Chapter 103

The officials from the prefecture city were still on the Tianxin Square.

It's just that the number of people has increased from four to sixteen. In addition to those responsible for the Agricultural Official's office, there were also the Military Department, the Heavenly Work workshop, and the Manufacturing Department.

After the clerk assessment ended, they also seemed to have turned into statues, just waiting for the time to come to reopen the Tianxin Hall.

["Why is the time passing so slowly today?" Xiao Ze rubbed his hands, his palms sweating.]

["It's not that the time is passing slowly, it's that you are too impatient." Wen Nanxing whispered on the side.]

["Aren't you anxious?" Xiao Ze said, "If you don't pass, you have to wait another year. Who knows what will happen next year."]

Wen Nanxing was speechless. In fact, he was also anxious.

["The one who can be sure to pass is probably Zhao Xing." Wen Nanxing looked at Zhao Xing's back in front, who was laughing and talking with Zong Shichang.]

["That Zong Shichang doesn't look anxious at all. Does he have the confidence to pass?" Xiao Ze looked forward in confusion, and by the way, pricked up his ears to eavesdrop on the chat.]

["I really don't have much confidence." Zong Shichang flicked his sleeves, "But I don't necessarily have to pass this time. It's the same if I pass next year."]

Zhao Xing laughed lightly: ["What if you still can't pass next year?"]

Zong Shichang said indifferently: ["It doesn't matter, my father will take action, and I can be an official in another way. Our dynasty is not the only way to be an official through the clerk system."]

["If I really can't pass, I will transfer to Xiangshan Prefecture, be an official on the Xiangshan Prince's side, mix for a few years of political achievements, and then find a way to transfer back to Nanyang."]

Zhao Xing laughed: ["I really want to fight with you aristocratic children."]

The clerk system is one way to be an official, and going to the Prince's territory to be a vassal is another way.

In Nanyang Prefecture, although the temple worships the Nanyang Commandery Prince, that is a figure from a thousand years ago. His prince title is not hereditary, and after a thousand years, only a count remains.

Although he can still eat taxes and has a lot of land, that is only "food town" and there is no actual fief.

A real fief can recruit troops, select vassals, and collect taxes by itself, and the power is very large.

The Xiangshan Prince mentioned by Zong Shichang is Emperor Jing's cousin. Although he said he was not very close, he was a real Commandery Prince and could open a mansion and build teeth by himself.

Taking the vassal route is to first become a vassal of the Xiangshan Prince, be an official in Xiangshan Prefecture, and if you perform well, you can also turn into an imperial court official.

This requires connections and relationships. Ordinary people don't even think about taking this path.

During the time of Emperor Wen, many aristocratic children took this path to be officials, which was relatively easy. As long as they became officials, were they afraid of not getting political achievements?

But now, Emperor Jing is harsh not only on officials but also on his brothers, and this path is much more difficult. However, it is still easier than the proper examination.

["What are you fighting with me for? After you are appointed, in a few decades, you will branch out, be promoted to official positions and titles, and your Zhao family will also be a big family in Nanyang Prefecture." Zong Shichang said, "You can't fight with yourself."]

["That's true." Zhao Xing nodded. Relationships are everywhere. Just like Long Xiao said, if Zhao Xing wants to be an official in the Divine Might Army, without relationships, after he is appointed, he will not enter the Divine Might Army's selection vision during the waiting period.]

Even if he waits for a thousand years, he won't be selected, and he still has to go to take the military Agricultural Official exam.

But with the relationship between Chen Shijie and Long Xiao, he can skip the exam process while waiting for selection.

Because although Yang An is only a Boping County Marquis, he has been reactivated as the main general of the Divine Might Army, so he has the right to select people from other places. Ninth-grade officials, whether civil or military, as long as there are still quotas, he can basically choose.]

["It's best to be able to pass directly." Zong Shichang muttered, "If I really take this Xiangshan Prince path, my family's property will shrink by half."]

["How is your field assessment?" Zhao Xing asked. "Did you recognize the twelve-hour grass? It's still difficult to set the time."]

