Old Man Jiang's eldest grandson could be said to be an angry young man and a militant. He was a serious official of the third generation. After joining Xue Wei in the Huai'an army, he became like a fish in water and liked the atmosphere in the army very much.
Up to now, Jiang Ming has not been in the army for too long, but he has suffered a lot of injuries, big and small, and he has become one of the hundreds of Huai'an soldiers just by virtue of his military exploits.
It is worth mentioning that when Mr. Jiang came to the Huai'an Army, he had an official status. He should not have joined the army, nor should he start as a pawn. However, Xue Wei took him and still let him start from a pawn. From the beginning, to now it has been promoted to 100 households, and it was really based on the number of people.
When he came back this year, Shen Yi specifically asked Jiang Ming, but Jiang Ming had just taken over the Baihu Camp and was excitedly training his Baihu Camp and was not willing to return to Jiankang.
In order to prevent too many people from disturbing him, Shen Yi simply did not return to his seat during this dinner and shared a table with Old Man Jiang.
But even so, there were still a few shameless people who occasionally came forward to toast. Shen Yi didn't say anything, and Jiang Shangshu kept a straight face, and those people were frightened away obediently.
As a result, at the later banquet, there were only officials from the Ministry of War's yamen, and sometimes they would come up to drink with the two of them, such as the other two ministers from the Ministry of War, and a group of officials.
After the two ministers toasted, Zheng Ling, the current Martial Arts Master, carefully came forward with the wine, first bowed his head to Jiang Shangshu and said: "Your Majesty, I would like to pay my respects to you."
Jiang Jian looked at Doctor Zheng, then turned to look at Shen Yi, and said with a smile: "Come here, fill it up for me."
The two drank a large drink happily.
After drinking the glass of wine, Zheng Ling looked at Shen Yi again, lowered his head slightly and said, "Master Shen, I pay my respects to you."
Shen Yi looked back at the other two ministers of the Ministry of War who were sitting nearby, and shook his head slightly: "Master Zheng, this is against the rules."
"Of the three ministers, I am ranked last, and the martial arts department is in charge of the left minister."
"You should go and respect them first."
Zheng Ling hesitated for a moment and was about to speak when Shen Yi whispered: "Go quickly."
Doctor Zheng lowered his head quickly: "I obey your orders."
He took the wine flask and went to find the other two ministers.
When Old Man Jiang saw this, he laughed and said to Shen Yi: "Although Zi Heng is not on errands in the Ministry of War, his words are still very useful."
Shen Yi smiled: "It has stopped working for a long time. I just gave me some thin noodles."
"The military department is too small."
Jiang Jian patted Mr. Shen on the shoulder and said with emotion: "I won't be able to accommodate a giant Buddha like you soon."
Shen Yi poured a glass of wine for the old man with a smile and said, "Move your butt so that you can accommodate me."
This was a joke, but Old Man Jiang thought about it seriously and said with a smile: "It's not impossible, but it's too shocking for a minister of the Ministry of War in his twenties to say it out loud."
"I'm afraid those old men above won't agree."
Having said this, Old Man Jiang lowered his head and took a sip of wine and said: "The meeting hall has been very busy these days. I alone have been called several times, and several officials from the Ministry of Personnel and Household Affairs have been called there every day. Going."
"I heard that..."
Jiang Jian looked at Shen Yi with a strange expression: "It's your boy who wrote a note to Xiang Chen and asked him to follow the note..."
Shen Yi looked back at Jiang Jian.
"That's about it."
Jiang Jian heard this and murmured: "The rumors are actually true."
After he muttered something to himself, his expression became even weirder. He looked at Shen Yi and suddenly smiled: "Since ancient times, prime ministers have been writing notes to us people to urge us to do things."
"I have been an official for so many years, and this is the first time I have heard of someone writing a note to the prime minister!"
"My Lord, don't talk nonsense."
