After reporting to the Ministry of Personnel and visiting the Right Chancellor's residence, Li Pin temporarily settled in the capital.

Theoretically, in a place like the capital, teeming with dignitaries and various privileged offspring, a mere seventh-rank county magistrate, even promoted, wouldn't attract much attention. However, thanks to Ning Yi's hospitality and that of the Right Chancellor's residence, he wasn't neglected in the following days. Instead, he was caught up in a constant stream of social activities, leading a fulfilling life. Among those who sought him out most frequently was Qin Siyuan's nephew, the sixteenth young master of the Qin family, Qin Shaoyu.

Speaking of Qin Shaoyu, his association with Ning Yi was merely a casual arrangement by Qin Siyuan. After Qin Siyuan's reinstatement, numerous relatives came to rely on him. Unable to refuse them all, he tactfully dismissed some while keeping a few of the relatively intelligent and ambitious young men by his side, Qin Shaoyu being one of them. However, in a place like the capital, wanting to make a name for oneself or keep up with Qin Siyuan's guidance couldn't be achieved with just a little intelligence. Due to the Chancellor's influence, Qin Shaoyu soon became lost in it, even mingling with popular figures like Gao Mu'en.

Qin Siyuan, upon learning of this, gave him a reminder. Fortunately, Qin Shaoyu, while in awe of his uncle, still possessed some self-awareness. Subsequently, Qin Siyuan arranged for him to entertain Ning Yi. Qin Shaoyu, knowing his uncle's favor towards him, observed diligently and was soon impressed by Ning Yi's actions. After Ning Yi settled in the capital, he often visited the Ning residence.

In fact, the Chancellor's residence was filled with numerous advisors and counselors, and intelligent people abounded, such as Yao Zunian, Ji Kun, Cheng Zhouhai, and even some of Qin Siyuan's other disciples. However, these individuals were either old, had moderate personalities, or were too sharp. Only Ning Yi was close to his age and could chat with him happily on many occasions. He admired Qin Siyuan and Ning Yi. After admiring them, he deliberately began to learn from Ning Yi.

A man always progresses by looking at another man's back. Qin Shaoyu was in such a stage. Of course, he couldn't learn Ning Yi's dominance and strategy. The beginning of imitation often involved learning mannerisms and speech patterns. However, after several conscious conversations with Ning Yi, he gradually found his own place.

He couldn't match these impressive people in terms of intelligence, but as a relative of the Right Chancellor, befriending them was relatively simple. During his interactions with Ning Yi and others, he still mingled in Bianliang's social circles, but instead of associating with Gao Mu'en and the like, he deliberately sought out circles of literati and celebrities, treating them with humility, engaging with them, and flattering some famous and talented scholars. Most importantly, he deliberately befriended young people whom Ning Yi and Qin Siyuan considered capable, especially Qin Siyuan's disciples and old friends.

He was from the Right Chancellor's residence. Even if his talent wasn't enough, when he wanted to express closeness, no one would dare to slap his face. As he associated with these people more and more, his demeanor and conduct gained some of the air of a celebrated nobleman.

Among Qin Siyuan's nephews, some also stayed in the capital, studying hard. However, in the past half-year, Qin Siyuan had become increasingly satisfied with him, praising his diligence. In the past two months, the highly connected monk Jueming, from the Chancellor's faction, would occasionally say a few words to him, offering guidance. After interacting with these people, his understanding of classics, poetry, and prose improved even faster than before.

Because of these reasons, Qin Shaoyu was now even more convinced of Ning Yi's abilities. After Li Pin came to the capital, Ning Yi had said, "This man is extremely talented and also good at his work." Qin Shaoyu then voluntarily took on the task of entertaining him, arranging outings, poetry gatherings, and banquets in brothels, showing great enthusiasm.

Li Pin was actually more skilled in this area and didn't reject these social interactions. The guidance of the Chancellor's son served as a stepping stone for him. Soon after, several poems at a literary gathering caused the former Jiangning talent to once again become famous in the Bianliang circle—at this time, his experience as an official had made him more mature and stable. If he had been vain and seeking fame like a young man in those early poetry gatherings, he now mostly experienced the prosperity and joy within, without excessively indulging in fame.

