【Under the Great Tomorrow】(72)

Author: hui329
Published: 2018/2/3 First Release
Word Count: 10362
Chapter 72 Court Recommendation
The Imperial City, West Garden.
Surrounded by high walls like a border fortress, within the iron gate of the south wall, lions roared and tigers howled, a foul wind rose, chilling the soul.
Ding Shou, perched on the high wall railing, felt like he was in a zoo, whistling and teasing these
kings of beasts, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Ding Shou casually tossed down a slab of mutton, nearly
falling himself in the process, startling the middle-aged eunuch accompanying him.
"Ouch, Lord Ding, take it easy," the burly eunuch said with a pained expression. This eunuch was named
Zhang Zhong, from Bazhou in Beizhili. Because of his strong and powerful physique, he was favored by Miao Kui and promoted to eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration
, currently in charge of the Leopard House, Tiger City, and Livestock House.
Zhang Gonggong had thought his job today was simply to accompany someone to inspect the area next to the Leopard House. Who knew this palace favorite,
like the Emperor himself, was so impulsive? After inspecting the Leopard House, he wanted to run off to the Tiger City next door
, his feet barely touching the ground. If he fell and became tiger food… Zhang Gonggong felt a chill run down his spine
.
Ding Shou, unaware of the psychological pressure he was putting on his man, wiped his hands and reassured him,
“Don’t worry, with my skills, even if I fell, these sickly cats wouldn’t be able to do anything to me.”
“Yes, yes, Commander Ding, your martial arts are superb. How could these beasts, who can’t even handle donkeys and horses, be a match for you
?” Zhang Zhong nodded repeatedly.
Zhang Zhong was just casually agreeing, but Ding Shou didn’t like it. “So, you mean I’m just like
a donkey or a horse?”
The Second Master didn’t object to certain parts being compared to donkeys or horses; his women
often complained about it, but it shouldn’t be said by this eunuch.
"No, no, no, it was a slip of the tongue," Zhang Zhong said hastily, slapping himself in the face. "Actually,
what I said was a story from the previous dynasty."
"Oh? Tell me about it," the second master said
, intrigued. Zhang Zhong, wanting to get this gentleman off his chest quickly so he could get down to business, said, "During the Xuande era, the Imperial Household Department
acquired a black donkey from the Ussuri region. It was said to be skilled at fighting tigers and could travel a thousand miles a day."
"Was this donkey a spirit? Would Emperor Xuande believe such absurd claims?" Ding Shou scoffed.
"Emperor Xuande, of course, didn't believe it, so he selected a female tiger from Tiger City to fight it..." Zhang Zhong
pointed to Tiger City beneath him.
"How many rounds did that donkey last?"
Zhang Zhong chuckled. "Not many rounds, it died with a single stomp."
"I knew it..." Ding Shou said casually, then suddenly realized, "Wait, you mean the tiger died
?!"
Zhang Zhong nodded, his voice high-pitched, "Later, Emperor Xuanzong chose another male tiger, and this tiger finally gave us 　　men
some pride..."
"And it won?" Ding Shou pressed.
"No. 　　" Zhang Zhong shook his head, " 　　But it was much stronger than that tigress, it lasted 　　three stomp ... 　　Zhang Zhong gave a thumbs-up. "Your Excellency is wise; the tiger was indeed defeated and died." 　　Ding Shou looked at the kings of beasts below the city with deep sympathy. Being repeatedly utterly defeated by herbivores must have left them 　　with immense psychological trauma. 　　Although they occasionally encountered some wondrous creatures, it was still better than their descendants starving to death. 　　The Chongzhen Emperor, who aspired to be a wise ruler, believed, "What use is this to the people's hard-earned money?" and deliberately let these tigers 　　starve until they couldn't even howl. The visiting ministers and scholars couldn't bear to watch and simply exclaimed, "Pitiful!" 　　"Eunuch Zhang," Ding Shou asked curiously, "our imperial city has tiger enclosures, leopard enclosures, and even elephant enclosures. Where do all these creatures 　　come from? How many are there in total?" 　　"They come from many places. Our Great Ming Dynasty is renowned far and wide, and all 　　the foreign tribes submit to us. These wild animals, apart from some levied from border regions like Ningxia, Yulin, and Nurgan, are mostly tributes from the Western Regions and overseas foreign countries. As for the number, it 　　varies from dynasty to dynasty. It reached its peak during the reign of the late emperor, with a total of over 29,400..." 　　Little emperor, you're the one who has to bear the blame for raising tigers and leopards, Ding Shou thought to himself. Who told your father 　　to be so popular with the civil officials? "Then how much meat and fodder does it consume each day?" 　　