I'm a lucky man.
This luck started from the day I entered Pendor Imperial Academy.
On the first day I entered the college, I picked up a crumpled manuscript in the college toilet. This book was called <Memoirs of a Pendor Officer>.
Looking back now, it was a really fascinating book - you know what it was.
But I was only eleven years old at the time, and many of the contents in the book were indeed a bit too exciting for an eleven-year-old child (the word exciting was crossed out and changed to 'profound')...
Because this book was so wonderfully written, I was caught by the teacher and sent to the office on the first day of class.
But I was not scolded - the teacher asked me, do I want knowledge and wealth, or do I want this book?
Of course I answered that I want knowledge and wealth...
So, the teacher gave me a whole cart of books and then took away the manuscript.
I was trembling all over at that time - that cart of books was worth at least several hundred dinars, and even if you had money, you might not be able to buy them!
This is certainly a great blessing.
The teacher's name is Amy·Sonade.
Yes, she is the wife of Emperor Li Ang, Lionheart Queen, Chairman of the World Federation of Commerce and Trade, Chairman of the Pande Continent Federation of Trade Unions, President of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Vice President of Imperial College... His Majesty Amy, who is known as 'Goddess of Fortune'.
Of course, she doesn't like us calling her by any other title - so we call her 'Dean'.
People say that those who can meet Dean Amy are lucky.
This is indeed true.
The book the dean gave me made my ten years of studying at the college smooth sailing, and luck has been with me ever since.
I am seriously partial to subjects, and my grades in science subjects are poor, but I can pass every final exam and graduate smoothly all the way - because most of the liberal arts questions come from the books given to me by dean Amy;
When I graduate, because I like history, I plan to interview the historians at the Imperial Academy of Literature and History.
It's a decent job and it's very interesting to me.
But when I arrived at the interview site, I discovered that the position at the Institute of Literature and History was so popular. It was a national unit at the same level as Imperial Academy of Sciences, and I often had the opportunity to interview those big shots. It was a department that everyone wanted to join—thousands of people were competing for three positions.
And I'm just a recent graduate. Although I have a diploma from Imperial College, I don't have any work experience. I don't stand out among the applicants, and I don't stand out in terms of image...
However, the Institute of Literature and History, which only recruits three editors and researchers, chose me, and the position of leader of the history editor and research group was inexplicably placed on my head - I later found out that this was because I had read the cart of miscellaneous books given to me by Dean Amy, and the interviewer thought I was 'erudite and objective and simple'...
And today, the wonderful job of meeting His Majesty the Emperor Li Ang and conducting an interview with His Majesty also happened to me, a newcomer, by some strange coincidence.
--Originally, this work should be done by Sir Azriel, the director of the Institute of Literature and History, but he is too old and has inconvenient legs and feet, and other colleagues are either too hungry or have been away on business trips...
I was shocked by my luck.
Dean Amy is indeed Goddess of Fortune, and the good luck he has brought me has lasted too long.
Going to meet His Majesty Li Ang also requires a business trip, because His Majesty Li Ang does not live in Long River City.
Although Long River City is the capital of the empire, there is no Imperial Palace, and no members of the royal family live here. It is incredible to think about it...
It is early March now. In this season, His Majesty Li Ang should be at Fortress of Wealth.
Yes, where His Majesty Li Ang lives is divided into seasons - in the spring Fortress of Wealth where the flowers are in full bloom, in the summer in the cool and pleasant White Deer Fortress, in the autumn in the golden Lion City, in the winter in the warm Siyuan City...
This is not a secret, everyone knows it.
But this is not because His Majesty Li Ang insists on going to places with suitable climates in different seasons just for enjoyment. It is mainly because he has three wives...
It is actually very convenient to go from Long River City to Fortress of Wealth. The train station in the city is only one street away from the Institute of Literature and History.
In fact, I don't like this kind of steel monster that always makes loud noises, but I must admit that this new type of transportation has greatly shortened the time required to travel between two places - this was also invented by Royal Academy of Sciences, the dean of Amy.
It is said that His Majesty Li Ang has invested more than 30 million dinars in total to support his wife's invention and lay the railway tracks. For this purpose, he also borrowed national debt from the people of the empire...
Therefore, marrying three wives requires sufficient financial ability - many people say that His Majesty Li Ang spent so much money just for the convenience of visiting his wives...
As a historian affiliated with the Imperial Ministry of Culture, I can ride for free with proof of employment.
But the free benefits are limited to hard seats. If you want soft sleepers or business boxes, you need to pay for them yourself.
