After hearing this, Zhu Che was sweating profusely and fell to the ground tremblingly: "This... this is rude to outsiders. I am very offended. I hope you will forgive me!"
The two of them glared at Yuan Long again, signaling him to quickly apologize.
Unexpectedly, Yuanlong's expression remained unchanged: "Here you go, the dean. We are working for the benefit of the people, not for personal matters. How can we accept a little favor from him and have to bow down and kowtow three times? Besides, I am responsible for this. The rank of the Imperial College Secretary Ye is roughly the same as that of the prefect, so there is no reason for me to kneel down!"
The two envoys looked at each other in confusion. They felt that Xia Yuanlong was difficult to deal with and were afraid of causing any trouble, so they just rolled their eyes at him and refused to investigate. They read out: "The government hereby declares Sihe. Zhu Che and others from the academy said: Recently I heard that you want to set up political participation in the academy, talk about the political system, and do not teach, and are far away from your own duties. This is actually a rare thing in ancient and modern times, and it is difficult to make a decision. However, today's national affairs are troubled and civil affairs are heavy. It seems It is appropriate to use this to calm things and calm people's hearts. Therefore, it can be allowed to temporarily establish a political participation academy, and everything can be admonished in the name of the academy. However, it is not allowed to preempt military and political plans or disrupt the local area. The Suzhou prefect... wrote it himself. "
Zhu Che hurriedly reached out to pick up the book, as if he was holding an imperial edict, pinched it tightly with both hands, and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, the magistrate is wise! You two ministers have worked hard!"
"There's no need to kneel down, there's no need to kneel down." The two envoys smiled broadly and stretched out their hands to help him hypocritically. "This is a great gift. The two of us will go back to pay our respects immediately. I won't bother with Mr. Zhu's hospitality."
"We also have some things to discuss, so I won't send them far away." He clasped his fists and then made a sign to see off the guests, asking the book boy to lead them out.
"Xia Fengmeng, even if you are stubborn and not afraid of these people, you still have to kneel down. Otherwise, how will you deal with the government in the future? Is this the reason why you asked Jin Gui to comment?" Seeing that Song Zhang had seen off the guests, he immediately He pointed the finger at Xia Yuanlong.
Wang Zhengui stood up slowly: "... Even if Mr. Xia has the ambition to mend the sky, he must endure it again and again and not be impulsive. Although Mr. Song's words are a bit rough, they are still somewhat understandable."
Zhu Che also tilted his head and took a look at the deputy leader's face.
Yuan Long didn't take it seriously, but smiled calmly: "The government has always used power to bully others, and they only hunt down those stupid and cowardly people. The less you resist, the more he will push forward. If you show weakness to him now, how can you fight against him in the future?"
Zhu Che was full of dissatisfaction and took advantage of this to explode: "Deputy leader, I have to say something ugly, you are too naive! Without the support of the government, it is nonsense for our academy to participate in politics! The lifeblood of the world is controlled by In their hands, if you don’t unite with them and just rely on those unarmed people, how can you rely on it!”
The hall immediately became noisy, and several people wanted to enter the venue to participate in the debate, but Wang Zhengui stopped them in time.
Xia Yuanlong refused to answer, but asked instead: "Then you don't have a thorn in your body and you are an honest and good citizen. How can you bring the government to the negotiation table? How can the government look at you seriously and talk to your academy? cooperate?"
"That is to hold on to the power in your hands and give up some of your interests," Zhu Che said without hesitation, "To retreat is to advance. This is a wise plan."
"Retreat, retreat, retreat!" Xia Yuanlong slapped his thigh angrily, "Retreat step by step, retreat step by step. When there is no way out, it's time to surrender!"
Zhu Che had nothing to say to refute him, and secretly cursed a few times in his mind, "You rotten scholar!" ’, he threw off his sleeves and left angrily; many of those who supported Zhu Che gave Yuan Long a look of resentment and dispersed like birds and beasts. So the whole debate ended unhappy.
Xia Yuanlong was hit hard by this, but he was still so focused on the goal of stabilizing the academy that he stayed in the hotel for two hours without thinking about food and drinks.
While he was playing with his chopsticks and thinking, there was a sudden knock on the door. Yuan Long didn't hear it at first, but after knocking three or five times, the people outside shouted: "Mr. Wei is urgent! Nanjing is urgent!"
Xia Yuanlong was so frightened that he stood up suddenly, almost tripped over a stool, and stumbled to open the door.
Seeing that it was the book boy next to Wei Huai, Xia Yuanlong asked boldly: "What's wrong? Is there something new in the party struggle in Nanjing?"
The book boy was sweating. He sat down and took a breath and said, "I don't know, but Mr. Wei said that Mr. Wan sent Hu Qi to say that if he is willing to work together to denounce Lu Fangxuan, he will be allowed to participate in the establishment of the Political Academy."
Xia Yuanlong slapped his forehead continuously, looked up to the sky and sighed.
"Sir... you also sent me to ask you, has the operation in Suzhou started?"
"I..." He was speechless for a moment, "Thank you for your hard work along the way. I'll just tell him when I get back."
"How did you get here?"
"Horse a horse." The book boy couldn't help but become frightened when he saw his nervous look.
"It's hard for you, kid, but I can't leave now. I still have to explain to others," Xia Yuanlong said, taking out two taels of silver. "Take this money and hire a carriage to wait for me at the east city gate. This Things go fast.”
"Thank you!" He nodded quickly twice and walked away as if there was wind on his feet.
Posthouse, half an hour later.
"It's me, don't worry, you don't have to look."
Xia Yuanlong's tone already contained some dejected emotions. Wang Zhengui clearly felt such a small change and stepped forward cautiously.
Xia Yuanlong took a pot of wine and held the handle with three fingers. The wine poured down into the cup, like a clear spring.
"This is the first time I've invited you, Jin Gui, right? Haha, take a sip." He also forced a smile.
"I see that you are not very happy..." Wang Zhengui looked at the deputy leader. He was silent, but seemed to admit it. "Suzhou is prospering, and the academies can only participate in politics. There is a prosperous scene, why do you need to drink so much?"
"I'm leaving." His words were brief but powerful.
Zhen Gui was startled for a moment. The meaning was neither sad nor happy.
"Now that I have just grown up, I have to go back. It's a pity to be good. I hope Mr. Xia will think twice." He quickly advised him.
Yuan Long waved his hand and drank the wine from the cup: "I have my own sense of responsibility for this, so you don't have to worry. I invite you here just to entrust you with a big responsibility."
Wang Zhengui immediately knelt down: "Wang doesn't dare!"
"Looking at the academy, everyone is timid and wants to compromise with the government and leave the people in trouble. These scholars are too weak and will only lead the academy to a dead end. Only Jin Gui is different. You are so resolute when you follow me. The methods and the attitude of supporting the New Deal really make my eyes shine... I can no longer trust anyone except you."
Wang Zhengui remained silent.
"Yan Zheng, you are in this line of work. Naturally you know that it is not easy for the people. Never abandon them and abandon their strong voices. Life and death only depend on Jin Gui's thoughts." Yuan Long has no other way but to impress him. heart.
"How dare you disobey orders!" Wang Zhengui replied neatly.
"Okay, okay..." Xia Yuanlong showed a slightly bitter smile.
