Chapter 58: To Win the Hearts of the Scholars and Capture the Bandits (Part 2)

"Sir!" Wang Hou quickly walked into Wang Zhao's office, "Chen Ju and Liu Xian have already been captured. Apart from Chen Ju's two sons, all the accomplices and relatives of the two bandits have been rounded up! Wang Shunmin is now escorting them to the state prison."

"I know!" Wang Zhao responded indifferently. He sat at his desk, head down, still focused on the official document in his hand.

Wang Hou, with an excited look, didn't notice his father's unusual demeanor, "I didn't expect capturing Chen Ju to be so easy. Sir just gave a hint, and many people rushed to do it, even Li Jinglei had no objections."

"… Because Chen Ju was originally a hedgehog, but now he's a fat sheep!"

Wang Hou nodded with a smile, "Sir is right! With assets worth hundreds of thousands of strings of cash, even in the capital, he would be a top-tier wealthy household. But Chen Ju was originally powerful, and few knew how much wealth he had. Even if someone coveted his property, they had to be wary of being bitten back, making it not worth the risk. But now, there's no such trouble. Chen Ju's attempt to kill Yukuang has put his head on the chopping block."

In the Song Dynasty, wealth could move both ghosts and gods. If Chen Ju's assets, worth hundreds of thousands of strings of cash, had been used wisely and without delay, Wang Zhao might have been added to the list of officials exiled to remote small prefectures this year. But now, Chen Ju's substantial wealth has become a fat piece of meat that everyone wants to bite into.

"Han Yukuang was forced to serve as a clerk due to Chen Ju's actions, and even his parents had to flee to Fengxiang to avoid the storm. If he knew Chen Ju had fallen, he would be very grateful to you, Sir!"

"Who knows!" Wang Zhao sighed, tossing the document on the table.

Wang Hou finally noticed that his father's expression was off. He leaned over and glanced at the text on the document, immediately exclaiming, "Zhang Shouyue is recommending Han Yukuang?"

"To manage the affairs of the sick and injured in the region as a third-class borrowed official." Wang Zhao added calmly. Closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair, the Chief Secretary of the Qin-Feng Circuit sighed deeply, "I didn't expect that Han San, a scholar, would not only excel in both military and literary skills but also have some knowledge of medicine… Fan Zhongyan once said, 'If not a good prime minister, then a good doctor.' Zhang Zishou, a private disciple of Fan Zhongyan, knows a bit about medicine and even prescribed medicine for Cai Jinglei. I didn't expect that the Han Yukuang he taught would be so proficient, earning a third-class borrowed official position in just a few days…"

Han Yukuang arrived in Gangu City in less than ten days and managed to get Zhang Shouyue to recommend him for a ninth-rank third-class borrowed official position. This was completely unexpected by Wang Zhao.

A third-class borrowed official is the lowest rank in the military officials, and managing the affairs of the sick and injured in the region is the duty Han Yukuang will be responsible for. The former is his official rank, representing his official status and determining his salary level, hence also called a salary rank. The latter is his assignment, determining the work he will do.

This separation of official rank and assignment is also inherited by later generations. For example, if someone is the director of the city health bureau, a full-level official, then the health bureau director is the assignment, and the full level is the official rank. Of course, the Song Dynasty's official system is more complex.

In the Song Dynasty, assignments are not related to ranks. Prefects and county magistrates are assignments but not fixed ranks. Officials with the same level of assignment can have ranks ranging from third or fourth to seventh or eighth. For example, Wang Zhao, the Chief Secretary of the Qin-Feng Circuit, is just an assignment, a duty, without a fixed rank. His official rank, Prince of the Middle Palace, determines his rank: a full eighth-rank official, the lowest rank eligible to attend court.

Although the official rank recommended by Zhang Shouyue for Han Yukuang is only a ninth-rank third-class borrowed official, it is still an official rank. In the entire Song Dynasty, the combined number of officials with ranks, both civil and military, would not exceed 40,000. Wang Shunmin, a full-name military commander, is still five ranks away from a third-class borrowed official. Wang Junwan, the commander of 400 elite cavalry, is only a palace attendant, three ranks away from a third-class borrowed official.

Wang Shunmin personally killed eleven bandits in the Pei Valley. If he had no backing, he might barely be promoted two ranks; and Wang Junwan, leading the charge in the Nangu Valley battle, would, after calculating his merits, be on par with Han Yukuang after he became an official. To be honest, Han Yukuang, rising from a commoner to an official through a recommendation, is like a meteoric rise.

Although Wang Hou admires Han Yukuang, he doesn't want him to become an official through Zhang Shouyue's recommendation. This favor should be left for his own family to use to win Han Yukuang's favor. He said unhappily, "Zhang Shouyue is just a circuit supervisor. His recommendation may not be approved."

As a circuit supervisor, Zhang Shouyue certainly has the right to recommend, but the circuit military commissioner also has the power to oppose. Moreover, Zhang Shouyue's recommendation must be reported to the Three Classes Office, which will evaluate whether Han Yukuang is qualified to serve as an official.

"Xiang Bao will likely oppose!" Wang Hou said with certainty.

