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

Chapter 100 Calling the Han General
Doctor Zhao was certain that the golden turtle did not escape from the water-changing cave.

Lin Shisan asked: "Why do you think so?"

Doctor Zhao explained that there are two water exchange holes in Taiye Lake, one in the east and one in the west.

The water exchange tunnel is different from the sluice gate. Water flows in and out only when the sluice gate is opened. However, the water exchange tunnel flows in and out all the time.

For fear that fish and turtles might escape from the water-changing holes, three layers of barrier nets are hung in each water-changing hole.

Doctor Zhao said, "Even if one layer of the barrier net is damaged, there are still two more layers. How could the golden turtle escape from the water exchange cave?"

Lin Shisan asked, "What if all three layers of the barrier net are damaged?"

Doctor Zhao frowned: "All three floors are damaged? Unless it was caused by human sabotage!"

They arrived in front of the East Water Exchange Cave. The eunuchs held torches, and Lin Shisan and Doctor Zhao personally checked the three layers of interception nets.

The barrier net is intact.

Lin Shisan said, "How strange. Then the only suspicious place left is Xihuanshui Cave."

If the barrier net at the West Water Exchange Tunnel is also intact, then it can only be said that the golden turtle grew wings and flew out of the Taiye Lake.

The crowd made a big circle and arrived at the West Water Changing Cave.

Lin Shisan looked at the barrier net in the light of the torch: "Sure enough!"

Doctor Zhao exclaimed: "Ah! There are big holes in all three barrier nets!"

There was a large hole about half a meter in diameter on each of the three barrier nets.

Lin Shisan ordered his men to put away the barrier net and after a careful inspection, he came to the conclusion: "The net wire was cut. Judging from the flat cross-section of the wire ends, it must have been cut with a knife."

"The golden turtle has lived for more than 1,700 years, and its intelligence is probably higher than that of ordinary people. There are many plankton, shrimps, and small fish near the water-changing hole. The golden turtle likes to stay near here."

"There's such a big hole in the barrier net. It will definitely be able to find it, drill through the hole to the water exchange hole, and escape through the waterway."

Doctor Zhao cursed: "Which bastard is that?"

Lin Shisan said, "It doesn't matter who did it now. Finding the golden turtle is what matters."

"May I ask Doctor Zhao, where does the waterway in the water-changing cave lead to?"

Doctor Zhao replied: "The water of our Taiye Lake comes from Yuquan Mountain and Baifu Springs, and it uses the old course of Gaoliang River."

“Taiye Lake is connected to Tongzi River.”

"So the water exchange hole is connected to Gaoliang River and Tongzi River."

Lin Shisan thought for a moment and said, "If the golden tortoise escaped into Tongzi River, it would be easy to find. Tongzi River is no more than ten feet wide and no deeper than one person. It is also a moat that goes around the imperial city."

"Let's get a hundred or eighty people to pull fishing nets along the banks of Tongzi River to search. We can catch golden turtles in less than one night."

"If they escaped to the Gaoliang River, it would be hard to find them. The tributaries of the Gaoliang River are interconnected in the city, there are at least a dozen of them. We would have to mobilize thousands or even tens of thousands of people."

Doctor Zhao interrupted Lin Shisan and said, "Lin Chuanfeng, there is something you may not know. Tongzi River is the royal moat. Only the generals in charge of guarding the palace can move freely along the shore. Anyone who approaches will be killed without mercy."

Lin Shisan had originally planned to use the badge given by Lu Fang to mobilize the eunuchs to cast nets in Tongzi River to search for turtles, but it seems that this is not going to work.

Doctor Zhao added, "If you want to transfer the generals of the Han Dynasty, you need the joint permission of the chief treasurer of the Jinyiwei and the seal holder of the Imperial Horse Administration."

Lin Shisan said, "Doctor Zhao, please wait for me at Xuanjin Bridge. I'm going to find Eunuch Lu."

The Han generals were the imperial guards, totaling 1,500 men. But mobilizing even a mere 100 men was extremely cumbersome.

The Han general's power to command troops lies with the Jinyiwei, and the power to mobilize troops lies with the Imperial Horse Administration. The two leaders must agree to mobilize troops.

