Chapter 48: His Majesty Needs a Moment

The three words Yang Jingchen spoke struck Zhu Youjian, who had been all smiles, like a thunderbolt.

Lu Xiangsheng?

The founder of the Tianxiong Army, the man who led from the front and could wield a hundred-jin great blade — that Lu Xiangsheng?!

He is actually the Prefect of Daming Prefecture right now?

Of course — the Tianxiong Army was originally a Tang-dynasty military governorship in Hebei; where else could it be but Daming Prefecture!

The expression on Zhu Youjian's face nearly slipped out of his control.

Stay calm!

I must stay calm!

I am the Emperor, the Son of Heaven! When Mount Tai collapses before me, my countenance does not change; when a deer bolts beside me, my eyes do not blink!

It is merely one Lu Xiangsheng...

Merely my ass!

What the hell is the difference between this and Liu Bei just setting out his straw-sandal stall when Zhao Zilong walks up asking the price!

Starting as the Emperor is truly excellent — all the realm's talents are already in my pocket!

Zhu Youjian felt as if he had just chugged an entire ice-cold bottle of orange soda in the dog days of summer.

That surge of pure exhilaration rushed from the crown of his head all the way down to his heels, every pore on his body cheering, every one leaping with joy!

He strained to maintain the gentle smile on his face.

"For my minister to hold him in such esteem, this man must surely possess extraordinary qualities."

With a slight wave of his hand, Gao Shiming, who stood in attendance nearby, immediately understood. He turned and walked to the official-rank screen.

In short order, Lu Xiangsheng's personnel dossier was respectfully presented before Zhu Youjian.

As Zhu Youjian took the thin booklet, he could even feel his own fingers trembling faintly.

Lu Xiangsheng, courtesy name Jiandou, a native of Yixing County, Changzhou Prefecture, South Zhili...

Born in the twenty-eighth year of Wanli...

Zhu Youjian's heart skipped a beat.

The twenty-eighth year of Wanli — that means he is only twenty-seven this year!

A twenty-seven-year-old Lu Xiangsheng!

Lord Lu, if we strive together in this life, perhaps we may both live to hear the roar of a steam engine!

He forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and read on.

Second year of Tianqi, renxu examination cycle, passed the metropolitan and palace examinations in successive attempts.

At the sight of the two characters "successive attempts," the corner of Zhu Youjian's mouth rose involuntarily.

"Successive attempts" means passing the provincial and metropolitan examinations within the same examination cycle.

In the age of imperial examinations, such a person was an unadulterated genius.

Far more formidable than those who spent years poring over the classics until their hair turned white, only to pass by sheer luck.

After passing the examinations: probationary service in the Ministry of Revenue, then appointed Bureau Secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, overseeing the affairs of Linqing Granary.

In three years at his post, he cleared out entrenched abuses, strictly enforced laws and discipline, accumulated a surplus of several thousand, and recovered arrears of over thirty-one thousand. His three annual evaluations by the Ministry of Personnel were all rated superior-superior.

For his achievements, appointed Prefect of Daming Prefecture, with the concurrent title of Vice Surveillance Commissioner of Shandong, while still managing his former duties.

Reading this far, a flicker of curiosity passed through Zhu Youjian's eyes.

Linqing Granary — it sounds like nothing more than a storehouse. How much could one accomplish there, to warrant being specially recorded in a personnel dossier?

He raised his head and looked toward Yang Jingchen.

"This Linqing Granary — where is it located?"

Yang Jingchen's spirits lifted. He knew that when the Emperor asked a question, it meant his recommendation was already halfway to success!

He strode quickly to the Great Ming Unified Map hanging in the hall and pointed to a spot on the map.

"To inform Your Majesty, Linqing Granary is situated within the Eastern Depot Prefecture, Shandong, commanding the strategic throat of our Great Ming's canal transport."

Zhu Youjian followed his finger and looked. The location lay precisely on the middle stretch of the Grand Canal, a critical junction for north-south communication.

Yang Jingchen's voice rose at the opportune moment.

"Your Majesty may not be aware, but this Linqing Granary had in fact been plagued by entrenched abuses for many years."

"Its responsibilities were threefold: first, to store grain in readiness for famine relief; second, to stabilize canal transport by scheduling the grain barges traveling north and south; third, to levy grain, collecting tax-in-kind from Shandong and Henan to fill the granaries."

"This single post involved canal transport, granary administration, civilian haulage, and local authorities."

"Among them — officials, guard troops, canal laborers, civilian porters — interests intertwined in a tangled mess, rife with corruption!"

"To say nothing of achieving results — merely to serve out a full three-year term quietly without incident already marked a man as a capable official!"

