After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 678 Promotion
Starting from the spring of the 34th year of the reign of Emperor Deguang, Hai Xiya was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue and became a sixth-rank official stationed in Shaanxi.

Tao Yue used a backdoor to count his first year in Chang'an as part of his term, saying that he was promoted to promote new grain corn in Chang'an on his orders, but the official appointment documents were not delivered in time, which delayed his transfer for a year. Therefore, Hai Xiya's tenure as the head of the Ministry of Revenue began in the spring of the 33rd year of Emperor Deguang's reign, which is exactly five years. By next year, he will have served two full terms as the head of the Ministry of Revenue, and his performance is excellent, so he can be promoted.

Tao Yue had written a letter to his good friend Xie Wenzai a month ago, mentioning Hai Xiya's promotion.

If Hai Xiya simply wanted to be transferred to the capital, there would be a vacancy in the position of Langzhong in the Ministry of Revenue next year, but it would not be in the Shaanxi Division, but in another division, and Hai Xiya would need to start from scratch to familiarize himself with the unfamiliar environment and personnel. Tao Yue personally did not approve of him taking this vacancy, thinking that he was old and ready to retire, and there was no need to spend time and energy to get involved in the affairs of other regions. And that position had actually been eyed by someone for a long time. If Hai Xiya gave up this position, the person who would be transferred should be an experienced and mature local official with a huge family background. If Hai Xiya had no intention of making further progress in his official career, there was really no need to offend that kind of person.

But if Hai Xiya is willing to wait a few more months, the position of doctor in the Shaanxi Division of the Ministry of Revenue will be vacant between the end of next year and the beginning of the year after. The current doctor will be promoted at that time. He and Tao Yue have always gotten along well and cooperated well. After the promotion, he will continue to cooperate with Tao Yue. Tao Yue does not want his successor to be an official he does not know, and prefers Hai Xiya to take this position.

It is said that the position of Shaanxi Silangzhong is not very busy, and the main responsibility is the corn promotion affairs that Hai Xiya is familiar with, which is suitable for someone like him who is mature, steady and trustworthy. When the time comes, he can serve as a fifth-rank official in the capital and then officially retire. Tao Yue has made all the arrangements and will not let his good friend Xie Wenzai and his cousin worry about anything.

After receiving the letter, Xie Wenzai discussed it with Hai Xiya and his wife, and they all decided to accept Tao Yue's arrangement.

Hai Xiya didn't care whether he would be promoted to the fifth rank next year or the year after. Anyway, the fact that he could end his career at the fifth rank had greatly exceeded his expectations, and he was already satisfied. If it weren't for Tao Yue's protection and careful arrangements for him, he felt that he could only earn the sixth rank in the Northwest Frontier Army based on his qualifications. Being able to realize this wish a few years ahead of schedule and now having the hope of further promotion was a huge surprise for him, and he really had nothing to complain about.

Before he officially retires, he will do his best to assist Tao Yue.

Hai Xiya also advised his cousin Xie Wenzai: "I am old and you are still in your prime, why can't you return to the government? Tao is in need of people, who can be more trustworthy than you, his old friend for decades? Isn't what he is doing now what you want to do? If you have resentment towards the emperor and don't want to work for him, then you can come out after the new emperor takes the throne. Anyway, with Tao here, he will always make arrangements for you. When the time comes, you can help each other in the officialdom, he will be more relaxed, and you will have the opportunity to realize your ambitions, why not do it?"

Xie Wenzai smiled bitterly, "Cousin, I am also an old man, my hair has already turned white, why bother to wade into that muddy water? Besides, even if I am not in office now, I can still help Tao Nanshan. Don't I always give advice to the Duke of Zhenguo? Tao Nanshan wrote to me, and I also discussed government affairs with him a lot! That's enough. After so many years of tossing and turning, I really don't want to experience the intrigues in the officialdom again. Isn't life like this good now?"

