You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 3: Procedures at the Ministry of Personnel

Hong Chengchou broke the silence by coughing:
"Jiang Qingyun, Your Majesty has read your memorial and ordered me and Lord Fan to take the lead in curbing smallpox. Have you passed the imperial examination?"

"I am dull-witted and lack family education, and have not yet passed the imperial examination."

Fan and Hong exchanged a glance and nodded.

The conversation was just a formality, a way to observe people.

Fan Wencheng spoke up:

"In that case, you should go to the South City Military Command and take up the post of acting deputy commander."

"Thank you, Your Excellencies. Please advise me on what I need to do after taking office." Jiang Qingyun quickly got into the swing of things, his eyes immediately revealing the joy of receiving the official position.

Hong Chengchou remained silent.

It was Fan Wencheng who spoke again:
"Catching thieves, dealing with fire and water hazards, and patrolling at night—these are your duties. In addition, you also need to appease the people of the southern city and curb the spread of smallpox."

"You'd better report to the Ministry of Personnel immediately. When you can remove the title of 'acting' depends on your performance."

After speaking, Fan Wencheng was the first to leave the case.

Hong Chengchou paused slightly, glancing at Jiang Qingyun and nodding almost imperceptibly before leaving the table.

……

Stepping out of the Ministry of Rites, Jiang Qingyun took a deep breath—the gears of fate had begun to turn at that moment.
The officialdom has always been a one-way street! There's no turning back!

But which other road allows for both advancing and retreating?
Before his time travel, he was a student from a small town, a talented individual but constrained by various factors.

After the college entrance exam, the father said:
"The 21st century is the age of biology; there is great potential in studying biology."

Four years later~
He sighed, plunged into the crowded track with no restrictions, and successfully made it to shore. The hardships he endured are beyond the comprehension of outsiders.

The father then said:
“Starting from the grassroots is a good thing! I saw in a TV series that prime ministers rose from the ranks of prefectures and counties! This fully illustrates the necessity of grassroots training, and there is much to be done, much to be done.”

At this point, Jiang Qingyun could only smile.
Ten fulfilling and busy years passed in the blink of an eye, and he earned a promotion to deputy section chief with outstanding achievements. Finally, he could tuck his shirt into his pants naturally and walk with his hands behind his back naturally.

However, they were still a long way from the magistrate's catchment area.

Another 10 years have passed in the blink of an eye, and unsurprisingly, we've remained stagnant, going around in circles.

If he hadn't transmigrated, he would never have been able to cure his secondary ailment in his entire life.

……

Seriously speaking, the new starting point is not low.

Following the Ming system, the Five City Military Commands were divided into five divisions: East, West, South, North, and Central. The commander of each division was a sixth-rank official, and the deputy commander was a seventh-rank official.

In terms of responsibilities, the Military Command is equivalent to the former two bureaus that were in charge of public security and city appearance, now combined into one.

Although their rank is not high, the things they manage are all very real.

Aside from high-ranking officials and government offices, Jiang Qingyun could exert concrete influence on every inch of land and every person in the entire southern city if needed.

The only regret is that I'm only a deputy!
Those who frequently hold official positions know that the difference between a principal and a deputy is no less than that between a person and a dog.

……

"Master!"

In the distance, a servant, peering out from the crowd, excitedly waved his right arm. Clearly, this was someone the father had sent out because he didn't trust him.

"Phew, I'm finally cured of my minor illness."

"What did you say, young master?"

"Nothing much, I just got a real position as the deputy commander of the South City Garrison, a rank 7."

"Congratulations, young master! Congratulations, young master!"

The servant was about to kneel down in the street when he was interrupted by a single sentence.

"What did my father send you here for?"

"Send silver!"

……

Jiang Zhongcheng, the cavalry commander, understood the Qing Dynasty!
Upon arriving at the spacious and clean Ministry of Personnel, Jiang Qingyun stepped down from the carriage and began climbing the steps.

A middle-aged doorman suddenly moved aside, blocking the way.

"Huh~"

"I'm here to receive my official title, the seventh-rank deputy commander of the Five Cities Garrison." Jiang Qingyun handed over one tael of silver without revealing his identity.

"Wow, young man, you have a bright future ahead of you."

The doorman smiled and instantly moved aside to make way.

"Excuse me, sir, how do I get to the Imperial Academy?"

"Hey~ Go straight after entering the door, turn left after passing the second door, and the third room inside is the one with the door just painted red. Just step in."

The three "eh" sounds from the doorkeeper, though different in tone and length, precisely convey a wealth of meanings: anger, reproach, and familiarity.

……

The Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department was a highly sought-after department.

The head physician was not there, nor was the deputy head physician; only a Shaoxing clerk was working inside.

