The Demonic World I designed-Chapter 51 - 49 Are You Lord Chen’s Concubine

51: Chapter 49: Are You Lord Chen’s Concubine?

51 -49: Are You Lord Chen’s Concubine?

“Once the external appointment is determined, it cannot be changed.

Have both of you thought it through?” Chen Qing asked, narrowing his eyes.

Shen Yuan hesitated slightly, but Gu Beiquan’s mouth twitched, as if he was unwilling to stay here.

With the current reputation of Lyuzhou, just attracting the population back would be an incredibly difficult task, and as time passed, the likelihood of wealthy households and the masters from the Confucian Temple returning from the neighboring provincial government office would diminish further.

In contrast, the important county towns were different.

Among those who initially fled Lyuzhou, there were certainly many rich merchants and masters who had escaped back to the counties.

Once he assumed office and stabilized them, wouldn’t all the additional tax revenue and achievements in education be his?

Who would want to join this foolish youngster in a doomed Lyuzhou and engage in fruitless endeavors?

“This is also a helpless move, my lord…” Gu Beiquan changed from his previously aggressive tone to a solemn one, “Originally, the Imperial Court planned for two hundred Imperial Scholars, but some were diverted to other places in Jiangnan.

Now less than one hundred have arrived in Lyuzhou, resulting in some higher-ranked Chosen Men being pulled in to fill the gaps.

You’ve seen how stretched thin our manpower is.

If all three of us stay in the provincial government office, it would be inappropriate.”

“Does Minister Shen think the same?” Chen Qing asked, looking at Shen Yuan.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Shen Yuan finally said, “Indeed, as Brother Gu mentioned.

Moreover, given the current situation in Lyuzhou, my lord should not be very busy.

Later on, when you become busier and wish to call us back to the office to assist…”

“Eh…” Chen Qing interrupted immediately, stretching out his hand, “There’s no such thing.”

As he said this, he spread out the map and continued, “If you want to be assigned elsewhere now, then according to the rules, I will assign you to Luling County and Baishui County, the most important counties in Lyuzhou.

You will have to take responsibility for the local governance and not change easily.

If you want to stay, then serve diligently in assistive politics, there is no saying you can leave now and still be able to come back later!”

The two men were stunned, their hearts filled with suspicion at the aggressive demeanor of Chen Qing.

Does this kid have a problem?

If it had been Lyuzhou before, they certainly would have wanted to stay and strive for power in assistive politics, but with the current state of affairs, why is he acting like this?

Could it be that he genuinely believes he can turn the situation around and rebuild Lyuzhou?

Gu Beiquan looked amused and quickly said, “Since my lord has put it this way, then let’s settle it like this!”

Shen Yuan gave Chen Qing a look and in the end, chose not to stay, directly saying, “I want Baishui County!”

Gu Beiquan’s eye twitched, but he dared not contend with the other party.

Baishui County was connected to Lyuzhou’s waterways, and although the docks were not large, they could divert quite a few merchants over.

It was one of the richest county towns within Lyuzhou’s reach.

Especially now with the population of Lyuzhou dispersing, even more would end up in Baishui County.

Chen Qing nodded, “In that case, Lord Gu will go to Luling County?”

“It has to be this way…” Gu Beiquan took a deep breath and said.

Luling County was also valuable.

Before he had come, he had researched and knew that Luling County backed onto Lyuzhou’s largest mountain range, which contained many precious medicinal herbs and Spirit Deer fur goods, products many merchants were keen on.

Additionally, Luling County had always excelled in culture and education.

With a bit of maneuvering, he might transfer Lyuzhou’s entire educational standing over.

Then, if the Prefectural Governor of Lyuzhou faced difficulties for lack of resources, while he himself advanced due to educational achievements, it seemed…

pretty good.

“Then it’s settled!” Chen Qing said with a smile, “Since these two counties are major ones, according to previous practice, there will be two Magistrate Assistants, two County Magistrates, and four instructors, all of seventh rank, holding the seventh rank official seal.

