Chapter 164: I don’t mind, I’ll take that position in advance!
Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, was a little confused and couldn’t help but reminisce about everything Lin Beifan had done in the past year.
He proposed a plan to annex the Darro country and gradually integrate it using the Swallow Python strategy!
He invented the air balloon, an aerial weapon, and the air-cushioned boat, a water-based weapon, which enhanced Great Wu’s military power!
He proposed the plan to release the Eldest Prince, which weakened the power of the Prince of Northern Hebei!
He convinced the two grandmasters to move their battle outside the city, saving the capital, and maintaining the dignity of the court!
He provided advanced warning, allowing the court to annihilate various skilled individuals during the naval exercise!
And now, he effortlessly resolved the rebel army problem!
Furthermore, in just a short six months, he had risen through the ranks in the power struggle with the officials, skipping five levels and becoming a fourth-ranked official. This truly demonstrated his ability!
Li Kaiguang suddenly realized that Lin Beifan indeed had the ability and had made significant contributions deserving of a position as the Minister of War. Without even mentioning anything else, if the Darro country plan succeeded and helped the Empress achieve the great ambition of expanding the territory, he could potentially be awarded a noble title and become a high-ranking official, a promotion of three ranks wouldn’t even be a problem!
Lin Beifan was already a fourth-ranked official, but if he were to skip three ranks, he would become a second-ranked official!
The position of Minister of War was just a step away!
As Li Kaiguang thought about this, he began to feel a little panicked.
“Sir Li, have you thought it through?”
“In the past, there was no one who could replace you, which is why the Empress tolerated you and let you do as you pleased. But now, it’s not as necessary anymore! Because she has me!”
“I can also share the Empress’s worries, and I can solve many problems even better than you, in a way that aligns more with her intentions!”
“Moreover, I am someone she personally promoted. It’s safe to say that I am a confidant!”
“You tell me, based on these choices, who do you think she will choose? Me or you?”
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Li Kaiguang’s face.
“So, the situation is quite clear now…”
Lin Beifan grinned, “With the Empress’s favor and my abilities, my rank will definitely rise! After all, there are only 6 ministerial positions, and one of them is filled by you. One of you will have to step down, don’t you think? And right now, there’s a perfect opportunity, isn’t there?”
Li Kaiguang was shocked, “You’ve already set your sights on the position of Minister of War?”
“I currently have no interest in that position, but…” Lin Beifan turned his head and whispered, “If you, Minister Li, don’t cooperate, I don’t mind taking that position in advance! If the Ministry of War doesn’t comply, if the army doesn’t comply?”
Lin Beifan chuckled softly, his eyes sharpened, “I have plenty of ways to make them… comply!”
More sweat appeared on Li Kaiguang’s face, and he looked even paler.
Lin Beifan shouted, “Sir Li, whether you believe it or not, I can carry out a thorough investigation of all the civil and military officials in the court and they will still be unharmed!”
Li Kaiguang trembled, and his clothes behind him were soaked with sweat!
His legs felt weak!
If he wasn’t leaning on the table, he might have already fallen!
“Now, do you know what to do, Sir Li?”
Lin Beifan patted Li Kaiguang’s shoulder, “If I don’t see these things after you go back tonight, then you don’t need your official hat, and you don’t need your life. I’ll take care of it for you!”
Saying that, he arrogantly went to loot the residence of another official.
Meanwhile, Li Kaiguang closed his eyes in despair, “Someone, take these gold, silver, and jewels and send them to… send them to the Lin residence!”
Then, Lin Beifan tirelessly continued to raid one household after another.
The officials of the Ministry of War were furious but dared not speak out!
Thinking about the money he had accumulated over half his lifetime, all of it going into that bastard’s pocket, it felt like his heart was bleeding!
He cursed Lin Beifan’s ancestors eighteen generations in his heart!
Other officials felt both sympathy and hesitation!
Another official from a different department had his house raided!
First, it was the Ministry of Industry, now it was the Ministry of War. Were they far from being targeted?
How did the court let this disaster in?
And the common people saw it all, shaking their heads in disappointment.
“They’re all corrupt officials!”
“One more corrupt than the other!”
“When will this end? When will the common people have a good life?”
“Great Wu is finished, heaven is doomed!”
…
Perhaps the only one happy was Lin Beifan!
After the whole ordeal, he had collected a total of 16 million taels, and his wallet quickly grew fatter!
Remember, this was only from the Ministry of War. There were still the generals in the army who hadn’t been raided yet!
Lin Beifan estimated that he could easily collect another 10 million taels from the army!
However, the majority of the army generals are mainly scattered across the country, guarding the homeland. It will take time to find them and take action. But the generals in the capital can be dealt with first!
In this way, another 4 million taels were confiscated, totaling over 20 million taels!
While Lin Beifan happily raided houses, the little princess went to see the Empress and shared her observations from the trip.
“Sister Empress, do you know how Lin Beifan persuaded the rebels?” the little princess said mysteriously.
“How did he persuade them?” The Empress Dowager chuckled as she read the memorials. “According to the reports from below, he reached an agreement with the rebel leader and released them, and all the rebels returned to their posts! However, many details were not mentioned. Can you tell me?”
“Of course I can! Let me tell you!” The little princess excitedly described in vivid detail how Lin Beifan persuaded the rebels.
