Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 327 Highly Respected
Qin Chang asked Qin Yun to come because of the matter of Zhang Mansion. Originally, Qin Chang wanted to find someone to keep an eye on Zhang Mansion all the time. He was not at ease with letting others go, so he let his nephew carry out this task.

"In reply to your uncle, the Zhang family does have some business, but they don't run it themselves. Instead, they frequently interact with Huizhou merchants and profit from it. As for whether they are making mirrors, I don't know. After all, I used to work for the Jinyiwei and didn't go to the Zhang family often."

Qin Yun still knows his limits very well.

He knows exactly what to say and what not to say.

Qin Chang nodded and said, "In other words, what the Zhang family is doing now is inseparable from the Huizhou merchants?"

"Yes."

Qin Yun said, "I heard that the Hui merchants helped Zhang Laizhan when he was treating the plague in Hejian Prefecture. After arriving in the capital, they even contributed money and effort to some things. However, the money did not enter Zhang's house. I haven't investigated clearly where the money was used. I'm afraid only his family knows this."

Qin Chang's face was gloomy, and he murmured, "It is said that Shanxi merchants travel all over the world. They rely on their proximity to the border to trade in official salt and grain, and cultivate land in the northwest. It can be said that they have successfully solved the problem of border military expenses, and their contribution is invaluable. How come the Huizhou merchants suddenly emerged?"

Qin Yun thought about it and felt that his uncle was probably not asking him a question, but just expressing his feelings. In this case, there was no need for him to answer.

"Qin Yun, how much is your annual salary now?"

Qin Chang suddenly asked.

Tan Yun said respectfully: "In reply to your uncle's question, the annual salary of rice plus salary, and some additional silver, is about sixty or seventy taels."

"That's quite a lot. Is it enough to spend?" Qin Chang asked.

Qin Yun thought to himself, what do you think?

If this were in other places, sixty-seven taels of silver would definitely allow me to live a comfortable life, but this is the capital, where every inch of land is worth a lot of money and prices are high. Moreover, I am in the officialdom, and the tributes I have to pay to my superiors every year are not small. I can't even afford to order a replacement Jinyiwei official uniform.

"That's enough, that's enough."

Qin Yun could only grit his teeth and swallow it.

I thought to myself, I can’t complain about being poor in front of the official Yin from the Imperial Household Department, right?

Qin Chang nodded with satisfaction and said, "In the future, besides getting closer to the Zhang family, you should also keep an eye on the Huizhou merchants in Beijing. You won't have to interfere in the affairs of the Jinyiwei in the future. I will transfer you from the position of the manager of the guard house to do miscellaneous work. The annual income should be able to increase by several dozen taels."

"Thank you uncle."

Qin Chang quickly bowed and thanked him.

Tan Chang asked, "If there is any unusual movement in the Zhang residence, can you come and inform us immediately?"

"Nephew, try your best..."

Qin Yun agreed verbally.

But I was thinking, what good will it do if I tell you?

I have definitely reached the end of my career as a captain of the Imperial Guard. If I want to move up further, relying solely on my relationship as your nephew is clearly not enough.

I just want to earn some money to support my mother in her old age, and then marry a virtuous wife. Then I can have many children and families. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

As for you, Eunuch Qin... even your colleagues in the Embroidered Uniform Guard know that you don't have much ability. When Huai En was in power, the emperor handed all matters to Huai En, and there was no objection from top to bottom. But now that you are the Eunuch of the Imperial Household, your power is almost encroached upon by court officials.

"it is good."

Qin Chang smiled kindly and waved his hand, saying, "Go ahead, take this money and go back to take good care of your mother. I'll make some arrangements for you later. My family never mistreats those who work for me.

"Humph, those servants were blind and neglected you before. Next time you come, just go inside. If anyone blocks you, just use your knife to drive them back."

Qin Yun thought to himself, how dare I use a knife in your house?
Are you tired of living?

"If my nephew has something to do, I will come and report it to you, uncle."

……

……

Qin Yun originally thought that Qin Chang was just talking and there would be no substantial changes in his job in the Jinyiwei.

But when he went to the Jinyiwei Beizhenfusi Yamen, his superior told him to put aside all his previous assignments and just concentrate on doing his job from now on.

Then the Jinyiwei commander Zhu Ji personally took him to the Northern Pacification Prison.

"Commander-in-chief, you..."

Qin Yun felt a little ashamed in front of Zhu Ji. After all, he had only been in the Jinyiwei for a short time, while Zhu Ji was a famous meritorious person in the Jinyiwei and was also his immediate superior.

In such a military office, only those who have made contributions can gain respect from others.

Zhu Ji said, "Captain Qin, if you have time, please help me interrogate a few prisoners."

"This……"

Tan Yun was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Interrogating prisoners seems to be hard work, but it is always easy to squeeze out money and make merit. How could such a good thing happen to me?

Zhu Ji smiled and said, "You are considered an old man in the Jinyiwei. You are diligent and capable. I heard that you are doing a good job in the Crown Princess's family. The brothers have praised you a lot and said that you are the most caring one among the many centurions."

When Qin Yun heard this, he wondered why this sounded so familiar.

It seems that money makes things easier. In the past, people always slandered me, saying that I was not good at anything and could only do dirty and tiring work like running errands.

Now that I have earned the money back for them, is everyone speaking well of me?

