Chapter 304: Preposterous — Putting On a Show and Not Even Inviting Me

A casual question from his elder brother had stumped Qian Changle completely.

By all rights, for a clerk in the capital, these eyes were the tools of his trade.

Recognizing the mansions of every noble and high official in the capital was the very first lesson, the stock-in-trade of the profession.

In the past, every newly appointed clerk would be led through the streets and alleys by a senior mentor, pointing out each gate and courtyard.

Which household's stone lion had a chipped corner, which household's door lintel was half an inch too high — all of it had to be memorized down to the last detail.

But this new batch of reform clerks had studied this particular art for less than three days before it was left unfinished.

It was not that the old clerks were standoffish or deliberately shutting them out.

In officialdom, when the winds were unclear, no one rushed to declare a position; a surface of harmony always came first.

So the old clerks, without even accepting gifts of gratitude, had eagerly and proactively shared all manner of "official wisdom" with the new clerks.

However, when word of this reached Li Shiqi, the chief of the Tax Office, it was stopped at once.

That day, the entire office — one hundred new clerks, one hundred old clerks — assembled for a meeting.

Li Shiqi sat high in the hall with an imposing, wide-legged stance, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a hawk's, his voice reverberating through the chamber:

"New clerks, new clerks — what we want is to abolish the old and establish the new!"

"Why bother memorizing this shabby rubbish?!"

"We have opened this new office, we are undertaking this new policy. Who stands behind those mansions — what business is that of yours?"

"Even if it is a Grand Secretary, a state duke, a palace eunuch, or an imperial in-law — so what?"

"This official would like to see, when the white crows gather and rise up, which insect among you dares to make a sound!"

These words set the new clerks' blood boiling with fervor, and terrified the old clerks into utter silence, like cicadas in winter.

And it was Wu Yanzuo, of the same cohort, who, a few days after this incident, discerned the direction of the wind and rose up with fierce resolve.

He was the first to expose current abuses, and moreover the first to set the precedent of denouncing old clerks, of denouncing his own colleagues.

Thereby directly ending his probationary period and becoming the fastest-rising man among this batch of new clerks.

After this, the new clerks finally pulled back from the brink and gradually became an independent group, as distinct from the old capital clerks as the Jing River is from the Wei.

Though being stumped was a bit embarrassing, this gossip simply had to be investigated.

As his elder brother put it, with such a crowd gathered during the New Year, it might well be some high official in trouble.

If you find out the details and share them with your superiors when paying New Year calls, wouldn't that be far better than showing up empty-handed as you are now?

These words were truly a pearl of wisdom — what else was the social currency of officialdom but gossip like this?

His elder brother truly was his elder brother!

Seeing that the hour was still early, the two brothers simply left their sister-in-law, Madam Wang, to rest at a roadside tea stall and shoved their way vigorously into the crowd.

"Excuse us, excuse us!"

"What're you shoving for! In a hurry to be reincarnated?!"

After great difficulty squeezing to the front, Qian Changle looked up and only then saw the characters on the plaque.

"This is... the Yang residence? The mansion of the Minister of Personnel?"

Someone nearby immediately chimed in: "Isn't it just! The mansion of the Heavenly Official himself, and today of all days the gates are tightly shut — truly strange." The crowd pointed and murmured; the vermilion-lacquered gates were firmly closed, with not even a gatekeeper to greet visitors, only a large scarlet notice posted, its ink still glistening wet.

A scholar in a square cap and Confucian robe was standing before the notice, swaying his head as he read aloud in a ringing voice:

"A public proclamation from the Grand Minister of Personnel!" "At the New Year, paying calls is a common custom. Yet when scholars and commoners visit their own kin and friends, it is mostly done with sincere hearts; the comings and goings of court officials, however, are but ostentatious displays of fashion." "Along East and West Chang'an Streets, where court officials dwell in greatest number, those who come here, whether acquainted or not, cast their calling cards at the gate without dismounting, or even send a man to deliver a name card without passing the gate at all."

"To the point that those holding office in the capital, upon retiring from court each morning, immediately set about this in groups, returning only at nightfall dead drunk. Only after three or four days do they find the leisure to pay respects to their own parents. What sort of custom this is, and in what year it began, I know not."

Reading up to this point, the scholar paused, and his voice rose several degrees:

"This official upholds the laws of Heaven and is humbled to serve as Heavenly Official precisely to purify the public climate!"

"From this year onward, during the New Year season, this household shall accept no calling cards whatsoever from festival callers!"

"Should any present food boxes, seasonal gifts, or even concealed gold and silver, they shall, according to the weight of the gift, either have it returned or be summarily seized and brought before the magistrate!"

At this recitation, a stir immediately ran through the crowd.

The Minister of Personnel, the head of the hundred officials — refusing guests and gifts during the New Year? And threatening to arrest gift-givers and haul them before a magistrate?

This was an utterly unprecedented first!

The Confucian scholar, reading to the end, grew even more agitated and pointed at the final lines as he shouted them aloud:

"I advise you all: if you await selection by the Ministry, then properly investigate the conditions of the world and write your official documents well — that will always advance you a step faster than the common herd."

