According to Li Congjing's memory, today is the small year, that is, the twenty-fourth day of the lunar month, and Chinese New Year's Eve, also known as the little reunion, is the time when the wanderer returns from home and reunites with his family.

The tallest building in Youzhou City is undoubtedly the city tower, which is as high as five zhang on the city wall, and the towering city tower is several zhang higher. After Li Congjing entered Youzhou, he did not overhaul the mansion of the Jiedu Envoy, and after the Gui was the Jiedu Envoy, the existing quality of life has made him very satisfied, and his personal life requirements are not high, because he has never spent money to do anything for himself. But there was one exception, and he built an extremely tall attic in the Jiedu Envoy's mansion, which was almost as tall as a castle tower.

Gentleman Leshan, benevolent and good water. Climb high and look far, people with lofty ideals like it, especially those with lofty minds, they are even more happy to do this. After Li Congjing built this building, he often climbed the pavilion, or overlooked the whole city of Youzhou, or overlooked the vast north, and named it "Zhiyuan Pavilion".

On the day and night of the New Year, Li Congjing set up a banquet in the hall, invited the civil and military officials of Youzhou to get together, and gave kindness to buy people's hearts. Whether it is governing the army or governing officials, they all pay attention to the combination of grace and power, Li Congjing's affairs, whether it is military discipline or officialdom rules, are very serious, but in addition, he is not stingy to show his easy-going, and the way to show easy-going, in addition to the peace of words and deeds when intersecting with people, the most important point is to scatter profits. In the past year, Li Congjing has made great achievements in Youzhou, and the treasury is full, so he took the opportunity of today to reward his ministers.

After a night of celebration, after a while, a group of civil and military officials dispersed satisfied, Li Congjing also left the hall, but he drank a lot and walked a little shaky, but he did not go back to the backyard to rest, but climbed the Zhiyuan Pavilion step by step. Although Li Congjing's footsteps were unsteady, he was very sober, and he climbed to the top of Zhiyuan Pavilion, and overlooked the railing, and the entire brightly lit Youzhou City was at his feet.

Ten thousand lights, each lamp will illuminate a reunion.

The cold wind blew on his face, Li Congjing's spirit was lifted, and he stood silently for a long time, not knowing what he was thinking about, and not knowing who he was thinking.

After a long time, there was the sound of someone going upstairs behind him, and when he heard the footsteps, Li Congjing was not surprised, and he did not look back. After a while, Ren Wanru, who was decorated with a noble and dignified decoration, walked behind Li Congjing, gently put on a tiger skin for him, leaned her head on his shoulder, and asked softly, "What do you want?" ”

Li Congjing's eyes were deep and serene, "It has been a month since the news urging Mo Li to return, counting the steps, they should have entered Pingzhou, but there has been no news back in the past few days, I am deeply worried." The war in Liaodong is stalemate, and tens of thousands of Khitan troops are eyeing each other, and they are returning all the way, but the road is not easy to walk. ”

What is the relationship between Mo Li and Li Congjing, Ren Wanru naturally knows, and when she heard this, there was also a look of worry in her eyes, "Mr. Mo does not have a large army with him, and it is indeed not easy to travel through Liaodong." However, from Liaodong to here, there are two roads, east and west, and I don't know whether Mr. Mo runs the state or takes the sea route. ”

Li Congjing said: "At this time, the sea route is unstable, full of unknown and uncontrollable risks, and I don't think they will take the sea route if they don't think about it. ”

Ren Wanru left Li Congjing's shoulder and looked up at his side face, "Since you know which way Mr. Mo goes, you may be able to send a large army to meet him." ”

"When the army leaves the camp, the movement is too big, for fear that it will cause a chain reaction." Li Congjing was silent for a while, "I'd better go myself." ”

"Mr. Mo is a pillar of talent, not to be missed, since the army can not go out of the camp, you personally pick up, it is also right, besides, he has a deep love with you since childhood, for your great cause, in a foreign country, in a dangerous place, hard work for more than a year, you should go to welcome it in a reasonable way. If you're going, let's do it as soon as possible. Ren Wanru nodded, very supportive of Li Congjing's idea.

