Chapter 1317: Opportunity

As the Eastern Capital of Liao, second only to the Supreme Capital in political status, and with a deep historical heritage, Liaoyang was overall quite decent—the city was no small scale, and at least in the northeastern region, it ranked among the foremost great cities.

Within the city stood a temporary palace, formerly the resting place of the Liao emperor during his routine tours. When Yelu Jing was still on the throne, he frequently toured Liaoyang, and under the repairs of the local government, it had grown increasingly complete.

Of course, it was far inferior to the magnificent palaces of the Great Han, and even could not compare to some of the detached palaces and villas left over from history that Emperor Liu had never visited. However, no matter how crude and shabby, it was still a manifestation of imperial authority.

Just as when he had gone to Jinling to reward the troops that year, even without Li Fang at his side to offer reminders, Liu Yang still set up his Grand Marshal's headquarters in the former Liao Eastern Capital Garrison Office, and did not move into the cleaned-up temporary palace, without the slightest overstepping.

Inside the marshal's headquarters, having risen at the hour of Mao and taken a simple meal, Liu Yang continued his nonstop working state. Today he was busy receiving the first batch of officials sent to aid Liao. Before this, he had already waited nearly twenty days—this was already the Yan Mountains Circuit's highly efficient selection of personnel, swiftly dispatched to Liaodong.

Liu Yang held great expectations for the nine newly arrived prefectural and county officials, and attached particular importance to them. Only with these people in place would the pacification work of Liaodong's civil administration truly get on track.

Therefore, Liu Yang personally received each of these officials from the Yan Mountains Circuit one by one, examining and conversing with them, then making proper arrangements based on their past records and achievements.

It had to be said that in his methods and style, Liu Yang had always been modeling himself after Emperor Liu. His handling and arrangements of many matters more or less carried the shadow of Emperor Liu—after all, he was the Crown Prince personally cultivated by Emperor Liu with earnest instruction.

In the hall, a middle-aged official, tearfully grateful, held the appointment document approved by the Crown Prince and withdrew. Liu Yang, meanwhile, picked up his brush and marked Guide Prefecture on a map of Liaodong military and civil officials, writing down a name.

He stood up, stretched his muscles, let out a light breath, and asked Murong Defeng, who stood in attendance: "Just one more person, right?"

"Exactly so!" Murong Defeng reported: "Wang Ji, County Defender of Shicheng County, twenty-seven years old, one year in office!"

Hearing this, Liu Yang's expression stirred: "At this age, to become a county defender—that counts as young, doesn't it!"

Murong Defeng nodded: "Ten years ago, this would have been ordinary. But now, it's out of the ordinary. The Great Han does not lack officials; to reach the rank of a county-level appointed official before thirty is indeed rare!"

"This Wang Ji—what's his story? Does he have exceptional talent, special merit, or a deep background?" A hint of curiosity appeared on his face as Liu Yang asked.

Murong Defeng, now quite thorough in his role as secretary, had fully investigated the situation, and replied: "This man comes from a powerful local family in Youyan. Going back two generations, they rose during three generations of chaos, earning fame and land through military merit.

His father Wang Lin was formerly a general-official of Liao. During the Qianyou Northern Expedition, when Duke of Ji Commandery Ma (Ma Quanyi) led the army eastward, it was this man who raised the standard of revolt at Shicheng, coordinating with the imperial army to eliminate the great Liao general Gao Mohan. Later he became a subordinate of the Duke of Ji. His Majesty, upon hearing of his righteous deed, greatly praised him and entrusted him with prefectural affairs. Now, he has been promoted to Deputy Transport Commissioner of the Yan Mountains.

Wang Ji first joined the army, serving in the Shimen Army, then transferred to local administration as a clerk. A year ago, he was appointed County Defender of Shicheng. This time, when selecting officials to reinforce Liaodong, he voluntarily requested the transfer and was approved..."

Hearing Murong Defeng's introduction, Liu Yang now had a good understanding, and sighed lightly: "No wonder. How capable is this man?"

Murong Defeng clasped his hands and said: "His Majesty has instructed that officials sent to aid Liao must be capable ones; mediocre talents would hardly meet Governor Chu's expectations. However, as for the specifics, it is precisely for Your Highness's discerning eye to examine!"

Hearing this, Liu Yang revealed a faint smile and said: "The officials I just received were mostly those whose tenure was complete or nearly complete, awaiting promotion. This Shicheng County Defender has only been in office for a year, yet he was also included in the transfer list. Liaodong is newly taken, warfare has not ceased, and coming east to serve—fortune or misfortune is hard to predict! Being willing to actively seek advancement—perhaps he is a man of action!"

