Chapter 180: Volunteering for Duty

Chapter 180: Making a Request

"Perfect timing—our lease expires in four months." The wife couldn't contain her joy at the thought of paying just ten taels of silver in annual rent from now on. You don’t know the cost of living until you run a household. Supporting a family in the capital required scrimping and saving every copper, especially with older children needing more money for school.

"Today, I’ll buy some nice wine and food to celebrate tonight." The wife grabbed her basket and silver before heading out, asking her husband and child what they’d like to eat so she could buy it.

"I want lots of meat!" the child exclaimed excitedly.

Her husband, a sixth-rank official, replied, "Just get some braised dishes and a jug of good wine for me. I’ll go draft a petition now."

The wife cheerfully agreed and left.

As soon as she stepped out, she ran into her neighbor—a junior official from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, holding rank seven. Seeing him also carrying a basket, she quickly suggested they go to the market together.

After asking, she learned he was also celebrating the news about the official residences.

At the market, the wife bought three pounds of pork, two sausages, two pounds of braised dishes, and more, not forgetting to get her husband a jug of fine wine. Before, they could only afford weak rice wine that tasted like water.

Being an official in the capital might seem glamorous, but putting food on the table was still hard. They had always pinched pennies in the capital, but now, carrying these purchases home, her steps felt lighter with joy.

The imperial court is truly generous, and Lord Zheng is considerate of poor families like ours.

When she returned, the wife busied herself in the kitchen while her husband, after finishing his petition in the study, helped their son with homework.

The Ministry of Revenue needed to register applicants for the official residences, so they had to provide clear information. The ministry would cross-check with household records and even send inspectors.

That evening, the family enjoyed a celebratory dinner. Many lower-ranking officials in the court were equally delighted about the prospect of moving into these residences, and they, too, were celebrating that day.

Plink—plonk—

The spring rain fell steadily, rippling across the moat’s surface. Zheng Shanci and his family were having dinner when Yu Lanyi shivered from the chill and asked a servant to close the window.

Xiao Ping’an served himself more food, usually eating two full bowls of rice. Once finished, he declared he was full and went to the doorway to watch the raindrops falling like scattered pearls from the eaves. He dragged over a small stool to sit and admire the rain.

Yu Lanyi glanced at Xiao Ping’an before continuing his meal.

"Xiao Ping’an might just be a poet," Yu Lanyi remarked.

Zheng Shanci could only laugh.

Sitting on his stool, Xiao Ping’an spotted an earthworm wriggling on the garden flagstones. He grabbed an umbrella, went over, picked it up, and tossed it back into the soil. Then he happily washed his hands under the rainwater dripping from the eaves.

Zheng Shanci had someone brew a pot of fine tea and reclined on a lounge chair, inviting Xiao Ping’an to join him on another to watch the rain outside the window.

By the time Yu Lanyi finished eating, he found the father and son already lounging leisurely. He settled into his own chair and asked for a thin quilt—spring still carried a chill, and Yu Lanyi was sensitive to the cold.

The sound of rain brought a quiet calm to their hearts.

After listening for a while, Xiao Ping’an pulled Yu Lanyi into a game of Five-in-a-Row, with Zheng Shanci watching.

Xiao Ping’an was thrilled when he won, but Yu Lanyi won the next game. Xiao Ping’an wouldn’t play against Zheng Shanci—he could never win against him.

Zheng Shanci might go easy when playing his father-in-law, but never on his son. Xiao Ping’an wised up and stopped challenging him, deciding to wait until he was older before taking his father on again. After a few rounds with his son, it was soon time for Xiao Ping’an to go to bed.

Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi also headed to bed. Yu Lanyi, still energetic, picked up a storybook to read.

"Zheng Shanci, I heard many Imperial College students are writing stories for the Ministry of Revenue’s printing house. Do you know who wrote this one?"

"Those matters are handled by the printing house. I wouldn’t know."

Yu Lanyi said dejectedly, "Fine." The romance novels from the Ministry of Revenue were far more intriguing than those from ordinary bookshops. The romantic and tender scenes were exceptionally refined, making it hard to imagine how a grown man could possess such delicate insight into the hearts of young lovers.

Zheng Shanci was only into mystery novels, particularly those authored by Cui Ziqi, which both he and Yu Lanyi loved to read.

...

Ministry of Works laborers mainly used bricks and mortar to repair the official residences. They even dug extra wells, ensuring the houses were well-built with functioning wells and dry toilets. However, the furnishings inside had to be purchased by the officials themselves.

