Chapter 16: I Have Already Given The Order

  Post house.

  Zhou Jian paced back and forth on the ground, feeling like time was passing slowly, his anxious heart burning with impatience.

  Zhou Wu stood by and watched for half a day before he couldn't help but say, "Young Master, it's already been three days, why don't you go to Zhang Rang's residence to ask around?"

  Zhou Jian paced back and forth for a while, then suddenly stopped and waved his hand: "You go take a look, I won't go."

  Zhou Wu hastily replied and left the post house, rushing straight to Kaiyang Gate.

  Zhou Jian waited for more than an hour in the post house, and then saw Zhou Jian rush in hastily, carrying a package in his hand, with an excited look on his face.

  "How is it? Any news?"

  Zhou Jian hastily asked, somewhat impatiently.

  Zhou Wu's face lit up with joy, and he hastily opened the package, saying: "It's done, young master, take a look."

  Zhou Jian looked at the package, which contained a document, as well as a jade belt and a crown. The document was a certificate of appointment for a successful candidate in the imperial examination, while the green jade belt and the "Progress to Virtue" crown were symbols of status, which only officials who had obtained their positions through merit could wear.

  "At last, it's finally done."

  Zhou Jian let out a long sigh of relief, and his heart finally returned to its normal place.

  Not only did he achieve fame and fortune, but also unexpectedly received an imperial appointment as a "Mao Cai" (a high-ranking official).

  Mao Cai is more valuable than Xiao Lian. According to the Chá Jǔ system, Xiao Lian is usually only recommended by the prefecture or commandery, while Mao Cai is recommended by the province. The Han Dynasty has a total of thirteen provinces, and the number of places available each year is limited.

  Zhou Wu calmed down and asked: "Young master, do you want to change into your attire now?"

  Zhou Jian smiled and threw the package to him, saying: "Wearing a chicken crown on his head makes me feel awkward. What I want is just an identity, as long as there is a document, it's okay not to wear this thing."

  Zhou Wu had no choice but to tie up the package tightly, but he didn't dare to let his guard down, lest it get lost.

  Zhou Jian's face suddenly changed, and he said: "The examination of talents and the handling of documents have to go through several government offices, I'm afraid my second uncle has already received the news. We can't stay here anymore, we need to change places as soon as possible."

  Zhou Wu hastily replied with an "uh-huh" and went to pack his things.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, just as everyone had left, a servant from the Zhou household rushed over.

  Couldn't find Zhou Jian, asked the post officer and only then found out that Zhou Jian and others had just left a short while ago.

  No one knew where Zhou Jian had gone, so he could only return to the mansion and report to his father.

  Xiyuan, in front of a very large mansion.

  At noon, there was a constant flow of people in front of the government office, and the officials and scholars going in and out were about to wear down the threshold.

  In a hall in the front yard of the mansion, more than a dozen young eunuchs had set up desks and were busy receiving scholars and local officials who came to ask for official positions. From time to time, people haggled over prices, busily and joyfully, even more lively than a market.

  On the left wall hung a large poster with the official positions for sale and their prices.

  Zhou Jian stood with Zhou Wu below, carefully examining the vacant official positions for sale and meticulously screening them against the conditions.

  The imperial court also sells official positions with conditions, but it's not possible to buy whatever you want. The conditions are very strict.

  Scholars who have just obtained their degrees can buy official positions such as Yishi Lang, Shu Shao, and Wen Yuan, etc. Although these officials also have certain powers and can make some money, they are all serving others and are not free.

  If you want to accumulate strength, forget it.

  Zhou Jian automatically filtered out these vacant official positions and continued to look down.

  There are also many places where officials can be bought, such as the county governor's governor and long history, the county government's county governor and county guard, etc. If you want to make money, they are all fat posts, but if you want to recruit soldiers and buy horses, it is not worth thinking about.

  It seems that if I want to be a big shot, the only official position that can be bought is the county magistrate.

