Tang Shen hunched over on his desk and covered his mouth and nose with his hands and sleeves. He felt like stars were popping up in his vision and he was about to faint.

Simply farting wouldn’t be so smelly. The two candidates on his left and right had just… excreted into the jar they brought with them!

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Even if the jar was sealed with a lid, the stench would inevitably spread to the candidates seated close to them.

Tang Shen was so dizzy from the foul odor that his “fair and good-looking” face was now as black as the bottom of a pot. He only prayed that three more people submit their papers as soon as possible, so that he could leave the examination hall early!

After waiting for another quarter of an hour, perhaps it was likely some people also couldn’t stand the smell wafting everywhere in the examination hall, and finally three more people handed in their papers. The county deputy called out the names of the ten people to take them out of the examination hall. When he called Tang Shen of Gusu City, Jia Liangsheng suddenly raised his head and said, “Who is Tang Shen?”

Tang Shen was holding his nose in suffering. Suddenly his name was called, and he was startled to find that the person calling him was Jia Liangsheng. He put down his sleeves, bowed solemnly, and said, “My lord, this student is Tang Shen of Gusu City.”

Jia Liangsheng looked at Tang Shen. He didn’t expect that it would be such a young child. After being stunned for a moment, Jia Liangsheng said: “You may go.”

Tang Shen was confused but left with the other students.

As soon as they left the examination hall, Tang Huang and Yao San hurriedly walked up to him. Seeing his family, Tang Shen could no longer hold on and fell down, but was supported by Yao San. The stench still lingered on his clothes, lingering for a long time. Throughout the whole day, Tang Shen only ate one bite of flatcake and didn’t drink a drop of water. He also spent energy writing two eight-legged essays and one eight-legged test poem.

It was always said that when the ancients took the imperial examination, it was just like taking a trip to the gate of hell. Tang Shen now understood.

Yao San: “Little boss, are you okay?”

Tang Shen shook his head: “I’m, I’m fine… Yao San, I’ll be sleeping first, and when the county exam results come out, you can then tell me whether I’m in the top ten.”

Yao San said: “What are you talking about, little boss? This is the first session of the county exam, and you have four more sessions to take!”

Tang Shen sat up in shock when just a second ao he was on the verge of dying, and said in horror: “There are four more sessions?!”

“Yes.”

Tang Shen closed his eyes, kicked his legs, and this time he really fainted.

Yao San was right. In Gusu City, even non-scholars know that the imperial examinations were not just one session at a time. Each exam usually took five consecutive days, and the results were released seven days after the exam was completed. The first session of every exam was the most important, as it basically determined your future ranking. However, if you missed the next four sessions, your results would be invalid.

But as long as you do well in the first session and don’t make any mistakes in the next four sessions, your ranking would be guaranteed.

The first session of the Gusu Prefecture County Examination was over, and Tang Shen was carried to a nearby clinic by Yao San where Tang Huang anxiously asked the doctor to treat her brother. Tang Shen was still unconscious. On the other side, Jia Liangsheng and the county deputy had returned to the government office with the examination papers. In the government office, the academidician officials from Gusu City and Wu County had already arrived and were waiting to grade the papers.

The three exam sessions of the tongshi were all small tests, and there was no need to disclose the candidate names. As soon as Jia Liangsheng entered the room, he carefully placed an examination paper on the desk and said, “Dear colleagues, this paper is to be designated as the an shou of this county examination. Do you have any objections?” (TN: candidate who ranked 1st in imperial examination on prefecture or county level)

As soon as he said these words, the whole room was in an uproar, and the academician officials came forward one after another, wanting to take a look.

“Man has a period of prosperity, Heaven has a response to peace. Interactions between Heaven and man, such opportunities are very good. It is said that this is Heaven at peace and harmony, rather than a sign of human affairs. I don’t believe it…”

“In the past, “The Doctrine of the Mean” talked about sincerity and foreknowledge, but now it says that when a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens…”

After reading the first eight-legged essay, the academician officials were all stunned and speechless for a long time.

“I don’t believe it?”

“I don’t believe it! It’s novel in conception, sharp in writing style, and has the potential to feed the horse and sharpen the weapon!”

There was also an academician official who said: “I don’t believe it, this candidate… his name is Tang Shen, yes? Is this Tang Shen too boastful and arrogant?” He continued to read: “This essay “the marriage of Wu” is written quite conservatively, with no problems, and it can be rated as above second rank. As for the last piece “Endowed With The Neighing Of The Fine Steed”, although it has the eight-legged essay, it is only in the form and not the content. And you see these two sentences…”

Everyone followed his finger and looked.

He continued: “The level and oblique tones are wrong.”

Jia Liangsheng: “Oh, I actually didn’t notice.”

Jia Liangsheng also didn’t expect that Tang Shen, who was so amazing and talented, would make such undue flaws. But how could he know that Tang Shen could not be blamed for this. The level and oblique tones of these two sentences were correct in later generations. But in today’s era, the level and oblique tones were different from that of later generations. No matter how careful Tang Shen was, he could not help but to accidentally make a mistake under the attack of the foul odor in the examination hall.

Another academician official said: “It’s also not considered wrong. This word has multiple pronunciations, and ‘xiang’ can also be found in “The Classic of Mountains and Seas”.”

“In “The Classic of Mountains and Seas”, it specifically refers to mountain demons and ghosts, so it is read as ‘xiang’. In my opinion, this person’s first essay is too sharp and eccentric, but the second essay is indeed a masterpiece. The test poem possesses the meaning of the eight-legged essay, but not the soul, and there is a minor flaw. If he is the an shou, it is better to look at this examination paper.”

Everyone looked over.

The academician official said: “This person’s two essays are steady and sure, his meaning clear. Let’s look at the third test poem. It is simply wonderful! A horse’s bones are shocking, but no one’s eyes can see… No one knows the bright moon, and no one knows the course of the floating clouds. I am willing to take off the salt truck now and travel thousands of miles for you… Beautiful scenery, beautiful meaning, what a wonderful poem!”

Jia Liangsheng looked at the second candidate’s paper, nodded and said: “Yes, this test poem should be the first in this exam.”

It took the whole night for everyone to read all the papers for the county exam.

Jia Liangsheng rubbed his eyes and said: “Dear colleagues, in this exam, we must all have a conclusion on who should be given the three first-rank grades in this exam. This official thinks that the second essay “the marriage of Wu”, first rank should be given to Tang Shen of Gusu City. The test poem “Thoroughbred Horse Neighs” first rank should be given to Yang Zhifan of Wu County. As for the first essay “When a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens”… first rank should be given to Tang Shen from Gusu City!”

An academician official said: “This essay by Tang Shen is too arrogant. Might it be inappropriate?”

Jia Liangsheng pondered for a moment: “What do you think?”

It was still dark, and the lights in the government office were brightly lit.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Tang Shen. It was still dark, and he was supported to the entrance of the examination hall by Yao San and Tang Huang with his legs dragging and the examination basket in hand.

The handsome boy looked at the closed door of the examination hall, and then at the fellow candidates around him.

Tang Shen almost cried.

Tang Huang: “It’s really strange, Brother. The doctor said that you are not sick at all. You are just hungry and you will be fine after you eat something. Why are you still so weak today?”

Tang Shen said weakly: “What do you know? The shadow on the soul is a hundred times more painful than any physical trauma!”

Tang Shen would never forget that moment in his life. He was eating a flatcake when the examinee next door suddenly took off his pants and started shitting in front of him.

Never! In! This! Life!

Yao San had also heard about the difficulty of the imperial examination. He said: “Little boss, just bear with it. It will be over in four sessions.”

Tang Shen: “…”

You really don’t know what not to mention, four sessions! There were four more sessions to go!

Tang Shen encouraged himself deceivingly: “Yes, there are four sessions left. As long as I am in the top ten, I win.”

Tang Shen’s eyes shone, as if he saw hope.

Four days later, he staggered out of the examination hall, fainted again, and was caught by Yao San. Before he passed out, the last words Tang Shen said were: “In this life, I, Tang Shen, will definitely invent a flush toilet! In this life, I will definitely!!!”

The county exam ended on the 5th, and Tang Shen lay at home for a whole day before he recovered. He was already considered lucky, having a good physique in the first place, and Yao San and Aunt Yao had prepared enough for him. In the examination hall, some candidates from poor families and had weak physiques became seriously ill after just one exam session and were absent from the rest of the county examination.

