The officials from the county seat were still at Sky Heart Square.
Only now, the number had grown from four to sixteen. In addition to those in charge of the Minister of Agriculture Supervision, there were also officials from the military department, the Heavenly Workshop, and the Weaving Bureau.
Since the completion of the official examination, they stood as statues, waiting for the time to reopen Tianxin Hall.
"Why is time passing so slowly today?" Xiao Ze rubbed his hands, palms sweating.
"It’s not that time is slow, it’s that you’re too anxious." Wen Nanxing whispered nearby.
"Aren’t you anxious?" Xiao Ze asked, "If we don’t make it this year, we’ll have to wait another year. Who knows what might happen next year?"
Wen Nanxing had no response. In truth, his heart was also in turmoil.
"The only one who’s surely confident is Zhao Xing." Wen Nanxing looked ahead at Zhao Xing’s back, who was chatting and laughing with Zong Shichang.
"That Zong Shichang doesn’t seem worried at all. Could it be he feels confident too?" Xiao Ze looked ahead puzzled, eavesdropping on their conversation.
"I have no sure confidence." Zong Shichang brushed his sleeve, "But I don’t necessarily need to succeed this time; succeeding next year is the same."
Zhao Xing chuckled, "What if you can’t succeed next year either?"
Zong Shichang nonchalantly replied, "It doesn’t matter. My father will intervene, and I can still become an official through other means. Our dynasty doesn’t rely solely on the official system for appointing officials."
"If I truly can’t succeed, I’ll go to Xiangshan County and serve under King Xiangshan. Gain some merits for a few years and then find a way to return to Nanyang."
Zhao Xing laughed, "Really, I want to compete with you important family heirs."
The official system was one path to becoming an official. Serving as a vassal in a Prince’s territory was another.
In Nanyang County, although the divine temple enshrined Prince Nanyang, he was a figure from a thousand years ago. The princely title was not hereditary, and now only an earldom remained.
Though they could still draw taxes and possessed significant land, it was just ’feudal land’ and lacked actual territory.
True territories could recruit soldiers independently, appoint vassals, and levy taxes with significant power.
The King Xiangshan Zong Shichang mentioned was Emperor Jing’s cousin. Though not very close by relation, he was a real Commandery Prince who could set up his own government.
Going the vassal route, one could start as King Xiangshan’s vassal and become an official in Xiangshan County. With good performance, one could also transfer to a court official.
This required connections and social networks; ordinary people could not hope to go this route.
During Emperor Wen’s time, many heirs from prominent families took this route to become officials with ease. Once they became officials, would they worry about lacking achievements?
But now, Emperor Jing was stringent not only with officials but also with his brothers, making this path much harder. However, it was still easier than the formal official examination.
"What’s there to compete with me about? Once you are inducted, it won’t take decades for you to sprout branches and leaves, rise through ranks and noble titles. The Zhao Family will also become a major family in Nanyang County." Zong Shichang said, "You can’t be competing with yourself."
"That’s true." Zhao Xing nodded. Connections were everywhere. Just as Long Xiao stated, if Zhao Xing wanted to serve in the Divine Might Army, without connections, he wouldn’t even be on their radar during selection after being inducted.
Even waiting for a thousand years would not result in selection; he would have to continue taking the Military Minister of Agriculture Officer examination.
But with connections through Chen Shijie and Long Xiao, during the selection period, he could bypass the examination process directly.
Although Yang An was only the Marquis of Boping County, once reinstated as the main general of the Divine Might Army, he had the right to select personnel from other places. Ninth-rank officials, whether civil or military, were freely chosen as long as there were vacancies.
"It would be best to succeed directly." Zong Shichang muttered, "If I really have to go through King Xiangshan’s route, my family’s wealth would shrink by half."
"How did you do in the actual assessment?" Zhao Xing asked, "Did you recognize the twelve-hour grass? Timing it is a bit challenging."
"Who do you look down on?" Zong Shichang exclaimed, "Timing is challenging, but I followed my father to Shangluo when I was young, and we also grew twelve-hour grass at home. How could I not recognize it?"
Zhao Xing chuckled silently.
"Stop chatting, the time is near; maintain silence." Chen Shijie admonished.
Li Wenzheng was more direct; he activated group silence.
The area beyond the square instantly fell silent.
At precisely the Chen hour, the officials who had stood like statues reopened Tianxin Hall.
"Phew~" Inside the hall, a bronze incense burner blazed with golden flames. After a while, a list emerged from it.
The list materialized and floated out of the hall, unfolding mid-air.
Names revealed themselves one by one.
Everyone couldn’t help looking up.
[Zhao Xing, Grade A Upper.]
The first name was Zhao Xing.
Chen Shijie smiled, and Xue Wenzhong nodded approvingly.
As for the others, they looked on with envious gazes.
Though they had long believed Zhao Xing would pass, it was an unknown until the results were out.
Now, seeing it for real settled the matter.
"Grade A Upper signifies at least one full mark; he truly wasn’t lying. His practical assessment indeed passed with full marks." Gao Linong was in a trance.
Fortunately, he hadn’t been rude three days ago, or he would be humiliated now.
"Only Grade A ranks are taken for official registration, divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower grades."
"Millions participated in this Temple Examination, but there will surely be only a handful of Grade A Upper ranks, giving them an advantage in selection."
"This Grade A Upper will surely be assigned to a prosperous and rich region to serve."
"It’s truly enviable."
The list fully unfolded.
Zhao Xing took a closer look, noting there were four names under the Minister of Agriculture Supervision.
Besides himself, Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zong Shichang were all rated Grade A Lower.