This is the practice of the imperial welfare system - national public servants have many benefits, but these benefits are only for the convenience of carrying out their work, not for enjoyment or to reflect status differences.
However, compared with luxurious business boxes, I prefer hard seats.
Because hard-seat carriages allow you to chat with many people from all over the world, avoid motion sickness, and enjoy the scenery outside the window more conveniently.
This train departs from Fletcher and will stop at Long River City, Fortress of Wealth, Lion City, Xingar and other places. The terminal station is Fengyu Port - it almost runs diagonally through the entire continent.
This is also the logic of the current train routes across the continent - whether it is horizontal, vertical or diagonal, as long as the train route runs through the continent, it will pass through Fortress of Wealth, which is located in the center of the continent.
It is precisely because of this that Fortress of Wealth has become the commercial center of the entire continent in just ten years.
The train was going very fast. People on the train were admiring the fields of rapeseed outside the window and talking about another bumper harvest this year. Most people's faces showed peace of mind and joy.
I am not in the mood to enjoy the flower fields, I still have work to do - hard-seat carriages have desks, which is one of the reasons why public officials can only ride in hard-seat carriages for free, so as not to delay working on the train...
This is not my guess, but what Dean Amy said himself.
On the train, I sorted out some questions that needed to be verified by His Majesty Li Ang in person - I must record the history of the empire truthfully, be objective, truthful, detailed and reliable, without any conjecture.
When encountering some ambiguous content, you must seek verification from the parties involved as much as possible, and if possible, seek verification from multiple parties - don't think that being a researcher in literature and history is an easy job, history cannot be taken carelessly, and we spend at least half of our time on business trips.
There are many issues that need to be verified, some of which are very important, but have never been very clear.
For example, how should we define the God of Wealth and several Goddess? What does His Majesty Li Ang think of it?
For another example, when did Raven Kingdom and Falcon Kingdom become the two northern provinces of the empire?
This problem has troubled colleagues at the institute for a long time.
Because Raven Territory's former king Gregory IV has kept silent, and two important parties, former Falcon Queen Ursula and Falcon Knight Order leader Sir Rayman, have all mysteriously disappeared...
At present, only His Majesty Li Ang knows the specific process.
Another very important question is, what happened when His Majesty Li Ang led the Peacekeeping Force expedition to the Amara Continent eight years ago?
Everyone has no doubts about those famous battles, such as the Blitz Battle of the Old Capital, the Annihilation Battle of the Snake Worship Temple (also known as the Battle of God Destruction), the Mars Canyon Pursuit Battle, etc.
But there is one incident that is still unknown - why did Maritin Empire and Snake Worship Cult form a coalition at the end of the expedition but quickly collapsed?
What happened is clear, but the reason is unclear.
Moreover, although there are many participants for verification, everyone's answers are inconsistent...
For example, Sir Kloze, who was the second Legion Commander of Peacekeeping Force at the time, said that the commander-in-chief of Maritin was a coward. He was scared away when he saw His Majesty Li Ang. His incompetence led to the death of thousands of troops. As a result, Snake Worship Cult, who had the ability to resist, was also implicated.
But the third Legion Commander Sir Eric Peacekeeping Force at that time said that this was because Snake Worship Cult followers had returned from his lost way and abandoned darkness for the light at the call of His Majesty Li Ang, and Maritin followed suit.
But Governor Creon of the Seventh Army said that it was mainly because the people of the Amara Continent were influenced by Radiant Cross Knights. It was the medical team of Sir Ansen that played a decisive role in this victory. The army was not actually the main force...
Looking at these completely different statements, it is difficult for us editors and researchers to operate. How should we write this history?
So we can only listen to what His Majesty Li Ang has to say.
There are many other questions.
For example, during the time when His Majesty Li Ang disappeared more than ten years ago - there were rumors that His Majesty Li Ang went to a mysterious island and saw a living dragon. I really want to know what a dragon looks like...
For example, the specific process of the Empire's introduction of musket technology - this matter was classified ten years ago, but now that the Empire has more advanced gun technology than Barkley, you can ask questions about what happened ten years ago.
Another example is Queen Wendy, is it really magic? - Queen Wendy is also known as 'Goddess of Magic'. It is said that she can turn stones into gold and even turn leaves into dinars... Of course I personally don't believe this, but Queen Wendy has indeed helped many people live a prosperous life.
There is also Empress Alina, who is known as 'Goddess of Wisdom'... Empress Alina has given ideas to many people, and without exception these ideas have turned into huge wealth. Some people say that this is mainly because His Majesty Li Ang is cooperating in secret - I feel the same.
