The weather is getting colder and colder, and the north has entered the middle of November, and there is already the breath of winter, looking at the gloomy and dry and cold sky, it will snow in a few days.

Yang Ling watched Gu Dayong's distant sedan chair gradually disappear into the twilight, sighed softly and turned around and walked towards the courtyard, and the old housekeeper commanded his family to slowly close the courtyard door.

It's been almost a whole year, who would have thought that just one year of hard work would have such a bizarre encounter? Crossing the moon gate, the vines have long since turned yellow, the pond water has lost the charm of spring and summer, and the dilapidated lotus leaves are hanging weakly on the water.

The flute sound came from the front slowly, and the tune was light and pleasant, it was Cheng Qiyun teaching Yutang Chun and Xueli Mei music skills.

Cheng Qiyun's piano, chess, calligraphy and painting are very proficient, not only Gao Wenxin is inferior in this regard, but Yutangchun and Xuelimei, who are good at singing and dancing instruments, calligraphy and painting articles, are also slightly inferior.

As soon as the door curtain was lifted, Yang Ling flashed into the left room of the flower hall, Yutangchun was sitting on the Luohan bed, gently wiping the strings, and when he saw Yang Ling coming in, he knelt down and sat up, and smiled sweetly: "The master is back."

On the right, Xue Limei had already taken her shoes and went to the ground, and took off the cotton jacket of blue silk that Yang Ling had just worn when she went out. Yang Ling rubbed his palms lightly and said with a smile: "Well, are you still learning the piano flute?" Now the inner factory is developing rapidly, less than half a year, the power has reached Yungui, I have told Huang Lao to invite those old shopkeepers in the factory, and then you will teach them the bookkeeping method I taught you, the money is rolling, there is no good account room, it is really a delay."

Yutangchun and the two responded, remembering that when Yang Ling taught the method of bookkeeping, there was a sister and an immortal who were like brothers and sisters, and now the two of them got what they wanted, married a man they loved, and were also given a decree, but the immortal did not know his life and death, and his whereabouts were unknown, and his expression couldn't help but darken.

Yang Ling saw that the expressions of the two of them were suddenly downcast, and he understood what they were thinking, and he couldn't help but sigh secretly. Since the expansion of the power of the inner factory, he has asked Yutangchun to hand-paint the portrait of Tang Yixian, telling the inner factory to secretly inquire about the whereabouts of this girl.

He was so careful, thinking that if the person who saved Tang Yixian had bad thoughts because of her beautiful appearance, and forcibly took possession of her, at this time, through the government's fanfare search, it would be difficult to ensure that the villain would not kill people, so Yang Ling had no choice but to act secretly, but so far there was no news Yang Ling sighed lightly, waved his hand and said: "You guys go back to the room first, I have something to talk about with Master Cheng."

The second daughter of Yutang Chun agreed, and quietly flashed out of the room, Cheng Qiyun turned the purple flute in her hand, gently pinched the flute pipe with three plain white fingers, and raised her eyebrows in surprise: "The things planned by the adults have been settled?" ”

Yang Ling stood in the hall, shook his head slightly, and said: "We have just established a foundation in Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi and other coastal areas, how can we grasp the details of those local tycoons so quickly, I am afraid that the news I want will not come back for a while."

Cheng Qiyun was dressed in a green dress, but she sat cross-legged on the bed, playing with the purple bamboo flute in her hand, and said thoughtfully: "So you have to wait for this matter?" ”

Yang Ling said: "Otherwise, the DPRK and China have gradually stabilized now, and I am ready to start testing now, first using the opportunity of traveling all over the world to create public opinion and create a foundation for our actions."

Yang Ling smiled lightly and said: "Today's emperor is enlightened and martial, likes novelties, and is by no means a conservative king, not to mention that he trusts me and Liu Jin and others the most.

However, for a long time, the emperor is most afraid of the public opinion of the hundred officials, they have the right to speak, and they can call on the elite of Shilin at any time, respond to every call, and create a strong momentum, which makes the emperor also fearful, afraid of becoming a faint monarch in the eyes of the courtiers.

