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

Chapter 40 Shameless Grandfather and Shameless Grandson
Hu Zongxian came to Beijing this time with a comprehensive plan to pacify the Japanese pirates and open up trade with the West.

In order to realize this plan, Yan Song's support must be obtained.

If you want to get Yan Song's support, you must gain his favor.

The key to winning his favor is this lost white-feathered bow-tailed pigeon.

It is ridiculous that the great cause of pacifying the southeast depends on a pigeon.

But this is the current situation of the court.

Xu Wei, the legal advisor, once said to Hu Zongxian, the Dongweng: "The current Ming officialdom is like a cesspool. It is impossible to get out of the cesspool without getting stained."

"If you want to realize your ambition, you have to blend into the cesspool and become a crazy maggot that swims freely in the sea of dung."

"Only when a mad maggot swims in a sea of feces can a real man be revealed."

Although Xu Wei's metaphor is not elegant and contains some hint of mockery towards Dong Weng, it makes sense.

Hu Zongxian held Lin Shisan's hand, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw: "Captain Lin, no, Brother Lin. That pigeon is related to Ruzhen's (Hu Zongxian's pen name) future. Please do your best to find it."

Lin Shisan started his social skills again: "How dare I call myself a brother to Censor Hu? I heard from Captain Chang that your father was a subordinate of his grandfather."

"According to the seniority system of Wei Zhong, you are my ancestor. If my grandfather tells his grandson to do something, how can I not do my best?"

Lin Shisan made up this generational title. Anyway, when he was doing business in Beijing, he could pretend to be a grandson to everyone he met.

After saying this, Lin Shisan bowed his head and said, "I will do my best to complete the task you have asked me to do."

Hu Zongxian was stunned, thinking: They say a gentleman can change suddenly. I have been shameless enough in the past year to realize my ambition.

I never expected that today I would meet someone more shameless than me!
Shameless, shameless. What a worthy match!
Hu Zongxian reached out his hand and helped Lin Shisan up: "Oh, please stand up quickly. Grandson Lin."

Lin Shisan stood up.

Hu Zongxian said, "I have many things to do while I am in Beijing. I cannot personally take care of the matter of finding the pigeon. If you can find it for me within three days, I will reward you handsomely."

Lin Shisan left Xianliang Temple and went back to the elephant training center to find Sun Yue.

It is best to have a helper when searching for pigeons. The honest and reliable fat apprentice is the most suitable helper.

Lin Shisan first analyzed the various possibilities of the lost pigeon with Sun Yue.

Sun Yue counted on his fingers and said, "Being eaten by a human, being eaten by a dog or a fox, or flying into the palace. These three possibilities are that there is no return."

"We can only hope that the pigeon was taken away by some ruffian. Or maybe it got married to a female pigeon from an ordinary family."

Lin Shisan said, "Yes. Xianliang Temple is so close to the Imperial Palace. If a pigeon enters the palace, it will be the same as being eaten."

Sun Yue reminded: "What is the name of the place where pigeons are raised in the palace? The Hundred Birds Room? Unfortunately, we are of humble status and cannot enter the palace to ask the eunuchs in the Hundred Birds Room."

In addition to the twelve prisons, four departments and eight bureaus in the Ming Imperial Palace, there are also many "rooms".

The one in charge of wine was called the Imperial Wine Room, the one in charge of livestock was called the Livestock Room, and there were also the Imperial Pharmacy Room, the Imperial Tea Room, the Cat Room, the Night Watch Room, and so on.

There is a bird room under the Internal Affairs Bureau, which is responsible for managing all the birds in the palace, including pigeons.

Lin Shisan slapped his head and said, "Hey! This is really hard to explain. Who said we can't ask the eunuchs in the Bird House?"

"Have you forgotten? Old Man Gao said that night that he owes us a big favor!"

"Old Man Gao has a high seniority in the palace. Many high-ranking officials and eunuchs are his disciples."

"Not to mention that my little brother Chen Ju is actually an eunuch in the Imperial Household Department!"

"If they are willing to inquire for us, wouldn't it be possible to confirm whether the white-feathered bow-tailed pigeon has run to the palace?"

Sun Yue patted his belly and said, "Isn't it true that my belly is full of shit? I have no brains at all. How could I have forgotten about Eunuch Gao?"

Lin Shisan led Sun Yue out of the elephant training station, mounted a strong mule and headed straight for Gao Zhong's courtyard in Dawangba Hutong.

