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

Chapter 223 The Xu Family's Attempt to Win Them Over

Despite serving as an official for so many years, Lin Shisan still hasn't lost the few but sufficient conscience he possesses.

As he said, what were the countless loyal martyrs who shed their blood in the southeast for? It was to drive the Japanese pirates out of the coast, clear the sea routes, and open up trade.
For this purpose, Lin Shisan was willing to give everything, even his life.

Zhu Xixiao praised, "Good, you are indeed worthy of being the person favored by Consort Li. You are truly righteous. However, there are many ways to contribute to the opening of the sea and the passage of the sea."

"For example, helping Grand Secretary Gao to be promoted to Grand Secretary."

That's a rather blunt statement.

The cabinet is a tightly knit system. If Gao Gong wants to be promoted to Grand Secretary, he needs to get rid of Grand Secretary Xu Jie and Second Grand Secretary Li Chunfang.

Zhu Xixiao's unspoken message was: Lin Shisan, you must be of one mind with your comrades in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and bring down Xu Jie.

Zhu Xixiao never expected that Lin Shisan would not say those ambiguous, perfunctory words.

Lin Shisan said seriously, "Does someone who has annexed 200,000 mu of land from the people deserve to be the chief minister?"

"Some people are treacherous yet appear loyal, greedy yet appear honest. I, Lin Shisan, have no respect for such people."

Zhu Xixiao was extremely satisfied with the nighttime visit: "Excellent! Brother Lin is truly insightful. Go to the Northern Garrison Command early tomorrow morning. I will have the commanders of the Thousand and Hundred Garrisons kneel and welcome the Third Manager upon his arrival at the Northern Garrison Command's training ground."

In just twelve years, Lin Shisan rose from a lowly officer with no official position to become the third most powerful figure in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Things are different now!
No sooner had Zhu Xixiao left than another person from the Lin family arrived. It was Xu Fan, Xu Jie's eldest son.

Many years ago, when Lin Shisan went south to find the relatives of Yu Mao Meishuang, he extorted 200,000 taels of silver from Xu Fan to fight against Japanese pirates.

The two were old acquaintances.

Now that Xu Jie has gained power, even his closest associates have risen in rank. Xu Fan has also been promoted to Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, ranking among the Nine Ministers of the Court.

Xu Fan cupped his hands in greeting to Lin Shisan: "Lin Chuanfeng, oh no, now I should call you Commander Lin. How have you been?"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Minister Xu, your presence is an honor. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner."

Xu Fan sat down and said, "Brother Lin, you should know that nowadays all the officials in the court call me Junior Grand Secretary."

“I’m not only in charge of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. I’m also in charge of the affairs of the Six Ministries, the Censorate, and all the other government offices and temples. I’m so busy all day long that I don’t have time to rest.”

"I am not here tonight to chat with you."

"Young Grand Secretary"—what a familiar title.

Compared to Yan Shifan's ruthlessness and greed, Xu Fan was even worse.

At the end of the Jiajing era, Xu Fan briefly returned to his hometown. Such a prominent figure returning to his hometown, even if he didn't bring any benefits, should at least not cause any harm to it.

In his hometown of Songjiang, he extensively annexed and seized land, bullying men and women and oppressing the local population. Officials in Jiangnan, fearing the power of Grand Secretary Xu Jie, dared not intervene.

After returning to Beijing to take up his post, he abused his father's power, engaging in rampant corruption, accepting bribes, eliminating dissidents, and installing cronies in power.

The new "Little Grand Secretary" Xu Fan did all the same despicable things that Yan Shifan did back then.

Lin Shisan cupped his hands and said, "Ah, I wonder what brings you here so late at night, young Grand Secretary?"

Xu Fan said, "Let's not beat around the bush. Do you want to be the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Lin Shisan was taken aback. Then he smiled broadly and said, "Which official doesn't want a promotion? But I am of little seniority. Being appointed as the acting garrison commander of the Northern Garrison is already a great favor from His Majesty. How could I possibly aspire to sit in the main hall?"

Xu Fan stroked his beard and said in an old-fashioned manner, "In this world, there is no such thing as 'can' or 'cannot,' only 'whether you want to,' and 'whether you dare to.'"

