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

Chapter 166: If a person does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth ( words)
The moment of slapping in the face has finally come!

Lin Shisan went to the goldfish room and brought back twenty goldfish with him, along with a few eunuchs.

He put the goldfish into the fish tank one by one.

I saw the water phoenix and the goldfish living in peace and harmony, swimming happily in the fish tank.

Lu Fang said, "Everyone, please come forward and admire the fish."

A group of upright civil servants gathered around the fish tank. How could the water phoenix look violent and bloodthirsty? She was well behaved, like a newly married young wife.

Lin Shisan said loudly at the side: "The Ming and Yi fish live in harmony. This is a sign from heaven - the Ming and Yi trade is in accordance with the will of heaven!"

Zou Yinglong shouted: "No!"

Lin Shisan asked: "What's wrong?"

Zou Yinglong said: "The Western barbarians are good at disguising themselves. When they first come into contact with our Celestial Empire, they will certainly pretend to be docile and polite. Before long, they will reveal their bloodthirsty nature! This is true for humans, and fish too!"

"It won't be long before this water phoenix will tear apart the royal goldfish of my Ming Dynasty."

Lu Fang said: "In this case, let's wait and see."

A strange scene occurred beside the fish tank. A group of upright officials surrounded the fish tank, stretched their necks like turtles, and waited with bated breath for the water phoenix to go crazy and attack the goldfish.

Members of the Yan Party who advocated opening the border and the sea watched the show with a relaxed look on their faces.

It's not eating melons in a metaphorical sense, but eating melons in the physical sense.

Yan Song picked up a piece of Hami melon from the Western Regions that was offered as tribute by Ganzhou and chewed it with big mouthfuls: "This melon from the Western Regions is better than the watermelon from Pangge Village. You don't need to spit out the seeds. Shifan, try it."

Yan Shifan laughed and said, "Oh, a person cannot spit out the seeds when eating a melon, and a dog cannot spit out ivory when eating feces."

When the censors heard this, their faces turned green with anger. Yan Shifan was making an indirect accusation.

Yan Song cursed, "You bastard, how rude! This is a royal fish feast, and we are all elegant people. You keep talking about filth, how shameful!"

Yan Shifan smiled and said, "Father is right."

The censors stared at the fish tank with serious expressions for a whole hour. If the water phoenix showed any sign of attacking the goldfish, they would attack it in droves, spitting everywhere.

However, no!
Li Mushao was indeed a genius at taming fish. He used the Soul Transfer Water to deceive the Water Phoenix, who thought that the goldfish were all its offspring.

Even a tiger won’t eat its own cubs, let alone a fish?

The Yan Party officials quietly ate melons for an hour. The Jiajing Emperor in the green gauze curtain was very bored. There was a silver chamber pot in the tent, and he defecated twice in the tent while pinching the dragon whip.

"Dang", the sound of bronze chimes rang out.

Lu Fang said loudly: "Everyone, as the saying goes, hearing is believing, seeing is believing. You have now seen with your own eyes that the water phoenix and the goldfish of Daming can live in harmony. What else can I say?"

A group of upright censors had grim faces.

Xu Jie had no choice but to come out and reprimand the group of censors: "Although censors can speak out on hearsay, they must still provide evidence for everything they say and advise."

Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, who were sitting at the far end of the Hundred Fish Tank because of their low official positions, smiled at each other.

Emperor Jiajing stopped knocking on the bronze bell and spoke: "The captain of the Spanish navy, Raul, has traveled thousands of miles across the ocean to offer the auspicious water phoenix, and has made great contributions. I will reward him with a silver ruyi as a token of his appreciation."

"The 13th generation of Lin, Raul, has been rewarded with a lucky water phoenix for bringing it to the palace. He is also awarded a silver ruyi, a lucky and festive weapon. He is promoted to the rank of general Wuyi."

