I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

The sixth day of the third lunar month, near dusk.

In the west of the capital city, in front of Qin Xiucai's bookstore.

Zhao Shizhen held the Song Dynasty edition of "The Collected Works of Du Fu" with a dejected expression.

He spent nearly half an hour haggling over the price of the book before the shopkeeper agreed to sell it to him for eighteen taels of silver. Now that he wants to return the book, the shopkeeper is only willing to pay ten taels of silver to buy it back.

He will lose eight taels of silver in one round trip.

That's how it is in the world of antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and books; rare items have no market price, and the price depends entirely on negotiation between the buyer and seller.

The main theme is: Zhou Yu beats Huang Gai, one is willing to hit and the other is willing to be hit.

If he were to sell it at other bookstores, since this book is an incomplete and unique copy, and most of the surrounding bookstores would likely know that it is sold by Qin Xiucai's bookstore, they would definitely ask for ten taels of silver, and might even offer less.

Unless he slowly searches for a buyer.

However, he was eager to sell it and redeem his family's heirloom jade pendant as soon as possible.

If the jade pendant cannot be redeemed within five days, the pawnshop has the right to sell it to someone else.

Currently, Zhao Shizhen's monthly salary is only four taels of silver.

The cost of living in the capital is high, and rent is expensive.

Besides this copy of "The Collected Works of Du Fu", he only had a little over one tael of silver left.

Although he is an outstanding calligrapher and can sell calligraphy fans to increase his income, he is currently under investigation in the capital. If it is found that he is doing business, he will not only be dismissed from his post, but may also be punished.

If he couldn't scrape together eighteen taels of silver, he wouldn't be able to pawn his family's jade pendant.

Only then did he realize that his trip to the Shen residence to deliver the gift had been too rash.

He usually spent his time copying documents and studying firearms, and had very little social interaction. Only after realizing that he was likely to be dismissed did he desperately seek help from others.

He sighed as he walked.

"Enough! Enough! It's my fault for being so incompetent and unfilial. I won't redeem the jade pendant. As long as I can get into the firearms battalion, I'll still be able to face my ancestors with a clear conscience!"

at this time.

A young man ran up to him.

Zhao Shizhen recognized the man as Qin Xiucai's bookstore clerk.

The shop assistant first bowed to him, then said with a smile, "Young master, our manager would like you to go back. He was just joking with you. Our shop is willing to buy back the book at the original price."

"Really?" Zhao Shizhen's face lit up with joy.

"real!"

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Shizhen and the shop assistant returned to the shop.

And this moment.

Shopkeeper Qin had already prepared eighteen taels of silver. He smiled and said, "Young master, that was just a joke. Here are eighteen taels of silver. Give me the book and I'll check if it's damaged."

Zhao Shizhen handed the books to the shopkeeper.

After inspecting the money, Manager Qin said, "No loss, these eighteen taels of silver are yours!"

"Manager Qin, was that really a joke?" Zhao Shizhen asked, somewhat puzzled.

"You must be joking. This book will sell well. Do you need any other books?"

"No! No!" Zhao Shizhen put the eighteen taels of silver into his money bag and quickly left the bookstore.

He was afraid the shop owner would regret it.

Not long after he left, Aji came out from behind the bookstore, placed twenty taels of silver on the counter, and said, "Shopkeeper, please count it."

"No need, no need!" The shopkeeper smiled and handed the copy of "The Collected Works of Du Fu" to Aji with both hands.

The shopkeeper changed his mind and called his assistant back Zhao Shizhen, precisely because of Aji.

He didn't know who Aji was.

However, the demeanor displayed by Aji and the demeanor of the guards behind him indicate that the latter must be either rich or noble.

After Aji stated that he wanted to buy "The Collected Works of Du Fu" for twenty taels of silver, the shopkeeper immediately ordered his assistant to retrieve Zhao Shizhen.

He was already very content with earning two taels of silver.

If he didn't follow Aji's advice, he felt he might spend the night in the Shuntian Prefecture prison.

To be able to do business in such a bustling place as the capital, he certainly had the ability to read people's expressions and moods.

Aji paid extra to buy books from the shopkeeper because he did not want to have any financial dealings with Zhao Shizhen.

This is the rule of officialdom.

After leaving Qin Xiucai's bookstore, Aji looked at Zhao Shizhen heading to the pawnshop and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "This man is really honest; his personality is really suitable for researching firearms!"

A moment later, Zhao Shizhen successfully redeemed the jade pendant.

Due to the ban on high interest rates at the end of last year, the pawnshop only charged a storage fee of fifty cash in addition to the eighteen taels of silver pawn fee.

Aji returned to the Shen residence only after Zhao Shizhen redeemed the jade pendant.

……

On the eighth day of the third lunar month, the weather gradually warmed up.

Under the capital's inspection, Zhao Shizhen, the registrar of the Court of State Ceremonial, was dismissed from his post and lost his official position due to his mediocrity.

On the ninth day of the third month, at dawn, Zhao Shizhen submitted his written notes on firearms and some diagrams to the Ministry of War.

Shen Nian had been keeping an eye on this matter.

He immediately ordered someone to hand over all the documents and drawings written by Zhao Shizhen to Wang Yi'e, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

Near noon.

Wang Yi'e excitedly arrived at the Shen Nian Shangshu Hall.

"Grand Secretary Shen, this Zhao Shizhen is a talented man! He has a very rich imagination. Although he lacks practical experience, with slight modifications to these firearms diagrams, he will surely be able to manufacture new types of firearms. This man is very capable!"