The capital’s flea market offered affordable and practical items, good enough to last several years.

The Ministry of Revenue assigned Yu Feng the task of registering officials for the residences. Knowing Zheng Shanci’s temperament, Yu Feng didn’t dare rig the assignments and allocated houses strictly based on actual circumstances.

Some officials played the system—they already owned homes but sought to live in the low-cost official residences while renting out their own properties for profit. Aware that this violated regulations, they attempted to bribe Yu Feng with red envelopes, asking for leniency.

Yu Feng’s hands twitched at the sight of the bribes, but thoughts of his career made him shake his head in refusal. "Lord Zheng entrusted this matter to me out of trust. If I were to engage in such misconduct, my conscience would never be at ease. If caught, we’d both be screwed."

He turned down several officials and even warned his wife and children at home not to accept gifts. His career was far more important than petty bribes. Moreover, as an official in the Ministry of Revenue, he knew Zheng Shanci tolerated no corruption.

It wasn’t worth carrying his head on his belt for this.

For years, the seas had been silent, but today, word spread through the canal officials that several large ships had returned from their voyage.

Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Fan dispatched a runner to inform Zheng Shanci at the Grand Secretariat before leading a team to greet the ships.

After two years at sea, Nie Yan looked like a castaway. His colleagues at the dock could barely recognize him.

"We sold our goods to foreign lands and brought back some exotic products. Here’s the detailed inventory," Nie Yan said, handing the list to Vice Minister Fan, who accepted it.

Nie Yan added, "Three officials succumbed to illness—unable to adapt to the climate and weakened by the harsh conditions at sea, they passed before we could treat them. We committed them to the deep."

Fan’s excitement faded at this news. He sighed, "The dead cannot return, but the court will remember their service."

Nie Yan had mourned them mile after mile. Now, standing once more on the soil of the Great Yan Dynasty, his composure was steadier.

Fan said, "Go clean up at home first. Tonight, we’ll host a welcoming banquet at Drunken Immortal Pavilion in your honor."

The Ministry of Revenue still needed to tally the goods and funds before rewards could be distributed.

Nie Yan hesitated before retrieving a plotted map of their route and a small box from his robes, offering them to Vice Minister Fan.

"Vice Minister Fan, here's the map of the places I’ve visited. Inside the box are seeds—we observed that this strain of rice yields three bushels per acre in its native soil."

Fan was stunned. As he took the map, he marveled at Nie Yan’s dedication to documenting his journey even at sea. But when he accepted the box, his excitement surged.

In the south, rice fields produced two bushels per acre, while northern wheat yielded only one. If Nie Yan’s claims held true, this discovery would be a tremendous boon for the Great Yan Dynasty.

Fan beamed, thumping Nie Yan’s back. "Well done, lad! You’re going places, kid."

Nie Yan ducked his head, smiling modestly. He had originally intended to present the map and seeds to Zheng Shanci, but since the Minister hadn’t come, he couldn’t help feeling a pang of disappointment.

Then again, why would the Minister bother? The Minister of Revenue was far too important to personally receive returning ships.

Nie Yan clasped his hands respectfully. "Vice Minister Fan, this achievement belongs not to me alone but to all my colleagues and the sailors who worked alongside me."

"Of course! I’ll record every contribution and submit a memorial to the Grand Secretariat," Fan assured him, his esteem for Nie Yan rising even higher.

No wonder Lord Zheng lucked out—with such a capable disciple, good times ahead.

"Go rest now. We’ll see you at Drunken Immortal Pavilion later," Fan said, instructing his subordinates to begin inventorying the ship’s cargo. Nie Yan waved off his crew before making for home.

Vice Minister Fan sent someone to escort Nie Yan back.

Nie Yan sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain to gaze at the familiar streets, feeling a bit disoriented. Life at sea was dull. At first, he had been fascinated by the ocean views, spending every day on deck watching the waves. But after seeing the same scenery repeatedly, it lost its charm. He then turned to reading novels and books, but even those grew dull over time.

Nie Yan had an idea—he began drawing maps, charting the routes he’d traveled and marking supply stops along the way. Sometimes, they sailed for three months without encountering a single soul. Other times, they met people from small nations, but they couldn’t understand each other, which led to clashes. Fortunately, they escaped in time, though some of their men were lost. Occasionally, they encountered friendly small nations where they traded goods, even though neither side understood the other’s words.

Every time Nie Yan came back aboard, he often marveled at how vast the world was.

When the carriage arrived at the Nie residence, Minister Nie was still on duty at the palace. As Nie Yan stepped down, a gatekeeper stopped him.

