Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 79 The Sons Have Already Been Selected

Since the upheaval in his family, Zhang Jun had been staying at home until he decided to return to his post to secure a place for his son as a widow.

Because he still had leave to take in the province, he did not need to attend the morning court. However, he still got up very early at home, carefully tidied his appearance, and then went out with several servants after the morning bell rang.

The scenery in the imperial city was the same as before, but upon closer inspection, it was different from the past. Many officials walking in the imperial city stopped and watched Zhang Jun from a distance, instead of warmly greeting him as usual.

Sensing the changes in human relationships, Zhang Jun was filled with emotion. He did not linger in the capital. After submitting the letter of thanks for the bestowed name, which he had drafted on behalf of his son Zhang Dai, to the Ministry of Personnel, he left the capital and headed to the Ministry of Personnel.

The offices of the Ministry of Personnel were not located within the Imperial City, but rather in the Eastern City, east of the Imperial City. The Southern Provinces, as commonly referred to at the time, usually referred to the Secretariat and the Chancellery, which were located south of the Imperial City.

Sometimes it also refers to the Ministry of Personnel, because the Ministry of Personnel was located south of the two ministries. However, this specifically refers to the Taiji Palace in the west of Chang'an. There were no Ministry of Personnel offices in the Daming Palace or Xingqing Palace.

The chief officials of the Ministry of Personnel were the Left and Right Chancellors, formerly known as the Left and Right Vice Ministers. However, the Left and Right Chancellors held their positions nominally and did not actually attend to the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel. The daily work of the Ministry of Personnel was usually handled by the Left and Right Chancellors.

However, after Zhang Yue changed the Zhengshitang to Zhongshu Menxia and established five offices to directly connect with the Six Ministries, the existence of the Shangshu Province became increasingly awkward, and even the daily meetings of the Du Province were just perfunctory.

Zhang Jun had requested leave for some business. Upon returning to his post, he had to first go to the Ministry of Personnel to cancel his leave. Today, the official on duty was Qi Huan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who had been promoted by Zhang Jun from the position of Prefect of Bianzhou. Therefore, Qi Huan and Zhang Jun had a minor relationship.

"The Ministry of Rites is currently very busy, and the return of the Physician is perfectly timed. Let bygones be bygones; just focus on your duties and fulfill your responsibilities, and no one can blame you. Besides, the Physician's family education is excellent, and everyone in the province has been praising him recently!"

After Qi Huan helped Zhang Jun cancel his leave, he smiled and said to him again.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun first smiled, then sighed inwardly. Previously, when his father, Zhang Shuo, served as Chancellor, everyone admired him. Now, his father had been dismissed, while his son, Zhang Dai, had become known for his recent actions. Caught in the middle, Zhang Jun felt somewhat neglected by the people.

The thought of family disputes only made Zhang Jun feel more and more overwhelmed. He could only hope that the matter of finding a husband for his eldest son would go smoothly this time, otherwise the couple who had just reconciled would probably start arguing again.

With that thought in mind, he hurried back to the Ministry of Rites. He was startled by the crowds that had gathered inside and outside the office as soon as he arrived at the gate.

"The physician has finally returned. The morning court session has not yet ended, and Minister Su and Vice Minister He have not yet returned to their offices. The officials who came to deliver documents have already blocked the government hall, making it impossible for them to enter or leave!"

The officials from the Ministry of Rites, who were almost unable to leave the gate due to the crowd, shouted loudly when they saw Zhang Jun approaching. This shout, however, drew everyone's attention to Zhang Jun, and they all crowded around him, making it impossible for him to move forward or backward.

When Prince Qi passed away, the court immediately ordered the Ministry of Rites to jointly handle the funeral arrangements and issued a decree that all sons of officials of the sixth rank and below in the capital should be selected by the Ministry of Rites to serve as mourners.

In the Tang Dynasty, there were many ways for the sons of officials to enter officialdom, and being a funeral attendant was one of the fastest and most convenient. They only needed to carry the ropes and assist in the funeral, and they could usually be granted an official position after the event was over.

However, other methods of hereditary privilege were not so convenient. For example, the children of the Three Guards had to undergo several examinations and complete a full term before being transferred. Entering the Imperial Academy also required focusing on the arts and passing examinations before one could become a student and participate in the imperial examinations.

Therefore, serving as a mourning attendant became the first choice for many noble sons to leave their official posts and enter officialdom. However, it was not something that anyone could become a mourning attendant. After all, there were only a few members of the royal family who were qualified to serve as mourning attendants, and even fewer who died due to palace coups or political struggles.

In recent years, the only person in the country to select a mourner for a funeral was Prince Shin, Yi Jun, who was posthumously granted the title of Crown Prince Hyejang two years ago. As for the deposed Queen Wang, who died in the same year, no mourner was selected at all.

Such opportunities are rare, and since they have come across one, one should naturally strive to seize it. Therefore, almost all the official families in Luoyang who possess the relevant qualifications have mobilized, all vying for the position of a pallbearer.

Zhang Jun struggled mightily to squeeze through the crowded throng and enter the Ministry of Rites. He glanced at the register of names already filled by the officials in the hall and found that there were already nearly a thousand applicants.

"How many pallbearers are planned for this funeral?"

