After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1110 - 1093: Kindred Spirit (3)

"This..."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I can recommend you for the position of Junior Minister at the Imperial Temple."

Guo Pu’s eyes flickered slightly. Although it was called a recommendation, coming from her, it was nearly equivalent to a direct appointment.

The Junior Minister at the Imperial Temple holds a position second only to the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, mainly assisting the latter with activities related to rituals, music, state and educational affairs, and oh yes, fortune-telling and astronomical calculations.

Yesterday, Zhao Hanzhang’s wedding also fell under the responsibilities of the Imperial Temple.

There isn’t much work there, according to Guo Pu’s understanding. Unless an emperor dies or ascends to the throne, or there’s a change of monarchs, people generally just focus on basic astronomical calculations.

Currently, the calendar used by the court mostly follows the Taichu Calendar, with some places not changing it at all, simply using the Taichu Calendar. They just make annual corrections, corrections, print more copies and distribute them; the work is quite leisurely.

It’s a deputy position, high in rank, with a good salary, and the work is leisurely. After weighing it, Guo Pu felt this task could be accepted. More importantly, if he fled, King Langya and Wang Dun would certainly wish to get rid of him as soon as possible.

After all, they had asked him such perilous questions.

Along this journey, he owed his survival to his innate talent and abilities, narrowly escaping again and again from those trying to capture or kill him. In this vast world, the only people who could protect him now were the King of Shu and Zhao Hanzhang.

The King of Shu... forget it, it’s not completely safe; if King Langya offers too much, who knows if he might sell him out?

Moreover, the King of Shu now submits to Zhao Hanzhang too, which makes Zhao Hanzhang the most formidable.

Fate has led him here, indicating this is his destined place.

Having made up his mind, Guo Pu rose, bowed, and said, "I dare not disobey!"

Zhao Hanzhang began to laugh heartily, and added smoothly, "I’ll arrange a residence for you near the Imperial College, where the Minister of the Ministry of Rites Zhao Zitu serves as the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, engaging in scholarly activities. I see your skills in calculations are exceptional; why not have you register at the Imperial College as a scholar too?"

Guo Pu hesitated for a moment, when Ji Yuan beside him smiled and said, "It’s just calculations, while Zhao Ji here teaches the Classics daily and still has leisure for drinking and tea; Mr. Guo needn’t worry about the time commitment."

Guo Pu considered this too. In official learning, subjects like calculations aren’t valued as highly as the Classics.

It seemed worth a try, for dual salaries. He wasn’t driven by greed but rather, having just arrived in Luoyang, he was penniless, needing to acquire various items and buy servants now that he was in office; he had no money.

Thus, encouraged by Zhao Hanzhang’s anticipation and Ji Yuan’s encouragement, he agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang was delighted and then handed over the gift she brought for him.

Guo Pu initially wanted to set it aside, waiting until people left to open and see it, but Zhao Hanzhang looked at him expectantly, "Won’t Mr. Guo open it and take a look?"

Guo Pu paused for a moment before opening the box.

Guo Pu: !!

He picked up the manuscript inside, puzzled; Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t give him poetry or prose, would she?

Though it was indeed an honor, he was presently more in need of money...

Upon seeing the content of the manuscript more clearly, Guo Pu’s expression gradually turned serious. He began to examine it carefully as he quickly calculated mentally. When he saw the trajectory diagram of the stars on the subsequent page, Guo Pu sat up straight, excitedly asking, "Who calculated this? I beg the Great General to tell me, who drew this?"

Zhao Hanzhang pointed towards Fu Tinghan.

Guo Pu turned to look at Fu Tinghan, who had remained quietly seated upstairs, and clutched the manuscript tightly in his hands. Leaning forward, he seized Fu Tinghan’s hand, "A kindred spirit, Mr. Fu, on what basis did you draw this star trajectory diagram?"

"I calculated the elliptical orbital difference, which relates to the solar eccentric anomaly." Calculating the eccentric anomaly naturally allows for the trajectory diagram to be drawn.

Actually, when he first started making astronomical charts, it was to fulfill a promise to Zhao Hanzhang to find the way home; but as they later realized it was impossible and gradually accepted this world, his subsequent research aimed to write a new calendar.

"Elliptical, elliptical, why are your star movements elliptical?" Guo Pu asked, "Celestial bodies move due to ethereal forces, driven by heavenly energies, yet their movements lack distinction in speed; why then are they elliptical?"

Fu Tinghan replied, "Because the trajectory of star movements can be straight and also curved, particularly near the perihelion, hence the eccentric anomaly."

"Where did you learn that trajectories can be straight and curved?"

Fu Tinghan replied, "It can be observed. Actually, what intrigues me more is the relationship between star movement trajectories and fate, as well as time and weather." This was one reason why, despite doing calculations, he hesitated to write the calendar, as he knew how to calculate, but he hadn’t mastered a comprehensive application.