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

Chapter 190 Winter Fishing
There are three most difficult steps to get promoted in the Jinyiwei.

The first is to transfer a lieutenant from a hall post to a registered lieutenant. Once registered, he will become a formal "Jinyiwei member". No more than three people are transferred to the registered post each year.

The second is to be promoted from a general flag officer to a centurion. A centurion is a trainee centurion. As long as you don't make a big mistake, you can be promoted to a centurion in a few years. In this life, you will have the opportunity to be granted the Feiyufu and the Embroidered Spring Sword.

The third is the promotion from deputy captain to captain. Many talented Jinyiwei men who were smart and capable, had made countless contributions, and had shed blood and sweat, were promoted to deputy captains and then stagnated until they were old.

From the early autumn of the 34th year of the Jiajing reign to the twelfth month of the 38th year of the Jiajing reign, Lin Shisan jumped seven ranks from a lieutenant to a captain in just four years, overcoming the three most difficult hurdles.

His family's ancestral grave might have been filled with a gunpowder barrel that blew up into the sky.

Zhu Xixiao smiled and said, "General Lu originally said that you were promoted too quickly. If you were promoted to a thousand households again, your fellow guards might not accept it and it would chill their hearts."

"I am willing to offend Governor Lu and risk my life to put you on the promotion list."

Lin Shisan was unequivocal. He knelt down and clamored three times: "Thank you very much, Zhu Weitang, for your promotion!"

Zhu Xixiao smiled and said, "Forget it, get up. I still have to go home to prepare festival gifts for the nobles in the capital. I'll go first."

Lin Shisan hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay: "Please Zhu Weitang, please honor us by having a simple meal in my humble abode."

Zhu Xixiao smiled and said, "No. It's the New Year, and there's a lot going on at the Duke's Mansion. I'll come back for a drink after the New Year."

Zhu Xixiao was telling the truth. He was the younger brother of Chengguogong Zhu Xizhong. Zhu Xizhong was often ill, so he was responsible for all the affairs of the Duke's Mansion.

The New Year is coming soon, and there are many trivial matters to deal with in the Duke's Mansion.

After Zhu Xixiao left, the Lin family and Cha Dashou came out.

Cha Dashou bowed and said, "Congratulations to Captain Lin on your promotion!"

Lin Youniu smiled so hard that his mouth was crooked: "Hehe, my dear son. Since I was a child, I have seen that you have a very charismatic face. You are a person who will do great things and have a destiny of great wealth and honor."

"That's good now. I've been promoted from deputy captain to captain. I'm on equal footing with Master Chang from the elephant training institute."

Biyun seemed to want to tease Lin Shisan. She bowed to Lin Shisan and said, "Congratulations on your husband's promotion."

Seeing this, the concubine Yun'er also bowed and said, "I congratulate my husband on his promotion."

Lin Shisan was furious: "Biyun, if you are like this, we are no longer the original couple who have been through hardships together!"

Hu Er asked Wang Xiao Chuan: "Sister, is Qian Hu a very high-ranking official?"

Wang Xiaochuan nodded quickly: "Yes, yes, he is a very high-ranking official."

Hu Er asked, "How big is it?"

Wang Xiaochuan replied: "It should be at least as big as a watermelon."

When Fu'er, who was in the maid's arms, heard the word "watermelon", he stretched out a pair of pink little hands and babbled.

The conversation between the three children made the whole family laugh.

In the afternoon, Lin's relative, Yan Nian, the housekeeper of the Yan family, came to the old house in Gouqionghu Hutong.

Lin Shisan and his son came out quickly to greet him: "Father-in-law, I was just about to go to your house to deliver a festival gift. It just so happens that you are here."

Lin Youniu said with a smile, "My dear relative, you haven't come to my place for a long time. I just got two taels of Shifeng Longjing tea. Can I make some for you?"

Yan Nian smiled and said, "Okay."

Lin Shisan made a "please" gesture: "Father-in-law, please."

Yan Nian said, "I'm just drinking tea with your father. You go find the young minister."

"Young Lord is fishing in the Yongding River. He has been fishing for a long time but no fish has taken the bait. I want you to go over and help."