He insisted on doing so, and Hai Xiya could not persuade him anymore. He just thought that when he was transferred to Beijing, he would definitely bring his cousin and his two friends Cao and Lu with him. Then, Tao Yue would personally persuade these old friends. With Tao Yue's eloquence and ability, as long as he wanted, there would always be a day when he could persuade Xie Wenzai and others.

Although Hai Xiya's promotion plan was never announced publicly, since it was arranged by Tao Yue, the Zhenguo Mansion and the Hai family knew it very well. The Zhenguo Duke has been in poor health for the past two years and has stopped going to the border. He has also slowly transferred the military power in his hands to his eldest son, General Zhou. However, the Zhenguo Duke has always been very concerned about the developments in the capital, and has sent many people to the capital or the surrounding areas in recent years. Now, among the imperial guards in the capital, there is not only General Zhou, but also two young generals with the surname Zhou at the grassroots level. Among the garrisons in the suburbs of Beijing, there are also more generals from the Northwest Frontier Army, such as the children of the Tang family. The emperor has firmly grasped the military power of the capital through the old people of the Northwest Frontier Army, and has not allowed the Sun family to get involved. The situation in the capital has been generally calm in recent years. No matter how much trouble Sun Ge Lao and his family nephews have made, there has been no major chaos, which is inseparable from the emperor's control of the military power.

Now, it will be three years since Tu Rong was promoted to the position of Commander-in-Chief of Shaanxi Military Command. Although there were rumors in Chang'an that he might take over the position of commander of the Northwest Frontier Army, and General Zhou could only serve as his deputy and cooperate with him, but recently there was a rumor inside Shaanxi Military Command that Commander-in-Chief Tu Rong might be transferred back to the capital. It was still unknown who would take over the position of Commander-in-Chief!
Xie Wenzai was frequently invited to the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion to discuss matters, which was probably related to this matter.

Haijiao had been keeping an eye on the Jin family's movements. Suddenly, he heard that Tu Rong was going to be transferred and might even lose the seal of command of the Northwest Frontier Army. He guessed something in his mind.

He privately said to his sister Haitang: "It seems that the news of the emperor's serious illness is true, and it is even more serious than three years ago. Otherwise, three years ago when the emperor was seriously ill, he did not call Tu Rong back, but instead promoted him to the position of commander-in-chief and let him hold the power tightly. Now he is only one step away from getting the seal of the commander of the Northwest Frontier Army, but he wants to give it up. It must be because the capital needs him more."

Haitang nodded: "If the emperor is really about to collapse, the army in the capital should be handed over to his most trusted ministers. Yingchuan Marquis can't handle it alone, and General Zhou is a member of the Zhou family. The person the emperor can really trust 100% is Tu Rong. If he wants to gain control of the northwest border army, he must first ensure that there will be no problems with the succession to the throne. However, just in case, he should take more precautions against the Zhou family, right?"

Hai Jiao made a "tsk" sound, and felt that the emperor was annoying. "Without the Zhou family to stabilize the situation for him, did he think that the capital would be so peaceful in the past few years?! Now that it's a critical moment, his suspicious and jealous nature has come out again. When will he put such thoughts on the Sun family?! He is only targeting the Zhou family envoys who are loyal to the country, and he is simply obsessed with it. Who is the real root of the trouble? Can't he tell it?!"

Haijiao was still gritting his teeth, and Haitang comforted him: "It's okay. The situation in this life is much better than your previous life. The Queen Mother and the Duke of Zhenguo are still alive and well, and nothing will happen to the Zhou family again."

Something else was more pressing at the moment.

Tu Rong is about to be transferred back to the capital, and Hai Jiao will also go to the capital to take the imperial examination. He spent several years working with Tu Rong to open up the relationship. Will there be any changes after he goes to the capital?
Also, will Hai Chang'an, Tu Rong's second uncle who has been serving as a personal soldier, also follow Tu Rong back to Beijing? Will he face the family that once abandoned him?

(End of this chapter)