Everyone felt that Niu Yuan came with a fighting ambition. From the first day he took office, he maintained a fearless momentum. Not only did he bring in most of the documents accumulated in the province for review, he even went into the bookstore to browse atlases and inquire about political affairs. , I never had a rest for a day, but my spirit was not tired at all.
The next day, he only slept for two hours before he could no longer close his eyes. Looking at the light, he decided to go to the Ministry of War as he had thought before.
"Where is Prime Minister Niu Feng?" Yan Wen got up later and just arrived at Zhongshu Province. The mist outside gradually dispersed, and the sun was already shining brightly.
Only Hong Lizhen remained in the room. He bowed to Yan Shenzheng and replied respectfully: "I just said that I was going to the Ministry of War and left with a few followers."
Yan Wen was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I think he worked hard yesterday and should have calmed down for a while. Who would have thought that he could still be so unable to sit still."
"I think you should advise him," he sat down on a chair and yawned, "tell the Prime Minister that things are different now. The last thing you have to worry about now is the army."
"I really don't dare to lower my rank," Hong Lizhen lowered his head, "Mr. Niu is gaining momentum and no one can stop him."
"The so-called three fires when a new official takes office, your solution is to extinguish these three fires as soon as possible. When the time comes, go and give him a few words of advice. Not only will he not be annoyed, but you will also thank you for giving him a step down." Yan Wen said calmly.
"You still know how to serve the prime minister. But once the fire becomes difficult to control, everyone will be a little..." Li Shen smiled and hesitated.
"Don't worry," Yan Wen responded calmly, "Even you think it's inappropriate, let alone everyone else? As for General Liu... I believe you also know whose foundation the army is and whether it can be touched."
"Thank you, Lord Participant, for your guidance!" Li Shen immediately beamed.
"Jie Shangshu, why are you like this?" Niu Yuan led several followers to the Yamen of the Ministry of War. He saw Jie Wenwu wearing a gauze hat crookedly and kneeling fearfully. The officials behind him were lined up in two rows, leading straight to the main hall. Go inside.
"I'm just here to take a look. Why do you need to pay such a big courtesy?" Niu Yuan hurriedly motioned for him to get up.
Jie Wenwu said: "I have no time to celebrate the Prime Minister's new move. He suddenly came to visit today without even preparing food and wine. It is really a capital crime!"
"I don't care about these pomps," Niu Yuan put his hands in his sleeves, "That would make me sick. I have many things to ask you, get up."
Seeing that he was already displeased, Jie Wenwu hurriedly got up and dismissed the officials on both sides. Only two people, Ye Yongjia and Niu Fengxiang, invited Niu Fengxiang to go to the hall.
They each sat down and brought tea. Niu Yuan took a sip and said, "In the Ministry of War, has this place been closed in recent years and has there been any police?"
Jie Wenwu's expression changed: "Ah... I have done that. But the defense was strong and the bandits were repulsed one by one."
"I heard what others said, and it doesn't seem to be the case," Niu Yuan put his hands on the chair. "They said that the soldiers in Xuanhua are weak and ignorant, the army is extremely ineffective, and the corruption is serious... Which one is true?"
"That's nonsense to demote our Ministry of War..."
"Do you think you are a fool?" Niu Yuan said in a stern voice, "Go and take a look at the battle reports of the past two years in the bookstore. Can you still read them? More than thirty consecutive battles have been defeated, making the border people miserable. What about such a weak army? The country can be saved!”
Jie Wenwu was choked for a moment and looked at Ye Yongjia helplessly.
Ye Yongjia was shocked by his words and hurriedly asked: "Are these the truth?"
"What are you pretending to be? Are you telling the truth? Your Ministry of War doesn't know?" Niu Yuan glared angrily, "You know this, but you still don't want to change it as soon as possible and allow the situation to continue to get worse!"
"Master Niu, he is new here and doesn't understand these old things," Jie Wenwu explained with a smile, "But I think you don't know much about these things either. After all, seeing is believing and hearing is false. You have to go After a long journey in Xuanhua, his words must be well-founded, and only then can he convince others."
"This is unavoidable, I will naturally go," Niu Yuan said, "But to be defeated in such a shameless manner, I am afraid that all the problems will be deeply rooted in the bones!"
Seeing Niu Yuan's righteous speech, Ye Yongjia couldn't help but become impassioned: "Since I came to the Ministry of War, I have never heard of such a scandal. If this problem is not eliminated, how can the country be at peace? If the Prime Minister wants to change , Ye should be a pioneer and write a letter to speak out!”
Niu Yuan saw that the minister had such courage, and was shocked in his heart: "It is rare for Mr. Ye to have such courage. However, Mr. Liu needs to think about it slowly and not act hastily." After saying this, Ye Yongjia could only nod.
"I understand the attitude of your Ministry of War. Let's go back and discuss it with Mr. Liu and do what we can." Niu Yuan talked with the two for a while, then excused himself and said goodbye, standing on the stone steps at the door. said above.
Jie Wenwu came out and said, "Then I wish Master Niu success! See you off!" After saying that, he ordered two clerks to send Niu Yuan out, and then he turned around and returned to the hall.
He glanced at Ye Yongjia, sighed bitterly several times, and complained: "Shilang Ye, although the country is in trouble, the troubles caused by the bandits here will be over after a while. Why don't you understand this truth? You still want to What kind of reform do you support? It’s tiring and offending, so why should you do it for others? If one of them is not good, Mr. Niu will be the prime minister and unable to move, so I’ll let you take the blame!"
Ye Yongjia shook his head at him: "Sir, it will be over after a while. This is too easy to say. After all, paper cannot cover the fire. Has the court always covered up existing problems?"
"You have been the prefect for so many years in vain!" Jie Wenwu's face turned red, "You...you can do whatever you want! Anyway, I am not the one who will die in the end!" He slammed the door and left.
At night, Ye Yongjia was still sitting in the study, reviewing the official documents on the case with only the faint light - the candle was almost burned out.
"Master Ye."
"Come in." Ye Yongjia had no time to look back.
I saw Cai Xianqing holding a candle and slowly bringing it in: "Seeing that you don't have enough candles, I lit a new one."
"Hey, Mr. Cai is helping me grind the ink." Seeing that the ink was gone, Ye Yongjia called him closer.
"You're not going back home?"
"It's good to sleep here." Ye Yongjia put the candle aside.
"Speaking of which... the Niu Yuan who came this morning is really different." Cai Xianqing asked while studying the ink.
Ye Yongjia sneered: "I don't think he meant it. When he saw what I said, he shrank his head and changed the subject."
"Whether that person is sincere or not, you have to seize this opportunity to truly carry out the change." Cai Xianqing handed him the pen and said categorically.