The fifth-rank deputy captain of the Jinyiwei was initially awarded the rank of Wulue General. After two years, he could be promoted to Wuyi General if he performed well in the military examination.

All in all, Lin Shisan received an extraordinary reward this time.

Lin Shisan knelt down and kowtowed: "I thank the emperor for his grace. Your Majesty, you are wise!"

The two edicts of Emperor Jiajing's reward were not meant for the sake of wine. The key point is that once these two edicts were issued, the water phoenix became a "lucky omen" that was set in stone.

The Portuguese merchant fleet arrived in Tianjin, bringing auspicious signs, so it was natural to trade with them.

Yan Song, who had been eating melons all night, finally stood up and played a double act with Emperor Jiajing.

Yan Song said, "Your Majesty, the firearms and rapid-fire cannons brought by the Portuguese merchant fleet at Tanggukou are extremely powerful. They are essential weapons for fighting against the Japanese invaders and maintaining national security."

"The rest of the miscellaneous goods are either exquisite or rare. I think we should buy all of what's on the ship."

Zou Yinglong shouted: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed."

Before Zou Yinglong could give the reason why it was absolutely impossible, Lu Fang interrupted him: "Zou Yinglong, you are so brave!"

"The eunuchs in the palace spread a rumor that the water phoenix was an evil creature. You believed it and used the rumor to deceive your colleagues and made a big fuss at the fish viewing party."

"The emperor has shown great favor by not punishing you. At today's fish feast, how can you have any say?"

Zou Yinglong had no choice but to kneel down and kowtow without saying a word.

Emperor Jiajing said: "Order Yang Bo from the Ministry of War, Li Chunfang from the Ministry of Rites, Jia Yingchun from the Ministry of Revenue, Yan Shifan from the Ministry of Works, Huang Jin from the Ministry of Ceremonies, and Lin Shisan from the Imperial Guard to discuss the purchase of Western goods with Raul."

In the past few days, people knelt and kowtowed, saying in unison: "I obey your order."

Yan Song said, "I have another memorial to submit. I suggest that Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Fuzhou be opened as trading ports on a trial basis to conduct trade with the Western Barbarians."

As soon as this statement came out, it was shocking!

Even though it is just a trial and only restricts three places, once this precedent is set, it will only be a matter of time before the maritime ban is fully lifted.

At this moment, Xu Jie could no longer use his upright censors as substitutes or mouthpieces.

Xu Jie said, "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. I think we should take a long-term view."

Emperor Jiajing was extremely resolute: "The auspicious arrival of the Water Phoenix is God's will. God allowed me to try to trade with the Portuguese. I have always respected God and loved my people. How can I go against God's will?"

"Approve what Yan Song said! I am tired, all the ministers should leave the palace!"

Without waiting for Xu Jie and others to find a reason to object, Emperor Jiajing used one of the 36 strategies: running away is the best. He rushed out of the green gauze curtain at lightning speed, and Lu Fang helped him up and walked into the hall.

A group of upright officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Yan Song said to Xu Jie, "Zisheng, the emperor has issued an order to open the trading ports. I will write a letter to Hu Zongxian of Zhejiang and let him, as the governor, handle the specific matter."

Yan Song advocated opening three trading ports, on the one hand to cater to the will of the superiors, on the other hand for himself and the interest groups behind him, not for the country and the people of the world.

Xu Jie represented the interests of the old Jiangnan aristocratic groups.

Yan Song represented the interests of the emerging merchant group.

Over the past hundred years, the profits from the coastal smuggling trade have been firmly controlled by the Jiangnan clan groups.

The emerging business group had money but no power, so they could only watch helplessly, their mouths watering with greed.

However, smuggling trade requires the protection of official power, which is the shortcoming of the emerging merchant groups.

Once the three trading ports were opened and the sea was opened on a trial basis, trade with the Western Barbarians became an officially recognized legal business.

The emerging merchant groups could make money from the Western barbarians in a legitimate way.

