Gongs and drums blare loudly, banners flutter. Amid everyone’s eager anticipation and the gaze of the masses, the imperial envoy’s procession finally arrives.
A group of factory guards escort the imperial envoy and his party as they appear before the crowd. The leading eunuch wears a flying fish robe, around forty years old, flanked by two eunuchs in bullfighting robes of varying ages, accompanied by several young eunuchs carrying the imperial decree.
Zhao Wenhu leads Zhu Ping’an and the officials forward to greet them, as welcoming drums and suonas play cheerfully.
After a series of tedious rituals, the envoy begins to proclaim the decree, “The imperial decree arrives. Zhejiang Governor Zhu Ping’an, step forward to receive it.”
Zhu Ping’an did not expect to be the first to receive the decree.
“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since assuming office as Governor of Zhejiang, Zhu Ping’an has diligently performed his duties, governed the people wisely, achieved merit in suppressing the Japanese pirates, with frequent reports of victory and auspicious signs appearing… He is granted an increase of one level in salary and a golden crane robe…”
The envoy proclaims the decree with rhythmic cadence.
“Your servant Zhu Ping’an receives the decree, thanks to the Emperor’s great kindness. May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years.” Zhu Ping’an kneels to receive it, inwardly criticising Emperor Jiajing for being stingy.
He has achieved so much merit in suppressing the pirates, yet only granted a salary increase of one level and a golden crane robe, not even willing to promote him by one official rank.
Zhu Ping’an thinks Emperor Jiajing is stingy, but behind him, Luo Longwen’s face twists severely with jealousy and hatred.
“Damn Zhu Ping’an! Damn! Damn! Truly damn! How did he get rewarded by the Emperor again!”
Luo Longwen’s face contorts, his heart screaming madly inside.
Pah!
That dog Zhu Ping’an, calling me a sycophant, why doesn’t he take a piss and look at himself? You! You! You!
You offered two white turtles and dragon’s saliva incense to the Emperor as auspicious signs, pah, dare you say that is not flattery?!
I give gifts to Donglou and the Grand Secretary, and you call me a flatterer?!
Then what about you offering gifts to the Emperor?! Shouldn’t you take a piss, look at your noble self, and call yourself a flatterer?!
I speak well of Donglou and the Grand Secretary, and you mock me as a toady?! What about you, your ‘may the Emperor live ten thousand years’? Is that not toadying?!
Dog Zhu Ping’an! Hypocrite! Envy, jealousy, and hatred make Luo Longwen’s features unrecognisable! He is exhausted in heart and mind!
“Congratulations to Lord Zhu. Lord Zhu is truly young and promising, enviable. This golden crane robe, the Emperor has only granted it to meritorious cabinet ministers before. Lord Zhu is the first outside the cabinet ministers. Lord Zhu’s future is boundless.”
The eunuch hands the decree and golden crane robe to Zhu Ping’an with both hands, smiling as he congratulates him, especially emphasising the robe’s rarity. No one outside the meritorious inner cabinet ministers has received it before; Zhu Ping’an is unique.
“Thanks to the Emperor’s favour, thanks to Your Excellency. I will certainly redouble my efforts and not fail the Emperor’s expectations and kindness.”
Zhu Ping’an receives the decree and robe with both hands, feigning excitement on his face as he thanks the proclaiming eunuch.
After a simple thanks, Zhu Ping’an tactfully steps back to the side, not obstructing the eunuch from continuing to read the decrees.
“Zhejiang Inspector Censor Hu Zongxian, receive the decree.” The eunuch takes another scroll from the young eunuch’s tray and continues.
“Your servant Hu Zongxian receives the decree.” Hu Zongxian steps forward and kneels to receive it.
“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Zhejiang Inspector Censor Hu Zongxian has performed his duties diligently. In the Battle of Wangjiangjing, his merits are outstanding… Promoted to Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang…”
The eunuch’s proclaiming voice reaches everyone’s ears, and most people lift their heads in disbelief, looking towards the proclamation site.
What?!
