The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror

A great matter, Xu Qing decides alone.

When things can't be handled, seek out Elder Fang.

This is Xu Qing's principle for governing the world.

The new era name was quickly announced, and the next issue was the execution ability of the various Government Offices.

The Government Offices of the Court, when it comes to practical work, are not effective, but when it comes to theoretical pursuits, every one of them is an expert.

After Xu Qing set the era name, the local Government Offices were in chaos, wishing to express their loyalty to Xu Liushou.

…

…

Xu Qing alone met with Mentor Wu in the Cabinet Office.

Mentor Wu is now the Right Imperial Censor, nearly at the level of the Six Ministers, and his superior, the Left Imperial Censor, is a fellow townsman and sworn brother, originally Vice Minister of Ministry of Personnel, Lord Zhang.

Now, Lord Zhang is very courteous to Lord Wu, always calling him "wise brother."

He feels he is still young and wants to advance; he wants to enter the Cabinet.

If Lord Wu hadn't been promoted too quickly, Lord Zhang would have recommended old Wu as Left Imperial Censor, then asked old Wu to help him advance, to make space for old Wu.

Old Wu is not keen on this.

His student is Xu Qing, and he no longer needs to strive.

Victory while lying down is enough!

Between mentor and student, a few words of greeting.

Xu Qing then spoke of the business matter.

He plans to further construct the Demon Net.

Of course, externally, it is promoted as the Immortal Network.

Essentially, it utilizes the special abilities of Wutong Tree leaves, alongside the support of the Heavenly Demon Skill, enabling officials loyal to Xu Qing to communicate via the Wutong leaves.

The Inspection Bureau manages the Imperial Censors of the world.

Xu Qing plans to bring those Imperial Censors suitable for using Wutong Tree leaves together.

Since the carrying capacity of the Demon Net is limited, Xu Qing has carefully considered his selection.

He has already prepared a list.

Old Wu is responsible for quietly distributing these items.

Xu Qing didn't mention that he could oversee their communications via the Demon Net.

As the information on the Demon Net increases, Xu Qing can't cover everything; to be all-knowing and all-powerful, he'd have to forsake himself and become completely a Heavenly Demon.

Of course, as Xu Qing's Tai Shi Demon Qi improves, this flaw will diminish.

Overall, the impact of the Demon Net's miscellaneous thoughts is both a harm to Xu Qing's Tai Shi Demon Qi and a form of refinement.

This equates to constantly discarding the false in favor of the truth.

…

…

After discussing with Xu Qing, Lord Wu left the Cabinet. Upon departing, he noticed the puddle left from last night.

Though the marks of time are inevitable, the vigor and spirit compared to when he was County Magistrate are incomparable. Who would have thought, the young man from back then would master the entire Great Yu Dynasty's Jiangshan in less than ten years?

It feels like a dream.

However, in history, those legendary figures often seized the highest power in such a short time.

The only difference is, Xu Qing didn't obtain it during a chaotic era.

He was the one who completely ended the seeds of chaos.

Looking at the long river of history, this student of his will be an exceptionally bright gem, shining through the ages.

Returning home, crossing the high threshold.

Though the threshold is inconveniently high, it is a symbol of status.

A mansion of high status, can it be called high if the threshold isn't high?

When Elder Liang arrives home, he hears of old Zhang coming to visit.

He invites him into the study.

"I heard Jiangning Duke summoned the wise brother; is there any major affair instructed? If there's any difficulty, this younger brother will spare no effort to assist." Left Imperial Censor Lord Zhang eagerly said.

Though Lord Zhang has become Left Imperial Censor, because Huo Jing hasn't fallen, and old Wu now wholeheartedly seeks victory while lying down, Lord Zhang's current power expression is far from when he was Vice Minister of Ministry of Personnel.

Moreover, the Inspection Bureau indeed doesn't have much benefits to gather.

So Lord Zhang now urgently needs achievements to demonstrate his value.

Otherwise, if things just drag on, Xu Liushou might forget him.

At first, Lord Wu didn't react to hearing the three words "Jiangning Duke," but fortunately, his mind hasn't gone to waste, so he still understood what Lord Zhang was referring to.

People of this era hope to call great figures by their place of origin.

Xu Qing's origin is Jiangning Prefecture, so he is Jiangning Duke.

Although Xu Qing is only in his early twenties.

In society, calling someone "Duke" depends on capability.

