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

Chapter 263 Liang Chu Matchmaking
Hanlin Academy. In the eleventh year of Hongzhi, Emperor Hongzhi sent Liang Chuyuan to Annan to enthrone Li Hui, the King of Annan. Liang Chu refused to accept the gift from Li Hui, the King of Annan. After returning, he was promoted to a Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and was in charge of compiling the "Ming Hui Dian".

Early this morning, Liang Chu came to the Ministry of Rites to borrow historical materials about the "Ming Hui Dian" and had a very pleasant conversation with Ning Cheng, the Left Langzhong of the Ministry of Rites.

"Master Ning, I heard that your eldest daughter is still unmarried?"

Hearing Liang Chu's words, Ning Cheng said respectfully: "Yes, I am already sixteen years old, and I am still unmarried. I still haven't found a good man."

Liang Chu smiled and said, "A girl is sixteen, the right age for marriage. If Lord Ning doesn't mind, I can recommend a man to you."

"Lun Wenxu."

Lun Wenxu was the top scholar in the 12th year of the Hongzhi reign. The competition between him and Tang Yin for the top prize last year is still fresh in people’s memory.

Now Lun Wenxu is serving as an editor in the Hanlin Academy and his future is limitless.

The Hanlin Academy had a very high status among the civil servants in the Ming Dynasty. Only those who were Hanlin could enter the Ministry of Rites, and only those who were Ministry of Rites could not enter the cabinet. This shows how bright Lun Wenxu's future was.

Ning Cheng was extremely happy when he heard this, but he still took precautions and sighed, "It's just that my daughter is very smart and has very high standards..."

Liang Chu smiled and said, "Wen Xu is the top scholar, so what does it matter if your daughter has higher standards?"

"That's fine. I'll try to arrange for them to meet first. I'm not a pedantic person. If it's not appropriate, we can talk about other things. I won't force them."

Ning Cheng bowed and said, "Thank you, Sir Liang."

……

Zhu Houzhao came excitedly to find Chen Ce to go for an outing early this morning.

In the villages outside Peking, in February, when the orioles are flying, the grass is lush, and the willows are swaying, there are countless young men and beautiful women going out for an outing in the suburbs.

Groups of beautiful ladies discussed literature and philosophy, and had a great time chatting with each other.

Several young ladies and gentlemen from powerful families sat on the ground, with fine wine and snacks spread out on the straw mats, reciting poems and composing couplets.

Chen Ce and Zhu Houzhao also sat on straw mats. Liu Jin spread out snacks, cakes and tea and sat quietly beside them.

Chen Ce squinted his eyes, enjoying the rare moment of peace and quiet.

Zhu Houzhao asked Chen Ce, "My dear brother, I'm afraid it will be difficult to implement the policy of converting the natives to officials in the southwest."

"Not to mention that the capable officials of the imperial court will not go to the southwest, even if they go to the southwest, who can solve such a complicated situation?"

He informed Chen Ce of Emperor Hongzhi's concerns.

Emperor Hongzhi was only worried about two things: no one would go to the southwest, and the Ming Dynasty's officials could not control the local people in the southwest.

It is true that the chieftains have occupied the southwest for hundreds of years and their control over the native people in the southwest is complex and intricate. It is unrealistic to expect to see results within one or two years.

But you can’t not do it just because it’s difficult.

Chen Ce took a sip of tea and said to Zhu Houzhao, "It's not a problem that no one will go to the southwest. Wang Shouren is a good candidate and he can go."

Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "He just won the war in the southwest. Wouldn't it be unfair to transfer him to the southwest? His father wouldn't agree, would he?"

Chen Ce smiled and said, "Maybe."

Zhu Houzhao said, "Okay, if Wang Shouren is willing to go, Wang Shouren alone is not enough, right?"

If the southwest wants to form a government team led by the Han people, Wang Shouren alone is definitely not enough, and many officials will need to go there.

Even if Wang Shouren agreed, what about the others? Who would be willing to go?
Chen Ce nodded and said to Zhu Houzhao: "I can recommend a few people, Tang Yin, Wen Zhengming, Zhu Zhishan, and Xu Zhenqing."

