> on the road, Li You thought carefully about it, and although there are many advantages to carrying out a phased "strike hard" campaign, it can not only improve the prestige of his political achievements, but also expand some of his power through the "strike hard" campaign. However, this does not mean that it is the right choice to start the "strike hard" campaign quickly at present.

There are several factors that have to be considered, one is that the current is not a period of great fanfare, as the season is gradually entering winter. The end of the year is a time of leisure in the officialdom of Beijing, and it seems very inappropriate to go against the tide to carry out the "strike hard."

Second, from his own point of view, this period of time is not suitable for making a sensation in the court.

The third is that his own control over the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division and the Imperial History of the City Patrol is still blank, and it will backfire if he rashly carries out a big move.

After thinking about it, Li You finally decided that the idea of striking hard could be delayed until the beginning of next spring, and he could not afford to wait. But before that, you can blow the wind to the Son of Heaven first, and let the Son of Heaven have an impression of this matter first.

When he returned home, Cui and Zhou had already returned from the government office. Li You asked: "Among the soldiers and horses of the five cities today, are there any who can't bear it?" ”

Master Cui replied: "It is reported that Commander Zhongcheng Gou left first, and then Commander Nancheng Yao left. The other three waited until the office closed. ”

Li You knew it in his heart. Through such a simple and trivial matter, among the five soldiers and horses under his command, who is still convinced and who is not convinced, it is basically clear.

I wrote a few simple sentences in the study and handed them to Cui Jiansheng as an outline. Let him polish and ghostwrite a dense article.

Cui Jiansheng looked under the lamp and wrote: "Your Majesty is in power." Vientiane is renewed, there are many places in Beijing, and the side of the couch is not swept, how can it sweep the world! If the chaos must be re-enacted, the minister is willing to be the forerunner and clarify the capital for His Majesty. In the spring of the following year, I would like to ask for the right to arbitrarily take the opportunity. For a period of three months, the traitors can be punished harshly, severely, and quickly, which is enough to deter Xiaoxiao and clear the place! ”

Tonight, it was the turn to stay in the fourth room, and when Master Li returned to the house, Aunt Cheng welcomed the master in and instructed the maid to boil water quickly.

Li You sat in the bedroom and waited for hot water, gossiped with Aunt Cheng, and said with concern: "Live in the capital." Are you still used to it? ”

Cheng Niangzi couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Before the slave family followed the master, they lived in Jingshi, what is not used to it?"

Master Li was very embarrassed. Most of the wives and concubines in the family are southerners, and they are used to these things, but they ignore for a while that only Aunt Cheng is a northerner. Fortunately, Mrs. Cheng didn't have much scheming. It's not a thoughtful woman, otherwise she might have made some mistakes.

He instructed again: "The rest of the houses are spending the winter in the capital for the first time, and you should pay more attention to any discomfort." Clothes and utensils, add them when you should buy them, don't treat yourself badly. ”

"I know, the slave family went to ask your sisters as soon as possible. But tomorrow the slave family wants to go back to their father to see. ”

Li You suddenly remembered something, "This time." Have you ever seen your father? ”

Aunt Cheng replied honestly: "I haven't been there for half a month, tomorrow is my sister-in-law's birthday, and the slave family wants to go back to celebrate her birthday." ”

What sister-in-law's birthday is not a birthday, Li You didn't pay attention to it, but said thoughtfully: "I think since I came to the capital, I have been busy with affairs, and I haven't visited your father yet, so I should go to meet my father-in-law tomorrow." ”

Aunt Cheng was overjoyed, her husband could still give her a long face. She asked expectantly, "Shall we go together?" ”

"Naturally, we go together. You can go directly, sir, I will go to the government office to do official business first, and then I will go. ”

And the next day, Aunt Cheng set off impatiently, and Li You went to the yamen to see things.

In fact, there was nothing to do, Li You sat in the office for a while, changed into casual clothes, and got into a sedan chair to visit Cheng's house. This is a private matter, and it is too ostentatious to wear official clothes, so he keeps a low profile. …,

The Cheng family's house was in Dongcheng, and it was nearly noon when Li You arrived. Today, there is a woman in the Cheng family celebrating her birthday, and she is not publicized, but some clues can be seen at the entrance of the backyard, and most of the guests are relatives.

Mr. Cheng met Li You in front of him, accompanied by Cheng Xiaoniang's brother Cheng Yu. Li You saw this person for the first time, the last time he was in Beijing, Cheng Yu was still in Ningxia to charge the army, this concubine seemed to be in good health, and he actually survived to pardon and was still alive.

Now Uncle Cheng's face is not as weathered as before Li You left Beijing last time, and he is much richer in the eyes of Master Li.

Li You said secretly, presumably he was sent back to his family property, and at the same time, as the head of the Jingshi Salt Industry Association, and the protection of the eldest princess of Guide, he has had a good life in the past year.

To tell the truth, Cheng's father-in-law is also a scholar, and he has a lot of opinions about his daughter being a concubine for others, but he understands that the wood is already in the boat, and there is no way to redeem it, so he can only admit it.

However, he was still a little awkward in his heart, so he knew that Li You had arrived in the capital, but he rarely walked back and forth, and he rarely mentioned the daughter who was a concubine in front of others.

After Li You sat down, he opened the door and said: "This official has a big business, and he wants to join forces with his father-in-law, I don't know what the old man wants?" ”

When Mr. Cheng heard Li You mention business, he immediately reprimanded: "Since you are an official, you should try your best to repay Jun's grace and serve the court!" Thinking about the business of enriching one's own pockets! ”

Li You, who was unprepared, was suddenly taught a lesson, and couldn't help but be stunned, was the old man he was meeting and the salt merchant and the head of the Salt Industry Association? This is clearly an old-fashioned and square scholar, or more like a gendarme than him Li You.

Thinking about the last time I left Beijing, I had several dealings with Mr. Cheng, and he was really such a person. It's just that I didn't take him to heart and forgot about it for a while.

Cheng Yu, who was waiting on the side, said, "It's all my own family, my father doesn't have to be so demanding!" ”

Li You glanced at Cheng Yu, frowned slightly, and said, "Don't dare to bother the old man for a long time, your own family really doesn't need to be polite, please take care of yourself." It is enough to have Brother Cheng to accompany the official to chat. ”

Uncle Cheng nodded, got up and left. Li You watched him leave, turned around, and said to Cheng Yu: "I, my father-in-law, is this what I look like in the Salt Industry Guild on weekdays?" ”

Cheng Yu smiled and said, "My father, this is how he behaves in the guild, like an official. But all the salt merchants were still convinced of this appearance, and only said that he was fair. ”

That's fine, too... After observation, Li You felt that this Cheng Yu was not a pedantic character, and he had the heart to talk to him about what he wanted first.

Unexpectedly, at this time, a young man of twenty-three or fourteen suddenly broke into the middle and said to Li You: "You are the husband of the little lady of the Cheng family?" I advise you to let go as soon as possible, and don't be shameless here. ”