"There's no fixed number. Each emperor has their own regulations, but Emperor Hongzhi did assign them ranks and grades 　　, and they were raised according to their salaries," Zhang Zhong said, counting on his fingers, "What tiger generals, elephant commanders..." 　　Ding Shou's face darkened. Zhang Zhong realized his mistake and quickly apologized, saying, "This servant was too talkative. I really didn't 　　mean to compare you to an elephant, sir..." 　　"Alright, that's enough." Ding Shou had lost interest. "Let's get down to business." 　　Thank goodness, you finally remembered the important matter, Zhang Gonggong secretly prayed to heaven. 　　"Lord Ding, please look at this land. This is where the new Leopard House will be built, totaling ten hectares." Zhang Zhong pointed to 　　a large open area in the West Garden. 　　"Ten hectares? That's a lot!" Ding Shou's eyes widened. 　　"Not much, sir. His Majesty will be conducting military exercises here, so a drill ground needs to be set up; since His Majesty will be residing here permanently 　　, he needs a place to stay. It's estimated that over two hundred new houses will need to be built..." Zhang Zhong calculated the accounts one by one. 　　Ding Shou counted on his fingers, mentally calculating, feeling that two hundred thousand taels of silver was unavoidable. 　　"And there, and there, that's for building a Zen temple..." Zhang Zhong pointed erratically, pointing to a place that was no longer visible to the naked eye 　　. 　　"A temple too?" Ding Shou felt a tightness in his chest. 　　"Your Majesty is fond of Sanskrit and Tibetan Buddhism. He can't possibly rush to the palace every day after his daily practice, can he? 　　What do you say, Lord Ding?" Zhang Zhong asked earnestly. 　　Ding Shou had nothing to say, but nodded firmly, gritting his teeth, "Perform it." 　　"And over here, this servant is thinking of diverting water from Taiye Pond, planting lotus flowers, and then planting two rows of willows along the sides 　　, so Your Majesty can find shade in the summer..."

"His Majesty is fond of music theory and often summons musicians from the Imperial Music Academy to serve him. They should be housed here... Hey—" Zhang
Zhong turned his head and saw Ding Shou turn to leave, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Lord Ding, where are you going?"
"My chest hurts a little today. Just make a list of these for me later." Ding Shou clutched
his chest, hunched over, and slowly left.
**********
The boudoir was elegantly furnished. The rosewood bookcase in the northeast corner contained many rare editions of classics and historical texts.
Several pieces of Jun ware porcelain were displayed on the high tables on either side. Warm sunlight filtered through the light gauze curtains of the carved window lattice, scattering fragments onto a
worried face.
"It's been a while since you've been to this courtyard, Master. Why do you look so gloomy when you come back?" Du Yunniang, wearing a
moon-white crepe gauze, ran her jade-like fingers across the bump between Ding Shou's brows.
Resting his head on Du Yunniang's soft, supple thighs, enjoying
the massage of ten long, strong jade fingers on his head, Ding Shou let out a comfortable hum. "I'm going to have to spend a lot of money soon, it's a bit painful."
"With such a large fortune now, why would you care about such an expense, Shou Lang?" Chu Chu teased, leaning against the embroidered couch, her nimble
fingers intently peeling a grape.
"It's hard to part with wealth." Du Yunniang smiled and lowered her head, her snow-white face, as white as a full moon, close to the man
on her lap. She lightly tapped his nose. "Don't you know, Chu Chu, our master is like a Pixiu, only taking in and never
giving out."
She then pinched her plump, round buttocks. Ding Shou laughed and scolded, "How can you talk about your own master like that ? You
deserve a beating."
Du Yunniang cried out in pain and playfully slapped Ding Shou's chest, half-jokingly complaining, "Master , you
never know your own strength. If you were half as gentle with me as you are with Chu Chu in that matter, I would be willing to die.
"
"Sister Yunniang, why are you talking about this?" Chu Chu's beautiful face instantly flushed red.
"You're quite the accuser. With your wanton nature, how can I satisfy your appetite without a good beating
?" Ding Shou said with a smile, his hand already slipping inside Du Yunniang's collar and grasping one of her full breasts
.
The teasing on her chest sent waves of pleasure through Du Yunniang. She didn't know how this young man had her completely under his thumb,
and couldn't help but moan, "Yes, I'm a slut, I just love your... fierceness."
A slender hand couldn't resist reaching down, grasping his hard, enormous member through his trousers.
Arousing the nine-tailed fox's lust, Ding Shou withdrew his hand, saying, "Let's talk business. I have something for you to do.
