After Wei Youcheng returned to Beijing, he learned that Jiang Anyi was recalled by the Son of Heaven this time, and Wei Youcheng has always had the heart to compare with Jiang Anyi, and he went to Pingchun County, Bingzhou, not to compete with Jiang Anyi. So as soon as he was free, he confidently found an acquaintance in the ministry to see Jiang Anyi's political achievements in Fuluo County.

The Son of Heaven once asked for this data, and soon the performance appraisal of Fuluo County was put in Wei Youcheng's hands, and when he saw the taxes and population of Fuluo County, Wei Youcheng's first feeling was that he didn't believe it, he was also the order of a county, and naturally knew that it was almost impossible to achieve the leap between the lower county and the upper county in a year and a half.

The distance between Bingzhou and Lizhou is too far, Wei Youcheng has not had time to get together with friends when he returns to the capital, Jiang Anyi's actions in Lizhou Wei Youcheng knows nothing, and he doesn't even know "Huangyang Ming" and "Songchang Lou Ji", when he shook his head and smiled: "Uncle He, the population has increased by more than 20,000 in a year, and my brother-in-law dares to report such data, you actually accept it, and you are not afraid that the Son of Heaven will scold the officials for being blind." ”

He Yixian, in Si Gonglang, is a good friend with Wei Youcheng's father, although Wei Youcheng's father is a good friend, he sighed when he heard this: "Virtuous nephew, I didn't believe it after I got this performance appraisal, I read that Zhao Tingshi is your father's brother-in-law, and he sent it back to Lizhou to rereport, but I know that the Lizhou palindrome is correct, and a detailed explanation is attached." ”

He Yixian got up and found a manuscript from the cabinet behind him, handed it to Wei Youcheng, and said with a wry smile: "Youcheng, look at what Jiang Anyi did." ”

Quickly scanned the manuscript, Wei Youcheng sighed in dismay: "Zhenguoshi, Wei is not as good." ”

Blows came one after another, on the way back met a few acquaintances, naturally to pull to the restaurant for a small gathering, the banquet inevitably talked about the two recent hot articles in Beijing, "Huang Yang Ming" and "Songchang Lou Ji", Wei Youcheng has always believed that the poetry Jiang Anyi is the hero, but Fuwen himself has to be ahead, but after listening to these two articles, Wei Youcheng silently picked up the cup, drank the bright moon fragrance in the cup, and sighed that I might as well be.

Hearing his grandfather mention that the Son of Heaven wanted to choose someone between him and Jiang Anyi to be the person in charge, Wei Youcheng felt a deep sense of frustration and said gloomily: "Jiang Anyi is a great talent, and his grandson is not his opponent." ”

Wei Yishen glanced at his dejected grandson, and sneered: "Do you still remember the situation after you and Jiang Anyi participated in the examination, grandpa said that a temporary victory or defeat does not mean anything, I think that grandpa was only a second-class background, and Tang Caicheng, the champion of the year, was only the fifth grade, and he returned to the west as early as seventeen years ago." ”

Wei Youcheng smiled bitterly and did not make a sound.

Wei Yi said angrily: "Cheng'er, even if Jiang Anyi's talent and reputation are higher than yours, you don't need to be so depressed, you and Jiang Anyi will be ministers in the same court for thirty or forty years in the future, and the Son of Heaven intends to let you check and balance him, if you don't even have this confidence, it's better to admit defeat as soon as possible, let the Son of Heaven choose another person, you can just be a peace officer in peace, don't do the dream of being a grandson." ”

Wei Youcheng was taken aback, and said ashamedly: "Jiang Anyi's "Yellow Sheep Ming" and "Songchang Lou Ji" are rumored in the capital, and the grandson knows that he is not as good as him, and he is disheartened for a while, thanks to his grandfather who woke up, the grandson knows how to do it, and he will never dare to be arrogant and fall into the reputation of my Wei family." ”

