“Fang Bai Hu, you did a good job this time. I’ve taken note. I will certainly recommend you for a promotion when we eradicate the Fragrant Fragrance Cult!”
After leaving the prison, Chen Ran smiled at Fang Bai Hu.
Fang Bai Hu’s face immediately lit up with joy. He immediately knelt down:
“Thank you, Thousand-Household Commander!”
“Sir, you are young and promising. I spent many years under Left Thousand-Household Commander, feeling stifled. Today, meeting you is like a parched land encountering a sweet spring! ”
“As the ancients said, a thousand-mile steed is easy to find, but a discerning eye is rare. You are my discerning eye, Sir! I do not seek any merit, I only wish to serve under your command!”
His flattery flowed smoothly and effortlessly, leaving Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, and Jin Yi Chuan speechless.
He really knew how to flatter his superiors!
No wonder the three of them had remained stagnant in the Jinyiwei for so long!
Even combined, the three of them couldn't match his skill in flattery!
Chen Ran nodded:
“Good, I’ll remember your merit. Go gather information on the Fragrant Fragrance Cult from all over the country and bring it to me!”
“Yes!”
Fang Bai Hu scurried away.
Lu Jian Xing, Shen Lian, and Jin Yi Chuan couldn’t help but send him a disdainful look as he left.
Chen Ran couldn't help but laugh:
“Don’t look down on him. You really can’t match his ability to adapt and his flattery skills!”
Lu Jian Xing and Shen Lian shook their heads.
Jin Yi Chuan laughed:
“With Chen Xiong here, why would we need those empty skills? Real talent is enough!”
Chen Ran nodded and smiled:
“That’s right, with me here, you don’t need to flatter anyone!”
Then, he suddenly became serious and said:
“Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, Jin Yi Chuan, listen up!”
Hearing this, Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, and Jin Yi Chuan immediately stood at attention and bowed:
“We are here!”
“Jinyiwei General Banner Shen Lian. You captured the Jurchen spies in the capital, killed the traitor Zhao Jing Zhong, and slain dozens of Jurchen soldiers. You have made numerous contributions. I hereby promote you to the position of Hundred-Household Commander of the Northern Garrison of the Jinyiwei!”
“Jinyiwei General Banner Lu Jian Xing. You have been diligent and dedicated for many years. This time, you have made significant contributions in capturing the traitorous spies. I hereby promote you to the position of Hundred-Household Commander of the Northern Garrison of the Jinyiwei!”
“Jinyiwei Small Banner Jin Yi Chuan. You are brave, fearless, and always lead from the front. I hereby promote you to the position of General Banner of the Northern Garrison of the Jinyiwei!”
The three of them were overjoyed.
It was Chen Xiong after all!
They didn't need to flatter him. Because they were talented and Chen Ran’s brothers, they were all promoted.
“Thank you, Thousand-Household Commander!”
Lu Jian Xing said, feeling incredibly happy and bursting into laughter.
He had previously begged the authorities to let him inherit his father’s position as Hundred-Household Commander. However, because he hadn’t bribed them enough, they simply ignored him.
Now, Chen Ran had just become a full-fledged Thousand-Household Commander and immediately promoted him to Hundred-Household Commander.
Only a brother like Chen Ran would truly put them first!
Shen Lian was also very happy.
He had been a Hundred-Household Commander, but Emperor Chongzhen was fickle. To silence Lu Wen Zhao and Ding Bai Ying, he nearly had Shen Lian killed too.
Although he had luckily escaped, he was demoted to General Banner.
Now, Chen Ran had restored him to his previous position.
Jin Yi Chuan was also beaming:
“Shen Xiong, Lu Xiong, we’ve all been promoted!”
Lu Jian Xing nodded:
“We owe it all to Chen Xiong. Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t have had much hope in our lifetimes!”
Their admiration and loyalty to Chen Ran had reached a whole new level.
They all understood that without Chen Ran, they would have remained stagnant in the Jinyiwei. Even with their talents, they would have remained frustrated and unfulfilled!
Although Fang Bai Hu was a flatterer, he had spoken the truth.
