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

Chapter 197 I am Park Yisheng, I am Park Renmeng

The scent of rouge and powder on the Qinhuai River is the sediment of gold and powder from the Six Dynasties.

Since the migration of scholars from the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the south, the city of Jinling has become the seat of wealth, power, and culture in the south of the Yangtze River.

The ten-mile Qinhuai River is a golden thread, weaving the wealth, power and elegance of the south of the Yangtze River into the curtain beads of the Huachuan Gate.

When the Ming Dynasty was founded, Emperor Hongwu built the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

Some officials believed that the orioles, flowers, grass, girls with official status and pheasants without official status on the Qinhuai River would affect the candidates' preparation for the imperial examinations, so they suggested that all flower boats, buildings, pavilions and courtyards on the Qinhuai River be banned.

Emperor Hongwu believed that if a qualified scholar could not even resist this temptation, he would not be worthy of passing the imperial examination and becoming an official of the Ming Dynasty.

The Qinhuai River, dotted with flowers, can be a touchstone to test the perseverance of the candidates.

Emperor Hongwu was wrong!
Ordinary people think of succubi as: those who wear cool clothes, sway their waist and hips, speak flirtatious words, and make seductive sounds that make your bones go cold.

The succubus in the eyes of scholars: proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and can recite poems and compose couplets, and has a charming lady.

Qinhuai Flower Industry is really talented. They work hard on the cultural training of the girls. A scholar needs ten years of hard study; a serious girl who wants to become a big brand and has a lot of knowledge also needs ten years of hard study.

They almost turned brothels into intensive training courses to deepen and consolidate the Ming Dynasty's imperial examinations.

It is said that in Gu Meibo's Meilou, the sisters each have a copy of "Four Books and Commentaries", and each of them has the ability to help candidates preparing for imperial examinations to polish their eight-legged essays.

Closer to home.

Lin Shisan made up his mind to start investigating the Japanese pirates' intelligence base from the flower boats on the Qinhuai River.

He first went to the Qinhuai River and found Xu Pengju who was about to pack up and go home.

Xu Pengju is the highest official in Nanjing, and he is well-connected with both civil and military officials. In Nanjing, his words are well-spoken!
Seeing Lin Shisan, Xu Pengju's eyes turned into an arc when he smiled: "Xiao Shisan, guess how many crucian carp I caught today?"

"No, you shouldn't say how many pieces, you should say how many kilograms."

After saying that, Xu Pengju pointed to two large fish buckets beside him that were full of fish.

Lin Shisan laughed and said, "Ah! The Duke's fishing skills are indeed exquisite and his moves are extraordinary. This must be 20 kilograms of fish!"

Xu Pengju said, "Don't flatter me. It's obvious that your bait recipe is ingenious. I've been fishing in the Qinhuai River for so many years, when has my bucket exploded?"

"The old man selling fried cakes was so frightened that his jaw dropped on his feet!"

"So, we should hang out together more often in the future. We are friends!"

"What is a friend? If you can talk and have fun together, then you are a friend."

Lin Shisan bowed and said, "I dare to ask the Duke for a job."

Xu Pengju asked: "Oh? What's the matter? Just tell me."

Lin Shisan replied: "My thirty or so brothers and two hundred families have just arrived in Nanjing. Although we have received great kindness from the Duke and have been provided with houses, we are still short of money to settle down."

"I am a stupid subordinate, but I have come up with a solution. It does not use public funds, but can also solve the problem of settling down."

Xu Pengju took out a large crucian carp weighing one pound from the fish bucket and said, "Look, it weighs one pound! I caught the king crucian carp in Qinhuai River."

"Tell me, what is the solution?"

Lin Shisan said with a smile: "Qinhuai Flower Industry is making a fortune. I plan to go to the flower boat to get some money."

"The Portuguese who landed in recent years have brought syphilis to our Ming Dynasty. There are too many nobles who go to Qinhuai River to play. What if one or two girls have syphilis? That would be a disaster!"

