Some people leave and others come to the door.
On the evening of Liu Baoyuan's departure, Cheng Dingkang, director of the Northern Reconstruction Commission, also paid a visit.
As he was born in the Zuo family, of course he had to come to Zuo Zongtang before becoming an official.
Unlike Liu Baoyuan, who was obsessed with becoming an official, Cheng Dingkang was relatively calm about what he saw. After meeting Zuo Zongtang, he mostly reported on the reconstruction of the twelve northern provinces.
The two of them mostly talked about business matters.
After chatting for a long time, Cheng Dingkang said.
"Where does the Prime Minister plan to go after he retires? Is it Nanhua or Yingtian?"
"His Majesty left me a house in Yunding."
This seemingly casual sentence made Cheng Dingkang's heart tremble, Genting... what kind of place is that, a proper Royal Villa? What does it mean that His Majesty left a house there for Prime Minister Zuo?
The holy favor will not diminish, and the honor will always remain!
"Your Majesty still can't bear to part with the Prime Minister."
After sighing, Cheng Dingkang said.
"But it's good to be in Yunding. If I have any confusion in the future, it will be convenient to visit."
"Haha, you!"
Shaking his head and laughing, Zuo Zongtang said.
"I'm afraid you may have the heart but not the time in the future."
"Why did the Prime Minister say that?"
Cheng Dingkang was puzzled.
"Now the twelve northern provinces have basically settled down, and some reconstruction matters are just a little annoying."
In the four years since Cheng Dingkang has chaired the Reconstruction Committee, he can be called an iron-fisted man. He kills, blocks, and flows. Although there are still some guerrillas in the rainforest, their influence is not worth mentioning. Now in the north
Twelve provinces have entered a period of comprehensive construction, and of course he, the director, has a lot of leisure time.
"After Yingjiu and I took office, two cabinet minister positions became vacant. After Qian and Fang filled in, one position was still vacant."
After a pause, Zuo Zongtang said.
"They are all immigrants from the first generation, and they are all His Majesty's personal followers. If they are to preside over both the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, it would be somewhat inappropriate, so we have to choose other people. Otherwise, the imperial government will be dominated by one family."
Cheng Dingkang couldn't help but sincerely admire the fact that the left prime minister had thought so carefully about such a matter. After thinking about it, he smiled and said:
"This is indeed the truth. I'm afraid your Majesty has someone he likes."
After looking at Cheng Dingkang in front of him, Zuo Zongtang said.
“Get ready to come to Zhongdu!”
"What? Come to Zhongdu?"
Cheng Dingkang was stunned for a moment and had not yet reacted.
"Yes, that's right, come to Zhongdu!"
Standing up and patting Cheng Dingkang on the shoulder, Zuo Zongtang said.
"Do you still remember when I asked you to go to Brazil for inspection? Well, Diquan. It's time to come back!"
When Zuo Zongtang asked Cheng Dingkang to go to Brazil, he had already made corresponding arrangements for him. In the past few years, what he had done in the twelve northern provinces was obvious to all. It was because of this that he had
Opportunity comes into His Majesty's eyes.
Now it's time to come back.
"Ah! Mr. Xiang, this, this..."
The sudden surprise left Cheng Dingkang speechless for a while. After a while, he stood up and bowed.
"It's hard to repay the kindness of Prime Minister Zuo even if his body is shattered to pieces."
"Your Majesty is using you. From now on, do your business well! Well, before returning to Huizhou, I'll go and meet with Your Majesty first!"
After personally sending Cheng Dingkang out of the house, he looked at the car leaving.
Zuo Zongtang first sighed, then smiled, but did not speak any more. He squinted at the sky. At this time, dusk had already set, the clouds were dark and the shadows of the trees were slender, and wisps of breeze blew from in front, blowing the branches of the trees in front.
For a long time, Zuo Zongtang took a deep breath, then turned and walked into his home.
…
Almost a month later, Wang Youling first submitted a letter to resign. Following the old Chinese practice, Emperor Zhu Da must retain him. Then Wang Youling stopped writing again and retained him again.
However, one could do one or two but not three. After Wang Youling submitted his third letter, Emperor Zhu Da could only issue an edict to allow him to take office. On the day after he took office, Fang Zhanbo, the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior, received the imperial edict to serve as associate minister.
Three days later, Cheng Dingkang, director of the Northern Reconstruction Commission, was promoted to Minister of the Interior. After learning the news, Wang Youling, who had just taken office, was stunned for a long time before sighing.
"Zuo Jisheng is so clever!"
The reason why he lamented like this was because Cheng Dingkang was born in the "Left Curtain" and Zuo Zongtang came down, but someone from his "Left Curtain" joined the cabinet. Isn't this a good trick!
"Prime Minister, speaking of which, Cheng Dingkang is also a person deeply trusted by His Majesty. Whether it was in Shanxi in the past or in Brazil in recent years, what he has done is obvious to all."
As someone who was single-handedly supported by Wang Youling, Li Qingen was the first generation of overseas students in the Ming Dynasty. As a minister of the Ministry of Law, he once studied in England and was a typical "intellectual elite" in the Ming Dynasty.
"It's obvious to all!"
After pondering for a moment and looking at Li Qingen, Wang Youling said.
"It looks like you may have to wait a few more years."
The Ministry of Law is also an extremely important department in the Ming Dynasty. If the Ministry of the Interior is vacant, it is normal for the Minister of the Ministry of Law to take over the Ministry of the Interior. Before that, Wang Youling had tested His Majesty, and His Majesty did not object to Li Qingen taking over the Ministry of the Interior.
"Master Prime Minister, this official is already sixty years old!"
Li Qingen shook his head and said.
"I'm afraid I have no hope of joining the cabinet in this life."
At seventy, he is already sixty years old, and those prime ministers are each younger than the last! Ten years... By the time their terms expire, he will be seventy, and he will still join the cabinet? What good things are he thinking about?
Woolen cloth!
So, it’s better not to think about it anymore.
Looking at Li Qingen who seemed a little frustrated, Wang Youling sighed and said.
"Hey, speaking of it, I miss Shanxi very much now. When I first arrived in Taiyuan, there were not many people around me. You had just returned from studying abroad..."
Seeing that the prime minister took the initiative to change the topic, Li Qingen did not continue talking. Since there was no hope, there was no need to think about it anymore. The two chatted for a while, and finally Wang Youling said.
"I plan to return to Nanhua in three days."
"When the time comes, I will definitely go see the Prime Minister off."
Nodding slightly, Wang Youling said.
"If we have time in the future, let's meet in Nanhua!"
Three days later, on the platform of Zhongdu Railway Station, many officials came. Not only did a minister like Li Qingen come, but Zuo Zongtang also came.
Holding Wang Youling's hand, Zuo Zongtang opened his mouth but no words came out. Not only had they been partners for many years, but their fates were also very similar. After all, they were both governors of Zhejiang and were "sold" to the Ming Dynasty after being captured.
, who would have thought that he would later become the prime minister of a country at the same time.
Another month later, Zuo Zongtang submitted a letter to take office, which also marked the end of an era...
I wish everyone a happy new year! We have established a book club group: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
This chapter has been completed!