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

Chapter 191 Got a Good Job

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Lin family’s door was almost broken down by the people who came to pay New Year’s greetings.

The old house in Gouqibo Hutong was originally small. Officials of the fourth rank and above could enter the main hall, while officials of the fifth and sixth ranks could only stand in the courtyard. Officials of the seventh rank and below were really embarrassed and could only stand outside the main gate.

Sun Yue, Li Gao and the thirty or so of their comrades were good at currying favor. They simply did not come in the morning, but waited until dusk, when the people who came to pay New Year's greetings gradually dispersed, before they came to the Lin family's old house.

Sun Yue learned the essence of Lin Shisan's "Bow Down and Worship the Great Method".

As soon as he saw his master, he knelt down and kowtowed: "Master! I am here to wish you a happy new year! I had a dream last night."

"I dreamed that spring had come and you had been promoted. Your home was also filled with silver and gold."

Lin Shisan said with a smile: "You are the only one who has a sweet mouth."

Sun Yue said: "Master, you have a lot of skills. I can't learn anything else. If I can't even learn the skill of sweet talk, then I have been your disciple for many years in vain."

All the brothers burst into laughter.

Lin Shisan shouted, "Biyun, don't stay behind the screen. We are all brothers in the family, there is no need to avoid suspicion."

"A teacher's wife is half a mother. When people come to wish us a happy new year, you, as a mother, have to give them lucky money."

Lin Shisan never spared money in buying the hearts of his subordinates. It was a simple truth. Why should your subordinates follow you to Liaodong in the north to eat the wind and to Fujian in the south to suffer the heat?

You have to give benefits to your subordinates so that they will be loyal to you.

As the saying goes, a gentleman will die for his confidant. A confidant cannot just make empty promises. You have to give money to others to be considered a confidant.

Biyun walked out from behind the screen and said with a smile, "I can treat anyone unfairly, but I cannot treat these thirty or so brothers unfairly. Especially Sun Yue and Li Gao."

"They treat me like their own mother."

After saying this, Biyun clapped her hands. The servant Chun Geer brought up an exquisite wooden box.

Biyun opened the box and found inside was a golden Kong Fangxiong coin with the inscription "Year after Year of Abundance" made by the Jiao Family Gold Shop in the capital.

Each gold coin weighs three taels.

Biyun smiled and said, "You, Lin Chuanfeng, are honest officials, upright and incorruptible. I don't have mountains of gold and silver to give you."

"Each of you will receive a three-liang gold coin. This is a token of appreciation from my Lin family to you brothers."

Sun Yue picked up a piece of gold and bit it in his mouth: "Gold is probably the sweetest thing in the world. Isn't it, brothers?"

Everyone was delighted and said in unison: "That's right!"

More than thirty gold coins weighing three taels each were worth one thousand five hundred taels of silver.

To Lin Shisan, it was just the tip of a hair among nine others.

This year, the Lin family made a net profit of 19,000 taels just by supplying ice to the elephant training center and the imperial palace.

Not to mention that in June, he also made 25,000 taels of silver from the dead Zhao Wenhua.

Lin Shisan is now a real landlord and a wealthy man!

All the comrades received the gold coins and were very happy.

The process of winning people’s hearts and minds is not over yet.

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Your master's wife said it well. I have always been an honest official, upright, clean-handed, and I follow the three obediences and four virtues. I am a horse in the afternoon and a sheep in the evening."

"Everyone knows that I, the emperor's close minister, am a poor fellow. But your mistress gave you gold coins as New Year's money. I can't be so stingy."

"Come on, lift it up!"

Four servants carried up a large wooden box.

Lin Shisan opened the wooden box, which was filled with bulging cloth bags.

Lin Shisan picked up a cloth bag and threw it to Sun Yue with both hands. Sun Yue caught it and said, "Wow, it's quite filling."

Lin Shisan said, "Inside are all small silver Ruyi coins made by Zhuqiao Silver Shop. Each one weighs half a tael, and there are sixty-six of them in total."

"During the New Year, you should give some lucky money to your children, servants, and maids. Giving a small silver ruyi as lucky money is both auspicious and respectable."

"Come on, come on, everyone has a share, take it for yourself."

Another one thousand taels of silver were given out.

A general flag took the silver bag and said loudly: "The captain has been very kind to us! We brothers are willing to follow him till death and serve him at all times."

All the brothers expressed their opinions: "The captain wants us to get into the oil pan and roll on the nail board with just one word!"

"Anyone who goes against Qianhu will be our mortal enemy."

Lin Shisan quickly said, "I know what you are thinking. But you are saying something out of line. What's the point of saying mortal enemy or not?"

"My uncle once said that the key to being an official is to make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible."

Sun Yue said, "I am grateful for your advice. Master's teachings are more valuable than gold coins or silver ruyi!"

Lin Shisan laughed out loud: "Everyone in the official circles of the capital city says that I am a magpie spirit. I think you also have the qualifications to be a magpie spirit."

