Chapter 136 Insatiable Greed

In ancient times, a single county had three or four officials, and a prefecture had dozens. The Great Tang boasted over three hundred prefectures, which, combined with the Three Departments, Six Ministries, and twenty-four bureaus at the imperial court, meant there were no fewer than twenty thousand officials, large and small, scattered from top to bottom. This did not even count the honorary or titular officials who held no real power. Unless Li Longji possessed a computer for a brain, it was simply impossible for him to remember whether someone was Feng Wannian or Zhen Qian.

Why did ancient dynasties always speak of "dwelling in the emperor's mind"?

To have a person's name constantly on the lips of the emperor meant that person was either about to experience a meteoric rise to power or was not far from death.

Gao Lishi had already secretly glanced at the names on the memorial of congratulations, and now spoke with unhurried composure: "Feng Wannian is a native of Bohai, a successful imperial scholar from the twenty-second year of the Kaiyuan era. He first served as a registrar in Qingliu County, then was promoted to magistrate of Dantu County, and was just transferred last year to serve as the magistrate of Luoquan County. During his tenure, his administrative achievements were outstanding, his performance evaluations ranged from middle to upper, and he is fond of calligraphy... He also seems to have some connection with Feng Changqing, the Deputy Protector-General of Anxi..."

Gao Lishi rattled off the details as if he were reciting family treasures, speaking as though he had known this man for a long time. His words flowed with lavish praise, conveniently doing Feng Changqing a favor, which caused Li Longji to nod repeatedly.

"And who is this Zhen Qian?"

"Zhen Qian is a native of Zhending in Hengzhou. His father, Zhen Sheng, is currently the magistrate of Lucheng County in Cangzhou. In the tenth year of the Kaiyuan era, Zhen Qian passed the imperial examinations in both mathematics and the classics, and was preparing to receive an official appointment when, unfortunately, on his way home to pay respects at his ancestors' graves, his horse was startled. He fell from the mount and suffered amnesia, prompting the Ministry of Personnel to rescind his appointment. Unexpectedly, his memory recovered half a year later, and he currently resides in Luoquan County... He has a carefree disposition, is skilled in the art of arithmetic, and has been deeply influenced by the Zhen family..."

Li Longji nodded; Gao Lishi had already provided a very detailed account. "Oh... I remember Zhen Ji. I wonder what relation he bears to this man?"

"Zhen Qian is the eldest legitimate son of the second branch of the Zhen family, while Zhen Ji belongs to the third branch. He has long been renowned for his virtue in his locality, and the imperial court has repeatedly summoned him, though he has not taken office. This October, An Lushan memorialized the throne to recommend Zhen Ji, who currently holds the post of Registrar of Fanyang..."

"Why does this name Zhen Qian sound somewhat familiar to me?"

"Does Your Majesty remember that essay, *Ode to the Lotus*?"

"It's him!" Li Longji suddenly realized, saying with sudden enlightenment: "This man compared himself to a lotus... *emerging from the mud unstained, washing clean by the ripples without being seductive; hollow inside and straight outside, without tendrils or branches*... I wonder if this man was speaking of himself?"

The official career of an ancient scholar was like a thousand armies crossing a single-log bridge, far more difficult than the imperial examinations of later generations. Those scholars who truly managed to pass the imperial examinations were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Under the prevailing ideology that one should master civil and military arts and sell them to the imperial household, entering officialdom became a scholar's only choice. However, when their official careers hit snags, some genuinely became hermits, while others merely sought fame and reputation through affected seclusion. When emperors summoned hermits to court, it burnished their reputation for cherishing talent, while the hermits themselves could acquire a reputation for high-minded integrity.

Seeing that Li Longji had developed an interest in Zhen Qian, Gao Lishi smiled faintly: "Your Majesty, Zhen Qian offering the crystal mirror is a manifestation of a subject's utmost loyalty. Since Her Imperial Consort likes it, bestowing an official post upon Zhen Qian would be entirely fitting!"

"An official post..." Li Longji paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. Wasn't Zhen Qian presenting this treasure simply to obtain a reward? "Do you think this crystal mirror is truly as precious as the memorial claims—that the Great Qin was willing to trade an entire city for it?"

A sharp glint flashed in Gao Lishi's eyes as he accurately grasped Li Longji's thoughts: "During the Warring States period, the State of Zhao acquired the Heshi Bi jade, and upon hearing of it, the State of Qin expressed its willingness to exchange fifteen cities for it. In this old slave's view, while this crystal mirror naturally cannot compare to the Heshi Bi, exchanging a small city for it is more than sufficient!"

"Such an auspicious sign naturally calls for a heavy reward..." Li Longji was very pleased, though he hesitated for a moment: "How many years has my imperial elder brother, Shilang Li Cui, been stationed in Hengzhou?"

"One year and eight months!"