But in this world, everything is mutually reinforcing, the so-called mouse eats elephant, elephant eats tiger, tiger eats cat, cat eats mouse. The people of Shilin cherish his reputation more than the emperor, and they are not afraid of the emperor's stick, but they are afraid of the curses of the people.

We take advantage of the opportunity of our control to spread the news and create a strong public opinion to restrain them, and they will have to think twice before they raise any objections, not to mention that when you bring people back from Jiangnan and give them a big step, at least half of them will retreat, and this third reason will be gone."

Cheng Qiyun seems to like to see his confident and energetic spirit, although she feels that there are still many details to be discussed, but she is reluctant to bring it up at this time.

A pair of clear eyes with a slight smile on her face, quietly staring at Yang Ling, after listening to Yang Ling's words, she put the flute across her red lips, pressed her jade fingers, and a string of light and beautiful tunes came out, and then stopped abruptly.

Cheng Qiyun raised her eyebrows and said with a low smile: "When our people in the coastal cities take evidence, this fourth reason will also disappear, and then let them share some benefits, it will become our help." But what about the second reason?

The contradiction between the eunuch and the foreign minister is simply impossible to solve, in addition to the reason why the foreign minister despises the eunuch from the beginning, the emperor is also the most important reason, the emperor reuses the eunuch and the foreign minister falls out of favor, and the favored minister will fall out of favor with the eunuch, who can control the king will hold the power, not everyone will be subdued because of fame and fortune. ”

Yang Ling's relaxed expression disappeared, and he said in a deep voice after a while: "Take advantage of the power of the king, the power of the eight tigers to scare it, the name of the people to force it, and divide the hundred official systems." In the end, it is not possible to be harmonious and angry, so that everyone is satisfied, and the stubborn ones have to sweep them out! ”

Cheng Qiyun raised her eyebrows, and praised it: "This is the person who has achieved great things, and it is Qiyun's blessing to be able to follow adults."

Yang Ling glanced at her deeply, and couldn't guess how sincere there was in her words, and after being silent for a while, he chuckled and said: "Ming said that I asked Qi Bahu and Jinyiwei to discuss this matter, you should not appear in public now, pretend to be a servant and listen to it, otherwise with your curious surname, you will have to ask questions again."

Cheng Qiyun is cunning and suspicious, and the problem of unbelievable people has been formed for many years, sometimes she knows that the matter is closed, there is no need to inquire, and she has to figure things out, otherwise she will not be able to eat and sleep, she also knows that this is a heart disease, but it is difficult to restrain it, and she can't imagine that Yang Ling can see it.

She smiled slightly shyly, lowered her eyes and said yes.

Yang Ling said lightly: "If you understand people's surnames, I am really not as good as you, the two scholars were demoted and returned to their hometowns, and the reaction of the hundred officials in the court and the central government was really guessed by you."

Cheng Qiyun's eyes widened, and the curious problem came again, and she immediately couldn't wait to ask, "What's the reaction?" ”

Yang Ling sighed and said: "Although they are dissatisfied with Liu and Xie's resignation in their hearts, there are only twenty-one people who dare to ask for help, which is much less than your thirty."

Cheng Qiyun chuckled lightly and said: "Adults can't be careless because of this, the person who refuses to come forward is a person who is good at forbearance, it doesn't mean that he will obey us, although it won't cause chaos for the time being, it is always inevitable to drag on in the future."

Yang Ling turned around and walked towards the door with a smile, and said, "It's up to them, as long as this matter of clearing the Japanese and opening the sea ban is done well, how can there be fewer of them who are willing to understand current affairs?" ”

He walked to the door and suddenly glanced back at Cheng Qiyun, and said as if he remembered something: "Try to dress yourself ugly tomorrow night."

"yes?" Cheng Qiyun nodded before she came back to her senses, and couldn't help but raise her eyes, and looked at the door in surprise, Yang Ling had already lifted the curtain and walked out.

Cheng Qiyun closed her five fingers, clenched the purple bamboo flute, and tapped it twice on the edge of the table where the piano was placed, and her pursed lips slowly curled.