In fact, Bianliang had been in a state of jubilation recently, due to the news of Guo Yaoshi's great victory over Xiao Gan. From the private celebrations of high-ranking officials to the enthusiastic poetry gatherings and brothel activities of literati, and even the discounts and patriotic promotions of some merchants—including Bamboo Brand—the city's atmosphere was as lively as if it were New Year's.

If the recovery of Yanjing by Tong Guan, and subsequent victories, allowed some people to know the inside story, this victory dispelled all doubts about the "prosperous age" for everyone.

Xiao Gan, the Khitan King of Liao, was truly one of the central generals of the Liao Dynasty. Even when the Jurchens rose and swept across the north with overwhelming force, it was difficult to suppress his brilliance. He was the Prime Minister of Liao, the Great King of the Six Khitan Departments, and eventually controlled the Liao army, resisting the Jurchen invasion. Although most people verbally said that the Liao Dynasty was already vulnerable, when Guo Yaoshi actually killed this man in battle, the joy of the people truly erupted.

Li Pin was also immersed in this joy, getting to know some famous women in the capital with Qin Shaoyu, and also befriending several talented young people. This included the well-known Taixue student Chen Dong—however, Qin Shaoyu didn't like this guy because he had once visited and criticized Ning Yi for being unmotivated and unworthy of being a scholar.

The capital was a place of virtue, where complex affairs from all over the world converged. While feeling these atmospheres, he also considered the various things about being an official, including worries about the disasters in various places, how to distribute disaster relief next, how to stabilize rising grain prices, and after more than two years of contact with the grassroots, many ideas about enriching the country and strengthening the army, and even some suggestions hoping that the court would be more vigilant in dealing with Guo Yaoshi.

Of course, after becoming an official, what he felt every day was endless work. He considered these things, but he didn't necessarily feel that they were extremely urgent. Just like the angry youths of later generations worrying about national affairs, although sometimes they would say that the country was on the verge of ruin, in reality, the world around them was still spinning peacefully. If everyone was anxious about this, life would be impossible.

In private, he wrote several memorials and notes, preparing to submit them to the higher-ups when he had the opportunity, or to talk about them in front of Qin Siyuan. At the same time, he was also considering who exactly had summoned him to the capital this time—of course, it must be the Right Chancellor's faction—and what position he would be assigned to, and what the purpose was.

Qin Shaoyu didn't know these things, and Ning Yi didn't say them—Li Pin wasn't sure if he knew or didn't know. In his opinion, the possibility of Ning Yi not knowing was high. Because even if Ning Yi could speak in front of Qin Siyuan, as the Prime Minister of the Dynasty, it was impossible to tell a businessman who helped him with things about the arrangement of officials.

And for Ning Yi, his views weren't as extreme as Chen Dong's, but he had some sighs and regrets.

Recently, he had contacted Ning Yi several times, and Ning Yi was still kind and caring to him. Sometimes when he chatted with him about things when he was a county magistrate, and about the conditions of the people at the bottom, Ning Yi wasn't an ungrounded person, but in Li Pin's eyes, the other party obviously understood these things in order to do business—he didn't understand Ning Yi's ideas. At the beginning of their acquaintance, Ning Yi's operation of Songhua eggs amazed him, and he had also participated in helping, but these were, after all, small things. How could a great man focus on these things!

On the other hand, in Qin Shaoyu's many admiring words, he actually deepened this impression.