Tang Shen first went to visit Liang Song and told his teacher about his experience in this exam. He did not mention the exam answers he wrote, because Liang Song said: “The test paper of the an shou of each imperial examination, as well as all first-rank essays and test poems for that exam, will be made public.”

Tang Shen: “…”

Okay, I will definitely get the first rank, just wait.

Then, Tang Shen spent two days forgetting everything that happened in the examination hall. In the early morning of this day, several uninvited guests suddenly arrived.

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As soon as Madam Tang entered the courtyard, she said to her son: “Tang Yun, now you still dare to say that Shen’er has done wrong to our Tang family? Do you know your wrong? Tell your younger cousin, what happened that day, how you misunderstood him and what a big mistake you made!”

AN: In this chapter, Yang Wanli was quoted in “when a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens”; Tang Bohu was quoted in “the marriage of wu”. Two test poems are quoted from Chen Quji and Meng Haoran~

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Along the way, Tang Shen thought carefully about Liang Song’s words, and he suddenly became more confident about the county exam the day after tomorrow.

In the past four months, Liang Song could always find flaws in the essays and test poems he wrote. However, now he finally understood that the flaws his teacher picked out were never that the content he wrote was not good, but that he could express his thoughts in a better form.

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Compared with the ancients, what was Tang Shen’s advantage? His advantage was that he had a free mind and soul that transcended the times! He would not be shackled by this era, and his vision would always be a step higher than that of people of this era. This was his greatest advantage, and perhaps one of the reasons why he was accepted by Liang Song as his student.

Tang Shen had some thoughts about the county exam, and suddenly he remembered something.

“Sir, were you really unable to climb Xiangshan today?”

Liang Song was stunned and asked, “Why do you ask that?”

Tang Shen: “Sir, you just want me to climb to the top alone?”

Liang Song: “Haha, you kiddo, you think a lot. I’m old and can’t climb anymore. The mountains stand tall and the scenery stops. Although I can’t reach it, my heart longs for it!”

The teacher and student stayed at Zhao juren‘s house for another night. Tang Shen copied the books. The day before the county exam, they returned to Gusu City.

On the day of the county examination, crowds of scholars gathered before dawn outside the examination halls in the five counties of Gusu Prefecture.

Under the sky full of stars, government officials guarded the entrance to the examination hall, and the local county magistrate was present in person. The governor of Gusu Prefecture was Liang Bowen, but during the imperial examinations, Gusu City was merged with the adjacent Wu County for the examination. Wu County Magistrate Jia Liangsheng arrived early, wearing official robes and a black gauze official hat, holding a long white jade ceremonial tablet.

Jia Liangsheng sat in the middle of the entrance door of the examination hall. At this time, one main door and two side doors of the examination hall were all opened. There was a table and chairs in front of the main entrance, and Jia Liangsheng sat there. The two side doors were each guarded by government workers.

When the time came, Jia Liangsheng shouted: “The candidates may come in.”

The county deputy took the order, stepped forward, and called out the candidates’ names. Each time he called out five candidates, the five candidates would walk out of the row of candidates, and look at each other to confirm that the other four were correct. The county deputy called again: “Who is the guarantee?” At this time, a xiucai came forward and called out his own name, indicating the name and place of the people he guaranteed.

This was the five-person joint guarantee system of the ancient imperial examination.

Before the exam, five candidates must be found to jointly guarantee each other. The five people then find someone of a scholarly rank together and ask the scholar to vouch for them: guaranteeing that the candidate was who they say they were, had a clean background, and had no criminal history in three generations of their family. If anyone among these five people and the guarantee scholar cheated, the remaining five people would all be disqualified from the imperial exam, lose their honors, and be thrown into prison for trial.

The county deputy shouted: “Sun Yue, Li Jin… Tang Shen!”

Tang Shen stepped forward and confirmed each other’s identities with Sun Yue and the others. And with a xiucai acting as a guarantee, their group also passed.

The county deputy confirmed that all candidates have vouched for each other, and the chief registrar of Wu County then came forward. Each time he called out the names of two candidates, the two candidates each walked to a side door.

Gusu Prefecture was a prosperous place and an important place for imperial examinations, with many talented scholars. Each candidate carried a long-eared examination basket and walked to the side door and handed his identity booklet to the government worker. After the government worker checked it, he was then released into the examination hall.

“Gusu City, Tang Shen!”

Tang Shen walked to the side door on the left. A government worker took his exam basket and checked whether there was anything he shouldn’t have brought. Another government worker took his identity booklet and looked at his face.

The identity booklet stated: Tang Shen, tall and slightly thin, with no birthmark, fair face and good looks.

“Pass!”

After the body search, Tang Shen entered the examination hall carrying his examination basket.

After all the candidates entered, they gathered in the open space in front of the examination hall. Wu County Magistrate Jia Liangsheng came in and ordered the examination hall door to be closed. The three doors were immediately closed. After Jia Liangsheng completed the inspection, everyone took their seats according to the number cards they were issued.

There were a total of 120 seats in the examination hall, arranged in ten columns and twelve rows, arranged according to the heavenly stems and earthly branches. Tang Shen’s position was ding wei (forty fourth year D8 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1967 or 2027), which was the fourth column and eighth row.

This examination hall was completely different from when Liang Song brought Tang Shen to see it last year. In addition to one hundred and twenty more desks and chairs, a roof was built in the examination hall to prevent the examination papers from being exposed to the sun and rain. However, no matter how well prepared the yamen was, once the 120 people were seated, the examination hall soon became stuffy and smelly.

Tang Shen sighed, already very satisfied.

Gusu Prefecture was a main place for imperial examinations. The government here attached great importance to the imperial examinations, and had the conditions to provide more than 100 desks, chairs, and a roof for candidates. As for some poor and remote places, don’t even think about building a roof. Candidates had to even prepare desks and chairs by themselves and carry them into the examination hall. Sometimes scholars from poor families could not find a desk at home, and even had to borrow tables and chairs from restaurants and teahouses to use as tables and chairs for the exams.

All candidates sat down and the government workers began to distribute test papers and answer sheets.

Hearing the crisp ringing of the gong, Tang Shen opened the test paper and read the questions clearly.

The first question: “When a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens.”

Tang Shen was stunned.

This question was so simple!

The county examination was the only one among all the imperial examinations in which the county magistrate could independently make questions. In order to show their erudition and talent, many county magistrates would come up with some weird and bizarre questions, such as the rumored intercepting questions. Tang Shen pondered about it and realized that Jia Liangsheng, the magistrate of Wuxian County, was only twenty-six years old this year and had only taken up his post in Wuxian County last year. He had no roots in Gusu Prefecture, nor was he an old-school county magistrate, he had no intention of making it difficult for the candidates.

This sentence “When a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens” comes from “The Doctrine of the Mean” Chapter 24. The original sentence was “When a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens; when a nation or clan is about to perish, there are sure to be ill omens.” It meant that when a country or clan was about to prosper, there would be auspicious signs and when the country or clan was about to fall, there would be evildoers causing trouble.

The question was not obscure and the meaning of the question was very clear.

The question was simple so candidates were less likely to make mistakes. But simple questions also made it more difficult to get high scores and get a good ranking.

His teacher once said that his greatest advantage was that he could see further than people of this era and think more openly than people of this era.

After thinking for a long time, Tang Shen opened his eyes and wrote the first sentence on the draft paper.

“Man has a period of prosperity, Heaven has a response to peace. Interactions between Heaven and man, such opportunities are very good. It is said that this is Heaven at peace and harmony, rather than a sign of human affairs. I don’t believe it.”

After writing this sentence, Tang Shen looked at it carefully. This time he was very aggressive in breaking the topic. If he made a mistake here, he would make mistakes every step after. But this was what he wanted to say: I don’t believe it!

After breaking the topic, Tang Shen had the rest in his mind, and he started writing as if words flowed out of him. Soon he finished the initial leg, middle leg, later leg, and final leg all in one go.

After he finished writing, he checked it carefully to make sure there were no flaws, and then copied it onto the answer sheet. You could scribble freely on the scratch paper, but there should be no stains on the actual answer paper. If there were traces of modification or smearing, the most you would receive was a deduction of points in the modern world, but in this era, it could directly turn an excellent essay into scrap.