Oh, there is another important question... What is happening to the widely loved Miss Alice now - yes, people call His Majesty Li Ang's mount Alice 'Miss'. I saw her ten years ago, but she has not appeared in Changhe City for a long time...
Actually, I met her twenty years ago.
However, I was probably still breastfeeding at that time and don't remember anything.
My luck is really good.
After the train arrived at the station, I just left the station and came to Fortress of Wealth Square, where I saw Miss Alice.
She still looks as energetic as she did ten years ago.
She was not restrained by any saddles and was walking leisurely in the square, her golden mane beating with her steps. People greeted her cordially. It seemed that people at Fortress of Wealth were already accustomed to her existence.
Ten years ago, she was like this when she was in Long River City.
Miss Alice is always hanging around, and people will feel good after seeing her.
Because everyone knows how much His Majesty Li Ang loves Alice, the place where Alice is means absolute safety. No one has ever dared to cause trouble where she is, and people will feel more at ease.
"Miss Alice... can you take me to meet His Majesty Li Ang?"
I tried to step forward and speak to Alice - I knew she would understand. This is how my father spoke to her ten years ago.
My father's name is Andrew. He watched Miss Alice be born - Alice can actually be regarded as my sister, if she is willing to admit it.
Unexpectedly, Miss Alice seems to really recognize me...
She did bring me to His Majesty Li Ang.
Li Ang His Majesty is a very kind person, and I can't see that time has left any traces on him at all--it stands to reason that he should be in his forties this year, but he looks no different from me, a twenty-one-year-old person...
"Ryan, ha, I'm glad you didn't grow up like your father. Are you okay Andrew?"
I was a little nervous and didn't know what to say for a moment, but His Majesty Li Ang took the initiative to ask about my father.
"He is still so fat... but in good health. Your Majesty, I came to you to verify something... I am now the editor and research specialist of the Institute of Literature and History."
I am very grateful that His Majesty Li Ang is so approachable, just like Dean Amy - big men like them, the whole world would tremble when they stamp their feet, but they are always kind and cheerful when facing me or other civilians, and can even consider my nervousness. This is probably the most extraordinary thing about them.
However, after I asked about official duties, His Majesty Li Ang seemed not to let me complete my work too easily...
"So, you want to conduct an interview with me? Well... of course there is no problem, but..."
His Majesty Li Ang showed a gentle but somewhat terrifying smile, "Ryan, as far as I know, when conducting interviews with others, the Institute of Literature and History always pays the interviewee a service fee..."
There is indeed this rule, because interviews will inevitably delay the interviewee a lot of time and affect the normal work of others. The institute also has a special budget for labor expenses.
Generally speaking, subsidies will be provided based on the time lost.
But if the respondent is the emperor...
How to subsidize this?
"Um... Your Majesty, we pay labor fees based on the respondent's salary, but what is your monthly salary?"
I asked a seemingly stupid question - in fact, I don't know if the emperor has a salary, so I just took the opportunity to satisfy my curiosity...
"Hiss... When you asked me that, I really remembered that I never seem to have paid myself a salary! What a huge loss!"
Li Ang His Majesty seems really upset.
I was stunned and didn't know what to say...
But then His Majesty Li Ang turned around and said seriously, "Risadiran, please remember it for me and ask the treasury to settle my salary for fifteen years... Well, let's calculate it based on the annual salary of 600 dinars... and you have to include interest!"
Annual salary of six hundred dinars? Monthly salary of fifty dinars?
I was in a daze at the time - this was indeed a high salary for ordinary people, but he was the emperor of the entire continent!
When my father was mayor, his salary was one hundred dinars a month...
"Your Majesty, I think you should settle the salary issue after some time. This year His Majesty Amy is in charge of the national treasury - I guess the salary for the fifteen years will probably not reach your hands... Let's wait until next year when His Majesty Alina takes charge of the national treasury?"
Commander of the Imperial Guard Risadiran general whispered, there seemed to be a hint of smile in his eyes.
I don't know if I should laugh or not, but I did anyway...
"Ahem... Okay, Ryan, you have also seen that I have been owed wages for fifteen years... I am so poor..."
Li Ang His Majesty turned his head and looked at me. "You know!"
I held back my laughter and started to feel the dinar in my bag. "I understand, I understand..."
"You know nothing! I have been fighting for the empire for fifteen years, but I haven't received a penny in salary... And I can imagine that the questions you are about to ask me are all very troublesome things... so..."
Li Ang His Majesty stared at me and shook his head. "We have to pay more!"
--Excerpted from Pendor Calendar 374's "Pan Dewen's Historical Research Official Records"
Handwritten by Sir Ryan, director of the Imperial Institute of Literature and History.