Seeing that his grandson had regained his confidence, Wei Yishen nodded and said: "Jiang Anyi's poems and articles are indeed wonderful, like a godsend, don't talk about you, in my opinion, in the past thousand years, I am afraid that no one can match it in the next few hundred years, you don't have to compare with it." Speaking of practice, Cheng'er, you are no worse than him, you don't want to be frightened by the data of Fuluo County, Fuluo County has many mountains and few fields, produces medicinal herbs and tea, and has few powerful families, and it is suitable to implement 'tax as one', and Jiang Anyi took the opportunity of building Huangyang Mountain to absorb displaced people, so that Fuluo County's political achievements are dazzling. On the other hand, although Pingchun County has a thick foundation, the Liu family has been operating for hundreds of years, and it is intertwined, and the face of the Wei family is a little less, but it still makes it difficult for you to move step by step, and you can get the evaluation of the Ministry of Officials, which is not inferior to the "Shangshang" of Fuluo County. ”

Remembering that he ran all over the villages and ditches in Pingchun County, and even the farthest straw shoe gang of only 53 households did not let go, and he broke seven pairs of shoes and how much sweat he had, he could proudly say that Jiang Anyi could not compare to himself.

"Don't underestimate your opponent, Jiang Anyi does have excellence, but he doesn't look down on himself, your strengths lie in your family background and connections, which Jiang Anyi can't reach." Wei Yi said earnestly: "Jiang Anyi has more enemies than friends in the court, but you are different, grandpa has been together for nearly twenty years, and there are countless protégés and former officials, these people can more or less become your future helpers." What's more, you are An Shou's husband, and the Son of Heaven is extremely satisfied with you, so your future will definitely be stronger than Jiang Anyi. ”

"Grandpa, according to your position in this gift, who will the Son of Heaven give to?"

Wei Yishen was silent for a moment, showed a meaningful smile, and said categorically: "It must be you." ”

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, although the court began to work, the yamen were still immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year, and the time to go to work and disperse the yamen every day was early, and some yamen were fine, only two or three people were arranged to be on duty, and others came when they had something. During the first month, there is also no court meeting, tired for a year, the Son of Heaven also has to rest for a few days, listen to songs and dances in the harem, eat delicious food, get close to a few beauties smoothly, and give some rain and dew to the palace maids who have been absent for a long time.

Shi Fangzhen will still review the recital in the imperial study every morning, and as usual, the officials of the state and county will play the recital of respecting the New Year, these Shi Fang really don't look at it, and the lower courtyard has always prepared an abridged recital. At this moment, Shi Fangzhen is holding in his hand is the secret performance of Yang Xiangliang, the governor of the Western Regions, in which Yang Xiangliang introduced the military situation in detail, after more than a year of stalemate, now the Western Regions coalition army is exhausted, he allowed the Western Regions people to launch a general attack at the end of the first month when the people of the Western Regions celebrate the Xingzhai Festival, and annihilate the invading coalition forces in one fell swoop.

After waiting for so long, he finally waited for Yang Xiangliang's news, Shi Fangzhen let out a sigh, thinking that there were many calls for Yang Xiangliang to be removed in the court during this time, Yu Zhijie also frequently complained to himself, the treasury was empty, the granary was in a hurry, and success or failure was in this month.

A little eunuch came in and reported: "Long live, Prime Minister Wei is here?" ”

What is this old man doing here? Shi Fangzhen didn't dare to slack off, said "please", stood up by himself, and came to the door to greet him. Wei Yishen walked with a cane, Shi Fangzhen stepped forward to support him, and said with a smile: "On such a cold day, Wei Xiang has something to do, let Youcheng run if it's not urgent, why do you have to run around at such an old age." ”

Wei Yi bowed deeply and said: "Thank you for your care, the old minister has something to say to Banzai in person." ”

Sitting in the study, Shi Fangzhen asked the little eunuch to move the brazier to Wei Yishen's seat, the two gossiped a few words, and said a few words about Princess Anshou's pregnancy, and the atmosphere in the study was very harmonious.