He was great at doing business, and now he was even helping the entire Chancellor's residence operate income. His methods were powerful, making enemies in the green forest terrified. His business methods were also emerging one after another, and various extravagant new products quickly swept the market. He knew about the expansion of Bamboo Brand, and this time living in the upper room behind Bamboo Brand, he could witness all of this more closely:

Beautifully packaged and adding expensive perfume and soap, the extravagance was probably dozens of times higher than the cost. A small jar of quail eggs was packed in exquisite porcelain bottles and could be sold for more than ten taels of silver, and it also claimed to add precious medicinal materials with the effect of prolonging life. The paper fans and bookmarks were priced shockingly high. Those large Bamboo Brand carts going out to the surrounding states and counties were promoting various valuable and strange things to wealthy merchants, and even the clothes and fabrics of his wife's Su family, which were said to have added careful design, did look beautiful and energetic, but adding a beautiful logo that supposedly symbolized "Su Ning" made the price scary, and it was said that a small part of the wealthy merchants even began to be proud of wearing such clothes.

These things, coupled with seeing Ning Yi's entourages when he went out several times, and the requirements and control of employees in Bamboo Brand, and what employee rules manuals they would read every day—this was simply the beginning of high-ranking families becoming tyrannical, greedy, and harboring private slaves and being exclusive. Although the methods were powerful, they weren't the way of a gentleman after all.

Before leaving the capital, he had to find a good time to advise Li Heng, so as not to fail the friendship.

The autumn sun shone brightly from outside the window, yellow leaves fell in the courtyard, and when someone came to toast him in the gathering of the Small Candle Workshop, what he thought about in his heart was still this matter, and then he smiled and raised his glass to respond.

At the same time this afternoon, Ning Yi led seven or eight guards, and rode into the backyard of the Right Chancellor's residence. Entering here, the rest of the guards dispersed, and only Zhu Biao followed into the inner courtyard. When he was almost at the courtyard where the Chancellor's residence usually discussed matters, he greeted Yao Zunian who came over from the side: "Lord Nian, how is it today? Is there any clue about the matter?"

Yao Zunian stroked his beard and smiled: "This morning's news, there is a result of the Fengshan battle. Guo Yaoshi defeated Kui Li, and is still expanding the results, but Xiao Gan's remnants have been swept away."

"Great." Ning Yi also laughed, "Being able to win this battle shows that it was not a fluke before. Add a meal tonight, my treat."

Since the war in mid-to-late July, a message came a few days ago that Guo Yaoshi and Xiao Gan's remnants, Kui Li, were facing off. This was already the last branch of the Khitan army under his jurisdiction after Xiao Gan's death. Guo Yaoshi had an advantage, but the opponent was still not to be underestimated. At this time, when the dust settled, Ning Yi and others were all sincerely happy. Although recently, the things they needed to be busy with and worry about were far more than that.

Ning Yi was still laughing here, and monk Jueming also came over there: "Adding a meal is a good thing, but I am afraid that after adding a meal, you will not be free all day."

"I had expected it long ago. It is better to have something to do than to have everything to do, but wait for the results." Ning Yi put his hands together and greeted monk Jueming with a smile.

Before long, everyone entered the study. The personnel included Yao Zunian, Ji Kun, monk Jueming, Ning Yi, and the other three advisors stationed in the Chancellor's residence. The seven people, plus Qin Siyuan, basically controlled the overall situation of the entire Right Chancellor's residence. Ning Yi was also brought in to participate in this kind of meeting because he showed strong operational ability and sufficient multi-line operational control. In the past, Cheng Zhouhai could also be counted as one. There are other talents in the Chancellor's residence, and some may be even more capable, but as talents specifically responsible for something, they are not suitable to participate here.

A country, thousands of people, so many things, the real people who are doing various things will not only be the Right Chancellor's residence. Now, in Li Gang's mansion, Cai Jing's mansion, Tong Guan's mansion...and so on, there is probably the same situation appearing, responsible for and worrying about various things. And on Ning Yi's side, and the Right Chancellor's residence, perhaps Guo Yaoshi's victory shocked the world, but in this recent period, what everyone is doing is far more than just paying attention to this side or celebrating for it. In order to cope with the entire world situation, internal and external troubles, there are many things that are hundreds or thousands of times larger than the business he is currently running, and they are being promoted non-stop.

Therefore, Qin Siyuan, who had just returned from the imperial city, only slightly expressed his joy, and then began to talk about the business.