A few days ago, Yan Song secretly instructed Yan Shifan to tell the wealthy merchants who were on good terms with the Yan family to quickly go to Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Fuzhou to open trading companies and brokerage firms.

Once Emperor Jiajing agrees to open three ports on a trial basis today, the emerging merchant groups will be able to expand their business in these three places.

The fish-watching party was over. Lin Shisan walked out.

"Pa" Someone hugged Lin Shisan's neck. Lin Shisan turned around and saw Yan Shifan and Luo Longwen standing behind him with smiles on their faces.

Yan Shifan laughed and said, "Third brother, you are really good at taming the water phoenix. You made those vicious dogs suffer a great defeat."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Brother, you are too kind. I just found a strange man who can train fish."

Luo Longwen said: "Let's go, let's go to the old mansion and have a drink."

Seven days later, at Tianjin Military Training Ground.

The parade ground was filled with silk, cloth, tea and porcelain.

This time, the trade with the Portuguese was entirely in the form of barter.

As one of the five trade envoys, Lin Shisan was sweating coldly. The quality of the Ming Dynasty goods prepared this time was really too poor.

Let's talk about the tea first. Half of it was high-grade broken tea, and half was low-grade green tea. It had been stored in the tea warehouse of the Ministry of Revenue for two years. It is no exaggeration to say that in the Ming Dynasty, even dogs would not drink this kind of crap.

The porcelain was also inferior goods from folk kilns, and even mixed with a lot of defective products.

The silk was a fourth-grade product offered by the Hangzhou Weaving Bureau and was worn by the lower-ranking courtesans of the Jiaofangsi.

The cotton cloth used was all low-quality cotton with a count of 15.

Lin Shisan was afraid that the Portuguese would dislike the poor quality of the goods and refuse the deal, and those sophisticated firearms would never reach the hands of the Ming Dynasty.

Lin Shisan said, "My dear ministers, Eunuch Huang, Raul will be here soon. I'm afraid he won't like these goods."

Li Chunfang had been in the Ministry of Rites for a long time and had been in charge of the tribute trade for several years. He said with a relaxed look: "Lin Chuanfeng, you don't know. Whether it's the vassal states or the Western barbarians, they are all ignorant barbarians."

"They can treat these junk from the Ming Dynasty as treasures!"

Jia Yingchun from the Ministry of Revenue said, "What Minister Li said is absolutely right. I have been in the Ministry of Revenue for a long time and I am well versed in business."

"Since ancient times, things are valuable because they are rare. These goods are low-quality and inferior here, but they are treasures to them."

"For example, Luzon and our Ming Dynasty pay tribute every year. They pay silver, and we give tea in return. The so-called gift of tea is Gaosu, which even dogs would not drink."

"The Luzon people did not enjoy the Gaosui tea themselves, but sold it to the Western barbarians. If Gaosui tea was not popular in the Western barbarians, why would the Luzon envoys go to the capital every year, crying and shouting for the Ming Dynasty to return the tea?"

Yan Shifan said with a smile: "Third brother, don't worry. When Raul comes to inspect the goods later, who knows how happy he will be."

Soon Raul came to the parade ground to inspect the goods.

Just as Yan Shifan said, after Raul checked all the goods, he smiled from ear to ear: "Ming is such a great empire! How could they come up with so many rare goods at once!"

"These goods are enough to exchange for everything on my ship!"

"Salute to His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Empire! His Majesty's kindness will never be forgotten by Sibania, and will never be repaid!"

After Yasan translated it truthfully, Yan Shifan laughed out loud: "Brother, what did I just say?"

"After all, it is a tiny country far away from the outside world. What knowledge can it have? A hair plucked from the Ming Dynasty is thicker than their waist."

"Hey whoever, don't translate that!"

Lin Shisan breathed a sigh of relief and asked Raul, "Where is your cargo? When will it be delivered?"

