Chapter 49: Reporting Your Intentions on the Golden Terrace
"Your Majesty!"
Gan Jiang immediately fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowed with tears in his eyes and said: "I dare not ask for a thousand gold coins, I am willing to serve the king, only to die!"
What Qingji did really made Gan Jiang feel so grateful that he couldn't help but burst into tears.
The seven-foot-tall man cried loudly in front of King Qingji of Wu, and became a tearful man!
Gan Jiang never expected that, after he presented the male and female swords, Qingji actually entrusted him with an important task, making him the Grand Engineer, whose status was second only to the Nine Ministers.
How could this make Gan Jiang feel that a man should die for his confidant?
Now, even if Qingji ordered Gan Jiang to go through fire and water, the latter would not frown!
"No, you still have to accept this reward of one thousand taels of gold."
Qingji smiled indifferently.
This is exactly the effect that Qingji wants!
A reward of one thousand gold, plus the official position of Grand Engineer, all given to a blacksmith of humble origin, how could this not make scholars all over the world eager to make a move?
Just imagine, if Qingji could accept people like Gan Jiang, what about other truly talented and capable people?
This is exactly the reason why bones are worth a fortune!
Even if the general is not qualified for the position and does not have that talent, the position of the chief engineer is already full of talented people. As long as the general does not act recklessly, everything can proceed in an orderly manner and naturally there will be no mistakes.
Therefore, Qingji decided to appoint Gan Jiang as the chief engineer of Wu State only after careful consideration !
This official position is equivalent to the senior official in the Central Plains countries. It has a very respected status, but it cannot be inherited from generation to generation!
"Gan Jiang, your wife Moye is very virtuous and must be good at managing the household. I plan to let Moye enter the palace as a female official. What do you think?"
Qingji asked again.
"Your Majesty, this is an honor for Moye and me! Your Majesty has given me a new life, and I will do my best to live up to your high expectations!"
Gan Jiang agreed readily.
After returning, Gan Jiang talked about this matter with Moye again!
Moye was quite puzzled, but she did not resist Qingji's order for her to enter the palace as a female official.
After all, Moye inherited her father's business and is also a swordsmith, but her interest does not lie in this!
Moye just wants to find someone who loves her, to live a life of farming and weaving together, and to grow old together. She does not pursue fame or fortune.
Because Moye knows very well that the world of fame and fortune is a place of right and wrong!
Once you get involved, it's like being stuck in a quagmire and it's difficult to extricate yourself.
Now that her husband Gan Jiang has fallen into this, Moye can't just sit there and watch!
Having said that, Moye always felt puzzled.
Could it be that Qingji coveted my beauty? Was he thinking about a married woman like me?
It shouldn't be, it shouldn't be...
Mo Xie quickly shook her head, throwing away all the messy thoughts in her mind.
…
The next morning, at the instruction of King Qingji of Wu, team after team of soldiers marched through the streets and alleys, beating gongs and drums, announcing to the world that the first person to ascend the Golden Terrace had appeared!
Swordsmith——Gan Jiang!
This shocked passers-by who heard the news.
Fan Li and other scholars from various countries in the crowd were even more shocked!
How could a mere blacksmith (swordsmith) be entrusted with such an important task by the King of Wu?
People who were filled with doubt and uncertainty rushed to Zhaoxiantai to try to see if the matter was true.
At this time, Qingji was already wearing a robe and a long crown, standing on the Zhaoxian Platform.
Gan Jiang, dressed in a hemp cloth and looking just like an ordinary man, knelt in front of Qingji, extremely respectful, as if he was facing the god in his mind!
Qingji solemnly took the seal of the chief engineer from the eunuch on the side, handed it to Gan Jiang, and asked someone to bring out a box containing 1,000 taels of gold and gave it all to Gan Jiang as a reward.
Those who saw this scene below the Golden Stage couldn't help but feel envious, jealous and hateful!
How great would it be if you were a capable person?
"How can this be possible? How can this be possible?"
"How can a mere blacksmith be awarded the title of Grand Master and be rewarded with a huge sum of gold? What merits and abilities does he have? Isn't he just good at forging swords?"
"In the land of Wu and Yue, there are countless blacksmiths and swordsmiths. I am also a swordsmith. Why can't the king value me and grant me gold and a title?"
Among the crowd, a shirtless man who was looking at Gan Jiang with a golden seal couldn't help but have red eyes and said sourly.
The middle-aged man on the side couldn't help laughing and said, "Brave man, I can only say that everything depends on chance. The king didn't value you like Gan Jiang and give you gold and a title. It's probably because the chance hasn't come yet!"
"really?"
"Otherwise, it is also possible that this general has other talents, otherwise how could he be appointed as the Grand Master of Works by the King?"
The shirtless man touched his head, feeling a little confused.
At this time, a young scholar asked in confusion: "What is the official position of the Grand Engineer of Wu?"
Hearing this, the middle-aged man glanced at the young scholar and said, "From your accent, you should be from Wei?"
"That's right. I'm from Wei State. I heard that the King of Wu was eager to recruit talented people, so I came to respond to the call!"
"No problem!"
The middle-aged man chuckled and said, "The Grand Master of Works is a position unique to our Wu State. Originally, Wu inherited the Zhou system, and its official and military systems were no different from those of the Central Plains countries!"
"Yes, some time ago, the king changed the system and implemented the system of three dukes and nine ministers in the court. The position of the Grand Master of Works is second only to the nine ministers. He is in charge of weapon manufacturing and has considerable authority. It is roughly equivalent to the senior official in other countries!"
"hiss!"
Hearing this, the young scholar and everyone around him couldn't help but gasp and were shocked!
Sir!
This is a senior doctor!
Throughout a country, the senior officials are the backbone, and their status is second only to the ministers. Even in some small countries, the senior officials are already the highest officials!
It belongs to the category of the head of all officials!
The young scholar could not help but stare in amazement and said, "He has been granted the title of a senior official and a thousand gold coins. Could it be that this general has been blessed by his ancestors and is valued so highly by the King of Wu?"
"That's right! Considering his ability, he is just a blacksmith, and should be born in the common people, not a noble family. How can he be worthy of the position of senior official?"
"King Wu is like this, isn't it just missing the point? We are looking for talents, but how can a blacksmith be considered a talent?"
Everyone was very angry.
They were extremely jealous of Gan Jiang who was awarded a golden title. They wished they could replace Gan Jiang and kneel on the golden platform right now!
The middle-aged man shook his head and said, "I don't know whether this general is protected by his ancestors . However, he is indeed a wise man!"
"Have you not heard what the king wrote in his earlier order to recruit talented people? ... We should not ask about their backgrounds, but only their talents. If someone has a skill, I will employ him!"
The middle-aged man paused, then smiled and said, "Gan Jiang is good at forging swords, and he presented the sword to the king. He is an expert in this art, and can be said to be a master of one skill. How can the king not use it?"
