Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 159 Jiang Sima, the All-Knowing!
On the dock, Jiang Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back, behind him a group of grain transport officials whose faces were ashen. A flash of cold light, and the blood of the beheaded grain transport official splattered on the blue stone, causing the surrounding clerks to tremble.

"Military rations are the lifeblood of the nation. Anyone who dares to touch even a single grain will be executed!"

In just half a day, the military rations that had been piling up for days were finally settled in his hands.

As Jiang Xingzhou's tall figure stepped into the governor's mansion, some of the old officials from the clerk's office came out upon hearing the sound and hurriedly got up to greet him.

These seasoned veterans who had spent decades in government offices all bent over, barely breathing.

They no longer looked down on this intern Sima; their expressions were now respectful, and they served him with utmost care.

This Jiang Sima is more than ten times more capable than Du Sima!

When Du Sima was checking the accounts, even with a group of experienced officials with him, it would take at least five days of meticulous calculations to figure out the deficit.

This Jiang Sima alone only needed half an hour to calculate the exact amount of grain transport deficits in various prefectures, counties, and towns.

What's even more terrifying is that Jiang Sima's methods were even more ruthless; he killed grain transport officials without batting an eye!

How could this be a trainee Sima with absolutely no political experience?
They couldn't understand how Jiang Xingzhou could calculate the accounts so quickly!
An experienced official inquired indirectly about the mystery behind this new method of bookkeeping.
but,

Jiang Xingzhou had no intention of teaching them double-entry bookkeeping.

These old officials have been sticking to single-entry bookkeeping for years, and their thinking is already deeply ingrained. Why should he create unnecessary trouble for them?

It's fine as long as it's convenient for me to use.

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze swept over the mountain of official documents.

He randomly flipped open a volume of official documents and read through it.
He seemed to be deep in thought, dipped his vermilion brush in ink, and wrote with flowing strokes.

He reviewed the papers with lightning speed, each word sharp as a knife, without any hesitation or delay.

In less than half a day, all the documents that had been piling up on the desk for half a month were processed.

"Hu Wanjin".

Jiang Xingzhou called out softly.

Upon hearing the sound, the old clerk Hu Wanjin quickly stepped forward, looked down, and immediately gasped – all the official documents on the table had been approved, the ink of the vermilion annotations was still wet, and the pen strokes were sharp as swords!
Jiang Xingzhou smiled calmly, flicked his sleeve and stood up, "Send this to the governor for review. If the governor has no objections, proceed according to the regulations."

"Lord Jiang, this... so fast?"

Hu Wanjin's voice trembled slightly as his gaze swept over the documents that would normally take many days to sort out, now neatly arranged and clearly organized, ready for execution.

He held the document, his hands trembling slightly.

Some of these official documents were thorny issues that had been piling up for almost half a month, but in the hands of this young Sima, they were dealt with as easily as chopping melons and vegetables, and were all done in half a day!
Is this still the intern Sima?

Even when Du Sima was assisting the governor, he could not accomplish so many administrative tasks so easily.

Jiang Xingzhou put down his vermilion brush, stretched, and leisurely walked out of the governor's mansion.

Tired of paperwork?

nonexistent.

These mountains of official business were dealt with in no time at all.

Since he came to this Great Zhou world, he has been buried in his studies, researching runes, scriptures, and literary arts. When has he ever had such a leisurely time?

Now that I've passed the autumn imperial examination and am the top scholar in the Jiangnan provincial examination, it's like I finally got into a top university in my previous life, and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

As for taking the imperial examination in Beijing next spring, whether or not he passes the exam is not so stressful—he already has the title of Juren, so he has room to maneuver.

Jiang Xingzhou strolled leisurely outside Jinling City and unknowingly wandered to the banks of the Qinhuai River.

The river was dotted with painted boats, and the faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifted by.

On the river, rows of ornate pleasure boats floated by—from which came bursts of laughter, presumably young masters from some noble families feasting and making merry.

Willows droop low on both banks, and lights are gradually lit, reflecting off the water like scattered gold.

Jiang Xingzhou casually found a painted boat, ordered a pot of wine from the waiter, and drank a few cups by himself.

Jiang Xingzhou, also known as Jiang Sima, was a famous scholar known to everyone in Jinling City.

Immediately, a waiter hurried off to fetch the most sought-after courtesan from the pleasure boat to entertain Jiang Xingzhou.

"Young Master Jiang, would you like to hear some music? I am Su Xiaoxiao, and I will play a piece called 'Guangling San' for you."
Please, sir, take a look and offer your opinion!