Jiang Qingyun cupped his hands in greeting:
"My name is Jiang Qingyun, and I have come here to report for duty."

The clerk put down his wolf-hair brush, carefully examined the letter from head to toe, and then slowly opened it. Upon seeing the 100-tael silver note tucked inside, he was instantly in high spirits.

"Excellent, excellent. A martial arts master with the features of a scholar, a northerner with southern features, upright and dignified, exuding integrity. Hmm, very good, he will surely be a good official in the future." "You flatter me, sir. May I ask your honorable surname?"

"No need for formalities, my surname is Zhou, and my given name is Shao."

"Greetings, Master Zhou."

"Commander Jiang, please sit down and have some tea. I'll go and take care of the formalities for you and be right back."

……

Jiang Qingyun stayed in the next room for about half an hour before Master Zhou returned.

"The official seal, official certificate, and everything else needed to take office are all here."

"Thank you, Master Zhou."

"Is there anything else?"

"My lord, I have a favor to ask. Could you please have an official escort me to my post at the South City Military Command, as a gesture of support from the Ministry of Personnel for my work?"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Then can I use the Ministry of Personnel's sedan chair to take me to my new post? Is that alright? It won't be free." Jiang Qingyun smiled and handed over a 30-tael silver note, no more than that.

……

Master Zhou pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized and laughed:
"Good lad, it's a shame you're not a secretary. You've really figured out the ins and outs of being an official. What a brilliant idea to send a new official off to his post! Brilliant!"

"Let's have lunch together, and I'll take you to your new post in a sedan chair."

"Thank you, Master, for your help."

The section from Zhengyangmen to Wumen was densely packed with government offices, including the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, the Court of Judicial Review, the Court of State Ceremonies, the Imperial Observatory, the Censorate, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Imperial Clan Court, the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Medical Academy, and the Hanlin Academy.

Too many people and too many eyes.

Zhou Shao was a cautious person and suggested that they eat at a quieter place.

When they left the Ministry of Personnel, the two did not even walk together, but one in front of the other.

To avoid suspicion~
……

As Jiang Qingyun was leaving, he saw the doorman again. After thinking for a moment, he gave him another tael of silver.

From now on, I will visit the Ministry of Personnel frequently.

Leave a favor.

The doorman was surprised, and after taking the money, he let out a short "Eh."

Jiang Qingyun understood!

In layman's terms, it would roughly mean: "You're already here, why are you being so polite? We're so familiar with each other, no, no, no, okay, okay, okay~"

A true master of language!
Profound meaning in concise words.

……

If you walk two miles to the east, there is an alley called "Huaziying". As the name suggests, it is a place where beggars often hang out.

Zhou Shao looked at the few timid beggars squatting at the entrance of the alley, took out a string of copper coins from his sleeve, and threw them into the broken bowl.

Dang rang~
Crisp and pleasant.

"Thank you, sir. May your family be blessed with longevity and prosperity."

The beggars kept saying auspicious words.

The city of Beijing is truly different; even the beggars' polite remarks are noticeably more sophisticated. In Baoding, the most they'd say is "May you make a fortune, sir."

……

"Master Zhou is kind-hearted."

“Not really!” Zhou Shao sighed. “Years ago, when I was at my lowest point, I also had to beg for food from a hundred families. If it weren’t for the charity of kind people, I would have… sigh!”

Jiang Qingyun understood instantly.

The fact that someone as talented as Zhou Shao could be reduced to begging must have been during the period when the Qing army entered the pass.

"Try it, this roast chicken is really authentic."

It's a small, dark-skinned restaurant. The owner specializes in roast chicken, which melts in your mouth, is tender and fragrant, and you can even chew the bones.

"Brother Jiang, how are you?"

"good to eat!"

"This is what they call delicious food found among ordinary people!"

……

After eating and drinking their fill, the two left the restaurant and walked only a few steps before seeing a dilapidated courtyard on the side of the road.

The crooked calligraphy on the door read "Infant Care Center," and strange noises came from behind the broken door—something that seemed human, yet not human.

Jiang Qingyun became curious and walked towards the broken door, pushing it open.

"Brother Jiang, don't go in!"

Zhou Shao's voice was filled with terror, but it was too late.
……

Greetings, esteemed readers, welcome aboard. To cultivate good reading habits, during the new book period, there will be two daily updates as per international practice, generally at 6:18 and 11:11, though editorial requests are not excluded. After the book is officially released, there will be a minimum of three updates, always at 6:18. Any unexpected updates will be due to the formidable Shen He. As experienced passengers know, Xiaoxiaosheng's driving style is summed up in one word: steady!

(End of this chapter)