Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1171 The matter of filling the gap has been accomplished.
The matter has been concluded.

Zhang Jinyu then went to the dock with Hou Xiuqing.

This time,

The 10,000 elite troops he brought were fully equipped, a dark mass, completely silent. The soldiers wore uniform cotton armor, iron helmets, and carried long spears, powerful bows and crossbows, with swords at their waists. Their ranks were neat and solemn, and even their rations and food were ready.

Zhang Jinyu had changed into a set of riding-friendly attire, covered by a light leather armor, which made him look even more heroic. Hou Xiuqing and his generals personally escorted him to the dock.

"General, please wait."

Zhang Jinyu mounted his horse and bowed to Hou Xiuqing.

"All matters in Yunyang are thanks to General's efforts. As long as the people are in place, we can start collecting the tax tomorrow. Even those who have already left must be caught. As for the matters outside the pass, I will definitely get a result."

Hou Xiuqing clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, his expression solemn:

"Rest assured, my lord! I will arrange for someone to take over this place as soon as I return. My lord, I will do anything you need, even at the cost of my life! I wish you a safe journey and a swift victory!"

Zhang Jinyu said no more, nodded slightly, then his gaze swept over his army, which stood as solid as an iron rock, and he gave a loud order:
"Order! All troops move out! Destination—Luoyue Pass! March day and night!"

"Order!"

The messenger's roar was like thunder.

In an instant, the deep and resounding bugle call pierced the noisy sky above Yunyang Port. The vanguard led the way, banners fluttering in the wind, and ten thousand elite cavalrymen, like a suddenly activated torrent, rolled northward along the official road in a well-organized formation!

The sound of horses' hooves, initially muffled, gradually transformed into a thunderous roar that shook the earth, shattering the dust on the official road and stirring up the cold air. The clanging of armor and the gleam of weapons merged into an unstoppable torrent of steel, carrying a chilling aura, and swiftly moved away from the prosperity of Yunyang Port and the hustle and bustle of the docks.

This movement caused the generals at the dock to turn pale. Vice-General Hou Lei muttered to himself...
"General, the army under Marquis Luoyun is indeed the 'Number One Army Under Heaven.' I have never seen such a military formation before."

"Hmph, you haven't seen it, but I have. This time, the Jurchen troops invaded beyond the pass, and I thought this trade route was probably ruined. I didn't expect that when Marquis Luoyun came, he not only reassured me but also gave me a huge benefit. Tomorrow, no, today, bring all your staff and accountants to the dock to register the merchant ships and caravans and collect the tax."

Hou Xiuqing's face was full of complex emotions. From now on, the entire northern region would regard the Marquis of Luoyun's residence as the most prestigious.
"General, could it be that the likin deal has been settled?"

The surrounding generals were all overjoyed. In this way, a lot of silver would come flying in. Hou Xiuqing sneered and cursed.

"What are you thinking? This time, the collection of likin will mainly focus on the areas outside the pass and Shuoyang County. This area will be handled by the people of Marquis Luoyun. We will assist them. Make sure to keep good records of the collected silver. Under no circumstances should you take any money. I will give you an explanation. This is not just a matter for one or two families."

He solemnly instructed his generals, all of whom looked fearful. Everyone knew what was happening in the north. The border troops were mainly from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. It seemed that someone had already reached out to them.

"Yes, General, we will remember."

"That's good, everyone go back now."

Affairs in the capital are often complicated.
However, the twenty-four palaces within the palace had their own businesses. The palace walls were imposing, and as autumn approached, the afternoon sun slanted into the slightly damp and cold side hall of the laundry department, but it could not dispel the stuffy atmosphere of soapberry and mildew that had been lingering for years.

Eunuch Liu from the laundry department was leaning back in his rosewood armchair. His eyelids, which had been drooping with fatigue, were now gleaming with a sharp light. He had already received the silver from the Rongguo Mansion. A smile appeared on his lips, and his slightly yellowed fingers were repeatedly rubbing the stiff silver note in his sleeve. He stood up, straightened his eunuch's robe, and said with a smile.

"Otaniko!"

Liu Gonggong's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement, like a draft of wind sweeping across the roof tiles, sharp and chilling.

"Hey! Godfather, your son is waiting!"

Xiao Tianzi, who had been waiting outside on the porch, immediately bent down and jogged in, his face full of flattery.

