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

Chapter 242 Finale
Lin Shisan felt as if a million donkeys were stampeding through his mind: "Your Highness, Consort Li! You requested the execution of the Li family's three clans, why drag my three clans into it? I really thank you!"
Emperor Longqing picked up a folding fan and played with it in his hand: "Master Xu has served the court diligently for forty-five years. It's time for him to retire to the countryside and enjoy the pleasures of family life."

In truth, Emperor Longqing was grateful to Consort Li and Lin Shisan for doing what he couldn't bring himself to do.

After speaking, Emperor Longqing put down his folding fan, opened Xu Jie's memorial of resignation, and wrote on the memorial, "Your request for retirement is approved. You are granted the titles of Junior Tutor and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and are also granted a full set of ceremonial regalia for a first-rank official to return to your hometown."

Then Emperor Longqing racked his brains and wrote a farewell poem in his memorial.

Historical records state that on the 19th day of the seventh month of the second year of the Longqing reign, Xu Jie submitted a memorial requesting retirement, which was granted by Emperor Muzong.

The head of the Ming Dynasty's civil service and the leader of the anti-maritime faction retired. This immediately caused a stir in the court and among the people.

Spreading information was one of the duties of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Within ten days, news spread throughout the capital and local officialdom: Grand Secretary Xu Jie had been forced to resign by the emperor for opposing the opening of the sea to the sea.

Seeing that their leader had lost power, the civil officials who advocated banning the seas no longer dared to be the first to oppose opening the seas.

The Longqing Emperor then announced the lifting of the maritime ban, allowing private individuals to trade with the East and West Oceans. This event is historically known as the "Longqing Opening."

The Longqing Opening was an important part of the Longqing New Policy.

From then on, the stagnant economy of the Ming Dynasty was revitalized. The ancient Eastern country became one of the most prosperous trading centers in the world.

A massive influx of silver into the Ming Dynasty. Historians have estimated that during the 77 years from the opening of the country during the Longqing reign to the suicide of the Chongzhen Emperor, a total of 330 million taels of silver flowed into the Ming Dynasty, accounting for more than 30% of the world's total silver supply at the time.

On the day the imperial edict to open the sea was issued, Lin Shisan erected a memorial tablet in the duty room of the Northern Garrison Command, with the inscription "The Rightful Position of Hu Zongxian, Governor-General of Zhejiang and Zhili under the Great Ming Dynasty and Minister of War".

Lin Shisan respectfully lit three incense sticks and poured three cups of wine for the memorial tablet. Then he knelt down devoutly before the tablet and kowtowed three times.

Lin Shisan said to himself, "Lord Hu, your efforts have not been in vain, and your blood shed in the imperial prison has not been shed for nothing. Today, the Ming Dynasty opens its seas!"

A moment later, Sun Yue walked in: "Master, Eunuch Feng Bao is requesting an audience in the main hall."

Lin Shisan followed Sun Yue into the main hall.

Feng Baodao: "There are a few things I need to say to you privately."

Lin Shisan dismissed his attendants.

Feng Bao stood up: "Consort Li asked me to ask you, what reward do you desire for this great service?"

"Zhu Xixiao has been promoted to Grand Commander, and Liu Shouyou has been promoted to Commander. How about I appoint you as the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, concurrently in charge of the Northern Garrison?"

Lin Shisan knelt down on both knees: "Please tell Consort Li that I only ask to return to the elephant training camp and become a commander of a thousand elephants for the royal family."

Feng Bao was taken aback: "Did I hear that right? You don't want a promotion, but you want a demotion?"

Lin Shisan nodded: "The Elephant Training Center is a peaceful and blessed place. The Northern Garrison is a dangerous place with swords and spears. Returning to the Elephant Training Center is the greatest reward for Shisan."

Feng Bao sighed, "You're the one who knows when to advance and retreat!"

In October of the second year of the Longqing reign, Lin Shisan, the Northern Garrison Commander, was demoted to a commander of a thousand men in the Elephant Training Office for being "arrogant and domineering and bullying his colleagues".

In the twelfth month of that year, five months after Xu Jie resigned, Gao Gong miraculously returned to the capital and became the Grand Secretary. He gradually developed a rift with his ally Zhang Juzheng.

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Lin family happily put up Spring Festival couplets in their old house in Goujibo Hutong.

Biyun anxiously snatched the bowl of paste from her confused father-in-law, Lin Youniu: "Father, how can you eat this paste?"

