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

Chapter 236 This is a one-time exception!

To bring someone down politically, you must first show weakness.

On the very night he was subjected to a fierce struggle session, Lin Shisan knelt outside the study in the Qinxiang Courtyard of the Xu family mansion, holding a box of gold ingots.

Lin Shisan spared no expense this time; the box of gold ingots weighed one hundred taels. Each ingot was in an auspicious and celebratory design.

The steward of the Xu family walked up to Lin Shisan and said, "Commander Lin, our master and young master are busy with official business and cannot meet with you. You should leave."

With tears welling up in his eyes, Lin Shisan said, "Shisan was blinded by the muddled oil and did things that offended the Grand Secretary and the Young Grand Secretary in the past. This time, I have come to sincerely apologize!"

"If the Grand Secretary and the Junior Grand Secretary are still angry, I, Thirteen, am willing to kneel for a long time to appease them."

“If they are not appeased for a day, I will kneel for a day. If they are not appeased for two days, I will kneel for two days. Until they are appeased and willing to see Thirteen!”

The steward sighed, "Alas, Commander Lin, if only you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? Why did you do this to yourself?"

Lin Shisan knelt from the time the lamps were lit until midnight.

In his study, Xu Jie spent half the night working with his eldest son, Xu Fan, to finalize the list of Shandong governor, provincial treasurer, provincial judge, and prefects of eleven prefectures.

Indeed, Xu Jie's power has now grown so great that he can bypass Yang Bo of the Ministry of Personnel and directly appoint high-ranking local officials from top to bottom in a province.

Xu Fan handed Xu Jie a cup of tea: "Father, have a sip of this year's Lion Peak Longjing tea and take a break."

Xu Jie took a sip of tea: "Hmm. As expected of Lion Peak Longjing. Oh, by the way, Lin Shisan is still kneeling outside the study."

Xu Fan said smugly, "They're kneeling! Now even the arrogant henchmen of the Embroidered Uniform Guard have to bow down to our Xu family. Even when Yan Song held absolute power, he never made Lu Bing and a few of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's top lieutenants kneel down and admit their mistakes."

"It is clear that Father, you are the most powerful minister since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. You are simply the pinnacle of power of all previous Grand Secretaries."

Xu Jie said, "You are wrong. It is not that I have reached the pinnacle of power. Rather, it is the 'pure stream' that has reached the pinnacle of power."

"Alright, let Lin Shisan in."

Xu Fan was puzzled: "Father, just make him kneel. Do you mean you want to make peace with him? That's giving him too much credit."

Xu Jie said, "Fan'er, remember this saying—in the court, having one more friend is better than having one more enemy."

"One important reason why Yan Song was able to remain in power in the cabinet for more than 20 years was his alliance with Lu Bing, the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"One of the reasons for Yan Song's downfall was that he had a falling out with Lu Bing before Lu Bing's death."

"Lin Shisan is a sycophant and a courtier, but also a capable one."

"In just over a decade, he rose from a lowly officer in the elephant training camp, searching for cats and dogs, to become the third-in-command of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. This man should not be underestimated."

"He's an expert at reading people, adapting to changing circumstances, and being pragmatic!"

"If we can get him to our side, there will be no harm and only benefits."

Xu Fan gave a thumbs up: "You're so shrewd, sir. I'll call him in right away."

A moment later, Lin Shisan carried the box of gold ingots into the study. Upon seeing the Xu family father and son, he immediately activated his passive skill and bowed deeply.

Xu Jie said, "Please get up quickly. Why are you kneeling again?"

Lin Shisan wept bitterly: "Shisan deserves to die! I offended the Grand Secretary and the Junior Grand Secretary before, and I regret it deeply! Even kneeling for three days and three nights will not be enough to atone for my sins!"

Xu Jie helped Lin Shisan up: "What are you doing? We are both working for the Emperor. We may have differences of opinion in public, but we have no personal hatred."

