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

Chapter 178 If Lin Chuanfeng does not abandon me, I will worship him as my foster father

Lin Shisan told Hu Zongming about the corruption in military rations that he had discovered from Liang Canzheng and Lu Langzhong.

Hu Zongming didn't take it seriously after hearing this: "I know all this. But I can't report them, and I can't report them."

"I can't participate because the Yan Party has formed a huge network from top to bottom. From the six ministries to the Censorate and the temples, their people are everywhere."

"I'll report Liang Wude and Lu Xing. Even if they fail, what does it matter? They are just minions of the Yan Party."

"The Yan Party will then throw a pair of small shoes at my Liaodong region, and the soldiers and civilians of Liaodong will suffer."

Lin Shisan asked: "Why can't you participate?"

Hu Zongming said: "These old hands have long prepared reasons to delay the distribution of military rations. And each reason is reasonable."

"Delaying military rations to earn the price difference, delaying military pay to lend money and earning interest. These are all open secrets."

"I reported them, and the higher-ups sent people to investigate. They had a hundred excuses to justify themselves."

Lin Shisan thought to himself: The task that Governor Lu gave me was not to bring those corrupt officials of the Yan Party in Liaodong to justice.

He just asked me to find out the details of the corruption of corrupt officials of the Yan Party in Liaodong and report to the emperor.

The only solution now is to find out the exact number of delays in the distribution of military rations and salaries, as well as how much profit they have made from it.

Fortunately, Liang Canzheng and Lu Langzhong regarded me as a die-hard member of the Yan Party.
Thinking of this, Lin Shisan said, "Hu Chenyuan, tomorrow I will go to the Council of State to collect money. I will also have to pretend to be irreconcilable with you. Don't mind it."

Hu Zongming said: "You underestimate me too much. I know that everything you do is for the court and the country."

"You risked your life several times in the southeast to help my brother defeat the Japanese. I know all this."

"This time you come to the dangerous land of Liaodong to help the border troops seek justice. I will do my best to cooperate with you."

Lin Shisan saw a map of Liaodong hanging in Hu Zongming's study and walked forward to look at it by candlelight.

On the map, the western side of Liaodong was marked with the Tatar Chahar, Khorchin, Ordos and Tumed tribes.

Liaodong is also marked as the Wild Jurchens, Haixi Jurchens, and Jianzhou Jurchens.

Lin Shisan asked: "Hu Chenyuan, what is the current situation in Liaodong?"

Hu Zongming said: "Since Yang Butang took charge of the Ministry of War, the defense of Jizhen has been strengthened every year. The Tatar tribes sighed at Jizhen and found it difficult to invade and plunder. So they turned to Liaodong as a hunting ground."

"Liaodong is the weakest link among the nine frontiers. The Tatar tribes come and go as they please. The frontier troops can only run around in a hurry."

"In order to change this situation, Yang Butang ordered Liaodong to speed up the formation of an elite cavalry. Now the general framework has been set up."

"The Five Forts in Xianshan are far away from Liaoyang, on the Yalu River, and cannot be detected by foreign spies. Now, Lieutenant General Li Chengliang has formed a cavalry of more than 300 people in Xianshan. He is stepping up the training."

Lin Shisan was surprised: "Only 300 cavalrymen? Such a small number of people seems to be a drop in the bucket."

Hu Zongming sighed, "Now the court's military expenditure is tilted towards the southeast. We can only train 300 elite cavalry first."

"Don't underestimate these three hundred people. They are the spark! When the imperial court has sufficient military funds, these three hundred will become thousands of people!"

"If we can get several thousand elite cavalry, it will be enough to conquer Liaodong!"

As an aside, the dangerous mountain cavalry mentioned by Hu Zongming later developed into a well-known name in history books - the Guanning Iron Cavalry.

Lin Shisan said, "I came here to find the Hundred Flowers Fairy Wine for Zhao Wenhua. According to historical records, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Wine was brewed by black bears in dangerous mountains."

"When we reach the dangerous mountains, we can see Lieutenant General Li's three hundred cavalrymen."

"By the way, what about the three Jurchen tribes?"

Hu Zongming replied: "Since Chenghua's invasion of the country, the three Jurchen tribes have not been a force to be reckoned with."

"The wild Jurchens live in the far east, where survival is a problem. The Jianzhou Jurchens are the most loyal servants of the Ming army. The Haixi Jurchens have the will to rebel, but they don't have the power to do so."

"The threat to Liaodong lies in the Tatar tribes to the west, not the Jurchens."

The next day, Lin Shisan went to attend the government meeting again.

As soon as he saw Liang Wude and Lu Xing, Lin Shisan started to talk nonsense: "Hu Zongming, damn him! Damn that stinky Boyi! Isn't he just a small governor who can't even be called a frontier governor?"

"Even a real provincial governor like Hu Zongxian would be polite to me."

"Not to mention the local officials, even the ministers in the Yan Mansion are polite to me!"

"What the hell is Hu Zongming!"

Liang Wude asked: "How did the man surnamed Hu offend our Lin Chuanfeng?"