The candles in the "Cai Ju Xuan" on the right side of the middle hall are bright, and the people who are gathered together are all the hot upstarts of the dynasty. Yang Ling sat Liu Jin on the left, next to Mu Bin on the right, and the twelve cups were staggered, and they were already in a state of drunkenness. The charcoal fire on the table was red, and the carved copper pot was steaming hot.

Qian Ning, Gu Dayong and others had just ascended to the high position, they were elated, and they were drinking crookedly, Cheng Qiyun and another maid were wearing a moonflower skirt and a peach-colored jacket, standing aside with a pot of wine.

Qian Ning's surname is good fishing, and when he first saw the two maids coming in, he was immediately hooked by Cheng Qiyun's bewitching posture, but as soon as he saw Cheng Qiyun's face, he immediately turned his head away and refused to look at her again.

Cheng Qiyun's respectful face, even Yang Ling felt sorry for the guest when he saw it, a pair of apricot eyes inexplicably became triangular eyes, and I recognized a few pimples on the tip of my nose, but your pockmarks are too much, right? It really affects the appetite.

Most of everyone's eyes were a little hazy and drunk, only Yang Ling, Liu Jin and Mu Bin's eyes were still very clear. These three people have their own hearts, so naturally they refuse to drink more.

Mu Bin is a son of the Jinyi Wei family, he is arrogant, and has always been dissatisfied with Zhang Xiu and other commanders to make the Yamen officials attached to the East Factory, but the East Factory is the first to look forward, and he is dissatisfied with the behavior of the original equal Jinyi Wei who was forced to descend half a grade, and he is regarded as the leader of the young Zhuang faction in the Jinyi Guard. Now that he has thrown himself to Yang Ling's side and successfully overthrew Zhang Xiu's group, where will Jinyiwei go in the future, he must understand Yang Ling's intentions.

If Yang Ling still wants him to submit to the inner factory and do things for Yang Ling like he used to be a follower of the East Factory, he will naturally be reluctant in his heart, but Yang Ling's current power and reputation are far above him, and he is in charge of the tax supervisor, so many people in the Jinyi Guard Yamen can't eat enough just by extortion, and he doesn't want to bear that notoriety.

How to maintain the position of relative reading power, Yang Lingken is unwilling to share some of his benefits, how much price he has to pay, if these things are not resolved, he will not be able to explain to his cronies.

Liu Jin, the power of the chief minister of ceremonies and eunuchs, has been cut by half, and as the head of the ceremonial supervisor, he has military power, financial power, and a 'red' regime in his hands, but now? The military power is divided into four parts of the world, in addition to him, there are Zhang Yong, Miao Kui and Yang Ling, don't look at Yang Ling didn't invite Miao Kui today, judging from the arrest of the celebrant supervisor, Miao Kui is clearly in the same party as Yang Ling.

The financial power is now completely in the hands of Yang Ling, and it is only with money that the troops can be mobilized, Zhang Yong and Yang Ling are obviously closer than him. As for the 'approval of red', alas, as far as the few words he knows, what opinion can he put forward on the vote of the scholar, except for the two words of agreement, he will not sign anything else.

Liu Jin now has no ambition to overthrow Yang Ling and seek greater power, but after he sat on this coveted throne, he suddenly found that no matter what power he exercised, he was powerless, and he couldn't help but feel lost. 3 Yang Ling had just raised his glass, Cheng Qiyun stood behind the side and bent his waist, quickly filled the cup for him, and glanced at him with his eyes.

Yang Ling didn't squint, didn't dare to look up at her pockmarked face, and raised his glass to Liu Jin and smiled: "Father-in-law Liu, congratulations to father-in-law on his promotion to the position of prime minister, please drink this cup to the fullest."

Liu Jin smiled dryly: "What is the internal minister, it's just a joke of the courtiers, our family only knows how to serve the emperor, but I don't understand these things, Lord Yang made fun of it."

Yang Ling Zhengse said: "Where is the joke, Gonggong Liu, we are friends, some words in my heart naturally can't be hidden from you, the internal phase is high and powerful, if the father-in-law does nothing, then he will become Wang Yue's second, and it will become an empty shelf, except for this name, but it is nothing."

