Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

February 3rd, sunny with a light breeze.

As the sun rose in the east, after finishing his breakfast, Zhao Xian changed into a clean robe and left his house, heading towards the pavilion.

Before long, they arrived at the pavilion.

From afar, several figures could be seen busily working outside the pavilion. Upon closer inspection, it was Zhao Ze, the thief, and the pavilion guards sweeping the official road in front of the pavilion.

Zhao Xian greeted them and then stepped forward to pick up a broom to help. The clerks at the pavilion were already quite familiar with Zhao Xian, so they didn't stand on ceremony.

After cleaning, the group carried several buckets of water and poured them on the ground.

Then everyone returned to the pavilion and paid their respects to Chen Yuancheng.

Today, Chen Yuancheng was dressed in a light blue brocade robe with cloud patterns, wearing a silver crown and jade pendants at his waist. His face was fair and clean, and he was indeed a refined gentleman.

"Jiulang, come forward and take a look!"

Upon seeing Zhao Xian arrive, Chen Yuancheng took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Xian.

Zhao Xian hurriedly stepped forward respectfully to accept it, his nose twitching slightly as he caught a whiff of a delicate fragrance.

"The pavilion lord has taken a bath and applied incense today; it seems the county officials will arrive at the pavilion today."

Upon thinking of this, Zhao Xian's heart stirred slightly, and he began to have some guesses about the green bamboo slip in his hand.

Unfold the bamboo slips and look up; the ink-scented characters come into view.

"Your subject Chen Yuancheng, at the risk of death, kowtows twice to submit this memorial: I have heard that the most important aspect of a wise ruler's governance is obtaining the right people; the foundation of peace and prosperity lies in promoting the virtuous."

"..."

"Zhao Xian from Wohu Township, aged seventeen, is known for his bravery in slaying bandits and his outstanding virtue and talent. He is worthy of being recruited into the government!"

Your subject, Chen Yuancheng, bows deeply!

As the ink characters came into view and the fragrance of ink filled the air, Zhao Xian held the bamboo slips in his hand, his excitement barely concealed.

Nowadays, people still value ancient customs. Since senior officials have the power to appoint their own subordinates, subordinates naturally treat their senior officials as subjects and rulers, and it is only natural for them to refer to themselves as subjects when addressing their superiors.

Zhao Xian rolled up the green bamboo slip again, bowed respectfully to Chen Yuancheng, and then presented it with both hands.

Seeing this, Zhao Ze and the other three also revealed a hint of envy in their eyes.

People like them, who were thieves and guards, were illiterate and, despite being officials, could only do these lowly jobs of welcoming and seeing off people and being driven around.

Throughout his life, he was nothing more than a lowly official or a lowly servant.

The path to advancement has long been cut off.

However, those like Zhao Xian, who were recommended by powerful families and entered the officialdom, had a promising future.

Not to mention a minor official with a meager salary, even a high-ranking official with a salary of a hundred bushels of grain could aspire to such a position.

"Congratulations, Jiulang! You will be serving as a local official from now on. You must do your best to assist Tingjun!"

Upon seeing this, Zhao Ze, the thief, immediately offered his congratulations.

Although the letter of recommendation was not presented, everyone in the pavilion offered their congratulations, and in their view, the matter was already a done deal.

Zhao Xian then returned the greetings to each of them.

As noon approached, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the pavilion.

Upon hearing the sound, everyone stood up and followed Chen Yuancheng out of the pavilion to greet him.

As the group approached the house, they saw several armored guards standing on the official road, surrounding a capable official who appeared to be around thirty years old.

"Chen Yuancheng, the head of Shanghu Pavilion, pays his respects to the superior official!"

"I was unaware of your arrival and was unable to greet you from afar; please forgive me."

Chen Yuancheng took a few steps forward and bowed to the clerk.

"I am unworthy of such a great greeting from you, Lord Chen. Please rise!"

The capable official stepped aside, then, with a smile on his face, stepped forward to help Chen Yuancheng up.

"I had long heard of Chen Jun's men in the county, and seeing them today, I can see they are indeed all valiant warriors!"

He then looked at the people behind Chen Yuancheng and praised them with a smile.

"I have come on the orders of the County Magistrate to deliver the letter of appointment to Mr. Chen!"

Congratulations, Mr. Chen, on taking another step forward!

The clerk immediately took out the letter of appointment from his sleeve. Upon seeing this, Chen Yuancheng immediately knelt down, raised his hands, and respectfully accepted the letter of appointment!

As he rose, Zhao Xian, Zhao Ze, and the other officials of the pavilion all bowed and shouted in unison, "Congratulations, Pavilion Master, on your further advancement!"

"A mere village clerk, like the head of the village office, is a lowly official responsible for food distribution; he is not part of the official hierarchy, so how can he expect to advance further?"