"If you seek promotion, you may all the more prove your worth through achievements in the new policies; there is no need to waste your energy here."

"Praying to gods and consulting oracles is not as good as seeking within yourself; frittering away your time on social connections is not as good as returning home to warm congee."

"The new policy selects officials by deeds above all. Those who cling to connections and social climbing — stay away!"

When the crowd heard him finish, they burst into cheers!

Someone loudly praised: "For the Grand Heavenly Official to act thus — it shows that clean and bright governance is already before our eyes!"

"Yes, yes! This is what a father-and-mother official should be!"

Yet, amidst this chorus of approval, a cold laugh rang out, jarring and abrupt.

"Heh... this new dynasty's refined governance — the spectacles truly come one after another."

The crowd turned toward the sound and saw a Confucian scholar with a graying beard, arms folded, staring at the notice with a face full of scorn.

"Each one takes the stage in turn, just like a storybook. Acted out to the end, who can tell which is god and which is demon?"

At these words, the surroundings fell silent for an instant.

Then, a burly man was quickest to react and roared angrily: "So what if it's a storybook? In the past, would anyone have been willing to perform it for a wretched cur like you to watch?!" The people nearby caught on as well and erupted in furious curses: "You heaven-struck scoundrel! In the first month of the year, you can't even tell black from white — you're a true blockhead spewing filth!"

"Must be a dull-witted scholar who can't even pass the government student exam! Scoundrel! A complete scoundrel!"

"Hit him! This kind of man just can't stand to see the world getting better!"

No one knew who struck first, but rotten vegetable leaves and clods of earth came flying at him, thick and fast.

That sour pedant never expected to draw public wrath; he ducked his head and fled like a rat, scrambling out of the crowd in utter disarray.

The two Qian brothers, Changle and Changping, found it deeply satisfying and joined in with a few curses of their own; Qian Changping even seized the chaos to sneak in two kicks at the man.

Just then, another burst of clamor erupted from the east, louder than the commotion here.

"Everyone! Go and look! Grand Secretary Huang's residence has posted a notice too!"

At these words, the crowd surged in that direction with a roar.

Before anyone could even reach the street corner, someone came running from the west shouting:

"Grand Secretary Li's residence has posted one as well!"

"Over there! That mansion over there — which official's is it?"

"That's the residence of the Minister of Rites! You ignorant fool!" In barely half a quarter-hour, the news had spread as if it had grown wings.

Sooner or later, one after another, the many mansions along East Chang'an Avenue all put up notices.

Some notices were seasoned in phrasing, earnest in wording, as if prepared well in advance;

but others looked extremely hasty, the ink still wet, almost as if they had been dashed off on the spot only after hearing that others had posted theirs. As for the remaining mansions, though they posted no notice, they dispatched servants to slip out quietly and head to the Chengtian Gate to await their masters; once the New Year's Day Grand Court session ended, the masters were to hurry back and make arrangements.

The two brothers, jostled back and forth by the crowd, found themselves pushed outside the throng once more without realizing it.

Gazing at the red paper and black characters pasted up by every mansion along the street, Qian Changping turned to Qian Changle with deep emotion and said:

"Ha! This New Governance — it really is something."

"When you said earlier that visiting your superior for New Year's greetings required no gifts, I called you naive, ignorant of the ways of the world."

"I only gave in because I couldn't talk you out of it, and so I didn't insist. I never imagined it would actually be true…"

"With this New Governance sweeping in, things are indeed vastly different!"

Qian Changle straightened his hat, which had been knocked askew, laughed heartily, his eyes full of pride:

"New Governance, new governance — of course it must differ from stale customs at every turn, or how could it be called new governance?"

"Come, elder brother. Now that we've got the matter clear, let's head to the yamen."

"After paying our New Year's respects, we must hurry to Guangqu Gate to see today's demonstration at the Academy of Sciences."

"Brother Mengju said he'd save me a good spot — if we're late, it'll be gone!"

The three of them left East Chang'an Avenue, turned right, and were on Chongwen Gate Avenue.

The capital's Tax Office was situated just beside the city gate.

Although this was the New Year's Day holiday, unlike other yamens, it remained open and operational as usual.

People streamed in and out of its entrance — merchants and gentry of every sort, lijia heads and fire chiefs, jostling shoulder to shoulder, a scene of bustling activity.

"Elder brother, sister-in-law, wait here a moment. I'll be out shortly."

Qian Changle adjusted his clothes, then carefully drew a pure white feather from his breast, and with great solemnity fixed it to the brim of his hat.

The new clerks, as a group, had to distinguish themselves from the old clerks in every way.

The salary, lower than that of the old clerks yet higher than that of the old clerks, was one such distinction; this white feather affixed to the hat-brim was another.

As they rotated through duty at the Nine Gates, the capital's residents gradually coined an elegant nickname for these new clerks — the White-Feather Clerks.

He strode into the yamen, passed through the bustling front court, and went straight to the rear hall.

Upon seeing Li Shiqi, he performed the formal greeting with the utmost respect, offered his New Year's felicitations, and then, sure enough, recounted what he had just witnessed on the street. "That is what this humble subordinate saw just now."

