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

Chapter 54 Promotion and Fortune
Yan Song had been working in the officialdom for a full forty years since he passed the imperial examination in the eighteenth year of the Hongzhi reign.

He is very good at judging people.

After a long conversation, he was convinced that Hu Zongxian was a great man. And this great man was willing to be humble and cling to him.

How can we not reuse him?
Yan Song said, "Ruzhen, I have an unwelcome request. Since I became the Prime Minister, I have never accepted any students. I would like to accept you as my last disciple. What do you think?"

Hu Zongxian borrowed money from everywhere, dug holes in mountains to build relationships, and prepared gifts, wasn't it all for the sake of making Yan Song look favorably upon him?

Only with the support of the cabinet's chief minister could he successfully implement his anti-Japanese plan in the southeast.

Hu Zongxian bowed his head and said, "Student Hu Zongxian, greetings to the teacher!"

Yan Song burst into tears: "Good student, get up quickly."

A group of Yan Party officials praised him: "Alas, there are many good horses, but few good horse trainers. This is really a wonderful story of teacher-student friendship."

"Imperial Censor Hu, oh no, Governor Hu is full of strategies. The elder has a sharp eye. It is indeed a good story."

"Congratulations, Lord. Congratulations, Lord, for having a student like Ruzhen who has the talent of a frontier official."

Yan Song pressed his hands, signaling everyone to be silent: "I've heard it all!"

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Yan Song's old eyes sparkled: "Some people in the court say that I only know how to bully and kill people. Oh, they forget that I am better at identifying and employing people!"

"Ruzhen, I'll leave the important matters of the southeast to you and Yuanzhi."

Although Zhao Wenhua was greedy and sycophantic, he was very tolerant. Yan Song praised Hu Zongxian so much, and he was not only not jealous, but also happy for Hu Zongxian.

Then, Hu Zongxian said something that was recorded in history: "During this term of office, Ruzhen will not return to Beijing until Wang Zhi and Xu Hai are captured and the southeast is stabilized!"

Yan Song glanced at Lin Shisan and pointed at the white-feathered bow-tailed pigeon on the ground: "This dead pigeon is a reward for you. Stew it and drink the soup to nourish your body."

Lin Shisan didn't know why Yan Song gave such a small person a reward. Although the reward was a dead object, it was at least a testimony to the friendship between the Prime Minister and the Acting Governor of Zhejiang.

This is not an ordinary dead pigeon. It is a dead pigeon that was great in life and glorious in death.

He held up the dead pigeon with both hands: "Thank you, Lord, for your reward."

Yan Song ordered the clerk: "Bring the minutes of tonight's meeting."

The clerk came forward and handed over a thick ten thousand word summary.

Yan Song handed the minutes to Lin Shisan and said, "You are a lieutenant of the Jinyiwei. I think you have more courage than brains, and you can't remember the strategy of pacifying the Japanese that Ruzhen spent ten years planning. You should take this minutes with you so that you can report it when you return."

Lin Shisan took the minutes and was delighted: Hey, otherwise he would be the Prime Minister. He is very thoughtful. I was just worried that I couldn't remember all the strategies that Censor Hu talked about all night.

Yan Song asked Hu Zongxian with concern: "Do you live in Xianliang Temple?"

Hu Zongxian replied: "Yes, my Lord."

Yan Song said, "Now that we are in the capital, how can a teacher let a student live somewhere else? From now on, you will move into the Qinfang Courtyard in my mansion."

Zhao Wenhua said with a smile: "Foster father, you are so partial! You have never let your son live in Qinfang Courtyard and live with you."

Yan Song praised Zhao Wenhua: "I almost forgot about you. You have made a great contribution by recommending someone, and my bed-warming maid Qing'er has given you this as a reward. You must take care of yourself and don't hurt your back."

A group of senior officials burst into laughter.

Lin Shisan laughed inwardly: It turns out that these big shots are just like the soldiers in our elephant training school, full of dirty talk.

A moment later, Lin Shisan was about to walk out of the gate of Yan's mansion with a dead pigeon worth three thousand taels on his waist and a thick stack of minutes in his hand.

Hu Zongxian stopped him and said, "Brother Lin, please slow down."

Lin Shisan stood still. Hu Zongxian lowered his voice and said, "You have helped me a lot. I will be very busy these few days. When I have some free time, I will definitely have a share of your support."

