Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Chapter 100 Respect for the Emperor

"Ministry of Industry?"

Chen Zhi was silent for a few moments, then said slowly, "It's not that it's not good for you to come to the Ministry of Works, but I won't be in charge of you. Go to Minister Du's office as a clerk. Minister Du is in charge of military equipment and armor, and I will talk to him and have him keep a close eye on you."

"Thank you, brother." Xu You cupped his hands and smiled, "With your help, I should be safe in Taichung!"

"You!" Chen Zhi shook his head and smiled. "But there's one more thing, Ayou. Now that you're going to Taichung to take up your post, you should also have your coming-of-age ceremony and be given a courtesy name."

"Let's go. We have nothing to do tonight. You'll come with me to see Fei Pu She. He's my maternal uncle, so there shouldn't be any problem with him giving you a courtesy name."

Xu You seemed somewhat hesitant: "Thank you for the arrangement, brother. But wouldn't it be inappropriate to go looking for the servant tonight?"

Chen Zhi clapped his hands: "You don't need to worry about so much, just come with me. After your coming-of-age ceremony, if the time is right, I can also make some preparations to find you a good match."

"Huh?" Xu You seemed at a loss for words.

As Chen Zhi said, Fei Yi himself was still busy with official business in the office of the imperial guard.

Upon hearing that Chen Zhi and Xu You had arrived, Fei Yi ordered his assistants to invite them into the house before putting down the ink brush he had been holding.

"grown ups."

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

Seeing the two bow, Fei Yi smiled and nodded: "Ayou, right? Please take your seats."

"it is good."

"Thank you for offering me a seat, sir."

Chen Zhi and Xu You did not refuse and immediately sat down.

Seeing Fei Yi's gaze fall upon him, Chen Zhi smiled and said, "It's already past 7:45 PM, and you're still busy so late, my lord. You are truly diligent in state affairs."

Fei Yi didn't put on airs, and curled his lip: "A few political affairs, how can they be so busy? If it were a normal day, one morning would be more than enough to handle these affairs. It's not that I'm deliberately being diligent, but rather that I had a lot of things piled up from my trip to Chengdu, which is why I had to stay up late to work."

"What brings you here, Fengzong?"

"That's how it is." Chen Zhi cupped his hands in greeting: "To be honest, sir, Ayou just turned twenty after the New Year and should be having his coming-of-age ceremony. If my brother and I are to seek an elder in Hanzhong, we can only ask you, sir, to bestow upon us a cap and a courtesy name."

"No problem." Fei Yi stroked his beard and smiled. "Ayou, come closer."

"Yes, sir." Xu You carefully bowed and then cautiously stood up and walked to Fei Yi.

Although Fei Yi was Chen Zhi's father-in-law, Fei Yi was also the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat of Hanzhong, a figure akin to a prime minister. How could Xu You dare to tread on thin ice?

Fei Yi's expression gradually turned serious, and he asked in a deep voice, "Ayou, I already know about your family background. A man who has reached the age of twenty should be capped and given a courtesy name. Before the capping ceremony, I must ask you, what are your aspirations?"

"I—" Xu You's breathing quickened slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he replied, "I dare not deceive you, Your Excellency. My only wish in this life is to serve as a high-ranking official, to restore my family's reputation and ensure its integrity. That is all!"

Fei Yi nodded: "I understand. Throughout history, scholars have chosen courtesy names that are related to their given names, or that express their aspirations. But your given name is 'You,' which does not align with your ambitions. Your elder brother's courtesy name is 'Fengzong,' so you should choose 'Jingzong' instead!"

"Xu You, courtesy name Jingzong! What do you think?"

"Xu Jingzong—" Xu You stood still and softly uttered these three words.

Seeing this, Chen Zhi stepped forward and instructed Xu You, "Since your elder has bestowed this calligraphy upon you, why don't you bow and express your gratitude?"

