From street beggar to high-ranking official

Since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty, it has often been invaded and plundered by the barbarian tribes in the north. Emperor Taizu once thought of unifying the north and south and ordered the border troops to go on a northern expedition. However, the dynasty was newly established, and the campaign to pacify the western regions and the expedition to the southwest was too costly and exhausting for the people and resources, so it was left unfinished.

After Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, he reduced the size of the border troops, established a military register that could be inherited by hereditary soldiers, who served as civilians during farming seasons and soldiers during wartime. He also repaired the Great Wall, which stretched from Shanhaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west, to defend against enemies and allow the people to recuperate and thrive.

During Emperor Gaozong's reign, in order to resolve the northern threat, he established the Tea and Horse Bureau in Sichuan to exchange tea for horses and trade with the northern barbarians, using the abundant tea production to exchange for warhorses.

The northern barbarians would become sluggish if they went a day without tea, and fall ill if they went three days without tea. However, the Great Qian Dynasty lacked good land for training horses. As time went on, the Great Qian Dynasty gradually became stronger by the time Emperor Yongxi ascended the throne, and the use of tea to control the barbarians proved to be very effective.

It has both curbed the raids of the northern barbarians and increased the national treasury, and also reduced the military affairs and supplies in the northern frontier. Sixty years have passed since then.

This is the historical fact that Lu Li learned from the middle-aged eunuch in the side hall by spending money.

While eunuchs were not prohibited from reading within the palace, taboo matters concerning the royal family were not compiled into books and circulated freely. Instead, they were passed down orally among older eunuchs who had personally experienced or heard about these matters and who had a lineage of knowledge, before being passed on to the next generation.

In other words, these old eunuchs were living histories of the Inner Palace.

The Imperial Horse Administration supplied the imperial horses, which naturally included superior breeds purchased from the north. The reduction in tea production eventually affected the inner court.

At this point, Lu Li had sorted out the whole story, understood the Emperor's inner conflict, and understood why the Emperor, who clearly cared for Consort Wu, showed little interest in tea from Jiangnan.

After understanding the cause of the tea, Lu Li suddenly gained a new understanding of the situation in the palace.

There are two paths before me.

Firstly, he chose the Imperial Stables. Since Eunuch Chen was able to send copies of the official gazette into the palace, he must have his own connections. Eunuch Qian's willingness to meet him was probably due to his godfather.

The second option is to continue staying in the Imperial Palace and choose Consort Wu.

Rumors have already spread within the palace that Consort Wu will soon become a concubine, and many palace maids and eunuchs have placed bets on it.

Concubines are certainly not of the highest rank, but what everyone desires is Consort Wu, or rather, Consort Wu, who one day becomes pregnant with the emperor's son.

At that time, the mother will rise in status because of her son, and even the servants will be promoted to high positions.

Lu Li thought about it carefully again and realized that he had no choice at all.

It was very likely that it was Eunuch Chen's idea for me to be assigned to the Palace Guard. The eunuchs in the Palace Guard were the best at finding out the trends in the inner palace. After all, the nobles did not regard the eunuchs who cleaned and trimmed as human beings, but only as moving pots and pans.

The choice is entirely up to the godfather.

After figuring this out, Lu Li went to his godfather again to ask for his advice and shared his views on tea.

"Hmm..." Eunuch Chen drawled out, his meaning unclear.

"What does Godfather think?" Lu asked, bowing.

"Little Lu's perspective isn't comprehensive, but it's enough." Eunuch Chen chuckled a few times. "What are you thinking, Little Lu? Pick a path, and your godfather will put in a good effort for you."

Lu Li hesitated.

Seeing this, Eunuch Chen waved his hand generously: "It's alright, just say it. Lu Zi's entry into the Palace Guard is just a casual move for us. Since he's a pawn, we should make a move on him."

The words were indeed made clear.

Lu Li grew even more cautious, hesitated for a moment, then kowtowed and bowed, saying, "It's all up to my godfather!"

Seeing this, Eunuch Chen became even more confident in Lu.

He was genuinely afraid that if his adopted son pledged allegiance on the spot, it would cause trouble.

There's no other reason than that Eunuch Chen has seen too many cases like this. So many godsons appear to be extremely loyal, but then turn around and betray their godfathers completely.

Having experienced countless betrayals, Eunuch Chen no longer believed in loyalty, but he still judged others by their loyalty.

Being loyal to others is betraying yourself, and being loyal to yourself is betraying others.