Although she never interferes in or intervenes in the military and politics of Youzhou, and is only a virtuous wife, this does not mean that she does not understand all the things in Youzhou, on the contrary, she understands her man's exploits very clearly. Because to love someone, you must not only love the other person's person, the other person's position, but also love the land under his feet.

In the days when Mo Li Congjing was not by his side, Li Congjing was often busy until late at night, dealing with copywriting, although Wei Dao helped in major military and political affairs, but Wei Dao father and son, Zhang Ziyun, Wang Buqi and others, all had their own important positions, in planning a domain, in planning the overall situation, but no one could help much. Ren Wanru attaches importance to Mo Li, not to him as a person, but to his identity, in other words, she attaches importance to Mo Li's role in Li Congjing's great cause.

Li Congjing turned around and took Ren Wanru's hands, put them in the palm of his hand, and said apologetically: "In this way, eight or nine times out of ten, it will be too late to go back to Youzhou for the New Year, let you live here alone, and wronged you." ”

Ren Wanru smiled softly, and said in an indifferent tone: "This year has passed, and there is still next year, and there will be decades in life, why can't the husband accompany the concubine?" ”

Li Congjing was moved in his heart and gently hugged Ren Wanru into his arms.

There are two things in a man's life, starting a family. Becoming a good family will have more energy to establish a good career, and if there is a good wife, how can a man who works hard outside have half a worry?

After the small years, when Li Congjing left Youzhou, many people came to visit Fei Gaozhang's mansion, as the hand of the local civil official in Youzhou, and did it for many years. Every festival, the city is full of people, and civil officials come to visit, and even some military generals of Lu Long will also come to give gifts.

There is a fresh and elegant carriage, after arriving at the outside of the Thorn Mansion, in the face of the crowd of people, there is no stop, familiar with the road from the corner gate into the house, after entering the door, the carriage stopped, a man who is less than a year old, wearing a plain robe, walked off the carriage and walked straight to the house.

The officials and servants in the Assassin's Mansion who met him head-on would all stop, bow down, and call "Mr. Zhang" in a proper manner. People who have been in the Assassin's Mansion for a long time know that this young man with a dusty demeanor and an elegant temperament is the most proud protégé of Fei Gaozhang in the life of Assassin Shi, Zhang Yilou.

Zhang Yilou came to the outside of the east study, only then did he stop, straighten his clothes, and in the eyes of the servants sent by Fei Gaozhang at any time, Shi Ran knocked on the door.

"It's the first floor, come in." Fei Gaozhang's majestic and soft voice came from the room.

Zhang Yilou pushed the door in, turned back and closed the door, and saluted, "I've seen the teacher." ”

The space in the study is quite large, with curtains and bookshelves, occupying most of the space, and the burning fire exudes a thick steam, and the smoke of bamboo charcoal rises and wafts out of the window. Fei Gaozhang put down the brush in his hand, closed the book, walked out from behind the bookcase, motioned to the low couch in front of the window, and asked Zhang to sit on the first floor.

The teacher and student sat opposite each other, Fei Gaozhang asked the servant to make tea, Fei Gaozhang, who was old and gray, looked bright and energetic, and there was no trace of old age at all.

"Why did you come here today?" Fei Gaozhang asked Zhang on the first floor.

The close relationship between the two made them no longer need to greet politely during the discussion, and the two of them acted in a crisp and neat style, without the habit of dragging mud and water, in the face of Fei Gaozhang's question, Zhang Yilou said bluntly: "After the end of the year, everything is coming to an end, to Chen to usher in the new year, and at this time, the students have a confusion, so that the students do not know how to welcome the new year in the coming year, so they came to wait for the teacher to sit in front of the seat." ”

Fei Gaozhang twisted his beard and said: "What is the confusion, you can say it." ”

Zhang Yilou said: "In the late autumn of last year, Li Congjing replaced the old general Li Cunxian, and took charge of the military and political affairs of Lulong Kyushu. It is to 'get close to him, understand him, gain his trust, get his reuse, and have the opportunity to hope for the future'. Now that time has passed, although the student has not become Li Congjing's confidant, he has been reused since his life, and he has been in a confidential position, and he has a good understanding of the big and small things in Youzhou, and everything can be heard and played right. It can be said that the previous idea has now been achieved. Therefore, the students came here today and asked the teacher what the teacher said that day, "to plan for the future", what kind of "future" is the word "future"? ”

