Duke of Zhenguan

The Lizheng Palace was where Empress Zhangsun lived. It was dilapidated and leaked in many places. Minister of Personnel Zhangsun Wuji could not bear to see his sister's place in such a poor state, so he requested an imperial decree to repair the palace for the empress.

This is the beginning of the official document, explaining the reason for repairing the Lizheng Hall.

"To be ranked first in Lingyan Pavilion, one cannot judge solely by merit!"

Lin Chuan flipped through the official documents, sighing inwardly.

The Lizheng Hall to be repaired is not a single hall, but a complex of palaces.

Of course, these palaces were only being repaired, so it wasn't a major project. That's why Li Shan was able to simply pass the buck to Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan worked for four days, focusing all his attention on the case files, and didn't even understand the most basic procedures.

Lin Chuan didn't rush after receiving the official document. He found a document from the files about the previous repairs of the palace and began to analyze the process.

The process was not complicated. Generally, the Ministry of Works would put forward a plan, submit it to the three provinces for approval, and after approval, the Ministry of Works would transfer the plan to the Directorate of Works and the Directorate of Imperial Household, which would then be responsible for its implementation.

The actual work was done by the Directorate of Works and the Directorate of Imperial Works, while the Ministry of Works was responsible for developing plans, supervision, and final acceptance.

Lin Chuan thought this was not difficult, so he couldn't guess where Li Shan had dug a hole for himself.

With a wicked mind, Lin Chuan was certain that Li Shan had dug a pit for him.

But a higher rank can have an absolute advantage. Even if he knew there was a trap, Lin Chuan had to take the job. Otherwise, how could he establish himself in the Ministry of Works?

After figuring out the process, Lin Chuan began to work.

As the second-in-command of the Ministry of Works, he naturally didn't have to do things himself, but Lin Chuan didn't know if he could actually command those people.

The Ministry of Works had very few officials. Apart from Li Shan, the secretary, and Lin Chuan, the assistant secretary, there was only one clerk of the ninth rank named Zhao Xun. In addition, there were eight clerks and four scribes.

On his first day at the Ministry of Works, Lin Chuan learned that Li Shan, the Director of the Ministry of Works, was a confidant of Pei Qing, the Vice Minister.

Now he needs to confirm that those people in the Ministry of Works are the confidants of Physician Li Shan.

Lin Chuan had never been an official, but where there are people, there is conflict, and the Ministry of Works should not be a monolithic entity.

Just like in the side hall at this moment, there are two clerks who are idle from morning to night, either drinking tea or chatting, and occasionally going out.

There were also a few who pretended to be working, but they didn't change a single piece of paper on their desks all day, just like those seasoned office workers who slack off at work.

Only three people were actually doing the work.

The busiest person was the young clerk sitting not far from Lin Chuan, copying documents.

The young official's surname was Xu, his given name was Chun, he was of good appearance, and he was in his early twenties.

After observing for so many days, Lin Chuan concluded that this Xu Lingshi was definitely not one of Li Shan's men.

Of all the clerks, this Clerk Xu was the youngest and busiest. While the other clerks had time to drink tea and chat, Clerk Xu was busy from morning till night.

After glancing at the other clerks working, Lin Chuan's gaze settled on Clerk Xu, and he said politely:

"Clerk Xu, go and invite Steward Zhao to come here!"

"Here you go!"

Xu Chun was taken aback for a moment, then cupped his hands in response and quickly walked outside.

A short while later, Zhao Xun followed Xu Chun to the side hall.

Zhao Xun had just turned thirty this year. Although he was not tall, he was quite sturdy. After arriving at the side hall, he respectfully bowed to Lin Chuan.

"This humble servant, Zhao Xun, greets Assistant Minister Lin!"

"Master Zhao!"

Lin Chuan nodded and asked with a smile:

"Physician Li has just assigned me an official task: to repair the Lizheng Hall. I'm new here and don't know where to begin. I'd like to consult with Steward Zhao. Does Steward Zhao have some free time?"

