Chapter 676: The New Official Takes Office

Within just three days, the Ministry of Personnel had arranged postings for the several hundred newly passed jinshi. The mingjing, mingfa, and mingsuan graduates were easy to place — the Three Institutes and Two Courts had plenty of entry-level positions, and the Three Judicial Offices and the Finance and Expenditure Bureau were also short-handed.

It was the jinshi graduates, who had been admitted in the greatest numbers, that took some extra effort, but according to their examination rankings, they all received proper arrangements. Half remained in the central ministries and bureaus to observe governance, while the rest were dispatched to Kaifeng Prefecture and the nearby prefectures and counties as assistant officials.

Compared to the anxiety and uncertainty of ordinary jinshi about their postings, Zhang Ji, who truly had the qualifications of a zhuangyuan, was far more at ease and leisurely — though he was equally busy, busy finding a place to lodge.

Many scholars chose to settle in the outer city. Though noisy, it had the advantage of being livable — livable in terms of price and standard of living. By now, the government's development and construction of Kaifeng was largely complete, but within the outer city, construction work continued unabated.

Apart from the designated roads, granaries, and government offices, many common citizens were still building and repairing their own homes. Originally, in Murong Yanchao's plan, the government was to construct the housing uniformly as compensation for the inner-city residents who had been relocated. But as construction dragged on, to save trouble, they simply allocated land and gave some money and grain as compensation, letting people build on their own...

After Jing Fan took office, he discovered that the people's self-built houses were irregular and uneven, lacking uniformity. He thus enacted a set of residential construction standards. For the sake of the Eastern Capital's appearance, all self-built homes had to conform to the framework announced by the government; those that did not comply had to be rectified.

When Liu Chengyou first heard of this, he was somewhat surprised. As a result, the city of Kaifeng today, viewed from any angle, exuded neatness and order, most pleasing to the eye.

The Eastern Capital was still under continuous development, with officials and citizens building it together.

But I've drifted off topic again...

Zhang Ji naturally also chose the outer city, finding a civilian dwelling to lodge in. His family was not poor, but neither was it well-off. When he came to the capital for the examinations, his uncle Zhang Yi (the Assistant Administrator of the Huai East Administration Commission) had provided some financial support, but it was only enough for three months of daily expenses.

By the time he had settled in, his appointment had come down: Right Reminder and Chongzheng Attendant, rank 7b, serving at Chongzheng Hall. It could be said to be a very high starting point — the previous two to receive such treatment were Wang Zhu and Zhao Yan.

On the twenty-fifth day of the third month, early in the morning, Zhang Ji washed and groomed himself carefully, sprinkled on some fragrance, and changed into a brand-new set of official robes before heading to the imperial palace early. Though it was not his first time entering the palace, this time felt distinctly different. During the palace examination, his heart had been full of longing and his steps had felt light as if floating. Now, he still carried expectations, but his feet were firmly on the ground.

As if breaking through layer upon layer of obstacles, he finally entered Chongzheng Hall. It was just past the beginning of the chen hour, barely dawn, and the palace chambers were still shrouded in dimness. However, Emperor Liu Chengyou was already seated upright at the imperial desk, his back as straight as ever, as if he never tired, buried in reviewing memorials.

"Your subject Zhang Ji pays respects to Your Majesty!" Zhang Ji offered a respectful bow.

Raising his head, Liu Chengyou appraised him. Zhang Ji, now in official robes, had a different kind of handsomeness. Liu Chengyou asked flatly: "Zhang Ji, how many times have we met now?"

"To answer Your Majesty — the fourth time!" Zhang Ji's mind seemed less sharp than usual; he had to think for a moment before answering.

The tavern, the palace examination, the Qionglin Banquet, and now this — the one that had shaken Zhang Ji the most was, of course, the palace examination. Even now, Zhang Ji still believed he had lost the zhuangyuan because his heart had been disturbed during the examination and he had performed poorly...

"Does this set of official robes fit well?" Liu Chengyou maintained his lofty bearing and asked again.

Upon the question, Zhang Ji subconsciously examined his attire and found no problems — after all, he had meticulously groomed before entering the palace. His flustered demeanor was somewhat like the time at the tavern when he had been forcibly brought before Liu Chengyou.

But meeting the Emperor's gaze, Zhang Ji still answered carefully: "To answer Your Majesty, they fit very well!"

"Since they fit, then wear them well!" Liu Chengyou nodded, speaking with double meaning.

Though he could not immediately grasp the implication, Zhang Ji still responded obediently: "Yes!"

Seeing his flustered and cautious manner, Liu Chengyou's brow furrowed slightly. Both were cautious, but Zhao Yan was careful and proper, while Zhang Ji was clearly anxious and uneasy.

