Chapter 103: Receiving the Appointment, Selection and Transfer, National Fortune Enters the Body (Final Chapter of This Volume)

The officials from Juncheng were still on Tianxin Square.

Only now their number had grown from four to sixteen; besides those in charge of the Agricultural Bureau, there were also people from the Martial Bureau, the workshop, and the Manufacturing Bureau.

Since the clerk examination ended, they too had seemed to turn into statues, waiting only for the appointed hour to reopen Tianxin Hall.

"Why is time passing so slowly today?" Xiao Ze rubbed his hands together; his palms were even starting to sweat.

"It's not that time is passing slowly—it's that you're too anxious," Wen Nanxing whispered beside him.

"You're not anxious?" Xiao Ze said. "If I don't pass, I'll have to wait another whole year, and who knows what next year will bring."

Wen Nanxing had no reply; in truth, his own heart was in turmoil too.

"The one who can be sure of passing is probably Zhao Xing," Wen Nanxing said, looking at Zhao Xing's back ahead of them—the man was chatting and laughing with Zong Zong Shichang.

"That Zong Zong Shichang doesn't look anxious at all either—could it be that he's confident of passing?" Xiao Ze wondered as he looked ahead, pricking up his ears on the side to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"I really don't have much confidence," Zong Zong Shichang flicked his sleeve. "But I don't necessarily have to pass this time either; passing next year is just as good."

Zhao Xing chuckled lightly: "And if you still can't pass next year?"

Zong Zong Shichang said carelessly: "It doesn't matter. My father will step in—switching paths, I can still become an official. Our dynasty isn't limited to the clerk system for becoming an official."

"If I really can't pass, I'll transfer to Xiangshan Commandery, serve as an official under the Xiangshan King, build up some political achievements over a few years, then find a way to transfer back to Nanyang."

Zhao Xing laughed: "I really want to compete with you scions of noble houses."

Becoming an official through the clerk system was one path; going to a Wang Jue's domain to serve as Scholar Feng Chen was another.

In Nanyang Commandery, although the temple enshrined the King of Nanyang, that was a figure from a thousand years ago—his title was not hereditary, and a thousand years later only an Earl remained.

Although that Earl could still draw on tax income and held quite a bit of land, it was merely a "fief for sustenance"—he no longer had any actual domain.

A true domain was one where one could levy troops, select retainers, and collect taxes at will—the rights were considerable.

The Xiangshan King Zong Zong Shichang mentioned was Emperor Jing's cousin. Though not very closely related, he was still a genuine Commandery Prince, able to establish his own office and command staff.

Taking the retainer route meant first becoming a retainer of the Xiangshan King, being placed in Xiangshan Commandery to serve as an official; if one performed well, one could still be transferred to become an official of the imperial court.

This required connections and backing—ordinary people shouldn't even dream of taking this path.

During Emperor Wen's time, many scions of noble houses took this route to become officials, and it was relatively easy. Once they became officials, how could they fail to rake in political achievements?

But now, Emperor Jing's strictness extended not only to officials but to his brothers as well, making this path far harder. Still, it remained easier than the proper examination.

"What are you competing with me for? After you receive your official appointment, in a few decades you'll branch out, rise in rank and title, and your Zhao family will become one of the great clans of Nanyang Commandery too," Zong Zong Shichang said. "You can't be competing with yourself."

"That's true enough," Zhao Xing nodded. Connections were everywhere—just as Long Xiao had said, if Zhao Xing wanted to serve as an official in the Divine Might Army without connections or backing, then during the waiting period after receiving his appointment, he would not enter the Divine Might Army's selection pool at all.

Even waiting a thousand years he wouldn't be chosen; he'd have to keep taking the Military Agricultural Examination.

But with the connections of Chen Shijie and Long Xiao, during the waiting period for selection, he could skip the examination process entirely.

Because although Yang An was only the Marquis of Boping, having been reappointed as the commander of the Divine Might Army, he had the right to select people from other places—ninth-rank officials, civil or military, as long as there were still vacancies, he could basically pick whoever he wanted.

"Being able to pass directly would be best," Zong Zong Shichang muttered. "If I really had to take the Xiangshan King route, my family fortune would shrink by half."

