The rain gradually subsided.
The meeting in the study of the Prime Minister's Mansion lasted for more than an hour, and gradually became more casual.
For the advisors in the Prime Minister's Mansion, each of them had their own responsibilities. At this stage, most of the problems were not conceptual, but the promotion and integration of many specific matters. This morning's meeting was mainly because of Ning Yi's return. They talked about the recent situation and tried to see if there was anything that could be communicated and cooperated.
Ning Yi was currently in charge of the funds, the sprouting of public opinion, and a large number of business relationships in the Prime Minister's Mansion. Although the funds were the private property of the Prime Minister's Mansion, the sprouting of public opinion was not under the Prime Minister's Mansion's control, and the business relationships could only be said to be private. Nothing could be brought up to the government, but the promotion of the official affairs in the Prime Minister's Mansion really needed this kind of private involvement. Ning Yi's cooperation with the others could be said to be a piece of cake.
Of course, before he came back, the cooperation between them and Ning Yi did not have any problems. Now that he returned to Bianliang, these things, of course, were just a greeting to let him know what to do. In fact, recently, the results of the Military Selection were about to come out. Everyone was openly and secretly fighting for people, trying to push the right people to the right positions. Those who could be roped in would be roped in, and those who couldn't would be analyzed to see if they could be coerced and used. Everything was obviously trivial, but since it had already happened, they could only do it according to the current situation. If they didn't do it, it would only be worse.
After the necessary matters were discussed, they sat down to drink tea and chat. When talking about the situation of the Jin Kingdom, they also felt that it was a bit confusing.
"… Aguda just died. After Wu Qimai succeeded the throne, he put down the war and stabilized the court. This is what we can see now. Now there are many theories in the court. Some people believe that after Wu Qimai stabilized the court, he will launch an attack on our Wu dynasty and insist on taking over the remaining Liao troops while the foundation of the Jin Kingdom is not stable. Some people believe that the Jin Kingdom does not have enough core military and political members to invade the south, but if we go too far, the Jin Kingdom will have no choice. Therefore, now that the war against Liao is over, our two sides should start doing business with sincerity. Tang Qinsou, Geng Xidao, and the others all hold this view. The few major powers that can influence the Imperial Court also advocate this. They believe that the following year will be the crucial moment that will determine the attitudes of both sides in the future. In fact, this is also reasonable. "
After saying this, Yao Zunian took a sip of tea. Qin Siyuan continued to speak behind the desk.
"After all, it's hard for us to see what the Jin Kingdom will do next. Li Xiang and I have reflected on many things in the past. Now, we are somewhat disgusted by these small fights. If you had enough power, those who wanted to beat you up would come over to do business. If you didn't have enough power, they would just jump around. Those who had good intentions would also feel that they had to beat you up. It's just that there are a lot of such ideas in the imperial court now, and His Majesty is also leaning towards it … "
The old man paused and picked up the teacup. "After Aguda's death, the successor wasn't the eldest son of the first wife, but the younger brother. This is similar to abdicating the throne, and it's not a normal succession. We also know that in the Jin Kingdom, the power of the founder of the Jin Kingdom is still very strong, including Zong Han and Xi Yin. They are the most capable and influential people in the Jin Kingdom. Many people took the opportunity to submit a petition, asking His Majesty to use this as a prelude to attack the Jin Kingdom at this time. These opportunistic people are the most hateful … "
Ning Yi ate the pastries. "In any case, regardless of the possibility of fighting in the future, we must have the power to fight a battle a thousand miles deep."
"Anyone would think that we should have it, but looking at the past cases, we don't have much confidence, and we don't know to what extent we should prepare …"
From Jin Mieliao to Aguda's death, all the situations seemed a bit illusory. Whether the other side would fight or not was a strange question. Because no matter how one looked at it, the Yan Yun Six States outside Yanmen Pass, with tens of thousands of troops, plus Guo Yaoshi's ever-expanding Ever-Victorious Army, were enough to fight a large-scale war. And from the distance between Yanmen Pass and the capital, including the regular army, the enlistment agents like Dong Pang'er, and the army that Tan Lao had sent to thousands of miles of land, there were hundreds of thousands of troops. At first glance, most people had an illusion that they didn't know what they were guarding against at all.