The gatekeeper studied Nie Yan’s face before recognizing him. "Young Master, you’re back from the sea!"

Another gatekeeper rushed inside to report his return.

Nie Yan walked through the residence to the main hall, where he saw Madam Nie. He knelt and bowed to her. "I’ve failed in my filial duty, drifting at sea for two years before returning to my parents’ side."

Madam Nie’s eyes filled with tears as she hastily helped him up, noticing his weathered face—only his eyes still sparkled. Those eyes reminded her of her husband, Minister Nie, who also had such a piercing gaze.

"My dear child, as long as you’ve returned safely, that’s all that matters. Don’t leave again," Madam Nie said, dabbing her tears with a handkerchief.

Nie Yan replied, "Mother, I won’t set sail again."

He’d gotten what he wanted—there was little value in another voyage.

Chu Qingyuan came running from the garden, his face a mix of happiness and sadness upon seeing Nie Yan.

Madam Nie quickly urged Nie Yan to clean up, and he complied. Servants had already prepared hot water. After washing and changing into clean clothes, a barber came to shave him and trim his hair.

Nie Yan fell asleep while it was happening.

Chu Qingyuan watched as the barber worked, relieved to see Nie Yan asleep.

They had barely been married when Nie Yan left. Now that he had returned, Chu Qingyuan felt uneasy. He had resented Nie Yan, but after two years without news, that anger turned to concern. Seeing Nie Yan safe now left him deeply relieved.

Once the barber finished and respectfully left, Chu Qingyuan gazed at Nie Yan’s sun-darkened face. He asked a servant to fetch a light blanket and draped it over Nie Yan, then took some face cream from his dressing table and gently applied it to Nie Yan’s face, patting it softly.

Nie Yan slept soundly, unaware of Chu Qingyuan’s actions.

When he awoke, it was already time for court officials to leave their duties. He pushed aside the blanket and stood, catching a whiff of the scent of peach blossoms on himself. Having grown up in an ordinary household, he didn’t realize it was the face cream—he assumed the barber had used some fancy scented stuff. The sweetness was a little too much, and Nie Yan found it uncomfortable.

As soon as he stepped out of the room, a servant called out, "Young Master is awake! The kitchen has prepared some dishes—please have a bite."

"Just bring me some pastries. I’ll be dining at Drunken Immortal Pavilion tonight," Nie Yan said. Though hungry, he planned to eat properly later—for now, pastries would suffice.

The servant obeyed.

Nie Yan devoured a few pastries, nearly choking before someone handed him a cup of hot tea. He muttered thanks and drained it in one gulp.

Chu Qingyuan sat in a chair, watching him.

"Qingyuan, it’s you. You’ve suffered these past two years," Nie Yan said, pausing when he saw Chu Qingyuan’s expression.

"You finally say that. These two years felt like I was never married. Thankfully, your parents treated me well," Chu Qingyuan replied, his nose stinging with held-back tears.

Nie Yan stiffly embraced him in consolation. "I won’t leave again, I promise. And there will be no one else."

He reflected that Chu Qingyuan had indeed endured hardship for his sake. Since he had no intention of remarrying anyway, voicing this now would reassure Chu Qingyuan—a promise of sorts.

Hearing this, Chu Qingyuan’s heart swelled with joy. He believed Nie Yan. If Nie Yan remained his alone, then these two years hadn’t been in vain.

When attending banquets with Madam Nie, Chu Qingyuan couldn’t help but feel a pang of loneliness upon seeing young ladies and young masters accompanied by their husbands.

Chu Qingyuan looked up at him. “Do you really mean it?”

Nie Yan nodded.

The resentment in Chu Qingyuan's heart eased slightly as Nie Yan informed him about an upcoming business dinner at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Chu Qingyuan’s affection for Nie Yan surged once more.

“Go ahead, but don’t drink too much,” Chu Qingyuan said, straightening Nie Yan’s robes.

Nie Yan nodded and left.

Chu Qingyuan called his personal attendant. “Go tell the kitchen to prepare sobering soup so it’s ready when my husband returns.”

The attendant acknowledged this and returned from the kitchen to find his young master selecting clothes.

“What do you think of this outfit? Never mind, I’ll go to Jinyi Tailors to buy some new clothes,” Chu Qingyuan muttered to himself.

The attendant hadn’t seen the young master this giddy and nervous in ages.

