's arms, babbling with her fingers, a look of innocence on her face.

Qi Yuhua had a graceful figure; nourished by the Phoenix Blood Jade on her person, yet her entire being radiated a solemn and magnificent elegance; over the past two years she had also practiced a bit of internal martial arts for health cultivation, making her temperament even more distinctive.

Dwelling transforms qi, nurturing transforms body—she is no longer the lovely girl once seen in the Qi household; now she is increasingly imposing and dignified in bearing.

At this moment, seeing numerous gold and silver ingots turn into blue smoke swirling in the fire basin, only that bronze mirror refused to burn.

Zhang Jian, seeing this, his eyes flickered; a streak of heavenly purifying fire issued from his hand, melting the bronze mirror as well.

Zhang Jian felt this maneuver was probably risky.

Seeing this, Qi Yuhua stepped forward, her beautiful jade-like face bearing a smile as she said: "Husband, I have also prepared a few home-cooked dishes for you; let our family enjoy a lively time together!"

Before Zhang Jian could speak, Zhang Ye beside him already had his eyes shining.

"Mother, do you have the Phoenix Yang Crispy Pork I like best?"

Seeing this, Qi Yuhua's eyes also showed a hint of indulgence.

Yes!

Zhang Zhao beside him also couldn't help but exclaim: "Mother, I want one too!"

All have them!

Zhang Jian laughed heartily at this moment.