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

Chapter 97 Pumping Water from Taiye Lake

Lin Shisan and Chen Ju rode fast horses and galloped all the way from the elephant training center to Xuanjin Bridge.

Lin Shisan noticed something unusual: "Why are all the officials who knelt to make remonstrations gone?"

Chen Ju said, "Didn't the censor say that the golden tortoise was lost because of the wrath of heaven? The emperor has summoned them at Taiye Lake. We are just waiting for you to prove that the golden tortoise was not lost, and all the rumors will be broken."

Lin Shisan was surprised: "You mean, the emperor and the censors are all waiting for me at Taiye Lake?"

Chen Ju said, "Not only the emperor and the censors, but also the cabinet members, the eunuchs, and the ministers. They are all waiting for you at the Taiye Lake."

After hearing this, Lin Shisan tied up his chestnut horse, trotted across the Xuanjin Bridge, and ran to the front of Xi'an Gate.

On the other side of Xi'an Gate, Huang Jin was pacing back and forth anxiously.

Seeing Lin Shisan coming, Huang Jin shouted, "My Lin Chuanfeng, why are you here just now!"

Lin Shisan panted and said, "Eunuch Huang, over there at Taiye Lake."

Huang Jin interrupted him: "From the Emperor to the ministers and censors, everyone is waiting for you."

"The Emperor asked Eunuch Lu to prove that the golden tortoise is still in Taiye Lake, so as to correct people's minds and put an end to rumors."

"Eunuch Lu recommended you to the emperor. If you can complete the task this time, you will be able to get your report to the emperor!"

Huang Jin led Lin Shisan to the Taiye Lake.

Emperor Jiajing sat on the imperial sedan chair, with a piece of green gauze hanging on the door.

The eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department stood in front of the imperial sedan chair, and the cabinet members, ministers of the ministries and agencies, and the imperial censors stood on both sides.

This scene is comparable to the imperial court session 20 years ago.

Although Lin Shisan had recently gained power, it was only a small power. Seeing this grand scene, his calves began to cramp.

When Lu Fang saw Lin Shisan coming, he shouted, "The general flag of Xuanbei Pacification Division and the official of Yongshou Palace, Lin Shisan, is here to question the emperor."

Lin Shisan stepped forward.

A clear sound of bronze bells came from the imperial carriage.

Emperor Jiajing never spoke easily in front of foreign ministers, but only used the sound of bronze chimes to convey his sacred message.

There are two advantages to doing this. First, just striking the chimes without saying anything can keep the ministers guessing. In his opinion, an emperor who can keep his ministers guessing can have a stable throne.

Second, too much talk leads to mistakes. When Emperor Jiajing was young, the civil officials would find fault with every word he said and "correct the emperor's mistakes" in various ways. Emperor Jiajing suffered enough losses at that time.

I might as well not speak in front of you. You can never find any fault with me.

After the sound of the bronze bell, Lv Fang understood and asked loudly: "Lin Shisan, are you the one serving the golden tortoise?"

Lin Shisan kowtowed: "Yes."

"Dangdang" the bronze chime rang twice again.

Lu Fang said, "Now there is a rumor in the capital that the golden tortoise in Taiye Lake has been lost. Tell me, is it lost or not?"

In front of the Ming Emperor and almost all the important officials of the court, Lin Shisan was so nervous that he was sweating all over.

He wanted to say "it's not lost". But then he thought, nothing is absolute in this world. The golden tortoise is involved in important political affairs. Who knows if anyone is interfering?

He dared not say "lost". He was the one who was responsible for taking care of the golden turtle. If the golden turtle was lost, his head would also be lost.

Seeing that Lin Shisan remained silent, Lu Fang shouted, "Answer me clearly."

This is a life-threatening question. But not answering it is even more life-threatening.

When spring breeze blows, autumn rain will follow. At the critical moment, Yang Bo, the Minister of War, stood up.

Yang Bo bowed and said, "Your Majesty. I think that in such a large Taiye Lake, no one can be sure whether the golden tortoise is lost or not."

"The key point at the moment is to let this Lin Chuanfeng find out whether the golden turtle is in the Taiye Lake first."

Yang Bo knew Lin Shisan's dilemma and said these words to help him solve it.

"Dang" the bronze chime rang.

Lu Fang asked loudly: "Lin Shisan, do you have any way to find out whether the golden turtle is in Taiye Lake?"

