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

Chapter 256: Cut the grass at its roots!

On the twentieth day of the first lunar month in the thirteenth year of the Hongzhi reign, all the princes and vassal states in the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty fell into collective silence.

After the meeting in front of Emperor Hongzhi, the fate of the royal family and princes was already determined. It was also destined that they would make concessions, give up their salaries and maintain their existing interest structure.

These pampered princes are not fools. They naturally know what decision is best for themselves.

It is impossible to expand territory in the southwest. Now the best choice is to accept the advice of Emperor Hongzhi and give up asking the royal family for salary.

As for future salary, we can only plan for it slowly. After all, no one knows what the future will be like.

It seemed that Emperor Hongzhi won this layout, but the hidden dangers of the royal family and vassal states still existed and had not been completely resolved. However, a few decades or even more than ten years of breathing space was enough for the financial development of the Ming Dynasty.

It was also on this day that a letter from Peking was delivered to Prince Xing of Anlu, Huguang.

This was sent by Chen Ce to Prince Xing Zhu Youlang, describing how Jiao Fang colluded with the Miao assassins from Sichuan and Shu.

Although Jiao Fang bribed these people to secretly kill Chen Ce, and although Chen Ce also said so to Prince Xing, it didn't matter.

As long as the princes and vassals changed their thinking a little, for example, if Jiao Fang colluded with the Miao chieftain to prepare for a rebellion, they could easily kill Jiao Fang.

Jiao Fang has now undoubtedly become a thorn in the eyes and flesh of all the vassal states. Among the tens of thousands of vassal states and dignitaries, there are those who want to kill Jiao Fang.

Chen Ce just added a little fuel to the fire.

The weather was a little warmer. It was the same place, the same people. Chen Ce and Jiao Fang walked side by side along the embankment of Tongji Canal. However, this time Jiao Fang was no longer as high-spirited as before. After not seeing him for a few days, he looked much older, his eyes were cloudy and lifeless, and his spirit was listless.

"How can you let me go?"

Jiao Fang's voice was a little hoarse. He didn't want to die yet, and he didn't want to let the Jiao family become lonely.

He knew that the only one who could save him now was Chen Ce.

The emperor wanted him to take the blame, and the princes and vassals all over the world wanted him to die. This move of Emperor Hongzhi made Jiao Fang the target of public criticism. He thought about it for several days, exhausted all means and wisdom, but could not find a way to break the impasse. He had no choice but to find a strategy here.

But this time he begged Chen Ce to show mercy in a dejected manner.

Who wouldn't be dumbfounded after hearing this? Who would dare to imagine that a man who had served for three dynasties and whose disciples were all over the world would actually beg a young man from the market for help?
Chen Ce paused, the sunset glowed on his handsome face. He was still as calm and gentle as usual, but the words he spoke were extremely sinister.

"Let you go? Why?"

Chen Ce was still smiling, a light smile, and said to Jiao Fang: "I told you that you will die before me."

"You had a chance to stop. I reminded you, but you didn't listen. You always regret it when the time comes. There are too many people like this in this world."

"They always think they are extremely powerful and treat everyone as an ant. They are confident that they can control everything. Only when danger approaches will they feel afraid and realize that even an ant can shake a tree."

"Do you know why there are such people?"

Jiao Fang was silent.

Chen Ce sneered, "Because they are used to bullying ants, and because no one has ever successfully resisted, they naively think that they can be invincible in this world and can trample and humiliate those weaker than them at will." "Really? Lord Jiao?"

"How many people has your son killed? How many girls has he raped? How many dirty things has he done?"

"He is just a waste. Because he was born into a good family and is your son, he can let his relatives take the place of others as juren and become local officials. Aren't there many such petty and despicable things?"

Jiao Fang was stunned for a moment, and asked in astonishment: "How did you know..."

Chen Ce said, "How should I know? Your son said it himself. He said it after drinking. Why did he dare to say such a thing? Because he was sure that with his father around, no one could control him."

"What about you? How many dirty things like this have you done?"

"You hired a few Miao people to kill me... If I were just an ant, I wouldn't even be qualified to stand here and talk to you."

"Oh, by the way, I have already written a letter to inform Prince Xing Zhu Youlang about your hiring of Miao people to kill me."

"Do you think this vassal will use this to make a fuss? For example, you colluded with the Miao assassins to rebel? Attempted to assassinate the emperor?"

Jiao Fang sucked in a breath of cold air and said tremblingly: "You are talking nonsense! You are framing me!"

Chen Ce said calmly, "It doesn't matter. Who cares if it's a frame-up? The emperor must push you out to appease the anger of the princes and vassals. This is just an excuse. The princes and vassals know it, the emperor knows it, and the six ministries of the cabinet all know it."

"Everyone knows that you were wronged, but in order to appease the public anger, you have to die."

"Look, I've told you long ago that we don't have any deep hatred. You're a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and I'm a commoner. We shouldn't have any intersection. If you have a broad mind and a big vision, you shouldn't be on the same level as a commoner like me."

"This way, we can live in peace."

"But you always think that people like us are easy to bully, and you are used to destroying people like us in a snap of your fingers, which is true. But didn't the ancients say that when a common man gets angry, blood will splatter five steps away."

"I was afraid of getting into trouble. Do you know Lin Mianzhi? I didn't provoke him at the time. I had nothing at that time. He was just like you, thinking I was easy to bully. I killed him with my own hands."

"Do you know Wang Yue? He was my friend, but the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel forced him to death. Do you know how these people died? I did it."

"I can kill them all, so why can't I kill you? Who do you think you are? Do you really think you are so high and mighty? Huh?"

Telling Jiao Fang all this now, so that he can die knowingly, Chen Ce is not afraid to say this. Even if Jiao Fang talks nonsense, who will believe it? People will only think that Jiao Fang is just biting people.

Jiao Fang felt a chill run down his spine as he heard these outrageous things, one after another. He never imagined that this seemingly insignificant and frail young man in front of him had actually done so many things in private and killed so many people!
This really subverted his cognition!
Each of these things is extremely difficult, but when he says them, they sound like trivial matters.

So, is his plan to kill me now no different from the people he killed before? At most, it only takes a little more brainpower.

Jiao Fang's lips trembled, and his body began to twitch violently. He asked hurriedly, "This old man... this old man can die, but my descendants..."

Chen Ce smiled and said, "What nonsense is Lord Jiao talking about? Do you think the clan and vassal groups will let your descendants go? If you take action against your enemies, will you leave their descendants behind to let them retaliate against you in the future?"

"Cut the grass... get rid of the roots! Lord Jiao!"

(End of this chapter)