Chapter 150: Two Clerks
Strategist Lu and Chief Clerk Jiang came together to General Gan’s official residence and handed a list to Gan Ning. “These are the candidates for clerks we’ve found for the general. See when you have time to interview them.”
Gan Ning looked at the list, and his heart skipped a beat. He saw two familiar names: Lu Xun and Ma Liang.
Gan Ning took up his brush, crossed out these two, and asked: “Are these two scions of the Wu Commandery Lu Clan and the Nan Commandery Ma Clan?”
Strategist Lu nodded. “Exactly!”
That Ma Liang had come to seek refuge with him, Gan Ning could understand. Ma Liang was from Yicheng in Nan Commandery. With the drastic changes in Jiangxia Commandery, the Ma Clan wanted to place a bet on him, which was normal. But why would the Wu Commandery Lu Clan send Lu Xun to Chaisang?
In history, Lu Xun was Sun Ce’s son-in-law, but now Sun Ce’s daughter was only three years old. It would be at least over a decade later, after Lu Xun’s wife passed away, that he would remarry Sun Ce’s daughter. Right now, Lu Xun was still just a young talent who had not yet entered officialdom.
“Forget the others. Have these two come see me.”
Ma Liang was arranged by Chief Clerk Jiang, and Lu Xun by Strategist Lu. Strategist Lu had served as a clerk for a few months under Prefect Lu Kang of Lujiang Commandery, and Lu Kang thought highly of him. This time, Lu Xun had come directly to Strategist Lu seeking employment.
Meanwhile, Ma Liang was recommended to Chief Clerk Jiang by Prefect Yin Mo of Wuchang Commandery, who had close ties to the Ma family.
In the afternoon, Lu Xun and Ma Liang were led to General Gan’s official residence.
Lu Xun was twenty years old this year, while Ma Liang was even younger at only eighteen. Both were brilliantly talented and the most outstanding scions of their respective families in this generation.
The two sat facing each other, sizing one another up. Lu Xun cupped his fists and smiled. “I am Lu Boyan of Wu Commandery. May I ask how to address this young master?”
Lu Xun was accomplished in both civil and martial arts, tall and sturdy, with a dignified appearance. Ma Liang had a medium build and appeared somewhat scholarly and refined.
Ma Liang returned the courtesy. “I am Ma Jichang of Nan Commandery. Pleased to meet you, Brother Lu.”
Both had a good idea in their minds. General Gan needed two clerks, one for military and one for government affairs. Since only the two of them had been arranged for interviews, it was probably them.
At this moment, an attendant came out and said: “Lu Xun of Wu Commandery, please follow me!”
Lu Xun stood up, smiled at Ma Liang, and followed the attendant into the official residence.
Lu Xun entered the room, bowed, and paid his respects. “Lu Xun of Wu Commandery pays respects to the general!”
Many forms of address were habitual. For instance, Sun Quan was called Marquis of Wu in Jiangdong because Sun Ce was the Marquis of Wu. Gan Ning was called Marquis of Wuchang among the common folk, but in official circles and the army, he was called Lord.
However, Gan Ning now required everyone to change their address. No longer calling him Lord, but directly general. So everyone knew that “general” definitely referred to Lord Gan Ning, while Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Taishi Ci, though also generals, were addressed with their surnames: General Zhao, Old General Huang, or General Taishi, and so on.
Gan Ning sized up Lu Xun. Not bad, as expected of a famous general of the Three Kingdoms; his appearance and demeanor were both excellent.
“Has Young Master Lu also practiced martial arts?” Gan Ning asked, looking at Lu Xun’s resume.
“This figurine practiced spearmanship for a few years, but is mainly focused on civil matters.”
“Is this Young Master Lu’s first time in Yuzhang Commandery?” Gan Ning asked with a smile.
Lu Xun shook his head. “Actually, this figurine has been traveling and studying in Yuzhang Commandery and the surrounding commanderies for the past two years, spending the most time in Yuzhang Commandery.”
“I see!”
