Chapter 230: 4 levels up, the empress's imperial sword
Chapter 230: Four Levels Up, the Empress's Imperial Sword
"You're going back now?"
Zhao Duan opened his mouth but did not say this.
I realized that I would not have the chance to meet Master Zhang today.
However, when I thought about how I had already taken care of both of Tianshi's disciples, I didn't feel any regrets.
He immediately took a step forward, mixed in with the palace servants, and followed the empress.
……
Deep inside the courtyard.
The big banyan tree sways in the wind, making a mysterious and distant rustling sound, as if every leaf carries the weight of time.
Zhang Yan stood with his hands behind his back, looking out of the courtyard as if he was looking at the scenery.
Jin Jian held his chin up and sat on his small stool, his long hair hanging down at the back of his head, his eyes wandering, and he murmured:
"Master, I still don't understand what Zhao Duan said. What did Fifth Brother understand?"
The old Taoist priest, who was tall and wearing a soft black priest robe that reached the ground, looked calm.
"He understood what he was supposed to understand and said what he was supposed to say."
Jin Jian raised his head, glanced at the old man, and suddenly poked his lungs:
"Master, you didn't understand either, so you said these abstruse words to fool me."
"..."
Zhang Yan sighed, shook his head and said in a deep voice:
"You should learn from Zhao Duan how to talk to your elders."
The girl who was criticized for having low emotional intelligence hugged herself aggrievedly and drew circles on the ground with one foot:
"My disciple can't learn it."
The old Taoist priest looked helpless and thought about his disciples.
The big ones are still okay, but the smaller ones are more troublesome than the others.
Seeing the listless look of the fairy-like girl, he couldn't bear to scold her, so he could only sigh and say:
"Forget it, go out and look for your fifth senior brother."
Jin Jian looked up and asked blankly, "Are you going to ask him to come over?"
"No," Zhang Yan said calmly:
"He gathered a crowd to make a noise, and was ordered to copy the heavenly book a hundred times. He lost his monthly salary."
Humph, listening to your words is better than having countless masters... Good, very good.
"Oh."
Jin Jian stood up swiftly, turned into a ghost and floated away. He would rather die than let his fellow Taoist die, for fear that he would also be fined his monthly salary.
……
……
In the carriage returning to the palace.
Zhao Duan was able to ride with the empress again.
I don’t know why, but this time, the look the empress gave him made him feel creepy.
"His Majesty?"
Zhao Duan was very nervous and couldn't help but call out softly:
"You called me in, is there something you want to tell me?"
Today, the empress was dressed as a Taoist nun, with crimson cinnabar adorning her brows, and a green outer robe. Her face and skin were white and crystal clear, and her temperament was cold and elegant. She pursed her lips, recalling the previous scene in her mind.
She was quite unfamiliar with the "knowledge" that Zhao Duan explained and didn't quite understand it.
But since Gongshu Tianyuan was so enthusiastic, it is obvious that there must be something worthy of praise about him.
Originally, she was already amazed by his ability to come up with strategies for governing the country.
But now I didn’t expect that I could discuss many insights with the God of Craftsmanship.
Xu Zhenguan really wanted to ask how to do it.
But after a little thought, I knew that the answer must be the result of my usual random guessing, so it became boring and I could only attribute it to genius.
This kind of people are not uncommon in the long history.
Like herself, she is one.
But a "generalist" like Zhao Duan is different.
Now, thinking back to the time when the two of them had mentioned Gongshu Tianyuan in the carriage before.
He also said that the man was difficult to approach and thought that this young imperial guard was daydreaming in his attempt to curry favor with him.
As a result, he was slapped in the face when he turned around... He only came to his senses when he was called.
"Well... I do have something I want to tell you."
Xu Zhenguan was in a trance for a moment, as if he had made some decision.
"Your Majesty, please speak. I will never refuse even if death is the cost." Zhao Duan hurriedly expressed his loyalty.
Xu Zhenguan smiled faintly, playing with a brocade box in his hand, which contained the top-grade Qingdan refined by the Tianshi Mansion.
However, this pill is for her to take at this level, and Zhao Duan cannot use it yet.
At this time, her snow-white hands brushed against the brocade box, and she said casually:
"Speaking of which, you have made many contributions during this period. Although I have given you some rewards, they are all external things. It is time to move on to your official position and rank."
Zhao Duan was stunned, caught off guard by the sudden attack, and said in surprise:
"Your Majesty, are you going to promote me?"
"You don't want to?" Xu Zhenguan said with a teasing smile:
"I have heard that many people in the capital have complained about your mere sixth-rank official title. In my opinion, it is appropriate to promote you to a fourth-rank commander."
Fourth rank!
What concept?
You know, the local prefect is also a fourth-rank official, and the chief academician of the Imperial College is also a fourth-rank official.
Zhao Duan was stunned. There were eighteen official ranks in Dayu. In addition to the main ranks, there were also minor ranks.
Zhaoya Jisi was a sixth-rank military officer, and now he has jumped to the fourth rank, which means he has jumped over three levels, a promotion three levels in a row?
No, to be precise, it’s four levels in a row!
What a fast promotion speed!
You know, unless in war, military officers' promotion is very slow, with one step after another.
It’s only been three months since Zhao Duan became a detective?
If it were someone else, they wouldn't even have time to sit down, but he would be promoted again.
"Thank you, Your Majesty for your grace!"
Zhao Duan took a deep breath, but unfortunately it was inconvenient in the car, so he had to clasp his fists and salute. Well... although he didn't mind kneeling on one knee or something...
Xu Zhenguan's mouth curled up slightly, and his snow-white fingers slid across the brocade box, like holding a cat, but it blocked his accompanying flattery:
"Stop being so flattering. I didn't promote you for nothing."