But on the other hand, the collapse of Liao, the many shortcomings of the Wu dynasty itself, and the various reasons that could and could not be said, if added up, no one could have too much confidence in the proposition of "fighting against the Jin Kingdom".
Everything happened too fast. The Jin Kingdom had defeated Liao in a few years, and had become the real opponent of the Wu dynasty. On the other hand, no matter which proposition it was: fight you, don't fight you, can beat you, can't beat you … Every conclusion had too many reasons and too many flaws. Because there were too many factors, it was impossible to calculate any one of them, and it even seemed absurd.
Just like this time, after the military examination, everyone began to make arrangements. The Prime Minister's Residence tried to consolidate a line of defense in the north in such a chaotic situation. But on one hand, was it really necessary to do so much? Starting from Yanmen Pass, this huge line of defense should be enough to defend against whoever it was. But on the other hand, was it meaningful to do so? Because it seemed that the entire line of defense of thousands of miles didn't seem reliable. No matter how strong a bubble you consolidated, it was only a bubble in the end.
Once they began to think about this problem, they felt that they were standing on a line of violent fluctuations, and it was possible to go in any direction, and no matter which direction they went, they would rush to the end with overwhelming momentum. Everyone seemed to be doing illusory efforts for an illusory matter, and waiting for the moment when it would become real.
And if one really thought about it rationally, all of this stemmed from one reason: the bayonet was about to see blood. No matter what the judgment was, there was not much that could be done to make a decisive difference.
"Autumn is almost over. I feel like I've done my best." After walking out of the room, Monk Jueming and Ning Yi chatted for a while under the eaves and smiled. Ning Yi also smiled. "There should still be time."
"The love of the world is just soup. Many years ago, when everyone was talking about the situation in Liao, no one would have thought that the situation today would be like this. The dice cup is about to be revealed. I wonder if it will be a win or a loss. " The middle-aged monk looked at the water line under the eaves. "However, the book that Liheng mentioned in the building is very interesting. I like wuxia novels."
"Wow, I didn't expect Master to be so tacky …"
Ning Yi smiled. Yao Zunian walked over from the side and stood under the eaves. He smiled. "This monk isn't that smart to begin with."
Everyone chatted for a while more.
On the way back home, the rain had just stopped. The air was moist, and under the eaves and on the leaves, water was still dripping. Ning Yi was a little surprised to see Shishi waiting there. But seeing him return, Tan'Er held Ning Xi's hand and left, giving the two of them some space.
"I thought that Liheng wouldn't come back." Shishi looked at him and smiled. "I came to look for you a few times, but I couldn't find you."
"I had some matters in the north and wasted a lot of time. But how could he not come back? After all, this is my home."
The guest hall faced the small garden. Ning Yi poured tea for her. Shishi lowered her head and kept silent. She covered her mouth with her sleeves and took a sip. She raised her head and looked at Ning Yi for a while before saying softly, "The disaster is over."
"Yes." Ning Yi nodded. "As you can see, the autumn harvest is over."
"Sometimes, I go out to visit those beggars and give them some food." In front of the warm window, the two of them spoke calmly. Shishi thought about it and said, "The disaster is over, but they won't be able to go back."
Ning Yi thought about it. "That's how the world works."
Shishi looked at him. "Is that what Liheng thinks?"
"Thinking too much isn't happiness. The meaning of life, I think, is to stop between three to five people and stop within three to five years. Other than the people closest to you, don't think about thirty to fifty years." Ning Yi's answer was calm. "This should make you happier. Otherwise, no matter how you think, it won't make you feel at ease."
