Ye Yongjia had been sitting in the hall for a long time, but the little officials on both sides of him who served tea and poured water for him didn't say a word, they were all looking at the sky in a daze, and they didn't look like they were thinking, so they spent half an hour.

"Tinglong! Tinglong! ”

He suddenly looked up, and saw Niu Yuan waving here at the door, and then walked quickly to the front of the hall, smiled and made a gesture, and then took off his official robe and put it on the shelf. Ye Yongjia reluctantly got up and returned the salute.

"Oh, it's not hard to make Ye Shilang wait for so long, right?" Niu Yuan asked with concern.

"It's fine." Ye Yongjia sat down slowly.

Niu Yuan saw his thoughts, and the smile on his face gradually converged, pinched his cuffs, and let out a long sigh.

Ye Yongjia still kept his head down, pretending not to hear and not say a word.

"Lord Ye, it seems that you are still thinking about what happened at that time, and you may still have a misunderstanding of me," Niu Yuan said earnestly, "but please rest assured, since I left the military government, I have been thinking and forging ahead many times, and I have never done anything uncompromising." This is not a boast of this official, but can be seen by a discerning person. Rectifying the border army and touring the east, which thing is not on my shoulders? Even if it ended in failure, I had no sense of avoiding responsibility, and I was ridiculed without complaining. How can he be like those empty talkers, who don't come out of anything, and only think about making a name for themselves. Such a heartfelt heart, heaven and earth can be learned! ”

"As for the last reform of the military department, the controversy was too loud, and Shi Yiyi was attached to the leaves, which was difficult to govern, so he threw himself into the mouse taboo and did not dare to follow Tinglong's words, not out of his own heart. After that temple check, I think someone must be secretly chewing on the root of the tongue and destroying the relationship between you and me. But at that time, they didn't dare to offend Lord Liu, so they proposed in the court that you take the blame, and I couldn't help it, so I was helpless. ”

Ye Yongjia saw that his words were all about this, and he didn't dare to refuse, so he had to force a smile and said respectfully: "It's just some of the past, the lower officials have almost forgotten it, how can there be any dissent." I knew in my heart that only by completing this reform plan with the minister could we make the frontier free of trouble. ”

Niu Yuan listened, slapped his knees and laughed: "Good, good!" Tinglong is really sensible, and he deserves to be appreciated by Duke Liu! On this tour, I am willing to entrust you with all the power, and I will definitely leave you with no regrets! ”

"Subordinates obey."

"But you don't have to hurry, after two days, I will send two eunuchs to accompany you, and go to announce the holy decree and remove the new commander. By the way, I have one more thing to give. As he spoke, Niu Yuan took out a letter wrapped in brown paper from his arms, "This is the official letter of the household department that checked the truth of Shi Yiyi's corruption last time, although it was fake in the court, but I really didn't move, but I kept it, just for today." ”

Ye Yongjia hesitantly took the official letter, and was stunned for a moment when he saw that it was indeed stamped with the seal of the household department.

"What is the purpose of this official letter?"

Niu Yuan replied: "Shi Yiyi is deeply rooted in the border pass, and his troops will be raised by him for many years, only to be escorted back to Beijing because of the defeat, and the people's hearts will not be convinced." If someone in the army complains and resists the orders of the court, he will take out this official letter and inform the soldiers, telling Shi Yiyi about his illegal acts such as greed for ink and silver grain. After the matter was completed, the letter was burned in the camp to show the court's forgiveness to the soldiers. The combination of grace and power can calm the hearts of the army. ”

He looked at the old letter with amazement, not knowing what to say, only regretting that it came too late. "Subordinates understand ......"

"Any more requirements?" In order to soothe his emotions, Niu Yuan did everything possible to please him.

"I beg Prime Minister Feng to choose a pair of hands for me to help me solve the thorny problems at the border."

"Which one do you want?"

"The head of the military department, Cai Xianqing."

Two days later, in front of the Ye Mansion.

"Eh, here it is!" Cai Xianqing was wandering around like a headless fly in the streets and alleys, and when he heard someone behind him calling him twice, he saw the signboard of the Ye Mansion, and an old slave stood at the bottom, shouting in his voice.

"Big brother, the roads in this capital are all over the place, and you can get lost no matter how many times you come!" He complained to the old slave for a few words, and then went straight to the Ye Mansion. Walking to the inner courtyard, he looked at the study, and asked, "What is the matter with Lord Ye?" ”

The old servant smiled and said, "Lord Ye is afraid that you will not agree, so I have to tell you in person, lest I can't tell me clearly, and it will be a big deal!" ”

"This Ye Tinglong, why can't you even defend me? I agree to whatever he says! ”

"Is that true?"

Cai Xianqing heard the sound of footsteps behind him, looked back, and saw Ye Yongjia holding an old book and walking over from the corner gate.

"You go and rest first, I'll have a few words with Director Cai." After he finished giving instructions to the old slave, the latter hurriedly left.

"Tinglong seems to have been holding this book lately." Cai Xianqing pointed to the book in his arms and said.

"You forgot?" He closed the book and handed it to Cai Xianqing to take a closer look, "This is the military book given by the Westerner Jian Wensheng." ”

"Then you let me come, I'm afraid it has something to do with this thing." Cai Xianqing knocked on the cover of the book and said.

As soon as he talked about this, Ye Yongjia's face was no longer relaxed: "Old Cai is really like a god." Let's go, let's talk in the house. ”

The two went to the study side by side, sat down separately, Ye Yongjia took a sip of warm tea, and continued: "Niu Yuan lost his position due to the Rongqing incident, probably because he wanted to regain his prestige, so he pulled back last year's border army reform. I have been ordered to preach to the border army, and there must be a wise and resourceful person like Cai Lao by my side, so I ask you to go with me to help with the reform. ”

"I don't need you to ask for this, why do I have to go with me!" Cai Xianqing resolutely patted the case and said, "But I don't know what Tinglong thinks." ”

Ye Yongjia smiled bitterly: "The younger generation has already told you that I can only do my part for the new policy, and I can't build any new ideas on this foundation like Mr. Wei." I had to be at the mercy of others and resigned myself to fate. ”

"Tinglong doesn't need to be so pessimistic, maybe this is a great opportunity to save the country." Cai Xianqing encouraged.

"You don't have to worry about me, I always can't help but think about it when I'm fine......" Ye Yongjia shook his head and sighed, "I hope it won't affect you." ”

"These views of yours are also very insightful, the so-called precautions," Cai Xianqing said with a smile, "but now the matter in front of you is the most important." ”

"Hmm." Ye Yongjia closed his eyes and rubbed his eyebrow bone, trying to interrupt his previous thoughts.

"What do you want to do when you get there?" Seeing that he opened his eyes, Cai Xianqing immediately leaned up and asked.

"Old Cai, since I read this foreign book, I have become more and more aware of the importance of firearms," Ye Yongjia took out the book again and put it on the table, "But the most important thing today is to form a new army that is accustomed to guns, and it will definitely be able to resist the enemy outside the country!" ”