After finishing copying in Guange style, Tang Shen was already sweating profusely.

He looked at the second question. This second question was also not difficult at all. The title was “the marriage of Wu”, which comes from “The Analects of Confucius·Shuer”. The original sentence was “I have heard that the gentleman is not partisan, but maybe he can be since Prince Wu took a wife with the same surname, saying that she came from ‘the elder family of Wu.’ If this prince knew the rules of propriety, then who doesn’t know them?”

It was about a passage by the Minister of Justice Chen criticizing Confucius.

The Minister of Justice Chen asked Confucius if Duke Zhao of Lu was a man who understood etiquette. Confucius said yes. After Confucius left, he said to Wu Maqi, I heard that a gentleman (Confucius) never protects others biasedly. Would a gentleman also be biased? Duke Zhao of Lu married a woman of Wu whose surname was also Ji, so he asked her to change her name to Wu Mengzi. Was Duke Zhao also aware of etiquette?

Tang Shen did not intend to take any more risks with this question. For the sake of conservatism, he broke the topic by saying, “It was disrespectful for Duke Zhao to marry someone with the same surname and have the other change their surname.” He quickly wrote a well-organized essay.

After finishing the second eight-legged essay, it was already noon, and some candidates took out dry food and started eating.

Tang Shen carefully copied the essays on the draft paper onto the answer sheet. He wanted to solve as many test questions as possible while he still had the energy and the examination hall environment was good. Otherwise, by the time an issue cropped up, it would be too late.

After finishing transferring over the answer to this question, Tang Shen took out the dry biscuit in his exam basket and began to eat it. He had just eaten half of it when he smelled a foul stench.

Tang Shen: “…”

Whose fart was that? It stank to high heaven! ! !

Suddenly the mood for eating was gone, and Tang Shen looked at the last test poem.

When solving test poems for exams in the previous dynasty, candidates were only required to write a five-character and six-rhyme poem according to the topic. In this dynasty, the late emperor, on the basis of the previous dynasty, required that eight-legged essays could be added to the test poems. This meant that when candidates wrote test poems, they had the option of only writing poems regardless of content. But if the poem written by the candidate had an eight-legged essay incorporated, and it was not just a poem, only then could they get high marks.

Whether it was essay or poetry writing, there were four levels: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. In other words, if you want your test poem to get first-rank, you must write an eight-legged test poem. Otherwise, even if you were the Poet Immortal reincarnated, you would only get a second-rank at best.

The topic of Jia Liangsheng’s test poem was “Thoroughbred Horse Neighs”.

Thoroughbred horse, a fine steed.

An ancient article “On Horses” immediately appeared in Tang Shen’s mind! There was no “On Horse” written by Han Yu in this era.

Only after Bole came into the world were there horses able to gallop one thousand li. Such horses are common, but a Bole is rare.

But does this mean there are truly no good horses, or that he does not understand horses?

Tang Shen immediately had an idea, and he wrote: “The fine steed is a confidant, its neighing suddenly became abnormal…”

After finishing writing, he pondered over words’ level and oblique tones, changed a few words, and copied the poem onto the answer sheet.

After doing all this, Tang Shen looked up again and found that the sun was already setting. At this time, the earliest prescribed time for handing in papers had passed. Six candidates had already handed in their papers and were sitting in their seats waiting. Each time, ten candidates’ papers must be collected before the door could be opened. The first ten candidates who submitted their papers were the most distinguished and were called the “top candidates.” When they leave, there would be ceremonial gongs and drums to see them off.

Tang Shen checked his paper to make sure it was correct and handed it to Jia Liangsheng.

Jia Liangsheng glanced at Tang Shen, took his paper and put it on the desk. He glanced briefly at Tang Shen’s paper. The first thing he looked at was the test poem “Endowed With The Neighing Of The Fine Steed” written by Tang Shen. Jia Liangsheng’s eyes lit up and he nodded frequently. Then he looked at the second essay “the marriage of Wu”, and his expression didn’t change much.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

When he saw the first essay, “When a nation or clan is about to flourish, there are sure to be happy omens”, Jia Liangsheng was stunned and astonished. Then, as if his whole body was struck by lightning, he stopped secretly peeking in astonishment. Instead, he held the paper in front of himself openly and read the essay seriously.

This scene was seen by the candidates who had already handed in their papers. They were all startled. They knew that Magistrate Jia’s reaction was that the paper was either brilliant or terrible. But among the seven people who had already submitted their papers, Tang Shen was the only one who didn’t notice Jia Liangsheng’s actions because…

He was about to faint from the odor!

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Tang Shen was scolded by Sun Yue for three days. Only after he agreed to treat Fatty Sun to a big meat bun sold at the entrance of Ziyang Academy did he finally vent his anger.

Sun Yue: “How could you only be the young master of the Tang family? You definitely have a share in Zhenbao Pavilion!”

Sun Yue was not a fool. There were many rich people in Gusu City, but to be able to enter Ziyang Academy, one at least had to pass the standards of Zheng Shanchang and have some real talent and learning. When Tang Shen and Madam Tang unveiled the red cloth in front of them, how could he not know Tang Shen’s identity?

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

After thinking about it, the little fatty was still upset: “You have to treat me three times!”

Tang Shen: “That’s all the ambition you have!”

The two laughed.

After eating the buns, the two talked about the county exam in five days.

Sun Yue said: “Are you sure about the county exam in five days?”

Tang Shen thought to himself: This was not a question of whether one was sure or not, this was a matter of passing the exam no matter what.

“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Tang Shen asked, “What about you?”

Sun Yue let out a long sigh: “I came to school last year and have been studying for a year and a half now. In addition to the seven years of studying privately at home, I have been studying for more than eight years. You are only fourteen this year, and I am already fifteen years old. Did you know that my cousin became a xiucai at the age of fifteen?”

Tang Shen said: “There is no injury without comparison, I understand.”

Sun Yue’s eyes widened: “You understand? What do you understand? Tang Shen! I originally thought that we were grasshoppers on the same rope, advancing and retreating together. Who would have thought that you plan to pass and become a xiucai!”

“Isn’t this too soon to say?”

Sun Yue: “You will definitely pass the exam. God, why must I be your classmate? If you don’t pass the exam, that’s fine. But if you pass the exam, my mother will definitely nag me. I have studied longer than you, yet I’m far lacking in studies than you! Brother Tang, my Brother Tang, could you spare this little brother this time?”

Tang Shen said calmly, “You are not the only child who has been vexed to death by your Brother Tang since childhood. Go study hard, Fatty Sun.”

“Hah?”

“Nothing. Do you still want to eat meat buns?”

“Let’s go!”

Tang Shen was determined to pass this county exam.

Five days before the county exam, the students of Ziyang Academy were given a vacation, allowing them to study on their own. Almost all the students in the school had achieved a scholarly rank, but there were also a few like Tang Shen and Sun Yue who had to take the county examination.

Tang Shen originally wanted to study hard at home for five days, reviewing the past and familiarizing the new. Unexpectedly, early on the first day, a carriage stopped in front of his house. Tang Shen went out to greet Liang Song who got out of the carriage and said, “Yu Zhi went to Jinling for some business. I’m going to Shazhou County in the next few days, will you come with me?”

Tang Shen was stunned: “Sir, I will take the county exam in five days.”

Liang Song: “You can’t pass the exam?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

“…”

I want to be in the top ten! ! !

Tang Shen couldn’t say this. Liang Song looked at his awkward expression while holding back his words, which finally made him look his age. Liang Song laughed and said, “Let’s go. If you can’t pass the county exam, don’t call yourself my student in the future.”

Tang Shen accepted the order, packed his things and left with Liang Song.

The carriage left Gusu City and headed north. The weather was getting warmer, but there was still a bit of chill. The carriage was equipped with a small heater. Tang Shen remembered that when he went to pick up his teacher at the city gate a month ago, his teacher gave him this thing to warm his hands.

The teacher and student didn’t chat in the carriage, they both read books separately. Sometimes Liang Song would ask Tang Shen to answer several questions. Tang Shen would answer them one by one, and Liang Song would point out the flaws.

In the evening, the two arrived at Shazhou County.

Shazhou County was in the northernmost part of Gusu Prefecture. The snow in Gusu Prefecture City stopped three days ago, but Shazhou County was still covered in snow. The endless fields were thinly covered with a layer of silver-white snow, and several villages were dotted among the endless white. The driver drove the carriage to one of the farm houses.