Liu Jin's face twitched for a while, and he calmed down before he said: "This is our family just made this position, and I don't understand many facts, according to the adults, what should our family do?" ”

Yang Ling smiled and said: "My father-in-law has the 'right to approve red', but this batch of red is not the final decision, especially the cabinet votes to put forward a few opinions, please refer to the emperor's detailed decision."

If you can't pick out the suggestion that is most in line with the emperor's wishes and can make the hundred officials happy and submit, then the cabinet you approved can be sealed and returned again, and it is just one or two times. At that time, the emperor will be displeased, and he will inevitably transfer you from the celebrant supervisor, isn't it, Scholar Jiao? ”

Jiao Fang nodded with a smile, Liu Jin clenched his palms nervously, and said sarcastically: "Our family and adults are in the same boat, but we are not outsiders, can Lord Yang have a high opinion to teach me?" ”

Yang Ling said sincerely: "Gonggong Liu, I heard that you don't get along with the cabinet Li Daxue, according to Yang's opinion, the public justice should be respectful to Li Daxue, you know, his vote, your approval, that is mutually restrictive, if the two of you can't 'reconcile', how can this matter be done?"

Moreover, the father-in-law is not allowed to arbitrarily approve the recital of the cabinet vote, and if he answers the question that is not asked, will it not make the foreign ministers laugh? Where is the dignity of the father-in-law? There are a lot of people at the feet of the Son of Heaven, and my father-in-law is too busy to do so, so you can find someone who can be trusted and can help you. ”

Yang Ling gave him an idea, but he didn't say that he and Jiao Fang, who he recommended, would be friendly with each other, and persuaded him not to vomit with Li Dongyang, and asked him to find a talented person to help him read the details, and he would never recommend it.

He said gratefully: "What Lord Yang said is that a good word made our family suddenly open, Li Dongyang is a university scholar, and his talent must be a hundred times stronger than our family, and I will respect him more in the future." After our family goes back, we will find someone who can be used, and the future recital and answer will be correct, so that the outer court will not look down on it."

Yang Ling smiled and said, "It's just like this, you can only do it step by step and deal with the errand." Ay! This world is unfair, father-in-law, look at those scholars, even if there are still people who remember him, recite him, and spread his deeds a hundred years later, but in another ten years, how many people will remember Wang Yue of the Inner Court? Even now, how many people still remember which minister Wang Yue was before? ”

Liu Jin's face was slightly red, and he said sarcastically: "Alas! Our inner court is a servant of the emperor, there is no merit for us, but we are indispensable, our family just wants to be able to do this errand in peace and stability, and it will be famous for a hundred years? Then the good thing will get us."

Yang Ling said: "Not really, this official went to Jiangnan this time, it has been more than a hundred years, and the people of Jiangnan mentioned the Three Treasures Eunuch, it is still familiar, his deeds, that is everyone is like a treasure." Oh, by the way, Qiyun is the little maid collected by the official in Jiangnan, right, Qiyun."

Cheng Qiyun gently kicked the leg of his chair with his toes, and then said unwillingly: "Yes, my lord, the eunuchs of the Three Treasures know even a three-year-old child in our Jiangnan, not to mention us ordinary people, even those official masters and gentlemen who study, respect him very much."

Liu Jin and a few half-drunk eunuchs listened to the blood boiling, even their chests were straightened, after a while, Liu Jin sighed softly, and said with great envy: "Where can we compare with Gonggong Zheng, in a few hundred years, there may be people who remember his great achievements in the West seven times, let's sigh!" ”

Several eunuchs hung their heads and collapsed again, the eunuchs were inferior, the ancients paid attention to unfilial piety, there are three, no queen is great, there is no incense to pass on, and they are unknown after death. If they have a chance to go down in history, they covet the ** is really better than the foreign ministers.

However, the eunuchs are only the emperor's domestic slaves, and they are often despised by the ministers, and they are really knowledgeable and rare in universities, and there is no one in hundreds of years, how can they have the ability to benefit the people, so while envying Zheng He's achievements, they continue to scold the big people who make money and power.