Some colonialists in later generations advocated that Westerners have integrity, care about dignity, and never kneel.

It’s actually nonsense.

If you give them enough benefits, they will be willing to perform handstands and diarrhea on the spot.

Raul actually imitated the Ming people and knelt down and kowtowed: "My most honorable ministers. The goods on my merchant ship are now yours."

"You can always send people to the port to carry it."

“May God bless you!”

Li Chunfang laughed out loud: "Oh, it is said that those who are close to vermilion will be red, and those who are close to ink will be black. The barbarians from the Western Yi came to the Ming Dynasty, and after hearing and seeing the teachings of the Ming Dynasty, they actually learned the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty."

Yan Shifan said at the side: "Lao Qianhu, next time you come to Daming, you can buy ten or eight Western women. I will buy them all. Ah, it's best if they are married!"

Raul patted his chest and said, "Absolutely no problem. Your Excellency, the Honorable Deputy Minister of Engineering, next time we trade, I will select the most charming European woman to present to you."

Yan Shifan smiled and said, "Okay, okay."

Yang Bo said: "You can bring all the latest firearms from the Western Barbarians to the Ming Dynasty. Our Ministry of War will accept all of them and give you Gao Sui, no, the best tea from the Ming Dynasty."

Raul said: "Your Excellency, the Honorable Minister of Military Affairs, I will definitely bring the most advanced firearms in Europe to your country."

"Oh, by the way, there is one more thing. The Holy See has entrusted me to apply to your country. I hope you can allow missionaries to spread the Gospel of God in your country."

Yasanyitong translation.

Yang Bo asked, "What teaching is he talking about?"

Yasan replied: "It is the Nestorian Church during the Tang Dynasty."

Yang Bo said: "Tell him that the Ming Dynasty only respects Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. As for Nestorianism, it was expelled during the Tang Dynasty. You can come to do business, but you cannot preach."

Raul shrugged. "That's a shame."

Lin Shisan also told him: "Next time you come, you can bring more pocket watches."

Raul agreed immediately.

Box after box of Muchtek muskets and Portuguese rapid-fire cannons were carried ashore by small boats and transported to Tianjin.

Lin Shisan and Yan Shifan stood on the watchtower of Tianjin City Wall, watching the soldiers pushing carts loaded with firearms into the city gate.

Lin Shisan sighed: "Once this batch of firearms reaches Hu Zongxian and Hu Butang, it will be just a matter of time before we can pacify the Japanese pirates!"

Yan Shifan's words surprised Lin Shisan: "Third brother, you are wrong. We need to suppress the Japanese pirates but we cannot suppress them all."

Lin Shisan was stunned: "Why do you say that, brother?"

Yan Shifan sneered: "Since ancient times, the good bows are put away when the birds are gone, and the running dogs are cooked when the cunning rabbits die. After the Japanese pirates are wiped out, will the emperor still use Hu Zongxian to govern the southeast?"

"Hu Zongxian left the southeast, and the Yan family lost a great power. Can they still be so strong in the court?"

"In the past, Zhao Wenhua complained to Zhang Jing and Li Tianchong about raising bandits to protect themselves. Haha, in fact, everyone has their own thoughts."

"My father and I are not saints, and we are not immune to worldly affairs."

After listening to your words, I was stunned!

Lin Shisan suddenly discovered that the father and son of the Yan family advocated resistance against the Japanese invaders, but in fact they were pretending to resist the Japanese invaders in order to seize power.

He had just heard the day before yesterday that the Yan family had sent people to Guangzhou, Fuzhou and Hangzhou to open a business. The Yan family father and son advocated opening the sea for their own interests.

Lin Shisan remained silent.

Yan Shifan said, "Why, Third Brother, are you scared by my words? I treat you as my own family, so I speak from the bottom of my heart."

"Remember, if you don't work for yourself, you will be punished by heaven and earth!"

(End of this chapter)