Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 19 Linzi Room

The Jizhong Book, which was once longed for but could not be obtained, is now wrapped in a brocade cloth and lying quietly on the bookshelf of the Dingzi Library of the Secretariat.

Lu Shang glanced vaguely at the bookshelf, then turned to his subordinates and said, "Everyone, opportunities like this don't always come to you. If you don't break out of this opportunity, don't blame me for being incompetent and for letting you down."

At this time, although Lü Shang was a seventh-rank secretary, everyone knew that seventh rank was only his starting point, and no one expected Lü Shang to stop there. If Lü Shang were not so young, he could have been directly sent out to become a prefecture governor.

Even his uncle, Lü Daogui, who had no sense of propriety and behaved in a disrespectful manner before the emperor, was made the governor of Jinan. Even if a young relative of the emperor's family was not favored by Yang Jian, he would not be left idle by the royal family. His rank of seventh-rank secretary was indeed noble, but it was only a temporary one.

All the officials knew that if they could gain Lu Shang's favor, or even make him their confidant, and have Lu Shang's support, it would not be an overnight success, but it would still be a big step forward in their official career.

"Why? No one wants to burst the sac?"

Seeing the officials still hesitating, Lu Shang couldn't help but sound disappointed. He had hoped to find a talented individual among them. If he truly possessed talent, he would be able to shirk all official duties and ease the burden on his subordinates.

In this way, his subordinates saw opportunities for promotion, and he also had spare time to study in the Secretariat. It was the best of both worlds and a win-win situation.

"There are 28,900 volumes of poetry and prose, 3,712 volumes of illustrations and praises, and 6,724 volumes of Jizhongshu."

Finally, seeing that his colleagues were speechless, the official Fang Zi'an had to speak up.

"it is good,"

Seeing that someone finally dared to reply, Lu Shang laughed, pointed at Fang Zi'an, and said frankly: "You are good, you dare to be the first. Just for this reason, I like you a little."

"However, simply knowing the number of volumes in the library doesn't prove your ability. So, let me test you again. If you truly possess talent and catch my eye, I can guarantee you not only wealth and glory, but a promotion of one or two ranks is certainly within my reach."

Fang Zian said solemnly, "Please give me your instructions, sir."

Lu Shang looked Fang Zi'an up and down and asked softly, "Is your last name Fang?"

Fang Zi'an said, "The Fang family of Linzi, Qizhou, is named Zi'an, and his courtesy name is Xiaoming."

"Fang Xiaoming,"

After Lu Shang nodded, he remembered that Fang Zi'an said he was from the Fang family of Linzi, Qizhou. Fang Xuanling, who was known as Fang's counselors and Du's decisions in the New and Old Book of Tang, also seemed to be from Linzi, Qizhou.

Lü Shang asked, "I've heard that during the Northern Wei Dynasty, there was a chief clerk in Qizhou named Fang Xiong. He was a well-known official and a man of great filial piety and loyalty. He was a man of boldness, valor, filial piety, and courage. What is your relationship with Fang Xiong?"

Fang Zian lowered his head and said, "It's my brother from the clan."

Lu Shang looked at Fang Zi'an with a slightly strange look. Fang Xiong was Fang Xuanling's grandfather. So it seemed that Fang Zi'an was actually two generations older than Fang Xuanling.

This was the situation during the chaotic times of the North and the South. Perhaps if you carefully examine the family tree of an insignificant official, you would be able to find several clan members whose names have been recorded in history.

“So it’s a family tradition!”

"I won't make it difficult for you. You said that the Jizhong Book has 6,724 volumes. You should know what the Jizhong Book is and even more so, its origin. I'd like to ask about the records of three dynasties in the Jizhong Book. Could you tell me how many volumes there are for the Xia Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty, and the Zhou Dynasty?
To this question, Fang Zi'an answered without hesitation: "Xia has 54 volumes, Shang has 380 volumes, and Zhou has 6,290 volumes."

It is obvious that this official had already made up his mind and was familiar with all the categories of books in the Ding Library.

Lü Shang then asked, "Then why did the Xia dynasty only have 54 volumes, the Shang dynasty 380 volumes, and the Zhou dynasty 6,290 volumes?"

Fang Zi'an replied, "Although the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties are collectively known as the Three Dynasties, the Xia and Shang dynasties were long-ago and often associated with supernatural phenomena. Only the Zhou dynasty, with its 800-year history, had an orderly lineage and verifiable documentation. Therefore, the events of the Xia and Shang dynasties recorded in the Jizhong Book are mostly conjecture. The Zhou chronicles are the ones that truly stand up to scrutiny."

Lü Shang smiled and said, "You said that the Xia and Shang dynasties had supernatural powers, but does that mean that the Zhou dynasty didn't have any ghosts or gods?"

"Zong Zhou naturally also had it, but unlike the Xia, which worshipped the Mandate of Heaven and believed that Heaven was the supreme deity, and the Shang, which worshipped ghosts and gods and believed that ghosts and gods controlled everything, Zong Zhou, while acknowledging the existence of the Mandate of Heaven and the gods, believed that the Mandate of Heaven was a conscious, moral, and law-based existence."