"
Suppressing the heat within her, Du Yunniang said with a mixture of shame and resentment, "What could be more important than this?"
Her delicate hand slipped directly into the man's trousers, grasping the hot, erect base.
Ding Shou, also feeling a surge of heat, still forced himself to endure, saying, "Help me get a rough idea of what's going on..."
Du Yunniang leaned closer, listening intently to Ding Shou's instructions, her small hand never stopping, constantly stroking and manipulating
.
Having finally finished giving her instructions, Du Yunniang straightened up, gently smoothed her hair, and smiled, "Easy, but
how should I reward you afterward?"
"You slut, so calculating with me," Ding Shou laughed and scolded. "Name your price, and I won't argue."
"Have some fun with my sisters," Du Yunniang glanced at Chu Chu with a smile, "but all my
virginity must be used to fill her bottomless pit, so this girl won't be praying to Guanyin for a child all day long."
"Sister Yunniang, what nonsense are you spouting?" Chu Chu blushed.
"Alright, alright, as you wish," Ding Shou laughed, secretly wondering why, after more than a year of being with countless women,
she hadn't conceived.
"You're all bullying me!" Chu Chu felt ashamed under their teasing gazes and stubbornly shoved
the peeled grape she held into Ding Shou's mouth.
But he stubbornly refused to open his mouth, only giving her meaningful glances.
"Good girl, let's stick to the usual rules," Du Yunniang advised.
Chu Chu blushed, parted her pearly teeth, took a grape into her mouth, and brought it to Ding Shou's lips.
The juice burst open, and Ding Shou, without time to savor the sweet and sour taste, took her tongue in his mouth and returned the kiss. Their
sweet saliva mingled, their tongues intertwined, Chu Chu's breath came in short gasps, her body went limp, her entire body pressed against Ding
Shou's chest. The man's hands also climbed up her slender waist and hips, a wave of pleasure washing over her, and she couldn't help but pant softly
.
During the passionate kiss, a soft moan escaped her lips, and Chu Chu suddenly felt her breasts being grasped. Looking up, she saw
the smile in Du Yunniang's eyes, and felt a bitter ache in her heart. Yet, the four hands roaming over her body continued to explore and seek, causing her increasingly mature
and alluring body to writhe restlessly.
Amidst soft moans and sweet groans, her tongues entwined more diligently, Chu Chu's heart fluttered with desire, her body growing hotter and hotter,
her secret valley overflowing with spring water, her jade hands, with nowhere to go, skillfully climbing onto Du Yunniang's soft, full breasts.
Seeing the three of them passionately entangled in their lovemaking, they suddenly heard Qianniang report from outside, "Master, the two young ladies,
dinner is ready."
Ding Shou grunted, sticking out his smooth, sweet, bright red tongue, "Come in."
The door opened, and Qianniang led two servants into the room. On the bed, Ding Shou was lightly wiping his lips, his face full
of lingering pleasure; Chu Chu was hurriedly adjusting her clothes, her delicate neck flushed; Du Yunniang's clothes were half-undone, seemingly unconcerned
.
Qianniang ordered the fruits and vegetables on the low table in front of the bed to be removed, and the freshly prepared food to be laid out.
Ding Shou sized up the woman before him, whose features were refined, "Are you Xiuhong from Wang Liu's family?"
The woman nodded.
"From a dignified member of the governor's family to a slave, do you resent me?" Ding Shou asked, letting the two women help him up
and lean against the blue satin cushions.
Xiu Hong immediately knelt down, meekly replying, "This servant wouldn't dare. Che Ting violated the law and deserved his punishment. If
it weren't for your shelter, sir, I don't know what a miserable end I would have suffered. Your kindness is boundless, and
I can only repay it in my next life."
"Whether those words are true or false, they sound pleasing," Ding Shou
said casually, gently lifting Chu Chu's chin.
Chu Chu shyly pushed away Ding Shou's hand and picked up a dish of food, feeding it to him.
"Hmm, what dish?" Ding Shou asked, nodding.
"This is the Rouge Goose Breast I made. I wonder if it suits your taste, sir?" Xiu Hong quickly replied.
"Your skills are excellent," Ding Shou praised, then added, "Wang Liu has taken on some work for you and hasn't
been home lately. If you have any difficulties, feel free to tell me."
"Thanks to your kindness, Master, I'm perfectly fine," Xiu Hong replied, kneeling.
"Xiu Hong is a clever woman, a skilled cook, and she's always been a great help," Qian Niang chimed in
.
"Keep up the good work, and I won't let you down," Ding Shou said, gesturing for her to rise. He then ate another
spoonful of rice porridge fed to him by Du Yunniang.