On the painted boat of Zuixianlou, the courtesan Su Xiaoxiao, holding a pipa, softly inquired through the beaded curtain.

She felt both excited and apprehensive.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Sima, the foremost of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan and the top scholar in the Jiangnan provincial examination, boarded the painted boat she was on.

Listen to her play in the elegant room of this painted boat.

"Can!"

Jiang Xingzhou sat by the window of the painted boat, nodding and smiling softly.

Once upon a time, he was also a scholar who was busy running around among official documents.

Now, however, he has become known as "Jiang Sima," a figure of extraordinary power and influence, in the eyes of the minor officials of the governor's office and the people of Jinling.

Life is like a game of chess; who can predict the future?
He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup, letting the breeze brush against his clothes.

At this moment, all he wanted was to lean against the window of the painted boat, listen to music idly, and be a carefree idler.

at this time,

Li Huai'an, the Prefectural Governor's Assistant, lifted the beaded curtain and stepped into the Drunken Immortal pleasure boat, the fish-shaped pouch at his waist swaying slightly with each step. His eyes were sharp as he scanned the boat, seemingly searching for someone.

"Prefect Li, what brings you here?"

Jiang Xingzhou couldn't help but laugh, putting down his wine cup, the celadon pieces clinking together to produce a crisp sound.

He was about to get up when the person who came raised his hand to stop him.

"Jiang Lang, please sit down!"

Li Huai'an strode into the private room, his official robes billowing, and smiled.
"Just now, Clerk Hu reported that you found a deficit of 200,000 shi in the accounts of the military grain transported to the north."

He sat down, a shadow between his brows. "The governor is quite concerned and specifically ordered me to inquire about the details. I heard you are relaxing here; I am indeed disturbing you."

The two sat facing each other in a private room by the window, chatting casually at the table.

The sounds of oars and the glow of lanterns outside the window mingled with the aroma of tea inside.

Jiang Xingzhou recounted the matter of recovering the embezzled funds in detail—with a three-day deadline, all the grain transport officials in various prefectures and counties had signed a pledge.

Li Huai'an felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this, and the lining of his official robe was already soaked with sweat.

If it weren't for the keen observation and swift calculations of this intern Sima, the deficit of 200,000 shi of military rations would have truly led to a catastrophic disaster.

At this moment, the courtesan Su Xiaoxiao sat gracefully behind the beaded curtain, her delicate hands gently caressing the guqin, and as her fingertips plucked the strings, a piece called "Guangling San" flowed slowly.

The sound of the zither was clear and cold, like a cold spring under the moon, yet it faintly revealed a hint of stagnation.

"Wait a minute!"

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly raised his hand, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Sir?"

Su Xiaoxiao's fingers paused, the music stopped abruptly, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Did I play something wrong?"

"The strings are out of tune."

Jiang Xingzhou chuckled and gestured, "Bring me the zither, I'll tune it for you."

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned.

The zither is the lifeblood of a musician, like a garment worn close to the skin; how can it be easily handed over to someone else to tune?

But the person before him was none other than the most renowned scholar in Jiangnan, and also the Minister Sima, who assisted the governor in handling military and political affairs.

"Yes, sir!"

Su Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment, but ultimately dared not disobey. She lowered her head and gently bit her lips with her pearly teeth.

She gently lifted the beaded curtain with her delicate hand, and walked silently as if stepping on clouds to the table, where she respectfully presented the zither.

"Guangling San should be played in a slow Shang mode, with a sound like a lone goose weeping blood, to truly express its sorrow."

Jiang Xingzhou took the zither, gently plucked the strings with his fingertips, and the lingering sound resonated. "If it were played in the usual mode, it would be nothing more than a straightforward narration, losing the soul of this piece."

He didn't just change the key temporarily; he directly adjusted the pitch of the strings themselves.

With his slender fingers, he twirled the tuning pegs and slowly turned the strings, permanently lowering the pitch of the open second string by a major second from the normal tuning.

"All right."

A moment later, he lightly pressed the strings with his fingertips, and the lingering sound vanished. "Try again."

The zither returned to Su Xiaoxiao's hands. She looked down and saw that the zither was still the same, but the tone of the strings was completely different.

Su Xiaoxiao plucked the strings of the zither with a puzzled expression.

The moment the fingertips touched the strings, the instrument suddenly trembled.

"Zheng——"

A clanging sound pierced the air, like a cold blade being drawn from its sheath.

Her pupils contracted slightly, and the strings beneath her fingers seemed to come alive, vibrating with a chilling, murderous aura. Indeed, the quality of the sound was completely different!