The carriage stopped in front of a small courtyard. Before they even got off the carriage, the owner of the house went out to greet them.

This was an old man with gray hair and a stooped back. He walked to the carriage with a cane, bowed to Liang Song, and greeted: “Liang daru.”

Liang Song got out of the carriage and saluted back: “Zhao juren.”

Tang Shen was stunned. He didn’t expect that this old man, who seemed to have an ordinary appearance and an ordinary background, was actually a juren.

Zhao juren invited them in and arranged a room for them.

Liang Song said: “I came to borrow two books from him and take a look around Shazhou County. We will leave the day after tomorrow. My eyesight is dim and he is no longer the age to read and write. As Yu Zhi is not here, you will take his place and help me copy down the two books.”

Tang Shen smiled bitterly and said, “Yes.”

So he was dragged over to do hard work!

Zhao juren gave Tang Shen two books on the customs, people and sentiments of Shazhou County, and Tang Shen copied the contents carefully. He didn’t write quickly, especially as when writing such small characters, one had to hold the brush with the wrist in the air. After copying a few pages, he felt a little tired. Tang Shen rubbed his arms and continued to copy.

Liang Bowen was a great contemporary Confucian scholar, but he liked all kinds of books.

Tang Shen once went to his teacher’s study room, where thousands of books were kept. From astronomy and geography to poetry, song, legends, and Confucian miscellany, there was everything one could ever want to read about. Liang Bowen never stuck to any kind of genre. He was erudite and knowledgeable.

When Tang Shen began to copy the second book, it was already dark.

“When making a hook, restrain the sharpness.”

Tang Shen was stunned for a moment and almost made a mistake, but inevitably, there was still a small ink dot on the book. He raised his head: “Sir?”

Liang Song stood beside him at some point, quietly watching Tang Shen write by candlelight.

Tang Shen never liked studying at night. As the saying went, to stay up late to read. Tang Huang once joked about this, saying that her brother was not diligent enough and he did not want to go to school. However, Tang Shen said confidently: “To study with the light of the oil lamp, do you want your brother to gain myopia at a young age?”

Ah Huang didn’t understand what myopia meant, but she could see Tang Shen’s firmness.

The warm candlelight swayed gently, Liang Song stood at the table, and Tang Shen sat copying books.

Liang Song: “Continue.”

“Yes.”

Tang Shen wrote more carefully, concentrating on his handwriting. Halfway through writing, Liang Song said: “It is indeed effective for you to practice calligraphy every day, but you always show your sharpness when writing.”

“Isn’t it good to reveal your sharpness?”

“It’s not good to show off one’s sharpness and edges. But you only do so a little, so it’s not a big deal, rather it gives your writing more character. If this handwriting is too much, wouldn’t all the masters of remix cursive script in the world be considered sharp and arrogant? But Tang Shen, you must remember that you are just a common scholar without any rank. If you want to take the exam, you must be able to write in the Guange style.”

Liang Song held Tang Shen’s hand and guided him to write. In an instant, beautiful ink characters appeared on the paper.

Perhaps in this era, many fathers once held their sons’ hands and patiently taught them: “Square and round, beautiful and gorgeous. Do not stand out of line, and do not reveal the sharpness of the hook. Each word is of the same size and detailed. You must write the Guangge style well, otherwise even if you are wenquxing reincarnated, you will not be able to pass the palace exam.”

There was silence in the room. After a long time, Tang Shen said: “Sir, when did I say that I wanted to pass the palace exam?”

Liang Song laughed and scolded: “You little rascal, are you implying that if you want to pass the palace exam, you can pass the palace exam? I’m afraid you won’t even pass the juren exam!”

Tang Shen thought very seriously: “If I fail to pass the juren exam, wouldn’t it mean that sir’s reputation will be ruined? I will be the first of your students to fail the juren exam?”

“Begone, you!”

“Ai!”

Tang Shen was guided by Liang Song to write two pieces of paper, then Liang Song had him write a few more pieces by himself.

“Okay, go to bed first and continue writing tomorrow.”

Tang Shen: “I want to write for a while longer.”

Liang Song: “Go to bed. We have to get up early tomorrow to go have a look around Shazhou County.”

Tang Shen had no choice but to accept the order.

After resting one night at Zhao juren‘s house, the teacher and student took a carriage and headed to Xiangshan in the north of Shazhou County. The carriage reached the foot of the mountain, and the two got out of the carriage and walked along the path. Xiangshan was the highest mountain in Shazhou County, more than 100 meters high. There were yew and masson pine on the mountain. The green trees cover the sound of the stream but the sound of birds singing amidst the white snow could be heard.

Tang Shen was young and fit, and he did not find it difficult to climb up with his luggage on his back. However, Mr. Liang was old, and he was already gasping for air after they reached Peach Blossom Stream. At this spot they could see the mountain of green pine trees buried in silver snow and when one stepped on it, the snow reached their ankles.

Liang Song stopped and said, “I really can’t walk anymore. Tang Shen, go up the mountain by yourself.”

Tang Shen was stunned: “Sir?”

“I’m old and there’s still some distance to the top of the mountain. You go up by yourself.”

Tang Shen didn’t want to go up. He came to climb the mountain with Liang Song. If Liang Song didn’t even climb anymore, what was the point of him climbing alone? But Liang Song also said that he had climbed up to this point, and he had more ambition than strength. Tang Shen might as well climb to the top and take in the panoramic view of the scenery.

So Tang Shen climbed up alone.

“Where is the scenery that sir promised!” Tang Shen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

In fact, this was true, this Xiangshan was just an ordinary little mountain in Shazhou County, Gusu Prefecture. In his previous life, Tang Shen climbed Mount Tai, the first of the five mountains, and Huashan, which was famous for its rugged and steep cliffs. Compared with the former two, Xiangshan was nothing to mention.

After going down the mountain, Liang Song asked: “How nice was the scenery on the mountain?”

Tang Shen thought for a while: “The mountain is high and the air is refreshing. It is cloudless today. Although I can’t see Gusu City after reaching the top, I can get a clear view of Shazhou County. The scenery is quite good.”

“Standing at the top of the mountain is better than being within the mountain, with a new atmosphere and a glimpse of the grand view, yes?”

Tang Shen was about to answer when suddenly he was stunned and stared straight at Liang Song.

“Sir… did you not bring me out for some fun?”

Liang Song asked back: “When did I say it was for fun?”

Tang Shen himself laughed first, and said: “So it’s like that! Sir asked me to copy books because you are testing my calligraphy skills and teaching me to write in the Guange style. But now that sir has brought me to mountain climbing, I don’t understand.”

Liang Song: “You are going to take the county exam the day after tomorrow, are you worried, scared?”

“It would be a lie to say I am not afraid, but I am also not very afraid either.”

“You are arrogant, but you are also honest. Tang Shen, you have been in Gusu City for half a year and have been my student for four months. In these four months, you have written more than 200 eight-legged essays. Do you have any reflections made?”

Tang Shen thought carefully: “Sir, do you think I did not write well?”

“No, you wrote very well.”

“Sir?”

“Do you know what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are?”

Tang Shen didn’t know.

Liang Song: “Your shortcoming is that your writing style is mediocre, and occasionally there are minor mistakes regarding the level and oblique tones. But your advantage is that your style is free and unrestrained!”

Tang Shen suddenly realized.

In the past four months, Liang Song asked him to write more than two hundred eight-legged essays. He taught Tang Shen what breaking open the topic was and what the middle leg was. The eight-legged essay had a certain format, and even in some details, it occasionally required the writing to have level and oblique tones. Liang Song was like the most strict teacher, not allowing Tang Shen to make any mistakes.

But he never taught Tang Shen how to write an eight-legged essay!

What he taught was format, neat words and sentences, the form and template that must be required for eight-legged essay writing.

But he never corrected Tang Shen’s thinking.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Shen’er, when you break open the topic, you often have brilliant insights. You are always unconventional, just like the sentence, ‘the great spirit can be exceedingly great, heaven and earth exude righteous energy; it commingles with objects and gives them forms.’ You have your own spirit! You see further and broader than many people, in fact, you are even more free and magnanimous than I, your teacher. I hope that you will remember that all the mountains in the world have their own shapes, and you should never stick to one mountain. You have to climb to the top to see its grand view.”