“If you leave, the man you hate the most will have the opportunity to sleep with your wife, beat your children, bully your mother, seize your wealth, properties, and land, and then mock you for having nothing… Hahaha… That’s how he scared the rebels to death!”
The Empress Dowager listened and laughed, “Lin Beifan’s mouth is truly venomous. No man can handle that!”
“Hahaha! Absolutely! At that time, many people were overwhelmed!”
The two women burst into laughter.
But then, the little princess’s mood became somewhat low. “When we returned, we encountered many refugees! They all came from Northern Hebei. Because a group of bandits constantly rob and pillage there, the people couldn’t bear it anymore and had to leave their hometowns to seek a better life elsewhere. They look so pitiful!”
Then, the little princess’s eyes lit up, and she held the Empress’ hands, full of hope. “Sister Empress, you are the ruler of a nation. Dispatch people to capture all of them so that the people in Northern Hebei can have a better life!”
The Empress nodded with mixed feelings. “I understand.”
In fact, she already knew about this matter a long time ago but hesitated to take action.
Because she always suspected that it was instigated by the Prince of Northern Hebei. Only when he was short of money would he resort to such desperate measures.
Otherwise, why hasn’t he shown any response until now, and why haven’t any officials from Northern Hebei reported this matter?
She didn’t believe that the bandits had nothing to do with the Prince of Northern Hebei, even if it cost her life.
Moreover, even if she wants to take action now, she has no way to do so!
Although Northern Hebei is still nominally part of Great Wu, it has actually become the territory of the Prince of Northern Hebei, completely under his control, like a country within a country.
The officials there have already been assimilated, only following the orders of the Prince.
Many taxes cannot be collected as they have been embezzled by them.
Even if she orders a crackdown, the other party will secretly oppose it, minimizing the impact and turning minor issues into nothing.
There is one more thing she doesn’t want to deal with.
It’s good if Northern Hebei is in chaos!
If Northern Hebei is in chaos, the Prince of Northern Hebei will lose the support of the people, which will help her rule!
“Little Yunying, you can go back now. I will handle this matter myself!” the Empress said softly.
“Oh, then I’ll go back first. Take care, Sister Empress!” The little princess walked away with a disappointed look on her face.
After the little princess left, the Empress remained silent for a long time.
She chuckled self-mockingly, “Although I have ascended the throne, I still can’t be as ruthless as an emperor!”
“Send orders to the governors of Tangzhou, Liuzhou, and other places to properly receive and assist the refugees, providing them with food and help them settle in new lands for cultivation!” she commanded.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
A blurry white figure appeared on the high beam of the palace, smiling at everything.
At this moment, the little princess returned to Lin Mansion, feeling unhappy.
Lin Beifan, who had just finished raiding houses, was in a good mood. “Little princess, you seem a little unhappy. Tell us what’s bothering you, so we can all cheer up?”
“Don’t bother, I’m not in a good mood right now!” The little princess sat on a stone stool, propping her chin with her hands, feeling frustrated. “I feel like the Empress Sister has changed!”
Lin Beifan was taken aback. “Changed how?”
“Before, she cared about the people! Whenever I told her that people in certain places were suffering, she would be furious and find ways to solve the problems! But now, when I told her about the bandits in Northern Hebei, she was very indifferent, as if it didn’t matter at all! She has truly changed and is no longer the kind and tolerant Empress Sister that I knew!”
The little princess was feeling very distressed.
“This is normal. Once someone ascends the throne, even the most naive person will change!” Lin Beifan said. “Because they no longer have themselves in their hearts, but the whole world! If they have the ability, it’s fine. But if they don’t, it’s a disaster for the country! That’s why every action and command she takes must be carefully considered and thought through. Otherwise, if she makes a mistake, many people will suffer along with her!”
“I see!” The little princess nodded, as if she suddenly understood.
“To be honest, it’s not easy to handle the bandits in Northern Hebei! It involves many complex issues that are not as simple as you think! Any small move could lead to chaos throughout the country! So, it’s right for Her Majesty not to act rashly!”
The little princess let out a sigh of relief, hopped off the stone stool, and looked at Lin Beifan sincerely. “Lin Beifan, thank you! Every time I talk to you, my mood improves a lot!”
“That’s how it should be!” Lin Beifan ruffled the little princess’s hair affectionately and smiled. “In the future, whenever you encounter something that makes you unhappy, you can come to me. I will always be a loyal listener to you!”
The little princess felt that his hand was so warm and comforting.
Raising her head, she asked eagerly, “Lin Beifan, will you change someday too?”
“No, absolutely not!” Lin Beifan shook his head without hesitation.
“How is that possible? Even the Empress has changed!”
“I’m different! Because being corrupt is my character!” Lin Beifan said seriously. “Whether it’s the past, present, or future, I will always be that corrupt young man, without the slightest change!”
The little princess: “…”
1. In ancient China, the number of ministerial positions varied throughout different dynasties and periods. However, there were usually a limited number of high-ranking ministerial positions within the imperial court. During the Tang Dynasty, for example, there were eight major ministerial positions known as the “Eight Ministers” or “Eight Great Ministers.” These positions included the Chancellor (prime minister), the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of War, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Works, and the Minister of Education.
