I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 126: Political Enemies Marrying Each Other ( Words)
Lin Shisan was flirting with Prince Yu's Mansion, so naturally, this matter could not be hidden from the eyes of the Yan family.

But the Yan family didn't care much.

In the back garden of the Yan residence, Yan Shifan was playing with his ten-year-old son Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shifan was arrogant, violent, merciless, and moody in the court, but he showed his gentle side as a father in front of his youngest son Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shaoting picked up an arrow and aimed it at the bronze pot in the distance with bated breath.

Yan Shifan said, "Ting'er, when you play pot tossing, you must concentrate on it. Only the mouth of the pot should be in your eyes."

Yan Shaoting threw the arrow and it hit the copper pot exactly. He clapped his hands excitedly: "Oh, good, I hit it!"

Yan Shifan was overjoyed: "My dear Ting'er, when you grow up you will definitely be a great general who gallops on the battlefield and kills enemies."

"The prosperity and wealth of our Yan family for the past two generations depended on me and your grandfather. The prosperity of the next two generations will depend on you!"

Yan Shifan's words were originally meant to praise his son during the Chinese New Year. Who could have thought that twenty years later, his two words would come true?

After the father and son finished throwing the pot, they sat in the pavilion beside the goldfish pond and watched the sunset. What a picture of a loving father and a filial son, and a peaceful life.

Yan Shifan asked: "Ting'er, I want to find you a wife, do you want one?"

Yan Shaoting blinked: "Dad, what's the benefit of having a wife?"

Yan Shifan smiled and said, "You don't know the benefits of having a wife in bed now. You will know it in two or three years."

Yan Shaoting asked: "Dad, is the wife you found for me pretty?"

Yan Shifan laughed: "I thought you didn't understand. It turns out that you like beautiful women just like your father."

"Can the wife your father found for you be any bad? She's three years older than you. Her last name is Lu."

At this moment, the housekeeper Yan Nian came over and said, "Master, the master wants you to go to the study."

Yan Shifan patted Yan Shaoting's head and said, "Stay here. Dad will bring two fishing rods over later and go night fishing with you."

In the study, Yan Song was writing a calligraphy with a brush.

Yan Song's calligraphy was the best in the world. He stood out from the Imperial Academy with his calligraphy. He also won the favor of Emperor Jiajing with a Qingci.

When Yan Shifan walked in, Yan Song had just finished writing those four words - the friendship between Qin and Jin.

Yan Shifan looked at the four words and asked in surprise, "Dad, how did you know that I want to find a wife for Ting'er?"

Yan Song said, "Xu Jie has just made an engagement with Lu Bing. His youngest son Xu Ying will marry Lu Bing's third daughter Lu Shuang. I know you are also interested."

Yan Shifan nodded: "Dad, I plan to let Ting'er marry Lu Bing's second daughter Lu Xue."

Yan Song nodded slightly: "Yes, you did the right thing. There is no permanent winner in the court. I have to find a way out for my descendants."

"I have another marriage proposal here."

Yan Shifan asked: "What kind of marriage?"

Yan Song said: "Let my eldest grandson Hu'er marry Xu Jie's youngest granddaughter."

Yan Shifan had three sons. The eldest son died young, and the second son, Yan Hu, was the eldest grandson of the Yan family. The third son was Yan Shaoting.

The Yan family followed the rule that the eldest grandson should inherit the business in his hometown, and let Yan Hu stay in his hometown of Fenyi, Jiangxi.

Yan Shifan asked, "Dad, are you following the strategy of marrying your political enemies in the court?"

There has always been an unspoken rule in the Ming Dynasty court that political enemies can marry each other.

For example, Yan Song let his eldest grandson marry Xu Jie's granddaughter. If Yan Song was defeated by Xu Jie one day and Xu Jie gained power in the court, the Yan family could at least keep their eldest grandson safe.

Yan Song said: "When two tigers fight, one of them will die. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, there has not been a king in history books who lived over a hundred years old. Sooner or later, the world will belong to Prince Yu. And Xu Jie is Prince Yu's teacher."

"Alas. Our Yan family is now at its peak. When people are at their peak, they must leave a way out for their descendants."

How smart is Yan Shifan? He immediately agreed, "Yes, Dad. It's always right to leave a way out."

Yan Song added: "Our family is related to Lu Bing and Xu Jie. As long as one of the three giants in the court remains powerful in the future, the descendants of the other two families will be guaranteed."

"The best way to protect your descendants in the court is to bet on your enemies."

Yan Shifan suddenly remembered something: "If the people at the top of the court are like this, then the people below are also like this."

"I recently heard that the newly powerful official Lin Shisan is very close to Prince Yu's Mansion."

Yan Song didn't care: "He is a smart man. Prince Yu will become the emperor sooner or later. Who doesn't want to curry favor with the future emperor? I do!"

"Unfortunately, everyone has a position in the court. The position the emperor has arranged for us is to check and balance Xu Jie and the crown prince."

"If we try to make friends with Prince Yu, we will be abandoned by the Emperor before he ascends the throne."

