fake gentry

Wu King's Palace, Taiji Hall.

Wang Dun was discussing matters with Qian Feng and several military advisors.

He leaned back on the couch, expressionless as he played with the jade ruyi in his hand, occasionally asking a question or two.

A guard came in from outside the hall to announce that Xie Hong was requesting an audience.

Upon hearing this, Wang Dun immediately sat up straight, about to tell him to come in, but then changed his mind.

"Tell him that I am busy with important military and national affairs and have no time to see him. Tell him to wait outside the palace."

Qian Feng glanced at Wang Han and Wang Ying without showing any emotion, and Wang Ying's face gradually darkened.

A few days ago, he risked falsely conveying Wang Dun's order to have someone announce the lifting of Xie's son's confinement, but Xie Hong refused to leave the house, causing his plan to fail.

Every day, Wang Ying felt an intense hatred for Xie Hong, who was emitting music from his residence.

Without a doubt, Song Yi is probably playing along with him. They're probably indulging in debauchery day and night, completely oblivious to everything else.

Upon hearing that Xie Hong was requesting an audience, Wang Yingdu had a stress response.

Xie Hong and Ge Hong waited outside the hall for about fifteen minutes before being summoned inside.

From the moment he entered the hall, Wang Ying's gaze was fixed on him, while Qian Feng slightly turned his head and gave Wang Han a wink.

When Wang Dun saw Xie Hong enter, he placed the jade ruyi on the table and smiled at Ge Hong, saying, "Ge Zhichuan, how have you been? It's been five years since we last met, hasn't it? What brings you to Wuchang?"

Wang Dun was quite polite to Ge Hong, after all, Ge Hong's medical skills and physiognomy were extremely famous in the gentry circle. If it were anything else, he would be on good terms with Ge Hong, so that if he were to fall ill, at least someone would be there to save his life.

If it came down to social status and family background, Wang Dun wouldn't even give Ge Hong a second glance.

"Hong pays his respects to the General."

Wang Dun's smile froze for a moment, but he still smiled and invited Ge Hong and Xie Hong to take their seats.

Wang Han's expression suddenly changed, and he was about to stand up and reprimand Ge Hong, but Wang Dun forced him back with a look.

Wang Dun is now the Chancellor, Duke of Wuchang, and Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital. The title of Grand General is clearly a sarcastic remark.

If it were Wang Dun's subordinates calling him "Grand General," it would be understandable, since they were his former subordinates. But Ge Hong's use of this term clearly shows that he did not consider Wang Dun to be the prime minister.

Wang Han could only sit back down angrily after being stopped by a single look from Wang Dun.

"Why have you come?"

Ge Hong cupped his hands and said, "I am here to thank Feng Zhi."

Wang Dun laughed and said, "Does Marquis Ge have some connection with this young man?"

Ge Hong said directly, "I regard him as a close friend who would share life and death with me."

Wang Dun laughed heartily, then turned to Xie Hong and asked, "Does Fengzhi treat Marquis Ge the same way?"

"My lord, I consider Mr. Zhichuan to be my father, and I would risk my life for him. Has anyone in your life ever been someone you would risk your life for?"

Wang Dun's face stiffened, but he did not get angry. On the contrary, his mood seemed to become pleasant.

He is a typical egoist. No one is worth fighting for. He can even abandon his own family. Who else can you expect him to fight for?

He probably guessed Ge Hong's intentions, but he deliberately avoided the topic, even thinking to himself that he finally had a way to make Xie's son submit.

Wang Dun himself didn't know what his mentality was, but he was always unwilling to touch Xie Hong.

Perhaps no young man has ever been like Xie Hong.

Wang Dun looked at Xie Hong and suddenly asked with a smile, "Fengzhi, if I were to summon you to succeed Xie Youyu, would you be willing to stay?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

Qian Feng was holding a teacup, ready to drink, when the tea spilled out onto the table without him noticing.

Upon hearing this, Wang Han suddenly straightened up, her face filled with disbelief.

Wang Ying exclaimed "Ah!" and then glared at Xie Hong with eyes blazing with fury.

Chief Secretary.

Chief Secretary of the General's Office.

This official position is not high-ranking, only a sixth-rank official, but it is a high-ranking assistant in the shogunate system, which can hold real power or be a sinecure.

What is the title of "Kaifu Yitong Sansi"?

It was an extremely important and prestigious official position.

During the Han Dynasty, the Three Dukes were allowed to establish their own offices.

However, by the Wei and Jin dynasties, the authority to open one's own office had become so common that a prestigious official position of "opening one's own office with the same rank as the Three Excellencies" emerged.