Lin Shisan activated another passive skill—flattery. He said solemnly, "Your Excellency's words truly move me to tears! Your Excellency's magnanimity is unparalleled; since the Han Dynasty, no prime minister or chancellor has possessed such a broad mind!"

"You are truly the most magnanimous and wise prime minister of the Ming Dynasty!"

Xu Fan laughed and said, "Commander Lin, you won't send anyone to investigate me again, will you?"

Lin Shisan quickly explained, "No, and I wouldn't dare. The current court is ruled by the Grand Secretaries and Junior Grand Secretaries. I have already deeply understood this."

"Even if Thirteen had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly again."

"Ah, this box of gold ingots is what the thirteenth son presented to the Grand Secretary and the young Grand Secretary as an apology."

After saying that, Lin Shisan opened the box, and the gold ingots inside shone brightly in the candlelight.

The Xu family father and son were even more greedy than Yan Song.

But a mere hundred taels of gold was nothing to them. After all, they now owned 250,000 mu of prime farmland in Jiangnan, and countless silk shops, cotton cloth shops, and brokerage firms.

It was truly a place where rice and flour were piled up, coal was stacked in heaps, gold and silver were stored in chests, jewels were piled up in mountains, banknotes were shaped like knives, donkeys and horses were plentiful, fish and shrimp were abundant, chickens and ducks were kept in pens, and beautiful women were everywhere.
But Xu Jie didn't want Lin Shisan's gold. What he wanted was Lin Shisan's attitude—an attitude of submission to the Xu family.

Sending gold to the Xu family signifies submission.

Xu Jie glanced at the box containing the gold and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear! It's an eyesore!"

"I, Xu Jie, have spent my entire life as an official, living a life of integrity, simple meals, and detachment from worldly desires. Thirteen, why do you have to insult me ​​with this filthy thing?"

Lin Shisan mentally spat out a mouthful of spittle: Bah! In the present Ming Dynasty, is there anyone more greedy than you, Grand Secretary Xu?
Xu Fan tried to smooth things over, saying, "Father, since it's from Thirteen's heart, please accept it. I'll find some time tomorrow to donate this box of filthy things to the charity school. That way, it will be put to good use."

Xu Jie said, "Alright. Thirteen, this is the last time."

"This will not be repeated" and "I will punish myself with three cups" are two four-character phrases that people in officialdom love to say.

After some polite exchanges, the three of them appeared to have turned hostility into friendship, or rather, to make peace.

Two quarters of an hour later, Xu Jie instructed Xu Fan to escort Lin Shisan out of the mansion.

Lin Shisan laughed and said, "I've heard that the young Grand Secretary is quite skilled in raising foxes. The six red-eared snow foxes in your residence are truly exotic beasts in the capital."

"I am not talented, but I am on good terms with all the famous fox breeders in the capital. I plan to hold a fox appreciation event to broaden the horizons of those renowned pet breeders and let them see your red-eared snow fox."

What do you think?

Having a fine pet but not being able to show it to others is like wearing fine clothes in the dark.

Lin Shisan's suggestion delighted Xu Fan: "Haha, I wouldn't dare say it's an eye-opener. At that time, the famous pet breeders in the capital can gather together to exchange ideas and learn from each other. It sounds like a wonderful thing."

"However, the Grand Secretary is quite strict with my family. This fox-appreciation gathering must absolutely not be held in my residence."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "I have already thought of this. I plan to hold this fox appreciation event at the Fox God Temple on Biluozha Street in the West City in five days."

"Rest assured, I will decorate the Fox God Temple in the next five days and prepare everything for the Fox Appreciation Festival."

Xu Fan smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Lin Shisan set the fox appreciation event for five days later because a key witness in the "troop mobilization and rebellion case" would be arriving in Beijing five days later.

Xu Fan was unaware that he had fallen into a trap set by Lin Shisan.

(End of this chapter)