"Therefore, I plan to take people to check the flower boat in the name of Nanjing Ministry of Rites and Music Bureau. It can also be regarded as helping the nobles in the city and helping them avoid hidden diseases."

"Since we are going to use the name of the Ministry of Rites, we must give them a heads up. But my words carry little weight."

Xu Pengju smiled and said, "It's just this trivial matter. Come on, go get some writing brush and ink. I'll write you a note right now. You can take it to the Ministry of Rites and the Jiaofang Division."

Lin Shisan thanked him profusely: "Your Majesty is really considerate of your subordinates. I would like to thank you for your great kindness on behalf of the thirty or so comrades and their two hundred families."

Xu Pengju waved his sleeves and said, "This is a fart favor. The Qinhuai River is a piece of fat meat. All the government offices are going to get a piece of it. It's nothing for us, the Nanjing Jinyiwei, to get a piece of the pie."

"Xiao Shisan, crucian carp can no longer satisfy me. In half a month, it will be time to fish for mandarin fish, three-foot longmouth bass, mackerel, pufferfish, and shad."

"Then we won't come to the Qinhuai River. Let's go to the Yangtze River and show off our skills. Let's catch all the five fresh fish of the Yangtze River."

"Find a cook to serve us, and eat the fish right after we catch them, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Lin Shisan bowed his hands: "Yes, yes. I will definitely serve you well when the time comes."

Xu Pengju said generously: "What's the point of serving or not serving? Once you enter the fishing world, you are all brothers, regardless of your wealth or status. You don't need to be so humble when talking to me in the future."

"I still say that. I am just like that. If we can talk and have fun together, we are friends."

The servant brought Xu Pengju paper and pen. Xu Pengju wrote a note to the Jiaofangsi in a dog-like handwriting.

In the intelligence war, time is of the essence.

Lin Shisan did not dare to delay and went to the Fengluan Mansion of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites and Jiaofang Division before dark.

The current Fengluan was named Bai Jiahei.

Fengluan, the director of the Jiaofangsi, was only a ninth-rank official, an official position as low as a sesame seed.

But the residence of Bai Fengluan is a huge four-courtyard residence, comparable to the residence of a third-rank minister in the capital.

The size of an official position does not matter; power is the kingly way.

In the whole city of Nanjing, there are 7,000 registered prostitutes and tens of thousands of unregistered prostitutes. They are all under the control of Bai Fengluan alone.

Bai Fengluan can shut down the lights of the entire Qinhuai River for a day with just one sentence. Is this a great power?
The flower business is a flesh trade. Flesh is the capital, and the money is abundant. The pimps and brothels would pay him thousands of taels of silver as a token of respect.

The name of the street where the Bai Mansion is located is also very interesting. Aotou Street. Living in Aotou, how could one not make a fortune?
Then again, Ao means turtle. The street name implies the things that Bai Fengluan is in charge of.

The living room of the White House.

Bai Fengluan bowed to Lin Shisan and said, "Ah, it's Captain Lin. I have heard of your great name for a long time. Please forgive me for not welcoming you in person."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Bai Fengluan, you are polite."

Bai Fengluan said, "Come on, serve tea to Captain Lin. Captain Lin, please take a seat."

Lin Shisan and Bai Fengluan sat down.

Bai Fengluan said, "I heard that Captain Lin is the younger brother of the young cabinet minister, the nephew of the old minister, and a favorite of the emperor."

"Your presence here really makes my humble home shine."

Lin Shisan looked around the hall and said, "Bai Fengluan is too modest. Your mansion is magnificent with carved beams and painted rafters. It is not a humble abode at all."

"I've heard that you, a ninth-rank imperial official, wouldn't even trade for a vice minister!"

Bai Fengluan smiled and said, "No, no. I have always been clean, honest, and considerate. I have nothing to lose, and I lack money. I have no desire for anything."

