The Empire will continue to win

"The three letters and six rites, not one less. If I were to ask you for money again, what kind of person would I be? Would I have no face left? The Zhou rites cannot be abolished, and the rules cannot be broken. Otherwise, I would rather die."

now.

With his temples streaked with gray, Du Fengzhi resembled an ancient gentleman, radiating the brilliance of humanity.

Everyone nodded, then lowered their heads to eat, and the atmosphere at the table became somewhat subdued.

Shen Moqing was deeply moved. Honest people are good; in the end, honest people are the ones who win in this world.

"Father-in-law, let me toast you."

"What a wonderful son-in-law!"

The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

.........

Shen Moqing: "Gentlemen, I have a question: why is it so difficult for successful candidates in the imperial examinations to be granted official positions?"

Du Fengzhi: "Because there were too many successful candidates in the imperial examinations."

Liu Guangdi: "Yes, I heard from fellow villagers at the Sichuan Guild Hall that there are more than 300 people from Sichuan province alone who have been waiting to be elected in Beijing over the years."

The aged Zhang Chuanning shook his head: "I estimate there are over 800 people from Jiangsu who came to Beijing to pursue their studies."

Du Fengzhi also joined the discussion: "There are about 500 people in Zhejiang."

Tesla blinked his intelligent eyes: "There are 112 people in North America."

The most honest of them all, Du Fengzhi, once again reassured everyone: "Fortunately, we've all registered with the Ministry of Personnel. Just wait patiently, it will be our turn eventually. We must be patient and have faith in the imperial court."

"Yeah yeah."

There was an oversupply of successful candidates in the imperial examinations, but a shortage of official positions.

This problem is almost unsolvable.

Unless, overnight, all the county magistrates of the empire suddenly die.

.........

With such a genius before him, Shen Moqing couldn't resist the urge to recruit him: "Mr. Te, what do you want to do in the future?"

"I want to be an official!"

"What about the others?"

"Nothing else, I just want to be an official!"

"What's so good about being an official?"

"In books there are houses of gold, in books there are thousands of bushels of grain, in books there are beauties like jade. Houses of gold, thousands of bushels of grain, beauties like jade, isn't that obvious enough?" Tesla said righteously.

"I thought you foreigners didn't like being officials and preferred doing business," Shen Moqing said quietly, feeling that something was wrong but couldn't quite put her finger on it. Could it be because the time and space were different?

Tesla put down his chopsticks and waved his hand, saying, "No, no, that's a prejudice. It's as if we foreigners don't like pursuing progress. I'm not interested in money; I only want to make progress."

The professor felt a tightness in his chest, but he hadn't completely given up hope.

So they continued to probe:

"So, what about scientists? I've heard you're very talented in physics. I know some people who can recommend you for the Imperial Academy of Sciences."

"While there's nothing wrong with being a scientist, being an imperial civil servant is more promising for me." Tesla pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his expression reserved, looking every bit like a traditional Confucian scholar.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Tesla is right!

Yes.

If it weren't for cephalosporin mixed with baijiu (Chinese liquor), I might still be teaching at Dandong University right now.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with teaching and nurturing people, but for me, the political arena offers a much wider scope and more possibilities.

Hahaha~

Out of resentment, he drank two more glasses, cursing inwardly, "Damn it, why don't you intellectuals want to work in factories?"

They ate and drank their fill.

The music ended and the audience dispersed.

"Now that you are married, you should prioritize your husband's family. Please go back." Du Fengzhi decisively refused his daughter's attempt to clean up the mess at the dinner table. What does it mean to say that a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup?

Shen Moqing thought for a moment.

"Father-in-law, how about we move to a cleaner and tidier courtyard? The rent can be paid from Lan'er's monthly allowance."

"No, no. Subsidizing one's own family in private would be seen as disloyalty."

"The monthly allowance is pocket money in the Dajiamen family, and everyone receives it. Besides, Lan'er is frugal by nature and spends very little. It is reasonable for her to rent a cheaper courtyard for you."

Everyone tried to persuade him.

Du Fengzhi reluctantly agreed: "Unless you agree to one condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"I'll be the one to find a house."

"Father-in-law, it's a deal." Shen Moqing cupped his hands in a respectful bow. "Everyone, farewell!"

The return journey was a snail's pace.

Excuse me, may I pass?

"Whoa~"

Because the problem of unauthorized occupation of roads in the southern part of the city was very serious, the coachman was sweating profusely and barely managed to drive the carriage through the narrow and winding alleys.

Shen Moqing lifted the carriage curtain, and all he could see was a chaotic mess of buildings.

Housing is scarce and land is extremely valuable, so almost all homeowners are trying to expand their living space both above and to the sides.

Houses upon houses, floors upon floors.

Stones, bricks, mud bricks, bamboo—all sorts of materials were used.

In five years at most, South Shore will become a true Kowloon town.

.........

Nanyuan.

Gun factory.

playground.

Wang Shizhen, the chief instructor of the military training, glanced at his pocket watch and said, "Pass down the order: everyone take a 15-minute break."

Instead of heading north with the First Town, he stayed at the factory to serve as the head of the instructor team, leading the Five Tigers of Baoding Army.

Although he was one of the bottom five, Shen Moqing received three times the salary of his rank, lived in a single dormitory, had fish and meat at every meal, and drank wine at night. He was quite well treated.

"Dismissed. Take a 15-minute break."

Everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon, staggering about in all directions; the daily training volume was simply too great.

The spoiled brats of the General Affairs Department gathered together, cursing and swearing.

"I just don't understand, why is our military factory doing militia training?"

"It is said that Supervisor Shen wanted to form a militia battalion."

"Is he planning a rebellion?"

"Hard to say."

"Shall we go to the imperial court and report this bastard?"

At that moment, someone came over.

"Gentlemen, have you heard? The imperial court is about to wage a major war."

"The First Army Division has already gone to Liaodong; this is no secret."

"That's where the problem lies. There's a severe shortage of troops at the front, and the army in the Kinki region can't be fully mobilized, so the court is trying to find ways to cobble things together."

"No, what does this have to do with us men?"

"Yes, let's go to the front lines and hold them off."

"What?"

Instantly, everyone's back pain and leg soreness disappeared, and they all gathered around.

"Is your information accurate?"

"This is just hearsay, and its accuracy is not guaranteed."

"Won't the imperial court really send us to the battlefield?"

The group exchanged horrified glances, a shadow falling over their hearts. The main reason was that the overall situation and the recent militia training suddenly aligned, making them increasingly fearful and convinced of the possibility of this happening.

.........

the next day.

At lunchtime, Shen Moqing encountered a group of spoiled young men from the General Affairs Department outside the cafeteria.

"What brings you all here?"

"We humbly request an explanation from the Superintendent: there have been rumors circulating in the factory recently that the Army is planning to conscript our factory's militia to the battlefield. Is there any truth to this?"

"Fake."

"Then why do we need military training?"

"Ladies and gentlemen, the rumors about the Army Ministry drawing Yanshan Heavy Industry militia to the battlefield are pure fabrication. There is absolutely no such thing, absolutely no such thing." Shen Moqing raised his voice eight octaves. "Don't believe the rumors, don't spread the rumors, and take the group's announcements as the standard."

After saying that, he pushed through the crowd and strode away.

Everyone looked at each other.

"He said it was a rumor?"

"Bullshit! You can hear that in reverse. What they deny is probably true. Ladies and gentlemen, that damned Shen Moqing is trying to use our blood to smear his official hat!"

Before she could finish speaking, her voice was already trembling with tears.