Liu Gonggong slowly stood up, smoothing out the blue eunuch robe he was wearing, which was slightly faded from washing but still represented his rank in the inner court. Although the robe was old, it still gave him a spirited air.

At this moment, Odako stood beside him, completely bewildered, and asked;
"Godfather, what a joyous occasion!"

"Hey, you sure have a sweet tongue. Change your clothes first, put on that new royal blue jacket, prepare the sedan chair, and we'll go to the Imperial Household Department."

Liu Gonggong's lips curled into a smile, revealing a few yellow teeth. He hadn't expected things to be done so quickly.
"The Rongguo Mansion's tribute has arrived. They take the money and do the job. As for this position, let's go to the Imperial Household Department to find Eunuch Wang and make a reservation first. After all, the Rongguo Mansion is generous with the money, a total of 60,000 taels of silver. Tsk tsk, these old relatives and nobles are really well-off."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tianzi's eyes flashed with greed and envy. He quickly helped Eunuch Liu change into the royal blue robe. Once the robe was on, Eunuch Liu's aura became even more majestic. The sedan chair that had been prepared had already entered the courtyard. Eunuch Liu walked over slowly, crouched down and crawled in, lowered the curtain, and silently had the eunuch lift the sedan chair, which steadily headed towards the Imperial Household Department of the palace.

The sedan chair passed through a series of heavy palace gates and headed towards Xuanhe Gate. Upon arriving at the palace gate, Xiao Tianzi handed over his token to the Imperial Guard Captain. After the Captain verified it, he swaggered out of the palace gate.

The sedan chair headed towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Eunuch Liu leaned against the soft cushions inside the sedan chair, closing his eyes to rest, but in his mind he was repeatedly calculating. The positions of Registrar of the Military Affairs Department and Inspector General were not high-ranking, but they were real "substantive positions" with good pay and not too complicated.

With more people watching, especially for the sons of noble families born out of wedlock, it's a respectable background without the need for them to suffer hardship. The official insignia can be purchased and given immediately, but the actual post requires negotiation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Knowing that the Rongguo Mansion was pressing hard, and the key was that the Imperial Household Department was in charge of the "donation registration" archives, Wang Xiu, that old fox, had quite an appetite. They had to deal with him carefully, and how much silver they could keep depended on their various skills.

The Imperial Household Department was located in the northwest corner of the palace. It occupied a considerable area and appeared to be an inconspicuous group of buildings, but inside, power was deeply entrenched, and it was also the place where various messages were transmitted within the palace.

Eunuch Liu's sedan chair stopped at a side gate with a plaque that read "Guangchu Si" (广储司), and he prepared to enter through there.
After getting off the sedan chair,
A peculiar mixed smell wafted over, an indescribable blend of musty and ink odors, along with a faint, almost imperceptible, sweet aroma of pastries. Unlike the damp chill of the laundry quarters, this place exuded a bustling warmth.

The two eunuchs guarding the door clearly recognized Eunuch Liu and immediately bowed in respect.
"Greetings, Lord Liu! This servant greets you."

"Alright, Eunuch Wang is at the yamen."

"Reporting to Eunuch Liu, Steward Wang is still in the same old place."

Two eunuchs, their faces beaming with smiles, stood there answering.

Eunuch Liu nodded, signaling Xiao Tianzi to follow. He then navigated the corridors with practiced ease, arriving at a dimly lit side room with closed doors and windows. Pushing open the door, he saw a huge rosewood desk that occupied most of the room, piled high with account books, files, and calling cards.

Behind the desk,
A slightly plump eunuch, dressed in a brand-new indigo robe, was leisurely sipping tea. He was none other than Wang Xiu, the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department. He sat there, constantly rubbing the jade thumb ring on his hand. When he saw the figure at the door, Wang Xiu's face lit up with joy.
"Oh! What a rare guest! What brings Eunuch Liu here today?"

As the saying goes, no one visits the temple without a reason. Changing his usual laziness, Wang Xiu raised his eyelids, a forced smile on his face, his voice high-pitched yet with a lazy drawl, which seemed somewhat unexpected.

Eunuch Liu quickly stepped forward, bowed, and put on an extremely enthusiastic face, saying;
"Greetings, Lord Wang! I apologize for disturbing your peace. It's quite a coincidence that I was thinking of you and happened to get some good tea, so I thought I'd bring it over for you to try."