"How did your field examination go?" Zhao Xing asked. "Did you identify the Twelve-Hour Grass? Timing it was still somewhat difficult."

"Who do you think you're looking down on?" Zong Zong Shichang said, surprised. "Timing it is a bit difficult, but I went to Shangluo with my father when I was little, and my family even grows Twelve-Hour Grass—how could I possibly not recognize it?"

Zhao Xing couldn't help but laugh.

"Stop chatting, it's almost time—maintain silence," Chen Shijie instructed.

Li Wenzheng was more direct; he activated group silence.

The square outside immediately fell quiet.

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

"Whoosh~" The great bronze incense burner inside the hall burned with golden flames, and after a moment, a list drifted out from within.

The announcement list emerged, then drifted outside the hall and unfurled in midair.

Names appeared one after another.

Everyone couldn't help but look up.

【Zhao Xing, Grade A Superior.】

The very first name was Zhao Xing.

Chen Shijie showed a faint smile; Xue Wenzhong nodded in satisfaction.

As for the others, they all looked on with envious gazes.

Although everyone had long believed Zhao Xing could pass, until it was truly announced, it remained uncertain.

Only now, seeing it with their own eyes, was the matter truly settled.

"Grade A Superior means there must be one subject with a perfect score—he really wasn't lying; he passed the field examination with a perfect score," Gao Li said somewhat dazed.

Fortunately he hadn't run his mouth three days ago, or his face would be swollen now.

"For clerks to be officially appointed, only Grade A is taken, divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers."

"In this temple examination, the candidates for clerks numbered in the thousands upon thousands, but a Grade A Superior rating must surely be limited to a small handful—they'll also have an advantage when it comes to selection."

"A Grade A Superior is definitely going to be assigned to some fertile and prosperous place to serve as an official."

"Truly enviable."

………

The list fully unfurled.

Zhao Xing focused his gaze and saw that four people from the Agricultural Bureau were on the list.

Besides himself, Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zong Zong Shichang all received Grade A Inferior.

As long as one got Grade A, one could pass.

Zhao Xing hadn't expected Zong Zong Shichang to also receive a Grade A Inferior.

Although he couldn't speak, Young Master Zong was radiating pride at this moment, his chest puffed out straight.

If he hadn't been silenced, he would certainly have called his servants over to hand out celebratory money to everyone.

"Fifteen out of forty, roughly one-third — that matches the usual proportion." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Although the questions were harder, the imperial court's official-recruitment ratio wouldn't fluctuate too much.

As for the other departments, Shen Zhui of the Martial Department also received a top-grade, and another eighteen received top-grade.

The Rites Hall had ten.

The Heavenly Craft Workshop had eight top-grade; the Weaving Bureau had six top-grade.

The Divine Temple had only two.

Mainly because among the departments, the Martial Department had the most examinees, the Rites Hall next, then the Heavenly Craft Workshop and Weaving Bureau, the Agricultural Bureau second-to-last in numbers, and the Divine Temple the fewest.

"If it were Juncheng, there would also be physicians, musicians, dancers and such professions, but Gucheng is only a county — it doesn't have these." Zhao Xing thought.

At this moment, outside the plaza was still very quiet.

Because the posting of the list was only the first step.

Next was entering the temple to receive the imperial dynasty's fortune baptism.

"Those whose names appear on the list, please enter the Heavenly Heart Hall."

Hearing this, Zhao Xing immediately stepped onto the stairs and entered the hall.

Although a group entered the hall together, once inside the Heavenly Heart Hall, one could still only see oneself, unable to see others.

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

The statues were of the Grand Ancestor and the Grand Emperor, and the spirit tablet was of the Jing Emperor.

Because the Jing Emperor was still alive, no divine statue was erected — only a merit tablet.

Zhao Xing followed the procedure to bow respectfully toward the statues of the Grand Ancestor and Grand Emperor, and the Jing Emperor's tablet.

After three bows.

The two statues and one tablet all emitted specks of Jin Guang, quickly filling the entire Heavenly Heart Hall.

Hum~

The Jin Guang entered his body, and Zhao Xing felt a grand, majestic power flow into him.

In a daze, he saw a heavenly gate, with clusters of palaces stretching endlessly behind it, and rows of civil and military officials.

A golden giant sat upon an enormous throne, overlooking heaven and earth.