"Master, Cheng Li, whom you summoned, has arrived," Tan Shuzhen announced as she entered the room.
"Let him in," Ding Shou said, pointing to Xiu Hong beside him. "Give her twenty taels of silver later."
Xiu Hong was about to kneel again when Qian Niang pulled her back, smiling and instructing, "In the inner quarters, our Master is very easygoing
and doesn't like too many formalities."
Soon after, Cheng Li was led in.
"This humble servant greets Master," Cheng Li said, his eyes lowered. The inner quarters were full of women, and he dared not look too much.
As Ding Shou fed the two women, he said, "Old Cheng, do me a favor."
"Master, you flatter me. Please give your orders," Cheng Li replied, knowing his master all too well. The more
polite the words, the faster the matter needed to be handled.
"Find me someone skilled in mathematics," Ding Shou said, his brow furrowed as he embraced the two women on the couch. "I
'm planning a major construction project soon, and I'm worried about being ambushed."
Cheng Li acknowledged the order and withdrew. Ding Shou nodded secretly; this servant was shrewd and capable in business, and remarkably, he rarely
asked questions when given instructions, only focusing on how to handle things properly. He truly hadn't expected to find such a talented person.
Master Ding, of course, had no idea that on a whim on the Grand Canal that day, he had unexpectedly acquired the patriarch of the Huizhou merchants. He was currently 　　chewing on
a piece of dried meat, savoring its flavor. "What kind of meat is this?" 　　Xiu
Hong, who was serving him, quickly replied, "Master, this dish is 'Wind-dried Civet Cat.'" "Take it away!!!" 　　Ding Shou jumped out of bed, 　　shouting 　　. 　　**************** ... 　　You read that right, it's pencils. Throughout Chinese civilization, 　　our ancestors have basically explored everything that can be used for writing and drawing. From animal bone pens in the Stone Age, to knife pens and bamboo pens from the pre-Qin period, to reed pens (as 　　described in the poem "A quiet maiden, so beautiful, gave me a red writing brush"), to chalk made from various mineral powders, to 　　ancient pencils made from natural graphite and other minerals and glue ("holding lead and holding a writing brush"), and then to goose feather pens ("holding goose feather pens, both containing the fragrance 　　of chicken tongue"), there are many varieties. The latter two have been the preferred choice for manual drawing for thousands of years. 　　I truly admire those who, after time-traveling, single-mindedly wanted to make a living by inventing Western "quill pens" and "pencils" 　　—they're really audacious. 　　By the Ming Dynasty, the variety of materials used for making brushes had become even richer, with a wide range of brush tips. There were brushes made from various materials, including 　　sheep hair, sable hair, and wolf hair. They could also be combined into "mixed hair" 　　brushes to suit different writing styles. Among these, sable hair brushes, made from the hair of rabbits' necks and backs, were particularly expensive, with a tough, sharp tip, described as "as sharp as a cone and as razor-sharp as a knife 　　," making them suitable for hard-tipped calligraphy. Ding Shou's household still possesses many fine sable hair brushes, but they are rarely used, only for display 　　. 　　[attach]3025028[/attach] 　　[attach]3025029[/attach] 　　"Thinking about how to make money, Old Liu is in trouble, and we can't rely on the outer court. I can only rely on myself 　　," Zhu Houzhao continued sketching, sounding annoyed. 　　Looking at the high walls on both sides of the alley, Ding Shou didn't find any commercial value. However, he came to talk about 　　something else. "I heard that the court discussed the shortage of national funds today. Doesn't Your 　　Majesty want to go and see?" "No, the results of the court discussion will have to be presented anyway, why bother?" Zhu Houzhao curled his lip in disdain 　　. "Besides, I know what they're saying. It's nothing more than reducing palace expenses and severely punishing extravagance. Why would I 　　add to that mess?" 　　"Not all the ministers are inflexible. There will always be those who care about Your Majesty." Ding Shou kept urging 　　the young emperor. "Furthermore, knowing what these ministers are thinking will make it easier to deal with things in court in the future." 　　Zhu Houzhao shook his head stubbornly and said, "You go if you want, I'm not going." *What good would it 　　do 　　me?* Ding Shou thought to himself, turning to look at a young eunuch beside him. Tall and thin, with 　　a mischievous air and a lively glint in his eyes, he casually pointed and said, "You, come here." 　　The thin eunuch hurriedly ran over. "Your Majesty, Lord Ding, what are your orders?" 　　"Looks quite clever, what's your name?" Ding Shou asked. 　　"This servant is Zhang Rui," the eunuch bowed and replied. 　　"Go to the court and listen to what the officials are saying. Report back to the Emperor without missing a single word. Understand 　　?" Ding Shou assigned Zhang Rui a task. 　　