After Shou Gong and the others went to play games, the three of them sat comfortably on chairs.
After wandering around the crowded Dong Market for more than an hour, they felt a little tired. Such a quiet place was a blessing.
The waiter has already delivered a huge wooden tray, which contains nearly twenty kinds of flavored wine and side dishes. At Li Lingyou's arrangement, several jars of ancient style old wine have been delivered, and the cups are ancient small earthenware bowls.
Li Lingyou fed all three of them and explained with a smile:
“I’m still hungover last night, so I’ll drink some low-alcohol rice wine to wake up!”
"Very good, very much to my liking, haha."
Welling feels good too.
Xiao Duhuo was doing everything he could, nodding casually with a tired look on his face.
The three of them raised the small bowls, clinked them with each other, and drank them all in one gulp.
Rice wine made from glutinous rice and millet using ancient methods has a very good taste.
Soon, I had three bowls of wine, each with its own reason.
Two or three friends sit on a high seat facing the lake, with the scenery of the lake and mountains as their company, and a glass of turbid wine, enjoying themselves and enjoying themselves, which is really satisfying.
Li Lingyou took a long breath of contentment and asked Xiao Duhuo with a smile:
"Brother Linghuo, we said goodbye that day, what was the harvest afterwards?"
Xiao Duhuo smiled bitterly:
"Haha, it would be better than nothing without the blessing of Brother Wei Ling. The gains are really unbearable and insulting to the listeners, so I might as well not mention it."
Wei Ling smiled and comforted:
"It doesn't matter, but sometimes, brother who lives alone will have good luck."
"By the way, you actually gave up your career of making money this time. When you arrived in the imperial capital, did you meet Mr. Xiao Jingmo? Did you hear any rumors?"
Li Lingyou's smile was playful.
Xiao Duhuo's smile became more bitter and he nodded slightly:
"Wei Ling knows the process very well. That day in the abyss of sighs, I was scolded by the clan uncle until my head bled. I was also a little discouraged. At that time, Wei Ling encouraged me, and then I continued to persevere...
Looking back now, the young, frivolous and arrogant people ten years ago were all just talking nonsense. Now I have a basic judgment about the world and my own abilities. I can see myself clearly and re-recognize the world, which is nothing more than that. "
Xiao Duhuo drank a bowl of wine alone and continued to explain:
"In recent years, there has been a feeling of disconnection among the Xiao clan. There are many people, but not many who are capable. This is incomparable to your Li clan.
At any rate, I have reached the intermediate level, and I can be considered a talented member of the Xiao family, so my clan uncle summoned me to meet me. "
Li Lingyou smiled inexplicably:
"What's the matter?"
Xiao Duhuo smiled:
"Based on your Li family's level of information, isn't it still clear?"
Li Lingyou smiled bitterly:
"Last night, after drinking, I accompanied my eldest and second brothers for a few walks. I said that it is estimated that there will be a major reform in the administrative structure of the empire, which will increase a lot of manpower. People are needed in all aspects. The fifth brother will return to the imperial capital immediately after the end of the Western Expedition. ”
Welling was a little confused by the riddle between the two.
Xiao Duhuo nodded, relieved, and explained to Wei Ling:
"Perhaps you have already noticed that the imperial official system is too crude, still stuck in the roughness of the military control era more than a hundred years ago.
This time the empire completely defeated the Xixuan Federation. Your Majesty plans to take advantage of this situation to reform the official system to meet the needs of the new era. "
Wei Ling suddenly understood.
Li Lingyou gave more reasons and insider information:
“Brother Welling, what do you think is the ratio of the number of officials, including clerks, to the total population in the empire’s official positions?
Ha, stop guessing. You can’t guess right. It’s less than one thousandth. It’s simply incomparable to the ratio of a few percent or more than ten percent in the old days.
Most of today's officials are still people with some magical abilities, otherwise they would not be able to support the huge and complicated government affairs.
But after all, there are too many affairs, which makes many officials have no time to practice. If things go on like this, no one will be willing to be an official.
Moreover, the current officialdom was created through the era of great annihilation, the era of melee, and the development stage of the empire. The so-called ways of being an official and the gray benefits, in a situation where the empire has full control of all aspects, all are fucked. Just don’t mention it. "
Li Lingyou also laughed and drank half a bowl of wine and continued to speak:
“That’s one reason, and there’s another reason.