The giant lightly pointed a finger, and auspicious clouds carried Zhao Xing, flying past the heavenly gate, toward that grand palace.

Hum~

Just past the heavenly gate, Zhao Xing felt a layer of obstruction vanish.

His previous comprehension of the Five Element spells had seemed to be veiled by a layer of hazy shadow — once past this heavenly gate, it suddenly became clear.

Next came the stirring of his Life Soul; he couldn't help but close his eyes and inwardly perceive the existence of his Life Soul.

Beneath the Life Soul's feet, a thin layer of Jin Guang suddenly spread out.

The originally empty and cold void instantly became warm and bright.

"Jin Guang spreading beneath the Life Soul's feet — this is the imperial dynasty's fortune entering the body, forging the foundation of my Fate Palace." Zhao Xing had an epiphany.

However, he had already cultivated to reached entry into the ranked realm on his own, so his foundation was already solid — this Jin Guang merely coated a layer beneath his feet.

The vast majority was absorbed by the Life Soul itself.

Part of it extended his lifespan, part enhanced his fortune.

"Hum~"

Zhao Xing's inner perception of the Life Soul and fortune-foundation-building stage did not last long. If one's realm were low, not having reached entry into the ranked realm, it would naturally be more complex — because this process would supplement it up to at least the ninth-rank lower grade.

Opening his eyes again, Zhao Xing was already within the great hall.

Looking ahead, rows upon rows of civil and military officials stretched endlessly, seemingly without limit.

He stood near the hall's door, merely the lowest-ranked ninth-rank official.

His stature was also only normal-sized.

But the further forward one went, the larger these phantom figures became.

As for that incomparably enormous, unique golden giant — that was the Jing Emperor.

Zhao Xing understood.

From the moment he entered this hall, he had formally entered the system of the Great Zhou, this Fortune Dynasty.

"Your subject Zhao Xing, giving thanks to His Majesty!"

"Long may His Majesty live without end!"

The entire process only required kneeling at this one segment; Zhao Xing didn't have so many mental burdens, and immediately knelt to give thanks.

At this point, the process of the imperial dynasty's fortune entering the body was complete.

The next moment, mist and clouds swirled.

Zhao Xing reappeared within the Heavenly Heart Hall.

Now was not the time to check his panel, because there was still something to do next.

That was 【Yin Shen Wen Xuan】 — the Yin Spirit's Inquiry of Choice.

After being recruited as an official, one didn't immediately take up a post — there was a selection and assignment stage.

First choose, then be assigned.

After recruitment, one had to be asked where one wished to serve as an official — but now this was already a formality, just going through the motions; one couldn't possibly get what one wanted.

Because officials now were as numerous as cattle, unlike the Grand Ancestor's reign when there were so many vacancies.

Having somewhere to go was already good — you still want to pick?

"Hum~"

Within the divine temple appeared a kindly figure — he wore hemp clothes, looking like an old farmer's attire.

It was precisely the True Monarch Cao Xi who had transmitted the Dharma to Zhao Xing.

"Greetings, True Monarch."

Cao Xi spoke in a kindly tone, a smile on his face as he asked, "Zhao Xing, you are now an official of the imperial court. The court sent me to ask you — where would you like to serve as an official?"

Zhao Xing cupped his hands and said, "I wish to enter military service, to be placed on the selection list of my Military Department."

Cao Xi did not seem surprised by this answer: "You achieved a top grade in this examination. Becoming a Military Agricultural Officer can skip some of the procedures."

"Let me ask you first — have you decided which army to enter? You may choose three to ten armies. Once selected, your name will appear on the candidate lists of those armies. If they take a liking to you, someone will come to assess you."

"Divine Might Army."

Cao Xi closed his eyes. After three breaths, he opened them and gave a slight shake of his head: "Although you achieved a top grade, you have not yet reached the threshold to enter the Divine Might Army. The chance of being selected is extremely low. I can only place you on the candidate list of the Pacify-the-Barbarians Army."

Zhao Xing said, "Thank you for the reminder, True Monarch. My choice remains unchanged."

Hearing this, Cao Xi said no more, and his figure vanished.

The Yin God Question-Selection phase ended, and Zhao Xing left the Heavenly Heart Hall.

He had now entered the awaiting-assignment state.