Tang Shen looked at Liang Song steadily and said loudly: “This student will remember the words of sir’s teachings.”

Liang Song smiled and said, “Let’s go back.”

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Gusu City had 23 lanes and 16 streets, criss-crossing each other. There were more than 100,000 households living on the 23 lanes, and most of these lanes were built along the moat. There were more than 300 small winding rivers on the lanes to make up an authentic Jiangnan water town. Most of the 16 streets were located at the intersection of the lanes.

The restrictions on lanes and streets in the Song Dynasty were not as strict as those in the previous dynasty. Stalls could also be set up on the lanes, but they had to obtain special approval from the yamen and pay more taxes. (TN: government office in feudal China)

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

If Tang Shen wanted to get approval from the yamen, all he had to do was go to his teacher and cry a few words, and he didn’t even have to wait in line. As for the extra taxes paid, Accountant Lin nearly went bald from anxiety yet still didn’t manage to dissuade Tang Shen.

“Little boss, you’re going to lose all your money!”

“No rush, we can take our time.”

Overnight, Tang’s Logistics had its own stalls on 23 lanes and 16 streets. The stalls were not big with only a wooden table to support a shelf and a wooden stick to support a banner. On the banner were black characters written on a red background: Tang’s Logistics. Behind each stall, there was a scholarly looking man sitting calmly, as steady as a mountain.

After ten days, the people of Gusu City have already become accustomed to the delivery business of the logistics employees. Finally, Tang’s Logistics was open for business again. In Zhaimen Alley, a scholar found a logistics employee and said, “Please help me deliver these two books to Suijin Street.”

The employee said: “Okay, sir, please go to the stall with us to fill in the order and the things to be delivered.”

The scholar was surprised and said: “Order? What does this mean?”

“Sir, haven’t you seen the notice that our Tang’s Logistics posted a few days ago? From now on, every customer must indicate the place to be sent and what is delivered. Sir, don’t worry, we also have a stall in Zhaimen Alley, specially set up for customers like you to fill in such orders. It’s just ten meters away, I’ll take you there.”

The same situation also occurred in various places in Gusu City.

At first, people felt that Tang’s Logistics’ approach was too cumbersome and annoying. But within a few days, they discovered that with the order form in hand, if they lost something and wanted to settle the account with Tang’s Logistics, they would have proof. This order form was more like a reassurance and guarantee. Although it was a little more troublesome than before, it was also more rigorous and reassuring than before.

Tang’s Logistics had more and more business every day, and people who like to use logistics were using it more often. After a while, they have even become familiar with several of the employees.

That day on Suijin Street, a shopkeeper of a tailor shop asked a Tang’s Logistics employee to deliver the goods to the buyer who had reserved the goods. The two of them were very familiar with each other, so the employee said: “Shopkeeper Wang, the price of our logistics will increase next month. You are also an old customer and you take care of my business every day so I wanted to let you know in advance.”

Shopkeeper Wang was stunned for a moment and asked, “A price increase? Will it become very expensive?”

“Don’t worry, our little boss said it won’t go up too much. I heard it will only go up by one copper coin. Tang’s Logistics is mainly for the convenience of the people, and also to give refugees like us from other places a place to settle down and make a living. The little boss kept us fed and clothed, and gave us a chance to survive. Making a profit comes second to saving lives.”

“Very true, your boss seems to be related to Tang juren‘s family in the west of the city, and seems to be a student of Liang daren. I use your Tang’s Logistics because I trust your boss. A copper coin increase is not expensive, but a truly good deal.”

The employee said a few more words, smiled and said goodbye to Shopkeeper Wang.

Shopkeeper Wang didn’t think two copper coins were too expensive, in fact it was too cheap.

In the entire Gusu City, apart from ordinary people, the only people who use Tang’s Logistics were merchants with small shops like them. Although Shopkeeper Wang’s tailor shop was located on Suijin Street and seemed very impressive, there was only one employee in the shop. One person was obviously not enough to deliver the goods, so Shopkeeper Wang often used Tang’s Logistics.

A copper coin paid each day to Tang’s Logistics was much less than hiring an employee.

And of course he didn’t know, how could this employee develop a good relationship with him for no reason?

Three days ago, Tang Shen personally came to the dormitory of Tang’s Logistics and talked to all the logistics employees.

Tang Shen: “Next month, I will recruit fifty more employees, so there will be a hundred total in Gusu City. The snow will stop soon and if any of you want to go back to your hometown, I won’t stop you. Having known each other for a while, when each employee leaves, you can go to Accountant Lin’s accounting office to withdraw a sum of money, which will be used as travel expenses for your return home.”

One of the employees shouted loudly: “We have no way to make a living back home, so I’ll just stay in Gusu City and work for the little boss.”

Tang Shen said: “Okay, staying or going is up to you all. But I want to make it clear first that I will increase the price next month and at the same time give out dividends.”

The employees looked at each other.

Tang Shen: “Starting from next month, each logistics order will be increased to two copper coins. At the same time, depending on the distance and the size and weight of the goods transported, additional fees will be charged. Accountant Lin will explain the specific situation to you later. Once this happens, some customers will probably not ask us to send things. But at the same time, I will give you dividends. Starting next month, in addition to covering food, drink and accommodation, for every five logistics orders you send, you will get a 10% share of the profit.”

Accountant Lin explained: “In other words, if you send five orders each worth two copper coins, you can get one copper coin. The more you work, the more you get.”

So how was it that that employee simply had a good relationship with Shopkeeper Wang and told him about the price increase?

He was just trying to please Shopkeeper Wang in advance and pull their relationship closer, hoping to do more business with Shopkeeper Wang in the future!

The logistics business was going smoothly, except for the fact that Accountant Lin came to Tang Shen every day and told him how much he had lost today with a bitter look on his face.

At the end of the first lunar month, the logistics business had been in business for nearly a month.

Tang Shen: “No loss?”

Accountant Lin looked discouraged: “If we don’t count the big courtyard bought by the little boss, and we don’t count the taxes we have to pay to the yamen every month. Just the food and drink for these guys, and the monthly income of the clerk at the stalls, yes, no loss, but no profit either!”

Tang Shen sighed with emotion: “It only took less than a month to break even! The people of Gusu are wealthier than I thought. They sure are rich!”

Accountant Lin: “Huh?”

Tang Shen touched his chin: “The people of Gusu are quite rich. No, I have to think of another way to have them continue to help my finances out.”

Accountant Lin was confused. At this time, he suddenly remembered something Yao San often said to him in private.

“Our little boss’s brain sometimes… work strangely.”

Indeed this was so!

Others don’t know, but Accountant Lin knew just how rich Tang Shen was now!

Although it was not at the level of an extremely wealthy family, there was only one self-made young man of Tang Shen’s age in the entire Gusu City!

Tang Shen: “When will the soap begin selling?”

Accountant Lin gathered himself and said: “I heard from the shopkeeper that in five days, Madam Tang will invite several ladies from influential families to Zhenbao Pavilion to watch the ceremony. She says that they will hold a special product ceremony for the introduction of soap.”

Tang Shen was stunned for a while and said in amusement: “My aunt is truly something. I just said 123, and she actually connected the following 456. And a product ceremony? I didn’t even think about it.”

Talents like Madam Tang would at least be a marketing director or corporate executive in the modern world!

Five days later, Tang Shen also came to Zhenbao Pavilion, and saw several ladies and gentlemen in rich clothes.

Sun Yue followed behind Madam Sun, and when he saw Tang Shen he ran over in surprise: “So Madam Tang is really your relative? I only heard someone in the academy mention it, but I didn’t expect it to be true. Hey, when we first met, I bragged to you about how good this Golden Wisp was. Why didn’t you say that you are Madam Tang’s nephew? You are from the Tang family, how could you not have a bottle of the Golden Wisp?”

Tang Shen said naturally: “Have I ever said that Madam Tang and I don’t know each other?”

Sun Yue: “Ah, no.”

“Then have you ever asked about my relationship with Madam Tang?”

“…Also no.”

“Then what else do you want from me? My surname is clearly Tang.” 

Sun Yue: “…”

After a while, the little chubby came to his senses, grabbed Tang Shen and said, “Hey! Tang Shen, you are tricking me again. So what if your surname is Tang? Are all surnamed Tang Madam Tang’s nephews? Then if your surname is Liang, wouldn’t you be the dear nephew of Liang Bowen, Living daren?”

