met free Chapter 397 Father-in-law and Son-in-law Join Forces
Chapter 397 Father-in-law and Son-in-law Join Forces
After weighing the options, Lin Tianming felt that he had a good chance of success and it was worth a try. His only concern was that using his connections in the capital would be very expensive.
He said hesitantly, "This is something we can try, but the expenses for clearing the way are difficult to raise in a short time..."
Liu Ye asked, "There's no need to worry about expenses. Lord Lin, could you please tell me who you entrusted with this?"
A network of connections in officialdom is the foundation for every official's livelihood, especially the relationship with superiors. It is generally not easily disclosed to others. Lin Tianming glanced at his daughter with some hesitation, and Lin Shiyue slowly nodded, indicating that he could tell her everything.
Lin Tianming made up his mind and told Xia Tiannan, "Tang Shiji, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, is my superior and also my fellow townsman. You can ask Lord Tang for help in getting me promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief."
Liu Ye frowned and said, "The rank has been raised, but the Censorate can't decide on the job assignment, can it?"
Lin Tianming sighed: "That's exactly what I'm worried about. Now that the Grand Secretary Wen holds all the power in the cabinet, it's difficult to get the selection of a governor through the cabinet and then to the Emperor's decision without his approval. Although I'm familiar with Wen's protégés and can pass messages to him, without enough money to bribe him, it's hard to get his approval..."
"Prime Minister Wen?" Liu Ye recalled that the Grand Secretary for the past few years should be Wen Tiren. He ousted Zhou Yanru and took the position of Grand Secretary, holding it for eight years—the longest-serving Grand Secretary during the Chongzhen era, truly an unshakeable figure in officialdom. This man was shrewd and calculating, especially adept at discerning political trends. He enjoyed Chongzhen's deep trust, but privately he was ruthless in forming cliques and eliminating dissidents. Without feigning compliance with him, it would be difficult to obtain such an important position as Governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou.
He nodded and said, "Since you need money to pave the way, then go ahead and do it. Don't worry about the money." He clapped his hands, and Lin San, who was already prepared, came in with two soldiers carrying a box.
He pointed to the box and said, "I left Shandong in a hurry this time and didn't bring much gold or silver. This is 10,000 taels of silver. Now I'm handing it over to Lord Lin. You can decide how to spend it."
Lin Shiyue already knew from the money exchange incident that Liu Ye was adept at making money and had a considerable fortune, so she wasn't surprised. Lin Tianming, however, was dumbfounded. A full ten thousand taels of silver—it would take him half a lifetime to save up that amount through his salary alone—was handed over to him so easily with just a few words. Just how rich was Liu Ye?
He opened his mouth a few times, and finally blurted out, "Isn't this much unnecessary..."
Liu Ye laughed and said, "It's not just about Lord Lin's position as governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, but also about my affairs! The governorship can't be bypassed by Chief Minister Wen, and I want to be a general to guard a region, so naturally I can't bypass him either. In any case, I have to get his approval before I can petition the emperor for a decision, so why not do both things at once and take care of them together? If it's not enough, I can send someone back to Qiongzhou to get more."
Lin Tianming then remembered this matter and asked suspiciously, "Is setting up a new military town such an easy thing? The Ming Dynasty has only set up a few military towns in hundreds of years, you can count them on one hand..."
Liu Ye replied, "The governor has pointed me in the right direction. He suggested that the Guangdong governor's office should submit a memorial to the court requesting the establishment of a military garrison in Qiongzhou to use the navy to prevent the Japanese pirates and other bandits from harassing the Fujian and Guangdong areas. At that time, I will have military merits, and with Lord Mu's strong recommendation, there is still a good chance that the Japanese pirates and other bandits will come to the coast to cause trouble and let the emperor understand the importance of coastal defense."
Before Lin Tianming could speak, Lin Shiyue couldn't help but ask, "Wasn't Red Hair crippled by you and forced to run back to Southeast Asia to eke out a living? Speaking of Japanese pirates, we've hardly seen a single one in the Jiangzhe, Fujian, and Guangdong areas these past few years, so how can you say he's causing trouble?"
Liu Ye smiled mysteriously: "I have my own way. As long as this memorial is placed in front of His Majesty, whether it's the British or the Japanese pirates, they will show up on time. What Lord Lin needs to do is to smooth things over with everyone so that this memorial can be approved by the Cabinet and delivered to His Majesty. I will arrange the rest."
Lin Tianming was still skeptical and didn't continue asking his daughter's questions. He had another question that he couldn't help but ask: why was Liu Ye so enthusiastic about pushing him to the top and willing to entrust him with the task of becoming the general?
"General Liu, there is still one thing I don't understand: we have only known each other for more than ten days, why do you trust me so much?"
Liu Ye chuckled, glanced at Lin Shiyue, and then whispered in Lin Tianming's ear, "I have long admired your daughter and have been planning to propose marriage. Consider this governorship as a betrothal gift! I wonder if Lord Lin understands this answer?"
Lin Shiyue guessed what Liu Ye was going to say, and her cheeks flushed red. She was uneasy, unsure whether to stay or leave.
Although Lin Tianming vaguely knew that Mu Tianyan was trying to matchmake the two, he wasn't sure what Liu Ye thought before, and he hadn't decided whether to accept this potential son-in-law. Now that he had witnessed Liu Ye's abilities, his petty thoughts of valuing literature over martial arts had long been forgotten. Where could he find such a capable son-in-law who could help him ascend to the position of Governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, and who was very likely to become a general guarding a region?
He glanced at his daughter's expression and knew that her heart was already set on Liu Ye. He sighed inwardly: "A daughter is like a tree that grows up and cannot be kept at home."
Looking back at Liu Ye, who was all smiles, she found him not only shrewd and capable but also handsome, practically flawless. The more she looked at him, the more she liked him, so she replied warmly, "Since we'll be family sooner or later, everything is fine. Don't worry, I'll try to become the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, and I'll also help you get the position of general."
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter. One had connections, the other had money; with the future father-in-law and son-in-law joining forces, they would naturally achieve twice the result with half the effort.
After Dengzhou returned to the hands of the imperial court, the post-war recovery work began. In addition to clearing out the rebels and defeated soldiers in Shandong, providing relief to the starving people and stabilizing the situation became the top priorities.
The rebellion had a profound impact on Shandong. Besides key cities like Dengzhou, the rebels captured numerous prefectures and counties. Many officials were either killed in battle or captured and subsequently tortured, severely undermining the imperial court's rule in Shandong. Ordinary people suffered the devastation of losing their homes and families, with survivors displaced. At this time, with the rebellion initially quelled and local governments in a semi-paralyzed state, large tracts of farmland in Shandong, especially in the Dengzhou and Laizhou regions, lay fallow. There was no sufficient capacity in the short term to provide relief to the people, distribute grain, seeds, and oxen to organize the restoration of cultivation. Furthermore, the availability and timing of imperial relief were major issues, and the relief efforts were often too far-fetched to address the immediate needs. This created a significant threat to the starving population, who, with a single spark incited rebellion, could ignite a riot comparable to the Li-Kong Rebellion.