Lin Shisan was surprised: "It's the coldest time of the year, and you're fishing by the Yongding River? The fish won't bite in such a cold weather!"

Yan Nian sighed: "Alas, you know the temper of the young elder. No one can stop him from doing anything he wants to do, and no one dares to stop him."

Lin Shisan had no choice but to follow the guidance of a servant of the Yan family to the Yongding River, where he found the young cabinet minister Yan Shifan.

When the young cabinet minister goes fishing, it is not like the air force guys fishing in later generations.

In later generations, when air force officers go fishing, the highest reward they can get is to have their wives wearing black stockings stir the bait for them.

Yan Shifan sat upright on a grand master's chair. To the east, south, and north of him stood thirty-six maids from the Yan residence, acting as human screens to block the wind.

Each of these thirty-six maids is extremely beautiful. Picking any one of them at random is as good as the most beautiful courtesan in the capital.

Inside the meat screen, there is an octagonal charcoal stove inlaid with gold.

The basin for mixing bait is made of gold; the stand for supporting the fishing rod is made of gold; even the hoop of the wooden barrel used to hold the fish is made of gold.

If it wasn't too heavy, I would have liked to have made the fishing rod out of pure gold.

Lin Shisan walked in quickly. The maids were very considerate and moved their golden lotus to make a gap, allowing Lin Shisan to enter the flesh screen.

Lin Shisan was a little confused: "Brother, why did you go to Yongding River to fish at this time? It's so cold and the fish are not biting."

Yan Shifan said, "You came just in time. Adjust the float for me. I think the hook has not reached the bottom."

Lin Shisan had no choice but to help Yan Shifan use heavy lead to find the bottom and adjust the float.

After adjusting the float, Lin Shisan said, "The hook didn't reach the bottom just now. It was about three inches away. Brother, why did you suddenly feel like fishing in such a cold weather?"

Yan Shifan said, "I had a dream last night. I dreamed that I was fishing by the Yongding River. But no matter how hard I tried, there was no bite."

"I don't believe in superstition. Since I couldn't catch any fish in my dream, I must try it here."

"Take a rod and fish with me."

His sworn brother has given the order, and no matter how unwilling Lin Shisan is, he has to sacrifice his life to accompany the gentleman.

After a busy period, Lin Shisan threw another fishing rod into the water.

The north wind was blowing and snowflakes were floating in the sky.

Fortunately, the coat that Lin Shisan was wearing was made of wolf skin brought back from the dangerous mountains, so it was very cold-resistant.

Yan Shifan's coat was even more furry and warmer than wolfskin.

With the help of the thirty or so maids who formed a human screen to block the wind, the two of them did not get sick from the cold.

Yan Shifan asked, "I heard that you were promoted to a thousand households?"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Brother, you have good ears and eyes! I only found out about my promotion half an hour ago. You got the news so quickly."

Yan Shifan said: "Promotion is a good thing and worth celebrating. Your contributions over the years are worthy of the position of a thousand households."

"Oh, by the way, I heard something recently. In June of this year, were you the one who suggested that Zhao Wenhua present the Hundred Flowers Fairy Wine to the Emperor?"

Lin Shisan's heart skipped a beat. He thought Zhao Wenhua had rubbed himself to death by rubbing his belly, and only God, the earth and he knew about this.

How did Yan Shifan know about this?
Lin Shisan reacted very quickly. He put down his fishing rod and knelt down in front of Yan Shifan. Tears started to fall, "Brother, I have made a big mistake!"

"At that time, Zhao Wenhua gave me a sum of money and asked me to help him come up with ideas in order to get a cabinet position."

"I pondered for several days before I came up with the idea of asking him to offer the Hundred Flowers Fairy Wine to the Emperor and curry favor with him so that he could join the cabinet."

"I didn't expect that this would backfire and cause the emperor to be furious. Zhao Wenhua lost his life."

"I was wrong! It was me who caused the old man and the young old man to lose an arm."

"I deserve to die! As long as you give the word, I am willing to jump into the Yongding River and die as a token of my sin."

Yan Shifan stared at Lin Shisan.

