Li Peng respectfully welcomed the angry Cao Xin into the gate at the gate of the mansion.

"Li Xiang knows I'm coming?" Cao Xin was a little surprised.

Li Peng smiled: "Li Xiang guessed that you should come." So they set up a banquet in the back garden. Cao Ministry, please. ”

Hearing this, Cao Xin was full of resentment, but in an instant, it seemed to dissipate most of it. took a few breaths of air, slightly adjusted his outfit, and then followed Li Peng all the way backwards.

There is a huge pond in the back garden, but it is the time when the lotus leaves cover the water and the lotus flowers compete for beauty. In the octagonal pavilion located in the center of the pond, the brilliance emitted by the four glass lamps illuminates the surroundings brightly, Li Ze leans on the railing, is throwing some fish food, the lotus leaves in the water are shaking, the flowers are shaking, and countless fish money are gathered from all directions to the place where the lights are gathered, and the small mouth is opened densely, waiting for the food.

Seeing Cao Xin coming slowly, Li Ze clapped his hands and stood up, smiling and greeting him.

"Cao Gong, the wine has been prepared and the dishes are fragrant, and I personally cooked and rectified them, but today, I will not get drunk and not return." Li Zedao.

Cao Xin clasped his hands and stood up, "Li Xiang, what is this banquet?" Dissuasion, thanks, or something else? ”

"No, no, no." Li Ze laughed and said: "Drink heartily, heartily, that's it." ”

Cao Xin smiled at this time: "In this way, I can have a good taste of Li Xiang's craftsmanship, speaking of which, I haven't eaten a meal made by Li Xiang himself for many years." It seems like 10 years ago, right? ”

"Cao Gong has a good memory!" Li Ze smiled slightly, invited Cao Xin to sit down, and poured a full bottle of wine for Cao Xin, "For more than ten years, with a flick of my fingers, I think that at the beginning, we were in danger and embattled." If it wasn't for Cao Gong believing in me and topping me back then, how could I have Li Ze today? ”

Cao Xin also sighed: "Li Xiangyan is serious, although I also had a meager contribution back then, but over the years, Li Xiang has already rewarded me, the Ministry of Officials is the largest department in the world, Cao has been in this position for a long time, it can be seen that Li Xiang has a lot of faith in me." ”

"If there is no cause, how can there be an effect?" Li Ze picked up the wine glass and said, "Gong Cao, let's drink this cup together to celebrate that although we have been full of thorns and stumbles along the way, we have finally come to this day, and we have finally lived up to the vows we made back then." ”

With a ding, the two wine glasses touched together, and both of them drank it all.

Speaking of those days, both of them were also embarrassed.

At that time, Li Ze was almost nothing. At that time, Cao Xin was the assassin of Yizhou, with territory and soldiers, and it was Cao Xin's strong support that gave Li Ze the first pot of gold for development.

And there is no doubt that over the years, Cao Xin has also been Li Ze's most trusted person.

The two recalled the past, but they were both full of emotion, and after a few glasses of wine, Cao Xin suddenly found that he had long lost the fighting spirit that he had come with anger before.

When he first came, he only felt that Li Ze was unfair to him, but these glasses of wine were in his stomach, and he recalled from the time of the initial incident to the present, but Cao Xin found that Li Ze really treated himself well.

He was indeed his first external supporter, but over the years, his return has long exceeded his expectations.

Back then, his most ambitious ideal was just that Li Ze could succeed Li Anguo as the envoy of Chengde Festival, and he became the second person under him, and now, he has already become famous all over the world.

The matter has come to this, what can the husband say?

"Why don't you see the two ladies?" Cao Xin tasted a bite of the dish and asked. The two families are good families, Xia He, and Liu Ruyan are not ordinary women, and they are not shy about it in the past.

"Xia He heard that you were coming, but he fled." Li Ze laughed: "Qiao'er is now urging the two little guys to study." ”

"Why bother?" Cao Xin shook his head slightly: "Li Xiang, if you don't want me to run, just talk to me directly, and I will naturally retreat." ”

Li Ze picked a dish and stuffed it into his mouth, shaking his head like a rattle while chewing.

"No, no, no! Cao Gong, as I said, if I don't interfere, I don't interfere, whether you run or give up, it's up to you to make your own decisions. ”

Cao Xin narrowed his eyes, "What does Li Xiang mean by this?" ”

"What this means is that I don't care who is elected." Li Ze smiled: "It's okay for you, Xu Xiang or not, whoever wins, I admit it!" ”

"But now they all say that Li Xiang is interested in Xu Xiang?"

"Who said that?" Li Ze shook his head and said, "Cao Gong, I don't care who wins, what I care about is the election process." ”

"Including their current connection?" Cao Xin asked rhetorically.

