Since Long Xi and Lu Shaochuan went to the north, Li Zhen has been in a busy state. He first led his troops to Guangxi, quelled the rebellion of Xi Yinglong in Guangxi, and then led the army back to Nanjing. Then came the Japanese Civil War, and he led his troops to control Japan.

After a series of things were resolved, a year had already passed.

Li Zhen pondered for a long time and said: "The position of Long Xi and Lu Shaochuan is in Heilongjiang, and they are sandwiched between Yi 60 and the Russians. Before revealing their identities, although the two faced a crisis, they could still persevere, and they could even make Yi 60 think that they were righteous men and could get Yi 60's support. Once Long Xi and Lu Shaochuan reveal their identities, they will definitely be in danger and will be attacked by both sides. Therefore, we can't support it openly, only secretly support, so that Long Xi and Lu Shaochuan can gain a firm foothold. ”

Zhao Liewen said: "The prince is reasonable! ”

Li Zhen changed his words and ordered: "Inform Wang Xiaoyang, Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang and others to come to the palace to discuss major affairs in the north." ”

"Yes!" Zhao Liewen said.

After Zhao Liewen left, the housekeeper of the mansion then walked in and said, "Lord Wang, Ye Mingchen, the governor of Liangguang, is here. ”

"Ye Mingchen?"

Li Zhen blinked, but he didn't expect Ye Mingchen to come back to Zhennan Wangfu. Ye Mingchen is also a feudal official, a real high-ranking official, Li Zhen is inconvenient to refuse, and said: "Please! ”

The housekeeper turned around to report, and after a short time, Ye Mingchen walked in.

At this time, Ye Mingchen's temples were already white, and old folds appeared on his face, revealing an old state. Even, Li Zhen also observed that Ye Mingchen's eyes were full of bloodshots, which must be due to excessive thinking and not resting well.

When Xianfeng was in power, Ye Mingchen's road to officialdom was smooth and unhindered.

After Li Zhen came to power, the value of Ye Mingchen and the governor of Liangguang depreciated.

Don't look at him, the governor of Guangxi and Guangdong, he sounds powerful, but he can't control a single place. Guangxi is Guangxi Governor Liu Taiping has the final say, Guangdong is Guangdong Governor Wang Xiaoyang has the final say, and he Ye Mingchen does not count. Under such circumstances, Ye Mingchen's house was already full of doors, and no one asked.

In a short time, Ye Mingchen can endure it. After a long time, Ye Mingchen began to get used to it, and the whole person began to be haggard. He is only about fifty years old, he is not old in officialdom, and he can continue.

Li Zhen waved his hand and said, "Governor Ye, please take a seat!" ”

"Thank you, Lord Wang!"

Ye Mingchen bowed respectfully before sitting down.

Li Zhen smiled slightly and asked, "Governor Ye is visiting today, is there anything wrong?" ”

Ye Mingchen clasped his hands into fists and said, "Back to the prince, the old man does have a major matter to discuss with the prince. ”

What can be called a big thing by Ye Mingchen, Li Zhen believes that it will not be a small matter.

His mood suddenly became nervous, and he asked in a deep voice: "Governor Ye has encountered something, you might as well say it directly." As long as this king can handle it for General Manager Ye, he will do his best. "For Ye Mingchen, an old fox, Li Zhen can't talk about bad feelings, nor good feelings. There was some open and secret fighting between the two, but no major incidents occurred, so Li Zhen did not put on a condescending posture.

Ye Mingchen said in a deep voice: "Some time ago, people from the north Yi 60 came to Guangzhou. ”

"Boom!!"

In a word, it was as if it was a thunderous explosion.

Li Zhen's eyes were slightly cold, and he kept staring at Ye Mingchen, as if he was determining the truth of Ye Mingchen's words. Li Zhen was surprised in his heart, but he calmed himself down as soon as possible, put a faint smile on his face again, and asked, "Since Governor Ye told this king the news that Yi 60 sent people to Guangzhou, he must have an idea." However, this king is a little curious, what conditions can Yi 60 offer. ”

Ye Mingchen said: "Yi 60 sent someone to contact me, promising me to secretly submit to him, and after overthrowing you in the future, I will continue to serve as the governor of Liangguang, and crown me as a first-class loyal and brave duke, hereditary replacement." ”

"Shhh Hiss!! ”

When Li Zhen heard this, he immediately gasped.