"...This great victory in Fengshan has made many things clear, including what we have been operating before... The emperor's spirit is also good, and many things should be finalized later. Today in the hall, Tan Zhen acted quickly. He said that Guo Yaoshi was originally a famine refugee from Liaodong, and now he can have this victory, which shows that loyal and brave people are also in the grass. In order to prevent the Jin people from turning against each other in the future, he suggested recruiting Han people from Hedong and Hebei to form volunteer army. If the current bandits such as Tian Hu are loyal, they can also be recruited and surrendered. Grand Councilor Tong also supports this matter, and it should be passed soon."

After Qin Siyuan finished saying this, Ning Yi frowned slightly, and Yao Zunian said over there: "Grand Councilor Tong wants to retire, which is obviously one of them."

Monk Jueming sat aside and smiled slightly: "It was expected that Tong Guan wanted to retire completely, and Tan Zhen wanted to come up...But Li Heng, you have always believed that the Jin people would go south, and now there is one more guarantee, why are you still so serious?"

When he asked this, Ning Yi smiled, shook his head: "The area north of Yanmen Pass was originally the place of the Liao Dynasty. Guo Yaoshi surrendered, and it is no problem to give him food and salaries to recruit famine refugees to fight. The area south of Yanmen Pass was originally our own place. I always feel that it is not right to draw gourds according to the sample...But I don't know about military affairs, maybe it's a good thing."

Qin Siyuan nodded: "Actually, Li Heng is right, especially recruiting and surrendering Tian Hu and others, giving them a name is raising a tiger, Dong Pang'er is a lesson from the past, hum..."

Qin Siyuan's cold hum came from his own reason. Dong Pang'er was the leader of an uprising army who rebelled against the Liao a few years ago. He was defeated by the Liao people and surrendered to the Wu Dynasty. Tong Guan recruited him and regarded him as a merit in resisting Liao. Now he is serving as the Chenxuan Envoy in Hedong Road and has become a local harm. But such people can't be moved temporarily. That is Tong Guan's face. Over the years, especially in this recent period, Tong Guan has made great contributions to recovering Yanyun, plus Guo Yaoshi's victory, calling "There are talented people from generation to generation in the country," and wants to retire, leaving a good reputation. Qin Siyuan has been unhappy with Dong Pang'er and other guys for a long time, but he could not move him when he came to power, and now he can't move him.

Of course, with his cultivation, he just hummed at this time: "In any case, Prime Minister Li is in charge of foreign affairs, and most of us are responsible for domestic affairs after all. As Li Heng said, the north...it is always better to be prepared than not to be prepared. Now the emperor has also ordered to consolidate border defenses, and on the Shanxi side, he is also recruiting people who have surrendered from Ying and Wei. As for what we have to do, there are two main things currently, everyone has a number, one of which can be done, and the other, we have to wait for the attitude of Grand Tutor Cai and Grand Councilor Tong..."

Qin Siyuan tapped the table: "In the north, as we said before, the contact with Zhang Jue, the prefect of Pingzhou, can begin to turn clear. The Jin people have always violated the agreement and refused to return the land of Youyan. The emperor is also a little angry and said that he would show them some power sooner. Now that the Guo commander has defeated Xiao Gan, I believe it can also deter the Jin people. Zhang Jue has long wanted to lead Pingzhou to surrender to our dynasty, and now is the time. This is one thing in the north..."

"As for the other thing, it is even more difficult." Qin Siyuan paused, "The disasters on the north and south sides have been rescued, and the problem has just begun. Now that the grain prices are rising so fast, the local gentry and powerful families are involved. Ten out of nine disaster relief grains are stored in the disaster-stricken areas. In this way, no matter how much grain there is, it is useless, not to mention that it is necessary to guarantee the Northern Expedition. This year...nearly 60 million strings of cash are transported north. These wealthy families have paid a lot of money, and now they want to get back a little bit. I don't know what the result of the negotiation with Grand Tutor Cai and Grand Councilor Tong will be, and whether they can get their approval..."

"...But if not." Qin Siyuan's eyes swept over everyone, "We have to consider coming hard."