Chen Yuancheng humbly offered a self-deprecating remark, but the others simply smiled and remained silent.

The difference between the village head and the village clerk is like heaven and earth!

The village headman was responsible for welcoming and seeing off guests and was at the beck and call of others, while the village magistrate was in charge of hearing lawsuits and collecting taxes, and was the head of the village.

The number of households under its jurisdiction ranges from a few thousand to several thousand. It wields immense power, and although it is not officially recognized, it is coveted by county officials and prominent rural families!

If Chen Yuancheng hadn't come from the prominent Chen family in the county and hadn't defeated over a hundred bandits, how could he have been allowed to serve as the head of the Wohu Township?

After putting the letter of appointment into his sleeve, Chen Yuancheng took out a scroll of green bamboo slips and presented it to the clerk.

"I am the head of Shanghu Pavilion. My subordinate, Zhao Xian, is a seventeen-year-old boy who shot down more than ten bandits at night. He is well-versed in poetry and literature, so I have dared to recommend him to the magistrate!"

Upon hearing this, the clerk immediately nodded slightly, then took out an appointment letter from his sleeve and said with a smile, "Officer Liu also speaks highly of Lord Zhao, knowing that Lord Chen values ​​him highly, and has already prepared the appointment letter!"

"May I ask, which one of you is Lord Zhao?"

After saying that, he looked at Zhao Xian and the others, his gaze also falling on Zhao Xian.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Xian immediately stepped forward, prostrated himself on the ground, and respectfully said, "Zhao Xian, a humble countryman, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, the clerk immediately stepped forward to help Zhao Xian up, saying with a smile, "I have long admired Mr. Zhao's name in the county, and seeing him today, I can confirm that he is indeed a spirited young man!"

The clerk handed the letter of appointment to Zhao Xian and continued with a smile, "From this day forward, you are the clerk of Wohu Township!"

"To become an official at the age of seventeen is rare in the county; Lord Zhao will surely wear the official seal one day!"

Seeing Zhao Xian accept the letter of appointment, the county official also said with great emotion.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately became solemn, straightened his clothes, and knelt down before Chen Yuancheng, proclaiming, "Your Majesty's kindness is as high as a mountain, and I, Zhao Xian, could never repay it even if I were to die a thousand deaths. From this day forward, I will follow you by your side, even if it means my death!"

There is no imperial examination in this world. To become an official or clerk, one needs to be recommended or recruited by others. It is extremely difficult for scholars from poor families to rise to prominence, let alone Zhao Xian's family, which is not poor but merely a rural household.

Although the position of a village official was a minor clerk with a meager salary, it was a huge leap for Zhao Xian.

Upon seeing this, Chen Yuancheng also showed relief and quickly stepped forward to help Zhao Xian up.

"Now that Jiulang has become an official, although he is seventeen years old and has not yet come of age, he still needs to obtain a courtesy name."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty's learning is extraordinary; I humbly request Your Majesty to bestow upon me a calligraphy piece!"

"Jiulang is the eldest son in the family, and his conduct is upright. He is a perfect match for Xian and Zhang, so he may be given the courtesy name Bozhang!"

Chen Yuancheng pondered for a few moments, then slowly spoke.

"Bo Zhang~"

The county official pondered for a few moments, then looked at Zhao Xian with considerable surprise, and remarked, "Lord Chen certainly has high hopes for Ninth Brother!"

"I express my sincere gratitude to Your Majesty!"

Zhao Xian immediately bowed again.

"Chen Jun, Bozhang, now that there's nothing more to do, and it's getting late, I'll head back to the county seat first!"

Seeing that the matter was settled, the county official immediately smiled and said...

Chen Yuancheng wouldn't let him leave, and extended a warm invitation, but the county official repeatedly declined, saying directly, "We'll meet again after Mr. Chen goes to the county to report on his duties!"

Seeing this, Chen Yuancheng had no choice but to give up and made an appointment with the county official to meet again another day.

After watching the county officials and their entourage drive away, Chen Yuancheng and Zhao Xian returned to their lodgings.

Back at their lodgings, Zhao Ze and the others once again congratulated the two.

Seeing that Zhao Xian seemed somewhat distracted, Chen Yuancheng immediately told Zhao Xian to return home quickly and report the good news.

He instructed Zhao Xian to go home and pack his things, as he would be going to his post in the township the next day.

According to the Qianlong Law, county and township officials must take up their posts within three days of receiving their appointment letters.

Zhao Xian suppressed his excitement, stood up, bowed, and then left the pavilion to return home.

Upon leaving the pavilion, Zhao Xian held his breath and focused his mind, only to see a message reflected in his heart.

"Having assumed the position of a minor official, my luck jewels have increased by 1!"