The host, Jian Yi, was the first to speak: "The national policy of relocation is led by the minister of state, assisted by the heads of various ministries, ministers, and the cabinet, and supervised by the Metropolitan Procuratorate. As for the factory guards... that is not something we can decide. What do you think?"
"Shang Shu's advice."
"The Metropolitan Procuratorate has no objection."
"The cabinet has opinions." Yang Shiqi took the lead in opposing, and Yang Rong and others echoed.
Jian Yi looked a little impatient: "What are your opinions?"
"The emperor said that this time it will be handled by the cabinet and the six ministries, and the cabinet is also qualified to take charge!" Yang Rong threatened, "Could it be that Minister Jian, dare not even listen to the emperor's words?"
There is no way, the status of the cabinet is too low, and it is impossible to continue the discussion without involving the emperor.
"That's what the emperor said, but he didn't say that the cabinet has the same powers as the six ministries!" said the Minister of Rites, "What are our identities, and what are your identities?
Do you really think that by being with the emperor all day long, you can pretend to be powerful?"
"Even so, I don't even think about how many pounds or taels I have." The Minister of Staff sneered.
Yang Shiqi glared at Jian Yi, "Jian Shangshu, is this how you manage your subordinates?"
"I don't need you to tell me how to manage my subordinates." Jian Yi picked up the tea cup, scraped the floating tea leaves with the tea lid, and took a sip: "Also, I don't bother to talk to people who have no reputation."
"You..." Yang Shiqi was almost going crazy, but this was the truth. His old face was as red as chicken blood.
Yang Rong grabbed Yang Shiqi and said with a smile: "As far as I know, Li Shangshu has no fame. Is there something in Jian Shangshu's words?"
Jian Yi's expression changed: "Stop sowing discord, are you worthy of competing with Li Shangshu?"
"Haha," Yang Rong sneered, "What are you pretending to be? Who knows that you people have been suffering from Li Shangshu for a long time, but you are not strong enough to dare to have an attack."
After a pause, he raised his hands and said: "Li Shangshu, you know that the cabinet originally advocates the national policy of relocating people, but they are forced by the situation, so how can they work hard?
It is better for this office to be overseen by the cabinet. These people do one thing today and another tomorrow. It only takes one day to go from opposing large-scale migration to approving it. Who knows if they will be in trouble again when they go to the local level to implement national policies?
Switch sides?"
"How outrageous!" The Minister of Rites was angry, "Your cabinet is so arrogant. A fifth-rank official repeatedly contradicts a second-rank official. It is simply unreasonable!"
"If we don't let people talk about matters, can we still call them discussions?" Yang Rong still tried to counter the anger, "Li Shangshu, if I were you, I would never cooperate with some villains."
"Li Shangshu, don't listen to the villain's instigation." Xia Yuanji said, he was also very angry, the cabinet was too arrogant.
Li Qing was calm and calm, he was thick-skinned and didn't take it to heart at all.
However, it was not a problem to keep arguing like this, so he said: "Well... let me say a few words."
The living room suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked at Li Qing, all of them were quite proud of him.
"First of all, I want to emphasize that during this relocation, officials are not allowed to implement national policies in their home provinces. This is to avoid suspicion. What do you think?"
"Li Shangshu's words make sense."
"Li Shangshu considers Zhou Xiang."
Li Qing nodded and continued: "As for who will be in charge... It's easy to say. Since the emperor said that the six ministries and the cabinet will jointly organize it, then let's jointly lead it;
In this way, it not only prevents the person who takes the responsibility from taking all the credit, but also prevents those who do not take the responsibility from becoming dissatisfied and maliciously smearing the work."
As soon as these words came out, the cabinet looked grim, and the six ministries were secretly alert.
Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji and others looked at each other, "Then let's do it according to Li Shangshu's method!"
…
After the main conflict was resolved, the next step was the details. Li Qing stopped expressing his opinions and just drank tea quietly and watched the two sides quarreling.
After arguing for more than an hour, the two parties reluctantly reached a consensus and broke up unhappy.
Li Qing went home humming a little tune, and met Yu Qian when he arrived at the door of his house.
"Why are you here?"
"I have met Li Shangshu." Yu Qian bowed and said, "I have been promoted to the rank of doctor in the Ministry of War."
"Oh, congratulations!" Li Qing said with a smile: "Let's go in and say it. When you come later, just go in and wait. You don't have to be so open to the public."
Yu Qian smiled dryly and said: "I won't go in. I'm here this time...to invite Li Shangshu to have a drink in his humble residence."
"Oh?" Li Qing saw that it was still early and agreed happily: "Why did you remember to treat me to a drink?"
"Isn't this a promotion?" Yu Qian smiled sheepishly, "I have always been under the care of Lord Shangshu. I have long wanted to express my feelings, but I am short of money. Uh-huh..."