["Who are you looking down on?" Zong Shichang was surprised, "It's difficult to set the time, but I followed my father to Shangluo when I was a child, and my family also planted twelve-hour grass. How could I not recognize it?"]

Zhao Xing laughed dumbly.

["Don't chat, it's almost time, keep quiet." Chen Shijie exhorted.]

Li Wenzheng was more direct, he turned on the group mute.]

The outside of the square suddenly became quiet.]

At the exact hour of the Chen hour, the officials who had been like statues reopened the Tianxin Hall.]

["Hu~" The red copper incense burner in the hall was burning with golden flames. After a while, a list floated out from it.]

The list was released, and then floated to the outside of the hall, unfolding in the air.]

Names were revealed one by one.]

Everyone couldn't help but look up.]

[Zhao Xing, Grade A Top.]

The first name was Zhao Xing.]

Chen Shijie smiled, and Xue Wenzhong nodded gratifiedly.]

As for the others, they all looked with envious eyes.]

Although it was thought before that Zhao Xing could pass the exam, it was an unknown until it was really released.]

Only now that it is really seen can it be considered settled.]

["Grade A Top represents that there must be a full score in one subject. He really didn't lie. The field assessment was really passed with full marks." Gao Linong was a bit distracted.]

Fortunately, he didn't have a stinky mouth three days ago, otherwise his face would be swollen now.]

["Clerks are regularized, only Grade A list is taken, divided into three levels: top, middle, and bottom."]

["This Temple Examination has thousands of clerks participating, but the evaluation of Grade A Top must only be a small handful, and it will have an advantage in selection."]

["This Grade A Top must be an official in a fertile and rich place."]

["It's really enviable."]

The list was fully unfolded.]

Zhao Xing looked closely and saw that four people from the Agricultural Official's office were on the list.]

Except for himself, Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zong Shichang were all evaluated as Grade A Bottom.]

As long as you get Grade A, you can pass.]

Zhao Xing didn't expect Zong Shichang to get a Grade A Bottom.]

Although he couldn't speak, Young Master Zong was exuding a sense of pride at this time, his chest straight.]

If he hadn't been muted, he would have called the servants over and distributed happy money to everyone.]

["Fifteen out of four, almost one-third, which is in line with the proportion of previous years." Zhao Xing thought to himself.]

Although the questions were more difficult, the proportion of the imperial court's appointment would not fluctuate too much.]

As for the other departments, Shen Zhui of the Military Department also got Grade A Top, and another eighteen people got Grade A.]

The Ritual Hall had ten people.]

The Heavenly Work workshop had eight people getting Grade A, and the Weaving Department had six people getting Grade A.]

And the Temple only had two people.]

Mainly because among the departments, the Military Department had the largest number of participants, followed by the Ritual Hall, then the Heavenly Work workshop and the Weaving Department, the Agricultural Official's office had the second to last number of people, and the Temple had the fewest.]

["If it were a prefecture city, there would be professions such as physicians, musicians, and dancers, but Gucheng is only a county, so there are no such professions." Zhao Xing thought.]

At this time, the outside of the square was still very quiet.]

Because the list is out, it's just the first step.]

The next step is to enter the temple to accept the baptism of the national fortune.]

["Please those who are on the list, enter the Tianxin Hall."]

Hearing this, Zhao Xing stepped on the steps and entered the hall.]

Although it was a group of people entering the hall, after entering the Tianxin Hall, they could still only see themselves and not others.]

Entering the hall again, there was one more statue and one spirit tablet.]

The statues were the Founding Emperor and the Taizong Emperor, and the spirit tablet was Emperor Jing.]

Because Emperor Jing is still alive, there is no statue, only a merit spirit tablet.]

Zhao Xing bowed to the statues of the Founding Emperor and Taizong Emperor and the spirit tablet of Emperor Jing according to the process.]

After three bows.]

The two statues and one spirit tablet all emitted dots of golden light, which soon filled the entire Tianxin Hall.]

Hum~

Golden light entered the body, and Zhao Xing felt a magnificent and majestic force enter his body.]