Similar to how, in Xu Qing's past life, not all thirty or forty-year-old men could be called uncle by young ladies.

Lord Wu thought while he was in the Cabinet Office, and always calling him "Gongming," was it too rash? But being too formal seems distant too.

Let's keep calling for now.

Mainly because it feels good!

As for what Lord Zhang was inquiring about, this cannot be concealed.

After all, old Zhang is Left Imperial Censor.

The Imperial Censors below who received Wutong Tree leaves distributed by old Wu will surely let Lord Zhang know.

Moreover, Xu Qing didn't strictly forbid disclosure.

Lord Wu then explained briefly.

Lord Zhang, having been Vice Minister of Ministry of Personnel, is very well-informed about the officialdom.

He heard that in South Zhili, some new officials who rose through the clerk exams obtained Wutong Tree leaves, one of them named Li Xiwen is highly utilized by Xu Qing, now transferred to be a Chief in a Ministry of Personnel department.

Despite a humble origin, favored in Xu's heart, will surely soar to great heights someday.

In officialdom, status and power depend on whom you associate with.

Like Lord Wu, even though currently just a County Magistrate, his forehead is engraved with the mark of the heavens!

Lord Zhang was accustomed to maneuvering.

After hearing about the wonders of Wutong Tree leaves, he discovered that many Court elders did not have them.

This matter isn't about usefulness.

It's about whether one possesses it!

If he had some and other Assistant Ministers and above didn't, what does that imply?

No matter if minor officials have them.

They're Xu Liushou's direct line, isn't it different?

Though it's unclear how these Imperial Censors getting Wutong Tree leaves gained Xu Qing's favor.

But this matter is too critical!

Lord Zhang decided immediately, explaining the benefits.

"Zhang's wise brother suggests that if we, as Left and Right Imperial Censors, don't receive Wutong Tree leaves, Imperial Censors who do might be hard to control?"

"Exactly. This is an absolute disruption to the order of rank within the Inspection Bureau..."

"Wise brother wouldn't want the Inspection Bureau to turn into a tangled mess from our hands." Lord Zhang added.

In Lord Wu's mind, what business of his is this?

But Lord Zhang's words were correct; it indeed is a problem.

Over time, issues will surely surface within the Inspection Bureau.

Not mentioning anything else, those clerks in South Zhili who received Wutong Tree leaves, did they become arrogant without regard for hierarchy in the Government Office?

Lord Wu, upon Lord Zhang's reminder, was uneasy.

The next day, he went to meet Xu Qing again, and mentioned the matter.

Xu Qing heard and smiled, "Teacher is always mature and cautious in major matters, indifferent to minor details. This time noticing these subtleties, must there be some expert guiding from the side?"

Old Wu hearing this, didn't hide the fact, mentioned Lord Zhang's reminder.

He's considering for old Zhang, not mentioning instantly, but waiting for Xu Qing to ask, so this would make old Zhang seem less utilitarian.

Or Xu Qing might think old Zhang instigated him, reducing Lord Zhang's impression score in Xu Liushou's heart.

Old Zhang seeks advancement, so Wu old brother cannot drag down his sworn brother.

This matter was long considered by Xu Qing.

The effect of Wutong Tree leaves is so special, personally distributed by Xu Qing, it will eventually be regarded as a special marker. Whether or not it's useful doesn't matter, but its possession is important to many people.

But distributing indiscriminately certainly goes against Xu Qing's initial intention.

Moreover, this item is mainly for the lower-level clerks and Imperial Censors, since these people connect more with the grassroots, Xu Qing can better understand the changes in the world through them, and address governance issues purposefully.

Of course, Xu Qing's information channels are diversified, not relying solely on one.

Furthermore, he now considers more the big direction, minor issues are mainly material, to deeply understand Human Dao. He wouldn't treat it like disguised private visits, to manifest as Saint, demonstrate the vast grace of Heaven.

Old Zhang has high awareness.

Such officials proactively seeking alignment and advancement are noted in Xu Qing's mind.

Xu Qing smiled slightly, "Teacher, go back and tell Lord Zhang to write a proposal regarding this matter."

"Alright." Lord Wu felt happy for the old brother, an assignment indicates recognition from above.

Old Zhang is stabilized!

…

…

After sending off Lord Wu, Xu Qing, in the evening, directly went to Chaotian Temple.

Inside was an old acquaintance wishing to meet him.