"Master Lin, I have to oversee the repairs of Xuanwu Gate, so I really don't have time..." Zhao Xun said with a troubled expression.

"It's alright, then Lord Zhao, please go ahead with your business!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"This humble servant takes his leave!"

Although he had expected it, Lin Chuan was still somewhat troubled by Zhao Xun's attitude.

He stood up and said to Xu Chun:

"Xu Lingshi, come with me to the Imperial Workshop!"

"Here you go!"

Xu Chun bowed in response.

After leaving the Ministry of Works, Lin Chuan glanced at Xu Chun, who was half a step behind him, and asked with a smile:

"How long has Xu Lingshi been in the Ministry of Works?"

"It has been more than five years, Lin Yuanwailang!" Xu Chun replied.

"Does Magistrate Xu know what my colleagues in the Ministry of Works are saying about me behind my back?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Uh, I've never heard of that..." Xu Chun shook his head awkwardly.

"It's just the two of us here, so please feel free to speak, Xu Lingshi!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

Xu Chun hesitated for a moment, then said softly:

"They all say that Lin Yuanwailang is lucky..."

"Anything else?" Lin Chuan asked.

Now that he had brought it up, Xu Chun no longer hid anything and continued:

"They also said that Lin Yuanwailang was just a noodle shop vendor before, who had never been to school and knew nothing about anything, yet he came to the Ministry of Works as a Yuanwailang, and probably couldn't even understand official documents..."

Lin Chuan chuckled, walked silently for a while, then suddenly smiled and said to Xu Chun:

"I think so too, but you're mistaken. I've been to school, and I've read quite a lot!"

"This humble servant dares not!"

Upon arriving at the Imperial Workshop, the two explained to the guards at the gate that they were looking for Yan Lide, the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Workshop, and were then allowed inside.

Upon entering the Imperial Workshop, they were led by an official to a reception hall in the front courtyard. A short while later, a middle-aged man in a blue robe entered the side hall, glanced at Lin Chuan and Xu Chun, and frowned as he asked Lin Chuan:

"I am Chen Wang, the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops. May I ask who you are?"

"Lin Chuan, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works, greets Supervisor Chen!" Lin Chuan said, bowing.

"An Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works?"

Chen Wang's brows furrowed further as he looked at Lin Chuan, whose face still bore a hint of childishness. He forced a smile and said:

"Is Supervisor Yan absent? Is there something amiss with Assistant Minister Lin?"

"Supervisor Chen, today the Ministry of Works received an official document from the Ministry of Revenue, instructing the Ministry of Works to be responsible for the repair of the Lizheng Hall. I have come here to ask Vice Supervisor Yan to arrange for someone to go to the palace with me to conduct an on-site survey so that we can formulate a repair plan!" Lin Chuan said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"This matter has already been handed over to me by Supervisor Yan! Assistant Minister Lin, I'm afraid this matter will have to be postponed!" Chen Wang said.

"Why?" Lin Chuan asked, frowning.

"The renovation of Lizheng Hall requires precious woods such as old golden nanmu. Yesterday, news came from the Bureau of Crafts that two batches of timber harvested and transported from Jiannan Road were burned by bandits in Longyou. Supervisor Yan is going to handle this matter!"

The precious timber in the Jiangzuojian warehouse has been used up. The timber that was supposed to be delivered in the next two days has been burned. I also know about the repair of the Lizheng Hall, but without timber, the Jiangzuojian is powerless to help!

"It will take at least half a month to a month for timber from other places to be transported to Chang'an. I'm afraid the repair of the Lizheng Hall will have to be postponed?" Chen Wang asked.

Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice; without wood, repairs are out of the question.

After bidding farewell to the Directorate of Works and returning to the Ministry of Works with Xu Chun, Lin Chuan picked up the official document on the table and looked at the deadline clearly stated on the document, only then realizing that the pit was actually here.