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

Chapter 138: Going North to Xuanfu and Gaining Four Merits and a Bug (-character chapter)
Ten days later, Chen Hong, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, rushed to Xuanfu to convey the imperial edict.

Governor-General Yang Shun, Inspector Lu Kai, and Imperial Commissioner for Catching Bugs Lin Shisan knelt outside Xuanfu City to receive the imperial edict.

Chen Hong unfolded an imperial edict: "Headquarters ordered Yang Shun, the governor of Xuanda, to handle the case of Shen Lian colluding with evil people and betraying the country. He must conclude the case, convict and execute him within five days."

"Xuan Da Xun's Imperial Censor Lu Kai recommended Shen Lian for his meritorious service and promoted him to the fifth rank, the Junior Secretary of the Guanglu Temple."

"Yang Shun and Lin Shisan have made great contributions in eliminating the Tatar spies. Yang Shun's eldest son is granted the title of a thousand-householder of the Imperial Guard."

"Lin Shisan has made great contributions in destroying the evil Yin Yang Sect. He will be rewarded after returning to the capital."

"Zhang Siwei, the director of the Military Affairs Department, was ordered to survey the terrain of Xuanfu, but he was perfunctory and hasty in completing the task. He is to be demoted two levels and appointed to fill the vacancy of Xuanfu Grand Inspector."

"Ningxia Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Wang Chonggu is smart and capable, and has a lot of strategies. He will be promoted to the position of Datong Governor immediately."

"Appreciate this."

This is an intriguing decree.

The Emperor Jiajing gave the decision on how to deal with Shen Lian to Yang Shunlai, a member of the Yan Party. This was a typical scapegoating tactic of the Emperor.

When it comes to rehabilitating Shen Lian several years later, Emperor Jiajing will say: Shen Lian was not killed by me, but by Yan's party.

Yang Shun was overjoyed: Hey, I personally got rid of the scourge Shen Lian for Lord Yan, and Lord Yan will look up to me again.

Lu Kai was originally a 7th-rank imperial censor, and his promotion to the position of Shaoqing of the Guanglu Temple, who was in charge of the kitchen, was equivalent to a promotion of four levels in a row. This can be understood as a promotion in name only but a demotion in reality, but from another perspective, the position of Shaoqing of the Guanglu Temple was a stepping stone for being promoted to a prefect or a transfer officer.

Lu Kai had long wanted to move from being a censor to an official with real power. This result made him extremely happy.

Yang Shun's eldest son was granted the title of a thousand households in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but he was not allowed to fill the actual vacancy.

Zhang Siwei was demoted two levels to fill the vacancy of Xuanda Xun's post. This was Emperor Jiajing's way of throwing sand in Yang Shun's eyes, using the small ants of the Frontier Ministers Party to check and balance the frontier officials of the Yan Party.

As for the promotion of Yang Bo's relative Wang Chonggu to the position of governor of Datong, this was even more obvious. The Jiajing Emperor was openly weakening the influence of the Yan Party in Xuanda.

During this trip to the west, Lin Shisan accomplished four great things for Emperor Jiajing.

First, he captured the evil Taoist Yan Hao and revealed his charlatan nature to the people. He dismantled the Yin-Yang Sect without causing a civil uprising, thus eliminating a threat to the people of the northwest.

Second, they arrested Bayangerishun, one of the leaders of the Tatar Vulture Society, and wiped out the Tatar intelligence network in Xuanda.

Third, he cooperated with Shen Lian and helped Emperor Jiajing prepare for the overthrow of Emperor Yan several years later.

Fourthly, the 350,000 taels of silver that the Yin-Yang Sect had amassed and hidden were found. This huge sum of money had been excavated by the military supervisor eunuch Zhang Yun and the security guards, and secretly transported to the capital to replenish the internal transport warehouse.

Any one of these four great achievements would be enough for Lin Shisan to move up one level.

What about four pieces?
Lin Shisan was even a little worried: My promotion in the past year can be described in two words - "whoosh, whoosh".

If he is promoted again, it might arouse the jealousy of his comrades in the Jinyiwei.

Yan Song and his son also regarded Lin Shisan as a hero who killed his political enemies.

Lin Shisan managed to please both the emperor and the prime minister.

Lu Bing didn't really hate Lin Shisan. It was his best friend Shen Lian who chose to sacrifice his life for justice. Lu Bing should thank Lin Shisan for fulfilling his best friend's choice.