Seeing his innocent look, Li Qing couldn't help but feel happy, "Let's go."
…
Yu Qian's home is very small, much smaller than Li Qing's original courtyard, and far away from the palace. It has only one wing, a living room, and a stove. The house is old and has the appearance of a dilapidated house.
"This house cannot be lived in for a long time." Li Qing said, "Now that you have been promoted to a doctor, your salary is much higher. Find someone to renovate it as soon as possible."
He didn't say he could lend money to Yu Qian, knowing that Yu Qian wouldn't lend it to him.
"Lao Shangshu is concerned, and I have written it down." Yu Qian made a gesture of invitation and said in a loud voice: "Madam, we have a visitor at home."
After a while, a woman in her mid-twenties and plainly dressed walked out.
"This is Li Shangshu." Yu Qian said.
"There is no need to be polite, Mrs. Yu." Li Qing spoke in advance.
The woman was very simple and a little dull, or maybe she was afraid of being rude and affecting her husband's career after seeing such a big official, so she looked at her husband in fear.
Yu Qian said gently: "Are the drinks and food ready?"
"Okay, I'll go get it done now." The woman nodded and said in a southern accent, "Please, sir."
Li Qing smiled and walked into the living room.
Not long after, the food and wine were served, both meat and vegetables, and the portions were generous.
Yu Qian raised his glass and said: "It's a simple meal, but I hope the Lord Shangshu won't dislike it."
"Haha... I'm not picky." Li Qing raised his glass and clinked it with him, and drank it all in one gulp.
After these years of getting along, the two of them have become very familiar with each other. This is why Yu Qian dared to invite Li Qing to a drink. If it were anyone else, he would not be able to shame him into letting them come to his small courtyard.
"Father." A three or four-year-old child came out of the back room, looking straight at the dishes on the table.
Li Qing tore off a chicken leg and handed it to him, "Here."
The little guy was a little afraid of this stranger wearing a mask. He wanted to eat but didn't dare to come forward.
"Mian'er can't be rude." Yu Qian's face darkened.
"Hey? What is this for?" Li Qing stood up and put the chicken drumstick into the little guy's hand.
The little guy swallowed and looked at his father.
Yu Qian said seriously: "What did dad teach you?"
"Thanks."
"Well, you're so good." Li Qing smiled and said, "Let's go play."
After the little guy left the house, Li Qing said: "The kid is growing, so he can't afford to eat less. You are a seventh-grade official, and you have a monthly salary of seven and a half stones. Your life won't be so poor, right?"
There are no servants at home, and a monthly salary of more than seven stones is enough for a family of three to have a good quality of life.
Yu Qian said sarcastically: "Didn't I just buy a house? The house prices here are a bit expensive, and my wife and children just moved here, so I spent a lot of money along the way."
Li Qing asked strangely: "Don't you have assets in your hometown?"
In this era, the real poor people could not afford to study. Yu Qian was able to become a scholar, promote people, and go to Beijing to take the exam, which proved that his family conditions were certainly acceptable.
"The family has some money, but I spent a lot on the imperial examination, and there are high officials at home who need support, so all the family property is left to my brother." Yu Qian explained, "You can't let me take all the good things, right?"
Yu Qian smiled and raised his glass: "The hard days will soon be over, Mr. Li, there is no need to worry."
Li Qing nodded, toasted and drank together.
After three rounds of wine and five tastes of food, the two of them unknowingly turned the topic to politics.
Yu Qian muttered: "Li Shangshu, I have something I don't know whether to say or not."
"Is it necessary to hide it from me?" Li Qing put down his wine glass, "Just tell me."
Yu Qian nodded and said solemnly: "Due to the challenge from the cabinet and the six ministries, the migration intensity will be unprecedentedly large. It can be said that it is a great good thing to implement this national policy before the sea actually opens;
But...the problem lies here too."
Yu Qian sighed, "In order to cater to the holy will, the cabinet and the six ministries will probably adopt some coercive or even violent means to implement national policies!"
"Well, you're right." Li Qing nodded.
"Then does Master Shangshu have a solution?"
"No!" Li Qing said truthfully: "As you just said: you can't let one person take all the good things, right?
The same goes for national governance!”
Li Qing sighed: "Just like building the Great Wall or building a canal, the parties involved will definitely suffer, but in the long run, these are good things that benefit the country and the people, right?
Building the Great Wall and opening the canal are construction, and the migration of people from the south to the north is also construction. It will bring hardship to one generation but benefit future generations. It is very cost-effective."
"Yu Qian, remember that any good national policy has its bad side." Li Qing warned: "When you are in a temple, you should not only focus on the immediate future, but also look into the long term;
Also, don’t be too idealistic about everything, as things in sages’ books cannot exist in reality!”