Without the Jinyiwei risking their lives, how could there have been victory in the Northern Expedition?

Edward Green didn’t need to deceive him. At this moment, Brian Clark truly felt a bit of admiration for this cheap godfather of his. Of course, along with the admiration, there was also a tinge of sadness.

The history books have been far too unfair to the Jinyiwei. If they only survived by killing and harming people, how could they have lasted for over two hundred years? Isn’t that a joke? It’s just a pity that no one is willing to erect monuments or write biographies for a group of secret agents. All that’s left for later generations is the brutality of the Jinyiwei, but few know of their contributions!

Brian Clark even felt that becoming a godson was reaching above his station.

But why did Edward Green choose him? It was truly baffling!

Edward Green seemed to see through his thoughts and took the initiative to say, “Kid, you want to ask me why I want to take you as my son, right?”

“Yeah!” Brian Clark said, “A great hero and meritorious official like you shouldn’t be lacking sons! Besides, I don’t seem to have anything special about me to catch your eye!” Brian Clark still couldn’t bring himself to call him father, but luckily Edward Green didn’t mind.

Instead, he was amused by Brian Clark’s praise. He couldn’t help but rub his chin and said with satisfaction, “A great hero! A meritorious official! You really know how to talk. Just for that sweet mouth of yours, Third Master has to take you in!”

No one had ever praised the Jinyiwei like this before!

After laughing for a while, Edward Green calmed down and let out a gentle sigh. “I’ve been in Beiping for ten years and never thought of getting married. According to the rules of the Jinyiwei, I could transfer back to Yingtian and live a peaceful life. I was an orphan back then, and thanks to His Majesty’s kindness, I have what I have today. With no family, I planned that after returning to Yingtian, I’d marry a wife, and while I’m not too old, hurry up and have a few kids. With sons, and then grandsons, everyone would call me Old Master Liu—how wonderful would that be!”

You even plan to have your own biological children?

Brian Clark stared wide-eyed.

Edward Green said frankly, “Don’t blame me, but a godson is never quite the same as your own flesh and blood. But Third Master won’t let you suffer. In our Jinyiwei, the position is always passed from father to son. One radish, one pit. At most, I’ll serve another ten years before I’m old. Even if I return to Yingtian and immediately get married and have kids, by then, my son would only be seven or eight at most—what use is that? This position is definitely yours! One day, when your brothers grow up, if they’re willing, help them get into the Jinyiwei!”

At this point, Edward Green grew a bit melancholy and said self-mockingly, “Actually, I’m probably overthinking it. People like us have done a lot of bad things—who knows if I’ll even have a son! If I can’t… kid, would you be willing to take care of me in my old age and see me off?”

Edward Green tried hard to lift his head, doing his best not to let the tears fall. He thought of that fallen brother, who told him half a year ago that he’d just gotten married, and when he left, his wife was already pregnant. Once you have a son, you’re no longer afraid of death.

After saying that, that brother gripped his blade and charged at the Yuan Mongols…

Having been alone for most of his life, Edward Green’s heart felt as if it had been torn open. He wanted a son too! A biological one would be best, but even if not, someone to care for him in his old age would be enough!

Edward Green planned to give everything he had to his son!

“Kid, don’t mind that some people curse the Jinyiwei, but we have power in our hands! No matter if it’s civil or military officials, when they see us, their legs turn to jelly! All those ministers and nobles, no matter how high their rank, once they’re in the imperial prison, they all become grandsons!”

“And, His Majesty is wise. He set the rule that the Jinyiwei position is passed from father to son, generation after generation. Godfather will teach you a few years of skills, and once you’ve learned them, you can become a Jinyiwei yourself, riding tall and proud—just imagine how great that’ll be!”

Edward Green boasted endlessly, but unfortunately, Brian Clark wasn’t some clueless mountain boy!

If the Jinyiwei were really that great, Edward Green wouldn’t have to risk his life and get lost in the mountains. Brian Clark knew very well that gains and losses are always relative.

Take Zhu Yuanzhang’s household registration system, for example: father to son, generation after generation, no one can change it.

Farmers have agricultural registration, merchants have commercial registration, soldiers have military registration, even prostitutes have their own music registration!

If your father is a military household, all the sons are registered as military, but having military registration doesn’t mean you can all serve. Only the eldest can take the father’s place; the other brothers are called “military surplus”—to use a more modern term, they’re just backups!

If the eldest brother dies, then a younger brother is chosen to serve. If the next generation grows up, a son can be chosen… In any case, one soldier must come from each family, unless the whole family dies out—no one can escape!

It’s cruel, but it’s effective. Zhu Yuanzhang used this very system to maintain the stability of the empire.

The Jinyiwei were also a type of military registration, and the most enviable kind at that!

Inside, more and more Jinyiwei descendants; outside, plenty of people trying to squeeze in. But the Jinyiwei is still one radish, one pit!

Having Jinyiwei registration and actually becoming a real Jinyiwei are two completely different things.

Edward Green set his sights on Brian Clark for three reasons: first, he was the right age and would be grown in a few years; second, he was a mountain boy, with no parents or relatives, and could only rely on him; third, Brian Clark’s various behaviors showed he was smart and clever—just the right material for this line of work!

No matter what, at least he finally had a place to settle down!

The Jinyiwei—not bad at all!