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

Chapter 84 Golden Turtle
Lin Shisan followed Yang Jinshui out the door.

Yang Jinshui came in a sedan chair. He glanced at the short mule at the door.

Yang Jinshui said, "You are now the emperor's official, and it's time for you to ride a tall horse. Why are you still riding a mule?"

Lin Shisan smiled awkwardly: "I haven't had time to buy a horse yet."

Yang Jinshui pointed to the reddish-brown horse ridden by a young eunuch beside the sedan chair and said, "This horse is four years old. I bought it three years ago. I'll give it to you."

This bay horse was not a famous horse or a precious colt. It was an ordinary Hetao horse, worth about twenty taels of silver.

Lin Shisan bowed and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Yang, for your kindness."

Yang Jinshui was a very aloof and arrogant person. He disdained to curry favor with a newly powerful official. He gave Lin Shisan a horse simply because he was in a good mood today.

The Yan Party controlled the military and political affairs in the southeast, and the Xu Party controlled the military funds and food salaries in the southeast.

Yesterday, Emperor Jiajing said to Lü Fang with emotion: "It's all theirs. What about mine?"

Lu Fang understood what he meant and summoned all the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department to discuss the matter. The result of the discussion was to transfer Yang Jinshui to be the eunuch in charge of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau and the Zhejiang Maritime Customs.

There were two purposes for transferring Yang Jinshui to the southeast: first, to monitor the Yan Party and Xu Party in the southeast.

Second, make money.

Yan Maoqing, a member of the Yan Party, controlled the salt business in Jiangnan, while Zhao Zhenji, a member of the Xu Party, controlled the military pay.

The emperor sent someone to control the silk and cloth industry in Jiangnan and to manage the ports. Doesn't this make sense?

In the eyes of Emperor Jiajing, the Taicang Treasury was controlled by civil officials. Only the money in the Neichengyun Treasury was my money.

You guys are making a fortune in the southeast, so you must give me a piece of the pie, right?
From a certain perspective, being an emperor in the Ming Dynasty was actually quite pathetic, with the exception of Taizu and Chengzu.

In short, Yang Jinshui was transferred to Hangzhou and became a local lord among the eunuchs, which was far better than being a waiter in the Silijian.

He was overjoyed at the moment. What did it matter if he gave a horse to Lin Shisan?
Lin Shisan rode a horse and followed Yang Jinshui to the Xuanjin Bridge outside Xi'an Gate.

Xuanjin Bridge spans the moat of the imperial city, Tongzi River. After crossing the bridge, you can enter Xi'an Gate, and then walk further in to Xiyuan.

The Western Garden is located within the imperial city and outside the palace city. It faces the palace city across the water, with the North Sea, the Middle Sea, and the South Sea in between.

According to the ancestral system, the palace was where the emperor lived and governed. When Emperor Jiajing was in the palace, he was scared by the divine fire that fell from the sky, so he fled to live in the Western Garden.

The civil officials therefore criticized Emperor Jiajing for "living in a secluded palace, neglecting state affairs, and indulging in obscene activities."

Bah! They were clearly just trying to save their lives.

Yang Jinshui got off the sedan chair and Lin Shisan got off the horse.

Yang Jinshui asked: "Is this your first time entering Xiyuan?"

Lin Shisan replied: "Yes."

Yang Jinshui sighed: "Many newly-appointed scholars have been in the officialdom for 20 to 30 years, but they may not have the opportunity to enter the Western Garden."

"You are only twenty years old, you have a bright future ahead of you."

Last time Yang Jinshui passed on an imperial decree to Lin Shisan, Lin Shisan stuffed 150 taels of silver into his boots. This made him feel quite fond of Lin Shisan.

Yang Jinshui was not short of the 150 taels, but giving money was an attitude, an attitude of respect and obedience.

Lin Shisan saw that Yang Jinshui spoke kindly and had no airs of a supervisor. He asked in a low voice, "Excuse me, Eunuch Yang, why did the emperor summon me to Yongshou Palace?"

Yang Jinshui interrupted Lin Shisan and gave him some advice: "Remember, the messenger officer is the emperor's closest official. You should respectfully address His Majesty as 'Emperor'."

Lin Shisan nodded: "I will remember this."

Yang Jinshui continued, "It seems that the golden turtle in the Taiye Lake in the West Garden has something to do with it, so they summoned you to the palace. Have you heard of that golden turtle?"

Lin Shisan replied: "There is a rumor among the people that there is a golden turtle in Taiye Lake. Its body is made of gold and it poops gold every day."

Yang Jinshui laughed out loud: "It shows how stupid the common people are. They believe any rumor."

