"This subordinate official is willing to serve as a county magistrate."
When Sun Qian was asked, he gave quite a direct response.
This surprised Ouyang Ke somewhat.
Originally, he thought this Master Sun Qian would remain in the capital for an appointment. After all, this person's goal was the Triple Crown.
Although the middle yuan had been broken, passing the zhuangyuan exam was still his ultimate objective.
Yet he wanted to start as a local official.
Could it be that he also sought wealth and honor?
No, what need did he have for wealth and honor?
He was born into wealth and honor.
Facing this response, Yu Xiu asked, "Might you have a preferred place for your appointment?"
Those after the sub-yuan positions would fill vacancies, but as the first sub-yuan, there was no problem with him directly becoming an eighth-rank county magistrate, even without Minister Sun's arrangements.
"Wherever the court needs me, this subordinate official can go anywhere," Sun Qian said with the same modesty as his name suggested.
Of course, this kind of 'modesty' would only be shown to superiors.
Flipping through the registry, Yu Xiu inquired to Ouyang Ke, "Minister, in Qiuping Commandery of Si Prefecture, Zhang County still has one county magistrate vacancy, currently being handled by a ninth-rank chief clerk acting as deputy."
"What is this chief clerk's administrative capability?" Ouyang Ke asked.
"Mediocre, nothing particularly outstanding."
Hearing this, Ouyang Ke gently stroked his beard with his hand and fell into contemplation. "Then, let's evaluate that chief clerk further."
This was politics.
With a single sentence from those in power, an old chief clerk who might have waited a dozen years for this position, finally had a vacancy and became acting county magistrate—one who only needed to pass the evaluation period to advance from ninth rank to regular eighth rank—was casually brushed aside with the two words 'mediocre.'
Was he truly mediocre?
What kind of administrative achievements could an acting county magistrate who wasn't even the chief administrative officer produce?
This was a double standard.
Some people's promotions required outstanding major achievements.
While other people's promotions only required not causing major chaos while in office.
"If it's the county magistrate of Zhang County, do you have any objections?" Yu Xiu asked. "That is, are there any difficulties regarding your personal circumstances?"
In ancient times, becoming an official wasn't simply the court placing you wherever they wished.
There were still many issues to consider.
Generally, they wouldn't appoint you to your hometown.
After all, clan power was already formidable—placing you at your spawn point would make you a local tyrant.
But they also wouldn't send you extremely far from home, as that would be too inhumane.
With ancient transportation being inconvenient, returning home once was quite troublesome. If family members fell seriously ill and you were too far away—say, several prefectures distant—by the time you returned, they'd already be decomposing.
"This subordinate has no objections," Sun Qian said.
Nodding, Ouyang Ke said, "Then record it as such: Sun Qian, County Magistrate of Zhang County."
After writing it down as required, Yu Xiu said, "Then Sun Qian, you may withdraw."
"Minister, Eunuch Chen, Secretary, this subordinate official takes his leave."
Slowly, Sun Qian departed.
"Minister Sun's young master still needs proper tempering and testing," Eunuch Chen said with a smile.
"The eunuch speaks truly."
Ouyang Ke smiled and nodded, then picked up the registry. After flipping through it, he said, "Oh, just noticed—the county magistrate of Zhang County is retiring in half a year. If Master Sun Qian proves capable and efficient, he truly is worth cultivating well."
It wasn't "just noticed."
With the county magistrate position being filled by an acting deputy and the county magistrate about to retire, this position had been carefully selected as having the most development potential.
As long as nothing happened during the term—like bandits massacring a village, or rioters tearing down the county prison gates and scattering prisoners like stars across the sky—it would be the fastest promotion from regular eighth rank to regular seventh rank.
Such positions existed in every appointment cycle.
Naturally, they were reserved for those with the strongest backgrounds.
This was quite reasonable, not even counting as an exchange of power and resources.
After all, these positions had to be given out anyway, so naturally they would select the 'best' for appointment.
The other sub-yuan candidates were handled similarly—not entirely according to examination scores and ability, but according to family background, gradually distributed completely.
Among them, Fan Wuji (third place) went to the military, regular eighth rank.
Gao Yunyi (fourth place) went to a county as county magistrate, eighth rank from the bottom.
Of the rest, two became regular ninth-rank scholars. The remainder were all placed in regular ninth-rank positions as substitutes, with no official posts to fill.
Of course, within a year, they would basically all be able to substitute into positions.
For now they'd just receive basic salaries at home while waiting for vacancies.
This also allowed them to prepare for next year's jinshi examination.
Many people were quite willing to do this.
As for the remaining common juren, their positions had been arranged a few days ago. Most were scattered out as clerks, while a few with hard family backgrounds who were legitimate sons—like Song Ce—could still mix in a ninth-rank or from-ninth-rank position without real power.
So you see, if you can score higher on the exam, try to score as many points as possible.
It really makes a difference.
After finishing today's appointments and removals, Eunuch Chen's supervisory work was also complete.
"Then Eunuch Chen, by tomorrow afternoon at the latest, the Secretariat's appointment memorial will be submitted to the palace," Ouyang Ke said.
"Please do hurry," Eunuch Chen said.
"Is it urgent?" Ouyang Ke asked.
At this moment, Eunuch Chen smiled and reminded him, "The day after tomorrow morning, the troops heading to Shuofeng will depart."
"...Right, right, right."
Only then did Ouyang Ke react, laughing awkwardly.
Although the Secretariat's recommendation was to send Song Shi'an to some county in Yi Prefecture, he himself had expressed a different wish. If the Emperor agreed, he would follow the army to Shuofeng. With such urgent times, there naturally wouldn't be energy to escort him to the battlefield separately.
"Then this old servant will take his leave."
"Eunuch, go carefully."
Just like that, seeing Eunuch Chen off into the distance.
Ouyang Ke's smiling expression gradually became relaxed and peaceful, and he sighed, "If Song Shi'an returns alive, he will be unstoppable in the officialdom."
"Teacher, can he return alive?"
Yu Xiu inquired curiously.
Ouyang Ke looked at him and asked, "What do you think?"
After thinking briefly, Yu Xiu shook his head. "No, ten deaths and no life."
………
"'The bright moon rises from Tianshan, vast amid the sea of clouds. The long wind travels ten thousand li, blowing through Tongmen Pass.'"
After reciting again the original work Song Shi'an had composed during his appointment ceremony, the Emperor gave an approving evaluation. "When Zhen went there in earlier years, Northern Liang was truly just as he imagined in his mind."
"With such talent, he can indeed be a military poet."
After the Emperor's casual, laughing sigh, he said to Chen Bao, "Since it's like this, then let him go."
Military farming had already been put up for discussion through that essay.
As for who would do the military farming, anyone would do, as long as they had ability.
The reason Song Shi'an was needed was only because as the author of "Strategy for Military Farming," he possessed some special 'legitimacy.'
"Your Majesty, this slave observes that Song Shi'an should have understood Your Majesty's grace," Chen Bao said quietly.
"Of course he understands. He just thinks the promotion is too slow."
The Emperor had long since seen through everything and said quite calmly, "If he wants to seek death, that's fine too. Zhen doesn't feel sorry for him. Zhen doesn't even feel sorry for Zhen's own sons..."
Before the words fell, the Emperor's eyes slightly dimmed.
For some reason, suddenly, images from that dream flashed through his mind.