Mr. Shen coughed: "It is the imperial government's negligence that has caused many things to be dealt with north of the Huaihe River. In a few days, I will go to Huaibei to take charge of military affairs. Naturally, I have to raise the conditions that need to be raised. Besides..."
"I didn't go there on my own initiative."
Jiang Jian said "Hmm" and said, "Xiang Chen invited you there."
Shen Yi chuckled, neither admitting nor denying.
"Slippery."
Jiang Jian poured him a glass of wine and said with a smile, "You are still playing tricks on me."
"It's not just playing tricks on your Majesty."
Shen Yi said softly: "There are just some things that are really hard to say."
Old Man Jiang squinted his eyes and smiled, but said nothing.
…………
The New Year's Eve banquet was quickly coming to an end. After the kabuki performers of the Kyobo Division left the stage one after another, the jade chimes in the main hall rang three times.
This means that His Majesty the Emperor has left.
At the same time, it also means that officials can also leave one after another.
After the jade chime rang, several prime ministers bowed to each other and then dispersed.
Mr. Shen also left Deqing Hall with a group of military officials.
However, not long after Shen Yi left Deqing Palace, he saw a young eunuch standing in front of him. Master Shen immediately understood and followed the young eunuch, and soon arrived at the Manna Palace.
His Majesty the Emperor, who smelled of alcohol, was leaning on the soft couch. When he saw Shen Yi walking in, he exhaled a breath of alcohol, sat up silently, then pointed to the chair, motioned for Shen Yi to sit down, and said: "Tomorrow, the first day of the Lunar New Year, There are too many things going on inside and outside the palace, I'm afraid I won't be able to spare time for five or six days, so I'll take advantage of Shen Qing being in the palace tonight to talk about the matter first."
Shen Yi sat down and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty orders."
The emperor thought for a moment and asked, "Shen Qing met Concubine Hui yesterday, right?"
Shen Yi nodded and said, "Yes, I met Concubine Hui by chance at Master Gu's place yesterday."
The emperor stretched: "Did she say anything to you?"
Hearing the emperor's words, Shen Yi felt a little relieved.
He was a little worried yesterday that after Concubine Hui returned to the palace, she would blow pillows in the palace and repeat yesterday's events to the emperor.
In that case, it would be slightly disadvantageous for Shen Yi.
Because the issue of Concubine Hui's identity was not only a problem for Concubine Hui, but also a matter for the emperor, which seriously affected the emperor's personal reputation.
Of course, even if Concubine Hui really complained, the emperor would turn a blind eye due to Shen Yi's current importance in the court.
And the victim, Shen Yi, would not be stupid enough to admit it.
It's just that there will inevitably be some minor gaps between the monarch and his ministers.
Fortunately, Concubine Hui was obviously not that naive yet and did not choose to file a complaint.
Shen Yi shook his head slightly: "Your Majesty didn't say anything, she just said something about Master Gu."
"That's good."
The emperor rubbed his temples, shook his head and said, "She is not very smart sometimes. No matter what she says or does, Shen Qing should not take it to heart."
"Your Majesty is serious."
Shen Yi stood up and said, "I would never dare..."
"Okay, no outsiders."
The emperor waved his hand and motioned for Shen Yi to sit back. After Shen Yi sat down, he sighed and said, "It's hard to guess a woman's thoughts. The pile of women in my harem makes the wind blow everywhere, which makes me very annoyed."
Shen Yi smiled slightly and did not answer.
"Okay, let's get down to business."
The emperor coughed and said: "What Shen Qing wrote in the council hall that day... Well, I have seen the document. It is very good. I have talked with Chen Jing and he will cooperate with you to get it done as soon as possible, especially Officials..."
The emperor narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice: "Everyone wants to be an official in the capital or an official in a wealthy place. Everyone wants a good job. How can there be so many good jobs?"
"Next year, after the new year begins, I will personally select suitable officials for the six ministers who have completed three years of study and study to go north. If the ones I personally selected are not willing to go, then I will not ask for this title."