As the saying goes, there is no coincidence in the world. Yan Shifan had slept with his maids, courtesans, and subordinates' wives and concubines. The night before yesterday, he suddenly wanted to change his taste and went to the Jiaofang Division to sleep with a prostitute.

After entering the room, Yan Shifan looked at the prostitute who served her and felt that she looked familiar.

It turned out that the prostitute was Zhao Wenhua's eleventh concubine. After Zhao Wenhua's death, all the male members of the Zhao family were sent to the army, and all the young female members were punished to serve in the Jiaofangsi.

Although Yan Shifan was lustful, he had a principle - not sleeping with widows.

Even crocodiles shed tears.

Yan Shifan was actually quite sad when he saw the widow of the Zhao family. People have feelings, after all, Zhao Wenhua had worked with him for many years.

So Yan Shifan started chatting with the widow of the Zhao family.

During the conversation, the widow of the Zhao family accidentally revealed that Zhao Wenhua had told her on the bed before that it was Lin Shisan's idea to offer the Hundred Flowers Fairy Wine to Emperor Jiajing.

Yan Shifan then became suspicious of Lin Shisan.

Inside the flesh screen, Yan Shifan stared at Lin Shisan for a long while, then said, "You did something bad with good intentions. This is all Zhao Wenhua's fate."

"Forget it, get up and continue fishing with me."

Lin Shisan felt guilty, but he pretended to be calm on the surface.

Although Yan Shifan said that he didn't care about the matter, he was still worried and suspicious of Lin Shisan.

Lin Shisan is too close to the Yan family. If he is a spy sent into the Yan family by any party in the court, or if he has his feet on several boats, then the Yan party will have no secrets from its opponents.

If Yan Shifan's trust in Lin Shisan was nine points before, now it is only four points.

This winter fishing trip lasted from noon until the sun set.

The weather was getting colder and colder. The thirty or so flesh screens were already shivering with cold.

Lin Shisan said, "Brother, I think we should stop here today. The fish won't bite. It's useless to waste time any longer."

Yan Shifan said, "Tomorrow, on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, my family will offer sacrifices to the ancestral temple. On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, I will follow my father to the Temple of Heaven and Earth to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth on behalf of the emperor."

"On the first day of the first lunar month, I have to wait at home for my students and friends to come and pay New Year's greetings. On the second day of the first lunar month, I have to go to the palace to meet the emperor."

"I'm free on the third day of the first lunar month. Let's come here again on the third day. I don't believe we won't be able to catch any fish!"

"It's just a pity for you to bear the cold with me."

Lin Shisan was helpless: "Brother, you are so persistent, I will accompany you even at the cost of my life. I will go home and prepare the things to kill the stinky nest."

"The water is too cold in the winter. Only by making a stinky nest can the fish be encouraged to start looking for food."

Yan Shifan asked: "Attacking the stinking den? How do we do it?"

Lin Shisan replied: "Find a large blue brick, tie it up with wire, and place it on the stove until the brick surface is shiny."

"Find an old manure pit that hasn't been emptied in years, tie a green brick with a rope and throw it in. Let it soak for a few days. When you fish it out, it will become stinky bait."

"Before fishing, throw a brick to where the hook is. This is called 'making a stinky nest'."

Yan Shifan nodded: "Oh, I see. See you on the morning of the third day of the New Year."

Lin Shisan rode his horse back home, his face full of worry. He felt that Yan Shifan was suspicious of him.

He was an insider sent by Emperor Jiajing and Lu Bing to join the Yan Party. Now he is also colluding with Prince Yu's Mansion.

There is no wall that is completely airtight, and the truth will eventually come to light.

One day, his identity and position will be exposed to the Yan family father and son. The sooner this day is, the better. It would be best if it is when the Yan family loses power.

Lin Shisan returned to his old house on Gouqiongbo Street with a heavy heart.

As soon as he entered the door, he ordered the servant: "Go to the kitchen quickly and ask the cook to make me a bowl of ginger soup."

At the same time, Prince Yu’s Mansion.

Prince Yu was brewing tea with Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng around the stove, while Concubine Li stood by.