They may apply on their own, and additionally, each county town will have four Principal Clerks, of eighth rank, holding the eighth rank official seal.

They may apply on their own as well!”

A group of Imperial Scholars immediately looked at each other.

This time, the Imperial Court only provided official seals with ranks but had not specified their positions.

It was not until they reached the Provincial Governor’s office that they realized all personnel appointments in Lyuzhou were conducted by Chen Qing, bypassing the Ministry of Personnel.

This was also a source of resentment for everyone.

How could this Second Place Scholar, who was at the bottom of his class, not only outrank them but also control their appointments?

How unfair!

But as dissatisfied as they were, once the other party started exercising his power, everyone still felt uneasy, fearing they would be assigned to less desirable counties.

They initially thought he would distribute the good places to his cronies, but who would have expected him to be so capricious?

Then, a number of them reacted and began to fight for positions eagerly.

“I am willing to serve as the instructor of Luling County!”

“I am willing to serve as the County Magistrate of Baishui County!”

“I am willing to serve as the Magistrate Assistant of Baishui County!”

The crowd volunteered energetically, casting aside their scholarly reserve and beginning to compete keenly.

Even Lyu Yiqi, who initially spoke with the air of an elder, turned red-faced with eagerness, looking at Chen Qing with pleading eyes, “Prefectural Governor, you are aware of my background.

I’ve toiled over classical texts for many years.

I am best suited for culture and education; the instructor position in Luling County could not be more perfect for me.”

Seeing how even this man humbled himself to claim the title of ‘lesser official’, those around scorned him in their hearts.

At over thirty, he just passed the Imperial Scholar exam with a low ranking; where did he get the face to say he specialized in culture and education?

But seeing that he seemed to have some relationship with this surnamed Chen, the crowd refrained from tearing him down to his face.

Chen Qing felt amused, observing the stark contrast between this man’s attitude now and his reprimanding tone earlier, but he did not believe his granting a favor now would be remembered gratefully later.

With such a duplicitous nature, upon arriving in Luling County, he would surely attempt to keep all the masters who fled to there from Lyuzhou, all to secure his achievements and incidentally to undermine his superior, the Prefectural Governor.

However, he already had plans in mind, and since the other party was eyeing this opportunity, he would let him have it…

“Brother Lyu is correct,” Chen Qing nodded, “Brother Lyu is exceptionally talented and well-founded; I benefited from your guidance at the Confucian Temple, which allowed my literature to advance further.

Without that, having never attended the Imperial College, I might not have passed the Imperial Scholar exam this time!”

“You flatter me, my lord,” Lyu Yiqi brightened with pride at being given face, while humbly saying on the surface, “It’s all thanks to your extraordinary talents, my lord; my assistance was minimal.”

“If Minister Lyu wishes to go to Luling County, then let it be so.

Lord Gu, you have no objections, right?”

After confirming his responsibilities, Gu Beiquan was no longer very cooperative, and simply pursed his lips and said, “Since the power of distribution is in Lord Chen’s hands, why bother to ask me?”

“Oh, this official was merely asking for the sake of formality.

Since you put it that way, Gu, I will not consult you about the remaining positions.”

Gu Beiquan: “…”

Seeing that Chen Qing was serious about not asking for his suggestions and swiftly allocated the other positions in Luling County, Gu Beiquan’s face turned pale with anger!

You small men with a little power, let’s see how long you can be pleased with yourselves!!

Chen Qing couldn’t be bothered with him and swiftly distributed most of the official appointments.

He wasn’t really keen on the power to allocate positions and had not considered using it to grant favors.

The things he had planned for later were going to offend them anyway, so there was no point in fostering good relationships with them now.

In the middle of delegating, a familiar voice stuttered, “Chen…

Chen Qing…

oh no, Lord Chen, I…

I would like to apply for the role of Principal Clerk in Baishui County!”

Chen Qing frowned and looked over, then was momentarily surprised.

He recognized the man, a former classmate from the Confucian Temple; their relationship was…

pretty decent.

