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

Chapter 26: Miles East to the Sea

Gao Zhong did not answer Chen Hong directly. He said meaningfully: "We are the emperor's people, and Governor Lu and Lord Yan are also the emperor's people."

Gao Zhong is telling the truth.

Among the three dynasties of the Ming Dynasty, the Hongzhi Dynasty was dominated by civil servants.

The history of the Zhengde and Jiajing dynasties is the history of the struggle between the emperor and the civil officials.

Needless to say, Emperor Zhengde sacrificed his life in order to regain power from the civil officials.

From the day the Jiajing Emperor entered the palace and ascended the throne, he was at odds with the civil officials. A major etiquette incident lasted for four years.

Later, Emperor Jiajing found a way to deal with the civil service group. In order to check and balance the civil service group, he made use of eunuchs and retainers.

Yan Song and Lu Bing were both retainers of Emperor Jiajing and actively protected the interests of the emperor.

Xu Jie was an external official who represented the interests of the civil service group.

Chen Hong laughed and said, "Eunuch Gao always speaks in such a vague way."

Meng Chong said in a half-hearted tone, "Don't forget, Xia Yan, Zhu Wan, and Lu Tong were all brought down by Lord Yan and Governor Lu. If our Black Mountain Society wants to save Lu Tong, won't we offend Yan and Lu?"

Gao Zhong said, "The present is different from the past. You all know that two days ago the Emperor said to Lord Yan a cryptic phrase: '30,000 miles of the river flows east into the sea.'"

Lu Fang said: "We have already thought about this sentence. The emperor intends to abolish the maritime ban."

Emperor Jiajing had wanted to abolish the maritime ban for more than a year or two. He was an extremely smart emperor. How could he not know the benefits of opening up maritime trade to the Ming Dynasty?
However, a large number of civil servants in the court made a fortune by protecting and participating in smuggling.

Among them, the one who benefited the most was the great and wise prime minister Xu Jie.

Without the maritime ban, there would be no smuggling. Without smuggling, the "moral gentlemen" in the court would have no treasure chest.

Therefore, the upright civil officials have been holding high the banner of ancestral rules and opposing the opening of the sea in recent years.

When Emperor Jiajing said to Yan Song, "The river flows eastward for 30,000 miles to the sea", it was the emperor's helpless sigh, implying that the road to open the sea ban was as long as "30,000 miles".

Gao Zhong said: "We can figure out the emperor's intention, and so can Lord Yan! If we want to lift the ban on sea trade and engage in maritime trade, the necessary conditions are to eliminate the Japanese threat in the southeast and open up the southeast sea route."

Lu Fang continued: "To eliminate the Japanese threat, we need a capable general to command the southeast."

Gao Zhong nodded, "That's right. That's why Lord Yan is going to let Lu Tong go. As you all know, there has been no news of Lu Tong since he was put in the prison of the Ministry of Justice for three years."

Huang Jin said: "Everyone knows that the Ministry of Justice is the territory of the Yan Party. The enemies of the Yan Party are in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, how could they possibly get the news out?"

Gao Zhong said: "But yesterday, Luo Longwen, a doctor of the Ministry of Justice from the Yan Party, came to my house and delivered a message to me on behalf of Lu Tong."

Chen Hong raised his eyebrows: "Oh? What did you say?"

Gao Zhong replied: "Luo Longwen told me that Lu Tong was imprisoned for killing innocent people and embezzling military pay. Before the Yan Party attacked Lu Tong, he knew that he would be imprisoned, so he gave me a greyhound and hid the evidence to clear his name on it."

Feng Bao was young after all, and he was full of doubts: "Since Lu Tong had evidence at the time, why didn't he produce it during the joint trial of the three judicial departments? Instead, he gave it to you, Eunuch Gao, and waited until now to tell you?"

Gao Zhong said: "Because Lu Tong is a sensible man, the Yan Party wants to put him in prison, even if they produce 10,000 pieces of evidence it will be useless. When the day comes when the Yan Party or the Emperor wants to use him, he can be released from prison safely as long as he produces evidence and goes through the formalities."

Chen Hong was surprised: "So, the Yan Party has expressed its stance? Are they going to let Lu Tong go?"

Gao Zhong nodded, "That's right. Tomorrow a censor from the Yan Party will go to the Ministry of Justice to plead for Lu Tong's innocence. I will submit the evidence to the Ministry of Justice, and the three officials of the Ministry of Justice will go through the formalities and submit a memorial. If the emperor approves, Lu Tong will be cleared of all charges."

