Regarding Xuzhou, or Huaibei, Shen Yi actually had many things to discuss with the current prime minister.
In other words, I have to ask for a lot of things from him.
Most of these things are specific requirements, but it is not easy to speak directly to the emperor because the matters are not too big.
With Chen Jing's authority, he can definitely make the decision.
That afternoon, Shen Yi stayed at Xiang Chen's place for almost half an hour before he stated his general requirements.
After he finished speaking, he looked at Chen Jing, lowered his head slightly and said: "Prime Minister Chen, that's about it. It's not a particularly big deal, but it is very important for the recaptured state capitals north of the Huaihe River."
Mr. Shen's face was calm, but very serious.
"The Northern Expedition is by no means an easy task."
"Jiankang is two thousand miles away from Yandu."
Shen Yi's voice was still calm: "In other words, if one day, the king of Dachen pushed to Yandu, and the baggage of Jiankang Hubu was sent there, it would have to go two thousand miles, and the people would probably spend ten percent of their money along the way. Seventy or eighty cents of food.”
"Therefore, if you want to make the Northern Expedition, you cannot use Jiankang as your rear."
Shen Yi paused and continued: "It should be that wherever we conquer, we should build the rear area."
"Xiang Chen is the pillar of the country and the prime minister of the imperial court. Naturally, he understands these principles better than the lower officials. Therefore, the construction of Xuzhou's capitals should be done without delay."
Chen Jing listened to Shen Yi's words quietly, and then he looked up at Shen Yi with a slightly complicated expression.
Because although he clearly saw the emperor's determination, he was also ready to become a loyal supporter of His Majesty the Emperor and began to pursue His Majesty's will for the Northern Expedition.
However, in the final analysis, this kind of behavior is mainly due to the situation and forced it.
In other words, deep down, he was still the same Chen Jing who had a pessimistic attitude towards the Northern Expedition.
Although he was ready to support Shen Yi, he was not ready to support him to this extent all at once.
After being silent for a while, Chen Xiang said slowly: "I have written down everything Zi Heng said. There are still two days before the New Year's Day. While the court is not sleeping, I will discuss these matters with several other prime ministers. ."
He smiled at Shen Yi and said, "I'll give Zi Heng an answer before the Lantern Festival."
Shen Yi nodded first, and then said: "Prime Minister, I would like to borrow your pen and ink."
Chen Jing was stunned for a moment, then he laughed dumbly: "Why, you still want me to write a written document for you?"
"That's not true."
Shen Yi lowered his head slightly and said: "When I entered the room just now, the Prime Minister said that he was old and lacked energy. Just now, I have been talking for half an hour. There are too many clauses in it. I'm afraid that I will bother you, so I will write to you." on the paper."
Write it down on paper, in black and white, so you won't be afraid that Old Man Chen will use the word "forget" to evade it when the time comes.
Although it was impossible to have two copies, but Shen Yi wrote it and Chen Jing read it, at least an invisible contract was reached between the two people.
If after half a month, old man Chen uses the excuse of forgetting again, it means that Chen Jing is not trustworthy.
Shen Yi will not pin anything on this prime minister in his future Northern Expedition.
Seeing what Shen Yi said, Chen Jing couldn't refuse. He could only point to the pen and ink on the table and said, "Zi Heng does what he wants."
Shen Yi was not polite and sat down directly.
Old Chen stood next to Shen Yi with a faint smile on his face: "Do you want me to grind the ink for you?"
Shen Yi quickly shook his head: "I don't dare to work for the country."
He quickly ground the ink, pressed the paper with a paperweight, and after thinking about it, he picked up the pen and started writing.
This writing lasted for a cup of tea and almost filled a page.
Of course, it was impossible to write down all Mr. Shen's demands on one page. He just wrote down some outlines and reasons, and it filled the whole page.
After finishing writing, Shen Yi read it carefully.
Because it was not a scientific examination, there were a few typos on the paper, and some added words, which didn't look neat. However, there were no errors or omissions in the overall content. Shen Yi put down the brush, dried the ink, then stood up and said: " We were short of time and didn’t have time to copy it down. Some of it is not very neat, so the Prime Minister will just take it as a draft and don’t be offended.”
After a pause, he lowered his head slightly and said: "If it doesn't work, I will go back and write a document and send it to the Prime Minister's Council Hall tomorrow."
Chen Jing picked up the piece of paper, looked at the writing on it that had the smell of iron and silver hooks, and then said: "The word Zi Heng..."
Mr. Shen was very humble: "The handwriting is illegible, which makes the Prime Minister laugh."
"very nice."
Chen Jing smiled and said: "Your handwriting is a bit like cursive writing."