Tang Shen thought to himself: I am not Liang Bowen’s dear nephew, I am his dear student.

Sun Yue just scolded Tang Shen briefly, but he was not really angry. The two gathered together to watch the product ceremony. Unexpectedly, after a high shelf covered with red cloth was moved to the lobby of Zhenbao Pavilion, Madam Tang looked around and waved over Tang Shen. Tang Shen walked over in confusion, but Sun Yue had a bad feeling in his heart and muttered: “What else did Tang Shen hide from me?”

Madam Tang said: “Shen’er, today we will reveal the true appearance of this soap together.”

Tang Shen was stunned. But he quickly recovered and understood that Madam Tang was admitting to the entire Gusu City that Tang Shen was from the Tang family, giving him another Tang family as a backer. At the same time, it was also to inform the entire Gusu City that Tang Shen’s status in the Tang family was not simple.

Tang Shen and Madam Tang unveiled the red cloth together. Everyone thought it was an object as rare as the Golden Wisp, but unexpectedly it was something similar to scented soap, and not even as delicate and fragrant as scented soap.

Madam Tang said: “This item is soap. It has the same function as scented soaps. It sells for five copper coins and lasts an ordinary person for more than half a month.”

As soon as these words were spoken, several wealthy ladies widened their eyes and stared at the soap in disbelief.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

It only sold for five copper coins!

Only then did they understand why Madam Tang would specially design a product ceremony. If the Golden Wisp was the treasure of the Tang family’s Zhenbao Pavilion on the surface, this soap was the true treasure of the Zhenbao Pavilion!

In Gusu City, the Tang family’s Zhenbao Pavilion had truly become unparalleled this time!

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One day later, Yao San came to report to Tang Shen dejectedly.

“Little boss, as you said, no one asked us to deliver anything or send a message. Some people asked out of curiosity, but they just asked and left after saying a few words.”

Tang Shen was practicing calligraphy.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Writing two eight-legged essays and one test poem every day was his basic homework. In addition, he also had to practice writing fifty characters and write them neatly and in aligned rows and columns. After writing another character, Tang Shen carefully dried the ink, put the rice paper aside, raised his head and said, “Someone actually asked?”

Yao San: “…”

He was afraid the little boss’s head was kicked by a donkey!

“Shouldn’t someone ask?”

“That’s true, everyone has curiosity which is understandable. Just asking some questions won’t be any meat off your bones.”

“…”

Yao San: “Little boss, what should we do?”

Tang Shen continued to lower his head and write: “No rush, you go back to the courtyard today and tell them to continue tomorrow. But in the future, the commission will be one coin for delivering goods once, and it will no longer be free. By the way, did you inform them of the rules they must follow every day? I said before, this must be treated seriously, and everyone must even memorize the rules.”

Yao San: “I told them, don’t worry. I’ll go to the courtyard right away.”

Yao San and Accountant Lin were not very optimistic about the logistics business. They had never seen anything like it before.

When a wealthy family wants to do something, they always have servants to do it for them. There were also several armed escort agencies in Gusu City, which were very famous in Jiangnan. If you want to have something delivered, you could hire an armed escort agency. But from what Tang Shen said, it seemed that he did not intend to do long-distance business, but only within the scope of Gusu City.

Could this really be done?

After writing the characters, Tang Shen went directly to the Liang Manor. Holding the eight-legged essay and the characters he had written, he said upon seeing the other: “Sir, save me!”

Liang Song: “…”

After understanding the cause and effect, Liang Song laughed and scolded in amusement: “How did I ask you that day? If you need anything, just ask the steward to prepare it for you. But you said that all you needed was ten clever bailiffs and a promise. Now you want me to be your first customer, to attract more customers for your Tang’s Logistics?”

Tang Shen explained seriously: “Sir, how could this be regarded as a need? I am your student, your direct student. I am sir’s only student and it is my first time doing business by myself. Isn’t it only natural that you take care of me? If I opened a restaurant, I would invite you as the first person to taste the food, and you would definitely come.”

Liang Song: “You little rascal, you’ve said everything, what else do you want me to say?”

“Sir, all you need is to say a word to your servant so that he would loudly call out to a Tang’s Logistics employee on the street tomorrow and ask him to help deliver the things. It would be even better if he needs to run all over Gusu City with the things.”

“Ha, then is it the more conspicuous the thing I asked him to deliver, the better? Would it be even best if he could carry a big flag with the name “Liang Bowen” written on it and have him parade ostentatiously about the town?”

“Hehe, sir, you understand me well.”

“Begone!”

“Okay! Sir, don’t forget to find the employee from Tang’s Logistics tomorrow.”

Begone, from “Zhuangzi: Lie Yu-kou”, translated as: Get out of here!

Liang Song was amused and vexed: “Come back here, I haven’t looked at the essay and characters you brought.”

Tang Shen came back with a bitter face and listened to his teacher’s comments on his homework.

Though Liang Song scolded, he still asked the manservant to take a box of books early the next morning, and find a Tang’s Logistics employee to take to the governmental office. From Liang Manor to the governmental office, one had to pass through half of Gusu City, which was considered to be in line with Tang Shen’s requirements.

Along the way, some people saw the Tang’s Logistics employee holding a box of books and asked curiously: “You are a Tang’s Logistics employee. What are you sending and where are you going?”

Normally, Tang’s Logistics employees were not allowed to name their customers. This was strictly prohibited by Tang Shen. But this time it was different. This employee had been personally reminded by Tang Shen the night before to reveal his customer’s name.

“I’m going to the governmental office. This thing is from Mr. Liang Bowen, Liang daren.”

After parading ostentatiously across town all morning, this employee slowly came to the governmental office. When he arrived, half of the people in Gusu City knew that he was delivering something to Liang daren.

At noon, Madam Tang in the west of the city also hired a Tang’s Logistics employee to deliver something.

Instantly, more and more people became curious about Tang’s Logistics. In the evening, a xiucai who lived in the east of the city finally came over and hired someone from Tang’s Logistics to deliver a letter: “I have something to do at the moment, and I can’t leave. I need someone who can deliver it for me instead. How much does it cost to send a letter to Zhaimen Alley?”

“One copper coin. Regardless of distance, it is still a copper coin.”

“It’s very cheap. You must deliver it, otherwise I will find your boss for an explanation!”

“Okay!”

At the end of the day, this was the only true order that Tang’s Logistics really got. The xiucai was desperate, and when he heard that Liang daru had hired a delivery man from Tang’s Logistics, he gave it a try. In the end, the xiucai‘s letter was indeed delivered, and the delivery man was very agile and did not delay on the road.

The name “Liang Bowen” was as important as the word “trust” in Gusu City and even in the entire Song Dynasty.

Gradually, Tang’s Logistics also gained some business in Gusu City.

Customers were never wealthy people, but ordinary people.

After getting his first business border, Tang Shen ordered people to post several rules of Tang’¢ Logistics on the walls of major streets. First, never reveal the name of the customer or the items being delivered; second, ensure delivery as quickly as possible without any delays on the way; third, if items are damaged or lost, we will compensate you ten times the cost of the item.

Gusu Prefecture was the largest in Jiangnan, with a population of one million and there were hundreds of thousands of people in Gusu City alone.

At first, the people hired the logistics employees to deliver only small things. Later, when they saw that the logistics employees had no problems and the deliveries were always very safe, the things they hired them to deliver became more and more expensive. Either because of the cold weather or because they were too busy, the business of Tang’s Logistics was not too bad, but not too good either. As the business continued in a lukewarm manner, the people gradually didn’t think it was such a strange thing.

Accountant Lin was balding with worry: “What a loss, such a big loss! Little boss, you said before that the people in Gusu are very wealthy, and you said that there were predecessors who have done this business. But after these ten days, do you know how much we have lost? We can’t make ends meet, spending twenty taels just to support those delivery men, and you even bought a big courtyard! You also let them eat well and drink well, not allowing them to be treated badly!”

Tang Shen was still practicing calligraphy: “Why are you so anxious? The dividends we earned from selling scented soap and essential oils in ten days are far more than twenty taels.”

“But this is a bottomless pit!”

Tang Shen stopped writing and looked over what he had written.

“If the people have no trust in their rulers, there is no standing for the state.”

From “The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan”.

Tang Shen: “Some things I really don’t want to happen, but it is destined to happen, and it must happen. Misfortune lies where blessing lies, and blessing lies where misfortune lies. Just wait!”