Yang Ling smiled lightly: "Emperor Yongle has created the reputation of Zheng Gonggong for a hundred generations, the luck of the people, this official went to the south of the Yangtze River this time, and found a maladministration, if we advise and ask the emperor to get rid of it, a hundred years later, I am afraid that your reputation will still be above Zheng He."

"Oh?" Liu Jin was moved, and his heart was hot for a while, and the eyes of Ma Yongcheng, Gu Dayong and other eunuchs next to him brushed the ground, and they all focused on him.

Yang Ling continued: "The emperor handed over the tax supervisor to his own official, cutting off the financial road of the ceremonial supervisor and Jinyiwei, at that time it was Wang Yue and Zhang Xiu who were in power, Yang didn't feel anything, but now they are all his own family, I can't feel a little sorry in my heart, but now if I hand over the tax power back to the ceremonial supervisor, I'm afraid my subordinates will not be able to appease me."

If the maladministration I am talking about can be eliminated, not only will it go down in history, but it will also be rich and your problems will be solved."

As soon as these words came out, the eyes of the Eight Tigers, Mu Bin, Qian Ning and Jiao Fang all lit up, and a pair of Kong Fang brothers shone brightly in their eyes.

Seeing off the Eight Tigers and the others, Cheng Qiyun slowly walked back behind Yang Ling.

Yang Ling turned his head and smiled: "I have entrusted you, I have pretended to be a maid for one night, it seems that these people still agree with my suggestion very much, the emperor is not bound by fixed opinions, and with them blowing the wind by the emperor's side first, this matter will be much easier."

Cheng Qiyun said softly: "Well, for these people who don't learn and don't think about Li Shu, it is better to lure fame and fortune with righteousness, and adults have a two-pronged approach, so it is naturally easy to let them return to their hearts." Is it time to return to Jinling to prepare? ”

Yang Ling said: "It's almost, now that Qian Ning heard that there is silver to be earned, he can't wait to rush to Jinling, the hidden piles of Jinyiwei everywhere have a deep foundation, with their assistance, the matter of searching for evidence of secret trade between the coastal scholars will definitely be completed quickly."

I've been resting for more than half a month, it's okay to pretend to go out reluctantly, Ming'er, I'll find a chance to explore Mr. Li's style first, if he doesn't have much resistance, you can go back to Jiangnan first. ”

Cheng Qiyun was silent, and when a gust of wind came, she suddenly felt a little chill on her body.

Yang Ling unconsciously glanced back, the lights in the distance were dim, and the look on her face could not be seen clearly in the night. Yang Ling said: "You live in the south of the Yangtze River, do not accept the water and soil in the north, the first two said that you suffered from the wind and cold, and you lost the wonderful hand of Wenxin, but you haven't seen the cold in the north, when the house is inside and outside the house, it is two worlds, I'm afraid I'm going to get sick, while it's not too cold, go to Jinling early."

Cheng Qiyun's heart suddenly seemed to be injected with a warm current, and the cold wind blowing also felt soft, she bit her lip and said meekly: "Yes, the humble post will rush back to Jinling after waiting for the news of the adult."

Yang Ling snorted and said, "I instructed the small kitchen to leave you a meal, go eat and go to bed early, if it's cold today, the kang hasn't burned yet."

Cheng Qiyun squatted down to give a blessing, answered yes, and watched Yang Ling stride towards the end of the corridor. The wind and lights swayed in the distance, dragging Yang Ling's long figure in front of her

Yang Ling walked through the flower hall, stood in the patio and stretched out his arms to inhale the cold wind, felt a little tired, and was about to go back to the room to sleep, when he suddenly remembered that he was entertaining the Eight Tigers and others today, and before he had time to let Gao Wenxin acupuncture, he hesitated for a moment, and saw that the lights were still on in the courtyard of Gao Wenxin's cousins, so he walked over.

It's almost the same, and there is no reason why this course of treatment has to be good until that day, maybe after more than half a month of hard work, one of the three wives can always conceive a child for herself, right?