Xu Jie said: "The Yan Party has already started fighting among itself."

Prince Yu took a sip of tea: "Oh?"

Xu Jie said: "Zhao Zhenji from Nanzhili sent me a letter, telling me this story."

"The emperor ordered that 35% of the money collected from the Jiangnan Salt Administration be given to the Zhejiang Governor's Office to be used as a special fund for fighting the Japanese invaders."

"In the twelfth month of this year, Hu Zongxian went to Yan Maoqing to ask for the money. Yan Maoqing made all kinds of excuses and refused to give it to him."

When Xu Jie said this, he felt so happy.

He did not want to see the annihilation of the Japanese, the opening of customs and the opening of the sea. Previously, the Yan Party fully supported the anti-Japanese war and played a counter-play with him.

Now the Yan Party has also begun to hinder the anti-Japanese cause. How can he not be happy?

Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng looked at each other.

Zhang Juzheng thought to himself: Hu Zongxian is in such a difficult situation. The two major cliques in the court are both trying to hinder him. The emperor is also eagerly waiting for the victory report of the pacification of the southeast.

Hu Ruzhen is like a young wife, being bullied from both sides.

Gao Gong cursed in his heart: What are the Prime Minister and the Second Minister? They have read so much that they are like dogs. They treat the people in the southeast as grass. They regard the great cause of resisting the Japanese as a pawn in the struggle for power and profit.

If one day I can take control of the imperial court, I will make Yan Song and Xu Jie pay the price.

Concubine Li interrupted, "Tan Lun also wrote to me about this. Your Highness, I suspect that Yan Song and his son have noticed that the Emperor is increasingly dissatisfied with them."

"In order to preserve their power and lives, they had no choice but to hinder the fight against the Japanese pirates. If the Japanese pirates were not satisfied, the governor of Zhejiang would still be Hu Zongxian."

"Hu Zongxian is Yan Song's student. If the emperor wants to continue to use Hu Zongxian, he cannot take drastic measures to overthrow Yan."

Prince Yu nodded slightly: "Well, what you said makes sense."

Zhang Juzheng stood up and bowed: "Your Highness, you cannot view the fight against the Japanese invaders through the lens of factional struggle."

"Fighting against the Japanese is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty's eternal rule and for the well-being of the people."

"No matter what the Yan Party's attitude towards the Japanese invasion is. No matter who Hu Ruzhen's student is. You should fully support Hu Ruzhen."

Gao Gong cast an admiring look at Zhang Juzheng: "Your Highness, what Uncle Da said is very right. The country will be yours sooner or later. Whatever you do, you should only follow one principle."

"This principle is - it is beneficial to the people of the world and the country!"

Prince Yu said, "Well, I will remember what you two gentlemen said."

He turned to look at Xu Jie and said, "Master Xu, Tan Lun's letter said that Yan Maoqing's salt administration office is holding back the military pay for the anti-Japanese war. A living person cannot be held to death by urine."

"Tan Lun plans to submit a joint memorial with Hu Zongxian, asking for the emperor's permission to raise funds to fight against the Japanese invaders in Jiangnan."

"The burden on the people in Jiangnan is already heavy. The anti-Japanese donation cannot be borne by the people."

"Your Songjiang Xu family has a long history of scholarship and is highly respected among the great families in Jiangnan. A single call will earn the support of hundreds of people."

"I think we should let your Xu family take the lead and generously donate money to lead the Jiangnan clans to donate money to support the military. What do you think?"

Xu Jie's heart tightened: When Lin Shisan went to the south of the Yangtze River before, he forced my Xu family to pay for the military funds for the anti-Japanese war.

This time it's even worse! The crown prince forced my Xu family to bleed.

Although he was not happy in his heart, in front of the crown prince, Xu Jie could only act generous and righteous.

Xu Jie expressed his position: "Your Highness. As long as it is beneficial to the cause of fighting against the Japanese, my Xu family will not hesitate even if it means losing everything."

The situation in the southeast has undergone subtle changes this winter.

Hu Zongxian, the core member of the Yan Party, was constrained by Yan Song and his son, but he got the support of Prince Yu.

(End of this chapter)