"Don't underestimate Xiang Bao!" Wang Zhao sneered, "But he is indeed in a difficult position. If he agrees, he can gain a reputation for magnanimity. If he opposes… there are many people eyeing his position as circuit military commissioner! Zhang Xican might also be one of them!"

"Is Zhang Shouyue deliberately doing this for Xiang Bao to see?"

"Most likely."

Wang Hou is smart. He blinked and immediately understood his father's meaning. Xiang Bao is the circuit military commissioner, and Zhang Shouyue is the circuit supervisor. They are the second and third most important military figures in the Qin-Feng Circuit. If Xiang Bao leaves his position, the vacant spot will either be filled by someone sent from the capital or by Zhang Shouyue's promotion. Zhang Shouyue has just achieved success in Gangu City, and the prime ministers in the capital cannot overlook this. Zhang Shouyue is probably thinking of driving Xiang Bao out of the Qin-Feng Circuit to take his place.

"Zhang Shouyue really knows how to seize the opportunity!"

"This opportunity was given to him by Han Yukuang."

"Sir!" After recommending Han Yukuang to Wang Zhao many times without success, Wang Hou, undeterred, began to talk about Han Yukuang again, "Han Yukuang's intelligence and skills far surpass those of ordinary people. If we don't recruit him early, we will surely regret it in the future!"

"Of course, I know this." Wang Zhao sighed for the umpteenth time after reading the copy of the Gangu City document.

From the way Han Yukuang could make his usually arrogant second son so respectful, his talent was evident. However, Wang Zhao's true understanding of Han Yukuang came after returning to Qin Prefecture. When Han Yukuang went north to Gangu, Wang Zhao sent an urgent message to Qin Prefecture and returned the next day with the messenger from Gangu City.

The battle in the Pei Valley was either a sudden event or an ominous sign, and neither Li Shizhong nor Wang Zhao would take any risks. After Wang Zhao rushed back to Qin Prefecture and arranged for people to investigate the Pei Valley, he then collected information about Han Yukuang, and the case of the military equipment warehouse came to light.

With Wang Zhao's keen eye and experience, he was not deceived by the surface details. Through the fog of the written documents, Wang Zhao had a clear understanding of Han Yukuang's actions since he left home and entered the city. In a dire situation, he managed to kill three people in one night, turning the tide and forcing his enemies to their deaths. Additionally, two soldiers originally on Chen Ju's side were convinced by Han Yukuang to abandon Chen Ju and stand firmly on his side after the incident.

"Decisive in killing, brave in battle, and eloquent like Su and Zhang. This Han San, in terms of character, bravery, and intelligence, is no less than the old Zhang Guaiya who governed Shu!" This was what Wang Zhao said to Wang Hou after understanding the details of the military equipment warehouse case.

Zhang Guaiya, a famous minister during the reigns of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Zhenzong, was known by his self-given name, Zhang Yong. Zhang Guaiya was famous for his sword skills. According to legend, when he was a young scholar, he mistakenly entered a black inn. When the innkeeper tried to harm him, he drew his sword and killed the entire family, then set the house on fire, creating a headless mass murder case.

As the magistrate of Chongyang, a treasury official stole a single coin from the treasury. Zhang Guaiya intended to punish him with a cane, but the official cursed him. Without a word, Zhang Guaiya wrote the judgment, "One coin a day, a thousand coins in a thousand days, a rope can cut through wood, and water can wear through stone," and personally beheaded the official. This was the temperament of a hero, and even in the era of the Han Dynasty, he would not have been inferior. Han Yukuang's ruthless nature in killing is similar to Zhang Guaiya's.

"If this young man can pass the imperial examination, he might become a famous minister in the future." This is what Wang Zhao said now, seeing Han Yukuang's actions in just two months after recovering from his illness, he indeed has the capability.

Han Yukuang, such a talented person, Wang Zhao naturally wants to recruit him. But his son Wang Hou is not up to the task, being completely deceived by Han Yukuang. If he were to recruit Han Yukuang under these circumstances, he would not be satisfied with being a mere guest. At the very least, he would need an official position. Feeding the donkey before it starts working is a foolish thing, and Wang Zhao is unwilling to do it.

Just a brief meeting at the Fuchuan North Gate, Han Yukuang's sharp eyes and brows left a deep impression on Wang Zhao. Appearance reflects the heart, and no matter how much Han Yukuang pretends to be humble and peaceful, he cannot hide his arrogance. Therefore, Wang Zhao plans to first temper Han Yukuang's temper and arrogance, making him not dare to have high expectations, then clear away his enemies, so he has no worries. This push and pull should make Han Yukuang submit. If he proves to be capable in the future, he will recommend him for an official position; if he turns out to be a fraud, he can be dismissed.

Wang Zhao's plan is very clever, and the script is well-written, but he forgot that although Han Yukuang is not a big name, he has no obligation to follow the script. Wang Zhao also didn't expect that Han Yukuang has the ability to write his own script.

Who would have thought that Han Yukuang, after just a few days in Gangu City, could achieve something that Zhang Shouyue could recommend him for?

"Putting a cone in a bag, how can it not stand out?" Wang Zhao sighed at his own naivety and said to Wang Hou, "Second son, you will go with me to Gangu tomorrow!"

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