Under the emperor of the empire, there are the three princes, the Taiwei, the Prime Minister, the Yushi Dafu, and then the subordinate ministries. Although there are ancient precedents from the old times, they are too simple and the management is too extensive, which is really not conducive to precise governance.
In the next few decades, the population of the empire is estimated to double, so it is logical to launch official reform at this moment. "
Wei Ling nodded, understood the reason, and then asked the two of them:
"Shishiro, Brother Duhuo, do you have any more details about the restructuring?"
Li Lingyou thought for a while and revealed more details:
"It is said that it is still under consideration, but there will definitely be a big move. It is said that the most likely plan now is to dismantle the Imperial Palace and the Prime Minister's Palace. It is estimated that the Yushitai will not change much.
In the future, there will be mainly thirteen ministries: the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Strategy, the Ministry of Supervision, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Resources and Industry, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of War is in charge of foreign campaigns, the Ministry of Planning is in charge of military strategy and logistical support, the Ministry of Supervision is in charge of national supervision and auditing of various ministries, the Ministry of Rites is in charge of national publicity and external public relations, the Ministry of Punishment is in charge of legal prisons, the Ministry of Households is in charge of finance, taxation and population, and the Ministry of Education is in charge of natural person education. and various trainings. The Ministry of Industry is in charge of various projects in the empire and civil engineering, the Ministry of Xuan is in charge of the world's warlocks, the Ministry of Industry is in charge of production in all walks of life, and the Ministry of Commerce is naturally in charge of business development.
There are multiple departments under each department to subdivide the responsibilities.
When it comes to the next-level counties, the same setting will be followed... In this way, many matters that were originally ignored will be dealt with in a timely manner, and the huge redundancy problem of the Prime Minister's Office will also be solved.
The three princes of the empire will still remain unchanged. The separate ministers of each ministry will be responsible to the corresponding three princes.
Naturally, the empire needed a lot more officials. That’s why my eldest brother was still talking about me last night, asking me to be more steady, maybe one day I’ll be an official again, haha…”
After Li Lingyou finished explaining, he took a narrow look at Wei Ling.
Wei Ling also found it funny. How could this guy look like an official?
In fact, in Welling's view, it is not a complete change. It is still a bit nondescript. It cannot be said to be a simplified version of the three provinces and six ministries system, because there are seven more ministries.
In essence, high-ranking officials at the level of minister were added between the three princes of the empire and the lower functional departments to make the functional responsibilities of affairs clearer and more detailed.
At the county level, that is, there will be no changes in the county governor, captain, and county supervisor. Several new division-level officials have been established under the county prime minister. The prime minister and the county prime minister Qinghui will definitely be happy to see this happen. .
Xiao Duhuo also nodded and said with a wry smile:
"What the clan uncle said is roughly the same as what Shiba Lang said, and he has the same requirements for me. However, as you know, more than ten years ago, I openly announced my separation from the clan. If I am to be released now, I will be released again. Swallow it back...
Although I could just ignore it, I gradually lost confidence in my dream. Haha, life is unpredictable, it is so entangled, depressed and helpless. "
Wei Ling and Li Lingyou both felt sad, but for a moment they didn't know how to comfort him.
The table felt a little dull for a while, and Wei Ling and Li Lingyou picked up their wine bowls at the same time:
"No matter, the road of life is narrow and the wine glass is wide. Brother, the only one, let's do it first as a courtesy!"
Xiao Duhuo shook his head and smiled bitterly. He was speechless for this guy and could only drink.
His ears were hot from the wine and he heard that he was depressed. He couldn't help but use a chopstick to tap on the small wine bowl and sang a cappella:
There are cypresses on the green mausoleum and stones in the Leilei stream.
Life between heaven and earth is suddenly like a traveler from afar.
Drinking and entertainment, talking about thick and thin.
Driving and riding horses, playing games with Wan and Luo.
…
The lyrics are from ancient poetry, but the tune is from a popular melody at the moment. The words and rhyme don't match at all, so it's naturally a nonsense tune.
"Pfft..."
The maid chuckled casually from the side.
Li Lingyou didn't take it seriously and continued singing a cappella.
"Pa bang..."
A few gentle applauses came, and several people turned their heads to look. In the side area, which was simply divided by some low green plants and potted plants, someone leaned out half of his body.