In a trance, he saw a heavenly gate, with continuous palace clusters behind the gate, and civil and military officials in court.]

A golden giant sat on a huge throne, overlooking the world.]

The giant pointed lightly, and there were auspicious clouds supporting Zhao Xing, flying over the heavenly gate, towards that magnificent palace.]

Hum~

Just past the heavenly gate, Zhao Xing felt a layer of obstacles disappear.]

Originally, his insight into the five-element spells seemed to be covered by a layer of blurred shadows. After passing this heavenly gate, it became suddenly clear.]

Immediately after, the life soul was touched, and he couldn't help but close his eyes, looking inside at the existence of the life soul.]

Under the feet of the life soul, a thin layer of golden light was suddenly paved.]

The originally void and cold void suddenly became warm and bright.]

["Golden light paved under the life soul, this is the national fortune entering the body, casting the foundation of the life palace for me." Zhao Xing had some realization.]

However, he had already practiced to the point of entering the grade, and the foundation was already solid, so this golden light was only plated on the feet.]

Most of it was absorbed by the life soul itself.]

Part of it increased longevity, and part of it increased fortune.]

"Hum~"

Zhao Xing was in the stage of looking inside at the life soul and building the foundation of fortune, which did not last long. If it were someone with a low realm who had not entered the grade, it would naturally be more complicated. Because this process would supplement at least to the level of the ninth-grade bottom.]

Opening his eyes again, Zhao Xing was already in the hall.]

Looking up, civil and military officials were continuous, seemingly endless.]

He stood near the hall door, only a ninth-grade official at the very end.]

The body size was only normal size.]

But the further forward, the more huge the phantom.]

As for that huge and unique golden giant, it was Emperor Jing.]

Zhao Xing understood.]

From the moment he entered this hall, he officially entered the system of this fortune dynasty of the Great Zhou.]

["Minister Zhao Xing, thank you, Your Majesty!"]

["Your Majesty, may you live for ten thousand years!"]

The whole process only required kneeling and worshipping in this link, and Zhao Xing didn't have so many ideological burdens, so he immediately knelt and thanked him.]

Thus, the process of national fortune entering the body ended.]

The next moment, clouds and mist swirled.]

Zhao Xing reappeared in the Tianxin Hall.]

Now is not the time to check the panel, because there are still things to do next.]

That is [Yin God Question Selection].]

After being appointed, there is no official position immediately, but a selection stage.]

First select, then transfer.]

After being appointed, you have to ask where you want to be an official, but now it has become a formality, just going through the motions, and it is impossible to be satisfied.]

Because there are so many officials now, it is not the era of the Founding Emperor, and there are so many vacancies.]

It's good to have a place to go, do you still want to pick?]

"Hum~"

A kind-looking figure appeared in the temple. He was dressed in hemp clothes, looking like an old farmer.]

It was True Person Caoxi who passed the Dharma to Zhao Xing.]

["I have seen the True Person."]

Caoxi's tone was kind, and he asked with a smile: ["Zhao Xing, you are now an official. The imperial court sent me to ask you, where do you want to be an official?"]

Zhao Xing bowed and said: ["I want to join the army and enter the list of our military department selection."]

Caoxi didn't seem surprised by this answer: ["You obtained Grade A Top in this assessment, and becoming a military Agricultural Official can omit some processes."]

["I will ask you first, have you thought about which army to join? You can choose three to ten armies. After you choose, your name will appear on the candidate list of these armies. If you are favored, someone will come to examine you."]

["Divine Might Army."]

Caoxi closed his eyes, opened them after three breaths, and shook his head slightly: ["Although you obtained Grade A Top in the assessment, you have not yet reached the threshold to enter the Divine Might Army. The possibility of being selected is extremely low. I can only place you on the candidate list of the Pingman Legion."]

Zhao Xing said: ["Thank you, True Person, for the reminder. My choice remains unchanged."]

Hearing this, Caoxi didn't say anything more, and his figure disappeared.]