Seeing how fierce the competition was, Zhang Jun's expression changed slightly.

The clerk beside him quickly reported: "The original plan was for 240 people, but after the advice of the officials in court, the number was reduced by 120."

One hundred and twenty people sounds like a lot, but in just one day, nearly a thousand people have already been enrolled, and judging by the trend, the number of people signing up should increase even more.

Generally speaking, the selection of a doorman was based solely on the family's lineage and status. Even if a fifth or sixth-rank official's doorman applied, he was merely filling a quota, with a negligible chance of being selected. However, the number of third-rank noble and official families remaining was also considerable, and it was often more difficult to eliminate them as the competition progressed. Eliminating one was tantamount to offending a long-established political family.

Zhang Jun originally thought that as the head of the department, securing a spot for his son would be a simple matter. However, seeing the enthusiasm of everyone involved, he realized that some other criteria would need to be set in the end, making it difficult to secure a spot in advance.

Just then, another commotion arose outside the government office. It turned out that the morning court session had ended and the head of the Ministry of Rites had returned to the government office.

When a prince or minister dies, the court usually suspends its court sessions for several days to show mourning. However, the suspension of court sessions usually begins on the day of the funeral, not immediately after the death.

In particular, the funeral of Prince Qi was of a scale second only to the national mourning, requiring the establishment of various ritual systems and procedures, as well as the coordination and cooperation of various departments such as the Ministry of Rites, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, and the Court of State Ceremonies. These matters had to be discussed at the court meeting.

The Emperor was overcome with grief over the death of Prince Qi and did not attend today's court assembly; instead, the Prime Minister presided over it. Minister of Rites, Duke Xu Ting, and Vice Minister of Rites, He Zhizhang, also attended and were entrusted with important duties.

"All of you disciples, please step aside for now and enter the hall in order to discuss matters. If there is any noise or disturbance, please leave immediately!"

Su Ting was a former prime minister, and together with Zhang Yue, they were known as the "Great Strategists of Yan and Xu." He was also a highly respected minister of the state. After the court session, seeing the noisy scene at the Ministry of Rites, he immediately stamped his foot and angrily rebuked them.

Although the crowd was anxious, they dared not offend the old minister, so they restrained themselves and lined up to enter the government office under the maintenance of order by the mounted guards.

Su Ting no longer concern himself with the specific affairs of the office. At his level of seniority, any position he held would only be a retirement for the court. After returning to the office, he would compile books, and the affairs of the outer hall would be managed by Vice Minister He Zhizhang and others.

He Zhizhang was an open-minded, humorous, and unpretentious man. When he saw Zhang Jun return to his office, he handed over the office affairs to his subordinates and then invited Zhang Jun to another room to talk.

He first inquired about Yan Gong's recent situation, and then smiled and said, "The affairs of the office are numerous, and it is good that you have returned, Doctor. If you can diligently share the burden, I will grant you a favor. What do you wish for? I will respond accordingly."

"Why do you say that, Vice Minister?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously wondered if He Zhizhang was implying that he could secure a spot in advance.
He Zhizhang pointed to the group of officials queuing up to register outside, and then said with a smile, "Who doesn't have a son who causes them worry and anxiety, and makes them wish he were a good son? This is a rare opportunity, Doctor, don't you want it?"

"This...this...this humble official, this humble official does indeed have..."

Zhang Jun, in his thirties, was still somewhat embarrassed to talk about such things, but his wife was pleading earnestly, so he could only grit his teeth and bow to He Zhizhang, saying, "If I could get your help, Your Excellency, I would be very grateful. I will hold a banquet at my home tomorrow and humbly request that Your Excellency come to my house to express your gratitude!"

"In that case, the physician should prepare a family feast as soon as possible. Even though you haven't returned yet, things are already settled. Congratulations on your son being able to assist in the matter."

It is somewhat disrespectful for the imperial court to congratulate someone else on being selected as a mourner during a funeral. However, people's joys and sorrows are not always shared, and He Zhizhang is a man who does not care about formalities. He is even more unrestrained in private conversations. After all, Zhang Jun, who has benefited from the situation, will not report him.

"Is that really so? Then thank you very much, Vice Minister!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun was overjoyed. He hadn't expected that the department would have already taken care of the matter before he even returned to make his request. It seemed that although his father had retired, he still had influence, and his colleagues in the department were still warm and sincere towards him.

But just as he was beginning to feel a little good about himself, He Zhizhang waved his hand and laughed, "I was just joking. The matter is not decided by the government office, but by the family of the deceased, who personally sent someone to inform us that your sons are needed to assist with the funeral."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun felt a sense of foreboding and hurriedly asked, "In my household, which of the two families has the Prince of Qi chosen, Your Excellency?"

"That young man with such a bright and handsome appearance, I suppose he had no idea about such a thing before. When the doctor summons him later, he should be given a thorough lecture."

As He Zhizhang was speaking, he looked up and saw the Duke of Bi, Dou Xiguan, the emperor's brother-in-law, walking into the office. Naturally, he dared not be negligent and hurriedly got up to greet him.

Zhang Jun, who was somewhat distracted, also quickly stood up to greet them, but his mind was in turmoil with a myriad of thoughts.

(End of this chapter)