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

Chapter 79 The official

Lu Bing mentioned Lin Shisan to Emperor Jiajing, and Emperor Jiajing lifted the green gauze curtain.

He ordered Lu Bing: "Brother Bing, come closer."

Lu Bing walked to the green gauze curtain.

Emperor Jiajing scolded Huang Jin, "Stupid slave, hurry up and give it to me."

Huang Jin actually dared to tease His Majesty the Emperor: "I know, I know, move a chair. Your Majesty, every time you see Commander Lu, you make him kneel down first, scold him, and then give him a seat."

The Ming dynasty officials had many respectful titles for the emperor, such as "Your Majesty" and "Your Highness". "Emperor" was a title that only close officials could use.

Emperor Jiajing stroked the Imperial Cat Eyebrow Cream and cursed, "You stupid slave are becoming more and more unruly. But you hid the bronze chime, and I couldn't bear to throw the eyebrow cream on your fat face."

Huang Jin brought a chair to Lu Bing, and Lu Bing sat down.

Emperor Jiajing asked, "The name Lin Shisan sounds familiar."

Lu Bing replied: "Your Majesty, this man is the messenger between me and Yan Song. He has no special talents, except that he is good at raising pets."

Emperor Jiajing said meaningfully: "Since ancient times, lucky generals are like famous generals."

Lu Bing cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise. This man is indeed a lucky general. I have promoted him to the position of General Flag Officer of the Northern Pacification Division. In addition, I recommend him to Your Majesty as a messenger officer."

The stipendiary official was not a fixed official position in the Ming Dynasty, had no fixed rank, and was usually a part-time job.

This position was established by Emperor Xianzong. The main responsibility was to present delicious food and fun things outside the palace to the emperor to please him.

The officials who were granted official positions were not selected by the Ministry of Personnel, and there was no selection process such as imperial recommendation or ministerial discussion. Their only purpose was to satisfy the emperor's selfish desires, which naturally caused dissatisfaction among the civil servants.

During the reign of Emperor Xianzong, civil officials were weak. During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, civil officials were strong. Therefore, during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, the system of passing on salary officials was abolished.

During the reign of Emperor Wuzong, the system of officials with official salaries was restored. Many officials were given official titles, including craftsmen, painters, porcelain makers, monks, and military commanders. As long as they could win the favor of Emperor Wuzong, they were all given official titles.

Although the stipendiary official was not a permanent position and had no fixed rank, he was a close relative of the emperor, equivalent to an imperial envoy. When he arrived at the local government, even the governor-general had to treat him with courtesy.

Emperor Jiajing patted Meishuang's little head and said, "Yes. All right. Huang Jin, the Imperial Household Department will issue a note to appoint that lucky general as a stipend-transmitting official."

"Also, take two thousand taels of silver and fifty taels of gold from the inner transport warehouse and give them to Yang Bo. Send them to him in the name of annual festival rewards. Just think of it as a way to calm his nerves."

The twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, early morning.

Lin Shisan came to the Jinyiwei headquarters and found the drunken cat manager Shen Lian to receive the badge of the general flag of the Northern Pacification Division.

The last time he received the badge, Lin Shisan waited for him to sober up for a whole day.

This time Lin Shisan was well prepared, and he stuffed half a pound of dried meat into his sleeves as lunch.

However, it was beyond Lin Shisan's expectation. In the lobby of the Experience Department, Shen Lian was sitting upright, dressed neatly in the uniform of a seventh-rank official. He was writing something with a burner of incense burning beside him. There was no smell of alcohol in the lobby.

Lin Shisan bowed and said, "Experience Shen, I am Lin Shisan, and I come to ask for the general flag waist badge."

Shen Lian opened his eyes: "Oh. Captain Liu has given me the documents for commendation and promotion. I'll get the badge for you."

After saying that, he stood up and went to the stall. Not long after, he returned and handed the general flag waist badge to Lin Shisan.

Lin Shisan didn't expect today to be so smooth. He took the badge, thanked Shen Lian, and turned to leave. Just as he was about to step out of the threshold of the Experience Department lobby, Shen Lian called him.

Shen Lian said: "Remember, as a royal guard, you must not be afraid of corrupt officials and speak directly to the emperor about the harm done to the country by corrupt officials."