Huang Jin was a kind person: "Eunuch Gao, tell me frankly, what do you need us for? If we don't help a loyal and capable general like Lu Tong, who else can we help?"

Gao Zhong said: "The memorials from the three officials of the Ministry of Justice must be delivered to the emperor through the Tongzhengsi. The Tongzhengsi is controlled by Xu Gelao's people. In order to prevent them from interfering and obstructing the opening of the sea, we have to take advantage of the convenience of serving the emperor and directly forward the memorials."

Lu Fang said, "This is easy, Jin'er. You will be on duty at Yongshou Palace tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. You will submit the memorial on behalf of the officials of the Ministry of Justice."

Chen Hong raised the question again: "Then here comes the problem. The Ministry of Justice needs evidence to clear Lu Tan's name. The evidence is on Xiquan. If Xiquan is lost, the evidence will be gone!" Meng Chong agreed: "That's right. The Ministry of Justice can't overturn Lu Tan's case without evidence. The upright officials will definitely attack them."

Gao Zhong said: "Don't worry, everyone. I have found a reliable person to look for the dog. We will definitely find it tomorrow."

Huang Jin looked worried: "I am afraid. The greyhound was stolen by Prime Minister Xu Daxian's men. Don't even think about getting it back."

In fact, Huang Jin was wrong.

Wang Laochuan stole Ye Wulong not because of Xu's party's instructions, but simply to sell it for a few dozen coins to maintain his daily livelihood.

Later, the "Little East Factory" of Xu's party, the Left Temple of Dali Temple, gradually found out the whole story. That's when Wang Laochuan was executed in Bangchui Niangniang Temple. He also secretly monitored Lin Shisan.

After Lin Shisan found Ye Wulong, "Xiaodongchang" prepared to kill Lin Shisan and take Ye Wulong away.

Fortunately, the Criminal Department’s Inspection Division of the Yan Party took action and rescued Lin Shisan and others.

Gao Zhong said: "The man who found the dog is an expert. He was recommended by Lu Yi. I am 70% sure that he can find Ye Wulong and get the evidence back."

Lu Fang stood up and said, "Then let's go back and wait for the evidence to come to us!"

Lin Shisan, a small figure, was confused and got caught up in the fight between the Black Mountain Society, the Yan Party, the Lu family and the Xu Party.

When a small stone enters a huge vortex, the usual result is that the stone is swallowed up by the vortex.

There is also a tiny chance that the pebble will be spun by the force of the whirlpool, leaving the water surface and flying into the sky.

Midnight, Dawangba Hutong.

Luo Longwen escorted Lin Shisan and others back to Gao Zhong's courtyard.

Luo Longwen said: "I will bring people to protect you here until dawn, waiting for Eunuch Gao to return."

Lin Shisan and Chen Ju both bowed and said, "Thank you, Doctor Luo."

Luo Longwen laughed and said, "The night is long, and I can't find some singers and dancers to accompany me, which would pollute Eunuch Gao's place. How about..."

At this point, he turned around and ordered one of his detectives from the Ministry of Justice, "Go to my house and bring me my golden-winged general."

The detective from the Ministry of Justice took the order and left.

Luo Longwen said, "Lin Lin Thirteen, right? Tonight you will cure the cowardice of my Golden Winged General. If he can open his teeth, I will reward him handsomely."

Lin Shisan cupped his hands and said, "Yes. I will do my best."

Half an hour later, the constable brought back a pot of purple sandworms.

Lin Shisan carefully opened the insect basin and took a look. This "Golden Winged General" insect species belongs to the true green fighting cricket.

It was huge, with long and thin antennae, thick hind legs, and a pair of tightly closed teeth. The most beautiful thing was a pair of golden wings.

Lin Shisan exclaimed: "Crickets are divided into four grades and ten levels. Yours is the top grade, second only to the top grade insect king grade!"

Insect breeders love to hear others praise their insects, just as fishermen love to hear others praise the size of their fish.

Luo Longwen smiled broadly: "You are really an expert."

After a moment, his face turned sad again: "But such a good insect of first-class quality has now stopped opening its teeth! A fighting insect that doesn't open its teeth is useless no matter how strong it is."

Lin Shisan was full of confidence: "Don't worry, Doctor Luo. It will only take a moment for me to make it open its teeth and turn it back into a mighty general in the insect fighting field!"

(End of this chapter)