Some people leave, and others come.

On the evening of the day Liu Baoyuan left, Cheng Dingkang, director of the Northern Reconstruction Committee, also came to visit.

As he came from the Zuo Mu family, of course he had to visit Zuo Zongtang before he retired.

Unlike Liu Baoyuan who was obsessed with becoming an official, Cheng Dingkang was relatively indifferent to these things. After meeting Zuo Zongtang, he reported mostly on the reconstruction of the twelve northern provinces.

Most of what they talked about was business.

After chatting for a long time, Cheng Dingkang said.

"Where do you plan to go after you retire? Nanhua or Yingtian?"

"His Majesty has left me a house in Yunding."

The seemingly casual remark made Cheng Dingkang's heart tremble. Genting... What is that place? It must be a royal villa. What does it mean that His Majesty left a house there for the Left Prime Minister?

Your Majesty’s favor never diminishes, and your honor and favor last forever!

"Your Majesty still can't bear to part with the Prime Minister."

Cheng Dingkang said while sighing.

"But it's good to be in Genting. If I have any questions in the future, it will be convenient for me to visit you."

"Haha, you!"

Shaking his head and laughing, Zuo Zongtang said.

"I'm afraid you may have the heart but not the time in the future."

"Why did you say that, Lord?"

Cheng Dingkang was puzzled.

"The twelve northern provinces have basically settled down now, but we are just having some trouble with some reconstruction matters."

In the four years that Cheng Dingkang has presided over the reconstruction committee, he can be said to have an iron fist, killing those who were killed, imprisoned those who were imprisoned, and exiled those who were exiled. Although there are still some guerrillas in the rain forest, their influence is not worth mentioning at all. Now that the twelve northern provinces have entered a period of comprehensive construction, he, as the director, has certainly had a lot less time.

"After Yingjiu and I retired, two cabinet ministers were vacant. After Qian and Fang took over, one position was still vacant."

After a pause, Zuo Zongtang said.

"They are all first-generation immigrants and are close followers of Your Majesty. If they are in charge of both the Prime Minister and the Assistant, it will be somewhat inappropriate. So we need to choose someone else, otherwise the imperial government will be dominated by one person."

Cheng Dingkang couldn't help but admire the fact that the left prime minister had thought so carefully about such a matter.

"That is indeed the truth. Your Majesty may have someone in mind."

Zuo Zongtang said after taking a look at Cheng Dingkang in front of him.

"Get ready to come to Zhongdu!"

"What? Come to Zhongdu?"

Cheng Dingkang was stunned and hadn't reacted yet.

"Yes, that's right, let's come to Zhongdu!"

Zuo Zongtang stood up, patted Cheng Dingkang on the shoulder and said.

"Remember when I asked you to go to Brazil for an inspection? Well, Diquan. It's time to come back!"

When Zuo Zongtang asked Cheng Dingkang to go to Brazil, he had already made corresponding arrangements for him. In the past few years, what he had done in the twelve northern provinces was obvious to all. It was because of this that he had the opportunity to catch the attention of His Majesty.

Now is the time to come back.

"Ah! Lord Prime Minister, this, this..."

The sudden surprise made Cheng Dingkang speechless for a moment. After a while, he stood up and bowed.

"I would never be able to repay the Left Prime Minister's kindness even if I were to be torn to pieces."

"You are employed by His Majesty. From now on, do your job well! Okay, before returning to Huizhou, go meet His Majesty first!"

After personally escorting Cheng Dingkang out of the house, he watched the car leaving.

Zuo Zongtang first sighed, then smiled, but did not speak again. He squinted his eyes and looked at the sky. It was already dusk, the clouds were dark, the shadows of the trees were bleak, and a breeze blew from the front, blowing the branches of the trees in front.

After a long time, Zuo Zongtang took a deep breath, then turned around and walked into the house.

…

About a month later, Wang Youling wrote a letter to resign. According to the old Chinese custom, Emperor Zhu was determined to retain him. Then Wang Youling wrote another letter to retain him.

It was possible to do it once or twice, but not three times. After Wang Youling submitted his petition for the third time, Emperor Zhu had no choice but to issue an imperial decree to allow him to retire. The day after his retirement, Fang Zhanbo, the Minister of the Interior, received an imperial decree to serve as an assistant minister.

Three days later, Cheng Dingkang, director of the Northern Reconstruction Committee, was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of the Interior. Upon hearing the news, Wang Youling, who had just retired, was stunned for a long time before he sighed.

"Zuo Jisheng is very clever!"

The reason why he sighed like this was because Cheng Dingkang came from the "Zuo Mu". Zuo Zongtang stepped down, but someone from his "Zuo Mu" entered the cabinet. Isn't this a good trick?

"Prime Minister, speaking of which, Cheng Dingkang is also a person who is deeply trusted by His Majesty. Whether in Shanxi in the past or in Brazil in recent years, what he has done is obvious to all."

As a person promoted by Wang Youling, Li Qingen was the first generation of overseas students in the Ming Dynasty. As the Minister of Law, he had studied in the UK and was a typical "British-knowledgeable" person in the Ming Dynasty.

"It's obvious to everyone!"

After a moment of hesitation and a glance at Li Qingen, Wang Youling said.

"It looks like you may have to wait a few more years."

The Ministry of Justice is also an extremely important department. If the Ministry of the Interior is vacant, it is normal for the Minister of Justice to take over the Ministry of the Interior. Before this, Wang Youling had tested His Majesty, and His Majesty did not object to Li Qingen taking over the Ministry of the Interior.

"Sir, I am already sixty years old!"

Li Qingen shook his head and said.

"I'm afraid there's no hope of ever joining the cabinet in this lifetime."

Retiring at the age of seventy, he is already sixty years old, and those prime ministers are younger than each other! Ten years... when their terms are up, he will be seventy years old. He will still join the cabinet? What good things are he thinking!

So, don't think about it anymore.

Looking at Li Qingen who seemed somewhat disheartened, Wang Youling sighed and said.

"Well, come to think of it, I miss Shanxi very much now. When I first arrived in Taiyuan, there were not many people around me who could help me. You had just returned from studying abroad..."

Seeing that the Prime Minister took the initiative to change the topic, Li Qingen did not continue to talk. Since there was no hope, there was no need to think about it anymore. The two chatted for a while, and finally Wang Youling said.

"I plan to return to Nanhua in three days."

"I will definitely go and see you off when the time comes."

Nodding slightly, Wang Youling said.

"If we have time in the future, let's meet in Nanhua!"

Three days later, many officials came to the platform of Zhongdu Railway Station, including Li Qingen, a minister, and Zuo Zongtang.

Holding Wang Youling's hand, Zuo Zongtang opened his mouth but no words came out. Not only had they been partners for many years, but their fates were also extremely similar. After all, they had both been governors of Zhejiang, and were both captured and "sold" to the Ming Dynasty. Who would have thought that they would both become prime ministers of a country later.

A month later, Zuo Zongtang submitted a letter of resignation, marking the end of an era...

I wish you all a happy Little New Year! I have created a book club: 335260551. Welcome everyone to join and discuss the plot together.