Indeed, after Lord Nie’s return, the young master had become more particular about his attire. Thinking it wasn’t yet dinner time, Chu Qingyuan took his personal attendant to Jinyi Tailors to pick out some clothes and buy new accessories.

Meanwhile, Nie Yan arrived at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. He mentioned Vice Minister Fan’s name to the clerk, who escorted him to a private room.

Only a scattering of guests had arrived when Nie Yan got there. This was his long-standing habit—before being returned to the Nie family, his family struggled financially, so he had to work harder to fit in, always maintaining humility and respect for his elders.

His foster parents would often compare him to others, but Nie Yan merely gave perfunctory replies, knowing exactly what he wanted and willing to invest time and effort to achieve his goals.

The early arrivals were his fellow seafaring officials. Nie Yan exchanged a few words with them. The clerk brought hot tea, and Nie Yan took measured sips, having already had a cup at home—this was just to moisten his throat.

Officials trickled in, and Nie Yan chatted with a few acquaintances. Director Zhao remarked, “You disappeared for two years, lad—I nearly forgot about you. And now you return with meritorious deeds.”

Director Zhao and Nie Yan were fellow Jinshi graduates (a prestigious academic position) in the same year and shared a good rapport. Though Director Zhao envied Nie Yan’s accomplishments, he had no desire to brave the seas himself—the voyages were long, success uncertain, and the risk of perishing far from home all too real.

“You flatter me, Brother Zhao,” Nie Yan replied, still a Hanlin scholar without an official post.

Director Zhao added, “Lord Zheng is coming to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion today. Since joining the Grand Secretariat (the highest cabinet), he’s been increasingly busy—he left right after finishing his duties at the Ministry of Revenue this afternoon.”

Nie Yan’s mind reeled, his throat dry. “Lord Zheng joined the Grand Secretariat?”

Before Nie Yan left, Zheng Shanci had been Minister of Revenue (head of the Ministry of Revenue). Now, after two years, he had entered the Grand Secretariat. His mentor’s rise was meteoric. From Brother Zhao’s tone, it seemed he still held his position as Minister of Revenue.

Nie Yan was filled with admiration.

They conversed for a while, with Director Zhao inquiring about the maritime expedition. After Nie Yan shared a few details, Director Zhao shuddered: “Truly perilous. You’re blessed with luck, Brother Nie—you should visit the temples more often.”

“You’ve been gone two years. Brother Cui and I have both married. You weren’t here, but your husband attended our celebrations,” Director Zhao said with a smile.

Nie Yan sighed. “After two years away, walking the streets of the capital, I hardly recognize some faces.”

Vice Minister Fan arrived with Zheng Shanci, having met at the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. When Lord Zheng entered, everyone paid their respects.

“No need for formalities. This welcome-back banquet is to honor you. The Ministry of Revenue has inventoried the cargo from the ships, and commendations will be sought for your contributions.”

The group brightened, chorusing, “Thank you, Lord Zheng.”

They shared a toast before the meal began. Lord Zheng ate lightly, staying until the end to enjoy a bowl of wild mushroom broth before rising to leave. He waved off escorts, calling out to Nie Yan: “Done eating?”

Nie Yan was overwhelmed by the honor and hurriedly stood up to reply, "Lord Zheng, I've had my fill."

Zheng Shanci invited Nie Yan to accompany him.

The others looked on with envy at Nie Yan.

Hearing Zheng Shanci's words, Nie Yan felt weightless, as if walking on clouds.

"I'll escort you back to the Nie residence," Zheng Shanci said.

Nie Yan nodded and dismissed the Nie family's coachman. He then boarded the Zheng family's carriage, perching awkwardly on one side.

"I've reviewed the Ministry of Revenue's inventory, along with the maps and seeds you brought back. Nie Yan, you’ve rendered invaluable service to the court this time. The rice seeds are even more precious than the ships and maps," Zheng Shanci said without exaggeration.

Should these seeds boost harvests and adapt to the land of the Great Yan Dynasty, Nie Yan’s official career would be secure for life.

Nie Yan clasped his hands in salute. "We first discovered them on a small island. Seeing how lush the rice was, my colleagues and I went ashore to parley with the islanders. I tried to persuade them to come to Great Yan, but they refused, and I dared not press them."

Nie Yan had considered taking a hostage to cultivate rice in Great Yan, but with too few men, they would have been at a disadvantage against the islanders, so he abandoned the idea.

Zheng Shanci said, "We’ll first plant the seeds in the imperial estates to test them. If they thrive, we can expand their cultivation across the realm."

