After Long Xi came to the study, he saw Li Zhen and said, "President, the war report from the south has been sent back. Yang Banhou led two brigades of troops to attack Xi Yinglong, and finally returned defeated. Now, Yang Banhou has returned to Guangxi and is stationed, and has not continued south. ”

Li Zhen raised his eyebrows and asked, "Defeated!" Are you sure that the result is not wrong? ”

"Yes, defeated!" Long Xi said affirmatively.

Li Zhen suddenly fell silent and sighed slightly. Originally, he also thought that if Yang Banhou solved Xi Yinglong and captured Vietnam first, he would save one thing and not have to take people south to Guangxi. Now that Yang Banhou has failed and returned, Li Zhen has to go in person. It is really not easy to solve the brothers Xi Yinglong and Xi Changzhen, and it takes a certain amount of energy.

Long Xi thought for a while and asked, "President, how do you reply to the letter?" ”

Li Zhen replied decisively: "Inform Yang Banhou to stand by and wait for me to go south!" ”

Long Xi asked again, "Do you need to tell me the specific time of going south?" ”

Li Zhen shook his head and said: "No, I can't settle down for the time being, I have to wait for my affairs in Beijing to be dealt with before I can go south." Don't make a noise about Yang Banhou's defeat, and don't let Ruan Lele know, lest Ruan Lele and Ye Cheng be anxious. Do you understand? ”

"Understood!" Long Xi replied.

Li Zhen waved his hand, and Long Xi turned around and left.

Next, Li Zhen began to speed up the handling of Beijing's affairs. Whether it was the construction of a monument in the middle of the city, or the acceleration of the erection of the prestige of the court, and the promulgation of new orders for educational reform, etc., all proceeded in an orderly and rapid manner.

……

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, a horse-drawn carriage came from the west of the city of Beijing.

There were only three people with him, and the number was very small.

In the carriage, there was a middle-aged man about forty years old. He was wearing a thick cotton robe, a small round hat, and a pair of cloth shoes on his feet, very plain, looking like a very ordinary middle-aged man. He has double eyelids, a high nose, plump and fleshy cheeks, two small whiskers on his lips, and a smile on the corner of his mouth, giving people a feeling of pampering and not being surprised. Especially when middle-aged people sit quietly, the tranquil feeling makes people unconsciously calm down.

Next to the middle-aged man sat an old man, about fifty years old.

The old man leaned back against the carriage, looked lazy, and said slowly: "Boss, we have been invited to Beijing this time, and now we are almost in Beijing, have you thought of a way to deal with it?" ”

The middle-aged man shook his head lightly and said, "No, take a step and see a step." I believe that Li Zhen will not deceive people. Lao Liu, after we enter Beijing, try to keep a low profile, don't get involved in too many things, and leave as soon as possible after dealing with things, understand? ”

The old man smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lao Liu won't lose the face of the Qiao family!" ”

The middle-aged man is Qiao Zhiyong, the head of the Qiao family.

When Qiao Zhiyong was at home, he received an invitation from Li Zhen to invite him to Beijing. At that time, Qiao Zhiyong didn't say a word, and directly agreed, when he left home, there was no New Year, and now it is already a year later. Qiao Zhiyong nodded, stopped talking, picked up a book and read it carefully.

……

The official residence of the Presidential Palace!

Li Zhen first received the news of Qiao Zhiyong's arrival in Beijing, and at the moment when he was told by Long Xi, Li Zhen's mind thought for a while. Because in the life of later generations, Li Zhen once watched the TV series "Qiao's Courtyard" on TV, and had a certain understanding of Qiao Zhiyong's behavior through TV. However, it was deduced by later generations, and Li Zhen was also looking forward to it in his heart.

Qiao Zhiyong governed his family with Confucianism, and Li Zhen had a good impression of such a Confucian businessman with a bookish temperament. Therefore, Li Zhen looked at Long Xi, who came to report the news, and asked, "Brother Long, where is Qiao Zhiyong's stay?" ”

Long Yu said: "Pingfu Inn is a very small and ordinary inn! ”

Li Zhen said: "Check again, determine the specific location, and I'll visit in the evening!" ”

"Yes!"

Long Xi immediately went to investigate and prepare for Li Zhen's night visit.

After nightfall, the city of Beijing is brightly lit and bustling. Because there is no curfew, you can still see people coming and going on the streets, as if it is a city that never sleeps. Pingfu Inn is the most inconspicuous inn in the small alley of Beijing, where Qiao Zhiyong stays.

The room was inside, and Qiao Zhiyong was burning his feet.

Next to him, there was also sitting the old man Lao Liu who followed Qiao Zhiyong.

Lao Liu's feet were soaked in hot water, and his legs were hot and red, like red pig's trotters, but he squinted his eyes slightly, looked like he was enjoying it, and said slowly: "Dongjia, we have arrived in Beijing, and it is estimated that Li Zhen has also got the news." When will Li Zhen meet us? ”

Qiao Zhiyong said: "I don't know, *** affairs are busy, and it is normal for us to wait for a while." ”

Lao Liu said: "The owner, in the end, you can hold it back." ”

Qiao Zhiyong smiled, then picked up a handkerchief and wiped his feet, sat on the bed, and took out a book to read by the light. Lao Liu couldn't stand it anymore, yawned, and said, "Boss, I'm sleepy, go to sleep first." ”

Qiao Zhiyong glanced at Lao Liu and continued to read.

At about half past eight in the evening, there was a soft knock on the door outside the room.

Qiao Zhiyong put down the book in his hand and looked up, and Lao Liu, who was sleeping, woke up suddenly. Lao Liu stretched out his hand to stop Qiao Zhiyong from getting up, and said vigilantly: "Who?" "When you go out, you are cautious, and Lao Liu is extra careful.

"I'm Li Zhen, I'm here to meet Mr. Qiao!"

A soft voice came from outside the room, and Lao Liu was stunned for a moment when he heard it, and then quickly put on his clothes.

Almost instantly, he rushed to the door, then took a deep breath before opening it. Lao Liu was old, slightly bent back, he looked up at Li Zhen standing at the door, looked carefully, and seemed to distinguish what was special about Li Zhen, a big man.

Li Zhen smiled slightly, looking at the old man standing at the door, quite embarrassed.

The old man opened the door and didn't invite anyone in.

It was inconvenient for him to say directly that you let me in, so he could only wait with a smile on his face.

Qiao Zhiyong saw Lao Liu's gaffe, and immediately ordered: "***, Lao Liu talks about what kind of character you are on weekdays?" I thought that you could calm the world and drive away the Tartars and the Russians, you must be a great man. In his heart, he has always imagined your appearance, and now he sees your true face, a little out of shape, please forgive me. ”

After a pause, Qiao Zhiyong shouted in a low voice: "Lao Liu, don't invite *** in!" ”

Lao Liu woke up with a stirring spirit and said, "*** please! You please! ”

The old man couldn't wait to slap himself, but he was also a person who had seen the world. But it was really embarrassing just now, it was really embarrassing to stare at people stupidly.

When Li Zhen saw Qiao Zhiyong, he arched his hand and said, "Mr. Qiao, please come from Shanxi and invite Mr. Qiao Haihan." Besides, I came to disturb me at night, and I ask Mr. Qiao's forgiveness. ”

As soon as he came up, Li Zhen lowered his posture and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.

ps: first update;