Shen Lian talked incessantly and said a lot.

Lin Shisan was confused: I'm not very familiar with Shen Jingli. Why is he talking so much to me?
Lin Shisan had no idea that although Shen Lian's words seemed to be spoken to him, they were actually spoken to himself.

After a moment, Shen Lian seemed to realize that he had said too much. He waved his hand and said, "Look at me, why am I saying so much to you? Go away." Lin Shisan left the guard office and returned home.

He asked Biyun: "My good wife, have you prepared all the New Year's goods that I asked you to prepare?"

Biyun replied: "It's ready. It's in those two bamboo baskets. There's also a piece of She ink. You can carry it onto the mule."

Lin Shisan nodded: "Okay. I'll go to Zhuniapao Hutong to deliver the New Year gifts."

Lin Shisan was able to make great contributions this time and was promoted to the general flag of the Northern Pacification Division. In the final analysis, it was because he stole Wu Chengen's monkey.

Not only did he steal someone's monkey, but he also brought him to Xiangshan Mountain yesterday, where he was almost killed. Lin Shisan felt bad. He thought of giving him some New Year gifts to ease his guilt.

Half an hour later, Lin Shisan led the mule and came to Wu Chengen's courtyard.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he shouted, "Mr. Wu, I'll give it to you."

Wu Cheng'en came out of the hall, looking flustered: "Lin, Lin is on duty."

Lin Shisan quickly said, "Mr. Wu is a great writer of the time. You can just call me Shisan."

Wu Cheng'en said, "I'd rather call you a superior. My servant Wu Jing wants to see you."

Wu Jing walked quickly to Lin Shisan and knelt down in front of him. "I am Wu Jing, my real name is Wu Liutong. I was a bandit in Dongting Lake for eight years. I killed people. After I retired, I was fortunately taken in by my master."

"Yesterday in Xiangshan, I showed my skills. I know the Jinyiwei will come looking for me. I am willing to surrender. I only ask the Jinyiwei not to implicate my husband."

Lin Shisan was stunned. Yesterday he saw that Wu Jing had a lot of killing skills, and he must be a bandit. Sun Wukong could tie a bandit knot, and most likely he was imitating Wu Jing.

He didn't want to point it out, but he didn't expect Wu Jing to confess himself.

Wu Jing kowtowed and said, "Please take me back to the Imperial Guard. I will accept it if you want to kill me or cut me up."

Lin Shisan thought for a long time and said, "The Jinyiwei will only intervene if the bandits rob high-ranking officials and royal family members. In other words, you are not worthy of being intervened by the Jinyiwei."

"Let me ask you a question. You said you killed people, but were they innocent people?"

Wu Jing raised his head and looked directly into Lin Shisan's eyes: "I only kill the gentry and bullies who bully the people."

Lin Shisan asked: "Do you dare to swear?"

Wu Jing raised his finger to the sky and said, "If I lie, I hope I will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death."

Lin Shisan did not see any deception in Wu Jing's big, copper-like eyes, but only sincerity.

Lin Shisan said: "If the servant of a student who is participating in the imperial examination is a notorious thief, then the future of this student will be ruined."

"The water bandits in Dongting Lake should be handled by the Hubei Provincial Nei Si Yamen. They are not under the jurisdiction of the Jinyiwei."

"So, I will pretend that I didn't hear anything you said just now. I also advise you not to tell anyone else, so as not to ruin Mr. Wu's future."

Wu Jing felt as if he had been pardoned. He knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you very much for forgiving me."

Lin Shisan warned: "You are very capable, so you must protect Mr. Wu from now on."

As the saying goes, you should forgive others when you can. In addition, Lin Shisan had another selfish motive: if I arrested Wu Jing, Wu Chengen's official career would be blocked. Who knows if this would offend Wu's best friend, Li Chunfang, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites?

Why create unnecessary trouble?
Lin Shisan walked up to Wu Chengen and said, "Mr. Wu, I have prepared some New Year gifts for you. Please don't think they are vulgar."

Wu Chengen said quickly: "How can this be? Thank you very much."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Mr. Wu, don't thank me yet. I still have something to ask of you."

(End of this chapter)