Three days later, a butcher came to Tang Shen’s door angrily. Seeing Tang Shen, he said, “Are you the owner of Tang’s Logistics? You have such a strong tone, daring to do such a deceptive thing! Today your worker took my item, but six hours have passed and it still hasn’t been delivered. Your Tang’s Logistics is a scam, and I will smash your sign today!”

Tang Shen was calm: “Tell me, when and where did you hire my worker to deliver your things?”

The butcher saw that Tang Shen was so calm and confident, and also looked like a scholar. He was worried that Tang Shen possessed a scholar rank, so he restrained his temper and said, “The monk may run away, but the temple can not. It doesn’t matter if I tell you, I found him at the pork stall in Linglong Lane in the south of the city at sishi (TN: 9-11am, in the system of two hour subdivisions used in ancient times) today. The item is the new dowry jewelry I ordered for my daughter!”

Tang Shen said to Yao San: “From Linglong Lane, go find Bailiff Liu.”

Yao San nodded.

The butcher was confused as he listened to the conversation between Tang Shen and Yao San. Not long after, he saw a young bailiff dragging an unkempt man into the yard. When the butcher saw the man, he said angrily: “It’s you, you little thief took my things and didn’t deliver them!”

The smiling bailiff Liu Qi kicked the man on the knee, causing the man to kneel to the ground.

Liu Qi: “Tang Gongzi, I caught him for you. He did indeed try to take a set of silver jewelry out of the city. But how could he know that my eyes have been paying attention to the logistics employees wearing a red short coat in the city! Before he could even leave Linglong Lane, he was stopped by my people. Bah, this kind of little thief should be jailed according to the laws of the Song Dynasty. But I sent him over to you first, how do you want to deal with him?”

Tang Shen: “Thank you so much, Bailiff Liu. Brother Yao, go check that set of jewelry and see how much it’s worth.”

Yao San brought over the jewelry set made of silver. Accountant Lin looked at it carefully and said, “It’s not pure silver, but it can still be sold for ten taels. It’s just that this guy was too hasty when he stole the things. He may have bumped into something somewhere and dirtied a spot, but it’s no problem after washing it. If you pay a jewelry shop to make this set, eight taels of silver will be enough.”

Tang Shen said to Yao San: “Brother Yao, give him one hundred taels of silver.”

As soon as these words were uttered, everyone was stunned.

Tang Shen: “The rules of Tang’s Logistics are that if the items are damaged or lost, it will be compensated ten times the price.”

Accountant Lin: “But little boss, we’ve found the item!”

Tang Shen: “Isn’t it dirtied?”

Accountant Lin: “It’s the same after washing, it’s just a bit of dirt on the surface.”

Tang Shen: “Brother Yao, give this customer one hundred taels of silver. My Tang’s Logistics is an honest business. If one isn’t trustworthy, how could others trust you?”

The butcher got a hundred taels of silver for nothing. He held the set of silver jewelry and looked at Tang Shen dazedly. Overjoyed, he loudly said: “Boss Tang is sincere and honest, your logistics business will definitely last for a long time!”

In just one afternoon, the story of Tang Shen spending one hundred taels of silver compensation money spread throughout Gusu City. Among the teahouses and restaurants, the news spread faster than “Liang Bowen hired Tang’s Logistics to deliver something”, and he soon became a household name.

“Did Boss Tang really just take out one hundred taels of silver?”

“That’s right! One hundred taels of pure white silver taels, the butcher’s mouth is still crooked from smile even now!”

But as soon as this happened, before the people of Gusu could even muse over this matter further, all the Tang Logistics employees on the street left. Someone cleverly noticed that the Tang’s Logistics employees left one after another. He grabbed one and asked, “What’s going on? Why are you all leaving?”

The employee said: “I also don’t know what happened. The boss said that he will close the business for reorganization. Maybe it has something to do with the theft in the morning.”

The gossipmonger hearts of the people in Gusu were instantly ignited.

On the second day, Tang Shen had people post public notices in various streets, and everyone hurriedly gathered around.

“Tang’s Logistics will reopen in three days… That’s right, if something like that happens, you definitely have to teach that unruly worker a lesson.”

“I heard that guy was sent to the governmental office, beaten ten times with sticks, and expelled from Gusu City. Liang daren personally ordered that no soup kitchens will provide relief to that guy. That guy is done for!”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Eh, what is this? Tang’s Logistics will set up some stalls in the alleys and lanes to record the items delivered by the workers. Each time, the specific appearance of the items to be delivered and the location where they are to be delivered will be recorded clearly on the delivery form. Tang’s Logistics and the customer each will have a copy of the delivery form?”

“If you don’t want to write down the appearance of the In item, you must put the item into Tang’s Logistics’ wooden box and affix a seal.”

“This Tang’s Logistics wants to do something strange again!”

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The end of the first lunar month, cold snap during the spring.

There was rarely such severe cold weather in the south. The cold wind blew cruelly on the face, like cutting the skin with a knife. The air was so cold that everything looked deathly pale. The sky became overcast, and soon snowflakes began to fall. The snow was not heavy, and it quickly melted when it fell on the ground. Disappearing with each step from pedestrians.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

It happened to begin snowing as soon as Tang Shen and Yao San went out. Aunt Yao handed umbrellas to the two of them.

Yao San: “Little boss, I heard that there are many refugees in the west of the city, and they are all surrounding the city gate so how about we go through the north gate.”

Tang Shen said: “Okay, my teacher just happened to be coming back from the north.”

Yes, Tang Shen was going out of the city to pick up Liang Song today.

Since leaving Gusu City in the twelfth lunar month, Liang Bowen had not been back for a whole month. He even spent the New Year outside. Yesterday, the steward of the Liang Manor came to Tang Shen and said that Liang daru would be back today. Tang Shen hadn’t seen his teacher for many days. It happened that the weather was too cold so Ziyang Academy canceled classes, allowing him to come to pick up his teacher.

Tang Shen wore two thick cotton coats and waited in the cold wind with an umbrella, but he was still freezing.

After waiting for an hour, he saw Liang Song’s carriage in the distance. Tang Shen and Yao San walked over. Liang Song raised the curtain and asked in surprise: “Why are you here?”

Tang Shen: “To pick up sir. Teacher hasn’t been back for a month, so of course this student has to come to greet you.”

Liang Song: “Come in first.”

Tang Shen bent at the waist as got into the carriage. Inside the carriage it was much warmer, and Liang Song put the small hand held heater he had been holding into Tang Shen’s hands. Tang Shen held the heater for a long time and finally warmed his hands. “Why has sir been away for so long and only returned to Gusu City after a month?”

Liang Song: “Deal with some personal things. Why didn’t you go to the academy to study today?”

“The weather is too bad so the academy canceled classes.”

Liang Song was silent then said, “I came back for this reason.” As he said that, he lifted the curtain of the carriage and said, “Go to the west gate to have a look.”

They did not enter the city, but made a detour to the west gate.

Before he even saw the city gate, Tang Shen saw many refugees walking along the road. They took the official road, which was muddy because of the snow. Normally no one would be walking around in such bad weather, but there were too many refugees. They were dressed in rags, covered in purple-red frostbites, walking along the official road towards the west gate of Gusu City.

Tang Shen lifted the curtains to take a look, then couldn’t bear to see any longer.

Liang Song had been looking at these refugees quietly. He said: “I heard that these people came from Chuzhou and Wuzhou. The snow has fallen too heavy this year, and the four southern provinces are in dire straits. The imperial court has also allocated money to provide disaster relief, but it has little effect.”

It didn’t take long before they saw several soup kitchens.

Liang Song was not in Gusu City, but it was not that there was no one to manage the affairs of Gusu City. Three days ago, the officials set up a soup kitchen outside the city to provide relief to the victims every day. In addition, wealthy merchants in the city also donated generously and opened some private soup kitchens. Madam Tang was one of them.

However, these were far from enough.

The weather was freezing and these refugees were barely clothed. The food stock in the soup kitchen was getting less and less, but more and more refugees were coming to Gusu from all directions.

Tang Shen asked, “What do you want to do, sir?”