To Zhang Yilou's surprise, after he said this, Fei Gaozhang did not answer immediately, but bowed his head slightly and fell into silence. Just when Zhang Yilou was deeply puzzled, and when he reflected on whether he had any mistakes or omissions, Fei Gaozhang slowly spoke: "First floor, as a teacher, I ask you, what is the fundamental way to be an official in a local place?" ”

Zhang Yilou didn't groan, and said directly: "As a local citizen, as a local official, the fundamental way is to benefit the local area and consolidate yourself." ”

"Not bad." Fei Gaozhang nodded and said, "In the final analysis, when a local official becomes a local official, he naturally has to safeguard local interests, and only when he protects local interests can he get the support of local forces." The place is like water, the magistrate is like a fish, the fish is not alive without the water, and the water is stagnant without the fish, and the two must complement each other. For those of us, only by working for the benefit of the local people and gaining the support of local forces can we sit in the official position for a long time and hold more power. This is the fundamental way, both in terms of political performance and personal honor and disgrace. ”

After speaking, Fei Gaozhang looked directly at Zhang Yilou, "But the people who lead the government are different." In the present, the knots are different. If in the past, Jiedu made one party sit on the side, integrate with the locality, and become a small prince, then it is naturally consistent with the interests of the local forces. But today's Tang Dynasty, because of His Majesty's majesty, has concentrated power with imperial power, and has made envoys in various places, and it has no longer been the appearance of a unique country in the previous decades. Let's just say that Li Congjing, he served in Youzhou, and anyone with a discerning eye can see that he is an official for one term, and he will be stationed for a while, and after his term expires, he will leave here. ”

"In this way, a contradiction arises." Fei Gaozhang continued, "The ruler is on the official side, and the local official is the official for life, because of the different statuses, the interests pursued are also different. The former pursues immediate benefits, only seeking a little merit, and can obtain the merits of the imperial court's political performance examination, and will have the opportunity to be promoted to an official and make a fortune, and when they leave this place, what will be the situation in this place in the future, and whether their so-called 'political achievements' will bring long-term disadvantages to the local area, it is not for them to consider. But the latter is different, the latter has been here for a long time, and the benefits sought are long-lasting, and it will not be acceptable for the rulers to take temporary benefits to the detriment of long-term benefits. That's the contradiction. ”

Zhang Yilou's face was solemn, and he had already realized something, and he answered: "So the teacher asked me to gain Li Congjing's trust before, and strive to enter the secret, that is, to penetrate into his interior and grasp his affairs. And once Li Congjing has a move that harms long-term benefits because of temporary benefits, the students will fight back, or unite with the local officials in Youzhou to restrain and restrain their behavior to protect Youzhou's long-term interests! ”

"Exactly." Fei Gaozhang said, "If the ruler wants to govern a place, whether he brings his confidants or cronies, he must rely on the local officials and give a part of the power to the local officials, otherwise his decrees cannot be smoothly issued and implemented." That's where we can take advantage of it, and that's where you got started. ”

Zhang Yilou sighed lightly and looked at the teacher in front of him, "This is where the confusion of students lies. ”

Fei Gaozhang showed an inexplicable smile, such a look was rare on his face, and he said, "You should indeed be confused. After all, Li Congjing was too unexpected. ”

"That's true." Zhang Yilou said with emotion, "What he did after he arrived in Youzhou is indeed different from ordinary people. ”

Fei Gaozhang's eyes showed a look of reminiscence, "At the beginning, Li Congjing recounted the people, and made it clear that he didn't trust us and waited for the results of the previous counting, so that I waited for the Youzhou officials to be gloomy, and then did the matter of elite soldiers and eliminating the army, those local generals and colonels who were driven out of the barracks by him, but they were dissatisfied, and because of the unity of local officials, the interests were entangled, and he once again hurt the interests of Lulong's local forces. After these two incidents, the local officials in Youzhou were already very dissatisfied with it, but he first conquered Pingzhou, and repeatedly defeated the Khitan, with the power of great victory, no one dared to do anything for a while. ”

"But although there is no action for a while, the contradiction has not disappeared, and after a long period of precipitation, it will naturally erupt." Zhang said on the first floor.

