CH 42

What could the system say that brought such excitement to Zhong Yu? To the point he was dancing in joy and shedding his dignity as a lord in his study.

Anyone seeing him like this would be astounded that the usual cruel and hardened lord would have such a childish side.

Then they’d shiver for seeing something they shouldn’t and fearing the lord might silence them.

As to why all the excitement? From the system’s next words, “You don’t have the authority yet. When you have 10,000 people and establish your nation, then you will be presented with a choice for your future. This choice will also make it possible to be a cultivator and a lord.”

Zhong Yu was over the moon. Almost asking, ‘What is that choice? What does it imply?’ But with his lack of authority, they would remain unanswered.

And with how vague the system was, he could tell the choice would affect his safety.

Zhong Yu didn’t care though. Being able to cultivate and live longer, what does a danger in a century or thousand years later hold on him?

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Without cultivating he’d die in a century, tops. And being able to live for a thousand years overwrote all fears.

Even if he died in the end, It was all worth it. Besides, with the system by his side, he’d be wallowing in power and that so-called danger might not even be much.

Anyhow, it was all in the late future. Zhong Yu was better off handling today’s problem. Since the system confirmed he could cultivate, it was time he did his part in reaching 10,000 people on the double. 

‘I will make my own kingdom at last. Though 10,000 people is hardly much, but a kingdom is a kingdom. My grip on this land will solidify.’

Putting aside the issue of cultivation, Zhong Yu returned to the task at hand. His domain upgraded and had a reward to collect.

“System, open the reward!”

Zhong Yu watched the blue screen and the wheel going round and round.

It soon stopped over an image of people. 

“Ding! Congratulations, host, you received talents!”

Looking closely, ‘Yep, just what a budding civilization needs, supervisors. So the rewards of the system are rigged in my favor.’

Walking out of the study, he walked with a few servant girls to the hall where only he entered.

“System, open the reward. I want my talent here.”

“Opening…”

Zhong Yu was familiar with the white light by now and saw figures taking shape within it. The twenty people became clearer as the light receded. 

“Congratulations, hosts, you received 25 novice scholars. They have second rank elegance.”

‘Novice scholars? What’s that? And some second rank knowledge?’ The system soon explained.

Scholars were people devoted to reading books to broaden their horizons and gaining elegance used in resisting charm, soothe the people and cut down bandits. 

Elegance was born by understanding intricate truths from books. It rose by implementing their beliefs, educating people and taking up posts in the government. 

Scholars came as novice, competent, proficient, expert and national tutor. Novice scholars oversaw a village or low position in a county. Competent scholars could administer a county or a low position in a prefecture. Proficient scholars could administer a prefecture or a low position in a state. A national tutor had no limit.  

Zhong Yu grew excited at the ranking and at the scholars he was going to use were specialists in their fields. 

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The sword belongs in battle while the pen is in office. Ain’t it cool? With these talents watching over the development of his domain, his people would be pacified. And on top, they were ever loyal.

‘Let’s see, how many scholars need to handle one county? En, for now I don’t need a county magistrate, only a deputy and a registrar, tasked with assisting the magistrate. That makes two.’

‘Policy, civil, rites, military, justice, and labor that makes six offices. The policy office appoints other officials, tallies achievements and promotions. The civil office is tasked with overlooking the population, the lands, taxation and finance. Rites office is tasked with ceremonies, imperial examinations and education. The Military office is tasked with handling the army. Justice office handles criminal law, prison, litigation and many more cases. Labor office handles construction, engineering, agriculture, irrigation and so on. A county has six offices, all imperative. That makes another six.’

And on top of them all came the imperial censor overlooking the county.

In regards to armed offices, in charge with the county defense and insurgence suppression, was the defense captain. The Constable is in charge of apprehending criminals. The captain of the guard  secures the safety of its people. And an office guard, who was leader of the patrol team secured the officials. That made for four more. 

In regard to public offices, that made ten people  for the military,  In total, one county needed 14 officials to govern.

Next came the cities. Each had three elders, a tax collector, rites official, and watch captain. The three elders educated the people, the rites elder handled cases and taxes. The Watch captain prevented thieves and bandits. A population of 5,000 or more had a tax collector, while anything below that had a rites elder. As such, a city had three officials and each borough under it had a chief.  

That brought him to a county having 3-10 cities, a city having 3-10 boroughs and each borough had 3-10 blocks. 

It meant an official had to represent a borough, which in turn made the county had to have 32 officials extra, totalling 74 officials. ’25 scholars are far from enough.’ 

He was awkward after having so many areas lacking supervision with so few men on hand.