As he spoke, he took out a small, exquisite sandalwood tea box from his sleeve and gently placed it on a corner of Wang Xiu's desk. The "good tea" he mentioned contained a five-hundred-tael silver note, which was the fare for getting things done, and the rules had to be followed.

Wang Xiu glanced at the box, his smile becoming slightly more genuine, indicating a sale had been made, but his tone remained unhurried:
"Hehe, Eunuch Liu is very kind, but someone asked me to find a seat for us to sit down and talk."

He turned and called out inside.
"Someone come here! Serve tea! Where have you all gone?"

A high-pitched voice rang out, and immediately a young eunuch brought in a tray of tea and fruit, placed it on the desk, and then quickly withdrew. After carefully taking his seat, Eunuch Liu said with a forced smile:
"Eunuch Wang is truly insightful! You understand this matter so well. I won't hide it from you, the money for the donation from the Old Madam of Rongguo Mansion has already been sent."

The word "substantive vacancy" was deliberately emphasized. Since the goal was to obtain a position, the matter of buying the official post had already been completed long ago.

"Oh? You moved so quickly,"

Wang Xiu put down his teacup, leaning forward slightly with a hint of interest. He remembered the Rongguo Mansion's affairs. He wondered who the old matriarch of the manor had bought the prize for. He recalled that during the special imperial examination, it seemed someone from their household had ranked among the top three.
"Tell me the inside story. Was the money paid in full?"

"Absolutely enough!"

Eunuch Liu lowered his voice and moved closer;

"After purchasing an official position, the silver for securing a substantive post will be 25,000 taels, not a penny less! The Jia family's intention is to find two respectable substantive posts for their son, Bao Er, and Xue Gongzi from the Xue family, so that they can serve the court and bring glory to their family."

"A lack of decency..."

Wang Xiu tapped his fingers lightly on the table, repeating a sentence while his eyes swept over Liu Gonggong's face. Everyone says that things should be done in a neat and orderly manner, but why is it that when it comes to Liu Gonggong, the numbers have changed? Or is there something else going on? With this amount, the official position he can buy is only a fifth-rank insignia.
"Eunuch Liu, you're no outsider either. We do have some face, but with so many people watching, the amount of silver is generally enough, but..."

He deliberately dragged out the melody, shook his head, and looked troubled.

Inwardly cursing the old fox, Eunuch Liu maintained his smile.
“Eunuch Wang, if I were running errands for someone else, I wouldn’t have come here to discuss this personally. You know the rules for buying official positions. For a fifth-rank official, not a single penny can be less. That’s a rule set by the Directorate of Ceremonial. This money is for you, Eunuch. As for how it will be arranged, the Rongguo Mansion’s intention is for you to take a sinecure in the Military Affairs Department.”

"A sinecure? It sounds nice."

Wang Xiu raised an eyebrow, then suddenly seemed to remember something, leaned back, and gave a meaningful smile.

"Now that you mention it, it must have been checked. There really are some in the North City Garrison. Lord He reported the other day that there are quite a few vacancies in their office. Regardless of the title, they are not much work and the titles are legitimate. There is also the 'Patrol Inspector' under the Five Cities Garrison, which is also a real position. He is in charge of a small team of soldiers at the city gate, patrolling the streets and checking at night. Although it is hard work, having soldiers under his command means there is plenty of money to be made... Hehe."

Eunuch Liu took out another silver note from his pocket and covered the tea box with it. This was considered an additional incentive. Once a seat was secured, it had to be settled. On the other hand, he placed the name cards and documents of the two men from the Rongguo Mansion on the desk.

"Eunuch Wang, you are truly a living god. Since the Rongguo Mansion has already shown us the proper courtesy, and since there are positions available at the North City Military Command, we would be grateful if you could arrange them for us."

"All these so-called living gods are just myths."

Wang Xiu waved his hand, glanced at the name cards and silver on the table, and calmly picked up his teacup again.
"The key is... this position is highly sought after. The registrar is a bit better, as the position is in the yamen and is relatively easy, but the patrol inspector is a lucrative post. There are many people below who offer bribes, and many eyes are watching it. To be honest, you can't afford to spend too little money to bribe your superiors and subordinates."

He blew on the tea foam, glanced sideways at Eunuch Liu, and they stopped beating around the bush.

Eunuch Liu's face twitched slightly. He hadn't expected that after all this, he hadn't gotten much out of it. Reluctantly, he took out two more cards from his pocket and placed them on the name cards on the table. Each card was worth one thousand taels of silver.