"This……"

Her delicate hands moved swiftly, producing melodious strings that flowed like waves.

A sense of tragic grandeur, reminiscent of "a scholar will die for one who understands him!" and "swords drawn!", instantly reverberated from the music.

When the music reached the "Chongguan" section, the sound of the piano suddenly rose, as if a brave warrior was so angry that his hair stood on end and his sword was pointed at the sky.
When transitioning to the "throwing sword" section, the tone suddenly deepens, like a sharp blade falling to the ground, clanging like metal.

Each sound was like a war drum pounding in her heart, making her fingertips numb and her breathing quicken.

"Young Master Jiang"

As the music ended, Su Xiaoxiao's cheeks were flushed, and her chest heaved violently.

"Sure enough, it sounds much better!"

She stared blankly at the slightly trembling strings, as if the music was playing the image of Nie Zheng, his white robes stained with blood, from thousands of years ago.

In her entire life, she had never played the piece "Guangling San" so breathtakingly!
"Thank you for your guidance, young master!"

At this moment, when she looked at Jiang Xingzhou again, her beautiful eyes were filled with the same adoration and fervor as if she were looking at a grandmaster of the art of the zither.

"The slow mode is a unique secret of Guangling San."

Jiang Xingzhou's voice was like pearls falling on a jade plate. "Only when the two strings resonate with the same note can their chivalrous spirit, like Nie Zheng assassinating Han, be fully revealed. However..."

He looked up and smiled, "If it's another elegant tune, it needs to be tuned back to the correct pitch."

Amidst the rising steam of tea, Prefect Li Huai'an, holding a celadon teacup, stared in astonishment.

He intended to ask for a quick method of calculating accounts, specifically how to calculate an account book that would take ten days to complete in just one hour!

Unexpectedly, this Jiang Sima actually started discussing the art of the zither with Su Xiaoxiao, the most beautiful courtesan from the Drunken Immortal Painting Boat.

"The second string of the slow Shang mode is lowered by a major second?"

Li Huai'an muttered to himself, feeling completely bewildered.

He gazed at the plain zither on the table, as if listening to celestial music.

—Where did Jiang Xingzhou learn such profound musical theories?

As dusk falls, lights begin to twinkle on the Qinhuai River.

Li Huai'an, the deputy governor, had already left.

After listening to the music, Jiang Xingzhou chatted with Su Xiaoxiao for a long time. When he stepped out of the painted boat, his clothes still carried a hint of alcohol, but his steps were still unhurried.

As the foremost of the four great talents renowned throughout Jiangnan, every elegant place in Jinling City was a thoroughfare to him.

Anyone who steps into a restaurant or teahouse, or ascends to a painted boat or singing stage, will be greeted with a bow by a courteous manager. Fine wines and seasonal snacks are all provided free of charge.

It wasn't that he was stingy and unwilling to spend money; it was simply that the reputation of this "Four Great Talents of Jiangnan" as a minor literary master was too great, and everyone was vying to get a piece of his literary aura.

"Jiang Sima, please wait!"

The madam on the pleasure boat chased after her a few steps, her face beaming with smiles, "Next time, I'll have Su Xiaoxiao compose a new version of your 'Spring River Flower Moon Night' into a song, and I'll definitely invite you to personally critique it!"

"Come again next time!"

Jiang Xingzhou waved his hand, and a silver ingot fell from his sleeve as a tip.

With a gentle night breeze on his face and a slight buzz from the wine, he strolled along.

In the distance, the sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from various painted boats, and one could vaguely hear a singing girl from one of the houses singing his old work, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Eternal Foot".

Nowadays, almost all of his poems have been adapted into various musical pieces and dances by the courtesans of the Qinhuai River pleasure boats, becoming wildly popular throughout the city and prefectures of Jiangnan.

As his poems spread among scholars in Jiangnan, and the songs adapted from them were sung on the painted boats of Qinhuai, his fame soared, and the literary titles of his articles rose steadily. Almost all of them were promoted to "Mingzhou" works at the Nanjing Confucian Temple.

The night was deep.

The lanterns of the governor's mansion swayed gently in the wind.

Wei Guanlan put down his vermilion brush and rubbed his aching wrist.

With a mountain of documents piled up on his desk, he finally finished reviewing all the official documents submitted by various government offices. When he looked up, he realized that the moon was already high in the sky outside the window.

Prefect Li Huai'an and Registrar Liu Mingchuan stood by his side, their faces also showing signs of exhaustion—they had stayed up late with the governor.

"Let's go."

