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

Chapter 52: Hu Ruzhen
If you want to succeed in life, it is not enough to just understand the ways of the world, you also need to have real abilities.

If you don't have real ability, no matter how good you are at socializing or how worldly-wise you are, the people above you won't bother to even look at you.

Just like Lin Shisan. He has a clever mouth and a brilliant tongue, and he has the real ability to seek favor. This is why Luo Longwenqing looked up to him and worshipped him as his master.
Like Lin Shisan, Hu Zongxian is also a man of real ability.

However, Hu Zongxian's real ability was much greater than Lin Shisan's. He had the ability to consolidate the country and pacify the sea.

What Hu Zongxian lacked was just an opportunity - the opportunity to meet a mentor.

Dogs can bark, cats can meow, and chickens can do what?
Chicken Club: Come and play, sir~
Oh no, opportunities come to those who are prepared.

On the evening of the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month in the thirty-fourth year of the Jiajing reign, at Yan Song’s residence.

Yan Nian, the housekeeper of the Yan residence, led Hu Zongxian and Lin Shisan into the residence.

Yan Nian followed Yan Song for many years. Although he was a family slave, he relied on Yan Song's power to "communicate bribes and become extremely wealthy."

To say that a seventh-rank official was in the prime minister's family was to underestimate Yan Nian. His wealth was probably greater than that of some third- and fourth-rank officials.

When they arrived at the gate of "Qinfangyuan" where Yan Song lived, Yan Nian handed Hu Zongxian an envelope.

The envelope is empty. This is called a "door bag".

When entering a high-ranking official's residence to pay a visit, one must give a "door package" to the doorman, personal servant, butler, etc. As the saying goes, it is easy to see the King of Hell but difficult to deal with the little devils.

But the door envelope is usually handed over by the official who wants to see the audience. It is rare to see someone like Yan Nian handing over an empty envelope and asking for it.

Hu Zongxian understood what he meant and put a silver note into the empty envelope.

Lin Shisan, who was standing behind him, saw that the note had a face value of five hundred taels. What a big deal!

Yan Nian accepted the gift from Hu Zongxian and glanced at Lin Shisan.

Lin Shisan hurriedly bowed his hands and said: "I am of low position and have no money to honor the housekeeper. I can only burn incense and worship Buddha at home every day, praying to the Buddha to bless the housekeeper with good fortune like the long flowing water of the East Sea and longevity like the evergreen pines of the Southern Mountains."

Yan Nian was amused by Lin Shisan: "You little bastard, you are so smooth-talking. No wonder you can get along with Luo Longwen, that smooth-talking guy."

"It's really fish gnashing fish, shrimp gnashing shrimp, and turtle gnashing a big turtle."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Yes, yes. The small ones are the small fish and shrimps in the capital. You are the long-lived divine tortoise."

Yan Nian laughed and scolded, "You kid are teasing me, right? You're calling me a cuckold? Go away."

Lin Shisan said: "How dare I?"

Yan Nian suppressed his smile and said, "Forget it. You are invited by the Lord to come into the mansion to treat the pigeon. It's 'please come in', not 'see you'. According to the rules, I won't accept you as a guest."

Lin Shisan said respectfully: "Thank you, Master Steward."

Yan Nian told the two of them, "The pigeon is in the meeting room of Qinfang Courtyard. The elder will discuss the military and national affairs of the southeast with his students and old friends. You stand at the door of the meeting room and wait."

"Remember, you must keep quiet. Don't disturb them. Otherwise, you will be in big trouble."

Hu Zongxian and Lin Shisan both nodded in agreement.

Yan Nian led the two to the door of the meeting room. They stood still.

Lin Shisan thought: OK, I have to be the messenger again. Poor Censor Hu spent all his efforts to send such a wonderful pigeon, but in the end he could only stand at the door and listen, and couldn't even see Lord Yan.

Hu Zongxian was also feeling melancholy: It seemed that all his efforts were in vain.

In the conference room, Yan Song sat at the top seat, with Yan Shifan sitting beside him.

The rest of the Yan Party officials were on both sides, some of them high-ranking or powerful.

The Minister of Personnel Wan Tong, the Minister of Revenue Gao Yao, the Left Vice Minister of War Ouyang Bijin, the Governor-General of Zhejiang Zhao Wenhua, the Salt Administrator Yan Maoqing, the Civil Selection Officer Wan Cai, the Military Selection Officer Fang Xiang, the Inspector of Police Luo Longwen and others all paid their respects to Yan Song and his son.