Anyone who is absolutely loyal to you is definitely up to no good!

This is because one needs something from others, and thus serves them.

Self-interest, only self-interest is the most loyal bondage.

"Then let's go to the Imperial Stables." Eunuch Chen's eyes flickered slightly. "Heh heh, if Eunuch Qian wants to use our connections, he'll have to give us some benefits first."

Lu Li was puzzled: "Godfather, why don't you go yourself?"

Lu Li didn't believe that Eunuch Chen would give his adopted son any benefits for nothing. Even if it was the inheritance of his mantle, it wouldn't be his turn. Eunuch Chen had plenty of adopted sons with higher positions than him.

Eunuch Chen remained silent.

Lu immediately kowtowed, his voice loud and clear: "I was confused for a moment, Godfather, please forgive me!"

"Ask whatever you want, there's no need for us to hide anything." Eunuch Chen grinned, picked up his teacup, sipped his tea, and slowly exhaled.

"I truly did not know that my godfather's favor towards me surpassed that of my biological parents, and this makes me uneasy..."

Lu Li kept rambling on and on about lies.

This statement was half true and half false. Lu Li would not accept that it was better than his parents, because he had never forgotten the kindness of his biological father in raising him and the kindness of his mother in giving him life and raising him. The few taels of silver he lost and the words in his memory kept him thinking about them.

It's true that I feel uneasy.

"I was unable to fulfill my filial duties to my biological parents, and I fear I will also be unable to fulfill my filial duties to my godfather..."

That's all a lie.

Lu Li was willing to take care of his parents in their old age and fulfill his filial duties, but he would only prepare a thin coffin and some paper money for Eunuch Chen, wishing his godfather a prosperous life after his death.

Eunuch Chen listened with tears in his eyes, and the godfather and godson put on a show of deep father-son affection.

......

Half a month later, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs issued a transfer order, sending Lu Li to the Imperial Horse Administration to take charge of the affairs of the Palace Administration.

At this time, Lu Li and Xiao Luozi were locked in a fierce struggle. After buying books several times to roughly figure out Zhao Gonggong's attitude, the two had gradually developed into a situation where they secretly plotted against each other and even poisoned each other. A transfer order forced Lu Li to take up his post.

What exactly is the background of this "godfather"?

Lu Li originally thought that Eunuch Chen's background was that of a powerful family. After all, it was not uncommon for members of powerful families to become eunuchs in the palace. Xiao Lu, whom Xiao Fengzi had taken care of when he was still alive, was one of them. Therefore, he would be involved with the harem and the official gazette.

This is because the concubines in the palace also had backgrounds, and there were quite a few from prominent families, such as Consort De, who came from a prominent family in Jiangnan.

Based on this reasoning, it should have been the eunuch from the Imperial Horse Administration who came to the Palace Guard to ask for someone, but unexpectedly it was the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs that issued the transfer order.

The phrase "dispatched" is unusual; it signifies a special assignment and the inclusion of duties at the Palace Guard, meaning that Lu Li can return to the Palace Guard at any time in the future.

In layman's terms, it's like being sent abroad for "gilding" (or "prestigious experience").

"Our family can't keep an eye on the affairs of the Palace Guard all the time. My godfather will probably be putting more people into the Palace Guard later. As for their purpose..."

He'll probably take Lu Li's place and wait patiently, but by then Xiao Luo will likely have already killed him.

Lu Li prided himself on being ruthless, yet he felt a pang of pity for the little eunuch who had suffered an undeserved calamity because of him.

After feeling pity, he was taken aback, and in the end, Lu Li deliberately erased all of these emotions.

Pity? That's something only the wealthy and powerful possess!

In the past, there was a severe drought, and at the beginning of the year, there was a heavy snow. He begged his way here, but who took pity on Lu Li?

On the contrary, the thought that the new eunuch might eventually die at the hands of Xiao Luozi fueled Lu Li's murderous intent.

If that's the case, then we'll have a reason to kill Xiao Luozi directly!

There's no need to painstakingly list out evidence.

......

The Imperial Horse Stables.

Before entering, Lu Li spoke with the gatekeeper and, upon learning that the governor was in a good mood, calmly went in to kowtow.

Grandpa Qian sat on a mahogany chair, his teacup steaming with moisture.

"Does Little Lu want to become an official?"

Lu Li immediately kowtowed to thank the eunuch for his kindness. If he hadn't had a biological father first and then a godfather, Lu Li would have a third father today, making him a slave to three different families.