The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

At this time, the main gate of the Duke of Ying's mansion had already been opened, and the gatekeeper of the mansion was waiting at the door.

After seeing the carriage and guards of King Jingyang, he quickly asked another gatekeeper to go to the courtyard to report the news.

Li Ji and his wife went to the front yard to greet them in person.

Li Fu, surrounded by the servants of the Duke of Ying's mansion, entered the house through the wide-open main gate.

When he came to the front yard, Li Ji and his wife were standing there, waiting for Li Fu.

"Greetings to King Jingyang."

"Duke Ying, Madam Guo." Li Fu bowed his hands and saluted.

Li Ji and his wife hurriedly stepped aside slightly to show respect.

"Your Highness, please come in." Li Ji politely led Li Fu into the hall.

The kitchen yard of the Duke of Ying's mansion was busy early in the morning.

Today is King Jingyang's visit, and everyone in the mansion knows that King Jingyang is the future son-in-law of the Duke of Ying's mansion. This is his first time to eat at the mansion, so he can't be neglected.

Li Fu and Li Ji entered the hall and sat down.

During the conversation, they talked about the recent events in Chang'an City and the affairs of the court.

The most sensational thing recently was the court's plan to lay off officials.

When the Lady of the Duke of Ying saw her husband and future son-in-law talking about court affairs, she stopped interrupting and found an excuse to leave first.

"At the banquet in the palace yesterday, I saw that some old ministers looked unhappy. They didn't even want to maintain the stability on the surface." Li Ji said with emotion: "Your Highness, your marriage with my daughter has been decided, so I won't treat you as an outsider."

Li Fu nodded.

"Whatever you want, Duke Ying, just say it."

"This time the court is laying off officials. In fact, many people have come to me through connections, but I didn't agree to them. The matter has been handed over to Fang Xuanling. Changsun Wuji's position as the right servant has come to an end. Now, these officials who came to Chang'an City are even more worried. Your Majesty, will he lay off those people in the Wude Dynasty?"

Li Fu frowned, then shook his head.

"That's not the case. When I was in the palace, I was present when your Majesty discussed this matter with Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji." Li Fu said, "Duke Yingguo, your idea should not be so radical."

"How many officials are there in the Tang Dynasty? And how many officials are really doing things?"

"Wude has been around for nine years, and Zhenguan has only been around for two years. Ninety-nine percent of the officials in the court started working in the Wude Dynasty. How many officials were newly promoted in the Zhenguan period? Only a minority.

If all the officials in Wude are dismissed, will the court still be the court?"

"What needs to be dismissed are the redundant staff who only eat salaries but do not do anything. Everyone knows the current situation of the Tang Dynasty, and everyone understands your Majesty's thoughts."

"If we don't dismiss redundant staff and save expenses, we can fight in the grasslands and pacify the Turks. How many years do we have to wait?"

"Your Majesty can wait, and everyone can wait. How many years can the older military officers wait?"

"Wait for ten, twenty, or even thirty years. The national strength of the Tang Dynasty has recovered, and all the military equipment and food are ready. Will the Duke of Ying still be the Duke of Ying today in thirty years?"

"Instead of letting these redundant staff occupy the positions of the court and consume the money and food of the court, it is better to lay them off. The saved expenses can be used in other places to play a greater role." Li Fu said: "It is right that the Duke of Ying did not get involved in this matter. If he has time, the Duke of Ying might as well change his clothes and go to the taverns and teahouses in Chang'an City to see who those who oppose the court's assessment of officials are."

"Have you been there?" Li Ji asked curiously.

He remembered that when His Majesty announced that this matter would be handed over to Fang Xuanling, it was the court meeting that day, and Li Fu was also present.

Li Fu, the King of Jingyang, would not go to court for no reason...

Li Fu nodded.

"I've seen that those who have no ability jump the highest and jump the most happily. They think that they will be safe only if they can win over more people to stand with them and talk.

Many people are thinking of muddying the waters and letting this matter go."

'Such people are of no use to the court. In the past two years, the court has needed money and grain in many places. Disasters have continued in various places. One by one, they report to the court and ask for money and grain. The court can't ignore it. "

It is also because Li Ji is his future father-in-law, so Li Fu wants to remind Li Ji.

Officials who come to ask for help can just evade it, and must not be confused about such a big thing because of the past.

In Li Fu's memory, Li Ji will definitely participate in the battle to destroy the Eastern Turks, but apart from this, Li Fu doesn't know anything else, even he himself is not sure. Now, how many things are still developing according to the original trajectory, and how many things have already happenedchanges.

Therefore, it is better to let the future father-in-law be more cautious.

After the destruction of the Eastern Turks, the status of the Duke of Ying will remain unchanged for a long time in the future.

At noon, Li Fu stayed to have a meal. Li Shao and Li Zhen were also there. During the meal, Li Fu could not help but secretly communicate with Li Shao.

Blame it on innocence.

As Li Zhen is Li Fu's brother-in-law, Li Fu has brought gifts to his brother-in-law when he visited him.

If you want to get a marriage, you have to coax your father-in-law and mother-in-law, and your brother-in-law is the top priority.

Li Fu did not ignore any of them.

And Li Shao, the main person, Li Fu asked his son to carefully select a set of precious headwear from the major shops in Chang'an City and gave it to Li Shao.

Although I know that my future daughter-in-law is both civil and military, I can't always send weapons.

Send military books?

The father-in-law is a living military book.

After the meal, several people sat in the hall for a while.

"What plans does Huairen have after the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

After this meal, the relationship between the two sides became closer, no longer as serious as when they talked about serious matters just now.

Li Ji also changed the address of Li Fu from His Highness to Huairen.

The identity of the father-in-law was set in stone.

"The things on the manor are not finished yet, I must go back to the manor." Li Fu said: "The academy has just started, and I have to take care of it."

"Huairen is very concerned about the academy." Li Ji asked in surprise.

"Yes, teaching and educating people, enlightening the children on the manor, and teaching them to learn more skills is also a merit." Li Fu responded with a smile.

Speaking of the academy on the manor, the wife of the Duke of Ying also had something to say.

"The last time I went to Zhuangzi Shang, although the academy was not yet completed, it looked almost finished. The academy was really large..."

Although I talked about it with my husband last time, when I think about it now, I still praise Zhuangzi Shang.