Linxia

Chapter 174, Status

Fang Lin still underestimated the impact of the Jinyiwei's pacification. He drank with Dong Zugao that day and slept with his feet touching. It was not until the next day that he truly felt the huge change in social status brought about by this official position.

When they arrived at the store, Huang Di, Chai Yiwei, Liu Hongwen and Geng Shi all called him "Fang Zhenfu".

Even though Huang Di was the most carefree person, he would still call him "Linzi" in private in the past, but today he called him "Fang Zhenfu", and since that day, he never called him "Linzi" again.

In the past, Liu Hongwen had admiration for Fang Lin, but even though Fang Lin wrote "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and the first and second parts sold well, he still had a sense of pride as a scholar in his heart. But today, he had none of that and completely put himself in a lower position.

Back in Xixiang Hutong, Fang's mother and Tian Xuan were in the open space on Xiaowu Mountain. The neighbors all knew that Fang Lin had been given an official title by the emperor, and they were discussing the matter enthusiastically.

Unlike in the past, when the neighbors would say flattering words to Fang's mother, they still thought in their hearts that "the Fang family just lives a better life and everyone is of equal status." But now, they have lowered their posture before they even opened their mouths. Even Tian Xuan, no one dared to joke with her anymore.

Fang's mother was flattered by the aunties and aunties around her, her face was flushed. When she saw Fang Lin coming back, she quickly put down her things and stood up: "My son is back? The imperial edict has been taken home for display, and the official uniform has been sent over. Linzi, do you still need to go to the capital to take up this position?"

"No need, mother. This is just an honorary position. I don't hold any position but just receive salary. I just get paid without doing any work." Fang Lin explained in the simplest words.

"Okay, okay, that's government food too. I heard it's 14 shi per month!"

Fang's mother had no idea what a nominal position was. When she heard that he would only get a salary without having to do any work, she was even happier. In her opinion, anyway, her son was an official, and a fifth-rank official at that, so what difference did it make whether it was nominal or real?

Tian Xuan was also happy and said to Fang Lin: "Brother Lin, you received the imperial decree yesterday. Mom was very happy. She kept saying that there was smoke coming out of our ancestral tomb... Dad was the same. He was drinking outside last night and came back after a long time. He was drunk and still said that he wanted to burn paper at our Fang family's ancestral tomb..."

Fang Lin listened and could clearly feel that the joy of Fang's father, Fang's mother, and Tian Xuan for this appointment was much greater than when he had brought back tens of thousands of taels of silver in the past. It was as if the salary of 14 dan of rice and 7 taels of silver was more precious than the other 70 taels, 700 taels, and 7,000 taels?
"When I brought home money before, even though I told them I had all kinds of connections and didn't need to worry, my father, mother, and sister Xuan still felt like rootless duckweed. This time, they feel safe after I was given a real official position. Even a smart sister like Xuan is also affected by the world's customs and cannot escape the vulgarity." He thought to himself.

After seeing Fang's mother and Tian Xuan finish their words, the neighbors started to speak up, making Fang Lin feel a much more terrifying enthusiasm than before.

"I said Linzi was a scholar, and he is indeed different. Now he is an official!"

"Yes, the book is well written and the emperor can see it... We still have to study!"

"We can live in the same alley with a fifth-rank official. It will be a great honor for us to tell others about it!"

……

It was rare for such a high-ranking official to emerge from the alley. The neighbors didn't care whether it was an honorary position or not. They didn't understand or care. They only knew that he was an official of the fifth rank, much higher than the county magistrate!

Fang Lin felt a little embarrassed by this enthusiasm. Oh, and the lady also said that she wanted to arrange a marriage for him and a concubine for him!

——In the past, no matter how good his family was, no matter how much money he made from running a bookstore, because he and Tian Xuan had already been married, the neighbors just sighed that they were not destined to be together and were a step late, and never mentioned a concubine. Maybe they subconsciously thought that Fang Lin’s status was not good enough? Now, this phenomenon has appeared.

After hearing this, Fang's mother's face instantly turned cold. In her mind, Tian Xuan was an excellent daughter-in-law and they were very easy to get along with. If she really wanted to take another concubine, who knew what kind of person she would be? She subconsciously rejected it. Besides, Tian Xuan was not infertile and was pregnant. Was it appropriate to say this at this time?

Seeing that Fang's mother looked unhappy, the lady who said this slapped herself on the mouth without waiting for her mother to say anything, saying that she had said the wrong thing.

More people nearby spoke up to smooth things over, and soon everyone was having fun again.

When Fang Lin saw this scene, he suddenly understood why so many people in this world were trying so hard to get a good name, just to become an "official": "Because from ancient times to the present, in this land where officials are the most important, the influence of an official is unparalleled!"