Liang Song: “What to do? Although Gusu City is rich, it can’t help so many refugees. The weather won’t be cold for long. Spring will start in a month, and everything should be much better as long as they survive this month. It is said that auspicious snow heralds a good harvest, but it is a pity that the snow is so heavy that the soil has become frozen. I don’t know if these refugees will have a good harvest in the coming year after they return home, otherwise the court will have another bad debt.”

Tang Shen: “Can they survive a month? Sir, I’m just afraid they will freeze to death outside the city before then.”

How could Liang Song not know that it was already a blessing if even half of these refugees survived? Not starving to death, but literally freezing to death instead. Even if the officials set up tents and provided them with a place to stay warm, there were too many refugees, and there was a limit to what Gusu City could do. And even if they survive, they may have to experience a famine when they return to their hometown next year.

Liang Song let out a long sigh.

“Natural disasters are more cruel than man-made disasters. Let’s get out of the carriage and take a look.”

The two got out of the carriage together.

The number of refugees was far greater than Tang Shen thought. They huddled under the city wall, trying hard to cover their bodies with anything they could find. Not for shame, but for survival. Covering themselves with grass roots, tree bark, and even soil as much as possible.

There was no need to worry about a plague when the weather was cold, as it was difficult to spread. But for such cold weather, there was nothing anyone could do about it.

People who came to the soup kitchen to receive porridge one day may not be seen again the next day. After all, it was only treating the symptoms but not the root cause.

Tang Shen followed Liang Song, and witnessing this shocking scene, his heart was severely shaken.

Born in modern society, although his family was not wealthy, he was still considered well-off and had never suffered from hunger or cold since he was a child. He had never seen so many wailing people, nor so many emaciated people. Even if he traveled through time, he arrived directly to the prosperous Gusu Prefecture. He had never seen such a hellish scene.

Gusu Prefecture was rich, but Gusu Prefecture could not support thousands of refugees. No matter how kind-hearted the merchants were, there were still only a limited number of refugees they could help.

Liang Song: “Let’s go!” After a while, he found that his student didn’t move. “Tang Shen?”

The handsome boy turned around with a thoughtful expression on his face. After a while, Tang Shen said: “Sir, I have an idea, I don’t know if it will work or not. But this method may be able to save a lot of refugees, and I need your help, sir.”

Liang Song: “Tell me about it.”

Tang Shen said seriously: “I want to hire them!”

In the Zhenbao Pavilion of the Tang family, scented soaps and essential oils were sold very well. Even if they hadn’t started selling regular soap yet, Tang Shen still had a huge amount of dividends in his hands. He had been inspecting some of the most prosperous commercial streets in Gusu City for several days before, but he still couldn’t find anything suitable to sell.

In the current era, the most profitable businesses were salt and wine, but these two items were firmly controlled by the imperial court. So what else could he do?

Tang Shen: “Logistics!”

Yao San was stunned and didn’t understand: “Little boss, I have never heard of what logistics is.”

Tang Shen: “Brother Yao, let me ask you, which is the best restaurant in Gusu City?”

“Of course it’s Qianqiu Restaurant on Suijin Street.”

“Yes, Qianqiu Restaurant is the best restaurant in Gusu City. You should have also heard that Qianqiu Restaurant can provide home cooking. Sun Yue’s family, a classmate of mine, invited Qianqiu Restaurant to make their New Year’s Eve banquet last month. The chef came over specially and cooked a banquet of delicious dishes.”

Yao San: “There is actually such a thing.”

Tang Shen: “Of course. People in Gusu City are very rich. Why do you think Gusu City is richer than Jinling? The richest man in Jiangnan is from Jinling, but Gusu City is richer than Jinling because everyone in Gusu City is better off! It’s never one person or a few people who are rich in Gusu City. Yes, there may not be as many wealthy merchants in Gusu City as there are in Jinling, and they are not as rich as Jinling merchants, but the people in Gusu City are all happy and well-off with more than enough to spend every year. So for them…”

Yao San: “What?”

Tang Shen smiled slightly: “For them, it’s really too expensive to invite the chef from Qianqiu Restaurant to cook at home. They can’t afford it. But they can ask people to run errands for them and send and receive express delivery. Towards this bit of money, all the people of Gusu City can afford it!”

That’s right, Tang Shen wanted to be the first person to eat crabs in Gusu City. (TN: expression meaning to try something others have never done before, usually with a profitable result)

From the beginning, he had been caught in a vicious cycle: Gusu City had no shortage of anything! Merchants from all over the world gathered here through the Grand Canal. Jewelry, brocade and silk, treasures and delicacies… every industry that could be imagined could be found in Gusu City. Since it was difficult to have a slice of the pie in these industries, why not just serve these industries directly?

Tang Shen: “Brother Yao, go to the western part of the city and buy a courtyard. It doesn’t have to be very nice, but it should be big enough to house at least a hundred people. Then go outside the city and pick out fifty refugees first. You be the judge and choose those who look honest, both men and women.”

Yao San had unconditional trust in Tang Shen: “Okay!”

Tang Shen quickly went to Liang Manor again.

He had already told Liang Song about his idea of doing logistics. Liang Song thought about it for a long time, and when Tang Shen came over again, he asked straight to the point: “Do you know that you may not get any benefit at all from doing this, with such a large upfront investment, it’s very likely that you’ll lose everything!”

Tang Shen smiled and said: “Sir, it’s not like you don’t know that the most popular scented soaps and Golden Wisp in Gusu City are sold by the Tang family. Even if I suffer a loss now, I won’t starve to death on the streets.” What was more, the regular soap had not yet been released on the market.

Liang Song: “Fine, if you want to do it, then do it. It is better to teach people to fish than to directly give them fish. It will be difficult for those refugees to survive after they go back. It will be a good thing if they can use this new job to settle down in Gusu City. Whatever you need, just let the steward know.”

“No need to go to so much trouble. I just need ten smart bailiffs and a word from sir.”

“Oh, what word?”

“If a refugee commits any crime in Gusu City, no matter how big or small the case is, they will be expelled from the city and no soup kitchen will be allowed to provide them with food!”

Yao San settled the refugees in a large courtyard that had been empty for a long time. Most of these refugees were strong men, only their physique was a little weak at the moment. Yao San didn’t know Tang Shen’s intention, but he thought that since his boss wanted to hire people, the stronger the better, so he specially selected those who looked stronger.

Tang Shen came to the yard to see these fifty people, and then gave them food, hot water and clothes.

These refugees were immediately dumbfounded and called Tang Shen the reincarnation of the living Bodhisattva. They devoured the food, took hot baths, put on new clothes, and finally looked like decent individuals. Tang Shen did not have them work directly, but asked Yao San to familiarize them with the streets of Gusu City.

Three days later, these refugees were already familiar with the streets of Gusu City.

Tang Shen asked Yao San to post notices on several streets with the most people in Gusu City, and asked Accountant Lin to post notices in several neighborhoods where civilians lived in the city. After a while, many people gathered to look at what was on the notice, and the literate people read out the words written on it.

“Tang’s Logistics… eh, what is logistics?”

After the man finished reading the words above, someone asked: “Brother, what does this mean?”

“It says that from the 28th of the first lunar month, which is tomorrow, Tang’s Logistics will deliver goods for free for one day. All the people wearing red linen jackets on the street are employees of Tang’s Logistics. Just call them and they will come over. You can ask them to help deliver things, help buy things, or ask them to carry letters. As long as it is in Gusu City, they can deliver anywhere.”

“There is such a thing?”

“That’s right, what a strange thing.”

In the courtyard of the Tang family, Accountant Lin calculated the recent accounts and said with a frown: “Little boss, we have spent a lot of money to feed and clothe those fifty refugees. Your logistics are actually free of charge. Will we be able to recover the cost?”

Yao San: “I believe in the little boss.”

Tang Shen said, “I don’t even believe in myself this time.”

“Ah? Could it be that no one will use our employees tomorrow?”

Tang Shen: “You said tomorrow?”

Yao San: “Yes, tomorrow.”

“Definitely no customers tomorrow.”

“…”

Yao San panicked: “Little boss, this…”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Tang Shen narrowed his eyes and said with a smile: “There will definitely be no customers tomorrow, but whether there will be customers in the future depends on how rich the people in Gusu are and how stable their lives are. How can you do business without taking risks? There is no guaranteed profit, but several certain seniors of the industry, Mr. Shun, Mr. Yuan, and Mr. Shen told me that this business… is feasible!”

AN: Little Tang Lang: Today I am going to start eating crabs!

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