"Very well! When Li Cui returns to the capital this time, he need not be sent out again. Promote Feng Wannian, the magistrate of Luoquan County, to the post of Vice-Prefect of Hengzhou, and let all three administrative assistants in the county be promoted by one rank. As for Zhen Qian... for his meritorious service in presenting an auspicious sign, confer upon him the title of Baron of Luoquan County, with an appanage of three hundred households. Order the Ministry of Personnel to appoint Zhen Qian to a substantive vacancy as a county magistrate in Hebei Circuit..." Feeling that his generosity was still somewhat lacking, Li Longji turned his head to look at Yang Yuhuan, whose beauty rivaled a peony, as she affectionately fondled the crystal mirror. "Take one million coins from my private treasury, along with one hundred bolts of Sichuan brocade and a pair of *ruyi* sceptres... and bestow them upon Zhen Qian!"

Using funds from the Ministry of Revenue to reward Zhen Qian would naturally have been improper; the fact that Li Longji used the money and provisions from his personal inner treasury showed how extraordinary his favor toward Yang Yuhuan was—something even Gao Lishi, who had served by Li Longji's side for years, rarely witnessed.

In the Tang dynasty, the system of noble ranks comprised nine tiers: the first tier was Prince, with an appanage of ten thousand households, ranking as Prime First-Class; the second tier comprised Heir Princes and Commandery Princes, with an appanage of five thousand households, ranking as Lesser First-Class; the third tier was State Duke, with an appanage of three thousand households, also Lesser First-Class; the fourth tier was Founding Commandery Duke, with an appanage of two thousand households, ranking as Prime Second-Class; the fifth tier was Founding County Duke, with an appanage of fifteen hundred households, ranking as Lesser Second-Class; the sixth tier was Founding County Marquis, with an appanage of one thousand households, likewise Lesser Second-Class; the seventh tier was Founding County Earl, with an appanage of seven hundred households, ranking as Upper Prime Fourth-Class; the eighth tier was Founding County Viscount, with an appanage of five hundred households, ranking as Upper Prime Fifth-Class; and the ninth tier was Founding County Baron, with an appanage of three hundred households, ranking as Lesser Fifth-Class.

Zhen Qian had no idea that he had suddenly been transformed into the Baron of Luoquan County, holding a rank of Lesser Fifth-Class with an appanage of three hundred households—the lowest of the nine noble ranks. An appanage was an honorary title addition, meaning that the taxes from three hundred households in Luoquan County would not be paid to the imperial court, but rather directly to Zhen Qian, yielding an estimated additional harvest of twelve hundred shi of grain annually. Combined with Li Longji's personal rewards, this already constituted a considerable sum, though it fell far short of the claim that the crystal mirror could buy a city.

As a subject of the Great Tang, fine things were naturally meant to be enjoyed by the emperor first. Li Longji did not feel that his reward was meager; instead, he believed that Zhen Qian should be filled with boundless gratitude toward him.

Yang Yuhuan fondled the crystal mirror, wherein an exquisitely beautiful face was reflected, so breathtaking that it intoxicated the soul. Flowers bloom for those who appreciate them, and people adorn themselves for those who cherish them. Everyone in the world said her face was like jade and blossoms, but just how beautiful she truly was—she had only ever seen her reflection, never her true visage. No matter how fine an ordinary glass mirror might be, it could never allow one to behold one's own beauty with one's own eyes, a fact that had to be considered one of life's great regrets.

Now, the self in the mirror appeared before her eyes in vivid reality: a flawlessly exquisite face, delicate and curved eyebrows as slender as spring willow leaves, the outer corners of her eyes tilted slightly upward, her somewhat long eyelashes framing alluring eyes that opened just slightly, radiating a mesmerizing and enchanting charm. Her nasal bridge was high, straight, and graceful; this uncollapsed nose added a magnificent touch to her beauty. Her lips possessed a splendidly proportioned, deeply vibrant red line, the corners turned up slightly as if she were smiling, possessing a heart-stopping loveliness. Her lips were not overly full, tending slightly toward smallness, giving her the fresh and delicate beauty of a maiden from a scholarly family. Yang Yuhuan's ears were full and fair, and her face was somewhat rounded, resembling a modern oval goose-egg face. Her hair was pitch-black and lustrous, highlighting her fair skin and enhancing her beauty all the more. A captivating charm mingled with fresh elegance, and fresh elegance was interwoven with captivating charm. Gazing at herself in the mirror, she could not help but let out a soft laugh.

"Why is my beloved consorts laughing?"

"Every day Your Majesty beholds this concubine's appearance, yet this concubine has never seen herself as clearly as I do today. For such an auspicious treasure to travel from ten thousand li away to the Great Tang, it must surely have passed through a legendary journey. This concubine could not help but think of her own birthday, having never received such a heart-pleasing gift, and suddenly felt a touch of desolation!" Yang Yuhuan reflected that the tributes presented on each of her birthdays were as numerous as the hairs on an ox, yet very few were gifts that truly captured her heart. Though she had received the boundless favor of the emperor, a faint sense of lack still lingered within her.

And was Li Longji not the same? Dwelling side by side with a beauty, year after year as spring gave way to autumn and the years slipped away, how could he not wish to retain his youth?

"Gao Lishi!"

"This old slave is here!"

"Send out an imperial edict: since Zhen Qian was fated to acquire the crystal mirror, he must surely be a man blessed with fortune. For the Imperial Consort's birthday next year, have him present a gift of congratulation. If it can satisfy the Consort, I shall certainly bestow a heavy reward!"