"Yes, in my previous life, in the 21st century, in the land of Qi and Lu, this concept was still deeply influenced. No matter how much money you have, you are not as good as a petty official, who can be looked up to by others." He shook his head secretly.

Fang Lin was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the neighbors, aunties and grandmas, so he didn't stay here for long. He just said hello and left.

Passing by the Ou family, the students were finishing school. Master Ou came out of the house with a bamboo tube for drinking water. When he saw Fang Lin, he called him over and asked him to sit down: "Fang Lin, I heard that you were appointed as the fifth-rank Jinyiwei Zhenfu official, and now you are also Fang Zhenfu."

"Master, please stop joking with me."

Fang Lin shook his head: "People in our alley don't know much about it, but you don't know it either? It's just a nominal position with a nice name. Don't mind if you laugh at me, but I still don't know this. When the imperial edict was read out yesterday, I heard that the Jinyiwei were stationed in the government office. My first reaction was to be shocked. I subconsciously thought of the legendary Jinyiwei wearing flying fish clothes and carrying embroidered spring swords. I thought that His Majesty was going to summon me to the capital to investigate the case and arrest people..."

"Ha ha!"

Master Ou laughed and said, "It's a nominal position of the fifth rank, but it's still the fifth rank, and the salary is real. However, the Jinyiwei is indeed exaggerated among the people. When many people hear the Jinyiwei, their reaction is that the evil star who arrests people has come."

Fang Lin smiled and nodded.

In the past, under the intentional or unintentional exaggeration of various film and television dramas, the Jinyiwei became synonymous with darkness, bloodiness, cruelty, and insidiousness. It seemed that when the Jinyiwei were mentioned, everyone should be trembling with fear and terrified. On the contrary, it would be strange to say that they were not afraid.

"Master, please tell me about the Jinyiwei!" Yesterday, Dong Zugao only talked about the details of the official position of the Jinyiwei Zhenfu. Fang Lin really didn't know more about the Jinyiwei itself.

He felt that as a Jinyiwei pacifier, it was necessary for him to understand it in more detail.

"This Jinyiwei!"

Master Ou talked about the origin of Jinyiwei: "The guards and suo were founded by Taizu. Each prefecture had a suo, and several prefectures had guards. Under the guards there were commanders, and under the commanders there were thousand households and hundred households. The word 'guard' in Jinyiwei came from this, and they were the emperor's personal army.

During the Taizu period, the predecessor of the Jinyiwei was called the Gongweisi. Because it had the responsibility of managing ceremonial guards, it was also called the Tongxuyiluansi. Later, it was renamed the Qinjunduwei Mansion. It was not until the 15th year of the Guangwu period that it was renamed the Jinyiwei.

As for the duties of the Jinyiwei, one is to be in charge of the ceremonial guards. Whenever the emperor goes out, hunts, goes on expeditions, or performs sacrifices, the Jinyiwei must accompany him. The Feiyufu and Xiuchundao you mentioned are not the uniforms and weapons that all Jinyiwei can wear. They are not the Jinyiwei's daily uniforms or weapons. They are usually worn on important occasions or during sacrifices, and are not used very often in a year. By the way, from this point of view, the Jinyiwei still has a hard life..."

"Oh?" Fang Lin added.

"The ceremonial guards during the court session are also in charge of the Imperial Guards."

Master Ou took a sip of tea and explained in detail: "You said that the morning court usually starts at Yinshi (5:00 a.m.). Ministers usually have to wait at the left and right gates at the time of the interaction between Chou and Yin (around 3 or 4 o'clock). The Jinyiwei who are responsible for the ceremonial guards have to be on duty even earlier. They have to be ready at Choushi, which is really hard work."

"Especially during the reign of Emperor Taizu, there were almost no holidays. Emperor Taizu went to court every day, not wanting to miss a single day. The Imperial Guards were miserable. In contrast, during the Shuncheng period of the Great Former Dynasty, His Majesty did not go to court for more than ten years, but the Imperial Guards were happy."

Fang Lin listened and found it quite interesting.

"The second duty of the Jinyiwei is to be responsible for the imperial caning, that is, spanking the officials." Master Ou said this, but he stroked his beard and smiled: "Now, the officials are not afraid of this."

"Master, why is this?" Fang Lin asked.

This is a beating with a stick, are you not afraid?

"Today, it is different from the time of Taizu. Taizu was not afraid of killing people at all and did not care how many people he killed. Now is completely different from then. The civil officials are upholding justice and can stand up to Your Majesty..."

Master Ou did not say too deeply, but Fang Lin understood it. It was nothing more than the awakening of scholars and civil officials, the improvement of the legal system and the weakening of imperial power.

"As the imperial power weakened, civil officials could use the law and morality to confront the emperor. In this case, what's the harm in being beaten a few times in order to make a name for themselves in history? They are naturally not afraid." He understood in his heart.