"Understood," Zhang Rui nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice, but didn't move, stealing glances at Zhu Houzhao 　　. After all, this was the Forbidden City; he knew who was in charge. 　　Zhu Houzhao, however, was annoyed. "What are you looking at me for? Didn't you hear Lord Ding's orders?" He raised his leg and kicked him. 　　"I heard you, I heard you," Zhang Rui echoed, gleefully sticking out his bottom as he took a kick, 　　then disappeared in a flash. 　　"Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving me face," Ding Shou said with a grin. 　　Zhu Houzhao snorted, put away his paper and pen, and said, "I have already ordered Liu Jin to open imperial shops in the provinces." 　　"Your Majesty wants to open shops?" Ding Shou frowned. One of the bad things Zhu Houzhao was criticized for was opening 　　imperial shops like Baohe Shop, which competed with the people for profit. Heaven knows how Baohe Shop, which was opened during the Jiajing era, was attributed to Zhengde. 　　"The shops are located within the palace, after all. Those shops are there to help me collect local products from all over the country; otherwise, what will we sell 　　?" Zhu Houzhao said matter-of-factly, pointing to the high walls on either side. "I want to build shops here to 　　sell local products to the palace servants. What do you think?" 　　"If Your Majesty thinks it's good, then so be it," Ding Shou echoed, his eyes filled with pity for Zhu Houzhao. What a pitiful 　　child, how did he become the scapegoat, taking the blame for his own father and now his cousin…

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhang Rui was vividly describing the scene of the court discussions. 　　"
The Duke of Yingguo said: 'The country is in a state of waste, with limited funds used to support endless extravagance. If we don't severely punish extravagance, how can we
turn frugality into abundance!'"
It turned out Zhang Rui was quite the actor; when imitating Zhang Mao, he puffed out his chest and
pulled his belt up to his belly, and he did it quite convincingly.
"Minister Han also said: 'What magical method is there for managing finances? The national treasury is insufficient; the only solution is to advise Your Majesty to cut expenses, reduce redundant
food and wasteful spending, and send all the silver collected from illegal fines to the imperial granary…'"
Zhengde's face darkened. So all the austerity measures were aimed at him? Even if the extra silver
went back to the Ministry of Revenue, wouldn't he still be short of funds?
"Isn't there a single minister with a conscience who cares about His Majesty's well-being?" Ding Shou suddenly asked.
Zhang Rui noticed Zhengde's displeasure and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, Minister Jiao of the Ministry of Personnel
spoke a few fair words for His Majesty."
"What did he say?" Zhu Houzhao, already furious, asked hastily.
With one hand behind his back and the other stroking his smooth chin, imitating Jiao Fang's gesture, Zhang Rui said
, "Even commoners have daily expenses, let alone the extremely noble Emperor's family. If you ask for a solution, this old man has one
..."
"What solution?" Zhu Houzhao became interested, leaning halfway over the imperial desk.
"There are countless people in the world who evade taxes and rent. As the saying goes, 'When you have no money, you pick up old papers.' If the officials thoroughly investigate and pursue these matters
, it can alleviate the urgent shortage of national funds. As a subject, why do you only know how to harm your superiors?"
"Well said." Zhu Houzhao slammed his hand on the imperial desk.
Zhang Rui was startled and trembled. Just moments before, he had stood ramrod straight, displaying the demeanor of a loyal minister, but now he fawned and smiled obsequiously
: "However, several senior ministers in the cabinet disagree. Grand Secretary Xie even said that Minister Jiao is cruel to the people and obsequious to
the emperor, which is not the conduct of a gentleman. If it weren't for Grand Secretary Li's mediation, there would probably have been a big argument in the court."
"What else do they want?!" Zhu Houzhao roared in anger. The little hope that had just sprouted was extinguished again, and he felt
even more aggrieved. "From the time I ascended the throne until now, which of their memorials have I not approved? In the enthronement edict,
tens of thousands of Jinyiwei and eunuchs were dismissed, and more than seven hundred people were dismissed from the Imperial Household Department alone. Now Zhang Yong's department
doesn't even have enough people to build the dragon bed. Do they really have to hand over the imperial estates to the Ministry of Revenue to satisfy their wishes?"
The emperor was furious, and Zhang Rui was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, trembling like a leaf.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. The imperial estates were intended by Emperor Chenghua to honor the two palaces. If they were transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, the palace would likely
not even receive any small benefits," Ding Shou said gently.