Everyone laughed loudly.

Lin Shisan restrained his smile and said seriously, "Today is the 39th year of Jiajing. In the new year, if you continue to work diligently and conscientiously as usual when you follow me on missions, I will never treat you unfairly."

"If anyone is perfunctory in his duties, and it is intolerable under national law and health regulations, don't blame me for being rude.

Everyone knelt down and bowed: "Respect the order of the captain!"

Lin Shisan said, "Forget it, everyone get up. Drink less during the New Year, too much alcohol will damage your liver."

All the comrades left with many thanks.

On the third day of the first lunar month, Lin Shisan took four stinky bricks from the toilet as agreed and came to the Yongding River.

It snowed heavily yesterday, and the weather became even colder. The Yongding River was frozen.

If you want to fish, you have to dig a hole in the ice.

Yan Shifan and Roupingfeng were already waiting there.

The thirty or so flesh screens looked truly pitiful, shivering in the cold wind.

Yan Shifan said, "Thirteen, it's frozen, what should we do?"

Lin Shisan said: "We can only dig a hole in the ice and fish on the ice."

Lin Shisan was busy chiseling two holes in the thick ice. He then threw four stinky bricks into the two fishing holes.

The two of them stood back to back and began fishing in different holes.

The flesh screens formed a large circle.

The north wind was blowing. Two hours had passed, and the two people's chicken feather floats did not move at all. This was really a chicken feather float, fishing for chicken feathers.

Lin Shisan advised Yan Shifan: "Brother, it's too cold today. How about another day?"

Yan Shifan remained silent. Silence is an attitude.

That's just the way he is. No one can stop him from doing anything he wants to do.

Another half an hour later, Yan Shifan suddenly spoke up: "I heard that you and Li Gao are very close?"

Lin Shisan's heart tightened.

His official position became higher and higher, and the number of servants and maids in his house increased.

Among them were spies sent by Yan Shifan, or some were bribed by Yan Shifan. That was a normal thing.

Yan Shifan had been in the officialdom for more than 20 years, and he could not trust anyone completely. It was reasonable for him to have a few spies to monitor Lin Shisan.

Lin Shisan calmed down and said calmly: "Brother, Li Gao is the younger brother of Princess Li of Prince Yu's Mansion after all. From ancient times to the present, who doesn't want to climb the high branch of the crown prince?"

"But please rest assured. I have never done anything to please Prince Yu and the elders." "I am willing to swear to the heavens. If I tell a lie, may the heavens strike me with lightning. If I drink water, I will choke to death. If I go out, I will be hit by a carriage and die."

Lin Shisan really didn't do anything to let Yan Song and his son down, he just let Zhao Wenhua down.

Yan Shifan said, "That's good. Recently, many people in my Yan family have been looking for greener pastures."

“Don’t learn from them.”

Yan Shifan's words were not harsh, but he was warning Lin Shisan.

The fishing lasted for three hours. Lin Shisan and Yan Shifan were fine, as they were well dressed. There was also a circle of flesh screen outside to block the wind.

The thirty or so maids behind the flesh screens were the worst offenders. Almost all of them were frozen to death.

Yan Shifan tightened the collar of his trembling coat and said, "No more fishing. Let's go back home and fish another day."

Lin Shisan stood up and said, "Let's wait until spring comes."

Yan Shifan said, "No! This year, in the first month of the year, I must catch a fish! No matter how big or small it is!"

After Yan Shifan left, Lin Shisan shuddered subconsciously.

He suddenly realized one thing: playing both sides between the major forces in the court would not last long. Sooner or later, he would have to choose sides.

After returning to the old house, Biyun complained: "What's wrong with the young minister? It's so cold, he..."

Lin Shisan quickly made a gesture to Biyun to keep quiet.

Then Lin Shisan took Biyun's hand and went into the main hall. He lowered his voice and said, "Our house doesn't have an iron door, and the fence is not strong. It seems that there are spies from the Yan family in the mansion."

"Don't say certain things in front of the servants in the future. You must know that illness comes from the mouth and disaster comes from the mouth."

Biyun was surprised: "There are Yan family spies in the mansion? Who?"

Lin Shisan shook his head: "How would I know who it is? Even if we find out who it is, it's useless. If you fire the spies, it will only make us look guilty."

"Just be more careful in what you say and do in the future."

Let’s talk about the Yongshou Palace.

Emperor Jiajing is enjoying a bowl of lotus seed and eight-treasure soup.

Lu Fang, Huang Jin and Chen Hong were serving on the side.

Emperor Jiajing asked: "Has the cabinet already drafted an order on Hu Zongxian's proposal to raise donations in Jiangnan to fight against the Japanese invaders?"

Lu Fang replied: "The cabinet has agreed to the draft decree. I was just about to ask the emperor if our Imperial Household Department can approve it."

Emperor Jiajing replied without even looking up: "From now on, all requests made by Hu Zongxian will be approved."

Lu Fang said: "I obey your order."