The only faction that was dissatisfied with Lin Shisan was the Xu Party. Originally, the Xu Party wanted to use Shen Lian's incident to stir up a political trend, but Lin Shisan messed it up.

In the eyes of Xu Dang, it was Lin Shisan who caused Shen Lian to lose his life and also caused their plan to seize power in Xuan Da to fail halfway.

Ten days ago, Yang Shun led his troops into Bao'an Prefecture and immediately arrested Shen Lian and his second son Shen Gun and third son Shen Bao, and brought them back to Xuanfu for custody.

The eldest son Shen Xiang returned to Bao'an Prefecture two days later. Lin Shisan instructed Zhang Yun to hide him. He also told Zhang Yun to let Shen Xiang hide his name in the future and avoid the suffering of exile.

According to the Ming Dynasty law, treason was considered as conspiracy. Treason was one of the ten unforgivable crimes. The traitor was sentenced to lingchi or beheaded and thrown into the streets. The adult son of the traitor was punished with the same crime as his father.

If the son is young, he will be sentenced to exile.

Lin Shisan promised Shen Lian that he would do his best to save his three sons and leave a legacy for the Shen family. Shen Gun and Shen Bao fell into Yang Shun's hands and could not escape being sent into exile.

Lin Shisan planned to use the power of the eunuchs guarding the border to protect Shen Gun and Shen Bao who were exiled.

After all, he is the nephew of the Prime Minister, so the town supervisors have to give him some face.

As for Shen Xiang, he will be safe in Bao'an Prefecture. After all, that is Zhang Yun's territory.

At noon the next day, Shen Lian's trial began in the lobby of the Xuanda Governor's Office.

The chief judge was Yang Shun, while Lin Shisan and Chen Hong, the supervisor of the East Factory, were in attendance.

Yang Shun slammed the gavel and said, "The court is open!"

Two soldiers escorted Shen Lian to the lobby.

Yang Shun said angrily: "Who in the hall dares to sue me?"

The cause of this disturbance was that Shen Lian impeached Yang Shun for being afraid of the enemy and cowardly, which led to the Tatars' attack on the 40 forts in Yingzhou. So Yang Shun said that he "dared to sue this official."

Shen Lian answered loudly: "I am a fellow Jinshi in the 163rd place of the third class in the 17th year of the Jiajing reign, and a former Jinyiwei officer, Shen Lian!"

Yang Shun cursed: "Shen Lian, I'll f**k you! How dare you, a dismissed seventh-rank official who was born in the same Jinshi family, show off your power in the hall of the Governor-General of Xuanda?"

"Humph, aren't you going to sue me? I'm telling you, today I'm the one trying you! Not you suing me! Kneel down!"

Shen Lian said calmly: "I will not kneel down to a coward like you!"

"Yang Shun, let me ask you, Altan Khan invaded Yingzhou, and the Yingzhou garrison relied on the castle built by Emperor Wuzong to hold on. Why didn't you send troops to rescue?"

"As a general, you are terrified when you see the barbarians. You are as timid as a mouse when you look at the front line. Have you read all the military books?"

"Besides, you have been an official who abused the people's power, levied heavy taxes, embezzled border troops' funds, and spent your days singing and dancing, turning the Xuanda Governor's Mansion of the imperial court into a women's branch. Have you read all the sage books?"

"Shouldn't I be a traitor to the court like you?"

Chen Hong sneered and provoked Yang Shun: "Oh, what courage. I really don't know whether it is Governor Yang or Shen Lian who is on trial today."

After hearing this, Yang Shun said angrily: "Left and right, break Shen Lian's kneecaps and see if he kneels or not!"

Lin Shisan hurriedly said: "Wait a minute!"

Yang Shun turned to look at Lin Shisan: "What's wrong?"

Lin Shisan said: "Shen Lian is, after all, a close friend of our shopkeeper Lu. Before the formal trial and conviction, it is better not to torture him. If shopkeeper Lu knew that Yang Butang broke Shen Lian's kneecap, I am afraid..."

Yang Shun thought for a moment and said, "Okay. I'll give Old Lu some face. Anyway, the evidence of Shen Lian's collaborating with the enemy is irrefutable, and he will definitely be beheaded. Let him stand in the hall today if he wants to!"

Chen Hong smiled half-heartedly and said, "Oh, I don't think it's Governor Lu who has a lot of face, but our Lin Chuanfeng. He is indeed a rising star among the close ministers, a very popular person."