"Lu Xiangsheng, a newly minted jinshi, spent three years there. Not only did he sweep away years of accumulated abuses, he even recovered over thirty-one thousand taels of deficits for the state treasury, and all three annual evaluations were rated superior-superior!"

The more Yang Jingchen spoke, the more impassioned he became, his voice growing louder and more fervent.

"This subject believes that Lu Xiangsheng is like a treasured sword with its edge concealed. Now, after three years of honing, its sharpness is peerless!"

"And now, this sword is fit for Your Majesty to grasp. A trifling matter of horse fodder is nothing more than using a butcher's blade to kill a chicken."

With a snap, Zhu Youjian closed the personnel dossier in his hands.

He drew a deep breath, and within his chest, a surge of heroic spirit welled up unbidden.

Well said!

This flattery — this was the highest-caliber flattery he had ever witnessed since crossing over!

No wonder emperors since ancient times have loved treacherous ministers. The ancients did not deceive me.

He forcibly calmed his surging emotions, put on an expression of approval, and looked at Yang Jingchen.

"My minister has an eye for talent, and this brings Us great comfort. Yet how should We appoint this man to ensure it is done properly?"

Yang Jingchen had been waiting for exactly those words!

Ever since the last court session, he had poured every ounce of his energy into this one matter.

These past three days, he had barely slept or rested, visiting offices everywhere and poring over dossiers.

After meeting countless people and exhausting endless words, he had finally unearthed the name Lu Xiangsheng from a heap of old papers.

Now, hearing the Emperor's inquiry, the answer nearly burst from his lips.

"To inform Your Majesty! Lu Xiangsheng currently serves as Prefect of Daming Prefecture and Vice Commissioner of the Shandong Surveillance Commission — both are principal fourth rank."

"This subject believes he can be laterally transferred to the post of Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, to serve as Regional Inspector of Ji and Yong, with sole charge of the horse-fodder matter."

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall was stunned!

Even Chief Grand Secretary Huang Liji, who had been sitting as steady as a fisherman on his rock, could not help but raise his eyes and cast a startled glance at Yang Jingchen.

A prefect or a surveillance commission officer is merely a local official — what is called an 'impure post.'

A censor of the Censorate, by contrast, is the eyes and ears of the Son of Heaven, empowered to report on hearsay — the purest and most prestigious of remonstrance officials.

Though the two carry the same rank, their status is as far apart as clouds from mud.

A lateral transfer from prefect to Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief — in officialdom, this is practically a single bound to the heavens!

Yang Jingchen's recommendation, for all its apparent reason and evidence, was in truth a shocking, rocket-like promotion!

Yet at this moment, Zhu Youjian was utterly oblivious to that fact.

His mind was now filled entirely with Lu Xiangsheng — how could he spare a thought for distinctions between pure and impure posts, or for bureaucratic convention?

"My minister's proposal is excellent!"

Zhu Youjian made his decision on the spot, his voice carrying a note of unquestionable finality.

"The arrangements are most appropriate."

"However, since Lu Xiangsheng is in Daming Prefecture, the journey is not far. We may first send an edict summoning him to the capital."

"Once the horse-fodder matter has been discussed and a course of action settled, it will not be too late for him to leave the capital and carry it out."

Ecstasy surged in Yang Jingchen's heart, but his face remained deferential as he bowed deeply from the waist.

"Your Majesty's thorough consideration is truly a blessing for the altars of state."

Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction and glanced at the data on the screen, now fully collated.

"This matter is hereby settled. Let us return to the question of the old pay for the Nine Border Garrisons."

"Chief Grand Secretary, you shall lead the discussion."

The aged, steady voice of Chief Grand Secretary Huang Liji began to resonate slowly through the hall.

But Yang Jingchen did not absorb a single word of it.

He sat down in his seat, aware only of a buzzing in his ears.

It was done!

It had actually been done!

Ever since that court session when he had witnessed this new sovereign's swift and decisive methods with his own eyes, his mind had been stirring.

Yet the stain of the eunuch faction upon him had made him hesitate, unable to make up his mind.

It was not until that imperially bestowed plaque bearing 'Our Own Wei Zheng' had passed in grand procession along East Chang'an Avenue that his heart could no longer stay calm.

Yes, this was merely bestowing grace to recall old ties — what literate man could fail to see through such imperial statecraft?

But…

What of it?

What of it!

He was only forty-seven this year — why could he not strive for a name that would shine in the annals of history!

Without drawing attention, Yang Jingchen shifted his gaze toward Li Guopu, seated opposite him.

In his eyes, it seemed, a fierce blaze was burning.

If the sovereign is already hailed as a worthy ruler…

Then I, Yang Jingchen — am I any less worthy!