Shen Nian looked at Wang Yi'e and said, "This man was originally the registrar of the Court of State Ceremonial, a student of the Imperial Academy. He was promoted to an official position by special exception because of his calligraphy skills, but he was recently dismissed during the capital inspection. I plan to transfer him to the Ministry of War. What position do you think would be suitable for him? What other official positions are vacant in the Ministry of War?"

Wang Yi'e thought for a moment.

"A student of the Imperial Academy, just dismissed from his post? Then... let's suggest he take up the post of Director of the General Affairs Office of the Ministry of War, and concurrently serve as an instructor in the Firearms Battalion!"

The clerk of the Ministry of War's Office, a ninth-rank official, was responsible for the Ministry of War's daily affairs, such as copying documents and registering entry and exit.

Although the official rank was low.

However, if one also serves as an instructor in the firearms battalion, as long as one performs well, one's future will be limitless.

“Alright! Next, I will submit a memorial to the Ministry of Personnel recommending him. You take these documents and diagrams to His Majesty and report that a talent for developing firearms has been discovered!” Shen Nian added, “Ideally, you should go with the Earl of Zhangwu!”

"Understood!" Wang Yi'e nodded.

Although the position of Director of the Department of Military Affairs in the Ministry of War was only a minor official, Shen Nian granted him the power to directly enter the Ministry of War and take up a post.

He needs to submit a nomination document, which must then be reviewed by the Ministry of Personnel, and the Cabinet must draft the document and affix its seal before the appointment can be considered complete.

Shen Nian showed the young Wanli Emperor these firearms diagrams and had Zhangwu Earl and Wang Yi'e praise Zhao Shizhen at the same time, all in order to get the latter promoted as an exception and start his job as soon as possible.

Otherwise, following the usual procedure, it would take at least half a month.

Shen Nian paused for a moment, then said, "The most scarce resource in the current firearms battalion is this kind of talent. These firearms schematics must be kept secret, and Zhao Shizhen should not be praised to outsiders. He needs to develop firearms in the quietest possible environment."

“Okay!” Wang Yi’e replied.

……

The tenth day of the third month, near noon.

Shen Nian sent a letter in the name of the Ministry of War, recommending Zhao Shizhen, who had been dismissed, to the Ministry of Personnel to serve as the Director of the Office of the Ministry of War.

at the same time.

Zhangwubo and Wang Yi'e also reported to Emperor Wanli on the novelty and ingenuity of Zhao Shizhen's series of firearms diagrams.

This made the young Wanli Emperor very happy.

……

March 11th, afternoon.

Three clerks from the Ministry of Personnel arrived at Zhao Shizhen's rented room with documents from the Ministry of Personnel, stating that he had been appointed as the Director of the Office of the Ministry of War, and instructing him to go to the Ministry of Personnel immediately to collect his credentials, official robes, etc., and then go to the Ministry of War to take up his post the next day.

Because the instructors of the firearms battalion were assigned to specific tasks, the clerks of the Ministry of Personnel did not mention this matter.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Shizhen was completely stunned, and then he excitedly danced around.

He never expected to be hired by the Ministry of War, and he was even more surprised by the efficiency of the imperial court.

In less than three days, he went from being a dismissed commoner back to an official.

This efficiency made him feel like he was in a dream. Even if he had powerful connections in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, such efficiency would not be possible.

He didn't believe it was true until he received the official robes and credentials.

……

March 12th, afternoon, the sun is shining brightly.

The backyard of the Honglu Temple.

Three unranked officials chatted idly while basking in the sun.

"Brother Liu, that cowardly Zhao Shizhen really hit the jackpot! He... he was dismissed from his post less than three days ago, and he's already been appointed as a clerk in the Ministry of War's Office. Officials in the Ministry of War are much more powerful than those in our Court of State Ceremonies!"

"What do you mean by lucky break? He definitely has powerful backers in the capital. Otherwise, with his abilities, what qualifications would he have to go to the Ministry of War? In terms of ability, he is far inferior to the three of us. He was only appointed as a registrar because of his beautiful handwriting!" A middle-aged man of medium build said through gritted teeth.

"Then...who is his backer? He has such great power that he got him into the Ministry of War in less than three days!"

Hear this.

Another middle-aged man, thin and around forty years old, who had remained silent the whole time, murmured to himself: I never expected... I never expected that... he actually managed to do it!
This middle-aged man's name is Zheng Dian.

It was he who suggested that Zhao Shizhen leverage his hometown connection with Shen Nian to send gifts to Shen Nian in a way that would appeal to Shen Nian's tastes.

He knew Shen Nian wouldn't accept the gift, and that giving it in this way was asking for trouble.

His purpose was to harm Zhao Shizhen, but unexpectedly Zhao Shizhen actually succeeded!
This made him feel somewhat scared.

The Ministry of War has much more leverage than the Court of State Ceremonial. If Zhao Shizhen retaliates against him, he might not even know how he died.

At this moment, another official said, "If I knew who his backer was, I would definitely sell this information to the clerks. The selection of officials is being manipulated in this way. Not only is the backer guilty, but the Ministry of Personnel is also guilty. This would be a huge achievement for the clerks, enough to sell for a high price!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Dian immediately became excited.

He felt that not only could he bring down Zhao Shizhen and ruin the reputation of Shen Nian, the cabinet minister he despised, but he would also make a fortune! (End of Chapter)