Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

The speaker was Gao Mingqian, the highest-ranking officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Linqing, a fifth-rank commander.

"I have met Commander Shen."

Lu Chen quickly bowed to Shen Xuan, performing a traditional Chinese greeting.

"I am new here, and I hope Commander Shen will take good care of me."

"Lord Chiju, didn't you say before..."

Shen Xuan glanced at Lu Chen, then turned to Gao Mingqian and asked.

However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the other party waving his hand.

"Gao had worked with your father, Lu Kun, the former flag officer, and they had a close relationship."

Gao Mingqian winked at Shen Xuan, then turned to Lu Chen and smiled.

"In front of outsiders, let's stick to business as usual and address each other by our proper names."

"I am two years older than your father. If you don't mind, would you please call me Uncle Gao in private, and I will call you Nephew Lu?"

"This junior greets Uncle Gao."

Since this commander was so sensible, Lu Chen naturally wouldn't refuse.

"Okay. Okay. Okay."

Gao Mingqian showed a relieved expression.

"Nephew Lu, you have traveled a long and tiring journey to Linqing to take up your post. Please return to the post station and rest well first."

Tonight, Commander Shen and I will host a banquet at Lanyue Tower in the west of the city to welcome our nephew.

"I will have my nephew's official robes, seal, and talisman prepared, and I will personally take him to Lan Yue Tower tonight."

"In that case, I thank Uncle Gao very much."

Although he knew Gao Mingqian was just being polite, Lu Chen still felt slightly flattered.

This Commander Gao was, after all, a fifth-rank military officer and the highest-ranking officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Linqing, a megacity with a population of one million.

Such a courteous and respectful attitude towards scholars would likely move most people in this era to tears.

In other words, Lu Chen, as a time traveler, was accustomed to the various co-opting tactics of those in power during the information explosion era, which made him immune to them.

. . .

The back office, the study.

After Lu Chen left the Qianhu Office, Gao Mingqian summoned Shen Xuan to his study for a private talk.

"Lord Commander, just who is this Lu Chen?"

Shen Xuan, the centurion, personally brewed a pot of tea for Gao Mingqian.

Based on Gao Mingqian's attitude just now, he had already realized that Lu Chen's background was definitely not simple.

"Commander Shen, you should take a look for yourself."

With no one else in the study, Gao Mingqian had no intention of hiding anything from his trusted subordinate Shen Xuan, and directly handed him the two items that Lu Chen had personally given him.

These two items were naturally the "Unpredictable Talisman" that Yuan Xun gave to Lu Chen to use on his way to his new post, and the appointment letter written by Lu Bing himself and stamped with the seal of the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"This is the 'Impermanence' amulet."

Shen Xuan picked up the "Impermanence Token" and examined it carefully. Of course, he recognized it.

"We Jinyiwei can apply for a mission when we go out to carry out secret missions. Of course, going to Linqing to take up a post is not a secret mission, and there is no need to hide our identity."

Wearing a "death pendant" is indeed a bit strange, but it's not particularly unusual.

"The 'Instantaneous Death' amulet is nothing special!"

Gao Mingqian picked up the teacup and gently blew on the steaming tea.

"But that appointment letter was definitely not the kind of treatment an ordinary Jinyiwei captain deserved."

"How is this possible?!"

Shen Xuan pulled the appointment letter from the envelope, unfolded it on the table, and carefully examined it word by word. The more he read, the paler his face became.

"What, you're scared too!"

Seeing Shen Xuan's expression, Gao Mingqian laughed.

"I'm certain that Lu Chen has never spent a single day in the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Otherwise, how could he not see the irregularities all over this appointment letter?!

"Lord Gao, are you saying that Lu Chen is incredibly audacious, daring to forge even the appointment letter for the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?!"

Upon hearing Gao Mingqian's words, Shen Xuan was so startled that he jumped up from his chair.

"That's not right. I've never seen this appointment letter personally signed by the Commander-in-Chief before, so I can't tell if it's real or fake."

However, I can still recognize this "impermanence" amulet; it is definitely not a forgery.

"This appointment letter is definitely not fake!"

Gao Mingqian shook his head.

"Not only is it not fake, but every single word on it was handwritten by Commander Lu Bing himself, and it also bears his own official seal."

In other words, this appointment letter was not written by a clerk of the Imperial Guard in the capital, but was completed entirely by Lord Lu Bing alone.

