Tong Chengxiang was a little cautious when he got into the carriage. Although he had been an official for many years and met countless people, big and small, there was really no one like Chen Yue who gave him a sense of oppression at such a young age.

"Sir, don't be nervous." Chen Yue straightened his clothes and started chatting casually: "Has Mr. Tong been to the border before?"

Tong Chengxiang replied: "I have been to Youzhou twice, but I have never been to Liaodong."

"How do you feel about the border crossing compared to the mainland?"

"Well, the folk customs are simple and honest. Most of the people live their own lives guarding their ancestral land. There are very few cheating and sneaky people. Although the officialdom is somewhat corrupt, it is nothing compared to the capital.

As for the scenery, it is much more magnificent than the Central Plains. Xiaguan really likes the vast plains outside Tianlang Pass. Looking at it makes people feel heroic and can't help but look up to the sky and roar."

"Oh, I can't tell." Chen Yue said in surprise: "Master Tong is quite familiar with Youzhou."

"Well, that was decades ago. I went there a few times for official business, but I never went there again after resigning and returning to my hometown." The old man sighed.

"It's okay. I'm going to Liaodong now. You can enjoy the scenery of the frontier fortress." Chen Yue said with a smile.

"It has been fifty years since Liaodong fell into the hands of the Jin. I really don't know what it has become like now." Tong Chengxiang lamented.

"I heard that Mr. Lao had proposed sending troops to conquer Liao before he became Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs?" Chen Yue suddenly asked curiously.

This was a piece of gossip he heard from Xue Chengyi. He didn't know if it was true or not, so he remembered it today and asked him in person.

Tong Chengxiang nodded silently: "It's just a waste of words. It's okay not to mention it."

Chen Yue became more and more fond of Tong Chengxiang and said calmly: "Everything in the world is unpredictable. It is said that the old man is trapped in the party struggle and cannot move forward. Now he is the second-rank Liaodong Road Manager, so he can show his skills."

A flash of astonishment flashed in Tong Chengxiang's eyes. Prince Liang said the word "party struggle" so bluntly in front of him? Although party struggle is a fact, it is a bit strange to say it openly from the mouth of a vassal king.

.

Tong Chengxiang thought to himself: Could it be that King Liang regarded himself as his confidant?

Although Tong Chengxiang resigned from office many years ago, he still heard some rumors in the officialdom. They said that the Liang King in front of him had risen too fast and refused to be attracted by any force. He seemed to be a thorn in the side of many aristocratic families.

"Okay, let's stop chatting. I wonder how Lord Tong plans to govern Liaodong after entering Liao?"

Tong Chengxiang, who was thinking about it, heard Chen Yue ask this question, and quickly took out a booklet from his arms and said softly: "This is the important task of governing the Liao Dynasty that the old minister has drawn up today. I would like to ask the prince to read it."

"It turns out that the boss has already prepared it, so let me take a good look at it." Chen Yue happily took the book and started reading it.

While Chenyue watched, Tong Chengxiang said: "In short, the key tasks in governing Liaodong should be the following.

First: quickly restore the administration of officials, enforce the law, and erase the imprint left by the rule of the Jin people. What I mean is that Liaodong people should be the main ones to govern Liaodong, and vigorously select local scholars and officials to avoid dissatisfaction among the people of Liaodong.

Second: Develop people's livelihood, reduce taxes, and quickly restore the daily livelihood of people in Liaodong, mainly to allow farmers to have their fields and every household to have enough to eat.

Third: While accumulating food and grass, reorganize the army and recruit troops to prepare for war in case the Yan Rong invades in the future."

"Yes, Master Tong's books are all in line with my wishes." Chenyue read for a long time before closing the book and said softly: "Master Tong's entry into Liao is really a blessing for the people of Liaodong!"

Judging from Tong Chengxiang's policy on governing the Liao Dynasty, it is not unreasonable for this old man with no background or backing to become Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and he is indeed talented.

In terms of seniority, when Tong Chengxiang became Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, even Song Zhilu, the envoy of Beiliang Dao Jinglue, was still a minor official of the fifth or sixth rank.

Tong Chengxiang was moved for no reason, and he quickly bowed and said: "Your Majesty has given you too much praise, which puts a lot of pressure on me."

"Haha, sir, don't be so nervous. I will tell you the truth. As long as it is something that is beneficial to the people of Liaodong, I will give you the greatest convenience." Chen Yue said with a light smile.

Tong Chengxiang was stunned for a moment. He knew that Chenyue had several capable ministers in Liaodong, including Xue Leihan, Shen Xiufu, and Yao Qingfeng. These people were also talented people, and compared to an outsider like himself, those people could be considered the king of Liang.

confidant.

Originally, he thought that he, the Liaodong Road Manager, would be sidelined, but he did not expect that Chenyue would give him such great power.

Seeing Tong Chengxiang frowning and thinking, Chenyue said calmly: "I know what the boss is thinking in his heart. Please rest assured, as long as it is beneficial to Liaodong, I will never favor one over the other. But there is one thing I would like to ask Mr. Tong to do well.

Keep it in mind."

Hearing Chen Yue's tone suddenly turned serious, Tong Chengxiang's heart tightened, she bent down and cupped her hands and said, "Your Majesty, please speak clearly!"

Chenyue lifted the car curtain and glanced out the window, and said casually: "Liaodong is no better than the capital, and sooner or later it has to resist foreign humiliation, so I don't want overt and covert fighting to happen in the officialdom of Liaodong. What I need is an iron-clad Liaodong."

! What if someone stabs us in the back at a critical moment when the war starts? Tsk, tsk, that prince will never let us off lightly!"

Tong Chengxiang understood instantly, and he knew that Chen Yue had something to say: the first was to remind himself that after arriving in Liaodong, he could not engage in party disputes like the aristocratic families in the capital, and the second was to hammer on the idea that no one should be in Liaodong while pretending to be a certain aristocratic family.

, secretly conveying news to others.

"Master Tong, what I say is not only for your ears, but also for those officials who accompanied the Liao Dynasty." Chenyue said calmly. He knew that with the old man's mind, he could definitely hear the hidden meaning in the words.

Meaningful.

Tong Chengxiang's face also became solemn, and he said in a deep voice: "Since the prince has already said this, I, Tong, will also say something from the bottom of my heart. Party struggle is the thing that I, Tong, dislike the most. People above me

In the struggle for power and profit, it is the common people who suffer.

I, a child, am seventy-three years old, and I don’t have a few more years to live. My remaining wish in this life is to do something more for the people. If what I say is even half-false, I am willing to die miserably under the hooves of the golden man’s horse!”

"Hey, sir, be careful what you say!" Chen Yue felt that the tip of his nose was a little sore, and he helped Tong Chengxiang up and said: "We all serve the people wholeheartedly, why don't you live to be a hundred years old?

Are you worthy of the people of Liaodong?"

"Haha, yes, yes." Tong Chengxiang laughed: "Then let me borrow the prince's good words and I will live for a few more decades!"

Chenyue solemnly handed over his hand: "Master Tong, there are millions of households in Liaodong, and you are in charge. What I, Chenyue, can do is to personally command the cavalry and refuse to go north, so that the Yan army cannot move southward!"

Tong Chengxiang felt that his passion could finally be used, and he bowed his head and said: "I, Tong Chengxiang, the envoy of Liaodong Road Economics, will obey the prince's orders!"
Chapter completed!