Yang Jinshui explained the origin of the golden turtle.

Emperor Jiajing compared himself to Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, and boasted that he had not attended court for many years because he advocated Huang-Lao and ruled by inaction. A few years ago, Yin Zhengmao, a member of the Military Department, went to Jiangnan for an inspection and impeached Shen Yinglong, the left vice minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Justice.

If the Jieshizhong could overthrow the officials in the ministry, he would become famous in one battle and become well-known in the officialdom.

But Shen Butang also has a strong foundation in the court. He will not fall easily.

Yin Zhengmao then reported to Emperor Jiajing that he had found a golden turtle weighing three hundred kilograms in the Yangtze River, with the words "Wuyin in the early years of the Later Yuan Dynasty" engraved on its back.

Yin Zhengmao said in his memorial that "Houyuan was the reign title of Emperor Wen of Han. God praised the wise and brave Emperor Jiajing for emulating the benevolent policies of Emperor Wen of Han, so he bestowed auspicious signs and blessings."

Yin Zhengmao personally escorted the auspicious golden tortoise to Beijing and presented it to Emperor Jiajing, who was delighted and praised Yin Zhengmao endlessly.

As a result, Shen Yinglong fell from power, and Yin Zhengmao was promoted to the deputy envoy of Guangxi Censorate.

Emperor Jiajing raised the golden turtle in the Taiye Lake and named it an immortal.

Yang Jinshui finished telling all this. Lin Shisan asked, "Is this golden turtle lost? Have you asked your subordinates to look for it?"

Yang Jinshui shook his head: "If the golden tortoise was lost, I'm afraid the whole West Garden would be in chaos. It doesn't look like it was lost. You will know when you go in and see Eunuch Huang."

Lin Shisan originally thought that he could see the emperor in person today. It seems that he was overthinking.

The two walked across the Xuanjin Bridge, crossed the Tongzi River, entered the Xi'an Gate, and came to the Taiye Lake in the Western Garden.

Huang Jin was already waiting there. When she saw Lin Shisan, she felt as happy as seeing clouds and rainbows in a drought or seeing clouds and rain in a widow's eyes.

He waved at Lin Shisan: "Little monkey named Lin, come here quickly."

Lin Shisan and Yang Jinshui stepped forward quickly and saluted.

Huang Jin waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite. Let's talk business. Do you know that there is a golden turtle in Taiye Pond?"

Lin Shisan replied: "Eunuch Yang just told me the origin of the golden turtle."

Huang Jin said: "The emperor likes to go boating in Taiye Lake in his spare time. In the past, he often saw golden turtles floating on the water."

"Every time he saw a golden turtle floating on the water, the emperor was delighted."

"But in the past two months, I don't know why. When the eunuchs strolled by the Taiye Lake, they often saw golden turtles floating on the water."

"When the emperor went boating in Taiye Lake, the golden turtle sank to the bottom of the lake and refused to show its head no matter what."

"Tomorrow is the 20th day of the first lunar month. The emperor will definitely come to Taiye Lake for boating."

"Something has happened in the court recently. The emperor is in a bad mood. I wonder if you have any idea to make the golden tortoise float tomorrow to please the emperor?"

Lin Shisan asked: "Sir, could you describe the golden tortoise's appearance to me?"

Huang Jin described it in detail.

Lin Shisan understood: It seems to be the Yangtze River Yellow-margined Box Turtle. Commonly known as the Yellow Turtle. The larger ones are commonly known as the Big Yellow Turtle. The older ones are commonly known as the Old Yellow Turtle.

Lin Shisan said: "Don't worry, sir. I have a way to make it float."

Huang Jin's eyes lit up: "I was desperate and tried all kinds of methods, but I didn't expect you to have a solution. By the way, your method must not hurt the golden turtle."

"Even if there is a scar as thin as a hair on the back of the golden turtle, you still can't chop it off even if you have ten heads."

Lin Shisan replied: "Don't worry, Eunuch Huang. I am willing to sign a military order. Tomorrow when the emperor is sailing, I will let the golden turtle float on the water and pay homage to the Emperor Wanshou!"

Huang Jin clapped his hands and said, "Hey! You are amazing. Once this is done, I will treat you to a drink."

Lin Shisan said: "I have to leave the palace first to make preparations."

Huang Jin said: "Do you need manpower? One hundred or two hundred? I will send you an eunuch to help."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Eunuch Huang, two people are enough. I will let my apprentice help you."

Huang Jin waved his hand and said, "Okay, okay, okay! Let's go out of the palace and get ready!"

(End of this chapter)