Mr. Shen lowered his eyebrows and said: "There are a lot of things in the army, and there is no time to write slowly, stroke by stroke. As time goes by, it will naturally become like this."
Chen Jing put this piece of paper in the drawer and said with a smile: "Although I am not a calligrapher now, there is a hint of murderous spirit in the handwriting, which vividly appears on the paper."
"The word Ziheng has gradually developed its own style."
Shen Yi originally wanted to say a few words of humility, but after hearing his words, he suddenly became thoughtful.
This old man seems to have something in his words?
Self-contained style...Does it mean that he is going to form his own style in the court?
This thought only flashed through his mind. He did not pursue the question further, but smiled and said: "When it comes to writing, Chen Xiang's handwriting is much better than that of Xianguan."
After a pause, he added: "Furthermore, Brother She's handwriting is much better than that of the lower official, and he is often praised by his mentor."
Chen Jing patted Shen Yi on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Xiao Shen Tanhua's handwriting is naturally very good. I have seen his handwriting."
"The future is limitless."
Chen Xiang said with a smile: "The Shen family has two outstanding men. Now among the government and the public, it is gradually said that the big one is Shen and the little one is Shen."
“It’s really enviable.”
Mr. Shen quickly shook his head.
"The Prime Minister deserves the prize."
After the little old man chatted with Shen Yi for a while, he let Shen Yi leave.
After leaving this room, Shen Yi walked in Zhongshu Provincial Department and glanced at the main room of the meeting hall.
It was the twelfth lunar month of winter, and the stoves were all lit in the chamber. The doors and windows of the main staff room that should have been closed were now open. The two windows facing Shen Yi had been opened. The two prime ministers sitting by the window were watching. By Shen Yi.
Shen Yi also turned his head and looked at them.
On the left is Prime Minister Xie Min, smiling at Shen Yi.
On the right is Prime Minister Cui Yu, looking cold and expressionless.
The difference is that Cui Yu only opened half of the window.
Shen Yi nodded slightly to Xie Min, then without looking at Cui Yu, he put his hands in his sleeves and turned around to leave the front yard of Zhongshu.
Walking to the door of Zhongshu, he took his oil-paper umbrella from the clerk, held it and walked into the heavy snow, and quickly disappeared from the sight of the meeting hall.
Prime Minister Xie withdrew his gaze, looked at Prime Minister Yue Qian, who had left his seat and was standing in front of the window with his hands behind his hands, and said with a smile: "Our Northern Expedition coach from Da Chen is becoming more and more important."
Cui Yu also withdrew his gaze, closed the window, and said in a neutral tone: "He is the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Route Army of the Northern Expedition."
At this moment, even Cui Yu cannot deny that Shen Yi is already a serious official in the court.
You know, even Zaifu may not be worthy of the word "heavy".
Because among the five prime ministers, one or two will always be relatively marginalized.
Xie Min chuckled and did not refute. He said: "The coach of the East Route Army is also the coach."
At this time, Chen Jing happened to walk in. He looked around at everyone and said softly: "This coach needs a lot of cooperation from our council."
He handed what Shen Yi wrote to Xie Min first, and then sat back in his seat.
"Everyone, read it once and you're done."
"Let's discuss it."
Xie Min took it, glanced at it, and asked, "Did Shen Qi write it?"
Chen Jing said helplessly: "Otherwise, who else could be there?"
Only then did the old man put his eyes on the paper again and clicked his tongue.
"Nice handwriting."
………………
After leaving Zhongshu, Mr. Shen did not go home directly. Instead, he went to the roadside to make a pot of wine and asked the charcoal shop selling charcoal on the roadside to deliver a cart of charcoal to Dayifang.
Carrying wine and food, he came to Dayifang and found Mr. Gu alone in the private school.
During his return to Jiankang, Shen Yi visited him several times, but this was the first time he came after the heavy snowfall.
Shen Yi put down the food and wine and looked at the old man with a smile on his face.
"Drink some wine to warm yourself up."
Old Man Gu had the best drink in his life, so the master and apprentice sat down and exchanged cups. Unknowingly, their faces and ears were warm from the drink.
Shen Yi filled the old man's glass with wine and asked, "Master Gu, has she still not come to see you while I've been back to Jiankang?"
"No one gave you anything?"
Old Man Gu shook his head slightly and exhaled a breath of alcohol: "She is in the palace and it is inconvenient to get in and out."
Shen Yi narrowed his eyes.
It is naturally inconvenient for ordinary palace people to come and go, but she is already a noble concubine, so it is not too difficult to go out.
However, Shen Yi didn't say it clearly. He just offered the old man a glass of wine and said softly: "It's okay if she doesn't come. Master Gu can also be clean."
The old man's drunken eyes were hazy. He looked up at Shen Yi and let out a long sigh.