It turned out that when Jia Zheng had summoned Sun Shaozong that day and chatted aimlessly about this and that, it had really been a disguised "interview"—Jia Zheng had been fairly confident in Sun Shaozong's martial skills. The interview had merely been to assess his character, lest he lead the younger members of the family astray.
And seeing Jia Lian arrive with such fanfare to "make the offer," it was clear Jia Zheng had been quite pleased with the result of that interview.
But Sun Shaozong was about to take up his post at Shuntian Prefecture. Where would he find the time to teach martial arts to a pack of spoiled young dandies?
"You needn't worry about that!"
Jia Lian hurriedly patted his chest and promised, "Our family isn't counting on this to make their names. It'll be enough if you find time to teach them a few routines to strengthen their bodies. Others will naturally supervise their practice the rest of the time, so you won't have to trouble yourself much."
To be honest, if he had any choice in the matter, Sun Shaozong truly did not want to get involved in such a troublesome affair.
But leaving aside Rongguo Mansion's kindness toward the Sun family, Sun Shaozong also needed Jia Yucun's support and protection at the moment. How could he refuse the Jia family's offer?
Thus, he could only agree for now. He figured he could lay the groundwork with radio calisthenics, then fob those dandies off with some health-preserving tai chi. That ought to be enough.
But that was a matter for later.
For now, the most important thing was to report to Shuntian Prefecture and take up his post!
The sixth day of the first lunar month.
It was the first working day for officials of every rank after the New Year festivities.
In previous years, Shuntian Prefecture's yamen would be bustling on this day. No matter their rank or status, officials would exchange greetings of "Many blessings" and offer one another auspicious words. Yet this year, the atmosphere in the yamen was exceptionally strange. The high-ranking officials wore dark expressions, while the clerks and runners below scarcely dared breathe.
And the culprit behind all this was none other than the newly appointed Judicial Assistant Magistrate, Sun Shaozong!
By rights, a sixth-rank assistant magistrate was not much of a figure in a yamen headed by officials of the third principal rank. He should not have warranted such alarm.
But the problem lay with Sun Shaozong's background—and with the word "concurrent."
From the Sui and Tang dynasties to the present, apart from founding generals of new dynasties, civil officials had always concurrently held substantive military posts. When had anyone ever heard of military officers concurrently holding substantive civil posts? The Vice Minister and Minister of War titles borne by local military commissioners had always been merely honorary.
What was more, the fact that he had concurrently held a sixth-rank civil post with his sixth-rank military office, then been promoted to fifth-rank Deputy Cavalry Commandant, had been conveniently ignored by the civil officials!
How could those literati gentlemen, accustomed to valuing civil officials and despising military men, possibly tolerate it?
Not only the people of Shuntian Prefecture, but civil officials from other yamen as well, were eager to fish this "catfish" out of the pond and beat him to death with a single stick while they were at it!
That was why Administrative Assistant Liu Chongshan had disregarded protocol and forced that unsolved nude corpse case onto Sun Shaozong. Who would have thought that not only would this fail to stump him, it would instead completely establish his reputation for solving cases like a god?
Seeing that Sun Shaozong had already gained a foothold before even taking office, the principal officials of Shuntian Prefecture had likely endured no small amount of mockery and blame from relatives, friends, and old acquaintances during the New Year period. How could they possibly be in a good mood?
Just as most of the officials had arrived, a petty clerk suddenly rushed into Shuntian Prefecture's Experience Department and loudly reported, "Sir, Prefect Sun, the newly appointed assistant magistrate, has arrived. He is waiting outside for his transfer papers to be verified against the Tallies."
The Experience Department had one seventh-rank clerk in charge of all Shuntian Prefecture's documents and disbursements. Newly appointed officials generally had to come here first to have their transfer papers checked against the Tallies. Only after everything had been confirmed could they formally take up their posts.
"He's here?"