"Of course I know that, but the ministers in the court only care about my expenses. When have they ever considered
the feelings of the emperor?" Zhu Houzhao gasped for breath, his chest heaving.
"The court is full of old fogies, and it's inevitable that some of them will speak nonsense. Your Majesty, please don't take it to heart." Ding Shou secretly
observed the emperor's expression, a sly glint in his eyes. "Besides, aren't there others who are considering Your Majesty's best interests? It's just a pity that they are of low rank and their
words carry little weight..."
"Jiao Fang?" Zhu Houzhao seemed to remember something. He retrieved the memorial from the table regarding the appointment of the Minister of Personnel
, opened it, and examined it closely. The main nominee was Wang Ao, the Left Vice Minister of Personnel, and the secondary nominee was Jiao Fang, the Right Vice Minister of Personnel.
In the Ming Dynasty, the selection of officials was divided into inner and outer courts. The selection and appointment of officials within the inner court was a matter for the emperor,
while officials outside the court could oppose and impeach officials they disliked without legal grounds for interference. However, the outer court had much more room for maneuver. The Ministry of Personnel selected civil officials, and the Ministry of War selected military officials 　　.
For civil officials below the fifth rank in the capital and below the fourth rank in local government, 　　the Ministry of Personnel drafted a list, which was then 　　submitted to the emperor for approval—a mere formality known as "Ministry Selection." The selection of mid-level officials of a higher rank was called "Ministry Recommendation." The Ministry of Personnel would submit a list of candidates, giving the emperor face by allowing him to choose, but the main and secondary recommenders were clearly indicated. Those who were sensible would 　　mark the main recommender; otherwise, the secondary recommender would soon be ousted. 　　Of course, if the emperor wanted to cause trouble, he could overturn the entire list and order a new selection— 　　everyone had plenty of time. 　　Then there was the imperial recommendation system. Before the mid-Ming Dynasty, the appointment and removal of the Six Ministries, Nine Ministers, and other high-ranking officials, 　　as well as local governors, were all "specially selected" by the emperor. However, starting with the Hongzhi Emperor, this evolved into a system where "special selection" and "imperial recommendation" 　　were used concurrently. The Minister of Personnel led the process, with the Six Ministries and Six Offices of the Grand Secretariat pooling their resources to recommend two people for each vacancy . The 　　distinction between primary and secondary recommenders remained clear; if the emperor was dissatisfied, he could re-select. However, it became increasingly difficult to promote someone from below through a rapid process 　　. 　　The Chenghua Emperor attempted to intervene in the departmental recommendations and selections, expanding the scope of selection to include recommendations from all officials, which he would 　　then personally appoint. However, this was met with ridicule and, to put it bluntly, a severe beating from the emperor, and the matter was 　　dropped. 　　Frankly speaking, this system of selecting officials, at its best, embodies democratic centralism, with relatively fair power struggles among various parties 　　. But if civil officials banded together and treated the emperor like a fool, the outcome was quite awkward. Besides, it wasn't just the emperor who broke the rules . With the rise of the Three Yangs Cabinet, Yang Shiqi 　　took over the 　　power of recommending officials from the Minister of Personnel , until several years later when 　　the eunuch Wang Zhen seized power and returned it to the Ministry of 　　Personnel 　　. 　　Looking at the list of recommended officials before him, Zhu Houzhao muttered a few words to himself. Looking at the name of his chosen 　　teacher, and thinking about the troubles caused by the ministers lately, he hesitated for a while before finally making 　　up his mind, picking up 　　his vermilion pen, and 　　crossing out Wang Ao… 　　********** ... 　　"My luck has been terrible. My official career has been constantly thwarted by petty people like Peng Hua and Xie Qian. If it weren't for Lord Ding's planning 　　, I truly don't know when I would have ever risen to prominence." Recalling his decades of misfortune, Jiao Fang sighed, looking up at the sky. 　　"Misfortune and fortune are separated, life is full of ups and downs, that's normal. Now, sir, you 　　've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Even if Liu Luoyang were to stand before you, you could still stand tall and unyielding. You've truly seen the light after the storm." Ding Shou smiled. 　　"Not at all, not at all. It's all thanks to Commander Ding's skillful guidance. I am deeply grateful." Jiao Fang was also delighted.

The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel holds the power to select civil officials. Even if he encounters Liu Jian, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, he doesn't need to give way, let alone
his old nemesis Xie Qian. This is a way of venting his pent-up resentment over the years.
"Your Excellency, by the grace of His Majesty, have risen to the rank of a high-ranking official. You should naturally adhere to your duties, appoint the talented and capable, and ensure that no talent is overlooked
and everyone is put to good use." Ding Shou raised his teacup and took a small sip, speaking seemingly casually.