There was a hint of jealousy in Chen Hong's voice.

Yang Shun questioned Shen Lian: "Shen Lian, it's my turn to ask you a question, right? Yan Hao worshipped you as his master and colluded with you to sell border army intelligence to the Tatars. Is this true?"

Shen Lian replied: "Yes."

Yang Shun smiled and said, "Oh, just admit it! Eunuch Chen, there is the confession of the evil man Yan Hao in this case, and Shen Lian admitted it himself. Can I convict him?"

Chen Hong picked up the tea bowl and took a sip: "Don't ask me, Governor Yang. You are the chief judge of Shen Lian's case. I am just an observer. How to convict is up to you."

Yang Shun said: "Okay! Shen Lian, for Governor Lu's sake, I will not sentence you to death by slicing."

"It is now clear that Shen Lian is guilty of treason, which is one of the ten unforgivable crimes. He is sentenced to be beheaded in Xuanfu and thrown into the streets."

Shen Lian frowned and said coldly: "Today I am the one who was beheaded. Tomorrow it will be you, Yang Shun, and the father and son Yan Song and Yan Shifan who will be beheaded!"

Yang Shun smiled sinisterly: "Oh, don't be so hasty to be stubborn. I haven't finished judging the crime yet! Shen Lian's second and third sons have been arrested. They have been sentenced to sixty strokes of the cane and forced labor as soldiers on the frontier."

"Shen Lian's eldest son, Shen Xiang, has fled. Go to the Ministry of Justice, go to the sea to capture the documents, and hunt him down across the country!"

As soon as these words came out, Shen Lian's face changed.

Lin Shisan also took a breath of cold air.

Being forced to do hard labor in the army is not scary. As long as they are alive, they have room to maneuver and can ask someone to bail them out.

What is terrible is sixty lashes with the rod.

Whether it was the Jinyiwei's Tiqi or the yamen runners of the local government, there were always some tricks in the assignment of caning.

If the executioner wanted to let the person go in exchange for money, he could beat the person until his skin was torn and bloody, but he would not injure his bones.

If the executioner wanted to kill the person being beaten, he could beat him until his skin and flesh remained intact, but his internal organs were ruptured, and he died.

The people who were doing the caning today were all Yang Shun's personal soldiers. If they were more ruthless, ten strokes of the cane, let alone sixty strokes, would have easily killed the two children.

Soon, several personal soldiers brought Shen Gun and Shen Bao to the hall and pressed them to the ground.

Yang Shun smiled and said, "Shen Lian, if you kneel before me, I will ask my personal soldiers to be gentler. Perhaps these two children can survive."

"If you don't kneel, don't blame me for being merciless with my big stick."

At this moment, Yang Shun was like a cat that caught a mouse, playing with it to his heart's content before eating it. Unexpectedly, Shen Lian sneered, "The evil dogs of Yan Song's family always believe in cutting the grass and eradicating the roots, leaving no future troubles! Even if I kneel to you, you will still take their lives."

"Gun'er, Bao'er, don't beg for mercy! How about we recite the "Song of Righteousness" together again before we die?"

The father and his two sons said in unison: "The heaven and earth have righteous energy, which is mixed and flowing. Above it is the rivers and mountains, and below it is the sun and stars. In people, it is called Haoran, which is so full that it fills the universe."

Yang Shun shouted, "Alright! I'll make you righteous! I'll make you rivers, mountains, sun and stars. Come on, let's execute you!"

The burly guards swung their staffs and smashed them at Shen Gun and Shen Bao with deadly force. The two children could no longer recite the Song of Righteousness, and could only wail in pain.

Lin Shisan couldn't bear to see this scene and closed his eyes.

Shen Lian shed two lines of hot tears, and he kept reciting Wen Tianxiang's last words: "It may be the enemy's staff that hits the rebel's head, and it breaks. This is the majestic spirit, and its awe-inspiring spirit will last forever."

"When it penetrates the sun and the moon, life and death are not worth talking about. The earth relies on it to stand, and the pillar of heaven relies on it to respect the moral principles as its root."

When they recited to this point, Shen Gun and Shen Bao had already died.

The personal soldier felt the breath of the two men and said, "Reporting to the Minister, the two criminals are dead."

Yang Shun laughed and said, "Oh, the criminal was weak and couldn't stand the beating. Isn't this a common thing? Hurry up and drag him away before he dirtys my hall."