  There are more than 50 counties with vacancies, mostly in the border areas of Liangzhou, Bingzhou and Youzhou, with a population of only a few thousand households and tens of thousands of people, and some counties have only a few hundred households and a population of only a few thousand.

  In such a poor county, let alone accumulating power, even if you buy it and make money, I estimate that you won't be able to recover the cost of buying an official position.

  "Sir, that one, is the county magistrate of our county, with a population of 120,000 households and 460,000 people. It's the most populous and richest among all the vacant county magistrates, and also the highest priced."

  Zhou Jian had never heard of this county and only knew that it was located in Yanzhou, Chenliu Commandery after taking a glance.

  Zhou Wu said: "The county lieutenant of our county is also vacant, priced at 4 million coins."

  "Commanders, Captains, and Administrators all belong to the Imperial Court's appointment, although the County Magistrate has the power to appoint or dismiss other officials, he does not have the power to remove the County Administrator and County Captain. If you several also have merits in your name, buying this County Captain would be less troublesome, otherwise I want to expand my private army, it is impossible to bypass the County Captain."

  Zhou Wu also whispered: "Now there are many refugees in various places, the young master only needs to buy a manor house, recruit some refugees, select the strong and capable ones to form a team for training. As long as he doesn't use the government's money and grain, it has nothing to do with the county magistrate."

  Zhou Jian nodded, "For now, it can't be helped."

  After carefully reviewing more than 50 vacant county magistrates, I finally chose Jiwu County.

  My county magistrate's salary is 800 dan of grain, which costs 8 million coins. Calculated at the rate of one liang of gold for 10,000 coins, it amounts to 800 liang of gold.

  Local officials belonged to fat positions, with prices much higher than those of imperial officials. A county magistrate cost 8 million coins, more expensive than the three dukes, and had to be auctioned off, with the highest bidder winning the official position.

  Zhou Jian originally was still waiting for the auction preparation, but unexpectedly bought down the county magistrate of Ji Wu.

  The official position that needs to be auctioned is generally in a cycle of one month. The bidding starts after the announcement at the beginning of the month and the final ownership right of the auctioned official position is determined when the announcement is changed at the end of the month, with only seven or eight days left before the announcement is made.

  The county magistrate is the biggest fat deficiency on this list, and he actually got it without bidding.

  Zhou Jian didn't understand but he didn't ask much either.

  Unexpectedly, the eunuch in charge of collecting the 'palace repair fee' had a bit of professional ethics. Before taking the money, he didn't forget to remind him, "Your county is not very peaceful, within the past half year, three county magistrates have died suddenly, do you really want to go?"

  Zhou Jian was stunned, three county magistrates died suddenly within half a year? It turns out that I understand why the county magistrate didn't use competitive bidding. It's because three county magistrates died suddenly within half a year, and safety is not guaranteed. Who else dares to go?

  This is no small matter.

  "May I ask, sir," Zhou Jian hastily asked, "how did the previous county magistrates die? Were they assassinated or did they succumb to illness?"

  The eunuch said: "He was killed by someone."

  Zhou Jian finally breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't die from an infectious disease or something similar, as for being assassinated by a ruthless bandit, he really didn't put it to heart, even if the number one fierce general Lü Bu of the Three Kingdoms came, whether he could kill him was still uncertain.

  "Follow your own orders."

  Zhōu Jiān yī chuí dìng yīn.

  English Translation: Zhou Jian nailed it with one hammer strike.

  The little eunuch didn't say another word and immediately processed the relevant documents for him, with an efficiency that was frightening.

  Originally, the appointment and dismissal of officials had to go through several government offices, including the Department of State Affairs and the Ministry of Works, which all required formal documents. However, Emperor Ling had prepared the documents in advance to improve efficiency, and each office had already affixed its large seal; as long as the content was written properly, it would be considered done.

  As for the seal, go to the county government office with documents to claim it.

  Zhou Jian secretly admired this efficiency, which was much higher than that of a 21st-century government.