"That's only natural." Jiao Fang suddenly realized, stood up, took an official document from his desk, and presented it with both hands. "This old man
is old and senile, and I was momentarily carried away by my pride. I apologize for making you laugh, Minister Ding."
"Your Excellency holds a high position and great power, yet you have not lost your childlike heart. You are a model for me." Ding Shou smiled as he accepted the official document
.
"How dare I? Lord Ding is young and promising, favored by the Emperor, and destined
for great success. I, 　　an old man, will surely be able to rely on your guidance in 　　my youth." It was rare for Jiao Fang, the head of the Six Ministries, to be so lavish in his flattery towards Ding Shou
. 　　" You 　　flatter me, sir. It should be 　　us working hand in hand , rising 　　to prominence together," Ding Shou said with a smile 　　. 　　" Indeed, that's the way it is," Jiao Fang 　　nodded in agreement. The two looked at each 　　other and laughed, their eyes filled with deep meaning 　　. ********** ... 　　Compared to the rare carefree enjoyment of her own girls, Yicheng Jin, though unwilling, still smiled obsequiously 　　at the short, fat man before her. 　　"Master Zhu, what brings you here?" Yicheng Jin 　　asked in a seductive voice, waving a handkerchief. 　　"Mama Su, no need to feign ignorance. It's not time to sleep with whores yet. What do you think I'm doing here?" 　　Zhu Ying, who had once caused a scene at the Changfeng Escort Agency, spoke even less politely. 　　"Oh, my lord, it's not the appointed time yet, otherwise I would have already delivered the money to your residence 　　. Why would I trouble you to make this trip?" Yicheng Jin said softly, clinging to Zhu Ying's shoulder as she swayed her body. 　　Zhu Ying showed no mercy, swatting away the delicate hand on his shoulder and arrogantly saying, "The rules have changed. 　　From now on, it will be this day, and you'll have to pay an extra ten percent." 　　Yi Cheng Jin looked troubled. "Master Zhu, this is probably..." 　　"What, unwilling to pay?" Zhu Ying raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of provocation. 　　"Not at all. Yi Chun Courtyard owes its current status to Master Zhu's care. How could we go against your wishes?" 　　Yi Cheng Jin covered her mouth with her handkerchief and chuckled. 　　"You're smart enough to know your place." Zhu Ying nodded in satisfaction. "If it weren't for the Duke of Baoguo's influence, your brothel 　　wouldn't have survived this long." 　　"It's all thanks to your support, Master Zhu. I'm incredibly grateful," Yi Chengjin continued to flatter. "Please 　　wait a moment, I'll go get the silver." 　　Back in her own luxuriously decorated bedroom, Yi Chengjin muttered hatefully, "You greedy, fat bastard! If 　　it weren't for the Demon Lord's grand plan, I would have chopped you up and fed you to the dogs long ago." 　　Muttering curses, Yi Chengjin slowly turned the three-legged incense burner on the carved incense table. With a creaking sound, 　　a hidden door appeared in the wall. 　　Yi Chengjin slipped inside, and a moment later, she emerged counting several silver notes. She closed the hidden door again and 　　pushed it open. 　　The window suddenly opened, and a beautiful figure floated into the room like a falling leaf, her lips lightly smeared, a hint of smugness on her face. 　　********** 　　...　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Jang-geum clapped her hands. "Yes, one cannot remain silent when witnessing something." 　　"Sir, your learning is truly erudite; it is Jang 　　-geum's good fortune." Ding Shou suddenly appeared at the door, clapping his hands in praise. "You flatter me, Master." Tan Yunxian curtsied. 　　"Master!" Jang-geum hopped to Ding Shou like a little rabbit. 　　Ding Shou deliberately reached out and ruffled Jang-geum's hair, making a mess of the little girl's hair bun. Seeing 　　the little girl's wrinkled nose and aggrieved expression, the Second Master was in a good mood. 　　"I have a prescription; please instruct me, sir." Ding Shou turned to Tan Yunxian and said seriously. 　　"Where is the prescription?" Mentioning medicine, Tan Yunxian became interested. 　　Ding Shou took out a headless envelope from his pocket and handed it to Tan Yunxian. Tan 　　Yunxian took out the letter, unfolded it, and asked, "What ailment does this prescription treat?" 　　"This prescription is upright and righteous, in accordance with the laws of the state, yet also tender and profound, comforting the bonds of brotherhood. It is specifically for those 　　separated from loved ones, for the heartache of separation..." Ding Shou said leisurely, leaning against the door with his arms crossed. 　　Tan Yunxian seemed captivated by the few words on the letter, slowly sitting down on the embroidered stool, absorbed in his work, without uttering a 　　word. 　　"The master has a heartache? What prescription?" Xiao Changjin, intrigued, took a few steps to Tan Yunxian's side, 　　craning her neck to see the contents of the paper. 　　Ding Shou continued, "Your younger brother, Wenrui, is learned and talented in history. It is truly beneath him to be merely a prefectural instructor. 　　Fortunately, there is a vacancy in De'an Prefecture, Huguang, and your younger brother, Tan Yifeng, has been appointed magistrate of Yingshan County." 　　"This is a copy. The official document from the Ministry of Personnel has already been dispatched to Guangxi. Is this prescription satisfactory, sir?" Ding Shou 　　said slowly. 　　"Good, excellent." Tan Yunxian finally came to her senses and turned to Ding Shou, saying, "Your Excellency's kindness and generosity 　　are beyond my ability to repay."