"As long as you want it and dare to do it, the Xu family is willing to lend you a hand."

"You should know that my father is not only the Grand Secretary, but also the current emperor's teacher."

"Given the current power of the Xu family, it would be as easy as taking candy from a baby if they wanted to appoint someone as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Lin Shisan muttered quietly, "I'm afraid it's not that easy." Xu Fan said, "Well, to be frank, Zhu Xixiao and Liu Shouyou have been helping Gao Gong and opposing my father for the past two years."

"As long as you are of one mind with my Xu family, we will join forces to bring down Zhu Xixiao and Liu Shouyou. The position of commander will surely be yours."

"I know you're a seasoned veteran of officialdom. You don't like being given empty promises, so I'll give you something concrete."

After speaking, Xu Fan took out a silver note from his sleeve and slapped it on the table.

The face value of the silver note was 100,000 taels.

It has to be said, the Xu family is really rich; they're even more generous than the Yan family back then.

Xu Fan said, "As long as you nod your head, this 100,000 taels of silver is yours. From now on, we'll be in the same boat and share wealth and glory."

Lin Shisan pushed the silver note toward Xu Fan's side: "Young Master Xu, I come from a poor background. If I accept such a large sum of money, I'm afraid I'll be blinded by greed and go insane."

"You should take the money back."

Xu Fan sneered: "So, you're going to stick with Gao Gong, Zhu Xixiao, and the others all the way to the bitter end?"

Lin Shisan said solemnly, "I am a Royal Guard. I will not follow anyone. I am only loyal to His Majesty."

"If a royal guard were to take 100,000 taels of silver from the Grand Secretary's family, it would not only be bad for me, but also for your family."

"I refuse your money, both for my own sake and for the sake of your family."

Xu Fan stood up angrily: "Fine, very well. I've given you a chance, but you didn't cherish it. Don't blame the Xu family for being ruthless in the future."

Lin Shisan chuckled awkwardly, "Oh dear, what are you saying? The young Grand Secretary has come all this way, how can you not even have a sip of tea? Your subordinate respectfully sees the young Grand Secretary off."

Xu Fan snorted coldly, waved his sleeve, and left angrily.

The following day, Lin Shisan arrived at the Northern Garrison Command.

On the North Division's drill ground, the commanders of a thousand and a hundred were locked in battle. Lin Shisan ascended the reviewing stand, and the commanders of a thousand and a hundred knelt down in unison: "Welcome, Commander Lin."

Lin Shisan said, “Comrades, there’s no need for such formality! When I first came to the Northern Division, some of you were my colleagues, and some were even my superiors.”

"I've just been a bit luckier, and now I hold the position of Northern Garrison Commander. How can I put on airs in front of my comrades?"

"Get up, everyone, and return to your posts to carry out your duties! The six commanders of the Northern Division, come to my post for a chat."

When the Northern Garrison Command was first established, its staff size was even smaller than that of a thousand-household garrison.

However, as their authority has continued to expand, there are now six commanders of a thousand households in one Northern Division.

The six commanders began to report on their affairs.

Among them, Liu Qianhu gave Lin Shisan a list of officials to be closely monitored this month.

Lin Shisan frowned: "Is Hai Rui, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, also on the list?"

In the 45th year of the Jiajing Emperor's reign, Hai Rui was imprisoned in the imperial prison and sentenced to death after criticizing the emperor. However, the Jiajing Emperor never convicted him of a crime.

Hai Rui was thus "hanged" in the imperial prison.

When the Jiajing Emperor died, the Longqing Emperor ascended the throne. He was released without charge and reinstated to his original position.

The day after the Longqing Emperor ascended the throne, he promoted him from a sixth-rank official to Shangbaocheng.

Two days later, the Longqing Emperor seemed to feel that the official rank given to Hai Rui was not high enough. He issued an edict to promote him to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Affairs, a fourth-rank official.

This official position was equivalent to the Deputy Director of the General Office of the State Council and the Deputy Director of the State Council's Letters and Visits Bureau in later times. It belonged to the rank of high-ranking officials among various departments.

(End of this chapter)