Clerk Chen Zhichuang hastily flung his brush onto the brush rack, splattering half the desk with ink. Yet he said unhurriedly, "Come. Accompany me to meet that damned military brute!"
The term "damned military brute" had originally been a derogatory Song Dynasty term for military officers. It had been banned in the early years of the present dynasty, yet Clerk Chen had uttered it without hesitation in public. Clearly, he harbored deep hostility toward Sun Shaozong.
Sun Shaozong was sitting in the Front Hall, idly surveying the layout of the Experience Department, when a green-robed official with rat whiskers and crossed eyes strode out of the rear hall with great swagger. The man scrutinized him with a critical gaze for a long while before finally drawling, "You're the new captain?"
Sun Shaozong had come to Shuntian Prefecture to serve as a sixth-rank assistant magistrate, yet this fellow insisted on calling him a newly arrived captain. His contempt could not have been more obvious.
Sun Shaozong's smile vanished at once. Rising to his feet, he looked down at Clerk Chen and knowingly asked, "And who might you be, sir? What office do you hold? If you are one of my superiors, I should pay my formal respects."
One look at that green robe had told Sun Shaozong that the man before him was Chen Zhichuang, the seventh-rank clerk. What he really meant was: I am a dignified sixth-rank assistant magistrate. If you are my subordinate, why aren't you hurrying over to pay me formal respects?
For Chen Zhichuang to rise to become a seventh-rank clerk at Shuntian Prefecture despite his appearance, he was naturally no fool. He immediately caught the unspoken meaning in Sun Shaozong's words, and his momentum faltered.
But how could he admit defeat so easily?
He immediately sneered, "Captain Sun has not formally assumed office yet, so talk of superiors and subordinates is premature. Public business is what matters now. Please present your transfer papers, Captain Sun, so that I may compare and verify them first, lest there be any error."
The word "present" was generally used only by superiors addressing subordinates. In the end, he still looked down on Sun Shaozong's military origins and insisted on acting like First Master before him.
Naturally, Sun Shaozong grew even more displeased. But if he argued with Clerk Chen over a single word, he would only fall into the man's trap—before he even left the Experience Department, someone might slap the great charge of stirring up trouble onto his head.
Yet if he obediently handed over the documents, he would become the laughingstock of official circles!
It had to be said that Clerk Chen was indeed rather crafty. With only a few words, he had dug a pit that left Sun Shaozong unable to advance or retreat—especially since Jia Yucun had not yet had time to assume office, leaving Sun Shaozong without anyone to offer assistance or support.
Fortunately, Sun Shaozong was no inexperienced fool in officialdom. He had long since mastered how to handle such situations.
Without saying a word, he took out the documents and silently placed them on the tea table to his left.
Now it was Clerk Chen's turn to feel uncomfortable.
If he went to retrieve them himself, all his earlier posturing would have been for nothing. His colleagues might even ridicule him for it.
But if he did not take them, Sun Shaozong was his legitimate superior in the same yamen. If the standoff continued, he might be accused of failing to recognize proper rank and deliberately making things difficult for a superior.
Clerk Chen hesitated for a long while before finally choosing the lesser of two evils. He waved to the petty clerk behind him, who immediately understood. Stepping forward cautiously, the clerk picked up the documents and respectfully handed them to Clerk Chen.
Though there had been an intermediary between them, Chen Zhichuang knew perfectly well that he had still lost this exchange. He no longer dared underestimate the seemingly rough and bold Sun Shaozong. He honestly checked the documents, then stamped them with the official seal.
Only after seeing Sun Shaozong out of the Experience Department did Chen Zhichuang stroke his rat whiskers and sigh. "I thought he was merely a young, successful aristocratic dandy. Who would have expected him to be so shrewd and seasoned? It seems Shuntian Prefecture will have plenty of excitement to watch from now on!"
Thanks to reader "Feng Feiyang" for the reward.
Also, please add the book to your collections and cast a few more recommendation votes. A new book needs its numbers most right now.
Before you continue