Fang Zi'an explained, "This weakened the interference and influence of ghosts and gods in human affairs. The Zhou people relied on and feared ghosts and gods much less than the Xia and Shang people did, which is why there were such strange stories as King Zhao's southern expedition and Emperor Mu's western journey."

King Zhao was the father of Emperor Mu. Legend has it that when he was on a southern tour, he arrived in the southern Jingchu area. After crossing the Han River, he encountered some strange things and eventually died on the way to the south. He was also a legendary emperor.

Although it is said that the emperor is protected by hundreds of spirits and ordinary monsters cannot harm him, if he really encounters a big monster, the emperor's hundreds of spirits will be useless.

Just like the Lion Camel Kingdom, the Lion Camel Kingdom claimed to be the Celestial Empire in Xiniu Hezhou, although it was not called the Celestial Empire like China. However, the Lion Camel Kingdom was powerful and often forced neighboring states such as Zhuzi and Bhikkhu to pay tribute, and regarded itself as a superior country.

However, after the golden-winged Roc set its sights on the Lion Country, no matter how powerful the country became, its people would still be devoured alive by this Buddhist uncle.

From this we can see that although the emperor of the world of Jambu is extraordinary, he cannot really be protected from the harm of magical powers.

Lü Shang finally asked the question he wanted to ask most: "Can you tell me how many volumes of the Jizhong Book are there in the section about King Zhao's southern expedition and Emperor Mu's western journey?"

Fang Zian replied, "There are 121 volumes, including 31 volumes of the Southern Expedition and 90 volumes of the Western Journey."

Lu Shang's expression changed, and he pressed on, "I asked you to find these Ji Tomb books right now. Can you do it?"

Fang Zian said decisively: "Yes,"

"Then find them for me. I want to see them now."

After Lu Shang finished speaking, he turned to face the portrait of Emperor Wenchang and no longer looked at the officials.

"promise,"

After Fang Zi'an bowed, he no longer hesitated and walked quickly into the shelves, walked back and forth, and skillfully picked out scrolls of bamboo slips.

Fang Zian was indeed a capable man. He had worked as a proofreader in the Secretariat for many years, and was exposed to various book collections every day. He had to clean, check, organize and put them back in place from time to time. Unconsciously, he memorized the catalog of these books in his mind, and it became like a living catalog.

So when Lu Shang, the new secretary, intended to test his subordinates, he was unwilling to be lost in the crowd, so he threw away the way of self-preservation that he had always regarded as the truth, and finally became the first to step forward.

After all, Fang Zi'an was already forty-five, and he didn't want to die still a ninth-rank official. While officials in the Secretariat looked respectable, only he knew the true meaning of their lives. He didn't let Lü Shang wait any longer. Within the space of an incense stick, Fang Zi'an presented Lü Shang with the 121 volumes of the Jizhong Book, which contained records of King Zhao's southern expeditions and Emperor Mu's western journeys.

Looking at the treasure he had been longing for, Lu Shang lowered his eyelids slightly and nodded to Fang Zi'an, saying, "It seems that you do have some talent. Being just a regular official is a waste of your talent."

Fang Zian said modestly, "Your Excellency is too kind."

Lu Shang's eyes flickered as he scanned the group of officials. A smile played on his lips as he said, "Whether or not this is a compliment, you know best. So, I'll give you two choices. One is for me to transfer you out of the Secretariat and assign you to a position outside the capital. It won't be difficult to become an eighth-rank county lieutenant or county magistrate."

"The other is that you, as a clerk, will serve by my side. I will be your secretary, and you will be my assistant, responsible for helping me identify and address any shortcomings. When I leave office, you will leave with me. From now on, we will never let each other down."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zi'an said without hesitation, "I choose to follow you, sir, to be your assistant and to serve you at my utmost."

Given the chance to be appreciated by Lü Shang, how could Fang Zi'an be so ungrateful as to take on the position of county magistrate or county lieutenant? A little bit of information slipped through the fingers of Lü Shang, the prince of Qi, would be enough for Fang Zi'an to appear prominent in public.

Lü Shang smiled and said, "I've discovered another good thing about you: you know when to act!"

After a brief pause, Lu Shang instructed the other officials, "From now on, while I'm in office, you can all come to Fangzi An for any matters concerning the Dingzi Treasury, big or small. I'll have him handle Dingzi Treasury affairs on my behalf. If there's anything Fangzi An can't handle, have him come back to me."

"promise,"

The officials looked at each other and finally had no choice but to obey the order.

They had all heard of the reputation of Lu Shang, the prince of Qi. Although Lu Shang was not as cruel and brutal as most of the children of the powerful and wealthy, who regarded human life as worthless, he had done many absurd things. With such a reputation, these officials certainly did not dare to go against Lu Shang's wishes.

A relative of the emperor like Lu Shang can make ten mistakes, but as a member of a poor family, a single mistake could lead to eternal damnation.