Lin Shisan said angrily, "Humph! Whether I go to Jiangnan or Xuanfu for work, which local governor doesn't treat me well with good food and drink?"

"And a beautiful lady to warm your bed at night."

"It would be fine if he didn't send me a beautiful woman at night. But this morning when I got up from the Imperial Envoy's Office, he actually asked his men to prepare three dishes for me, a dignified Imperial Envoy, and they were all inedible."

"Isn't this a deliberate attempt to embarrass me? He spoke coldly to me and acted like a governor."

"When I return to Xiyuan, I will make sure that he will not be able to hold the post of governor."

Lu Xing laughed and said, "Hu Zongming is a stone in the toilet. Lin Chuanfeng, you have good shoes and don't step on stinky dog shit. Why bother to argue with Hu?"

"Calm down. We have prepared some gifts for you to take back to Beijing when you finish your errand."

After saying that, Lu Xing asked people to carry out several large boxes.

Liang Wude opened the box and said, "Please have a look, Lin Chuanfeng. This box contains top-quality black bear skins. Each one is worth hundreds of taels of silver."

"This box contains top-quality wolf skins. When used as a cushion on the bed, it can help dispel dampness and keep away the cold."

"This box contains precious Liaodong medicinal materials. There are bear skins, ginseng, and wild ginseng."

"I heard that you and your wife are deeply in love. Your wife is also the adopted daughter of Madam Yan. This string of North Sea pearls is for your wife. Look, the color is bright, round and shining."

Lin Shisan laughed and said, "Ah! How can I accept such expensive gifts from you two?"

Liang Wude said, "You have lived in the capital for a long time. We, the people below, have no chance to show our respect to you. Now that you have come to Liaodong, we will naturally make you feel at home. What's the point of mentioning these local products?"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Hehe, then I won't be polite! As the saying goes, obedience is worse than respect."

Lu Xing said, "Here are a few more things. Please ask Lin Chuanfeng to take them back to Beijing for us and give them to Lord Yan and Little Lord."

After saying that, Lu Xing opened a brocade box, inside which was a ginseng tied with a red rope.

Lin Shisan looked at it carefully and asked, "How much does this ginseng weigh?"

Lü Xing replied, "Nine taels and four cents."

Lin Shisan was surprised: "As the saying goes, seven taels is a ginseng and eight taels is a treasure, so nine taels and four cents is the most precious treasure, right?"

"Ha, Lord Yan will celebrate his eightieth birthday in early summer. If he eats the ginseng you two offer, he will surely live another twenty years longer! Eat it and you will live a hundred years! Eat it and you will live forever!"

Liang Wude opened another brocade box, and inside was an oriental pearl the size of an egg: "This oriental pearl is for the young elder." Lin Shisan picked up the oriental pearl and put it under the sun. It was crystal clear. He said: "It is really a rare treasure! Only such a rare treasure is worthy of a noble man like my brother."

It is said that Liaodong is a barren land. The scraps of the Yan Party have nowhere to stay, so they come to this hellhole.

But judging by how generous the two were in giving gifts, it seemed they had made a lot of money in Liaodong.

For corrupt officials, as long as they are willing to work hard, there is always a way out even in high mountains and a ferryman in deep waters. There are always more solutions than problems. They can squeeze two ounces of oil from even the poorest land.

In order to get closer to the two, Lin Shisan made a big promise: "How long have you two been in this remote place in Liaodong?"

Liang Wude and Lu Xing looked at each other and began to complain bitterly.

Liang Wude said: "I was a good Shandong councilor in Jinan Prefecture, and the Ministry of Personnel transferred me to Liaodong with an official document. I stayed there for four years."

"Liaodong is a barren place. Ugh! Let's put it this way. If you take a shit in the wild in winter, your butt will be frozen in no time. You have to bring a shit stick with you."

"When I go out to inspect local civil affairs, I often encounter Liaodong tigers and black bears on the road."

Lu Xing said: "Alas! I was originally a nominal doctor in the Ministry of Revenue, but I was not given a real job. I dare not hope to become a real doctor in the Thirteenth Office of the Ministry of Personnel, or a doctor in charge of the grain transport, salt administration, and copper mines."

"I just wanted to be sent to a good place to be a grain doctor. I didn't expect to be sent to Liaodong by the Ministry of Revenue. I worked there for two terms for six years."

Lin Shisan said with a smile, "The Ministry of Revenue official Gao Yao likes to play with insects. I have a decent personal relationship with him. When I return to the capital, I will ask him for Doctor Lu's help."

"How about asking Minister Gao to show some mercy and transfer you to Jiangnan?"

Lu Xing's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Ah? If Lin Chuanfeng can really accomplish this, I am willing to repay you with all my wealth!"

Lin Shisan waved his hand and said, "There's no need to spend all your money. Just prepare another gift for me. I'll take it back and give it to Gaobudang for you."