Li Ze smiled slightly: "Gong Cao, as far as I know, you are not idle."

Cao Xin was suddenly speechless.

"In fact, the so-called series of links is unavoidable at any time. And this process is also the process of seeking support, seeking like-minded and like-minded people. Li Zedao: "Cao Gong, the Economic Development Committee is the most important department among several committees, so he is the first in line. If a person who stays in this position can't get the support of the vast majority of people, he will not be able to do things well, or even at all. ”

Cao Xin nodded, "What does Li Xiang mean that no matter who is elected, you will accept it?" ”

"Of course." Li Ze nodded and said: "Now it seems that you and Xu Xiang are competing with Cao Gong, for me, it doesn't matter who wins, as long as the whole process is advancing according to my ideas." Cao Gong, to put it bluntly, I am still very young, even if you are elected, on top of many policies, if I want to do this, will you be reluctant to do it? I said that this can't be done, will you insist that you must do it? ”

Cao Xin shook his head.

"The same principle is also suitable for Xu Xiang, and even his confidence to compete with me is not as good as yours!" Li Ze said with a smile: "But for me, this process is very important, I don't see the present, but the future, one at a time, we must make such an election deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, so that it is basically fair, just and open, this is for future generations." ”

Cao Xin tilted his neck and drank the glass of wine in front of him: "I understand what you mean Li Xiang, you are now going to make rules and make rules for future generations." ”

"Not bad." Li Ze nodded: "When I was alive, even if something went wrong, I could still correct the mistakes, and I also had the ability to bring back the inappropriate things, but in the future, I couldn't say for sure." Therefore, the rules must be established from now on. ”

"As a last resort, I will never meddle in the affairs of other committees, even if they make mistakes, as long as they are still within the scope of tolerance, I will let them find out and correct themselves." Li Zedao: "Things need to go step by step, the formation of rules, it also takes time, I hope that in my life, all the rules will be completely established, until everyone is at peace and responsible." ”

"I see." Cao Xin put the wine glass on the table, arched his hand and said, "Thank you Li Xiang for the wine and food, I'll go here." ”

"Gong Cao, the wine hasn't been drunk, and the dishes haven't moved much!" Li Ze pointed to the table and said.

"Time is running out." Cao Xin shook his head and said, "I'm going to seek my supporters." No matter how I win or lose, I always have to fight, I don't believe that I really lost to Xu Xiang, that hairy boy. ”

Li Zeyi smiled and said: "Gong Cao, you must be generous when you win, and you must be free and easy when you lose." When the results are announced, they can't afford to mention it or let it go. ”

"Rest assured. Since Li Xiangdu said so, I naturally know it. If I win, I will definitely invite Xu Xianglai to be my deputy, after all, he has so many supporters, and it will be easier to get him by his side. If he loses, I'll congratulate him generously and won't mess him up. Cao Xin said.

"That's exactly what I want to see." Li Zedao: "But once Xu Xiang loses, he can't become your deputy, if you do this, you will form two distinct factions in the Economic Development Committee." And if you lose, you won't be able to serve on this committee again. ”

"If I lose, I'll quit." Cao Xin took a deep breath and said. "Or go to school and teach, it's a good choice. After a lifetime of hard work, it is also a joy to be able to enjoy the joy of that day. Farewell, Lee Sang. ”

Li Ze nodded: "Li Peng, send Cao Gong for me." ”

Watching Cao Xin leave with full fighting spirit, Li Ze shook his head with a smile. As far as he knows, the probability of Cao Xin losing the election of the Economic Development Committee this time is as high as more than 80 percent.

The older generation is gradually retiring, and the new officials are rising one after another, these young officials are deeply influenced by the new learning of Wuwei Academy, and there is an essential difference between the Tang Empire and the world and these older generations of people in terms of understanding. The concept and means of governing the country are also undergoing earth-shaking changes.

There is no doubt that the back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves, and what Li Ze has to do is not to let the front waves be slapped to death on the beach by the back waves, so that these old people who have been fighting for the cause of Datang for many years can retreat one by one with dignity.

In the next time, their own steps will be very big, the old people will not be able to keep up with their own ideas, even if they respect themselves, they will intentionally or unintentionally become the resistance and obstacle to the progress of the new Datang, in order to avoid one day they have to attack them, it is better to withdraw them as soon as possible.

Let the new generation of officials break through! They have accepted new knowledge and seen the new world, and they will become the group of people who dare to think and dare to do what the rising Datang needs most.

"Cao Gong is gone?" Looking at Li Peng, who was returning, Li Ze asked.

"Yes, but not home."

"I really do what I say." Li Ze smiled: "Okay, you go and inform Xia He, just say that she can go home, Cao Gong is not as careful as she thought." ”