For scholars, being expelled from one's academic career can be said to be the ultimate punishment, almost second only to beheading and exile.
Shen Yi lowered his head immediately.
"Your Majesty is holy."
"Shang Shu Zhao will also send people north to take care of the local salt, iron and copper, and promote Hongde Tongbao."
At this point, the emperor paused and said, "Pei Jun has gone north."
Shen Yi was a little surprised: "So anxious?"
"General Pei won't leave until the new year."
"That's too late."
The emperor looked at Shen Yi and said solemnly: "The West Route Army is only three words on the document now. I estimate that the West Route Army will not be fully mobilized until March or April."
"I told him that after the West Route Army is established, I will ask him to meet you and cooperate with you."
Shen Yi nodded first, and then asked: "Your Majesty, how do you plan to let the West Route Army fight?"
"The main thing is to see what you think, Shen Qing."
The emperor took a sip of tea to relieve his hangover and said: "If it goes according to my opinion, it would be best for the Western Route Army to take down Kaifeng and advance to Luoyang this year."
Shen Yi squinted his eyes slightly, and a map that had been engraved in his mind appeared in front of him.
Shen Yi stood up, lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to use some pen and ink."
The emperor waved his hand: "You can use it."
Shen Yi took a piece of white paper and drew a simple outline of Shandong and Henan provinces with a few simple strokes.
He used a brush to draw a few dots on the white paper, and then said softly: "Your Majesty, it doesn't matter when the Western Route Army will be completed, but I want General Pei to gather and train the Western Route Army in Yingzhou."
Yingzhou is a state in southern Zhili, adjacent to Henan.
The emperor nodded: "This is easy."
"Shen Qing wants to use this unformed army to attract Qi people's strength?"
"False and reality are uncertain on the battlefield."
Mr. Shen said softly: "Whether it is the east road or the west road, it can become the main attack at any time, but..."
"General Pei is stationed in Yingzhou. After the new year, when I take over Yanzhou, the pressure should be less."
Shen Yi pointed to Yanzhou on the map and whispered: "The saint's family has been lost for seventy years."
"It's time to reply to the Han family."
"A family of saints..."
"What a family of saints."
The emperor groaned.
"It's not like there are no people named Kong in Jiankang City..."
Mr. Shen smiled and said: "You have to conquer Lu to be worthy of the name. When your Majesty wins back the lineage of saints, you will be worthy of the name, and the people of the world will be able to use it."
His Majesty the Emperor did not speak, he just looked at this simple map and squinted his eyes.
"When Shen Qing wins Yanzhou in the future, he must clean up the Kong family for me and let out a bad breath."
"I don't want to make them look bad, but Shen Qing, you don't have any taboos."
At this point, the emperor was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered Shen Yi's background, so he laughed dumbly: "I almost forgot, Shen Qing, you are a civil servant with a two-ranked Jinshi background."
"That's all, I don't want you to offend them, lest you become a bad person in the future."
Shen Yi looked calm, lowered his head slightly and smiled.
"Your Majesty, I am a scholar, but the generals of the Huai'an Army are not."
After hearing Shen Yi's words, the emperor and his ministers looked at each other, and the emperor laughed heartily.
"Shen Qing, you don't look like a disciple of a saint at all."
Shen Yi shook his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty is wrong. I am a disciple of a saint, but they may not be."
The emperor looked at Shen Yi with interest.
"What do you say, Shen Qing?"
Shen Yi picked up the brush again.
"I show my ugliness."
He picked up the brush and put pen to paper on a blank piece of paper.
The emperor stood aside, looking at Shen Yi's handwriting, and read it unconsciously.
"The horse crossing the river is coming south."
"How many people are really good at economics?"
"Old man of Chang'an, the scenery of Xinting is still pitiful."
"Yifu people, Shenzhou Shenlu, how many times have you looked back?"
"Counting an army thousands of miles apart, merit and fame are... true Confucianism."
The emperor watched Shen Yi stop writing and slowly read out the last three words.
"Do you know?"