"It's just that my ancestors were quite wealthy. This mansion was only built by them. It was not built by me."

Four maids entered the hall and served tea to Lin Shisan.

These four maids were so beautiful that they could make fishes sink to the bottom of the water, geese fall to the ground, the moon hide in shame, flowers hide in shame, the whole country fall in love with them, and the swallows are jealous of the orioles. The palace maids were compared with the maids in Bai Mansion, which was like a sparrow compared to a peacock.

As the saying goes, the one who is close to the water gets the moon first. Bai Fengluan is in charge of all the beauties in Nanjing. Isn't it just a matter of writing to get a bunch of beauties for the family?

Bai Fengluan saw Lin Shisan's gaze linger on the maids' faces for a moment.

He was a very good person, and he immediately expressed his opinion: "Captain Lin has just been transferred to Nanjing, and he hasn't had time to choose a maidservant yet, right?"

"The maids in my house are quite useful. They are not ugly. How about Captain Lin picking ten maids from my house?"

In Bai Fengluan's eyes, Lin Shisan was just a big Buddha who was temporarily unlucky.

With Yan and Yan as his backers, it is only a matter of time before he leaves Nanjing and takes power again.

Sending a maid to him when he is in trouble is called making friends.

Waiting for Lin Shisan to become successful again and then sending him a maid would be called currying favor.

There is only one word difference between making friends and currying favor, but there is a world of difference between them.

Lin Shisan said, "Forget about the maidservant. I came here this time to ask a favor of Bai Fengluan."

"I'll tell you right away. I've just arrived in Nanjing with my comrades and their families, and we need a fortune to settle down. At least 10,000 taels."

"Settling down is a private matter, and it is not appropriate to use public funds. So I thought of a way to make money."

Lin Shisan told Bai Fengluan about his plan, and then handed him the note approved by Xu Pengju.

After reading the note, Bai Fengluan said, "Isn't it just to extort tens of thousands of taels of silver from the Qinhuai River? No problem. Why bother the Duke and trouble him to approve the note?"

"What does Captain Lin need me to do with the Jiaofang Division?"

Lin Shisan replied: "Can you help me prepare a hundred sets of uniforms for the Jiaofangsi officials and a few dozen pairs of Jiaofangsi lanterns?"

"My brothers are all strangers on the Qinhuai River. It would be best if you could assign me another twenty officers from the Jiaofangsi to lead the way."

"Oh, and you have to give me a set of official uniforms from the ninth rank of the music department."

Bai Fengluan smiled and said, "It's just a small matter. Captain Lin can just send someone to give instructions. Why bother to come here in person?"

After that, Bai Fengluan personally took Lin Shisan to the treasury of the Jiaofang Department to get the official uniform, black uniform, and lanterns. He also selected twenty officers on duty and put them under Lin Shisan's command.

Lin Shisan returned to Dachanggan Street with the servants and the things.

According to the previous agreement, King Xue with a hundred men, and Sun Yue and Li Gao with more than thirty comrades were already waiting outside the Lin residence.

Lin Shisan distributed the black clothes to everyone, and under the leadership of the servants from the Music Bureau, everyone went to the flower boats on the Qinhuai River in a mighty procession.

The nine hundred flower boats on the Qinhuai River belong to three hundred buildings, pavilions and courtyards on the shore.

Although they are of lowly origin and lowly occupation, Lin Shisan and others dare not act bossy or overbearingly.

It is hard to tell which beautiful girl on which flower boat is the lover of which duke, marquis, or minister.

In this world, don’t offend anyone but beautiful women. Behind every beautiful woman, there is often one, several or dozens of powerful men.

Lin Shisan, Sun Yue and Xue Yanwang boarded a flower boat named "Southward and Northward".

The name of the flower boat is quite elegant. Whether the men are crossing south or returning north, this is their paradise.