"By the time this subordinate left, nearly half the officials had posted notices."

"Even some ennobled households that ordinarily delight most in pomp and ceremony had shut their gates and closed their doors."

Li Shiqi sat behind his desk, a writing brush in hand; at these words, he paused.

He stroked his beard, savored the moment, and in the end could not suppress a scornful laugh.

"Today is the Grand Court session; all officials must attend. For many of those mansions, it was likely quick-witted family members who posted on their behalf."

"As for those that did not post, it is not necessarily that they are unwilling to brave these currents, but simply that their family members are timid and dared not take it upon themselves."

"Just watch — if you pass by Chang'an Avenue again at noon, I guarantee every last household will have put up a notice."

At this, Li Shiqi shook his head, the corner of his mouth curling into a sardonic arc:

"This 'purifying the official atmosphere'… hah." Seeing Qian Changle standing right before him, Li Shiqi had no wish to say more of such sordid officialdom; he shifted tone, his voice turning a few degrees more serious:

"Since you are off duty today, spend it well with your family."

"When you return to duty tomorrow, apply yourself earnestly to your work."

"Starting this month, His Majesty will select one outstanding new clerk each month for an audience. I have reviewed your twelfth-month evaluation, and I believe you may well have this opportunity. Work hard, and seize it well! Do not stray or stumble, understood?"

Qian Changle had never imagined that a simple New Year's greeting could bring such unexpected good fortune.

That was the sage sovereign, laden with a dozen classical idioms, as if he had stepped straight out of a storybook!

He had thought that after losing the top spot during the training period, he would never have another chance in this life…

He promptly answered in a loud voice: "Yes! This subordinate obeys! I shall not fail your cultivation, sir!"

Li Shiqi waved him away and buried himself once more in the mountain of dossiers piled high before him.

At this New Year's Day Grand Court session, many New Governance officials were absent.

Chief among them were the officials responsible for maintaining stability in the capital — the Troops and Horses Office, the Patrol and Arrest Battalion, Shuntian Prefecture, all were the same.

Li Shiqi oversaw all tax affairs in the capital and even had a contingent of White-Feather Clerks stationed directly at the Nine Gates to exercise supervisory authority; naturally, he too was among the absent.

In any case, when it came to the present New Governance affairs, the Emperor truly did not care whether you attended such grand assemblies or not.

Being able to do the work, and being willing to do the work, counted for far more than any ceremonial protocol.

Li Shiqi bent over his desk and reviewed two proposals for reforming the tax checkpoints at the city gates, but in the end the clamor outside so frayed his nerves that he could not settle his mind. Thwack.

He tossed his brush onto the desk, rose, paced a few steps about the hall, and could not resist opening the window to let in some air.

In the courtyard, merchants and gentry came and went, paying the various taxes for the twelfth month according to the newly established procedures.

Li Shiqi gazed at the operation he had spent months laboring to set in motion, and at last could hold back no longer; he let slip the sarcasm he had left unspoken moments before: "Everyone sees Yang Jinjiang taking the lead in setting this tone, but no one looks at how much force he has actually put into the New Governance since it began, still less at how much work he has done behind the scenes."

【121】 "Atmosphere, atmosphere — what kind of atmosphere is built merely by making declarations and pasting up notices?"

"If you don't actually do the thing, who's going to know which side you stand on?"

"To think that just posting a few notices will let you slip past the new laws — that's utterly laughable!"

Li Shiqi gave a cold snort, full of contempt for those court officials who stirred at the first rumor.

But mixed in with that was also a certain… resentment and unwillingness at not having been notified in advance himself.

After venting his anger, he simply did not bother sending anyone home to post notices either. He settled himself back down, unhurried as before, and resumed reviewing case files.

He had only just, with great difficulty, forced the Court of Colonial Affairs to bow its head before the holiday.

Over at the Black Barbarian Market of the Interpreters' Institute, they still needed him to urgently dispatch men to inspect the goods and levy the taxes.

Where would he find the time to playact along with this crowd?

And the crux of it was — they were playacting and didn't even invite me!

Qian Changle had been inside for barely the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

When he came back out, he saw that his elder brother and sister-in-law had already struck up a conversation with a middle-aged man dressed in silk.

The man's face was wreathed in smiles, and he was talking with spit flying everywhere.

"New Year blessings, New Year blessings. And this is…" Qian Changle strode forward quickly, unobtrusively placing himself in front of his elder brother, and asked. The middle-aged man saw that the principal had come out and hurriedly returned the greeting, his gaze pausing for an instant on the white feather in Qian Changle's cap, his smile growing even wider. "I am Wang Jing. I have just come from paying my taxes at the yamen. Seeing you two sitting here at leisure, I took the liberty of making conversation."

"I shall not disturb you further. New Year blessings, and may all your affairs be auspicious. I take my leave."

With that, he did not linger, cupped his hands in salute, turned, and departed.

Wang Jing… such a familiar name.

Qian Changle pondered only a moment before he recalled where he had seen that name!

— On a special list that the yamen had just begun compiling!