The Yin God Question Selection stage ended, and Zhao Xing left the Tianxin Hall.]

He has now entered the state of waiting for transfer.]

Other officials also left the Tianxin Hall.]

At this time, the outside of the temple was already very lively.]

There were congratulations everywhere.]

["Brother Zhao, Brother Zhao, wait!"]

Zhao Xing just wanted to leave, but was called by three people.]

It was Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zong Shichang.]

["Something?"] Zhao Xing turned and asked.]

["Brother Zhao, please accept a bow."] Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze bowed together, bending ninety degrees to Zhao Xing.]

["What are you doing?"] Zhao Xing was confused. Bowing to me for no reason?]

After Xiao Ze finished bowing, he stood up and smiled: ["Our last question in the theoretical assessment all used Brother Zhao's original answer."]

Wen Nanxing sighed: ["Brother Zhao's answer can be called a model essay. This assessment was tricky and difficult. If it weren't for the points in the last question, I would have a great possibility of failing."]

Zhao Xing suddenly realized, and bowed back to Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze: ["The two of you don't have to be like this. You can pass the exam because of your own ability."]

Zong Shichang smiled and said: ["Me too, but I won't bow to you. After it's over, come to my house for a meal. Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, you two must come too. If you don't come, you won't give me face, and I will hold a grudge!"]

["Hahaha, then I will respectfully obey."]

["Young Master Zong, I have long wanted to eat your family's food, and now I finally have a chance. Even if you don't invite me, I have to go!"]

["Then I must be hungry for two meals, leaving my stomach to go again! Brother Zhao, don't you think so?"]

The four of them went down the steps laughing and talking.]

Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing originally had some grudges against Zhao Xing because of previous competition, but now that they were appointed and received Zhao Xing's favor, those grudges disappeared completely.]

Instead, they could calmly talk about those little thoughts in the past.]

["Brother Zhao, you don't know, that time in the assessment, you used the earth vein synthesis to steal my and Nanxing's essence, and we were evaluated by Lord Chen as having poor vigilance."]

["After going back, Nanxing got drunk and shouted your name even when he was asleep." Xiao Ze said.]

["Bastard, how can it be as exaggerated as you said?" Wen Nanxing laughed and scolded, "Besides, didn't you also get drunk and threaten to wash away the shame? Where did you get the face to say me?"]

["The two of you have a chance to take revenge today." Zong Shichang joined in the fun, "Drink at my house tonight, you two can let go, and don't worry about revenge afterwards, Zhao Xing, don't you think so?"]

["Don't say two, even if the three of you add up, you may not be able to drink me." Zhao Xing provoked, "See the truth in the wine glass at the Zong Prefecture tonight!"]

["What an arrogant flame, I, Xiao Ze, must extinguish your prestige tonight!"]

["Go together, go together! Hahaha."]

After leaving the Tianxin Hall, Zhao Xing received congratulations from all directions.]

Gucheng County Magistrate Li Wenzheng, Military Department Commander Wang Long, Temple Master Meng Yun, Heavenly Work workshop Gongsun Yang... ]

The road from inside the temple to the outside was very short, but Zhao Xing was surrounded, and it took him an hour to get out of the temple.]

Chen Shijie and Long Xiao didn't say much, and came to exhort him to come to the prefecture once in two days.]

After Zhao Xing got out of the temple.]

He intended to take a look at the panel to understand the detailed changes.]

Now that he has officially entered the fortune dynasty system, the shackles have disappeared, and his lifespan and fortune should also increase.]

But before he had time to look, he heard Zhao Zheng's voice.]

["Big brother!"]

["Big brother is out!" Zhao Zheng immediately rushed over. "Congratulations, big brother!"]

Zhao Xing rubbed Zhao Zheng's head and asked: ["Where is Dad?"]

["Over there." Zhao Zheng pulled his brother to look in one direction. "Waiting for you to go home for dinner."]

Zhao Ruide had been waiting for a long time, and Madam Cai stood by. Seeing Zhao Xing come out, the couple was full of joy and very happy.]

["Go, let's go home."]