People have been fighting outside for more than a month, and they didn't care about the movements in Beijing, and as soon as they returned to the capital, Xu Xun naturally went through all kinds of news. Who is he, the two most important leaders of Jinyiwei are all friendly with him, and Xichang wears a pair of pants with him from the governor to the commander of thousands of households, what news will be missed? Therefore, at the time when the military situation at the front was at its most urgent, the minister of the DPRK and the Central Committee elected officials of Shentong General Strategy at the request of Zhu Houzhao, and he naturally attached importance to this piece of news.

There are a lot of names for those officials, but there are only two of them he is familiar with - Yang Yiqing, the right deputy governor of Shaanxi Ma Zheng, and then Zhang Cai, the secretary of the Ministry of Literature. Therefore, when he held a banquet at home to celebrate the knighthood, Yang Yiqing happened to go to Miyun and Huairou to check the border defense, and he couldn't see people.

Knowing that Yang Yiqing and Zhang Cai are not people who like to pay attention to pomp, Xu Xun did not have any too expensive dishes on the menu early, in addition to the six bowls of hot dishes like pearls, there were eight small plates, and in the center was an old clam Huaizhu served in a purple casserole, which was the most expensive of all dishes. Yang Yiqing has been an official for many years, and this sweep roughly calculated the cost of the entire banquet, and he couldn't help but feel relieved, so his expression was much more relaxed than when he first found out that Xu Xun had invited someone else.

Zhang Cai originally didn't know why Xu Xun invited himself to accompany him, after three rounds of drinking, he saw that Xu Xun began to talk about the trilateral defense when he was toasting, and he vaguely had some guesses. Sure enough, after discussing a few sentences with Yang Yiqing, Xu Xun said with a smile: "The reason why I invited Xilu here today is because as soon as I returned to Beijing, I heard that there are generals recommended by the DPRK and the central government this time, and the Duke of Xuan and Xilu are all listed, so I invited the two to ask for advice." Duke Dian is about to go to Shaanxi, and the next thing in Xilu is that the affairs of the ministry are busy, and the emperor has always been quite interested in the military situation in the north. ”

Xu Xun said this, and the two people who were originally suspicious in their hearts couldn't help but suddenly realize. And Yang Yiqing and Xu Xun came back from Datong together, and went to inspect the border affairs without resting in the capital for two days, although they avoided the time when the Yanguan attacked him the most, but he didn't know much about the news of the wind direction, and only then did he understand that Zhang Cai was also recommended by someone to have a strategy. He glanced at Zhang Cai with a flickering gaze, and then said humbly: "Master Xu has just come back from winning the battle, isn't he still an expert?" ”

"That's just the concerted efforts of the soldiers and soldiers, and the help of veterans like Jingyangbo, the help of Gongmiao Gonggong Zhang and General Chen of Zhuang, and if it weren't for the transfer of Xuanfu General Zhang to a capable general like me, where could there be such a result? With a win to claim to be an expert, I wouldn't be so generous. However, if I wish to go to Shaanxi, I hope that if I have a letter to advise, I may wish to bring me a letter privately, and I can try to ask someone to pick one in advance when I submit it to the Imperial Review. ”

These words not only made Yang Yiqing moved, but even Zhang Cai's eyes were blazing. Although Zhu Houzhao opened the Wenhua Palace, this little emperor does not have a permanent surname, and this is not really a system that is included in the normal, sometimes it is open and sometimes it is not opened, sometimes it is long and sometimes it is short, and what can be taken to the palace to discuss is a big matter, and it is impossible for everyone to have the opportunity to speak freely, especially those low-grade officials. If the secretary of ceremonies has not mentioned it to the emperor when he summarized the folds and submitted them to the imperial festival, then these things will all be transferred to the cabinet vote, and the celebrant will approve the red, and the reply is the same.

Therefore, Xu Xun humbly said such a suggestion to Yang Yiqing, which is equivalent to completely opening a road that was originally blocked by a boulder, leaving only a side road in the middle that only allows people to pass sideways through the path, this favor can be said to be given to him by no one - even if it is the three elders of the current cabinet, where is the convenience of Xu Xun to see the emperor almost at any time?

"Lord Xu......"

"Duke Nuan doesn't have to feel that this is a favor owed to me." Xu Xun waved his hand to interrupt Yang Yiqing's words, and said word by word, "I also said first, if it is not a matter of major border affairs and military affairs, but what officials you want to impeach, what personnel you want to impeach, and those trivial things, I don't bother to care, I don't think the emperor may be impatient to look at it." This is official business, not a personal affair. This is also because the little prince's department suffered a big loss this time, so it is not a common practice to do special things just in case. ”

Having said that, Yang Yiqing felt more and more in his heart that Xu Xun was decisive in doing things. It is a matter of border affairs, if it is also delayed because of the personnel in the court or the habit of procrastination, then his trip to Shaanxi will be in vain! So, he took a deep breath and immediately hugged his fists and smiled heartily.

"In that case, then I won't say anything thanks. When I go to Shaanxi, I will definitely put the defense of the three sides in order, although I dare not say that I will not let the captives step in, but if they dare to come in, I will personally lead the troops to drive them out! ”

"Okay, just wait for Lord Yang's words!"