Yan Song said, "Sit down."

The officials sat down. The ones furthest away from Yan Song were Zheng Michang, the proposed governor of Zhejiang, and He Maocai, the provincial governor. Hu Zongxian, a seventh-rank provincial governor, was indeed not qualified to enter the hall to discuss matters. Yan Song said, "Everyone. The Japanese threat in the southeast is getting worse. Although Yuan Zhi won a great victory in the southeast this autumn, the situation is still grim."

"The Emperor wishes to clear the southeast and open the sea for trade. We should understand His Majesty's intention and work together to quell the Japanese invasion."

"Today, I have invited you all to come here to discuss the anti-Japanese strategy after Yuan Zhi becomes the governor of the southeast. Please speak freely."

These high-ranking officials have no idea of the actual situation in the southeast. They are just talking about military affairs on paper and repeating the same old things.

Ouyang Bijin, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, said: "To fight against the Japanese, there are only two things to do: to strengthen the military and to encircle and annihilate them."

Wu Xuanlang Wan Cai agreed: "That's right. As long as the military is well-equipped and the army is mobilized to fight the Japanese pirates, we can win the battle in one go."

A group of officials talked at once, all of them saying unrealistic and empty words.

Yan Song sighed: "Alas."

Yan Song found a clerk to record the meeting today. He originally wanted to come up with a detailed anti-Japanese strategy, compile it into a summary, and give it to Lin Shisan to pass on to Lu Bing, who would then pass it to Emperor Jiajing.

But based on what these people said, Emperor Jiajing would definitely complain in the minutes.

Even Lin Shisan, who was standing at the door and didn't know much about military affairs, could tell that these people were talking nonsense. Were the Japanese pirates really that easy to defeat, and could they have been able to roam around in the southeast for so many years?

At this moment, Lin Shisan heard Hu Zongxian beside him say four words in a sonorous voice: "Empty talk will ruin the country!"

The officials looked at each other and looked outside the door.

Yan Song asked: "Who is it?"

Hu Zongxian knelt down behind the threshold and said, "Your Excellency, I am the Imperial Censor of Zhejiang Province, Hu Zongxian."

Ouyang Bijin cursed: "Who are you saying is harming the country with empty talk?"

Hu Zongxian replied sternly: "I say that all the superiors present here are just talking nonsense and harming the country."

Ouyang Bijin was furious: "You are just a lowly seventh-rank imperial censor, and you are saying that a bunch of officials from the six ministries and departments are talking nonsense and harming the country? What kind of shit are you?"

Hu Zongxian said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "I am a seventh-rank official of the imperial court who participated in the Southeast Anti-Japanese War. I am not a piece of shit."

The Minister of Personnel Wan Tong said, "I have been in charge of the Ministry of Personnel for a long time. I have seen many petty officials like you who think too highly of themselves and are the only ones who are sober when everyone else is drunk."

Wu Xuanlang Wan Cai echoed: "That's right! A group of first, second and third rank officials in the court, aren't they less knowledgeable than a seventh rank official like you?"

Yan Shifan said, "Forget it. Get this man out of the house."

Hu Zongxian once again made a startling statement: "If we fight against the Japanese pirates according to the methods you have suggested, the Japanese invasion in the southeast will not be quelled within a hundred years."

Lin Shisan, who was standing next to him, was worried for Hu Zongxian: the people sitting inside were all big shots who could tremble the entire Ming Dynasty with a stomp of their feet. Censor Hu usually spoke very slickly, so why was he so rude in front of them?

If you offend them, you can forget about getting promoted, and you can even risk your life.

Zhao Wenhua spoke for Hu Zongxian. He said, "Sir, Hu Ruzhen has been in the local government for a long time and does not know the rules of the Beijing officialdom. He offended you. Please do not argue with him."

Yan Shifan said: "This man is exaggerating. I think he must be a fool. Yuan Zhi, you are the governor of the southeast, you must not use such a person."

"Get out!"

Several servants from the Yan residence were about to carry Hu Zongxian away while talking.

Yan Song suddenly said: "Wait a minute!"

The servants let go.

Yan Song looked at Hu Zongxian and said, "Tell me why they are harming the country with empty talk. If you can't give a reason, the Minister of Personnel is here. Let him dismiss you from your post!"

Hu Zongxian was kneeling, but he stood up and strode into the meeting room.

The pillars of a country are like a divine bird. If it doesn't fly, it will soar into the sky. If it doesn't sing, it will sing as a surprise!
(End of this chapter)