Shen Lian glared at Yang Shun: "Listen carefully. I will die, but my soul will not disperse! One day, my soul will come to settle accounts with you and Yan Song and his son!"

It was very strange that Yang Shun, the presiding judge, broke out in cold sweat because of Shen Lian's words.

Yang Shun himself was puzzled: Why should I be afraid of a stray dog? But why were his words so frightening?

Yang Shun slammed the gavel and said, "Tomorrow at 3:30 pm, Shen Lian will be beheaded! Take him away!"

After Shen Lian was escorted out of the hall, Lin Shisan said to Yang Shun, "Minister Yang, Shen Lian has always been my superior. This time I helped you get the evidence of his treason, which led to his being beheaded tomorrow. I feel mixed emotions."

"I won't go to the execution tomorrow."

Chen Hong laughed and said, "Hey, Lin Chuanfeng is really a kind man."

Yang Shun nodded: "Okay. You should hurry up and look for your top-quality short-winged stove cricket. That's your main mission in Xuanfu this time, so you can't mess it up."

The next day, Shen Lian was beheaded in the busy streets of Xuanfu.

The onlookers had no idea about the political situation or loyalty or treachery. As long as the person killed was a former official, they would applaud.

Rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs hit Shen Lian all over.

Lin Shisan later heard that before the execution, Shen Lian had shouted "The righteousness of heaven and earth"!
After Shen Lian was beheaded, his heart and liver were cut out by the executioner and thrown to the people, who divided them and took them home to cook and eat with wine.

Shen Lian died just like that, and his death was heavier than Mount Tai.

The history book states that "the evil man Yan Hao used evil ways to seduce the people, went in and out of Mobei, and leaked border information to cause trouble. The government army captured him, and the words implicated many people. Yang Shun was happy, so he changed Shen Lian's name to one of the accusations, falsely accusing Lian's teacher Yan Hao of treason. Lu Kai reported the case to the court. On October 17, Lian was beheaded in the street market of Xuanfu. The emperor gave Yang Shun's son a thousand households of Jinyi, and Lu Kai and others were selected as fifth-rank junior officials. Yang Shun beat Lian's sons Shen Gun and Shen Bao to death with a stick, and then issued an order to arrest Shen Xiang."

After Shen Lian's death, Lin Shisan didn't eat for three days. He promised Shen Lian to save his offspring, but he was unable to save Shen Gun and Shen Bao.

That day, he found Sun Yue and said, "I have a task for you. Ride a fast horse back to Beijing and visit my new house. Talk to your sister-in-law."

Sun Yue quickly asked: "How about my sister-in-law?"

Lin Shisan replied: "Go to your sister-in-law and get the amulet that the emperor gave me, take it to Bao'an Prefecture, and have Eunuch Zhang pass it to Shen Xiang."

Sun Yue was puzzled: "They say that the amulet drawn by the emperor himself is a death-free ticket for this dynasty. But can that thing be given to others? What's more, the person being given it is the son of a guilty official."

Lin Shisan said: "If the emperor knew about this, he would agree with my action. The emperor is wise and knows that Shen Lian died unjustly. Forget it, it's not a good thing for you to know too much."

Sun Yue nodded: "Okay! Master, if you ask me to deliver something, I will do it even if it costs my life. I will go out and prepare my horse to return to Beijing."

Lin Shisan did not feel bad about giving Shen Xiang the amulet he had risked his life for. This was the last thing he could do for Shen Lian.

I hope that the amulet and Zhang Yun, the town supervisor, can keep Shen Xiang safe and the Shen family's incense can be passed on.

Just then, Uncle Zhang walked in.

Uncle Zhang was holding a worm basin in his hand.

Lin Shisan asked: "Master, I haven't seen you for three or four days. What have you been doing?"

Zhang Bo raised the insect basin in his hand and said, "I've finished the job for you!"

After saying this, Uncle Zhang opened the insect basin and asked, "Look, what is this?"

Lin Shisan looked carefully and saw a cricket in the basin. Its legs were long and thick, its antennae were also thick, and its teeth were like two large iron pliers.

Lin Shisan was surprised: "It's actually a top-grade short-winged stove insect? It's a top-grade king insect!"

Zhang Bo smiled and said, "This is your fifth achievement during this trip north. Although it cannot be compared with the first four achievements, fighting insects are still meat even if they are small."

Lin Shisan covered the insect basin. He sat down on the chair with a dejected look on his face: "Master, I am getting higher and higher in official rank. I have more and more doubts in my heart."