Lin Shisan replied: "There is a way."

Lu Fang said, "I understand." Lin Shisan said, "It is spring now. The weather is still warm. As long as the water in Taiye Lake is three feet deep, the fish and turtles in the lake will not die."

"There is no wind today, and the three-foot water depth is enough to see the bottom of the pond."

"My solution is to drain the water of Taiye Lake to three feet. Then I will order people to row boats into the lake to inspect and find out whether the golden turtle is in the lake."

Lu Fang asked, "Where is the director of the Ministry of Works' Water Conservancy Department?"

Doctor Zhao from the Du Shui Department said, "Yes."

Lü Fang asked, "The water affairs of Taiye Lake are managed by your Du Shui Dian. I want to ask you, can you follow Lin Shisan's instructions and drain the water of Taiye Lake to a depth of three feet?"

Doctor Zhao replied, "To answer Eunuch Lu, Taiye Lake has four drainage gates, four water intake gates, and two water exchange holes."

“As long as the drainage gate is opened, the water can be drained to three feet.”

Lu Fang asked: "How long will it take to drain the water to three feet at the fastest speed?"

Doctor Zhao replied: "It will take three hours to raise all four drainage gates to their highest position."

Lu Fang said, "It is now 15 minutes past 4 p.m. That is to say, if we open the four drainage gates, the water will be drained to three feet by 15 minutes past 4 p.m.?"

Doctor Zhao replied, "Yes."

Lin Shisan quickly reminded: "Be careful when draining water, the golden turtle may escape from the open sluice gate."

Doctor Zhao said, "Don't worry. The Ministry of Works had already thought of this when they built the sluice gate."

"To prevent the fish and turtles in the pond from escaping when the sluice gate is opened, a large net is hung under the gate."

The bronze bell rang three times. Lu Fang understood what he meant: "There is an imperial decree, ordering the Ministry of Works to drain the water immediately."

Doctor Zhao took the order and led a hundred strong generals to pull eight hemp ropes to turn the capstans of the four drainage gates.

The four drainage gates slowly rose to a height of ten feet, and at the same time, four large nets were lowered.

"Splash" the pool water began to flow into the drainage gate and into the drainage canal.

Both the Yan party and the Xu party had sullen faces and said nothing.

All the members of the Imperial Household Department had solemn expressions and did not utter a word.

Lin Shisan was sweating. If the drainage is completed at 2:00 pm, and the golden turtle can be seen, then it will be easy. You big shots are fighting in the party, and it has nothing to do with me, Lin Shisan, for a penny.

I have done my duty and served the golden turtle attentively. What can you do to me?

I was afraid that the golden turtle would really be gone. They used the golden turtle that disappeared without a trace and the illusory will of heaven to engage in party struggles, and I, who was responsible for serving the golden turtle, would become a victim of the party struggles.

"Dang" the sound of a bronze chime rang out.

Lu Fang came to the green gauze of the imperial chariot.

Emperor Jiajing whispered a few instructions to him.

Lu Fang said loudly, "There is an imperial decree. All officials should return to their respective offices to do their duties. Gather by the Taiye Lake at 3 p.m."

Zou Yinglong shouted, "Your Highness, I am Zou Yinglong, the Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate, and I am willing to stay by the Taiye Lake to supervise the drainage to prevent scoundrels from interfering."

"Dang" the bronze chime rang again.

Lu Fang said: "If there is an order, it will be granted!"

The imperial chariot started and slowly left the Taiye Lake. The officials dispersed.

Luo Longwen walked up to Lin Shisan and said, "Shisan, there's no need to be afraid. I don't believe that a golden turtle weighing more than 300 kilograms can grow wings and fly."

Lin Shisan nodded: "I think so too."

Luo Longwen cursed again: "It's all because of those noisy crows who believe everything they hear. They always attribute unfounded rumors to God's will."

"During the time of the Great Ceremony, there was an Imperial Astronomical Observatory named Zhou Tianzuo. Whenever there was a flood, drought or locust plague, he would say it was a punishment from heaven caused by the emperor's misconduct."

"The man surnamed Zhou was later beaten to death by your Imperial Guards."

"Today's censors spread rumors to confuse the public, and their fate will be the same as Zhou's."

Lin Shisan stared at the water of Taiye Lake without saying a word. He prayed silently in his heart: "Golden turtle, golden turtle, you must stay in Taiye Lake honestly."

(End of this chapter)