There is a peach orchard not far from Yamen, and the flowers are blooming brightly at this time, like a sea of pink. There are butterflies, there are bees, busy among the flowers. Du Zhongxiao stood beside the peach orchard, looking at a sea of flowers, and did not speak.

From the second year of Qingli to the present, twenty years have passed, thinking of the officialdom of these twenty years, Du Zhongxiao sighed with emotion. Speaking from the heart, I don't have many original things, and most of my achievements are transplanted from the knowledge of my previous life to this world. Only in the final battle of Youzhou, he personally commanded, relied on his strong national strength, and his own prudence to achieve a complete victory.

Thinking of the past 20 years, Du Zhongxiao felt that he had not learned much. The whole career, except for the days of Suizhou camping, mostly spent in the frontier, and I am a little unfamiliar with the political ecology of the mainland. In officialdom, although there are no enemies, there are no trustworthy allies. In the future, if you continue to be an official, this will be a trouble.

Looking at Li Fugui, Du Zhongxiao sighed. It's funny to say, he has no allies, only these subordinates. Several generals during the training in Suizhou are now at the top and play a pivotal role in the imperial court. But after the war in Youzhou, he will no longer be in charge of the army, how useful is the support of these generals?

Sighing, Du Zhongxiao shook his head, feeling a little dazed. If you want to be the prime minister now, it's not easy. Although relying on one's own merits can suppress others, but without allies and partners, it cannot be used politically. What to do? Du Zhongxiao didn't know.

After looking at the peach blossoms for a while, Li Fugui said: "Captain, after the war, the forbidden army will be re-trained, and the military academy will be rebuilt." I heard that Wu Song, Yao Shouxin and others were going back to the military academy. Although they all made a lot of contributions in this battle, they still did not lead troops. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "I also heard about this." However, it has not yet been decided. In the future, some generals may switch back and forth between military schools and leading troops, and there is no need to make a fuss. Hundreds of thousands of forbidden troops, generals have to be transferred around, and everything is normal. ”

Du Zhongxiao knew that it was still because of his own reasons that the generals brought out by himself, such as Thirteen Lang and Yao Shouxin, were suppressed and easily prevented from leading troops. Of course, the treatment of military schools is good, but there is nothing. In the future, if they don't lead troops themselves, maybe they will not be held back. And when Du Zhongxiao may be the prime minister, Wen Yanbo and others have a bad attitude, and it is very likely that the two will return to the military academy.

What's the solution? Regardless of civil and military, it is normal for one person to always be suspicious. He is not a powerful minister, and he has never thought of using his own small clique to control power. can only use time to dispel other people's suspicions little by little.

Li Fugui was a little disappointed when he saw that Du Zhongxiao did not vehemently oppose this matter. This old boss of his own, has nothing to say about his ability, but he is too Buddhist. He doesn't fight for merit, nor does he grab a position, so that his subordinates are anxious. Now no one can see that Du Zhongxiao has the potential to be said in the military. At the most critical time after the war, Du Zhongxiao put down everything and ran to the prison camp.

Looking at Li Fugui, Du Zhongxiao smiled: "Judge, you imitate, the authority of the imperial court is in the hands of the saint, not the minister." If the minister's authority is too great, and the saint cannot be at ease, he will cause trouble. For the minister, knowing how to advance and retreat and not embarrass the saint is a natural reason for Mingzhe to protect his life. A lot of things, what's yours is yours, and others can't snatch them. But there are many things that are not your own, so don't grab them. Otherwise, even if you grab it, it won't be yours. Do you understand? ”

Li Fugui nodded. Of course he understands. But it's one thing to understand, it's another thing to be able to accept it, and it's another thing to be able to really handle it calmly after accepting it. How many fools are there to do this? I understand a lot of things, I just can't do it.

When Du Zhongxiao took the initiative to avoid the post-war discussion, including Zhao Zhen, the ministers of the court knew what it meant. Some rejoice, some pity, each has its own thoughts. But they had to admire Du Zhongxiao for being able to really let go.