Lin Youniu handed over the bowl and shouted at Lin Shisan, "Shisan, you unfilial son! When will you be allowed into the Northern Garrison Command?!"

Lin Shisan gave a wry smile: "My time in power at the Northern Garrison Command wasn't easy. I've already gone back to the Elephant Training Station!"

Lin Youniu glared and bristled, "You unfilial son! You good-for-nothing! I knew it! All the money I painstakingly saved up over half my life to buy you a place to study is going to go down the drain!" Lin Hu, who had just passed the preliminary examination, laughed, "Grandfather, you've made a mistake again!"

Lin Youniu coughed for a moment.

Nine-year-old Fu'er rushed into Lin Youniu's arms and patted his grandfather's chest, saying, "Grandpa, Grandpa, please calm down."

Lin Shisan's concubine, Yun'er, quickly handed Lin Youniu a cup of tea: "Father-in-law, have some tea to clear your phlegm."

Lin Shisan wiped his hands after pasting up the couplets. He secretly rejoiced that he had left the Northern Garrison Command. Otherwise, his hands would have been covered in blood, not paste.

Just then, a donkey cart stopped in front of the Lin family's old house. It was Wang Xiaochuan, who had married out, returning home with her husband.

The boy who used to set off firecrackers to blow up latrines is now a well-mannered and respectful woman.

Her husband, Young Master Zhao, is a handsome and talented man who will be taking the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination next year.

Wang Xiaochuan said, "Dad, I first went to the Temple of the Goddess of the Clams to pay my respects to my grandfather. Then I went to Xishan to sweep the grave of Uncle Zhang."

Lin Shisan's pet master and old housekeeper, Uncle Zhang, passed away a year ago.

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "My good daughter and son-in-law are back. Tonight is New Year's Eve, and our family is reunited. How wonderful!"

As night fell, piping hot dumplings were served. Firecrackers crackled and popped outside the door, sending red sparks flying everywhere.

The Lin family sat together, and their joy was palpable.

Lin Shisan is now living a very comfortable life. Although he has offended a large number of civil officials and been demoted to the elephant training guild without real power, no civil official dares to cause him any trouble.

Because Consort Li in the palace declared: Lin Shisan is mine.

Who doesn't know Consort Li's ruthlessness? Who would dare to provoke her?
Moreover, Lin Shisan also had close relationships with Grand Secretary Gao Gong and Minister of Personnel Yang Bo.

When Lin Shisan was busy, he took care of the elephants; when he was free, he helped the nobles in the capital find their lost pets, and he resumed the work he had done more than ten years ago.

Unlike a decade or so ago, he no longer cares about the reward. Now that he's well-off, finding favors for others is simply to satisfy his desires.

Lin Shisan, who had drunk a few too many cups, rested his arm on the table.

In his hazy vision, he seemed to see Ye Wulong, the famous dog he had found for the good eunuch Gao Zhong; the white-feathered bow-tailed pigeon he had found for the famous minister Hu Zongxian; and the divine monkey Sun Wukong he had found for the scholar Wu Cheng'en.

The golden turtle from Taiye Pond that was found for the Jiajing Emperor; the white deer that was found for the soldiers fighting against Japanese pirates in the southeast; and the short-winged stove cricket that was found after sending Shen Lian on his way.

The exquisite pet cat brought back from the southeast to raise funds for the fight against Japanese pirates; the water phoenix fish tamed to facilitate the opening of the sea; and the iron-crowned, golden-clawed fighting rooster found for the Qi Family Army.

The black bear that confronted Yan Song in the deep mountains of Liaodong to obtain the Hundred Flowers Immortal Wine; the Yunnan horses that sent out false intelligence to help the Battle of Taizhou succeed.

Of course, there were also those red-eared snow foxes that framed Xu Jie's eldest son, Xu Fan, for the purpose of opening the sea to the open.

More than a decade has passed in the blink of an eye. For the country and its people, my conscience is clear. I, Lin Shisan, have done enough!
A sudden shout startled Lin Shisan from his nap.

"Master!" The chubby apprentice, Sun Yue, rushed in anxiously.

Lin Shisan asked, "What's wrong? What happened again?"

Sun Yue shouted at the top of his lungs, "Master, something terrible has happened! Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng's favorite golden-winged cricket is gone!"

History is like a river, flowing ceaselessly and never stopping.

(End of the book)

(End of this chapter)