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

Chapter 253 Dealing with Jiao Fang
Qin Hong left Huaihua Hutong in deep shock. Today, Chen Ce taught him a lesson, which made him, the Minister of Revenue, believe that there really are hidden gems among the people of the Ming Dynasty!

Zhu Houzhao pursed his lips and looked down on Qin Hong. He took so much knowledge from his little brother for free, but left in such a hurry without even a word of thanks.

"Little brother, let's continue discussing sketching. Next time, don't get in touch with this kind of person and teach him less knowledge. This old guy doesn't know how to be grateful and has no manners."

"Next time he comes to ask you questions empty-handed, kick him out."

Chen Ce: “…”

It still has to be you, my Prince.

Zhu Houzhao studied sketching here until the evening before leaving.

After the beginning of spring, the weather became a little warmer, but Tang Yin still hadn't returned from Suzhou Prefecture. This made Chen Ce feel a little strange. It had been so long, and he should have returned by then.

After dinner tonight, Chen Ce went to Shuntian Express to find Liu Hong and asked Liu Hong to find out why Tang Yin had not returned yet.

In the evening, the sunset glow of Tongji Canal is reflected on the calm lake surface. Walking along the embankment, the breeze blows, refreshing the heart.

"You sent the corpse in front of my house?"

At some point, Jiao Fang was already walking side by side with Chen Ce on the embankment. There were fewer people around them, probably because they had been cleared out by Jiao Fang.

Chen Ce glanced at him sideways and nodded calmly: "Yeah, yes."

"Does Lord Jiao recognize those people?"

Jiao Fang said calmly: "I don't think I have ever told you my identity?"

"Did the Crown Prince tell you that?"

Chen Ce did not comment. Now both of them understood each other tacitly and had thoroughly investigated each other's background.

Jiao Fang smiled contemptuously, "Do you think the Crown Prince can protect you? Don't forget, I am his teacher."

Chen Ce still spoke calmly and asked, "Master Jiao, where did you get this from? Why do I need the crown prince to protect me?"

"Isn't the head of the Ministry of Revenue also your dog? Now?"

Since the relationship has already been torn apart, there is no need for Chen Ce to be tolerant everywhere.

Jiao Fang was furious, and his voice was raised three points. He said, "Do you really think that this is all I can do?!"

Chen Ce sneered and shook his head, saying, "The connections and power accumulated over three dynasties certainly don't limit me to just this few means. I will continue to run into trouble and danger in the future, right?"

Jiao Fang sneered: "It's good that you know!"

Chen Ce asked: "What do you want me to do to be satisfied?"

Jiao Fang said indifferently: "Die!"

Chen Ce said: "Yes, but you should still have a few years to live. Let me make a bet, you will die before me."

"I'm actually quite surprised. You said that there was no direct conflict between you and me. You shamelessly took all the credit for my teaching the prince, and I never complained."

"Most of the six ministries in the cabinet think that the Crown Prince's change is due to your teaching, and you haven't denied it. Isn't that all good? Why do you suddenly want to fight to the death?"

"Because of your useless son?"

"Is it worth it to risk killing me for a piece of trash? This isn't some deep hatred. Besides, your son can't be helped. Just laugh it off. Why keep biting me?"

"There is still a chance now. You are already old. How about taking a step back and the world will be broader?" Jiao Fang sneered. "When you open your mouth, you are the crown prince, but when you close your mouth, you are the cabinet and the six ministries. People who know you think you are a poor and untouchable person from the alley, and those who don't know you think you are a minister in the court. Don't you think you are too arrogant? A bit too arrogant?"

Chen Ce smiled and said, "It seems that Lord Jiao is not going to let it go. Well, I was just joking... Well, because I don't plan to give up either."

"You're already riding on my face and trying to kill me. Wouldn't it be a bit of a coward if I didn't resist? Do you really think that you're old enough to bully the younger ones?"

"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish. So what if you're a veteran of three dynasties? Do you really think I can't kill you?"

Jiao Fang laughed out loud, as if he had heard the biggest joke of his life.

"Kill me? How? Complain to the Ministry of Justice? Use the Crown Prince to tell the Emperor? Is that possible?"

Chen Ce was also laughing: "Then wait and see, it should be soon, cherish your present life."

Jiao Fang's chest heaved. He was narrow-minded to begin with, and Chen Ce's words today had already made him sentence Chen Ce to death.

Chen Ce was no exception. He would not allow such a person to stab him in the back.

Fortunately, Jiao Fang is not an impulsive person. He did not ask anyone to take action this evening. Jiao Fang glanced at him coldly, but Chen Ce did not seem to care about this ridiculous threat, which made Jiao Fang feel frustrated as if he was punching cotton.

Looking at Jiao Fang's departing back, Chen Ce sneered and continued to walk alone along the bank of the Tongji Canal embankment, enjoying the evening breeze.

The New Year has passed, the Ministry of Revenue has finished measuring land, and it is time for Emperor Hongzhi to close the loop.

By the time Emperor Hongzhi closed the net, it was also the time for Jiao Fang to die. To deal with the large number of royal family princes, Emperor Hongzhi would definitely need to find someone to take the blame for him. What Chen Ce had to do was to guide Emperor Hongzhi to let Jiao Fang be the one to take the blame.

By then, with so many royal family members and princes in the world, wouldn’t they praise Jiao Fang?

……

Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi had already begun to make plans. Just as Chen Ce had expected, he was going to take action against the royal family and princes.

It was already time to light the lamps when Qin Hong found Emperor Hongzhi.

“Business reform?”

When Emperor Hongzhi heard that the Ministry of Revenue was going to reform the accounting method, he could still accept it. It was not until Qin Hong told Emperor Hongzhi about Chen Ce's theory of enriching the country through commerce and the pilot reform of commercial taxation that Emperor Hongzhi frowned slightly.

The inherent concept in recent years is that business does not bring much economic income to the country. Facts have proved this to be the case, so emperors of all dynasties did not attach much importance to business and set commercial taxes so low.

Qin Hong said to Emperor Hongzhi seriously: "Your Majesty, I have carefully thought about the theory of the boy in Huaihua Hutong. He is right. The Ming Dynasty should make some changes and find another way to enrich the country."

Agricultural taxation has reached its limit, and agricultural taxation alone cannot make the Ming Dynasty prosperous.

Moreover, Chen Ce's ideas were not radical. He also said that commercial reform could not be completed overnight, nor did it have to be promoted nationwide immediately. It could be implemented in a pilot area somewhere first.

This process is very complicated, as it requires careful consideration of everything from the upstream and downstream merchants, various bill bases, cooperation between local tax offices, regular and fixed-point inspections of commercial profits, etc.

Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a long time before he said to Qin Hong: "According to his idea, can commerce really increase tax revenue?"

Qin Hong didn't dare to guarantee it. After all, he didn't know how effective it would be. He could only say, "Your Majesty, I think it's worth a try."

Emperor Hongzhi nodded and said, "Then let's find a place and give it a try!"

(End of this chapter)