Wei Guanlan stood up and straightened his official robes. Suddenly, as if remembering something, a playful smile appeared on his lips: "I've heard that Commander Jiang has been quite idle lately? He disappears before noon every day, spending his days lingering on the pleasure boats of the Qinhuai River?"

"you do not say!
Sir, you didn't see it—

Every day at 3:45 AM, this gentleman would step into the yamen to clock in.

He would sit down at his desk and, with a flick of his vermilion brush, review the documents related to the Grand Canal, and the documents would fly off his desk like snowflakes.

He held a pen in his right hand and sketched, while his left hand could still hold a teacup and sip tea. His calm and composed demeanor made one think he was grading a student's homework.

In less than half an hour, he had finished reviewing all the documents that had been piling up in the six ministries.

When I went to Sima Gong's office to hand over the documents, I found his desk completely empty—he had finished reviewing those canal transport accounts that we couldn't sort out in three to five days in just half an hour.

I heard from the clerks in the administration office that Jiang Sima used a new accounting method that they had never seen before and could not understand.

He could review accounts that would take half a month to tally in just a few moments.

After the official finished approving the document, he turned around and left the yamen, wandering around Jinling City, visiting the painted boats and restaurants along the Qinhuai River.

Aside from the governor's office, he could be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys of Jinling City.

I met him on the painted boat at Zuixianlou.
Good heavens, he's actually chatting with the girls on the pleasure boat about how to compose new lyrics and music, and how to tune the strings of the zither!

When discussing the slow Gong mode and Ruibin mode, techniques such as "tightening the fifth string" and "slowing the third string" are used to change the key.

The 'slow Shang mode' requires the second string to be lowered by a major second to be most suitable for the special mode of pieces such as "Guangling San".

The girl looked at his burning gaze with the same reverence one would show to a grandmaster of the zither.

I was completely dumbfounded.

I don't understand, how does he know everything?!

The shopkeeper, deeply grateful, personally served him the thirty-year-old vintage wine, and then insisted on giving him two boxes of new tea to take home.

"I find it funny," said Li Huai'an, the deputy magistrate, with a hint of sourness.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that there was someone in the world who was so knowledgeable.

Even the "slow Shang mode" of "Guangling San" requires the second string to be lowered by a major second, which is an extremely obscure field of knowledge.

He knew about it, even though he didn't know which book it was in!

No wonder Jiang Xingzhou could review official documents so quickly and effortlessly, without even a second thought.

"What's most infuriating is!"

And all of this, without costing him a single tael of silver. It's truly enviable!

If it were other officials who were eating and drinking for free at restaurants, it would raise suspicions of bribery.

If we dared to do that, the censorate would have flooded me with scathing criticisms.

Ke Jiang Sima—”

Li Huai'an counted on his fingers, "As the head of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan, I have never spent any money when visiting the pleasure boats and restaurants in Jiangnan."

With that title, you can't just eat and drink for free.

Even the most beautiful courtesans on the pleasure boats vied to let him stay overnight.

This is hardly the behavior of an official.

They're clearly living like gods.

The night breeze carried the scent of perfumes and cosmetics from the Qinhuai River, and the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments from the distant painted boats reached our ears.

The three officials stood on the stone steps in front of the governor's office, gazing at the brightly lit banks of the Qinhuai River, and sighed in unison.

“In the past, the famous scholar Pang Tong served as the magistrate of Leiyang County. He spent his days drinking and making merry, to the point that official documents piled up on his desk and the county affairs were paralyzed.”

Liu Bei was furious and ordered Zhang Fei to investigate him, intending to dismiss him from his post.

Pang Shiyuan, however, finished reviewing all the documents that had been piling up for months in one go, within half a day.

Without a single oversight, the people praised him!
Liu Bei, realizing Pang Tong's great talent, promoted him to Military Advisor General!

Governor Wei Guanlan turned his gaze to a brightly lit pleasure boat on the river, stroked his beard, and sighed, "It seems that Sima Jiang is still using his talents for a small task! The mere official documents of the governor's office are just a matter of a stroke of the pen for him, and he can finish them in a short while!"

"In my humble opinion, Commander Jiang is still too idle!"

"Prefect Li Huai'an said with a smile."

"Unfortunately, the Jiangnan region is currently at peace after the Taihu Lake demon army has been wiped out, but there are no major incidents. The reports are all trivial matters that take a lot of time and effort."

It seems that only when Jiang Sima enters the Three Departments and Six Ministries of the Imperial Court and takes on a post can he be made to worry more.

Chief Clerk Liu Mingchuan also jokingly laughed.

(End of this chapter)