More than a year after transmigrating, Liu Acheng had become an official!
Not only had he become an official, he had received third-rank standing under the Nine-Rank System directly from Huan Wen, the Grand Rectifier of Yuzhou. He was now a thoroughly respectable member of the upper-grade elite, holding the highest rank a secondary house could attain, and had then secured a matching, respectable entry-level appointment equivalent to Three-Hundred-Dan, at the level of a staff officer to one of the Three Excellencies.
Thinking back to his beggar's appearance a year ago, even weaving Grass Sandals had seemed a promising prospect, and the first time he had wanted to learn, they would not even teach him. More than half a year ago, he had at least managed to cadge a set of clothes, yet could only survive by carrying firewood for others. Several elders who sold straw sandals had scraped together a shoe full of Shenlang Coins for him, a kindness he remained grateful for even now. Just months ago, he had still been wearing himself out as a contractor for those celebrated gentlemen, eating, drinking, and playing along with them, all to get his name onto their guest lists.
And now, he had actually landed the highest starting position in officialdom beneath the second-rank great houses.
What was more, he was under Huan Wen, the foremost power broker at court, a Cao Cao and Sima Yi reborn. He had successfully joined the political faction with the brightest, safest prospects for the next few decades.
What did it mean to start with a heavenly winning hand? What more could a man ask for?
Thus, when Xi Chao protested on Liu Cheng's behalf, and Liu Cheng established that he was merely dissatisfied because Liu Cheng had not received second-rank standing and because