Chapter 5: The Industrious Emperor

The difference between Fate Level One and Fate Level Two is like night and day. Fate Level Two has already surpassed ninety percent of ordinary people.

Take magic, for example. When Zhao Xing casts the spell "Walking Clouds," out of a hundred attempts, only two or three might trigger a fate enhancement, boosting the spell’s effect by twenty to thirty percent; players call this a "minor magical success."

Out of a thousand attempts, there might be one instance of a "double effect," known among players as a "major magical success."

However, with Fate Level Two, just ten spell casts might trigger two or three "minor successes," and one hundred casts could easily yield one "major success."

And this advantage is not limited to spellcasting; it extends to finding treasures on the road, encountering hidden masters when seeking mentors, or never coming up empty-handed when fishing…

This effect is particularly pronounced in the "Dynasty of Fate" version.

“But why is this so? I clearly remember that the Dao Embryo Pill didn’t have such an effect… hmm?”

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Zhao Xing. He began to consider a possibility.

“The current Great Dream Academy is different from the later ‘Cloud Dream Academy.’ The former holds abundant treasures, while the latter is more of a mere tool.”

“Could it be that by entering the Great Dream Academy, I have indirectly absorbed some of the ancient dynasty ‘Great Li’s’ residual fate?”

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Zhao Xing then recalled related events from that ancient era to evaluate whether this was beneficial or detrimental.

In the end, he concluded the benefits far outweighed the risks.

“The Li Dynasty was distant from the Great Zhou and existed only during some chaotic period of the feudal lords. A faction claiming to be its remnants once acted under its banner but caused no significant upheaval—let alone in this current era.”

“The growth of fate is intangible, invisible, and leaves no trace. Transitioning from Fate Level One to Two would not draw any attention.”

“If I can continue to enhance it later, there’s no rush. By then, I will have entered the Great Zhou’s official system. If a high-ranking expert notices, I could simply hand over the method of entering the Great Dream Academy to the state and make a one-time deal.”

Zhao Xing recalled that the person who discovered how to open the Great Dream Academy was not "specially dealt with." Instead, after presenting the method to the Martial Emperor, he was ennobled as Marquis Xian and granted territory.

Thus, whether the fate enhancement is noticed or not is merely a matter of profit, not safety.

“Still, I must enter the official system as soon as possible.”

Having resolved these thoughts, Zhao Xing felt at ease.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo~”

Outside, the roosters crowed. He quickly washed up and hurried out the door.

...

Currently, the Bureau of Agriculture in Gu City has over five hundred personnel.

Yet Nanyang Commandery only allocates three to five quotas to Gu City each year.

Most low-level agricultural clerks without talent or background can only endure hardship, waiting for outstanding competitors to be promoted and leave.

The Bureau of Agriculture is better than others, but the promotion channels in the military, engineering, law, literature, and ritual systems are even more competitive.

In short, the Bureau of Agriculture offers better transfer opportunities than careers like warriors, mechanism engineers, or physicians.

This year, the Bureau of Agriculture has many "experts," such as Li Chengfeng and Wen Nanxing, who have nearly reached the third stage of Core Convergence.

They not only know basic spells like "Walking Clouds," "Spreading Rain," "Thunderstrike," and "Rising Wind," but have also begun studying advanced versions such as "Favorable Winds and Timely Rain" and "Summon Wind and Call Rain."

Some have even begun to delve into the mysteries of the temple, studying high-level secret texts like "Seasonal Commands" and "The Map of All Things’ Growth," enabling them to learn spells with destructive power.

Both their cultivation and magical skill surpass those of ordinary clerks.

To surpass these competitors, Zhao Xing must quicken his pace.

“Now that I’ve reached the second stage of Core Convergence, my vital energy is sufficient to support more spellcasting. It’s time to learn new spells.”

The Bureau of Agriculture in Gu City is located in the eastern part of town, but Zhao Xing headed north because to learn spells, he must first go to the county office for approval, obtain permission, and record the application before proceeding to the temple to seek magic.

After acquiring the spells, he must return to the county office again to transcribe the records, since the temple might randomly grant more spells than requested.

Once this is done, he returns to the Bureau of Agriculture to find a mentor and practice. Official clerks there serve as both superiors and teachers to junior staff.

Whether they are willing to teach and how much effort they put in depends on choosing the right person.

...

Zhao Xing entered the county office’s clerks’ quarters to begin the process and was warmly received by the clerk on duty.

“My name is Pang Fei. We have some herbal tea prepared inside. Brother Zhao, please come to the side hall to rest a while.”

Seeing the young, enthusiastic face, Zhao Xing was slightly surprised. “Brother Pang, you’re too kind. How long will it take to approve this official document?”

He was here to handle business, not to drink tea.

“Once the document is stamped, it won’t take more than an hour, and it may be as quick as half an hour.”

...

So fast? The efficiency of the county office had improved so much?

He thought Pang Fei might be an exception, but while drinking tea in the side hall, he found all the clerks to be just as diligent!

After pondering for a while, Zhao Xing suddenly understood.

This all started with Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing was an ambitious man. He named his reign "Jingxin" (Bright New) to create a new atmosphere and surpass the virtues of his ancestors.

His father, Emperor Wen, was "loving like a parent and humble and benevolent," but Jing himself had a fiery temper and could not emulate that. To outshine his father, he had to excel in other areas.

So this emperor began to lead by example in internal competition.

According to the "Great Zhou Edict," official business was to be handled within five days for minor matters, seven days for moderate ones, and ten days for major affairs.

Under his directive, all county and commandery offices had to process documents and handle affairs daily, never allowing delays.

This relentless drive quickly spread through all nineteen provinces.

Because of this, players nicknamed Emperor Jing the "Diligent Emperor."

Why was the government so efficient? Because the emperor himself led by example. Who dared slack off? The temple in the city wasn’t just for show; at a large scale, it monitored corrupt and unlawful city matters, and on a finer level, it kept officials accountable for laziness and misconduct.

Why was Pang Yun so courteous? Because he was a junior clerk, just like Zhao Xing, hoping to be promoted. Without competing with colleagues, when could one ever secure a stable position?

“Building temples to supervise officials and spreading the ten thousand laws to enlighten the common people—this period is truly safe. Not like the chaos later, when even farming was unsafe…”

As a Bureau of Agriculture player, Zhao Xing was very satisfied with the current environment—it was an excellent time to grow stronger.

After finishing one cup of tea, a polite clerk came to refill it.

This happened three times, until finally Pang Fei came running over with a document.

“Brother Zhao, your application has been approved. Sorry for the wait.”

“Thank you.” Seeing the sweat forming on Pang Fei’s forehead, Zhao Xing sincerely expressed his gratitude.