Yu Province, Runan Commandery
Pingyu — Administrator’s Residence
“That can’t be possible… can it?”
Holding the letter Zhang Jing had sent him, Yuan Shu wore a puzzled expression.
After a moment, as if recalling something, he muttered to himself, “Then again… maybe it’s not impossible.”
He had remembered Zhang Jing’s other identity— the successor to the Way of Great Peace (Taiping Dao).
After all, the man had merely glanced at him from afar, amidst a crowd of people, and immediately identified him as the one destined by Heaven.
That alone spoke volumes about how extraordinary his worthy brother Yuheng truly was.
“Yan Xiang!”
After finishing the letter, Yuan Shu called out, “Brother Yuheng has written to me.”
“He says that next year the Central Plains will surely suffer a locust plague, one that will devastate the entire region.”
“Only Yi Province, Yang Province, Jiao Province, and a few other southern regions will escape it.”
“After you leave, send orders to Chen Yu.”
“He must capture all the commanderies of Yang Province within three months.”
“I shall appoint Jin Shang as Governor of Jiao Province.”
“Before the end of the year, I want the banners of Yuan Shu flying across both provinces.”
Originally, Yuan Shu had never been particularly interested in Jiao Province.
But the letter had mentioned that its rice could be harvested twice a year.
Although Yuan Shu seldom concerned himself with the people’s livelihood, He was still the legitimate heir of the illustrious Yuan clan, renowned for four generations of Three Excellencies.
He naturally understood the importance of grain.
Besides, He considered himself Heaven’s chosen.
Surely that meant he had a duty to treat the people under his rule at least a little better.
“My lord.”
Yan Xiang frowned.
“Jiao Province is little more than a barren frontier.”
“The Shanyue tribes roam unchecked throughout its territory.”
“It won’t be easy to conquer.”
“Should we perhaps postpone the campaign?”
“Not a chance.”
Yuan Shu handed him the letter.
“Jiao Province may be remote and undeveloped, but it produces two rice harvests every year.”
“Brother Yuheng has made it perfectly clear.”
“A great disaster will strike the Central Plains next year.”
“But Yang and Jiao Provinces will remain untouched.”
“We must seize both provinces as quickly as possible and have the people plant grain.”
“Perhaps then, we’ll even be able to lend Brother Yuheng a helping hand.”
“He has more than three million people under his rule.”
“If a locust plague truly strikes, I’m afraid life there will become exceedingly difficult.”
As he spoke, Yuan Shu found himself deeply moved by his own noble sense of righteousness.
“My lord…”
Yan Xiang said after reading the letter, a helpless smile on his face.
“I find that rather difficult to believe.”
His tone was dry with skepticism.
He, too, knew the art of observing the stars.
But even he wasn’t capable of predicting the celestial patterns of the following year.
“Why is it impossible?”
Yuan Shu’s face immediately darkened.
“Brother Yuheng has attained great mastery in the Daoist arts.”
“He’s far superior to those charlatans who only pretend to possess mystical powers!”
Yan Xiang was left speechless.
Whether it was true or false…
Time would reveal the answer next year.
Saying anything more now would only displease his lord.
“My lord…”
After a moment’s thought, Yan Xiang asked, “What about Jin Shang’s appointment?”
“Should we submit a memorial to the imperial court?”
“No need!”
Yuan Shu waved his hand dismissively.
“Have Yang Hong draft the official appointment documents.”
“I’ll simply affix my seal.”
“The young Emperor is nothing more than a plaything of the Xiliang Army.”
“Why should I, Yuan Gonglu, concern myself with the opinions of those Xiliang brutes?”
“Your subordinate obeys.”
Yan Xiang could only sigh inwardly.
He truly had to admire his lord for better or worse.
Still…Yuan Shu was his lord.
The one he had chosen to serve.
What else could he do but continue supporting him?
Besides, For Yuan Shu, this sort of thing wasn’t even particularly outrageous.
………….
Yan Province — The Autumn Harvest
Across the four commanderies…
The early-ripening crops were harvested under the organization of local officials.
The grain was threshed and spread out to dry beneath the autumn sun.
Zhang Jing, accompanied by Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and several others, walked along the official road outside Wuyan City.
In Zhang Jing’s own words, they had come to experience the atmosphere of the harvest season.
