Imperial Envoy's Large Vessel
Quite a few officials were already waiting to be received. A ship had been specially cleared, and an adjoining reception room had been set up. Because the cabins were not very large after all, long tables had been placed inside with tea, pastries, and fruit, along with round stools. Over a dozen officials waiting for their audience sat one by one, discussing things from time to time.
A county magistrate gestured toward the adjoining cabin and said, "Look, listen, even the main hall has been cleared out to form a yamen accounting department of over a hundred people, just to calculate and tally the account books and figures of the granaries."
The listeners collected their wits slightly, and sure enough, they heard the clicking and clacking of the abacus from next door, continuous and rising one after another.
As they listened, they also saw account books being carried into the passageway one by one, delivered to rows of low tables inside, where officials and clerks were all lowering their heads to calculate.
"I wonder when our county's account books will be finished. Only once they're calculated will the Imperial Grandson grant an audience."
"With so many people, and many of them veteran accountants with plenty of experience, the speed is very fast. Last time in Xinwang County, it took less than a single shichen."
Amidst this bustling activity, Su Ziji watched for a moment before turning to go to the inner hall.
The inner hall was slightly smaller than the main hall. At a glance, he saw Wen Xunpeng leading over a dozen people, still clicking away on their abacuses inside the inner hall.
"How are the statistics coming along?"
"My lord, the outer hall is calculating the major items, while we handle spot-checking and overall