There were only two guards standing in front of the courtyard. Lin Shisan bowed and said, "Brother, I am Lin Shisan, the captain of the elephant training station. I want to see Father Gao."

The guard had seen Lin Shisan entering and leaving Gao's house before: "It's Captain Lin. Old Man Gao went fishing by the Yongding River."

Lin Shisan asked: "Which section of the Yongding River did Father Gao fish in?" The guard replied: "Inside Deshengmen, near the Yuanyang Archway."

The Yongding River has three branches. One of them runs from Shijingshan through Tiancun and Zizhuyuan, enters the city near Deshengmen, and flows into the various "seas" in Beijing.

Lin Shisan bowed to the guard and said, "Thank you."

The master and his apprentice rode non-stop to the Yongding River inside Desheng Gate, and indeed saw Gao Zhong near the Yuanyang Archway.

Gao Zhong was sitting on the fishing hook, oh no, the fishing platform. Chen Ju was waiting on the side. A dozen guards were on guard twenty steps away.

Lin Shisan walked over: "Father Gao!"

The guard immediately reached out to stop him.

Gao Zhong looked back and shouted, "It's Lin Shisan. Let him come over."

Lin Shisan and Sun Yue came to Gao Zhong.

Gao Zhong smiled and said, "Ju'er, you are the best at observing people's expressions and understanding their minds. Guess what Lin Shisan wants me to do?"

Chen Ju said without hesitation: "Looking at his anxious look, I'm afraid he is asking you, my godfather, to repay him."

Lin Shisan said, "How dare I ask Father Gao to repay you for anything? I just need your generous help in doing me a small favor."

The same thing can be said in a different way and people will find it more pleasant to listen to. This is called the ways of the world and the manners of conversation.

Gao Zhong said: "It is easy to borrow favors again. Tell me, what is it?"

Lin Shisan gave a brief account: "Someone asked me to find a lost pigeon. I suspect it flew into the palace. I would like to ask you to help me find out about the Bird House."

Gao Zhong said: "Pigeons all look the same. How do I find them in the Bird House?"

Lin Shisan replied, "Old Man Gao, please allow me to report. The lost pigeon is called the White Feather Bow-Tail Pigeon. It is the best among pigeons. It is very easy to recognize."

"The gentlemen in the Bird House are experts in raising birds and pigeons. They will definitely recognize it."

Gao Zhong smiled and said, "This is easy to handle. Chen Ju, you come in the afternoon."

At this point, Gao Zhong suddenly wanted to embarrass Lin Shisan: "Wait a minute. Let me return the favor. You have to help me solve a problem first."

Lin Shisan was shocked: Why did this great eunuch suddenly come to court? Don't ask me any tricky and weird questions.

Gao Zhong's next words made Lin Shisan feel relieved: "Lin Shisan, I've been fishing here for three days. I come back empty-handed every day. Do you have any way to help me catch fish?"

Lin Shisan said, "Well, this matter. The Yongding River is uneven. Have you found the bottom?"

Fishing for river fish requires the hook to "find the bottom". Most river fish are at the bottom of the water.

Gao Zhong handed the fishing rod to Lin Shisan: "See if I am fishing at the bottom."

Lin Shisan took a roll of soft lead next to the fish basket, cut off a piece with his fishing knife, and used the "heavy lead to find the bottom" method to measure the water depth of the fishing spot.

Lin Shisan asked: "You are fishing at the bottom. Did you make a nest?"

Chen Ju interjected: "Father-in-law has to make five catties of bran a day."

Lin Shisan said, "Well! No wonder. Fish don't like to open their mouths to look for food in winter. It's absolutely impossible to use ordinary bran to make a nest."

Gao Zhong said: "Don't tell me that I have to use wine and rice to make a nest. I am a poor eunuch, and I will eat the wine and rice myself."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "My method of making a nest is cheaper than using bran. It's called 'making a stinky nest'."

Gao Zhong became excited when he heard the word "cheap": "What do you mean by a stinking nest?"

Lin Shisan asked back, "Do you fish for the pleasure of catching a fish, or for the food?"

Gao Zhong replied: "For the pleasure of catching a fish."

Lin Shisan said: "If it's not for food, then you can just make a stinky nest."

Sun Yue volunteered: "Stinky nest? Did you use manure to make the nest? I'm holding back a pile of shit, how about I take it to the river?"

(End of this chapter)