“I heard from Gongda…”
Zhang Jing said with a smile, “that fifty thousand copper coins have already been deposited into the Taiping Prefecture treasury.”
“Now that the harvest is underway across every region, it’s time for us to finalize Taiping Prefecture’s salary system.”
“Once the harvest is over, the government will gradually reduce the amount of grain distributed directly to each official household.”
“From then on, the expenses of your own households will have to be paid by yourselves.”
Coin production was continuing day by day.
The money supply would only continue to grow.
In this age where copper served as the monetary standard, Zhang Jing had also introduced gold and silver into the currency system.
Whether that decision would ultimately prove beneficial remained to be seen.
Fortunately, He had both the time and the confidence to refine the system gradually.
After all, Everything within the four commanderies was being built from scratch.
His authority extended all the way to the grassroots.
“My lord.”
Guo Jia joked, “Could I simply forgo my salary altogether?”
“You can just support me instead.”
“Not a chance.”
Zhang Jing laughed and shook his head.
“With your reputation as Yingchuan’s greatest romantic, I’m sure you’ll end up with a house full of wives and concubines.”
“How could I possibly afford to support you?”
“We’re finally on the verge of becoming prosperous.”
“Don’t eat me into poverty.”
“Hahaha!”
The crowd burst into laughter.
The somewhat restrained atmosphere immediately melted away.
“We’ll leave it entirely to you, my lord.”
Xi Zhicai smiled.
“Given your wisdom, I’m sure you won’t let any of us go hungry.”
“Exactly!”
“That’s right.”
“We trust our lord.”
“It doesn’t really matter how much the salary is.”
“After all, every one of us has farmland at home.”
“…”
“Old Dian.”
Smiling, Zhang Jing turned to Dian Wei.
“How much salary do you think would be appropriate for yourself?”
“Huh? Me?”
Dian Wei was taken aback.
His weathered face reddened slightly as he scratched his head.
“I don’t really understand these things.”
“I’ve got ten mu of farmland back in my village.”
“The village head is looking after it for me.”
“So… I suppose I’d be fine even without a salary.”
“That won’t do.”
Zhang Jing shook his head.
“A salary is a must.”
“In the past, the treasury lacked both money and grain.”
“Those were hard times for everyone.”
“But now things are finally improving.”
“I can’t let the brothers who have followed me continue to suffer.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you, my lord.”
“I’ll accept whatever you decide.”
Dian Wei didn’t dwell on the matter.
He had little concept of whether more or less money was better.
After all, His food and lodging were already provided by Zhang Jing.
“Then let’s have Zhongde explain it.”
Zhang Jing smiled.
“The issue of salaries can’t be avoided.”
“And just as I said, I won’t treat those who have followed me unfairly.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Cheng Yu bowed respectfully before speaking.
“Over this period, After numerous discussions with my lord, we have drafted a salary system.”
“If there are any shortcomings, I hope everyone will freely offer their suggestions.”
“I’m sure all of you are aware, that the Four Commanderies are governed through the Central Administration.”
“This differs from the Han court’s system.”
“Therefore…”
Everyone immediately pricked up their ears.
After all, this concerned their own livelihoods.
Naturally, they wanted to hear every detail.
“A Nine-Rank Grading System?”
Guo Jia’s eyes gleamed as he caught the key phrase.
Under the Han dynasty, Government officials did not possess a standardized rank classification.
If distinctions had to be made, they could only be inferred from differences in salary.
Compared with a Nine-Rank Grading System, each approach had its own strengths and weaknesses.
It was Zhang Jing who had made the final decision.
The system would consist of nine principal ranks, each divided into Upper and Lower grades—for a total of eighteen levels.
The goal was simplicity and clarity.
Officials’ salaries would be directly tied to their rank and position.
This Nine-Rank Grading System was not the same as the later Nine-Rank Selection System.
Instead, It was far more straightforward and easy to understand— essentially a simplified and improved version.
“The lowest grade is Lower Ninth Rank.”
Cheng Yu continued, “This includes village militiamen and ordinary soldiers.”
“Their monthly salary will be two hundred copper coins.”
“Based on the grain prices established by my lord throughout the Four Commanderies, that amount is enough to purchase one shi of millet.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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