"Later, the tuntian did not confiscate the land of large households, but repaired abandoned fields, and even reclaimed land to make arable land. This matter has not been criticized by anyone. Fei Gaozhang said, "Later, Li Congjing set up fishery and salt mines and opened commercial routes, and even let local forces participate in it and benefit the people." I am a local manager and a big account in Youzhou, and I am profiting from Li Congjing. ”

Zhang Yilou continued: "What is even more indescribable is that Li Congjing has succeeded in Tuntian, and there are many profits from fishing, salt, industry and mining. Among them, the most important thing is that he has improved the rank and soul of the officers and men in the army, which allows Lu Long's 60,000 border troops to sweep away the grievances of the previous disarmament and return to their hearts. ”

Fei Gaozhang sighed, put down the tea bowl handed to his mouth, stood up, walked to the window, and looked out of the window with his negative hand. Running to, Fei Gaozhang said: "Li Congjing will make money, and he will scatter money." Where are the things of money used? At yesterday's banquet, Li Congjing said that money is to be used. That's exactly what he did, and no one did it better than him! He eats a lot of dishes on this table in Youzhou, but the food is not ugly, so everyone can accept it. ”

"At the moment, the dishes on this table in Youzhou were originally made by Li Congjing, he wants to eat them, who can say that he is not?" Zhang Yilou smiled bitterly: "Besides, he also gave the soup to everyone. Teacher, since this is the case, then you asked the students to gain Li Congjing's trust before to join the center, 'to plan for the future', this 'future', do you still want to do it? ”

Fei Gaozhang suddenly turned around and said firmly: "Figure, of course you want to picture!" ”

Zhang Yilou was stunned.

Fei Gaozhang returned to the low couch and sat down, straightened his robe, and said: "It's just that this 'scheme' is not to restrict, restrain and restrain Li Congjing, and to oppose Li Congjing. ”

"What does the teacher mean, helping Li Congjing?" Zhang Yilou's expression perked up and asked.

Fei Gaozhang nodded solemnly, suddenly sighed, and said earnestly: "On the first floor, what is the character of the leader, we can't choose." Fighting with the rulers, it is because of the drive of interests, and it is a last resort. In the final analysis, fighting each other is just a two-way act. Isn't it rare that there is such a leader now, and he will not harm the long-term interests of Youzhou because of his own short-term interests? Isn't it the long-term interests of us to rejuvenate agriculture and open up fishing and salt to promote industry and commerce? Since there is such a ruler, who is willing to sincerely do his best for the benefit of Youzhou, as local officials, what reason do we have not to do our best to help? ”

At the end, Fei Gaozhang concluded: "Now that the officials and forces of Youzhou are attached, and the soldiers of the border army return to their hearts, it is a wise move to help Li Congjing from personal honor and disgrace!" ”

Zhang Yilou said awe-inspiringly.

Looking at the proud protégé in front of him, the joy in Zhang Yilou's eyes did not hide from Fei Gaozhang, he knew that Zhang Yilou had already seen through the stakes and had a plan, and came to his house today, nominally to ask him to solve his doubts, but in fact, didn't he want to ask for the approval of his teacher, so that he could throw himself to Li Congjing with peace of mind?

Fei Gaozhang said with a smile: "On the first floor, you are the most proud protégé of Weisheng and Sheng, and you have inherited all the mastery of the teacher. Your world is not limited to this corner of Youzhou, now you have the opportunity to go out, don't have any scruples, just do it! ”

Zhang Yilou was shocked to realize that his intention to solve his doubts and seek the teacher's life today had been seen by Fei Gaozhang, and after listening to Fei Gaozhang's words, he felt the real and strong concern and expectation in Fei Gaozhang's words, Zhang Yilou's heart was hot, and he bowed down, "Thank you, teacher!" ”