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

Chapter 268 On Ambition

In the Qianqing Palace, after Zhu Houzhao left, Emperor Hongzhi was still in deep thought.

That boy's suggestion is worth thinking about.

Wang Shouren was a talented person, at least his military talent was fully demonstrated in the war in the southwest.

Emperor Hongzhi delayed giving Wang Shouren a higher title because he had not yet decided how to reward him. If the reward was too high, it would not be a good thing for Wang Shouren and the officials would complain.

The reward was too low and not enough to highlight Wang Shouren's contribution.

But after all, he was just a Jinshi who had entered the officialdom for less than a year. If he was promoted too quickly, he would definitely make enemies in the court. Emperor Hongzhi did not want to ruin such a promising future.

However, Zhu Houzhao's proposal just now gave Emperor Hongzhi an idea.

The difficulty in the policy of reforming the native system is not the formulation of policies, but the selection of talents. Who to send to the southwest to take charge is the top priority.

The officials in the court would certainly not be willing to accept this tough task. If the emperor's will was imposed on them, they might not execute it well. So when going to the southwest, we must choose the right talent.

Then we can only choose from the new scholars.

Wang Shouren was undoubtedly an ideal candidate, but Wang Shouren alone was certainly not enough. The southwest also needed other officials to assist Wang Shouren in governance.

It was unknown who among last year's batch of Jinshi would be willing to go, so Emperor Hongzhi could only order people to spread the news first and observe the reactions of the officials and these new Jinshi before making a decision.

……

When Chen Ce appeared in the palace, Wang Hua and Wang Shouren both came out to greet Chen Ce enthusiastically.

Wang Hua knew that Chen Ce would not come to the temple for no reason, so he asked directly, "Mr. Chen, what is the purpose of your visit this time?"

Chen Ce did not hide it from Wang Hua and said, "The Southwest needs reform."

what?
Wang Hua had never heard of the reform in the southwest. It was Zhang's uncle who won the battle in the southwest. Of course, his son was the main contributor in this matter.

Logically speaking, after the southwest was suppressed, the next step should be appeasement.

After all, this has been the Ming Dynasty's policy towards the chieftains in the southwest over the years: first give them a blow and then give them a sweet treat, thus ensuring stability in the southwest.

I haven't heard people above me say there needs to be reform, so why is Chen Ce so confident?
You have to know that Wang Hua is an official appointed by the imperial court. Although he is not a mainstay, he is also the lecturer of the imperial lectures of Emperor Hongzhi. Why didn't he hear anything about the upper echelons wanting to reform the southwest?

That's all, why did Chen Ce say it so confidently? It didn't look like a joke, Chen Ce was also a calm person, he wouldn't do such boring bragging.

Unless - reform has something to do with him!

Wang Hua calmly asked Chen Ce: "How to reform?"

Chen Ce simply said: "The government will send officials to govern the southwest."

Wang Hua stared at Chen Ce suspiciously, then looked at Wang Shouren, and suddenly asked: "So you want Wang Shouren to go to the southwest?"

Chen Ce nodded: "Yeah."

Wang Hua shook his head decisively: "No!"

His son had just won a victory in the southwest and had a bright future. Although Emperor Hongzhi did not grant him an official position, it was because he did not have enough qualifications. As long as he stayed in the Ministry of War for a while, his promotion to a director would be a sure thing. Why should he go to the southwest to do such a dangerous thing?

The situation in the southwest is complicated. The chieftains have been entrenched there for hundreds of years. Their power is deeply rooted and their clans are intertwined. How can we change the situation by sending an official from the Ming Dynasty?
If not handled properly, there is a high possibility of death in the southwest.

How could Wang Hua let his son take the risk of going to the southwest?

Chen Ce thought for a moment and said, "Lord Wang, I understand you."

"Why hasn't Wang Shouren been promoted since his triumphant return?" "He lacks the qualifications and experience to stand out from the crowd."

"Going to the southwest is different. He will gain experience in the southwest for several years, and when he returns, he can be promoted openly. This is a good thing for him."

"What I said would be cliché. What is the purpose of being an official? Not just for promotion. Scholars say that governing a country and maintaining peace is the way to cultivate oneself and one's family, governing a country and bringing peace to the world."

"Establish a mind for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living people, carry forward the unique teachings of the past saints, and create peace for all generations."

"I also have very high aspirations, and these are the aspirations of becoming an official."

“The southwest is certainly difficult to govern, but it is also the best place to reflect a person’s self-worth. Since the heart is the reason, the highest truth does not need to be sought from outside, but can be obtained from within one’s own heart.”

Chen Ce looked at Wang Shouren and said, "Lord Wang, you can discuss this matter with your father. I think you should go to the southwest."

"Come back to me when you've made up your mind. Bye."

Chen Ce nodded slightly to Wang Shouren and Wang Hua, then left with his hands behind his back.

Wang Shouren was savoring what Chen Ce had just said. The heart is the reason. The highest truth does not need to be sought outside. Just follow your heart...

Over the years, he has been studying the philosophy of investigation of things and psychology. From Mencius to Chen Xianzhang to Zhan Ruoshui, Wang Shouren has never completely figured it out, nor has he completely realized the truth. It seems that he is just a little bit away, always just a little bit away.

He looked up at Wang Hua, obviously having made a choice in his mind.

Wang Hua said angrily: "Don't listen to his instigation!"

This Chen Ce is simply a monster. He can actually control his own son's mind so well!
"Do you know what the southwest is? It's a place where people will die!"

"You, a young boy, can handle such a complicated situation?"

"The Tusi family has been entrenched for hundreds of years. There are more than 100,000 Tusi and natives living together. They hate the Han people. What are you going to govern?"

"Who will listen to you? If they want to harm you, they only need to move their hands and you could die in the southwest!"

Wang Hua was very anxious. He knew that his son had a stubborn and eccentric personality, but he was his own son. As a father, how could he let his son go when he knew there was danger ahead?

"The emperor really wants to send you to the southwest, then let your father go first! Your father will clear the thorns for you, and then you can go!"

Wang Shouren was silent for a while, then he spoke in a low voice to Wang Hua: "Father, my son has grown up."

Wang Hua was stunned.

Wang Shouren said: "These things have to be done by someone. If everyone in the Ming Dynasty is only thinking about seeking benefits and avoiding harm, leaving a lot of problems for future generations to solve, then is there any hope for this country?"

"I don't want to be a saint, but I want to be true to my heart. Maybe in the southwest, I can better understand what I want. I want to go to the southwest."

Wang Hua stared at Wang Shouren blankly. His every move was so similar to his own. He was his own son. As a father, how could he bear to see his son suffer!

"It's not that I don't want you to go to the southwest. The southwest is dangerous. I want to... clear the obstacles for you!"

Wang Shouren smiled and said, "Father has protected me for more than 20 years and cleared many obstacles for me. I am an unfilial son and will be away from him for a few years."

"Father, let me go."

Wang Hua looked at Wang Shouren's determined eyes, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. He stood there for a long time, and finally stretched out his hand tremblingly, and waved towards the courtyard gate.

He looked at Wang Shouren's departing back, tears streaming down his cloudy eyes, and murmured, "It's only been a short time since we've been together, and now you're leaving again..."

(End of this chapter)