The great success of the boat cannon quickly spread throughout the court, and the Minister of the Ministry of War also quickly got the news.

Today, he specially took time to meet with Xue Lince in private. Since the last time the two had a heart-to-heart conversation, their relationship has gradually warmed up.

Shang Shuxuan's location is in a tea house, the decoration here is elegant, and the air is full of the fresh and pleasant smell of Longjing, which makes the mouth water and tongue, which is very comfortable.

The two sat opposite each other on the floor, and Xue Lince poured tea into a fine porcelain cup. The teacup was crystal clear blue and warmed by the tentacles.

"Master Xue," Shang Shu tidied up his clothes, and some wrinkles accumulated on his face stained with vicissitudes of life, and sighed softly, "I heard that Master Xue's newly developed ship cannon has been a great success recently. I have a minister like you. , is the luck of the Central Plains."

He stroked his beard and laughed a few times, "The waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead, and I am also getting old. Before long, I should abdicate to let talented people."

"Master Shangshu is serious." Xue Lince's face was calm and calm, his eyes were like a pair of calm lakes with no waves, "Your official is just an insignificant courtier in the court. Lord Shangshu has been an official in the court for many years. My contribution It is not as good as your lord's one out of ten, how can you abdicate to make a virtuous person?"

Shang Shu suppressed the smile on his face, raised his hand to pick up the teacup, took a sip of tea and said: "Master Xue is still young, there are very few officials who can do what you are doing now, in the future you will The name will remain in history, I am getting old, I am afraid that no matter how hard I work in this life, it will be difficult to be promoted to a higher rank."

He said, and laughed at himself.

Seeing the other party's compliments, Xue Lince felt as if a huge rock was crushed in his heart, and he was a little out of breath. After thinking about it, he decided to tell the whole plan in his heart.

"To tell you the truth, my lord, I really don't plan to stay in the court anymore."

He spoke bluntly, Shang Shu was still smiling with his mouth open, but when he heard the words, he immediately closed his smiling face, blinked his eyes twice, a little unresponsive, full of doubts.

"What does Lord Xue mean by this?" He frowned with graying white, "But he is planning to return to Yuedong to be the magistrate?"

Without waiting for Xue Lince to answer, he said again: "My lord, why did you do this? But you can't worry about Yuedong? You don't have to worry about it. The Dongwa, who used to invade Yuedong all the year round, has made friends with the Central Plains. It won't happen for a while. Besides, Yue Dong also has many trusted followers of yours, so you can hand them over to them."

"No and no," Xue Lince interrupted him, "It's not about returning to Yuedong, nor is it about worrying about the coastal area, but I plan to resign and return to my hometown so that I can spend time with my wife and children."

Shang Shu was startled, his eyebrows almost flew up, "Is this true?"

"Really," Xue Lince nodded, his face was still calm and calm, and his voice was steady, "I am not above the court. In the past few years, the lady at home worked day and night. I was busy with official duties and rarely accompanied her. I feel guilty in my heart. Now the world is peaceful. , the current situation is smooth, the weather is smooth among the people, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and I have fulfilled my duties as an official, so I am thinking of resigning."

Shang Shu was holding the teacup, still surprised, his body was petrified, he stared at Xue Lince with rounded eyes, both surprised and puzzled.

"But..." It took him a while to react, and he stammered, "Lord Xue, it is time for the court to employ people, and you also know that after the incident with Liu Xiangyi, the emperor dismissed many of his associates in order to eliminate his followers. The officials who come and go in private, and the rest of the speakers often hold their own opinions. You are the emperor's right-hand man. Now that you are gone, what will happen to the court? What will happen to Jiangshan Sheji?"

"Your Excellency, don't worry," Xue Lince remained calm and calm when he spoke, "I am not the only one in the court, and the remaining officials are all ministers of the emperor. Besides, the imperial examinations have returned to normal now. Soon there will be new people in important positions, and I'm really not a big deal."

"No," Shang Shu suddenly became stubborn, "You are still young and have a bright future. Even if you want to retire, I will wait until I am old enough to retire. What the court wants is a young talent like Mr. Xue. I don't have any old people. Back off, you can't back off either."

He put on the airs of his immediate boss, which made Xue Lince a little at a loss. Jing Shan and Minister of the Ministry of War, neither of them allowed him to leave. He had no choice but to put this plan on hold for the time being.

The next day the court meeting ended, Shangshu went to the little emperor privately and told him about his desire to resign and return to his hometown.

The little emperor was very surprised, "But I'm not feeling well and I'm eager to return home? Otherwise, why would you want to resign?"

"No," Shang Shu saluted respectfully, "Your Majesty, the reason why I want to resign is because the servant wants to return home."

The little emperor was even more surprised, "Xue Aiqing also wants to resign? Why? If both the Minister of the Ministry of War and the Minister of the Ministry of War resign and return to their hometowns, who will take care of the affairs of the Ministry of War?"

Shang Shu shook his head again, "Your Majesty, I resigned from office because I thought I was old and should abdicate to make up for the virtuous. Mr. Xue is talented in both literary and martial arts, and has a quick mind. He is the talent needed by the Ministry of War. The position of the minister should be Let him sit."

This made the little emperor face a difficult situation, "Shang Shu and Shi Lang are both my ministers, and Xue Aiqing is still young, and I have only served as a minister for more than a year. If you abdicate to him, it will It is to let the other officials gossip behind their backs, and besides, he has only come to the capital not long ago, and he still needs you, the minister, to guide him a little bit."

The little emperor had a sad face, and his temples were throbbing with pain.

"The emperor means..."

Shang Shu was a little unresponsive, his gray brows squeezed between his brows, outlining a deep groove of distress.

"Now the imperial court is short of people." The little emperor changed his tricks to keep the two of them, "Although the imperial examinations have returned to normal, it will take two or three years to really select talents, so you can leave another one in the imperial court." How about two years? Besides, if you really think that Xue Aiqing should be promoted, I will see it, and you have a sense of proportion in your heart. You don't have to abdicate to give up the position, and you have not discussed this matter with Xue Aiqing in advance. If he knows that you abdicate to him , How does he feel in his heart? What do the officials of the Manchu Dynasty think?"

Shangshu pondered for a moment and thought for a long time. He really didn't want to leave the government and the people that much in his heart. Coupled with the persuasion of the little emperor now, his initial thoughts were shaken.

The air in the room was silent for a long time, Shang Shu had no choice but to agree with the little emperor, willing to stay in the court hall for a while, and did not go to see Xue Lince again.

The matter of the two resigning from office was put on hold for the time being, the little emperor turned the matter over, and the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty did not discuss it behind their backs.

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