Yan Shifan said, "That kid surnamed Lin is now very good at making friends and currying favor with everyone. He is very close to the Lu family, the Prince Yu's Mansion, and our family."

Yan Song said: "This person reminds me of someone."

Yan Shifan guessed immediately: "You always talk about our old relative, the old manager of Jinyiwei, Chang Feng?"

Yan Song nodded: "During the Hongzhi, Zhengde, and first ten years of the Jiajing reigns, Chang Feng held the Jinyiwei for more than forty years. When he rose to prominence in the late Chenghua period, he was also in his twenties, just like that young man surnamed Lin."

"If you see a rising star who has a bright future, you should invest heavily in him."

"Don't underestimate him because he is just a small figure now. But which big figure didn't start out as a small figure?"

"Your father, I was still copying books in the Hanlin Academy until I was fifty-six years old."

"If it weren't for my uncle Chang Feng's advice to me, and I wrote the petition "Please donate to the Emperor's Temple" to end the great ritual dispute, how could our Yan family have the power we have today?"

Chang Feng's only adopted son, You Jingwu, married Yan Song's sister, so Yan Song called him "old uncle-in-law."

Yan Shifan nodded: "Yes. We should invest more in the rising talents."

Yan Song sighed, "I am old, and my tears are increasing. My nose gets sore when I mention your uncle Chang Feng."

"How long has it been since you had a drink with your brother Qingyun?"

Yan Shifan smiled awkwardly: "It's been more than a year. The two capitals and thirteen provinces are all on our shoulders. I can't spare the time to visit my brother Qingyun."

Before the Yan family became rich, they were very close to the Chang family. Yan Shifan often went to the Chang residence to visit his aunt and play with Chang Qingyun. He and Chang Qingyun grew up together playing in the mud.

Yan Song said, "Just because you are in power, you ignore your old friends. How can that be? Take some time these days to go and have a drink with Qingyun and catch up with the old times. And take the opportunity to invite that young man named Lin along."

Yan Shifan agreed immediately: "I will go tomorrow. I haven't seen Brother Qingyun for a long time. I really miss him when I mention him."

Let’s talk about the next morning.

Lin Shisan was giving a speech to more than thirty new subordinates at the Northern Pacification Office.

Now that Lin Shisan has become the Flying Fish of the Northern Division, he cannot have only Sun Yue as his subordinate.

Liu Shouyou simply gave an order that more than 30 comrades who had shared life and death with Lin Shisan in Jiangnan should be subordinate to him.

In addition, there were more than a dozen seriously injured people who were recuperating at home. After they recovered, they would all be under Lin Shisan's command.

Lin Shisan's new subordinates are all experts in frame-up, assassination, interrogation, kidnapping and beating with clubs.

Lin Shisan finally became the powerful leader of the Northern Division with dozens of capable subordinates. Liu Shouyou was also considerate enough to transfer Sun Yue, who had just been promoted to the general flag, from the Elephant Training Institute to the Northern Division, also under the command of Lin Shisan.

Lin Shisan said to his men sincerely, "My fellow soldiers, you all followed me to fight on the battlefield against the Japanese invaders."

"Whoever fights alongside me is my brother. We are boss and subordinate in name, but in reality we are like brothers with different fathers and mothers!"

"I take the lead and swear an oath. From now on, if anyone betrays his brothers, heaven and earth will punish him!"

As an aside, leaders from ancient times to the present always address their subordinates as "brothers". For example, the wealthy Dong Ge in later generations.

But if the subordinates are really asked to take the blame or even die, the leaders will never blink an eye.

All the men swore together: "Anyone who betrays our brothers will be punished by heaven and earth."

Lin Shisan shouted, "Sun Yue, close the door!"

Sun Yue closed the door of the hundred-household duty room.

Lin Shisan took out a stack of silver notes and said, "This is three thousand two hundred taels of silver in total. I told you clearly that this is the gift money I earned on this trip south."

"If it weren't for the bloody battles of my brothers, I would have died in the southeast. No matter how much money I collected, I would not have lived to spend it."

"Today is the first day you officially belong to me. These three thousand two hundred taels are my greeting gift to you brothers! One hundred taels for each of you!"

"Don't be polite to me, this is what you deserve!"

In fact, it was very common for officials of the Northern Pacification Division to use large sums of money to buy the loyalty of their subordinates. This was an established bad habit in the Northern Division and did not violate the family rules of the Tiqi.

What the Beisi brothers fear most is having a stingy direct superior.

If someone took the money from his superior, no one would talk about it. Even if someone did, it would not be considered taboo.

When Lu Bing first joined the Jinyiwei, he took the old manager Chang Feng as his master. When he first served as a centurion, he also relied on spending money to make his subordinates loyal to him.

More than thirty comrades received the silver and were all happy.

Lin Shisan said, "Just tell the brothers. This time last year, I was still serving elephants at the elephant training center. I don't know how to be an official."

"But I have made up my mind about one thing. I will do my best to complete the tasks assigned by the superiors. You should also do your best to complete the tasks I assign to the subordinates."

"If you shrink back from doing things and don't do your best, your superiors will hold me accountable, and I will hold you accountable."

