Chapter 90

Mr. Shen stood with his hands behind his back, and the clerk beside him hurried to greet him. Mr. Shen nodded and asked, "Where is the new clerk Lin Tieshu? I'm looking for him."

"How dare I trouble Mr. Shen to come in person. Lin Tieshu, Mr. Shen is here to see you!" the chief clerk urged.

Uncle hurried out, and when Mr. Shen saw Uncle's appearance, he frowned and said, "What happened to you?"

The chief clerk smiled apologetically and said, "I sent him to the village to recruit able-bodied men, and the ruffians threw things at him."

Mr. Shen's colleague, Mr. Zhang, suddenly coughed. Mr. Shen turned to look at Mr. Zhang and, with a keen eye, noticed Lin Yanchao tidying up things in the tea room. He thought to himself, "I've been searching high and low, and now I've found him without any effort. I'm truly blessed!"

Mr. Shen then stepped forward to help Uncle up, putting on a gentle and kind demeanor. "You've been wronged, and it's been tough on you. If there's anything you're not used to in the barracks, just let me know."

Mr. Shen then put on a stern face and said, "Chief Yu, what's going on? When clerks go to the countryside, why don't you send constables with them? When did the office become so short-handed?"

Chief Yu was taken aback, thinking that Mr. Shen was usually mild-mannered and businesslike, but now he was getting angry. Chief Yu, who had been in the barracks for over twenty years and was a shrewd person, thought that Mr. Shen might be putting on a show for others. He immediately softened and said, "Mr. Shen, you're right; it was my oversight."

Mr. Shen nodded and said, "Remember, the county magistrate values the barracks highly and has sent capable people to work here. You must understand his intentions and not take them lightly." As he said this, Mr. Shen patted Uncle's shoulder, and Chief Yu and the other clerks in the barracks realized what he meant. "Oh, do you have to be so obvious? Are you hinting that Lin Tieshu has the backing of the county magistrate?"

Mr. Shen's words left Uncle somewhat flattered. He thought, "What's going on? Could Yanchao have such a good relationship? Could he have even reached the county magistrate?"

Chief Yu, who had been in the bureaucracy for a long time, was used to flattery and opportunism. Moreover, he had always been nice to Lin Ke. He said, "Mr. Shen, you're right; I was careless. Lin Tieshu, you're injured, so take a rest. I'll send two more people, and this time they'll bring constables. We'll see who the ruffians are. Alright, what are you looking at? Dismissed!"

The other clerks in the barracks, seeing the new Lin Tieshu's influence, all left, thinking about how to build a good relationship with him in the future.

Mr. Shen nodded in satisfaction and then turned around, feigning surprise. "Isn't this my young friend? What are you doing here?"

Lin Yanchao had already seen through Mr. Shen's act, but his performance was not convincing. The faint joy in his eyes did not escape Lin Yanchao. He thought, "What a show, this must mean he needs something from me."

Lin Yanchao bowed and said, "Greetings, Mr. Shen."

Mr. Shen showed concern and said, "You encountered the Japanese pirates and came to the city to seek refuge with your uncle? Well, since you're here, stay. Yes, you don't have a place to stay, so it's fine. These days, with wars and disasters, it's not easy for anyone. The guest house in the county office is still empty; you can stay there for now."

"Guest house? That's not appropriate; it's an official residence."

"The guest house is for the families of officials. You're my friend, and your uncle works in the county office, so it's fine. Chief Yu, send two people to help them settle in."

Chief Yu was taken aback, thinking, "What's going on?"

"Mr. Shen, cough, we're all reasonable people. You're not asking me to do something, are you?" Lin Yanchao said in a low voice.

Mr. Shen laughed and said, "Not at all. The county magistrate and I owe you a favor. This is nothing. However, there is a tricky matter at hand. Let me introduce you to Mr. Zhang, who is a senior clerk in the prefecture."

Mr. Zhang stepped forward and bowed. "Who is this?"

Mr. Shen, with a thick face, said, "This is the prodigy I told you about."

"I can't accept that, Mr. Shen. Don't put me on a pedestal!"

Mr. Zhang laughed and said, "Ha, I've known Mr. Shen for many years, and he doesn't praise people lightly. I've discussed your case with some friends, and we all admire you. Now, the prefecture magistrate has a matter that needs your help."

Chen Zhifu? The fat magistrate?

Lin Yanchao thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Zhang, I was just lucky and stumbled upon a few solutions. I didn't expect the prefecture magistrate to hold me in such high regard. I wouldn't dare refuse, but I'm afraid I might fail and disappoint him."

Seeing Lin Yanchao's composure, Mr. Zhang admired him and said, "No worries. Whether you succeed or not, the prefecture magistrate is eager to meet you."