Gan Ning nodded and asked again: “Are you applying on your own initiative, or is it an arrangement by your family?”
This question was important. Lu Xun pondered for a moment and said: “It is an arrangement by the family!”
On this key question, Lu Xun did not want to lie.
Gan Ning smiled approvingly. He greatly appreciated Lu Xun’s straightforwardness.
“Very good! Go back and pack up. Report to Strategist Lu first thing tomorrow morning. You’ve passed here.”
Lu Xun was overjoyed and bowed deeply. “This subordinate will work diligently and loyally serve the general!”
Lu Xun bowed once more and withdrew. Moments later, Ma Liang was brought in. He too bowed deeply. “Ma Liang pays respects to the general!”
Gan Ning noticed a tuft of white hair in the space between Ma Liang’s eyebrows and smiled faintly. “The Ma Clan’s Five Constants: white brow is the best. That’s you.”
Ma Liang said humbly: “That’s just an overly generous evaluation from the countryside.”
Gan Ning nodded. “Eldest, second, third, fourth, youngest—you’re ranked fourth, and there’s a brother called Ma Youchang, right?”
“The general is exactly right. My brother Ma Su, courtesy name Youchang, is only thirteen years old.”
“And your three elder brothers? Are they all at home?”
Ma Liang shook his head. “My three elder brothers are all working in Jingzhou. My second brother Ma Ping is currently serving as military advisor under Liu Bei.”
Gan Ning saw that Ma Liang was neither arrogant nor servile, answering calmly, and hitting all the key points, such as specifically pointing out that his second brother was under Liu Bei.
Gan Ning nodded. “Alright! You’ve passed here. Go find Chief Clerk Jiang first thing tomorrow morning, and he will arrange things for you.”
Lu Xun was for military orders, so arranged by Strategist Lu; Ma Liang was for government affairs orders, arranged by Chief Clerk Jiang. It was a clear division of duties.
In the official residence, Chief Clerk Jiang was instructing Ma Liang on his duties.
“Our documents are in two categories: one military, one civil. Military scrolls for various reports are made of black wood, while government affairs report scrolls are made of white wood. If folders, they are distinguished by black and white too. So black documents go to Lu Xun; you handle the white ones.
First, you classify and number them. Read through carefully to understand the content of the government affairs report, then write a summary of the report on a note. Finally, compile the summaries on one sheet of paper and hand it to the general. He can glance at the summaries to know the priority of matters.
Additionally, if a report has a red mark, it means an emergency. You must deliver it to the general immediately, even at night, send it to the general’s mansion. Understood?”
Ma Liang nodded. “I understand!”
“That’s it for now! You’ll get familiar with it gradually. Come directly to the general’s mansion tomorrow to report. I’ll go arrange your seats now.”
The next morning, Lu Xun and Ma Liang both arrived at the general’s mansion. Their offices were in Gan Ning’s outer courtyard, separated from Gan Ning’s official residence by a courtyard, a must-pass place for outsiders seeking an audience.
The rooms had previously been empty; now they became the official residence for Lu Xun and Ma Liang. The two sat on opposite sides, taking turns monthly—for example, this month Lu Xun would notify Gan Ning if there was a matter, next month Ma Liang would.
In the official residence, Gan Ning pointed to two thick stacks of documents and said: “These are documents I haven’t had time to look at yet. Take them first to process: number them and write summaries so I know the general content of each document. Also, you only handle official business; serving tea, delivering water, cleaning rooms—that’s for the tea boys. No need for you to do it. I hope you adapt quickly.”
“Understood!”
The two each took a stack of documents and went out, sat at their desks, and began carefully reading through, occasionally noting down key points.
With two secretaries, Gan Ning’s burden was greatly lightened. He didn’t need to read every document in detail; after glancing at the general content, he could give instructions and pass them to Strategist Lu and Chief Clerk Jiang for review. Only very important documents would he read closely.
At that moment, Strategist Lu came to report that an envoy from Jiangdong had arrived.
