Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Let's put the map up."

After a few rounds of drinks, seeing that the students in the room were already enjoying their meal, Ren Yuan signaled to the junior officer to bring out the map.

"Fellow students, as you all know, we have reclaimed Yanyun and conquered Goryeo. Now, let me show you these places!"

The people who were drinking and chatting stopped what they were doing, stood up, and looked at the soldier who was about to unfold the map.

As the map was unfolded, the lands of Goryeo and Yanyun appeared before everyone's eyes. On the map, many place names were circled and marked with numbers.

"Your Highness, what do these serial numbers mean?"

Zhang Shangying took the initiative to ask.

"These places marked with serial numbers are your future work locations."

Ren Yuan said with a smile.

"As I stated before, the top three finishers in this competition will be directly appointed as prefectural assistants."

"Thirteen people were appointed as county clerks, county supervisors, and judges."

"Those ranked eleventh to fortieth will be appointed as county magistrates."

"Those ranked 41 to 108 were appointed as county magistrates, county registrars, and other similar positions."

"Then tonight, let's take this opportunity of the banquet to decide where everyone will go!"

Ren Yuan's words were like pouring water directly into a boiling oil pan, instantly making the atmosphere even more heated!

Throughout history, no dynasty has ever decided the fate of those who passed the imperial examinations during the Qionglin Banquet. In fact, many of these successes often had to rely on various connections to determine their final official positions.

"Your Highness, this matter is of great importance; how can we make a decision so easily?"

Zong Ze looked at the map. Although he was excited to have regained control of Yanyun, he still had to offer his opinions!

"Hehe, this is not a decision to be made lightly."

Ren Yuan looked at Zong Ze, his tone calm but his attitude firm.

"Goryeo and Yanyun have just been recovered, and the region is in dire need of rebuilding. We urgently need talented individuals like you. This is not only my need, but also the need of the local people! Are you all unwilling to take up your posts as soon as possible?"

"Please rest assured, Your Highness! Qi Shu is always ready!"

"Du Xiuyuan is always ready!"

"Ye Jiu is always ready!"

"Hu Bugui is always ready!"

After Ren Yuan finished speaking, the four scholars who came out of Liangshan University immediately responded to his words. Their inspiring words made all the students respond in unison!

"We are ready at any time!"

The shouts of nearly a hundred people were incredibly powerful. Zong Ze's expression changed slightly. He looked up and met Ren Yuan's gaze. He felt as if everything was under this person's control!

"Good! Rest assured, everyone! This appointment is a test of your abilities, and I will treat everyone equally. All the counties and prefectures that need positions are marked on the map, and all the official positions are ready!"

Ren Yuan gestured to the junior officers to push over a table covered with a red cloth, on which were four wooden boxes, each with a hole at the top through which a hand could be put.

"There are slips of paper in these four boxes, each containing an official rank and place of office. Everyone will draw one slip in turn!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was somewhat taken aback and began to discuss it amongst themselves.

"Extract? How do I extract it?"

"Removing officials? Is that even possible?"

How do I open these four boxes? Do I open one box at a time?

"Oh dear, I'm having terrible luck. What if I don't get anything good?"

……

Ren Yuan did not respond immediately, but let them discuss for a while before gesturing for everyone to be quiet, and then said loudly:

"The top three are all prefectural magistrates. Come to box number one and draw your post location."

"Third to tenth are county officials. Come to box number two and draw your place of office and official position."

“Ranks eleven through forty are all county magistrates. Come to box number three and draw your assigned post.”

"Numbers 41 to 108 are all county officials. Come to box number four and draw your official rank and place of office!"

"Furthermore, we will register the locations you have drawn and announce them after you take office. You cannot tell each other about them. This map is just to show you where your destination is."

After hearing Ren Yuan's words, everyone finally understood.

Oh, that's fair indeed. The officials in each box may have different positions, but their ranks are basically the same; the only difference is where they are stationed.

Moreover, allocating places based on the rankings agreed upon before the imperial examinations is reasonable and also avoids, to the greatest extent possible, situations where people with good relationships form cliques and collude with each other.

"That's interesting. It seems that Brother Qin's actions just now were all in vain."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun and Chen Kangbo understood that the official assignments for everyone this time were based solely on luck, and no one knew who they would be assigned to.

It's basically useless unless you become very good friends with everyone here.