Shishi lowered her head and drank the tea. After a while, she looked at the small garden outside the window and said, "What Liheng did in the Prime Minister's Residence, also stop between three to five people?"
Ning Yi smiled. "Most of the three to five people I care about are behind this courtyard."
"… Sister-in-law Tan'Er and the others are really happy." Shishi smiled sincerely.
She was silent for a long time and thought of other emotions. She sighed and said, "In the end, what I shouldn't think, I still think."
"I heard that you rejected Zhou Meicheng's marriage proposal."
"Does Liheng think I should agree?" Shishi looked at him again and then said, "Not only him, but many others also rejected. I also know that it's not good. But from this year, I always feel that something is going to change. I'm of age, I'm going to get married. In the past, when I thought about it, I thought it was nothing, but now when I think about it, I always feel empty. When I was fourteen years old, I lived in the courtyard of Fan Lou. I felt that there were people everywhere. I lived there, and I always felt that I was there. As long as I was there, the courtyard was full. People came to talk to me, complain to me, listen to me play the piano, and spend money on me. When there was no one, I was there alone, and I also lived there. But suddenly, it seems that everything has changed. In the past, I could think clearly … "
She clenched her fists and rested them on the edge of the table. Her words gradually became faster, and her eyes became blank.
"Now I am alone in the courtyard, as if the courtyard is no longer mine. Mama Lee is very good to me. She is considerate of me when she persuaded me to get married. When others look at me, they always feel that they won't see me for a few months or half a year. It is like a month or a few months later, I will no longer be in that courtyard. I don't know where I will be. Maybe I will be in a house that I am not familiar with, on a bed that I am not familiar with, and spend the rest of my life with a man that I am not familiar with … "
Shishi closed her eyes, and a few drops of tears flowed out. She bit her lips, and then smiled as if to cheer herself up.
"That's why I went to see those child beggars, and do some … good deeds. I have done these things in the past, and if I continue to do them in the future, it seems that things have not changed. " The room was quiet, and only her words could be heard. After a moment of silence, she took a breath. "Actually, Liheng doesn't really care about these things, right? But I think you must understand … Others may not. "
Ning Yi poured her tea. "There should be a lot of people who understand. I was married a long time ago, and I have forgotten everything before that. But even if I have not forgotten, I was a bookworm, and I don't have a family, so it should not be important. "
Shishi looked at him. "Now, Liheng is … doing a lot of very important things, right?"
"It's all messy things, and I can't say."
"Are you still fighting with those grain merchants?"
"Oh, how can you keep fighting with them?"
"But they will still make trouble for you, right?"
Ning Yi laughed. "… Sometimes … they will."
Shishi also laughed. The distance between the two of them could not be considered far, nor could it be considered close. Although Shishi's expression was smiling, she also looked somewhat lonely. After finishing the cup of tea, she stood up.
"My thoughts are a little strange recently, and I don't know who to talk to. What I said today is a little presumptuous …"
Ning Yi shook his head. "I can still understand."
"I had some words with sister-in-law earlier. If Liheng has been staying in Bianliang recently, he might as well go to Fan Lou to talk about business. My sister … has been declining invitations recently, but if it's about Liheng, I won't decline. "
"Oh, I know. If you have nothing to do, you can come to our house for a walk. Of course, Tan'Er is a smart person, so be careful not to be sold by her."
He walked Shishi to the door. While talking, Shishi bowed to him with a bright smile, and then left a little lonely. Ning Yi smiled under the eaves. He probably understood what was bothering this "childhood friend", but these things, he really could not solve.
And on his side, there were also a lot of things pressing down like a mountain.
But it didn't matter, as long as everything went according to plan, after all, the real important things were not here.
He walked all the way back, passing through the eaves and the gate of the courtyard. When he entered the backyard, he met up with his wife and children, who he hadn't seen in a long time. Winter was coming, and they would be together for a long time.
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