Wei Yishen coughed and said: "Long live, the old minister came today to ask for his resignation, the old minister, although he still has the heart to be loyal to my emperor, but his energy is not good, and he is no longer qualified for the position of prime minister. ”

"What?" Shi Fangzhen stood up in shock, he couldn't hold back his joy in his heart, he intended to remove Wei Yishen as early as the early days of his reign, but firstly, Wei Yishen was still capable, and he was quite satisfied with the management of court affairs, secondly, the Wei family was a family, and it was not easy to do it.

"Wei Xiang, why did you suddenly bring up Zhishi, I see that you are old and strong, and I am ready to work hard for you for a few more years." Of course, Shi Fangzhen will not say "Okay, I will be on time", and he still has to do the retention of feelings, not to mention that although he wants Wei Yi to be a deep man, but after so many years of getting along, the monarch and the ministers are still getting along, and they are in-laws, and they are really reluctant for a while.

Wei Yi saw that the Son of Heaven showed some real pity, and smiled with emotion: "Long live when you were a child, the old minister knew you, and more than 30 years have passed in a blink of an eye. Ancient rare, ancient rare, ancient rare, the old minister can also be regarded as a lifetime of hard work for the country, and the remaining years will be long live the quasi-old minister at home to make a great-grandson. ”

Liu Weiguo looked at the snow-white hair on Wei Xiang's head, and was also a little sad, this old man used to be young and energetic, but now he is old, and he has to be supported when he walks.

Shi Fangzhen persuaded a few more words, and seeing that Wei Yishen had made up his mind, he sighed: "Wei Xiang has worked hard and made great achievements, and I will definitely reward you." Wei Xiang, after you give office, I don't know who can take over? ”

Wei Yi said deeply, you have already decided on this matter, and you have to ask me, if I really say it, the future of those people will be ruined by me, even if I guess the mind of the Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven really appointed the prime minister according to what he said, I am afraid that there is also a mustard in my heart, and even the successor will probably blame himself for many things. Immediately smiled and said: "If you are not in his position, you will not seek his own government, and the follow-up people will long live your Sacred Heart Dictatorship." ”

Shi Fangzhen nodded, and asked sincerely: "Wei Xiang, do you have any unfinished business, say it, I will definitely satisfy you." ”

Wei Yishen has long calculated, his sons are not promising, and his son-in-law Zhao Shulun is the assassin of Lizhou, and there may be a position in the six Jiuqing in the future, but no matter how much he is afraid, the only thing that can't be let go is Youcheng's grandson, and his resignation this time is actually to pave the way for Youcheng.

"Long live, Wei Jiameng, the son of heaven in the past dynasties, is already grateful, how dare the old minister be greedy again. Although the Wei family is big, there are not many good talents, it is a pity, only Youcheng, is still diligent, and he is also loyal to Long Live, the old minister has nothing else to ask for, only for the sake of the old minister and An Shou, for the sake of Youcheng, the old minister will die in Jiuquan, and he is also grateful to the emperor. ”

Shi Fang really understood that Wei Yishen wanted to pave the way for Wei Youcheng, but this was a favor that pushed the boat along the water. Shi Fangzhen smiled: "Youcheng is my beloved son-in-law, I am very satisfied with him, Wei Xiang, don't worry, I will take care of him without you saying it." ”

After a pause, Shi Fangzhen said: "There is a gap in the affairs of the DPRK and China, I intend to let Youcheng take over, and in a few years, Youcheng has enough experience, so let him go to the Sixth Department of Jiuqing, and wait for Chongwei to succeed him, Youcheng may be able to inherit his ancestral business and become Chongwei's right-hand man." ”

What he asked for was obtained, Wei Yishen knelt down with difficulty, kowtowed to the ground, and said: "Long live the old minister's farewell, long live long live, long live." ”