Hu Zongxian has outstanding merits in the Battle of Wangjiangjing?! Did I hear that right? How did Hu Zongxian have outstanding merits in the Battle of Wangjiangjing?!
No! What does the Battle of Wangjiangjing have to do with Hu Zongxian?! The Battle of Wangjiangjing was when former Governor Zhang Jing used Jiaxing City to lure the enemy deep, commanding generals like Yu Dayou and Tang Kuan, leading wolf soldiers and other guest troops to advance by water and land routes, surrounding and annihilating the Japanese pirates at Wangjiangjing, killing them until they cried for their fathers and mothers, blood flowing like rivers, achieving a great victory at Wangjiangjing.
Does the Battle of Wangjiangjing have a single copper coin’s relation to Hu Zongxian?!
If memory serves, during the great Battle of Wangjiangjing, Hu Zongxian was at Xiangyun Tower celebrating Zhao Wenhu’s fiftieth birthday, right?!
You not only impeached and threw Governor Zhang Jing into prison, but also stole his merits from Wangjiangjing?!
Hu Zongxian, outstanding merits in the Battle of Wangjiangjing. His merit must be in echoing Zhao Wenhu’s impeachment and framing of Governor Zhang Jing, heh, and now promoted directly to Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang in one go. Admirable, admirable.
Truly, having connections in the court makes officialdom easy!
Back when Governor Zhang was in power, he isolated and blocked Zhao Wenhu. Only Hu Zongxian openly and brightly supported Zhao Wenhu, walking with him, fawning over Zhao Wenhu’s stinking feet. Now it seems, he truly was like Lü Buwei back then.
The crowd buzzes, whispering among themselves. Hu Zongxian’s promotion does not convince the masses.
Zhu Ping’an also cannot help but sigh in admiration. As expected of Hu Zongxian, promoted to Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang in one leap. This return on investment is truly enviable.
Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang, though the jurisdiction is not as large as that of Zhejiang Governor, but both are governors, same rank.
From Zhejiang Inspector Censor, which is seventh rank, to Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang, which is fully third rank. That is seven levels up in a row!
Seven levels, a miracle!
Soaring into the sky.
Hu Zongxian is now on the same starting line as me.
Of course, due to the butterfly effect of my wings flapping, history has deviated slightly. In history, Hu Zongxian was promoted to Governor of Zhejiang at this time. Because I took the position of Governor of Zhejiang, Hu Zongxian is now promoted to Governor of Suzhou and Songjiang.
Since history has deviated, let it continue to veer. The position of Governor-General, I really want to sit in it. Only by sitting in that position can I steer the suppression of Japanese pirates in the southeast.
“Silence!”
Zhao Wenhu, displeased, hums a sound, and the crowd then falls silent.
“Your servant Hu Zongxian thanks to the Emperor’s great kindness. May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years…” Under Zhao Wenhu’s protection, Hu Zongxian smoothly receives the decree.
“Congratulations to Lord Hu. Congratulations to Lord Hu for his meteoric rise, breaking the records of promotions in the court. Lord Hu is in his prime, shrewd and capable, with boundless future. Lord Hu and Lord Zhu are like the two shining stars of the moment.”
The eunuch hands the decree to Hu Zongxian, similarly smiling as he congratulates him a few words.
“Thanks to the Emperor’s trust, thanks to Your Excellency’s encouragement. Zongxian will certainly exhaust himself to the end, not failing the Emperor’s trust. Without pacifying the Japanese pirates, I vow not to return to the capital.”
Hu Zongxian receives the decree, unable to suppress his excitement, and pledges his determination.
At this moment, Hu Zongxian truly feels a bit proud in his heart. He heard the crowd’s buzzing just now, but feels no shame in his heart. Zhang Jing was too slow; I will do better than him. So what if the Yan Party holds power over the realm? It is still used by me. Everything I have done is not for my own Hu Zongxian’s glory and wealth alone. It is for the people of the world, for exterminating the Japanese pirates, pacifying the southeast, repaying the Emperor above, and settling the common people below!
