Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 228 The Road to the Southwest
Inside the main hall, the lights stay on from dusk till nightfall.

Jiao Fang stood outside the hall trembling. Without the emperor's order, he could only stand there.

This defeat in the southwest will surely boost the morale of the chieftains. If they take advantage of the victory to invade the surrounding towns in the southwest, it will undoubtedly be another disaster for the Ming Dynasty.

It’s not that Qian Yue can’t lose, but he must not lose in such a shameful way!

If this battle gives confidence to the chieftains led by Milu, how should the southwestern prefectures respond?
Emperor Hongzhi suppressed his anger, knowing that now was not the time to hold anyone responsible, and asked the Cabinet and the Ministry of War, "How should we end this now?"

Originally, he was confident in mobilizing 50,000 troops to attack Milu. Jiao Fang also guaranteed that Qian Yue would win, and Qian Yue said with certainty that he knew the southwest very well.

An army of 50,000 was actually defeated by a group of losers and 3,000 men were lost. How could a great country keep its dignity?
What do foreign countries think of the Ming Dynasty’s military strength?

That’s all for now. How should we solve the problem of the chieftains in the southwest? What if they expand to the point of being out of the control of the Ming Dynasty?

A series of issues required decision-making by Emperor Hongzhi.

Minister of War Ma Wensheng cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I suggest that we should focus on appeasement."

Li Dongyang said: "Now that we have been defeated, if we try to appease those chieftains now, they will only become more demanding. The Ming Dynasty is already in financial difficulties. How much money do we need to appease those chieftains in the southwest?"

Liu Jian pondered for a moment and said to Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, we still have to bite the bullet and fight on. We have to win the war anyway to appease the chieftains in the southwest."

Only in this way can the cost be minimized.

"Who can take on this important task?" asked Emperor Hongzhi.

But once these words were spoken, everyone fell silent. No one dared to make a recommendation. Most importantly, no one knew who to recommend to lead the war in the southwest.

"Go and call Jiao Fang in."

Emperor Hongzhi spoke to the outside world. Jiao Fang was already frozen to the point of being unrecognizable. He said to Emperor Hongzhi with a terrified look on his face: "Your Majesty, I am ashamed!"

"Qian Yue failed this time. I made an inappropriate recommendation. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Emperor Hongzhi snorted coldly and said, "Forget it. Now that things have come to this, there is no point in talking any more."

"But as you said, if you make an inappropriate recommendation, you must take responsibility. I will deprive your son of his status as a student of the Imperial Academy."

Everyone looked at each other.

This isn't right.

Jiao Fang failed to fulfill his duty, so why did his son suffer an unexpected disaster?
The three old foxes in the cabinet looked at each other, afraid that Jiao Fang's son had somehow offended the emperor or the prince?
Otherwise, why would the emperor bother so much with a junior for no reason?
……

Jiao Mansion.

It was not until late at night that Jiao Fang returned home exhausted and immediately woke up Jiao Huangzhong who was sleeping soundly.

Jiao Huang said with a slight complaint: "Dad! I have classes in the Imperial College tomorrow."

Jiao Fang was so angry that she said, "There are still some classes! You don't have to go to the Imperial College anymore."

Is there such a good thing?
Jiao Huang said excitedly: "Dad, this is what you said!"

Jiao Fang said angrily: "How dare you be so happy? Your status as a student of the Imperial Academy has been taken away by the Emperor."

Jiao Huangzhong was stunned for a moment. Not going to the Imperial College and being deprived of the honor of being a student of the Imperial College by the emperor were two different things.

The latter will undoubtedly make the Jiao family lose face.

"Why? Dad, have you offended the emperor?" Jiao Huangzhong looked puzzled. "How can I live in the capital from now on?"

"I can quit school on my own, but I can't quit school because of your Majesty's order. It's too embarrassing!"

Jiao Fang said indignantly: "Are you a pig? Even if I have a grudge against the emperor, will the emperor punish a junior like you?"

"What have you done to the Emperor? Or have you ever offended the Crown Prince?"

Jiao Huangzhong said speechlessly: "Dad, you think too highly of me. How can I be qualified to see the emperor?"

"It's impossible for the prince!" Jiao Fang looked puzzled. It didn't make sense. Why would the emperor take his anger out on Huang Zhong for no reason?
Jiao Huangzhong said hurriedly: "Dad, please ask the emperor to withdraw his order. I will take the initiative to stop studying."

Jiao Fang's mouth trembled with anger: "Get lost!"

"idiot!"

Who do you think you are? Are you the emperor emeritus? You want the emperor to take back his order. Why don't you go to heaven?
……

Youchunfang Youyude Palace.

This morning, a young man holding an umbrella came to the outside of the palace. The boy was gentle and polite, and said, "I'm looking for Wang Shouren."

Menzi asked, "Who are you?"

"Chen Ce."

The doorman asked Chen Ce to wait for a moment, then turned around and went into the mansion. Soon he came out to welcome Chen Ce in.

Wang Shouren was having breakfast with Wang Hua. When he saw Chen Ce, he asked, "Have you had breakfast?"

"Let's eat something together."

Wang Hua was somewhat curious about Chen Ce's identity, and thought he was just a classmate of Wang Shouren, so he nodded to Chen Ce.

Chen Ce bowed and said, "Greetings, Lord Wang. Sorry for bothering you."

Wang Hua smiled and said, "It's okay, please sit down."

Chen Ce thought about it and sat down, but did not have breakfast.

"Is there something you want to talk to me about?" Wang Shouren asked Chen Ce curiously, and did not forget to introduce him to Wang Hua, "Father, he taught me how to make the movable pulley."

Because of the movable pulley incident, Wang Shouren was eventually transferred to the Ministry of War, and was promoted from an observer to an eighth-rank clerk in the Ministry of War.

Wang Hua glanced at Chen Ce in astonishment.

Wang Shouren continued, "He was also the one who came up with the two couplets in Wanggong Temple."

Wang Hua was even more surprised.

Chen Ce didn't care and waited quietly for Wang Shouren to finish his breakfast.

Wang Shouren knew that Chen Ce had something to talk to him about alone, so he quickly finished his breakfast and followed Chen Ce towards the villa.

Chen Ce then spoke to Wang Shouren, "Last night on my way back from Chengqingfang Street, I saw a cavalryman hurrying towards the Imperial City. He must be delivering intelligence."

Wang Shouren said, "So?"

Chen Ce said: "Please go to the southwest. There is a high probability that the army in the southwest has been defeated. The court is short of people. It is a perfect opportunity for you to go to the southwest now."

Wang Shouren smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Chen thinks too highly of me. I am only a lowly official in the Ministry of War."

Chen Ce said: "No one dares to take this task right now."

Wang Shouren frowned and said, "You seem to be sure that the Southwest will lose? Maybe it's a victory? And why do you think I have the ability to conquer the Southwest? I don't have the confidence myself."

Chen Ce said: "Knowledge and action are one. You have studied so many things and made so many reflections, but if you don't put them into practice, then your studies will be meaningless."

Wang Shouren was stunned and swallowed his saliva. When he heard the words "unity of knowledge and action", he was stunned for a moment.

Why is it that every time he says something, it seems like it's exactly what I'm thinking, and I can summarize it just a little bit away, but he's always one step ahead of me?
Wang Shouren breathed rapidly and said, "Even if I have confidence, no one will allow me to go to the southwest."

Chen Ce said: "I'll recommend you! As long as you are willing!"

Wang Shouren was the key figure in his pacification of the southwest and the reform of the native system. He had to get involved, otherwise Chen Ce would not have taken the initiative to find him.

(End of this chapter)