The flower boats on the Qinhuai River are different from those on the West Lake.

The flower boats here are generally divided into three floors, all of which are huge pleasure boats. The second floor is where the girls and guests can recite poems, write couplets, drink and play chess.

The third floor is where you fish for clams and pull radishes.

First the elegant, then the vulgar. This order cannot be messed up.

There are six rooms on the second and third floors. There are six girls on each boat, which means good luck.

The first floor was where the procuresses, pimps, maids, and cooks of the flower boats lived. They were always waiting for messages from the second floor and would go up to serve.

Lin Shisan, Xue Yanwang, Sun Yue, and Li Gao entered the "Crossing the South and Returning to the North" level.

A brothel owner came forward and said, "Hey! Isn't this Qin Chatou from the Jiaofangsi? Who is this master? He looks unfamiliar."

"Hey, isn't this Dr. Xue, the gynecologist from Miaochuntang? Why are you here too? Miss Qianhong had a uterine cold two days ago, and it was you who prescribed the medicine for her."

"To pay for the medicine, Miss Qianhong even slept with you for two hours!"

Xue Yanwang smiled awkwardly: "You must have remembered it wrongly."

"Hmm," Sun Yue coughed. Then he pointed at Lin Shisan and said loudly, "This is the new music director of the Jiaofang Bureau, Master Pu Yisheng."

"I'm his cousin, named Park Ren Meng. I'm working as a servant under him for the time being."

Sun Yue pointed at Li Gao again and said, "He is also Park Sile's cousin, named Park Dandiao. Like me, he is also a servant of the Jiaofangsi."

“We came here to...”

The brothel owner smiled and said, "I understand! It's just a new official."

Then the brothel owner took out a two-liang gold ingot from her sleeve and stuffed it into Lin Shisan's sleeve: "Master Pu, this is some money for tea. I didn't prepare it in a hurry today. I wonder where your house is?"

"I will send someone to deliver another great gift to your house tomorrow."

"Oh, by the way, Miss Xinglian on our ship has not put up her sign tonight. Would you like to go to the second deck to have some fun? It's all a gift from me, your humble servant, and I won't charge a penny."

Lin Shisan said, "There's no need to give gifts or women. We're here for serious business."

"There are many Portuguese people in the southeastern coast in recent years. Venerable diseases have spread along the coast. If they spread to the Qinhuai River, it will be no joke."

"I want to ask you, are there any girls on your ship who are infected with the disease? If there are any, please inform us in time. We will remove them from the Imperial College."

The madam quickly said, "Absolutely not! They wash it every time and it's always clean. I check it myself every three days."

"Doctor Xue can testify! He examined Miss Qianhong on my ship a few days ago."

Lin Shisan nodded: "That's good. Oh, by the way, has anyone on your flower boat gone out recently? Where did you go out? Have you reported it to the authorities?"

In the Ming Dynasty, whether they were prostitutes, businessmen, or ordinary people, they had to report to the government when they went to other places.

The Ming Dynasty had a strict travel permit system. Without a travel permit, one could not leave even a hundred miles from one’s hometown.

However, the flower boat girls on the Qinhuai River often go out on business, and they will send someone to report to the government and get a pass only the day before leaving the city.

Anyway, the money was paid privately, and the government was very efficient. You can get a pass anytime you want.

The brothel owner replied, "There has been no prostitution on our boat recently. I wonder what taboo has been violated? Will the Music Bureau not allow the girls from Qinhuai River to perform prostitution in the future?"

Lin Shisan replied, "That's not the case. It's because of the venereal diseases in the coastal prefectures and counties. If you go out to a coastal prefecture or county, you have to tell us. When you come back, we will send a female messenger to check your health to prevent you from bringing back any venereal diseases."

"Since you don't have any prostitutes here, we'll leave first. Remember, the flower boats on the Qinhuai River should not entertain Portuguese people in the future."

(End of this chapter)