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

Chapter 276: Incorruptible Li Mengyang

Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan found Chen Ce. They were both appointed as envoys of Xuanwei Si, so they naturally came to thank Chen Ce. Besides that, they also asked him for advice on how to proceed in the southwest in the future.

Chen Ce told Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan that after going to the southwest, they would be under the command of Wang Shouren. Tang Yin was not worried because after some experience in business, he was adept at controlling people's hearts and handling interpersonal relationships.

He was more worried about Zhu Zhishan and Wang Wubi. Chen Ce told Zhu Zhishan that if he had any uncertainties in the southwest, he should discuss it with Tang Yin and Wang Shouren first.

To govern the southwest, one must first govern the southwestern chieftains and native people, avoid conflicts and contradictions, and use less force to solve problems. This is what Chen Ce has always reminded people to do.

The situation in the southwest is complicated because of the people. As long as the people are healed, many problems in the southwest will be solved. It is difficult and easy at the same time. It depends on the level of the people in this field.

After hearing this, Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan still gritted their teeth and begged Chen Ce to save Li Mengyang. No matter what Li Mengyang was like, he was a leader in the literary world, and he would always feel embarrassed to be caught by Zhang's uncle and whipped in the imperial prison.

Tang Yin knew that Chen Ce had the ability, but he was just unwilling to take action.

Chen Ce thought about it and said, "Well, I'll go and take a look. If they don't let me go, there's nothing I can do."

Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan were delighted and hurriedly followed Chen Ce towards the Jinyiwei.

Since Li Zhen was transferred to the Neichang, Wei Wenli's status in the Jinyiwei has risen. When he heard that Chen Ce was coming to the Jinyiwei, he came to greet him in person.

A Jinyi Tongzhi personally came to greet Chen Ce, which was enough to make Zhu Zhishan stunned.

"Mr. Chen, is there something wrong?"

Chen Ce asked Wei Wenli, "Li Mengyang has been imprisoned?"

Wei Wenli nodded, but still advised Chen Ce: "Mr. Chen, please don't get involved in this matter. It was Zhang's uncle who arrested the man, and our commander dare not say anything."

The two uncles of the Zhang family didn't feel anything in front of Chen Ce, but looking at the whole of Peking, they really acted arrogantly.

Chen Ce said helplessly to Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan: "Look, it's not that I don't want to save you, it's that I don't have the ability. Let's go."

Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan looked worried and asked Wei Wenli, "Can we go to the imperial prison to take a look?"

Wei Wenli glanced at Chen Ce and saw that Chen Ce did not make any comment, which showed that Chen Ce's attitude was not positive, so he said awkwardly: "I'm afraid not."

Chen Ce said: "Forget it then."

Just as Chen Ce was about to leave with Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan, the two uncles of the Zhang family came out of the imperial prison with cuckold steps, came to Chen Ce with a laugh, and said, "Brother Chen, that shameless guy was beaten up by us, do you want to go and beat him up?"

Chen Ce: “…”

Brother, do I know you well? How come we are brothers?

It's quite embarrassing.

Chen Ce looked at the stunned Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan. The corners of their mouths twitched slightly and their expressions were complicated.

You still say you can't save Li Mengyang? The two uncles of the Zhang family are brothers to you...

It’s not that you can’t save people, it’s that you don’t want to save people at all.

But it makes sense. That day at Wang Wubi's mansion, Li Mengyang's attitude towards Chen Ce was not good. Why did Chen Ce save him?

"Mr. Chen..." Zhu Zhishan looked at Chen Ce with embarrassment.

Chen Ce sighed helplessly and said to the two uncles of the Zhang family: "Oh, I won't go to watch. You guys have had enough of the fight, so let them go."

The Zhang brothers said casually: "Okay, then let's release him. Humph, if it weren't for Brother Chen's plea, we would have tortured him for a few more days!"

