Prime Minister's Office.

Tomorrow is the period of rest, and when he came out of the imperial city today, Xu Minglang called the "three or five old friends" and went to the house to drink and talk together.

Although all of them were old men, the youngest of whom was over fifty, and there were many with gray hair, the ladies who served them were younger than the other, most of them only cardamom age. In the banquet, everyone was full of twists and turns, and they talked loudly, no different from young scholars.

When the wine was half-drunk, everyone changed the venue, from the lakeside pavilion to the hall, and then sat down, and there were red-sleeved fish running in, singing and dancing. The old men stopped talking and laughing, but enjoyed the singing and dancing. Although there is no shortage of moving stunners in the dancing girls, everyone has clear eyes, and they are all discussing singing and dancing skills, the advantages and disadvantages of music and rhythm, and they have their own demeanor.

After a dance, the girls and singers retreated like clouds, and the heads of the families looked up, only to see that in the center of the huge hall, I don't know when there was an extra case and a girl.

What is placed on the case is the prestigious Jiaowei guqin, and the woman is twenty-eight years old, with 3,000 green silk hanging on her delicate shoulders, her eyes are like starry eyebrows like distant mountains, and there is a dusty breath that does not eat the fireworks in the world, like a drop of crystal water on the lotus after the summer rain.

These old men who have "read countless people" are all amazed, and some people can't help but admire that there is such a stunning beauty in the world; and some people have lost their minds and only reacted after half a ring. The sound of the Russian piano sounded, like the sound of the mountain spring in the empty valley, and everyone knew that this was the treasure of the house that the prime minister wanted to introduce to everyone tonight.

So they gathered their thoughts, listened attentively, and before they knew it, they were already intoxicated.

Xu Minglang saw that these family heads were all suppressed by Zhao Yujie, and he smiled proudly and smugly, enjoying this taste very much. After a song, Zhao Yujie got up and saluted, and retreated, and everyone came back to their senses from the far-reaching artistic conception constructed by the sound of the piano.

This made Xu Minglang even more happy, and his vanity was greatly satisfied.

After a few rounds of drinking, everyone changed places again, but this time they arrived at a simplely furnished room, where there was no more food and wine, beautiful women singing and dancing, only the heads of the house who sat upright in their respective positions, ready to discuss business.

After the banquet, there should be tea served, after everyone sat down, did not see the maid serving tea, but under the half-rolled bamboo curtain on one side of the Xuan room, there was a lady kneeling and making tea, smelling the fragrance of tea, the tea should be about to be boiled, someone looked at it carefully, and couldn't help but whisper: "Isn't this the pianist just now?"

When everyone heard the sound, they turned their heads to look, and sure enough, it was the lady who set up the hall to play the Jiaowei guqin. It's just that the other party's clothes were light and fairy, but now they are dressed like a scholar, a little less ethereal, a little more elegant and bookish, especially the girl wearing men's clothes, which shows a little cleanliness, which makes people feel broken.

When the tea came up, Liu Muzhi tasted it and exclaimed: "Good tea!" Xu Gong is really a blessing, this woman only looks at her appearance, which is already rare in the world, but she can stroke a good piano, and has the power of lingering sounds, this tea ceremony is even more exquisite, quite a master's demeanor...... Such a treasure, I don't know how Xu Gongshi found it, so I can't wait for a good life to envy!"

Listening to this comment, Xu Minglang laughed heartily, "Not only the rhythm and tea ceremony, Mei'er's attainments in poetry are not much better than these two, if he has the opportunity in the future, let the public appreciate it." ”

"It's such a talented woman...... Xu Gong is really envious of others!" Liu Muzhi sighed again and again, "White hair and red face have been a good story since ancient times, and I have no regrets in this life to get such a confidant!"

"Yes, yes......" everyone agreed. This is not a deliberate slap of Xu Minglang's sycophancy, but they all recognize Zhao Yujie's talent.

Harvested the envy and coveting of everyone, Xu Minglang took out Zhao Yujie to show off The purpose has been achieved, and he began to discuss the business with satisfaction. In this process, Zhao Yujie has been making tea next to her and replacing it for everyone to ensure that everyone will not have a dry mouth because of the conversation.

Because of this, Zhao Yujie was able to talk to Wen Confidential and see the power struggle between the big families.

"Recently, the people of the Jiangmen military have been much more cautious and no longer as domineering as before, although we have increased our efforts and are trying to catch their handles, but now we have gained little. If this situation continues, I'm afraid that the door will be stabilized, what does Xu Gong think we should do?"

The one who spoke was an old man who looked elegant and easy-going, with the strength of the late stage of the Yuan Shen Realm, and was Zheng Zexian, the head of the Zheng family in the middle and lower reaches of the door ranking.

Xu Minglang groaned.

Before the civilian clique launched a fierce attack on the Jiangmen military, the Jiangmen officials always had some bad deeds because of their violent and unrestrained temperament, ranging from greedy military salaries and filling their own pockets, to misbehaving in disorder, drinking in the camp and clashing with people in the market, etc., these were all the handles used by civilian officials to impeach Jiangmen officials, whether it was making a big fuss or talking about things, they all made Jiangmen pay a huge price.

The former secretary of the military department was pulled down by the civilian clique because he accepted bribes; the reason why there was a supervising army in the army was also under the banner of temporary rectification of military discipline at the beginning.

