The Emperor’s Staircase?
Intrigued, Fan Li mentally questioned the system, but it offered no explanation. He decided to be patient. The answer would reveal itself upon completing the quest.
“A boil must be lanced.”
Fan Li’s gaze swept over the representatives of the five families. He had decided to take the initiative.
“Honored officials,” he addressed them.
“Your servant is present.”
Their voices were more unified than before, thanks to Wang Ban's earlier display of power. But it wasn’t enough.
“Chancellor Wang has single-handedly expanded our kingdom’s territory and resources. However, the affairs of state are numerous, and I cannot burden him with every task. I rely on you, my esteemed officials, to responsibility.”
They all adopted attentive postures, but Fan Li, observing their expressions, saw genuine interest only in Hu Zongxian, Yu Shenzi, Jing Wudi, and Huang Longshi. The representatives of the five families wore calculating expressions, their minds clearly preoccupied with personal gain.
What does the Emperor mean? they wondered. Is there a hidden message in his vague pronouncements?
As they pondered, Huang Longshi stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I have a matter to discuss.”
“Proceed, Minister of Agriculture.”
He had finally found a suitable position for Huang Longshi: Minister of Agriculture, one of the Nine Ministers, responsible for tax revenue, military expenditure, waterway transport, currency management, and more.
Essentially, the equivalent of a modern-day finance minister.
A skilled Go player possessed unparalleled calculation abilities, meticulous attention to detail, perfect for overseeing the kingdom's finances. Great Jin had yet to implement formal taxation, but the revenue generated by Wang Ban's cultivated lands and mines fell under Huang Longshi’s purview.
“Your Majesty, I have diligently attended to the duties of the Ministry of Agriculture. This position, established in the former Qin, Han, and Chu dynasties, traditionally oversees a vast network of officials: the Commandant of Grain, the Prefect of the Grand Granary, the Assistant Prefect of the Grand Granary, the Director of Equitable Transport, the Assistant Director of Equitable Transport, the Prefect of Flood Control, the Assistant Prefect of Flood Control, the Prefect of Palace Provisions…”
He recited a lengthy list of official titles before concluding, “The affairs of state are increasingly complex. I request Your Majesty appoint competent officials to fill these positions and strengthen the Ministry of Agriculture.”
Fan Li was pleased. Despite his recent appointment, Huang Longshi had quickly mastered the intricacies of his position, demonstrating both competence and dedication. He was indeed the perfect choice for Minister of Agriculture.
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The five families, however, saw it differently.
He should have simply presented a list of candidates from our families for the Emperor to approve. Even if Great Jin lacked qualified personnel previously, we are here now.
A little private negotiation, and these positions would be ours, with ample benefits for Minister Huang.
Accustomed to the Han Dynasty's system of recommendation and filial piety, where officials were appointed based on reputation and family connections rather than meritocratic examinations, they saw Huang Longshi’s actions as a missed opportunity.
Furthermore, the five families, with their long histories and prestigious academies, believed they possessed ample talent to fill these positions competently.
They saw the Great Jin court as childishly inexperienced in the art of governance. Great Jin lacks qualified officials. The Emperor must rely on us. But to have our talented sons and daughters serve under the likes of Huang Longshi… it is beneath us.
Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang's humble cottage three times before securing his services. The Emperor should offer us similar respect and preferential treatment.
The shock of Wang Ban's earlier report had faded, replaced by their usual arrogance. They looked expectantly at Fan Li, awaiting his response.
If he refused Huang Longshi’s request, the Ministry of Agriculture would remain understaffed, leaving the minister powerless. If he sought competent officials, given Great Jin's limited population, he would have to turn to them.
“Minister Huang’s request is indeed a pressing matter. Our kingdom’s population is nearly three hundred thousand. We cannot allow our government to remain understaffed. The affairs of state must be attended to diligently.”
As he spoke, he observed the five families. Young and old alike wore expectant expressions, their arrogance palpable.
Ah, he thought, now I understand the purpose of a ‘warning blow.’ Its existence is not without reason.
“Rest assured, Minister Huang. I have already sent a message to Lu City, instructing Lu Chunqui to send 20 individuals skilled in accounting and logistics to Jin City as soon as possible. I entrust their appointment and management entirely to you.”
Huang Longshi, already familiar with Fan Li’s methods and resources, showed no surprise. He bowed, accepting the decree, and returned to his position.
The five families were stunned.
Was the Emperor referring to the renowned scholar Lu Chunqui, the hereditary Marquis Wenxin, a giant amongst Confucian scholars?
The majority of the representatives present were, in a sense, his disciples and descendants. Only two or three had ever met him in person. It slowly dawned on the representatives of the Nanyang Zhang Clan, the Zhuo Commandery Lu Clan, the Fufeng Dou Clan, the Nanyang Yin Clan, and the Shanggu Kou Clan that the twenty positions within the Ministry of Agriculture were no longer within their grasp.
“Aside from the Chancellor and the Minister of Agriculture, do any of my other esteemed officials have matters to discuss?”
Yu Shenzi immediately stepped forward. “Your servant, Yu Shenzi, Director of the Imperial Hospital, has a matter to report.”
The five families, hearing it was the Imperial Hospital, lost interest. Their respective family histories boasted officials of far higher rank. The Imperial Hospital, its lowest rank a mere ninth-grade official, its highest, the Director, a fifth-grade position, held little appeal for them.
But they would soon regret their dismissiveness.
“Your Majesty, I have recently compiled the Azure Cloud Sect’s extensive collection of medicinal texts and alchemical formulas into a single volume: the Great Jin Pharmacopoeia.
It contains 36 Heaven-grade formulas, 72 Earth-grade formulas, and countless others of lesser rank.
In preparation for Your Majesty’s future unification of the realm, I propose we begin stockpiling medicinal pills for wartime use. However, with only six hundred personnel, the Imperial Hospital’s production capacity is limited.
I request permission to recruit three hundred new apprentices, at least at the Qi Condensation realm, whom I shall personally train in both medical arts and alchemy.
Within five years, I guarantee their cultivation will reach the Golden Core realm, even if we have to force-feed them pills. Within ten, they will become Nascent Soul cultivators skilled in the medical arts.”
The five families were dumbfounded. The Great Jin Pharmacopoeia?
Over 30 Heaven-grade formulas? 300 Qi Condensation apprentices reaching Nascent Soul within ten years?
Was this even possible?
Had the Golden Luan Palace become a stage for outlandish boasts?
The clan elders, skeptical, glanced at Yu Shenzi. A nondescript old man, leaning on a simple, branch-like staff… wait, was that staff a Heaven-grade spirit treasure?