The two people sitting at the bottom looked at each other and finally understood Yan Wen's intention, so they replied in unison: "Xiang Yan has far-reaching intentions. We greatly respect him and are willing to do our best to help you implement the new policy. Even if there are swords and mountains and seas of fire, we will not do anything." Dare to say no!"
Yan Wen smiled and said: "My so-called 'New Deal' is not difficult to say or easy to say. It is by no means a dangerous situation, but you still need to pay attention to everything and use extreme caution. I only ask you to do this, The rest of the issues are out of the question."
"Your Excellency has always known how to combine strength and softness. Prime Minister Niu Feng cannot express these words today. It takes people like you to do great things." Hong Lizhen quickly agreed.
Seeing that he had made his true intention clear, Yan Wen no longer held back any secrets and said bluntly: "I am not a person who likes taking risks, but now I suddenly talk to you about reform. Why? What do you think? You're right, it's precisely because of the Prime Minister. The New Deal he implemented was only for personal gain and did not seek the common good of the world. It cost the workers and households a lot of money, but in the end it was not implemented thoroughly. Look at it now, he doesn't even shut up. He mentioned the matter of recovering the city. Everything he did was to add political achievements to himself, and his mind was not on governing the country. If such a trend is allowed to spread across the government and the public, even if you don't agree, I will not agree either. of!"
"As for my new policy, I strive to cure the root cause and am determined to carry out a major reform to revive ancient learning! If you want to manage the country, you must first correct its customs. Customs are deceitful, and there is no way to talk about laws!"
Although he was making an impassioned speech, when the two of them heard the word "ancient learning", their smiling faces suddenly froze and turned pale. Yan Liang instantly noticed their strangeness and gently Knocked on the chair twice, trying to make Yan Wen hear.
Yan Wen's ears still worked fine. He glanced at his younger brother with his peripheral vision and saw the latter shaking his head to the side. Looking over, he saw the nervous faces of the two of them.
He smiled secretly and pressed his raised hands back to the chair handle. After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "You are all used to my mature and prudent side. You are probably surprised by the impracticality of this strategy. ?”
Hong Lisan had been so flattered just now, but he didn't know he could tell such boundless truths, and he felt regretful for a while. But after all, my voice was the loudest, so I had to bite the bullet and answer: "The villain and Yan Gong are as different as clouds and mud, how dare you make unreasonable accusations! I just have some doubts, please enlighten me. When I was studying, We have also known that the poems, books, etiquette and music of the Zhou Dynasty all possess the customs, simplicity and virtue. However, since the establishment of prefectures and counties, the governors of prefectures have governed the people like slaves, and the government of the previous generation no longer exists. Now the trend has become more and more inevitable. To restore it, if we don’t change it but become vulgar, I’m afraid it will be difficult to succeed.”
Yan Wen said: "This is because you don't know the truth of the sages. When the dynasty opened up the world, its political system was quite different from that of the previous dynasty, and the people were small and the soldiers were weak. Isn't it more difficult than us sitting here? In the end, we achieved a great cause and stabilized the world. People's hearts. Today, the world is at peace, and there is still a powerful figure like Prime Minister Liu sitting in charge. Even though he has thousands of corrupt and cruel officials, he still has to obey the court's arrangements!"
Hong Lisan didn't know what to do, so Li Wenshou said on his behalf: "This system, which is difficult to change through the ages, will never succeed overnight."
Yan Liang got tired of hearing this, stood up and waved, "Why are you two so stupid? If you want to sit back and watch Niu Yuan's power grow, just go out; if you don't want to, just listen to my brother's orders!"
"Qing Yan Si!" Yan Wen smashed the table several times, his face turned red, "This is the Ministry of Education, please speak with respect and stop talking nonsense here! Also, we are discussing official business, and your brother is not here!"
Yan Liang had no choice but to hold back his temper and murmured: "Yes, Yan is participating in politics..."
Hong and Li were stunned by this formation, but the latter still pretended to be calm.
"Yan Siqing bumped into you two. I'm really sorry, but my mind will never waver. I've made up my mind and it's impossible to turn back. If you two don't want to wade into this muddy water, just leave. I'll find someone else." After discussion, there will always be someone who agrees. Don’t worry, I won’t find it troublesome.”
After some observation, Hong Lizhen realized that his previous oath had prevented him from getting off the stage, and he had no intention of turning back. He had no choice but to reply resolutely: "The official has already become enlightened and is willing to work with Yan Xiang to implement the new policy!"
Seeing that he had made up his mind, Li Wenshou had no choice but to echo: "My subordinates agree with Deputy Hong's participation in politics!"
Yan Wen was overjoyed and walked down the steps and bowed deeply to them respectively. The two of them were afraid of being blocked and did not dare to accept the ceremony.
"I have already thought of the specific implementation strategy, which is to first inform the local officials through an edict to persuade them to fund schools and encourage people to attend private schools; after time has passed, I will see how each province performs, and then dispatch school supervisors as appropriate to supervise its implementation. Strength, help them promote the establishment of the school. If anyone disobeys the order, he will be quickly arrested and returned to the capital on the grounds of "resisting the order and disobeying the order." In this way, from lenient to strict, the officials will be confident and fearful, and they will rush to implement it first , what do you think?"
Li Wenshou said: "The trick of this plan lies in the word 'slow', it can be implemented!"
"Otherwise," Hong Lizhen retorted, "Now that Niu Yuan has gained power and is very rampant, if Prime Minister Yan does not respond and just writes an imperial edict, his prestige in the court will plummet. It is better to just give him a strong dose and Only when all policies are used can the world see your determination!"
Yan Wen pondered for a moment and nodded towards him: "Yes, now is really not the time to be slow. It is better to be anxious! I will write a memorial to see the Prime Minister, and the two of you will sign it together!"
While the two were still hesitating, Yan Liang had prepared pen and paper and asked them to sign their names on a piece of white paper. The two of them could not refuse, so they wrote down six straight characters of "Hong Lishen" and "Li Wenshou" with a stroke of the pen, which were very eye-catching.
Yan Wen walked to the prime minister's house holding the written memorial. He straightened up and knocked on the door three times respectfully, but no one responded.
When he was about to knock again, he suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind him. When he turned around, he saw two little officials in red clothes, one behind the other, wiping the sweat on their heads from time to time, carrying a The large sedan with a green cloth curtain on the top stopped under the willow tree in front of the main entrance.
"Master Niu, we're here."
Yan Wen frowned slightly, and when he opened his eyes to look, he saw Niu Yuan slowly walking down the sedan chair with the hands of the young official. Without raising his head, he fiddled with the cuffs of his official uniform before walking into the door.
"I'm fine with you." Yan Wen took half a step back and saluted him, but his face was lowered than his clenched fists.
"Nothing's wrong." Niu Yuan didn't look at him, sneered, flicked his sleeves, and stepped into the Prime Minister's Mansion.