Emperor Jiajing suddenly said, "This lotus seed and eight-treasure soup has no taste. Bring me some salt."

Emperor Jiajing was such a person. Others wore cotton robes in winter, but he wore gauze. Others wore a single layer of summer cloth in summer, but he insisted on wearing a winter cloth robe with three layers inside and three layers outside.

Others put sugar in lotus seed and eight-treasure soup, but he asked people to add salt.

Soon, Lu Fang brought a pile of salt to Emperor Jiajing, scooped some with a silver spoon, and carefully added it to the porridge bowl.

Emperor Jiajing took a sip and said: "Salt is a good thing. Twenty percent of the revenue of the Ministry of Revenue comes from salt."

"Some people have been in charge of the salt business for so long that they treat it as their own vegetable garden."

"Not only did they profit from it, but they also held the salt money bag and strangled others."

"What a joke! They don't plan to do anything anymore. They don't let others do anything either."

The one who holds the seal and the two who hold the pens both knew that Emperor Jiajing was talking about Yan Maoqing.

Emperor Jiajing added: "It is not right for the six major salt fields of the Ming Dynasty to be managed by one person. From now on, the Changlu, Hedong and Huaibei salt fields will no longer have salt transport envoys."

"We will also set up a supervisory office for eunuchs. The Imperial Household Department will send people to manage these three salt fields."

"From now on, half of the salt tax from these three salt mines will be directly allocated to Hu Zongxian as military pay for the anti-Japanese war. The other half will be put into the internal transport warehouse."

Lu Fang said cautiously: "I'm afraid the Ministry of Revenue will have objections."

Emperor Jiajing's face suddenly changed: "Objection? The whole world is named Zhu. All the civil officials are my subjects. Is there any subject in the world who doesn't obey the words of the monarch and father?"

"Let the Jinyiwei send people to stay at the salt field with the eunuchs in charge. If any salt field official pretends to obey orders but actually disobeys them, the Jinyiwei will arrest him on the spot."

"Also, give Hu Zongxian an imperial decree, saying that I fully support him in fighting the Japanese invaders! My son also fully supports him in fighting the Japanese invaders."

"With the Zhu family as his backing, he can be assured and bold in making great strides in the southeast."

Lu Fang cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Emperor Jiajing added: "As for the bad debts of these three salt fields in previous years, don't let the eunuchs in charge investigate."

"If we investigate, I'm afraid half of the officials in the court will be implicated."

Two days later, in the study of Yan's residence.

Yan Song was sitting at his desk writing calligraphy, while Yan Shifan, Ouyang Bijin, Luo Longwen and other key members of Yan's party were sitting around him.

Among them was Yan Maoqing, who returned home for the New Year under the pretext of reporting on his work in Beijing.

Yan Shifan said, "I don't know whose slander the emperor listened to. He actually gave half of the salt business to the eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department."

Yan Song coughed and interrupted Yan Shifan: "Let's talk about business. Don't curse."

Yan Shifan nodded: "Yes, Dad. Now the three salt fields of Changlu, Hedong and Huaibei are all owned by the eunuchs in the palace."

"Old Yan, you must have your people balance the accounts before the handover."

Yan Maoqing nodded: "Don't worry, young minister. I have three hundred accountants under my command. I support them with hundreds of thousands of taels of silver a year, and they are kept for use at this time."

Yan Shifan added: "In the past year, the emperor first eliminated our people from the nine frontiers. Then he dealt with Zhao Wenhua. Now he has taken away half of the salt business from us."

"Seeing that the situation is not favorable to us, the people on Xu Yicheng's side are all ready to take action against us in many ways."

"I called you all here today to tell you that you all need to be more cautious this year."

"Don't take any more money than you can take. For officials you want to recommend or promote, hold off for a while."

Yan Song finally spoke: "When a fist hits a pillow, the pillow shrinks. But when the fist is withdrawn, the pillow can bounce back."

“We are that pillow.”

Everyone agreed: "What the elder said is absolutely right."

"Yes, as long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. Let's be cautious and avoid the limelight first before making any plans."

Yan Shifan said: "In short, the 39th year of Jiajing will be a difficult year. You must be cautious and careful. Don't let anyone get a hold of you."

"Then again. We don't provoke others. If others provoke us, we can't be cowards."

This study meeting set the tone for the strict party leadership in the coming year.

It is said that Lin Shisan arrived at the Jinyiwei for duty on the eighth day of the first lunar month.

Sun Yue said, "There are rumors in the guards now that the Jinyiwei will send someone to manage the salt fields with the eunuchs. That's a very lucrative job."

"Who else but Master can do this job?"

Lin Shisan said, "Don't talk nonsense. How can we gossip about the personnel arrangements in the Guard?"

Sun Yue smiled and said, "Yes, yes. My disciple has said too much."

Just at this moment, Zhu Xixiao strode in.

Zhu Xixiao smiled and said, "Captain Lin, congratulations on getting such a good job!"

(End of this chapter)