Xu You then realized what was happening and prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "I thank you, Your Excellency, for bestowing upon me this calligraphy!"

"Okay." Fei Yi nodded and stood up, looking at Chen Zhi: "Is Feng Zong carrying COVID-19?"

Chen Zhi handed over a new, single-beam Jinxian hat that he had prepared beforehand: "I trouble you, sir, to adorn Jingzong with this hat."

"Thank you, Master." Xu You raised his head and gradually straightened his upper body.

Fei Yi slowly stepped forward and placed a hair crown on Xu You's head, then inserted a hair bun into it.

The coming-of-age ceremony is like this; it can be elaborate or simple, but the most important thing is to find an elder to bestow the cap and name upon the person.

More importantly, Xu You obtained a favor from Fei Yi, thus establishing a connection between the two. This incident, if told in the future, would become a celebrated tale!

After leaving Fei Yi's office, Xu You and Chen Zhi walked side by side, deeply moved: "Today I was also crowned, it really feels like a dream. Tomorrow I'll be going to Taichung for work—"

"Hahahaha." Chen Zhi laughed and patted Xu You on the shoulder: "Xu Jingzong, this calligraphy is truly excellent, perfectly matching your aspirations. In my opinion, your courtesy name shows the potential to become a prime minister!"

Xu You shook his head repeatedly: "Brother, please don't joke with me. You should go and become the prime minister. I'm content to be a leisurely high-ranking official."

"Who can predict what will happen in this world?" Chen Zhi sighed softly. "Should I call you Jingzong or Ayou from now on?"

Xu You said, "If we're outside, elder brother can call me Jingzong. But if we're at home, it's better if we just call each other Ayou, elder brother, it's more intimate!"

"Very good, very good." Chen Zhi smiled.

As the two were walking towards their residence, halfway there, the assistant who had been serving Fei Yi at the gate came running after them from behind.

The clerk ran alongside, calling out, "Minister Chen! Minister Chen! Please wait!"

Chen Zhi stopped, frowning slightly: "What happened?"

After the clerk stopped, he bowed and said, panting heavily, "Minister, the Grand Secretary summons you back. He says General Jiang has sent an urgent report."

"I understand." Chen Zhi nodded lightly. "Ayou, you can go back now."

"Yes," Xu You replied, bowing.

Holding the military report, Fei Yi walked towards Liu Shan's residence, saying as they went, "The Wei Kingdom is actually going to grant these Qiang and Di peoples titles! If the court doesn't take any further action, all the Qiang and Hu people from Guanzhong to Liangzhou, the entire Yongliang region, will be granted Wei seals of office!"

Chen Zhi frowned as well: "We must deal with this properly. Right now, dealing with Wei's actions is a temporary measure; the priority is to deal with the strength of the Di tribes of Wudu—"

The matter of resolving this issue is of utmost urgency. Your Excellency should devise a solution as soon as possible.

Fei Yi walked very fast, but fortunately Chen Zhi was almost the same height as Fei Yi, so he was able to keep up closely.

Fei Yi said, "This Qiang Duan clan—more than ten years ago, they caused trouble in the Yinping and Wudu areas. Now they have rebellious intentions. In my opinion, it would be better to move all their followers back to Hanzhong. This would both replenish the population and prevent them from causing trouble."

"The problem is that we're worried about a reaction from the Wei Kingdom. If we were to start another war with the Wei Kingdom because of this Di tribe, it wouldn't be good."

Chen Zhi thought for a moment: "I don't know much about these administrative matters. If we were to relocate the Qiangduan to Hanzhong, how long would it take to prepare and how much time would it be?"

"How long?" Fei Yi frowned and replied, "If we're quick, it can be done in a day or two. But we won't be able to bring all the Di people's wealth and provisions, and the court will have to spend even more money, which will make them resentful. If everything needs to be prepared, it could take at least half a month to a month to get from Wudu to Hanzhong!"

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