Xu Xun immediately poured himself a full cup, saluted Yang Yiqing with a smile, and immediately looked at Zhang Cai and said: "Xilu is the Wenxuan Shilang, I invite you to come today, except because you are also familiar with military strategy, so I want to hear what you have to say. Now that the Duke of Kui'an has been appointed as the chief of the trilateral system, I just said that I don't care about the personnel level, but if he really complains, the officials can prepare some officials with rich military experience and good adaptability in the pocket as soon as possible, so as not to be replaced at a critical moment. ”

Zhang Cai is also a first-class smart person, and he completely understands it at this moment, and immediately nodded heavily: "Lord Xu, rest assured, Ma Butang has been a secretary of the military department from the past, and has been in Shaanxi and other places for many years, so he will definitely not give Lord Yang the slightest constraint on this." But all officials who should be replaced must be removed in time! ”

Speaking of which, Yang Yiqing's heart finally brightened. For his trip to Shaanxi on the three sides of the general system, Xu Xun opened the door to him again, so that his recital could go directly to the sky; It is also for him to dredge the way in the ministry, so that if he has any trouble with the local officials, he can open up the channel in the ministry, you must know that Ma Wensheng values Zhang Cai the most, and even Li Dongyang has mentioned this to him. Thinking that he followed Zhang Yong to send troops without authorization this time, which caused a lot of criticism in the court, and even offended Liu Daxia, the secretary of the military department who repeatedly recommended him, he couldn't help but feel an unusually worthy pleasure.

"Lord Xu, with your words, I won't have to worry about any stumbling blocks when I go to Shaanxi!"

Yang Yiqing stood up and poured a full cup for Xu Xun and Zhang Cai, and then filled it for himself, but he raised his glass first to respect, and only after lighting up the bottom of the cup did he smile confidently, "Within a year, I will definitely inspect all the two sides and the second side, try my best to fill all the gaps, train the soldiers and horses neatly, and check all the account books of the grain depot, otherwise I will not have the face to come back!" ”

With all that said, the atmosphere that followed was naturally much more relaxed. The three of them drank one by one, and at first they just continued to talk about some important military affairs, but when they were drunk, they inevitably changed some light topics, Yang Yiqing had no choice but to ask about Xu Xun's marriage, where is Xu Xun easy to answer, and hurriedly confused over, but Zhang Cai came over with a smile.

"If you haven't taken a fancy to a suitable wife for the time being, you might as well take a beautiful concubine and put it at home. Master Ling Zun is only the son of Lord Xu, why do you have to let him hold a grandson first, right? ”

Yang Yiqing originally had some criticism of Zhang Cai's pleading Xu Xun to take a concubine before marrying a wife, but when he heard what he said about hugging Sun Zhi, he remembered that his knees were empty, and his face suddenly felt a little unnatural, and after thinking about it, he couldn't help but fill a cup and drink it all. Xu Xun knew the situation at Yang Yiqing's house, so he had to kick Zhang Cai to hint that he didn't want which pot was not opened, Zhang Cai was stunned, and his old face couldn't help but blush. And Yang Yiqing, whose face was red, finally stood up according to the table, hiccups drunkenly, and then said apologetically: "I'm really sorry, I have to leave tomorrow, and I don't dare to drink more." ”

Xu Xun's original intention was to see people off, and he didn't plan to get people drunk, so he naturally accepted it when he saw it, and Zhang Cai sent Yang Yiqing to the first floor, and saw that he was waiting for the little guy below to come up and help people down, so he took Zhang Cai back to the third floor. As soon as the door of the box was closed, he took a sip of the hot tea that the guy had just sent him and moistened his throat, then looked at Zhang Cai and said: "Xilu, the emperor is very appreciative of your integrity and courage before and after, so I want to ask you, do you want to further turn to the right of the imperial history, or do you want to work for a while in the office of the Ministry of Officials?" ”

Seeing that Zhang Cai was stunned for a moment, Xu Xun knew that this topic had asked Zhang Cai's heart, and immediately said with a smile: "Of course, you don't have to reply to me so quickly." Turning to the right is a step forward, and when the time comes, the servant will be light and skillful, and after all, the Wenxuan Division is in charge of the selection, and the power is in his hands, and Ma Butang values you so much, your determination is not good. However, it is very rare for the DPRK and China to have such a change, so you should consider it yourself. ”

Seeing Zhang Cai, who was twice as old as him, sitting there hesitating, Xu Xun stood up and went out of the door. As soon as he got out of the box, he saw Ah Bao coming up and saying that the account had been settled, so he waved his hand and motioned Ah Bao to follow him downstairs. At this moment, it was close to curfew, the lantern had been hung in front of the Qingfeng Building, and there were few pedestrians on the street, he stood silently for a moment, guessing in his heart the two choices that Zhang Cai would make.

Although the imperial history of the right capital is better than being put in the local area as an envoy or a scholar and politician, if Ma Wensheng really treats Zhang Cai very well, most of this person will stay in the ministry to help - so it can be seen that he is a person who values affection and righteousness; If you choose to be promoted, there is nothing to say, focusing on the future and being ambitious is the norm in officialdom at any time.

And what he wanted Zhang Cai to know was the same thing he had said to Yang Yiqing before-that is, he, Xu Xun, had the ability to open a road to heaven for them! After leaving a positive impression on them, it is no longer a simple utilitarian alliance, but will make people feel that there is no harm in being with him!

(To be continued)