The first-class loyal and brave duke, this is the highest title obtained by a courtier of the Qing Dynasty.

You must know that among the famous ministers of the Qing Dynasty, Zeng Guofan, who left footprints in the long river of history, was only awarded the title of first-class resolute and brave marquis; Li Hongzhang was only awarded the first-class Su Yibo; And Zuo Zongtang was also awarded the first-class Ke Jingbo. The three of them were all heroes of the times, who rose to prominence in that era, and even had enough opportunities to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, but they did not reach the duke.

In the entire Qing Dynasty, there were only four dukes.

One of them is Fucha Mingrui, who was named a first-class Chengjia Yi Yonggong, a man with a yellow flag in Manchuria, and a relative group of Empress Qianlong Fucha; The second is Zhang Jiashi Agui, who was awarded the first-class Chengmou Heroic Prince, and was the foreman of the military aircraft minister in the last years of Qianlong, and his power was on par with that of He Shen, which shows his power; the third is Fucha Fukangan, a man with a yellow flag in Manchuria; The fourth is Wu Yashi Zhaohui, a first-class Jiayong loyal Ruigong, and a native of the Yellow Banner of Manchuria.

All four of them have strong backgrounds and great achievements. In the entire Qing Dynasty for hundreds of years, there were only a handful of four people. Now Yi 60 promises to seal Ye Mingchen as a first-class loyal and brave duke, which can be said to be a bloody investment.

Li Zhenxiao asked: "Yi 60 offered such good conditions, why didn't Governor Ye agree?" ”

Ye Mingchen's expression was serious, and he said sincerely: "There are three reasons for not agreeing to Yi 60. First, Yi 60 lost power and humiliated the country, betrayed the country to seek the support of the Russians, and this country is also a thief! In the hundreds of years of history of the Qing Dynasty, no emperor was willing to give up the land. During the period of Kangxi Shengzu, the Russians were defeated and retreated, and now, the descendants are not as good as the next generation. ”

Speaking of this, Ye Mingchen let out a long sigh, hating iron and not steel.

Immediately, Ye Mingchen continued: "Second, compared with the strength of the army under the command of the prince, Yi 60 is far from the same. Whether it is the combat effectiveness of the soldiers in the army, or the equipment used by the soldiers, they are far inferior to you. In a battle between the two armies, the Yi 60 will undoubtedly be defeated. I followed Yi 60, and in the end it ended dismally; Third, Yi 60 usurped power and seized the throne, and took advantage of the time when the emperor died of illness to launch a mutiny, which is not justified, how can I support him? ”

After saying something, even Li Zhen agreed with Ye Mingchen's words.

However, Li Zhen could not be convinced by his words.

Li Zhen smiled and said, "Governor Ye, your words are very convincing. But there is no evidence, in case you really take refuge in Yi 60, but you come to deliberately deceive me, and you are willing to be a pawn in Yi 60's army, wouldn't this king lose a lot. Ordinary people who fall into the grass to join the bandits' den, they need to prove themselves, since Governor Ye knows about the activities of Yi 60 people in Guangzhou, he must know these contacts, I want to take down everyone, can Governor Ye do it? ”

When Ye Mingchen heard this, a look of embarrassment flashed in his eyes.

According to Li Zhen, he wants to confess all the contacts of Yi 60, and he is completely opposed to Yi 60, and he can only stand on Li Zhen's side in the future, and he cannot maintain a transcendent position. Ye Mingchen pondered in his heart, he originally wanted to use this incident to show loyalty and get Li Zhen's reuse, but now with the help of Yi 60, the people installed in Guangzhou show loyalty, and the effect is even better.

After Ye Mingchen figured it out, the expression on his face became more and more respectful, as if he regarded himself as Li Zhen's courtier.

ps: first update;