Furthermore, look at the date it was issued; what day is it?

"This is..."

Shen Xuan looked at the date on the appointment letter, paused for a few seconds,

"I remember now, this is the day after Lord Lu Song passed away!"

"When Lord Lu passed away, Commander Qianhu, you even sent someone to the capital to deliver a generous gift to the Vice Prefect to express your condolences."

"Hehe, you have a pretty good memory!"

Gao Mingqian smiled.

"The day after my father passed away, the magistrate, who was supposed to be keeping vigil at the mourning hall, actually went to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters and issued this appointment letter that was completely against the rules and procedures!"

Clearly, in the mind of the Assistant Magistrate, this appointment letter must be issued immediately, without any delay!

Moreover, do you know what Lu Chen said when he came to the Thousand Household Office to request an audience with me?

He originally set off from his hometown in Chengtian Prefecture to go to the capital to serve medicine to his father, Lu Kun, the General of the Banner.

Lu Kun was still alive when he received the letter from his stepmother in the capital.

However, when he passed through Xiangyang Prefecture and arrived at Wadian Town in Nanyang Prefecture, he encountered Yuan Xun, the flag officer, who was on the orders of the Assistant Magistrate and carrying this letter of appointment to go south to find him.

I have met this Yuan Xun, the flag officer. He is also a hereditary flag officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and works in the Northern Garrison Command. He can be considered a confidant of the Assistant Magistrate.

According to Lu Chen, this "Unpredictable Sign" was also lent to him by Commander Yuan, who instructed him to return it to the garrison after taking office in Linqing.

"You mean, the Assistant Magistrate not only personally wrote this appointment letter, but also immediately sent a trusted confidant south to search for him..."

Shen Xuan looked incredulous.

"No, 'searching' isn't the right word; it should be 'intercepting' Lu Chen, who is on his way to the capital!"

"That's right, it's interception!"

Gao Mingqian put down his teacup and pointed to the appointment letter.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that someone without official robes, seals, or talismans could come to Linqing to take up his post with a letter from the Assistant Magistrate."

It is evident how rushed the Assistant Magistrate was at the time; he didn't even have time to prepare these things before sending Yuan Xun off with this appointment letter.

In other words, the Vice Magistrate absolutely does not want Lu Chen to appear in the capital!

Look, what's on this appointment letter?

He was reinstated after being released from mourning and resumed his post.

Last month, your subordinate, Commander Jiang, was unfortunately killed in the line of duty while apprehending a notorious bandit, leaving a vacancy for Commander Jiang.

But our Linqing Thousand-Household Garrison has ten centurions, twenty captains, and one hundred squad leaders!

There are plenty of people who can temporarily take over the official duties left behind by General Chiang!

Where is it necessary for the Assistant Magistrate to urgently dispatch a Captain from the capital to take over the post?

Moreover, we have already decided to appoint Qin Fang as the successor, and we have even sent the letter of recommendation to the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital.

Qin Fang was also the eldest son of a hereditary bannerman family. When his father passed away three years ago, he had already served as a captain for several years.

He has long been qualified; in fact, he should have inherited the position after the mourning period ended, but there has never been a vacancy.

Now that Commander-in-Chief Jiang has died in the line of duty, we recommend him to succeed him. The officials in the Imperial Guard in the capital should not refuse.

Unexpectedly, the Assistant Magistrate sent Lu Chen to Linqing to fill the vacancy!

It's one thing to fill the vacancy, but Lu Chen's father, Lu Kun, was also a hereditary commander, so it's reasonable for him to inherit his father's position.

Although I'm not as familiar with Lu Kun as I was with Lu Chen earlier, we've still interacted a few times.

I remember he once mentioned that he had a legitimate son, I think his name was Lu Chengguang, who had become a Jinyiwei Captain in the capital, according to the rules of our Jinyiwei hereditary military officers.

Clearly, he intended to pass on his hereditary title of General Banner Commander to Lu Chengguang.

As for Lu Chen, if it weren't for the fact that it was written in black and white on this appointment letter, I wouldn't have known that Lu Kun had such a son.

According to this statement, Lu Kun had just passed away.

Even if he did change his mind before he died, or if something happened to his eldest son Lu Chengguang in the past two years—such as death or disability—and only Lu Chen could inherit the throne, there shouldn't be such a rush.