Chapter 5: The Diligent Emperor

The gap between Fortune I and Fortune II is like heaven and earth. Fortune II already surpasses ninety percent of ordinary people.

Take spells as an example: when Zhao Xing casts 【Drifting Clouds】, out of a hundred attempts, perhaps only two or three trigger Fortune's blessing, boosting the spell's effect by twenty to thirty percent. Players have named this effect 'Minor Spell Success.'

Out of a thousand attempts, perhaps one triggers a 'Double Effect'—what players call 'Major Spell Success'!

But with Fortune II, then ten castings might trigger two or three 'Minor Success' effects, and a hundred castings might trigger one 'Major Success' effect.

And these are only the benefits for 'casting spells.' There are also things like picking up treasures when stepping out, meeting hidden masters when seeking a teacher, never coming back empty-handed when fishing…

Especially in the 'Fortune Dynasty' version, this influence is even more pronounced.

"But why is it like this? I remember very clearly, the Dao Embryo Pill didn't have this effect at all… hmm?"

A sudden flash of inspiration struck Zhao Xing, and he thought of a certain possibility.

"The Great Dream Academy at this time is different from the later 'Cloud Dream Academy.' The former possesses rich treasures, while the latter is more just a tool."

"Could it be that by entering the Great Dream Academy, I indirectly obtained part of the Fortune of the ancient dynasty 'Great Li'?"

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Zhao Xing thus began recalling the relevant plotlines of this ancient dynasty, weighing whether this outcome was good or bad.

The final conclusion was that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

"The Li Dynasty era is far removed from Great Zhou. It was only during a certain period of the feudal lords' rebellion that a faction claiming to be Li Dynasty remnants operated under that banner, but they never stirred up much trouble—let alone in the current era."

"Fortune growth is formless, imageless, untraceable. The jump from Fortune I to Fortune II won't draw any attention at all."

"If I can continue to strengthen it, there's no rush. By then I'll already be inside the Great Zhou system. If some high-ranking official in the court notices later, at worst I'll hand over the method to enter the Great Dream Academy to the state—a one-time deal."

Zhao Xing remembered that the person who discovered the method to open the Great Dream Academy was not 'specially dealt with.' On the contrary, after presenting the method to Wu Di, he was granted the title of Marquis of Xian and rewarded with a commandery's worth of land.

Therefore, whether the Fortune growth is discovered is merely a question of earning more or less, not a safety issue.

"Still, I need to enter the official system as soon as possible."

Having thought it all through, Zhao Xing set his mind at ease.

"Cluck cluck cluck~"

At that moment, the sound of a rooster crowing came from outside, so he washed up roughly and hurried out the door.

The Gucheng Agricultural Bureau currently has over five hundred people.

But the annual quota allocated to Gucheng from Nanyang Commandery is only three to five.

Most Agricultural Bureau clerks without talent or backing can only endure the grind, waiting for those outstanding competitors to be promoted away.

The Agricultural Bureau is still better off; the advancement channels in the military, engineering, law, civil, and ritual systems are even more cutthroat.

To put it bluntly, Agriculturalists have an easier path to career change than martial artists, mechanists, physicians, and other professions.

This year the Agricultural Bureau has many 'experts'—people like Li Chengfeng and Wen Nanxing are already approaching the third stage of Qi Gathering.

Not only have they mastered beginner spells like 【Drifting Clouds】, 【Rain Summoning】, 【Thunder Strike】, 【Wind Rising】, they have also begun studying advanced versions.

Such as 'Timely Wind and Rain' and 'Summoning Wind and Rain.'

They have even been able to enter the Divine Temple to comprehend advanced secret manuals like 'Solar Terms Decree' and 'Myriad Things Growth Diagram,' after which they can practice spells with killing power.

Whether in 'merit' or 'technique,' they stand far above the other clerks.

To surpass these competitors, Zhao Xing must quicken his pace.

"I'm now at the second stage of Qi Gathering, and my vital energy is enough to support casting more spells. It's time to learn some new ones."

The Gucheng Agricultural Bureau is located in the east of the city, but Zhao Xing is now heading north, because to learn a new spell, he must first go to the county office for approval, obtain permission, register the record, and then go to the Divine Temple to seek the spell.

After obtaining the spell, he must return to the county office for a second recording, because during the process of seeking a spell at the Divine Temple, random spells exceeding the quota may appear.

After that, he returns to the Agricultural Bureau to seek guidance and practice. The formal officials of the Agricultural Bureau are, for clerks like them, both superiors and teachers.

As for whether they're willing to teach, and how much effort they put into teaching, that depends on whether you've found the right person.

Zhao Xing entered the county office's duty room to begin the process and received warm treatment from the clerk on duty.

"My name is Pang Fei. There's some cool tea prepared inside. Brother Zhao, please come into the side hall and rest a moment."

Looking at this young, enthusiastic face, Zhao Xing was a little surprised: "Brother Pang is too kind. May I ask how long the document approval will take?"

He was here on business, not for tea.

"Stamping the document will take no more than one hour at most; at the fastest, half an hour."

How could it be this fast? Why is the county office's efficiency so high?

He thought Pang Fei was an exception, but while drinking tea in the side hall, he found that every clerk he saw was exactly the same damn way!

After thinking for a long time, Zhao Xing finally understood.

This matter had to start with Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing was an ambitious man. He named his reign era 'Jingxin' because he wanted to create a new atmosphere and surpass the virtuous reputation of his ancestors.

His father, Emperor Wen, was 'loving toward the people as a father, humble and benevolent,' but he himself had a violent temper and couldn't do that. To surpass his father, he could only put effort into other areas.

So this Emperor began leading the rat race himself.

The 'Great Zhou Code' stipulates public affairs as: minor matters within five days, medium matters within seven days, major matters within ten days.

Under his demands, all commandery and county-level institutions must achieve 'daily progress' and 'never delay' when stamping documents and handling government affairs.

When the top acts, the below follows. A wave of internal competition swept across all nineteen provinces.

Emperor Jing thus earned a nickname among players—'The Diligent Emperor.'

Why is the government's efficiency so high? The Emperor himself leads the charge—would you dare slack off? That Divine Temple standing in the city isn't there for nothing. On a large scale, it can monitor the city's filthy and illegal affairs; on a small scale, it can investigate officials' lazy and corrupt governance!

Why is Pang Fei's attitude so good? Because he's also a clerk, just like himself—he wants to become a regular official too! If he doesn't compete with his colleagues, when will he ever make it ashore?

"Establishing Divine Temples to monitor officials, transmitting ten thousand laws to enlighten the common people—this period is really safe. Unlike later, when it was so chaotic you couldn't even farm in peace…" As an Agriculturalist player, Zhao Xing was very satisfied with the current environment. It was simply an ideal period for development!

No sooner had he finished one cup of tea than another enthusiastic clerk came over to refill it.

After this happened three times, Pang Fei himself came jogging over with a document in his arms.

"Brother Zhao, your application has been approved. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Thank you." Seeing the faint beads of sweat on Pang Fei's forehead, Zhao Xing expressed his heartfelt gratitude.