The Lucky Bureaucrat

Legs pumping. Lungs expanding and contracting far too fast to be healthy. I can hear the soldiers behind me, shouting for me to come out. I know they will kill me on sight. I know too much.

Ferns, wet with morning dew, slap against my calves. I can’t keep this up much longer. I need to find somewhere to hide.

I hear running water and veer off towards a stream. I tromp through it, hoping to throw off any dogs they may have. Where is a cave or abandoned animal den to hide in? I see one not too far from the stream. I climb inside and huddle near the walls, hoping the soldiers will pass me by. They do. I make a thankful prayer and continue back toward the city to warn the Emperor of the danger he is in.

It was my dream to become a government official. It had good pay, and was a respectable job in the Ming era. So when I was offered a spot in the latest district test, I leapt at the chance. Up at the crack of dawn, I was the the first person at the building on the day of testing. When the first scholar-official finally arrived, I had been waiting for thirty minutes.

“Ah, so you must be one of our new recruits?” the scholar-official said kindly.

“Yes, sir!” I replied, perhaps a little too enthusiastically.

The scholar-official was a middle-aged man with a kind face and a scratchy voice. He was pleasantly plump and had a long beard. “I am Bei Jianman,” he said.

“Nice to meet you,” I replied. “I am Jin Zenghui.”

“Do you feel prepared for the test, Jin?” asked Bei.

“Yes, although I am a bit nervous. I have studied all of the Confucian classics that I will be tested on, and I know that I can take the test again if I fail. But I intend to pass the first time,” I replied.

Bei and I chatted some more. As we talked, he told me of his high position in the government.

Feeling exhausted, my pen hand aching, I asked Bei if he knew when I would receive the results of the test.

“They should be delivered tomorrow, my friend,” he said.

“Will I be given a degree?” I asked.

“Not for these tests,” he replied, “But you will receive a sheng jyun degree when you take the Prefectural Level tests.”

“Well then, I’ll see you there!” I exclaimed.

And that I did. After passing the district test with high marks, I set my sights on the prefectural. It was held only twice every three years, but the next test was only two weeks away! The closest prefecture was in the capital city of Chang’an.

I studied hard for those two weeks, and I approached the prefecture with confidence. I wanted to get that degree. I knew it was only a small step on the road to office, but a step is still progress. Rather than being considered a commoner, I would become lower gentry. This status would help me to get a job and earn the money needed to buy a gaam sang degree.

Again, I ran into my friend Bei Jianman on my way to the test. He had a troubled look on his face, so I approached him.

“Ah, my friend! How are you doing, Jin?” Bei asked. He seemed pleased to have a distraction from whatever was vexing him.

“I have a question for you, Jin. What are your thoughts about our current emperor?”

My answer was quick and practiced. I knew what to say in response to such a question.

“He is great, sir. He has been doing a fine job of ruling this country.”

“Please, Jin, answer me truthfully. Come now, there is nobody around. You can trust me. I am your friend! I would never wish harm upon you.”

I hesitated, because if something I said was heard by someone else and interpreted wrong, I could be killed for high treason.

“I don’t have anything against him sir,” I said slowly. “He may have made some decisions I don’t agree with, but he’s doing fine.”

Bei looked a bit disappointed. “Ah, good,” was all he had to say.

After another pause, he continued.

“Jin,” he asked. “How would you like to be my personal assistant?”

I hardly had to think before answering such a wonderful question. “Why, of course, sir! I would be honored!” And within a week I was working full time for Bei. My main duties included acting as Bei’s office manager, his treasurer, and his stand-in on the rare occasions when he was absent.

One day, as I was going out to pick up a package for Bei, I saw a very flushed looking man hurry past. He looked suspicious, as if he didn’t want to be followed. I wondered if he was doing anything that might be against the law. Curious, I decided to follow him.

Soon he came upon a tavern. A weathered and peeling sign read: THE LOTUS TAVERN.He went inside. A few paces behind, I did the same.

I followed the man up a flight of stairs and watched him enter a room. I crept forward and put my ear to the door. I could barely hear what was being said over the raucous ruckus being raised in the tavern, but I could hear enough.

I heard a baritone voice say, “The time is near. We should strike now, while their guard is down for the festival.” Right! The Lantern festival was in two days! Even though it marked the end of the Chinese New Year, it was still a joyous occasion. But what were they planning to do? Another voice spoke, interrupting my thoughts and forcing me to listen harder.

“Yes, and once we overthrow the weak emperor, I will step in and make sure he does not rise to power again.” I knew that voice well. It belonged to my employer, Bei Jianman. He had been away on business for days, or so he said.

“We will strike tomorrow, the day before the Lantern Festival.”

“Why wait, sir?”

“I would like to try to convince my assistant to join us. He has great potential. I would like him as an advisor when I am emperor.”

I was in shock and needed to leave. I had heard enough to know the Emperor had to be warned! But why would he believe me? He might throw me in prison. I decided to warn the Imperial Guard first. I knew the captain better and had given him no reason to distrust me.

That reasoning proved to be false. Not only was I not believed, I was called the enemy and just barely escaped.

Fast forward to the hunt and my present occupation of this cave. But my mission is clear: I must warn the Emperor and reach the palace before it is too late. Preparations for the lantern festival are already underway. Banners were strewn over the streets, lanterns hung outside doors, and everybody was in high spirits.

I stick to the most crowded streets so that I am less likely to be spotted. Holding my head low, I keep a lookout for soldiers and I slowly make my way toward the palace. A cart of lanterns is being wheeled in. I see my chance, and dive underneath them unnoticed.

Inside the palace, I make my way to the armory to procure a weapon. Better safe than sorry.

I find the weapons closet and grab a dagger. Hoping I’m not too late, I sprint to the throne room.

The emperor is sitting on his throne, watching the activity. I decide now is the time for action. I run up to the emperor and kneel at his feet.

“O Lord Of Ten Thousand Years, please hear me out!” I plead. “You are in grave danger. I have uncovered a plot to kill you by one of your advisors, Bei Jianman!”

The emperor was startled. “Is this true?” He asked.

Just then, ten men barrelled into the room holding spears.

“You see?” I said. “I wasn’t lying. You are in grave danger! You need to get out of here!”

The emperor obviously thought I was right. He commanded the guards to escort him out of the room. We ran from the assassins straight to the Imperial Guard office where the guards immediately jumped up and readied for action. The attackers ran into the room and were met with the fists and spears of two dozen royal guardsmen.

“Who did you say did this?” asked the emperor.

“It was Bei Jianman, Majesty,” I replied.

In short order Bei was brought before the Emperor, arrested, and executed for high treason.

My position as a government official was now secure. I was awarded Bei’s advisory job after successfully finishing my testing. My future looked bright.