"Not only did you impeach us, but you also called us bastards in front of us? Do you really think that we brothers have no temper?" The Zhang brothers walked away arrogantly.

Chen Ce glanced at Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan and said, "You guys handle it yourselves. I'm leaving too."

Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan hurried to the imperial prison to pick someone up.

Li Mengyang was severely beaten, but fortunately the Zhang brothers did not torture him severely. They also knew their limits and did not kill him. However, even so, Li Mengyang was beaten with a black eye and a swollen nose.

"Brother Tianci/Lord Li...are you okay?"

Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan carried Li Mengyang out of the Northern Pacification Office. He Jingming, Xu Zhenqing and Wen Zhengming had been waiting there for a long time, and they stepped forward together to support the severely beaten Li Mengyang.

Li Mengyang waved his hand, indicating that he should not be supported, and then laughed up to the sky: "Haha! Good fight, good fight!"

As a civil servant, what he most seeks is a reputation. The more the Zhang brothers beat him, the faster his reputation spread.

Once his reputation spreads, his path in officialdom will become smoother. When someone wants to recommend him for promotion in the future, Li Mengyang's reputation as being upright and fearless of the powerful will enable him to occupy a place in the promotion quota!
The worst thing for an official is to be unknown.

That's why Li Mengyang couldn't stop laughing. After this beating, he was not angry at all. Instead, he felt extremely refreshed. The more the Zhang brothers did this, the more it enhanced his reputation.

He Jingming thought about it and said to Li Mengyang: "Tianci, you must thank Chen Ce this time. He saved you."

In any case, it is a fact that Li Mengyang was released early because of Chen Ce.

Li Mengyang's laughter stopped abruptly, and he gritted his teeth with an angry look on his face and said, "Then I really have to thank him!"

He Jingming hesitated to speak. He wanted to tell Li Mengyang that Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan had been given official titles, but seeing Li Mengyang's expression, he could not bear to provoke him.

"I will return home to recuperate first."

Li Mengyang did not exchange pleasantries with He Jingming and the others. He wanted to return home quickly to prepare the impeachment memorial so that he could submit it tomorrow!
This time, he not only wants to impeach Uncle Zhang for colluding with the factory guards, but also wants to impeach Chen Ce for being Uncle Zhang's running dog!
He wanted to magnify this incident and let everyone know how Zhang's uncle suppressed and retaliated against him!
He wants the entire Ming officialdom to know that he, Li Mengyang, is not afraid of the powerful and dares to fight!
Once this matter spreads, Li Mengyang's reputation will become famous in the Ming Dynasty in an instant!
Just thinking about it, Li Mengyang became extremely excited!

……

The next morning, Li Mengyang came to the yamen to perform his duties as if nothing had happened.

When his colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue saw Li Mengyang's bruised face, they hurried forward and asked with concern: "Master Li, were you... beaten?"

Li Mengyang held his hands down and said, "Let's talk about it later. I have something to deal with first."

"Someone, take this memorial to the Ministry of Public Administration!"

After the impeachment memorial was submitted, Li Mengyang said to several colleagues calmly: "It's okay, it's just a minor injury, it's just revenge from the two uncles of the Zhang family."

"I wrote a petition to answer the call a few days ago and offended the two uncles of the emperor. They arrested me and sent me to the Imperial Guard. Haha, what's the big deal? I was finally released, didn't I?"

A colleague hesitated to speak, and Li Mengyang asked suspiciously: "Why?"

The colleague from the Ministry of Revenue asked Li Mengyang, "Sir Li, do you still remember... do you still remember what you said that day in Cuiwei Tower by the Lake?"

"What?"

"That's right, um, didn't they say that if a scholar wanted to be recommended as an official, you had to become his disciple or something..."

Li Mengyang said with an "oh" and said calmly, "That's true. Haha, what's the matter? Did Chen Ce really recommend those candidates to be officials?"

(End of this chapter)