Qin Hui had of course considered this as well. He was a little stunned. In this way, he had no way to prepare in advance.

"Interesting, this kid is really something!"

Zhang Shangying couldn't help but applaud. Putting everything else aside, since no one knows who their future colleagues will be, it can indeed prevent some thoughts of forming cliques in advance!

"Gentlemen, no matter who your colleagues are in the future, I will always remember this: if you are an official and do not serve the people, you might as well go home and sell rice dumplings!"

"Let's begin, Sun Shan! You're going first!"

Ren Yuan knew that Sun Shan was the last in line, and he was also very interested in seeing what this student with the legendary name looked like.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Sun Shan was very excited. He felt that the fact that the prince called his name first was a great respect for him, the last person to be called!

Then he walked to box number four, reached inside and felt around. Hmm, there were indeed many notes inside. He didn't pick and choose, grabbed one, and took it out.

"Take a look first, then take it to the map and look at it yourself. Don't make a sound or move around too much. Finally, come back to me."

The soldier in charge of registration told Sun Shan what to do, and Sun Shan nodded and did as instructed.

"How is it, Brother Sun?"

"Yes, Brother Sun, what do you think?"

……

After he returned to his seat, the 107th person also went up to draw a prize, and the others who had not yet experienced this feeling asked him questions.

"Fellow students, His Highness just said that he cannot say, but I can guarantee that you will all be very satisfied!"

Sun Shan said, "Don't ask, everyone just draw!"

Seeing that Sun Shan was so tight-lipped, the others stopped asking. After all, they would be smoking soon anyway, so it was fine not to be curious for now.

As one person after another went up to draw lots, those who ranked higher became increasingly excited.

"Brother Changqing, then you don't have a choice?"

After watching for a while, Zhang Jun suddenly realized that if Chen Kangbo, who was ranked first, went up last, he wouldn't have a chance to choose.

"Not only me, but the top-ranked person in each box didn't have a choice."

Chen Kangbo said it was fine, since he wasn't the only one without a choice.

"That's true, but we're in a better position. No matter how we choose, the top three will likely be from the counties of Goryeo or Yanyun. I personally prefer Yanyun."

Zhang Jun said he guessed that the top three would probably go to Yanyun.

"I think so too."

Chen Kangbo also felt that, since Yanyun had just been taken back, it needed more people than Goryeo, which had been under Dayi's control for some time.

Soon, only the top ten had not yet drawn. Just as the tenth person was about to draw, a junior officer suddenly came in and said something to Ren Yuan.

"Everyone, please wait a moment."

Ren Yuan gestured for Hu Bugui to wait a moment, then spoke with Xiao Jiasui for a moment before speaking again:

"Gentlemen, according to the military report from the front, Military Advisor Xu said that there is an urgent need for a top-ten talent to serve in the army. Therefore, I have decided to add a note representing the military camp to each of the two boxes containing the top ten talents."

"Military camp?"

Hu Bugui's eyes lit up as soon as he heard that!

"Your Highness! I'm willing to go!"

Indeed, the burly Hu Bugui was more like a military general than a scholar.

"Hu Bugui, don't be impatient. If you are drawn to join the army later, you will naturally be the one to go."

Ren Yuan gestured to Hu Bugui not to get excited, and then wrote two slips of paper representing the military camp in front of everyone, and put them into wooden boxes number one and number two.

After he finished doing all this, he signaled Hu Bugui to come up and continue drawing.

"Lord Zhang, why does this fellow suddenly want to send someone to the military camp?"

Although Ren Yuan's reasoning seemed reasonable, Zong Ze still felt something was off.

This news... feels a bit too coincidental.

"I'm afraid that one of us has already caught the attention of this prince."

Zhang Shangying has been fighting with Cai Jing for half her life, so how could she not have some political intuition and sensitivity?

"What Lord Zhang means is..."

Zong Ze was somewhat surprised; there was actually such a saying?

“The last four are his own people from Liangshan, the first three are generally untouchable, and the two of us are old men, so who do you think is left?”

Zhang Shangying picked up her wine glass, hiding the smile on her lips.

"I don't know what this young Qin has done, but it seems that Prince Ren has his eye on him!"

Meanwhile, Qin Hui stared in disbelief at the note in his hand with the words "Military Camp" written in large characters!

Seriously? What kind of luck do I have? The military camp I just wrote about is already mine?

……