Chapter 230: Four consecutive levels, the empress's imperial sword
"Are you going back now?"
Zhao Duan opened his mouth but didn't say the words.
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 in 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 enjoying the scenery.
Jin Jian held his chin in his hand, sitting on his small stool, his long hair hanging down at the back of his head, his eyes unfocused, and 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, floor-length black priest robe, had a calm expression.
"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 as he thought about his disciples.
The big ones are okay, but the smaller ones are more troublesome than the other.
Seeing the languid look of the immortal girl, he couldn't bear to scold her, so he could only sigh and say:
"Forget it, go out and find your fifth senior brother."
Jin Jian looked up and asked blankly, "Are you going to ask him to come over?"
"No," Zhang Yanyi 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 listening to countless masters... Good, really good.
"oh."
Jin Jian stood up swiftly and turned into a ghost and floated away. He was afraid that he would also be fined his monthly salary, as he would rather die than let his fellow Taoist die.
…
…
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 uneasy.
"His Majesty?"
Zhao Duan was very nervous and could not 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 eyebrows and a green robe. Her face and skin were white and translucent, 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 was obvious that there must be something worthy of praise about him.
Originally, she was 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 some kind of random guess, so it became boring and I could only blame it on 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 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 trying to curry favor with him, which was wishful thinking.
As a result, he turned around and was slapped in the face... 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 daze 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 recently. Although I have given you some rewards, they are all external things. It is time to make some changes to your official 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've heard that many people in the capital are complaining about your mere sixth-rank official title. In my opinion, a promotion to the fourth-rank commander is appropriate."
Fourth rank!
What concept?
You should know that the local prefect is also a fourth-rank official, and the chief academic officer of the Imperial College is also a fourth-rank official.
Zhao Duan was stunned. There were eighteen official ranks in Dayu, including the main ranks and the subordinate 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 and been promoted 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 hurdle after another.
It has only been three months since Zhao Duan became a police officer?
If it were someone else, they wouldn't even have time to sit down before he rose again.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Duan took a deep breath, but unfortunately it was inconvenient in the car, so he had to salute with his fists.
Well... although he wouldn't mind kneeling on one knee or something...
Xu Zhenguan's lips curled up slightly, and his snow-white fingers slid across the brocade box, like holding a cat, but it blocked the flattery that came with it:
"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 "Commander-in-Chief".
They both hold the same military rank and are the deputy of a third-rank commander.
A commander with 5,000 regular soldiers under his command...
"Your Majesty, where do you want me to be transferred? I think the Imperial Court is quite good..."
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 scheming fellow and said with amusement:
"Don't worry, Lihua Hall is still yours, and your position at Baima Prison is still there. This position of deputy commander doesn't mean you have to become an officer... it just means you can do something more conveniently."
The Dayu Dynasty did not lack an ordinary military officer, and Xu Zhenguan certainly would not waste such a useful lackey to manage military affairs.
Huh... You scared me. I worked so hard to build my kingdom in the imperial court... Zhao Duan asked doubtfully:
"What does your majesty want me to do?"
Xu Zhenguan looked serious and put the box aside:
"Do you remember the case of the firearmsman?"
She sighed softly:
"At that time, we uncovered a clue that there were suspected officials within the Privy Council who had defected to Prince Jing's Mansion. I ordered Xue Shence to conduct a self-investigation, and I am very dissatisfied with the results he provided."
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 are snakes and rats in it.
Therefore, I want to send you to the Shenji Camp to investigate for clues and see if you can find anything. It just so happens that you have made many contributions, so it is appropriate to appoint you as a deputy commander and serve in the army for a period of time."
The Shenjiying… the source of the missing firearms craftsmen’s case… and also where that bastard Zhang Changji served… affiliated with the “Jingying,” responsible for protecting the capital… and like the Zhaoya, part of the “Imperial Guards”…
Well, the tricky part is.
After moving, the commute to work has become longer anyway... It's better to keep the old house closer to Jingying...
Zhao Duan's mind flashed with relevant information. 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." 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 conducted his own investigation for two months.
No matter how stupid the traitor who defected to Prince Jing's Mansion is, it's time to clean up and finish the job.
Two words:
It's difficult!
Xu Zhenguan's slender eyebrows also frowned slightly, knowing that the task was difficult.
It was also because Zhao Duan was very effective in catching the evildoer in the imperial court that gave her some hope.
At this moment, he 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 imperial court and is extremely exclusive. 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 their name.
"For those below the fourth rank, I won't ask you any reason. As long as you tell me your name, I will dismiss him from office!"
Just write your name and you’ll be dismissed from office!
No matter why!
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 required. For those above the fourth rank, if there is evidence, you can proceed as you wish. Even if Xue Shence sues me, I will still say this. What do you think?"
Inexplicably, 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 felt a surge of blood for no reason, and the scene where Xue Shence looked at him at the small court meeting of the imperial party emerged in his mind.
"Your Majesty, I obey your order!"
Zhao Duan exhaled and said, then asked:
"Your Majesty, may I ask when the appointment will be issued?"
Xu Zhenguan smiled slightly, with extraordinary grace, but did not answer.
…
…
Privy Council.
As the highest military institution in Dayu, this yamen has a very different temperament from the civil offices.
Looking from afar, there is a sense of solemnity.
In the main hall, there is a huge horizontal ink painting in the middle of the wall, which is 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.
The desk is fully equipped with pens, ink, paper and inkstone, all arranged neatly.
Not a bit messy.
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 looked to be in his forties or fifties. Although he was no longer young, one could vaguely see the handsome Xue Shence sitting upright on a 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)
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