In officialdom, fame and fortune, which one can really let go? Many times, even if you know how to do it, you can't do it for the sake of the immediate good. It's not that they can't see it, it's that they don't want to.

Looking at the sea of flowers in front of him, Du Zhongxiao said: "I am less than twenty years old, and it has been twenty years now." Twenty years have been done today, and the promotion is not particularly fast, but it is not slow. The most important thing is that every time I am promoted, I feel at ease. Why? Because I know for myself that it is not a fluke, but a step by step by merit. I am not familiar with the Holy Lord, and there is no appreciation from the ministers in the court, so it is not easy to do it today. ”

Li Fugui said: "Since the Taiwei Commander knew the Volcano Army, he has done things that others can't reach in a lifetime, needless to say. Later, the road to the river meanders was opened up and the Western Regions was restored, which was not a military achievement? In this Youzhou War, Taiwei commanded it single-handedly, not to mention. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Yes, I was promoted because of merit, not because someone appreciated it." So I only look at what my own merits are, and I don't think about what rewards I will get. You are the same, don't think about what you have and don't. ”

Li Fugui nodded, not knowing what to say for a while. From the bottom of his heart, he didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing to follow a chief like Du Zhongxiao. Maybe it didn't rise so fast at first, but it was long-lasting.

Seeing that it was not early, Du Zhongxiao said: "Prepare some wine and meat tonight, let's have a drink." It's been a long time since I've had a drink with you. ”

Li Fugui thanked him, and the two turned around and went back to the yamen. When he arrived at the door, Du Zhongxiao said: "After this war, even if you have a lot of merit, go back and tell others, don't fight for merit, let alone rush to be promoted." At this time, everyone wants to be promoted and make a fortune, and it is difficult for the top. Take a step back, and the sky will open up behind you. Credit is written down first, and it doesn't have to be cashed out immediately. ”

Li Fugui said: "What does the captain mean, and the military merits also make?" ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head: "How can military merit be allowed?" The credit is earned by oneself desperately, and it is not his own business, but the business of many soldiers under him, and he cannot let it. But with military merits, don't think about being promoted and getting rich immediately, these are two different things. ”

Li Fugui thought for a while, nodded and said, "Xiaguan understands." Don't worry, everyone will be fine. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded and entered the yamen with Li Fu. Ordered his corporal to kill a sheep and drink with Li Fugui in the courtyard.

Du Zhongxiao is not so noble, and even gives up his own credit. Credit can not be cashed out immediately, but it is not possible to omit it. I am like this, and these old subordinates are like this. Military merits can not be honored first, but they must not be missed. As long as the credit is there, take a step back for a while, and there will always be a suitable opportunity later.

Li Fugui was determined to forge ahead, and he always felt that he was not satisfied with the reward after the war, so Baba came to Du Zhongxiao for support. Du Zhongxiao has no objection to him like this, he has military merit and ability, why can't he be promoted? Your own people, just let others do everything? But on the whole, I don't want my subordinates to be promoted as soon as the war is over. There are only so many official positions, you also want to do it, he wants to do it, and in the end there are always people who are not satisfied.

There is still a long way to go in life, so there is no need to fight for this time. In the past 20 years, from a small state and county official to a privy envoy, Du Zhongxiao has risen fast enough. Not only himself, but also these generals under him. is like Li Fugui, if he didn't follow Du Zhongxiao, how could he dare to think about being a ruler. Thirteen Lang and Yao Shouxin have been in ten years, and they have become senior generals, which is fast enough. Don't keep thinking about being Di Qing, being promoted to a senior general for ten years, and still thinking about being a privy envoy. If the official is promoted too quickly, he will have to suffer in the future.

Du Zhongxiao is now the prime minister, how many years can he be a prime minister? is less than forty years old, is it really the same as Lu Yijian, who has been the prime minister for 20 years? Even if he was prime minister for 20 years, he was only 60 at that time. The fastest person in the Song Dynasty to rise to Zaizhi was Kou Zhun, what was the final result? Sometimes, it's time to give way.