[attach]3025030[/attach]
Tan Yunxian's words were indeed sincere. Her father, Tan Gang, was a third-class Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest
imperial examination) in the fifth year of the Chenghua era, but ultimately only served as the prefect of Laizhou before retiring. Her younger brother, Tan Yifeng, was only a Juren (successful candidate in the provincial imperial examination), and upon entering officialdom, he immediately became a county magistrate. After serving nine years, he
would be promoted, and his achievements might not be inferior to his father's. More importantly, De'an Prefecture was close to Southern Zhili, making
it more convenient for family members to visit each other, and there was no need to worry about the miasma in the southern border endangering her younger brother's health.
"As long as you have the will, there is no fear of not having the opportunity to repay."
Such unbridled words of seeking repayment by taking advantage of kindness made Tan Yunxian pause. When she looked up and saw Ding Shou's burning gaze, she couldn't
help but blush and lower her eyes.
[attach]3025031[/attach]
"Hmph, trying to take advantage of Mr. Handsome again." Looking at her unscrupulous master's burning gaze, Jang-geum
knew exactly what the wicked man was thinking. But looking down at her own empty chest, her nose stung, and tears
almost welled up…
PS: Some friends say this article is an attempt to exonerate Liu Jin, but that's not really true. Liu Jin had his flaws, but he
also did a lot of things. However, historical records always say he did it all under the guise of righteousness. Historical records often portray eunuchs as
utterly despicable, but their later actions seem quite good; while civil officials are praised initially, but their later
deeds reveal their true nature as scoundrels. It's a double standard, tailored to the individual.
In short, eunuchs are officials, and court officials are ministers. Ministers can be loyal or treacherous, and officials can be good or bad. You can't
condemn them all just because they don't have penises.
In the time-travel novels I've read so far, Liu Jin is always used by the protagonist to slap faces and level up, and he's just a minor villain 　　. He's not
even as good as the ultimate boss eunuchs with amazing martial arts skills in traditional martial arts dramas. As
someone who grew up being poisoned by Hong Kong and Taiwan martial arts dramas, I naturally give these eunuchs extra points for their intelligence and martial arts skills. At least they can't all be idiots, right?
However, if anyone has objections, we can let Lao Liu die early. Anyway, we have enough characters, so we can just create another one
...
Speaking of martial arts, some friends suggested avoiding the real and focusing on the martial arts world. Well, when I started writing this story,
I had no books to read, so I just fantasized about making a bulldozer and that was it. But then my OCD forced me to do
some research, and now even a random passerby is almost a Han-Ming fan. So, my personal opinions started to increase. For
example, the previous chapter was to refute those who said how wealthy the Song Dynasty was, and the chapter before that was to complain about all sorts of "
weird" deaths circulating online. But it seems no one cares about my personal opinions, so it was a failure...
As far as martial arts is concerned, I think the part about Penglai Inn was the most well written. It's all based on historical figures
, with the insertion point being the Shandong Japanese pirate police during the Zhengde era. The plot is all fictional, and the conflicts between various forces are concentrated
in a small inn over two days and nights. The number of likes and replies in those chapters almost made me cry. It's not worth
the calming oral liquid I took for insomnia during that period.
"(Xu) Jin was appointed based on his talent, was capable of appointing people, and was quick-witted. When Xu Jin was supervising the military camp, he worked with Jin. ...
One day after training, he suddenly summoned the three officers and had each of them flogged several times. Jin asked why, and Xu Jin showed him a letter of request from a powerful official. Jin outwardly praised
it, but inwardly he was not pleased."
To avoid empty rhetoric and fabrication, relevant historical materials can be provided if needed. If
anyone is interested...

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