Murong Defeng nodded in agreement: "These powerful families that rose from humble origins indeed do not lack courage and drive. Back then, Wang Lin could seize the opportunity to rise in revolt and reach the ears of the throne, showing his boldness and foresight. This time with Wang Ji, it may well be pushed by his father as well. Liaodong is desolate, military and civil affairs unsettled—though there is risk, it is a place to display one's abilities. As long as one achieves something, it will naturally greatly benefit one's future career..."

Slightly nodding, Liu Yang tilted his head to look at Murong Defeng, his gaze roaming over him, and said with a light laugh: "Rixin, you seem to have quite a good understanding of these matters!"

At the question, Murong Defeng clasped his hands and replied: "When I was in the Eastern Palace, I had some exchanges with local officials who came to the capital, and thus learned a few things!"

"Your Highness, it's time for the midday meal!" As the two were conversing, Ma Huaiyu entered the hall carrying a meal tray.

Smelling the aroma of the food, Liu Yang's appetite was stirred. Looking at Ma Huaiyu's youthful yet serious face, Liu Yang said gently: "Huaiyu, having you, a Commandery Duke of the court, fetch tea, water, and meals for me—that must be a grievance for you!"

"Your Highness, please don't tease me!" Ma Huaiyu was first startled, then revealed a simple, honest smile.

As the son of Ma Quanyi, he had been raised in the palace. As he grew older, he understood more and more the emperor's grace toward his family. Emperor Liu treated him like a son, and Ma Huaiyu had been arranged to stay by Liu Yang's side, always regarding him as an elder brother in his heart.

"Let's dine together!" Liu Yang invited Murong Defeng, then instructed Ma Huaiyu: "Bring some more wine and dishes, add a set of chopsticks and a bowl, and summon that Wang Ji. He's been waiting the longest—after waiting so long, I owe him a meal and a drink!"

"Your Highness shows such respect for the worthy and humble toward the learned—this Wang Ji will surely be overwhelmed with gratitude!" Murong Defeng flattered.

Liu Yang smiled, not taking it to heart.

Soon, Wang Ji, the County Defender of Shicheng, arrived. Just as Liu Yang and Murong Defeng had guessed, his journey to Liao this time was orchestrated by his father Wang Lin. The matter had arisen hastily, and he had no time to prepare or react.

When the transfer order came down, he was completely bewildered. He only received a letter from his father, and didn't even have time to go to Youzhou to receive guidance and instruction before hurriedly riding out through the pass.

Carrying thoughts in his heart, he traveled for days on end. Along the way, he couldn't help but feel some anxiety. By the time he arrived in Liaoyang, his mindset had more or less adjusted, and he began to earnestly ponder his father's intentions.

Upon reaching Liaoyang, he only had time to rest one night, and didn't even have a chance to interact with the other officials also being transferred. Everything felt so rushed.

However, he did notice that among this batch of officials dispatched to Liaodong, although his position was the lowest, he was also the youngest. And regardless of their past records, in Liaodong, everyone belonged to the same batch, standing on the same starting line...

Even more gratifying was that the Crown Prince would personally receive and examine each one to arrange their positions. This was certainly a kind of pressure, but if not for the journey to Liaodong, they, as local officials, might never have had the chance in their entire lives to be personally interviewed by the Crown Prince.

What is opportunity? This is opportunity.

Of course, what made Wang Ji even more pleasantly surprised was that among the nine officials, only he had the fortune to be invited by the Crown Prince to dine together. What an honor this was—and moreover, he was reconnecting with the benefactor of the Wang family, the son of Ma Quanyi, Duke of Ji Commandery...

For Wang Ji, the journey to Liaoyang seemed to have started with a better beginning than could be hoped for. After a round of conversation and examination, when Wang Ji withdrew and left, walking out of the Grand Marshal's headquarters, he only then belatedly reacted, feeling a sense of unreality.

At the same time, he tried hard to recall how he had performed before the Crown Prince, whether his responses had any omissions. But the more he thought, the more muddled he felt, and the more uneasy he became.

At the seat, he had been tense the whole time, not daring to look directly at the Crown Prince, and had even failed to clearly remember the Crown Prince's features, let alone read his expressions.

Lingering for a while before the government office, calming his anxious and excited heart, Wang Ji took out an appointment document—this was the appointment order from the Crown Prince, with the seal of the Northern Expedition Grand Marshal still bright and fresh. He was appointed County Magistrate of Shanhe County. Shanhe County belonged to Sui Prefecture in Liao, located in the northwest of Liaodong—also the deepest point of actual Han army control, an important gateway into the Kherchin grasslands.

Respectfully putting away the appointment document and carefully tucking it into his bosom, Wang Ji regained the bearing of a young elite, and an inexplicable surge of boldness rose in his heart. He secretly resolved that he would surely make a name for himself in Liaodong.