How smart is Hu Zongxian? Ever since he entered the mansion last night, he had a vague feeling that he was able to enter the Yan Mansion, most likely because of the help of this Jinyi captain in front of him.

After some polite exchanges, Lin Shisan bid farewell to Hu Zongxian and walked towards the elephant training center.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the elephant training center, Liu Shouyou of Nansi Feiyu stopped him and asked, "Why, did they discuss it all night last night?"

Lin Shisan replied, "Yes, Captain Liu." Liu Shouyou said, "Let's talk to Captain Chang in his duty room."

As soon as the two entered the duty room, Chang Qingyun deliberately avoided the matter and picked up the bird cage: "You guys are talking here, I won't disturb you. I'm going to go out and walk the bird."

The two said in unison: "Farewell, Captain Chang."

After Chang Qingyun left, Lin Shisan told Liu Shouyou everything he could remember about last night and presented him the minutes of the meeting.

Liu Shouyou took the minutes and said in surprise, "So many? Oh, it saves your brain."

This minutes would be presented by Liu Shouyou to the junior manager Lu Yi, who would present it to the senior manager Lu Bing, and then to Emperor Jiajing himself.

Wouldn't it be more convenient for Yan Song to present it directly to Emperor Jiajing?
not that simple.

Lu Bing was the Jiajing Emperor's half-brother and the most trusted confidant of the confidants. It was different for the confidant to "find out" the contents of the Prime Minister's Office and report them to the emperor, and for the Prime Minister to "report" to the emperor on his own initiative.

There is a vast amount of knowledge in the court.

Anyway, Lin Shisan accomplished the task of finding the pigeon and received a reward of 100 taels of silver from Hu Zongxian, so he was very satisfied.

It is often the little people who change history.

How could Lin Shisan have imagined that his hard work over the past two days would give the Southeast National Pillar, who would become famous all over the world, a chance to soar to fame.

In the evening, Lin Shisan returned home with a dead pigeon on his waist.

Biyun came up with Hu'er in her arms and asked, "Who is this pigeon?"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Let's add a dish tonight, clear-boiled pigeon soup."

Lin Shisan loves playing with pets, and Biyun has learned a lot from what she has heard and seen: "This pigeon doesn't look like a meat pigeon. It's an ornamental pigeon, right? How to make soup?"

Lin Shisan said, "That's right. This pigeon is worth three thousand taels of silver. You have to cook it slowly over low heat."

Wang Xiaochuan came running over happily and volunteered: "I'll pluck the pigeons! I'm the best at it!"

Wang Xiaochuan followed the dog-riding man Wang Laochuan and ate a lot of stolen chickens, ducks, and pigeons. Although she was only five years old, she was very skilled in plucking feathers.

Lin Shisan took the white feather bow tail from his waist and handed it to Wang Xiaochuan, "Okay. My daughter-in-law will pluck the pigeons and let your mother make soup."

The pigeons worth three thousand taels are indeed very nutritious.

In the evening, after drinking the pigeon soup, Lin Shisan returned to his room and couldn't help reciting a doggerel poem by Tang Yin, a talented scholar in the Hongzhi period.

"Ah, there is a group of geese on the mountain, and they are driven into the river by the hissing sound. It is better to catch the geese in the river to relieve hunger, it is better to..."

Biyun had just coaxed Hu'er to sleep when she asked, "Why not?"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Why not go home and play with your wife!"

On a cold winter night, there was thunder and lightning, and the earth shook.

Lin Shisan fell into a deep sleep and had a dream. In the dream, the white-feathered bow-tailed pigeon became as big as a mule and pulled a large coffin.

Lin Shisan asked, "What are you doing?"

The white-feathered bow-tailed pigeon cursed: "Zhao! You handed me over to Yan Song's old man, and he smashed me to pieces. Thank you! I brought you a coffin as a thank you gift."

Lin Shisan woke up from his dream and when he opened his eyes it was already early morning.

Biyun had already stood up. She asked, "Why are you sweating? Did you have a nightmare? Or did you get too full from the pigeon soup you ate last night?"

Lin Shisan told Biyun what he saw in his dream.

After hearing this, Biyun was not frightened at all. Instead, she smiled brightly: "Coffin, coffin, promotion and wealth. This is a very auspicious dream."

A virtuous wife will not ruin the family, and a loyal minister will not destroy the country.

Lin Shisan’s virtuous wife’s words came true.

(End of this chapter)