The keeper of the Imperial Stables is Huang Jin, so it’s easy to talk to him.

Lin Shisan thought: Shen Lian is Lu Bing's best friend. If I find the golden turtle, it will be disadvantageous to Shen Lian. I am afraid that Lu Da will not agree to my use of the Han general. He has no choice but to go to Lu Fang. I hope Lu Bing will give Lu Fang face.

Lü Fang was on duty in Yongshou Palace. Lin Shisan asked Chen Ju to go to the palace and pass on a message to Lü Fang.

Lin Shisan waited at the gate of Yongshou Palace for half an hour before he saw his "uncle" walking towards him.

Lu Fang asked, "What's going on? Chen Ju said you want to transfer a general from the Han Dynasty?"

General Lin Shisan told Lu Fang the reason for the troop movement.

Lu Fang said: "According to what you said, if I give you a hundred Han generals, can you find the golden tortoise in one night?"

Lin Shisan replied, "If the golden tortoise escapes into Tongzi River, with a hundred great generals acting as the nephew's helpers, we will surely be able to find it in one night."

Lu Fang said, "Okay. Come with me to Lu Bing's house."

Lu Fang then instructed Chen Ju: "Go find Huang Jin and ask him to write a note to call on the general of the Han Dynasty and stamp it with the seal of the Imperial Horse Administration."

Lin Shisan followed Lu Fang on horseback and came to Lu Mansion.

Lin Shisan first reported to Lu Bing that someone deliberately destroyed the barrier net at the water exchange hole west of Taiye Lake, causing the golden turtle to escape.

Lu Bing said angrily, "It must be the outsiders who colluded with the eunuchs to do this. Yi'er, you must thoroughly investigate who did this."

Lu Yi said: "I obey your command."

Lu Fang said, "What do you think about calling in the Han generals?"

Lu Bing said: "The purpose of transferring the Han general is to retrieve the golden tortoise, calm the political tide, and give the emperor peace. I naturally agree."

"But Brother Lu, I have a favor to ask of you."

Lu Bing and Lu Fang used to be in the same palace of Prince Xing. Lu Fang was responsible for taking care of the young prince Zhu Houcong, and also took care of Zhu Houcong's little follower Lu Bing.

Therefore, Lu Bing always called Lu Fang "Brother Lu" in private.

Lu Fang asked: "What's the matter? Just tell me."

Lu Bing held Lu Fang's hand and said, "Please find a way to save Shen Lian's life."

Lu Fang nodded: "Of course. Although Shen Lian is as honest as a fool, he is a loyal minister. I, Huang Jin, and even the emperor are all trying to save his life."

"Then again, the person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. Shen Lian must give in first."

Lu Bing nodded: "Yes. I will find a way to make him surrender."

Lu Bing turned his head and looked at Lin Shisan again: "Boy, you are very brave. How dare you play some kind of magic trick in front of the emperor and a group of important officials today."

Lin Shisan did not deny it: "I was forced to do this."

Lu Bing expressed his understanding: "Even birds and animals cherish their lives, let alone humans? It is not surprising that people will do anything to save their lives."

"Listen carefully, you must find the golden tortoise within three days. Otherwise, there will be no need for the censors to file a petition. I will be the first to kill you."

After a lot of trouble, Lin Shisan gathered a hundred Han generals. When they arrived at Xuanjin Bridge, it was already midnight.

Doctor Zhao came forward and said, "Lin Chuanfeng, we have several hundred fishing nets about 12 feet wide and 6 feet deep in the treasury of the Du Shui Division. I ordered someone to bring over fifty of them."

Lin Shisan said: "That's great. It saves us the trouble of finding a suitable fishing net."

He turned to the group of big Han generals and said, "I will teach you how to pull the net. Thank you for your help, brothers!"

The one hundred generals were divided into fifty groups, with two people in each group, who went to the two banks of Tongzi River to pull a net.

Lin Shisan divided the Tongzi River around the imperial city into fifty sections, with two groups heading in opposite directions. If the golden turtle escaped into the Tongzi River, it would be unable to escape.

(End of this chapter)