Then Mr. Zhang called for three sedan chairs, and they went from the county office to the prefecture office. It was the first time Lin Yanchao had ridden in a sedan chair.

Wang Anshi once opposed the idea that, since ancient times, nobles have never dared to use people as beasts of burden. But now, Lin Yanchao... well, whatever.

The prefecture office was next to the provincial office. Outside the prefecture office, there were also the chief constable, the Qing army, the naval defense, and the criminal court, all directly under the prefecture.

The two clerks and Lin Yanchao got out of the sedan chairs and went straight to the Harmony Hall in the prefecture office. Here, Lin Yanchao met the prefecture magistrate, Chen Nan. It was like meeting the mayor again. Chen Nan had met him once at the academy, and although he was in official attire, he didn't seem very imposing.

But now, in the prefecture office, the grandeur of the prefecture magistrate was evident. Chen Nan sat casually in his chair, and the two clerks could only stand on the side and listen. Everyone else was far away, and there were no idle people in the hall.

Lin Yanchao, not yet a scholar, had to kneel and bow to the magistrate, but Chen Nan waved his hand and said, "No need. You're Lin Yanchao, right? I've called you here because I owe you a favor."

Lin Yanchao quickly said, "Magistrate, if you have any orders, just tell me. I wouldn't dare ask for anything."

Chen Nan smiled and said, "Good, smart, and far-sighted. I like dealing with young people like you. As for what it is, did the clerk tell you before coming?"

"Not yet. I came hastily upon being summoned by the prefecture magistrate."

Chen Nan thought of the matter and his face darkened. Mr. Zhang then took the initiative to recount the whole story. Lin Yanchao understood that this was a dispute between the military and civil officials, and the prefecture magistrate wanted to stay out of it.

Lin Yanchao felt a growing anger. Yu Dayou was the stabilizing force in Fujian. Now, with the Japanese pirates attacking the city, these civil officials were still holding on to the issue, trying to hold Yu Dayou responsible, and were determined to bring him down, even if it meant the pirates would invade the city and wreak havoc. No wonder the people cursed the corrupt officials; they were indeed corrupt.

Lin Yanchao had heard about the conflict between civil and military officials in the Ming Dynasty. Military leaders were treated like dogs by civil officials, who claimed to control the military with civil power. The history of the Ming Dynasty was full of examples of civil officials supervising and executing military leaders. Lin Yanchao felt a surge of anger. A country that did not respect its soldiers who shed blood on the battlefield was not far from its downfall.

A wave of agitation rose in Lin Yanchao's heart. Although he was a scholar and physically weak, he still had the unpolished idealism of a scholar. Even if he couldn't fight on the battlefield, he could help preserve a pillar of the state for the Ming Dynasty. He wanted to do his part for the people and the country.

His heart was turbulent, but his face was calm. "Magistrate, may I ask if you saw General Yu lose his composure during the emperor's birthday celebration?"

Chen Nan said, "During the celebration, civil officials were in front, and military officials were behind. Although I didn't see it with my own eyes, I heard from colleagues that General Yu did lose his composure. Military men are often rough and uncouth, and it's not a big deal to be impolite, but it happened during the emperor's birthday. If you want to defend General Yu and prove his innocence, I don't think it will work, and I wouldn't do it either."

Chen Nan thought that Lin Yanchao would be upset, but he saw a smile on his face. Lin Yanchao said calmly, "If that's the case, it's actually easier to handle."

Mr. Zhang stepped forward and asked with concern, "Young friend, do you have a plan?"

Lin Yanchao nodded, and the three of them showed signs of joy. Chen Nan said, "Quick, bring pen and ink."

Lin Yanchao then wrote eight characters: "Etiquette should come first, no time to look back."

The three of them looked at the words, and Chen Nan, holding the paper as if it were an imperial edict, sighed, "Brilliant!" The first thing Chen Nan thought of was whether he could extricate himself.

Mr. Shen also realized and smiled, "When civil and military officials pray for the emperor's longevity, they should not look around. If they see something behind them, it means they have also lost their composure."

Mr. Zhang also stroked his beard and said, "Yes, if the master writes this in a detailed report, even Li, the military commissioner, won't have anything to say. If he insists, it means he has also lost his composure and looked back. He won't pursue the matter further but will let it go. This not only protects the master but also protects General Yu."

"Moreover, it's a threefold benefit. It preserves the prefecture magistrate's reputation, allows General Yu to be reinstated, and prevents the inspectorate from holding us accountable! These eight characters are worth a thousand gold! Congratulations, master, congratulations." Mr. Zhang congratulated Chen Nan.

Chen Nan was also overjoyed, laughing heartily. The heavy burden that had been on his mind for days was lifted by a single word.