"Look at what Eunuch Wang said. Since he has made the offer, how dare I not give it? Consider this a belated congratulatory gift for the Imperial Brother-in-law."

Wang Xiu put down his teacup, his smile undiminished. He reached out and took the visiting card and silver. After examining them carefully, he found a total of 3,500 taels of silver. Well, he decided not to take too much. The so-called "Imperial Brother-in-Law" referred to Jia Baoyu of the Rongguo Mansion. Everyone said that this man was born into wealth and nobility, but he never expected that he came from this humble family.

"It seems Eunuch Liu knows the rules. In the palace, getting things done is all about money. If you don't have money, nothing can be done. As for the position in the Military Command, I'm not lying to you. Many sons of earls and marquises from the Imperial Academy have been asking about it since yesterday. I've turned them all away. If you want to buy it, you have to donate money to get the official position first, right?"

"Eunuch Wang, you mean..."

Eunuch Liu's voice was firm: traditionally, one must first purchase an official position before inquiring about the list of available vacancies. If one inquired about available vacancies first and found out there were no good positions, then the person might not buy the position, and the deal would fall through.

"okay,"

Wang Xiu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued;
"Since you've paid the money in full at once, I can immediately sign and stamp the name card left by the Directorate of Ceremonial. However, the subsequent transfer documents will have to wait a few more days."

Eunuch Liu was well aware of these intricate relationships; anything signed by the Imperial Household Department was a done deal.

"It's good that Eunuch Wang is so efficient. He signed the invitation card so that I could send a message to the Rongguo Mansion. Otherwise, with something on my mind, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to eat or sleep well."

Wang Xiu took a sip of tea, smiled, and stopped being pretentious. He opened a drawer on his desk, inside which were neatly arranged many blank "donation registration cards" stamped with different seals.

Without even glancing at them, he skillfully pulled out two sheets of paper, picked up a pen, and wrote "Registrar of the Five Cities Military Command" on one sheet and "Inspector of the Five Cities Military Command" on the other, along with the names of both of them.

He paused after writing down each title, and then took out the Imperial Household Department's special seal from a locked box, dipped it in bright red ink, and solemnly stamped it on the designated spot on the two name cards.

"Here, take it."

Wang Xiu pushed the two calligraphy scrolls, still exuding the fragrance of ink and seal paste, towards Eunuch Liu.
"I don't need to say anything more. Just take these things and go to the Ministry of Personnel to go through the formalities of filing."

Eunuch Liu's eyes lit up. The matter was settled. Without hesitation, he sent over the signed document and then stood up.

"Thank you, Eunuch Wang! Thank you for your kindness!"

Wang Xiu waved his hand and pointed to the account books on the table:

"Alright, alright, go ahead. When you go, be discreet."

Wang Xiu picked up his teacup again, took a sip, and then served tea to his guest.

Eunuch Liu carefully tucked away the two priceless visiting cards, bowed again to take his leave, and immediately got into his sedan chair as soon as he stepped out of the room, whispering urgently:

"Quickly! Go to the Ministry of Personnel."

"Yes, Godfather, it seems the matter has been accomplished today."

Xiao Tianzi followed closely beside the sedan chair. After passing through the palace gate, they arrived at the Six Ministries.

Eunuch Liu didn't even lift his eyelids. Touching the invitation in his hand, he thought of the things in Eunuch Wang's bookcase, his eyes burning with desire. But he quickly regained his composure. Those things, though desirable, were not something he could take. He then touched the remaining silver notes in his pocket; these were the real deal.
"Well, things have been settled. From now on, you should be more alert and inquire more about those noble relatives, especially those people at the Imperial Academy. I really overlooked them before."

He maintained his calm and collected tone, but he had truly forgotten about these matters. If it weren't for Eunuch Wang's reminder, he would have likely lost a lot of business.

"Godfather, it's all my fault. I really didn't pay attention to those people at the Imperial Academy. I thought that if I entered the Imperial Academy, I would be a reincarnation of the God of Literature."

Xiao Tianzi also felt some regret; he never would have thought of this.

"Just remember this. Send the name card to the Ministry of Personnel. After tomorrow, when you receive the transfer document, you can send the things to the Rongguo Mansion. At that time, I will have a connection with the Rongguo Mansion."

Gently stroking the cold paper of the name card, he realized that while the official position had been bought, the bribes made at the government office were no less substantial.

(End of this chapter)