Master Ou saw that Fang Lin understood, and continued with a smile: "Nowadays, there are endless censors who come to give advice, write letters, and even argue with Your Majesty. Your Majesty can't do anything to them, and can only let them scold you. But when you are very angry, spanking them is a common thing. Once Your Majesty speaks, thirty strokes of the cane, the Jinyiwei outside the palace move like the wind, rush in and take out the officials who are to be caned, and drag them to the Meridian Gate to be spanked.

Speaking of spanking, there are also some rules. Officials took off their official uniforms, tied them up with straw ropes, and faced upside down with their heads down and their buttocks up. The cane used in the court was made of chestnut wood, which was hard and not easy to break, and was wrapped in iron sheets with barbed hooks on them... It is said that there are two ways of beating with a stick. When executing the cane, one must pay attention to the movements of the eunuchs' feet to see if it is a real beating, which determines life or death; or a beating with heart, which seems fierce but only hurts the skin and flesh without touching the root.

This martial art of beating people is also the survival method of the Jinyiwei. If you don't practice well, you will kill someone who shouldn't be killed, and the person who should be killed will still be alive. Isn't that a matter of losing your head? So the Jinyiwei must practice their skills, first practice the basics, and then practice with pork, to the point where the skin is rotten but the inside is not hurt..."

Master Ou added, "Of course, there are people who are beaten to death, but the proportion is not high, especially now. Unless there is a special incident or it is a sensitive period, under normal circumstances, Your Majesty would not dare to be so willful as to poke a hornet's nest at all costs..."

As Fang Lin listened, a scene emerged in front of his eyes: Daxia's censors, one after another, complained to the heavens, the earth, and the emperor. When one censor was dragged out by the Jinyiwei, thousands and thousands more stood up, like stirring up a hornet's nest, unable to be driven away or escaped...

As he thought about this, he couldn't help laughing.

"Ha ha!"

Master Ou seemed to have thought of that scene as well, and he also smiled: "Your Majesty, it's difficult sometimes. Let's get back to the point. The accusations of the Jinyiwei and the three investigations are also the terror exaggerated by the people. During the reign of Emperor Taizu, there were many major cases. When the major cases were vigorous, more than 100,000 people were beheaded. With such a wide range of involvement and so many people involved, the Jinyiwei's contribution is indispensable..."

This "indispensable contribution" is obviously an ironic statement: "At that time, the reputation of the Jinyiwei was like that of a fierce ghost. No matter whether it was the common people or the officials, when they heard the three words "Jinyiwei", they were all afraid of them like a tiger, more afraid than seeing a ghost. How terrifying was it? The people compared the Jinyiwei's prison to hell."

"But now, the power of the Jinyiwei is greatly limited. During the Hongde period of the previous dynasty, a Jinyiwei commander offended the public and was even beaten to death by the officials."

"The comparison between before and after is really..." Fang Lin listened and sighed.

"So, not only are weddings and funerals, as I said before, simple and extravagant, but even the Imperial Guards are also related to the development of a dynasty..."

As Master Ou was talking, he wanted to drink some water but found that it was gone. He subconsciously raised the bamboo tube and shouted to the door: "Pour me some water..."

He paused halfway through his words before realizing that Mrs. Ou was gone. He lowered his head in a daze.

"Master, let me do it!" Fang Lin stood up and wanted to take the bamboo tube to pour water for Master Ou, also to change the subject.

Mr. Ou waved his hand and refused: "I forgot that my wife had passed away. This made me busy and I would forget about her. But as long as I was free, I would think of her again without paying attention... Let's not talk about this, Fang Lin, you go, I have to cook too."

He shook his head in boredom, obviously no longer in the mood to talk.

Fang Lin walked a distance and looked back, and saw Master Ou sitting by the doorstep, right next to the place where Mrs. Ou used to pick vegetables. He sat there, picking vegetables slowly, as if he still had his old partner by his side, as if he had kept the other person with him.

……

Ever since he became a fifth-rank Jinyiwei pacification officer and had the support of Dong Zugao, many things seemed to have become extremely simple all of a sudden.

The Gu family communicated with the Gu family and the Yang family about the shares in the fleet that they wanted to sell, and they quickly reached an agreement.

The Yang family took 20% of the shares of the South China Sea fleet held by the Gu family, accounting for 60%, and Fang Lin took the remaining 40%. The two sides cooperated together.

There was nothing earth-shattering, twists and turns, or brilliant ideas. It was just sitting down together and drinking a cup of tea, peaceful and calm.

Through this compromise and cooperation, the Yang family gained control of the Nanyang fleet, which was barely satisfactory; Fang Lin extended his business tentacles to the fleet to understand its operating model and see if he could poach people in the future, etc., in order to accumulate foundation for his own independent fleet, which was also expected.

……

(End of this chapter)