Three letters of help from Song Deyuan have been sent. Although Xia Yuanlong's anger had not subsided, considering the overall situation of the alliance, unity of opinion was still the most important thing, so he had no choice but to follow Wei Huai's instructions, entertain the Zhenjiang guests with kind words, and temporarily withhold the letters and delay them for a few days.
The other side is actively planning a new deal. Xia Yuanlong believed that "the new policy should be gradual and should not be rushed. If you are too determined, you will be resented by local forces. The academy should promote favorable policies while appeasing the officials and gentry, so that it can last long."
Wei Huaiyin had already refuted his opinion and was afraid of hurting the peace within the alliance again, so he followed Xia Yuanlong's plan and first came up with a good method of "planning and granting land", which is to calculate the expenses. If the treasury has something The remaining wealth is rewarded to the poor with farm tools and seeds, so that they can rely on their own efforts to cultivate idle land. Now they are not in a hurry to ask for the power of supervision. They have also learned from the failures in Suzhou and Zhenjiang. Their methods have become more sophisticated and it is almost impossible to find flaws. Therefore, at this stage, Wei Huai's confidence is still very high.
The letter was first delivered to the desk of the prefect Ye Yongjia. Ye Yongjia is like a bystander these days. He has seen the end of the old pattern of party struggle with a clearer perspective. In any case, the removal of an opponent has indeed made him relax a lot, but the tension he has always maintained is still lingering. go.
The New Deal was launched, Wan Lu shook hands and made peace, and Nanjing seemed to be on the right track, but Ye Yongjia was always uneasy as he stroked the letter in front of him. He did not understand the internal situation of the academy, but he expressed a vague pessimistic attitude towards the prospects of reform.
He shook his head, suppressed his chaotic emotions, opened the letter, and saw a plan for land transfer. There was also a note at the end of the letter, saying, "If Tinglong wants to lend a helping hand to the defense, please ask Anwen Official." Gentleman, please don’t dislike the New Deal and bow to me. '
Although Ye Yongjia had concerns, it was Wei Huai who asked him to do it, and he still missed his former teacher's affection. As the prefect, he couldn't take action, so he hatched a plan and ordered Inspector Jiang to secretly send someone to invite Cai Xianqing, just for tea.
"What's the news?" Cai Xianqing stood in the corridor, poking at the bird in the cage, and asked without looking back.
"The news is incredible. Mr. Ye is preparing to be promoted." His apprentice said nervously.
Cai Xianqing was so shocked that he pushed the birdcage and turned around suddenly, "Where are you going? It can't be the capital, right?"
"I just came back from the north. What the gentlemen who heard the show said was the capital. It was accurate... and correct."
"Ah," Cai Xianqing clapped her hands and walked around excitedly, "This is a good time for me to develop!"
Seeing his joy, the apprentice couldn't help but become confused: "Our roots are all in Nanjing. Once Ye Yongjia leaves, we will lose a supporter. You should sigh."
"Little thing, I can be happy when I want to be happy, and laugh when I want to. You are a son-of-a-kind actor, but you have so much control over me!" Cai Xianqing spat on the ground, "Your vision is really too low. I If you can climb a big tree like Ye Yongjia, what is the use of this mere Nanjing land? You would have followed him to the capital to do big things! What if you help him achieve a few miraculous achievements and abandon his humble status as an actor? Looking up at me?"
"Yes, yes, little people are short-sighted, how can they understand the master's great ambitions." The apprentice bowed his hands to the left and the right, terrified.
"Besides, why can't we give up this foundation? The capital is not a magical place. I can control the wind and rain in Nanjing, but when I get there, I have to at least ask people to call me Master Cai a few times!" Cai Xianqing snorted coldly.
"The edict hasn't arrived yet, so maybe Lord Ye doesn't know about it yet. Why don't you tell him the good news first." The apprentice followed up and persuaded him flatteringly.
"You don't understand. He, the prefect Ye, doesn't like to get close to villains. It's annoying for others to offer him up so diligently. Besides, if you say it early and say it late, there's no credit for it. How can he thank me for my kindness? Why not? I try my best to make friends with him, but he doesn't know about the transfer, so he won't doubt my intentions."
Just as the apprentice was in admiration, someone from the Inspection Department knocked on the door and said, "I would like to invite Mr. Cai to the study to have tea." This made Xianqing extremely surprised, and he hurriedly went to the Yamen with the soldier.
"Mr. Cai, Mr. Cai, sit down quickly." Seeing his visit, Ye Yongjia quickly helped him into the room and sat down.
"My body and bones are fine, so there's no need to bother you, sir." Cai Xianqing hurriedly pushed his hand away and dusted off his clothes.
Ye Yongjia turned around, poured a bowl of tea, and placed it in front of Cai Xianqing: "Nanjing can be so peaceful now because of Mr. Cai's efforts. When I cursed Wei Chong, I really drove him to a dead end."
Cai Xianqing shook his head and said with a smile: "I just used some small means, which is not the right way and is not worth mentioning."
"Let's talk about Mr. Wei." Ye Yongjia said calmly after taking a few sips of tea.
Cai Xianqing noticed something astutely, and asked tentatively: "When I came here, the magistrate only talked about a few gossips, not as much as about government affairs; why did he talk about Mr. Kaiwei again?"
Ye Yongjia smiled slightly: "I think the academy is still a place where literati live. Discussing them has nothing to do with political affairs."
Cai Xianqing rolled up his sleeves and said, "It doesn't matter if you say it!"
Yongjia knew that he understood the meaning, so he no longer hesitated and said straight to the point: "Today, Mr. Wei wrote a letter saying that we must implement the new policy of land granting, lest the officials and gentry are dissatisfied and lack a mediator. I am the governor of Nanjing and I am here to take over this matter." It's not appropriate after all. I just think that Mr. Cai is well known in Nanjing and has always been on good terms with them. Why don't I ask you to help me."
Cai Xianqing nodded happily: "Mr. Wei has the ambition to save the people. How can Xianqing reject what the people want? He will definitely make it happen with you!"
Ye Yongjia saw that he knew the righteousness so well, and quickly pushed the chair away and was about to kneel down. Unexpectedly, Cai Xianqing landed on his knees first and bowed: "How dare you, a humble man, to be bowed down by the government? If you insist on performing this great ceremony, , I just can’t afford it!”
Ye Yongjia had no choice but to give up and support Cai Xianqing, his eyes suddenly showed admiration: "When I first came here, I thought you were the same kind of person as Wan and Lu. Who knew that you had reached out to save me many times, but Ye never reciprocated. One or two! Now, for the sake of the Academy, I can be so loyal and willing to die... I am a younger generation, but I have repeatedly seen dangers and failed to save them. I sit back and watch the people suffer and be unjustly killed. I am deeply ashamed."
"I don't ask for repayment from the magistrate. I hope you can remember me. That's enough." Cai Xianqing bowed deeply again. He tried his best to maintain calm on the surface, but a raging fire was boiling inside, making him sweat and his eyelids twitch.
After bidding farewell to Ye Yongjia, Cai Xianqing looked at the clear blue sky and felt a sigh of relief in his chest. The only thing he still thinks about now is the big event entrusted by Wei Huai.