The other officials also came out of the Heavenly Heart Hall.

By this time, the area outside the Divine Temple was already very lively.

Congratulations rang out everywhere.

"Brother Zhao! Brother Zhao, wait!"

Zhao Xing had just been about to leave when he was called over by three people.

They were Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zong Zong Shichang.

"Something you need?" Zhao Xing turned and asked.

"Brother Zhao, please accept our bow." Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze cupped their hands in unison, bending at the waist in a full ninety-degree bow toward Zhao Xing.

"What are you doing?" Zhao Xing was completely baffled. Bowing to me for no reason?

After bowing, Xiao Ze rose and laughed: "For the final question of our theory examination, we both used Brother Zhao's answer from back then."

Wen Nanxing said with feeling: "Brother Zhao's answer could be called a model essay. This examination was deviously difficult. Had I not scored points on that last question, I very likely would have failed to be selected."

Zhao Xing suddenly understood, and cupped his hands in return to Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze: "There's no need for that, the two of you. Your passing the exam was entirely due to your own abilities."

Zong Zong Shichang said with a grin: "Same for me! But I won't bow to you. After we disperse, come to my house for a meal. Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze — you two have to come too. Not coming means you're not giving me face, and I'll hold a grudge!"

"Ha ha ha, then it would be rude to refuse such kindness."

"Young Master Zong, I've long wanted to mooch off your family's cooking. Now that I finally have the chance, even if you didn't invite me, I'd still go!"

"Then I must skip two meals to save room in my stomach before going! Brother Zhao, wouldn't you say so?"

The four of them chatted and laughed as they walked down the steps.

Xiao Ze and Wen Nanxing had previously harbored some resentment toward Zhao Xing due to past rivalries, but now that they had been appointed as officials and had also received Zhao Xing's favor, that bit of resentment had completely vanished.

On the contrary, they could now speak openly about those petty thoughts from the past.

"What Brother Zhao doesn't know is that during that examination, you used the Earth Vein Convergence to steal the vital essence from me and Nanxing. We were marked by Lord Chen as having far too little vigilance."

"After going back, Nanxing got thoroughly drunk, and even in his sleep he was calling out your name," Xiao Ze said.

"Nonsense, how could it be as exaggerated as you make it sound?" Wen Nanxing laughed and cursed. "Besides, weren't you also drunk as a skunk, swearing you would one day wipe away that disgrace? What face do you have to talk about me?"

"The two of you have a chance to get revenge today," Zong Zong Shichang chimed in to stir things up. "Tonight we're drinking at my residence — you two can go all out, and you don't need to worry about retaliation afterward. Zhao Xing, wouldn't you say so?"

"Don't talk about two of you — even all three of you together may not be able to out-drink me." Zhao Xing taunted. "Tonight at the Zong residence, we'll see who's truly the better man in the wine cup!"

"What arrogant fire! Tonight, I, Xiao Ze, will definitely take you down a peg!"

"We're all going! Ha ha ha."

After leaving the Heavenly Heart Hall, Zhao Xing once again received congratulations from all directions.

Gucheng County Magistrate Li Wenzheng, Military Department Commander Wang Long, Divine Temple Ceremonial Officer Meng Yun, workshop Gongsun Yang…

The path from inside the Divine Temple to outside was short, but Zhao Xing was surrounded and it took him a full hour to finally get out of the temple.

Chen Shijie and Long Xiao, on the other hand, didn't say much, only coming over to remind him to visit their residence in two days.

After Zhao Xing left the Divine Temple.

He had originally planned to check his panel to understand the detailed changes.

He had now formally entered the Fortune Dynasty system, his shackles had vanished, and his lifespan and fortune ought to have increased accordingly.

But before he had a chance to look, he heard Zhao Zheng's voice.

"Big Brother!"

"Big Brother's out!" Zhao Zheng immediately rushed over. "Congratulations, Big Brother!"

Zhao Xing ruffled Zhao Zheng's head and asked, "Where's Father?"

"Over there." Zhao Zheng pulled his brother to look in one direction. "He's waiting to take you home for a meal."

Zhao Ruide had already been waiting for some time, and Lady Cai stood beside him. Upon seeing Zhao Xing come out, both of their faces beamed with joy, looking very happy.

"Let's go, we're heading home."