Yang Ling thought, a sweet smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, Well, let's treat it for another two weeks, keep it a little bit, and forget it if it lasts longer, the side effects of Wen Xin's home remedies are really a bit fatal.

Yang Ling walked into the courtyard gate, it was inconvenient to continue walking inside, he was about to raise his voice to call Gao Wenxin out, when he suddenly heard Gao Wenxin raise his voice and said, "What else do I have to do with him?" Why did he insult me like this? ”

Yang Ling listened to her fierce tone and trembling slightly, and was stunned for a moment, so he stopped there, only to hear the voice of a man in the room: "Sister, his family has been a scholarly family and an official eunuch for generations, you know that he has a lot of prestige in the local area, and now I heard people say this, and my younger brother feels that he can't raise his head in the school."

I know my sister is not that kind of person, but who are the people Yang Yang is making friends with now? You also see, which of those people has a good reputation? Since ancient times, people have been divided into groups, and things have gathered by like, and if you want to say that others are chasing the wind and catching shadows, what is the matter with what you see?

Sister, aren't you and Mrs. Yang sworn sisters? Beg her to let Lord Yang come forward, now it is a matter of one sentence in the emperor's place, beg the emperor to forgive your slavery, let's go far, don't have any more entanglements with the Yang family, the reputation and prestige of the Gao family are not good, although we have been involved in the court, but the people of these ten miles and eight towns still respect us, let's not follow the Yang family to scold."

"Shut up! You are also a scholar, and you don't understand the truth of not forgetting to repay your kindness? Sister's life was saved by an adult, you are no longer a slave in a green coat and a small hat, who sent you to study in Fuxue? Gao Wen was furious and asked sharply.

Another woman's voice in the room persuaded: "Sister, my brother is young and ignorant, don't blame him."

Yang Ling heard that it was Gao Wenxin and Gao Wenlan sisters and brothers talking, Gao Wenju turned out to be a scholar, and he was just an ordinary slave, Yang Ling could do it cheaply, so he sent him to study in the house, hoping that he would be able to gain a reputation in the future.

Listening to this tone, it was Gao Wenju who listened to some gossip about himself outside, hey! Such a reader, who doesn't understand right and wrong, doesn't distinguish between good and bad, is it so terrible to read everyone's mouth? Who is spreading rumors about him in Gao Wen's heart?

Yang Ling rushed upwards angrily, just wanted to step in, thinking of Gao Wenxin's current identity, her psychology must be sensitive, she scolded her cousin, if she went in to scold, it would inevitably make her sad.

Yang Ling sighed deeply, raised his head and looked at the starry sky for a long time, and he didn't hear anything in the room. The starry sky, the low-pressure sky, they have existed since ancient times, and they are bright in front of you, as if you can step on the roof and stretch out your hand to take them off.

Yang Ling exhaled a breath of depression and smiled slightly: "Whatever, the clear ones are self-purifying, the turbid ones are turbid, and the people who really care about themselves in their hearts are enough to recognize the real self."

He turned around to leave, and Gao Wen in the room said angrily: "Okay, you are a real scholar, you can leave to protect your innocence." Since the adults came here, they have built bridges and roads, and never disturbed the people, the people? I don't believe that the people are just as blind as you are reading! Get out of the way, I'm going to acupuncture for adults."

The door slammed open, and under the lintel, in the red light, I saw Gao Wenxin's cui dress and skirt, slender and graceful, and the tears on her cheeks were shining, which had not been wiped off.

When she saw Yang Ling standing at the door, she stopped in surprise, and called out in a panic: "Master", while hurriedly wiping away her tears, wanting to step forward, her body moved but she was still blocking the door, for fear that Yang Ling would be angry and rush in to punish her cousin.

Yang Ling smiled slightly, stepped forward to hold her hand, and said casually: "Let's go, Yang is here to ask the goddess doctor to give him a wonderful hand."

He pulled Gao Wenxin Shi Shiran, who was at a loss, out of the courtyard and walked to his bedroom, calm, with a faint smile on his face, but he was not angry.

(To be continued)