"Your uncle is now the Chief Seal Officer of the Imperial Household Department. Even the Governor of the Eastern Depot, Eunuch Wei, came to say hello and asked him to take care of you. In fact, as you know, there are so many people with connections in our Jinyiwei. Who doesn't have a deep background? The key is whether you have real ability! You have proved yourself, so now if there is a good job, it will naturally be assigned to you." Zhu Ji said with a smile.

Tan Yun quickly said: "I don't have much ability, I just want to work hard."

Zhu Ji nodded in praise: "That's good. Most people who boast about their great abilities are mean and malicious. But you are different. I know a lot of people. Those who speak well of you all admire you sincerely.

"You are honest, which is a good thing, but in Jinyiwei, you often need some tricks to get promoted. So I will let you try to interrogate the prisoner first."

Qin Yun thought, maybe they sent me to the Imperial Prison to gain experience in order to train my ruthlessness? "So..."

Zhu Ji said, looking around, and when he found no one, he immediately took out an envelope from his pocket, handed it to Qin Yun, and whispered, "This is a small gift from me to Zhang Hanlin. I can't give it to him in person, so you can pass it on for me."

"what?"

Qin Yun then realized that his immediate superior had given him a private task.

He was actually helping Zhu Ji deliver a gift! ?
The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is actually going to give gifts to the prince's father-in-law?

As for?
Zhu Ji smiled and said, "You are one of us, so I will speak frankly to you... Last time, when we were searching for the missing Jing army, the prince helped me behind the scenes, allowing me to escape the disaster. It is said that Zhang Hanlin was the one who gave me the advice, so I have to repay him this time."

Qin Yun thought, you are the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and yet you are showing goodwill to the prince?

While the emperor is still alive, your behavior is very dangerous!
Besides, are you sure that Zhang Hanlin knew about the disappearance of Jingjun and mentioned it to the prince?
"I am just repaying a favor, and I have no other intentions," said Zhu Ji.

"Yes."

Qin Yun thought, even if you tell me the truth, I wouldn't dare tell anyone else.

Besides, even if I report you, no one will believe me.

But you really trust me.

This is treating me as one of your own!

Before I knew it, I had become the confidant of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?
Doesn’t this mean... that I still have hope of promotion in the future?
"As for those in the imperial prison, the eastern section of the A cell holds several southern officials, and there are some business forces behind them." Zhu Ji raised his eyebrows and smiled mysteriously, "You can trick them and ask them to write letters to their families outside and ask their parents, wives and children to send money. You can divide the money with your brothers."

"This……"

Qin Yun thought, isn’t this a typical case of embezzlement?

Zhu Ji put his hand on Qin Yun's shoulder, with an encouraging look on his face: "Young talent, among so many young people in the Jinyiwei, I am most optimistic about you. You can at least become a captain in the future. Do your job well."

……

……

Throughout the day, Qin Yun heard only words of encouragement.

But he was not a fool. He could hear a sense of exploitation in these people's praise.

Since his official position had not changed, he did not need to hold a celebration banquet. In the afternoon, he gathered his thoughts and ran to a new house that Zhang Yanling had rented in the city. After entering, he saw Zhang Heling training his men there.

Chai Meng sat on a stone slab nearby, gently waving a folding fan in his hand, looking at the excitement in front of him with a smile on his lips.

"Captain Tan is here?"

Seeing Qin Yun, Chai Meng quickly got up from the ground, patted the dust off his butt, and said with a smile, "The eldest master is training the new army."

Qin Yun was stunned: "This..."

"Just a joke."

Chai Meng said, "They said they're going to add more people to guard the house recently. I don't know what they're doing. Even I didn't see the second young master today. He seems to be very busy recently."

Qin Yun nodded, looked up at the direction of the main hall, and asked, "Did the Second Young Master mention the silver mirror?"

"What silver mirror?"

Chai Meng was completely unaware of this.

Qin Yun said, "I saw the second young master bring a few pieces of colored glaze here earlier. It seems that they are here... What happened to the colored glaze afterwards?"

Chai Meng smiled and said, "How would I know? He recently asked me to buy some books and said he would start a class to teach his disciples... I don't know what he means. Why don't you ask the eldest master?"

"no need."

Qin Yun continued to watch the group of people gesticulating there.

As the two were talking, a group of people came in from outside, led by Zhang Yanling.

Behind Zhang Yanling followed Qin Zhao and Li Wuwei, each with their followers.

"This is it."

After Zhang Yanling entered the yard, he called to the people behind him, "This is a yard that we rented temporarily for communication. If there is anything in the future, you two can send someone to inform us."

Several people entered the yard together. Before Qin Zhao and Li Wuwei could stand firmly on their feet, they saw a group of thugs holding sticks and looking murderous on the opposite side. Next to them stood Qin Yun, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, holding a knife.

Li Wuwei was so frightened that he almost knelt down and begged for mercy.

Zhang Yanling called out, "Captain Tan, why are you here?"

"I……"

Qin Yun originally wanted to say, I have something to talk to you about.

But he was not very good at speaking in front of outsiders.

"Then don't bother me."

Qin Zhao was very tactful and immediately said goodbye with a smile.

Zhang Yanling shouted, "Don't leave yet. I'll show you some samples...Brother, please help me greet the guests...Go, go, dismiss everyone...What kind of noise is this here? How can I receive the distinguished guests?"

"It's all gone, it's all gone."

Zhang Heling saw his brother getting angry and waved his hand quickly, "We will go out of the city for drills tomorrow, so be alert."

(End of this chapter)