"You say, if an emperor favors corrupt officials and abandons loyal officials, and allows loyal officials to die as a handle to check corrupt officials in the future, isn't this using the court as a fighting pot for insects?"

"I have only heard that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish, but I have never heard that governing a group of ministers is like playing with insects."

"Is this emperor really a wise ruler?"

Uncle Zhang said quickly, "Stop! Just tell me this once. Don't tell anyone else a second time."

"Your Majesty, it's difficult! They say the emperor is the supreme ruler of all the nine states, and his words are as good as gold."

"But among the emperors of our Ming Dynasty, apart from Taizu and Chengzu, how many of them can really have the final say?"

"There are many daring ghosts and monsters in the court. It is a rare thing that the current emperor can live to this day."

"Forget it. The matter is over. Go back to Beijing and receive the reward from the emperor. And deal with the Yan Party if necessary."

Lin Shisan smiled bitterly: "General Lu sent someone to bring me a letter. He said that he would use the family law to beat me with a military stick, and put on a show for Yan Song and his son to see."

Uncle Zhang casually placed the insect basin on the table and said, "Well. It's time to put on a show. Lu Bing's best friend apparently died at your hands. If he, the big shopkeeper, doesn't punish you, it's inevitable that Yan Song and his son will become suspicious."

Lin Shisan said, "I am not a child like Shen Gun and Shen Bao. I won't die from being beaten with a stick. Besides, the executioner is a fellow soldier of the guard."

Zhang Bo advised Lin Shisan: "Don't feel guilty anymore. How long have you been successful? How powerful do you have? How can you protect Shen Lian's two sons?"

"You have to think like this. This time on the northward journey, you have at least rid the border people of the Yin Yang Sect. As the saying goes, catching a bug, the Yin Yang Sect is the bug!"

Lin Shisan raised his head and sighed: "Alas, the real borer of Xuanda University is Yang Shun!"

On the ninth day of the eleventh month of the thirty-fifth year of the Jiajing reign, Lin Shisan returned to the capital with four great achievements and a top-quality short cricket stove insect.

He held the insect basin in both hands and came to the front courtyard of Yongshou Palace, kneeling and waiting for an audience with Emperor Jiajing.

Lu Fang walked over quickly and said, "The Emperor is studying the Huangting Sutra with Immortal Lan. He will see you in half an hour."

"During your trip north, you captured evil spirits and destroyed evil ways; you caught vultures and arrested secret agents; you helped Shen Lian; and you added 350,000 taels of treasury to the Neichengyunku. The emperor praised you highly."

Lin Shisan said: "Uncle, stop talking. I am ashamed."

Lu Fang said: "You don't need to feel ashamed. Shen Lian's death was his own choice. Even the emperor couldn't save a loyal and good man who wanted to die, let alone you?"

"I have some important words to tell you!"

It was good to have an uncle who served the emperor every day. Lin Shisan could know the emperor's intention in advance.

Lu Fang said, "The Emperor said, 'Lin Shisan has been promoted too quickly in the past year. It is not a good thing for a twenty-year-old to be promoted too quickly. I will summon him later and ask him what he wants, and then I will reward him.'"

"Let me ask you, do you know what reward you should ask for?"

Lin Shisan said: "I told the emperor, 'It is a great reward to be able to work for the most wise monarch in history. I have no other request.'"

Lu Fang shook his head: "You are wrong! You have only served in the West Garden for half a year. You don't understand the emperor's temperament."

"Shall I tell you a story?"

Lin Shisan said quickly: "Please give me some advice, uncle."

Lü Fang said: "At the end of the Warring States period, Qin Shi Huang sent Wang Jian to lead an army of 600,000 to destroy Chu."

"Qin Shi Huang was very wary of Wang Jian, fearing that he would gain power and become a king after winning the war."

"So before Wang Jian set out, Qin Shi Huang asked Wang Jian what reward he wanted."

"Wang Jian was greedy and asked Qin Shi Huang for money, a huge house in Xianyang, and beautiful women."

"Qin Shi Huang was not angry, but overjoyed. He was completely relieved about Wang Jian. Do you know why?"

Lin Shisan thought for a moment and replied, "Those with desires can be controlled. Those without desires cannot be controlled."

Lu Fang smiled and said, "You are a teachable boy. Now you should know whether you should ask for a reward when you enter Yongshou Palace, and what kind of reward you should ask for, right?"

(End of this chapter)