After letting all the officials return to their posts in front of the portrait of Emperor Wenchang, Lu Shang ordered the guards to move a table with a raised top from the official office to the library to serve as his desk when studying in the library.

After burning incense and washing his hands, Lü Shang slowly opened the brocade bundle, took out the bamboo slips, and spread them out bit by bit. He did not start with the "Chronicle of Emperor Mu" that he had sought but failed to obtain in his previous life, but instead began with the "Chronicle of King Zhao of Zhou".

Lu Shang stared blankly at the seal characters on the 31 volumes of the Jizhong Book, which recorded the events of King Zhao of Zhou's southern expedition.

------

Duke of Qi's Mansion,

In the main hall, Lu Yongji looked at the clerk from the Secretariat in surprise and said, "You just said that Shang'er wanted you to come to the mansion to report that she would be staying in the Secretariat's office for a while and would not be returning home for the time being?"

The clerk replied, "Yes, Lord Lu sent me to the palace to deliver a letter saying that the Secretariat is very busy with its duties. Lord Lu is new to the position and dares not ignore the emperor's grace. He will have to eat and live in the Secretariat for a period of time."

The actual situation is certainly not about not forgetting the emperor's favor. This is just a face-saving excuse. The truth is that Lu Shang was fascinated by reading the chronicles of King Zhao of Zhou and was unwilling to put down the bamboo slips in his hand, so he came up with such a ridiculous excuse.

Although Lu Shang was a royal relative, he was not allowed to take the books in the library out of the Secretariat. After all, most of the books in the library were unique copies, and no one except the emperor himself could take the books in the library out of the Secretariat. This was a prohibition.

However, Lu Shang was so engrossed in reading the Chronicle of King Zhao that when he was about to leave the office, he suddenly had an idea and assigned a minor official to go to the Duke of Qi's mansion to report the news.

"..."

Lu Yongji grinned at this statement. If Lu Shang was still by his side, he would like to ask him how Lu Shang could make such a noble position as a secretary so busy that he had to eat and live in the government office.

As the Duke of Qi, how could Lu Yongji not know the duties of a secretary? If the secretary's duties were so heavy, he would not have the reputation of being noble.

However, Lu Yongji did not show his emotion on his face. He smiled warmly and said, "Alas, my son knows how to appreciate the emperor's grace. He is very sensible. I only hope that he can live up to your majesty's kindness and do his best for your majesty."

The clerk was speechless. Was he going to tell Lu Yongji that on the first day of Lu Shang's appointment, he pushed the official duties to his colleagues and read leisurely in the library?
Although reading more is not a bad thing, Lu Shang's actions clearly do not seem to be one of gratitude for the emperor's grace. But after Lu Yongji finished speaking, he ignored the clerk's surprised look and directly beckoned for the housekeeper Lu Quan.

Lu Quan came to Lu Yongji's side and whispered, "Master,"

Lu Yongji said calmly, "Send the guests away."

After sending the clerk away, Lu Yongji sat in the main hall in a daze for a while, and only sighed when Lu Quan came back.

Facing his confidant, Lu Yongji lamented, "That evil creature is truly unruly. He stayed out all night just after joining the company. With this evil creature's behavior, how dare I ask the emperor for a princess?"

Lu Yongji is still thinking about Princess Lanling's demise, but unfortunately Princess Lanling will not be able to get rid of her mourning period until three years later, so it is really difficult to make this happen.

Even if Princess Lanling remarried after three years, there were still many talented young men in Daxing City, and it would still be difficult for Lu Shang to win her heart.

"Alas, this useless bastard!"

On the other hand, Lü Quan advised, "My Lord, in these troubled times, it might be a good thing for the Crown Prince to stay in the Secretariat instead of returning home."

"Prince Jin has always wanted to win your support for his bid for the throne. You are the emperor's cousin, and sometimes the emperor will take your words seriously and consider them seriously."

"Because of this, neither the Crown Prince nor the Prince of Jin dare to look down on you. The Prince of Jin has even been trying to contact you frequently recently. However, the struggle for the throne is not something our County Duke's Mansion can participate in."

"But the Prince of Jin is pressing forward, and the Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin are vying for power, neither willing to yield. It's not right for you to agree, and it's not right for you to refuse. Our Duke's Mansion simply can't afford to offend the Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin. The Crown Prince isn't at home right now, so you can be less concerned."

After hearing this, Lu Yongji's worry turned into joy. He said, "I feel relieved with your words. Alas, the battle for the throne, can anyone participate?"

"While a correct bet can guarantee at least thirty years of prosperity, a wrong bet can also lead to the destruction of one's family."

"I don't have any big ambitions. My greatest hope is to safely pass on the title of Duke of Qi, which was conferred upon me posthumously by my grandfather. Our Lu family is a fortunate relative of the emperor, and we don't have the capital to play both sides in the struggle for the throne."

"If you want to be safe, it's best to stay away from them and not get involved with them."

(End of this chapter)