Except Xu Zhenqing, the remaining three were juren.

Juren were eligible to fill vacancies and serve as officials in the Ming Dynasty, and it was not against the rules. Even if they went to the southwest, no one in the court would object. Everyone knew that being an official in the southwest was no different from being exiled. The civil officials and literati would not object or say anything when a few Juren were sent to govern the southwest.

As for the fact that the Ming Dynasty's officials were unable to control the local people, the chieftains' power in the southwest was complex and this would take time to resolve and would not be accomplished overnight.

"Let's give it a try. It won't cause much loss to the court anyway." Chen Ce said to Zhu Houzhao.

Chen Ce was talking to Zhu Houzhao about the future direction of the southwest when he heard someone calling Chen Ce, "Mr. Chen, what a coincidence."

Su Hanmei walked over with her light blue skirt lifted and greeted Chen Ce with a smile.

Chen Ce didn't have a deep impression of her, it seemed that he had met her once in the Plum Garden last time.

Chen Ce nodded and said, "What a coincidence."

Su Hanmei said, "We are having tea, do you want to come over and chat?"

Chen Ce said politely: "Oh, no, no, you guys can play."

Several young men not far away cast their eyes over here. Chen Ce knew that these young men might have intentions towards this girl. In order to avoid trouble, Chen Ce took the initiative to avoid suspicion.

Of course, firstly, he was not familiar with Miss Su, and secondly, he was not very interested in drinking tea, reciting poems, and composing couplets. He and Zhu Houzhao had not yet finished discussing the national policy issues in the southwest, so he had no time to do these boring things with them.

"Hanmei, come here quickly, my friend will be here soon."

"He is the third manager of the newspaper business. He seldom comes out on weekdays, so it is very difficult to see him."

"I spent a lot of effort to get him out here. If the poems we got from our outing today are brilliant, he said he might be able to publish them tomorrow."

Several young men came over, and one of them, a Confucian scholar, spoke to Su Hanmei.

Chen Ce smiled and said to Su Hanmei, "Miss, your friend asked you to go. We can talk again when we are free another day."

Chen Ce was also clear about the thoughts of this Confucian scholar. He just wanted to show off his connections and abilities so that Su Hanmei would look at him with new eyes.

However, Chen Ce had long since gotten rid of vulgar tastes, but that did not prevent him from finding these young men and beautiful women quite interesting.

Su Hanmei nodded slightly, and then followed the young masters to a place not far away.

Yang Yuzhen, with a smile on his face, holding a folding fan and wearing a white dress, came to Su Hanmei's team from a distance in a showy manner.

"I'm late, sorry, I was delayed by something at the newspaper office."

A scholar stood up hurriedly, bowed to Yang Yuzhen and said, "Mr. Yang, you are here? It's not too late, it's not too late, we have only been here for a short time."

They had clearly been waiting for Yang Yuzhen here for a long time, and Yang Yuzhen finally arrived, making his final appearance like a big boss.

Zhu Houzhao opened his mouth slightly and said to Chen Ce in astonishment: "That kid just said so proudly, I thought who was coming, the third shopkeeper of the newspaper industry...it turned out to be this guy."

"When will he become a superior person?"

Chen Ce said as a matter of course: "Clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. He has been out doing business, so it is normal for him to know these people."

"Let him go meet the guests. Let's go far away and don't disturb his fun."

Chen Ce knew Yang Yuzhen, a man with strong communication skills and a very charming personality. He was now becoming more and more successful in the newspaper business.

Zhu Houzhao hummed, and the two of them called Liu Jin over. Just as they were about to leave, Yang Yuzhen stood up and hurriedly said to everyone, "Excuse me, I have to excuse myself for a moment. Our host is over there. I'll go and pay my respects."

Everyone was stunned for a moment. They all knew that the behind-the-scenes manager of Shuntian Press was elusive and no one knew who he was. Now that they had the chance to meet him, who wouldn't be curious?

(End of this chapter)