A handsome young man who looked slightly younger than Xiao Duhuo was wearing a black warlock robe with several small golden dragon patterns on it.
The young man smiled and clapped softly, then threw a message:
"Li Shibalang, it's really you here. I haven't seen you for many years. Have you finished your service?"
Li Lingyou stood up immediately, looking a little embarrassed and respectful:
"Yes, I have met His Highness the Third Prince!"
The young man tilted his head and looked back, dropping information to a few people on his side.
Then, he squeezed through the narrow passage, clasped fists with Li Lingyou, Wei Ling and others with a smile, walked over to Wei Ling and others, and sat down casually:
"Tsk, Shishiro, don't be so outspoken, just call me by name.
I was lucky enough to meet these two friends in Ji Changshan, the imperial capital... Oh, rice wine, I like it! "
Ji Changshan didn't care about Shiba Lang's surprise, he took an empty bowl, opened a jar of wine and started pouring it.
While pouring the wine, he looked at Welling hesitantly.
Li Lingyou quickly threw a simple information package to Wei Ling and Xiao Duhuo, introducing the famous third prince of the imperial capital.
It can be said that Ji Changshan is the person least like a prince.
He is talented, quick and eager to learn, but he has liked to hang out in the market since he was a child. He is five or six years older than Li Lingyou.
At that time, I often formed a group with a bunch of Chang'an Gaoliang, and played around in peace and happiness together.
He usually fights, gambles and drinks, and is always good at everything.
However, this guy is very popular. He often goes to various wealthy families, eats and drinks, and His Majesty the Emperor doesn't care about him and allows him to develop freely.
As soon as he came of age, this guy boldly announced that he would never participate in the competition for the throne, regardless of what His Majesty thought. At the same time, he did not accept any followers and just liked to make friends.
At Ji Changshan's wine party, Xia Li Ba and Yang Chun Baixue always sit together and have a drink, without any distinction of superiority or inferiority.
It was rare for Li Lingyou to have a few people whom he completely admired, Wei Ling was one of them, and Ji Changshan was the first person before he met Wei Ling.
"I have met Your Highness! I am Li Clan's guest minister, Wei Ling."
"I have met Your Highness! I am Xiao Duhuo, from Lanling."
Wei Ling and Xiao Duhuo both stood up slightly and returned the favor.
Ji Changshan stopped his wine bowl, looked at Wei Ling, and was lost in thought. After a few breaths, he smiled brightly:
"Ha, you are Wei Ling, why do I feel like I have known you for a long time?
This should mean that we are very compatible and feel like old friends at first sight. Yes, that’s how it feels!
You and my cousin teamed up to go to Kerala together. How was it? Do you have a crush on her? "
Wei Ling was stunned.
Li Lingyou rubbed his forehead.
Wei Ling, who was caught off guard, thought for a while and finally understood that the queen was Xie Qingdai, the sister of the imperial prime minister Xie Xinyi, and Xie Wuyi's aunt. Therefore, Xie Wuyi was naturally the prince's cousin.
Wei Ling hurriedly shook his head in denial, and quickly drank with His Highness to calm down his shock.
Seeing Wei Ling shake his head, the handsome young man put down his wine bowl with a regretful expression:
"What a pity... I heard that you are quite powerful. Among the junior warlocks of the empire, you are basically invincible."
Wei Ling was even more stunned:
"Who said that? I have never been to Jixia Academy."
Wei Ling's first reaction was that Li Lingyou, a guy with such an open mouth, was talking nonsense.
Looking at Wei Ling's suspicious eyes, Li Lingyou cried out:
"Brother Wei Ling, this is none of my business. I haven't revealed your name yet."
Ji Changshan chuckled:
"I guessed it, haha. I met my cousin a few days ago, and she said you were very powerful...
It's a pity that she admires you, but when she talks about you, there is no light in her eyes, and she just seems to be showing off to me as her friend. "
Wei Ling breathed a sigh of relief, but no matter whether there was light in his eyes or not, he nodded repeatedly:
"Yes, Miss Wuyi is my friend, she is also very good."
"Yeah, that's true, turnip is indeed good.
Unfortunately, I heard Shijuro say before that the eyes of a young girl who falls in love will shine when she talks about her lover. "
Li Lingyou shook his head slightly, is this what I said?
Go ahead, I just heard you talk about it now.
Wei Ling didn't dare to answer the question, and he would make many mistakes if he said too much.