But just now, when those Imperial Scholars had been targeting him, the man had stayed far away, wary of being associated with him.

Now, when it came time to assign officials, he was seeking favors.

Wasn’t he expecting a bit too much?

“It’s not your turn…” Chen Qing was blunt and rejected him straightaway.

The man’s face immediately flushed with embarrassment, and the other Imperial Scholars laughed coldly.

This man was merely an alternate Chosen Man, yet he dared to compete with them for a position?

Although due to a shortage of manpower these men were given the rank of ninth-grade officials, theoretically qualified to be Principal Clerks, to vie for the Principal Clerk role in Baishui County, was that not wishful thinking?

Many would prefer a more distant Magistrate Assistant role rather than be the Principal Clerk there!

In the end, as assignments came to a close, Chen Qing delegated him to a remote area.

The man watched Chen Qing but dared not retort, though his eyes were filled with resentment.

Chen Qing didn’t care.

Favors over rice gain good will, conflicts over rice create enmity.

With such people, it was better to offend now if the bestowed favor would result in future grievances over trivial matters.

Finally, after almost all were assigned, Chen Qing turned to a fat man who was hiding far away.

“Haitao, why are you hiding so far away?”

There were two familiar faces among the alternate Chosen Men, both former classmates from the Confucian Temple in Lyuzhou.

One was the man who had just been seeking an appointment, and the other was Zhou Haitao, who was cautiously observing Chen Qing from a distance.

This hefty man had also been afraid to approach, worried about being targeted, but he had the decency to give Chen Qing covert signals to remind him that Shen Bangyan had a more substantial background.

“Hehe…

I didn’t want to cause trouble for the official,” Zhou Haitao approached cautiously, chuckling, “My Lord, please assign me to any place you see fit, I’m not picky.”

This statement was actually sincere; he had almost given up on the exams and was planning to return home to let his family buy him a position.

A purchased position would likely be in a very remote place, but he hadn’t expected to ride this wave back to Lyuzhou to become an official.

Even a tiny ninth-grade post would satisfy him.

It didn’t matter which county he was assigned to; he could always bring his father over to enjoy some ease.

“Would you like to stay here?”

“Huh?” Zhou Haitao was stunned; he hadn’t expected Chen Qing to ask him this.

“If you wish to stay in Lyuzhou Prefecture, I can appoint you as the Clerk in charge of finance and documents for the prefectural government, which would be somewhat easier.

If you still want to serve in another county, you can also choose from these four counties to be a County Magistrate.

It’s your decision.”

This blatantly preferential treatment of an acquaintance immediately caused the group of Imperial Scholars to twitch, thinking to themselves: Indeed a sycophantic courtier!

Zhou Haitao, after hearing this, became conflicted.

He knew Chen Qing was looking out for him, but the offer to stay in Lyuzhou made it difficult for him to decide.

Staying in Lyuzhou was fine, but considering the current state of affairs, he was apprehensive about bringing his family there just yet.

Chen Qing watched him wrestle with the decision and did not rush him.

Although his relationship with Zhou Pangzi was decent, he felt he had done enough.

If Zhou Haitao wished to stay, he would lend a hand; if not, he wouldn’t press the issue.

After all, he didn’t expect him to be particularly talented.

The best candidate for his inner court staff remained to be Wei Gongcheng from the Weichi Clan.

He even had an ideal divine role reserved for him…

But speaking of which, he should have accepted his offer by now, right?

Why hasn’t he arrived yet?

———————————————

Meanwhile, Wei Gongcheng, the object of Chen Qing’s musings, had already arrived in Jiangnan.

However, the company he was keeping was causing him some distress.

He had come alongside Academic Commissioner Mu Hongqing, and because of his disability, Mu Hongqing had thoughtfully arranged for his disciple to escort Wei Gongcheng to Lyuzhou.

However, among the escorting party was someone whose presence made Wei Gongcheng feel conflicted.

“You say, you are Lord Chen’s concubine?”