Lin Shisan promised to help Lu Xing move, and Liang Wude also had an idea: "Lin Chuanfeng, I..."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Liang Canzheng has been in charge of Liaodong's civil affairs for four years. He has made great contributions and has worked hard. When I go back, I will ask the young minister to show mercy and promote you to a higher level."

"Go to a big province and be a proper governor. Even if you don't get promoted, at least transfer away from Liaodong and be a councilor in a good place."

Liang Wude's eyes lit up after hearing this: "Ah! This, this. Lin Chuanfeng is like my second parent, my real father!"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "What's the big deal? Let's not beat around the bush. I'm just a fifth-rank deputy commander. Why do the second- and third-rank officials treat me with courtesy?"

"It's just that I can say the most important things in front of the most important people."

"I speak well of those who treat me well, and I speak ill of those who treat me badly."

"Oh, otherwise the upright officials in the court would say that I am a jester, a flatterer, and a slanderer!"

Liang Wude, as a third-rank councilor, knelt down in front of Lin Shisan with a plop: "If Lin Chuanfeng can really help me leave Liaodong, I am willing to recognize you as my adoptive father!"

Lu Xing was even more docile, he also knelt down and kowtowed: "Even if I cannot be transferred, I am willing to acknowledge Lin Chuanfeng as my foster father."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "You two must not do this. A real man is born between heaven and earth, how can he be depressed and inferior to others for a long time?"

"When you two become rich, I might even ask you for help!"

Liang Wude shouted: "If Lin Chuanfeng can use his son in the future, his son will die for him!"

Lu Xing said, "Yes, yes, yes. Whether Lin Chuanfeng wants me to be thrown into a frying pan or rolled on a nail board, I will not say a word."

The two of them now regard Lin Shisan as a ladder for his official career.

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "You two don't have to do this."

Liang Wude suddenly thought of something: "By the way, Lin Chuanfeng said that the governor's office didn't arrange a beautiful woman to warm the bed last night?"

"You are at the age of vigor and vitality. You have been all the way to Liaodong, and you are lonely at night. If you are depressed, you will get sick!"

"I have twelve concubines. Nine of them are Han women, and three are foreign women. They are all stunningly beautiful. I will ask them to come over now, and please choose one for me, foster father!"

Liang Wude is shameless enough. A stepfather sleeps with his daughter-in-law, isn't that adultery?
Lu Xing slapped his head and said, "How could I have forgotten that thing?"

Lin Shisan asked: "What is it?"

Lu Xing replied: "The deer penis soaked in deer blood wine, a specialty of Liaodong! It is elegantly called 'Silver Spear Unfailing'. There is a saying: After drinking Silver Spear Unfailing wine, you can have sex five times a night!"

"Brother Liang offered his concubine to his adoptive father. The tigress in my family is very strict and won't let me take a concubine."

"I don't have any concubines to offer. The tigress is old and ugly, and my stepfather doesn't like her."

"Why not offer the silver spear and the wine to cheer up our foster father for sleeping with Brother Liang's concubine!"

Lin Shisan thought to himself: These two are so shameless that it is outrageous. But in order to continue to get closer to them and investigate the Liaodong grain and salary scandal, I took a little loss and accepted their beauties and wine.

Thinking of this, Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Since ancient times, concubines are not like wives. We scholars have always had the elegant custom of giving concubines to each other."

"I don't want to refuse your kindness, both of you."

Liang Wude did what he said and immediately left the living room and called his twelve concubines.

The twelve concubines were either thirty-year-old beauties, mature and charming, or young girls in their twenties, pure and beautiful.

There are also two Chaoyuyang concubines and one Jurchen concubine, who are quite exotic.

Liang Wood smiled and said, "You're welcome, godfather. Please choose."

Lin Shisan said: "I am indecisive and I am most afraid of choosing things and people."

Liang Wood clapped his hands and said, "Hey! This is easy! You can have them all! Let them take turns to serve you every night."

"When you return to the Imperial Envoy's Office at night, bring them back."

Lin Shisan waved his hand and said, "No. Hu Zongming doesn't like me. If I bring the concubine of an official back to the governor's office to spend the night, wouldn't that give him a handle?"

"Why don't I just live in your government office? It will be convenient for us to eat, drink and have fun together."

Liang Wude knelt down and shouted: "Ah! My godfather's stay in my humble office really makes my humble office glorious!"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "My official mission when I came to Liao this time was to catch black bears for Xiyuan. My secret mission was to find Baihuaxian wine for Zhao Wenhua to present to the elder."

"Neither of these two tasks is urgent. I will stay in your palace for twelve days and enjoy the spring scenery of Liaodong first."

Liang Wood stood up: "I'll go clean up the bedroom for my godfather!"

Lin Shisan said, "We have to clean up two rooms. I have an apprentice named Sun Yue. Let him live here too. Oh, and he also likes beautiful women."

Liang Wude smiled and said, "From a 13-year-old boy to an 80-year-old man, which man doesn't like beautiful women?"

"I have many maids at home. Brother Sun can use them as he pleases."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Okay, okay. You two treat me with sincerity. I will not let you down. I will make room for you!"

(End of this chapter)