Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 549 - 385: Watching Intently
In short, this Gu Chengyu is not like others say, fond of opportunism; on the contrary, he handles things rather steadily, with calculations in mind. In fact, he quite appreciates such people who work diligently yet are not bound by formality. He believes that only such flexible and adaptable individuals can navigate the bureaucracy like a fish in water.
After Ren Ge left, Gu Chengyu pondered for a moment. It seems this Ren Ge is highly valued by Zhang Hai, who frequently calls him over to help arrange the records of the Emperor’s words and actions.
If it’s just about delegating the tasks of compiling and recording, that’s within the duties of a Hanlin Academy compiler. However, if he is tasked with organizing everything once completed or checking for omissions or gaps, then it’s a very important job. Such a person must not only be knowledgeable but also meticulous, and Ren Ge happens to be such a person.
Having been here for so many days, Gu Chengyu has now generally understood these individuals’ characteristics. Liu Zonghan is a smooth talker, but this person doesn’t have much ability, and he is quite vain. Gu Chengyu feels that Liu has managed to secure his position, mainly due to his eloquent speech.
There’s no need to speak further of Ren Ge; being esteemed by Zhang Hai, his abilities are undeniable. He also gets along well with colleagues and superiors, and he appears very concerned for Gu Chengyu as a newcomer. Although he hasn’t been of practical help, he does seem very enthusiastic and offers tips on minor issues that need attention.
For Gu Chengyu, who has only been here a few days, even getting these subtle hints is quite fortunate. This is the bureaucracy; without connections, others are not bound to help you dutifully.
As for Jiang Kenan, Gu Chengyu found that he works extremely conscientiously and is indeed capable. However, he likes to work in silence, which often puts him at a disadvantage. In this world, there are few thousand-mile horses, and even fewer Bole (talent spotters). If you don’t showcase yourself properly, with so many in the Hanlin Academy, and seven compilers alone, when will you get to climb up?
Even if Zhang Hai is good at recognizing talent and using people, it would take a long time before he notices you, wouldn’t it? All that time in between would be wasted.
Gu Chengyu and the others are of the Secondary Sixth Rank; above them are the Standard Sixth Rank officials like the Assistant Lecturers and Assistant Readers of Hanlin Academy, as well as the Secondary Fifth Rank Assistant Lecturers and Assistant Readers. These people are oppressing from above, and no matter how capable you are, if you can’t maneuver, you’re just making a wedding dress for someone else. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
Speaking of Assistant Lecturers, Gu Chengyu does know Fang Huai, but unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to visit him since coming to Hanlin Academy because Fang Huai has taken leave to visit his parents back in his hometown. As for the other superiors, he has already paid his respects, but they don’t seem enthusiastic towards this new Advanced Scholar.
Gu Chengyu can certainly guess the reason; it might be because he had some conflict with Grand Secretary Xia Qing. However, previously the Emperor seemed to value him a bit, so these people are waiting and watching.
If they wait a little longer and the Emperor still doesn’t pay him attention, they might go from being merely unenthusiastic to looking at him coldly or even making things difficult for him to please Xia Qing; it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
Thinking of the family leave, Gu Chengyu thought of his parents. Every newly appointed Advanced Scholar who becomes a Capital Official must immediately take up their position. As for family leave, that must be applied for, and Gu Chengyu has already submitted his application. However, with so many applications, it will probably take time to process.
For those whose parents live far away, there’s family leave every three years, specifically for thirty days, excluding travel time. For those living closer, there’s leave every five years, with fifteen days excluding travel. It must be said, these vacations are indeed meager, and are spaced three to five years apart.
Someone like Gu Chengyu can barely count as living far away, so he can return once every three years. Of course, he is applying for family leave now because newly appointed officials are allowed one family visit leave.
Think about it! You’re an Advanced Scholar now, yet not allowed to return home; how stifling would that be? Wouldn’t that be like wearing brocade at night? That’s surely not acceptable; you have to be given a grand opportunity to return home once—that’s what it means to return to one’s hometown in glory.
While his mind wandered, Jiang Kenan and Liu Zonghan had already arrived.
"Jinyu, you’re really early," Liu Zonghan greeted as he saw Gu Chengyu already there.
Jiang Kenan nodded towards Gu Chengyu, signaling a greeting. Gu Chengyu returned with a smile and greeted them as well.
"I didn’t come that early," Gu Chengyu thought of Ren Ge and made that remark.
"Oh? Has Shuzhi already arrived? Then it seems we’re late," Liu Zonghan said, the light flashing briefly in his eyes.
Shuzhi was Ren Ge’s courtesy name, probably chosen by his teacher with the hope that he would restrain himself and speak cautiously. However, Gu Chengyu always associated his name, combined, with the phrase ’put away high on a shelf.’ Thinking like this, the meaning of the courtesy name seems less positive; whether his teacher noticed at the time is unknown.
However, this had nothing to do with Gu Chengyu; he generally didn’t call Ren Ge by his courtesy name. Perhaps Ren Ge had realized this too, as he rarely introduced his courtesy name in front of outsiders, and acquaintances generally wouldn’t call him that.
"Has Shuzhi gone to Mr. Zhang?" This wasn’t hard to guess; Ren Ge had been visiting Mr. Zhang frequently these past few days.
Gu Chengyu smiled without replying. He wasn’t trying to stir up resentment against Ren Ge because Liu Zonghan and the others would find out sooner or later. The documents Ren Ge completed yesterday had been taken away; Liu Zonghan was very observant of such details and had probably already noticed.
Jiang Kenan continued with yesterday’s task and didn’t join in their conversation. In fact, Gu Chengyu could deduce the reason for Liu Zonghan’s attention to Ren Ge wasn’t it because Assistant Reader Tong Zhouyi had been dismissed? The position was now vacant, with no one filling in yet.
Of course, this was a Secondary Fifth Rank position, unrelated to them as compilers. But Gu Chengyu had heard Ren Ge mention casually that the candidate needed to be selected from amongst the officials holding the Assistant Reader and Assistant Lecturer positions, didn’t that create a vacancy too?
Assistant Readers and Assistant Lecturers are of the Standard Sixth Rank. As long as someone among the compilers had seniority and competence, they could easily stand out. This was a promotion opportunity; who could resist such temptation? So recently, even Jiang Kenan and Liu Zonghan had been showing effort to stand out in case Zhang Hai recognized and recommended their abilities?
Liu Zonghan’s heart was in turmoil; could Mr. Zhang be favoring Ren Ge? He sat down slowly, full of uncertainty about this possibility.
In terms of seniority, he wasn’t the oldest among the Hanlin Academy compilers, but he was much senior to Ren Ge. He was well aware of Ren Ge’s rigorous work ethic and talent. However, Ren Ge had been a compiler for just over three years; it shouldn’t be his turn!
Gu Chengyu could tell at a glance that Liu Zonghan was also eyeing that position hungrily! Unfortunately, his ability was limited, and Zhang Hai probably didn’t think highly of him.
For now, Gu Chengyu dared not have aspirations for promotion; he had just joined Hanlin, had no political achievements to speak of, and thus had no reason to expect that fortune would suddenly favor him.