  No need to wait for a few more days to handle the paperwork, it's saved a lot of trouble.

  At this time, a man in his thirties squeezed to the front and smiled at the eunuch, saying: "Your Excellency, the lower official Wang Quan wants to appoint himself as the county commander. Here are the official documents, please take a look."

  Zhou Jian's eyes moved slightly as he stopped and turned his body to look at Hanzi.

  He saw that the man was dressed in a simple and unadorned manner, with the appearance of a martial artist, not like a scholar or gentleman. He had a half-understanding of the official seal and wore a dark blue sash, originally he was a minor official with a low rank, no wonder he could run around buying office.

  According to the regulations, only those who meet two conditions can buy official positions.

  One is an official with a rank, and the other is a scholar with a reputation for achievement.

  Zhou Jian had no official position, and could only obtain a meritorious name before he could buy an official post.

  It's not difficult to get an official position, let alone in Anhui Province. Getting a minor official position with a salary of 100 stones is no problem at all. However, the county government's minor officials can only be promoted to county lieutenant or county assistant, but not county magistrate.

  Otherwise, Zhou Jian wouldn't have had to think of a way to curry favor with Zhang Rang and get the title of Mao Cai.

  The eunuch checked Wang Quan's documents and seal, confirmed that the conditions were met, and immediately processed his documents and seal. He asked, "Do you pay the money now or after taking office?"

  Wang Quanbao smiled and said: "The lower officials only have 20 million, and the remaining money will be handed over after taking office."

  The little eunuch smiled wryly and said, "That's okay, but you're still short of 2 million yuan. If you pay after taking office, if you can clear it within a year, I'll take 2.2 million yuan from you. If you clear it within two years, I'll take 3 million yuan. Will you clear it in one year or two?"

  Wang Quan gritted his teeth and said: "Pay it all off in a year."

  The little eunuch did not ask much and immediately nodded in agreement, handling the paperwork for him.

  In the end, he also wrote another IOU and had Wang Quan press his handprint on it, making two copies.

  Wang Quan was worried about the remaining 2.2 million, but this time he came to Luoyang and successfully bought the county magistrate position he had been longing for, and he couldn't help but feel overjoyed, holding the official documents and seal, his dark face twisted into a ball with laughter.

  Zhou Jian gave Zhou Wu a look, and the two of them immediately followed him out.

  I just bought the county magistrate of Ji Wu, and then I ran into someone who bought the county lieutenant of Ji Wu. This is really...

  Wang Quan rushed out of Xiyuan and hurried straight to the post station, preparing to take his luggage and hurry back to Chenliu.

  Just felt dizzy, and was suddenly slapped on the shoulder by someone, then heard a clear voice ringing in my ear.

  "Congratulations, Your Excellency!"

  Wang Quan was startled and quickly turned around, only then did he see clearly that it was two young men, one main and one secondary.

  "What's under your feet?"

  Wang Quan sized up Zhou Jian a few times, having seen him earlier at Shangguan Garden, and must have also bought an official position, but didn't know what position he had bought.

  Zhou Jian took out the document and shook it open, "Have you seen it clearly?"

  Wang Quan hastily glanced around and was suddenly startled. It turned out to be his superior, so he quickly paid his respects, "Your subordinate has seen you, sir."

  Zhou Jian put away the documents and handed them to Zhou Wu, saying with a sarcastic smile: "The county lieutenant's salary is 400 dan of grain, which is equivalent to less than 3,000 yuan per month. In one year, he still has to repay 2.2 million yuan in debt. I wonder where the money comes from?"

  "This..."

  Wang Quan suddenly broke out in a cold sweat and hesitated for half a day, unsure of how to respond.

  Everyone knows that when you buy an official position, you naturally want to make a profit, including both the principal and interest.

  But when asked directly by a superior officer without any concealment, it's hard to answer. Can't say want to embezzle the treasury, can we?

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  Collecting protagonist's name, those who are good at naming, please post in the review area ~