Setting down the memorial in his hand, Liu Chengyou loosened his muscles, pressed his palms together, and asked with slight curiosity: "Zhang Ji, I want to ask you — regarding the 'practical affairs' examination question I posed, do you still hold your previous view?"

The Emperor's face showed neither joy nor anger, calm as a deep pool, impossible to fathom. Zhang Ji, upon hearing the question, hesitated somewhat. This seemed to be a test question, and not knowing the Emperor's temperament, he dared not answer rashly.

"What, is my question so difficult to answer?" Seeing his hesitation, Liu Chengyou urged with apparent impatience.

"Your subject... maintains his previous view!" Gritting his teeth, Zhang Ji decided to gamble on sticking to his opinion.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou appeared unconcerned and continued: "I remember, back at that jinshi tavern, you spoke eloquently, discoursing freely, confident and without doubt. What's this — now that you're in Chongzheng Hall, you're stammering and uneasy? Is it merely that I've changed into imperial robes that makes you so afraid?"

Facing the Emperor's remarks, Zhang Ji could not agree, muttering inwardly that the difference between the two occasions was enormous. But aloud, he flattered somewhat: "Your subject merely feels deeply Your Majesty's heavenly majesty, and recalling how I spoke rashly without knowing my place back then, I am simply ashamed!"

Liu Chengyou smiled slightly and said: "In literary talent, you should rank first in this examination — that is the public consensus. Do you know why I took away your zhuangyuan position?"

Zhang Ji was startled, a trace of gravity surfacing on his handsome face. However, since the Emperor had spoken first, he was not so nervous and chose to answer truthfully: "During the palace examination, my mind was unsettled, and I performed poorly!"

"Wrong!" Liu Chengyou said directly.

"Let me ask you again — what are the duties of the Reminder and the Chongzheng Attendant?" Before Zhang Ji could react, he asked again.

Zhang Ji answered instinctively: "The Reminder handles offerings and remonstrance, correcting the sovereign's faults in words and deeds; the Chongzheng Attendant assists Your Majesty in handling state affairs!"

Liu Chengyou again gave no indication of approval or disapproval, showing neither satisfaction nor dissatisfaction with the answer, merely saying flatly: "Since that is how you think, then perform well!"

"Yes!" Zhang Ji hurriedly responded.

After a slight hesitation, Zhang Ji took the initiative: "Your Majesty, there is a matter I am uncertain whether I should raise!"

"Since you've already opened your mouth, then speak plainly!" Liu Chengyou's mouth twitched slightly.

"Your Majesty, while searching for lodging these past few days, I discovered that many scholars, though appointed to positions and remaining in the Eastern Capital, have had difficulty arranging places to stay. Especially many impoverished jinshi — coming to the capital for the examinations already cost them dearly, and though they now remain in office, the Eastern Capital is vast and hard to live in. To this day, many have still not found suitable lodging, and many are already deeply in debt..." Zhang Ji reported.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's expression turned somewhat serious. He swept Zhang Ji with two glances and said: "On your very first day in office, you offer this remonstrance — it does have substance. If what you say is true, then this is a negligence on my part and the court's!"

Receiving the Emperor's affirmation, Zhang Ji finally breathed a sigh of relief, his handsome features relaxing somewhat.

"Zhao Yan!" Liu Chengyou called out to the side.

"Your subject is here!" Zhao Yan stepped forward awaiting orders.

Pointing at Zhang Ji, Liu Chengyou instructed: "Make arrangements for him."

"Yes!"

Zhang Ji followed Zhao Yan toward the side hall, his whole body relaxing. Being questioned by the Emperor carried extraordinary pressure. Throughout, Zhang Ji had always carried himself with ease and spontaneity, giving an impression of dashing nonchalance. But now it seemed that might well have been an outward display — his heart surely harbored no small desire for rank and fortune. Otherwise, had he been truly unburdened and open, why would his demeanor be so cautious and guarded?

After Zhang Ji withdrew, Liu Chengyou pondered for a while, then picked up his brush and wrote a brief memorandum regarding what Zhang Ji had reported. Handing it to Zhang Dejun, he said: "Send this to the Hall of State Affairs. Have Chancellor Li dispatch someone to investigate, and according to the actual situation, resolve the housing problem for the jinshi!"

"Yes!"

After giving the order, Liu Chengyou smiled again, and in a playful tone murmured: "If today's remonstrance is spread abroad, and the court then resolves the difficulties of the admitted jinshi, this Zhang Ji's reputation and prestige among this year's scholars will likely be beyond anyone else's ability to match..."