Now that Jiangmen has suffered heavy losses, after learning from the pain, in order not to seize the handle for the civil official clique, they have begun to be cautious in their words and deeds, behaving with their tails between their legs, corruption and dereliction of duty are becoming less and less, and their behavior on weekdays is also very restrained, and the civilian clique has not had so many opportunities.

"Grasping the handle of the military is the first stage of our operation, and now this stage is almost finished, and the next step is to take advantage of the momentum accumulated in the first phase to carry out the second phase of the operation. ”

Xu Minglang said in a deep voice, "This time, we want to achieve greater results, and truly achieve the goal of comprehensively suppressing Jiangmen, and we must also have jurisdiction over the affairs of the military in the future, so that the military will completely become a sword in our hands, and we will be completely at our mercy!"

"What does Xu Gong mean?" asked Zheng Zexian puzzled.

"In addition to the Dadu Governor's Mansion, set up a yamen to dominate the military side, and use civil officials to hold important positions, and finally seek to replace the Dadu Governor's Mansion!" Xu Minglang said loudly.

"This ...... If there is no precedent, I am afraid that Jiangmen will oppose it en masse, and it will be difficult to convince the public!" Zheng Zexian said.

"Then find a yamen that has appeared in history and has military jurisdiction, and use it to make a fuss!"

"Is there such a yamen?"

"Of course. The Privy Council of the previous dynasty, just right!"

"But the Privy Council of the previous dynasty was just a small yamen in charge of confidential documents in the army......"

"As long as it involves military affairs, it will be useful, and as for the size of the yamen, can't we expand it? As long as the privy envoy is given the duty of assisting the prime minister, the prime minister will be able to intervene in the affairs of the Privy Council, and it will be easy to assign more errands at that time, and then gradually let some of the functions of the military department come over, and the Privy Council will be able to grow!"

Hearing this, everyone was in good spirits.

Zhao Yujie on the side was thrilled when she heard it, as if a new world was slowly opening the door to her.

Liu Muzhi hesitated: "Now the Jiangmen military is very wary of us, and they boldly propose this yamen, but I am afraid that the other party will still be vigilant and oppose it together." And if the Privy Council starts low and the Yamen is too small, it will take too long to grow to the point of commanding the army, and there will be many dreams at night, and there may be changes. ”

Many people nodded solemnly and agreed with Liu Muzhi's opinion.

Xu Minglang chuckled: "This new Privy Council, the starting point will naturally not be low, how can the chief officer be above the fourth grade, and he has to make a big show to announce the future responsibilities of the Privy Council." ”

"Then the gate will be opposed!"

"My father wants them to oppose it!"

"Xu Gong wants to compete with the generals and use the current momentum of the civil official group to overwhelm them?"

"No, this prince wants to set up the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies!"

"This ......"

If Jiangmen does not agree to the establishment of the Privy Council, then he must accept the establishment of the Governor's Office of the Five Armed Forces! It is not difficult to choose whether to accept a Privy Council presided over entirely by civilian officials, or to accept the Governor's Office of the Five Armed Services with only civilian participation. ”

Liu Muzhi suddenly realized: "If the Privy Council is established, the interests of the Jiangmen military will be greatly damaged, or even not exist at all, and it will inevitably usher in the opposition of the Jiangmen;

"And some of them can also take advantage of this to get a chance to grow. In this way, those who want the position of Grand Governor within the Shomen will take the initiative to jump out and fight for it, thus splitting the power of the Shomen and making it impossible for them to twist into a rope. ”

Speaking of this, Liu Muzhi admired Xu Minglang and arched his hand, "It turns out that Duke Xu's purpose is to still want the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies." The Privy Council is just throwing out the weight that the other party cannot accept and put pressure on the other party when negotiating, in order to draw out and promote the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies!"

Xu Minglang smiled calmly, "Those who know me, Liu Gongye." ”

Zheng Zexian and other family heads all expressed their admiration.

Zhao Yujie's eyes were full of light when she heard this. She hadn't been in contact with this kind of scheming before.

"Who will propose the establishment of the Privy Council in the court, and show it with great momentum, and we want to promote the determination of the Privy Council? To make Jiangmen really believe in and fear the establishment of the Privy Council, we need an important minister, and first fight against Jiangmen, especially the Metropolitan Governor Zhao Xuan!" Zheng Zexian asked aloud.

"Who is Liu Mou in this matter?" Liu Muzhi did not give in.

He is the deputy prime minister, and he participates in political affairs, and his weight is sufficient, so it is appropriate for him to take the lead in raising this matter, and other civilian officials are not qualified to fight against Zhao Xuanji, the first person in the military, and they cannot withstand the pressure of the other party.

After all, the Privy Council is just a pretense, and it will not be established in the end, so Xu Minglang can't come forward, he has to stay behind as a "peacemaker" to launch and promote the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies.

"With Liu Gong taking the lead, it is naturally more suitable!"

Xu Minglang smiled and nodded in agreement, "I heard that Duke Liu and Duke Zhenguo had a very unpleasant quarrel in the Duwei Mansion, and the Liu clan is already going to start an all-out war with the Zhao clan in the officialdom! This is a good opportunity, a great opportunity for us to work together to play Zhao Xuanji around!"

When everyone heard this, they all laughed and were very complacent.

......

Leaving the Prime Minister's Mansion, Liu Muzhi returned home, and as soon as he entered the door, the chief housekeeper greeted him anxiously, "Family master, something happened in Lantian County!"