Nie Yan nodded obediently and said softly, "I have yet to congratulate you on entering the Grand Secretariat, Teacher."

Zheng Shanci smiled. "Thank you. But today is about celebrating your achievements. Congratulations, Nie Yan. Honestly, your safe return alone is cause for celebration—everything else is secondary."

Nie Yan felt warmth in his heart, along with a pang of concern for having worried his teacher.

Zheng Shanci escorted Nie Yan back to the Nie residence. After bowing gratefully and watching Lord Zheng's carriage recede into the distance, Nie Yan finally entered his home.

Two years had passed since they last met. Zheng Shanci noticed Nie Yan had grown sun-darkened and lean—a testament to the hardships he had endured at sea.

Still, as his disciple, Nie Yan was different from ordinary men, and Zheng Shanci couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern for him.

When Zheng Shanci returned home, Xiao Pingan had just come back from the Wei residence. Wei Yun, having stumbled in the Imperial Examinations, was heartbroken, and Xiao Pingan had gone to console his friend.

Xiao Pingan felt deeply for Wei Yun. Though Wei Yun had been upset over poor academic performance before, this level of sorrow was new—proof of how daunting the Imperial Examinations were. Xiao Pingan now viewed them with newfound awe.

After drinking some warm water, Xiao Pingan went to bed.

"How was the gathering?" Yu Lanyi asked.

"I spoke with Nie Yan a bit more. His group suffered greatly—two years adrift at sea, with several lives lost. I’ve instructed the Ministry of Revenue to register the deceased and issue compensation to their families."

Yu Lanyi nodded. The dangers of the sea came not only from nature but also from unknown foreigners. Having met foreigners in the capital before, Yu Lanyi had even engaged in mutually incomprehensible conversations with them as a child, though he had been delighted at the time until Jin Yun dragged him away.

Zheng Shanci drank the sobering broth left on the table.

...

The seeds Nie Yan discovered abroad captured Emperor Wuming's keen interest, and the maps were carefully stored by the Ministry of Revenue. In contrast, the gold and silver brought back by the ships paled in comparison. Zheng Shanci admired Nie Yan greatly.

Nie Yan’s original charge had been to sell goods for profit or bring back foreign wares for trade. Yet, his collection of seeds and mapping efforts proved far more valuable than mere wealth and goods.

He had the ability to unearth new boons beyond the tasks assigned by his superiors.

Emperor Wuming appointed Nie Yan as the fifth-grade Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Nie Yan bowed. "This humble official receives Your Majesty's decree with deepest gratitude."

Emperor Wuming nodded, then said after a moment of contemplation, "The barbarians on the frontier have been raiding our borders, treating the territory of Great Yan as ripe for the taking. Now that the national treasury is full, I intend to conquer the barbarians and expand Great Yan's domain."

Chief Grand Secretary Wei still hesitated. He had guessed that Emperor Wuming harbored ambitions to conquer the barbarians, but he hadn’t expected His Majesty to propose it so soon.

Second Grand Secretary Xiao responded, "Great Yan is strong and prosperous—our nation possesses the strength to succeed."

Most officials in the court agreed, and the military faction was particularly fervent. Only through war could they prove their worth and gain status and wealth.

Yu Zhangxing stepped forward and declared, "If Your Majesty intends to conquer the barbarians, I beg to bear the standard!"

Emperor Wuming and Yu Zhangxing exchanged a glance, their gazes alight with the same fiery determination—a promise from their youth. Now that they had families and careers, their youthful days were gone, but they still wanted to try once more.

Amid the howling northern wind, fluttering banners, and frost-covered swords and halberds, Yu Zhangxing longed to raise Great Yan's flag over the barbarians' royal city.

Seated on the dragon throne, Emperor Wuming proclaimed, "We appoint you, Yu, Our trusted minister, as supreme commander of the expedition against the barbarians, leading the frontier army of 200,000. The Ministries of War, Revenue, and Works shall prioritize all matters related to this campaign."

Thus, the matter was settled.

Some courtiers wished to dissuade Emperor Wuming, but seeing that none of the four grand secretaries spoke up—and given His Majesty's resolute stance—they feared to oppose him.

Meanwhile, their minds raced, weighing what advantages they might secure from this war.

After the morning court session ended, the civil and military officials dispersed, each preoccupied with their own calculations.

Zheng Shanci first returned to the Ministry of Revenue to prepare provisions for the army—rations and weapons for 200,000 troops laying siege to cities. The chief commander, after all, was his Brother-in-law.

Knowing of this connection, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue took special care in their duties.