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then he remembered that the official position the empress promoted him to was "Assistant Commander".
He holds the same military rank and is the deputy of a third-rank commander.
A commander with 5,000 regular soldiers under his command...
"Where does your majesty want me to be transferred? I think it's good to be in the imperial court..."
Zhao Duan asked tentatively.
I thought to myself, I wouldn't be promoted to Ma Yan's deputy.
It feels like nothing has actually changed.
Xu Zhenguan glanced at this cunning fellow and said with some amusement:
"Don't worry, Lihua Hall is still yours, and the position of Baima Prison is still there. This command assistant does not mean that you really need to be an officer... I just want you to do something convenient for yourself."
The Dayu Dynasty did not lack an ordinary military officer, and Xu Zhenguan certainly would not waste such a useful lackey by sending him to manage military affairs.
Huh... You scared me. I worked so hard to build my kingdom in the imperial court... Zhao Duan asked in confusion:
"What does your majesty want me to do?"
Xu Zhenguan looked serious and put the box in his hand aside:
"Do you remember the case of the firearms maker?"
She sighed softly:
"At that time, we found a clue that there were officials in the Privy Council who were suspected of defecting to Prince Jing's Mansion. I ordered Xue Shence to conduct a self-investigation, and I am very dissatisfied with the result given."
Zhao Duan was cheered up:
"Your Majesty wants me to go to the Privy Council and find out the ungrateful person who has taken refuge in Prince Jing's mansion?"
Xu Zhenguan shook his head and said:
"The Privy Council has already alerted the enemy. Your going there will not be much significance. However, the case of the firearms craftsman cannot be accomplished by only two or three people. I suspect that there is a nest of snakes and rats in it.
Therefore, I want to send you to the Shenji Camp to check for clues and see if you can find anything. It just so happens that you have made many contributions, so it is appropriate for you to be appointed as a deputy commander and serve in the army for a period of time. "
Shenjiying... the source of the missing firearms craftsman case... and also the place where Zhang Changji served... It was affiliated with the "Beijing Camp", responsible for protecting the capital... and the Zhaoya, both belonged to the "Imperial Army"...
Well, the tricky bit is.
After moving, the commute to work has become longer anyway... It's better to keep the old house closer to Beijing Camp...
Relevant information emerged in Zhao Duan's mind. He exhaled silently and smiled:
"Your Majesty has given the order, and I am willing to do my best."
Well, it's just a few days of temporary employment...
"It's just... so much time has passed, I'm afraid the clues have been lost long ago." Zhao Duan frowned.
He did not forget that the firearms craftsman case was investigated for a long time by the imperial court led by Ma Yan, and later Xue Shence investigated it himself for two months.
No matter how stupid the traitor who defected to Prince Jing's Mansion is, it's time to clean up and end it.
Two words:
Difficult to handle!
Xu Zhenguan's thin eyebrows also frowned slightly, knowing that the task was arduous.
It was also because Zhao Duan was very effective in catching the traitor in the imperial court that gave her some hope.
At this moment, I said seriously:
"I know this is a difficult matter, much more difficult than when I sent you to the imperial court. After all, the army is different from the government, and it is extremely xenophobic. Even if you are from the imperial guards, you will inevitably be targeted.
Therefore, I don’t ask you to do anything this time, just do your best.
In addition, you will be given the power and responsibility of supervising the army as an eunuch. If anyone tries to stop you, you only need to report his name.
For those below the fourth rank, I will not ask you any reason, as long as you tell me your name, I will dismiss him from office!"
Just write your name and you will be dismissed from office!
No matter the reason!
Zhao Duan's eyes lit up. This was the Imperial Sword. He confirmed:
“No evidence is needed to remove an official?”
Xu Zhenguan looked at him with a smile and nodded in agreement:
"For those below the fourth rank, no evidence is needed. For those above the fourth rank, if there is evidence, you can proceed as you wish. Even if Xue Shence sues me, I will say the same thing. How do you think?"
For some reason, there was a murderous aura lingering in the carriage.
Zhao Duan suddenly realized that after the empress had reorganized the court, she finally had time to take action against the military generals.
And I am undoubtedly the best pioneer.
Zhao Duan suddenly felt a surge of blood, and the scene in which Xue Shence and he looked at each other at the imperial party's small court meeting appeared in his mind.
"My lord, take the order!"
Zhao Duan exhaled and asked:
"Your Majesty, may I ask when the appointment will be issued?"
Xu Zhenguan smiled slightly, with extraordinary elegance, but did not answer.
……
……
Privy Council.
As the highest military institution in Dayu, this yamen has a very different temperament from the civil service offices.
Looking from afar, one can sense a solemn and murderous feeling.
In the main hall, there is a huge horizontal ink painting in the center of the wall, which depicts a scene of thousands of horses galloping and thousands of soldiers fleeing in fear on the battlefield.
On both sides of the square table are wooden racks for military books.
There are all kinds of pens, ink, paper and inkstone on the table, but they are arranged neatly.
Not messy at all.
The clerks in the court all knew that their Lord Privy Councilor was strict in military discipline, especially in paying attention to details.
At this moment, he was hailed as the "Military God of Dayu", and his cultivation and official position were equally extraordinary.
He was wearing a scarlet robe of the second-rank military officer with a square "lion" pattern embroidered on the chest. He had a fair complexion and a short beard under his chin.
He looks to be in his forties or fifties. Although he is no longer young, one can vaguely see the handsome Xue Shence sitting upright on the big chair, looking through official documents.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door.
Outside the threshold, a pair of military boots stopped.
(End of this chapter)