Even a thousand-mile steed is useless without a discerning eye. Otherwise, it would be left on the side of the road, unrecognized!
At this moment, Shen Lian frowned and said:
“Chen Xiong, why are you investigating the Fragrant Fragrance Cult?”
Chen Ran smiled slightly:
“This time, we have already made great contributions, but the emperor seems to be wary of me. This wariness is primarily due to Han Kuang!”
Shen Lian thought for a moment and said:
“Chen Xiong, are you referring to the Donglin faction?”
Chen Ran nodded:
“That’s right. It’s both Han Kuang’s doing and his undoing. But there’s nothing we can do about it!”
“Without Han Kuang, Zhao Jing Zhong would have been even more reckless in dealing with us. But with Han Kuang, the emperor can’t help but worry that we are also part of the Donglin faction!”
From Chongzhen’s perspective, dispersing power among the various factions would make him easier to control.
The Donglin faction was now powerful, and Chongzhen was already wary. If the Northern Garrison became the Donglin faction’s pawn, Chongzhen would absolutely oppose it!
Lu Jian Xing was puzzled:
“But, Chen Xiong, what does investigating the Fragrant Fragrance Cult have to do with this?”
Chen Ran chuckled softly:
“Investigating the Fragrant Fragrance Cult isn’t just about getting another merit. It’s also a way to prove myself, and I will also solve something along the way!”
Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, and Jin Yi Chuan were all confused.
Jin Yi Chuan scratched his head and laughed:
“He plays chess, thinking three moves ahead, but Chen Xiong probably thinks ten moves ahead. I can’t wrap my head around it. I only know that following Chen Xiong is the right thing to do!”
Shen Lian and Lu Jian Xing nodded in agreement.
Chen Ran smiled:
“Yi Chuan’s words are spot on. Just remember, follow me, and you’ll have meat to eat!”
The three of them nodded solemnly. They completely agreed with this statement.
“Shen Xiong, you are intelligent and experienced. I have a task for you!”
Chen Ran took two silver notes from his sleeve and handed them to Shen Lian:
“Use this one-thousand tael silver note to buy some gifts in the streets, then go to the residence of Minister Wen Ti Ren, and give him this ten-thousand tael silver note!”
“Tell him that Chen Ran, the Thousand-Household Commander of the Northern Garrison of the Jinyiwei, has just taken office and hasn’t had time to pay a visit. This silver is a token of Chen Ran’s respect for the Minister, knowing that he is of modest means, for his household use.”
Shen Lian took the two silver notes, but he was taken aback:
“Minister Wen Ti Ren? Chen Xiong, you’re giving him so much silver at once!”
Chen Ran chuckled softly:
“We can’t get too close to the Donglin faction’s Han Kuang. Otherwise, this official position will be the end of our careers. We need to build another connection!”
Shen Lian nodded but questioned:
“But, Wen Ti Ren is just a Minister, and he is rather solitary in the court. How do you know this connection will be useful, Chen Xiong?”
Chen Ran smiled, saying nothing.
Of course, he knew!
He was very familiar with this period of Ming Dynasty history.
Han Kuang, the Grand Secretary, would only be in power for two years. Then, Emperor Chongzhen would find an excuse to dismiss him, because he feared the Donglin faction’s growing influence.
The next Grand Secretary would be Wen Ti Ren!
Therefore, Chen Ran had to connect with Wen Ti Ren early, while he was still just a Minister.
“Yi Chuan, keep an eye on the Garrison for me!”
“Yes, Chen Xiong!”
Seeing that Shen Lian and Jin Yi Chuan had been given tasks, Lu Jian Xing couldn’t help but ask:
“Chen Xiong, what about me?”
“Come with me outside the city!”
“Out of the city? To do what?”
Chen Ran smiled and patted his shoulder:
“Go see your mother. I’m going to see my two beautiful wives!”
“Two?”
Shen Lian, Lu Jian Xing, and Jin Yi Chuan were all stunned.
They knew Chen Ran had married Zhou Miao Tong.
But when did he get another wife!