"When that time comes, the family rules of the Imperial Guards are there, don't blame me for not caring about our friendship of life and death!"

Lin Shisan was not "not very good at being an official" as he claimed. Today, he showed both kindness and authority to his subordinates. He was just like a seasoned bureaucrat.

All the comrades expressed their stance that they would obey Lin Shisan's orders from now on.

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Okay, everyone pack up the banknotes. Take them home to honor your parents and take care of your children. Don't go whoring and gambling."

"Sun Yue, open the door!"

Sun Yue obeyed and opened the door.

At this moment, an old acquaintance from the elephant training camp came in. This man was the personal flag of Qianhu Chang Qingyun.

The little flag bowed to Lin Shisan and said, "Captain Lin."

Lin Shisan asked: "How come you have time to come to our Beisi?"

Xiaoqi replied: "Our Captain Chang said that we would like to invite you to a banquet at our mansion tonight. Oh, and the young minister will also be there."

Lin Shisan said immediately, "I haven't visited my old boss since I returned to Beijing. How rude. I will go tonight and bring two jars of aged daughter's red wine brought back from Jiangnan as a gift to Mr. Chang."

Sun Yue smiled and said, "Hey, now even Captain Chang is rushing to invite you for dinner and drinks. Master, you are really very popular."

In the evening, at the Chang family mansion.

Chang Qingyun and Yan Shifan sat on the threshold of the living room in the Chang Mansion and ate watermelons from Panggezhuang, just like they did when they were children.

Yan Shifan spat out a few watermelon seeds and said, "Brother Chang, I'm too busy with the Cabinet and the Ministry of Industry. I haven't come to see you for a year, so don't make trouble."

There is no need for too many words between childhood friends. Chang Qingyun said nothing, but just gently bumped Yan Shifan's shoulder.

Yan Shifan said, "That's right. I plan to marry Ting'er to the second daughter of Lu Bing's family. You have to be the matchmaker."

"Lu Bing used to be the apprentice of my old grandfather. He has to give you this honor."

Chang Qingyun took a bite of the watermelon and said, "Okay, it's my job as an uncle to be a matchmaker for my little nephew."

Yan Shifan laughed and said, "Do you remember when I was five years old, you tricked me by saying, 'If you swallow watermelon seeds, a big watermelon will grow in your stomach.' You scared me so much that I worried for a month?"

Chang Qingyun laughed loudly: "Who would have thought that the young cabinet minister who is now the best in the officialdom for his intelligence and ruthlessness was a...haha, a fool when he was young."

The two chatted about their childhood memories for a while, and Chang Qingyun suddenly stopped smiling and said, "I have a request for you."

Yan Shifan asked: "What is it? Is it to kill someone or to promote someone? Brother Chang, just say it. Why bother asking for a favor?"

Chang Qingyun said: "I heard that you are planning to kill Shen Lian?"

Yan Shifan's face turned pale when he heard this: "It's not us who want to kill Shen Lian. He is the one who is biting our Yan family! Last time, my father and I compromised with the golden turtle incident and let him go."

"After the incident in Xuanfu, he attacked our Yan family like a mad dog!"

"If you don't kill the mad dog, it will bite people to death!"

Chang Qingyun threw the melon rind aside and stood up: "But the things he complained about your Yan family, I'm afraid they are all groundless, right?"

"It is true that your Yan family has great power, but shouldn't you be more restrained? Those people under you dare to accept any money and do any evil. Shouldn't they be reported?"

"Also, Shen Lian is a close friend of Governor Lu. If you don't give me face, you should at least give Governor Lu some face, right?"

"Qing'er, killing Yang Jisheng wasn't enough for you, are you going to kill Shen Lian as well? Aren't you afraid that you will be labeled as a traitor in history books?"

Yan Shifan's nickname was Donglou and his nickname was Qing'er.

Yan Shifan was furious: "My Yan family is a traitor, then what about Xu Jie? He has embezzled much more money than the Yan family!"

"Shen Lian is now Xu Jie's sword!"

Chang Qingyun said angrily: "But Shen Liancan and you are right! You appointed Yang Shun as the governor of Xuanda. When the Tatars invaded, he cowered in fear of the enemy and watched the Tatars break through the forty forts of Yingzhou."

"The fault lies with you. Why do you want to kill the person who exposed your fault?"

"Isn't the lesson you learned from your alliance with Qiu Luan, which indirectly led to the Gengshu Incident, enough?"

Yan Shifan's eyes widened in anger: "Biyun, please don't put the blame for the Gengxu Incident on our Yan family! We can't afford it!"

Chang Qingyun took a deep breath and said, "Forget it. What I said just now was too harsh. Qing'er, please let Shen Lian go, okay?"

Yan Shifan shook his head: "I can agree to anything you ask for, except this one!"

Chang Qingyun sighed: "Alas. You are now a high-ranking official with great power. I can't persuade you. I won't say anything more."

At this time, a servant of the Chang family reported: "The Northern Pacification Office Captain Lin Shisan wants to see you."

(End of this chapter)