This means you can set up an independent government office, establish your own staff and subordinate system, and have the same etiquette, pomp, salary, etc. as the Three Dukes.

Of course, he is still not as good as the Three Dukes.

This was the Shogunate.

The chief secretary of the shogun's shogunate is the true chief assistant, the person in charge of all the shogunate's staff. If he were to delegate authority, he could oversee all the shogunate's daily administration, documents, and personnel affairs.

Even when the Shogun is absent, he remains in charge of the Shogunate and acts on his behalf.

This person was, in fact, the second most powerful figure in the shogunate system, second only to the shogun.

But not all chief secretaries are the same.

During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the position of Chief Secretary was essentially a prestigious post with no real power.

Wang Dun had a penchant for collecting famous scholars, and most of these prominent figures became his chief clerks.

Xie Kun is, Lu Wan is, and Yang Man is too.

The real power in his shogunate was held by the military advisor and the military commander.

Even so, this position is almost a standard official post for core members of second-tier high-ranking families.

Why was Lu Wan unwilling to take this official position? It was because he felt that the position of Chief Secretary was a humiliation for him.

The four families of Wu County all considered themselves to be top-tier noble families on par with the Langya Wang family and the Yingchuan Yu family. Such noble families would not usually stoop to this position.

Their choices were all prestigious and respectable official positions such as Attendant Gentleman of the Palace or Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate.

The chief secretary of the shogunate was also a person of high status, but even among those of high status, there was a hierarchy of contempt.

Even Ge Hong was shocked.

Generally speaking, the position of Chief Secretary in the shogunate is not given to anyone under the age of thirty.

Unless this person is exceptionally talented.

Even the most renowned scholars of Jiangzuo, whose fame spans the entire land, only held this official position.

How old is Xie Hongcai?

A sixteen-year-old boy.

In the Han Dynasty, one could not be considered an adult until before reaching adulthood.

And what does Xie Hong have now?

He had no military achievements, nor any official qualifications.

If Xie Hong agrees, it means he will become the highest-ranking civil official in Wang Dun's staff, qualified to control all documents of the General's Office and participate in all military and state secrets.

This is more powerful than that of an ordinary prefect.

Even though the chief clerk had no real power, it still meant that Xie Hong's status was comparable to that of a prefect or even a governor.

Has Wang Ahei gone mad?

For a fleeting moment, Xie Hong was tempted.

Are you kidding me? Who the hell wouldn't be tempted in that situation?

He was aware of the abnormally high probability of passing the modern civil service exam.

The chief secretary of Wang Dun's staff was equivalent to the chief of staff of a major military region.

In the administrative system, this corresponds to the ministerial level at the top and the departmental level at the bottom.

Old Wang, you're really willing to spend a fortune!

Unfortunately, I know what will become of you.

It's not that I don't want to take advantage of you, it's just that I have ideals and I can't allow myself to be tainted.

Xie Hong straightened his clothes, bowed deeply to Wang Dun, and said calmly, "Your Excellency is too kind. I am of limited talent and learning and am not fit for such an important position."

When Ge Hong heard Xie Hong say this, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, but a faint sense of regret followed.

Did Ge Xianweng not want to be an official?

I'm going crazy.

In a few years, he might even humble himself to ask for the position of county magistrate.

Wang Dun's face darkened.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall was about to erupt, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

A guard on duty strode into the hall and knelt on one knee: "Prime Minister, an envoy has arrived from Jiankang, and His Majesty has issued an edict."

The armored soldier's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet hall.

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Wang Dun slammed his hand on the table. "Who is this visitor?"

"General Yang Gongman, Chief Secretary".

Xie Hong's heart skipped a beat when he heard the name.

Sheep Man?

Yang Ben's father?

Yang Man was the patriarch of the Yang clan of Taishan. The Yang clan was a second-highest-ranking family. Empress Yang Xianrong, the empress of Sima Zhong of the Western Jin Dynasty, came from the Yang clan. Now, Yang Xianrong has become the empress of Liu Yao. She is a rare woman in ancient China who served as empress of two regimes.

Yang Man was also Yang Xianrong's cousin.

He was also a chief clerk who was forcibly recruited by Wang Dun. Knowing that Wang Dun harbored rebellious intentions, he spent his days in a drunken stupor to avoid being purged later.

Xie Hong subconsciously looked towards the direction of the palace gate.

Wang Dun pondered for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Let him in."

At the palace gate, an old man reeking of alcohol staggered in and shouted upon seeing Wang Dun:

"Ahei, bring the wine!"